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Daily Devotions from New Hope in Brandon, Florida. Making More and Better Followers of Jesus Christ! Our Pastors employ what's called the S.O.A.P. Method. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application and Prayer (first coined by Wayne Cordeiro, a pastor from Hawaii). Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read.
Daily Dose of Hope
June 20, 2025
Scripture – Matthew 15
Prayer: Almighty God, We come before you with awe and humility. Help us remember all you have done for us. We are nothing without you. We need you desperately, Lord. Help us gather our scattered thoughts today as we focus on you. In these next few moments of silence, help us remember that we belong to you. Help us lay our worries and cares on the throne of your grace...We pray this in the powerful name of Jesus, Amen.
Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, a Deep Dive into the Gospels and Acts. We are unpacking Matthew 15 today.
In today’s Scripture, we are talking about handwashing and cleanliness but it has nothing to do with germs. Germ theory wasn’t even discovered until the 1800s. So what was the hand-washing ritual discussed in the first half of Matthew 15? To go deeper, we need to talk a little about 1st century Jewish life. We walked through this in Mark as well. If you recall, certain groups of Jews, such as the Pharisees and the scribes, affirmed two types of law. There was the written law (the first five books of the Bible – the Torah) and the oral law (the traditions of the elders/rabbis). Basically, the written law didn’t have specific details so the rabbis, over the years, filled in those details with oral traditions.
There were Pharisees from Jerusalem who sought out Jesus. We don’t know why these Pharisees had traveled some eighty miles from Jerusalem (a very long trip in those days) but there is some speculation that they had come to check out this Jesus character, this man who was healing, teaching, and saying things that were questionable in their eyes. They were suspicious and they must have also felt pretty threatened. Remember the Pharisees were a strict sect of Judaism that believed in following the law in the fullest sense.
The Pharisees noticed that Jesus’ disciples were not going through the ceremonial hand-washing rituals that were required before they ate. They asked Jesus about this. This was clearly an insult, it was more like, why aren’t you properly teaching your disciples? Jesus has this interesting reply, he quotes Scripture from the prophet Isaiah: “These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me...”
I should note that there wasn’t anything wrong with what the Pharisees were trying to do. They had purity laws which they thought were very important in following God. But Jesus could see past their ritual and into their hearts. He saw their insincerity and hypocrisy; it was all a facade. Thus, he sees this as a fulfillment of Biblical prophecy. Just as in the times of Isaiah, the Pharisees are giving lip service to following God but their hearts are far from him. They are concerned about the Sabbath being followed to the tee but they cheat people in the marketplace. They are concerned about following specifics of the handwashing but they aren’t worried about the widow and the orphan. Something was wrong, truly wrong. They appear to be all about piety but they neglect compassion, justice, and love.
But this issue goes even deeper. Being unclean and being defiled was a big deal in 1st century Judaism. If you couldn’t be clean (and a lot of regular people worked jobs or had lives that meant they couldn’t meet all the various regulations to stay clean). If you were unclean for whatever reason, then you were ostracized from the temple. You were basically shunned from religious life.
Jesus is making a huge point here. Jesus is saying, “You are shunning people, you are telling them they are unclean, you are ostracizing them from the community, based on the rituals they have done or haven’t done to be clean. But what you are missing is this: the things that really matter, the things that pose the greatest danger, are not external. They aren’t hand-washing. They aren’t meticulously keeping Sabbath. The things that matter most to God are internal.”
What Jesus is saying to them is that God cares most about the heart. I think we will all should admit that, at times, the church has looked a lot like these Pharisees. We’ve been all about religious activity and less about trying to be like Jesus. We’ve been about the external and not the internal. We’ve cared about appearances. We are putting up this great religious front but then being horribly judgmental, angry, or bitter. Friends, God could care less about your religious busyness. He wants your heart. He doesn’t care about our ceremonial handwashing---he cares about if we are treating others with the love of Christ. And if we aren’t, then all the ceremony, all the church stuff, it’s kind of a farce. Why? Because God looks on our hearts.
The chapter says that Jesus withdraws from here to a Gentile region. Maybe he was trying to get away from the people and the crowds OR maybe he knew that an important interaction was about to occur. Here, we have this interesting and somewhat disturbing interaction with a Canaanite woman. This was also in Mark, and it goes pretty much the same way.
When this woman approaches Jesus, she is breaking all the social taboos of that time and place. Not only is she considered unclean but she is a woman alone trying to get the attention of a Jewish teacher.
The woman begs Jesus to heal her daughter, who has an demonic spirit in her. Jesus’ reaction is not what we would expect, as Matthew writes that Jesus doesn’t answer her. Did he ignore her? Hard to tell but the disciples are pretty clear about wanting Jesus to send her away. Jesus finally responds to the woman, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” It’s possible he wants to see how she will respond.
Her quick reply is that even dogs get the crumbs dropped from the table. Basically, there is enough of what Jesus has that he can afford to share it with her and her daughter. And Jesus agrees, he sees her faith and heals the daughter immediately. There is enough of what Jesus has for outsiders to be included. God’s Kingdom is more than big enough. And that’s good for us because most of us are Gentiles too.
Finally, we get the feeding of the 4,000. This is where I just want to shake the disciples. They just were part of the feeding of 5,000 men and probably 15,000 people in total. Jesus has already shown what he can do. Why are they doubting? Why don’t they start from an attitude of abundance, knowing that Jesus can easily feed these people.
But they don’t. They still have a scarcity mindset. We better send these people away because we just don’t have enough food for them. How in the world will we ever feed them? Yet, Jesus has already demonstrated the abundance of God’s Kingdom.
And Jesus wants us to operate from the ABUNDANCE mindset. He wants us to trust that he will provide all our needs and then some. All our resources – they are a gift from God. Just as Jesus was asking his disciples to do in this miracle, he is asking each of us to do --- look beyond what’s in front of you. Look up from this physical, earthly reality and see that there is so much more. I’ve got you. I’m here for you. Trust me. The world tells us to be afraid, hold on tight to whatever you have, send the people away. But Jesus is saying, “Look beyond the world. Look beyond what’s right in front of you. Look at my Kingdom.”
When you do this, when you trust in the abundance of God’s Kingdom, then it frees us to be generous. It frees us to not hold so tight to things, to allow God to use us to bless others, to care for others. It’s gets us beyond ourselves. Friends, we are to be a picture of God’s Kingdom to an unbelieving, hurting, hungry, anxious, fearful, angry world. There is no plan B. We are plan A for demonstrating the Jesus way of life to others. Just like he said to the disciples, “You do this,” he is saying the same thing to us. John 20:21, Jesus tells the disciples and he tells us, “Just as the Father sent me, now I am sending you.” Remember, the Christian life was NEVER supposed to be self-focused, it’s about giving ourselves away.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
June 19, 2025
Scripture – Matthew 14
Prayer: Abba Father, We come to you today in awe of your love for us. Thank you, Lord, for your sacrifice. Thank you for sitting high and looking low. We give you all the glory and praise, Lord Jesus. Help us to be less selfish and more like you. On our own, we mess it up. We need you, Jesus. We need you minute by minute. Guide our thoughts today, Lord. Guide our words and guide our actions. May we look more like you today, Lord, than we did yesterday. In Your Name, Amen.
Welcome back, everyone, to the Daily Dose of Hope, a Deep Dive into the Gospels and Acts. Today, we are diving into Matthew 14.
We start with the murder of John the Baptist. We read about this in Mark as well. Herod was an evil guy. We can see there is little value placed on human life in the Roman Empire. Herod is far more concerned about how he looks in front of his guests than how he looks in front of God.
Then, we have the feeding of the 5,000. This miracle is in all four Gospels so we need to lean in and really pay attention here. After Jesus heard about his cousin John being killed, he decided to get away. You can’t blame him; I’m sure he needed time to grieve and he just needed some solitude. But the crowds followed him. You would think he might get annoyed but he doesn’t. Verse 14 says, When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick. Jesus really doesn’t miss a beat. No matter how physically tired he is, he keeps taking care of the people, giving them what he knows they need.
Some people today might suggest that Jesus had poor boundaries. He could have said, “You guys, we really need a break. I’m off today.” But that isn’t what he did. He had compassion on the people. He tolerated and even welcomed interruptions. He would frequently be planning to do this one thing but pulled away in a different direction. But it was in those interruptions, those distractions that Jesus did amazing work, that we get to see God at work in amazing, miraculous ways. He heals the woman who had been bleeding for many years because she “interrupts” him on his way to the Roman official’s home. Think of the man whose friends created a hole in the roof to lower their friend in front of Jesus and “interrupt” his teaching. He was interrupted by a demon-possessed man at the synagogue and he heals him. I counted something like 35 “interruptions” and it was in those interruptions that Jesus healed, taught, loved, and demonstrated God’s glory.
Back to the miracle. There were roughly 5000 men there, which doesn’t include the women and children because at that time, women and children would not be in the official count. So we are talking probably 10-15,000 people being present. When the disciples wanted to send the people away, they were simply being practical, right? They were on the outskirts of Bethsaida, and the closest village would have been a several hour walk. It makes sense that they would immediately think to send them away. And they were tired. And they were probably a bit annoyed and wanted them to just go away. But that isn’t what Jesus decided to do.
Jesus tells the disciples “You give them something to eat.” This is so interesting to me because Jesus is putting the responsibility on the disciples to solve the problem. You do it. In Mark, the disciples complain “but that would take half a year’s wages to feed all these people.” So Jesus talks them through it. What do you have? Well, we have five loaves of bread and two fish. Jesus takes the food multiplies it.
I often wonder if Jesus knew he was going to do this all along or it just kind of happened in the moment. Exactly how it happened, we don’t know. What we know is that it happened. Jesus took a little and turned it into a lot. In that moment, we see God’s Kingdom in all it’s fullness. In God’s Kingdom, there is no sickness so Jesus healed. In God’s Kingdom, there is no hunger so Jesus fed. Most of us are pretty well fed but that was not the norm in first century Palestine. People did not get enough to eat. Those 10-15K people that Jesus was caring for in Bethsaida, these were peasants. They were hungry people. The social structures of the day ensured that these people were always a little hungry, always a little desperate. That way the Roman government could stay in control. It was quite effective.
But Jesus was demonstrating a different way of life, one in which “God” is on the throne, one in which all people are valued and cared for and fed. I love that line in verse 20, “they all ate and were satisfied.” That would have been very unusual for that group of people, to eat and be satisfied. And there were 12 baskets left over, a basket for each disciple to carry. I wonder if Jesus did that so that as they were carrying these baskets home, they would continually be reminded that God is so much bigger than they ever could imagine, that Jesus will find a way no matter how impossible the situation might seem.
Jesus can take five loaves of bread and two fish and feed 15,000 people. He can defy the laws of nature. I mean, he created the laws of nature. I’m not sure how many of you are currently dealing with something that seems impossible, that seems like there is no solution – a health crisis, a broken relationship, a financial mess. If you hear nothing else today, I want you to hear that NOTHING, no problem, is too big for our God. God can and will make a way but we have to release it to him. We have to allow him to take care of it the way he sees fit. It might not be, it probably won’t be, the way we would do it. But there is always a way.
Finally, the chapter closes with Jesus walking on water and this fascinating interaction with Peter. Jesus had been off praying, as he was apt to do, and he goes to find the disciples. They see him walking on water and at first, think he is a ghost. Peter, in his normal partly bold, partly impulsive way, asks Jesus if he can walk on the water too. Specifically, he says, “Lord, if it is you, tell me to come to you on the water.” So Jesus says to come and Peter steps out on the water. Can you even imagine what must have been going through Peter’s head at the time? For a while, Peter does fine. He is actually walking on water. But as soon as he takes his eyes off Jesus, he sinks.
Think about that–the very minute he looks away, gets distracted, and begins to doubt–he starts to sink. Think about your own life. How often have you taken your eyes off Jesus and begun to sink? The author of Hebrews tells us in chapter 12 to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith. When we keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, we have confidence that we aren’t alone, that God is present, and that there is a purpose to all of this. The very minute we begin to look away, the sinking begins. We become stalled. We falter. We forget who and whose we are.
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
June 18, 2025
Scripture – Matthew 13:24-58
Prayer: Holy and Merciful God, We come to you today rejoicing in your holy name. It’s amazing that you, the God of all, care about the minute details of our lives. I mean, who are we? But yet, you love us, you care, you died for us! Thank you, Jesus. Thank you, thank you, thank you. Help us, as we move on throughout this day to remember your presence. Guide our words, our actions, and our thoughts. Help us hear your voice as we engage with your Word today. We love you. In Your Name, Amen.
Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, a Deep Dive into the Gospels and Acts. Today is Wednesday and that means Recharge Day! Hope we see you tonight, in the New Hope Garage, at 6:30pm for worship, prayer, fellowship, and small community.
For our Scripture, we are finishing up Matthew 13. This portion of Scripture includes many more parables. Let’s start with the wheat and the weeds. Y’all, this parable is powerful. It has really been important in my own spiritual journey. Here is where I have landed on it...
In the parable, the owner sows good seed but the enemy comes in the dark of night and sows weeds. The workers are understandably upset and ask the owner if he caused this. This is actually a theodicy question–how can a good God allow bad things to happen. Basically, God, we thought you were good, why did you allow the “weeds” to grow in our lives? As believers, it is okay to question God and ask why the horrible occurred. This theology of protest doesn’t demonstrate a lack of faith, but actually is an “expression of faith.” It’s okay to be angry with God, question God, shake your fist so to speak, but stay in the conversation! This is, in itself, an act of faith.
Jesus also addresses the source of the weeds–the enemy has spread them. God is not the source of evil–God does not cause evil to occur so that we might grow spiritually or to perpetuate some grander divine plan. Rather, God’s enemy is the source of all evil. Matthew 13:39 refers to the devil as God’s enemy. Satan is real and there is real evil in our world, which both inhabits and transcends individuals, families, communities, nations, cultures, and economic structures. Why doesn’t the owner in the parable want the workers to pull the weeds? Because in doing so, both the weeds and the wheat would be pulled out (Matthew 13:29). God can’t just do away with all evil because, whether we like it or not, we are all are a complex and confusing mix of both good and evil. Furthermore, this isn’t how God deals with the world. Although God has the power to eliminate evil using brute force (the way humans might deal with it), this goes against God’s character. God instead acts through the loving and yet “weak” power of the cross. God’s answer to evil was sending Jesus Christ, the one who truly understands what it means to suffer and also the only one through which true and complete healing can occur.
But the parable doesn’t end there. In Matthew 13:41-43, Jesus explains how in the end, evil will be vanquished; it will not have the final word. Although I firmly believe this is true, it fails to offer much comfort in the midst of counseling someone who is grappling with the death of a baby or a sexual assault in the here and now. What is helpful, however, is to point out how God’s work in the world is often difficult to understand (think about the parable of the mustard seed and the yeast). We might not always see God’s power at work, but it’s there in the smallest and most unusual ways, changing and transforming us, guiding us, and leading us closer to Jesus (power in the form of “loving weakness”). God is waging war on evil, just not necessarily in ways we see or understand.
It makes sense, then, that Jesus would follow up this parable with the mustard seed and yeast. You see, in God’s Kingdom, small things can yield really big results. A tiny seed can produce a big tree, so big that birds can nest in it. Seeds are really interesting things as well. They can reproduce themselves exponentially. It takes one seed to make that big mustard tree and from that tree, many, many more seeds are produced. A little bit of yeasty dough can be mixed with flour to make enough bread to feed hundreds of people.
God’s economy is different. In the world, our default setting, big things are valued–big money, big jobs, big cars, big houses, big, flashy, noticeable---these are all things that indicate power, prestige, control. In God’s Kingdom, it’s okay for things to be small. Small, seemingly insignificant things can make a huge difference. Mustard seeds, yeast, loaves & fishes, a random act of kindness, a kind or encouraging word, spending time with God in prayer, offering a prayer over someone else, the widow’s mite, a humble life lived with integrity, sharing our faith story with someone, or our willingness to serve others. Small things that all can yield huge results for God’s Kingdom. Our daily prayers can yield huge, miraculous results.
These parables, along with the others from this chapter, all give glimpses into God’s Kingdom. What is it like living under the reign of God? We are getting snapshots.
But that doesn’t mean people get it or appreciate it. As we read at the end of the chapter, when he went to his hometown (which we know is Nazareth), the people were amazed at his teaching. But they were also skeptical. He was too familiar to them. They saw this boy grow up. They knew his parents and his siblings. It created an obstacle to belief. So there, he didn’t do many miracles. He moved on.
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
June 17, 2025
Scripture – Matthew 13:1-23
Prayer: Holy God, We start by praising your name. You are a good God, a mighty God, and a wise God. Work in our lives. Speak to us. We need you, Lord. Over and over again, we need you. In these next few moments of silence, Lord, hear our prayers... In Your Name, Amen.
Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional that complements the daily Bible reading for New Hope Church. As you all know, we are currently doing a deep dive into the Gospels and Acts. Today, we are starting Matthew 13.
Picture this: Jesus is sitting by the lake (Sea of Galilee). Large crowds of people have gathered around him, so many in fact that he got into a boat and started teaching from the boat while the people stood on the shore. And he begins to tell stories, parables. These were stories that people could relate to, they understood about farmers and seed,t hey could picture them in their head as he talked, but they pointed to deeper spiritual truths about living under the Kingdom of God.
Jesus says that a farmer goes out to sow seeds. But the farmer doesn’t worry so much about where he is throwing the seeds. He seems to be pretty indiscriminate with his seed-throwing. He is literally just throwing seed everywhere. Some of the seed falls right on the path, where all the people walked and the soil was hard and had been packed down. So the birds ate most of that seed. Some of the seed fell in rocky places (there are lots of rocky places in that part of the world) and while it would sprout, the soil was shallow, and there wasn’t enough root for the plant to survive. Some of the seed fell among thorns, and the thorns were invasive and took over. The plants had no real chance of survival there. But then some seeds fell on good soil, which produced an amazing crop---100, 60, or 30X what was sown.
First, I think it’s important for us to not dwell on the different kinds of soils too much. I think one of our first temptations is to go, I know someone who is like that soil, and then that group of people are like this soil, and so forth. We’ll get to the soil but I want us to start with what is most important. Who is the star of the story? Well, the farmer or the one who is sowing the seed. He throws that seed everywhere–he is generous with the seed, throwing it everywhere there is any chance it might take root. Friends, we are the sowers. We are the ones called to throw seed. What’s the seed we are supposed to be throwing around? Well, the Good News of Jesus.
The Good News is for ALL. We aren’t supposed to decide who to share our faith with. No, we are truly to share our faith, in word and deed, with everyone. This is so important. We aren’t just supposed to share Jesus with those in our congregation, with our friends who are “safe.” We are supposed to be kind of reckless, sharing the love of Jesus Christ, sharing our faith story, telling people the source of our hope, with all kinds of people - people who don’t look like us, people who we don’t know, and people we do know. This is one thing we know about God’s Kingdom: If God has brought us to a certain place, a certain store, a certain vacation spot, a certain meeting---we trust that there isa greater purpose. We always should be on the lookout for ways to have spiritual conversations, to share the Good News.
I want you to think about your past week. Think about the places you went, the people you spoke to, the things you did. I want you to think about each of those situations. What would it have looked like if you had sowed some seeds at each of those places?
We aren’t responsible for what happens to the seeds. We are just called to sow. Sow with joy wherever we go. Sow with love. Sow obediently and abundantly. Then, we trust that God will do the rest. Trust God with the harvest. For me, this takes the pressure off...we are not responsible for the harvest, we are simply sowers.
As the sower, we truly have the desire for all the soil to bear fruit. That’s why we keep throwing those seeds, having those conversations, offering to pray for someone, telling people how much Jesus loves them. God loves all people, we are called to love all people. Remember that love of God and love of others cannot be separated. They are intricately linked.
But we have to recognize that some soil has had people trample on it. It has not been nourished, it might be filled with rocks. It may take years to get to the point in which the soil can bear fruit. I read that to get soil just right, really nourished, it can take years. And it usually means continuing to add nourishment to it, continuing to add things to it to develop it and enrich it so that it can be fruitful. People are no different. We love on people, we pray for them, we tell them Jesus loves them. We listen to their stories. We ask questions. And this could go on for years. But we never give up on anyone. We trust that God is at work in ways we can’t see or understand. We trust that God is working behind the scenes to nourish the fields, to strengthen the roots.
Is there someone you have given up on? Remember, God isn’t done with any of us yet. Who is it you have gotten discouraged with? Maybe you’ve stopped praying for them. Maybe you are simply angry with them because they have made bad choices or turned away from the faith. Let’s ask God to bring that person to mind. Say a prayer for that person, specifically that God gives you the wisdom how to continue sowing in their life.
We can trust that God is working in the most difficult places, in difficult people, in difficult circumstances. And God gives us beautiful glimpses of hope. I recently learned about the church in Iran and how it is growing under the harshest and most difficult of conditions. But God is there, growing his church. These are rays of hope in the midst of hardship. When God is involved, when the Kingdom is at work, there is ALWAYS HOPE.
Now, let’s talk soil. The soil is an important element in this story. There were three ways the poor soil was described, “hardened”, “shallow” and “cluttered.” And then, there was the well-nourished soil. As Floridians, we live in a climate and environment in which you really have to amend the soil if you want anything to grow. We basically live in sand. There is no nourishment in sand. Weeds seem to grow well but not a lot of other desirable plants. My mother-in-law is an avid and successful gardener and she constantly is amending her soil, putting nourishing elements in it to ensure that the plants will grow and be healthy.
Friends, we have to pay attention to our soil. We need to enrich the soil in others’ lives but we have to ensure that our soil is cared for as well.
How is the soil of your soul? Is it hardened? Is it shallow? Is it cluttered? Or is it nourished? How is your soil? How is our soil here at New Hope?
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
June 16, 2025
Scripture - Matthew 12:38-50
Prayer: Lord Jesus, Mighty God, Holy One...We come to you this morning with humility and gratefulness. Thank you that your mercies are new every morning. Thank you that you continue to love and guide us, even though we mess up again and again. Thank you for your patience and your never-ending care. Lord, we are so very grateful. Help us, on this Monday, to start our week with the right attitude. We belong to you and we are under your authority. Help us see others the way you see them. Help us produce fruit in our lives. Oh, Lord, how we need your help. Please, Jesus, may we hear your voice today. In Your Name, Amen.
Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, a Deep Dive into the Gospels and the book of Acts. Happy Monday!
Our Scripture reading for today is the last half of Matthew 12. We start with the discussion about the sign of Jonah. The Pharisees have asked Jesus for a sign to demonstrate that he is the Messiah. Apparently, all the miracles he has done thus far aren’t enough for these guys. Remember, the Pharisees were even attributing some of his miracles to Satan. Understandably, this request doesn’t go over too well with Jesus.
On the surface, there isn’t anything wrong with their request. There are times in the Old Testament in which people asked God for a sign. But Jesus can see right through their request. Nothing he does will make these guys believe in him. In fact, they are looking for more ammunition to use against Jesus. There is nothing sincere about the request. Matthew Henry writes in his commentary, "Christ is always ready to hear and answer holy desires and prayers, yet he will not gratify corrupt lusts and humors."
Jesus does promise the sign of Jonah. The Jews believed that the Ninevites repented when Jonah preached because they knew it was the God of all who spoke through him. And they knew this because God kept him from dying in the belly of the big fish. In the same way, Jesus’ resurrection will signify God’s vindication of him and affirm the truth of what he says and his divinity. But Jesus knows that even the resurrection won’t be enough to make most of these Jewish leaders believe. Their hearts are hard.
Now, let’s take a look at the text about Jesus’ mother and brothers. I’ll be honest, growing up I used to really struggle with this passage. It seemed so harsh! But deeper reflection yields a different perspective.
Can you imagine what it must have been like for Jesus’ immediate family? We know that Mary knew that Jesus was special but did she really understand the significance of his life at this point? What must his siblings have thought?
We see in this text that his mother and brothers are wanting to talk to him, interrupting a teaching session. Are they chatting about Sunday dinner or do they want him to stop making such a ruckus around town? Again, we don’t have details but it’s clear they don’t really know him as the Son of God (yet).
Jesus’ reaction is a bit off-putting. As a mom, I might have gotten my feelings hurt more than a little bit. But he is making a point. Jesus’ family has become much wider than Mary, Joseph, and the boys. There are no bounds to who may be part of it. Anyone who does the will of my Father is my brother and sister and mother. Jesus is redefining family for those who profess faith in him. Yes, biological family relationships are important but spiritual family relationships (and this might be hard to hear) are even more important.
Given the strong emphasis on family ties in first century Palestine, Jesus’ words here would have been shocking. But what he is saying is that believers should consider themselves family and care for one another like they are family members. In the words of Sister Sledge, we are family.
The apostle Paul in his New Testament letters expanded on this idea of believers being a family of faith:
In Galatians 6:10, Paul speaks of our need to care for those in the household of God, “Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.” Family was a big deal at the time. People lived with extended family. Who you were related to mattered. You were under social and moral obligation to care for your extended family. And Paul is saying who you are related to in Christ is also a big deal. Those people in your church family, those other believers that worship with you, those other people who profess faith in Jesus --- these are your brothers and sisters as well. These people are family.
In Ephesians 2:19, Paul writes, Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household… We are members of God’s household. We are members of God’s family. If you have said yes to Jesus as Lord and Savior, then God is your father. You are a child of God. And you have many siblings. We are brothers and sisters. We are family. We are no longer strangers. Think about those people at church, at New Hope. Some you know and some you don’t know. Some you like and others you might not like. But we are family and we will spend eternity together.
And the early church clearly behaved in the way biological families behaved. They ate together, they spent time together, they sacrificed and worked together. Acts 2:44-47, All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
They behaved like a family. They loved each other like a family. They sacrificed together like a family. There was nothing fakey about this. Notice it doesn’t say they came together on Sunday morning, shook hands, and then went their own way. No, they did life together. It was real. It was genuine. And guess what? God added to their numbers. Because people see that and they want that.
It’s no different today. We have an epidemic of loneliness. People are disconnected. People are struggling. Even those who aren’t struggling are always looking for sincere, genuine places of love and acceptance. The family of faith is intended to be a place in which you are loved, accepted, cared for, held accountable, belong, where you know people have your back, where you can learn and grow….
It’s far from perfect because it involves human beings. Over the years, the church has too often been exclusive, cliquey, fake, and judgmental. Sometimes, we have been more dysfunctional family than healthy family. We have done harm. I think we need to repent of that. If we at New Hope have ever been part of putting walls up, then we need to repent of that. If I have ever been part of mistreating my brother or sister, if you have been part of excluding or hurting your brother and sister, then you need to repent of that. Period.
We are a family. And families are funny. Families are not polished and pulled together. Families love each other, they are loyal to one another, but they sometimes get annoyed with one another. They sometimes hurt one another (I am thinking of my own three kids – they love each other fiercely and yet, they can really push each other’s buttons). It’s no difference with our siblings in Christ. Family is a place where we do a lot of forgiving, a lot of extending grace, but it’s also a place where we know that we belong no matter what. Strong families are places where when you come together, you can just take a deep breath and say, “I’m home.” It isn’t the building but it’s the people. This is the thing. When a church family loves like Jesus, people get a glimpse of Jesus. When we care for one another sacrificially, people see Jesus. When the family of faith sacrifices for one another, then people get to see Jesus in action. Lives are transformed. Hearts are changed. Our faith grows stronger. Jesus Christ is glorified. And the Lord added to their numbers those who were being saved.
Think about the relationships you have made within the faith family. Are they strong? Why or why not? What holds you back from creating strong, meaningful connections to your brothers and sisters in Christ?
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
June 13, 2025
Scripture - Matthew 12:1-37
Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are Lord of all. How often we forget that. There are times we even put ourselves in your place. Forgive us, Lord. Help us to remember that you are God and we are not. Help us simply live the way you have called us, serve the way you have called us, and love the way you have called us. We know that we fall short over and over again. We need you. All the time, we need you. In Your Name, Amen.
Welcome back, everyone, to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional that complements the New Hope Bible reading plan, a Deep Dive into the Gospels and Acts. Happy Friday!
Today, we start Matthew 12. The text begins with Jesus’ disciples walking through fields of grain on the Sabbath and picking them to eat because they were hungry. This infuriates the Pharisees who have made the Sabbath incredibly complicated for the people. In fact, they had instituted a complex system of Sabbath laws of their own that was oppressive and legalistic. There were strict laws regarding how to observe the Sabbath, which included 39 categories of forbidden activities. In essence, these religious leaders had made themselves lords of the Sabbath, thus making themselves lords over the people.
As he often did, Jesus was pushing back against this. He speaks about how David and his men ate consecrated bread from the Temple when they were hungry, even though it was off-limits. There are times when rules make sense and there are times when they don’t. People are always more important than rules. The original intent of the Sabbath was to give humans rest, not to create a more confusing and restrictive guidelines. The Pharisees had lost sight of this.
Jesus declares that he is Lord of the Sabbath. This really gets the Pharisees upset. By saying this, he is declaring that he has authority over the Sabbath. Jesus can overrule the Pharisees’ rules and regulations because he is the one who created the Sabbath in the first place. He has the power to correctly interpret the meaning of the Sabbath and the rules pertaining to it.
Keep in mind, that by saying this, Jesus is making a bold statement about who he is. The Pharisees are looking for something that will allow them to arrest Jesus. Of course, Jesus is God and he knows this, but it doesn’t stop him at all. He is making a point so he then heals a man with a shriveled hand on the Sabbath. It’s after this that they begin to plot how to kill him.
How often do we get distracted with our own rules and traditions? And do those rules and traditions get in the way of doing the work of Jesus? Do they become obstacles to people knowing Jesus more or receiving healing? While I think we are pretty good about keeping this in check at New Hope, I think it’s something we need to be very much aware of. We have to be careful what is most important to us – our traditions or people?
Jesus knows that they are plotting his death so he goes away in an attempt to retreat. But that is nearly impossible for Jesus now. People continue to come to him for healing and Jesus is not about to turn them away. Every interruption is important to Jesus.
The Pharisees accuse Jesus of healing by the power of Beezelbub, who was the prince of demons. Jesus points out the absurdity of this. Why would he cast out demons with the power of the prince of demons? It just doesn’t make sense.
Jesus then makes an incredibly bold statement regarding the Pharisees. He says that whoever is not with him is against him. Whoever is not helping expand the Kingdom of God is by definition working against it. The Pharisees, who think they are defending God, are actually working with Satan, inhibiting the work of God through Jesus. They are putting themselves up against the Holy Spirit.
It makes sense to judge the quality of a tree by the fruit it produces. The Pharisees are demonstrating that their spiritual fruit is rotten by accusing Jesus. They are showing the true nature of the hearts.
What kind of fruit are you producing? If someone were to look at your life right now, an objective observer, how would they rate your fruit?
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
June 12, 2025
Scripture - Matthew 11:20-30
Prayer: Holy God, We are weary. We are tired. We need you. You are great and mighty. You are merciful and loving. How we need that right now! Lord, speak to us today. We need to hear your voice. We pray that your voice will be louder and clearer than all the other voices that crowd our thoughts. Lord, in these next few moments of silence, please speak to us... God, we give you all the glory. In Your Name, Amen.
Welcome to the Daily Dose of Hope, a Deep Dive into the Gospels and Acts. Today, we finish up Matthew 11.
There is so much substance in this chapter. I feel like there is no way for me to even brush the surface. Let’s start with the woe on unrepentant towns. Jesus is denouncing certain areas in the northern region of Galilee, including Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum, because even though they saw many of his miracles and heard his teaching, they didn’t repent. Jesus is saying if he had done the same miracles in Gentile cities like Tyre and Sidon, they would have already repented and believed. Jesus is speaking harsh words here. The cities that should have responded well and come to believe have largely rejected him. Jesus has not met their expectation of the Messiah, but that does not absolve them of guilt. They will very much be held accountable, as will all of us.
And then, there is this discussion that the Father is revealed in the Son. Those who think they are really smart and learned might reject Jesus but we must have faith like little, vulnerable children. Humility is an asset in God’s Kingdom.
Where I really want to focus today is on the last few verses. Jesus says, Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. Is he simply talking about people who are physically weary? That’s certainly part of it. Think about the culture at the time of Jesus. Most people were poor and they worked really, really hard. This whole idea of rest would have been very appealing to them. But it goes much deeper. We know from scripture that the Pharisees were kind of obsessed with following the law and the manmade traditions they had created. In fact, they had created hundreds of additional rules that they felt were necessary to follow the law well. God’s law, Torah, was certainly fine and it was a good thing to keep Torah. But this group took it to the extreme, creating an additional burden on people to follow. Matthew 23:4 said, “They crush people with unbearable religious demands and never lift a finger to ease the burden.” This created constant striving, but always failing, never being able to be good enough. Their souls were being worn down and worn down and worn down. And Jesus said, “NO–come to me all of you who are experiencing this soul weariness, all of you who are tired and need rest–physical rest, emotional rest, and spiritual rest.”
We live in a culture where being stressed out is the norm (we almost wear it like a badge of honor). People are tired and weary. The truth is that life can wear you down. Once we overcome one challenge, there seems to be another right around the corner. I know that many of you are dealing with really serious difficulty like health problems, broken relationships, and significant financial issues.
But the weariness of life is not just about the big burdens, is it? Sometimes, it is the everyday busyness of life that wears us down, the feeling of running on the hamster wheel, the getting up and dealing with the same stress day end and day out. The end result of all this weariness isa kind of restlessness. And yet, this isn’t the kind of restlessness that just goes away by watching TV or going on vacation. Could it be that our need for rest is different than we think it is? Is rest simply the freedom from work OR is it something very different? True rest is impossible apart from Jesus Christ. We can never be at rest in our soul apart from Jesus. This restlessness of our soul is truly what ails so many of us. No amount of money, no amount of power or prestige can keep you from this restlessness. No one can escape it.
So what in the world can we do? Well, Jesus gives us the answer. He says to take his yoke upon us. A yoke was essentially a wooden frame that was used to harness together a pair of oxen at their necks so that they could pull a plough or some other kind of load. It was kind of a balancing device. Often a younger ox that needed to be taught to work would be paired with an older, more experienced ox.
This is a wonderful picture of our relationship with Jesus (or maybe I should say what our relationship with Jesus ideally looks like). The people that Jesus was speaking to would have known this–their yoke was hard. The Pharisees put this really difficult, ill-fitting yoke around their necks. But being yoked together with Jesus is so much better. The fit is better, it doesn’t hurt so badly. When we allow him to walk alongside us, sharing our burden and yoke, the load does not disappear but is made lighter.
Being yoked together with Jesus does not mean we won’t have to work, we will. We will still have problems, we will still have difficulty. But his yoke is not harsh or oppressive. Jesus’ company is gentle. Just picture being yoked together with him as you plow a field. I know it might be a ridiculous thought for some of us non-farming people, but it is also a comforting thought. He wants us to attach ourselves to him. Not just hang around him every now and then. Not just go and have dinner with him once a week and then do it our way the rest of the week. No, he wants us to become permanently yoked with him, day in and day out. In doing so, our load will be lighter because he will share it with us. His peace and his comfort will walk alongside us and enable us to keep going.
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
June 11, 2025
Scripture - Matthew 11:1-19
Today, we will start with the Holy Spirit prayer by Saint Augustine, who lived in the fourth century. I find it incredibly powerful and I hope you do as well:
Breathe in me, O Holy Spirit, That my thoughts may all be holy. Act in me, O Holy Spirit, That my work, too, may be holy. Draw my heart, O Holy Spirit, That I love but what is holy. Strengthen me, O Holy Spirit, To defend all that is holy. Guard me, then, O Holy Spirit, That I always may be holy.
Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, a Deep Dive into the Gospels and Acts. Today is Recharge day. I hope we see you tonight in the Garage at New Hope, 6:30pm. Recharge is a wonderful time of worship, prayer, fellowship, and small community.
For our Scripture today, we are starting Matthew 11. The question that John the Baptist asks Jesus (from prison) at the beginning of this chapter is probably the most important question to be asked: Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else? According to Matthew, Jesus is the one and he gives all kinds of reasons why – the blind see, the lame walk, those with leprosy are cleansed, the dead rise, and so forth. Jesus is already doing the things that the Messiah will do and they are beginning to see signs of heaven on earth.
By saying that Jesus is the one, that means that John the Baptist is not the one. Jesus points out that John is truly a great man and a great prophet. He preached repentance of sin and is the one prophesied to pave the way for the Messiah. Why did so many people go into the wilderness to be baptized by him? They were yearning for something he had. John was offering them something they desperately needed – forgiveness, cleansing. It seems that Matthew may be saying that John is the final Biblical prophet, the one who is the symbol of the transition from one age to the next.
What is the new age that has been ushered in? Well, it’s the Kingdom of God. John preached gloom but Jesus preached that a new age was dawning, one in which we live under the reign of God. With Jesus, the Kingdom is here. But some people might ask, “If Jesus is the one, where is evidence that a great transformation is truly underway? The world appears to be pretty much the same as it was before Jesus with respect to idolatry, injustice, powerlessness, exploitation, scarcity, and violence. Why should we think things will get better?”
I think those are fair but hard questions. First, the Kingdom is here and we get glimpses of it all the time. Jesus embodied the Kingdom in all he did. We get glimpses of the Kingdom too - in the church, in how Jesus’ people care for others, in the beauty of creation. And part of our jobs as Christ-followers is to keep expanding the boundaries of the Kingdom. But while the Kingdom is here, it isn’t fully here and I think we need to be aware of that. There will come a time when Jesus returns and the Kingdom will be here in all it’s fullness. And that is when all things will be made new. All the brokenness will be mended. There will be no more hunger, violence, or injustice. All will be made right. I can’t wait.
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
June 10, 2025
Scripture - Matthew 10
Prayer: Holy God, We come before you today with humility and awe. You are the Alpha and the Omega. You created all things, are above all things, and yet you care for each of us. You know us and love us. Thank you, Jesus. I pray that as we get ready for our devotional today that you help us set aside our distractions. Help us gather our scattered thoughts and focus on you and you alone... In Your Name, Amen.
Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, a Deep Dive into the Gospels and Acts. Today, we are reading and discussing Matthew 10.
Here we are–back to the sheep! Jesus sends out the disciples to proclaim that the Kingdom of God is near. But the danger is real. Jesus warns them that they would be sheep among wolves. Remember, sheep are vulnerable. While Jesus is saying they are like sheep, he is also telling them to be shrewd and cunning, like a snake. Yes, sheep are vulnerable but they don’t need to be stupid. When faced with difficult circumstances, Jesus-followers need to use their brains and really think about what they say and do.
Yet, while shrewdness is important, so is innocence. Be as innocent as a dove, Jesus says. This means to stay faithful and gentle as well. Remember who you are, who you represent, and that you can be faithful to Jesus and grace-filled AND also not be a doormat.
Jesus is clear. There will be consequences to following him. The world around us won’t be happy about it. Thankfully, we aren’t flogged or jailed for our belief in the United States. But let’s remember that Christians in other countries certainly experience this on a regular basis. I know that the Holy Spirit guides their words and gives them strength that we can’t even imagine.
That being said, we will experience difficulty if we are open and bold in our faith. When we speak out for our faith, we often will see opposition. In those cases, allow the Holy Spirit to speak through you. Trust God. Set aside your own fears and anger and allow the God of the universe to allow his words to flow through you.
Some of the language toward the end of the chapter is really difficult. Jesus says he didn’t come to earth to bring peace but a sword. Wait, I thought he was the Prince of Peace? And he goes on to say that whoever loves his parents, siblings, or friends more than him doesn’t know him at all. As believers, we are to pick up our cross and follow him, totally and completely. What are we to make of all of this?
Jesus certainly is the only source of peace between God and human beings. And in most places in the Gospels, Jesus promotes peace between people. But it’s inevitable that conflict will arise between those who believe in him and those who don’t, even within biological families. Sometimes, people will be forced to choose Jesus over a loved one. Maybe you know someone who’s had to do this. The bottom line is that we should seek to be at peace with all people but we can’t forget that Jesus warned we will be hated for his sake.
The only other thing I wanted to mention about our Scripture for today is how Jesus lifts up our value. Did you catch what he said about the sparrows? God cares about every single little bird. How much more does he care about you? The hairs on our head are numbered. God knows us intimately. God knows everything about you. You are valued. So we don’t need to be afraid. Jesus has our back.
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
June 9, 2025
Scripture - Matthew 9:18-38
Prayer: Heavenly Father, We come to you today in awe. You are almighty and wise but also filled with love and mercy. And we have the pleasure of experiencing that love and mercy. Despite our brokenness, you care for us and you continue to walk alongside us. Thank you, Lord, for your patience. Help us to focus more on you. Fill us with a consuming desire to know you better. Work in us. Stretch us. Challenge us. Convict us. We love you. Amen.
Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional/podcast that complements the Bible reading plan at New Hope Church in Brandon, Florida. We are currently doing a deep dive into the Gospels and Acts and today, we are finishing up Matthew, chapter 9.
The last portion of Matthew 9 includes some amazing healings. Remember, in God’s Kingdom there is no sickness so Jesus healed people physically, emotionally, and spiritually. The first one in today’s text is the healing of the bleeding woman. This story was also found in Mark. This is probably my favorite miracle (if we are allowed to have a favorite.) I can’t help but think about this woman’s difficult life. To be bleeding in Jewish culture meant she was unclean. She couldn’t go to the synagogue, nor was she really supposed to be around people. If she had been married, her husband would have long left her because of her condition. She would have lived a very isolated, lonely life, not to mention being poor and physically weak.
And then Jesus comes along. She must have heard about him. She knows where he will be passing and she takes a chance. She wasn’t supposed to even be in the crowd because she was unclean. But something within her knows that this man could change things. Her faith is beyond what Jesus has seen in the religious people or those in high positions. In a crowd of people who see themselves as righteous and important, Jesus elevates this humble woman above all the others. She is no longer ostracized but healed, whole, and part of Jesus’ family. That word “daughter” would have been so healing for her. Condemned by the rest of society, Jesus empowers this woman and calls her his own.
But Jesus met this woman on his way to a synagogue leader’s home. The synagogue leader had come to Jesus in desperation because his little girl had just died. Two things are notable to me here. First, this had to have been humbling because a synagogue leader would not have normally resorted to asking Jesus, a rogue Jewish rabbi, for help. But, if you are a parent, you know that you will do just about anything to help your child. We are seeing this here. The other thing that is amazing is that this man seems to have real faith. He says if Jesus will just come and lay his hand on her, then she will live. She wasn’t just sick. She was dead, but this man believed that Jesus could fix that. And he does.
It's on the same journey that day that Jesus heals two blind men and a demon-possessed man who was mute because of the demon. The Pharisees say that Jesus is healing through the power of the Prince of Demons. Why their resistance to belief? Jesus doesn’t look, talk, or behave as they think a Messiah should. He challenges their fundamental beliefs. If we are honest, Jesus challenges some of our fundamental beliefs. The question is always: will we choose to believe or will we reject? The Pharisees rejected but what about you?
Jesus spent a great deal of time going from town to town, teaching, healing, and demonstrating to people what life under the Kingdom of God is like. The last portion of today’s Scripture says that Jesus saw the people and he felt compassion for them because they were sheep without a shepherd. Think about sheep–they are totally vulnerable without a shepherd to care for them, guide them, and provide protection. Goats, who we often think of as similar to sheep, tend to do fine on their own. But sheep, not so much. They are helpless and vulnerable to predators. Jesus is saying that he looked at the people and realized how vulnerable and defenseless they were. They needed guidance and divine protection. Without it, they were doomed. Friends, without Jesus, we are all doomed.
The text closes with the very famous Scripture about the harvest. The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few so ask the Lord of the harvest to send more workers. Of course, Jesus is speaking about the people harvest. There are so very many people who need to know about Jesus Christ. They need the guidance of the divine shepherd and they don’t even know it. Someone must tell them. Jesus is counting on his followers to do the work of sharing the Gospel. And yet, how often it feels like there just aren’t enough people willing to go and share, go and tell, go and proclaim, go and harvest. We need more workers. This really got me thinking. Are you one of God’s workers? Are you willing to help with the harvest? Why or why not?
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
June 6, 2025
Scripture - Matthew 9:1-17
Prayer: Abba Father, Prepare our hearts for your Word today. Help us approach this Scripture with an openness to learning something new from you. Jesus, thank you for your perfect example of mercy and love. More of you and less of me. In Your Name, Amen.
Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, a Deep Dive into the Gospels and Acts. Today, we start Matthew 9.
We start with Jesus heading back across the lake into Capernaum, as the scripture refers to his own town. It seems in no time at all, a paralyzed man is placed before him. While Matthew does not give the details about the man’s friends digging a hole in the roof and lowering him down, this is most likely the same story we find in Mark 2. Notice how he sees the faith of the friends and heals the man.
But what does Jesus say to the man? Jesus tells the man that his sins are forgiven. This stirs things up. Of course, the teachers of the law speak among themselves, thinking this is blasphemy. But it’s Jesus and he is God so he knows exactly what they are thinking and he calls them out. What the teachers of the law cannot see is that Jesus is authorized to speak and act on God’s behalf. He is God’s anointed, the Messiah. As a demonstration of his authority to forgive sins, Jesus tells the paralyzed man to stand up, take his mat and return home, which the man promptly does. Jesus boldly demonstrates his power to bring both spiritual and physical healing, and the crowds respond by being amazed and glorifying God.
We go right from this healing to the calling of Matthew. I love how Matthew writes about his own conversion. He doesn’t give a lot of details. It is most likely that he has seen and heard Jesus before. After all, tax collectors were usually set up in visible places in town.
By the way, the phrase “sitting at the tax collector’s booth” is filled with meaning. At the time, tax collectors were hated. The Roman Empire took bids for the right to collect taxes. These tax agents paid a set amount to Rome, and could keep all the rest that they collected. Thus, tax collectors were quite wealthy. But they enriched themselves by preying on the poor, stifling trade, and operating kind of like a local mafia. They were also despised for how they collaborated with the oppressive Romans.
One thing that is interesting about this whole situation to me is that Matthew did not choose Jesus, but rather Jesus chose Matthew. In the Greek, the word “follow” is in the imperative. It was a command. Jesus isn’t giving Matthew a choice. And Matthew got up and followed him.
What would you have done? Jesus’ call is always action-oriented. When we follow Jesus, it is a call to do something for his Kingdom. It is also a call to leave the past behind. How many of us try to follow Jesus without fully leaving our past commitments and issues behind?
Later on, at Matthew’s house, Jesus is dining with some of the less desirable folks in town. Scripture says he ate with tax collectors and sinners and those two groups were seen as pretty synonymous. This very much perturbs the religious people. How dare he cavort with such scum? But Jesus says that it is the sick people who need a physician, not the well. He came to call sinners.
My guess is that part of the Pharisees’ frustration is that Jesus seems to be simply be eating and drinking with the sinners, not providing treatment. But Jesus was all about relationship. I think we can learn a lot here. There were times in which Jesus preached and called for people to repent. There were times when Jesus performed miracles to demonstrate his power and authority. But much of the time, Jesus simply sat at the table with people and built relationships. It is through relationship that life change is most likely to happen.
Think about your own life. How have your grown the most in your spiritual walk? Was it through a sermon? Probably not. Was it through a Bible study? Again, maybe not. Was it through relationship with other Godly people who taught you, poured into you, and showed you the life of Christ? Most likely.
To effectively point people to Jesus, we have to first get to know them. Especially for those who have been hurt by the church or just by life, we have to earn the right to speak into their lives. Jesus did just that. And he was genuine and loving at the same time. My guess is there was no condemnation at that dinner table with Matthew and his friends. They were talking and getting to know one another. Maybe Jesus did a little teaching at times, but it was probably subtle. He was giving them the opportunity to get to know him, as he listened to them.
Who sits around your table? When is the last time you invited some people “on the fringe” to dine with you? How about unbelievers? How are you intentionally building relationships with those who don’t yet know Jesus?
Our text for today ends with a discussion on fasting. John’s disciples ask why Jesus’ disciples don’t fast like them. We don’t know if this is a dig but it kind of feels like one. Jesus responds with an analogy to a wedding feast. Fasting might be appropriate on some occasions, but certainly not at a wedding feast when the groom is right there. Right now, Jesus is with them. Thus, this isn’t the right time for fasting. It is time for feasting and enjoying his presence.
The point is that Jesus is with his disciples just as the wedding guests are with the groom. It is a time for celebration—not deprivation. It is a time to enjoy the relationship and absorb his teaching and example while they can. When the bridegroom is taken from them, there will be a time for fasting. As we know, that’s going to happen pretty soon.
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
June 5, 2025
Scripture - Matthew 8:18-34
Prayer: Dear God, We come to you today with sorrow. We know that we are sinful and broken. We know that we have fallen short. Lord, how we need you. Help us to grow closer to you. Help us seek holiness. Help us love others the way you love them. In these next few moments of silence, Lord, please help us set aside our scattered thoughts and focus on you... In Your Name, Amen.
Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, a Deep Dive into the Gospels and Acts. Today, we finish up Matthew, chapter 8. As always, I would love to hear from some of you. What are you learning? What has surprised you? What has distressed you? What have been your a-ha moments?
Matthew offers us a glimpse into the variety of miracles that Jesus performed, including physical healings, spiritual healings, and even miracles of nature (calming the storm.) In between those miracles, we find this brief interaction between Jesus and someone described as a teacher of the law and a would-be disciple. I would guess that by this time in Jesus’ ministry, there were all kinds of people hanging around him. There were those who were bedazzled by his teaching and miracles, there were those who were curious and seeking, and there were those who truly believed.
In a world before technology, I’m sure that Jesus was often the main show in town! All kinds of people crowded around him for many different reasons. Of course, Jesus knew this; he knew their levels of attachment to him varied. Thus, when a teacher of the law approaches him and says he will follow Jesus wherever he goes, Jesus gives a warning of sorts. Jesus has no ties to the things of this world. He does not even have a regular home, no place to lay his head at night. Those who follow him must be willing to give up ties to worldly things as well. Jesus must have known this man wasn’t ready to do so. Then, another would-be disciple implies that he wants to follow Jesus but he must first go bury his father. We don’t know if this means the man needed to literally bury his dead father, take care of a father who was old, or even simply take care of family affairs. But Jesus’ reaction is clear–discipleship is not something that Jesus wants someone to put off. The demands of the Kingdom are now, they are immediate.
Jesus heads to the other side of the lake. Remember, this means he was going from Jewish territory to Gentile territory. Jesus had a way of crossing all kinds of boundaries. It’s on their way across the lake (otherwise known as the Sea of Galilee) that a big storm comes up suddenly. You may recall from Mark that this body of water was known for sudden storms. And the boat that Jesus and his disciples were in was taking on water fast.
Where was Jesus? Well, he was in the boat but asleep. So the disciples cry out to him, Lord, save us! When Jesus wakes up, he scolds them for their lack of faith. It’s like he is saying, “Guys, we are you such cowards? You have seen my power and authority. You have seen what I can do. And yet, you are still afraid?” I can’t help but think he asks that of us as well. You have seen what I can do. I’ve shown up over and over again. And yet, you still have no faith? I mean, I’m right here in the boat with you. I’m not somewhere far off. I’m here, in the boat.
And then just like that, Jesus calms the storm. The wind and rain stop totally. The disciples are amazed and ask “Who is this guy? Even the winds and rain obey him.” So, who is this man? Who is this man to you?
To me, Jesus is God. Period.
I don’t want to close today without at least briefly talking about the healing of the two demon-possessed men. Jesus has gone across the lake for a purpose. There are people there who need healing. They are violent men who live in the tombs (a pretty horrible place to live.) And Jesus knows immediately that there are demons that need to come out of them. The demons themselves speak to Jesus and ask him to cast them into a herd of pigs. Jesus does so, and the pigs promptly drive themselves over a bank and into the lake to die.
You may notice that this miracle is different in Matthew than it is in Mark. In Mark (and Luke as well), there was one demon-possessed man who identified himself as Legion. In this chapter, we have two men. Does the difference matter? I would say no. Each author is choosing to emphasize different things. Matthew is demonstrating Jesus’ authority over a larger demonic presence. Think about it – there may have been a number of people living in the tombs and all of them were inflicted with the demonic. Mark, on the other hand, is focusing on individual life transformation and the personal invitation for the man to follow Jesus. The single man could have represented more people or been simply a single man. We don’t know.
What’s interesting to me in this passage is that the people aren’t moved by the healing, after all these men were healed of terrible existences. Nor do they ask Jesus questions, such as by what power he is healing. No, they immediately ask Jesus to leave. They are fearful of him. Think about it, why do you think they feared Jesus?
One last comment: true healing always starts with Jesus. In fact, there is no true healing without Jesus. And healing ourselves, our churches, and our land, begins with healing the wounds of our own heart. Before we can heal the many demons that our nation is facing, we must address the evil within ourselves. Friends, have you faced the evil within yourself? We have to admit where we have fallen short. And don’t think just the other side needs healing.
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
June 4, 2025
Day 3 of Week 9
Scripture – Matthew 8:1-17
Prayer: Almighty Father, Thank you that your mercies are new every morning. Thank you, that no matter what this week has held, we can come to you and start over. We are grateful for your forgiveness. We are so very grateful for your care and your love. Help us, Lord, to set aside our distractions, to set aside our scattered thoughts and focus on you right now. In these next few moments of silence, Lord, hear our prayers... In Your Name, Amen.
Welcome to the Daily Dose of Hope, a Deep Dive into the Gospels and Acts. Today is Wednesday, which means it is Recharge Day. Come join us at 6:30pm in the Garage for worship, prayer, fellowship, and small community. It’s one of my favorite times of the week! If you haven’t been, you are missing out.
Let’s move on to today’s Scripture. Today, we read about a lot of healing. Remember, Jesus is embodying what it means to live in the Kingdom of God. In God’s Kingdom, there is no sickness so Jesus heals.
We start our reading with this beautiful story of Jesus healing the man with leprosy. One of the striking aspects of this healing is that Jesus reaches out and touches the man. No one was allowed to touch someone with leprosy. They were basically pariahs. Jesus didn’t have to touch the man to heal him; he had healed others without touch. But Jesus chooses to touch him because Jesus’ healings were not just physical but also emotional and spiritual.
The healing was obviously life-changing in many ways. Even though Jesus asked him not to share, my guess is that he was overcome with how the power of God had worked in his life. Thus, he shared his story with all who would listen. "I was sick and my life was a mess. Then I met Jesus and he healed me. You need to meet him too!" How could he keep it to himself?
Next, we have the passage about the faith of the centurion. This is such a great text! One of the most interesting components of this story is that the centurion came up to Jesus at all. There is no indication that he was Jewish or that his servant was Jewish. Up until this point in Matthew, Jesus had only healed those of the Jewish faith. It’s also interesting that this Roman centurion cared so deeply for his servant. After all, the Roman soldiers were not known for their compassion. But this man traveled a long way to meet Jesus, humbly approach him, and ask for help.
When most of us approach this passage, our biggest takeaway is the faith of this man. And it’s impressive. He tells Jesus that he understands authority and chain of command because of his military experience. He knows that Jesus has authority enough to heal from afar. That is pretty incredible. The Jews don’t understand Jesus’ authority but this Roman soldier does.
But there is also the fact that this man does not feel worthy to have Jesus walk into his home. He is a soldier and has probably done plenty of things he isn’t proud of. He sees Jesus’ holiness and knows that he simply doesn’t measure up. His family doesn’t measure up. His sick servant doesn’t measure up. His self-awareness and humility are probably the most incredible part of the passage for me.
How many of us would feel worthy having Jesus in our home? What would our hesitations be?
Jesus, of course, is amazed by his faith. Jesus has all these Jewish disciples, Pharisees, and others around him. It’s the faith of the Roman centurion that he lifts up. I wonder if the others feel a bit slighted.
Faith in Jesus can often come from unexpected places. I remember when I worked more closely with homeless individuals that some of them had amazing, genuine, real faith. When have you seen faith in Jesus come from unexpected places?
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
June 3, 2025
Day 2 of Week 9
Scripture - Matthew 7:15-29
Prayer: Almighty God, Search our hearts today. Show us those places that we need to change. Show us where we aren’t fully devoted to you and your Kingdom. Lord, we need your wisdom and guidance. On our own, we falter and drift. Lord, we want to know you more. We want to be a living example of your love and holiness. Help us, Jesus. Amen.
Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional that complements the New Hope Daily Bible reading plan. Currently, we are doing a deep dive into the Gospels and Acts. Today, we finish up Matthew 7. This is our last day covering the Sermon on the Mount.
Today’s scripture starts with a discussion of true and false teachers. Jesus uses the analogy of wolves in sheep clothing to describe false teachers/prophets. They look good on the outside, like really righteous and smart people, but inside they are deceptive and even evil. They aren’t batting for the right team.
False teachers have been an issue in the faith for 2000 years. Even today, we need to be really careful about the voices we allow to speak into our lives. This is the importance of knowing Scripture, being intimately familiar with the whole Biblical narrative. Know your Bible! And be careful. There are two things I tend to watch out for like a hawk. First, I am always skeptical of people who take a piece of Scripture and want to plop it down into our lives in 2025 with no context or interpretation. All kinds of horrors have been justified this way. Run, don't walk, away from these people! Second, I am incredibly wary of people who add to Scripture. Yes, this is true but... and then there is something else. If something doesn’t seem right to you then it might not be. Be prepared to do your own research, searching the whole Bible for what God says on a specific topic.
Jesus then moves to true and false disciples. This one is a little scary. Jesus says that some people will say, “Lord, Lord, we did all this spiritual stuff in your name...” but they will not enter the Kingdom of Heaven. What does Jesus mean by this? Obviously, a false anything is usually bad. But false disciples? Can people pretend to be Christ-followers but not really be believers? And, if so, are these false disciples aware they are faking it, or do some of them genuinely believe they are biblical Christians?
After researching this, it seems these false disciples were doing Christiany things but weren’t really Christians. They weren’t doing the will of the Father. Maybe they were trying to earn salvation. They were doing good works, but all for the wrong reasons. We aren’t given a lot of details. Bottom line is that we don’t earn a spot in heaven. We are saved by grace though faith in Jesus Christ alone. Good works are a result of the work of God within us. These “false disciples” are people who were really mixed up about what it means to be a disciple of Jesus or they possibly knew but weren’t willing to commit their lives to Jesus.
The Sermon on the Mount closes with a serious spiritual warning about faith in Jesus. The wise person is the one who hears the words of Jesus and heeds them. The result of this kind of obedience is security. The house does not fall because it is built on a strong, solid, unwavering foundation in Jesus. That doesn’t mean the house won’t be knocked around a bit by the weather events of life but it will NOT fall down.
On the other hand, the foolish person is one who hears the words of Jesus and does not heed them. That person builds their house on sand and we all know what happens to sand when a terrible storm comes–erosion! Sand is not a solid foundation. The result of a life built on anything other than Jesus is erosion/destruction.
The teachings of the Sermon on the Mount provide followers of Jesus with wonderful practical guidance on what it looks like to be his disciple. This final teaching, as hard as it is, sums it all up–a life built on the solid foundation of Jesus yields safety and eternal security. A person who chooses to build their life on worldly security will ultimately face death and destruction.
There really isn’t a way to sugar coat this and frankly, we should not even try. Jesus speaks with great clarity–we have a choice.
What do you choose?
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
June 2, 2025
Day 1 of Week 9
Scripture – Matthew 7:1-14
Prayer: Abba Father, We come to you today with gratitude. Thank you for loving us. Thank you for wanting a relationship with us. Thank you for never leaving our side. Help us to follow you more closely, Lord. We need your truth. We need your guidance and direction. With every fiber of our being, we need you. As we read your Word today and reflect on it, Lord, speak to us. Help us grow closer to you. Let us know where we are falling short so that we can be the people you have called us to be. In Your Name, Amen.
Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, a Deep Dive into the Gospels and Acts. Happy Monday! Yesterday, we had a big baptism celebration at New Hope and it was such an amazing event. We had roughly 30 people get baptized or remember their baptisms between the English and Spanish-speaking congregations. What a day of joy, as we celebrate new life in Christ!
Today and tomorrow we are finishing up the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus has been teaching us that while outward actions matter, what really matters to God is our heart. We are to behave and think fundamentally different from the world around us. Up until this point, we have learned about the different groups that God honors, such as the poor in spirit, the merciful, and those who are persecuted for belief in Jesus. We’ve learned about what it means to be salt and light in our world, pointing others to Jesus. We have also talked a lot about how Jesus took concepts like divorce, adultery, giving to the needy, fasting, and prayer, and turned them on their heads. Jesus is raising the bar for his people.
Today, the teaching is just as difficult and yet, critically important. The first portion of the chapter deals with judging others. Judgement is something that has gotten Christians in a lot of trouble with the world around us. In fact, being judged by Christians is one of the main reasons people say they have avoided the church or left the church. This should be heart-breaking to all of us. Something has gone terribly wrong.
Jesus is saying you will be judged by the same measure you use to judge others. Think about this. How do you want to be judged? I can tell you that I want to be judged with mercy and compassion. Jesus talks about not trying to take the speck out of a friend’s eye without taking the plank out of our own. Why do we obsess over others’ specks, over their short-comings? Well, because it’s easier, it’s more fun, but most of all we feel so much better about ourselves when we point out someone else’s stuff. It distracts me from dealing with my own stuff. I wonder if sometimes we don’t even notice the plank hanging from our own eye. Maybe we just aren’t very self-aware or we don’t want to be self-aware. We are happy being ignorant about our own issues.
Jesus brings up hypocrisy again. It’s worth a review. A hypocrite is someone who is more concerned with what’s wrong with someone else than what’s wrong with themselves. Urban dictionary has three definitions:1) A person who engages in the same behaviors he condemns others for. (2) A person who professes certain ideals, but fails to live up to them. (3) A person who holds other people to higher standards than he holds himself. Sounds about right. And as Christians, we have often been accused of hypocrisy. Some of it has been fairly earned.
Jesus is saying, before you start pointing out other people’s issues, examine yourself. Stop to see where you have traces of sin in your own life. We all have it. Sometimes when we notice sin in the lives of other people, it’s time to do a self-examination. We need to examine our own behavior, speech, and thoughts. We have to look deep in our own hearts and see what we need to fix. Just FYI – we all have something to fix.
So do we just stop there? No. Following Jesus means we never stop with what’s in it for us. Sure, we’ve looked at someone else and seen their mess and it’s been a big signpost to what’s wrong in our lives. But that is not where it ends. Jesus says, “First get rid of the log in your own eye; THEN you will see well enough to deal with speck in your friend’s eye.” This is where it gets really hard.
One of the main points of Jesus’ ministry was teaching his followers to love each other. Love your neighbor. Love one other. John 13:34-35, So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples. This teaching on judgement is not just about letting people do whatever they want, about never confronting people. Judge not is not just about letting people live and think and speak in whatever way they want to because, well, Jesus said “Don’t judge others.” It is so much more than that.
It’s not just about dealing with our own stuff either, although we do need to do that. When we see others’ issues, it should be an impetus for us to look at ourselves and say, “Do I have that issue? Am I addressing it? What issues do I have that I need to address? What do I need to do to become more like the person Jesus wants me to me?” This is called being self-aware, knowing where your weaknesses are, and trying to deal with them.
But Jesus’ lesson on not judging is more than that. We deal with the log in your own eye and then we may need to approach someone else about the speck in their eye. Part of loving others well is holding other believers accountable. We need each other. Judge not does not mean care not. It doesn’t mean act not. It doesn’t mean don’t get involved. We need to keep our motives in check and be humble, but there will be times in Christian community where we truly need to get involved and let others know that while we care about them, they are off the mark.
Moving on in the passage, Jesus then teaches about praying expectantly. This is the ask, seek, knock passage and many of you have probably heard this a lot. It’s powerful. But does this mean that if we ask, God will give us whatever we want. Not exactly. But it does mean to pray expectantly; pray expecting that God will us an answer.
This can be a difficult scripture to teach. Some of you might be thinking, “Well, I prayed for my mother, or my son, or my husband to be healed and I prayed both persistently and expectantly, and it didn’t work. They still died.” How do we make sense of this? I believe that part of it is understanding the context. Just as Jesus often used parables in his teaching he also used hyperbole in his speech, which is an overstatement or an exaggeration. This was a really common way of explaining things at that time, in that culture, and it would have just made a lot of sense to first-century people. We, on the other hand, are products of twenty-first century modern life. In our culture, we tend to read everything very literally. And this isn’t a bad thing–we just need to consider that Jesus was trying to make a point.
The reality is that this world would be even more chaotic if Jesus’ words on prayer were actually meant to be taken literally. For instance, if we could just pray to have money and it appeared, well, then why work a job? If we could just pray to have an A on that Calculus test without studying for it, then everyone would have A’s and grades wouldn’t really have much meaning. That doesn’t mean we don’t pray, and it doesn’t mean we don’t pray boldly, because God intends for us to do so. He says to pray without ceasing. But it means we know that prayer isn’t a get rich quick scheme or a way to get all our dreams to come true, but rather a way to get closer to God, a way for God to sustain us, a way to know that God is always with us. Pray expectantly because prayer does change things, but not always the way we want them to be changed. Pray expectantly because God always answers prayers, sometimes just not the way we want them to be answered.
The last few verses in today’s reading are short but powerful. Jesus tells his listeners to enter through the narrow gate. This means following him and his ways. Most people will enter through the wide gate. On first glance, the wide gate seems easier. It’s the way of the world, it’s living for yourself, it’s doing what you want when you want and how you want. Less people choose the narrow gate but it’s that road that leads to Jesus which leads to life.
This Scripture always reminds me of Robert Frost’s poem, The Road Not Taken. Many of you probably know it. I would close with the poem except for Frost was a complicated man who was never that clear about his faith. He had some kind of belief but never professed Jesus as Savior. I think he struggled with this narrow door/wide door issue. And there really isn’t anything more important in life, getting the doors and roads correct. Yet, elements of Frost’s work point to exactly what Jesus is saying, “Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference.”
Which door have you chosen? Which road will you pursue?
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
May 30, 2025
Day 5 of Week 8
Scripture – Matthew 6:19-34
Prayer: Holy God, We rejoice in your name today. You are almighty and wise, the Alpha and the Omega. You are the one who was, and is, and is to come. We give you all the glory and praise. Help us now, Lord, gather our scattered thoughts and focus on you. In these next few moments of silence, hear our prayers... In Your Name, Amen.
Welcome back, everyone, to the Daily Dose of Hope, a Deep Dive into the Gospels and Acts. Happy Friday!
Today, we are finishing up Matthew 6, as we continue to work through Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. He is continuing to preach on the importance of not just our outward actions, but our heart. He begins by talking about fasting. Don’t be like the hypocrites when they fast because they let everyone know how miserable they are. Again, a warning about being hypocritical. Between yesterday and today, we are definitely seeing a theme. Don’t be the kind of person who does one thing but your heart is far from God. Those who are fasting to honor God will do so discreetly, so that no one will know. Fasting is between you and God. It isn’t something to gloat about. It’s about increasing our dependence and focus on God, seeking his will, or interceding on behalf of others in prayer. It’s not about attention and others’ approval. God always knows our hearts.
Then, Jesus moves onto treasures in heaven. Don’t store up things here on earth because earthly things simply do not last. Besides, all of our stuff has a way of tethering our heart to earth. Material things get a hold of us. And there is always more stuff to get. Whether we are rich or poor, there is always something else to buy.
It may seem like these earthly things are substantial and important and lasting, but they will eventually go away. But there is treasure that cannot be lost…that which is stored up in heaven. What does Jesus mean here? To store up treasure in heaven is to invest in those things which will have lasting effects for eternity, things that make a different for the Kingdom. While earthly treasure depreciates in value, heavenly treasure appreciates. We invest in Kingdom things and God takes that investment and multiplies it. Remember, God’s economy is different. He takes our little heavenly investment and makes it huge in his Kingdom. Think loaves and fishes, or the mustard seed, or the yeast.
Jesus has a way of saying things with embarrassing directness. No mincing words with Jesus. Might he really be asking us “So where are you building up your treasure?” Jesus doesn’t specifically define treasure here and my guess is he did that on purpose because for each of us, it’s going to be different but it’s clearly what we value and invest in.” It’s what we are holding onto. What is it you hold onto? I mean, we all have something. And why do you think that is?
I have to remind myself, sometimes over and over again, that none of “my stuff” is really mine at all truly belongs to God. This is hard; it goes against everything society and culture teaches us. In fact, right now you might be thinking, but I’m the one who earned this money. I’m the one who made this sacrifice or earned this degree or did this or that to have a nice salary, to buy a home, to purchase a nice vehicle. You might be thinking that really, “I did this on my own.” Deut. 8:17 says, “You may say to yourself, ‘My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me,’ But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth…” Despite how economically self-sufficient we think we are, God created us and it is God who gives us the ability to work, the ability to earn money, the ability to provide a living for our families…all we have is his; we are not independent from him. Jesus is certainly pointing to this truth.
As Jesus closes his teaching on money, he flows right into a discussion on worry. It points to the relationship between money and worry. When we don’t have enough money, we tend to worry. When we have a lot of money, we tend to worry about its safekeeping or what we will spend it on.
Think about the first listeners to this teaching. Most would have been quite poor and truly just living hand to mouth. And to this group, who we might think had legitimate cause to be seriously anxious, Jesus tells them not to worry about the basic things of the world. God’s going to take care of them.
I once read that 98% of the things we worry about never come to fruition. Worry, my friends, is a royal waste of time. It is useless. It causes us serious distress and steals today’s joy. I am not saying this because I have somehow mastered the art of not worrying. I worry way too much but I am working on it. I recognize that the root of worry is a lack of trust in God. Thus, we all must make a decision every day to trust God. It’s a lifestyle of constantly giving things to God, and being intentional about not taking them back.
Which worries do you need to give to God today?
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
May 29, 2025
Day 4 of Week 8
Scripture – Matthew 6:1-18
Prayer: Lord, We come to you today with humble hearts. Help us think less of ourselves and more about others. Help us focus more on you, and less on our own wants. It is our inclination to complain and whine. Forgive us, Lord. We need you. More of you and less of me. In Your Name, Amen.
Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional that complements the New Hope bible reading plan. We are currently going through the Gospels and the book of Acts. Today, we look at the first half of Matthew 6. We are continuing to study the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus is giving us this beautiful picture of what it means to follow him --- your outward actions matter but so does your heart. Citizens of heaven act differently. There is a different way of living, a new way of being human, one in which is drastically different from the ways of the world.
The first portion of the Scripture from chapter 6 speaks about giving to the needy. Don’t give like the hypocrites who want attention and honor. Rather, give quietly and discreetly. I’ve had a few acquaintances over the years who really loved to talk about all the wonderful causes they gave to and all the wonderful ways they served. It was hard to listen to. Maybe you have been there. Jesus is basically saying that our giving is an act of the heart. It's between us and God.
The next portion of the Scripture talks about prayer. Jesus again speaks of the hypocrites, those who pray loudly in the temple courts and how they have already received their reward – the attention and adoration of on-lookers. The word hypocrite refers to a play actor on a stage; these people were acting out a part, looking for attention, looking for people to think they were so holy, they were seeking to impress others with their prayers. Jesus was saying don’t be like that – prayer is not about getting attention. It’s about a connection with God.
The world tells us that it’s influence and approval that matters. Jesus says not so in the Kingdom of God. Pray should be sincere and intentional.
Thus, Jesus gives us a pattern of prayer that allows us to be very intentional. We call this the Lord’s Prayer. We say this almost every week as a family of faith. This doesn’t mean we have to pray exactly like this, but this provides an outline or guideline for us to follow. Let’s unpack this.
Jesus starts the prayer this way, “Our Father in heaven...” This first line encourages us to start our prayer with some words about who God is to you - God is my father. We tend to think of heaven as far off place, but in Greek, the word heaven was equivalent to the sky and all that is in it. So God is my father who is close to me.
And then he continues, “hallowed be your name.” This is acknowledging that God is holy, he is worthy, and we give thanks for all he has done for us and all he has blessed us with.
Jesus then says, “your kingdom come...” Remember, God’s Kingdom was the way God always intended his world to be, a place where Jesus is ruler and his values are in practice. These are values like love, justice, mercy, righteousness, and so forth. So God, help me be part of making your Kingdom a reality right here, right now.
Then we have, “your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” What you might notice is that using this outline that Jesus offers us, we haven’t asked God for anything yet! There’s been no list of stuff we want or need, we are just affirming who God is, thanking him, and praying that we can be part of making his will a reality here on earth.
Then, we get to the asking. Jesus continues, “Give us today our daily bread.” Please notice, we aren’t asking for filet mignon, it’s give us today our daily bread. It’s provide us what we need for today. I think this is where we struggle in western culture. We tend to ask for a lot of wants rather than needs. I include myself in that one.
The next line Jesus offers us is this, And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. This is acknowledging that unconfessed sin gets in the way of our relationship with God. Unforgiveness does the same. It breeds bitterness, it’s like a poison that seeps throughout the body. We have to take care of that to ensure our connection with God and others.
And finally, Jesus closes with, “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.” Although God isn’t the one who tempts us, here we recognize that we are easily tempted.
In the second century, the early church added a closing portion from 2 Samuel that said, “For thine is the Kingdom and the glory and the power forever.” This just provides one more reminder that it is not about me but about God – it’s HIS Kingdom, not mine, HIS glory, not mine, and HIS power.
Again, this was not meant to be legalistic but to provide an intentional structure for our genuine, sincere prayer.
What are your big takeaways about prayer from these scriptures? What has resonated most with you.
Take a moment and think about all of Jesus’ teachings from the Sermon on the Mount thus far. What has made the biggest impact on you?
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
May 28, 2025
Day 3 of Week 8
Scripture - Matthew 5:38-48
Prayer: Almighty Father, Thank you for loving us despite our many faults. Thank you for showing us a different way of doing life. Help us seek holiness in all we do. Help us become the people you desire us to be. As we work through today’s Scripture and devotional, I pray that you speak to our hearts. Help us see things differently. We want to hear from you. In Your Name, Amen.
Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, a Deep Dive into the Gospels and Acts. Today, we are back in the Sermon on the Mount and learning more about what it means to live in the Kingdom of God. We are finishing up Matthew 5.
The first portion of this Scripture is regarding an eye for an eye. It was said an eye for an eye, but now I tell you to turn the other cheek. I want to be clear, Jesus is not saying that we should never resist those who are trying to harm us. He isn’t say to be Christian doormats.
The Old Testament law about taking an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth actually promoted justice rather than vengeance. If someone gives you a black eye, you can’t then break their leg or kill them. Jesus was also all about justice. What exactly is he requiring of us?
Let’s talk about what it means to turn the other cheek. We think of a slap as a pretty terrible thing. If someone slapped me, I would really be taken aback and consider it an assault. Not so much in Jesus’ day. A slap on the cheek would have been an insult but not an assault. Jesus specifically mentioned a right-cheek slap, which would have indicated a backhand slap. That was a real insult, it was the kind of slap someone would give to a person beneath them. It was patronizing and demoralizing. By turning the other cheek, it challenged the offender to now strike the left cheek with an open palm. And open palm slap, at that time, was something done to an equal. Basically, turning the other cheek means that the victim is not taking the backhanded slap as a form of condescending shame. They will face their offender face on, forcing them to either back down or treat them as an equal.
Then, we have Jesus saying that if someone wants to sue you for your shirt, give them your coat as well. The shirt would have been the inner garment and the coat the outer garment. The Old Testament law allowed someone, usually a poor person, to use their coat as collateral for a loan. But it also required the lender to give it back by nighttime in case they get cold. To give up the coat voluntarily would have been extraordinary. Jesus is challenging people to think creatively in responding to an evildoer. It forces the greedy person to confront what they doing. It also provides a stark contrast between the one who is greedy and the one who is exceedingly generous. In God’s Kingdom, generosity is the virtue.
This is the thing: In God’s Kingdom, things are turned upside down. We don’t respond to violence with more violence or greed with more greed. We resist those things in creative ways. This does not mean being victims or getting walked all over. It means asserting power differently.
One of the most intriguing of the teachings is to love our enemies. This would have been unheard of in first-century Palestine. Love your enemies? What? Jesus’ basis for this teaching is founded in God’s own nature. God is, first and foremost, a God of love. He gives sun and rain to the good and the evil alike. He does not discriminate. Nor should we. The Pharisees cast judgment on others but we are not to do the same. We should seek to be perfect, as God is perfect, to have a heart willing to love those who seem to be unlovable.
Be honest with yourself. Who have you deemed unlovable? Spend some time with God reconciling this.
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
May 27, 2025
Day 2 of Week 8
Scripture - Matthew 5:13-37
Prayer: Holy God, We rejoice and give praise for the ways you care for us. We rejoice and give praise for how you continue to forgive us and give us second and third chances. Help us seek lives characterized by your holiness. Help us seek pure hearts. Lord, in these next few moments of silence, hear our prayers and help us bring together all our scattered thoughts and focus on you...It’s in your name we pray, Amen.
Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, a Deep Dive into the Gospels and Acts. Today, we are working on part 2 of Matthew 5, as we continue to discuss the Sermon on the Mount.
Today’s portion of Scripture begins with a discussion of salt and light. Jesus tells his followers, “You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its taste, with what can it be seasoned? It is no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.” During Jesus’ time, salt was extremely important. It was a seasoning, a preservative, a disinfectant, a component of ceremonial offerings, and because of its value, it was even used as a unit of exchange.
So what is Jesus saying here? He is telling his followers that God’s people should add some flavor and value to this world. If salt loses its saltiness or flavor, then it’s useless. If we lose our ability to change or influence the world, then are we useless? Well, we certainly lose what is at the heart of being a Christ-follower - making a difference for the Kingdom. We are meant to change the world around us for the better in the name of Jesus Christ.
Jesus continues, “You are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden.” Salt improves food because it tastes different from what its being placed on. In the same way, light is useful to have because it is different from darkness. Light casts out darkness. Light makes a difference. If light is hidden, it loses what makes it valuable. Likewise, if we fail to be different in a positive way from the culture around us, then we are Christians in name only.
So what does this mean in practical ways? Well, we are to be change agents, going out and doing all we can to bring God’s Kingdom values here, right now. Remember what we say in the Lord’s Prayer, “His kingdom come, his will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” The disciples and the early Christian church took these words seriously. The early Christian church lived in a way, lived a lifestyle, that was so distinctly different from the world, that the world could not help but notice it. They lived out the values of the Kingdom. Acts 2:42-47 reads, “They devoted themselves to the apostles teaching and to fellowship, the the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” The earliest Christians were completely transformed by the teachings of Jesus Christ and his values. They were salt and they were light, they added true value and made a significant difference.
Here's several questions for us to consider today. How are we, as modern-day Christians, salt and light for a hurting world? How are we similar to the early church and how are we different? What are some concrete steps you can take today to be salt and light in your world?
Then, Matthew chose to include Jesus’ teaching on the fulfillment of the law. He came not to change the law but to fulfill it. But what does that mean? Jesus is not talking about the law in the sense of the 613 rules that must be followed by faithful Jews. If we think about this teaching being in the context of the Sermon on the Mount, in which Jesus in giving his followers specific guidelines for what it means to relate to God and others in the Kingdom, then that helps. Afterall, the law and the prophets have long described relating to God and other people in a loving, just way. Here, Jesus is saying that he will obey the law, but he really is fulfilling it by fulfilling the whole Biblical story.
Ever since Adam and Eve sinned in the garden, God was on a mission to redeem his creation. The law couldn’t do it because humans couldn’t keep it. We are just too sinful. The law demonstrated to us just how messy and broken we are. Jesus was the solution to our brokenness. Jesus was the solution to humanity’s deepest problems. He was the final sacrifice for sin – he very much fulfilled the law, he fulfilled the whole Biblical story, by providing a solution to our sin and victory over death. The law wasn’t intended to be the end all be all. Jesus was intended to be the end all be all.
I want to leave a little time to cover what Jesus said about murder and adultery. Both of these teachings show some unique aspects of life under the Kingdom of God. They follow a similar pattern. It was said...but now I tell you this... Jesus is presenting his followers with a whole new way of looking at the world. He isn’t dismissing the Old Testament teaching, he is simply reinterpreting it.
In the case of murder, it was said that you should not commit murder, but Jesus is saying that you shouldn’t even be angry with a brother or sister. Don’t call someone names, forgive frequently, and settle disputes quickly. That is the way of life in God’s Kingdom. If we act differently, then it’s not God’s Kingdom we are part of.
In the case of adultery, it was said you should not commit adultery, but Jesus is saying that you can’t look at another person lustfully if they aren’t your spouse. And then there is this really hard teaching about gouging out an eye if it causes you to sin or lopping off a hand if it causes you to sin. I’m quite sure this was hyperbole because we don’t have too many reports of one-eyed, one-handed believers of Jesus in the first century.
But in all of these things, Jesus is making a point. What is in your heart matters. It isn’t just outward behavior that matters to God, but the purity of your heart.
So, here are our final questions for us today and they are not easy ones. What is the state of your heart? Are you harboring anger, bitterness, or unforgiveness, toward someone? It is time to spend some time with God and work through that. Is lust something you struggle with? It is time to spend some time with God and work through that too. Our hearts matter, friends. They matter a lot.
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
May 26, 2025
Day 1 of Week 8
Scripture - Matthew 5:1-12
Prayer: Almighty God, We come to you today with humble hearts. We are broken and we need you. Help us set aside our scattered thoughts and focus on you this morning. Help us set aside distractions so we might hear your voice. In these next few moments of silence, Lord, help us just focus on Jesus...In Your Name, Amen.
Welcome back, everyone, to the Daily Dose of Hope, a Deep Dive into the Gospels and Acts. Today, we begin the Sermon on the Mount, a block of Jesus’ teaching that is pretty life-changing; these are teachings that emphasize purity of heart. While the Sermon on the Mount runs neatly from chapter 5-7 in Matthew’s Gospel, the reality is that this teaching probably took place over several days. Matthew then organized it into sections and presented it in a way that he felt made the most sense, emphasizing the most critical parts of Jesus’ teaching.
I want us to think about to whom Jesus was speaking. He was on a mountain, preaching mainly to Jewish farmers and laborers, people who had truly been hurt by the Roman oppression. They are tired of being bullied, mistreated, and facing such a heavy tax burden. Those who live in Galilee were often seen as unclean by the Pharisees and Sadducees, as well, because of their ethnic diversity. These are people who are being hit hard from all sides. They are eagerly awaiting the Messiah, the one who will save them.
The portion of Scripture we are covering today is called the Beatitudes. The word “beatitude” means to be blessed. And when we dig further, the term blessed is to be full of honor. So, contrary to what culture says, Jesus is saying these specific groups are to be honored. In the Kingdom of God, groups that would not normally be honored will be. God’s economy is different. That being said, who does Jesus say should be honored?
-The poor in spirit – This may include those who were economically poor (most of Jesus’ audience would have been) but also those who were socially poor, such as without family or standing. When you were poor, you were not able to defend what was yours. The poor in spirit also indicates people who are humble, dependent on God, and have a desperate need for him. This would not have been a group that the culture at large would have found honorable at all, but Jesus says they will gain the Kingdom of Heaven.
-Those who mourn – In a society such as theirs, mourning would have been a fairly common experience. Death and illness would be have been a regular occurrence. It is estimated that half of all children died before their first birthday. The life expectancy was around 35 but that number is skewed because of the high level of child deaths. Basically, there were a lot of grieving moms. Jesus says that those who mourn are worthy of honor and will be comforted.
-The meek – Those who are meek demonstrate strength and integrity through gentle, kind, submissive behavior. They are not aggressive. This would not have been an attribute the rest of society would have honored and yet, Jesus does. He says they will inherit the earth.
-Those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, the merciful, the pure at heart, the peacemakers, and those who are persecuted for righteousness – I recognize that these attributes are not all the same but for the sake of today’s discussion, I’m going to lump this group together. These people would have been justice-seekers. They speak up for the vulnerable. To be a peacemaker is one who actively works to resolve conflicts. To be merciful is to extend forgiveness to those who have wronged you. All require a certain humility and purity of heart to care for others more than yourself. And Jesus highly values them.
Jesus closes out this section by saying that there is another group who should also be honored – those who experience persecution for his sake; those who are insulted or harmed because of their faith in Jesus. Great is their reward in heaven. I think about the people of great faith over many centuries who have been burned at the stake, fed to hungry lions, or been sentenced to death by firing squad. Many who should have been honored were killed. Such is the state of our broken world. Let’s remember those Christians around the globe who are still being persecuted. And Jesus himself said it would occur.
What are we to make of the beatitudes? They certainly give us a barometer of sorts for our own lives. How is your heart? What are the things you really value? Do you put the needs of others before yourself? Are you merciful? Do you stand up for the vulnerable (not just in theory but in practical ways)? Do you sit with those who mourn so they will receive Jesus’ comfort through you? Are you humble?
Today’s devotional isn’t that long. I hope you will take some time to read through the Beatitudes again. Think about every group that Jesus says will be honored. Are you part of that group? Do you honor those attributes? These go contrary to what our society honors as well. But we are to be different. Dig deep here, friends.
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
May 23, 2025
Day 5 of Week 8
Scripture - Matthew 4:12-25
Prayer: Holy God, We come to you today with expectancy. We need to hear your voice. We need to feel your presence. Lord Jesus, we know that we are weak. Our lives are incomplete and empty without you. Our world is nothing without you. Help us go through this day remembering that we belong to you. With your Spirit in us, we have power. With your Spirit in us, we can be bold and courageous. We give you our day, Lord. Amen.
Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, a Deep Dive into the Gospels and Acts. Happy Friday, everyone! Today, we are finishing up Matthew, chapter 4.
Jesus’ public ministry begins after his time in the wilderness and after the arrest of John the Baptist. We don’t know how Jesus felt about John’s arrest, as Matthew doesn’t give us that information, but we know they were first cousins and may have been close. We also know that John’s arrest foreshadows Jesus’ own.
The Scripture for today says that Jesus moves from Nazareth to Capernaum. Could it have been John’s imprisonment that led Jesus to move? We don’t really know. Capernaum was a fishing town on the Sea of Galilee and it becomes Jesus’ base of operations. It’s strategic location also allowed Jesus to reach a wider audience and travel more easily. Matthew points out that what Jesus was doing was also a fulfillment of prophecy from Isaiah 9. Remember, Matthew is weaving in this theme of Jesus as the Messiah from the line of David, the one who the Jews have been waiting for.
Next, Jesus begins to call his first disciples. I think it’s hard for us to imagine how abruptly these four men responded to Jesus. While there was probably more back story here that we aren’t privy to, the reality is that they left everything to follow Jesus. They left all human sources of security, all human goals and aspirations to respond to a call by God. They left their jobs and probably their families to respond to a call, and did so as far as we can tell, without hesitation or doubt.
Could we do the same? God calls each and every one of us but we still hold on to various aspects of the world. How often do we fully and completely let go of everything to simply follow Jesus? This is the demand of the kingdom of God–turn away from the kingdom of the world and give all to a bigger, deeper purpose. Stop worrying so much about fishing for money, power, or admiration and simply fish for people. We may live 2000 years later but this is our mission and call as well. Do you believe this? Are you ready to say yes?
It's right after this that Jesus begins his ministry. He travels around the region to heal the sick and proclaims the Kingdom of God. He preached in synagogues too. But all kinds of people followed Jesus. It says those from Syria, Judea, Jerusalem, and even the Decapolis (those would have been the pagans), brought their sick to Jesus and then followed him. That means very early on, there were both Jews and Gentiles who were getting a picture of God’s Kingdom. Very early on, Jesus was crossing boundaries.
Let’s end by talking a bit about the Kingdom. What does it mean that Jesus was proclaiming the Kingdom of God? This is actually a really important point. Bear with me here, because I’m going to go back a bit. God’s mission from the beginning was to redeem his world and restore it to its intended purpose.
We see throughout scripture how God’s plan unfolds. First, he pours himself into the nation of Israel, revealing his character, shaping a new kind of people. But, if you’ve read the Old Testament, you know what happens. Israel repeatedly disobeys God and eventually rebels against God until there is no turning back. And just when we think all is lost, God speaks through the prophets and the next part of his mission begins to unfold. He says, “It may seem like things are hopeless now but they aren’t because someday, I’m going to send someone who will restore the people of Israel to me. This person will be a light to the Gentiles, and will bring my salvation to the ends of the earth and it will be obvious once more that your God reigns.” Then, 600 years after that prophecy in Isaiah, in God’s perfect timing, his mission becomes more full and complete through the person of Jesus Christ who fulfilled this promise of reconciliation and “making things right again.”
Central to Jesus’ ministry was the announcement of God’s reign, that God’s Kingdom was here. Think about Mark 1:15, Jesus says, “The time promised by God has come at last!” In Luke 4, we read that Jesus announces, “The Kingdom of God is near! Repent of your sins and believe the Good News!” and then later in that same chapter, “I must proclaim the good news of the Kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent.” Because that is why he was sent - to proclaim the GOOD NEWS of the Kingdom of God.
So what is the Kingdom of God? Sorry it took me so long to get here. The Kingdom of God is anywhere that God reigns and his values are at work, anywhere where the world is working in the way that God always intended it to work. This means the Kingdom of God is present when values like justice, mercy, forgiveness, hope for the poor and oppressed, compassion, righteousness, are lived out by God’s people.
What Jesus was saying, and I want you to understand how radical and revolutionary this was at the time, is that the Kingdom of God is here. He was saying that he represents the Kingdom. He represents a new way of doing life, a new way of being human, a way of doing life that demonstrates the reign of God. And so everything he does–all his miracles, all his parables---they were all intended to show what the Kingdom of God is like, what the new way of being human is all about.
Why did Jesus feed people? Because in God’s Kingdom, in the kind of world that God always intended for us to have, there is no hunger. In God’s Kingdom, there is no sickness, so Jesus healed people. In God’s Kingdom, there is no discrimination, so he elevated the status of those who were rejected by society. He ate with the people that everyone else hated–the tax collectors and the prostitutes–because in God’s Kingdom, every single human life has value. In God’s Kingdom, there is justice, mercy, and love. Thus, he offered acceptance. He offered love in everything he did, ultimately giving up his life in the greatest act of love in the history of the world.
Jesus’ ministry was not just about getting individuals right with God. That was part of it but certainly the good news of the Kingdom is more than “you can go to heaven when you die.” It’s “you can be reconciled to God now. You can live under the reign of Christ and live life abundant.” Yes, Christ came to ensure individual salvation but it was one part of something much bigger. By dying on the cross and being raised from the dead, there was final victory over sin and the barrier between heaven and earth was broken for good.
Enough for today. You can see I might be just a teensy bit passionate about this.
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
May 22, 2025
Day 4 of Week 8
Scripture – Matthew 4:1-11
Prayer: Holy and Almighty Father, We come to you today with humble hearts. We know we are broken and need you. We are weak. We are vulnerable to temptation. Lord, fill us with your strength. Give us your stamina and wisdom. We can’t do this life without you, Lord. It’s in the powerful name of Jesus we pray, Amen.
Welcome back, everyone, to the daily devotional that complements New Hope Church’s Bible reading plan. This is the Daily Dose of Hope, a Deep Dive into the Gospels and Acts.
Today, we begin Matthew 4.
In the first portion of this chapter, Jesus is led into the wilderness by the Spirit to be tempted by Satan. The Judean wilderness doesn’t look like a forest, by any means. Rather, it is dry, rocky, and hot. It is more like a desert with rocks. Let’s start by envisioning that.
The first big question is why did the Spirit lead Jesus into the wilderness knowing what would happen? We can assume that this is part of getting Jesus ready for his public ministry. Jesus has the credentials and the authority, but now he gets to have the experience of coming face to face with evil. Consider this: He has just been baptized and the Spirit is with him. Afterall, the Spirit didn’t leave him in the desert. But he then allows himself to be made weak with lack of food. Remember, Jesus was God but he was also human. He allows himself to be made physically weak for this purpose – to demonstrate that he could still resist temptation.
Now, he is ready to face his main adversary. And as you read this, notice that the devil is never in control of the situation. Jesus is. He may be weak, tired and hungry, but he is totally in control. Jesus is strong and ready for each and every temptation. In this scene, Jesus gives us a powerful picture of how to go into a spiritual battle, leaning totally and completely on the Word of God.
What were the temptations? There is the temptation to make stones into bread (remember, he was fasting), the temptation to hurl himself down from the top of the Temple and have God rescue him, and the temptation to have political leadership over all the Kingdoms of the world. Satan’s temptations get immediately to the core question of Jesus’ identity, calling into question his relationship with God by beginning with, “If you are the Son of God….” This relationship, announced earlier at his baptism, is now confirmed through Jesus’ unwavering trust in God.
These temptations in the wilderness are not one-time experiences, they are tests that are preparing Jesus for his earthly ministry. Jesus is going to be confronted with all kinds of evil. He will cast out demons. He will battle Satan on many fronts. He will face all kinds of physical and emotional pain. Think about the cross. This is good news for us. Jesus has, after all, already gone before us into the most forsaken places in the wilderness. Jesus has been tempted and won the victory over temptation and Satan. We can too, with his help. But he isn’t asking us to go anywhere he hasn’t already been.
Spiritual warfare is real. At least a quarter of Jesus’ ministry dealt specifically with the conflict between the Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of darkness. Jesus was God with flesh on and he came to crush Satan under his feet. On the cross, Jesus has won the victory and the ultimate divine victory is not in doubt. But the spiritual forces of evil have not totally conceded. We live in this in between time. Victory in Jesus Christ is ours. In the spiritual sense, we possess everything necessary as Kingdom people, we are children of God, redeemed, reconciled, and make right in Christ. That being said, in this in between time, there will still be spiritual warfare, there are still difficult battles to be fought, there will still be destruction, and there will be casualties. The apostle John wrote in I John 5:19, “We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one.” And so the church stands its ground and uses everything God has equipped her with to resist evil. In today’s passage, Jesus gives us a great example of how to do this.
When it comes to spiritual warfare, here are some things to consider:
-God has an enemy who is committed to working against his people and his work in this world.
-This isn’t really our battle. It is God’s battle. We are simply joining him in this mission of fighting back darkness. And we have nothing to fear in the midst of it, as long as we stay close to Jesus. It’s when we start wondering off on our own that we may have problems. So, submit yourself to God. The enemy wants to keep you from growing in your walk with Jesus. Give yourself over to God; stay focused on him.
-As believers, we aren’t to go on the offensive but rather to be prepared for a defensive battle. Stand firm in doing good and obeying God’s will. Stay faithful. When you do that, you are pushing back darkness. Don’t be surprised if the enemy tries to trip you up and make you ineffective. Keep proclaiming Jesus but expect opposition. Anytime we do something significant for the Kingdom, expect opposition.
-God will give us the equipment and strength we need to stay strong. God provides us with everything we need, the Bible, the armor, the protection, and the prayer connection.
-Be careful not to open yourself up to things that are not of God. There are some things that we think are kind of harmless, like psychics, tarot cards, Ouija boards, crystals, a lot of the new age stuff. While some of it might have no power, some of it does. I’ve known of people who had really powerful and scary experiences with some of this. At times, it can be really accurate. Please know that power doesn’t come from God. As Christians, we should not be exposing ourselves to anything that is remotely evil; it isn’t something to play around with. It’s serious.
I truly think Satan’s attacks are getting more intense at the same time that many western Christians are not taking spiritual warfare seriously at all. Satan rejoices in self-centered Christianity. Satan loves the fact that so many of our churches could care less about leading people to Jesus. But we are at war – we are at war for the souls of our children, our grandchildren, and our greatgrandchildren. If the Kingdom of Darkness makes the church ineffective, then they are winning the battle. And the casualties are really huge.
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
May 21, 2025
Day 3 of Week 8
Scripture – Matthew 3
Prayer: Amazing Father and Lord, Thank you for who you are. Thank you for how you care for us. We get distracted. We veer away from you and your Word. For that, we are so very sorry. Forgive us, Lord. Help us to abide in you. Help us to remain close so that we can be fruitful and effective for your Kingdom. Help us get outside ourselves and see others as you see them. Lord, we belong to you. In Your Name, Amen.
Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, a Deep Dive into the Gospels and Acts. Today, we are taking a look at Matthew 3.
Matthew begins by quoting from the book of the prophet Isaiah about a messenger who would be sent ahead of Jesus to prepare the way for him. And this person, Scripture says, is John the Baptist. We learn from reading other Gospels that John the Baptist is actually Jesus’ first cousin.
The whole Judean countryside came out to see John the Baptist. Picture this, masses of people were leaving their villages and coming into the wilderness (which looks more like desert than forest) to get baptized by John. But why? I mean, he was a weird dude, wearing camel hair and eating locusts dipped in wild honey. He had taken a vow of poverty. Maybe they wanted to check out this really bizarre guy but that doesn’t explain everything. John was offering them something they desperately needed – good news, forgiveness, cleansing. And the good news he offered wasn’t that they would receive something good when they die, but that there is good news, there is hope, for life right now. And remember, these were dark days. The people were yearning for hope.
He also calls out the Pharisees and Sadducees. He knows their hearts are evil so he refers to them as a brood of vipers. Vipers are venomous so John is not hiding his dislike. He is saying that the Pharisees (the religious teachers) and the Sadducees (the wealthy Jewish aristocracy) are evil, deceitful, hypocritical, and connected to Satan. Those are fighting words. It’s surprising John didn’t get in trouble right then and there.
But then John says something interesting. He says that someone else is coming, one more powerful than him, whose sandals he is not worthy to stoop down and untie. That’s pretty extreme. I mean, slaves were typically the ones who untied sandals because they were so filthy. And John says that while he baptizes with water, the one coming after him will baptize with the Holy Spirit. For those who were listening to John, this may have been scary. What kind of person would John feel so humbled by?
And then, we meet him. It’s Jesus, whose birth we have just heard about. He comes to John to be baptized. John is hesitant. He knows that Jesus should be baptizing him. But he relents. John knows that this needs to happen. Remember, Matthew is clearly pointing out here that Jesus is Messiah and the fulfillment of prophecy for the Jews. Then, there is this beautiful scene, depicting the Trinity, in which God the Father announces his approval of God the Son and then God the Holy Spirit descends as a dove. There is a voice from heaven, “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”
Before we move on in Matthew, let’s spend a little bit of time talking about repentance. The people were coming to John to confess their sins, repent, and receive cleansing. Every single one of us need that. When is the last time you have spent time in confession and repentance? Talk to God right now. Receive the ultimate cleansing as only he can give.
Blessings, Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
May 20, 2025
Day 2 of Week 8
Scripture – Matthew 2
Prayer: Dear God, You are amazing! How awesome it is that you who created all things are also so intimately involved in our lives. We give you glory and praise for who you are. We are so thankful for your love. We want to know you more. We want and need to hear your voice. Help us set aside our scattered thoughts and focus on you. In these next few moments of silence, Lord, hear our prayers... In Your Name, Amen.
Welcome back, friends, to the Daily Dose of Hope, a devotional and podcast connected to the Bible reading plan at New Hope Church in Brandon, FL. Today, we are digging into Matthew 2. This is pretty familiar Scripture to many of us. Let’s try to see it with fresh eyes.
The text begins with foreign Magi visiting King Herod. These men are an interesting and mysterious group. We don’t really know much about the magi who come seeking Jesus from eastern lands. Some translations call them wise men or kings. Matthew doesn’t include a lot of details. We have no idea how many there actually were (despite the popular carol, Scripture does not say there were just three of them).
Like the shepherds, the magi seem an unlikely group to seek out and worship Jesus. They were pagans, gentiles, involved in the occult, and yet they knew there was something more. They were searching for something more. So these magi embark on a long journey, carrying expensive gifts worthy of a king, eager to pay homage. Their efforts lead them to an encounter far beyond their expectations. Unlike an earthly king who would have been found in a palace, the magi are led to what we can probably assume is a modest home of a Jewish family and it’s there that they find Jesus with his mother and Scripture says they bow down and worship him. Maybe it wasn’t what they expected but they see God’s hand in it nonetheless and worship the one they know to be the Messiah, the savior of the world. They were outsiders but they recognized the Messiah when so many insiders failed to do so.
Up until now, it all sounds great, right? But there is another character in this story. His name is Herod the Great. The Herod family ruled over the holy land both before and after the time of Christ, they were somewhat like puppet kings, put in place by the Romans to keep order. And they don’t have a great reputation at all. They were, for the most part, insecure and power-hungry.
One reason I don’t think it’s accurate to refer to the magi as wise men is because they did one thing that was really unwise. They go straight to King Herod, “So where is the NEW king? Where is the one who has been named king of the Jews?” Keep in mind, Herod the Great considered himself to be king of the Jews. The man is insecure and vicious so he tries to trick the magi into divulging Jesus’ location. But no amount of earthly power can get Herod what he wants. The magi are warned in a dream to not return to Herod. And this angers him more. Herod was both feared and hated. The Jewish historian Josephus painted a picture of Herod as a suspicious and cruel client king, with a history of killing anyone whom he saw as a threat, including three sons and his wife. So even though the magi remind Herod of Micah’s prophecy that the Messiah was to be born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2), his response was not to pay homage but to destroy the newborn king. In Matthew 2:16, we read that Herod decides to take matters into his own hands and kill all the baby boys who might be in the age range of Jesus, When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi. Truly dark and horrific. The extent to which human beings will go to gain power surely demonstrates the brokenness of our world. Then and now.
But through all of this, Jesus is saved. The baby’s family is warned in a dream and they head down to Egypt for a period of time to keep the boy safe from Herod before they come back to Israel and settle in Nazareth. Because God’s purposes will prevail. God had promised long, long ago to send a Savior for his people and there is nothing that could get in the way. Listen to this prophecy from in Isaiah 9:6-7, spoken 700 years before the birth of Jesus, For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this. It’s like God was saying “I’m going to send someone who will restore the people of Israel to me. This person will be a light to the Gentiles, and will bring my salvation to the ends of the earth AND it will be obvious once more that your God reigns.”
No power-hungry king could mess that up as hard as he tried. No earthly power could thwart God’s plan of redemption for his people. It’s true that bad things to happen. God allows human beings free will and that is too often used for evil. But that doesn’t mean God isn’t involved, it doesn’t mean he isn’t invested, God can and has orchestrated, changed, and/or stopped the plans of all kinds of people to get done what needs to get done. God has been working, in his time, over the course of thousands of years, to achieve his bigger purpose.
And what was the bigger purpose? God’s mission from the beginning was to redeem his world. He did this through Jesus. That little baby that the wise men knelt down and worshiped, that child that Herod felt so threatened by --- that child would grow to become the Savior of the world. He would bring sight to the blind, freedom for the oppressed, he would proclaim good news to the poor. He would preach the Kingdom of God and show the world a different way of living, ultimately giving up his own life voluntarily on a Roman cross. In doing so, he became the final sacrifice for sin, providing a way for you and me and all people to be redeemed. Because of Jesus’ sacrifice, our sins can be forgiven and we can walk hand in hand with a holy God. Because of Jesus, nothing separates us from God. And then, three days after he died, he was resurrected, defeating evil and death and demonstrating to the world who HE is. He is, after all, God. Jesus is the Lord.
Jesus is LORD of all. Paul writes this in Colossians 1:15-20, The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. 17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. 19 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross. Jesus is above all things. Jesus is Lord.
And over the course of 2000 years, rulers and kings and dictators and autocrats have tried to wipe out his influence. They have misused his teachings, they have twisted the Gospel. Like Herod, they have done all kinds of things to either try to eliminate the influence of Jesus or to use the Gospel for their own deceitful purposes. And at times, it’s been ugly and violent and really sad. But this is TRUTH: God will ensure that his purposes prevail. Yes, in our sinful and broken world, all kinds of horrors will occur. Vladimir Putin will think he’s invincible. Kim Jong Un will declare himself supreme ruler. American politicians will think themselves unshakable. You and I will experience heartbreak, loss, and illness. And yet, Jesus is still Lord of all. God is still working in our lives, God is still present with us in the middle of the mess, and Jesus is still in the business of transforming lives. Friends, Jesus is on the throne, King of Kings and Lord of Lords. The rulers of the world may oppose him but they are ultimately answerable to him. Because he will come again.
I’ll stop there for now. But I do have to ask this question: Is Jesus Lord of your life? More tomorrow.
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
May 19, 2025
Day 1 of Week 8
Scripture – Matthew 1
Prayer: Almighty God, We come before you on this Monday, as we start a new week, with both humility and gratefulness. You are so powerful, so holy, and so wise. We need you. We seek you. We are desperate to hear a word from you today, Lord. We also know that we have failed over and over again. Lord, forgive us for our sins, for the ways we fall short. In these next few moments of silence, Lord, hear our prayers...Jesus, help us stay focused on you and your Word today. In Your Name, Amen.
Welcome back, everyone, to the Daily Dose of Hope, a Deep Dive into the Gospels and Acts. Today, we start the book of Matthew. While the author does not identify himself, most scholars agree it was written by Matthew the tax collector. He actually mentions himself a couple times in the Gospel. The events in the book take place in the first 40 or so years of the first century. It was actually written somewhere between 50 and 90AD.
Let’s keep in mind that all the Gospel accounts were passed down and taught orally for about 30-40 years before they were written down. Each Gospel author collected and arranged these accounts to highlight certain themes about Jesus. Mark, who we just finished, emphasized Jesus’ authority. Matthew, on the other hand, very intentionally uses his Gospel to demonstrate the continuation and fulfillment of the whole Biblical story of God and the people of Israel. Thus, he emphasizes how Jesus is the Messiah in the line of David, and he focuses on how Jesus is Immanuel (which means in Hebrew, God with us.)
Matthew 1 starts with a genealogy. Sometimes, our inclination is the brush over the genealogies, but this one is pretty unique. First, we can see the connection between the Old Testament and the birth of Jesus. As we read through the names on the list, we get a picture of God’s history of redemption for his people. Abraham and David are highlights, as both were recipients of God’s promises for the people of Israel, significant parts of redemptive history.
Another reason I love this genealogy is that five women are specifically mentioned. This was at a time when women were basically never mentioned in the history of patriarchal societies. And here we are, five very unique and interesting women–Tamar (who was quite tricky to achieve her purpose), Rahab (at one point a prostitute), Ruth (a Moabite), Uriah’s wife (Bathsheba), and Mary.
The first four women were Gentiles or married to Gentiles, they were outsiders to a certain extent, and yet they had tenacious faith, the kind that would be critical for faith in Jesus. This focus on Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, and Bathsheba leads to the introduction of Mary. It’s like the author is saying, “Don’t discount Mary!” She may not be who you would expect to be the mother of the Savior of the world but God uses all kinds of people! God lifts up all kinds of women, those who are proper and those who aren’t. What a beautiful reminder that the Gospel is for ALL.
Then, we have Joseph’s story. Joseph is probably the most underrated person in the Christmas story. He is like the father of the bride at the wedding. No one notices him yet he gets to help pay for the whole shin-dig. But Joseph is an example of faithful, unquestioning obedience in the middle of fearful, life-altering circumstances.
Scripture says that Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph. Remember, Mary was a very young girl and was probably very poor. Joseph would have been older than her. We tend to think of Joseph as a carpenter but really it's more likely he was a general builder. He was from a kind of backwater, remote area of Palestine. He was probably illiterate (education was generally just for merchants and aristocrats at the time). Both Mary and Joseph were humble people from a very humble part of Israel.
Scripture continues, "before they came together, it was found that Mary was pregnant by the power of the Holy Spirit." Joseph, being a righteous man, faithful to the law, didn't want her to be publicly disgraced so he had decided to divorce her quietly. At the time, when one became engaged, it was much more formal than it is today. Most likely, Joseph had made an agreement with Mary's father, perhaps years earlier, to take Mary as his wife. This would have been a binding agreement. In the eyes of the law, they were as good as married already, even though the relationship had not been consummated.
Mary was found to be pregnant by the power of the Holy Spirit. Keep in mind that all Joseph knows at this time is that she is pregnant. His fiancé is pregnant and he knows the baby isn't his. We don't think much about Joseph's feelings. We focus a lot on Mary (and rightfully so) but Jospeh must have had all kinds of feelings too. The whole thing must have been crushing for him. He had hopes and dreams. My guess is that he was hurt and betrayed. Despite that, he doesn't fly into an angry rage or have a desire to hurt Mary even though this would have amounted to adultery in their culture.
Joseph had compassion. He doesn't want to bring additional shame onto Mary if he can help it. Part of this could have been that Joseph was older than Mary. He might have known that a girl of that age didn't really have much control over her sexuality in that culture. Joseph is in a predicament. He wants to be faithful to the law, so he can no longer marry her, but yet he doesn't want to humiliate her either. So he decides to quietly divorce her, not make too much of a big deal about it. Regardless, Mary would face humiliation and be ostracized. That was the nature of the situation.
But before Joseph breaks off the engagement, he goes home and goes to sleep. It's always good to sleep on big decisions. While he is sleeping, an angel of the Lord appears to him in a dream and says, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” And here is the amazing thing. Scripture says that when he woke up, Joseph did what the angel told him and took Mary as his wife. If Joseph had doubts, they weren't recorded. If he made excuses, we certainly don't know about them. It appears he was simply obedient.
It's worth mentioning that the angel tells Joseph not to be afraid to marry Mary because the baby she is carrying was conceived by the Holy Spirit. We know that Mary was risking a lot, but Joseph was also taking big risks here. He also will make some pretty significant sacrifices. People are generally pretty good at counting and they would know that the baby was conceived before they got married. He also faces being ostracized and being an outcast in his community. It was scary! What would their lives look like? What would their families do? What would become of them? Joseph models for us that we can be obedient in spite of fear. He did what was commanded of him, even when it was hard.
Being obedient to God doesn't always look like we want it to look. Let's be real. We want being obedient to God to be a good job with a comfortable salary, a nice home, good schools for our kids, plenty of leisure time and fun activities, a fairly decent social standing, and occasional church attendance. For most of us, if we are honest, that's what we want obedience to God to look like the typical American dream. But we learn from Joseph is that obedience to God might not always make sense, it might not be popular, and it might not be comfortable.
Obedience to God may also require sacrifice. In the case of Joseph, obedience may have cost him his reputation and his place in the community. We know that later it means he has to drop everything to go to Bethlehem for a census. Then, he has to go to Egypt to keep the baby safe from an evil king. This probably wasn't what Joseph envisioned for his young family.
When God calls us to something, there are often things we have to give up. Joseph gave up stability and safety. Think about what God has called you to. Maybe God has called you to minister to someone and give up your time. Maybe God has called you to share your faith with your neighbor, coworker, or that person at the gym and risk rejection. Maybe God has called you to volunteer in a specific area or give sacrificially to a mission partner. Maybe God has called you to go back to school, change jobs, reconcile with an estranged friend or family member. Maybe God has called you to full-time ministry. However God has called you (and I can guarantee he has called you in some way), it typically involves some kind of sacrifice, discomfort, and hard work. Being obedient to God doesn't always look like we want it to look.
The last thing I’ll mention is that God calls us to obey even when we are fearful of the future. This is so hard but God calls us to obey through the fear. We trust that if God has called us to it, God will see us through it. What I've come to learn is that obedience and trust go hand in hand.
Have a wonderful Monday. We will chat again tomorrow.
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
May 16, 2025
Day 5 of Week 7
Scripture – Mark 16:9-20
Prayer: Heavenly Father, We come before you today in awe of your Word. Thank you for speaking to us through Scripture. Help us commit to being grounded in your truth. Help us make learning more about you a priority. We get so distracted! The world comes at us from all sides. Lord, in these next few moments of silence, help us set aside our scattered thoughts and focus on you...In Your Name, Amen.
Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, a Deep Dive into the Gospels and Acts. Today, we finish the book of Mark. Keep in mind that the text we read today was added on much later than the original Gospel text. As we talked about yesterday, some of the church fathers weren’t thrilled with Mark’s abrupt ending and added some additional verses to make things have a nice neat resolution. Of course, real life doesn’t have nice neat resolutions. Neither does Scripture because it’s very, very real.
The text for today has Jesus appearing to Mary Magdalene and then the disciples. We can see that the author of these verses took text from other Gospels to write this. He is essentially filling things in – a visit to Mary Magdalene, a visit to the two disciples on the road to Emmaus, and then a visit to the eleven.
There are quite a few issues with this text. First, it says that Jesus rebuked the disciples for their lack of belief. If we look at Luke 24, we find that Jesus appears to the disciples but does so with grace. He shows them his scars, he ate with them, and he opened their minds so that they could understand Scripture. But in this Mark text, Jesus seems almost angry with the disciples “stubborn” refusal to believe. This is our first red flag.
And then things really get weird. We begin to read about theological concepts that are unusual for Mark. There seems to be a requirement of baptism for salvation – this isn’t found anywhere else in the Bible. Then, there is this statement about the ability to handle snakes and drink deadly poison; if done in the name of Jesus, then they won’t be harmed. Okay, that is terrible theology. No where else the Bible does it tell believers that they are exempt from poison and dangerous snakes. What’s a bit crazy about this is that whole traditions have been created where snakes are handled in church – from one verse in a portion of text that was added well after the original Gospel was written. The justification for snake-handling is that it is supposed to be a demonstration of faith. Y’all, good Biblical interpretation is SO critical!
The last portion of the text is pretty straightforward and consistent with other Gospels. Jesus ascends to heaven and sits at God’s right hand. He empowers the disciples to perform signs in his name.
Let’s talk a little about solid Biblical interpretation. The Bible is God’s Word, it’s authoritative. It provides a framework for our life and whole worldview. At the same time, it needs interpretation. We can’t simply pluck out a verse and drop it into our lives without looking at the author’s intent, the context, and the original audience. Plus, we have to recognize that we, as 21st century believers, bring a lot of our own presuppositions to the Scripture. Whether we realize it or not, we bring our own learned ideas and cultural norms to the text when we read.
The Bible is the primary way that God has chosen to reveal himself to us. I like to call it the inexhaustible word of God. It’s critical. Hebrews 4:12 states, For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. The miracle of Scripture is that we can read it over and over again and God can keep teaching us, keep revealing new things to us. Jesus is revealed to us on the pages of Scripture.
Reading the Bible regularly is the number one way we grow in our faith. Why is that? It’s not simply a book; rather, it’s a unique collection of ancient documents, diverse in style and written for different purposes, but all revealing some piece about the nature of God. The more we read, the more we consume of God’s Word, the more things begin to fall into place for us. The fascinating thing about the Bible is that it arose in vastly difference historical settings, written to different audiences, over thousands of years. Yet, it tells one continuous story. It’s absolutely amazing. But a serious reading and understanding of the Bible requires wrestling with the context, the purpose of the text, the symbols, and the historical and literary setting. But it also means relying on the power of the Holy Spirit to guide our study and to make the Scripture come alive for us today.
In the case of Mark, we need to look at today’s text as interesting but not authoritative. These verses weren’t in the oldest texts. It appears that new concepts were added, things that don’t seem to add up. They simply don’t sound like Mark. While we need to read this and understand it, it isn’t something I would ever preach from the pulpit. Basically, we need to be careful here. There won’t be any snake-handling at New Hope if any of you were worried.
Psalm 119:105-106, Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path. I have taken an oath and confirmed it, that I will follow your righteous laws.
We’ll chat again on Monday.
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
May 15, 2025
Day 4 of Week 7
Scripture – Mark 16:1-8
Prayer: Holy God, On this Thursday morning, we lift up our face to you. We call upon your name. You are the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. You are almighty and wise. How thankful we are that you sit high and look low. Lord, forgive us for our many sins and faults. Give us strength and courage to do better. And, as we begin to talk about the resurrection, Lord, help us live like new people. We give you this day, Lord. Amen.
Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, a Deep Dive into the Gospels and Acts. Today, we begin Mark 16, the resurrection story. We are covering the first portion of Mark 16, the Scripture that is original to the Gospel. This is the part that has authority. Tomorrow, we will cover the portion of the chapter that was added by scholars several hundred years later.
But before we dig in, let’s talk context. Jesus was crucified on a Friday because the Jews had to have it done and over with before Sabbath (which for them runs from Friday sundown to Saturday sundown). Thus, the women who wanted to anoint Jesus’ body for burial had to wait until the Sabbath was over before heading over to the tomb.
Three women are specifically mentioned: Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome. I want to point out that these women were also mentioned at being present at the crucifixion. They watched Jesus die. I want you to think about how the reality of suffering and intense grief is hanging over this whole scene. These were women who walked alongside Jesus, took care of his needs, and loved him. It is because they loved him that they wanted to ensure that his dead body was properly prepared for burial. Jews did not embalm but they ceremonially washed the body, wrapped it in cloths, and used herbs and spices to help with deterioration and smell. In that culture, a proper burial was quite important, it demonstrated honor for that individual; for these women, this was an act of love and respect.
As they head over to prepare the body, they discuss what they think will be their biggest obstacle and decide it’s going to be the heavy stone. They were at the crucifixion. They knew that a large stone was rolled in front of the tomb. How will they move it? What’s interesting to me here is that they have no inkling that the tomb would be empty. Jesus has taught about his death and resurrection but no one got it.
Now, when they get to the tomb and the stone was the least of their worries. It had already been rolled away. When they entered the tomb, it’s completely empty except for a young man dressed in a white robe just sitting there. Mark doesn’t say so, but it’s implied this man is an angel. The scripture says the women are alarmed. They have been so consumed by their grief and suffering, so focused on taking care of this final act for Jesus, and then the stone is gone and there is this angel-like character sitting inside the tomb. Of course they are alarmed. And this man/angel person tells them that Jesus wasn’t there because he had risen, just as he said he would. This is all a bit much for these ladies. They were scared. They flee and say nothing to anyone. And the book of Mark ends.
Over the years, people have added more appealing endings to this Gospel, which we will address tomorrow. Your Bible probably notes that anything after verse 8 was added later on. It’s usually in italics. But this is the thing: Mark’s Gospel may feel a bit unsatisfying in how it so abruptly ends, it also creates a sense of anticipation and yes, even HOPE. We don’t have to make up fake endings for Mark like some of the church fathers may have done.
What Mark tells us is enough. Why?
Because the tomb was empty! Jesus was resurrected.
Because death could not keep Jesus down! Death was defeated.
Because the women were given the message to “Go and tell, Jesus is risen!”
Because all the promises that Jesus made have come true.
Every single one.
Just as Jesus said, he suffered, died, and was raised. Just as he said, Judas betrayed him, the disciples scattered, and Peter denied him. We know that eventually these women speak and they must speak a lot. Because the message was shared. After they get over their initial shock, it all begins to sink in. Yes, Jesus had told them this would happen. Yes, they would choose to believe and share the good news. He wasn’t dead but alive! They chose to believe and share.
Will you? Will you share the Good News of the resurrection?
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
May 14, 2025
Day 3 of Week 7
Scripture - Mark 15:33-47
Prayer: Holy God, How amazing it is that we can come before you today. You are God of all things, Lord of everything, and yet you care about each of us. We give you glory and praise. We thank you most of all for Jesus, who made it possible for us to walk hand in hand with a holy God. Help us see today’s Scripture through fresh eyes. Keep teaching us, Lord. Continue to reveal yourself to us. We are open and grateful. In Your Name, Amen.
Welcome to the Daily Dose of Hope, a devotional connected to the daily reading plan at New Hope Church in Brandon, Florida. Today, we are finishing up Mark 15, which is the death of Jesus Christ.
The text detailing Jesus’ death on the cross is what we call the Good Friday scripture. It may seem odd that we would call the day that Jesus was crucified and died “good.” Apparently, the term came into common use in the 1200s because for us, it was a truly good day, as Jesus became the final sacrifice for all sin for all people for all time. As the full expression of God’s love for us, Jesus voluntarily gave his life so that we could be reconciled to holy God.
The text starts with darkness. How appropriate. And it says that at the ninth hour, Jesus spoke his last words, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” This statement was in reference to Psalm 22. At the time, people would reference a psalm by stating the first line and the rest of the psalm would be assumed. Psalm 22 was written by David, and it’s a psalm that expresses abandonment and despair in the face of sorrow.
But this leads to some questions. Did Jesus really feel abandoned by God at that moment on the cross? And how would that work? Here is a thought - by quoting Psalm 22, Jesus is actually expressing confidence in the face of suffering, trusting that God will ultimately deliver him. We gain confidence in this interpretation because it is faithful to our understanding of the Trinity as inseparable - one part of the Godhead can’t abandon another part of the Godhead. There is also a distinct union of Jesus’ divine and human natures. All of this comes together on the cross. Let’s read Psalm 22, verses 1-8...
My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?Why are you so far from saving me,so far from my cries of anguish? 2 My God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer,by night, but I find no rest.
3 Yet you are enthroned as the Holy One;you are the one Israel praises. 4 In you our ancestors put their trust;they trusted and you delivered them.5 To you they cried out and were saved;in you they trusted and were not put to shame.
6 But I am a worm and not a man,scorned by everyone, despised by the people. 7 All who see me mock me;they hurl insults, shaking their heads. 8 “He trusts in the Lord,” they say,“let the Lord rescue him. Let him deliver him,since he delights in him.”
And as the psalm continues (it is a bit long to real in full here), we see how the psalmist begins to express trust in the Lord and praise his name. He knows that God will deliver him. The bottom line seems to be that on the cross, Jesus bore the weight of our sin as the God-man, but the Father did not literally abandon him, as that would divide the Trinity and undermine Christ’s saving work. Jesus knew that God would deliver him but also provide a way to deliver the whole world.
Right before Jesus breathed his last breath on the cross, the curtain in the Temple was torn down the middle. This is the curtain that separated the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place (the Holiest of Holies) where the ark of the covenant was kept and the presence of God remained. When the curtain tore, it was a sign that the New Covenant was instituted. Because of Jesus’ sacrifice (the final sacrifice for sin), those who believe in him can now go directly to the throne of God’s grace. When holy God looks at us, he doesn’t see our sinfulness but the blood of Christ. Thus, there are no more barriers that can separate us from God. Hebrews 10 refers to this incredible phenomena...
Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Hebrews 10:19-22
The chapter closes with Joseph of Arimathea taking Jesus’ body and placing it in a tomb. Joseph was a wealthy man and also a member of the Jewish ruling council. It is implied that he is a believer in Jesus and if he tried to hide it before, there is no hiding it now. Joseph has gone to great risk and expense to make sure Jesus’ body is wrapped and buried. Of course, at this point, they are deep in grief. All feels heavy. But Sunday is coming.
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
May 13, 2025
Day 2 of Week 7
Scripture - Mark 15:21-32
Prayer: Dear Holy God, Your love is amazing. Thank you for the way you care for us. In these next few moments of silence, Lord, help us focus on you...Lord Jesus, help us set aside every distraction and take this time to lean on you. We want to hear your voice. Amen.
Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, a Deep Dive into the Gospels and Acts. Happy Tuesday! Today’s Scripture is powerful and we have probably all read it or heard it before. I hope you were able to slow down and really take time to read it with fresh eyes. The miracle of Scripture is that we can read it again and again and God can reveal something new to us.
In today’s portion of Mark 15, we read about the crucifixion and death of Jesus Christ. It was a horrific death. He was beaten and mocked by the soldiers, betrayed by his own people, and nailed to a cross to die. I won’t go into the gory details of crucifixion, as you have probably heard them before, but it was a terribly painful and humiliating way to die.
There is one piece of today’s text that we often gloss over, but it certainly is significant. It’s about Simon of Cyrene. Simon was just passing by when he is stopped and forced him to carry Jesus’ cross. Cyrene was on the tip of Africa so this man was far from home. And here he was, going about his business, and he is enlisted, or more like seized, to carry the cross of the Savior of the world. I’m guessing that Jesus’ physical body was incredibly weak and bloody by this point. Simon walked by him, carrying the cross that would serve to execute Jesus but also save all humanity from their sin.
We don’t know what happened to Simon after the crucifixion. He isn’t mentioned again in Scripture. But my guess is that his life was never the same again. Afterall, he had an encounter with Jesus. They may have exchanged a few words. Maybe they glanced at each other. I believe that Jesus could say a lot with his eyes and facial expressions. But my guess is that things changed for Simon from that point forward. After all, he met Jesus.
An encounter with Jesus is always life-changing. Think about your own life. How has encountering Jesus affected your world? Try to think of tangible examples.
Let’s move on in the text. There was a sign above Jesus’ head that read, “King of the Jews.” What did this mean? It could actually mean a number of things. First, Pilate was a bit perturbed with the Jews that they wanted him to crucify an innocent man. Labeling him as the Judean king could have been a way to get a jab in at the Jewish authorities, who totally rejected Jesus’ claim of kingship.
But the sign could have also been another way to mock Jesus. How could a king be crucified? How could a king experience such levels of humiliation? This very well could be a way to make fun of Jesus and his followers. We don’t really know Pilate’s motivation.
And then there are the criminals crucified next to Jesus. The Scripture said even they reviled Jesus (in Mark’s Gospel, we don’t have the story about one of the robbers coming to belief in Jesus). Others were hurling insults at him, leaders and regular people. I don’t know what it is about the human condition that we like to kick people when they are down. Maybe it makes weak people feel powerful. I don’t know, but it is hard to read. Nobody understood who he was and why he allowed himself to be executed. And Jesus’ humility and love are amazing.
More tomorrow.
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
May 12, 2025
Day 1 of Week 7
Scripture – Mark 15:1-20
Prayer: Dear Almighty God, Thank you for this new day. Thank you for the way you care for us. We are so very grateful for your presence in our lives. In these next few moments of silence, Lord, help us set aside our scattered thoughts and distractions, help us focus on you...Holy Spirit, come and sit with us as we work through this Scripture and devotion. Speak to us about it afresh and anew. In Your Name, Amen.
Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, a Deep Dive into the Gospels and Acts. Today, we begin the Passion narrative. I’ve read this so many times and each time, I am struck by the brutality of what happens to Jesus.
We start with Jesus before Pilate. Pilate seems to understand that Jesus is innocent. The chief priests were jealous of him, they felt threatened, so they simply want him gone. And they have a way of stirring up the people. Maybe they know which crowd of people to bring to the trial.
One thing that Mark emphasizes greatly is human agency. We get to see the human capacity for coming toward Jesus and now for killing him. We have seen throughout the first portion of Mark’s Gospel the way the crowds are drawn to Jesus’ ministry. He heals the sick and he welcomes the outcast; he brings human wholeness with no real regard for accepted or approved methods and timing. Now, Jesus’ indifference to accepted or approved methods brings on the anger of those who believe they are the authority. How dare Jesus defy them? As we can see, this eventually leads to crucifixion.
There are two aspects of today’s reading that I want to touch upon. First, I’m always fascinated by Jesus’ silence before the chief priests and before Pilate. He doesn’t try to talk himself out of the situation or even stand up for himself at all. He does not lie but he answers very few questions. We know that his silence fulfilled prophecy in Isaiah 53:7, He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.
Why did he remain silent? He could have used this as a powerful teaching moment. He could have put his accusers in their place. Afterall, he was totally innocent! But his silence was even more powerful. These men wanted him to crack. They wanted him to do something to incriminate himself. But by remaining silent, Jesus remains the one in control. His ability to maintain self-control in the face of deception and evil is miraculous. He is steady and calm. On some level, Jesus must have known this was part of what he had to do. Getting angry or defending himself was not going to help the situation. He allowed God to be the one to intervene in the hearts of those who abused and killed him.
Second, it’s interesting how Mark really emphasizes the humiliation piece of the Passion narrative. He has already been abused by the chief priest and Jewish ruling leaders. Now, we see the Roman soldiers mocking him. They put purple cloth on him and a crown of thorns. They hit him on the head with a reed. They pretend to bow down and worship him. We can picture this scene of bullies making fun of Jesus’ Kingship. All the while, he is silent. The whole process of Roman crucifixion had been perfected – humiliation and total dehumanization. The Romans knew what they were doing; the horrors of their punishment was quite effective at preventing any hint of subversion.
Tomorrow, we will walk through the Good Friday scripture – Jesus’ death on a cross. It’s become so familiar, I hope we are able to see it all through fresh eyes. God is always teaching us new things from his Word.
What new thing did you take away today? What did you learn from Jesus before Pilate that you never noticed before?
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
May 9, 2025
Day 5 of Week 6
Scripture – Mark 14:53-72
Prayer: Lord, Let us start by thanking you for a new day. You are the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end, the one who was, and is, and is to come. You are all powerful and all knowing. We give thanks for your love and wisdom. We give thanks for your presence. Help us, Lord, gather our scattered thoughts. Help us set aside distractions and listen to what you have for us today. In these next few moments of silence, hear our prayers...Jesus, we love you. In Your Name, Amen.
Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, a Deep Dive into the Gospels and Acts. We are finishing up Mark 14. This has been quite a chapter.
Jesus is taken before the chief priest and the Sanhedrin, the Jewish ruling council. Things don’t go so well. Testimony against Jesus is clearly false and most is conflicting. The case appears to be nonsense; they have nothing to charge him with.
The chief priest is desperate and tries to get Jesus to confess by asking him if he is the Messiah, the son of the blessed one? So Jesus does confess, he says yes. But Jesus is laying claim to the title Messiah on his terms. He isn’t Messiah as the Jews anticipated, but in a totally different way.
Jesus calls himself the Messiah, the Son of Man, and tells the crowd they will see him sitting on the right side of the Mighty One and coming on clouds of heaven. This means not only was the Messiah, but it means that next time the chief priest sees Jesus, he will see him blazing in power. This would not occur in his lifetime on earth however. This really upsets the chief priest, who considers it blasphemy that Jesus would elevate himself to God’s right hand.
Then, we have Peter’s denial. He is in the courtyard of the chief priest. Peter, who said even if everyone else betrayed Jesus, he would be there until the end; he vehemently denies even knowing Jesus. He could have taken this time to witness to Jesus’ ministry. Instead, he invokes God as a witness to his falsehood. He hears the rooster crow and he knows he has betrayed the Messiah.
Our temptation is probably to vilify Peter. But we have to be very careful here, as we betray Jesus all the time. How often do we deny him by our speech, our character, or our actions? We are no better than Peter.
Tomorrow, Jesus will go before Pilate. Prepare yourself. It doesn’t get any easier from here.
Let’s close today with Psalm 31:1-5,
In You, O Lord, I put my trust; Let me never be ashamed; Deliver me in Your righteousness. 2 Bow down Your ear to me, Deliver me speedily; Be my rock of refuge, A fortress of defense to save me.
3 For You are my rock and my fortress; Therefore, for Your name’s sake, Lead me and guide me. 4 Pull me out of the net which they have secretly laid for me, For You are my strength. 5 Into Your hand I commit my spirit; You have redeemed me, O Lord God of truth.
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
May 8, 2025
Day 4 of Week 6
Scripture – Mark 14:27-52
Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, We are so grateful that your mercies are new every single morning. No matter what our week has been like, we can come to you today afresh and anew. Lord, forgive us for our many failings. We want to do better. In these next few moments of silence, Lord, hear our prayers...In Your Name, Amen.
Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, a Deep Dive into the Gospels and Acts. Today, we are back in Mark 14. We will cover Jesus’ prediction of Peter’s denial, their time in the Garden of Gethsemane, and Jesus’ arrest.
Let’s start with the first portion of today’s text. Jesus and the disciples have celebrated the Passover meal in the Upper Room and have moved on to the Mount of Olives. It is here that Jesus predicts that all the disciples will scatter, essentially fall away, when the going gets tough. He refers to a prophecy from Zechariah 13:7 that reads, “‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered...’ clearly indicating that the shepherd is Jesus Christ himself.
Interestingly, Peter makes a very bold, ambitious claim that even if everyone else fell away and disappeared, he would not. Jesus doesn’t mince words. He tells Peter that he will betray Jesus three times by that night (or as the text says, by the time the rooster crows two times). But Peter, and all the others, insist that they will follow Jesus even until death.
I’ve thought about this a lot. At this time, the disciples still don’t understand Jesus’ ministry or purpose. They think they will follow him no matter what but we know what happens. They all scatter once Jesus is arrested. Peter does deny him three times in just a few short hours, consumed with fear for his own safety. When push came to shove, they weren’t quite as invested in Jesus’ mission as they thought.
But then things changed. After the resurrection, the disciples were changed in fundamental ways. Peter, who was initially impulsive and fearful, becomes strong and bold, a superb leader in the early church. After experiencing both the risen Lord and the power of the Holy Spirit, their whole outlook on life is transformed. And all of them, except for John, are martyred for the Gospel. They do end up following Jesus to their own earthly death, just not in the timing they expected.
So, I will ask again, would you follow Jesus to the point of giving up your life? If you were being tortured and persecuted for your faith, would you stay faithful to Jesus or would you give in to the pressure and deny Christ? It is not outside the realm of possibility that such a situation could exist for us. Afterall, it does exist for Christians all over the world.
I read this quote recently, “If we have not prepared ourselves and our twenty-first century churches to die for Christ’s name if necessary, we have not completed our responsibility of preparing disciples.” If this makes us uncomfortable, it should. Because Jesus has called us to a faithfulness that involves more than what we typically think of when we call ourselves Christ-followers. What does it mean to be a disciple? Jesus makes it quite clear and we read it just a couple weeks ago, Mark 8:34-35, Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it.
With that, let’s move on in the text. We are heading to Gethsemane, into the garden with Jesus and the disciples. Jesus’ soul was restless, he was anguished, and he needed to spend time with the Father. He asks the disciples to pray as well. This is the time when Jesus pleads with God, “Abba, Father,” he said, “everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.
Jesus knows what he is about to endure. Is this the human side of him not wanting to endure the physical pain and humiliation? Or, is this the divine part of him not wanting to endure the weight of the sin of the world? It could definitely be both. But Jesus was obedient. He knew this was God’s will and design. While he asked, my guess is he already knew the answer. Jesus knew what had to be done and he was willing to do it. But we do get a first row view as to the struggle going on within him.
Jesus struggled and so it isn’t surprising that we will also struggle. Obedience can be really hard. But Jesus gives us this beautiful example of yielding to God’s will, no matter what. And he was going to face a tortuous death. Most of the time, our dilemma isn’t quite as intense or painful, but it might be. Think of a situation in your life in which you yielded to God’s will even though it was hard and painful. How did that affect your faith journey?
I just wanted to briefly mention the disciples falling asleep. They have no idea what is going to happen. They are tired after a big Passover dinner and several glasses of wine (there is a lot of wine involved in a traditional Jewish Passover). We see their human weakness here. I feel a little sorry for them.
Finally, we head to Jesus’ arrest. Judas has already betrayed Jesus. He and the soldiers head into the garden with the intention of arresting Jesus. Judas kisses Jesus on the cheek, letting the soldiers know who to arrest. I can imagine this whole scene being chaotic. No one really knew what was happening, except Jesus. Then, one person standing near him (who we know is Peter from other Gospel accounts) panics and cuts the soldiers ear off. One young man flees naked (some people say this person was Mark, the author, but we really don’t know). The whole thing probably happened quickly and the disciples scatter, just as they said they would not do.
More tomorrow...
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
May 7, 2025
Day 3 of Week 6
Scripture – Mark 14:1-26
Prayer: Almighty God, We are in awe of you. You are all-powerful and all-knowing. You are the one who was, and is, and is to come. We give you all the glory and praise. We rejoice that you, the one who created all things, also cares so deeply for us. We are overwhelmed by your love and grace. Thank you so much, Lord. As we think about our day to come, help us set aside our scattered thoughts and focus on you...Oh Lord, how we need you. We pray this in your powerful name, Amen.
Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, a Deep Dive into the Gospels and Acts. Today is Wednesday so it’s Recharge day. I hope you will join us tonight at 6:30pm in the Garage for a time of worship, fellowship, prayer, and small community. It’s a wonderful pick me up in the middle of the week.
Today, we start Mark 14. There is a lot in the chapter so we are splitting it between two days. We know that the chief priests and teachers of the law are already scheming to do something to Jesus. The chapter begins with such a claim. Then, we join Jesus and some others at dinner at the home of Simon the leper in Bethany. An unnamed woman comes in and pours an alabaster jar full of nard over Jesus’ head.
Let’s talk a bit about nard. The word is kind of ugly (it rhymes with lard), but the substance itself must have been wonderful. It was a very expensive and highly valued perfume, made from the spikenard plant. This unnamed woman comes and pours the whole jar over Jesus’ head.
There is some ugliness that follows this. Some of the people there were indignant. They were annoyed and angry. They wanted to know why would this woman waste such a precious perfume? After all, it could be sold and the proceeds given to the poor. This judgmental statement should be unpacked a little. Please know, these guys with full bellies had no real concern for the poor. But they did love money. We know that Judas was also the treasurer and he was, most people presumed, skimming off the top. They would have loved for this woman to sell her perfume so they could have gotten a piece of the profit.
Jesus basically says, “Leave her alone.” This anointing really foreshadows what is to come. Jesus will be killed. No one will anoint his deceased body properly. But the good news is that He has already been anointed right here in Bethany. This was an extravagant act of devotion. What she has done is a sign that wherever the good news of the gospel is proclaimed in the whole world “what she has done will be told in remembrance of her” (14:9).
In the second portion of today’s text, Jesus has gathered with his disciples for the Passover meal. They are reclining at the table and eating when he proclaims that one of them will betray him. They all are upset by this and ask, “Surely you don’t mean me?” I’ve always thought this was an odd thing to say. Why didn’t they just say, “I would never betray you!” or “Heck no!” But they say, “Surely you don’t mean me?” Other translations say, “Am I the one?”
By this point, Judas has already sold out Jesus. The others have not but it’s as if they don’t really trust themselves either. Maybe they are capable of betraying Jesus, maybe they will. Friends, we have all betrayed Jesus. Every single one of us.
What if each and every time we know the right thing to do and we do not do it, we betray Jesus?
What if each time we give in to something we know is wrong or dishonest or immoral, we betray Jesus?
What if each time we turn away the poor, each time we harbor anger toward our neighbor; each time we fail to show mercy, each time we become self-righteous...we betray Jesus?
And what if, what if each and every time we sin, we betray Jesus?
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
May 6, 2025
Day 2 of Week 6
Scripture – Mark 13
Prayer: Almighty God, We give you glory and praise. Thank you for the ways you care for us. Thank you for the ways you care for our church. Lord Jesus, help us set aside our scattered thoughts. Help us push away distractions and truly focus on you. In these next few moments of silence, Lord, hear our prayers...Holy Spirit, guide our reading and devotional time today. May we hear a word from you. In Your Name, Amen.
Welcome back, friends, to the Daily Dose of Hope, a Deep Dive into the Gospels and Acts. Today, we work our way through Mark 13 and I want to warn you, this is a difficult chapter. Jesus is speaking about the destruction of the Temple and signs of the end times.
Before we begin to walk through the text, let me start by stating that there are different interpretations of today’s Scripture. I am going to do my best to offer you different things to consider and reflect upon but scholars do not agree on what this text means. I personally would be skeptical of anyone who claims to understand it completely.
Jesus has just finished teaching at the Temple. As he and his disciples are leaving, one of the disciples comments on the magnificence of the stones and the building. It seems kind of an odd comment, except for the fact that these men were from Galilee where things were much smaller and less extravagant. The Temple was, in fact, quite amazing and something to behold.
Jesus’ response probably isn’t what the disciple was expecting. He says that eventually the whole Temple would be destroyed. Not surprisingly, the men ask when this would occur. Here is where things get tricky. Jesus begins to speak of when false teachers will come, wars, earthquakes, famines, and many other catastrophic events. He speaks of the disciples being turned over to be arrested and flogged but also the need for the Gospel to be preached to all nations. There isn’t a timeline presented but Jesus does state that in the midst of all this threat and disaster, the Messiah will be the one to come and gather his people. Was he referring to events that would happen soon or events at the end times?
The general consensus is that Jesus is speaking of both. This is an example of apocalyptic literature but it is also speaking of things to come in the lifetime of the disciples. They would be tortured, arrested, and killed, for their faith in Jesus. There would be wars. In fact, the siege of Jerusalem took place in 70 AD, just less than forty years after Jesus spoke these words. It was then that the Temple was destroyed by the Romans, just as Jesus mentioned. And over the centuries, we have seen many wars, earthquakes, and famines. The earth has no shortage of catastrophes to list.
At the same time, there is a warning by Jesus to be ready. The Messiah is coming and we don’t know when that will occur. Jesus is returning to judge the living and the dead. The disciples thought his return would be in their lifetime but it wasn’t. Many people have predicted when it will happen and they have all been wrong. Jesus himself is quite clear that the day and the hour are unknown.
I find it fascinating how people have been trying to predict the end of time for hundreds, possibly thousands of years. Around the world, people have pointed to various geographical and sociological signs and said, “This day will be doomsday!” I’ve been around many people in Christian circles who want to point to this event or that event and say, “The end times must be near.” And yet, Jesus clearly warns us against doing this in today’s reading. As Christians, there is not anything for which we need to fear. We simply have to be ready. Are you ready for when Jesus returns?
Take some time today and think about this. Spend time with Jesus in prayer.
Let’s close today’s devotional with Psalm 24, which points to Jesus’ second coming as the King of Glory...
The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it,the world, and all who live in it; 2 for he founded it on the seasand established it on the waters.
3 Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord?Who may stand in his holy place? 4 The one who has clean hands and a pure heart,who does not trust in an idolor swear by a false god.
5 They will receive blessing from the Lordand vindication from God their Savior. 6 Such is the generation of those who seek him,who seek your face, God of Jacob.
7 Lift up your heads, you gates;be lifted up, you ancient doors,that the King of glory may come in. 8 Who is this King of glory?The Lord strong and mighty,the Lord mighty in battle. 9 Lift up your heads, you gates;lift them up, you ancient doors,that the King of glory may come in. 10 Who is he, this King of glory?The Lord Almighty— he is the King of glory.
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
May 5, 2025
Day 1 of Week 6
Scripture - Mark 12:35-44
Prayer: Lord, We come before you on this Monday as we start a new week, and we pray for you to speak to us. We need you. We need a new word from you. We need your guidance, your wisdom, your help. Help us set aside the distractions of our day, our many scattered thoughts, and focus on you. During these next few moments of silence, Jesus, help us remember that we belong to you...In Your Name, Amen.
Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, a Deep Dive into the Gospels and Acts. We are finishing Mark 12 today. We will learn more about what it means to be the Messiah, as well as how different God’s economy is from the economy of the world. Let’s get started!
The first part of the text is a little puzzling. What is Jesus speaking of here? Whose son is the Messiah? The scribes and the Jewish leaders knew that the Messiah would be a son of David. They thought he would be a human descendant of David, someone who would come to save them from the Romans with strength and military might. Again, they are purely thinking in human terms.
But when Jesus quotes from Psalm 110, he is showing that the Messiah would be more than simply a son of David. The Psalm calls the Messiah, “my Lord.” In Jewish thought, a descendant of someone could never be also the Lord of that person. Jesus is saying, if the scribes agree that Psalm 110 is talking about the Messiah, how then could David call his son his Lord?
Essentially, Jesus is telling the scribes and Jewish leaders that the Messiah would be greater than they thought, greater than simply a human leader who would come to defeat the Romans. He is wanting them to stretch their thinking and begin to consider that the Messiah may come in a totally different form than they are expecting. Remember, at this time, even the disciples still have a narrow view of Messiah.
Think about Friday’s Scripture from earlier in Mark 12. Jesus had a conversation with a particular scribe/teacher of the law. When Jesus tells him that the greatest commandment is to love God with his own heart and mind and to love his neighbor as himself, he tells Jesus that he has taught truth and answered well. This scribe seems open to what Jesus is teaching, possibly open to changing his ways of thinking.
It's on the tail end of this discussion that Jesus brings up the “whose son is the Messiah” topic. Jesus gives everyone who is listening, including this one scribe, enough information to stretch their thinking about Messiah and possibly get them to consider changing their minds. This scribe is open to Jesus and Jesus sees that. He wants to offer him another piece of the puzzle. He wants to see if he will consider new information about the Messiah and possibly be open to true belief in Jesus. We don’t know what this scribe does with the information. Did he come to believe in Jesus as Messiah and Lord? Does he come to accept faith in Jesus Christ?
But it got me thinking. When someone is open to new information about Jesus, are we open to sharing more? Are we paying attention?
The second part of the text is pretty harsh. Jesus is still speaking of the teachers of the law and scribes but this time it’s a warning. He speaks of how they seek the best seats in the synagogue, they wear flowing robes (that clearly identify who they are), and they pray obnoxiously long prayers. But it’s all insincere. It’s all for show. Really, their hearts are far from God as they “devour widows’ homes.” What does this mean? It’s possible that the scribes find ways to take the widows’ homes, either legitimately or illegitimately. Or, it could be that traveling scribes used up the few resources that widows had in their possession. Basically, they are without mercy. They take advantage of the vulnerable in order to serve their own selfish needs. We have already learned that whoever wants to be first must be last, but these teachers of the law have things totally upside down. Jesus is clear that they will be punished for their lack of compassion.
While we hopefully don’t have hearts that devour widows’ houses, we definitely need to look at our own lives here. What is our motivation for giving? Do we want our names on a donors’ plaque? Is recognition important? And most importantly, are we demonstrating true compassion for the poor?
Mark is telling this story to provide a stark contrast with the next portion of the text. This is what we typically call the “widow’s mite” story. The widow, who is desperately poor, gives all she has. And Jesus holds her up as an example, saying she has given so much more than those who have much and give a fair amount. Does this mean we should give everything we have to the Kingdom? Maybe, I don’t really know. It’s definitely challenging.
What we can discern is that the things valued in the Kingdom of God differ from the human realm. Should we give our money to buy a new A/C unit for the church? Should we give to a new roof? I mean, those things are necessary for sure. Are they valued in the Kingdom? Or should we give the money to a homeless shelter? How do we make these decisions? How do we know what Jesus is calling us to do? It’s clear that he expects giving to be sacrificial.
Here is something even more challenging. In our world, time is money. Maybe Jesus is calling us to give our time in a sacrificial way. What does that look like? Sometimes, its actually easy to write a check but what if Jesus is calling us to give of our time in a way that is really hard? What would that look like?
There is a lot to think about and pray about today. Spend some time with Jesus before you end your devotional time. How is he speaking to YOU personally about sacrificial giving?
Blessings, Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
May 2, 2025
Day 5 of Week 5
Scripture - Mark 12:18-34
Prayer: Lord, How we need you. Thank you for your presence, thank you for the way you continue to pursue us. Lord, in these next few moments of silence, help us set aside our scattered thoughts and focus on you...In Your Name, Amen.
Welcome to the Daily Dose of Hope, a Deep Dive into the Gospels and Acts. Today is day 2 of Mark 12. Like I said yesterday, there is a lot here! Today, we will talk about Jesus’ comments regarding marriage at the resurrection and the greatest commandment.
Let’s start with marriage at the resurrection. The Sadducees were a group of Jewish wealthy and aristocratic leaders who did not believe in the resurrection. It’s not clear if they were trying to trap Jesus or possibly discredit him, but they ask him a question based on levirate law as outlined by the law of Moses.
Levirate law was intended to protect widows without a male heir. When a brother died, leaving his wife without children, a surviving brother marries the widow with the sole intention of producing an heir. If a son is conceived, he is actually considered to be the deceased brother’s child. In ancient near-East culture, a widow without any connection to a male would either starve or be forced to beg or prostitute herself.
Thus, the Sadducees question makes a little more sense even though it is a bit absurd. A woman’s husband dies and she marries a brother. That brother dies and she marries another brother and so forth until she has been married to all seven brothers. Then she dies. Whose wife will she be at the resurrection? Keep in mind, they ask this question knowing that they think the resurrection is false. They have an ulterior motive here – possibly make a fool of Jesus?
Jesus basically tells them they are totally missing the point. In the resurrection, our bodies will be different – perfect and glorious. There will also be a change in our spiritual nature. Jesus is saying that in regard to marriage and sexual matters, we will be like the angels (note that he did not say we will be angels but we will be like them.)
But the Sadducees were mistaken so significantly not because of this absurd question but because they didn’t believe in the resurrection. This is a fundamental aspect of Jesus’ teaching and they missed it entirely. “You are badly mistaken!” Jesus says to them.
Let’s move on. To the other part of today’s text, the greatest commandment. A scribe comes up to ask Jesus a question. Unlike the Pharisees and Sadducees, he isn’t combative and patronizing. He saw how well Jesus answered questions and he genuinely wanted to hear from Jesus. He asks Jesus for the greatest commandment.
Jesus begins his answer with the Shema which comes from Deuteronomy 6, Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.
The Shema recognizes the uniqueness and oneness of God. There aren't other gods but only one true God. God calls his people to love him and obey him with every part of their being. He called the ancient Israelites to this this and he calls us to do this as well. Jesus took the Shema and added an important element. In Mark 12, we read that Jesus says this: Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” Yes, we love God with our whole being but we also love others. In fact, love of God is demonstrated by love of others. As Christians, we cannot separate the two.
Love of God and love of others cannot be separated. How often do we try to say that we love God while we hate another person?
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
May 1, 2025
Day 4 of Week 5
Scripture – Mark 12:1-17
Prayer: Dear Lord, I feel the need to just start with silence this morning. Help us sit and reflect on you and your presence...Jesus, we need you. We go through our days distracted and in a hurry, sometimes even forgetting to pray or acknowledge you. Help us to be aware of your presence, knowing that you walk with us every step of the way, guiding us and leading us in all our words, actions, and decisions. This is your day, Lord. Amen.
Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, a Deep Dive into the Gospels and Acts. Today, we start Mark 12. There is a lot of substance in this chapter so we will take three days to walk through it.
Let’s start by talking about the parable of the tenants. This is a hard parable with violence involved in every aspect of it. A landowner, presumably a man of means, builds a vineyard and gets it set up with all the right equipment. He has tenants plant the vines and run the farm for him, while he lives in another place. When the harvest comes, the absent landowner sends a slave to collect his portion of the harvest or profits. The slave is beaten up pretty badly by the tenant farmers and limps away.
You would think the landowner might do something different next time but he doesn’t. He sends another slave. Actually, he sends a lot of different slaves to collect on his behalf. Some are badly beaten while others are actually killed. We get the impression this happens over many growing seasons.
The landowner decides he has one option left, his beloved son. He feels assured that the tenants won’t hurt him. Did the son feel the same way? Not sure. But things don’t go so well. The tenants know this is the heir and they kill him too, throwing his body out to the wild animals.
The question that Jesus asks is what will the landowner do? The answer is that he will come there himself, kill the tenants, and give the land to others (or possibly get new tenants.) What in the world is meant by all of this? There are several possible things to think about here and none of them are pleasant.
First, throughout the Bible, the concept of the vineyard is associated with the people of Israel. With that as a backdrop, could it be that God is the stubborn landowner, the slaves are prophets, and the son is Jesus? That would make the tenant farmers the corrupt religious leaders.
Second, there are aspects to the parable that the first-century hearers would get that aren’t necessarily evident to us. It wasn’t that unusual for the wealthy to obtain the land of those who were poor, possibly because of outstanding debts or because the impoverished are forced to sell land to feed their families. Life was hard.
It also wasn’t that unusual for landlords to live elsewhere and demand a large percentage of the harvest from those who are performing the labor. The reaction of the parable will be different for different people, depending on where they fall on the social ladder in Israel.
There are those who will identify with the slaves. There are those who will see the landowner as uncaring and reckless and possibly identify with the plight of the tenants. There are those who will identify with the landowner and his son. Every single reaction is unsettling.
One other element to consider is how Mark has placed this parable between the triumphal entry and Jesus’ authority being questioned in chapter 11 with the story of his betrayal a few chapters later. Jesus is clearly making a statement here – think of the players: a landowner, tenants, the beloved son, murder, revenge, and new tenants. The Pharisees begin the see the parable may be about them. But they don’t quite get the cornerstone reference. It’s obvious the story is far from over.
One thing I do want to mention is that people have used this parable over the years in an antisemitic way, stating that it was the Jews who killed the son and it is the Jews who should then be killed by the landowner. Jesus is not speaking of ethnicity or religion here, he is speaking about faithfulness. The big issue in the parable is not the identity of the players but rather the failure of the tenants to respond faithfully to their obligations. It’s no secret that Christians over the centuries have also treated the cornerstone with disrespect, irreverence, and indignation, while Jews can (and many have) responded faithfully to God’s revelation.
We also have the tax to Caesar text in today’s reading. The Jewish leaders are desperate to get more evidence against Jesus and they think this will be the perfect way to trap him. What the leaders were referring to was a poll tax, a flat tax that every person living in the Roman Empire was forced to pay. To the Jews, it was a reminder that they were far from free. If Jesus had responded with a positive remark like “yes, definitely pay it!” then he would have turned off a lot of his audience. If he had said, “don’t pay it!” then he would have been seen as turning against Rome, a dangerous thing.
But with Jesus’ response, to give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and give to God what is God’s, Jesus literally slips right out of their trap. They are amazed.
I’m going to close today with Psalm 8,
Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!
You have set your glory in the heavens. 2 Through the praise of children and infants you have established a stronghold against your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger. 3 When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, 4 what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them?
5 You have made them a little lower than the angels and crowned them with glory and honor. 6 You made them rulers over the works of your hands; you put everything under their feet: 7 all flocks and herds, and the animals of the wild, 8 the birds in the sky, and the fish in the sea, all that swim the paths of the seas.
9 Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
April 30, 2025
Day 3 of Week 5
Scripture – Mark 11:12-33
Prayer: Almighty God, We belong to you. Sometimes, we get distracted and wander. Forgive us, Lord. Help us stay fully focused on you. Help us remember who and whose we are. In these next few moments of silence, Lord, help us hear a word from you...Jesus, this is your day, we are your people. In Your Name, Amen.
Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, a Deep Dive into the Gospels and Acts. Today, we finish Mark 11 and there is a lot here to discuss.
Let’s start with the cursing of the fig tree. It seems out of character for Jesus to curse anything, much less a fig tree. At that point in the season, the tree should not have been full of leaves but it was an early bloomer. That being the case, it should have had some figs as well. But upon further examination, the tree was all leaves and no fruit, so Jesus curses it so it will never bear fruit again. It’s an odd story for us. What in the world does this mean?
I think we can look at the cursing of this tree as a parable of sorts. Keep in mind, the crowds have just hailed Jesus as king (think of yesterday’s Scripture). But their fervor won’t last; it won’t be long until Jesus is rejected and killed. The spiritual depth of God’s people is shallow. There is no spiritual fruit.
This tree cursing is followed by Jesus entering the temple and turning the tables of the money changers. Again, we see the lack of spiritual fruit. There is much hustle and bustle, a lot of activity, but no righteousness. All leaves and no fruit. It looks good on the outside but there is no real depth to faith. It’s a lot of spiritual busyness without real desire to please God.
I did want to briefly address why Jesus was so angry with the money changers. This was the one area of the temple designated for Gentiles (the nations) to pray. They weren’t allowed in any other area of the temple. And the Jewish people had taken over the entire area for trade and profit. Lots of money was being made here. This isn’t about worshiping God, it’s about financial benefit for the wealthiest Jews. Again, all leaves and no fruit.
This, of course, begs the question: How is our spiritual fruit? What evidence is there in our own lives that we are bearing fruit for the Kingdom? We can look really good. We can be covered with beautiful green leaves – we can look like perfect “Christians,” attend Bible studies, show up at all the ministry events – but if our root is withered, none of that matters. Are we living holy lives? Do we have evidence of the fruit of the Spirit at work? This Scripture is pretty clear that Jesus expects fruit.
The religious leaders have an interesting reaction to all of this. They are scared. I’m thinking that they know they are in the wrong but they don’t want to submit to this Jesus character. Thus, they begin to plot how to kill him.
This gang of naysayers approach Jesus the next day and ask him what authority he has to clear out the temple. They aren’t looking to understand; they are looking to trap Jesus in his words. Afterall, they have already heard his claims of authority as Son of God and they have seen his miracles. They are simply seeking more evidence on which to bring charges against him.
But Jesus knows this and he doesn’t answer their question directly. Instead, he asks them a question – by what authority did John the Baptist baptize? Was his power from heaven or earth? If they could answer that question, then they would also know the source of Jesus’ authority.
This group knew that either answer would lead to other problems for them so they just said they didn’t know; they pleaded ignorance. And just like that, Jesus made his point. Jesus revealed their inconsistencies and their insincerity.
Do you trust in the authority of Jesus, specifically that Jesus is God? He is Lord of all. Have you submitted everything, your whole life, to his authority? Spend some time in prayer about his today.
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
April 29, 2025
Day 2 of Week 5
Scripture – Mark 11:1-11
Prayer: Holy and Almighty God, We come to you today in humility but also with expectancy. We need to hear a word from you. We need to sense your presence and be reminded of how you walk alongside us. In these next few moments of silence, help us settle our mind and gather our scattered thoughts, focusing on you and you alone...In Your Name, Amen.
Welcome to the Daily Dose of Hope, a Deep Dive into the Gospels and Acts. Today, we begin Mark 11. This is what we call Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem and it is typically referred to as the Palm Sunday passage.
As a little girl going to Sunday School, I can remember making palm branches and waving them on Palm Sunday. Jesus’ triumphal entry was described kind of like a parade. Think about parades with their marching bands, large balloons, and dancers. They are often about celebration and national pride. But Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem this wasn’t that kind of parade, especially as the book of Mark describes it.
The disciples have been on a journey toward Jerusalem and they are almost there. They have come to the towns of Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives. Jesus tells two of the disciples to go on ahead and fetch a colt that has never been ridden. He tells them exactly where to find the colt and what to say if anyone questions them. Jesus may have known the owner of the colt and set it up ahead of time or he may not have. We know that Jesus is also God, all-powerful and omniscient, so how this happened exactly, we don’t know. Regardless, they get the colt, put their cloaks on the animal, and Jesus rides on it as he enters the city. Others spread branches on the road. Others run ahead and shout, “Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Blessed is the coming of our father David.”
What’s interesting here to me is all the themes of royalty we see in this short passage. Some of us may think it’s strange that Jesus rode on a donkey rather than a horse but at the time, horses were only used for battle, specifically for warfare. In the Old Testament, new kings would come riding in on the donkey or mule of the previous king. We see this in 1 Kings 1 when King David puts his son Solomon on his own mule, the trumpet is sounded, and the people rejoice and shout. Then, the priest and the prophet Nathan anoint him as king of Israel. The mule is like the presidential limo, a sign of power and prestige that says this is the new leader.
What is different in this case is that Mark specifically states that Jesus is not riding on a previous king’s colt or donkey. He is riding on a colt that has never been ridden before. This is a sign that God is doing a new thing. Jesus is king but a different kind of king.
Then, we see Jesus being given a royal welcome. The people are laying cloaks and branches down for him. They are running ahead in the streets to give him this royal kind of treatment. This is the kind of welcome that the emperor or a high official of the Roman government would have received. Think of it kind of like the red carpet being rolled out---a sign that a very important leader, the new king, has arrived.
For the Jews in the crowd, they would have also known that this a fulfillment of prophecy. Zechariah 9:9, Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. All the signs point to the fact that Jesus is the king!
But there is more. We see them running ahead and shouting, “Hosanna in the highest, blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.” The word hosanna means “pray, save us.” The people in the crowd are expressing that this is the messiah, this is the anointed one, the one they had been waiting for that God had sent to save them. These words are based on Psalm 118:22-26, The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; the LORD has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes. The LORD has done it this very day; let us rejoice today and be glad. LORD, save us! LORD, grant us success! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD. From the house of the LORD we bless you. Then they say “blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David.” Surely, this is the messiah who has come to sit on the throne of David, just as God promised 600 years before. You see, it’s all coming together for them. Thus, there is joy and celebration. God has sent King Jesus to save his people.
But the enthusiasm is short-lived. Jesus makes it to the city gates and goes into Jerusalem. He looks around at everything, but since it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the twelve. And just like that, the celebration is over. The people have moved on.
Of course, we know that people are fickle. They get distracted and disillusioned fairly quickly. We get distracted and disillusioned fairly quickly. While there is something clearly royal about Jesus, he is the promised figure, but not in a way they expected or wanted. They think Messiah has entered the royal city to stage a royal takeover, to save them from the Romans. And we know what happens...he has actually entered to royal city to suffer and die. Yes, Jesus is Messiah. He is Savior. But he wasn’t a military leader on the way to stage a coup. He was actually God himself who had come to save us in a much more fundamental way, to be the final sacrifice for sin so that we could be reconciled to holy God and live life abundantly. No more barriers, no more veil of separation.
Jesus, Messiah, certainly could have overthrown the Romans and reinstituted Israel as they desired it, as it was in the days of King David. But Jesus’ mission wasn’t just to save the Jews, but rather to usher in the Kingdom of God, in which all people for all time could be part of God’s greater work in the world and have a relationship with a God who loves them, adores them, and calls them to something bigger and more important, more eternal. Jesus was king, they were right, he just wasn’t the king they expected.
How often has Jesus not been the king we expected? We think, if that were us, we would celebrate and praise Jesus for who he is – King of Kings and Lord of Lords. But do we do that now? What are your expectations of Jesus? How do we respond when Jesus does not meet our own expectations?
How often have we expected Jesus to ensure us that nothing bad will happen? If only we believe and are faithful, then my loved ones will be protected and I won’t get sick, my marriage will be secure, my job will be stable.
How often have we expected that if we follow Jesus with enough fervor, then he will give us the material desires of our heart?
How often have we thought that if we follow Jesus and have enough faith, then we will be protected from loneliness, depression, anxiety, or other kinds of internal torment?
How often have we relied on Jesus as counselor or self-help guru rather than Lord of our lives?
How often have we wanted Jesus to simply be wise teacher and not Lord of our lives? How often have we wanted him to be provider and sustainer but not really Lord of all?
As Eugene Peterson (who put together the Message translation of the Bible) wrote, “Jesus does not always meet our expectations, does not always give what we ask for or what we think we need. When he doesn’t, we feel let down, deflated, disappointed, or we surf to another channel on the TV, or we try out another church that will, hopefully, give us what we ask for.”
We will chat some more tomorrow.
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
April 28, 2025
Day 1 of Week 5
Scripture - Mark 10:17-52
Prayer: Dear Lord, After a hurried weekend, sometimes we rush into the week. Help us slow down and focus on you. Help us set aside our scattered thoughts and distractions. Help us have laser focus on you and your Word. Lord, in these next few moments of silence, we yearn to hear your still small voice...Come Holy Spirit and guide our reading, our interpretation, and our thoughts. In Your Name, Amen.
Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, a Deep Dive into the Gospels and Acts. We are finishing up Mark 10 today. We might call this the chapter of Jesus saying a lot of hard things. Let’s get started.
The first part of today’s text is familiar to many of us. A man comes to Jesus and asks, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus says, “Well you need to follow all the commandments.” He lists them, you shall not murder, commit adultery, steal, or give false testimony. You shall honor your father and mother. Then, he adds one - you shall not defraud. This wasn’t in the ten commandments, possibly Jesus added it because many of the wealthy were wealthy because they had taken advantage of the poor. If that was the case with this man, we don’t know.
The man simply says, “Yes, I’ve done all those things since I was a boy.” Then, Scripture says, “Jesus looked at him and loved him.” The word for love used here, in the Greek, is the highest form of love in the New Testament, meaning love that characterizes God. There must have been something really rare and admirable about the man, because this is the only place this form of love is used in Mark. Because he loved the man, Jesus looks at him and says there is still one thing you lack.
It was assumed that if one followed the law perfectly (we know that’s impossible but if one did a good job following the law) then they would receive eternal life. Jesus is saying, that is not the case. Jesus isn’t denying that this man is following the law. This is obviously a man of high integrity who is clearly doing all he can to be obedient to God’s laws. “One thing you lack,” Jesus said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
The text says that the man’s face fell. He went away sad because he had great wealth. This is the irony. The children in the former story (we read this on Friday) who possess nothing are told that the kingdom of God is theirs; yet this man who possesses everything still lacks something! Only when he sells all he has—only when he becomes like a vulnerable child—will he possess everything. But he isn’t willing to do that. He decides to walk away from Jesus. The man wasn’t expecting to have to make that kind of sacrifice. He had no idea following Jesus would be so hard.
The disciples are really confused by this. At that time, most people believed that being wealthy was a sign of God’s blessing. Jesus is saying that this man has to sell everything and give it to the poor. And that’s when Jesus says the really, really hard thing...it’s easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. They ask, “Then who possibly can be saved?” Jesus says, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.”
Most of us should feel at least slightly uncomfortable when we read this passage. Don’t dismiss that feeling, rest in it a bit before you move on. The reality is that we are all wealthy in comparison to the rest of the world. Jesus isn’t saying that having possessions is a bad thing. I want to be clear that he is NOT holding poverty up as a value. But, with many of us, our resources do get in the way of us fully committing our lives to Jesus. Full submission is hard for those of us who have much. We also don’t have to rely on Jesus in the same way that someone who is desperately poor has to rely on Jesus. Our refrigerators are full – we aren’t pleading with Jesus for our next meal. It is different.
What does it mean to be a follower of Jesus? I think we have so often fallen into the trap of thinking that following Jesus, being a disciple, is about following a list of rules: following commandments, generally being a good person, going to church, giving some money to good causes, and doing good “Christian” things. But here Jesus is saying that being a disciple is not about following a list of rules. If that were the case, then the rich young ruler would have been a shoo-in. Jesus is saying, following him is about denying yourself and picking up your cross. We just talked about this, how we don’t like to deny ourselves. We don’t like to be uncomfortable. I mean, this means looking at our lives and renouncing any part that gets in our walk with Jesus.
Following Jesus isn’t simply one activity in a busy life filled with lots of great stuff. No, following Jesus means radically reorienting our life. Jesus comes first and our devotion to Jesus as Lord and Savior affects every other area of our lives. Our dedication to Jesus affects how we treat other people, it affects how we spend our money, it affects how we spend our time, it affects how we behave. Following Jesus means a radical adjustment to priorities.
What is it that keeps you from fully following Jesus? What part of your life have you not yet submitted to him? What do you need to renounce in order to submit your whole life to Christ?
We could stop there and it would be enough but this chapter holds even more truth. Next, we have Jesus predicting his death for the third time. While the disciples might not have understood, Jesus was pretty clear that he would be rejected by the chief priests, condemned, executed, and he would rise three days later. I think the disciples heard what they wanted to hear. They wanted Jesus to set up an earthly kingdom in which the Romans would be overthrown. They wanted to sit on a throne. They didn’t want to hear what was really going to happen. They didn’t want to think about the kind of Messiah Jesus really was. They wanted him to be who they wanted him to be.
You can see how their expectations are kind of warped with the next element in the text. James and John are asking to sit next to Jesus, to his left and right, when they arrived in glory. Again, they just don’t get it. They can’t get status and earthly kingdoms out of their heads. To be fair, it was all they understood. They had it in their head that things would be one way, the way the Jews always expected them to be. Jesus was turning things upside down. It won’t be until after the resurrection that things will begin to fall into place for them.
How often have our expectations of Jesus been different than who Jesus truly is? We spoke about this in yesterday’s message. How often do we want counselor Jesus, patriotic Jesus, pacifist Jesus, judgmental Jesus, champion Jesus, or even militant Jesus? So often, we make Jesus into our own image rather than being formed into his image. Jesus is not like us. He is God. His values and thinking are far different from ours and we might not always like that. He is going to challenge our American values and norms. He is going to stretch us in ways we might not want to be stretched. That is kind of what is going on with the disciples. They are getting challenged and it’s really hard.
The final part of the text today is the healing of blind Bartimaeus. Jesus is walking through Jericho and Bartimaeus calls out to him. He is determined for Jesus to hear him, even though the people around him are rebuking him and telling him to be quiet. But Jesus hears him. “What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asks him.
Bartimaeus replied that he wanted to see and Jesus heals him, telling him that his faith had made him well. There are two things I want to point out about this text. First, Jesus heard him. Jesus heard a poor, desperate, blind man on the side of the road in the middle of a huge crowd. Jesus hears his people. Jesus hears YOU.
Second, just as he asked Bartimaeus, he also asks you, “What do you want me to do for you?” What do you want Jesus to do for you. Take a few moments now to spend some time in prayer. Try to picture having a conversation with Jesus, just the two of you. Tell him exactly what you need from him right now. Be honest, be sincere. This is just you and him.
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
April 25, 2025
Day 5 of Week 4
Scripture - Mark 10:1-16
Prayer: Lord Jesus, We come before you today with humility. Thank you for who you are. Thank you for loving us despite our many flaws. Thank you for being present with us, listening, protecting, caring, and forgiving. We give you all the glory. As we prepare for this devotional time, Lord, help us settle our scattered thoughts and distractions and focus totally on you...In Your Name, Amen.
Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, a Deep Dive into the Gospels and Acts. I hope you have had a blessed week. Remember, we take Saturday and Sunday off, it’s your rest or your catch-up time. Whatever you need. Also, please know that if you need anything, if you have a question, a prayer need, or another pastoral need, please feel free to reach out to me at any time. My cell is 813-310-3884 or my email is vicki@findnewhope.com. Text will always get the fastest response from me because I can answer wherever I happen to be. With that, let’s get into our Scripture for today; we are starting Mark 10.
Jesus is teaching that following him will affect how we behave in the most fundamental parts of our lives. He starts the chapter by teaching on divorce; teaching that marriage is not simply a contract, but a creation of God, and that both men and women are equal partners in the marriage. At that time in Jewish marriages, divorce was common but the men were clearly in control, as they could easily discard their wives and remarry. But Jesus is turning this upside down. He is saying, no, in God’s Kingdom, marriage is a covenant between the man, the woman, and God. The commitment is sacred.
I’ve had a lot of people ask me about this over the years. Will they be accepted in Jesus’ church if they experienced a divorce? What happens if they are in a really toxic relationship – does Jesus want them to stay in that relationship? These are not easy questions. I think the best answer is to say that Jesus values marriage very much. He wants to be at the center of every marriage. He wants us to go to great lengths to try to preserve our marriages. Afterall, we believe in resurrection of relationships. God can do miracles. At the same time, I don’t believe he wants us to be in marriages that are toxic to us or our children. In no way should we ever remain in a marriage if there is abuse.
Divorce is painful but its also a product of living in a broken world. Jesus wants you to seek him in the midst of your pain and grief. If you are going through a divorce, seek Jesus for his comfort and peace. And please, if you have experienced or are experiencing a divorce, know you are always welcome in Jesus’ church. We are the body of Christ and we want to be part of your healing!
Jesus goes on to teach about children. Parents were bringing children to him to be blessed and the disciples scolded them. Jesus intervenes and says, “No, let the little children come to me.” We mentioned this yesterday but keep in mind that children in the first century weren’t seen as having much value. They didn’t earn money, nor did they bring status or prestige to the family. Again, Jesus is flipping things upside down. He says that to follow him, we have to actually become like little children–vulnerable, powerless, needing someone else to provide safety and sustenance. We have to become totally dependent on God. I wish I could see the faces of his listeners as he said this. They were probably shocked.
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
April 24, 2025
Day 4 of Week 4
Scripture – Mark 9:30-50
Prayer: Heavenly Father, Help us start this devotional today with a time of silence, a time to pause before you...Lord, hear our prayers. Speak to us. We want to hear from you. In Your Name, Amen.
Welcome to the Daily Dose of Hope, a Deep Dive into the Gospels and Acts. Today, we finish Mark 9, where Jesus says some really hard things and turns the status quo upside down once again. Let’s get started.
In today’s Scripture, Jesus tells them a second time about his upcoming death and resurrection. This time Peter does not rebuke him; actually, no one said anything. They were all too scared to ask questions. Maybe they don’t want to show their ignorance or maybe they are worried they will be rebuked too.
On the road, the disciples begin arguing with one another. Jesus asks them what it’s about and they are embarrassed to share. He is God, so he obviously knows exactly what’s being said. They are arguing about who is the greatest. Wow. Something has gotten lost in Jesus’ teachings.
Once again, Jesus says some hard things. He is turning the status quo on its head. In God’s Kingdom, things are different. The first are last and the last are first. Those who are great become servants. You can imagine the puzzled looks on the disciples’ faces. This is totally different from what they’ve been taught.
And then Jesus brings a little child over and says that whoever welcomes a child also welcomes Jesus and the one who sent him, God. Children at the time had a very low social status. They didn’t earn anything for their families. They had no prestige and brought no honor to their people. They were totally and completely dependent and vulnerable. And Jesus is identifying with them. He is saying that we are to care for those who can offer us nothing. Again, turning things on their head. He also says not to do anything that would cause these little children or vulnerable people to stumble. Don’t get in the way of their knowing and experiencing Jesus.
The incredible grace of God that Jesus proclaims and lives completely contradicts with our worldly notions of greatness based on status, wealth, accolades, etc. Maybe that’s why we resist grace so much. It isn’t a fair thing. It’s just a love thing. It is so much more appealing to be great and wonderful according to worldly standards than according to Jesus’ standards. Greatness, to Jesus, means being humble, lowly, dependent like a child. It’s a risky proposition and it can even get someone killed. But Jesus also teaches that his way is the path of life and salvation.
How do you define greatness? Spend some time in prayer about this. Jesus calls us to be humble and walk alongside the vulnerable. How do you feel about this?
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
April 23, 2025
Day 3 of Week 4
Scripture – Mark 9:1-29
Prayer: Holy God, We come before you today rejoicing in your powerful name. Thank you for who you are and all you do. Thank you for loving us. Help us gather our scattered thoughts, help us set aside distractions, and truly focus on you right now. In these next few moments of silence, Lord, we want to hear your voice...In Your Name, Amen.
Welcome to the Daily Dose of Hope, a Deep Dive into the Gospels and Acts. Today, we are starting Mark 9, where we read about the transfiguration and Jesus casting a demon out of a little boy.
The Scripture says that Jesus took Peter, James, and John, to the top of a mountain, most likely Mt. Hermon because it was close to Caesarea Philippi. Mark writes that Jesus was transfigured before him. His clothes became a dazzling white, whiter than any bleach could every make them. Put yourself in the position of these three men. They had only known the flesh and blood Jesus. We know Jesus as risen Lord and Savior. I think we would expect him to wear dazzling white robes and be all shiny and glorious. But they didn’t. Right before their very eyes, they get a glimpse of Jesus’ glory and it was totally unexpected. Jesus was radiating the very presence of God and they got to see it firsthand.
Moses and Elijah appeared before them and they were talking to Jesus. We don’t quite know why Moses and Elijah appear on the mountain with Jesus except that they were two Old Testament figures that anticipated the coming of Jesus, the final prophet to come and deliver God’s people once and for all. Their work, their ministries, are basically fulfilled by the person of Jesus. They are servants of God but they weren’t God. Jesus, on the other hand, is God and the disciples get a glimpse of that right here.
But there is something about being confronted by the power and glory of God which can make us uncomfortable and even fearful. In awe, yes, but also frightened. Maybe you’ve been there. Peter is there. He struggles to simply rest in the presence of God’s glory. He doesn’t know what to do or say so he blurts out, “let’s set up three shelters–one for you, Jesus, and one for Moses and Elijah.” Now, Peter is referring to the festival of booths or tabernacles which faithful Jews participating in every year. They make structures in their yards as a sign of when God will tabernacle with his people. So, this might seem like a weird thing for Peter to say to us but it wasn’t too off the wall. He is like, “umm...I think God is tabernacling with us and we need to make the shelters.” He is kind of panicky. It seemed like a good thought at the time. What Peter doesn’t quite understand ye tis that before his eyes God’s dwelling with humanity is present, for Jesus is the new tabernacle of God dwelling with humanity. The shelters aren’t needed. God is present with his people through Jesus Christ.
That’s all pretty amazing but the mountaintop experience isn’t done yet. There is a cloud that appears and covers them–remember the presence and glory of God appeared in a cloud in the tabernacle and throughout the Old Testament. And here is the presence of God appearing before them and the voice of God says “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him.” Jesus is clearly set apart from Moses and Elijah, only he is God’s Son, the one to be listened to, the embodied presence of God.
There is something about mountain-top transfigurative experiences–times in which we get a glimpse of the glory and presence of God in our lives. I’m hoping you have each had some kind of mountaintop experience in your walk with Jesus, times in which the veil was removed, you’ve gotten a taste of the presence of God. These are times in which we are confronted with God’s power and it can’t help but change us. Think about a time in which you were confronted with God’s glory and power. Reflect on that moment. How did it change your spiritual journey?
If you haven’t experienced God’s glory in that way, then this is the perfect time to pray for it!
Today, we also read about Jesus healing a boy who was consumed by a demonic spirit. He had been that way his whole life, and the evil spirit had often thrown him into fires and other dangerous scenarios. The disciples who did not go up the mountain with Jesus tried to heal the boy of the evil spirit but nothing happened. So Jesus came back from the mountain just in time. He is easily able to cast out the spirit and the boy is healed.
Later, the disciples ask Jesus why they couldn’t do the miracle. Afterall, they were working under Jesus’ calling. But Jesus said that some kinds (of evil spirits presumably) can only be cast out by prayer. What did this mean?
Just because God has called us to ministry and we say yes, doesn’t mean that we have the power to do that ministry. We don’t, absolutely not. It’s God working through us every single time, every single day. The disciples did not have the power to do the miracle. It’s possible they were trying to cast out the demon in their own strength. Afterall, Jesus had told them to go do so and there were times in which they had been successful. But they needed the power of God in them, they needed to recognize it wasn’t them, it was Almighty God.
This is the scary thing: There is a lot we can do in ministry in our own power. We can create great programs. We can have good counseling. We can say brilliant prayers and lead amazing Bible studies. We can even give decent sermons. But none of it is anointed. And that will only take us so far. It’s also really dangerous. We begin to think it’s about us and our skills rather than Jesus Christ. We honor ourselves rather than God. Ministry without Jesus at the center will eventually fail. The power is always in Jesus.
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
April 22, 2025
Day 2 of Week 4
Scripture – Mark 8:22-38
Prayer: Holy and Merciful God, Thank you for a new day and thank you that your mercies are new every morning. Help us, Lord, gather our scattered thoughts and focus on you and your Word. In these next few moments of silence, help us be still and know that you are God...In Your Name, Amen.
Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope. Today, we are finishing up Mark 8. There is a lot to cover so I’m going to do my best to do this text justice.
The portion from yesterday that we didn’t get to cover was the healing of the blind man, verses 22-26. This is the only miracle that Jesus does in stages. I think we need to start by saying that Jesus didn’t fail to heal in the first part and needed to try again. Jesus could have healed him instantaneously if he chose to do so. He had done it many times before. Why not now?
We could probably draw a lot of different conclusions. But what makes the most sense to me is that physical and spiritual healings often don’t happen all at once. They can be multi-step, gradual processes. Jesus is at work in every single part. Answers to prayers are the same way. Sometimes, they come quickly and other times, they are given a little bit at a time. Regardless, we trust Jesus.
After this healing, there is a pretty big shift in the chapter. Jesus takes his disciples on a retreat of sorts up in Caesarea Philippi, in the northern part of Israel. Maybe it’s to get away from the crowds, maybe it’s so they can speak more freely. It was a quiet place at the headwaters of the Jordan River but also a place filled with idol worship and signs of Roman occupation everywhere. And it’s here that Jesus decides he is going to settle his identity with these men.
Jesus asks each of them, “Who do people say I am?” And they list a few things. Then, he asks them, “Who do you say I am?” And it’s Peter that speaks up, we can assume he was speaking for the disciples, and he says, “You are the Messiah, Son of the Living God.” The term “Messiah” was the Hebrew word for God’s anointed, it was a title. Peter is saying you are the anointed one, chosen, set apart by God, the Messiah.
Throughout the Old Testament, there are many, many verses that point to the Messiah delivering the Hebrew people from captivity, from pagan kings. The Jews expected the Messiah to deliver them from Roman occupation via military might. That was the expectation. The Christ, the Messiah is the one who God sent to deliver his people, to make things right for them – the one they had been waiting for hundreds of years. When Peter says this, you are the Messiah, he doesn’t quite understand how Jesus is going to deliver them. No one really got it that the Messiah would be the one to deliver people, not from the Roman occupiers, but from their own sin. When Peter calls Jesus the Messiah, he gets the title right. But we soon find out, he got the meaning wrong. He wanted Messiah to mean what he wanted it to mean.
At this point, the disciples still think this is going to be a very earthly kingdom and they will be sitting on 12 thrones. And then we have Jesus saying that actually, I am going to Jerusalem and I will be rejected by the chief priests. I am going to killed there and will rise again in three days. And the Scripture says that Peter took Jesus aside and rebuked him. Here is where we miss something significant in English. In the Greek, this word rebuke is much stronger. Peter is really laying into Jesus here, saying “This is not the way it’s going to be. This is not what we signed up for.”
Jesus doesn’t miss a beat. He rebukes Peter and makes that very famous statement, “Get behind me Satan.” Peter doesn’t understand that the ways of the world are not like the ways of God. As much as I try to understand this, I think I’m definitely still learning.
Jesus goes on to talk about what it means to really follow him. (This is what I’m preaching on this Sunday so you are getting a sneak peek.) Jesus actually expects his disciples to follow him on this path of suffering and death. After telling them that they don’t understand the mind of God, he says this very hard thing, Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it. Jesus is not asking for a small thing – he is asking for self-denial and cross-bearing.
What does this mean? Basically, self-denial means our primary focus is not ourself and our own needs, our own pleasure, our own ambitions, our own desires, you get it. Our primary focus becomes JESUS and his values, his Kingdom, what brings Jesus glory.
Bearing one’s cross was and is a show of complete and utter submission. It was the condemned person in the Roman world that had to carry their cross before their own execution. Thus, a call to bear one’s cross as part of following Jesus is a call to be as submitted to Christ as the condemned criminal was to his death. When Jesus says this, he’s claiming authority. Following Christ means disowning the self and giving allegiance to him instead. And it means giving him allegiance down to the very depths of our being.
Some of you might think this doesn’t sound very appealing. The irony here is that the more we surrender to Jesus, the more of ourselves we yield to him, the more free and peaceful we become. We are not our own. We belong to Jesus and ultimately, that leads to hope, love, and freedom like no other. How have you experienced this?
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
April 21, 2025
Day 1 of Week 4
Scripture - Mark 8:1-21
Prayer: Almighty God and Risen Lord, King of Kings and Lord of Lords, We come before you today with praise and a sense of awe. Even after we have just experienced the glory of the resurrection, we still struggle to keep focus on you. Help us gather our scattered and distracted thoughts. Help us take a moment of silence and remember who you are...Holy Spirit, speak to us today. We want to hear your voice. In Your Name, Amen.
Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, a Deep Dive into the Gospels and Acts. My prayer is that all of you had a wonderful Easter Sunday yesterday. Today, we begin Mark 8 and learn about the yeast of the Pharisees and Herod. Let’s get started!
Mark 8 begins with another abundance miracle. There were a group of people who had been following Jesus and the disciples for several days. Jesus is worried about them because he suspects they don’t have food. If he sent them away, Jesus says, they might collapse on their way home.
The disciples are a bit indignant. They don’t have enough food to feed all the people. I find this so strange. It wasn’t long ago that Jesus fed the 5,000. Why do they not just look at Jesus and say, “Can you do that thing again?” But it’s as if they have totally forgotten. How quickly life can get back to normal and doubt or cynicism can kick in. I feel like I see this sometimes with someone who was terminally sick and receives a healing. They are elated and grateful. Some people keep that gratefulness, but others gradually forget. They become disengaged once again, almost like it never happened.
But Jesus does do his thing. He takes seven loaves of bread and a few small fish and he feeds the entire crowd of thousands until they are full. This time, there were seven basketfuls left over.
From this place, Jesus and his disciples head to another town on the Sea of Galilee. The Pharisees are there and ask Jesus for a sign from heaven. Jesus won’t give them a sign, or the one they want. The whole thing is ironic. Jesus has been giving all kinds of signs! He just fed thousands of people with seven loaves of bread. He has healed all kinds of people very publicly. I’m not sure the kind of sign they were wanting, but Jesus is clearly a walking signpost for the Kingdom.
I want to spend some time on the next statement that Jesus makes. He tells the disciples to beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Herod. Now, what in the world does that mean? Let’s think about yeast. Just a little bit of yeast can work through a whole lot of dough. When it comes to bread, we usually think of that as a positive thing. A little yeast can make a huge amount of bread. But the yeast that Jesus is speaking of here is more like a contamination. The yeast of the Pharisees, the religious yeast, or the yeast of Herod, political yeast, can contaminate a large number of people. It doesn’t take much of it to throw us off, to infect a whole crowd, to get people distracted by the wrong thing. A little bit of this bad yeast can get people focused on religion or politics and away from the bread of life.
This is something we may not want to hear. But Jesus does not want us to be more religious or more political. He wants us to be more focused on him. There is a big difference between being “religious” and being “Christ-focused.” Religion is not a bad thing at all, until it is. Likewise, politics is not bad, until it is. Jesus is making a statement here: Politics and religion are not the answer to the worlds’ problems – he is! How often do we get this mixed up?
The disciples still don’t get it. They still think he is talking about physical bread. I read this and think, “Man, these guys are so dense.” And yet, if I was in their position, I probably wouldn’t have gotten it either. Jesus is turning all they know upside down. He is saying and doing things that were so foreign to them. No matter how many miracles they see, they don’t get it. It won’t be until after his death and resurrection that any of this begins to make sense to them.
We have the advantage of the whole Gospel story right now. We can see Jesus’ ministry, his miracles, his teachings, the cross, the resurrection, and the beginning of the church. And yet, how often is the radical nature of the Gospel still lost on us? How often do we place our own hopes on politics or religion rather than on Jesus?
Let’s close today with Philippians 2:1-11,
Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in very nature God,did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; 7 rather, he made himself nothingby taking the very nature of a servant,being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man,he humbled himselfby becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!
9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest placeand gave him the name that is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,to the glory of God the Father.
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
April 18, 2025
Day 5 of Week 3
Scripture - Mark 7:24-37
Prayer: Holy God, Thank you for your kindness, mercy, and love. As we remember the cross today, help us be reminded of how you got there. We all put you there. We have all betrayed you. For that, we are so very, very sorry. Forgive us for the many ways that we have failed you just today. Lord, in these next few moments of silence, hear our prayers...In Your Name, Amen.
Welcome back! This is the Daily Dose of Hope, a Deep Dive into the Gospels and Acts. Today, we will finish Mark 7. Before we do, however, I did want to mention that today is Good Friday. It’s the day we remember Jesus’ crucifixion and death. While Good Friday is often a day of sorrow and fasting, it doesn’t have to be. Afterall, we know the rest of the story. Sunday is coming! Resurrection is almost here. Tonight, at 7:30pm in Logan Hall, we will have a Good Friday service led by our Spanish-speaking congregations. While most of the service is in Spanish, everyone is welcome and we will have a translation app available. If you have never been to this Good Friday service, I highly recommend you come. I think we do an excellent job of remembering the cross in light of the resurrection. Hope to see you tonight!
Now on to the Scripture for today. We have two healings and both of the people who are healed remain nameless. Let’s start with the woman who asks Jesus to heal her daughter. This is a text that bothers me or I should say that Jesus’ interaction with the woman bothers me. He seems annoyed that this woman approaches him. What do we know from the text? We know that Jesus has tried to go unnoticed but this woman, somehow, figures out that he is there. He simply cannot get alone time, that is for sure, but the words he speaks seem very out of character for him. The text also says she is Greek, born in Syrian Phoenicia. Thus, he must be in Gentile territory and this woman would have been considered a Canaanite. She is breaking all the social taboos of the time by seeking out Jesus. Not only is she considered unclean but she is a woman alone trying to get the attention of a Jewish teacher. But the woman is determined.
The woman begs Jesus to heal her daughter, who has an impure spirit in her. Jesus’ reaction is jarring, as he refers to her and her people as dogs. This would have been a derogatory phrase that Jews did use to refer to pagans but it does not sound right coming from Jesus’ mouth. Some scholars have suggested that the term Jesus used could mean puppies and he said it tongue and cheek. Maybe he was testing her, to see the depth of her faith. In Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus also says to the woman, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” It’s possible he wants to see how she will respond.
If that is the case, she does quite well. Her quick reply is that even dogs get the crumbs dropped from the table. Basically, there is enough of what Jesus has that he can afford to share it with her and her daughter. And Jesus agrees, he sees her faith and heals the daughter immediately. There is enough of what Jesus has for outsiders to be included. God’s Kingdom is more than big enough. And that’s good for us because most of us are Gentiles too.
From there, Jesus heads to the Decapolis, another pagan area, where people bring him a deaf and mute man. He is also an outsider and someone, because of his disability, who is really cut off from community. But Jesus heals him as well.
Sometimes, I hear people say things like “we need to do mission right here” or “we need to make sure our church people are cared for first.” Yes, we do need to do mission in our own neighborhoods and community. Yes, we do need to make sure our faith family is cared for. But Jesus is showing us that mission in God’s Kingdom is really big. While providing love and care for the insider, there is more than enough love and mercy to go around. We are also compelled to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with the outsider; Jesus is calling us to constantly expand our boundaries. Who do you know that is very different from you that needs the love and care of Jesus today? Your challenge today is to reach out in some way.
Galatians 3:28 ,“There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
April 17, 2025
Day 4 of Week 3
Scripture – Mark 7:1-23
Prayer: Almighty God, We come before you with awe and humility. As we continue through this Holy Week, help us remember all you have done for us. We are nothing without you. We need you desperately, Lord. Help us gather our scattered thoughts today as we focus on you. In these next few moments of silence, help us remember that we belong to you. Help us lay our worries and cares on the throne of your grace...We pray this in the powerful name of Jesus, Amen.
Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, a Deep Dive into the Gospels and Acts. Today, we begin Mark 7 and read about another run-in Jesus has with the Pharisees. But before we move into our devotional, I do want to mention that today is Maundy Thursday. The word “maundy” comes from a Latin word meaning command and it refers to the command that Jesus gives his disciples in the Upper Room “to love one another as I have loved you.” This is often a day when we wash each other’s feet and receive communion together as Jesus did before he was crucified. Today, we will have the New Hope sanctuary open for prayer, communion, and hand washing from 12noon to 1pm and then again from 6:30 to 7:30pm. There won’t be a service but this will be your time for prayer, reflection, and communing with God.
Let’s talk a little bit about 1st century Jewish life. Certain groups of Jews, such as the Pharisees and the scribes, affirmed two types of law. There was the written law, the first five books of the Bible, and the oral law, or the traditions of the elders/rabbis. The written law didn’t have all the detail so the rabbis over the years had filled in those details with oral traditions. For instance, there is a lot in the written law about things being clean and unclean but not a lot of detail, so the oral tradition filled in the detail.
Who exactly were the Pharisees? They were a strict sect of Judaism that believed in following the law in the fullest sense. There were different standards for following the law for different groups of people (day laborer would not be able to follow the law in the same way that a scribe could do so.) But certainly, it would have been expected that a rabbi and his followers would follow both the oral and written law.
In today’s Scripture, Jesus and his disciples had been out and about doing ministry and it is time to eat; they gather together to eat dinner. But they were being watched. Some of the Jewish teachers of the law, the Pharisees, had come to watch Jesus and his followers. They were suspicious of Jesus. They had heard about the healings. They had heard about his teaching. And they were feeling a bit threatened. They travel from Jerusalem, which was 80 miles away, to come keep an eye on him.
And they find Jesus and his disciples eating without washing their hands and they are appalled. Now, let’s be clear. Part of the oral laws that the Jews followed included ritual hand washing, in which they would pour water over their hands before they ate. It wasn’t to clean germs off their hands. (They didn’t know about germs yet – germ theory isn’t discovered for another 1800 years). Thus, this pouring of water on the hands didn’t really make their hands clean. It was a man-made rule that the rabbis tried to enforce.
And Jesus didn’t have his disciples do it. The Pharisees are shocked and they ask him, “Why do you allow your disciples to eat with unclean hands?” And then Jesus says interesting. He quotes Scripture from the prophet Isaiah, which basically says, “‘These people honor me by what they say. But their hearts are far away from me. Their worship doesn’t mean anything to me. They teach nothing but human rules.’
On the surface, there wasn’t anything wrong with what the Pharisees were trying to do. They had laws which they thought were very important in following God. But you see, Jesus could see past their words, past their rules, and into their hearts. He saw insincerity, hollowness, hypocrisy, all a bit of a facade. And thus, he sees this as a fulfillment of Biblical prophecy. Just as in the times of Isaiah, the Pharisees were giving lip service to following God but their hearts were far from him. They were concerned about the Sabbath being followed to the tee but they would cheat people in the marketplace. They were concerned about following specifics of the hand washing but they weren’t at all concerned about the widow and the orphan. Something was truly skewed here. They were all about piety but they had neglected compassion, justice, and love.
This whole issue of being unclean, of being defiled, was a big deal in 1st century Judaism. If you couldn’t be clean (and a lot of regular people worked jobs or had lives that meant they couldn’t meet all the various regulations to stay clean), but if you were unclean for whatever reason (your work or an illness), then you were kind of ostracized from the Temple. You were basically shunned from religious life. Jesus is making a huge point here. He is saying that becoming defiled goes so much deeper than what you touch or what rituals you may or may not attend to.
Jesus is basically saying, You are shunning people, you are telling them they are unclean, you are ostracizing them from the community, based on the rituals they have done or haven’t done to be clean. But what you are missing is this: the things that really matter, the things that pose the greatest danger, are not external. They aren’t hand-washing. They aren’t meticulously keeping Sabbath. The things that matter most to God are internal.
You see, what Jesus is saying to them is that God cares most about the heart. I can’t help but think back to God’s choice of David for king of Israel. All his brothers seemed like a better choice–older, stronger, more educated, better marksmen. I Samuel 16:7, But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”
Friends, the Lord looks on the heart. God cares about what’s in our hearts. He doesn’t care if you’ve got Scripture memorized or you pray big fancy prayers out loud for your Sunday School class. He doesn’t care if you “look” like a good Christian. Rather---He cares about how you treat the people who live next door to you. He cares about if you are really kind to people. He cares about whether or not you are saying nasty things about other people behind their back. He cares about whether you are generous with your resources. He cares about whether you really make him Lord of your life. If we are honest, I think we will all admit that the church has looked a lot like these Pharisees. We’ve been all about religious activity and less about trying to be like Jesus. We’ve been about the external and not the internal. We’ve cared about appearances. We put up this great religious front but then we are horribly judgmental or angry or bitter or you get the idea.
Friends, God could care less about your religious busyness. He wants your heart. He doesn’t care about our ceremonial handwashing---he cares about if we are treating others with the love of Christ. And if we aren’t, then all the ceremony, all the church stuff, all of this, it’s kind of a farce. Why? Because God looks on our hearts. We aren’t fooling God.
Some questions to think about:
Am I growing in my walk with Jesus?
What evidence do I have of this?
Do I make excuses for my failure to be obedient and faithful to God’s commands?
Am I growing in faithfulness or stagnating by being too comfortable in my spiritual life?
Am I frequently sharing my faith with people outside the church?
Am I the same person at church as I am at home, at work, and everywhere else in my life? Do I speak and behave in the same way? Why or why not?
Do I hide things from my church friends that I’m ashamed of?
Do I ever thank God that I am not as sinful as other people?
Do I ever say unhelpful things about my brothers and sisters in Christ?
Do I have a critical or negative spirit?
What things have I allowed to seep into my heart that I know should be released to God?
How am I measuring up compared to Jesus?
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
April 16, 2025
Day 3 of Week 3
Scripture - Mark 6:30-56
Prayer: Lord, as we get closer to Resurrection Sunday, I would ask you to prepare our hearts. Regardless of what is going on in our lives, help us focus on you. Lord, please us these next few moments of silence to speak to our deepest needs, to those places of heaviness, sorrow, or anxiety deep in our soul...Lord, we are grateful for the hope you offer. We love you, Lord Jesus. Amen.
Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, a Deep Dive into the Gospels and Acts. Today, we finish up Mark 6. We get to participate in the feeding of the 5,000 and watch Jesus walk on water. What an amazing picture of God’s Kingdom!
At the beginning of today's narrative, we find that the disciples are tired. They have been traveling and doing ministry. Jesus knows they need time away so he decides to take them somewhere else. Scripture says, “a solitary place.” But people see where they are headed and follow them. Now, their little retreat has been invaded by hundreds and then thousands of desperate people.
Picture this: Verse 44 states there were roughly 5000 men there, which doesn’t include the women and children because at that time, women and children would not be in the official count. We are talking probably 10-15,000 people. The disciples ask Jesus to send the people away because they are in a remote place and they are going to need to find some dinner. Now, the disciples were simply being practical, right? It makes sense that they would immediately think to send them away, seems like the easiest solution. And they were tired. And they were probably a bit annoyed and wanted them to just go away. But that isn’t what Jesus decided to do.
Jesus tells the disciples “You give them something to eat.” This is so interesting to me because Jesus is putting the responsibility on the disciples to solve the problem. You do it. The disciples complain “but that would take half a year’s wages to feed all these people.” So Jesus talks them through it. What do you have? Well, we have five loaves of bread and two fish.
Jesus doesn’t miss a beat. He has the disciples separate the mass of people into groups of about fifty or one hundred. Jesus takes the bread and fish, looks to heaven, and gives thanks (does that sound familiar?) Then, the disciples started distributing the food. Everyone ate and ate and ate until they were full. In the end, there were twelve basketfuls left over.
I often wonder if Jesus knew he was going to do this all along or it just kind of happened in the moment. We don’t know, but what we do know is that he takes what they have and multiplies it. This was a miracle of abundance. Jesus took a little and turned it into a lot. In that moment, we see God’s Kingdom in all its fullness. In God’s Kingdom, there is no sickness so Jesus healed. In God’s Kingdom, there is no hunger so Jesus fed. Most of us are pretty well fed but that was not the norm in first century Palestine. People did not get enough to eat. That’s why in the Lord’s Prayer we say, “give us today our daily bread” because daily bread was not a given. Those 10-15K people that Jesus was caring for were peasants. They were hungry people. There was a huge disparity between rich and poor in the Roman Empire and some argue, quite convincingly, that was intentional. It’s a lot easier to control people when you are controlling their food, holding it out like a carrot.
But Jesus was demonstrating a different way of life, one in which God is on the throne, one in which all people are valued and cared for and fed. I love that line in verse 17, “they all ate and were satisfied.” That would have been very unusual for that group of people, to eat and be satisfied. And there were twelve baskets left over, a basket for each disciple to carry.
I wonder if Jesus did that so that as they were carrying these baskets home, they would continually be reminded that God is so much bigger than they ever could imagine, that Jesus will find a way no matter how impossible the situation might seem. Jesus can take five loaves of bread and two fish and feed 15,000 people. He can defy the laws of nature. I mean, he created the laws of nature. I’m not sure how many of you are currently dealing with something that seems impossible, that seems like there is no solution – a health crisis, a broken relationship, a financial mess. If you hear nothing else in this devotional today, I want you to hear that NOTHING, no problem, is too big for our God. God can and will make a way but we have to release it to him. We have to allow him to take care of it the way he sees fit. It might not be, it probably won’t be, the way we would do it. But there is always a way.
I want to at least talk a little bit about the walking on water. Jesus had been off praying, as he was apt to do, and he goes to find the disciples. The wind is especially bad and the disciples are straining at the oars. So he walks over to them, on top of the water. When they see him walking on water and at first, think he is a ghost. But he calmly tells them not to be afraid. Then, he gets in the boat with them. They head to the other side of the lake and begin start healing people.
There is one line here that I find really interesting. It states that the disciples were amazed when they saw Jesus walking on water because they had not understood about the loaves earlier and their hearts were hardened. These were men who saw Jesus heal over and over again. And yet, they were blown away by the loaves and fishes miracle. They still don’t understand who Jesus is or the kind of power and authority he has. They don’t understand that he is, in fact, God.
Do you understand that Jesus is God?
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
April 15, 2025
Day 2 of Week 3
Scripture – Mark 6:14-29
Prayer: Almighty God, I come before you today with a sense of gratefulness. You are Lord of all and yet you care for me. Thank you, Lord. Help me walk through this day with humility and your wisdom; help me represent you well. Lord, in these next few moments of silence, help me gather my scattered thoughts, I want to hear your voice...Come Holy Spirit, and guide this time. In Your Name, Amen.
Welcome back, everyone, to the Daily Dose of Hope, a Deep Dive into the Gospels and Acts. Today is day two of three in Mark 6 and our focus is shifting back to John the Baptist.
Our section starts with King Herod asking about Jesus, who was gaining quite a bit of fame in the area. One person answered that he might be John the Baptist reincarnated. This gets Herod concerned, as he had John executed not long before.
Let’s talk briefly about the Herods. These were political figures appointed by the Roman government to oversee Judea. Most people consider them very insecure puppet kings. They did what the Romans wanted and in return got to keep their power and wealth. While they considered themselves to be Jewish, they really were not and they certainly didn’t behave they obedient Jews, which certainly did not endear them to the “real” Jewish residents. Just for some context, Herod the Great was the ruler at the time of Jesus’ birth (remember the one who ordered all the male babies to be killed in Bethlehem?) He was an extremely violent king and is said to have killed his wife, her two sons, and anyone he perceived as a threat. Not a nice guy. His own son, Herod Antipas, is the one in today’s Scripture.
This Herod had decided to divorce his own wife to marry his brother Philip’s wife, Herodias. It was quite a messy family situation. Philip was still alive and Herodias was both Herod Agrippa’s and Philip’s niece. Basically, Herod was trampling all over God’s laws and John the Baptist had called him out on it. Herod could have easily executed John because he spoke out against the marriage, but he chose not to do so. Herod keeps John in prison but alive. It seemed that Herod actually had a lot of respect for John because he considered him a righteous man of God.
But Herodias, the wife/niece, was a different story. She hated John for the way he spoke out. So she bided her time until she was able to get her revenge. The time came when at Herod’s birthday party. Herodias’ daughter performed some kind of very seductive dance for the guests (keep in mind the dysfunction of this family). In return for her provocative dance, a probably fairly drunk and lustful Herod offers the daughter anything she wants. She asks her mother what to ask for and Herodias knows this is her opportunity to get rid of John the Baptist. Herodias instructs the girl to ask for John the Baptist’s head on a platter. Herod was distressed at this, as he did admire John, but he felt the need to honor the very public request. He sends the executioner to the prison and John is beheaded immediately.
The brutality of this narrative is a bit shocking. Because Jesus was a man of peace, I think we sometimes forget how violent the Roman world was at that time. The Romans, and in turn, the Herods, ruled with an iron fist. They had perfected the art of frequent execution. Keep in mind, there was no due process. People could be killed or tortured for just about anything. There was political tension, frequent uprisings, heavy taxation, and people were jailed for not being able to pay their fair share. There was desperate poverty and the poor faced incredible hardships.
It was into this world that Jesus came. You can see why the people were so ready for his message. But is our world any different?
I’m going to close today with John 16:33. These are the words of Jesus, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
April 14, 2025
Day 1 of Week 3
Scripture - Mark 6:1-13
Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, We give you glory for the beginning of Holy Week. Prepare our hearts as we move toward Easter Sunday. Lord, right now, help us put aside the distractions of our lives and focus on you. In these next few moments of silence, help us gather our scattered thoughts and remember to be still and know that you are God...Come Holy Spirit, and speak to us today. We love you, Amen.
Welcome to the Daily Dose of Hope, a Deep Dive into the Gospels and Acts. Today, we start Mark 6 where we will discuss Jesus’ lack of miracles in Nazareth and the sending out of the disciples.
Let’s start with what happened in Jesus’ hometown of Nazareth. It starts out well enough. He teaches in the synagogue and the people were amazed. It makes me think of Mark 1 when the people were surprised at how Jesus taught with authority, unlike the teachers of the law. But then these hometown residents begin to ask questions: Isn’t this Jesus who lives around the corner? Isn’t he a carpenter? Isn’t this Mary’s son, whose sisters are here with us? Basically, who does he think he is? We know his background. We know he isn’t anything special.
Jesus makes the statement that a prophet is not without honor except in his hometown. Notice the double negative; I’m not sure why it is worded this way but I am sure Jesus has a reason; he is making a point. A prophet is honored except where he is known well. All over the region people were hearing and believing Jesus’ message. He was doing all kinds of miracles. But when he begins to do the same in Nazareth, he is met with contempt. This means that Jesus’ extended family, his family friends, and those who knew him best refused to believe in him. I would imagine how this must have been heart-breaking for Jesus.
Because of their lack of faith, the Scripture states he was only able to do a few miracles. Let’s touch briefly on the connection between miracles and faith. As we read through the Gospels, we see that Jesus’ healing authority is strongly connected to the faith of the individual being healed. Last week, we read about the woman who had been bleeding for twelve years and Jesus said her faith had made her well. In Mark 10, we will read about blind man in Jericho who asked Jesus to heal his sight, and Jesus specifically said to the man that his faith had healed him.
At the same time, we know that faith is not a prerequisite for miracles. If Jesus wants to do a miracle, he is God so he can do a miracle. He doesn’t need the faith of others to do it. Think of the feeding of the 5,000 – the disciples doubted and Jesus still performed a miracle of abundance. Jesus later walks on water without the faith of those around him.
Matthew’s Gospel uses different language (Matthew 13), saying that Jesus did not do many miracles in Nazareth because of their lack of faith. This leads me to surmise that Jesus chose not to do miracles in his hometown. He could have forced the issue but he decided not to. He didn’t have anything to prove to these people.
While the Nazareth hometown folks are unbelieving, the next portion of the narrative shows that many other people were believing. The mission would continue regardless of the Nazareth naysayers. Jesus sends out his disciples, armed with his power and authority. They go from village to village preaching and doing miracles. They were to live simply and accept hospitality where it was offered. Where it wasn’t offered, they were not to get upset but keep moving. The end result was repentance and all kinds of healing.
I can’t help but thinking that just as Jesus sent out the twelve to preach the Gospel and perform miracles, he sends us out as well. If we know Jesus, he has empowered us to continue his mission. So often, we shy away from this. Maybe we worry about rejection; we aren’t really that great at shaking the dust off our feet. Maybe we worry about our own needs. We don’t live simply, nor do we often make the time to do this kind of work.
Are you continuing the mission of Jesus? Take a moment and pray about this. How might Jesus be calling you to do more? How is Jesus sending you out? So often, we cling to the comfort of the Gospel but neglect the challenge of it.
Let’s close today with Matthew 16:24-26, Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 25 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. 26 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
April 11, 2025
Day 5 of Week 2
Scripture – Mark 5:21-43
Prayer – Holy and Merciful God, We are so thankful that your mercies are new every morning. No matter what yesterday held, help us start afresh and anew with you. Lord, help us set aside our distractions and gather our scattered thoughts so we can fully focus on you and your Word. Help us sit in these next few moments of silence, remembering that you are God and we are not...In Your Name, Amen.
Welcome to the Daily Dose of Hope, a Deep Dive into the Gospels and Acts. Today, we are finishing up Mark 5. Remember, yesterday we spoke about Jesus’ healing of the man possessed by evil spirits over in Gentile territory. Now, he is back to the Jewish side of the lake and more healing awaits him.
It starts with Jesus being encountered by Jairus, a synagogue leader, whose daughter is very ill and dying. He wants Jesus to come to his home and heal her. I want you to think about this situation. Jairus had high status in this community. He was a Jewish leader. We can surmise that he didn’t want to have to go see Jesus, this odd teacher and healer. Jairus was desperate – he had probably tried all kinds of healers by this point and nothing had worked. As a parent, he was willing to do anything to save the life of his daughter, even lower himself to ask Jesus for help.
But while they are walking to his home, Jesus has an encounter with someone else, a woman who had been bleeding for twelve years. It was a massive crowd, with everyone pressing up against him, but she touched the edge of his robe but he felt the power go out of him.
Let’s talk briefly about this woman. Bleeding made this woman unclean according to Jewish law. Bleeding for twelve years probably had ruined her life. If she had been married, the husband would have left her by now, meaning she would not have had a way to support herself. She would have depleted all her resources trying to get better. Physically, she would have been extremely fatigued and weak. And finally, this would have alienated her from community. Being unclean, she could not go to the synagogue and she really wasn’t allowed to be in that crowd. But she is also desperate, so she breaks the rules, desperate to touch Jesus.
Jesus knows who has touched him but he asks out loud anyway, “Who touched me?” She couldn’t stay hidden anymore so she comes forward. I can imagine how terrified she would have been. And then Jesus says the most amazing thing, “Daughter, your faith has made you well.” With just a phrase, Jesus healed not only her bleeding but also her soul. She isn’t alienated. She is worthy. She is a daughter of the one true king.
I find this such an extraordinary narrative. Some people have to encounter Jesus and others need to be empowered. But desperate people come to Jesus and are healed. Even when something seems too far gone – the daughter who is almost dead or the woman whose life has been practically destroyed by twelve years of bleeding – Jesus can take care of it. Jesus is a miracle-worker for all of us. His power and healing are offered to all people in every strata of society.
Is there anything in your life for which you have stopped praying? Nothing, nobody is too sick, too addicted, too depressed, too angry, too bitter, too lazy, too ___________ (you fill in the blank) to bring to Jesus. Jesus, the ultimate physician, caregiver, and healer, isn’t done with any of us yet.
By the way, he does make it to Jairus’ house. The girl has already died and the people are crying and wailing. But Jesus goes in anyway. The girl wakes up. Even death can’t stop Jesus.
Let’s close with Psalm 30...
I will exalt you, Lord,for you lifted me out of the depthsand did not let my enemies gloat over me. 2 Lord my God, I called to you for help,and you healed me. 3 You, Lord, brought me up from the realm of the dead;you spared me from going down to the pit.
4 Sing the praises of the Lord, you his faithful people;praise his holy name. 5 For his anger lasts only a moment,but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may stay for the night,but rejoicing comes in the morning.
6 When I felt secure, I said,“I will never be shaken.” 7 Lord, when you favored me,you made my royal mountain[c] stand firm; but when you hid your face,I was dismayed.
8 To you, Lord, I called;to the Lord I cried for mercy: 9 “What is gained if I am silenced,if I go down to the pit? Will the dust praise you?Will it proclaim your faithfulness? 10 Hear, Lord, and be merciful to me;Lord, be my help.”
11 You turned my wailing into dancing;you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, 12 that my heart may sing your praises and not be silent.Lord my God, I will praise you forever.
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
April 10, 2025
Day 4 of Week 2
Scripture – Mark 5:1-20
Prayer: Almighty God, you are so good. Thank you for your love, your mercy, and your forgiveness. How amazing it is that you care so much for me. You are my everything. Help me take my scattered thoughts this morning and focus on you and you alone. In these next few moments of silence, help me center myself on you...Holy Spirit, come and speak to me through your Word. In Your Name, Amen.
Welcome to the Daily Dose of Hope, a Deep Dive into the Gospels and Acts. Today, we begin Mark 5.
Jesus starts out this chapter going to the other side of the lake. Just a reminder, the other side of the lake means he is leaving the Jewish towns and heading to the Gentile side. As we have and will continue to see, Jesus has a pattern of going to the other side, responding to the need of the “other.” While Jesus cares for the insiders, he is constantly reaching out to the other–the Samaritan woman at the well, the bleeding woman, the lepers, the tax collectors, the woman caught in adultery–he is always reaching out and offering care and healing to those on the outside, the outcast, to those who don’t belong, who have been pushed to the fringe. I do think this is a lesson for the church, that we also have been called to go to those who are “others” in our community. Who is that for us? How hard would it be for us to go to them in the name of Jesus?
Jesus gets out of the boat and sees the deranged man. The man was so disturbed, he was living in the burial caves. Most likely he was a burden to the townspeople, an outcast, and their way of dealing with him was to force him to live far away. The burial caves were most likely nasty, smelly, dirty. This is where the dead, decaying bodies were kept. And what I am struck by is how they had tried to subdue him, to chain him up, like an animal...and then day and night he howled and cut himself with sharp stones. I can’t help but feeling overwhelming sadness for this man. Cutting (self-harm) is usually the result of trauma. This was someone’s son, someone’s brother, maybe someone’s father. He was a human being made in the image of God. And yet, his life had little value to the people of the town. He was an “other.” But Jesus saw him.
When Jesus was still a way off, the evil spirits inside the man recognize Jesus. Isn’t it interesting that the evil spirits that were possessing the man knew Jesus immediately? In fact, they call him Son of the Most High God; there is instant recognition that this is the Son of God. The evil spirits know him but often the people that Jesus is ministering to fail to recognize him.
When Jesus asks the man his name, he replies, “Legion.” The word legion in that world would have referred to a group of 3000-6000 Roman soldiers. Here we have a legion of evil spirits. Maybe we think this is interesting but doesn’t really apply to us. But aren’t we also infected with many, many demons? As a land/nation–the demon of racism, of pandemic, of materialism and the love of money, of division, the demon of hate or distrust of the “other,” selfishness, envy, I could certainly go on. We are legion. As a church–we deal with the demon of apathy, of complacency, of self-reliance, of protecting our own, of division, we are legion. As individuals–think of all our demons–anger, rage, unforgiveness, pride, arrogance, bitterness, fear, disobedience, not loving our neighbor; His name was legion because there were many inside the man.
What does Jesus do? Well, he heals the man. He totally and completely heals him–physically, emotionally, spiritually. It’s amazing. However, what’s interesting here is that when the townspeople see the man healed, what do they do? Do they rush over to him and say, “How wonderful to see you healed and whole so you can have a nice life.” No, they’re scared and they beg Jesus to leave. Why was that? Clearly, the loss of 2000 pigs would have been a terrible economic loss. But I think that would have made them mad not afraid.
I can’t help thinking they want Jesus to leave because they didn’t want to face their own demons. Rene Girard, a 20th century philosopher said, “Clearly the drowning of the pigs bothers them less than the drowning of their demons.” Is it that they didn’t want to be healed? My guess is they wanted to be healed but they didn’t want to do the work that leads to healing. And what work is that? Well, first it means admitting you have some issues. It means admitting they we don’t have it all together. It means admitting that we are wounded and we may have wounded others. It means admitting that we can’t handle it on our own, that we can’t fix it, that we have been wrong, that we are hurting, that we need help, that we need healing deep within us. We don’t need surface level healing because that’s what got us here in the first place. We need deep soul healing.
TRUE healing always starts with Jesus. In fact, there is no true healing without Jesus. And healing ourselves, our churches, and our land, begins with healing the wounds of our own heart. Before we can heal the legion of demons that our nation is facing, we must address the evil within ourselves. Friends, have you faced the evil within yourself? We have to admit where we have fallen short. And don’t think just the other side needs healing.
There is so much about this narrative that is incredible. But I love, love, love what happens next. God gives this man a physical and spiritual healing. Then as a result, he goes and shares the Good News with all who would listen and “everyone was amazed at what he told them.” He receives new life and he can’t keep it to himself. He becomes an extraordinary missionary, sharing with whoever will listen what Jesus had done for him. This is the thing: God heals us, God gives us stories of transformation, and then our response is to share them. God works through broken, flawed people like this man, like you, and like me. Do you believe this? When is the last time you shared your story of transformation?
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
April 9, 2025
Day 3 of Week 2
Scripture – Mark 4:35-41
Prayer: Heavenly Father, we give you today. We start off by just acknowledging that you are God – all-powerful, mighty, all-knowing, and full of mercy and grace. We are insignificant and yet you love us. You want to hear from us. Sometimes, it’s hard for me to wrap my head around that. But thank you, Lord. I pray that we can focus on you right now. Help us gather our very scattered and distracted thoughts and focus on you...Speak to us, Lord, and meet us right here, right now. We love you. Amen.
Welcome back, friends, to the Daily Dose of Hope, a Deep Dive into the Gospels and Acts. We are finishing up Mark 4 today and this is some of my favorite Scripture. We see that Jesus’ authority even extends over nature and this amazes his disciples. They have to face the big question that we also have to face – who is this man?
In today’s Scripture, we find ourselves on the lake with Jesus. Typically, we refer to it as the Sea of Galilee. When it’s calm, it’s absolutely beautiful. But this body of water, also called Lake Kinneret, is a large, shallow body of water. As such, it is prone to sudden violent storms when wind hits it−storms that die down equally quickly when the wind stops.
This is still early in Jesus’ ministry but he has started healing. In fact, he is known for his healings. Because of that, large crowds have become to follow him. There are those who are desperate and there are those who are curious, but the sheer number of people following Jesus and crowding up against him has become cumbersome. Thus, Jesus begins to teach from a boat, with the people standing on the shore. And what has Jesus been teaching them? He’s using parables to teach them about the Kingdom of God (we talked about this yesterday).
Then, our Scripture says that when evening came, he says to his disciples, “Let’s go to the other side of the lake.” Why doesn’t Jesus wait until morning? Why a night-time crossing? Obviously, there is something important, something pressing that needs to happen.
I want us to notice something here – this is no small thing to cross to the other side of the lake. Crossing the Sea of Galilee means crossing into Gentile territory, where he will be encountered by a demon-possessed man in a graveyard. Jesus is crossing boundaries here. I think this often gets lost in 21st century Bible reading, but Jesus is all about crossing boundaries. He crosses social and spiritual boundaries. He eats with unacceptable people, he touches people who are considered unclean, he breaks the Sabbath law, he communicates with evil, unclean spirits. Getting in the boat with Jesus, crossing to the other side of the lake, can be a risky, unpredictable experience.
The Scripture says that Jesus and the disciples leave the crowds behind to go on this nighttime boat ride across the lake. Interestingly, it says that other boats were with them. Jesus just could not get away from the crowds; they are following him on the lake too. But that means they get to be a part of what he is about to do. So, Mark writes that a powerful squall, a huge storm, comes upon them suddenly. Waves were breaking over the sides of the boat and they were taking on a lot of water. The disciples are panicked, which is saying a lot because many of these guys are professional fishermen and they know the sea. While they panic, what’s Jesus doing? He’s asleep on a pillow. Thus, they frantically wake Jesus up and say, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?”
How often have you asked this question – Jesus, don’t you care? This is our ultimate cry to God, isn’t it? It’s a cry of fear, doubt, abandonment, rejection---we hear this cry repeated in the stories of God’s people over and over again. As a pastor, I hear it repeated in this community, in this church, in your own lives. Where is God? Where is Jesus as I deal with cancer? Where is God as I deal with grief or depression or loneliness? Where is God as our world seems to be imploding? Jesus, don’t you care? Where are you as I struggle?
And Jesus wakes up, he doesn’t get upset with them or apologize for sleeping, no small talk – he rebukes the wind and says “Quiet, be still!” He uses the same words here in ancient Greek that are used for rebuking evil spirits. It seems that Jesus has the power to rebuke all kinds of things. What is amazing to me here is that Jesus speaks and there is immediate calm. We see this throughout the book of Mark - Jesus speaks or touches and the things that bring destruction, the things that cause suffering, immediately cease. They immediately cease so that they no longer have the power to cause suffering. Evil spirits, bleeding, illnesses, even death---all with a word or a touch, Jesus stops them. He brings immediate calm.
Then Jesus asks them “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” Another translation says, “Guys, why are you such cowards?” I mean, these guys have seen what he can do; they have seen his power. I can’t help but think he asks that of us as well: “You have seen what I can do, as I’ve shown up over and over again in your life. Yet, you still have no faith? I mean, I’m right here in the boat with you. I’m not somewhere far off. I’m here, in the boat.”
Let’s read verse 41 again. They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”
And that is the big question, isn’t it? Who is Jesus?
Who is Jesus to you? To me, he is God. He is Savior. He is Lord of all. But that means nothing in your life. Who is Jesus to you??? Answer out loud. Wrestle with this if you need to, but don’t just let this question with no response. There is no more important question.
Let’s close today with Colossians 1:15-20, The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. 17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. 19 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
April 8, 2025
Day 2 of Week 2
Scripture - Mark 4:1-34
Prayer: Father God, hear our prayer this morning. We are awed by your power and strength. We are amazed by your love. Thank you, Lord, for the many ways you show in our lives to teach us and care for us. Help us gather our scattered thoughts right now and focus on you. In these next few moments of silence, help us (help me) be still and know that you are God...Come Holy Spirit, and help us walk through this Scripture in a way that honors you. Show up and help us discover whatever it is you want us to learn. This is your Word and we want to hear from you. In Your powerful name, Amen.
Welcome to the Daily Dose of Hope, Deep Dive into the Gospels and Acts. Today, we will be starting Mark 4 and unpacking some pretty powerful parables and three of four are about seeds. Why seeds? I’m guessing it’s because seeds are something an agrarian society would understand. But we also soon learn that the Kingdom is similar to a simple seed, seemingly small and fragile but growing into a lush plant that is massive and strong, itself producing more and more seeds.
Most of Jesus’ big teachings were given in parables. If you think about a parable, Jesus is taking something pretty ordinary, like a seed, and using it to make a statement about divine activity. All of these parables were used to give a glimpse of God’s Kingdom. In each parable, Jesus describes a different aspect of the Kingdom. No one parable can capture what it looks like to live under the reign of God, but together, we get a pretty good picture.
The first parable we read today was the parable of the Sower. Jesus says that a farmer goes out to sow seeds. But the farmer doesn’t worry so much about where he is throwing the seeds. He actually seems to be pretty indiscriminate with his seed-throwing. He is literally just throwing seed everywhere. Some of the seed falls right on the path, where all the people walked and the soil was hard and had been packed down. The birds ate most of that seed. Some of the seed fell in rocky places (there are lots of rocky places in that part of the world) and while it would sprout, the soil was shallow, and there wasn’t enough root for the plant to survive. Some fell among thorns, and the thorns were invasive and took over. The plants had no real chance of survival there. But then some seeds fell on good soil, which produced an amazing crop – many, many times what was sown (30, 60, or even 100 times).
Jesus seems kind of annoyed that the disciples did not understand. He seems to know that the crowds would struggle, but the disciples? They were supposed to get it. I kind of feel sorry for the disciples. While some of the parables seem straightforward, others are truly hard. I wouldn’t have gotten a lot of it. Luckily, we have the advantage of two thousand years of discussion and writings about these parables. This was turning the disciples’ worldview upside down.
Back to the Sower – here we get one glimpse of the Kingdom. What is Jesus trying to teach us? First, I think it’s important for us to not dwell on the different kinds of soils too much. I think one of our first temptations is to go, I know someone who is like that soil, and then that group of people are like this soil, and so forth. Let’s not go there. I want us to focus on the star of the story. Who is the star? Well, the farmer is or the one who is sowing the seed. He throws that seed everywhere–he is generous with the seed, throwing it everywhere there is any chance it might take root. Friends, we are the Sowers. We are the ones called to throw seed. What’s the seed we are supposed to be throwing around? Well, the Good News of Jesus Christ of course.
Jesus is calling us to sow extravagantly. We aren’t supposed to decide who to share our faith with. No, we are truly to share our faith, in word and deed, with everyone. This is so important. We aren’t just supposed to share Jesus with those in our congregation, with our friends who are “safe.” We are supposed to be kind of reckless, sharing the love of Jesus Christ, sharing our faith story, telling people the source of our hope, with all kinds of people: people who don’t look like us, people who we don’t know and people we do know. If God has brought us to a certain place, a certain store, a certain vacation spot, a certain meeting---we trust that there is a greater purpose.
Another thing we learn is that God gives up on no one and neither should we. We just keep sowing. As the sower, we truly have the desire for all the soil to bear fruit. That’s why we keep throwing those seeds, having those conversations, offering to pray for someone, telling people how much Jesus loves them. God loves all people, we are called to love all people. Remember that love of God and love of others cannot be separated. They are intricately linked.
But we have to recognize that some soil has had people trample on it. It has not been nourished, it might be filled with rocks. It may take years to get to the point in which the soil can bear fruit. I read that to gets soil just right, really nourished, it can take years. And it usually means continuing to add nourishment to it, continuing to add things to it to develop it and enrich it so that it can be fruitful. People are no different. We love on people, we pray for them, we tell them Jesus loves them. We listen to their stories. We ask questions. And this could go on for years. But we don’t give up on anyone because God doesn’t give up on anyone. We trust that God is at work in ways we can’t see or understand. We trust that God is working behind the scenes to nourish the fields, to strengthen the roots.
Is there someone you have given up on? Remember, God isn’t done with any of us yet!
Then, there is the lamp on the stand. It is meant to be out in the open where it can give light not hidden under a bowl or bed. What is hidden is meant to be disclosed and brought out in the open. Truth is not meant to be hidden. The Gospel is meant to be brought out in the open and shared. Another glimpse of the Kingdom.
Then, we have the parable of the growing seed. A farmer scatters seed and it takes root and grows. It grows whether he is awake or asleep, without him even knowing. Nature just takes care of things. Eventually, it is fully grown and the harvest is ready so he takes a sickle to it. The Kingdom of God grows and spreads kind of mysteriously without human effort.
And then we come to the mustard seed parable and we get another glimpse of the Kingdom. The mustard seed was the smallest of the garden seeds but it produced a huge bush. You see, in God’s Kingdom, small things can yield really big results. A mustard seed has power far, far larger than its size. God’s economy is different. We see this with the feeding of the 5,000 and the widow’s mite. God takes small things, including our small investments or contributions, and he multiplies them for his Kingdom.
Let’s close with Paul’s prayer to the Ephesians, chapter 3, verses 16-21,
I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
April 7, 2025
Day 1 of Week 2
Scripture - Mark 3:20-35
Prayer: Holy God, we come to you as we start a new week and we give you glory and praise. You are such a good God; your mercies are new every morning. It does not matter what happened last week, yesterday, or even earlier today, we can start afresh and anew with you. Thank you for that, Lord. In these next few moments of silence, Lord, help us gather our scattered thoughts and focus on you...Thank you, Jesus, for your care. Help us pay attention to your promptings and teachings throughout today, beginning right now. Speak to us through this reading and devotional. We love you, Lord. Amen.
Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, a Deep Dive into the Gospels and Acts. Today, we are finishing up Mark 3. Up until this point, Jesus has been healing, teaching, and generally turning the status quo upside down. While this has generated quite a crowd around him almost all the time, it also has a lot of tongues wagging, including those of the Pharisees and his own family.
Today’s text is a narrative within another narrative. We have the narrative of Jesus responding to the accusations of the teachers of the law saying that he is possessed by an impure spirit tucked within another story about Jesus’ response to and redefinition of family. Let’s try to tackle this.
Let’s start with the family. They are worried that Jesus has lost his mind. We can’t be too hard of them. Afterall, Jesus is doing some really bold things and saying things that are pushing up against everything they know as sacred. My guess is they are worried about Jesus (people are already wanting to kill him) but they also be worrying about their reputation. These are small towns with small town rumor mills. They still have to live their lives. We will get back to them in a moment.
But then the story moves on to the teachers of the law, who say that Jesus’ power comes from the devil. I’m not sure how they deduced this, but they probably were thinking they had a monopoly on the God stuff and Jesus wasn’t saying or doing things they thought or imagined a man of God should. He is hanging with the riff-raff and breaking sacred rules. I mean, he must not be of God.
Jesus’ answer is kind of cryptic. It says he spoke to them in parables. He says, “How can Satan drive out Satan?” and “...if Satan opposes himself and is divided, he cannot stand.” Divided houses don’t last long. I think the same goes for divided churches but that’s beside the point. Then, Jesus makes this statement about how no one can plunder the strong man’s house without tying him up first. We can assume that Satan is the strong man. Who is stronger than Satan, that he can restrain him so that the work of God’s Kingdom can be done? Jesus, in a somewhat mysterious way, is making a strong statement here. He is stronger than Satan. He is not possessed by him, he actually has the power to bind him and overpower him. Jesus is announcing the reign of God, even though most people might not recognize this. Additionally, this probably wasn’t the respond the Jewish teachers were expecting.
But that leads to a good question for us – do we believe that Jesus has the power to overpower evil? We live in a world that is filled with evil. It’s not hard to allow all the horrors around us to pull us down. Do you believe that Jesus has the ability to bind these horrors and make things right? I’m not going to actually answer this question but I do think it’s a good one for us to wrestle with.
Now, back to the family. They send someone in the home where he was teaching to get him to come out. I’m not sure what they wanted to say. Maybe they wanted to get him to cool it with the teachings that were making people so upset. Maybe they were worried about his well-being. We don’t really know. But they got a shock with his response. “Who are my mother and brothers?” He goes on to say anyone who does the will of God is his family.
Hmmm...I’m thinking if one of my kids said something like that, I might be a little caught off guard; I may have to hold back tears. If Mary were there, she might have done the same, although she did know from the very beginning that this child was different. But now she was discovering just what that meant.
In that culture, everything was bound up in family lines. Some people would probably have been shocked at what Jesus was saying. On the other hand, there were others who would have found this hopeful. People without family connections, those who were estranged from family or who had lost all their loved ones. They would see that they weren’t all alone after all. I think maybe Jesus is starting to show the strong bonds within the family of God. Yes, our biological families are important – they are gifts to us. But Jesus has provided us another family as believers that is also important. The ties that bind us together as brothers and sisters in the family of faith can be just as strong if not stronger.
What are your thoughts on this? What kind of bonds do you have with your brothers and sisters in Christ at church? If you don’t yet have family bonds, what do you need to do to begin to build strong connections?
I’m going to close with some powerful Scripture from 1 John 3:16-18, This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. 17 If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? 18 Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth. I think this is what Jesus might be pointing to.
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
Day 5 of Week 1
April 4, 2025
Scripture - Mark 3:1-19
Prayer: Abba Father, We come to you today, grateful for your love and care in our lives. Thank you for your presence and your peace. Help us to gather our scattered thoughts and set aside distractions so we can focus on what you have for us today. In the next few moments of silence, Lord, help me be still and know that you are God...We give you all the glory, Lord Almighty. Amen.
Welcome to the Daily Dose of Hope, a Deep Dive into the Gospels and Acts. Today, we begin the third chapter of Mark. Again, Jesus is challenging the status quo.
Jesus begins this chapter by healing a man’s shriveled hand on the Sabbath. Yesterday, we talked about how the Sabbath was sacred to the Jews. One might justify saving someone’s life on the Sabbath, but this is just a shriveled hand. Could it not have waited for the next day? Is Jesus willfully disregarding God’s instruction?
But once again, the Pharisees seem to have missed the point. Truly, what better day to do a healing? The Sabbath is about restoration of well-being, that includes physical rest but also physical healing of mind, body, and Spirit. By healing this man’s hand, he probably would be able to work again in his village and take care of his family. His dignity will be restored. The Sabbath is about making things whole. And Jesus didn’t want to wait a day because there is an urgency to demonstrating the Kingdom of God, to showing people how life can be different.
But this does not endear Jesus to the teachers of the law. In this passage, we begin to see them go from suspicious to murderous. In their minds, Jesus threatens their way of life and thinking.
Of course, we live 2000 years later, but how do we feel when someone threatens our thinking? If someone vehemently disagrees with us politically, what kinds of feelings arise in us? If someone vehemently disagrees with us religiously, what kinds of feelings arise in us? It is easy to throw blame on the Pharisees and teachers of the law, but Jesus was turning things that they held precious upside down. How do we handle the same thing today?
Our next portion of today’s Scripture involves Jesus and the crowds. He went off with his disciples, hoping to get a little peace and quiet, but that is no longer possible. He has become like a celebrity in the area. In a place of such poverty and desperation, it isn’t surprising. The sick needed healing and they knew Jesus was a healer. So the masses followed him. Did they recognize he was the Messiah or the Son of God? No, not yet. This is still quite early in his ministry; they knew he was of God in some way but the specifics are probably quite fuzzy. They simply knew that they were sick and this man would offer healing.
But what’s fascinating to me is that the demons knew exactly who he was. I think this should be an eye-opener for us. Satan believes in Jesus. Satan and his demons know Jesus’ power. But do we? As his followers, are we convinced of his power?
Finally, there is the calling of the twelve. Jesus goes up a mountainside. In that time, mountains were thought of as holy places, with the presence of God there, so there is definitely symbolism here. And it is here that he calls his inner circle. Jesus calls and they respond. The inner circle consists of twelve men, a motley crew. The list is, not surprisingly, headed by Simon Peter, one of his dearest friends and the leader of the new church movement that is to come. Most of the names are simply listed with no details. Until we get to Judas, who Mark clearly states betrayed Jesus.
Jesus called the twelve and he calls all of us. He calls and we have the opportunity to respond. He doesn’t force anything on us. It’s our choice. Will we say yes to following Jesus? But one other piece that this Scripture reminds me of is that there are still those who betray him, as well. Oh, how many times I’ve betrayed him! Where do you stand with Jesus?
I want to close with a powerful scene from Matthew 20:25-28. Jesus is with his disciples and he tells them how it will be different among them - Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. 26 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— 28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Things are to be different among Jesus’ followers. Do you believe this?
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
April 3, 2025
Day 4 of Week 1
Scripture – Mark 2:13-28
Prayer – Holy God, We come before you today distracted and with scattered thoughts. Help us focus, Lord, on you and your Word. Help us, in the next few moments, to be silent, still, and remember that you are God...Thank you, Lord, for your care and concern for our lives. Thank you for how you show up in amazing and unexpected ways! We give you glory, Lord Jesus. In Your Name, Amen.
Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, a Deep Dive into the Gospels and Acts. Today, we are finishing up the second chapter of Mark. As we will see in today’s narratives, Jesus is turning everything “normal” upside down. He is upsetting the status quo and pushing up against some pretty sacred rules.
Let’s start with his meal dining with Levi. Jesus has been teaching and we should note this is a very public scene. Jesus always had a lot of people around him. He sees Levi, sitting in his tax-collector booth, and Jesus asks Levi to follow him. Surprisingly, he does.
Most of you probably know that tax collectors at the time were not well-liked. Levi would have been a local guy, a Jew, who was working for the Roman government, collecting taxes from the people of his community. Not only would he have been seen as a sell-out, working for the Roman occupiers, but he would have been seen as a crook. Tax collectors were known to charge more than they needed to so they could keep a good chunk for themselves.
And here Jesus is calling Levi to follow him. Then, Jesus goes and eats at Levi’s home. Remember, table fellowship with someone at that time would have indicated that you accepted that person and were sharing a connection. It was more than getting a bite to eat and chatting; it was truly making a statement about being in the same social and religious circle. You didn’t eat with people who were below you in social stature or who were from a different religious or ethical background. But Jesus did. And he made no apologies for it. He is making a statement about what it means to be part of God’s Kingdom. All are welcome here; all are invited to Jesus’ table. Afterall, who needs a doctor – the healthy or the sick?
Think about your own table. I think we can have some pretty powerful conversation over a meal. Guards are let down, people laugh, they tell stories, healing occurs. This is the perfect place to begin to begin to build relationships with people who aren’t like you – people who think differently, look differently, and act differently. Just like in Jesus’ time, the table is one place where we can begin to get out of our comfort zones and allow the Holy Spirit to guide conversations and open doors. Who might God be calling you to invite to sit around your table?
I also want to talk a bit about the end of the chapter, the discussion regarding the Sabbath. The Pharisees are upset with Jesus and his disciples for walking through the grainfield on the Sabbath, and picking off the heads of grain. Why would this have been such a big deal?
Let’s talk about the Sabbath. It was sacred among the Jews. Over thousands of years, God’s people were taught to keep this day set-apart and holy. Having a day of rest was one thing that noticeably made the Jews different from the pagan cultures. Their God ensured that they did not work and toil endlessly. They were to have a break and have a physical, emotional, and spiritual rest. Most likely, the Pharisees weren’t upset with them for eating (everyone needed to do that), but that they trekked through the field and then broke off the heads of the grain. In their mind, they should have avoided a hike on the Sabbath and already had their snacks prepared the day before. Part of Sabbath is preparation for rest and renewal.
But Jesus is making a bigger point here (which he will continue to make in chapter 3 when he heals a man with a shriveled hand on the Sabbath.) The Sabbath was created to provide rest for humans. The man-made rules that the Jews created around the Sabbath had become so very overwhelming. Would a poor laborer really be able to follow these? Would a struggling young mom with four kids be able to follow the Sabbath as the Pharisees required? Of course, the answer is no. Thus, all these rules were creating a structure of haves and have nots, the clean and the unclean. Jesus is saying to them – you are missing the point. You are making things harder and God intended this to make things better. Finally, what he really is stating, which the Pharisees are really struggling with, is that he is Lord of the Sabbath – he has the power to determine which rules really lead to God. He is making a statement here about who he is, his identity as the Son of God.
Psalm 145:9-13,
The Lord is good to all;he has compassion on all he has made. 10 All your works praise you, Lord; your faithful people extol you. 11 They tell of the glory of your kingdom and speak of your might, 12 so that all people may know of your mighty acts and the glorious splendor of your kingdom. 13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures through all generations.
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
April 2, 2025
Day 3 of Week 1
Scripture – Mark 2:1-12
Prayer – Heavenly Father, you are almighty and all-powerful. You are God of all and yet you care for us. Thank you, Lord. Help us settle our scattered thoughts and be silent before you...Thank you, Jesus. Please guide us as we reflect on your Word today. Meet us in the midst of our reading and this devotional. In Your Name, Amen.
Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, Deep Dive into the Gospels and Acts. We start Mark 2 today, specifically the first twelve verses. This is a narrative that is familiar to many of us, but I want us to be open to what God may have for us today. That is the miracle of Scripture. We can read the same verses at one point in our life and receive one thing from God and read them again several years later and hear something new. God’s Word is truly alive and active.
Jesus is teaching in Capernaum, in someone’s home. Now this house was packed with people listening to Jesus and we can picture them flowing out the front door. No one is willing to give up their spot. Have you ever been someplace like that? A place where people are just packed in like sardines and no one is going to give up their space because if they do, they know someone else will take it quickly. I’ve been to concerts where the place was super-packed and there was no way I could leave, even to go to the bathroom, because I would lose my good spot. You get it.
Well, there were four men who are determined to get their paralyzed friend before Jesus. But they quickly note that the front door just wasn’t going to be a possibility. No one was leaving the house. No one would budge to let them by. So, they get him to the roof, which was probably no small feat.
The house would have been made of basalt stone because timber was scarce in that area. The ceiling/roof was made with plaster. Rollers were used to compact the plaster to make it waterproof. To make a hole in the roof, the plaster had to be scraped off and they would even need to remove some of the thinner slabs of stone used to support the ceiling. They would keep doing this until a space was made large enough through which to lower the paralytic man. This was lots and lots of work. I don’t want this to be lost on us 2000 years later.
But their persistence pays off. The four men lower their friend on his mat right in front of Jesus. What a surprise to everyone in that room! Jesus isn’t upset about the interruption, at least that we can tell. Instead, he uses it as a profound, life-changing teaching moment. Scripture says that when Jesus saw the faith of the men, he said to the paralyzed man, “Your sins are forgiven.”
This causes all kinds of ruckus. The Pharisees or teachers of the law who were there were thinking, “This is blasphemy. Only God can forgive sins.” But it’s Jesus and he is God so he knows exactly what they are thinking and he calls them out. What the teachers of the law cannot see is that Jesus is authorized to speak and act on God’s behalf. He is God’s anointed, the Messiah, God’s beloved Son. As a demonstration of his authority to forgive sins, Jesus tells the paralyzed man to stand up, take his mat and return home, which the man promptly does. Jesus boldly demonstrates his power to bring both spiritual and physical healing, and the crowds respond by being amazed and glorifying God.
This is such a powerful piece of Scripture. Could it be possible that God is suggesting that we create a stir, in a good way, in our social circles and do some interrupting? Could it be that God is suggesting that we are not passive bystanders? These friends put themselves out there. They took risks and they went to great lengths to bring their friend to Jesus. What kinds of efforts do we make to bring our friends to Jesus? Are we spending time building relationships and praying for our friends? Are we doing all we can, putting true effort, into bringing them before Jesus?
The other question that this passage prompts is what does it means to stand in the gap for others? In this text, we are told nothing of the faith of the paralyzed man. It was the faith of his friends that Jesus was wowed by. They are the ones who were so very determined that their friend be brought before Jesus. This really got me thinking about our role as believers. Oftentimes, people aren’t aware of their need for Jesus, maybe they are struggling with faith or doubt, maybe they have a bad history with the church, or maybe they think God is irrelevant to their lives. But Jesus healed the man because of the faith of the friends. Are we regularly, consistently standing in the gap for others? Jesus healed the man because of the faith of the friends. Let that sink in.
Let’s close with some beautiful truth from John 15:12-17, My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. 17 This is my command: Love each other.
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
April 1, 2025
Day 2 of Week 1
Scripture – Mark 1:14-45
Prayer: Heavenly Father, we start by pausing before you. You are God and we are not but we forget that sometimes. Help us be still before you in these next few moments of silence...Lord, we rejoice that you are with us right now. You are a good God who wants to be part of our lives. You put the stars in the sky and yet you care about the most minute details of our days. Thank you, Jesus. Join us as we read your Word. We pray that you do a new thing in each of us. In Your Name, Amen.
Hello, and welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, a deep dive into the Gospels and Acts. I do hope you are able to set aside the distractions of the morning and focus on God and his Word right now. Even in this very first chapter of Mark, there is so much to learn. Yesterday, in the first thirteen verses, we met John the Baptist, saw Jesus get baptized, and discussed how he was then led into the wilderness by the Spirit to be tempted by the devil.
Today, prepared by his baptism and wilderness experience, Jesus is ready to begin his public ministry. But first, we get this little blip about John being put in prison. Mark barely mentions it but it will come up again. In short, John speaks truth and gets in trouble with the guy in charge. This offers us a bit of a foreshadowing of what will happen to Jesus too. Speaking truth to authority, specifically authority that is easily threatened, doesn’t always end well. Things aren’t that different today. Can you think of a time in which you had to speak truth to authority? How did that go?
Let’s get back to Jesus. What are his very first recorded words? “The Kingdom of God has come near, repent, and believe the Good News!” Now, there were probably a lot of others words said, but this is the way Mark sums it up – repent, believe, and know the Kingdom is here. What’s interesting to me about this is that the end of the Old Testament, Malachi, has the prophet calling the people to repent. Now, Jesus’ first public words in the New Testament are for people to repent. There is something to this.
Repentance means a sincere turning away from sin and selfishness and turning toward God. This is more than just being sorry. It is a real change of heart and mind with a desire to be obedient and not sin again. We often have a negative view of repentance, but it is actually amazing. Repentance frees us of guilt, restores relationships, and makes us right before a holy God. If we feel like something has come between our relationship and God, it probably has and it’s time to come clean. I think of Psalm 51:10-12, which is beautiful truth, Create in me a pure heart, O God,and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.
Is there anything for which you need to repent? Is there a tugging on your heart, something that you know it’s time to give to God?
There is still a lot more in this first chapter. Jesus calls his first disciples. We don’t get all the details in Mark, but we do get a feel for the significance of this. I mean, the brothers James and John simply left their fishing boat and went to follow Jesus. I should mention that there was probably a relationship there already. While we don’t know for sure, it’s most likely that Jesus wasn’t walking up to complete strangers and asking them to give up their livelihoods to follow him. These were people who knew Jesus, who had heard his teaching, had interactions with him, and who were seeking something more. They trusted him and so they followed him.
It made me think about how we introduce Jesus to others. It is ALWAYS best done in relationship. There may be times in which we can share the Gospel with someone we meet for the first time and they are open to it. But I think most often, there need to be many moments, building relationships, getting to know people, listening to them, and gradually offering them glimpses of the Gospel. I think the listening piece is probably the most important! People need to know that we actually care about them before they trust what we have to say. Who is it that needs to see the love and care of Jesus in you?
Finally, I want to mention the healings in this first chapter. Jesus is getting a name for himself. There is no way in an impoverished, desperate community, such as Galilee, that someone could do that many healings and not become quickly famous. But Jesus is not doing this for attention. He is beginning to show the people a glimpse of God’s Kingdom. In God’s Kingdom, people are not sick so Jesus heals. They are not hungry, so soon he will feed. They are victorious over the demonic, so he casts out impure spirits. Every single thing that Jesus is doing right now has a very specific purpose of showing the people a different way of doing life.
We’ll chat more about this tomorrow. But we will close today with Psalm 146,
Praise the Lord.
Praise the Lord, my soul.
2 I will praise the Lord all my life;I will sing praise to my God as long as I live. 3 Do not put your trust in princes,in human beings, who cannot save. 4 When their spirit departs, they return to the ground;on that very day their plans come to nothing. 5 Blessed are those whose help is the God of Jacob,whose hope is in the Lord their God.
6 He is the Maker of heaven and earth,the sea, and everything in them—he remains faithful forever. 7 He upholds the cause of the oppressedand gives food to the hungry. The Lord sets prisoners free, 8 the Lord gives sight to the blind, the Lord lifts up those who are bowed down,the Lord loves the righteous. 9 The Lord watches over the foreignerand sustains the fatherless and the widow,but he frustrates the ways of the wicked.
10 The Lord reigns forever,your God, O Zion, for all generations.
Praise the Lord.
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
March 31, 2025
Day 1 of Week 1
Scripture – Mark 1:1-13
Good morning! This is the Daily Dose of Hope, a deep dive into the Gospels and Acts. I am so excited to begin this journey with all of you. Please know I've been praying for this series and for all of you. My hope is that you have read the Scripture for today. That will always be my assumption going into the devotional. The format of this series will be a little different from when we read the Bible in a year. Because there is less reading, we can have more reflection and prayer. We will always start these devotionals with a time of prayer and then move into the discussion and reflection. Let’s get started by going to the Lord in prayer...
Prayer: Almighty God, we start by pausing before you. Help us set aside the distractions of the morning or the day and focus on you. In these next few moments of silence, help us gather our scattered thoughts and think only of you...Help us be still and know you are God. Lord, we rejoice that we can freely read your Word and we are grateful that you speak to us through it. It’s truly a miracle. Holy Spirit, we also invite you to join us as we seek to grow deeper in relationship with you. In Your Name, Amen.
We are starting the book of Mark, which is probably my favorite of the Gospels. Mark is straight and to the point; he doesn’t beat around the bush or add any fluff. He just tells it like he sees it. One of my professors said Mark wrote his gospel like a journalist – just the facts. In some ways, I agree with this. He is good at describing the scene and he spends his time telling what happened, without a lot of background, genealogies, or poetry. For the most part, he puts it out there and we are invited to interpret it. However, Mark is not unbiased. He clearly has a story to tell, that story has a specific purpose, and he has a strong opinion about it. He makes that clear from the very first line.
Mark starts by telling you exactly what he believes: The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God... He just puts it out there. This is the good news of the story of Jesus, who Mark calls both Messiah and Son of God. The word messiah means anointed one. Mark is saying that Jesus is the person God has sent to save his people, the one that the Jews had been waiting for to free them from oppression, the deliverer. And then Mark says that Jesus is the Son of God. I want you to know the readers would be shocked at this point and we are in the first sentence. Saying Jesus is the Son of God means that he is the second person of the Trinity. He is God.
Mark isn’t mincing words, nor is he holding back. He is writing this gospel for a purpose – to demonstrate who Jesus is and why he came. He isn’t going to be objective about it. But then, after the first verse, Mark simply begins to tell the story. He has said what he believes and now he is presenting us with the evidence. It is up to us to look at the evidence and make a decision for ourselves.
Mark begins by introducing us to John, the one most of us know as John the Baptist. He quotes some prophecy from Isaiah, and talks about this man who is coming to prepare the way. He is a forerunner of sorts, preparing the hearts of the people for what is to come. Mark, who doesn’t give a lot of details, does offer us quick a few details about John himself. He is letting us know this is not a normal man.
Jesus’ baptism is pretty amazing and worth spending some time on. John’s baptism was one of repentance. People were confessing sins and wanting to get spiritually clean. So, why did Jesus feel the need to do this? We know Jesus was sinless; repentance wasn’t something he needed to spend a lot of time on. In the book of Matthew, we even read that John was apprehensive about baptizing Jesus. He knew Jesus wasn’t just another human being.
Let’s talk a bit about repentance. Repentance means a sincere turning away from sin and a turning toward God. This is more than just being sorry. It is a real change of heart and mind with a desire to be obedient. Jesus may not have needed to turn away from sin but in his baptism, he is certainly making a statement about being in alignment with God’s will. He hasn’t started his public ministry yet but he is preparing himself. He will orient his whole life to being obedient to God’s will.
Of course, this is also an example for us. How are we doing staying in alignment with God’s will for our lives? What have we allowed to sneak into our hearts and lives, interfering with our relationship with God? What might we think we are hiding from God? For what do we need to repent?
In Jesus’ baptism, we also have this beautiful picture of the Trinity. God the Father offering his approval of God the Son, while God the Holy Spirit descends like a dove. Scripture may not actually use the specific word, trinity, but we get many pictures of how the triune God works in relationship. This is one of those times.
I don’t want to end this without talking just briefly about how Jesus was led into the wilderness by the Spirit. There, he was tempted by Satan for forty days. Other gospels go into more detail of what happened in the wilderness and we will go into more depth when we get to those gospels. However, I didn’t want to just gloss over this. Just like the baptism, this is part of Jesus’ preparation for public ministry.
Remember, Jesus was both fully God and fully human. There is mystery here; with our human brains, we struggle to wrap our brains around this truth. I certainly do. But, it’s in the wilderness experience that we can see Jesus’ humanity. He is truly tempted. But he stays in line with God’s will. In his baptism, he has made a public declaration that he will obey God’s will for his life. And he stays true to that, even when tempted by the devil and his schemes.
I grew up in Christian faith traditions in which we didn’t talk much about the devil. I think people were kind of scared to talk about it. In my previous denomination, there was definitely a wishy washiness about belief in Satan and demons. If you didn’t believe in a real devil, they were fine with it. While they could not deny evil, which is a force that is obviously very strong, they were definitely hesitant to make firm statements about the source of that force.
After almost twenty years in ministry, I don’t see how anyone who reads Scripture and lives out the Christian walk can deny the existence of a real Satan. God has an enemy who is at work against him and against us. References to Satan/the devil/the enemy are found throughout the entire Biblical narrative. At least a quarter of Jesus’ ministry dealt specifically with the conflict between the Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of darkness. We are going to see all of this play our as we walk through the gospels. Jesus was God with flesh on and he came to crush Satan under his feet. What Jesus experienced in the wilderness was spiritual warfare and as we look at this narrative in other gospels, we will see how Jesus uses Scripture, God’s Word, in response to everything the devil threw at him. He emerges from the wilderness victorious and ready to start preaching and teaching God’s message of redemption, reconciliation, and love.
Jesus also gives us a great example of how to stand up against the enemy’s tactics in our world. We don’t need to be scared but be prepared. There isn’t a demon lurking in every corner, but the world is full of evil and evil beings. Keep proclaiming and following Jesus but be prepared for opposition.
So, I close the devotional with these questions today: What are your thoughts on spiritual warfare? Do you believe in Satan and his demons? Why or why not? Why do you think Jesus was led into the wilderness by the Spirit to be tempted by Satan? Spend some time praying about this today.
I’m going to close with Psalm 27, a psalm of David,
The Lord is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid?
When the wicked advance against me to devour[a] me, it is my enemies and my foeswho will stumble and fall.
Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me,even then I will be confident.
One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lordall the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lordand to seek him in his temple. For in the day of troublehe will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tentand set me high upon a rock.
Then my head will be exalted above the enemies who surround me; at his sacred tent I will sacrifice with shouts of joy;I will sing and make music to the Lord.
Hear my voice when I call, Lord; be merciful to me and answer me. My heart says of you, “Seek his face!”Your face, Lord, I will seek. Do not hide your face from me,do not turn your servant away in anger; you have been my helper. Do not reject me or forsake me,God my Savior. Though my father and mother forsake me,the Lord will receive me. Teach me your way, Lord;lead me in a straight path because of my oppressors. Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes,for false witnesses rise up against me, spouting malicious accusations.
I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.
Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.
Friends, we will continue our discussion of Mark 1 tomorrow.
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
March 27, 2025
Day 5 of Week 25
Scripture: Job 40-42; Psalm 150; Revelation 22
Welcome to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the daily Bible reading at New Hope Church in Brandon, Florida. You guys, we have made it. Today is the last devotional for our reading plan. Of course, we are starting a new one on Monday on the Gospels and Acts BUT let’s not discount what we have done together. We have read the entire Bible in a year. What an accomplishment! I am so proud of all of you.
Our final Old Testament reading is in Job. We are finishing up the book by reading chapters 40-42. God asks Job if he wants to run the world for a time based on the strict principle of justice that he and his friends believed in and professed. Should every evil deed be punished and every good deed rewarded? The world and humanity are so much for complicated than that. The world is beautiful and orderly in some ways, but also dangerous and without order in other ways.
Of course, we end with the big question – why is there suffering in this world? God doesn’t really give an answer. What he does say is that we live in an incredible world, with lots of amazing things, but at this point, it isn’t designed in such a way that people can avoid suffering. God simply asks Job, as he asks us, to trust in His wisdom and character.
In the end, Job responds to God with humility. He is sorry for ever questioning God. God admonishes Job’s friends, who did not get anything right. What’s interesting is that God praises Job for his ability to question God and his honesty about what he was dealing with. God obviously wants us to bring him our struggles and trust that he cares and hears us. Ultimately, Job recovers. His body heals. He has more children and his wealth and wisdom expand. Yet, this does not feel like resolution. What are your thoughts on all of this?
Our New Testament reading is the last chapter of Revelation, which also happens to be the last chapter of the entire Bible. In this chapter, we find another metaphor for the new creation. It is the river of life, crystal clear and flanked on each side by the tree of life, which provides abundant fruit. The number twelve represents the sufficiency of these fruit, they will provide nourishment to God’s people for ever and ever and ever. The leaves of the tree are like medicine, providing healing to the nations. These beautiful images immediately remind the reader of the original Garden, Eden, the way the Lord intended his world before the fall. Human beings will find their ultimate purpose and will live without suffering, but rather total contentment and satisfaction, something that could never be achieved before the curse.
As we finish up the book of Revelation, and John’s visions conclude, we are reminded of the choice we have. Do we want to take up residence in the Babylon of today, in those things the world promises, OR do we want to seek a life characterized by holiness, pursuing God, and ultimately residing with him in the perfect city, the new Jerusalem, the city created and sustained by God? The book continually reminds us that the choice is ours.
Okay, this is the last devotional of the last week of our journey all the way through Scripture. I am honored that so many of you stuck with me. I have learned a lot and I hope you have as well. It’s truly a miracle that Scripture is one continuous story. Yes, it’s 66 separate ancient texts that together, tell God’s story and ours for that matter. How many times did we read about something and find ourself right there in the midst of it? Scripture is truly alive and active. It is unchanging and yet speaks to us in many changing circumstances. It is TRUTH.
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
March 26, 2025
Day 4 of Week 25
Scripture: Job 37-39; Psalm 103: Revelation 21
Welcome to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the daily Bible reading at New Hope Church in Brandon, Florida. Tonight is Recharge night so please come and join us at 6:30pm in the Garage for community, worship, fellowship, and study.37-39.
The Old Testament Scripture is Job 37-39. The first chapter is the continuation of Elihu’s response. Then, we hear from the Lord. He speaks directly to Job. God basically asserts his authority. He speaks of how he is creator and knows everything about the world. He asks Job if he was there when the ocean was created, when the morning was spoken into being... Basically, he is asking Job, who are you to question me??? God is sovereign, he is in control, and Job is not. These are questions not meant for Job to actually answer, but to humble him. I’m not sure what I think about this yet. More tomorrow.
The New Testament passage is Revelation 21. John’s final vision is that the redemption of creation is now complete. The old earth and creation, that which was broken and sinful, has passed away and a new earth has come. Finally. this is what we have been waiting for. God’s people reside in this new earth.
There is no more populace simply mechanically following the ways of the world. There is passion. God’s people dwell with the Almighty himself, his glory fully revealed. And now, there will be no more tears, suffering, or loss. All is new, all is healed, and all is redeemed.
Then, there is a description of God’s Holy City. Please be sure to read through this beautiful vision. This city is a place of perfect worship, where humanity is not seeking achievement but rather exists to worship God in the presence of God. God’s Kingdom is fully revealed and it is incredible.
I have a seminary professor who used to tell us that our lives, as believers, are intended to be a preview to the world of the perfect world to come. So very convicting! If someone were to look at your life, what might they deduce about God’s perfect world to come?
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
March 25, 2025
Day 3 of Week 52
Scripture: Job 34-36; Revelation 20
Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope. We are on day 3 of our very last week of reading the whole Bible in a year. I’m so proud of all of you!
Our Old Testament Scripture is back in the book of Job. Today, we look at chapters 34-36. We continue to hear from Elihu, Job’s friend who showed up yesterday in the Scripture. Elihu operates under the same assumption as Job’s other friends. God is just and so God must operate the world according to his justice. But Elihu’s statements are a bit more complex than the others. He states that God may use tragedy and suffering to build someone’s character. God may also allow people to suffer so they will avoid sin in the future. Elihu is adamant that Job is wrong for accusing God of being unjust. Tomorrow, we will finally hear the Lord speak.
Our New Testament Scripture is Revelation 20. John sees an angel chaining up Satan and throwing him in the lake of fire, where he will be for one thousand years. That means, for one thousand years, Satan won’t have his normal influence on humanity and our world. Jesus will be in charge. But after these many years of peace, Satan is released and some people still decide to follow him. It is a sad state that people who have known the peace of Jesus would choose rebellion against God. But it happens all the time. What is it about us as humans that we think we know better than God?
Ultimately, Satan will be defeated permanently. And those who have died before will be judged by what they did in their lives. If they knew Jesus Christ, then they will be saved by his blood. Their name will be in the Book of Life. Those who didn’t know Jesus will be judged on their own deeds, which won’t turn out so well.
By this point, Satan and death have been firmly defeated. All that was wrong has been made right. While the events in this chapter may not be a literal depiction of what will occur, there are definitely some things we can know for sure: Satan will be defeated, Jesus wins, and all of us will be judged.
More tomorrow...
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
March 24, 2025
Day 2 of Week 52
Scripture: Job 31-33; Psalm 102; Revelation 19
Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Bible reading plan. Let’s get started with our Scripture for today.
Our Old Testament Scripture is Job 31-33. In chapter 31, we hear Job’s final speech. He again speaks of the specific ways that he is blameless before God. If he has done anything sinful or caused slight to anyone, then call him on it, he says. As we have seen, Job is struggling to comprehend why any of this has happened. Job was righteous in his own eyes. His whole understanding of God’s justice has been turned upside-down.
And in chapter 32, a new friend appears, Elihu. Again, we are using the word friend very loosely here. Elihu is angry with Job and the other friends. He is positive that he actually has the answers. He obviously thinks highly of himself. Maybe you have known someone like that. Tomorrow, we hear Elihu’s supposed words of wisdom.
Let’s take a moment and just mention Psalm 102. It is a prayer of an afflicted person. The author is unknown. And yet, as we read it, we realize it could have been Job, David, Daniel, Ezekiel, or you and me. There are always times in our lives in which it feels like God hides his face. The author so appropriately points out the frailty of human life. Our lives are like the evening shadow, our days wither away like grass. We are small and God is big. We are weak and he is all-powerful. Sometimes, I think we need to be a bit humbled. God loves us and adores us and yet, we are just human beings. He is God.
Our New Testament Scripture is Revelation 19. In this chapter, John sees heaven standing open. Just for reference, the word apocalypse means “a revealing,” and its root has to do with this concept of being open. If you think about the whole book of Revelation, it’s about open doors, open seals, open scrolls, open books, open temple, and even an open abyss. Now, heaven is open and God allows his people to see. There are no secrets.
With the destruction of Babylon, the heavenly one, Jesus himself, comes riding in on a white horse. He is called Faithful and True. While some may struggle to see Jesus come ready for battle, this war has an eternal purpose and is done for true justice to occur. These images of Jesus are clearly war-like. He has come to kill the beast and those who follow him and throw them into the lake of fire. Evil is being vanquished. Finally.
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
March 23, 2025
Day 1 of Week 52
Scripture: Job 28-30; Revelation 18
And just like that, we are on week 52. After a full year of reading, we will complete our reading of the entire Bible from Genesis to Revelation. You guys are amazing. By the way, this is the Daisy Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements New Hope’s Bible reading plan, if you didn’t already guess that.
Today, our Old Testament reading is in Job, chapters 28-30. You may have noticed, but Job’s emotions are all over the place here. He doesn’t necessarily believe his friends that he has done anything wrong before God, but he is baffled at what has happened to him. He questions God. He knows that God is the only one with understanding of the universe. God is the only one with the answers. So in chapter 30, he demands that God gives him some. What is going on? Why has this happened? Job wants to believe that God is just but he is struggling. Maybe you have been there before.
Our New Testament reading is in Revelation. In chapter 18, we see the fall of Babylon. This sprawling, affluent civilization, which lived hedonistically, rejecting the things of God and oppressing God’s people, has been brought to its knees. What took many years to develop is destroyed in one hour. In one single hour God takes down Babylon!
Chapters 17 and 18, which describe the fall of Babylon, are some of the most disputed in all of Revelation. Scholars disagree as to their meaning and there are vastly divergent interpretations out there. I don’t think it’s helpful to get too bogged down in the interpretation. I do, however, think there are some things we must reflect on:
1.What could Babylon represent?
2.How does our current nation and culture resemble Babylon? How is it different?
3.How might God’s people be called to live and behave within a modern Babylon?
4.What does this Scripture suggest about God’s ultimate plans for the Babylons of this world?
Something to think about. More tomorrow.
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
March 20, 2025
Day 5 of Week 51
Scripture: Job 24-27; Revelation 17
Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that goes along with the Bible reading plan at New Hope Church in Brandon, Florida.
Our Old Testament reading is from Job once again. I don’t know about you, but this is really hard to read. Job is heartbroken and struggling with why the evil seem to prosper and God doesn’t seem to provide any kind of punishment for those who do evil. Where is God’s justice? He certainly hasn’t experienced it.
Job’s friend answers him in chapter 25 saying that God is all-powerful. Nothing is good compared to God. I’ll be honest. I’m not sure what his point is, except maybe to pour salt in Job’s wounds. No one is righteous in God’s eyes, according to this friend, and that includes Job.
Our last chapter for today is Job’s reply to this. Yes, God is bigger and more powerful than everything. He is in control of the universe and everything in it. There is no way we will understand why or how he does anything. What’s amazing here is this – after all Job has gone through, after all his lament, he concludes that God is filled with wisdom and he simply has to trust because God is in control.
The New Testament reading is Revelation 17. In this chapter, John is invited to witness the downfall of Babylon. He sees the image of a woman sitting on red beast with seven heads and ten horns. The woman, very seductively dressed, has a name written on her: Babylon the Great, the Mother of Prostitutes, and of the Abominations of the Earth. She slept with the kings of the world and was drunk with the blood of God’s people. Babylon was a seductive society and a very powerful one. It conquered many of the nations around it and others were seduced by its influence and wealth.
While the woman in the vision obviously represents Babylon, it goes so much deeper. How many Babylons have existed since then? How many great civilizations have risen to power, only to reject God and serve themselves? We could probably generate a pretty long list: the Roman Empire, the Holy Roman Catholic Church, various European empires, maybe even the United States of America? Where do you see the evils of Babylon around you? How should we respond as God’s people?
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
March 19, 2025
Day 4 of Week 51
Scripture: Job 21-23; Psalm 101; Revelation 16
Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the daily Bible reading plan at New Hope Church in Brandon, Florida. It’s Wednesday but we DO NOT have Recharge tonight. It was canceled due to Hillsborough County Spring Break. So take this time to do something fun! Now, we move to our Scripture reading.
For our Old Testament reading, we are back in Job. These continue to be hard chapters with more back and forth between Job and his so-called friends. Neither Job nor his friends understood God’s ways. But there were significant differences between how Job and his friends approached Job’s situation. First, his friends confidently and arrogantly asserted that they did understand God’s ways, claiming that God punishes the evil and blesses the righteous. Job, on the other hand, admits his confusion and frustration, citing many examples of evil and sinful people living good lives and escaping calamity just fine. Second, for Job’s friends, these were somewhat abstract questions of moral theory and interesting discussion topics; for the seriously suffering Job, these were questions with real-life application that affected how he processed the world and his faith in God.
In the midst of really hard life experiences, have you ever met someone who seemed to “understand” just what God was doing in your life? I haven’t commented a lot on what Job’s friends are doing but I can’t help but at least say something. The reality is that because of the pervasiveness of sin, we live in a very broken world. Bad stuff happens and there isn’t always a reason. Often, we have more questions for God than answers. And how God works in the midst of it all is much more complex than we can dare to comprehend. What we can trust in is that God is loving, trustworthy, and always good. He does not cause bad things to occur in our lives. In fact, he often takes the bad and uses it for his good in some way. The hard part is we may not see or understand this for a long, long time. As Christians, let’s try to NOT look anything like Job’s friends but simply be willing to listen and love as our family and friends experience hardship and heartache.
Our New Testament reading is Revelation 16. It’s getting ugly. God has assured his people that they are safe but really no one else is. God’s wrath is about to be poured out on those who were marked by the beast, aka the evil one. Throughout the chapter, we read about the cups of God’s wrath being poured out. I don’t know about you, but I find it very hard to read. While I don’t think these images in Revelation are meant to all be taken literally, we do have to come to terms with the fact that Jesus will return and he will judge us. Those who belong to him will be safe and protected. Those who don’t belong to him will face the wrath of God. Will that mean boils and fire? Probably not, but these cups of wrath do represent something real, something we don’t understand.
I want to highlight verse 15 today, “Look, I come like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake and remains clothed, so as not to go naked and be shamefully exposed. Think back to the teachings of Jesus. Matthew 24:42-44, “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.
Jesus, in his earthly ministry, made many references to being ready for the coming reign of God. As much as it makes us feel uncomfortable, he also spoke of being ready for the coming judgment. Notice how now, in Rev. 16:15, the resurrected Lord is saying that he will come like a thief; blessed is the one who stays awake and remain clothed. I think we need to stop and reflect on this issue of being ready. Some people may say that we’ve been waiting for Jesus so long, he will never come. But the Bible clearly says he will. Certainly, we aren’t to sit around and be scared, nor are we to watch the clouds and wait (as many of the early Christians did.) We are to simply do life, expanding his Kingdom, living as he called us to live. But there is something to this whole idea of readiness. I’d love to hear your thoughts. Spend some time in prayer about this today.
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
March 18, 2025
Day 3 of Week 51
Scripture: Job 18-20; Psalm 141; Revelation 15
Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, everyone! This is the podcast and devotional that complements the New Hope daily Bible reading plan. Let’s get right into our Scripture for today.
Our Old Testament reading is from Job, chapters 18-20. In chapter 18, we find the response of one of Job’s friends. I’m beginning to think they aren’t really friends, and they certainly aren’t comforting. He basically tells Job to stop his chatter and admit that he is an evil man. Only things like this happen to men who are evil and turn away from God. His directness is a bit uncanny.
In chapter 19, Job responds and asks why his friend would torment him? What is the purpose? Job is grief-stricken because he is not hearing from God. He feels like God’s hand has struck him. Job is all alone. He has nothing and he asks for his friends to try to understand and take pity on him.
Chapter 20 brings another response from one of Job’s friends. It is similar to the last. Only God will strike the wicked. Keep in mind, that was the general thought at the time. If one is sinful and wicked, then he will reap punishment from God. That is the way God’s justice works, doesn’t it? Job resists such a statement while his friends have totally bought in. Of course, none of this is happening to them so it’s easy to make blanket statements about justice.
Let’s move over to Revelation 15. The first vision in this chapter is that of seven angels. These angels carry the last judgements that God will use in the tribulation. This is a time of celebration, as the believers sing songs of worship to the Lord.
Revelation presents God's final judgments on sin in three groups of seven. The first set of judgments was represented by the opening of seals on a scroll in chapter 5. The second set was represented by trumpets in chapter 8. This last pattern will involve bowls, symbolically filled with the wrath of God. This segment also indicates that the sanctuary in heaven was filled with smoke during this time, preventing anyone from approaching God until the judgments were completed. More on this tomorrow...
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
March 17, 2024
Day 2 of Week 51
Scripture: Job 15-17; Revelation 14
Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that goes along with the Bible reading plan at New Hope Church in Brandon, Florida.
Today, our Old Testament reading is back in the book of Job. In chapter 15, we find one of Job’s friends answering his lament. It isn’t pretty. He accuses Job of being sinful; I mean, he must be, right? And yet, as Job replies in chapter 16-17, it’s easy for someone else to make such claims. When it happens to you, it’s different. He doesn’t understand why God’s anger has been lashed out at him. Job’s pain is palpable. His confusion is real. Why is this happening to him? Is there any hope at all? And again...all we are left with is questions.
Our New Testament reading is Revelation 14. Chapter 14 is another interlude, a reprieve of sorts, before the pouring out of the cups of God’s wrath in the next chapter. The interludes provide a respite for God’s persecuted people before the next bout of suffering, assuring them of God’s divine protection for them. The interlude scenes in this chapter are visions of comfort. Again, remember the original audience and what they were enduring. They needed to know that God was going to keep them safe in the Lord. This doesn’t mean they would not experience hardship, pain, and even torture, but they could be assured that God ultimately would care for them.
The first vision of comfort is the Lamb with the 144,000, standing on Mount Zion. This image would have been incredibly reassuring to those listening to this message. Mount Zion represents the hope of what’s to come, the final safe dwelling place for God’s people. The 144,000 are the “first fruits” of God’s people, those who have gone before, most likely through martyrdom. Even for those experiencing severe persecution, this vision points to how there is something amazing ahead, don’t lose hope.
The second vision of comfort is the angel flying in midair. This angel is proclaiming the Good News to all the earth. A second angel follows with more excellent news, Babylon has fallen. Babylon, the place of Israel’s exile, was a symbol for paganism, hedonism, and immorality. Finally, a third angel warns against being swayed by the temptation of the evil one. This would have been a warning to the faithful to not swear allegiance to the corrupt worldly system. As it is for believers right now, how easy it would be for those who professed faith in Jesus to gradually be absorbed into the majority culture, looking more Roman than Christian.(Umm...this was a bit convicting.)
The third and final vision of comfort consisted of one like the Son of Man standing on the clouds with a sickle. He is wearing a victory crown. The Scripture says that the time to reap has come and the Son of Man reaps the grapes from the earth. Some see this as representing the time when God will gather up all the believers from the earth. Another angel comes together a second harvest and those grapes are thrown into the winepress of God’s wrath, another way of describing the judgement of the wicked. There is this emphasis on being found faithful and righteous when God returns so that we can be ripe for God’s harvest rather than his wrath. And the visions of comfort are done. Prepare yourself, tomorrow will be a toughie.
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
March 16, 2025
Day 1 of Week 51
Scripture: Job 12-14; Psalm 100; Revelation 13
Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Bible reading plan. We are on week 51 starting today. We have truly almost made it all the way through the Bible.
Our Old Testament reading is Job 12-14. We find Job’s response to his friends in this chapter. He is again lamenting his situation. He has become a laughingstock to his friends, Job says. As we read, we can see that Job is struggling with the idea of God’s justice. He is innocent, so why is this happening to him? God is all-powerful and wise. Job wants to take his case directly to God. This should not be happening to him. “Why has God destroyed him?” Job begins to ask in chapter 14. And there are no answers. More tomorrow...
Our New Testament reading is Revelation 13. In today’s chapter, we meet the anti-Trinity–the dragon and the two beasts. The dragon certainly represents Satan and each of the beasts represent those who work for him. It’s been said that one of the beasts symbolizes the Roman Empire, which makes sense considering the context. The Roman Empire and its succession of oppressive emperors who harshly persecuted Christians would be large on the mind of John and the original listeners of this text. The other beast, the one with the healed wound, may serve to mimic Christ (the Antichrist). They are blasphemous to God and it says that there are people all over the world who follow them. This begs the question: who do we follow?
Let’s chat for a moment about the mark of the beast. This has taken on a life of its own in popular culture, most of which is not Scripturally-sound. In the ancient Roman world, it was normative to brand or tattoo criminals, prisoners, and sometimes slaves. Some followers of the imperial cult would mark themselves as well. The mark of the beast is in contrast to the mark of God which seals the believers (we read about this in chapter 7). Now, some of the Christians, possibly those who are benefitting from the evil or power of the empire, will be marked by the beast. The true faithful will only have the mark of God.
The real question for all of us: whose mark do we wear?
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
March 13, 2025: Day 5 of Week 50 - Scripture: Job 8-11; Revelation 12
The Daily Dose of Hope is a devotional intended to provide context and reflection to the New Hope Church Bible Reading Plan. It’s our goal to read the Bible in a year together as a family of faith. Five days a week we read. Two days a week we either rest or catch up. Reading the Bible is the number one way to grow in our walk with Jesus. We have to know God’s Word to live God’s Word. Now for our Daily Dose of Hope… https://www.findnewhope.com
March 12, 2025: Day 4 of Week 50 - Scripture: Job 4-7; Psalm 99; Revelation 11
The Daily Dose of Hope is a devotional intended to provide context and reflection to the New Hope Church Bible Reading Plan. It’s our goal to read the Bible in a year together as a family of faith. Five days a week we read. Two days a week we either rest or catch up. Reading the Bible is the number one way to grow in our walk with Jesus. We have to know God’s Word to live God’s Word. Now for our Daily Dose of Hope… https://www.findnewhope.com
Daily Dose of Hope
March 11, 2025
Day 3 of Week 50
Scripture: Job 1-3; Psalm 29; Revelation 10
Welcome back, everyone, to the Daily Dose of Hope. This is the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Church Bible reading plan.
Today we are starting the book of Job. This is a book of suffering. We get to see that right away. It’s an unusual book too. The author says that it takes place in the land of Uz, which is far away from Israel and Job is not an Israelite. It’s probable that the author intentionally doesn’t give a lot of historical detail because that isn’t the point. The point is more the questions that are raised by Job’s suffering.
Chapters 1 and 2 are the prologue of Job. We learn about Job, who is upright and blameless. He has been blessed immensely but he has stayed humble with the highest of integrity. From there, we are transported to the heavens where God is meeting with his angels and someone referred to as Satan, which means accuser. When this accuser tells God that Job is only upright and blameless because God has blessed him with all kinds of good things, then God gives Satan the ability to take that away from Job, to test him essentially, and see if he will stay committed to God.
Of course, to most of us, this is incredibly frustrating. Why does God do this? It doesn’t make sense. And we might think that maybe the book will answer the question of why. But, spoiler alert, it doesn’t. It does ask more questions about God’s justice which we will be forced to reckon with. The accuser arranges for Job to experience the loss of his children, the loss of his fortune, and then to be covered in boils. Essentially, everything good is stripped from him. But he doesn’t curse God.
He has three friends who come over to try to comfort him but I don’t think they were much comfort at all. But these friends do represent the typical way of thinking about suffering at the time in that part of the world.
Chapter 3 brings us into the main part of the book, which includes a lot of prose and poetry. Job speaks first and as we move into the other chapters, we will hear the responses of the three friends. Chapter 3 is exclusively Job, who is lamenting the day he was born. Why did God even allow him to live? We will delve more into this tomorrow.
Our New Testament text is Revelation 10. In this chapter, John sees another angel come down from the heavens. This angel is wrapped in a cloud. Keep in mind, that clouds often refer to God’s judgment. There is also a rainbow above the head of the angel. Rainbows often refer to God’s covenant. So, we might gather that God’s judgment is coming in regard to God’s covenant with his people.
But there is also this piece about the little scroll that the angel is carrying. John is told to come get the scroll and eat it. Eating the scroll is a symbol of being ready to prophesy God’s message. Remember that when Ezekiel eats his scroll he finds it to be sweet as honey in his mouth. The Word of God is described as sweet in multiple places in Scripture. Psalm 19:9-10 reads, ...the decrees of the Lord are firm, and all of them are righteous. They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the honeycomb. Notice that when John eats the scroll, he also finds it as sweet as honey. However, after he had eaten it, his stomach was made bitter. The bitterness comes because of the judgments that are still to come. More tomorrow...
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
March 10, 2025
Day 2 of Week 50
Scripture: Malachi 1-4; Psalm 2 ; Revelation 9
Welcome back, everyone, to the Daily Dose of Hope. This is the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Church Bible reading plan.
For our Old Testament reading, we are reading the book of Malachi, all four chapters. Malachi is the very last book of the Old Testament, a really short book, yet it gets its point across.
Malachi is the Cliff Notes of the Old Testament. In these four short chapters, the author gives a brief summary of the whole Old Testament. One of it’s most famous verses, Malachi 3:7, in one verse, gives us a picture of the dynamics of the Old Testament. God is basically saying, “Ever since the time of your ancestors you have turned away from my decrees and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you,” Your ancestors turned away from me, you have turned away from me. It’s time to come back and let me bless you, let me love you, says the Lord. That’s basically the whole Old Testament in a nutshell---keep in mind over and over again throughout the Old Testament (over hundreds of years), God’s people would commit to following God and then fall away. Eventually, they were so rebellious that God lifts his hand of protection and allows the people of Israel and Judah to be conquered by other nations. We’ve read through all of that.
Malachi prophesied about 100 years after the Jews returned from exile in Babylon (400-450BC) As we learned in Nehemiah, only a small portion of people returned to Jerusalem. They rebuilt the city, the temple, and the wall around the city. Yet, after living in exile for 70 years, the people were still corrupted by the pagan culture in which they lived. They were far from God. So, as we read over the past few weeks, Ezra and Nehemiah both had instituted reforms, the people had sincerely agreed to follow God. But within a generation, all the reforms, the promises the people had made were forgotten.
What’s interesting is that the people were still going through the motions. They were externally religious–they went through the religious tasks that they were supposed to do but it was ALL about outward behavior. This is the period of time in which the Pharisees & Saducees came into being---there was this emphasis on outward religiosity, doing things which make it seem like you are a good religious person. But their hearts were far from God. And we know, what matters to God is not what’s on the outside, it’s not our religious busyness, but it’s our heart.
Basically, the people are in no better place than before the exile. No matter how religious the people appear to be, their hearts are not right with God. They have allowed the things of the world, their own selfishness, their own distrust, to lead them a drift, seeking fulfillment in anything BUT God. Thus, God will do a new thing. As we read through chapters 3 and 4, we begin to see Malachi point to something that is to come. No rules or reforms will change the hearts of the people. Rules and reforms don’t change our hearts. We don’t need external changes. Rather, we need someone who will come into our own hearts and transform us from the inside out. We need a Savior, someone to draw us back to God and back to one another. We need Jesus.
Malachi 3:1-2,“I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me. Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, will come,” says the Lord Almighty.
But who can endure the day of his coming? Who can stand when he appears? For he will be like a refiner’s fire or a launderer’s soap.
After the book of Malachi ends, 400 years pass before the people get another word from God. 400 years! These were called the silent years. But then, in God’s perfect timing, God arrives on the scene in a new way, through the person of Jesus Christ AND Jesus picks up right where Malachi left off. In fact, Jesus’ very first message to the people in Mark 1 was to “Repent.” Repent, the kingdom of God is here. Yes, your hearts aren’t right with God. Yes, I know you are selfish, self-absorbed, distracted by the ways of the world, I know your heart through and through. Turn away from your ways and come back to me. Allow me to cleanse you, be the refining fire, to purge out all the impurities, all that’s harmful, all that’s led you astray.
Let’s take a look at Revelation 9. Things are beginning to get kind of hard. Let’s do our best to unpack it. The fifth trumpet blows and a star falls from the sky. The star unlocks the key to the abyss. When the abyss is opened, all kinds of evil things come out of it. The people without the seal of God are forced to go through five months of torture at the hands of the scorpion-like locusts who have come from the abyss (five months is the life cycle of a locus). It’s all very graphic and hard to take in.
A wider look at the battlefield reveals that the one who rules over these terrible demonic creatures is the king of the abyss, Apollyon. There is a lot of symbolism here that John’s original listeners would have understood. The Greek name Apollyon means destroyer. It’s very similar to the name Apollos, the Greek god who was the favorite of the emperor of the time, Domitian (who reigned from A.D. 81 to 96).In fact, the emperor so identified with Apollos that he often called himself the reincarnation of the deity.
Domitian was known for his reign of terror against both Jews and Christians. Just imagine, the original hearers of this text would have drawn immediate connections between the king of this abyss and their emperor, who was persecuting them relentlessly for their belief in Jesus. They would understand that while Domitian may be the source of persecution, the true source of suffering was Satan, the evil one, the one who reigns over the abyss.
Just when we think it might be over, the author says that it isn’t. The first woe has passed but there are more to come. Then ensues a wave of plagues. A third of humanity is killed and then another third. You would think this would be enough to scare the survivors into believing in Jesus. And yet, the Scripture says that they continue to be hardened. They don’t stop their evil behavior but persist in resisting God.
Fear and terror have never been effective methods for leading people to a saving relationship with Jesus. That begs the question–how do we effectively point people to Jesus? People are not frightened into the Kingdom (we are stubborn people!), people are not shamed into the Kingdom, lectured into the Kingdom, or forced into the Kingdom in any way. People are loved into the Kingdom. And even then, they have the choice to say yes or no to God’s free gift of grace.
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
March 9, 2025
Day 1 of Week 50
Scripture: Nehemiah 10-13; Revelation 8
Welcome back, everyone, to the Daily Dose of Hope. This is the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Church Bible reading plan. We start week 50 today. That is hard to believe. Congrats on all of you who have read almost the entire Bible!!!
Today, we are back in Nehemiah for our Old Testament reading. We begin in chapter 10 with the people making a commitment to follow the Law. They know it, now they will live it.
Jerusalem is the capital and the holy city. It had the leaders and the temple employees but it needed real citizens to make it a defensible community. It wasn’t easy to live there. They still had the residents actively serving as guards. The gates are complete, the wall is done, but that doesn’t mean there won’t be opposition. They still haven’t let their guard down. To live in Jerusalem, at that time, meant to be a rotating security guard of sorts.
A number of people volunteered to form the nucleus of the city. We find their specific names listed in chapter 11. These were real people with real families and responsibilities who volunteered to do whatever they could, even if it was a significant interruption to their lives, in order to make Jerusalem a functioning society. Sometimes God asks us to interrupt our lives for his work in this world.
Let’s move on to chapter 12. After the wall was dedicated, there was much joy among God’s people. But after the music and celebration ended, Nehemiah made sure the people understood the importance of tithing. As they were seeking to be in alignment with God’s Word, this was of vital importance. The first fruits and tithes of the people provided for the work of the priests and the Levites, as well as any other need associated with the worship of God and his work in the world. Tithing is still of vital importance. Throughout Scripture, God calls his people to give 10% of their earnings to him. This isn’t because God needs our money. Rather, it is a matter of heart.
All we have comes from God–everything! As an act of obedience, he then calls us to give part of our resources back to him for his work in the world. In my experience as a pastor, people really struggle with this. This is an estimate but I would guess only about a fifth of our church truly tithes. Giving10% may feel hard at first but once you do it, it is actually quite freeing. You know you are in compliance with God’s Word and God always blesses that. For me, it is also an important acknowledgment that God is Lord of my life and I’m trusting him with my all. Do you tithe? Why or why not?
In chapter 13, we find that Nehemiah has to return to serve the king of Babylon. God had called him to Jerusalem for a season, he was obedient, and then he had to go back to his day job. But after some time (we don’t know how long but it must have been quite awhile), Nehemiah returns to Jerusalem. He finds that the people were not obeying the Law as they had promised to do. There were issues with the tithes and the temple, people were not obeying the Sabbath, and there was intermarriage with the pagan people who lived around them. Nehemiah does his best to institute reforms once again so the people would be in alignment with God’s law.
This wasn’t easy. The people had grown comfortable in their ways. After each set of reforms, Nehemiah asks God to remember what he has done and honor it. Nehemiah was an honest and Godly man who simply wanted to serve God well and teach his people to do the same. Who are the Nehemiahs among us? Who are those men and women who seek to serve God and lovingly encourage others to do the same, even when it’s hard and even when the people don’t want to hear it?
Our New Testament reading is Revelation 8. The interlude is over. It’s time for the seventh seal to be opened. After watching the last seals be opened, John is probably expecting something really big but this time, there is nothing but...silence. The Scripture says there is silence in heaven for about half an hour. Silence is often a way to show reverence to God in worship. There are whole religious orders that take vows of silence before God.
I don’t know about you but, as an extroverted extrovert, I struggle with silence. It is in long, extended periods of silence that we are faced with our own thoughts, our doubts, and our struggles. That’s not always fun. But I’ve also found tremendous value in silence-it’s in those long periods of silence that I take time to really engage with God and allow time for listening, for resting in the presence of God. Mother Teresa is quoted as saying, “We need to find God, and He cannot be found in noise and restlessness. God is the friend of silence. See how nature—trees, flowers, grass—grows in silence; see the stars, the moon and the sun, how they move in silence ... We need silence to be able to touch souls.”
Could it be that we learn the most from God in the silence? What has been your experience? God can also use silence as a method of preparation. We find this in today’s Scripture. After the silence, things get pretty intense. The seven angels who stand before God are given seven trumpets. The prayers of God’s people (symbolized by the incense) make their ways to God’s nostrils. And then, the trumpets blow and God’s wrath is poured out on the earth. The purpose of the trumpet blows is to warn the unbelievers of God’s impending wrath and judgment.
There is something about a trumpet that makes you take notice. It’s quite loud, so loud in fact that there is no way to NOT notice it. Take notice, these angels are saying. Pay attention! Turn from your wicked ways and acknowledge God! Who do you know who has not yet acknowledged God? Are there people in your life that need to know the saving grace of Jesus Christ? Read the words of the apostle Paul from 2 Corinthians 6:1-4 and the unbelievers in your life in prayer.
As God’s co-workers we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain. For he says,
“In the time of my favor I heard you,and in the day of salvation I helped you.”
I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
March 6, 2025
Day 5 of Week 49
Scripture: Nehemiah 7-9; Psalm 140; Revelation 7
Welcome back, everyone, to the Daily Dose of Hope! This is the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Church daily Bible reading plan.
We head back to Nehemiah for our Old Testament reading. Let’s start with chapter 7. Nehemiah knows that there are still dangers outside (and maybe even inside) the city. Thus, the leaders must be chosen carefully. Obviously, they needed to be competent. But more than anything else, they needed to have character and love the Lord. Those in charge of the city required more than professional skill; they required integrity.
That’s certainly just as important for us today. If we think of those who are in charge of our nation, our states, our cities, and even our churches, integrity matters. It isn’t just about voting record, we need to think of how these individuals actually live their lives. How have they treated their employees, their spouses, and their children? Are they honest? Are they respectable? What is their faith journey like? Integrity matters.
There is also a discussion about the times during which the city gates will be open. This may sound strange to us but it really makes perfect sense. Nehemiah is delegating some of the city protection tasks out to various trustworthy people in the community. They are to keep watch and keep the large city gates closed during the busy times of day and only open them during the hottest hours. During that time, the enemies and opponents are going to be less active; it is truly the safest time of day. The men watching the doors can let their guard down for just a moment. Basic commerce can occur and some people will be allowed in and out. But those chosen to guard should come from inside the city, particularly those who live close to the gate. These are people who have a vested interest in keeping that area safe.
Chapter 8 is an incredible chapter. Ezra the priest brings out the Book of the Law and begins to read it to all the people who could understand. Verse 3 of this chapter states, He read it aloud from day break till noon as he faced the square before the Water Gate in the presence of the men, women and others who could understand. And all the people listened attentively to the Book of the Law. I’ve been trying to visualize thousands of men, women, and children, listening to the reading of the law. Most likely, it had been years since they had heard God’s Word read out loud. Some may never have heard it. Remember, they had been in exile and then they moved to a very disheveled and chaotic Jerusalem, where survival was precarious. They had become disconnected from God’s Word for generations. And they begin to weep. They were both distraught and heartbroken at how far away from God’s Law they had moved. But Nehemiah gets up and tells the people not to weep. Rather, this was a holy day of celebration. They don’t need to grieve because God is joyful at their new found obedience. They need to rest in that and allow God’s joy to be their strength.
In chapter 9, we read that as God’s people stood and listened to the Book of the Law, they knew that things needed to change. After listening to God’s Word, they corporately spent time in confession and worship. And then, they began to move toward aligning themselves with the law. This was repentance.
Repentance is more than being sorry for something. It’s when we move away from sin and wrongdoing and move toward God. When we repent before God, we are saying that we will change. When we repent of our sin, we cannot go on consciously committing that sin without remorse. Repentance brings results that affect our behavior. When we continue to live in sin, we are short-circuiting God’s power in our life. Lack of repentance can keep us from thriving and experiencing true awakening. Sin is like a millstone around our neck as individuals and as a church.
For what do you need to repent? Let’s confess our sin, repent of it, become cleansed and available for the Holy Spirit to fill us and use us.
Let’s head over to Revelation 7. The first six seals have been opened. Before the seventh is opened, however, John takes an interlude. There is something else that needs to be shared. It starts with a vision of four angels standing at the corners of the earth. God is in control over all the earth. These angels emphasize that. Then, the text speaks of putting a seal on all of God’s people.
I don’t know about you but over the course of my life, I’ve heard people speak of the mark of the beast (or the evil one) far more often than the mark of God. We will discuss the mark of the beast more when we get to chapter 13 but certainly it’s worth noting that some in religious circles stir up fear. “Be on the lookout,” we hear Bible commentors say. What is our infatuation with things that are dark, mysterious, and sinful? Perhaps we should be more interested and passionate about ensuring that Christ-followers are living in such a way that the world around them will notice the mark of God in their lives. As ones who belong to Jesus, we don’t have to be fearful of Satan. We have the Spirit of the Living God within us and there is power in that! Ephesians 1:13-14 states, And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory. The mark of God is far more powerful than the mark of the evil one, yesterday, today, or tomorrow.
The chapter specifically mentions the number 144,000. Literal interpretations of this number have caused all kinds of problems throughout history. The Bible does all kinds of things with numbers that we don’t totally understand in our 21st century context. Obviously, 144,000 is 12 squared. Both the numbers 12 and 10 often represent completeness in Scripture. As we work our way through the chapter, we find that the heavenly population is expansive. Verse 9 reads, After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands.
Heaven is larger than our ability to fathom. There are no limits in relation to size and numbers when we are talking about God and heaven. All people from all tribes, nations, tongues, and time periods are invited to receive Jesus and spend eternity in glory. Think about the awesomeness of that truth! People from across the globe will spend eternity worshiping God together.
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
March 5, 2025
Day 4 of Week 49
Scripture: Nehemiah 4-6; Psalm 98; Revelation 6
Good morning, everyone, and welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope. The Daily Dose is the podcast and devotional that goes along with our daily Bible reading plan at New Hope Church in Brandon, Florida.
For our Old Testament reading today, we are back in Nehemiah, specifically chapters 4 though 6. In chapter 4, we find that when we are doing God’s work, there will always be opposition! Here we have Nehemiah and the residents of Jerusalem working day and night to rebuild the wall. This would provide fortification for the city, the residents could prosper, and the city could flourish. God’s city could flourish. Of course, the evil one doesn’t want that.
But while obstacles should be expected, we should also expect that God will provide the answers. Nehemiah prays to God and God gives him the wisdom to fight against the enemies. They would guard the walls day and night. They would work with their weapons. They would never let their guard down. God gave them the plan, the strength, and the courage, they needed to persevere. As a result, the enemies eventually backed down.
How has God called you to do his work? Have you experienced obstacles? Please trust God to give you the plan, courage, and strength to finish the work. Don’t be discouraged! God is with you. The same God who was with Nehemiah is with you.
Chapter 5 is distressing. There is tremendous disunity among God’s people, which also threatens to hinder the completion of the wall. Satan does not need to raise up enemies against God’s work if he can turn God’s people against each other. Many of the poor families were complaining against the rich. They were struggling to feed their children. Instead of the rich helping them, they were exploiting them. The poor Jews needed to eat. The rich Jews offered to help them, but did so at a price and it was a heavy one. The rich Jews forced their poorer brethren to mortgage their own property in order to get money to eat. That in itself wasn’t the worst of it. When property wasn’t enough collateral they took their children as slaves. In addition, they charged such heavy interest that the poorer class had no hope to get out from under this burden of debt. The king’s tax seems to be the catalyst for all of this. It seems that the royal tax was very high. This was what caused the people to get into debt at the beginning. Rather than help them get out of debt, the rich added to their burdens. It was a classic case of “the rich get richer and the poor get poorer.”
Nehemiah takes action. He immediately speaks out against the wealthy. He calls them to repentance and asks them to do right, to give back what isn’t theirs, and to stop taking advantage of the poor. They promise to do so. But Nehemiah is quite clear – he will hold them to it.
Let’s move over to chapter 6. Here we see that Nehemiah’s opponents, people like Sanballat and Tobiah, continue to do all they can to intimidate him. They schemed to take his life, they sent ugly letters, and they hired crooked prophets to prophecy against him. They didn’t let up. And yet, God’s work continued. God had given Nehemiah wisdom. Nehemiah had to constantly be discerning what was safe and what wasn’t. He had to constantly listen to God rather than those around him.
There must have been times in which he was scared or unsure. After all, he was only human. But he knew that God was bigger than his fear. God was bigger than these men who were plotting against him. God was bigger than whatever they threw at him. He knew this, he believed it, and he trusted it. As a result, the wall was completed. The enemies grew scared and everyone knew it was the work of the Lord.
As I write this, I’m thinking that there are some people who need to know that God is bigger than whatever you are going through. God is bigger than your diagnosis, God is bigger than your grief, God is bigger than your pain, God is bigger than your financial worries, God is bigger than whatever burdens or worries you carry. Can you know this, believe this, and trust this truth?
Our New Testament reading is Revelation 6. In this chapter, we find Jesus Christ receiving a preview of world history from the first century to his return. Each seal he opens reveals something different over the course of human history, none of which are desirable. As you read through the text, try not to get stuck in taking the words literally. Simply try to visualize what John is describing. Each aspect of the text has deep meaning but wasn’t intended to be taken literally. What these visions symbolize, however, are quite extraordinary.
When Jesus opens the first four seals, each action brings forth a rider on a horse. The first four riders represent pretty horrible things for humanity, such as military conquest (the first rider), warfare (the second rider), famine (the third rider), and death (the fourth rider). Wherever the first three go, death is sure to show up as a result. As horrible as these four scourges are for the human race, the symbolism here indicates that Christ limits their power. They could be worse. God allows these aspects of our sin and brokenness to exist but he will not allow them to overtake the world.
Just a small but interesting point: generally, we think of the number 4 in the book of Revelation as representing the world or the things of the world. The first four horsemen have trampled all around the world throughout the course of history, devastating humanity. But Christ has and will continue to limit their power. He is the one who holds the keys to death (John 1:18). Remember the first listeners to this message. These words would remind them that there was more going on in the world, particularly in the spiritual realm, than they could see. All the horrors they were experiencing on earth were real but there was something bigger going on. Oh yeah, and Jesus would have the final word.
After the fifth seal was opened, something else shows up on the scene–an altar. Under the altar were the martyrs of the faith. These were people who had been slain for their belief in Jesus. They call out to Jesus, calling him Sovereign Lord, righteous and true. But these souls are asking Jesus for justice, when their deaths will be avenged? This is a grim reminder that Christians have and will continue to be killed for their belief in Christ. How easy it is for us as Americans to set this reality aside, to forget that believers are being killed, tortured, or oppressed for their faith right now in various parts of the world. What might God be calling us to do about it?
The sixth seal isa reminder of the natural calamities that have devastated the earth over thousands upon thousands of years. Humans react by hiding or blaming God. But before Jesus’ second coming, we can be assured that the earth will continue to experience disasters of all kinds. The last line of the chapter is worth a mention. It expresses that the day of the Lord’s wrath is coming. The world will experience military conquest, warfare, famine, death, martyrdom, and natural disasters between Jesus’ first and second coming. These things are part of being human and part of living in this world. But ultimately, Jesus will prevail. He will come in all his glory and judge all of the world.
I know we struggle with concepts like judgement. But we have nothing to fear if we belong to Jesus. While trouble is guaranteed as part of life, Jesus’ people can rest assured that we don’t have to be afraid. We know the one who saves. We know the one who will have final victory. We can seek God’s Kingdom now and actively look for glimpses of the new creation to come. Rest in that.
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
March 4, 2025
Day 3 of Week 49
Scripture: Nehemiah 1-3; Revelation 5
Welcome back, everyone, to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the daily Bible reading plan at New Hope Church in Brandon, Florida.
Today, we start the Old Testament book of Nehemiah. The way that Nehemiah came to be a leader of his people was by the influence exerted on him by a fellow Jew named Hanani, who is mentioned at the beginning of this book. Hanani came to Nehemiah with a report that the Jews in Jerusalem were struggling and experiencing great distress. The year was 445 B.C. By this point, it had been 90 years since Cyrus allowed the Jews to leave Babylon and begin to rebuild in Jerusalem and it had been 70 years since the completion of the temple. The Persian Empire was at its height but the small Jewish community in Jerusalem was hurting badly; survival was precarious.
Nehemiah was a faithful Jew who knew and studied the Law. But he was also the cup bearer for the king. He lived well. He could have ignored the report from Hanani but he didn’t. He was grieved by the distress of his fellow Jews and he decides to do something about it, regardless of the consequences. He begins to pray and fast and trusts that God will provide both direction and provisions.
How often are we deeply moved by something in the world–homelessness, human trafficking, families in crisis, suicide–and we do nothing because we just aren’t sure what to do. It’s complicated to care. We spend a few moments distressed by the topic and we move on. What would have happened to the fledgling Jewish community in Jerusalem if Nehemiah had simply been distressed but then moved on? History may have been different. God used Nehemiah. God wants to use us too. He has called us to live out his mission in this world. If God lays something on our heart, there is a reason for that. He doesn’t want us to move on but to get moving, praying, fasting, and listening. What has God put on your heart? Even if it’s a complicated problem, God can and will make a way.
Nehemiah knows he has to do something. But he has an important job working for the king of Persia. Nehemiah must have been truly admired by the king. The king actually notices because Nehemiah looks distressed and he asks Nehemiah what’s going on. Nehemiah could have just said, “I’m fine.” After all, he feared the king. The Scripture actually says that Nehemiah was very much afraid. Keep in mind, the Persian king had absolute power and literally held Nehemiah’s life in his hands.
But here we see a turning point in Nehemiah. Rather than give into his fear, he speaks up. He prays to God, listens to God, and speaks up. He is honest and tells the king what’s going on in Jerusalem. He asks if the king would allow him to take a leave of absence (of sorts) from his job as cup bearer to help his Jewish brothers and sisters in Jerusalem. Friends, that took courage. I think I should reiterate: Nehemiah was fearful BUT he prays to God, he listens to God, he trusts God, and he speaks up. Let that sink in. How often do we give in to fear and not speak OR we speak too quickly before praying and listening to God?
In chapter 3, we find God’s people getting to work rebuilding the wall around the city of Jerusalem. What’s fascinating to me about this text is the detail. We can see how individual people are given credit for their contribution to this important work. This wall they were rebuilding would protect the city and its inhabitants from invaders and those who opposed them. Before anyone could sleep well at night or prosper at all, they needed protection.
These men of God ensured that happened. The author lists the names. I love this! Each contribution was important. These were real people who stopped their lives for a period of time to do God’s work. They didn’t work on the wall to get famous (I’m guessing they had no idea their name would show up in the best-selling book of all time!) They did what they felt God calling them to do–the humble but necessary work. Think of all those people who have gone before us, who did the humble and necessary work, to invest in our lives, our Christian journeys, and this church.
As I think about my last 18 years at New Hope, many faces and names come to mind, people who led my Bible studies, prayed for me, invested in me, fed me, led this church, took care of my children in the nursery, and basically created a way for me to learn, grow, and prosper in my faith. These were real people who made what may have seemed like humble or simple contributions but yet changed the course of my Christian walk. What about you? Who are those people who made the humble and necessary contributions which led you to where you are right now? Take a moment, name them, and give thanks for their lives. If possible, reach out and tell them the difference they made. If that isn’t possible, just give a prayer of gratitude and thanksgiving, giving glory to the God who created them and placed them in your life.
Our New Testament text is Revelation 5. Yesterday, in chapter 4, we read about and visualized the never-ending worship of God which has gone on in heaven forever. Today, the scene shifts a bit. Now, the Lamb of God, obviously slain from his time on earth, enters the picture. The voice John hears says that it is only the Lamb of God, only Jesus Christ himself, who is worthy to open the judgment scroll, sealed by God. In fact, it will be Jesus who will eventually enact the coming judgments.
The twenty-four elders worship the Lamb in the same way they had worshiped creator God on the throne. But now they are singing a new song, “You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth.” In this new song, we see Jesus being praised for redeeming people from all tribes, languages, and nations. All people on the whole earth are invited to receive salvation and redemption from Jesus Christ. Try to wrap your brain around this: Jesus died to save the whole world, every person from every nation from every time period that has ever existed. Jesus is worthy to be praised.
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
March 3, 2025
Day 2 of Week 49
Scripture: Ezra 7-10; Psalm 97; Revelation 4
Welcome back, friends, to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope daily Bible reading plan.
For our Old Testament Scripture, we head back to the book of Ezra. In chapters 7 and 8, we read about Ezra returning to Jerusalem. The king of Persia has given him and any Jews who want to return permission to do so. But it’s quite a journey. Ezra records all that come with him.
One interesting thing about Ezra is that he was a leader who invested in his people. He didn’t just tell the people what to do, he actually taught the people Scripture and how to interpret it. Thus, as we move into chapters 9 and 10, the people are now recognizing that what is going on among them is wrong. They see how the Jewish people are out of alignment with God’s law and they decide to bring their concerns to Ezra.
What’s the issue? Well, the people of God have been intermarrying with all the pagan nations and cultures around them. They have given their daughters in marriage to Canaanites and Hittites. They have accepted Moabite and Amorite men as husbands for their daughters. God asked them to be a holy, set-apart people and they have done anything but. There are certainly instances in the Old Testament when Jewish people have married foreigners(think Ruth the Moabite) and things have turned out well. But in those cases, the foreign spouse became dedicated to the one true God. In other instances, when things didn’t turn out so well (think Solomon and all his wives), it was because the spouses remained pagan and brought their pagan gods into the home. It is hard to be holy and set apart when Pagan influences are at your kitchen table and in your bedroom.
As believers in Jesus, we are also to be set apart people. That doesn’t mean we isolate ourselves from the world, but rather we live differently. Our values are different than the world’s values. Our lifestyle should be different from the world’s lifestyle. When it comes to marriage, the New Testament also implores believers to marry other believers. It isn’t a command but it makes sense. When a person of one worldview covenants with the person of a totally different worldview, it can be really, really hard. When one spouse is committed to Jesus and the other isn’t, there will be value clashes.
Think about your own relationships, maybe your marriage. How might your pray for those closest to you in regard to faith? We know that God isn’t done with anyone yet. What relationship is heavy on your heart right now? Take a moment and pray.
Back to the Scripture - the people truly loved and respected Ezra and when they see how distraught he is, they also become distraught. Ezra really doesn’t have to force the people to acknowledge their wrongdoing. They know their guilt before God is significant. They have intermarried with people who worship other gods. They have broken God’s law and they know it. Now what is to be done?
Ezra as the leader guides the people but doesn’t force them into any specific solution. It is the people themselves who decide that the foreign wives and their children should be banned from their fellowship. This is a hard one for me. Presumably, some of these are innocents. It wasn’t their fault that their father decided to marry a foreign woman. And yet, they would be sent away. Sin always has consequences.
I think that is a hard lesson for us. Sin always has consequences. Sometimes, the consequences are more severe than others. In our case, we can receive forgiveness through Jesus Christ and be reconciled to God but that doesn’t remove the consequences for ourselves and others. Sin always has consequences.
Now we head to our New Testament reading in Revelation. We’ve moved from the concerns of the churches to the heavenly realm in chapter 4. John describes heaven’s throne room with God on the throne. Human words fail John at this moment and he can only describe God as having the appearance of jasper and ruby. I’ve tried to envision this. Jasper is a beautiful stone that can be either a deep red or dark green. Ruby is obviously a brilliant red. So God, in John’s vision, includes the flashing radiance of reds and greens. Take a moment, close your eyes, and try to imagine what John is seeing.
The main throne is surrounded by twenty-four other thrones occupied by twenty-four elders. Scholars have debated for years as to who these elders might be but it probably isn’t all that relevant. What is relevant is the majesty of it all. From that central throne, there are flashes of lightning and the sounds of thunder. There are seven blazing lamps around the throne, symbolizing the Holy Spirit. What is most interesting to me are the four creatures who surround the throne. They seem to serve as guardians of some kind. They are covered with eyes and they each have six wings. They are similar to the fantastic beings described in Ezekiel (chapters 1 and 10). And these beings never stop praising God. All the time, never-ending praise: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty,’ who was, and is, and is to come.”
When the four creatures give praise, the twenty-four elders do as well, falling down and worshiping God. Think of it–praise to God all the time; continuous, nonstop worship and praise. In heaven, God is being worshiped constantly without breaks or pauses. Why? Because he is God. Because he is creator, because he is sustainer, because he is Savior and Lord of all. Ceaseless praise.
How much time do we spend praising God in our lives on earth? Be honest. What’s your praise level? How might we begin to worship and praise God on a continuous (or at least daily) basis? How might this change how we view God? How might this change how we view the world?
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
March 2, 2025
Day 1 of Week 49
Scripture: Esther 7-10; Revelation 3
Welcome to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Church daily Bible reading plan. We are in week 49 of 52! Good job, everyone. We have almost read the whole Bible in a year.
Today, our Old Testament reading is finishing the book of Esther. Let’s start with chapter 7. Esther was risking her life by approaching the king and she has no idea how the king will react. We know from previous chapters that he is prone to rash, angry decisions. First, the king does not know that she is a Jew. Second, Esther doesn’t know if the king will choose her over Haman, his trusted advisor. If the king chooses to side with Haman, then Esther and her people will be killed.
But she must have courage and take the risk–the stakes are too high. God calls all of us to take risks. Let’s hope our risks aren’t quite as scary as Esther’s but they might be! The reality is that the Christian walk was never intended to be comfortable and easy. The Holy Spirit is constantly prompting us to take risks: go talk to that person, volunteer for that organization, reach out to that neighbor, offer to pray with that person over there, give money here...you get the idea. The big question is are we listening and are we obeying?
Back to the Scripture...Esther again puts herself out there, asking the king one more difficult thing. The king had decreed that all Jews would be eliminated. Thus, another edict must be made that superseded the previous one. Esther knows this so she pleads with the king to overrule the horrible decree made by Haman so her people could be saved. The king basically allows Esther and Mordecai to create the new decree themselves and hands over his signet ring so they can seal it on behalf of the king. The new decree was strong. It guaranteed that the Jewish people could protect themselves, giving them the right to annihilate and plunder any group who tried to conquer or harm them. It even designated a specific date on which the Jews could attack their enemies.
In chapter 8, we read about Mordecai. He has the privilege of delivering the news of the new decree to the Jewish people. By this point, the roles have been totally reversed for Mordecai. No longer does he need to sit by the king’s gate in ash cloth. No longer does he need to worry about his life or the fate of his people. He is the victor, but only because a young queen was willing to do the right thing and risk it all for the sake of her people. What is God calling you to do right now? What excuses are you making? How does this text inspire you to step out in faith?
As mentioned, the new decree, written by Esther and Mordecai, allowed the Jewish people a specific day on which to attack their enemies, the 13th of the Jewish month Adar. As you read through chapter 9, you find that is exactly what occurred. The Jewish men assembled and killed thousands of their enemies. Then, on the following day, they rested and feasted.
This was the beginning of an annual celebration for the Jews called Purim. Purim means “lots” in ancient Persian. The holiday was thus named since Haman had thrown lots to determine when he would carry out his evil scheme. Purim is still celebrated among devout Jews. On the eve of Purim, they read the book of Esther and then do so again on the following day. There is also much gift-giving. They are to send monetary gifts to at least two poor people and then two food gifts to at least one other person. There is also much feasting and celebrating.
I have to admit when I first read about this, it sounded a bit gory. Are they really celebrating the death of all those people? But I had to reframe it. The Jews had been oppressed. They had received a death sentence. And then, they were freed from it. They had the ability to protect their families. They knew God was with them. This was worthy of celebration.
Let’s move to the final chapter in Esther. Not unlike Joseph in an earlier Old Testament text, Mordecai moves from lowly and close to death to the king’s right-hand man. While God isn’t explicitly mentioned, we know that God acted extraordinarily to orchestrate the events of this story.
Today’s chapter was short but it gave me pause to reflect on the book of Esther as a whole. What can we learn from this book?
·If you are a Christ-follower, God has a purpose for your life. You exist to love and glorify God AND to demonstrate his love and goodness to the world.
•God didn't make a mistake where he has you today. God put Esther exactly where he needed and wanted her to be. God has you where you need to be as well. How might God want to use you right now?
•Sometimes, living into your purpose means making big, difficult decisions but it is often lived out in the small, everyday decisions of life.
Our New Testament text is Revelation 3. Here, John continues to proclaim the visions that Jesus has given him about the churches. Chapter 2 focused on Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, and Thyatira. This chapter addresses the rest of the churches of Asia Minor, including Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea. Since we focused on the structure and flow of the letters on Thursday, I wanted to highlight the message to one particular church today–Laodicea.
I think it is incredibly important for all of us who are part of the American church. Laodicea was a very wealthy city. It was on a main trade route and it had several prosperous industries. It was known for its banking. It was also known for a black dye that it produced which was used to make black wool, quite a luxurious commodity in those days. It also had a respected medical school which developed an eye medicine that was quite sought after.
But despite its wealth, the one really big problem that Laodicea had was lack of a water supply. Its northern neighbor, Hierapolis, had these amazing hot springs. It’s other close neighbor, Colossae, to the east, had a lovely refreshing cold water supply. As a result, Laodicea built an elaborate system to pipe the water from both those places into their city. But by the time it got there, it was not hot, nor cold, but simply lukewarm. Jesus has harsher words for Laodicea than any of the other churches. He says that just like their water, they are lukewarm! Hot water heals, cold water refreshes, but lukewarm water is useless. They are spiritually lukewarm; they are spiritually useless.
The thing is that they looked good on the outside. They went through all the motions. They worshiped, read Scripture, and sang hymns. But it was phony piety. Their hearts were far from God. There was no passion for Jesus. And they didn’t even realize this. In fact, because of their wealth and prosperity, they thought they were doing quite well. Largely sheltered from the persecution that other Christian communities in the area experienced, they were free to do as they pleased.
And what they were doing was not pleasing to God. They were self-reliant, complacent, lazy, and passionless. Not good traits for a church. But despite their spiritual mess, Jesus loves them and still yearns for them. He stands at the door and knocks, waiting for them to answer it. He wants a real relationship with them. He wants them to be passionate for his love.
Think about the American church. Think about our church for that matter. Are we lukewarm? Do we resemble Laodicea. In which ways? I’m not saying this to be critical but because I’m convicted. Do we serve God with passion? Are we simply going through the motions? Have we become stagnant?
Rate your passion level based on the following:
-Do you experience joy and excitement in your prayer life?
-Do you read Scripture with expectancy of hearing from the Lord?
-Do you have spiritual conversations with non-Christians?
-Do you actively seek out relationships with non-Christians so you can demonstrate the love of Christ to them?
-Do you look for ways to serve Jesus and reach out to those who are struggling/hurting in our community?
-What’s the last time you felt really excited about your spiritual walk with Jesus?
-As a church, are we passionate about being disciples who make disciples?
Are our hearts close to God? I’ll stop there but do take some time to let this all sink in a bit. God wants our whole heart and life, not just some of it. He wants us to be passionate as individual believers and a church.
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
February 27, 2025
Day 5 of Week 48
Scripture: Esther 4-6; Revelation 2
Welcome to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Church Bible reading plan.
Our Old Testament Scripture for today is Esther 4-6. In chapter 4, we get to the crux of the story. The fate of the Jewish people falls into the hands of the new Jewish queen. But wait, the king doesn’t know she is a Jew! Mordecai implores her to approach Xerxes and plead for the safety of her people. But this isn’t as easy as it sounds. One didn’t just show up in front of the king. He was supposed to summon her and he had not done so for a while. If Esther approached him, she was literally taking her life into her hands. If it pleased the king, he might allow her to approach. If it didn’t, well then things could get messy.
But Mordecai tells Esther that just because she lives in the palace, there was no guarantee she would be spared. Could it be that God put her into this position for such a time as this? Could it be that God had strategically placed her there to do what was right and stand up for her people? Could it be that sovereign God had orchestrated all the pieces? Now, she simply had to respond with courage.
Most of us have never been in such a dangerous and potentially deadly situation. That’s probably a good thing! However, many of us have found ourselves in difficult or serious situations, possibly in the workplace, at church, or even in a family crisis. Have you ever found yourself in a position where you simply knew that God had you there for a purpose? You were there for such a time as this. How did you respond?
In chapter 5, we get to see more of Haman’s arrogance. Haman is a piece of work! After being invited to Esther’s banquet, he sees Mordecai and is enraged that Mordecai does not rise in his presence or show fear. I can’t help but think what kind of man needs other men to be fearful in their presence. This is someone who is delusional about their own importance and/or has deep-rooted feelings of insecurity. Maybe both.
Haman then calls together his wife and his friends to brag about how great he is. The only thing that bothers him, he tells this group, is that Mordecai is still sitting at the king’s gate. Their solution is to have Mordecai impaled on a pole before Esther’s next banquet so that Haman can fully enjoy it. The horror of their suggestion should not go unnoticed. Haman’s own feelings of grandiosity (and his friends desire to please him) have become so inflated that nothing else matters. A gruesome public execution for a seemingly very small offense would serve to demonstrate to the world who has power and who does not. It would instill fear and keep people in line.
As you can tell, there is little value placed on human life as well. They are living in the Persian Empire. There was no issue with slaughtering all the Jews, men, women, and children. Actually valuing human life is a Judeo-Christian concept. Jesus especially changed our thinking by demonstrating that all lives are valuable to God. Because all people are made in the image of God, every single life has value. God loves everyone.
And our last chapter of Esther for today is chapter 6. The king couldn’t sleep so he has the record of his reign read aloud to him. This is a man who likes to hear about his own exploits. Regardless, he finally learns about the incident in which Mordecai uncovers a conspiracy to assassinate the king. The king realizes that Mordecai was never rewarded for this and so he asks Haman what should be done to a man who greatly pleases the king. Haman, totally self-obsessed, thinks the king is referring to him so he chooses a grand reward: wearing the a royal robe and being paraded around the city on one of the king’s horses. Things are beginning to be turned upside down. While Haman was originally planning on killing Mordecai that day, he ends up being the one who parades him around the city.
Our New Testament reading is Revelation 2. John’s first vision from the risen Lord includes messages to the seven churches of Asia Minor. We can think of these as “love letters” of sorts. Remember, Jesus knew the churches inside and out. He knew the pastors, the participants, the struggles, and the joys. He loved each church very much and wanted them to be effective and fruitful.
Each church letter starts with this message, “to the angel at the church of...” Who were these angels? In the ancient Greek, the word angel is usually translated messenger. Who were the messengers? Most scholars agree that the messengers would have been the pastor of the church. As the shepherd of the flock, they were to bring the message to the people. The message itself was from Jesus. He is the one who holds the seven stars and walks among the lampstands (referring to the churches), he is the first and the last who came to life again, he is the one who has the sharp, double-edged sword, and he is the one whose eyes are blazing fire and feet are burnished bronze. These may not be typical images we have for Jesus but they give us another perspective of our Lord and Savior. Remember, he is the one who will return to defeat Satan and conquer evil forever. He is the lamb of God but he is also so much more.
Each love letter to a church also lists the things the church is doing well (compliments) and things that are going wrong (criticisms). Remember, Jesus wants to encourage them but he also wants them to be who they are called to be. Kind of like our children, we want to see them grow and thrive and so discipline is important. We all need accountability. Without it, we will drift away from God. Because Jesus loved these churches so much, he provides them the remedy to fix whatever their problems were. At times, his words seem harsh. They need to be. This is a matter of eternal importance. It’s urgent.
The letters close with a commitment from Jesus. To those who have ears to hear, let them hear what the Spirit is saying to them. This means not simply hearing it, but heeding it. If they do, then Jesus gives them a promise. In this case, it’s to eat from the tree of life, which means to have eternal life with God. The paradise of God could be thought of as heaven. Think of what the first hearers of this message must be experiencing. How they needed to focus on this promise!
What about you?
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
February 26, 2025
Day 4 of Week 48
Scripture: Esther 1-3; Psalm 139; Revelation 1
Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope! This is the devotional and podcast that goes along with the Bible reading plan at New Hope Church in Brandon, Florida.
Let’s start with our Old Testament reading in Esther. It was in 539BC that King Cyrus of Persia conquered Babylon. A year later, he allowed the Jewish people to end their exile and return to Jerusalem (2 Chronicles 36). But not all of them went. They had lives and livelihoods and the journey to Jerusalem would mean picking up and moving after generations in Babylon/Persia. Esther and her family, who this book is about, for whatever reason decide to stay put. They give us a picture of what it looks like to be a faithful Jew in a foreign land.
In the first chapter, we meet King Xerxes, who ruled Persia from 485 to 465BC. It was a very large kingdom and Xerxes expanded its borders quite a bit, all the way to what it now Pakistan to the east and Ethiopia to the south. While he may have been a good military commander and strategist, he struggled in the “don’t get drunk and mess up your marriage” area, as we can see in today’s text. Xerxes had thrown a huge banquet with many diplomats and important people from all over the region. He flaunts his wealth and then wants to flaunt his wife.
Most Jewish scholars think that when Xerxes asked Vashti to display her royal crown, it meant that he wanted her to appear naked in front of this large group of inebriated men. Vashti, his wife, isn’t having it. Women in those days had almost no say so in marriage, particularly if one was married to the king. And yet, something gave Vashti courage to say I’m not going to be paraded around like property before this group of drunk men. Maybe this had happened before. Regardless, it was a recipe for disaster and it would have been against custom of staying covered.
But Xerxes had unilateral power. To refuse a command of the king, especially in front of others, would most certainly have consequences. Vashti was willing to subject herself to them. She would rather lose her position in society than lose her dignity. She was brave, and while she knew it would mean something harsh, it was worth it to her. Sure enough, the king, probably under the influence of alcohol and without giving it much thought, decrees that Vashti is never to be in his presence again. Vashti has courageously served and now exited. God is making a way for someone else who will serve for a very specific purpose.
In chapter two, the search is on for a new queen. It’s quite the process as well. Beautiful virgins from far and wide are brought into the palace for all kinds of exceptional beauty treatments. Esther is one of those women. Esther was a Jew. She didn’t reveal her identity to anyone but she was part of the Jewish diaspora, the Jews who were spread outside of Jerusalem, trying to live faithfully in pagan lands.
She had been raised by her cousin, Mordecai, who we also meet in this chapter. He loves Esther like his own daughter and is filled with much advice for her. Esther is exceptionally beautiful and she catches the eye of the king more than any other woman. We also know that God is ensuring that she is chosen to be queen because there is something important that Esther will need to do for her people.
While God is not explicitly mentioned in the book of Esther, it is certainly a book that demonstrates the sovereignty of God. What does it mean that God is sovereign? It means that God is all-powerful and authoritative. He is ruler of the universe and is in all and over all. No matter the situation, God is present and God is at work. But unlike Xerxes, who uses his power selfishly, God uses his power in a moral, righteous way. He seeks what is best for his creation.
There is an interesting subplot at the end of the second chapter, in which Mordecai saves the king’s life. This is a small but important piece to remember and tuck away for later in the book.
In chapter three, we meet Haman. Haman is a real piece of work. He hears that Mordecai won’t kneel down before him and he is enraged. Of course, we know that Mordecai is a Jew. He is only supposed to bow down before God. I’m thinking this plays in to Mordecai’s refusal but it could be that Mordecai knows Haman is a royal jerk and he simply won’t give him the pleasure. One can’t help noticing the similarity between Mordecai and Vashti in this story. Both refuse to honor men who do not deserve to be honored and they do so knowing there will be consequences.
And there are consequences. Haman, who seems to be evil inside and out, decides he doesn’t just want to punish Mordecai but his whole people group. He wants to ensure that all the Jewish people are killed. Let’s think about the absurdity of this: Haman wants to kill all the Jews in the kingdom because one Jew, Mordecai, refused to kneel before him. Haman senses that Mordecai is a threat to his power and he wants to punish that threat mercilessly. Thus, Haman devises a plan. He presents this idea to King Xerxes. There is a “certain group” of people who contaminate his empire and it is not in his best interest to tolerate them. Haman has a ready-made plan for elimination and it even involves a monetary bribe. Xerxes either doesn’t want to be bothered or is incredibly gullible. He basically passes his authority to Haman and says “do what you will” with an entire group of people.
Most of us will read this with a certain amount of horror. How appalling it is that a whole people group could be eliminated with nothing more than a flip of the hand. And yet, this scene, with different characters, has been repeated throughout human history over and over again. What is it about us as humans that we demonize whole groups of people? That we fail to value human life?
For our New Testament reading, we begin Revelation, one of the most difficult and misunderstood books of the Bible. It’s going to be a great journey! The book was written by the apostle John, much later in his life, while he was exiled on the island of Patmos. Revelation was sent as a circular letter to the seven churches of Asia Minor, to be passed from church to church and read aloud. It was intended to address the real needs of real people. For some churches, it was a word of encouragement in the midst of terrible persecution to give them a bigger perspective; there was more going on in the world than they could see or imagine. To other churches, it was a word of conviction. But most of all, it was prophecy.
Let’s be careful to not mix up prophecy with prediction. Prophecy is a divine message. Thus, Revelation is a word from God by his angel to John. It is God revealing that which was previously unknown. The beginning of today’s chapter, verses 1-8, serves as a kind of prologue. It introduces the author and general theme of the book. Then, the book goes right into four visions that John received from the risen Lord.
In our culture and reading style, we tend to be very concerned with words. Revelation is really more about images. My encouragement would be to not get caught up in taking the words literally but focus more on the images that your mind sees as you read the passage. Remember, this was intended to provide a broadened perspective, a more eternal one, for people who were being harshly persecuted and even tortured for their faith. This book demonstrates that while evil may feel overwhelming, it will NOT have the final word. There is more to the world than that which we see with our human eyes. There is a battle going on. And in the end, Jesus wins.
One additional note for today. The Scripture says that those who read it will be blessed, as are those who hear it and take it to heart. First, try to imagine how those words must have resonated with the first hearers of this message. It was the end of the first century and Christians were very much harassed and oppressed in many of these areas. How encouraging it would have been for them to hear this word of promise and blessing. While we live in a different time and culture, the Scripture also applies to us. I trust that we will also be blessed by reading this book and blessed as we try to understand it and take it to heart. I ask that we all pray for open hearts and minds as we begin this journey into this exciting and complex book of the Bible!
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
February 25, 2025
Day 3 of Week 48
Scripture: Ezra 5-6; 3 John
Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope! This is the devotional and podcast that goes along with the Bible reading plan at New Hope Church in Brandon, Florida.
Our Old Testament reading is Ezra 5 and 6. Work on the temple had been delayed (due to the opposition) for about sixteen years. Now, it was time to get back to work, time for a new beginning. However, the restarting of construction arouses suspicion among the pagan politicians of the area. Thus, they inquire of the Jews about the building project.
The Jewish leaders quite eloquently laid out a brief history of the temple, why it was destroyed, and why they were rebuilding. But the governor of the area is determined to get to the bottom of the situation. He actually sends a letter to the king to verify that Cyrus really did give permission for this work to take place. But we see God’s hand of intervention here. The governor does not stop the work, he allows it to go on as they are waiting to hear back. Keep in mind, it could take five or six months to simply receive a reply. The Jewish people are faithful, they keep working hard on the temple, unsure of what the king’s answer will be. Ultimately, they trust God. They forge ahead, trusting that God is the one who has authority over every human king and governor. The Lord of all will ensure that HIS will is done.
In chapter 6, the decree from King Cyrus was found in the royal archives and sure enough, it was clear that Cyrus had given permission and resources for the Jewish people to rebuild the Temple of the Lord. King Darius wrote back stating that the Jews were to be left alone in the building, no more obstacles, and that their expenses were to be paid from the royal treasury! Wow! God is pretty amazing. Thus, work resumed on the Temple until it was complete.
When they finished, there was a big celebration. They dedicated the house of God with many animal sacrifices, by properly installing the priests, and then celebrating Passover with one another. This got me thinking about celebrations. How important it is for us to celebrate together as a people of God. We need times of fellowship and joy as a way to remind one another of the amazing work of our God. In the midst of everyday tasks and the struggles of daily life, we forget. We have short memories. Friends, we need to celebrate. We need to come together, to laugh, to dine, to say, “Our God is so good!” Honestly, I don’t think we celebrate enough. We need to work these experiences into the rhythm of church.
John’s third letter is the shortest book in the Bible. Unlike 2 John, which is addressed to a whole church, this letter is addressed to an individual named Gaius but also includes references to two other people–Diotrephes (the troublemaker) and Demetrius (probably the bearer of the letter). There isn’t a lot of theological meat in the letter but it does give insight into church dynamics, particularly personality conflicts and the fact John fears his authority is being dismissed.
If you read through the text (and I hope you all have), the general sense of the letter is one of encouragement and praise up until we get to the main issue. It seems there is a problem that John feels the need to address. Diotrephes is refusing to host the missionaries that John is sending to the church; a failure to show hospitality would have been shocking in their culture and certainly embarrassing for John. The phrase “who loves to be first” might be better understood as the one who wants the authority for himself. His refusal of the missionaries wasn’t just a rejection of the missionaries but truly disrespect and rejection of John himself. Plus, Diotrephes is spreading gossip and refusing to welcome other believers. He is ruling the church with an iron fist. No wonder John feels the need to address this issue immediately. This has the potential to destroy the young church and damage their witness for Jesus in the community.
I know this will be shocking but ambition, arrogance, and gossip still have a tendency to find their way into the church (I know, gasp!) They are just as damaging, just as destructive, just as heart-breaking today as they were then. I’m guessing that all of us know at least one person who was hurt by a church-goer who was too heavy-handed, patronizing, dehumanizing, or just plain mean. People leave churches all the time because of these things. For me, it is literally painful to think about. And yet, I totally get it. Churches are filled with humans and humans are sinful.
So what’s the answer? How do we get a group of sinful people to live the faith and not be all about themselves? The only answer is Jesus within us. It was the only answer in John’s day and it’s the only answer now. We must actually have the desire and the motivation for Jesus to transform us, I mean really change our hearts. We have to repent of our selfishness, humble ourselves, and allow God to use us as HE pleases.
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
February 23-24, 2025
Days 1 & 2 of Week 48
Scripture: Zechariah 9-14; Psalm 94; 1 John 5; 2 John 1
Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope daily reading plan. I have to apologize that I didn’t send a devotional yesterday. With the women’s conference, I totally forgot! Please forgive me. I am combining yesterday and today’s Scripture for today’s devotional.
Let’s start with Zechariah. The rest of the book is very different from what we have already read. We get to see images and allusions that describe the coming of the Messianic Kingdom. In chapters 9 and 10, we read about the coming of the Messianic king who rides into Jerusalem on a donkey. Does this remind anyone of anything? Maybe Jesus riding into Jerusalem in the Palm Sunday passage? But in chapter 11, this king is now represented by a shepherd who is caring for his flock and he is rejected. He is first rejected by his people and then by the leaders. And the price that he is worth? Thirty pieces of silver. Again, we see these themes that are echoed in Jesus’ betrayal story.
In chapters 12-14, we see images and themes related to the future Kingdom again. But they are a bit different. It’s obvious that God is going to confront evil and defeat it. How does he address his own people? Well, he pours out his Spirit on them so they can repent and realize the errors of their ways. Then, we see a gathering of the nations in the new Jerusalem and we get a picture of the River of Life flowing out of the Temple, bringing healing and restoration to all of creation.
Zechariah is a lot. There is a lot of symbolism and deep imagery. What are some of your thoughts? What were your big takeaways from this book?
Let’s head over to the New Testament. We start with I John 5. At the end of John’s first letter, he continues to focus on what it means to love God. God is love and all he does is out of love. When we love him, our mission is to follow his commands AND demonstrate his love to others. In fact, loving God and others cannot be separated. John continues to weave this theme through every chapter of the letter.
I want to especially focus on one verse today. Take a moment and read verse 15 again...brief but very important. Why is John writing this letter? To lead people to faith in Jesus and the assurance of eternal life. Let’s look at the wording again, “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.” That is John’s mission statement. He is all about pointing people to a closer, deeper relationship with Jesus, one in which they are assured of eternal life, SO THAT they can do the same for others.
What’s your mission statement? I feel like, as a whole, Christ-followers have experienced mission drift. We have focused on battling culture (a losing battle) rather than leading people to Jesus. You may disagree with me and that’s okay. I’ve really done a lot of reflecting lately on my own mission. My mission is to demonstrate the love of Christ in all I do, teach the truths of the faith, and point people to Jesus. Take some time today and write your mission statement. What do you need to do in life to get in alignment with your mission?
We also are looking at 2 John. John’s second letter is the second shortest book in the New Testament. John clearly wants to encourage his followers and motivate them to action. He wants them to love each other, walk closely with the Lord, and avoid false teachers. This book and 3 John are the only books in which John refers to himself as the elder. This connotates his position in the community and his relationship to the listeners.
By this point, he was older but the term itself most likely points to his authority in the church. Interestingly, the recipient of the letter is “the chosen lady and her children.” This wording has led to all kinds of discussion in the scholarly literature. Is this a specific woman John is referring to? Most likely, no. John is probably referring to a local church and its members. The term “chosen lady” would have been one of respect and admiration.
This chapter gets to the core of John’s message to the church. First, love one another. What does love look like? When we walk in obedience to God’s commands, when we live in truth and do what God called us to do. Two words for today: LOVE and TRUTH. We love God when we obey him and live his truth in meaningful ways. Part of this obedience is loving others. Love of God and love of others cannot be separated. They are intricately linked. Over and over again, John is making this point. How are you living God’s truth? How are you loving others? This is not an either/or proposition. It’s a both/and command. This is hard stuff, my friends.
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
February 20, 2025
Day 5 of Week 47
Scripture: Zechariah 6-8; 1 John 4
Hello, everyone. It’s Daily Dose of Hope time! Welcome back to the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Church daily Bible reading plan.
Our Old Testament reading is Zechariah 6-8. In chapter 6, there is another vision. This one involves Joshua, the high priest, who is presented with a crown. He is a symbol of the future Messiah. But God makes it clear through Zechariah that all of these visions/dreams will come to fruition only if the current generation of God’s people are faithful and obey the covenant. Then, in chapters 7-8, we have a conclusion to the visions, well sort of. The people, much discouraged, ask Zechariah if the Kingdom is going to come soon; can they stop grieving for what was lost? He responds that the Kingdom will come only when they become the kind of people who will be faithful to God and ready to participate in his new Kingdom. Interestingly, being this kind of people isn’t about fasting and following rules. It's goes so much deeper. I think we see this in chapter 7, verses 8-10, And the word of the Lord came again to Zechariah: “This is what the Lord Almighty said: ‘Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another. Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the foreigner or the poor. Do not plot evil against each other.’
Our New Testament reading is 1 John 4. I think I need to provide some more background for this letter. 1 John was written by the apostle John specifically to the Ephesian church in the late first century. Some false teachers had infiltrated the church, causing really serious issues, and a schism occurred in their church. A lot of people left the church fellowship and those remaining were shaken. It’s like the foundation was ripped from underneath them. And so John sends this letter, in order to encourage them and offer truth that would give them something solid to stand on again.
Let’s talk about chapter 4. John wanted to make sure that those to whom he was writing understood that God’s love wasn’t some abstract concept. The false teachers would have said that God’s love was not concrete but simply theoretical. If you deny Jesus coming in the flesh, then you certainly can’t understand the extent of God’s love, and you are walking in darkness. If you think sin doesn’t matter, then you certainly can’t understand God’s love. Not really. And if you don’t understand God’s love, then you aren’t going to understand living his love out in community.
John tells the church at Ephesus and he tells us today that true love has its ultimate source and origin in God. God is the definition of love; love expresses who God is. Of course, God’s love that John is speaking of isn’t like human love. It’s agape. God’s love, agape, is sacrificial, pure love, that isn’t connected to emotions but is a choice to love, even when that love is not returned.
God’s love is not some abstract concept as the false teachers would have you believe. It’s expressed in action. God made love real and present by sending Jesus to live among us and to die for us on a cross. We continue to see God’s active love among us through the gift of the Holy Spirit. This week, I ran across this statement, “God’s love is a truth more basic and reliable than the ground we walk on and the air we breathe.”
And yet, we struggle with this. I’ve seen this over and over again. We have a really difficult time understanding that God loves us, just as we are. The world hasn’t always been kind. We grow up thinking we have to measure up, that love has conditions. To be loved and accepted, we have to look a certain way, meet a certain standard, and it usually is above what we can reach. Because this is the truth: God’s love does not depend on our initiative not how worthy we are. We don’t have to reach out to God or even believe in God to be loved by him. He is the one chasing us! God loves us before we ever get our act together. We don’t have to measure up or meet any criteria or standard to be lovable. God just loves us whether we deserve it or not. Which is good, because none of us deserve it.
And this is how he showed us his vast, amazing love: He sent Jesus. Remember Jesus was God with flesh on. He came voluntarily to demonstrate a different way of doing life AND then he went to the cross. He died, serving as the final, ultimate sacrifice for sin. You see, when Jesus died on the cross, his blood atoned for our sins. For all of our sins. When we open ourselves up to God, what we find is that even the darkest places and the ugliest parts of ourselves are not beyond God’s reach. Nobody is so broken or dirty or flawed that God cannot touch them, redeem them. So, if we believe in him, turn away from our old way of doing life, then we receive salvation. You see, when we believe in Jesus Christ, God no longer sees our sin and our mess, he only sees the blood of Jesus. And it gets better - not only does this ensure that we get to spend eternity with Jesus, we receive new life right now, today. The Holy Spirit, the Spirit of God himself, comes and dwells within us, changing us from the inside out. We have the ability to live differently and to love differently. We are upheld, surrounded, and totally encased in God’s sacrificial, active love.
And of course we struggle with this, because nothing on earth is this extraordinary. This is the best news in the history of the world. We can walk with Jesus. I can walk with Jesus and experience his incredible love. You can walk with Jesus and experience his incredible love. And it’s a free gift. We just have to say yes to accepting it.
Accepting God’s love and saying yes to Jesus is step one. You aren’t done there though. I think too often we have treated salvation as the destination of our faith. It’s really the foundation of our faith, it’s the starting point.
Here is the rest of it --- since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. Because God loved us so sacrificially, we are to love others. This is the thing: to know God’s love is to overflow with God’s love. Such life-giving love is much too powerful to keep to ourselves. And God never intended for us to keep it to ourselves.
Let’s go back to John’s context. These first-century Christians were shaken. It probably felt like there were people trying to destroy their church family. I’m guessing they weren’t feeling too loving. And here John is saying to them, “Since God loved us, we ought to love one another.” I’m thinking this may have reminded them of a few things that Jesus himself said about loving your enemy and praying for those who persecute you. Matthew 5:46-47, If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? By our nature, human love tends to be selfish and conditional. We love those people who love us. We love those people we like, who think like us, who make us feel comfortable.
And yet, just as God’s love has no boundaries, Christian love has no boundaries. We are called to demonstrate love to those we might think are unlovable. We are to love those who think differently, act differently, and look differently. We are to love self-righteous people and love obnoxious people. We are to love those who vote differently than us.
I will say this: Loving someone doesn’t mean you have to agree with their behavior, speech, or lifestyle. Love has gotten a bit obscured in progressive Christianity. Just because God loves someone doesn’t mean God wants them to continue in sin. It’s not a blanket acceptance of all behavior policy. Afterall, God loved me enough that he didn’t want to leave me the way he found me. And he is still shaping me, convicting me, and molding me so that I can look more like him. That being said, we can’t expect unbelievers to speak or behave like believers. Rarely are people lectured into the Kingdom, argued into the Kingdom, and they are never ever shamed into the Kingdom. They are almost always LOVED into the Kingdom.
Just as God’s love isn’t passive in our lives, our love should not be passive when it comes to those around us. Because of what God’s love has done for us, we are driven, compelled to demonstrate ACTIVELY God’s love toward other people. We might even say that love is the litmus test of an authentic relationship with God. Demonstrating Christian love is what confirms the reality of our spiritual walk with God. There’s one scholar who defines the word Christian love as a “consuming passion for the well-being of others,” and this love obviously has it’s wellspring, its source, in God’s love for us.
Here's our question: Do you have a consuming passion for the well-being of others?
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
February 19, 2025
Day 4 of Week 47
Scripture: Zechariah 2-5; Psalm 93; 1 John 3
Hello everyone. Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Bible reading plan.
For our Old Testament reading, we are in the book of Zechariah. If you recall from yesterday, Zechariah is having dreams/visions. We read about the first two yesterday. Today, we read through five more. Keep in mind, these may seem strange (and they are) but they are filled with tremendous symbolism.
The first vision we read about today in chapter two depicts a man measuring Jerusalem. It’s an image of the promise that Jerusalem will be rebuild and be a light to the nations. The second one we read about concerns Joshua, the high priest, symbolically wearing Israel’s sin by wearing filthy clothes. But then he is given clean clothes and a promise that if he remains obedient, he will lead the people.
The third vision from today involves two trees which represent the two chosen leaders for Jerusalem – Joshua and Zerubbabel, who is in charge of rebuilding the Temple. God says that success will only come if they depend on the Spirit of God. That is followed by a vision of a flying scroll, which flies around the New Jerusalem punishing thieves and liars. This is intended to be a pure place, based on God’s Word. Finally, we read about the woman in a basket, symbolizing wickedness and centuries of disobedience on the part of the Jewish people. She is carried off to Babylon by women with stork wings. Odd, I know. Let’s hope we get more information and context tomorrow. That kind of makes me want to head over to the New Testament.
Our New Testament reading is I John 3. This chapter is about recognizing that we are children of God so that we must live accordingly. How do children of God behave? Well, first and foremost, they are motivated by love. The world may hate but we love, even when it’s hard and even when it’s uncomfortable.
I want us to pay close attention to 1 John 3:16. Take a moment and read it again. Notice how similar itis to John 3:16, For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. But in I John 3:16, John takes it one step further for the believer. Yes, Jesus died for us. Yes, if we believe in him then we have eternal life. But one more thing–because of all that, we must love our brothers and sisters so much that we sacrifice for them. This has echoes of the Great Commandment as well in Matthew 22:37-40. Love of God and love of neighbor cannot be separated. How we try over and over again to separate our faith in Jesus from how we treat others. They are intricately linked.
How does this Scripture affect how you do life?
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
February 18, 2025
Day 3 of Week 47
Scripture: Haggai, Zechariah 1, Psalm 138, 1 John 2
Welcome back, everyone, to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the Bible reading plan for New Hope Church in Brandon, Florida. We have a lot of Scripture for today so let’s get started.
The book of Haggai has two chapters. It takes place around 520BC, seventy years after the exile. After Persia conquered the Babylonians, the Jewish people were allowed to return to Jerusalem to try to rebuild their lives. We read about this in the book of Ezra. Things seem like they are getting better, but maybe not so much.
Haggai, the prophet, has some words from God to the people. First, he accuses the people of caring more about building their own homes and providing for their own well-being than about rebuilding the Temple. Afterall, the Temple is still in ruins. It’s for this reason that God has allowed them to continue to struggle with famine and unproductive lands. The people hear Haggai and are compelled to start the rebuilding of the Temple.
In chapter two, we find the people are discouraged. The new Temple doesn’t look anything like the splendid old one (this was in yesterday’s reading as well). Haggai has to reinvigorate the people by reminding them of God’s promise. This will eventually be the place of the New Jerusalem and the establishment of God’s future Kingdom.
But then there is this discussion of purity laws and while it seems somewhat confusing, Haggai is making a point. When the Jews touch a dead body (unclean of course) and then touch food, that food becomes unclean. Likewise, when these people work on the Temple in a state of bitterness and apathy, that also becomes contaminated. God wants his people to be faithful and repentant. That is the only way God will keep up his end of the deal. Similar to the covenant before them, their faithfulness and obedience will lead to blessings. Of course, the opposite is also true and they need to remember that.
From there, we head to the book of Zechariah, the first chapter. Zechariah is also a prophet and priest, and was a contemporary of Haggai. Through God, Zechariah gives a warning to the people. Don’t be like your fathers who disobeyed God. Remember what happened to them? The people seem to respond well to this. They repent and humble themselves (or seem to do so).
And then, later in the chapter, Zechariah begins to have dreams through which God communicates to the prophet. These dreams will last through the next several chapters. They are kind of weird, as dreams tend to be. In this first vision, there are several horsemen declaring that the world is at peace. The Kingdom of Persia has made sure this is so, but it is really God’s hand. The second vision includes horns (remember that horns often represent Kingdoms.) These horns represent Assyria and Babylon who conquered Israel. But now they are also conquered and scattered, as Persia is the dominant Kingdom. More on the dreams tomorrow...I’m hoping we will begin to put some of these things together so they make more sense.
Let’s move on to our New Testament reading, 1 John 2. John continues his letter in this chapter, focusing on what it means for believers to walk closely with God. We find John telling the readers not to love the world or anything in the world AND if they do love the world, it’s an indication that God is not in them. Those seem like some harsh words.
Let’s unpack this a bit. What does John mean by the world? Surely, he is not referring to the world as a whole. Afterall, there are many wonderful things in the world that God created. Rather, John is using the term to refer to desires of the flesh (which are exactly what you are thinking), desires of the eyes (anything one sees and wants/covets), and things that activate our pride. These three elements are all self-focused rather than God-focused. They are all activities that lead us away from God rather than toward God. In addition, these all lead to words and behaviors that provide a terrible witness for the faith. John closes these verses by stating that worldliness will pass away but God is eternal. This world, certainly our lives, are all temporal. But God is eternal. Thus, we must prioritize accordingly.
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
February 17, 2025
Day 2 of Week 47
Scripture: Ezra 3-4; Psalm 92; I John 1
Welcome back, friends, to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the Bible reading plan at New Hope Church in Brandon, Florida. Happy Monday! I do hope you are getting off to a great start this week.
Our Old Testament Scripture reading for today is Ezra 3-4. In chapter 3, we see the new Jewish arrivals begin the process of rebuilding the Temple. It’s going to be a major undertaking. They begin by rebuilding the altar and they sacrifice burnt offerings. They even celebrate the Festival and Tabernacles. The Scripture says that even though they are scared of the local residents, they do these things anyway. They feel that God has called them to rebuild and fear is not going to get in the way. How often does fear get in our way of doing what God has called us to do?
The other interesting thing in this chapter is that the older priests and Levites cry when they see the Temple’s foundations. They remember the grandeur of the earlier Temple and they are incredibly distressed. But the younger ones, those who don’t remember, praised God and shouted for joy. The older Jews remembered the extravagance of the old Temple, but did they remember the idolatry and extreme disobedience of the people? There was a reason that the exile happened. There was a reason that God lifted his hand of protection.
How often we idealize the past. “Those were the good ole days! When the pews were filled, when we only sang hymns, when all my neighbors attended church.” And yes, there were some wonderful things about those days. But there were also some aspects that weren’t so wonderful – cultural Christianity and all that brought with it, segregated churches, among other things. Whether in Ezra’s time or ours, God is always ready to do something new right now. We can remember certain aspects of the past with fondness but we can’t get stuck there. We have to be ready for a new movement of the Holy Spirit. To me, it’s exciting. What are your thoughts on how God is at work now?
In Ezra 4, work on the temple has begun and there is much opposition. The chapter begins with the enemies of God’s people saying they wanted to help with the building. But their motives were not genuine. They may have acknowledged the Lord God but they also worshiped many other gods. Zerubabbel, Joshua, and the heads of the other families declined their offer of “help.” Then, the enemies of God’s people began to do all they could to discourage the building of the temple. The rest of the chapter lists the many ways, under several different kings, that the people tried to thwart the temple progress.
Whenever spiritual work is being done, wherever God’s Kingdom is being advanced, there will be opposition. That is guaranteed! The enemy likes nothing better than to try to stop the forward progress of God and his people. But God is faithful, powerful, and will always prevail! Maybe you are going through a spiritual battle right now; I think many of us are. Keep in mind that opposition is inevitable but discouragement is not. God is with us, friends.
Today, we begin John’s letters for our New Testament reading. These were written by the apostle John when he was much older, probably in Ephesus (some scholars think that John himself may not have written the letters but rather a community of believers who formed around his name and teachings; there is no real way to know). Regardless, the letters communicate important truths of the faith, especially to those with a non-Jewish background.
Today’s chapter starts off by stating that God is light and in God, there is no darkness. Another way we might think of this is that God is truth or that what is true can only be seen in light of Almighty God. Think about what light (or truth) does. It helps you avoid danger, it helps things become clearer, it helps you see, and it provides a path for your journey. In God, there is no darkness. Darkness is typically seen as being foreboding and scary. In God, there is no evil, no manipulation, no hidden agenda, nothing at all deceptive. When we walk closely with God, we walk in the light of his truth. If we are engaging in activities that fall short of that, then we are lying to ourselves. To elaborate, if we are gossiping, if we are lying, if we are manipulative, if we are hypercritical, if we are deceptive in any way, then we are not walking in God’s light. That’s all darkness, all sin.
It sounds almost impossible for us messy human beings, doesn’t it? Well, it is only possible to walk in God’s light because of what Jesus Christ has done for us. Because of the blood of Jesus, God sees our sin no more and we can walk closely with him. Only because of Jesus. But claiming Jesus is no excuse for continuing to willfully and knowingly sin. We must partner with the Holy Spirit to allow God to transform us from the inside out. This is a daily, hourly, and sometimes minute by minute project, friends.
Whenever I sense that sometime dark or deceptive is going on (in my family, at church, etc.), I lean on this verse in my prayer life. Since God is only light and truth, I ask God to bring to the surface anything that is dark, anything that is deceptive, anything that is sinful, so that it can be brought to the light. In the light, it can be dealt with. In the light, the truth can be exposed. In the light, we can figure out how God wants us to proceed. In the darkness, things simply fester. I’ve found it is a powerful prayer. God often answers it almost immediately and something comes up, usually when I least expect it. If we claim to have fellowship with God but walk in darkness, then we believe a lie. God wants the truth to win out.
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
February 16, 2025
Day 1 of Week 47
Scripture: Ezra 1-2; John 21
Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope daily Bible reading plan.
Today, for our Old Testament reading, we start the book of Ezra. In the year 538 B.C., King Cyrus of Persia issued a royal decree that the people of Judah could return to their homeland and rebuild the Temple. Unlike the Assyrians and Babylonians before him, Cyrus was known for allowing displaced people groups to go home. He would even send them with the idols that had been stolen by the Babylonians. Since the Jews had no idols, the people were sent with the items found in the Temple. It was the prophet Jeremiah that declared that the exile would only be for a period of time, specifically seventy years. God had a bigger plan of redemption for his people, no matter how wayward they had become.
Remember Jeremiah 29:11, “I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” We often see this verse on graduation cards and coffee mugs, but the meaning is far from what we think. God did have a plan for his people, and he did have a hopeful future in mind, but first they had to endure a long exile, as a consequence for their repeated disobedience. But in God’s mercy, it was now time for a new beginning for God’s beloved people. It was God himself who moved Cyrus to allow the Jews to return.
Now, it’s important to remember that the Jewish people had been living in Babylon (later called Persia) for almost seventy years. They had settled down, they had jobs, probably intermarried, and established themselves in the local communities. Thus, not everyone returned to Jerusalem. The Scripture says that God moved the hearts of the leaders, the priests, and the Levites. A remnant of people would return, not because they were homesick, but because they were focused on God’s will and purpose. Those who packed everything up and left for their homeland would have done so because they heard God’s call and made a decision to be obedient. Ezra was one of those people – a priest, scribe, and leader who heard God’s call and responded obediently.
How often have you heard God’s call in your life? Have you been obedient?
Today we are concluding the Gospel of John. The resurrected Lord appears to the disciples who are out fishing. After another miracle of abundance (an amazing catch of fish), the disciples find Jesus on the shore with fish cooking for breakfast. One note here - Jesus’ resurrection was a spiritual and physical resurrection. If you recall, he could enter locked rooms but he also ate food and needed nourishment. Jesus did not appear to them as a ghost but as a real human being.
This is the narrative in which Jesus and Peter reconcile. It’s my guess that Jesus has already forgiven Peter for his denial but we can assume Peter has all kinds of pain and mixed feelings associated with his betrayal. It’s time to address these inward feelings of shame and brokenness. Jesus has big plans for Peter so this healing needs to happen now. And it does, but only in a way that Jesus can do it.
In a series of three questions, possibly correlating to Peter’s three denials, Jesus arranges a miracle in the heart of Peter. Three times, Jesus asks Peter, “Do you love me?” Peter then has to say out loud, “You know I do, Lord.” With each cycle of questioning, we can begin to see Peter’s shame lift. Jesus didn’t doubt Peter’s love but maybe Peter did after his failure before the crucifixion. An unspoken forgiveness takes place and Jesus reinstates Peter to do what Jesus has called him to do – shepherd the people of God.
Pastor Roberto is preaching on this very Scripture this morning. Relational healing is a critical part of the Christian walk. Jesus has called us to be people who love, sacrifice, and be part of healing, just as he was.
Is there someone with whom you need to reconcile?
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
February 13, 2025
Day 5 of Week 46
Scripture: Daniel 10-12; John 20
It’s Daily Dose of Hope time, everyone. Welcome back on this Thursday. The Daily Dose is a devotional and podcast designed to complement the New Hope Bible reading plan.
Our Old Testament Scripture today is Daniel, chapters 10-12. In these chapters, Daniel has one final vision. We again are presented with the various kingdoms, the Medo-Persian empire, the Greeks, and then some lesser kings and finally something called the king of the North. The king of the North is particularly wicked and desecrates the Temple. The king eventually is destroyed himself.
But what does this all mean? Scholars have certainly debated this. Some think the vision refers to the violent Syrian king around 160BC. Others think it refers to the coming of Jesus and the oppression in the Roman empire followed by the destruction of Jerusalem around 70AD. Still others think this is something that has not yet occurred. It’s possible they are all correct. Afterall, Daniel is intended to offer hope that applies to all people. Think about it. Humans and their kings can become beastlike when they become drunk with power and don’t acknowledge God as their king. But God will eventually confront the beast and destroy it, installing his Kingdom which is fair, just, and peaceful.
Our New Testament Scripture is John 20. He is Risen!!! This is the Easter Sunday narrative. Today’s Scripture is some of my favorite. Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed. She went to get Simon Peter and the other disciple whom Jesus loved (most likely John, the author). They rushed to the tomb. Jesus’ body was no longer there but the strips of cloth used to wrap his dead body were still present.
John went inside. He saw and believed. Think about those words. He had been walking with Jesus for three years. John saw miracle after miracle, healing after healing, feeding after feeding. But none of it made sense. It now makes sense. What Jesus said would happen has happened. The cross did not have the final word. Jesus Christ defeated death and darkness. He overcame the world.
God’s power was demonstrated in such an awesome way; it’s really hard to even wrap our brains around it. The transforming power of God was at work then and is still at work today! The same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead lives within us as believers. There is power in that, friends! We are resurrection people. We believe that what was dead can be brought to life. We believe that we are new people in Jesus Christ. We believe that we are raised with Christ. We believe that there is so much more to this world than meets the eye. How have you seen resurrection power at work in your life?
Let’s close today with a hymn (feel free to sing!)...
Christ the Lord is risen today, Alleluia! Earth and heaven in chorus say, Alleluia! Raise your joys and triumphs high, Alleluia! Sing, ye heavens, and earth reply, Alleluia.
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
February 12, 2025
Day 4 of Week 46
Scripture: Daniel 7-9; Psalm 91; John 19
Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope daily Bible reading plan. Tonight, we have a really special worship and prayer service at 7:30pm in the sanctuary. I hope to see you there.
We have a lot of Scripture to cover today so let’s get down to business, starting with our Old Testament passage from Daniel 7-9. As you could probably tell, the tone of the book is changing. Now Daniel is having the dreams and they feel very much like prophecy. In chapter 7, he dreams of the four beasts. The last one was really large and horrid with a large horn (horns symbolized kings). These four beasts represented very prideful kingdoms. The Son of Man is there as well; he represents God’s covenant people. But in the dream, God (portrayed as the Ancient of Days) comes to defeat the beasts and he sets up his throne. The Son of Man sits next to him. It seems to be a picture that while evil human kingdoms will seem to have power, God will eventually defeat them and set up his own Kingdom.
The next two chapters give us a picture of when that will happen. In chapter eight, there is another dream, this time with a ram and a goat. We are told they represent the Medo-Persian empire and the Greek empire. God defeats these as well. By chapter nine, Daniel is quite puzzled and unsure what these mean or when they will happen. He reads from the Prophet Jeremiah, where he learns that the exile of God’s people is only supposed to last seventy years. If that is correct, then Daniel knows the exile is almost over. He asks God about it. Gabriel (assuming an angel) comes to see Daniel and says that the Israelites have been really disobedient and the exile will last longer. Daniel is really confused now and I’m hoping we get some resolution in tomorrow’s chapters!
Our Psalm today is 91, the psalm of protection. I want to talk about this one a bit. It is truly a beautiful psalm. I use to pray it over my children. And when we say this, it’s easy to make this psalm about us; we tend to individualize things. But this isn’t one of those Psalms that we can just substitute our names. Are there elements to it that apply to us? Of course (and we’ll get to that) but the psalm written to the Israelite people. It wasn’t even written to a singular individual but a collective group of God’s people. God had promised that nothing, no sickness, famine, or attack, would keep them from being the nation he told them they would be if they followed his commands.
Remember God’s covenant with Israel. This wasn’t a promise that individual Israelites would not get sick and die - plenty of Hebrew people who trusted in God and still got ill and died. God was the defender and protector of Israel as a whole. His promise was that as long as they trusted and obeyed him, nothing could stop them from being the nation that he promised they would be. Of course, we know what happens.
So, what does that mean for us? The miracle of scripture is that it speaks to us on so many different levels. It still has deep and profound meaning for us as God’s people, but maybe not in the way we might initially imagine.
· God is our refuge. In his presence, in his shadow, we can receive rest, respite, and security (not necessarily security from hardship, but security IN hardship.)
· Whatever is intended for harm, God can turn to good. Every challenge we face, God is on and by our side, supporting and defending us---making all things work together for our good (Romans 8).
· God is the author of resurrection. He is not the author of evil. God is our FIRST RESPONDER. God rebuilds our lives.
· Resting in God’s presence, being people of prayer, we can be examples of peace and joy in the midst of so much fear and anxiety.
Our New Testament text is John 19. Even Pilate recognizes that Jesus has done nothing wrong. He truly wants to free Jesus; the text indicates that Pilate is somewhat scared of Jesus. But the Jewish officials are desperate to get rid of Jesus. They are blinded by fear, jealousy, and contempt. In an attempt to get Pilate to cooperate with their plans, they threaten to report him to Caesar. After all, Jesus claimed to be king and anyone who made such a claim would be considered a threat to the emperor. The great irony here is that the Jews are essentially presenting themselves as better Roman citizens than Pilate, the Roman official. When it’s convenient for them, they are happy to use the pagan Roman government to get their way. They will sacrifice their own ethics to ensure that Jesus is killed.
The thing about sacrificing our ethics is that it’s a slippery slope, is it not? These Jewish officials were probably very pious men. They thought they were doing the right thing. Jesus was saying blasphemous things and he didn’t follow their rules. They needed to step in and take care of it. But gradually their dislike of Jesus became hate. They so badly wanted him gone that they were willing to do anything, break their own laws, disobey Torah, simply to get rid of him. They were willing to do anything, no matter how shady it was or low they had to go.
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
February 11, 2025
Day 3 of Week 46
Scripture: Daniel 4-6; John 18
Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that goes along with the daily Bible reading for New Hope Church in Brandon, Florida. Let’s get into our Scripture for today.
For our Old Testament reading, we are in the book of Daniel, chapters 4-6. All three of these chapters, though different, emphasize God’s sovereignty through kings and kingdoms. In chapter 4, Daniel interprets a dream for the king about a tree that shelters the world. The tree is cut down by an angel. Daniel, with a fair amount of trepidation, tells the king that it means he, the king, will essentially lose his mind. He will become like a wild animal and eat grass in the pasture. Daniel implores the king to stop sinning and get right with God.
Everything that Daniel interpreted in the dream eventually came true. The king lost his sanity and became like a cow in the field. But in time, Nebuchadnezzar came to and began to worship the one true God. He gained his sanity and gave praises to the Lord.
By chapter 5, there is a new king, Belshazzar. He holds a big feast and decides to use the vessels from the Lord’s Temple to drink from. A hand appears and begins to write on the wall. The king’s magicians can’t understand it, so the king calls for Daniel. Daniel boldly tells the king that God isn’t pleased with his arrogance and how he is drinking from cups taken from the Temple while giving praise to false gods.
The message included these words: numbered, weighed, and divided. Daniel interpreted what they meant. Numbered indicated that the king’s days were numbered and would end soon. Weighed means the king was weighed on the scale but did not measure up. Finally, divided means that the kingdom will be divided between the Medes and the Persians. King Belshazzar died that very night and Darius, the Mede, was made king.
Chapter 6 is a passage that most of us are familiar with – Daniel and the lions’ den. When the Babylonians and King Nebuchadnezzar initially conquered Judah, Daniel and his friends would have been about 15. Now, time has passed. A lot has happened. God has been faithful to these Jewish men living in exile. They have remained faithful to the one true God, Yahweh, despite all the idolatry around them. They have moved up the ranks and now fulfill very high positions in the Kingdom, despite the many political changes that have happened around them.
By now, Daniel is in his early 80’s. He was still exceptional, moving up, getting promoted, and the other administrators were jealous. How in the world has this foreigner done so well and soon he is going to be placed over the whole Kingdom and be their boss. They look for a way to trap him. But Daniel did not have any skeletons in the closet (don’t you wish we had politicians like this in our world today) – no skeletons, there is nothing they can blackmail him with – he has such high integrity. He is a Godly man. But then they are like, “well, that’s where we are going to have to set him up. We know he will not betray his God, so that’s it! That’s where we are going to cause his downfall.”
But they have to get the king onboard, and King Darius really liked Daniel. But, if you want to sway someone in a high position, then what do you have to do – appeal to their ego, right? They come up to him and say, “King, aren’t you the highest and greatest in the land? Aren’t you the one who deserves worship?” And the king, in all his arrogant glory, is like “yeah, yeah, I am…” They get the king to issue a nonreversible decree that for thirty days, no one can pray to anyone but the king. If they break the decree, they will be thrown into a den of hungry lions.
The king was obviously arrogant but he might not have been the sharpest tool in the shed either.
But Daniel was obedient to God. He continued to get down on his knees and pray three times a day. How easy would it have been for Daniel to just say, “Well, for 30 days, I’m just not going to pray so that I can stay safe.” He could have said, “I’m going to just pray in my heart and no one will know.” He could have gone into an inner room where no one would have seen him. But no, he goes up the stairs, opens his windows, and prays publicly. He chose not to take the safe route. I once read that we think of the miracle as Daniel being saved from the lions’ den but the real miracle was that Daniel stayed true to his convictions and kept praying knowing that he would face death. The real miracle was that he had made a decision to trust God no matter what. He was not going to allow some human king to tell him when and to whom he could pray. He had one Lord and it wasn’t King Darius.
We all know how the story ends. Daniel is saved from the lions. But what do we learn here? I keep thinking how God’s people should expect opposition. When we live for Jesus Christ, then there are forces in this world that hate that. Whenever we have a huge spiritual victory at New Hope, we typically see some kind of big issue afterward or in the midst of it. If you have a personal spiritual victory, please know that the enemy is going to try to make a mess of it or discourage you or lead you astray. Be aware and be vigilant.
The other big thing to mention here is trust. Maybe you’ve noticed, but trusting in God is the thread that has woven together the first half of the book of Daniel. We can trust God because God can and will deliver believers from any danger we face. We serve a God who is trustworthy. We serve a powerful God. We serve a God who cares for his people. Now, I say that and I also know that how God chooses to deliver us from our lions’ dens may not be the way we want him to deliver us from our lions’ dens. In this text, God chose to send an angel to close the mouths of the lions. It could have had a different ending.
Here's our big question - do we trust God, even when we don’t know what the ending will be?
With that, let’s move to the New Testament. Our text is John 18. Jesus has been before the Jewish high priest and the Jewish ruling council. They can’t stand him. They not only feel threatened by him, but they are appalled about how he speaks of forgiving sins and being like the Father. They want him to die but they don’t have the power to execute him under Roman law. They have to take him to the Roman governor, who happens to be Pontius Pilate. As you will see, Pilate does not find Jesus to have done anything worthy of death at all but he is scared of the Jewish leaders.
We could go in a lot of different directions with this. But I want to focus on a portion of verses 37-38, ...Jesus responded, “You say I am a king. Actually, I was born and came into the world to testify to the truth. All who love the truth recognize that what I say is true.”
“What is truth?” Pilate asked...
Jesus came to testify to the truth. Pilate questions if there can be truth. The Greek word for “truth” is aletheia, and it means something like “divine revelation.” It literally means “what can’t be hidden.” The Hebrew word for “truth” is emeth, which means firmness and immovability.
Truth is not relative, nor does it change from person to person. Truth can be offensive to some because they simply don’t like how it makes them feel. The reality is that many things can have some truth but there is only one TRUTH. For believers, TRUTH is Jesus Christ. John 14:6 reads, Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” Jesus is the map that leads us to all truth.
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
February 10, 2025
Day 2 of Week 46
Scripture: Daniel 1-3; Psalm 88; John 17
Happy Monday and welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Daily Bible reading plan. Today, we start a new book of the Bible, Daniel, so that’s a yeah for many of you who are thrilled that we are done with Ezekiel.
Let’s get started. Daniel is a book about God’s power and sovereignty, which is a big churchy word which means God is in control of all the things. It’s also a book about how to live faithfully in a world, in a culture, that seems to be opposed to God; how to maintain and grow in your faith even when everything and everyone around you resists the one true God. In fact, the book of Daniel shows us that God’s people can actually thrive in that kind of environment. We aren’t supposed to fit so neatly into our culture. I think there are going to be parts of this book that we can really relate to.
Daniel has two main parts – the first 6 chapters are about Daniel and his three friends and their experiences living in the Babylonian king’s court; chapters 7-12 are almost a different book and includes apocalyptic visions of the downfall of foreign empires.
Let’s start with chapter one. The Jewish elite have been exiled to Babylon. We have certainly walked through this process with them in this reading plan. But we haven’t talked a lot about the Babylonians themselves. What do we need to know about the Babylonians? They were very prosperous and wealthy. At the time, Babylon was the largest city in the world. When they conquered a group of people, they would take the best and the brightest and indoctrinate them into Babylonian culture. They did this intentionally. They wanted the smartest, strongest, best-looking, most athletic men to be part of their nobility. They did this to add quality into their population but also as a form of “brain drain” for the groups they conquered.
Daniel and his three friends were four of those strong, bright, good-looking Jewish boys who were moved into the king’s palace to “become” Babylonian. They were in the first of three waves of Jewish exiles forced into Babylon (with each one getting progressively worse and violent.) They are brought in and taught everything about Babylonian culture. They learn the language, they learn the customs, they become familiar with the literature and the way of life. Their names were changed! We might not think much about this but in this culture, that would have been really significant. Your name was important; it was part of your identify. You see, they are truly stripping their identify. Daniel (Hebrew – God is my judge becomes Belteshazzar – Bel protect his life; the other three had similar name changes…from names that acknowledge the one true God, Yahweh, to Babylonian names that honored their false gods).
It's interesting that they were included as part of the king’s table…this is really an honor, the king wants to share his abundant, rich food with these young men. But they refuse the food. Keep in mind, Daniel and his buddies came from royal or noble Jewish lines. They were used to good food and wine. It really wasn’t so much about the food. Yes, there were some issues – they didn’t know how it was prepared or if it had been sacrificed to idols. True. But there really is more to it than that. Think about it. Everything about their Jewish identity is being stripped away. They are being truly immersed in all things Babylon. And Babylon was a prosperous, modern place. But it was also gluttonous and filled with all kinds of idolatry. It was pagan through and through.
How much of this could Daniel and his friends safely consume without losing who they were? First and foremost, they belonged to God. That was who they were and they were determined to stay faithful. They are essentially trying to figure out how to be in the world but not of it. How could they fit into the setting to which they found themselves? How can they succeed in the task they’d been given? And how can they do this without compromising who they were as followers of the one true God?
The one thing they had some control over was what they ate, what they physically consumed. They didn’t have control over much, but they had control over that. So, it wasn’t so much about the meat and wine – Daniel and his friends were not vegans. But this was the king’s food and Daniel was drawing a line. Enough is enough. He had consumed a lot of Babylon and but this was where it stopped. Thus, he comes up with a plan.
Daniel’s plan was for the four of them to eat veggies instead of all the rich food. And the official is skeptical. He has a job to do. He has to keep up appearances. If these four Jewish boys all of a sudden start getting weak and losing weight, then he was going to be the one that got in trouble. But here we see God intervening and ensuring that Daniel and his buddies actually got stronger and healthier and better nourished than the other young men who ate the king’s food. I’m not sure if they got hungry or if they felt any different, but if they did, I’m thinking it was a reminder of who they were. God was keeping them physically nourished but also spiritually nourished. And in the remainder of the chapter, we read that the four young men became highly successful and respected. They were wise and Daniel could understand visions and dreams. The king was very pleased with them and they enter his service.
Even though Daniel drew a line, he did so with respect. He wasn’t patronizing or rude. He didn’t look at the Babylonian officials and say “You are evil pagans. I am better than this. You are going against Torah. I know best.” No, that would have alienated people really quick. He was not rude. I worry that sometimes in our quest to be moral, we begin to point out a bit too much when others aren’t. In our desire to be good Christians, we somehow point our those who aren’t. No one has ever been shamed or argued into the Kingdom as far as I know. They are typically loved into the Kingdom. As followers of Jesus, we are called to love each other, to show respect. If nothing else, be kind.
In chapter two, things change a bit. Our passage begins with the king having dreams that are really distressing to him. He is losing sleep over this. And as we know, when we lose sleep, things just seem worse than they really are. He needs someone to tell him what the dream means to put his mind at ease.
He gathers all his magicians and astrologers and they are like, sure, tell us the dream and we will tell you what it means. But what they don’t understand is that what the king wants is both the dream and the interpretation. He wants them to come up with the dream themselves and then interpret it. Now, put yourself in their shoes. Now, they probably think they’re being tested. The king wants to see if they really know what they are doing. There is the possibility that the king doesn’t actually remember the dream. I mean, how many of us forget what we dream as soon as we wake up? Maybe we know that it was disturbing, but we can’t recall the details. So they could possibly make up a dream, but what if the king does remember parts of it? That would mean certain death. It seems that it might be certain death of them either way.
Bottom line is these guys just can’t do it and this really infuriates the king. He issues a decree to put all the wise men of Babylon to death. Well, Daniel and his three friends were considered part of this group of wise men. The commander comes to gather them up, basically saying, “Come on, everyone, time to go get executed.” Daniel, with respect, inquires, “Why is the king doing this?” and the commander relays the story. Daniel goes to the king and asks how he might help, could he possibly try to interpret the dream? This is totally an act of faith. He really doesn’t know what’s going to happen.
Daniel gets his friends together and they pray. Daniel knows that the only one who can save them is God. So they plead. But again, he doesn’t know if or how God is going to answer. But they plead for mercy. There is a certain humility here. What happens?
They are desperate for God’s intervention and God reveals to Daniel a dream. He doesn’t really know at this point if this is the king’s dream. But he praises God anyway and trusts. This is again an act of total trust and faith. Daniel asks to be taken to the king. He is clear to not take the credit; he is humble in a way that we should all pay attention to. He then begins to interpret the dream. You’ve read through it so I’m not going into detail about the dream itself.
What can we take from this? That is always the question. God can reveal things to his people through the Holy Spirit. God clearly revealed the dream to Daniel. The magicians and astrologers could not do it. God could do it. In the New Testament, we see this through gifts of prophecy, words of knowledge and discernment. God continues to reveal things to his people. God can speak to us. We don’t serve a God who is distant and disinterested, in some far off palace. No, he is right here. Jesus said clearly “My sheep hear My voice…” As a follower of Christ, hearing the voice of God is a normal and expected reality. But we have to be open to it and we have to listen. Sometimes, when we pray, all we do is talk, talk, talk, but we have to also be still and listen.
Daniel chapter three is the story of the burning furnace. It’s one many of us know well. We aren’t sure what’s gotten into Nebuchadnezzar. His arrogance is beyond compare. He has made this huge graven image and all people are required to bow down to it. Daniel’s friends, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, refuse to do so. They only bow down to one true God.
We know what happens. These men are thrown into the furnace. But they don’t burn. And there is an additional man in the furnace with them. Most agree this is Jesus himself, literally sitting with them in the fire. Of course, the emperor is baffled by what happens. The men come out of the furnace, totally unharmed.
This is obviously very powerful. But we need to sit here a bit. There will be fiery furnaces in our lives. They look like different things, don’t they? Sometimes, we emerge unscathed. Sometimes, we have severe burn marks. Other times, the fire consumes us. But regardless, we know Jesus is with us in the fire. Do you believe this?
In our New Testament passage, John 17, Jesus is continuing this powerful dialogue with his disciples. There is a lot of substance here. But I’ve already said a lot today. Thus, I want to simply read part of this, verses 20-23, “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.
This is such a humbling passage for me. Jesus is speaking of us. Are we unified? Because it’s only when the body of Christ is unified that the world will know that God sent Jesus Christ. The stakes are high.
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
February 9, 2025
Day 1 of Week 46
Scripture: Ezekiel 46-48; John 16
Welcome to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Bible reading plan. This is day one of week 46. We’ve come a long way, friends.
Today, for our Old Testament reading, we are finishing up the book of Ezekiel. Ezekiel sees this small stream flowing out of the temple and it becomes a massive river. It continues to flow until it comes to the Dead Sea, which is known as one of the most desolate places on earth. But here, we see the Dead Sea transform into a living place, full of animals and plants. This is imagery reminiscent of the Garden of Eden. You see, in Ezekiel’s vision, things have come full circle, demonstrating how God always intended to restore humanity and all of creation. This is a new Garden of Eden where God is present and everything is reconciled to him. And the book ends with tremendous hope.
What did you take away from walking through the book of Ezekiel? Take a moment and jot down some of the ways God spoke to you through this Scripture.
Our New Testament reading is John 16. Jesus is continuing his dialogue with the disciples. Jesus knows he doesn’t have much time left and he still has more to teach them. He emphasizes that he is sharing this with them, without parables or metaphor, so that they will understand. Jesus is leaving for awhile and he doesn’t want them to fall away. He knows that things will be confusing. He knows that the disciples are going to grieve and they are going to be heart-broken. He is providing them all the assurance he can provide them without actually spelling out every single thing that will occur.
One of my favorite Scripture verses is in this chapter. John 16:33, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” In Jesus, we can have peace. Even when the world kicks us and things seem to be falling apart, we can have peace. He doesn’t say it’s easy, but it is possible. Why? Because we know who is in control. We know that Jesus Christ reigns yesterday, today, and forever. We know that the ultimate victory is won.
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
February 6, 2025
Day 5 of Week 45
Scripture: Ezekiel 43-45; Psalm 135; John 15
Welcome to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Church Bible reading plan. Some of you might be thinking, “What’s after this? We will be done with this reading plan in eight short weeks.” Just to give you a heads up, when this plan is over, I plan to do a “Deep Dive into the Gospels.” This will be a 10-11 month deep study of Mark, Matthew, Luke, and John. I’m so excited about this and I hope you are too!
With that, let’s move to today’s Old Testament test, Ezekiel 43-45. Again, we begin to see restoration. The altar returns and the priests return. God’s glory has also returned to the Temple in Ezekiel’s vision. It looks like the vision that originally appeared to him early in the book, in chapter 1. It was a large cloud with four large, winged creatures and each creature has four faces. Under each creature is a sparkly wheel. And the creatures wings were supporting a throne with a human-like figure who was full of light. This is how God reveals his glory to Ezekiel.
Soon, the book of Ezekiel will close and we will see how God’s plan is to restore all people and all nations back to him. Unlike some of the other prophets, this book is filled with hope.
Our New Testament text is John 15. This is familiar to many of us and it is beautiful prose. I want to just reread a few verses because they are so magnificent. This is John 15:10-15, If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.
You are loved, did you know that? Not just a little bit loved, but the love of Jesus Christ is expansive and wide, self-sacrificing and extravagant. The words of Jesus in this text urge us to remain in God’s love. It’s only when we remain in Jesus, abide in him, that we have complete joy and can be a true friend to Jesus.
How do we remain in God’s love? God’s love is a firm foundation, never moving or changing. We, on the other hand, drift all over the place! To remain in Jesus’ love, we have to make an intentional effort to keep our connection with him strong. We must pray, read Scripture, and make a special effort to listen and obey. My experience has been that the more I seek Jesus, the more I feel surrounded by his presence and love. There have certainly been times throughout my life in which I’ve gotten busy, distracted, and selfish. I’ve worshiped superficially. I am still loved in those times, but I bear less fruit and I begin to feel dry and detached.
It’s only when I am being deliberate about staying connected to Jesus that I feel complete, fulfilled, and productive for the Kingdom. It’s then that I experience the presence of Jesus in a profound way and truly feel the love that God intends me to feel. In Christ, we are loved and we are chosen. We were designed to be in relationship with a loving God who has been seeking us and pursuing us.
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
February 5, 2025
Day 4 of Week 45
Scripture: Ezekiel 40-42; John 14
Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope daily Bible reading. It’s Recharge day so I hope we see you tonight at 6:30pm in the Garage.
Our Old Testament reading is Ezekiel 40-42. Here, we begin to see how God’s presence is about to return to his temple. We find Ezekiel being given a tour (in a vision of course) of a new temple. It’s a majestic temple as well, bigger than the one built by King Solomon. Is this the way the temple will look in the new Jerusalem when Jesus returns? Some people say yes. In fact, some people would say these chapters offer blueprints of sorts. But most people believe that we have a tremendous amount of symbolism here, as we do in the book of Ezekiel as a whole. Yes, God’s presence will be with his people. It will be amazing and majestic. But we don’t really have the words to articulate what that will be like.
Our New Testament reading is John 14. Let’s focus on the first portion on the chapter. This is such a great interaction between Jesus and Thomas. The disciples are experiencing a lot of anxiety. Jesus has just told them he’s going away but he is trying to reassure them. Jesus is like, I’m on my way to get your room ready. I’ll be coming back to get you, trust me. But anyway, you already know the way. And Thomas is like, “Umm…actually, I don’t know the way, is there a map or something?” And that’s when Jesus says, “You do know the way because I am the way. The only way to get to my Father is through me.” And he reiterated what he has been teaching them, to know Jesus is to know the Father. If you have seen Jesus, then you have seen the Father.
When Jesus says, “I am the way,” he doesn’t say “I am a way.” How the Greek sentence is constructed makes it absolutely clear and irrefutable that Jesus is making an exclusive claim here. He is basically saying, don’t go looking to anyone else to point you in those directions, because I am the only one who can!”
Well, that feels pretty exclusive, doesn’t it? Yes, it is. And exclusivity makes a lot of us feel uncomfortable. So, let’s dig deeper. What other Scriptures point to the exclusivity of Jesus?
1. John 3:16-18 (Jesus speaking to Nicodemus), For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.
2. John 3:36 (later in the conversation)- Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.
3. Acts 4:12 (Peter, speaking before the Jewish ruling council) – Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”
4. Rom. 10:9 – If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
- I John 5:12 - Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.
And there are many others but I’m going to stop there for now. I do believe in looking at the full narrative of Scripture – if we look at all of the Bible – it points to Jesus as the way to heaven. I’ve searched to see if the Bible allows for other options, possible openings, that might allow for another way and I haven’t found any. There are some things in the Bible in which there is tension – it says this but it also says this – and we have to really dig and pray and interpret. But there isn’t tension here at all --- Scripture clearly points to Jesus as the Son of God, the fulfillment of God’s promise from Gen to Rev, and the only way to the Father, the only way to receive salvation, the only way to heaven.
And that makes logical sense to me. Why would Jesus have voluntarily died on a Roman cross for us if he was just one option among many to provide a way to be saved? If there were other ways to receive salvation and get to God, then why would Jesus even need to do all that? Why would Christians throughout the ages have needed to stand their ground and lose their lives? Why would Christians around the world today be risking their lives to follow Christ? Some may say they are disillusioned but I personally don’t believe so. If we believe that Jesus rose from the dead, proving his divinity, proving he is Lord of all – then that means we have to also believe everything he said. We can’t pick and choose.
I’m not a scholar, you guys, but in my mind and heart, all of this points to the truth that Jesus is the only way. So, that being the case – then other questions come to mind. And here is where it often gets hard for us – more difficult questions. What about all of the people who don’t believe in Jesus? If those who believe in Jesus have everlasting life, then what about those who don’t believe in Jesus? Are they doomed to hell? How could a loving God allow this? What about those who may have heard of Jesus, but did not really understand who He was? What about those who have never even heard the name of Jesus?
We have read Scripture already that speaks to those who reject Jesus face the wrath of God; those who don’t have Jesus, don’t have life. Those who don’t profess faith in Jesus will not experience salvation. They won’t spend eternity with God. Both the OT and the NT speak about a place called hell. The word most often translated as hell in the New Testament is the Greek word “gehenna.” Jesus uses this word 11 times. The literal translation of the word is the Valley of Hinnom (“ge”+“hinnom”). The Valley of Hinnom was Jerusalem’s landfill where people burned their trash. So when Jesus speaks about burning in hell, he’s using this image. Jesus’ hell is a place devoid of hope and love, a place where God’s will is absent, separate from the community. And Jesus, throughout the Gospels, does speak of people making choices that land them in hell. To deny the existence of hell is to deny the words of Jesus. Period.
I’ve witnessed arguments about whether hell is a real place, whether hell is hot, whether it’s cold, you name it. I think we could probably argue those things until we are blue in the face and it isn’t productive. What we know: Hell is a Godless place. It is a place where God is not.
What I know is that God dearly loves us, he dearly loves all people and he desires for all people to know him and have a relationship with him. But this is the thing, even though we were created to be near God, God does not force us or make us love him back or even force us to be near him. So hell exists because just as some choose to be with God, some will choose to be without God. I’ve had to kind of reconcile this for myself. God is not mean. God is incredibly loving. He does not send people to hell. He allows people to make the choice – a lifetime and eternity with God OR without God.
Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. Do you believe this.
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
February 4, 2025
Day 3 of Week 45
Scripture: Ezekiel 37-39; Psalm 87; John 13
Welcome back, everyone! It’s Tuesday and it’s time for the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that goes along with the New Hope Church daily Bible reading plan. Let’s get into our Scripture reading for today.
Today’s Ezekiel reading is some of my favorite Scripture. In chapter 37, the prophet Ezekiel has a vision in which he is in a valley filled with hundreds, maybe even thousands, of dry bones. The Scripture is clear that these are very dry bones. They may have been the bones of a defeated army from a long time ago, simply left for dead, and many years have passed. There are no signs of who these people were; the flesh has decomposed and dried up, and all that's left are these piles of bones.
God is walking Ezekiel through the bones, back and forth. Then God asks Ezekiel, "Can these bones live?" I can't help but wonder what's going on in Ezekiel's head. He responds, "Only you know that, God." Then, God then tells Ezekiel to prophesy to the bones. He tells Ezekiel to tell the bones that they will come to life-that tendons will form, skin will cover them, and breath will fill them." This is where you know that Ezekiel is really obedient and faithful, because he doesn't ask questions, he doesn't hesitate or raise an eyebrow, he simply does it. After all the things God has had Ezekiel do, this one might even be fairly easy.
When Ezekiel prophesies to the bones, there is a rattling sound as the bones begin to come together. I love how the Scripture includes the sound effects. Rattle, rattle, creak, creak. The bones do come together and there are tendons, flesh, and skin. But at this point, there isn't real life in them. They are simply bodies with flesh and bone. I picture that museum exhibit at MOSI about human bodies, where they use real human bodies that have been preserved but they are not alive. For something to have real life, there must be breath and there is still no breath. God tells Ezekiel to prophesy to the bones again. God tells him to say this in verse 9, "This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Come, breath, from the four winds and breathe into these slain, that they may live."
The Hebrew word for breath that is used here is ruach and it means breath, wind, or spirit.
So Ezekiel prophesies and God's spirit or God's breath comes from all four directions and enters the lifeless bodies. This is the same word used in Genesis 2 when God breathes life into Adam. Here, God breathed life into these bodies. Then, imagine this, standing before Ezekiel was a whole army of people. No more lifeless bones but a whole army, living beings, come alive with the very breath of God.
Then, God tells Ezekiel that the bones were the people of Israel. Remember, these are the people who were hopeless, existing in exile but impoverished, emotionally and spiritually dead; separated from their land, separated from their God. God tells Ezekiel to communicate to the people that God will restore them. He will put life back into them and will return them to Israel. And I love verse14, "I will put my Spirit (my ruach) in you and you will live, and I will settle you in your own land. Then you will know that I the Lord have spoken, and I have done it, declares the Lord.’
Obviously, this is an Old Testament passage and the message was to the Israelites. But I think it's impossible for us, for me, to read this and not connect it with the new, better thing God does through the person of Jesus Christ and the coming of the Holy Spirit. New life, resurrection, God’s Spirit in-dwelling his people. These themes are so vivid in this passage and there are so many Scriptures that these themes bring to mind. I think about Jesus saying in John 10:10, "I have come that they may have life and have it abundantly." It's not the same old, dry bones existence, but new, abundant life in Jesus. I think about Acts 2, the early Christ-followers huddled in the upper room, knowing they are supposed to wait for something big but unsure what's next. Then, there is a loud, violent wind sound and what look to be tongues of fire. God's Spirit, once again, comes and is present among the people. It's different than before. It's a new thing. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, now God dwells in his people transforming them from the inside out. New life, a new kind of restoration. I will say it again: our God is still in the business of restoration.
So that's a lot of words to make this point. God knows your dry bones, the dry places in your life. God's Spirit has the power to restore your life. God's Spirit has the power to restore us as a church. But this is important-the transformative work of God is not about putting things exactly the way they used to be. Rather, it's about allowing God's Spirit to blow within us and do a new thing. You feel like your marriage is dead, like there is no life left? I have a very good friend who had filed divorce papers, the marriage was in shambles, both of them had extra-marital affairs, and many horrific things had been said. Words that literally took the breath out of their marriage. But at just the time when all seemed lost, God's Spirit blew into that couple and began to change them from the inside out. It was slow, it was excruciating at times, it wasn't the way they imagined, but they are together. Where God's Spirit blows, there can be life. God can do a new thing.
Now, chapters 38-39 of Ezekiel are a little different. He is now speaking to the nations. God will defeat the evil present in other nations as well. Evil in these chapters is personified by a ruler named Gog, and that name is somewhat fictious, as it comes from a genealogy of ancient lands and he is an archetype of sorts of evil. Gog, in this allegory, allies himself with many other nations. But eventually, God defeats Gog through a series of calamities. There is a lot of symbolism here, but the point is that God will defeat evil in the end.
Our New Testament passage is John 13. Jesus has done the unexpected, as he often does. The time for the Passover meal has come, the disciples are sitting and reclining at the table, and Jesus himself gets up to wash their feet. This might not sound that odd to us, but foot-washing was a lowly task in 1st century Palestine. Think about it: their feet were very dirty; the men wore sandals, they walked everywhere, and the roads were filthy with dirt, dust, and animal droppings. Thus, this was the job usually saved for the lowliest of servants. Peers did not wash each other’s feet.
In Luke’s Gospel, the disciples start arguing about who is the greatest among them; their attitudes certainly indicated that they weren’t going to stoop so low as to wash each other’s feet. And so when Jesus gets up to wash the disciples’ feet, in the Scripture that was just read, the disciples are shocked. How could he? Of course, Jesus always has something deeper in mind. Jesus is a perfect example of humility and selflessness, which will ultimately be demonstrated in its most extreme form on the cross.
What is it about us as human beings that we so often struggle with truly loving one another? Yes, I’ll love that person, as long as I don’t have to make a sacrifice. But Jesus is the epitome of a perfect loving sacrifice and he calls us to be as well. “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
February 3, 2025
Day 2 of Week 45
Scripture: Ezekiel 34-36; Psalm 86; John 12
Welcome back, everyone, to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Church Bible reading plan. Let’s get right into our Scripture for today.
Our Old Testament passage for is Ezekiel 34-36. Keep in mind, chapter 34 begins with Jerusalem having fallen to Babylon once and for all. The final siege has occurred. And we are left with this question: Is God done with Israel for good? Is there something beyond the exile?
With chapter 34, we are taking a sharp turn. We begin to see God’s message of hope to his people. God says he is going to bring forth a new David of sorts, a Messianic king who will fulfill the needs of the people and be obedient to God. He will also bring forth a new Israel. God’s people will no longer have hard hearts but hearts of flesh who will love their God wholeheartedly. God’s Spirit will come to dwell in them. I read through the verses in chapter 36 over and over again. After so many chapters of doom and judgement, it was wonderful to hear these words in verses 25-28, “I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. Then you will live in the land I gave your ancestors; you will be my people, and I will be your God.”
God is going to do a new thing in his people. Of course, we know this new thing to be Jesus. And the exciting thing about this is that Jesus is always seeking to do a new thing in his people, including us. What new thing is God doing in you today?
Our New Testament passage is John 12. There is a lot going on in this chapter. Mary anoints Jesus with an expensive perfume, much to Judas’ dismay. Remember, he was all about the money. Then, we have the Palm Sunday passage, which we are about to talk about, and the chapter finishes with a discussion about the Jews who still didn’t believe in him.
As a little girl going to Sunday School, I can remember making palm branches and waving them. Jesus’ triumphal entry was described kind of like a parade. Think about parades with their marching bands, large balloons, and dancers. They are often about celebration and national pride. But Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem this wasn’t that kind of parade, especially as the book of John describes it.
Basically, we see Jesus being given a royal welcoming. The other Gospels go into even more detail. The people are laying palm branches down for him. They are running ahead in the streets to give him this royal kind of treatment. This is the kind of welcome that the emperor or a high official of the Roman government would have received. Think of it kind of like the red carpet being rolled out---a sign that a very important leader, the new king, has arrived. While the disciples appear to be confused, some of the Jews in the crowd would have known that this a fulfillment of prophecy. John quotes Zechariah 9:9,Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. All the signs point to the fact that this Jesus is the king. By making this announcement, Jesus knows what this means. His death will be soon.
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
February 2, 2025
Day 1 of Week 45
Scripture: Ezekiel 31-33; John 11
Welcome back, everyone, to week 45 of the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Church Bible reading plan. We have come a long, long way! Seven weeks and we will have read the whole Bible. Good job, guys. Don’t forget to tell me what you are learning.
Today, we are back in Ezekiel for our Old Testament reading. Chapters 31 and 32 are a continued judgement over the nation of Egypt and Pharoah himself. But chapter 33 takes a bit of a turn. God tells Ezekiel that God has made him the watchman over the people of Israel. A watchman was the lookout person who kept watch for the enemy and alerted the people when the enemy arrived. In Ezekiel’s case, he would receive the word of the Lord and alert the people of Israel of how they were sinning. In fact, he is personally responsible for proclaiming God's impending judgment and encouraging repentance in order to relieve himself of blame. This is all happening on the eve of Jerusalem’s destruction. More on this tomorrow...
Our New Testament passage is John 11. This is when Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead. I want us to notice here that the sisters, Mary and Martha, trust Jesus. They are friends and they are upset that he wasn’t there earlier. I think sometimes it’s easy to forget the human side of Jesus. But besides being God, he was also friend, brother, and son. We see some of this here. He grieves over Lazarus dying. He knows that he will raise Lazarus but he still is upset at seeing the sisters’ grief. He deeply cares for this family.
At the same time, Jesus is God. He will raise Lazarus from the dead and obviously, this is no small thing. He has delayed his arrival for a purpose. When Martha tells him, “If you had been here, this would not have happened,” Jesus says these famous words, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
The bigger question for all of us is “Do we believe this?”
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
January 30, 2025
Day 5 of Week 44
Scripture: Ezekiel 28-30; John 10
Welcome back everyone to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Bible reading plan. Let’s get started!
In our Ezekiel reading, we continue to read about God’s judgment against other nations. In these chapters, both Tyre and Egypt are called out in particular. These are the most powerful nations in the region. Israel has allied with these nations and again, assumed their gods. God, through Ezekiel, accuses the kings of Tyre and Egypt, of mistakenly thinking they are gods themselves. God is disgusted by their arrogance. Again, Babylon will be his tool for bringing these nations down.
Our New Testament reading is John 10. I recently preached on this very chapter when we were talking about knowing Jesus. This is where Jesus begins this dialogue about being the Good Shepherd. He is basically saying to the Pharisees, “You don’t know who I am.” Jesus wasn’t just saying he was a shepherd, he said he was the GOOD shepherd, a reference to being the Messiah and the Pharisees would have understood this. They knew the Jewish scriptures, what we know as the OT, through and through. They would have known exactly what Jesus was saying.
As we mentioned yesterday, the Pharisees think they know God but they don’t. They have missed the point. This is the thing: To know God, we have to KNOW Jesus Christ.
I have mentioned how I do a lot of funerals and I don’t always know the people. So, I will spend time with the family, trying to get a feel for the person and what their life was like. Of course, I ask about their walk with the Lord. And I often get, “Well, they believed in God.” And this makes my heart sink because believing in God is not the same as knowing Jesus. When we say we want people to know Jesus, we are not talking about some abstract or speculative thought concerning God. No, it isn’t abstract at all; to know Jesus is to have a relationship with the living God.
And this is the way Jesus describes this relationship: I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— in this same section of Scripture, Jesus speaks about how his sheep recognize him, they know his voice and they only respond to his voice. This isn’t a casual relationship; it’s intimate and deep.
An aside: I’ve always been taught that sheep are really dumb animals. They just baa, baa and don’t really think much. But I did some sheep research this week and learned that they are actually fairly bright. They aren’t dolphins or anything, but they recognize up to 50 faces (including human faces), they are socially complex, form deep bonds with one another, and they definitely know who is the one who takes care of them and will protect them. They KNOW their shepherd. They don’t just know about their shepherd, the one who cares for them, they really know him or her. They answer to their voice.
Do you know your shepherd? Do you respond to his voice?
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
January 29, 2025
Day 4 of Week 44
Scripture: Ezekiel 25-27; Psalm 85; John 9
Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the daily devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Church Bible reading plan. Today is Wednesday which means its Recharge day! Hope to see you tonight at 6:30pm in the Garage.
In our Ezekiel reading for today, we see that God is condemning the nations directly around Israel, including Ammon, Moab, Philistia, and Edom. Israel has assumed their gods. They have also been arrogant and sought vengeance against Israel. God will also bring these nations down and Babylon will again be his tool. I continue to find it interesting that God uses this pagan nation for his own purposes and Babylon has no idea. It just reinforces this idea that God is God over everything and everyone. He reigns yesterday, today, and forever. Period.
In our New Testament Scripture for today, John 9, Jesus heals a man born blind and it leads to all kinds of questions. At the time, if a person was born with a disability, it was assumed the parents or grandparents had sinned; it was assumed that the disability was some kind of punishment. Jesus, as he often does, turns this false belief on its head.
Jesus heals the man but he does so on the Sabbath (a big no-no.) The man is taken to the Pharisees and they question him – they can’t believe that Jesus has healed this man who was blind from birth. And they ask the man, how did this happen? The man simply speaks truth. He basically says, “I don’t really know anything but what I do know if that I was blind and now I see.” The Pharisees really mock the poor guy when he says that he trusts in Jesus. In fact, they get so frustrated with him, that they throw him out. And yet, the man knows that they couldn’t open his eyes, but Jesus did.
The Pharisees, as they so often did, completely missed the point. The Pharisees think they know God but they don’t. As the man Jesus healed was physically blind, Jesus calls them spiritually blind. This is the thing: To know God, we have to KNOW Jesus Christ.
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
November 17, 2024
Day 1 of Week 34
Scripture: Isaiah 7-10; Psalm 22; Matthew 26
Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Church Bible reading plan.
Our Scripture for today starts in Isaiah. In chapter 7, we find God protecting Israel, despite their king. We can tell how the nations around them are trying once again to conquer God’s people and God will not allow it. God so badly wants the king to stand firm in his faith. God is giving him an opportunity to redeem himself but he does not take it. And of course, we know how this will end – Israel will cease to be a country in just 65 years. As the chapters progress, we see that God’s patience is wearing thin with his people. He allowed the people to be saved because he had a bigger plan in place.
Our New Testament passage is Matthew 26. This chapter is the beginning of the passion narrative. These are longer chapters but they are certainly worth reading carefully. In today’s chapter, we find Jesus being anointed for burial but certainly not in the typical way. It would have been fairly normal, in first century Jewish society, to anoint a guest with oil when they came to your home for a meal or gathering. It was an act of respect. The host would typically use an inexpensive oil but in this narrative, we find the woman (other Gospels name her as Mary) uses a highly valued perfume. She obviously saw Jesus as a very, very special guest worthy of only the best.
Remember, the word messiah means “anointed one” so there is symbolism going on here too. The woman’s act of devotion is lost on the disciples. They are rude and indignant. “Why this waste?” they ask. Giving the disciples the benefit of the doubt, we have to remember that they were very poor men. It also gave them a chance to sound pious, “This should have been given to the poor!” But Jesus knew all about the poor; he had been caring for the poorest of the poor throughout his ministry. The disciples weren’t telling him anything he didn’t already know.
But there is something going on here that goes much deeper than the disciples can even fathom. Jesus rebukes the men and says that what she did for him was beautiful; she was preparing him for burial. Of course, this is lost on them too. While it’s possible that Mary had some insight into the danger that lie ahead for Jesus, it’s clear that the disciples still do not understand what is to come. Mary’s act was one of honor and devotion. Rather than being practical, she was extravagant toward her Lord and Savior. How often do we act extravagantly toward Jesus OR are we more likely to simply be practical?
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
November 14, 2024
Day 5 of Week 33
Scripture: Micah 5-7; Matthew 25
Welcome back to our devotional and podcast, the Daily Dose of Hope, intended to complement the Bible reading plan at New Hope Church in Brandon, Florida.
Today, we finish up the book of Micah. Remember, Micah is prophesying to the Southern kingdom of Judah. Throughout the book, Micah is condemning the prophets, priests, and rulers who are leading the people astray. This was a time of uncertainty, as both Isreal and Judah were faced with overwhelming foreign military powers. The Assyrian Empire was becoming quite a force and they were known for their brutality. Israel (the Northern kingdom) was in chaos. Micah certainly saw the destruction of Israel and foresaw the destruction of Judah. Economic and social injustices were the norm and pagan worship was tolerated and openly practiced.
Micah was preaching to a people who had become rather complacent and felt they really did not need to pay too much attention to the laws that God had given them as a guideline for their life and community. It’s kind of ironic, as they are experiencing a great deal of political uncertainty. The nation just north of them is falling to the very scary Assyrian army. This is a time you might think they would really be seeking God, but they exist in this kind of just half-hearted religiosity. They are going through the motions, they are still oppressing the poor and engaging in gross injustice.
I want us to spend some time today in chapter 6, where we find some of Micah’s most recognizable verses. Listen to verses 6-7, With what shall I come before the LORD and bow down before the exalted God? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousand rivers of olive oil? Shall I offer my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?
It’s as if the people are saying to God, “What is it you expect from us?” and they start listing this almost absurd list of offerings. You can almost hear them, kind of arrogant, like “Aren’t we doing enough? What is it you require? Why do you keep bugging us about this?” But the bottom line was the people were not doing what God required. They may have been engaging in some religious show but they weren’t really being faithful to what God called them to do. They might stop by the temple, sacrifice an animal as required, but they weren’t truly living as God wanted them to. They were fooling themselves.
I think we do this a lot as Christians today. We think, well, I show up at church every now and then. I’m generally a good person. I don’t lie all that much and I even occasionally buy stuff for missions or put money in the offering plate. Those are all good things, don’t get me wrong, but is that truly what God requires of us?
That leads us back to our passage from Micah. The people were engaging in outward religious show but not really living as God called them to live. So we are going back to this dialogue between God and his people. Let’s move on to verse Micah 6:8, a very famous verse, many of you have heard it before, He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.
It’s kind of like God is saying to his people, via Micah the prophet, “Hey guys, you know what you are supposed to be doing.” You know it; you just aren’t doing it. It’s in the law, it’s in God’s Word. It’s like he is saying, “Look, you’ve tried a bunch of things and have messed up, nothing has seemed to be working, now let’s get down to basics.” God doesn’t want your extravagant sacrifices, maybe they are well-meaning at times or maybe they’re prideful and self-serving, but that isn’t what he truly wants from you...GOD WANTS TO CHANGE YOUR HEART!!! Any other offering will fall short over and over again.
What is it God requires of you? What are the three things that are there throughout the bible, basic to the law of Moses, basic to the teachings of Jesus? What does God require? “To act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.” You might be acting “religious” but if you aren’t living the rest of your life as God requires, if you haven’t changed your heart, then you’ve missed the point.
Okay, let’s move on to Matthew 25, our New Testament reading for today. In this chapter, Jesus gives us a deeper look into the Kingdom of God through three parables that demonstrate the need to be ready for his return. I’s like to focus on the parable of the bags of gold. Other translations call this the parable of the talents.
A wealthy land owner goes on a journey and entrusts his servants with some talents. A talent was actually a measure of weight rather than an amount of money. It was approximately 130 lbs. so whether or not it was a talent of silver or gold, it would have been very valuable. Even one talent of silver would have been more than an average person would have made in a year. I read several places that one talent in today’s money would be roughly one million dollars. This Master had entrusted one servant with five talents, one with two, and another with one, all significant sums. The talents and the servants belonged to the Master and the crowd that Jesus was speaking to would have known that.
The first servant who was given five talents doubles his money. The second servant who was given two talents doubles his money. The third servant, however, basically just hid his head in the sand and hoped the whole thing would go away. After praising the first two servants for their resourcefulness, the master says to the third one, “You wicked and lazy servant.” He had really harsh words for him. At first glance, we might be taken aback by such hard words. But think about it, the master bought these bondservants or slaves to make a profit for him. He would never have bought them if he thought they would make him lose money. Their purpose was to earn a profit for the master.
God expects to see a profit from us. He isn’t harsh. He doesn’t require that we do the impossible–he has given us abundant resources. However, he does require that we use our God-given talents and resources to produce a spiritual profit for His Kingdom. God created us with the intention that we would use our money, our resources, and our talents and skills to produce a profit for him...spiritual profit. One of my seminary professors used to say, “We don’t serve a mush God.” Our God is not all mushy love, rainbows, and unicorns. Yes, he is loving but he still has expectations for us. There are standards and accountability. And this is one of those areas. God doesn’t expect us just to sit and soak up all the love and wonderfulness of faith. He actually expects us to do something about it, to earn a spiritual profit. And he is serious about it.
What does this look like for us? Interestingly, Jesus answers this for us later in the chapter with another parable about separating the sheep and the goats. If you haven’t read through the entire parable, take a moment and do so. Bottom line: Whenever we use our resources and talents to help alleviate the suffering of the poor or oppressed, it’s like we are doing it for Jesus himself.
Friends, we were created to fulfill a bigger purpose, God’s purpose. As Christ-followers, we are expected to extend the boundaries of the Kingdom of God, bringing some of this spiritual profit, into this world to alleviate suffering and pain, to share the love of Christ, to be ambassadors for Jesus. What we do in this place is to be a preview of heaven. How are we doing?
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
November13, 2024
Day 4 of Week 33
Scripture: Micah 1-4; Psalm 10; Matthew 24
Welcome to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Church Daily Bible reading plan. Today is Wednesday so I hope we see you at Recharge tonight. It starts at 6:30pm in the Garage. This is really a lovely time of worship, fellowship, prayer, and small community.
Today, we are taking a break from Isaiah (considered a major prophet) and moving to Micah, which is another minor prophet. Micah, whose name means “who is a God like you,” lived during the 8th century BC, which makes him a contemporary of Isaiah. Micah prophesied a message of judgement and restoration to Judah which actually leads to a revival in the Southern Kingdom. During the first four chapters, which we read for today, there is an emphasis on the people sinning by oppressing the poor, listening to false prophets, and engaging in idolatry. However, there is also a sense that the Lord is calling the people back to him. All is not lost. God is merciful and ready to forgive. There is definitely a difference in tone between this book and Isaiah; it feels slightly more hopeful. Did you notice that? I would love to hear your thoughts on why that might be.
Our psalm for today, Psalm 10, is really an important one. It’s a psalm of David and we might call it a psalm for those who think God doesn’t care. David starts off in verse one, Why, LORD, do you stand far off? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?” David holds nothing back. He writes about how the wicked man “murders the innocent.” And yet, David feels as though “God will never notice; he covers his face and never sees.”
This psalm is a great example for us. It is perfectly okay for us to pour out our raw and unfiltered emotions to God. God has broad shoulders; he can take it. According to Matthew 6:8, he already knows our hearts and desires better than we do. There are people in our lives who may struggle with us expressing these difficult emotions, but God never will. However, we find that the tone changes in verse 11. While we can surely bring our pain, struggles, and questions to God, we need to eventually move into a place a faith. But the key here is to keep the conversation going. Wrestle with God as much as needed and see how he works in you; stay in connection and he will guide you to a place of faith.
Let’s move to Matthew 24, our New Testament text for today. This chapter begins with Jesus walking away from the temple and predicting its destruction. Keep in mind, the entire temple was destroyed by the Romans in AD 70. So, as we read this chapter, some of the statements are clearly referring to the coming judgment on Jerusalem and others are referring to judgment at the end of the age. And to make it just slightly more confusing, there is overlap in these judgments as well.
Certain groups of Christians have focused a great deal on the coming judgment and the end times. I think what we find in this chapter is that there is more that we don’t know than what we do know. For thousands of years, people have predicted Jesus’ return and the coming judgment and each and every time, they’ve been wrong. I’m always a bit skeptical of anyone who makes predictions like these. I mean, the Scripture says, “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.” If Jesus doesn’t know, then why should we?
But what can we do? Well, the Scripture tells us: Keep watch and be ready. We don’t need to worry about the coming judgment because we know Jesus. But we do need to be actively living as a follower. We need to sharing the Good News with others. We need to be genuine, loving, and truthful in how we do life. Do your neighbors know that you love Jesus? Do your coworkers know that you follow Jesus? Is your faith obvious and real? Why or why not? Let’s take this Scripture seriously, friends.
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
November 12, 2024
Day 3 of Week 33
Scripture: Isaiah 4-6; Matthew 23
Welcome back, friends, the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional/podcast that goes along with New Hope Church’s Bible reading plan.
Before moving into our Scripture from Isaiah, I thought it might be helpful to talk more about the prophet himself. The name Isaiah actually means “the Lord saves” which is essentially what his message was to Judah and Israel. Isaiah’s prophecy moves from judgement to restoration, continually reminding us of the severity of humanity’s sin, the judgement that is deserved, and God’s incredibe grace for having the desire to save sinners.
Isaiah lived and prophesied during the 8th century BC. As we mentioned yesterday, he was a prophet to both Israel and Judah, at a time in which the Southern Kingdom had great prosperity. Remember, it isn’t easy being a prophet when things are going well – no one wants to hear your warning at all; they like the way things are. But Isaiah continued to trust God and be his mouthpiece.
Chapter 4 is quite short but interesting. As you were reading it, did you sense the messianic prophecy. Isaiah, in the previous chapter, had just gotten through describing the Lord’s judgement on the people for their sin and rejection of the things of God. Then, in this chapter, there is a shift. We are now looking into the future at a time when the Messiah is among the people. They are cleansed and holy.
In chapter 5, we find a parable in the form of a song. Israel is the vineyard and God’s intention was always for them to produce good fruit. But that has not happened. There is oppression and bloodshed. As a result, there will be a series of woes. One that made an impression to me was the woe to those who intentionally sin because they think God will not do anything. The people will go into exile and they have no idea.
In chapter 6, we read about a vision that Isaiah had. In this vision, he saw the Lord in his glory and holiness surrounded by an angelic being. Isaiah was deeply moved and said, “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!” (Isaiah 6:5). But God appointed him as a prophet. He received a strange commission, “Go, and say to this people, Keep on hearing, but do not understand; keep on seeing, but do not perceive. Make the heart of this people dull, and their ears heavy, and blind their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed.” (Isaiah 6:9-10). Basically, the people’s hearts have been heartened. It seems that God might not even be interested in the people waking up anymore. Things may be too far gone.
Our New Testament passage is Matthew 23. Throughout most of this chapter, we see Jesus strongly denounce the Pharisees. Their system of rules and regulations was originally designed to help people seek godliness but their extremism only harmed people. The rules had become an end in themselves and the teachers of the law were much more concerned with following the letter of the law than they were about the people themselves. This gives the appearance of godliness but it is all a facade. The heart is still far from God.
Jesus’ final words in this chapter about Jerusalem are quite sad. Jesus loves Jerusalem and had longed for the people to love him back. He wanted to gather the people under his protective wings and offer them true solace and hope. Remember, this was the holy city where the temple of God resided. And yet, over and over again, the people of Jerusalem had rejected God’s efforts to care for them.
It was no different with Jesus. Jesus’ words were also prophetic. When he says...”Look, your house is left to you desolate,” we understand from history that it isn’t long before the Romans totally destroy the city in AD 70. But besides the physical desolation of the city, there is this tone in the text that suggests God had forsaken it as well. And, of course, when Jesus states that they will not see him again, we know that he is indeed heading to the cross. His earthly ministry has come to a close until God does a new thing.
Let’s chat again tomorrow.
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
November 11, 2024
Day 2 of Week 33
Scripture: Isaiah 1-3; Psalm 9; Matthew 22
Welcome to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope daily Bible reading plan. Happy Monday. Let’s get right into our Scripture for today.
We are starting the book of Isaiah. Isaiah was certainly a great prophet, quoted more in the New Testament than any other Jewish prophet. He prophesied to both Israel, the Northern Kingdom, and to Judah, the Southern Kingdom. His prophecy begins during a time of economic prosperity but spiritual depravity. It was during Isaiah’s prophecy that the Northern Kingdom was defeated by the Assyrians. But it isn’t easy to prophecy judgment to people when things appear on the surface to be going so well. One thing that is interesting and amazing about Isaiah is that besides judgement, we can still find a lot of hope. There is quite a bit of messianic prophecy in this book. Probably some of the most famous Scripture about Jesus is found in Isaiah. If you have time today, I would strongly encourage you to watch the Bible Project’s video on the book of Isaiah. You can access it via YouTube or on the bibleproject.com. It gives a great overview of this long and important book.
The book of Isaiah begins with the Lord making a case, similar to a lawsuit, against the people of Israel. He speaks of the sin that has become apparent throughout the generations of Jews living in Israel. Basically the charges go something like this: God brought up Israel has his children and they have rebelled. There appears to be a kind of spiritual sickness that will eventually lead to physical destruction. Isaiah states that if God had not spared a remnant from Israel, they would be like Sodom and Gomorrah with total destruction.
Isaiah goes on to speak of how God is unhappy with Judah’s sacrifices. By chapter two, we see that Isaiah’s prophecy is speaking directly to Judah. God is going to judge them, that’s for sure, but they will ultimately see redemption and resurrection. And yet, this chapter doesn’t end positively. Isaiah tells the people to stop trusting in men to save you; only God offers what is needed.
In Isaiah chapter 3, we learn that God plans to take away the experienced leadership from the people. This is why you can’t trust in man; the rule of men is temporal and fleeting. God, as a result, will leave them with people who are young and inexperienced. Why is God doing this? Well, the people have been sinning boldly. There will be consequences.
I know we haven’t spent a lot of time on the Psalms lately. However, today I do want to touch on Psalm 9, a psalm of David. David points to how God will never abandon his people. There is this overall theme of worship, to praise God when things are good and to praise God when things aren’t good. God will remember his people. There is a beautiful certainty about this – no questioning, this is simply the way things are. Do you believe that God will take care of his people? What might it mean for God to care for and provide for his people?
Let’s head over to Matthew 22. In this chapter, we see the Pharisees and Sadducees are trying to trick Jesus. They are desperately trying to trap him in his words so they can discredit him and/or arrest him. These teachers of the law feel like Jesus is destroying the very fabric of their religious faith. He certainly is turning everything upside down!
When asking about which commandment is greatest, the expert in the law is hoping to engage in some kind of debate. But the commandment Jesus chose was not one that could be open for debate–it was a commandment recited by pious Jews each and every day, Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. But then, Jesus adds something new, as he often does. He says...and the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. A person cannot love God and treat their neighbor poorly. Love of God is not an intellectual or abstract claim. Rather, love of God is expressed in the way we love others.
I John 4:20 speaks to this truth, Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. What’s interesting to me here is that Jesus says that the law and the prophets hang on these two commandments. If one loves God wholeheartedly, then they will observe the law. If someone loves God wholeheartedly, they will care for others as well. The prophets often proclaimed the need to worship God sincerely (not just go through the motions) and take care of those who were oppressed. One cannot split hairs about observing the Sabbath but then cheat your neighbor in the marketplace. Love of God and neighbor are intricately connected. This was true 2000 years ago and it’s true today.
Think about this past week. How have you demonstrated love of God? What about love of neighbor?
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
November 10, 2024
Day 1 of Week 33
Scripture: 2 Kings 15-16; Matthew 21
Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Church Bible reading plan. Welcome to week 33! By this point, we have covered over half of the Bible. Keep up the good work!!!
In our 2 Kings chapters for today, we get a slightly different perspective of the Judean kings than yesterday’s readings in 2 Chronicles. For instance, in 2 Kings 15, the king is called Azzariah, not Uzziah as in 2 Chronicles. I did a little research on this. It could have been an error in the original text or his given name may have been different from his throne name. Regardless, he was a man who started well and ended poorly. Jotham, his son, seemed to learn from his father’s mistakes and does what is right in the Lord’s eyes. Overall, he ended well, even though he didn’t totally clean out the pagan idols in the high places. Not totally getting rid of the pagan temples and altars will not end well for Judah in the years to come.
At the same time, we get a picture that things aren’t going so well in Israel, in the Northern Kingdom. King after king is evil. King after king, there was warfare and bloodshed. We are getting very close to the end of the Northern Kingdom.
Chapter 16 in 2 Kings takes a bit of a turn. King Ahaz, while he ruled in Judah, decided to follow the ways of the kings of Israel. He not only worships the Baals, but he engages in child sacrifice and he desecrates the temple. He does what is utterly detestable in the eyes of God. And so God allows him to be conquered by the pagan kings around him. Judah may last a little longer than Israel but sin and evil are also finding their way to the Southern Kingdom.
Our New Testament passage is Matthew 21. Today, we are looking at what we know as the Palm Sunday passage. Jesus has sent the disciples ahead to fetch a donkey and its colt. Let’s start by talking about these animals. Some of us may think it’s strange that Jesus rode on a donkey rather than a horse but that would have been normal at the time. Horses were only used for battle.
What’s more, in the Old Testament, new kings would come riding in on the donkey or mule of the previous king. We see this in 1 Kings 1 when King David puts his son Solomon on his own mule, the trumpet is sounded, the people rejoice and shout, and then the priest and the prophet Nathan anoint him as king of Israel. The mule is like the presidential limo, a sign of power and prestige that says this is the new leader. What is interesting in this case is that Matthew is very clear–Jesus is not riding on a previous king’s colt or donkey. He is riding on a colt that has never been ridden before. This is a sign that God is doing a new thing. Jesus is king but a different kind of king.
We also see Jesus being given a royal welcoming. The people are laying cloaks and branches down for him. This is the kind of welcome that the emperor or a high official of the Roman government would have received. Think of it kind of like the red carpet being rolled out, a sign that a very important leader, the new king, has arrived.
For the Jews in the crowd, they would have also know that this a fulfillment of prophecy–Zech. 9:9, Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. All the signs point to the fact that this Jesus is the king! In addition, the people are running ahead and shouting “Hosanna to the son of David, blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.” Hosanna means “pray, save us.” They are expressing that this is the messiah, the anointed one, the one they have been waiting for that God has sent to save them. These words are based on Psalm 118:22-26, The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; the LORD has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes. The LORD has done it this very day; let us rejoice today and be glad LORD, save us! LORD, grant us success! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD. From the house of the LORD we bless you.
Surely, this is the messiah who has come to sit on the throne of David, just as God promised 600 years before. You see, it’s all coming together for them. There is joy and celebration. God has sent King Jesus to save us all. But the enthusiasm is short-lived.
Human beings get distracted and disillusioned fairly quickly (2000 years ago and today!) They realize that while there is something clearly royal about Jesus, he is the promised figure, it’s not in a way they expected or wanted. They think Messiah has entered the royal city to stage a royal takeover, to save them from the Romans. And we know what happens...he has actually entered to royal city to suffer and die. Yes, Jesus is Messiah and Savior. But he wasn’t a military leader on the way to stage a coup. He was actually God himself who came to save us in a much more fundamental way: to be the final sacrifice for sin so that we can be reconciled to God, so that we can live abundant lives walking hand in hand with God.
Jesus certainly could have overthrown the Romans and reinstituted Israel as they desired it, as it was in the days of King David. But Jesus’ mission wasn’t just to save the Jews, but rather to usher in the Kingdom of God, in which all people for all time could be part of God’s greater work in the world and could have a relationship with a God who loves them, adores them, and calls them to something bigger and more important, more eternal. Jesus was king, they were right, he just wasn’t the king they expected.
How often has Jesus not been the King we expect?
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
November 7, 2024
Day 5 of Week 32
Scripture: Hosea 14; 2 Chronicles 26-27; Psalm 61; Matthew 20
Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope. This is the devotional that should have appeared on Thursday so forgive its tardiness.
Today, we complete the book of Hosea. Chapter 14 is a call to repentance. Israel has moved so far from God. Remember, they are going through the motions. They are going to worship, they are saying the prayers, and they are singing the songs. But they have other gods on the side. They are immoral. They are oppressing the poor. And God is over it. So this is one more call to repentance before God lifts his hand of protection. I think the final verse says it all (14:9), Who is wise? Let them realize these things. Who is discerning? Let them understand. The ways of the Lord are right; the righteous walk in them,but the rebellious stumble in them.
In 2 Chronicles, we meet the next two kings of Judah. Uzziah was a king who started out well. He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord and as a result, the land prospered. But as he got older, he seemed to forget who he was. He became arrogant and bold. He went into the temple to burn incense himself, something Uzziah knew was wrong. The temple was the purview of the priests. They stopped him but Uzziah raged against them. God swiftly afflicted Uzziah with leprosy as a consequence for his sin. Thus, he spent the rest of his life removed from society and unable to go to the temple. How often do we see this pattern in the Bible? How can we be sure that we end well?
Jotham was Uzziah’s son who followed him. He apparently learned from his father’s good and bad example. He also did what was right in the eyes of the Lord. He lived righteously and governed well.
Matthew 20 is our New Testament text. The disciples still really didn’t understand God’s Kingdom. In this passage, we see the mom of James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Jesus and asked if her sons could sit at the place of honor on each side of him when he came into his Kingdom. She and the disciples were still thinking of the Kingdom in earthly terms with places of power and prestige.
But Jesus’ reply is interesting. He asks them if they will be able to drink of the bitter cup of suffering that he is about to drink and then he says, “Oh you will experience it.” It kind of gives me a chill the way he says this. But the next part of the passage is the most riveting. Jesus says that this rulers of this world flaunt their power over the people. But among you it will be different. You will serve others. Whoever wants to be a leader will be a servant. And just like that, Jesus transformed the model of Christian leadership.
You know, it’s so easy to get caught up in the desire for position and power in this world, to want people to think highly of you, to have authority over others. We see over and over and over again throughout history. Who are we kidding? We see this in our own lives! But Jesus teaches us a totally different way. It’s counter-cultural. He says what is really valuable is when leaders and those in authority are humble, when they roll up their sleeves and serve others. Jesus lived this out and he calls us to live it out as well.
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
November 6, 2024
Day 4 of Week 32
Scripture: Hosea 11-13; Matthew 19
Happy Wednesday, everyone! Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Bible reading plan. Tonight is Recharge so I hope you will join us at 6:30pm in the Garage for amazing worship, prayer, and small community.
Today, we are starting with our New Testament passage, Matthew 19. Jesus and his disciples have begun to make the journey to Judea; they are heading to Jerusalem. And Jesus is using this time to teach about what it means to follow him. Jesus is turning everything upside down in his teachings: to follow him means renouncing the things that the world values.
In this chapter, we see Jesus touch on how following him will affect how we behave in the most fundamental parts of our lives. He starts by teaching on divorce, making the point that marriage is not simply a contract, but it’s a creation of God and both men and women are equal partners in the marriage. Jesus is saying in God’s Kingdom, marriage is a covenant between the man, the woman, and God. The commitment is sacred. Here he is-turning things upside down.
Jesus goes on to teach about children–parents were bringing children to him to be blessed and the disciples scolded them. Jesus intervenes and says to let the little children come to me and then makes this stunning point that we all must become like little children to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Children, in those days, weren’t seen as having any value. But Jesus places tremendous value on them. Jesus’ point is that to follow him, we have to become like little children–vulnerable, powerless, needing someone else to provide safety and sustenance. Again, he is turning things upside down.
Then, we come to the part I want to particularly focus on. A man comes up to Jesus and asks, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus says, “Well, you need to follow all the commandments.” He then lists out the various commandments and the man simply says, “Yes, I’ve done all those things since I was a boy.” Then, Jesus looks at the man and says that to be perfect, he must go and sell everything he owns and give it all to the poor. The text says that the man’s face fell. He went away sad because he had great wealth. This is the irony. The children in the former story who possess nothing are not told that the kingdom of God is theirs; yet this man who possesses everything still lacks something! Only when he sells all he has—only when he becomes like a vulnerable child—will he possess everything. But he isn’t willing to do that. He decides to walk away from Jesus.
The man wasn’t expecting to have to make that kind of sacrifice. He had no idea following Jesus would be so hard. The disciples are really confused by this. At that time, most people believed that being wealthy was a sign of God’s blessing. Here, Jesus is saying that this man has to sell everything and give it to the poor. And that’s when Jesus says the really, really hard thing...It’s easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of Heaven.
And the disciples ask “then who possibly can be saved?” Jesus says, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.” I don’t know about you but I find it very unsettling to read this passage. Let’s go deeper: Jesus could look at this young man he loved and see that what he cherished most were his possessions.
I think there is a warning in here for us. Jesus is not condemning having resources. There are others in the Gospels with great wealth that Jesus doesn’t tell them to do the same thing. But he is making it clear---having wealth can get in the way of our relationship with him. When we have resources, our tendency is to rely on ourselves, to hold on to our money, to not fully submit our lives to him. It’s hard to approach God as a vulnerable little child (think about how children totally depend on their caregivers for everything), when we don’t feel so humble and vulnerable. The greatest enemies to faith and obedience are self-satisfaction and pride. And live in a culture where these things are held up as ideals.
Jesus is saying, being a disciple, is not about following a list of rules. If that were the case, then the rich young ruler would have been a shoo-in. He is saying, it’s about denying yourself, picking up your cross, and following me. And we don’t like to deny ourselves. We don’t like to be uncomfortable. It means looking at your life and renouncing any part of it that gets in the way of your walk with Jesus. That means that following Jesus isn’t one part of our life; following Jesus isn’t simply one activity in a busy life filled with lots of great stuff.
No, following Jesus means radically reorienting our life. Jesus comes first and our devotion to Jesus as Lord and Savior affects every other area of our lives. Our dedication to Jesus affects how we treat other people, it affects how we spend our money, it affects how we spend our time, it affects how we behave. Following Jesus means a radical adjustment to priorities. It means worrying less about what the world values, and focusing on what Jesus values.
And then there is our Scripture in Hosea. It’s truly poetic justice. Chapter 11 begins with how much God loves Israel but then begins to walk through their disobedience. He speaks to the specific tribes and how they have turned from God. The words may be poetry but we know the consequences won’t be. It’s only a matter of time before God lifts his hand of protection and allows the Assyrians to conquer the Northern Kingdom.
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
November 5, 2024
Day 3 of Week 32
Scripture: Hosea 7-10; Matthew 18
Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that goes along with New Hope Church’s Bible reading plan. On this beautiful Tuesday morning, let’s get right to our Scripture.
We start with Hosea 7-10. I don’t know about you, but reading these chapters in Hosea is hard. The Northern Kingdom, Israel, on the surface acknowledges God. They do all the religious things. But their hearts are far from God. Some of these lines are truly painful. Listen to these words in chapter 8, Though Ephraim built many altars for sin offerings,these have become altars for sinning...Now he will remember their wickedness and punish their sins... In chapter 9, we read, The days of punishment are coming, the days of reckoning are at hand. Let Israel know this. Because your sins are so many and your hostility so great... Maybe it’s because we know what it going to happen that it is hard to keep reading. We know there isn’t repentance in Israel and by this point, there is no going back. We know they will be punished and we know it’s going to be ugly. Sin has consequences and we are going to watch it go down.
With that, let’s head over to the New Testament. Our chapter for today is Matthew 18. There is lots of great substance in this chapter, but I want to focus on verses 15-20. This is what we might call Jesus’ conflict mediation model. If you have a disagreement with someone, you go directly to that person and try to resolve it. You don’t immediately pick up your phone and share your frustration with your closest friends. You don’t post something rude on social media. You don’t decide to quit the church. You actually go to that person and have the hard conversation. Most of the time that works.
But if that doesn’t work, Jesus has more wisdom to share. Go find some other trusted believers and bring them in to help resolve the dispute. That should certainly take care of things but just in case it doesn’t, take it to the church. Do keep in mind that these were pretty small house churches so taking a dispute to the church would have looked differently than it does today. Today, it probably would mean bringing it to the pastor or some church leaders, but ONLY after you have done the other steps.
We use this model in our own leadership teams here at New Hope. That’s why if someone brings me a problem that involves another church member, I always ask, “Have you talked to that person already?” Conflict is inevitable in the church because we are all humans. However, we need to be very intentional and respectful about how we handle conflict. But we do need to handle it. Avoidance, denial, gossip, and/or projection onto others never turns out well and isn’t how Jesus intended his people to behave.
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
November 4, 2024
Day 2 of Week 32
Scripture: Hosea 4-6; Psalm 58; Matthew 17
Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope!
In our Scripture for today in Hosea, we see both judgement against Israel and an unrepentant people. Remember, they don’t see anything wrong with how they are living. In their minds, there is no need for warning. Things are going well. There is food to eat. The land is flourishing.
At the same time, the people’s hearts have turned from God. While they go through the religious motions, they are wandered far from God. They are not keeping the covenant, they are oppressing to poor, and they are worshiping other gods. They are prostituting themselves and there is no remorse. God seeks to call them back but they are in denial that there is even a problem at all. Y’all, this is a really scary place to be.
In Matthew 17, we join Jesus, Peter, James, and John, on the mountaintop. This text is referred to as the transfiguration. They all trek up to the top of the mountain and Jesus “transfigures” right before their very eyes. For just a moment, put yourself in the position of these three men. They had only known the flesh and blood Jesus. We know Jesus as risen Lord and Savior. Thus, I think we would expect Jesus to wear dazzling white robes and be all shiny and glorious. But they didn’t. Then, right before their very eyes, they get a glimpse of Jesus’ glory, as they had never seen it before. Jesus was radiating the very presence of God and these three disciples got to be witnesses to it.
Then, Moses and Elijah appeared before them and they were talking to Jesus. We don’t know why Moses and Elijah appear on the mountain with Jesus except that they were two Old Testament figures who anticipated the coming of Jesus, the final prophet to come and deliver God’s people once and for all. Their work, their ministries, are basically fulfilled by the person of Jesus. They were servants of God but they weren’t God. Jesus, on the other hand, is God and the disciples get a glimpse of that right here.
But there is something about being confronted by the power and glory of God which can make us uncomfortable and even fearful. In awe, yes, but also frightened. Maybe you’ve been there. Peter is there. He struggles to simply rest in the presence of God’s glory. He doesn’t know what to do or say so he blurts out, “let’s set up three shelters–one for you, Jesus, and one for Moses and Elijah.” Now, Peter is referring to the festival of booths or tabernacles which faithful Jews participating in every year. They make structures in their yards as a sign of when God will tabernacle with his people. Thus, this might seem like a weird thing for Peter to say to us but it wasn’t too off the wall. He is like, “umm...I think God is tabernacling with us and we need to make the shelters.” He is kind of panicky. It seemed like a good thought at the time. What Peter doesn’t quite understand yet is that before his eyes God’s dwelling with humanity is present, for Jesus is the new tabernacle of God dwelling with humanity. The shelters aren’t needed. God is present with his people through Jesus Christ.
There is something about mountain-top experiences–times in which we get a glimpse of the glory and presence of God in our lives. I’m hoping you have each had some kind of mountaintop experience in your walk with Jesus, times in which the veil is removed and you’ve gotten a taste of the presence of God. These are times in which we are confronted with God’s power and it can’t help but change us. You realize that Jesus wasn’t just a good, wise man who walked the earth 2000 years ago but rather was God himself, King of Kings, and Lord of Lords.
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
November 3, 2024
Day 1 of Week 32
Scripture: Hosea 1-3; Matthew 16
Welcome back, everyone, to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Bible reading plan.
Today, we begin the book of Hosea. Hosea was a prophet in the Northern Kingdom, probably active from about 750-721BC, when Jeroboam II was king of Israel until the time that the Assyrians conquered the Northern Kingdom. Like Amos, Hosea is considered a minor prophet – not because his message was less important, but simply because his book is shorter than the major prophets (such as Isaiah and Jeremiah). There are twelve minor prophets, including Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi.
Similar to Amos, things were going well for the people of Israel during Hosea’s time and they didn’t want to hear any kind of message of warning. Yet, this was a time in which the people were incredibly rebellious against God. They broke the 10 commandments, they oppressed the poor, and they worshiped other gods. They still worshiped Yahweh, they still went through the motions of worshiping in the temple, making sacrifices, and looking outwardly religious (theme in most of these minor prophet books) but they were hypocrites. They pretended to be faithful to Yahweh but their hearts were far from God.
Hosea is the longest minor prophet book in the Old Testament and this book is a collection of his sermons and prophecies over the course of 25 years serving God obediently. Fair warning: It’s mainly in the form of poetry and it’s filled with metaphors. I’ll be honest, it’s kind of a weird book. In the first few chapters (what we read for today), God tells Hosea to marry a woman named Gomer who is a prostitute. Hosea’s life becomes what we might call a living parable. They have three kids together and Gomer cheats on Hosea repeatedly. When she does, God tells Hosea to go find her and seek reconciliation. This whole dysfunctional marriage is intended to be a metaphor for how Israel is behaving. God is the faithful husband and Israel is behaving like Gomer, the wife who continues to betray her spouse. The people of Israel continue to betray God over and over again but he will continue to seek them, continue to try to draw them back to him.
Our New Testament passage for today is Matthew 16. Jesus has taken his disciples on a retreat of sorts, and they have traveled away from Judea, further north into Gentile territory. It could be to get away from the crowds or so they can speak more freely. But Caesarea Philippi is pretty far north in Israel. It was a quiet place at the headwaters of the Jordan River but also a place filled with idol worship and signs of Roman occupation everywhere. And it’s here that Jesus decides he is going to settle his identity with these men. He asks each of them, “Who do people say I am?”
Over the two years that the disciples had been with Jesus, people had all kinds of thoughts about who Jesus was. Some thought he was the precursor to the Messiah, others (like King Herod) thought he was John the Baptist reincarnated, and others thought he might be one of the prophets returned. But Jesus presses them, “Who do you say I am?” Now, it doesn’t matter what the others say – who is it you say I am?
That’s really the question for all of us, isn’t it? It doesn’t matter who others say Jesus is. If I were to do a man on the street interview right now, I’m sure I’d get all kinds of answers to who is Jesus? A teacher, a healer, a crazy person, Son of God, the Savior. But it doesn’t matter what others say, what matters is what you believe and what you say about Jesus. And that’s what Jesus is asking his disciples. What do you say about me? What are you willing to confess about me? This was really a rubber meets the road question for them, as it is for us. What are you willing to confess about me, to others, publicly?
Jesus asked all of them but it was Peter who spoke up. And he says, “You are the Messiah, Son of the Living God.” The word Messiah means anointed one or God’s anointed. And the term “Messiah” was the Hebrew word for God’s anointed, the term “Christ” was the Greek word for it. Messiah and Christ mean the same thing, just in different languages. I know this might come as a surprise to some of us but Christ is not Jesus’ last name. It is a title. And Peter is giving Jesus this title, you are the Messiah, the anointed one.
In ancient Israel, when someone was given a position of authority, oil was poured on his head to signify his being set apart for God’s service. I Samuel 10:1 is an example, Then Samuel took a flask of olive oil and poured it on Saul’s head and kissed him, saying, "Has not the Lord anointed you ruler over his inheritance? Kings, priests, and prophets were anointed in this way. Anointing was a symbolic act to indicate God’s choosing. Although the literal meaning of anointed refers to the application of oil, it can also refer to being chosen or set apart by God, even if oil is not literally used. So, Peter is saying you are the anointed one, chosen, set apart by God, the Messiah.
But there is more to this. Throughout the Old Testament, there are many, many verses that point to the Messiah delivering the Hebrew people from captivity, from pagan kings. The Jews expected the Messiah to deliver them from Roman occupation via military might. That was the expectation. The Christ, the Messiah is the one who God sent to deliver his people, to make things right for them – the one they had been waiting for hundreds of years. Thus, when Peter says that Jesus is the Messiah, he probably doesn’t quite understand how Jesus is going to deliver them. No one really got it that the Messiah would be the one to deliver people, not from the Roman occupiers, but from their own sin.
Peter says that Jesus is Messiah but then he says that Jesus is the Son of the living God. Just to clarify something, in the Old Testament, there are a number of men, particularly prophets, who are called a son of God. That was not an uncommon title for a Godly man. But that is not what Peter is saying, Peter says that Jesus is THE son of the living God.
Let’s clarify something here because I think we can get confused - Jesus is not God’s Son in the sense of a human father and a son. God did not get married and have a son. God did not mate with Mary and, together with her, produce a son. Jesus is God’s Son in the sense that He is GOD in human form – John 1:1, In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. Keep in mind, the term “Word” is referring to Jesus. Jesus was there in the beginning. Jesus was there with God in the beginning. Jesus was there with God and Jesus is God. Brain cramping yet? Let’s read v. 14, The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. So, the “Word”, Jesus, became human and lived among us. Of course, that is the Christmas story, Jesus became a human being, was born to a woman named Mary, who became pregnant through the power of the Holy Spirit. When the angel comes to Mary in Luke and explains the situation, he tells her that this holy one you will give birth to will be called the Son of God.
This clearly separates Jesus from the prophets. He is not a son of God but the Son of the living God. Jesus walks with a very distinct, specific authority. I mean, look at his miracles. He heals people with a word or touch. He rebukes a storm and it listens to him. He could read people’s minds. He raises Lazurus from the dead. He doesn’t argue with demons. Think about it – when Jesus encounters a demon, they tremble. Colossians 1, The son is the image of the invisible God… He walks in a distinct, divine authority because he is the Son of the living God – the second person of the Godhead.
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
October 31, 2024
Day 5 of Week 31
Scripture: Amos 7-9; Matthew 15
Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Church Bible reading plan. This Sunday is our Celebration Sunday at New Hope. We invite everyone to bring their commitment cards to church and we plan to take some time to lay them on the altar and dedicate them to Jesus. We also will have a time of celebrating baptisms at the close of the service. Please try to attend in person. This will be a Spirit-filled morning!
To switch things up a bit, let’s start with the New Testament today. We are looking at Matthew 15. In this Scripture, we are talking about handwashing and cleanliness but it has nothing to do with germs. In fact, germ theory didn’t really become a notable thing until the 1800s. So what was the hand-washing ritual discussed in the first half of Matthew 15?
To go deeper, we need to talk a little about 1st century Jewish life. Certain groups of Jews, such as the Pharisees and the scribes, affirmed two types of law. There was the written law (the first five books of the Bible) and the oral law (the traditions of the elders/rabbis). Basically, the written law didn’t have specific details so the rabbis, over the years, filled in those details with oral traditions.
In today’s chapter, there were Pharisees from Jerusalem who sought out Jesus. We don’t know why these Pharisees had traveled some 80 miles from Jerusalem (a long trip in those days) but there is some speculation that they had come to check out this Jesus character, this man who was healing, teaching, and saying things that were questionable in their eyes. They were suspicious. Remember the Pharisees were a strict sect of Judaism that believed in following the law in the fullest sense. There were different standards for following the law for different groups of people (i.e. a day laborer would not be expected to follow the law in the same way that a scribe could do so.) But certainly, it would have been expected that a rabbi and his followers would follow both the oral and written law.
The Pharisees noticed that Jesus’ disciples were not going through the ceremonial hand-washing rituals that were required before they ate. They asked Jesus about this. This was a dig, it was more like, why aren’t you properly teaching your disciples? Jesus has this interesting reply, he quotes Scripture from the prophet Isaiah: “These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me...” On the surface, there wasn’t anything wrong with what the Pharisees were trying to do. They had purity laws which they thought were very important in following God. But Jesus could see past their words, past their ritual, and into their hearts. He saw their insincerity, hollowness, and hypocrisy; it was all a facade. Thus, he sees this as a fulfillment of Biblical prophecy. Just as in the times of Isaiah, the Pharisees were giving lip service to following God but their hearts were far from him. They were concerned about the Sabbath being followed to the tee but they would cheat people in the marketplace. They were concerned about following specifics of the handwashing but they weren’t at all concerned about the widow and the orphan. Something was truly skewed here. They were all about piety but they had neglected compassion, justice, and love.
But this issue goes even deeper. Being unclean and being defiled was a big deal in 1st century Judaism. If you couldn’t be clean (and let’s be real, a lot of regular people worked jobs or had lives that meant they couldn’t meet all the various regulations to stay clean). If you were unclean for whatever reason, then you were ostracized from the temple. You were basically shunned from religious life. So Jesus is making a huge point here. Jesus is saying, “You are shunning people, you are telling them they are unclean, you are ostracizing them from the community, based on the rituals they have done or haven’t done to be clean. But what you are missing is this: the things that really matter, the things that pose the greatest danger, are not external. They aren’t hand-washing. They aren’t meticulously keeping Sabbath. The things that matter most to God are internal.”
What Jesus is saying to them is that God cares most about the heart. I think we will all should admit that, at times, the church has looked a lot like these Pharisees. We’ve been all about religious activity and less about trying to be like Jesus. We’ve been about the external and not the internal. We’ve cared about appearances. We are putting up this great religious front but then being horribly judgmental, angry, or bitter. Friends, God could care less about your religious busyness. He wants your heart. He doesn’t care about our ceremonial handwashing---he cares about if we are treating others with the love of Christ. And if we aren’t, then all the ceremony, all the church stuff, it’s kind of a farce. Why? Because God looks on our hearts.
Part of the reason I wanted to start with Matthew is that we see this same issue in Amos. The people were tolerating injustice and maltreatment of the poor, while claiming to be religious and pious. In chapters 7-9 of Amos, we begin to see what God will allow to happen to his people. We like to simply focus on God’s mercy but it also comes with God’s justice.
God has a standard for his people and they haven’t come close. Of course, neither have we. I hope we don’t embody the injustice of the Jews in Amos’ day, but we certainly fall far from God’s standard. Not a one of us can meet God’s standard. We will fail over and over again. But we have Jesus. We are only clean because of Jesus.
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
October 30, 2024
Day 4 of Week 31
Scripture: Amos 4-6; Psalm 55; Matthew 14
Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Church Bible reading plan. Tonight, we have a special worship night! We will have Recharge groups at 6:30pm and then gather in the sanctuary at 7:30pm for a time of praise and worship. Please consider joining us. This will truly be a recharge for the rest of your week.
Today, we are continuing in the book of Amos. Remember, things seemed to be going well for the people but Amos was called to bring them a warning. God was rejecting their worship. Let’s read a portion from Amos 5:21-24,“I hate, I despise your religious festivals; your assemblies are a stench to me. Even though you bring me burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them. Though you bring choice fellowship offerings, I will have no regard for them. Away with the noise of your songs! I will not listen to the music of your harps. But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!
God rejected their worship. He was disgusted by it. It was the people who came to worship who allowed great injustices against the poor. Whether they were actively involved in the oppression or just allowing it to happen, not caring enough to do something about it, we don’t know. What we do know is that God is not simply annoyed, he is truly angry. And then we read this famous line about justice – let justice roll on like a river...
Justice in the Old Testament is often used when describing four groups: widows, orphans, foreigners, and the poor---the absolutely most vulnerable people in that society, people with no safety net, no protection, and no one to help care for them. The just and righteous person is the one who helps take care of these groups. And justice, according to this definition, includes lifting up the oppressed. A just person is one who uses their own resources for the good of the community. Keep in mind that Israel was originally an egalitarian society. The Torah, the covenant God made with his people, made provision to ensure that all people are cared for and that no one was taken advantage of. What we are seeing in Amos is that the people saw their resources as theirs and theirs alone. They felt no compassion and no responsibility to be agents of justice and righteousness, they felt no need to follow the covenant.
Yet they would go through all the religious motions. They did their required festivals, they gave the required sacrifices and offerings, they sang religious songs. They worshiped, they did small groups and Bible studies. But there was no connection between what went on during worship and what happened the rest of the week. This is truth: What we believe about God is demonstrated not by how often we come to church, not by the number of Bible studies we attend, but by how we live the rest of the week, by how we treat our neighbor.
Jesus certainly taught this. What was the Great Commandment? This comes from Matthew 28: Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Amos taught this, Jesus taught this–we need to pay attention to this: Love of God and Love of Neighbor cannot be separated. Justice, righteousness, and how we treat others flows out of our worship of God. We may try to disconnect our worship/our church life from the rest of our life and we may actually do a good job convincing ourselves this is possible. But what God is telling us in Amos and what Jesus teaches is that it isn’t. It just isn’t possible. We can’t worship God on Sunday and neglect the poor on Monday. We can’t go to bible study on Tuesday and gossip about our church friends on Wednesday. Why? Because Amos’ unpopular truth is that what we believe about God is demonstrated not by our religious busyness, not by the church stuff we do, but by how we live every other day of the week.
With that, let’s move on to our New Testament reading, Matthew 14. There are three very different but powerful narratives in this chapter. Be sure to read through all of it if you haven’t done so already.
We start with John the Baptist’s murder in an incredibly gruesome way, specifically a beheading. We can see there is little value placed on human life in the Roman Empire; rather, Herod is far more concerned about how he looks in front of his guests than how he looks in front of God.
Then, we read about Jesus feeding the 5,000.This is a beautiful miracle that gives us a great picture of the Kingdom of God. In God’s Kingdom, there is no hunger so Jesus feeds. But he doesn’t do so in any kind of conventional way. He makes sure that everyone there knows that God provided the meal. Every part of the feeding experience is intended to demonstrate the power and glory of God. My very favorite part is that there is an abundance left over (twelve basketfuls!) Our God is a God of abundance. He doesn’t skimp on his miracles. He demonstrates to us that he is a provider.
Finally, the chapter closes with Jesus walking on water and this fascinating interaction with Peter. Jesus had been off praying, as he was apt to do, and he goes to find the disciples. They see him walking on water and at first, think he is a ghost. Peter, in his normal partly bold, partly impulsive way, asks Jesus if he can walk on the water too. Specifically he says, “Lord, if it is you, tell me to come to you on the water.” So Jesus says to come and Peter steps out on the water. Can you even imagine what must have been going through Peter’s head at the time? For a while, Peter does fine. He is actually walking on water. But as soon as he takes his eyes off Jesus, he sinks. Think about that–the very minute he looks away, gets distracted, and begins to doubt–he starts to sink.
Think about your own life. How often have you taken your eyes off Jesus and begun to sink? The author of Hebrews tells us in chapter 12 to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith. When we keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, we have confidence that we aren’t alone, that God is present, and that there is a purpose to all of this. The very minute we begin to look away, the sinking begins. We become stalled. We falter. We forget who and whose we are.
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
October 29, 2024
Day 3 of Week 31
Scripture: Amos 1-3; Matthew 13
Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope! I want to extend a huge thank you to Pastor Roberto who helped with this devotional while I was traveling in Mozambique. I’m back but still jet-lagged so forgive me if today’s post is not polished. I should mention that our trip to Mozambique was amazing. Zoe Empowers is the best poverty alleviation model I have ever seen and we witnessed the resilience of young people who will become leaders in their communities. Most importantly, they walk closely with Jesus and rely on his strength just to get by. To learn more about Zoe Empowers, be sure to check out their website at zoeempowers.org.
With that, let’s move to our Scripture for today. We start with Amos 1-3. Amos was an unpopular prophet. He prophecies to the Northern Kingdom in the 8th century when Jeroboam II is king of Israel. This was a time of relative peace and prosperity for the area so the people thought this must mean that they had God’s blessing. Things are going pretty well, the upper crust are living the good life and here comes Amos with this message of warning. Financially, the northern kingdom was doing great. The land was producing well. There wasn’t any war. When Amos brings this warning of impending destruction, people thought he was crazy.
Why did Amo’s bring this warning to the people of Israel? Well, because while some people were living quite well and enjoying the bounty of the land, many others were not. The first part of the book of Amos, the prophet is proclaiming judgment against the nations around Israel. You can kind of picture the people cheering him on at this point...But then, it gets personal. In chapter 2, God, through Amos, gives a running list of the sins that Israel had committed.
Amos 2:6-8,This is what the LORD says: “For three sins of Israel, even for four, I will not relent. They sell the innocent for silver, and the needy for a pair of sandals. (While some were doing quite well and living a good life, others weren’t. In fact, there was gross income inequality. Many people were so poor, they were going into debt to buy small items. In fact, the good religious people were living quite well while many in their community were literally selling themselves into slavery to feed their family or being sold into slavery because they could not pay a debt. Amos is emphasizing the low value placed on human life.
The prophet continues in 2:7...They trample on the heads of the poor as on the dust of the ground and deny justice to the oppressed. (Again, those who are poor and vulnerable are being oppressed. The powerful landowners stepped on the poor by using the courts to twist justice. The poor were literally being treated like dirt. As the book continues, we see this theme woven throughout–those who are religious, those who profess faith in Yahweh, are either actively engaging in this oppression or apathetic to the suffering of those around them. Father and son use the same girl and so profane my holy name. (They misuse female slaves and break covenant with God)
The Scripture continues in 2:8, They lie down beside every altar on garments taken in pledge. In the house of their God they drink wine taken as fines. (Garments taken on pledge would be clothing or items taken from the poor to pay a debt, the wine also would have been collected on late debts...) All of these accusations had to do with oppressing the weak, the poor, the most vulnerable of society.
God is saying that the injustices that the people commit repulse him. Thus, he rejects their worship. What does it mean when God rejects our worship? More on this tomorrow.
Matthew 13 is our New Testament chapter. It includes quite a few of Jesus’ most famous parables. I thought today that I would focus on the parable of the wheat and the weeds. It’s powerful and it isn’t one we talk about a lot.
In this parable, the owner sows good seed but the enemy comes in the dark of night and sows weeds. The workers are understandably upset and ask the owner if he caused this. This is actually a theodicy question–God, we thought you were good, why did you allow the “weeds” to grow in our lives? As believers, it is okay to question God and ask why the horrible occurred. This theology of protest doesn’t demonstrate a lack of faith, but actually is an expression of faith.
Jesus also addresses the source of the weeds–the enemy has spread them. God is not the source of evil–God does not cause evil to occur so that we might grow spiritually or to perpetuate some grander divine plan. Rather, God’s enemy is the source of all evil. Matthew 13:39 refers to the devil as God’s enemy. Evil (Satan, the devil, whatever term you prefer) is a real force which both inhabits and transcends individuals, families, communities, nations, cultures, and economic structures. Why doesn’t the owner in the parable want the workers to pull the weeds? Because in doing so, both the weeds and the wheat would be pulled out (Matthew 13:29). God can’t just do away with all evil because, whether we like it or not, we are all are a complex and confusing mix of both good and evil.
Furthermore, this isn’t how God deals with the world. Although God has the power to eliminate evil using brute force (the way humans might deal with it), this goes against God’s character. God instead acts through the loving and yet “weak” power of the cross. God’s answer to evil was sending Jesus Christ, the one who truly understands what it means to suffer and also the only one through which true and complete healing can occur.
But the parable doesn’t end there. In Matthew 13:41-43, Jesus explains how in the end, evil will be vanquished; it will not have the final word. Although I firmly believe this is true, it fails to offer much comfort in the midst of counseling someone who is grappling with the death of a baby or a sexual assault in the here and now. What is helpful, however, is to point out how God’s work in the world is often difficult to understand (think about the parable of the mustard seed and the yeast). We might not always see God’s power at work, but it’s there in the smallest and most unusual ways, changing and transforming us, guiding us, and leading us closer to Jesus (power in the form of “loving weakness”). God is waging war on evil, just not necessarily in ways we see or understand. When this seems insufficient, I lean on 2 Cor. 12:9, “But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness...”
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
October 22, 2024
Day 3 of Week 30
Scripture: 2 Chronicles 22-23; 2 Kings 11; Psalm 131; Matthew 8
Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast the goes along with the Bible reading plan at New Hope.
Our first Old Testament passage is 2 Chronicles 22-23. We read a similar text in 2 Kings 11. King Azahiah is evil and follows the ways of Ahab. He only reigned one year. His mother was a real piece of work too. Lots of drama in these stories.
After King Ahaziah is killed, his mother, Athaliah (Ahab and Jezebel’s daughter), finds her way to the throne. She has all the royals killed, including her own grandchildren, to ensure that only she could rule Judah. The woman was pure evil. But remember God’s promise–a descendent of David will sit on the throne of Judah forever. What Athaliah failed to realize was that one of her grandsons, Joash, still just a baby, was hidden away by his nurse. At just the right time, the priest Jehoiada plans a counter revolution, in which Athaliah is overthrown and Joash, all of age seven, becomes king. The priest presents the youngster with a copy of the covenant and King Joash is unanimously supported.
The priest Jehoiada makes a covenant between the Lord and the king and his people. There was also a covenant between the king and the people themselves. Obviously, the king was al of seven years old so Jehoiada does this on the king’s behalf. But the renewal of the covenant was essential because after the previous wayward kings, the people had totally forgotten who they were. Covenant renewal restores their identity, although it will be a long road to relearn what it means to be the people of God. This covenant renewal also reminds the people of God’s promise to David. For the six years of Athaliah’s rule, it appeared on the surface that this promise had been disrupted. But by ensuring Joash’s safety, the line of David had stayed intact. The promise is, after all, unbreakable.
Matthew 8 is our New Testament text. In this chapter, Matthew offers us a glimpse into the variety of miracles that Jesus performed including physical healings, spiritual healings, and even miracles of nature (calming the storm.) In between those miracles, we find this brief interaction between Jesus and someone described as a teacher of the law a nd a would-be disciple. I would guess that by this time in Jesus’ ministry, there were all kinds of people hanging around him. There were those who were bedazzled by his teaching and miracles, there were those who were curious and seeking, and there were those who truly believed.
In a world before technology, I’m sure that Jesus was often the main show in town! All kinds of people crowded around him for many different reasons. Of course, Jesus knew this; he knew their levels of attachment to him varied. Thus, when a teacher of the law approaches him and says he will follow Jesus wherever he goes, Jesus gives a warning of sorts. Jesus has no ties to the things of this world. He does not even have a regular home, no place to lay his head at night. Those who follow him must be willing to give up ties to worldly things as well. Jesus must have known this man wasn’t ready to do so. Then, another would-be disciple implies that he wants to follow Jesus but he must first go bury his father. We don’t know if this means the man needed to literally bury his dead father, take care of a father who was old, or even simply take care of family affairs.
But Jesus’ reaction is clear–discipleship is not something that Jesus wants someone to put off. The demands of the Kingdom are now, they are immediate. Devotion to Jesus requires sacrifice. Nothing should stand in the way of discipleship. Jesus doesn’t want to be an extra-curricular activity. In fact, he won’t tolerate that. He wants to be the true Lord of our life.
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
October 21, 2024
Day 2 of Week 30
Scripture: 2 Kings 9-10; Psalm 49; Matthew 7
Welcome to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Church Bible reading plan. Happy Monday! Let’s get into our Scripture for today.
We are once again starting in 2 Kings. When Elijah died, there were a few things that God asked him to do that were left unfinished. Thus, it fell to Elisha to complete these tasks. In 1 Kings 19, the word of the Lord came to Elijah, telling him to anoint Elisha to take his place as prophet of Israel (this occurs later 1 Kings 19), anoint Hazael king over Aram (Elisha ends up completing this in 2 Kings 8), and anoint Jehu the son of Nimshi king over Israel. Elijah also prophecies that Ahab and Jezebel will both be killed and that the lineage of Ahab will be obliterated.
In chapter 9, Elisha finishes up the given tasks. Jehu was a commander in King Ahab’s army. Elisha instructs a younger prophet to head to Jehu’s camp in Ramoth Gilead (not sure why Elisha doesn’t do this himself except that he may have been noticed too easily). Once there, the prophet was to inform Jehu that he would indeed become the next king of Israel and that this would happen in order to put an end Ahab’s line. The prophet announces this to the commander and then exits, leaving Jehu to figure out how this might occur.
It appears he doesn’t think too long about it because he actively seeks out King Joram (in the line of Ahab) and assassinates him. Both Israel and Judah were at war with Aram. When Jehu finds King Joram of Israel, King Ahaziah of Judah was with him. With no hesitation, Jehu kills them both with his bow. This means that both nations are stripped of their leaders, creating a dangerous power vacuum. At the end of the chapter, Jezebel is also killed and her body is eaten by the wild dogs, so badly marred that she could not receive a proper burial. And it is done, the prophecy is fulfilled.
In the very next chapter, Ahead is killed, along with the prophets on Baal.
Matthew 7 is our New Testament reading. The Sermon on the Mount closes with a serious spiritual warning about faith in Jesus. The wise person is the one who hears the words of Jesus and heeds them. The result of this kind of obedience is security. The house does not fall because it is built on a strong, solid, unwavering foundation in Jesus. That doesn’t mean the house won’t be knocked around a bit by the weather events of life but it will NOT fall down. On the other hand, the foolish person is one who hears the words of Jesus and does not heed them. That person builds their house on sand and we all know what happens to sand when a terrible storm comes–erosion! Sand is not a solid foundation. The result of a life built on anything other than Jesus is erosion/destruction.
The teachings of the Sermon on the Mount provide followers of Jesus with wonderful practical guidance on what it looks like to be his disciple. This final teaching, as hard as it is, sums it all up–a life built on the solid foundation of Jesus yields safety and eternal security. A person who chooses to build their life on worldly security will ultimately face death and destruction. There really isn’t a way to sugar coat this and frankly, we should not even try. Jesus speaks with great clarity–we have a choice. What do you choose?
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
October 20, 2024
Day 1 of Week 30
Scripture: 2 Kings 7-8; 2 Chronicles 21; Matthew 6
Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope. Can you believe we are starting week 30 of our reading plan this week? We have come a long way! I hope you have been learning and growing. Again, I would love to hear your feedback.
Today, we are again starting with 2 Kings, chapters 7-8. The king of Aram attacks Samaria, and this leads to a severe famine in the land. Elisha begins chapter 7 by prophesying that by the next day, food would be plentiful in Samaria. Everyone was in disbelief.
In an interesting twist, four hungry leprous men decide to surrender to an Aramean camp but when they get there, it’s empty. After eating their fill and taking some plunder, they decide to share with the gatekeepers of Samaria that the Aramean camp is empty. While they were initially hesitant to believe them, they discover that it is in fact true. They plunder the camp and the prophecy is fulfilled. God has provided a way to care for his people once again.
Chapter 8 provides more testimony to the great things God did through Elisha but it also details the succession of wicked kings in Judah. 2 Chronicles 21, also in today’s reading, goes into detail about one of the kings, Jehoram, who succeeded Jehoshaphat in Judah. His evil was horrific. Of course, the big question is how much longer will God allow this to go on?
Our New Testament passage is Matthew 6. This is a continuation of the Sermon on the Mount. Again, Jesus is stretching people with his teaching on humility (when giving to the poor, praying, and fasting), on not worrying, and on gathering treasures in heaven rather than on earth. These are life-changing teachings, if we can take them to heart. I actually have had these Scripture verses regarding worry on the back of my bathroom door for about twenty years. They are the kind of thing we need to read every day, several times a day.
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
October 17, 2024
Day 5 of Week 29
Scripture: 2 Kings 4-6; Matthew 5
Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Church Bible reading plan. I’m currently sitting in the Newark airport, so as I read this, please excuse the background noise.
Our Old Testament passage for today is 2 Kings 4-6. Let’s start with chapter 4. This is really a beautiful chapter. The stories we find here demonstrate God’s power and his desire to care for those who are suffering and in need. Throughout the Biblical narrative, God walks closely to the poor and vulnerable.
In this chapter, God works through the prophet Elisha to provide for an impoverished widow, resurrect a young boy, and feed hungry prophets. Be sure to read through the whole narrative. I wanted to highlight one of the miracles that God did through the prophet Elisha. A widow of a deceased prophet comes to him quite distressed. After her husband passed, she has significant debts to pay and no way to pay them. She is worried that the creditor will come to take her two sons as payment. Debt slavery was not uncommon in ancient civilizations. When the poor could not pay their debts, they were often forced into physical labor to repay them. Debt slavery could last years (it wasn’t as if there was any accountability).
We see throughout the Old Testament the prophets speaking out against the oppression of the poor and this would have certainly constituted oppression! The prophet Elisha sees the woman’s desperation and quickly moves into action. First, he asks her what she has; she has a little olive oil. Next, he tells her to ask her neighbors for as many jars as possible. Once the jars are in place, he has her fill them up. The olive oil continued to flow for as long as there were empty jars. Then, she could sell the oil and pay her debts, protecting her boys from being forced into slavery.
I love how God uses something the woman already has–olive oil–to provide a solution to her problem. I can’t help but think, even when we feel like we have nothing of value to offer, there is always something. God has gifted us with talents and resources that we can use to solve our own problems and make an impact in the world. Obviously, we can’t do this on our own. We need God to work through us and in us. We may also need to lean on the body of Christ for help and wisdom. But God will provide for us what we need. Trust in that.
In chapter 5, we meet Naaman, who was an official in the army of Aram. He had leprosy and heard about a prophet in Samaria who could possibly heal him. Of course, the prophet was Elisha. And Elisha does heal him. But to me, this isn’t the most interesting part of the story. When Naaman goes to leave, he wants to give Elisha all kinds of gold, silver, and expensive gifts. Elisha declines adamantly. But Elisha’s servant, Gehazi, runs after Naaman and lies in order to get two talents of silver (quite a lot) and some clothing. But Elisha knows exactly what’s happened and when he questions Gehazi, he lies. As a result, Gehazi ends up with Naaman’s leprosy. God requires integrity.
In chapter 6, we see God continue to do miracles through the prophet Elisha. It appears that Elisha has developed a much more amicable relationship with the king of Israel. When Aram went to war with Israel, Elisha used his prophetic skills to warn the king of Israel when harm was eminent so he could be on guard. Not surprisingly, this frustrated the king of Aram who suspected he had a spy in his ranks. But one of his officers knew that it was in fact Elisha who was providing the king of Israel with the information he needed to protect himself. Thus, the army of Aram is sent to capture Elisha.
The army of Aram surrounds the town of Dothan, where Elisha was living. Their plan was to capture him. Elisha prays to the Lord, asking for the army to be struck with blindness and God does it. This allows Elisha to lead the army out of Dothan and into Samaria. Once in Samaria, the soldiers’ sight returns. The king of Israel asks Elisha if the men should be killed. But Elisha wants to show them mercy, so the king feeds them and sends them back home.
Some reflections from today’s text:
-When in doubt, show mercy. God is a merciful God. We are called to be merciful people.
-Err on the side of grace. We’ve been shown immense grace; let’s be sure to demonstrate it to others.
-Believe that God is on your side. Your God loves you and wants the best for you. Trust in that.
Matthew 5 is our New Testament passage. This chapter begins Jesus’ teaching called the Sermon on the Mount. This includes a couple chapters worth of revolutionary teaching. Jesus probably preached this over a period of days, with thousands of people sitting on the mountainside listening. The Sermon on the Mount turns things upside down. Who is blessed? Those who are poor in spirit, those who mourn, those who are merciful, those who are persecuted. This would not have been the typical thinking for that time. They thought if someone was wealthy and happy, then that must mean God’s blessing. Jesus is saying not so fast. Things are not always what they seem.
The standard for a believer is so much greater than the law. Adultery isn’t simply sex with another, but lusting after someone who isn’t your spouse. Divorce is no longer the acceptable route that the Jews thought it was. You don’t take an eye for an eye, but rather turn the other check. I kind of imagine all the people with jaws dropped, thinking but how can this be? How is this even possible?
More tomorrow.
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
October 16, 2024
Day 4 of Week 29
Scripture: 2 Kings 2-3; Psalm 48; Matthew 4
Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional/podcast that complements the New Hope Bible reading plan. Today is Wednesday and New Hope will finally have Recharge once again at 6:30 in the Garage. With all the storms, our Recharge worship and group experience has been disrupted. I wish I could be there with you! Go and worship and enjoy being together.
Our Old Testament passage for today is 2 Kings 2-3. Let’s start with chapter 2. Here, we find Elijah taking his mentee/student on a farewell tour to greet the prophets at Bethel, Jericho, and Gilgal. Elijah will soon leave the earth; that much is repeated multiple times. It almost seems that Elijah wants to take this final journey alone but Elisha insists on staying with his master.
As the chapter progresses, Elijah is taken to heaven and Elisha becomes the one in charge. Some thoughts:
-The Elijah and Elisha relationship is a really special one. Elijah has mentored and poured himself into the younger student. As a result, Elisha is now ready to lead. Who might God be calling you to mentor?
-Godly leadership often involves making hard decisions and sacrifices. We have seen that in Elijah’s ministry and we will soon see it in Elisha’s ministry. Is God calling you to a hard decision? Has he asked you to make a sacrifice for his Kingdom and you are dragging your feet or hesitant?
-Godly leadership is repaid in unexpected ways. Elijah and Elisha had a bond and were very much dedicated to God and one another. They were like father and son. Elijah’s ministry bore much fruit in unexpected ways over his years as a prophet. In the end, God brought him directly into heaven–no long, extended dying process. Godly leadership is hard but it also has many rewards.
Let’s head over to chapter 3. While Elisha had clearly taken the place of Elijah in serving as the Lord’s prophet to Israel, he had yet to prove himself. We see God speak clearly and powerfully through Elisha. There is a fair amount of drama in this chapter. It begins by introducing Joram, Ahab’s son, who succeeded him as king of Israel and while not as wicked as Ahab, Joram was still a sinful king.
Then, the narrative focuses on an issue with Moab, which has decided to no longer pay tribute (in the form of sheep) to Israel. This angers Joram so he partners with Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, to squash the Moabite rebellion. But their joint armies soon run out of water and food. In order to figure out what’s going on, Jehoshaphat asks for a prophet of the Lord to shed light on the situation. This is when Elisha is called in. It’s clear that Elisha has significant animosity toward Joram. He knows he is a sinful king who does not honor the Lord and he really doesn’t want to offer his advice. The presence of Jehoshaphat, a man of God, calms him down and he finally agrees to offer prophecy.
God speaks powerfully through Elisha, saying that he will fill the land with pools of water so they can all drink. That is exactly what happens. Water fills the land by morning time. In an interesting twist, the Moabites see the sun hit the water and believe that the pools are filled with blood, thinking the armies of Israel and Judah have slaughtered each other. So the Moabites are caught off guard when the two armies (Israel and Judah) rise up and fight. Moab is defeated.
Probably the most distressing aspect of the chapter is the last portion of text. In a desperate attempt to win, the Moabite king sacrifices his first-born son on the city wall, thinking it may appease the false god Chemosh. Of course, the Israelites are outraged at the sight.
Evil comes in all forms. From Joram to the Moabite king, evil is present in our world. From my human perspective, I often wish God would just swoop down and just eliminate all the evil in the world so that suffering and pain could be banished for good. I mean, God is all-powerful. But that isn’t the way God operates. Plus, the reality is that we are all a complex mix of good and evil. It’s important for me to remember that God dealt with evil through the quiet strength of the cross. And we trust that he is still dealing with evil in ways that we can’t see or understand. Eventually, we know that Jesus will return and deal with evil for good. Until then, we seek to be light in a dark world.
Please be sure to read the Psalm. I’m not going to talk about it, but it’s a song celebrating the deliverance of Jerusalem. Knowing what you now know about the wars that the Southern Kingdom faced, you might want to do some more research. Which battle might this psalm have been written after?
Matthew 4 is our New Testament passage. We find Jesus calling several of his disciples to follow him. I think it’s hard for us to imagine how abruptly these four men responded to Jesus. While there was probably more back story here that we aren’t privy to, the reality is that they left everything to follow Jesus. They left all human sources of security, all human goals and aspirations to respond to a call by God. They left their jobs and probably their families to respond to a call, and did so as far as we can tell, without hesitation or doubt.
Could we do the same? God calls each and every one of us but we still hold on to various aspects of the world. How often do we fully and completely let go of everything to simply follow Jesus? This is the demand of the kingdom of God–turn away from the kingdom of the world and give all to a bigger, deeper purpose. Stop worrying so much about fishing for money, power, or admiration and simply fish for people. We may live 2000 years later but this is our mission and call as well. Do you believe this? Are you ready to say yes?
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
October 15, 2024
Day 3 of Week 29
Scripture: 2 Chr 19-20; 2 Kings 1; Psalm 20; Matthew 3
Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Church Bible reading plan. It’s Tuesday and I know the days have started to blur together for some of you who still don’t have power. Hurricane fatigue is a real thing! Let’s be sure to take care of each other.
Also, I just wanted to remind all of you that Pastor Lavetta and I are starting our trek to Mozambique today. We are traveling with Zoe Empowers to visit with our New Hope orphan empowerment group. Please be in prayer for us. To be honest, the trip comes at such a rough time but I felt very strongly that God wants us to go. We’ll return on October 27. Keep our husbands in prayer too, as they hold down the fort!!!
Our first Old Testament passage for today is 2 Chronicles 19-20. The beginning of chapter 19 is interesting. Jehoshaphat was admonished for working with Ahab, the evil Northern King. The seer who brought the news told Jehoshaphat that the wrath of the Lord would be upon him. In other ways, Jehoshaphat was a good king, getting rid of the pagan shrines and temples. But clearly God had higher expectations for him. He was supposed to trust God in all things, including wars and political alliances. In this way, he failed. But that does not stop the Southern king from following God. He appoints judges to serve under the Levites. Their role was to manage disputes and administer the law of the Lord.
In chapter 20, we find that Judah is being threatened by outside nations once again. This certainly is an area of the world that has been warring for thousands of years! But this time, Jehoshaphat does it right – he and his people go to the Lord first. And God promises to fight their battle for them. The people sing praises while God takes care of their enemies. This is so fascinating. They are literally singing and God is just ambushing the Ammonites. Once the battle was over, the people rejoiced some more, and all the surrounding nations were fearful of the Lord.
But after this high and holy moment, in which they see the hand of God in a powerful way, Jehoshaphat messes up again. He makes another alliance with the Northern king, Ahaziah, who is quite evil. This is the same thing he did before! You wonder what he was thinking. He knows God, he has seen the hand of God, and yet, he falls into the same trap. I wonder if some of us can relate. We know God, we believe in God, we have seen his hand, and we still keep making the same mistakes. Oh, how we need Jesus!
Today, we also begin 2 Kings, which continues 1 Kings without any kind of break. We immediately find that the clash between Elijah, a prophet of Yahweh, and the Israelite monarchy continues. Despite past warnings, Ahaziah, the king of the Northern Kingdom, is worshiping and consulting with other gods. Thus, Yahweh, the one true God will continue to demonstrate that he is supreme.
In today’s chapter, Yahweh demonstrates his power and supremacy through the sending of fire. Make sure you read the whole text. The king has become injured and wants to see if he will recover from his injury. He sends some messengers to consult the god, Baal-Zebub, to provide guidance on his recovery. One has to stop and wonder what in the world he was thinking. Why is he intentionally snubbing Yahweh to consult a false god? His messengers are met by Elijah the prophet who expresses God’s anger at the situation. Through Elijah, God makes it clear that Ahaziah will not recover but rather will die in his bed.
In an attempt to get more clarity (or possibly a new prophecy), the king sends several groups of soldiers to summon Elijah. The first two groups are consumed by fire. Ahaziah, clearly not learning the lesson, sends a third group. This group pleads for mercy from Elijah, as they know their lives are in danger. They are allowed to live, Elijah addresses the king, and Ahaziah dies shortly after.
What are we to make of this? I don’t understand why the king of Israel insisted on consulting Baal rather than Yahweh. But what I do know is that God wants us to always consult him first. When we are in trouble, instead of trying to figure it out ourselves, God desires that we reach out to him FIRST. God loves us, God truly wants the best for us, and God wants to lead us in his direction. We may think we are so much better than Ahaziah but in many ways, we do exactly the same thing. We may not consult a false god, but we try to do life on our own. Yet, we have a God who is powerful and good. Seek God first. Listen. Obey.
Our New Testament passage is Matthew 3. This includes both an introduction to the ministry of John the Baptist and Jesus’ baptism. Why did Jesus feel the need to get baptized? Obviously, he didn’t need it – he had no sin, there was no need for cleansing. But his baptism was a sign of his obedience to God’s will; he would act faithfully to his purpose of bringing salvation to all people. And God expresses his agreement by sending the Holy Spirit and confirming Jesus’ identity by saying, This is my Son whom I love... It’s in Jesus’ baptism that we see a beautiful picture of the Trinity.
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
October 14, 2024
Day 2 of Week 29
Scripture: 1 Kings 22; 2 Chr 18; Matthew 2
Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope! I’m praying that by now, most of you have power. If you don’t, my prayer is that today will be the day!
We have come to the final chapter in the book of 1 Kings. You made it! While the story is far from over, I hope these past few weeks have been insightful for you. These Old Testament passages are filled with truth, sometimes really hard truth, but well worth our time digesting them and allowing God to speak to us through them. In today’s chapter, we find Ahab, king of Israel, form an alliance with Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, to go to war with Syria (Aram) over the region of Ramoth Gilead.
In an effort to ensure they would win, they seek the guidance from the prophets of Israel. Ahab quickly summons four hundred prophets who claim to speak for Yahweh and enthusiastically proclaim that God will guarantee their victory. Jehoshaphat is a bit wary of these four hundred prophets, as they were most certainly on King Ahab’s payroll and willing to say whatever pleased the king. King Jehoshaphat asked for a true prophet of the Lord. Ahab is hesitant but has Micaiah summoned to prophecy on the topic as well. Ahab actually says he hates Micaiah because he never says anything good about him. Rather than take this to heart and consider there may be an issue with his own actions, he simply blames Micaiah. Interestingly, Micaiah prophecies victory for Israel and Judah over Aram but also that Ahab would be killed in battle. Ahab, with his typical arrogance, dismisses Micaiah with anger but is indeed killed in the battle. 2 Chronicles 18 tells the same story from a slightly different angle.
How often do we surround ourselves with people who will tell us what we want to hear? Obviously, Ahab made a habit of this. He liked his paid prophets because they petted his ego and agreed with him. They didn’t call him out on his behavior or idolatry. Micaiah, on the other hand, told it like it was. I’m wondering if we sometimes do the same. We hang out with people who tell us what we want to hear or think exactly like we do. We listen to news and podcasts that reinforce our own ideas. Do we allow ourselves to be challenged? I can’t help but think that’s the importance of constantly digging into God’s Word and spending lots of time in prayer. We need to listen to God so God can share his truth with us. Sometimes this truth will reinforce what we know or be exactly what we want to hear. Other times, it will be hard truth that convicts us and points us in another direction. But this is how God stretches us, grows us, and helps us better reflect Jesus.
Do you allow God to challenge and convict you and how?
Our New Testament Scripture is Matthew 2. This is pretty familiar Scripture for many of us. I wanted to focus on the first section about the magi. They are an interesting and mysterious group. We don’t really know much about the magi who come seeking Jesus from eastern lands. Some translations call them wise men or kings. Matthew doesn’t include a lot of details. We have no idea how many there actually were (despite the popular carol, Scripture does not say there were just three of them). Like the shepherds, the magi seem an unlikely group to seek out and worship Jesus. Magi at that time were often thought to be sorcerers or astrologers; that means they were pagans. They were also men of wealth. They were foreign. Basically, they were not Jewish. And yet, they go to a lot of trouble to find, to worship, and to adore King Jesus.
What can we make of this? It seems clear that God’s faithful, those who are called to seek and worship the Christ, are a vast and varied group. This group includes the poor and humble shepherds as well as the wealthy, mysterious magi. But probably the most important question for all of us today---does it include you? When is the last time you have truly adored King Jesus?
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
October 13, 2024
Day 1 of Week 29
Scripture: 1 Kings 19-21; 2 Chr 17; Psalm 129; Matthew 1
Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that goes along with the New Hope Church Bible reading plan. It’s Sunday and New Hope Church IS open. We now have power in every building so bring your phones and devices to charge. If you need ice, we can offer you that as well. Obviously, if you can’t safely leave your home, then stay and worship at home. As the days roll by, if you need post-storm assistance, please let us know!
We have a lot of Scripture today. Let’s start with I Kings 19. This is a great chapter. Elijah has been doing God’s work and things have gotten really hard and really scary. After he kills the prophets of Baal, Ahab’s wife, Jezebel, decides that Elijah needs the same fate. This is kind of the last draw for him. He sits down and tells God that he wants to die. Enough is enough. He is tired and depressed. Have you been there?
But what I love is how God cares for Elijah. He sends an angel who makes sure that Elijah has food, drink and sleep. Then, he instructs Elijah that its time he mentors a younger prophet. He tells him exactly where to go and what to do. Now, Elisha will come on the scene and provide the support and succession plan that Elijah needs.
In Chapter 20, we read about how Syria, a long-time enemy of Israel, is once again threatening to invade. In fact, Syria’s king, (along with a coalition of thirty-two other kings) makes demands on Ahab to avoid a fight. Ahab agrees to give money, women, and children to Ben Hadad if they will retreat. When the king of Syria and his coalition also demand that they be allowed to pillage and loot the palaces of Ahab’s officials, King Ahab refused. They will fight rather than surrender.
Interestingly, we see God sending a prophet to Ahab who tells him that God will help Israel defeat the vast army of the Syrian coalition. Why in the world would God do this, considering Ahab’s blatant disobedience and evil over the past few chapters? Because of this: God wants King Ahab to know that Yahweh is the Lord. God continues to give Ahab chances to turn from his old ways and serve the one true God. Our God is a God of second, third, and fourth chances. He wants a relationship with each of us. As we finish the chapter, we see that God does in fact save the nation of Israel. But Ahab is disobedient once again. This will be his undoing.
Then we come to chapter 21. Up until this point, King Ahab has been evil in the sense that he turned away from God and engaged in idolatry. Now, he is complicit in brutality as well. When he doesn’t get a nearby vineyard that he desires, he throws a tantrum and allows his wife, Jezebel, to do what she sees fit to ensure the vineyard is his. Jezebel, with no hesitation or remorse, devises a plan to ensure that the rightful owner of the vineyard is killed. The vineyard now belongs to King Ahab. Not surprisingly, this angers the Lord. God declares that the line of Ahab will be destroyed and that his wife, Jezebel, will be killed and eaten by dogs (which would be considered incredibly horrific because there could be no proper burial).
At this, we see a drastic change in Ahab. He actually shows remorse. He puts on sackcloth and fasts; he humbles himself before the Lord. This appears to be the first positive thing that Ahab has ever done. God takes notice. God decides to push back the destruction of Ahab to future generations. You see, God always wanted to get Ahab’s attention and have him turn from his evil ways. He never wanted Ahab to be destroyed, simply transformed into a Godly king like David; he wanted Ahab’s heart to genuinely change. God is incredibly merciful, always looking for way to redeem, always willing to give second chances.
In 2 Chronicles 17, we read about what’s going on in the Southern Kingdom. Jehoshaphat is king and he is doing what is right in the Lord’s eyes. As a result, the Lord is protecting him and his Kingdom. Judah is growing in strength and building their fortified cities. For this season, they are devoted to the ways of the Lord.
Let’s move on to the New Testament. Yeah, we get to start the Gospel of Matthew! This is such wonderful Scripture. While we may sometimes have a tendency to skip over genealogies, this one in Matthew 1 is truly significant. First, we can see the connection between the Old Testament and the birth of Jesus. As we read through the names on the list, we get a picture of God’s history of redemption for his people. Abraham and David are highlights, as both were recipients of God’s promises for the people of Israel, significant parts of redemptive history. Another reason I love this genealogy is that five women are specifically mentioned. This was at a time when women were basically never mentioned in the history of patriarchal societies. And here we are, five very unique and interesting women–Tamar (who was quite tricky to achieve her purpose), Rahab (at one point a prostitute), Ruth (a Moabite), Uriah’s wife (Bathsheba), and Mary.
The first four women were Gentiles or married to Gentiles, they were outsiders to a certain extent, and yet they had tenacious faith, the kind that would be critical for faith in Jesus. This focus on Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, and Bathsheba leads to the introduction of Mary. It’s like the author is saying, “Don’t discount Mary!” She may not be who you would expect to be the mother of the Savior of the world but God uses all kinds of people! God lifts up all kinds of women, those who are proper and those who aren’t. What a beautiful reminder that the Gospel is for ALL.
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
October 10, 2024
Day 5 of Week 28
Scripture: 1 Kings 17-18; Psalm 119; Jude
Welcome to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Daily Bible reading plan. When you listen to this, I’m not really sure what will have happened with the hurricane. What will our community experience? We rest in the truth that God is in control and God is good. If you are able, let me know how you are doing and if you need anything. Please know that you are loved a lot!
Our first Old Testament Scripture passage for today is 1 Kings 17-18. The evil of King Ahab and the idolatry and disobedience among God’s people has gotten really, really bad. Thus, God sends prophets to point out the error of their ways and essentially be their theological conscience. In chapter 17, we meet the prophet Elijah. His name literally means “My God is Yahweh” and that is basically the theme of his entire career.
The chapter begins with Elijah proclaiming to King Ahab that there would be no rain for the next few years until the one true God declared it so. This is particularly important because the main Canaanite god, Baal, was worshiped as the god of rain. By Yahweh stopping all rain and dew, he is declaring that HE alone is God and that Baal is a fake god with no power. The Scripture doesn’t explicitly state the response of King Ahab but we can guess it wasn’t good, for God tells Elijah to leave the area and go hide by Kerith Brook.
As you read through the chapter, Elijah’s obedience and trust in God are quite remarkable. He trusts God to provide provisions for food and water through animals and people! My favorite aspect of this chapter is how God uses an impoverished outsider, the widow of Sidon (a city in what is now Lebanon), to provide care and nourishment to one of the most faithful of all of God’s prophets. Keep in mind that a widow would have been one of the poorest and most vulnerable people in that world. And yet, God chooses her and she (possibly out of desperation) agrees to be part of God’s plan. As a result, she and her son are saved from the drought, the ensuing famine, and even illness. At the end of the chapter, her faithfulness to Elijah is rewarded with God bringing her son back to life. By being faithful and open to God at work, this widow puts to shame many others who rejected the one true God.
How often God uses the weak and lowly to shame the powerful. I think this is something we all need to reflect on today. When have you personally seen this at work?
In chapter 18, God has called Elijah to come face to face with King Ahab once again. Times are tense–the drought is severe; animals and people are dying. Ahab blames Elijah for Israel’s trouble. Afterall, in Ahab’s mind, Elijah has offended Baal (the Canaanite god of rain) and that is why the rain has stopped. Elijah, amazingly brave and solid, denies Ahab’s claim and turns it around–it’s actually Ahab’s fault because he has been so disobedient to the Lord, Yahweh, and it is he who is in charge of the rain.
What’s interesting to me is that Ahab and the people of Israel were still worshiping Yahweh, but they also were worshiping the Canaanite gods of Baal and Asherah. Elijah is tasked with challenging Ahab on this issue. The king can’t have it both ways; it’s time to choose. Will he choose the one true God OR the Canaanite gods? Verse 21 is quite powerful, Then Elijah stood in front of them and said, “How much longer will you waver, hobbling between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him! But if Baal is God, then follow him!” But the people were completely silent.
Elijah then proposes a contest to demonstrate who is really God–is it Baal or Yahweh? The prophets of Baal spent hours calling on Baal to light the altar, complete with dead bull and wood, on fire. They dance around it, then begin to cut themselves and allow their own blood to be shed, begging Baal to respond. Not surprisingly, Baal is silent. But when Elijah calls on Yahweh, the one true God, to light the altar (bull, wood, twelve stones to represent the tribes of Israel, and lots of water), God demonstrates his power in an awesome way. Everything is consumed in flames and the water is quickly soaked up. It’s only then that the people acknowledge that the Lord is God.
We may think that we’ve far removed from Ahab and the people of Israel during Elijah’s day. Granted, we probably aren’t bowing down to Baal and worshiping Asherah. But the reality is that we try to serve Yahweh along with other gods as well. What other gods vie for attention in your life? Money, power, jobs, family, boats, campers, travel, food, exercise, retirement plans, golf, you get the idea. There are so many things that we put before God or at least on the same level. We may think this is harmless but it is insidiously dangerous. What have you allowed to creep into your life and take on the same level of importance as worship, as ministry, as mission, as Scripture, as tithe, as God?
Be sure to read through the Psalm, although I’m not going to address it in the devotional today. I really want to head over to the New Testament and talk a little about Jude. While its not the shortest book in the New Testament, Jude is probably one of the more obscure. Scholars don’t know a lot about it. We do believe that Jude was a brother of Jesus, although he probably didn’t become a believer until after Jesus’ death and resurrection. We don’t have a good date for this letter either, although we can guess that Jude himself died around AD 90, so certainly the letter was written before that time.
What is the point of the letter? There isn’t a big theological statement here. It seems that Jude is trying to direct a group of believers to stay away from false teaching. We don’t really know which believers he is referring to OR which false teachers have reared their ugly head. But Jude wants them to stay strong, engage in moral behavior, and not be distracted from the true Gospel of Jesus Christ. I think that's a good reminder for all of us.
Stay safe, my dear brothers and sisters.
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
October 9, 2024
Day 4 of Week 28
Scripture: 2 Chronicles 15-16; 1 Kings 16; Philemon
Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Church Bible reading plan. It’s Wednesday so I would normally invite you to join us for Recharge. But Hurricane Milton has thrown a wrench in that! So, I ask all of you, how is it with your souls? How is your anxiety? How is your fear? What’s your peace level? There are really no right words to say. This is something we haven’t experienced before and there is much uncertainty. But the good news is that we know the God who is Lord of all things, including the wind and the rain. And he tells us not to worry and not to have a Spirit of fear. I’m leaning into Jesus, friends. Please know I’m praying for all of you. If you have needs after the storm, please text the church at 813-689-4161. We will have someone monitoring that line.
With that, let’s get into our Scripture for today. We begin with 2 Chronicles 15-16. In these chapters, we learn more about the reign of Asa in the Southern Kingdom. He sought to what was right in God’s eyes. He got rid of pagan worship, destroyed idols, and made a covenant with the Lord. He led his people well so that they would also be dedicated to the Lord.
But at the end of his life, Asa makes a terrible mistake. When threatened by the Northern Kingdom, he makes a treaty with the king of Aram, a pagan king, rather than trusting God to take care of Judah. It seems that once again, a king starts well and ends poorly.
Let’s move on to 1 Kings 16. The Northern Kingdom is one, hot sinful mess! King after king, there is disobedience, idolatry, and violence. By the time we get to King Ahab at the end of chapter 16, we think it can’t get any worse. And yet, it really does. Ahab was the worst of the worst. He went above and beyond when it came to deliberately thumbing his nose at God and he took pagan worship to a new level.
Then, there was child sacrifice. To be honest, I wasn’t really clear about what verse 34 meant–what does it mean to build the foundations of a city or the gates at the cost of a child? Apparently, infants (alive or dead) would be placed in a container and then literally placed in the masonry of the foundation. The idea was to ward off evil and please the gods. I have a hard time even typing the words. How absolutely horrific and blatantly against the law of the one true God.
One more aspect of Ahab’s total disregard for the Lord–the rebuilding of Jericho. Most of you probably remember the great story of Joshua and the people of God conquering Jericho after circling for seven days. At the time, God warned of death to the person (and their family) who attempted to rebuild the city. And Ahab rebuilt it. The author is reminding us that while it might not appear to be so, God’s Word still stands. God is still in control. Ahab will not have the final word. Evil does not win.
Our New Testament passage is the small book of Philemon. Paul wrote a congregational letter to the church at Colossae (Colossians) and then added this more personal letter to Philemon, kind of as an addendum. It is difficult to ascertain the specific circumstances behind this letter. Paul is obviously being very discreet and diplomatic in the letter, not wanting to alienate Philemon regarding his slave, Onesimus.
What do we know? Paul is appealing to Philemon regarding Onesimus, who has accepted Christ through Paul’s ministry. Paul expresses that Onesimus is useful to him, loved by him, and Paul would keep Onesimus with him if he could. We also know that somehow Onesimus has been separated from Philemon, that Onesimus may have wronged him in some way, and Paul asks that Philemon welcome him back as “better than a slave,” as they are brothers in Christ. Paul is willing to pay any debt that Onesimus may have toward Philemon.
One of the main learnings from this text is the extent to which Christ-followers are bound to one another through the faith. While this letter is about a personal situation, Paul includes other individuals and the church community in this letter as well. The point was not simply to put pressure on Philemon, but because there are theological and social implications when one joins the covenant community of the church.
We belong to one another. While we don’t have to be in everyone’s business, we are accountable to one another. We need one another for support, encouragement, mentoring, but also to ensure we are not drifting or making decisions contrary to the faith. We are brothers and sisters in Christ and we will spend eternity together. Reflect on Romans 12:4-5, Just as each of us has one body with many members, and not all members have the same function, so in Christ we who are many are one body, and each member belongs to one another.
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
October 8, 2024
Day 3 of Week 28
Scripture: 1 Kings 15; 2 Chronicles 13-14; Titus 3
Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope. I know that many of us are waking up this morning with a sense of anxiety or even dread. We have a hurricane headed our way and we have absolutely no control over it. If you need help preparing your home, please let us know. We have people more than willing to help you get things as safe as possible. Text 813-689-4161 if you need help.
Let’s get into our Scripture for today. With 1 Kings 15, we begin the saga of various kings reigning over both Israel (the Northern Kingdom) and Judah (the Southern Kingdom). In the Northern Kingdom, there is a quick turnover of leadership, which naturally leads to instability. There is also a blatant disregard for God’s laws, including what has become a culture of pagan worship. We see God occasionally send a prophet to hold the king accountable, and regardless of whether the king changes his behavior, we can see the Lord attempting to be in relationship with his people and call his people back to him.
In the Southern Kingdom, there were also a number of leaders, some who disobeyed God and others who made an earnest attempt to follow God’s law. In today’s chapter, we meet King Asa, who does what was right in the Lord’s eyes. He cleans up the pagan symbols and altars, the shrine prostitutes, and brings the precious articles back to the temple.
What’s interesting is that in the Southern Kingdom, even when the kings are disobedient, God extends grace because of David’s obedience and devotion. In some ways, God gives them a pass because he remembered the faithfulness of their forefather David. Even when the kings were sinful, God kept his promise. He promised that a descendent of David would sit on the throne forever and he made it so.
Our God is a God who keeps his promises. How many of you need to hear today that God keeps his promises? Even when we fall away, God keeps his promises. Even when life feels hard, God keeps his promises.
Below is a list of just a few of God’s promises. On this day filled with so much uncertainty because of the storm, let’s focus on God’s promises:
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God promises to always be with you. Matthew 28:20 (and surely I am with you always, even to the end of the age), Hebrews 13:5 (Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” Romans 8:38-39 (For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.)
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God promises strength. 1 Cor. 10:13 (No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.), 2 Cor. 12:9 (But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me), Phil. 4:13 (I can do all this through him who gives me strength.), Eph. 6:10 (Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.)
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God promises peace. John 14:27 (Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.), John 16:33 (“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”)
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God promises to answer prayers. Luke 11:9 (“So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.), John 16:24 (Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.). Matthew 7:8 (For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
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God promises to take care of your needs. Matthew 6:32-33 (For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.), 2 Cor.9:8 (And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.)
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God promises freedom from sin. John 8:36 (So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.), Romans 6:22 (But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life.), Romans 8:1 (Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus...)
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God promises everlasting life. John 3:16 (For God so loved the world...), I John 5:13-14 (I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life...)
2 Chronicles 13-14 writes about the succession of the kings of Judah in more detail, specifically Abijah and Asa. It appears that Judah is more obedient to God’s laws than Israel. What other differences do you notice between the Northern and Southern kings?
For our New Testament passage, we are finishing up the book of Titus. In this chapter, we see that Paul didn't want the Cretans to cause a scene and stir up political discontent. What was most important was the spread of the Gospel. Creating political conflict would not help the cause of the young church and Paul wanted to be sure they understood that. Again, they were not to get involved in quarrels and arguments that simply weren't that important. They needed to show the world that there was something different about them: humility, gentleness, and kindness. Rather than get involved in political messes, they should get involved in doing good in their community. It simply wasn't about them and their personal preferences, it was about reaching people for Jesus.
How much more could we all do for the Kingdom if we worried less about personal preferences and politics and focused more on spreading the Good News of Jesus? Again, don't major in the minors. Keep laser focus on what truly matters.
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
October 7, 2024
Day 2 of Week 28
Scripture: 1 Kings 13-14; 2 Chronicles 12; Psalm 47; Titus 2
Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Church Bible reading plan. As we prepare for Hurricane Milton, please be on the lookout for messages from the church. We want to ensure that everyone is prepared and everyone is cared for after the storm as well. And definitely, pray that God will calm this storm!
Let’s get into our Scripture for this morning, beginning with 1 Kings 13. King Jeroboam has instituted his own cult in the Northern kingdom. A prophet visits him to warn him of the consequences of his disobedience. What are the consequences? Well, a new king, Josiah, will rise up who will clean up the pagan altars, kill the pagan priests, and punish Jeroboam. As a sign of the authenticity of the prophet’s message, he says that the altar by which Jeroboam was standing would split in two. Jeroboam isn’t thrilled with this message, of course, and attempts to get the man seized but God intervenes. Jeroboam’s hand is paralyzed and then, just as the man prophesied, the altar splits and the ashes pour out. Yes, the message is all true; there is no doubt it will come to pass.
This is a bit of an odd chapter. Be sure to read through it all. The man of God who visited Jeroboam ends up with an untimely death because of disobedience himself. You see, no matter who you are, there are always consequences to sin. Always. We live on the other side of the cross and while we can repent and receive forgiveness, we still often must face the consequences of our own bad choices: debt, divorce, job loss, relationship issues, and damage to the Kingdom. Think of an example of when your sin caused consequences you deeply regretted. How did the situation play out? Was there healing and restoration OR are you continuing to deal with the pain of sin? Whatever the situation, submit it to God today.
In chapter 14, it becomes clear that Jeroboam will face the consequences of his sin. His son will die, and the entire house of Jeroboam will be obliterated. While Jeroboam ruled in the Northern Kingdom, Rehoboam reigned in the Southern Kingdom, Judah. Things aren’t going well there either. They also worshiped other gods, set up altars in the high places, had shrines with male prostitutes, and did things absolutely detestable in the eyes of the one true God. We see God lifting his hand of protection and allowing the king of Egypt to successfully attack Jerusalem and carry off treasures from the temple. Things are going really bad in the north and the south.
What has happened to God’s people? How did they get to this place? I think sometimes we can ask ourselves the same questions.
The 2 Chronicles chapter goes into further detail about the attack from the Egyptian king. It could have been worse, but in the end Rehoboam did show some humility before the Lord and God spared his life. But the covenant was broken and we are beginning to see serious cracks in the foundation of both Israel and Judah.
Our New Testament passage is Titus 2. In this chapter, Paul gives very specific instructions to young and old as to how to behave and conduct themselves as followers of Christ. As opposed to the false teachers in chapter one, Paul wants Titus to teach sound doctrine, which includes that behavior should be consistent with belief; there are certain virtues that Christians should live up to. Doing otherwise damages their witness in the community. Titus himself, as the leader, must also be an example of living a blameless, virtuous life.
Today's chapter speaks to why the Christian lives ethically and blamelessly. There should be a direct link between theology and ethics. If we truly believe that God has been revealed and salvation has come, that those who believe are freed and cleansed from sin because of the blood of Christ, and that receiving Christ makes us new creations, THEN we should act accordingly. We are no longer slaves to the mess of the world. We have the ability to change, to act differently, to behave in a way that demonstrates the Spirit within us.
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
October 6, 2024
Day 1 of Week 28
Scripture: 1 Kings 12; 2 Chronicles10-11; Titus 1
Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional/podcast that complements our New Hope Church Bible reading plan. As I write this, I am contemplating how we all might be facing another hurricane. Can we pray as a group that God calms this storm? I’m just having a hard time conceiving how we deal with more water. We have to give it to God. Let’s do that right now.
Our first Old Testament passage is 1 Kings 12. Rehoboam, the king who succeeded Solomon, has the ability to unite his people but his own arrogance gets in the way. Listening to poor counsel and his own ego, he instead decides to rule with a heavy hand and oppress the people. When those in the Northern regions hear about this, they decide it’s time to separate from Judah. They want nothing to do with Rehoboam and reject his rule over them. They boldly state that they will not have a descendant of David in authority over them.
What an avoidable mess. With one bad decision, Rehoboam tears down what David and Solomon worked so hard to build. The truth is that it’s a lot easier to break apart what belongs together than restore what’s already broken. Can you think of examples of this in your own life? Relationships, families, organizations, churches–it is so much harder to restore than it is to dismantle. Friends, what broken things in your life need restoration? Take a moment and pray for that right now. Jesus Christ is the only true way to restore and rebuild. Lean into Jesus.
2 Chronicles 10-11 offers us the same story from a slightly different perspective. As I read it, I kept thinking how important it is to keep good counsel. If the Rehoboam had listened to the elders rather than his prideful friends, things might have been much different. But the Kingdom divides and things would never, ever be the same.
In our New Testament passage, we begin the small book of Titus. This is a letter from Paul to his dear friend, Titus. Paul had left Titus on the island of Crete to organize the church there and carry on the work that was started. One of his main tasks was to appoint elders or overseers for the local churches; this means basically choose some pastors. There were specific characteristics for the pastors that Paul outlines in this chapter, including being blameless, being faithful to a single wife, and not being prone to anger or drunkenness. These are consistent with the lists for elders in Paul's other letters as well.
This chapter highlights that the false teachers have made it to Crete as well. The circumcision group refers to Jewish Christians who are vehemently promoting the idea that to be a Christian, one must be a Jew first, which includes becoming circumcised. Paul wants this group silenced. They are teaching against the Gospel, which clearly states that we are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ alone. All that is required for salvation is faith; anyone who adds to this is a false teacher.
Think about the world we live in. False teachers are everywhere. They may not be promoting circumcision as a prerequisite for salvation but other ideas that are equally damaging. How important it is for us to grow our roots down deep into God's Word so that we won't be swayed by the many ideas out there, the many voices that are vying for our attention. One voice matters-Jesus.
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
October 3, 2024
Day 5 of Week 27
Scripture: Ecclesiastes 10-12; 2 Timothy 4
Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Church Bible reading plan. Before we get to our Scripture reading for today, I want to remind you that we have a disaster relief work day this Saturday, Oct 5. We are meeting at Ruskin Methodist Church to help remove damaged dry wall and carpet, do various repairs, and clean-up their thrift store and youth building. The church was flooded last week with Hurricane Helene and we want to come alongside them to help with the recovery. We can’t do everything but we can do something. Please come help.
Our Old Testament passage for today is Ecclesiastes 10-12. Chapter 10 speaks once again to the importance of wisdom; it is our guide throughout the ups and downs of life. There are also some comments on the misuse of power and the importance of diligence vs. folly. Both chapters 11 and 12 emphasize the transient nature of life and the importance of wisdom once again. What’s most important, no matter where we are in life, is to focus on God. Old age will come quickly; be sure to focus on what is most important.
Our New Testament passage is 2 Timothy 4. Paul is getting ready to die. He expresses to Timothy that his life has been poured out as a sacrificial drink offering. He has given his whole life to the work of God in this world. It’s been hard but God has given him the ability to persevere, to keep going, to not give up. He says that he has finished the race of life, fought the fight, all the while keeping strong in the faith. None of this was done in his own power but through the power of Jesus working in him.
As I read through Paul’s letters, we see how often he encountered obstacles. This has been especially evident in 2 Timothy. Paul has been abandoned by friends, imprisoned, tortured, shipwrecked, rejected, been in fear of his life, and yet he kept on going. I often wonder if he ever contemplated quitting. Regardless, he never did. He continued to get up in the morning and do what God had called him to do, even when it was really hard. At the end of your life (as Paul was at the end of his), what will be your thoughts about what you’ve done for Jesus? I often say that when we are on our deathbed, all that matters will be who we’ve loved, who’s loved us, and what we’ve done for the Lord. Where do you stand in those categories?
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
October 2, 2024
Day 4 of Week 27
Scripture: Ecclesiastes 7-9; Psalm 46; 2 Timothy 3
Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope! Before we get started with our Scripture for this morning, I did want to mention that this Sunday, October 6, at New Hope Church, we will take a special offering to be sent to Faith Responders. This is a wonderful disaster recovery organization with whom we work closely. They are already on the ground but they need lots of support. Pray about how much you can give and bring it with you on Sunday. To learn more about Faith Responders, check out their website at thefaithresponders.org.
With that, let’s get to our Scripture. Our first Old Testament Scripture is Ecclesiastes 7-9. Chapter 7 is definitely intended to remind us of our human frailty. Life is short. Thus, seek wisdom over the things of this world. Chapter 8 starts with the need to follow the King. For us, we might simply want to say respect authority within reason. There is also this emphasis on the limitations of human understanding; only God has all the answers. Chapter 9 also focuses on the temporal nature of life so be sure it’s enjoyed. At the same time, don’t folly overtake you, as wisdom is always preferred. And yet, there are no guarantees for anyone.
Psalm 46 is a famous psalm, probably many of you have read it before. It demonstrates two truths about God: His strength and his Presence. God is our strength and our refuge. The closing of the psalm is particularly powerful – be still and know that I am God. How do you be still and know God? In the hurried, short-attention span kind of lifestyles that we lead, what kinds of things do you need to put in place in your life to make space to do this?
Our New Testament passage is 2 Timothy 3. In this third chapter, we find Paul giving Timothy advice about staying strong in the faith. The world will always be a source of temptation and evil, there will be false teachers, and there will be many challenges. He tells Timothy to stay grounded in what Paul taught him and in Scripture.
In order to not be swayed by the winds of the world (no matter what century one lives in), we have to be grounded in God's Word. God's Word is authoritative and offers us a basic instruction manual of sorts. While we don't understand every story and verse, there is a purpose for every single word.
Our vision at New Hope is to rooted in God's Word, renewed by the Holy Spirit, and reaching the world for Jesus. Some of my favorite Scripture from Paul is Colossians 2:6-7, So then, just as you received Jesus Christ as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. Just as in Paul's time, the world will bear down on us, providing all kinds of temptations and distractions. We have to commit to grow our roots down deep into Scripture so that we won't be uprooted and swayed when hardship, challenges, and temptation enter our world. Obviously, we need to do this as individuals but we also have to commit to do this as a body of believers. We meet Jesus on the pages of Scripture AND God’s Word provides a metric by which we can measure everything in our lives. It’s essential. Together, rooted in Scripture, we will be immovable.
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
October 1, 2024
Day 3 of Week 27
Scripture: Ecclesiastes 4-6; Psalm 125; 2 Timothy 2
Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Church Bible reading plan. One thing that I want to mention before we get started with the Scripture is the need for disaster recovery in our area. What terrible devastation Helene caused up the Gulf coast and throughout Georgia and the Carolinas. We definitely need to be in prayer for these areas but I also feel like we are in a unique position to help. Last Saturday, we took a team down to Port Charlotte. This Saturday, we will head to Ruskin. If you are able to help, we will meet at Ruskin Methodist Church at 8am this Saturday. More details to come.
With that, let’s get right into our Scripture. Ecclesiastes 4-6 is our first Old Testament passage. In chapter 4, we again read about how meaningless our toil and achievements tend to be. In chapter 5, we read about the importance of keeping the vows we make with God, and in chapter 6, we learn about the danger of squandering the gifts God gives us. All of this points to the temporary nature of our lives – our stuff is fleeting, our achievements are momentary, and our lives all have expiration dates. The only thing that keeps us centered is God.
Psalm 125 is a short but powerful psalm. It focuses on God’s unwavering protection for his people. Our God is a faithful God. Even in the middle of hardship, God is there with us. We can rejoice in that! Think of your last significant trial. How did you experience the protection of God?
Let’s move on to our New Testament passage, 2 Timothy 2. Besides the outside persecution that the church in Ephesus was experiencing, Paul also addresses another serious issue: in-fighting. There were quarrels and fights within the Ephesian church, literally translated "word battles", that threatened to unravel the young church. The church members were battling over doctrinal viewpoints and had formed factions.
Paul encourages Timothy to plead with the Ephesian believers to basically remember who and whose they are, to remember what was most important, and to explain how arguments within the church have the potential to damage the Kingdom.
How often have modern day churches been unraveled over word battles? It's amazing to me how easily distracted we get. We forget who we represent and get pulled into doctrinal arguments that really don't matter that much. We major in the minors as some people say. Are you currently engaged in any word battles with other believers? It's time to put them to rest.
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
September 30, 2024
Day 2 of Week 27
Scripture: Ecclesiastes 1-3; Psalm 45; 2 Timothy 1
Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Church Bible reading plan. I apologize for the lapse in the Daily Dose. With the storm and church closure, things got off kilter a bit. But the good news is we are back in business! Speaking of the storm, if you have damage or need assistance, please reach out to me personally and we will see how we can help.
We are starting a new Old Testament book today and that is the book of Ecclesiastes. Ecclesiastes is a book of wisdom literature, which has historically been attributed to King Solomon. However, it is drastically different from Proverbs and Song of Songs. When you read the first two chapters, did you notice the pessimistic stance that Solomon takes? Everything is meaningless, he states, including wisdom, pleasures, folly, and toil. Some people claim that this book was Solomon’s response to Proverbs, as he began to realize that life isn’t as easy as believing in God and choosing wisdom. There is an unpredictability to life that we must account for as believers. One scholar I read said that, in Ecclesiastes, Solomon was defending the life of faith in a generous God by pointing to the uglyness of the alternative.
I’d be curious what your thoughts are as you read through this book. As we progress through the chapters, I think we will begin to see that Solomon is making a good point. While life may be a struggle and totally unpredictable at times, God is the only thing that remains solid.
I did want to touch briefly on Ecclesiastes 3. In this chapter is the famous Scripture “to everything there is a season” that we often read at funerals. It demonstrates the cyclical nature to life. There are things that all of us as human beings will have to face – birth and death, planting and uprooting, killing and healing, weeping and laughing, and so forth. Life is fragile. It is fleeting. The time we spend on this earth is limited and we must use it well.
Of course, we live on the other side of the cross. We know that if we believe in Jesus Christ, then this world isn’t all there is. But yet, we don’t want to waste our lives. We are called to be about Jesus’ business – caring for people, serving the least and the lost, and sharing the Gospel. How we do life matters because of who we represent.
Our psalm for today is Psalm 45. This is an interesting psalm. It’s a wedding song, so on the surface, it seems to celebrate human love. But if we go deeper, read it a few more times, and you will see the messianic undertones. This is about Jesus. It’s a love song to Jesus Christ. The book of Hebrews applies this psalm to Jesus – can you find the elements that connect Psalm 45 with Hebrews?
Our New Testament text is 2 Timothy 1. In this second letter to Timothy (and his final New Testament letter), Paul again wants to encourage Timothy, who has now been ministering to the churches at Ephesus for four years. Paul is writing this letter from a dank Roman prison cell and he knows that his death is imminent. Paul also seems to know that Timothy's ministry will only get harder once Paul dies, as the persecution is now severe and the challenges for the young churches are many.
Knowing the context in which this book was written helps us better understand it. Paul wants Timothy to continue his ministry without fear and there was much to fear. Paul mentions just a few of his challenges: abandonment by friends, persecution and imprisonment, physical pain and suffering. Paul knew that Timothy may eventually face similar trials. But living fearlessly in the midst of hardship requires more than some encouraging words of advice. The only way Timothy (and us for that matter) can survive in such difficult times is through the power of God which lives within us.
Remember, if you have said yes to Jesus, the Spirit of the Living God dwells within you. On our own, even on our best day, we aren't that powerful but God always is. Paul reminds Timothy that it is the Holy Spirit within him that provides the power, love, and self-discipline needed to persevere in the faith and to live abundant and joy-filled lives in the middle of puzzling and difficult times. I don't know about you but this was a message I needed to hear today.
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
September 25, 2024
Day 4 of Week 26
Scripture: 2 Chronicles 5-7; Psalm 121; 1 Timothy 4
Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope. Well, it appears we are once again preparing for a hurricane, although most of the really strong winds should be to the west of us. We will, however, get a lot of rain and a lot of tropical storm force winds. Thus, Recharge will be cancelled tonight and our campus will be closed on Thursday. Please be safe and let us know if you have any needs. Remember, my cell number is 813-310-3884. If you have a true medical emergency, please call 911. If you have a lower-level need OR any kind of emotional/spiritual need, feel free to call me.
Let’s get to our Scripture for today. We are starting in 2 Chronicles, chapters 5-7. This is the dedication of the temple from the chronicler’s perspective. Two things kind of strike me here. First, in chapter 5, the chronicler is speaking of the beautiful and elaborate furnishings of the temple. They eloquently describe the carrying poles of the ark and they make an interesting statement, “…and they are still there today.” This book, 2 Chronicles, was most likely written in the 5th century B.C. after the Jewish exile. Yet, we know from history that the first temple was destroyed when the Babylonians conquered Judah. The author of 2 Chronicles, traditionally seen as Ezra, would have known this. Thus, his comments about the poles of the ark are curious. They absolutely would not have been there. After the Jews returned to Jerusalem, the construction of the second temple was started. But the ark was never in the second temple. I’m not saying I have any real answers to this puzzle. Why do you think the author made that comment?
The second part of this Scripture that captured my attention is the very famous Scripture in 2 Chronicles 7:14, If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. Pay attention to the context here. The Lord is speaking to Solomon. God is telling Solomon that when he sends droughts or plagues, the people need to go to God, repent, and he will hear them. This is a comment on staying in covenant with God. Basically, if the Hebrew people keep the covenant and are obedient to the law, God will bless them. If they mess up but are then repentant, God will still take care of them if they repent and acknowledge the error of their ways. But if they mess up and there is no repentance, well, woe to them, because things will get bad.
I just wanted to mention this Scripture because so often this is taken out of context. This is not a blanket promise to the U.S. but refers to the covenant God had with Israel. Thus, we can’t take this Scripture at complete face value: If we do this, then God will do this. No, that isn’t the way things work. But we can glean from this Scripture. God is seeking for his people to be humble and repentant. He wants his people to turn from wickedness. He wants us to turn toward him so that he can offer healing. Healing is not merely economic and agricultural prosperity, as the first listeners may have thought, but spiritual healing as well. What kinds of healing are you seeking from God right now?
I’m not going to discuss the psalm today but please be sure to read through it. What aspects of this psalm catch your attention?
Let’s move to our New Testament Scripture, I Timothy 4. Please take some time to read through the whole of chapter 4. Paul makes some interesting and powerful statements in the beginning of the chapter about those who would leave the faith. He very astutely points out that just because someone initially commits to the faith doesn't mean they will stick with it. When things get tough, when false teachers rear their ugly head, when it is no longer convenient, then they may turn away. Paul seems to make the point that this is not an if but a when. This simply means their initial confession was not sincere. While I don't want to spend a lot of time on this topic, I think we find this in modern Christianity as well. Just because someone has said the words of a sinner's prayer does not mean they actually know Jesus or understand what they have said. Something to think about for sure and speaks to the absolute necessity of discipling and nurturing new believers.
Reread verses 11-12. Paul is speaking directly to Timothy. He must have been a timid young man. Paul wants him to take authority and not allow people to dismiss him because he was younger. He needed to guide and lead the church both in his words and preaching but also in his lifestyle. Even as a younger man, Paul encourages him to lead by example.
While we give lip service to including young people in the leadership of the church, the reality is that we don't always do it. We have lots of reasons for this (I've found myself giving excuses too). But God doesn't call the equipped, he equips the called. If God calls one of our teenagers or young adults to be a leader, then we need to embrace them, nurture them, and give them the space to lead. We need to be spiritual fathers and mothers, guiding them along the way. For our younger adults who might be listening: You are called and God will empower you to lead! Want to serve in leadership at New Hope? Come and talk to me directly.
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
September 24, 2024
Day 3 of Week 26
Scripture: 1 Kings 8; Psalm 30; 1 Timothy 3
Welcome to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that goes along with the New Hope Bible reading plan. Please know I spent time in prayer for all of you this morning. If you have any specific needs, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me at vicki@findnewhope.com.
We will start with our first Old Testament reading, 1 Kings 8. This is a very theologically significant chapter so if you didn’t get a chance to read the whole narrative, I would encourage you to do so now. We see God’s promise to Abraham, Moses, and David fulfilled with the dedication of the temple. We see the normal pomp and circumstance of a religious building dedication but there is also the amazing presence of God, Solomon’s genuine prayers, and words of both encouragement and warning.
The chapter today discusses the presence of God filling the Holy Place in the newly built temple. The priests couldn’t finish their service because the glory of God was so powerful. Obviously, we don’t experience God’s glory in the form of a cloud (I guess we could but I personally haven’t.) We do experience the powerful glory of God in other ways. Because of the Holy Spirit, we can be assured that God’s presence is always with us, closer than our very breath. In fact, there is no place we can go where God’s presence is not. That being said, there are specific times in our lives in which we experience God’s glory and presence in very real ways. These are times in which God’s beauty, grace, and manifold goodness show up in undeniable ways and we know, “Wow, I’ve just experienced God.”
I have experienced God’s glory in various ways. There are some times in which I’m sure God is showing up but I’m simply not paying attention. Other times, it is unmistakable–an answered prayer, a healing, a spiritual conversation or prayer with a stranger, special time with loved ones, a powerful worship service in which God’s Spirit is almost palpable, hearing God’s still-small voice, or even in the beauty of nature. When did you last experience God’s glory? Share this with someone today.
Psalm 30 is a psalm of thanksgiving. As you read through it, we can see this theme of God’s deliverance. The author suggests that real security comes from the presence of God. Do you believe that? Think about your own life. From where or what do you derive security?
Now, let’s move to 1 Timothy 3. In chapter 3, Paul has turned his attention to qualifications for overseers and deacons in the church. An overseer would have been similar to a pastor, someone who presides over a single congregation, probably in a house church. The deacons would have been specific people who served in the church, possibly assisting in church admin functions or in missions. This text indicates that Paul had struggled with some strong-willed and difficult leaders in the church. It’s highly possible that some of the church leaders were bad influences, living too similarly to the pagan culture around them. We aren’t privy to the details but we do know that Paul felt the need to give some basic parameters to who could lead within the young church. They needed to people with integrity, people who were mature in their walk with Jesus, and people who were respected by their family and community.
Each church today has some kind of vetting process for their clergy. If they don’t, then they certainly should. Our process in the GMC is fairly rigorous and you can be assured that our clergy have gone through a process to ensure their theological qualifications but also their spiritual maturity and integrity. There is also a renewed focus on accountability. The reality is that all of our church leaders, lay and clergy alike, are highly visible. Their ability to withstand the distractions and temptations of the world and stay grounded in the ways of Jesus is huge. There is so much at stake. Please take some time today and pray for your church leaders.
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
September 23, 2024
Day 2 of Week 26
Scripture: 1 Kings 7; 2 Chronicles 4; Psalm 44; 1 Timothy 2
Happy Monday! It’s day 2 of week 26 of the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Church Bible reading plan. Let’s get started with today’s Scripture.
Our Old Testament text begins in 1 Kings 7. What’s interesting, as we read about the construction of the temple, is that Solomon also builds himself a palace. While the temple construction is detailed, Solomon’s personal palace is even more so and it takes nearly twice the time to build. It is larger and thus, most likely more expensive. Remember, he used conscripted labor for his own palace. This can’t help but send up red flags for the reader. Solomon asked for wisdom; it appears he doesn’t always use it. The question we will continue to ask as we witness Solomon’s time on the throne, “Is this palace and all of Solomon’s wealth a sign of God’s blessing OR a sign of self-indulgence?” We all would be wise to reflect on this question in our own lives as well.
Our chapter today in 2 Chronicles 4 describes the construction of all the furnishings on the inside of the temple, in great detail. The altar that Solomon commissioned for the temple was massive, about 30 feet square, roughly twice as big as the altar in the tabernacle. Then, there were washing basins, lampstands, tables, and bowls. Most were made of gold. I found it interesting that the Scripture says that no attempt was made to find out the weight of the gold and bronze that was given. And I guess that is as it should be. It’s a good lesson – we don’t need to take strict account of what we are giving to God. But the greatest level of surrender is giving abundantly, over and above what is required.
Psalm 44 seems to imply that the Israelites are recovering from a military defeat, although we can’t be sure which one. The writer of the Psalm has lost his confidence and continues to mention how Israel has suffered ridicule and shame from their loss. He acknowledges that when Israel was victorious in the past, it was only because God was with them. It was God’s power that allowed them to have the victory. And the Psalmist is confused about why God isn’t with them now. You can hear the anguish and despair in the writing, as he feels like God has left them unfairly. Have you ever felt that way? What convinced you otherwise?
Our New Testament passage is from 1 Timothy 2. Paul addressed false teachers in chapter one and is addressing issues related to public worship in this chapter, specifically the roles of men and women. Some of these verses might be the most controversial verses in the New Testament. We know that Paul's writings were clearly a product of the time and culture during which he wrote. How could they not be? So how do we, two thousand years later, distinguish what is specific to Paul and Timothy's very particular situation and culture and what we are to apply to our lives and ministries today?
Most scholars agree that Paul’s statement regarding the role of women in worship in this chapter are clearly culture-specific. All Scripture is useful and applicable BUT this doesn’t mean that isn’t written in very culture-specific and language-specific ways. We have to be able to discern this; we have to take each specific situation into account when we read and interpret Scripture. We also have to look at the full narrative of Scripture.
What does the rest of Scripture, including the rest of Paul’s writing, say about the role of women in worship? First, many of Paul’s letters were written to address very particular issues in the churches. Because of that, we recognize that much of what is commanded, the specific elements, are not to be translated literally and implemented in every other culture around the world. For instance, Paul tells Timothy to drink wine for his stomach ailments (does that mean we are to use wine regularly for medicinal purposes?), to beware of Alexander the coppersmith (Alexander is surely dead now but should we be wary of other coppersmiths?), to be sure that the only widows who are at least 60 years old and have washed strangers’ feet receive resources from the church (I think most of our widows today would balk at washing a stranger’s feet.). Then there is his command to slaves to obey their masters. These are all clearly very specific to Paul’s time and culture and were NOT intended to be applied universally.
Second, we have to also look at what the rest of Scripture says about gender roles in worship. In Paul’s other writings, he speaks of women as prophets and teachers. He states that men and women are equal in Jesus in Galatians. He refers to and praises female leaders in the early churches. There is definitely a clear body of evidence that, for the most part, Paul valued and included women in the leadership of the early church (probably a lot more than was common in that time and culture). In so many ways, Paul elevated the social status of women, which was abysmally low at the time.
Are there other passages of Scripture that are difficult for you and/or you struggle to understand? I would encourage you to dig into the culture and context of the text. What was the author’s intention? What cultural factors were at play? What was the specific historical context like at the time? What elements are culture-and language-specific and which elements are clearly meant to be translated into our lives today? Also, examine the Scripture within the full narrative of Scripture. What else has been included on that topic in the Bible? What is the general impression of the various Biblical authors on that topic? Then, pray, pray, and pray some more.
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
September 22, 2024
Day 1 of Week 26
Scripture: 1 Kings 6; 2 Chronicles 3; 1 Timothy 1
Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Church Bible reading plan. If you can believe it, we are beginning week 26. That means we are almost half-way through our yearlong Bible reading plan. Again, don’t hesitate to reach out – I want to hear what you are learning and how God is teaching you through this reading.
Let’s start with 1 Kings 6. Throughout the stories of Solomon, there is a pattern that develops. Solomon does some kind of activity and we wait to see if God approves. We can see that here as well. Solomon is building the temple with great attention to detail. Then, we see God give his approval. Of course, approval is always dependent on covenant faithfulness. If Solomon keeps the commands of God and walks in obedience, then he will prosper, the temple will remain, and God will be with Israel.
This leads us to an important point. Kings and temples can fall. God is God over everything. God can easily bring down a temple, a monarch, or a whole nation, if they repeatedly disobey. On the contrary, God can protect and expand the territory of a king and a nation if they obey the ways of God. As I read this, I can’t help but think of what is to come. God will make good on his promise: the kings do not stay obedient, the people stray, and the nation will fall.
2 Chronicles 3 also depicts the building of the temple. We see Solomon lay the foundation and measure out the rooms with precision. What differences do you find between the 1 Kings 6 and 2 Chronicles 3?
Let’s move to our New Testament reading, 1 Timothy 1. In this letter to Timothy, Paul gives instruction to his younger friend about how to lead the churches in Ephesus. Paul intends to travel there soon but expects to be delayed and thus, writes this letter to encourage and guide Timothy. But this is not a private letter. It was written to Timothy with the intention that these instructions be read aloud to the churches. It's not a very long letter, but Paul addresses a number of topics in it, including doctrine and a warning against false teachers, public worship, guidelines for pastors and deacons, moral instruction, social responsibilities, and how to deal with material possessions. This all would have been in reaction to struggles the churches were encountering.
Towards the end of this first chapter, Paul gives a mini-testimony. He speaks about being a blasphemer and a persecutor (v. 14) but Christ showed grace toward him. From a worldly perspective, there wasn't much hope for him. But no one is beyond the grace of God. In fact, Paul says that Christ's grace was poured out abundantly, overflowed, in his life. And then, Paul makes some pretty strong, definitive statements. He is responding to the deceptive and false teachers who were confusing the new believers. Read through verses 15-17 again...
Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Paul makes it clear that the Gospel message is trustworthy, unlike the hollow claims of the false teachers. Christ came into the world to save sinners. Thus, the Gospel message is true AND universal. Jesus came to save the whole world. The Gospel is also personal. Paul speaks of his own experience of the Gospel. He was a pretty bad sinner and Jesus even saved him. Why did God show him this amazing mercy and grace? To demonstrate his immense patience as an example to others who might believe in him. Have you experienced the Gospel as trustworthy, universal, and personal? Do you know it as TRUE? Do you understand that Jesus' offer of salvation is for all nations, all tribes, all people?
Finally, have you personally experienced Jesus as your savior? Have you said YES to Jesus' offer of grace, repented of your sins, and decided to live a life following Jesus? If not, today can be your day! Maybe you need to recommit your life to Jesus. You've wandered, you've walked away, or you've simply been going through the motions. Today is the day to make a new commitment to Jesus Christ.
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
September 19, 2024
Day 5 of Week 24
Scripture: 1 Kings 5; 2 Chronicles 2; 2 Thessalonians 3
Welcome to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Church Bible reading plan. Today, we return to 1 Kings and 2 Chronicles and continue the saga of the Hebrew kings. We also continue with 2 Thessalonians. Let’s get started.
Let’s start with 1 Kings 5. Now that there is peace in Israel, Solomon decides that it is time to begin work on the temple. As you might recall, David had wanted to build a temple for the Lord but God had declined. Instead, God simply wanted David to lead the people. God also made a covenant with David that one of his descendants would be on the throne forever. In the covenant (refer to 2 Samuel 7), God also mentions that one of David’s descendants “will build a house for my name.” That descendant is Solomon. Thus, Solomon hatches a plan. He makes an alliance of sorts with the King of Tyre who can provide labor and lumber.
As we read in the chapter, the men of Israel also had to play a role in the manual labor required for the massive undertaking. Solomon enlists the very unpopular practice of conscription, forced labor, but he does not make slaves of the people. They work in shifts. This required tremendous coordination, management, and skilled labor. I was trying to think of a more modern equivalent to compare this to, maybe the making of some of the larger cathedrals. What kinds of massive undertakings do you know of that humans have taken to please the Lord?
Today’s chapter in 2 Chronicles depicts the same scenario of preparing to build the temple but with a slightly different focus. What differences did you note between the two accounts?
For our New Testament passage today, we are finishing up 2 Thessalonians. In this chapter, Paul admonishes a group in the church who are causing disruption by refusing to work. We don't know the details of the circumstances. It's possible that this group believed Jesus' second coming was imminent, so there was no need to work and earn a living. It could also be that this group found menial labor beneath them and wanted nothing to do with it. Finally, it could be a group of individuals who had grown accustomed, possibly even entitled, to the church's generosity and did not want to have to work in return. But Paul is clear: he worked and they would work too. Whatever their motivations, this group was disruptive and creating problems within the church. They would not be allowed to take advantage of the church's generosity.
As Christ-followers, we have clear commands from Jesus to care for the least of these. Jesus fed the hungry and cared for those who had little. The early church was obviously following the example of Christ and offering food to those who asked for it. But at some point, giving can lead to entitlement. Paul was certainly alluding to that. Many of you know my background involves extensive work with homeless men, women, and families. I've struggled with these issues but this is basically where I've landed; we are called tocare for the needy but we never want to harm others by destroying initiative or creating dependency. Historically, church outreach programs have engaged in one-directional giving, things like food giveaways, clothes closets, and soup kitchens. While there is a place for such ministry, it must be limited and targeted. To see meaningful change, we must address root causes, building real relationships and working with ministries that empower people to make hard but necessary long-term transformation.
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope September 18, 2024 Day 4 of Week 25
Scripture: Song of Solomon 7-8; Psalm 127; 2 Thessalonians 2
Welcome to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the Bible reading plan for New Hope Church in Brandon, Florida. Just a reminder, tonight is Recharge in the Garage at 6:30pm. This is a wonderful time of worship, fellowship, prayer, and small community. Hope to see you there!
I should also mention that many of your program directors, along with myself, are in Houston this week for the New Room conference. Pray that we experience the Holy Spirit in a powerful way through the speakers and community. Pastor Roberto and Pastora Yamiley are headed to Costa Rica today for the first General Conference of the Global Methodist Church. Please, please pray for them – it’s going to be a long but hopefully very rewarding week for both of them.
We are finishing up the Song of Solomon (or Song of Songs) today. The love dialogue is ending, are you guys upset about this? In these last two chapters, the themes of pure love, passion, commitment, acceptance, protection, and love “as strong as death.” I would be very interested in hearing your thoughts on this book. What do you think about this being included in Scripture? What have been your takeaways from Song of Songs?
Psalm 127 is another psalm of ascent, one of the psalms that the Hebrew pilgrims would sing as they made their way into Jerusalem. I really love the second half of this psalm, which celebrates the blessing of children. The psalmist writes that a person who has many children is like a warrior with many arrows in their quiver. This isn’t to say that it’s better to have lots of children, but more that each and every child is a blessing, unique with their own gifts and purpose.
Our New Testament reading is 2 Thessalonians 2. In chapter one, Paul addresses the issue of persecution. In this chapter, he addresses false teaching. The Thessalonian church was highly concerned by teachers stating that Jesus had already come. To make matters worse, these false teachers were claiming to have Paul's authority in the teaching. Paul tells them not to be "easily unsettled or alarmed," because none of it is true. Jesus will not return until certain things have occurred, a certain event must occur (the rebellion) and a certain man must appear (the man of lawlessness, possibly the antichrist).
The point of this chapter is not to make specific claims about the end of times but rather to prove to the Thessalonians that the day of the Lord, Jesus' second coming, had not yet arrived. It's obvious that Paul wants them to stand firm in the faith and not be so easily deceived. In verse 5, Paul asks them, Don’t you remember that when I was with you I used to tell you these things? He is imploring them to remember the truth they were taught and live like mature believers, putting deep roots into truth. I often tell my kids to "remember who and whose they are." In some ways, I feel this is what Paul is telling the Thessalonians. Remember what I have taught you. Remember who you belong to. Don't allow the distractions and untruths of the world to get you off track or lead you astray. Friends, remember who and whose you are.
Blessings, Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
September 17, 2024
Day 3 of Week 25
Scripture: Song of Solomon 4-6; 2 Thessalonians 1
Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Church Bible reading plan. Let’s get started with today’s Scripture.
In Song of Solomon (or Song of Songs) 4, the text has moved into the marriage. The first three chapters were the courtship but now the marriage is being consummated. The imagery is interesting – how many women enjoy their hair being compared to a flock of goats? As the chapter progresses, it gets more graphic, at least for the Bible. I did a lot of research to determine if Solomon is speaking of himself here in this chapter and it just isn’t clear. If it’s Solomon, I struggle with this. With so many women as wives and concubines, how can he truly know what love is? What does marriage even mean if you have 700 wives? I actually find it more helpful to think of this chapter as the relationship the Lord desires with his people – one that is intimate and committed.
Chapters 5 and 6 seem to portray the trials of separation. Some might even interpret it as the highs and lows of a relationship. Has conflict entered the relationship, has one party pulled away? Most of us understand that in human terms what might that mean in terms of a relationship between God and his people?
Let’s move on to our New Testament Scripture, 2 Thessalonians 1. Similar to 1 Thessalonians, this letter is also written by Paul, Timothy, and Silas, but scholars consider Paul to be the primary author. The letter opens in a similar manner as I Thessalonians, with Paul giving thanks for the Thessalonian church. He is especially grateful for how their faith and love for one another has grown despite persecution. He even says that he boasts about how they have persevered in the midst of such difficulty. He doesn't give specifics about the persecution, but we can guess it was hostility directed at Christians by both gentile nonbelievers and Jews.
This chapter helps us begin to understand Paul's theology on the suffering of believers. First, he alludes to the fact that faithful endurance, perseverance in the face of struggle, makes them very worthy of the Kingdom of God. Certainly, endurance of hardship and persecution was seen as a virtue in early Christianity. What a change a couple thousand years make! At least in Western Christianity, we tend to balk at any kind of discomfort and certainly try to avoid suffering at all costs.
But their suffering does NOT mean that God isn't with them. Paul states that God's judgment is right. Temporary suffering doesn't indicate God's rejection; it may be character building or redeemed in some other way. God won't waste their experience but use it to grow them and the Kingdom. After all, that's what it's all about.
The second element in today's chapter is the concept of God's justice. God is all about just outcomes. He doesn't operate in a willy-nilly fashion but is fair and consistent. According to Paul, God considers it just to punish those who persecute the Thessalonians. This might be surprising to some, as we always focus on God's love. Yes, God is loving but God is also fair. Throughout Scripture, we read about God's righteous judgment. Knowing that God will judge others fairly frees us to simply extend love and grace and not feel the need to distribute our own judgment upon others.
I'll close with Paul's words in Romans 12:19-21, Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord. On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
September 16, 2024
Day 2 of Week 25
Scripture: Song of Songs 1-3; Psalm 72; 1 Thessalonians 5
Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the podcast/devotional that goes along with the Bible reading plan at New Hope Church in Brandon, Florida. Today, we are starting the Song of Solomon/Songs, we will take a look at a psalm, and continue in I Thessalonians. Let’s get to it.
Our first Old Testament reading is the Song of Solomon, also called the Song of Songs. This was part of the Hebrew Bible classified as wisdom literature, along with Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and some Psalms. Wisdom literature was the closest thing to philosophy that the ancient Middle Eastern people had. We can read a book like Song of Songs and wonder why it was included in the Biblical cannon. But keep in mind, the wisdom literature was intended to provide answers to age-old questions like: What is the meaning of life? Where did I come from and where am I going? How do I get to know God? And even what is the nature of love? Thus, it’s not surprising that the ancient Hebrews included this in their holy book. Afterall, Yahweh was intimately connected to the answers to all of those questions.
Most likely, this book was written in the middle of the tenth century. The book is most often attributed to Solomon, which makes sense, because he had many wives and a vast harem. I’m not sure that makes him an expert in love but he probably had a lot of sex. Am I allowed to say that in a devotional? It’s the truth. Solomon was a man who spread himself around; he had an estimated 700 wives and 300 concubines. That is not including some other well-known affairs, such as with the Queen of Sheba in Egypt.
But while there are some scholars who interpret the Song as a product of human love (it’s often seen as a marriage song or poetry), others see it as allegorical. It could be the love that God had for Israel or the love Christ has for the church. As we read through it, I would love your own thoughts.
Song of Songs Chapter 1 presents a deeply intimate exchange of affection and longing between two lovers. Many say it was King Solomon who saw the beautiful maiden and brought her back to his palace to try to win her over but there is no evidence to say that is true. Regardless, the chapter is intended to illustrate the beauty of love, the pining of two souls for one another, and the passionate desire that binds them together. The words are poetic and metaphorical, interweaving imagery of nature.
Chapter 2 and 3 continue the description of the love affair. Many are shocked that this kind of writing was in the Bible, but isn’t God that created human love in the first place? But as you read the text, can you see how it could also be used to describe divine love? What are your thoughts on this?
Psalm 72 starts with a prayer for the king. Not only does the psalmist, probably David, ask for the king's rule to be successful, but he also prays that this king will rule with justice and mercy. Interestingly, in my Bible the heading indicates this psalm is written about Solomon. It very well could have been. But there are layers of meaning here. Most scholars agree that this is a messianic psalm. Look beyond Solomon. David is praying for a king who will truly rule with justice and mercy, who will rule over all kings and all nations.
Our New Testament reading is I Thessalonians 5. Possibly because they were experiencing so much persecution, the Thessalonians were very interested in knowing when Jesus' second coming would occur. Paul tells them two things they needed to hear: their persecutors will be judged AND in the meantime, living in faith, hope, and love, is the best way to prepare for the next step of their Christian journey. Jesus will come suddenly, like a thief in the night. But they have nothing to fear as God's children. Those who reject the Gospel will face God's wrath but the believers will be protected and get to live with Jesus for eternity.
Paul isn't trying to prophecy here or provide some kind of timeline for the Thessalonians. This is purely pastoral encouragement for them. Jesus was pretty clear-no one knows the time, only the Father. In Matthew 24:36, Jesus says, “However, no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself. Only the Father knows." Despite these words, people have tried making predictions for thousands of years. I hear people today say, "Well, these must be end times because of this or that." My personal opinion is that isn't for us to know or say. Our responsibility is to take Paul's advice to the Thessalonians and live in faith, hope, and love, pointing others to Jesus and living like people with Good News.
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
September 15, 2024
Day 1 of Week 25
Scripture: Proverbs 29-31; 1 Thessalonians 4
Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional/podcast that complements the New Hope Church Bible reading plan. Today, we are starting week 25 of consistent Bible reading. That’s pretty good, everyone! Congrats to all of you. Let’s get started with today’s Scripture reading.
Today we are finishing up the book of Proverbs. Chapter 29 is the end of the compilation of Proverbs by King Hezekiah’s men. There are a wide variety of warnings in this chapter, but again its reiterated that sin has consequences. Evil schemes will lead to ruin, foolish thinking is highly dangerous, and we need to exhibit discretion with whom we argue. The last two chapters of the book of Proverbs include wisdom associated with a man named Agur, a king named Lemuel, and a famous description of a godly woman.
The Proverbs 31 woman has become quite a famous passage. Some of you might own a coffee mug with the Scripture. These verses depict a woman who fulfills her God-given purpose and lives with high levels of integrity, wisdom, and complete devotion to God. But don’t let these passages fool you – they aren’t just for women! Every person should strive for these qualities.
Our New Testament passage is I Thessalonians 4. Apparently, the Thessalonians had presented this question to Paul, "What happens to die in Christ?" There must have been some deaths in the church since its founding, which would naturally lead to such a question. Paul reinforces his teaching about the resurrection and Jesus' second coming. He refers to the dead as "those who sleep in death," which is fairly common in both Jewish and Greek writing. But we should note that this doesn't mean the soul is asleep after death. New Testament texts clearly demonstrate that for believers the soul is alive while the body waits for the resurrection of all believers.
Jesus' physical resurrection is the central defining feature of Christianity. It proved his divinity, it clearly demonstrated Jesus' victory over death, it proves that we serve a living God, and it foreshadows our own bodily resurrection when Jesus returns. Because of the resurrection, we can be assured that this earthly life is not all there is; we get to spend eternity with Jesus. I am reminded of Jesus dying on the cross next to the two thieves. One accepts Jesus in his dying hour and Jesus proclaims, "I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise." Yes, we get to be with Jesus when we die AND yes, we still will get to be part of the future resurrection of believers. Both are sources of great hope and joy. The Thessalonian church needed to hear it and we do too!
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
September 12, 2024
Day 5 of Week 24
Scripture: Proverbs 26-28; I Thessalonians 3
Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Church Bible reading plan. Let’s get started.
Today, I want to mix things up a bit and start with our New Testament passage, I Thessalonians 3. Paul and Silas very much wanted to visit the Thessalonian church and encourage them in their persecution. But over and over again, it didn't work out. They were frustrated and concerned about the welfare of the new believers. While they had previously warned the Thessalonian church that persecution was unavoidable, they still feared for their well-being.
Eventually, they send Timothy to visit them and instruct them in the faith as needed. Timothy brought back good news, as the Thessalonian church was becoming more mature in their faith. Despite their challenges, the new believers were remaining strong in faith and continuing to demonstrate love toward those inside and outside the church. This pleased Paul and Silas very much. They experienced joy knowing that the faith of the Thessalonians remained strong and vibrant. They thanked God for their perseverance and endurance.
The early church had such a different perspective than we do regarding persecution. They saw persecution as inevitable; it was simply something that believers had to endure. It doesn't appear they feared being persecuted either. They knew that as followers of Jesus, their message would be met with opposition. In the Western church of today, we tend to fear persecution and rejection. We hesitate to share the Gospel message because we might offend someone, someone might say something mean to us, or we might get rejected. These seem incredibly minor compared to the persecutions of the Thessalonians or other believers around the world today who risk everything to share the Gospel with others.
I think we need to just let that sit for awhile. Are you fearful of persecution? What are your thoughts?
We will conclude this week with Proverbs, chapter 26-28. Chapter 26 starts with a long list of reasons that fools are not trustworthy and need to be avoided, the chief among them that they can’t stop their folly. They make messes over and over again. The other two chapters speak about the need to avoid evil, walk in humility, and stay focused on being righteous. It appears that Solomon is making the point that to be wise is to be moral. There is no way to be wise without integrity and morality. What are your thoughts on this? Can someone be truly wise without integrity and morality?
More on Sunday, everyone. You get two days off to rest or catch up.
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
September 11, 2024
Day 4 of Week 24
Scripture: Proverbs 24-25; Psalm 41; 1 Thessalonians 2
Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional/podcast that complements New Hope Church’s daily Bible reading. It’s Wednesday already so that means that tonight is Recharge. If you are local, come join us for a time of worship, prayer, and small community. We start at 6:30pm in the Garage, on the Moon Ave. side of campus.
Our first Old Testament reading is from Proverbs. In chapter 24, Solomon continues his wise sayings. He mentions several times about not being jealous of sinful people, as success is found in wisdom. How do you define success? Do you think of being wise as being successful?
A word about Proverbs 25. Chapters 25-29 contain material collected by later scribes. These men, working under King Hezekiah, collected and copied these from one set of scrolls that recorded Solomon's other wise teachings. Thus, they are connected to Solomon but not directly. There is a lot in this chapter about personal relationships and the idea that too much of a good thing isn’t a good thing. There are warnings against lying and losing control. There is also emphasis on being kind, even when others aren’t. If you were to write some proverbs about how to have healthy personal relationships, what would you include?
In Psalm 41, we have another psalm of David. He mentions being ill in this passage. He is being hunted by his enemies and his name is being slandered. He has been stabbed in the back by a friend. Things aren’t going well at all! This may have been written when David was being pursued by Absalom. He prays for God’s healing and victory over his enemies. He thanks God for being his forever friend. Wow. I love that – how often do we think of God as our forever friend?
Let’s move on to our New Testament reading, I Thessalonians 2. The authors start out chapter two by discussing their motives for preaching the Gospel message. They have pure motives and have no desire to trick people into becoming converts, which must have been an issue in the day. Gaining converts at any cost suggests manipulation and the desire to look successful before others. But their main concern was pleasing God, not people. That does not mean that the Gospel message isn't pleasing to people, because it certainly is, but that wasn't their main reason for sharing it. God had called them to this and they were being obedient.
Unfortunately, throughout the course of history, Christians haven't always had such pure motives in sharing the Gospel. Evangelism has often occurred with a Bible in one hand and a sword in the other. I think Paul, Timothy, and Silas, would be appalled at how far people representing the Christian faith have gone to simply gain converts, without concern for the hearts of people. As twenty-first century believers, we get to stand on the shoulders of those who witnessed well and those who made a terrible mess of it. And yet, we are still called to share the Gospel with others with pure motives. Guided by the Holy Spirit rather than our own prideful motivations, we are called to share the source of our hope. Just as Paul and friends write in this chapter, our core motivation must be to please God. It's great if other people are pleased as well with the message, but that isn't our primary purpose. It's simply all about Jesus.
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
September 10, 2024
Day 3 of Week 24
Scripture: Proverbs 22-23; Psalm 117; I Thessalonians 1
Welcome to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Church Bible reading plan. Let’s get right into our Scripture for this morning.
Our first Old Testament passage is Proverbs 22-23. I’ve mentioned that I struggle getting through the Proverbs. To me, they seem a bit disjointed – so many different topics without any cohesive theme. I wanted to share with you that I’ve been praying about it. I’m hoping that God can teach me through these little wise sayings.
Today, something definitely caught my eye. It was in chapter 22:17-19, Pay attention and turn your ear to the sayings of the wise;apply your heart to what I teach, for it is pleasing when you keep them in your heart and have all of them ready on your lips. So that your trust may be in the Lord, I teach you today, even you. I want us to read these verses thinking less about the proverbs specifically and more about Scripture in general. We don’t want to just hear God’s Word, but heed it and obey it. It reminded me of Jesus’ words in Matthew 7:24-25, “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. The point of Scripture is not just to read and study it, but to figure out how to implement it in our lives. What proverbs from today’s reading stuck out to you? What new bits of wisdom are you going to try to integrate into your life?
I do hope you took the time to read Psalm 117. I think it’s the shortest psalm of all the psalms. But despite being just a few lines, it really summarizes our relationship with God or rather, what it should be. We should be praising God. All the nations should be praising God. He is faithful, just, and worthy of praise. How often do you envision all the nations praising the Lord? What will it take for that to happen?
Our New Testament passage is I Thessalonians 1. This book is a pastoral letter from Paul, Timothy, and Silas, to the church at Thessalonica. The authors are together in Corinth when they get the news of how faithful the Thessalonians have been in spite of intense persecution. This is a letter of encouragement. It was normal in an ancient letter to include some kind of prayer for the recipient after the greeting.
We can see how, early in the letter, the authors state that they continually thank God for all the people in the church, and that they remember them before God because of their work produced through faith and love and their endurance inspired by hope in Jesus. I am most intrigued by the line "endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ." Endurance is the ability to keep going, to persevere, in the face of difficulty and suffering. We don't know exactly what kind of persecution the Thessalonian Christians were facing but it must have been pretty bad. And Paul was worried about them. They were new believers-how would they withstand these hardships? Would their faith crumble or strengthen? Apparently, they remained strong and steadfast, despite their limited experience in the faith.
This idea of endurance through hardship becomes a virtue in the early church. Here is the important part: their endurance was not a result of some kind of internal emotional strength or resolve but was due to their hope in Jesus. Their hope was rooted in the second coming of Jesus, which will become a theme throughout this letter.
Think about your own life. How would you rate your endurance in the face of hardship? While we don't face the same kind of persecution as the Thessalonian church, we still deal with other challenges. How is your faith grounded in the hope of Christ?
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
September 9, 2024
Day 2 of Week 24
Scripture: Proverbs 19-21; Psalm 40; Romans 16
Happy Monday, everyone, and welcome to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional that complements the New Hope Church Bible reading plan. Today, we continue in Proverbs, read a psalm, and finish with the book of Romans.
Let’s start with our first Old Testament passage, Proverbs, chapters 19-21. In chapter 19, Solomon seems to focus on the importance of personal integrity. It’s better to be moral and upright and poor than to be wealthy and disrespected. And yet, the proverbs continue, those who are wealthy are the ones who seem to have more friends. But what kind of friends stick with us simply for what we can give them? There is also a variety of wise tidbits about the importance of how we raise our children and the value of following the Lord’s guidance.
Chapters 20 and 21, likewise, have a wide variety of wise words. There are warnings against overindulging in alcohol, against engaging in conflict with authorities, and against dishonest business practices. Solomon implores his readers to use common sense in all they do. Chapter 21 gets at a slightly different theme, specifically how God knows our innermost thoughts. Just doing right is not enough to please God, but we must also exhibit humility and integrity.
Psalm 40 was written by David, possibly during one of his exiles in the wilderness. David speaks of God saving him from the slimy pit and delivering him from danger. How many times has God delivered you from the slimy pit? I can think of several times. Sometimes, I found my way into the pit myself and others times, I was pushed in by others. Regardless, it was always God who pulled me out. God is always our deliverer. He is there on our good days and our bad. I don’t know about you, but that brings me a lot of peace.
The final chapter of Romans has this beautiful section of greetings to the people that Paul has worked with and encountered in his ministry. I love how this was obviously a letter for regular people. This was not a letter intended for religious scholars. Rather, Paul sent it to people he cared about in an effort to help them in their own lives and ministries.
Another interesting note is that out of twenty-six people who are listed as special workers in ministry, nine are women. This is especially impressive because Rome was a male-dominated society and women had little, if any, social and legal standing. But in the church, things were different. There is also a variety when it comes to the names: some of Jewish, some are Latin, and many are Greek. While I'm sure the early church had its issues, it appears to be a diverse mix of men and women, from different cultural and religious backgrounds. Essentially, it was a great picture of the Kingdom of God.
God's Kingdom is universal, with people from all races, cultures, and stations in life. In God's Kingdom, men and women serve alongside each other. It's a place in which every single human life has value and no one is better than another. God's values are actively at work: love, justice, mercy, righteousness, hope, and freedom for the oppressed.
Somewhere in the history of the church, it got off track. The church became less Kingdom-focused and more about growing the institution. It began to resemble the culture around it. Certain people were excluded, corruption crept in, sin invaded. It's hard to read a church history text because it seems so far from the church Paul was trying to establish.
But all is not lost. God's mercies are new every single day! As a church, we can pray and strive to be a better picture of God's Kingdom. In fact, my on-going prayer for New Hope is that we will become a multiplying congregation-multicultural, multiracial, and multigenerational. I pray that we will be the kind of place where people from all walks of life find a place of belonging, a place to be nurtured and loved. I hope you will join me in this prayer.
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
September 8, 2024
Day 1 of Week 24
Scripture: Proverbs 16-18; Romans 15
Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that goes along with the New Hope Church Bible reading plan. Today is Sunday and I do hope we see you in worship this morning at 9:30am. We are starting a new churchwide study called Creed, using a devotional guide by J.D. Walt. Over seven weeks, we will be walking through the Apostles’ Creed. The Apostles’ Creed is a wonderful, concise summary of the Christian faith, based on Scripture. Today, we will unpack the first line, I believe in God the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth. If you can’t make it in person, I hope you will worship with us online at findnewhope.com.
With that, let’s get right into our Scripture for today. We are starting with Proverbs, chapters 16-18. The little tidbits of wisdom over these three chapters cover a wide range of topics, including seeking the Lord’s will, as he knows our hearts; staying on the right side of kings and those in authority; the importance of family harmony; having discernment and good judgment in our speech; and reflections about true friends. Did any proverbs stand out to you in the reading today?
Let’s chat a bit about our New Testament passage, Romans 15. We can tell that Paul is beginning to close his letter in this chapter. He shares his plans to head to Jerusalem and then to Rome on his way to Spain (we don't think Paul actually made it there) and he implores the Christ-followers in Rome to pray for him.
Paul knew a trip to Jerusalem would be dangerous. There were plenty of people there who wanted to see him executed for his work as a Christian missionary. Paul asks his Roman brothers and sisters to join him in the struggle by praying to God on his behalf. The ESV uses the phrase "strive together" with him in prayer, and the term comes from the Greek word for agonize.
I think this is one of the gifts of the Christian walk, when the body of Christ gathers and agonizes together, to pray for a specific person or situation. While our solitary prayers are important, there is something that happens when we raise up our voices together. We know that we know that we know that we aren't alone. We are lifted up, encouraged, and empowered to keep going. Who is it who needs to know you are praying for them today?
Kind of a brief reflection today but we will talk more tomorrow.
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
September 5, 2024
Day 5 of Week 23
Scripture: Proverbs 14-15; Romans 14
Welcome back, everyone, the Daily Dose of Hope. Since the next two days are free, please use them to catch up if needed or maybe even get ahead. Let’s get started.
Our Old Testament reading is Proverbs, chapter 14 and 15. I’m curious what you think of Proverbs. You might be able to tell this isn’t my favorite book, yet I know it’s God’s Word and there are plenty of nuggets of learning and wisdom for us. Chapter 14 covers a lot of ground but it definitely emphasizes that foolishness is a result of rejecting God’s guidance and wisdom. The middle section of the chapter compares the fate of the wicked or foolish and the righteous. Not surprisingly, the righteous fare much better.
Chapter 15 emphasizes the need for self-control. I love the first verse, A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. Let’s chat a little about self-control. It isn’t an easy thing but it’s a wise thing. Self-control, as many of you will recall, is a fruit of the Holy Spirit. We might think of self-control as the ability to control our will and behavior. It’s the ability to stop speaking before we say something ugly about someone. It’s the ability to not have a second cupcake. It’s the ability to resist temptation. Because we are human beings, we are weak. I’m thinking not too many of you will disagree with me here. We need the Spirit of God within us to help us stop before we go too far in our thoughts and actions.
Paul says this in 2 Corinthians 10:5, We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. How important it is to take captive our thoughts! It’s thoughts that lead to actions. Self-control means taking captive of those thoughts and behaviors that can lead to negative consequences. How well do you do taking captive those thoughts that can lead to giving into temptation?
Now on to Romans 14. It is unclear exactly who Paul is speaking of in this chapter. Who were the "weak" and "strong" Christians in Rome? It's possible that the weak Christians were Jewish believers who still felt strongly about dietary restrictions connected to faith but that has not been verified. What is clear is that Paul doesn't judge either group but merely comes down on the side of unity.
The Christian church is one that includes all kinds of people, from all walks of life, from countless cultural traditions, with all kinds of personalities and dispositions. We are brothers and sisters and we are all part of God's family. But just like other normal human families, these differences can lead to conflict and disagreement. Paul's writing in this chapter demonstrates that these disagreements, over what we might describe as seemingly minor stuff, have been around since the beginning of the church. Paul is saying to accept one another and try to no judge one another for those differences of opinion.
An example: Many of you remember our mission trips to the Dominican Republic. The church in the DR has very different ideas about what's acceptable and not acceptable for Christians than we do in the United States. In many of their churches, women sit on one side and men on the other. Alcohol is forbidden, as is dancing outside of church. I have some pretty strong opinions about all of these things. But Paul is saying not to get too caught up in these disagreements. Accept your brother or sister with the different view and don't fall into judgment. What's most important is what unites us.
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
September 4, 2024
Day 4 of Week 23
Scripture: Proverbs 11-13; Psalm 8; Romans 13
Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the Bible reading plan at New Hope Church in Brandon, FL. I’m curious what you are thinking about both Proverbs and Romans. Are you learning new things? Is God revealing himself to you in new ways?
Our first Old Testament passage is Proverbs 11-13. These little tidbits of wisdom are incredibly important. What I want to focus on today is gossip. Proverbs 11:13 says this, A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy person keeps a secret. What is gossip? It’s light conversation about other people’s business. It typically isn’t conversation that lifts people up; rather, it generally has a negative tone. In my years in ministry, gossip has been such an issue in almost every area of the church. It’s dangerous and it’s damaging to the kingdom. The tongue is powerful. And yet, we all get pulled into it from time to time. I think my challenge for all of us is to do all we can to not be engaged in gossip. How can we totally eliminate this from our interactions? How can we build people up rather than pull them down?
Let’s chat briefly about Romans 13. When we say yes to Jesus, the Holy Spirit comes and makes a home within us, changing us from the inside out. We become new people and that change should be obvious in how we treat people, the words we speak, and how we behave. Paul is getting at this truth. He makes the point that because the day of salvation has come, we should behave accordingly. We should experience salvation to its fullest now as we will experience salvation in its fullness in the future when Jesus returns.
There is an urgency to this. We aren't supposed to sit around, eat bonbons, and think, "One day I'll get my act together." Rather, the time is now. Not only do we never know what the future holds, but we also know to whom we belong and who we represent. Of course, we will mess up here and there, but overall, our speech and actions should reflect mature Christ-followers, people who are striving for a life characterized by holiness. This isn't legalistic but comes from a true desire to look more like Jesus.
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
September 3, 2024
Day 3 of Week 23
Scripture: Proverbs 8-10; Psalm 144; Romans 12
Welcome to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Church daily Bible reading plan. Let’s get started…
Our first Old Testament reading is Proverbs, chapters 8-10. In chapter 8, we again see wisdom personified by a female. It’s kind of interesting that she, the wise woman, stands in the public places and city gates where the prostitutes call out for customers. You might argue that desire is not all that bad. But what Proverbs is saying is that desire has to be focused on the right thing. It can’t be focused on fleeting pleasure or wealth but on wisdom. Think of chapter 8, verses 8-10, Choose my instruction instead of silver, knowledge rather than choice gold, for wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire can compare with her.
Later in chapter 8, Solomon declares that wisdom was one of God’s first creations, born before even the world was created. It’s through wisdom that God orders and creates the world. It’s because of God’s great wisdom that he knows this creation is good and he delights in it. We also should delight in the world, seeking wisdom, so that we can live well.
In chapter 9, we see the wise woman prepare a banquet, to which she invites all kinds of people – the foolish and the wise. This is so they can learn wisdom. This is an invitation to the good life. Today, we think of the good life as having a nice home, lots of great food, and being able to relax, vacation, and do lots of fun things. But in Proverbs, the good life is seen as a life that embodies integrity, wisdom, hard work, and faithfulness to God. Later on in the chapter, folly throws her own feast. It may seem tempting but her feast will lead to death. Embracing her “sweets” will lead to destruction.
Let’s talk briefly about Psalm 144. We have this theme of warfare. While King David engaged in physical warfare, fighting enemies and desperately needing God’s guidance and wisdom, we engage in a spiritual war. I think it’s powerful to read this Psalm using spiritual warfare as your context. God is preparing us.
However, I’m particularly struck when I read verses 3 and 4, Lord, what are human beings that you care for them, mere mortals that you think of them? They are like a breath; their days are like a fleeting shadow. Our God put the stars in the sky. He created all things with just his spoken words. He is almighty. And yet, he involves himself in our lives. He cares about us and all our silly drama and mess. He wants to hear from us. Our lives are short. We are but one little blip on the timeline of history. Who are we? And yet, God loves us and wants a relationship with us. It’s amazing really.
Just so you know, Romans 12 is some of my very favorite New Testament Scripture! It is incredibly powerful. Paul is saying that because of this amazing gift of salvation, those who receive it should be truly committed to God. Christ-followers should dedicate their whole life in service to Jesus Christ, become living sacrifices.
This would have had significant meaning to Paul's audience, as the sacrificial system was still alive and well. But unlike the Old Testament sacrifices, Christ-followers voluntarily offer their living bodies, every part of their existence, to the work of Jesus in the world. They make Jesus not simply their savior but also their Lord. Doing this is the kind of worship that God finds right and pleasing. We might call this surrendering everything to King Jesus.
This clearly separates us from the surrounding culture. Living for Jesus rather than ourselves or things of this world is unusual. People notice. Paul urges the Romans to not fit so well into their culture but experience life change as Jesus transforms their thinking. Faith isn't just about the heart and emotions but also about the mind. God wants to change our way of thinking so that we better reflect Jesus. Do we fit into our culture? Be honest with yourself. Do your neighbors, coworkers, and other acquaintances know that you belong to Jesus? Is your thinking more influenced by Scripture and the things of God or the national news, politics, and social media? How easy it is to simply blend right into the culture around us. Paul's words to the Romans certainly ring true for us today.
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
September 2, 2024
Day 2 of Week 23
Scripture: Proverbs 6-7; Psalm 7; Romans 11
Happy Monday and Happy Labor Day! Welcome to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional/podcast that complements the Bible reading plan at New Hope Church in Brandon, Florida. I do hope you get a break from labor today. Regardless, spend some time reflecting on how God is at work in your life and our church.
We are starting today with Proverbs 6 and 7. Solomon is again sharing wisdom to his “son” which may also refer to his students. In chapter 6, the first part of the chapter deals with laziness, specifically being lazy in financial dealings and also being lazy in general. Don’t be careless with money. Also, don’t expect things to come to you without hard work. A lot of this seems like common sense but it’s really, really important stuff. Both being foolish with money or being lazy and not taking advantage of the opportunities God presents can lead to poverty. We will definitely see this theme of self-responsibility in these chapters.
Later in chapter 6 and in chapter 7, there are warnings against adultery or more specifically, the adulterous women. I used to scoff at these verses, because women are singled out. This didn’t make a lot of sense to me, as women had so little control over their lives at the time. The chance of them seeking out an adulterous relationship was pretty slim. But I think we need to look at these examples in a broader context. Yes, adultery is bad for both women and men. But adultery is often used in Scripture to describe sin in general. When they speak of adultery, think of all sinful temptations, anything that could lead to ruin. This could include adultery, but also addiction, abuse, pornography, financial deception, gambling, violence, gossip, the list goes on and on. All sin has consequences but there are certain sinful behaviors that can lead to total destruction of our lives.
Next, we move on to Psalm 7. This is another psalm of lament written by King David. In it, David is asking God to save him from the vicious attacks of his enemies. He claims that he is innocent and doesn’t deserve this treatment. Because of his innocence, he asks God to provide justice. This isn’t just David being really mad and wanting God to punish those he doesn’t like; David is rather affirming something about God’s character – that he a just and good judge. It ends with David praising and thanking God for his righteousness. It’s basically saying that anyone who sees these attributes of God (his justice, his kindness, his goodness, his perfection, and his righteousness), will inevitably worship him. How can one not worship a God who is such a just judge and righteous lawmaker?
Our New Testament passage is Romans 11. Paul is stating that because Israel rejected the Gospel, the Gentiles had the opportunity to receive it. Interestingly, Paul says that the salvation of the Gentiles was meant to instill a desire in the Jews for the same amazing gift. But that didn't necessarily happen. At the same time, the Gentiles really didn't do anything to make the Jews jealous of this gift. Think about it, Gentile Christians throughout the centuries have had the opportunity to share the love and grace of Jesus Christ with Jews, to demonstrate the abundant life that comes by walking closely with Jesus. While that may have happened occasionally, more often we see Jews treated with persecution, oppression, and violence.
Do you have any Jews in your sphere of influence or circle of friends? What are their thoughts of Jesus? Spend some time right now praying for their salvation and how God might be calling you to share the story of Jesus with them.
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
September 1, 2024
Day 1 of Week 23
Scripture: Proverbs 3-5; Romans 10
Welcome to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Church Bible reading plan.
We are going to start with Proverbs, chapters 3-5. Notice how wisdom is referred to as a woman several times in this chapter. Since wisdom is an intangible quality, Solomon personifies it. Wisdom is a woman who has much to offer – she is precious, prosperous, and has long life (chapter 3); she protects, loves, and is to be embraced (chapter 4). This is in stark contrast to the adulterous woman in chapter 5 who is manipulative and dangerous.
One other element in the chapters that I find interesting is this command to “pay attention.” To have wisdom, you have to listen, pay attention and obey those who know more. Think of the wisest person you know. What is it that makes them wise, in your opinion? How did they gain their wisdom? Do you pay attention to what they say?
Romans 10 is packed with substance. There are two things that strike me in this chapter. First is Paul’s discussion about the heart. He is making an argument that the law is not what makes someone righteous, but their belief in Jesus. He is speaking of a new circumcision, essentially, a circumcision of the heart. It isn’t about what we do or what is done to us (in the case of a baby boy being circumcised), it is about our heart. Do we believe in Jesus? Do we love Jesus? Have we made a commitment in our heart to Jesus Christ?
Keep in mind this was a total 180 degrees from what the Jews knew and believed. I think sometimes we are pretty hard on the Jews. Why don’t they just believe? Well, this was really different from everything they had been taught about being right with God. Paul seems to get this struggle and it frames his arguments with Hebrew people. He is anguished that they don’t believe. While it is a huge shift, he knows how much better life is when Christ is at the center. As we can all imagine, the law (works) is a terrible thing to build your life around because you are never good enough. On the other hand, with Jesus, he has declared us good enough because of his saving work on the cross, not because of anything we have done or haven’t done. This totally levels the playing field, as Paul expresses in verse 12. It doesn’t matter if one is Jew or Greek for all who call on the name of the Lord will be saved. This is great news, everyone!
The other piece that made an impression on me this morning was Paul’s emphasis on sharing the good news. Starting with verse 14, he writes, How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” And that is still the case today, isn’t it? How can anyone know if they have never heard? I think we make the assumption that most people around us, like neighbors, coworkers, golf buddies, and gym friends, know about Jesus. Often, people have a vague idea about Jesus or even an incorrect view of Jesus. Yet, they must know and profess Jesus to be saved. I’ve also learned that some people, especially younger ones, truly have no idea what it means to believe in Jesus Christ.
Friends, the harvest is tremendous but the workers are few. How can they believe if they have not heard?
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
August 29, 2024
Day 5 of Week 22
Scripture: 1 Kings 4; Proverbs 1-2; Psalm 43; Romans 9
Welcome to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Bible reading plan. We have a lot of Scripture for today so let’s go ahead and dig in.
Our Old Testament reading begins in 1 Kings 4. The events of this chapter take place in the early to middle years of Solomon’s reign (he reigned a total of forty years). Solomon was king over a huge amount of territory, from the Euphrates River to the north to the border of Egypt on the south, and there was a large population for him to oversee. The first section of the chapter lists Solomon’s religious and civic leaders. The second focused more on Solomon’s wealth and wisdom, particularly in regard to the prosperity of the nation.
The prosperity of the nation was completely connected to God’s blessing. As long as Solomon and Israel were in obedience to the law, the blessing would continue. This was a time of unparalleled peace for the Hebrews as well. They were well-fed and they weren’t fighting anyone. Many scholars say this time in Israel’s history is actually a foretaste of the happiness and peace we will experience in heaven. Kind of an interesting thing to think about.
This chapter also mentions the Proverbs that Solomon wrote. We also begin reading those today, focusing on chapters 1 and 2. These chapters of wisdom literature make it clear their purpose – to help people walk in wisdom or one might say to live well. And the main ingredient in doing so is right relationship with God: “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom” (Proverbs 1:7; 9:10; 15:33). But as we read the proverbs, we will begin to see how these “wise words” are really intended to build good character, to foster traits like honesty, integrity, hard work, and self-control. They address basic areas of human life. They might not be super interesting reading but they do make sense to people.
The Proverbs aren’t necessarily high theological doctrine, but more like common sense advice that points people to do right by God. Unlike other books of the Bible, which are narrative and need to be read as a whole, the Proverbs can actually be read in small, short increments. Most of the time, we might say it’s risky to pull a Scripture verse out of context but in the Proverbs, you are free to do so. What little tidbits of wisdom made an impression on you today?
Let’s chat a bit about Psalm 43. Most Biblical scholars treat Psalm 42 and 43 as a single unit, so if you have time, I would suggest going back and reading them together. I know we read 42 yesterday but how quickly we forget! This is a psalm of lament, a prayer in three parts moving from complaint to petition and ending in hope. Most likely written by the sons of Korah, musicians who would have sung the prayer, it continues speaking of a crisis for which they feel quite desperate. Yesterday, we mentioned it may have involved being separated from the Temple and experiencing utter despair at not being in the presence of God. Yet, as we can see from the ending, in the presence of despair, there can also be hope. We can still praise God. When have you praised God in the midst of despair?
Our New Testament passage is Romans 9. One thing that is evident to me in the beginning is Paul’s anguish for his people. He is heart-broken for his Jewish brothers and sisters who have rejected Jesus. I kind of picture him on his hands and knees praying for softened hearts. And then I thought about how we should probably all be doing that. How many people do I know, do you know, who don’t have a saving relationship with Jesus? Why aren’t we on our hands and knees praying for their hearts to be softened and more open to the Gospel? Just a thought.
One other aspect of this chapter that kind of hit me is Paul’s warning. It appears that he is warning Christians to be careful. Afterall, the Jews began to think that their connection was God was simply a right. That they would be accepted because of their Jewish blood. I can’t help but think this is a warning to all of us – don’t get too comfortable. None of us have a right to be here. We have a relationship with God and we have salvation because of what Jesus Christ has done for us. We did nothing to earn it and we don’t deserve it. I worry that at times, in the church, we might fall into the same trap that the Jews fell into, thinking we are superior or have some kind of right to be here because we have “been in church” so long. In doing so, there is the possibility, just maybe, that we might look down our nose at others and not extend grace and mercy like we are called to do. Paul’s warning is real, my friends.
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
August 28, 2024
Day 4 of Week 22
Scripture: I Kings 3; 2 Chronicles 1; Psalm 42; Romans 8
Welcome, everyone, once again to the Daily Dose of Hope, the podcast and devotional that complements the daily Bible reading for New Hope Church in Brandon, Florida. Today is Wednesday so it’s Recharge night! If you are local, I hope you will come out for worship and small community tonight at 6:30pm. We start in the Garage, on the Moon Ave. side of campus.
Our Scripture for today begins in I Kings 3. It seems that Solomon starts his reign out fairly well. Solomon was following God’s laws, making the appropriate sacrifices, and walking with the Lord. Then, Solomon, recognizing his own immaturity and lack of experience, asks God for a discerning, obedient heart so that he can administer wisdom in his kingdom. This pleases God because Solomon doesn’t ask for selfish favors, but rather the ability to help other people. In response, God grants wisdom, wealth, and fame to Solomon. The only caveat to all this is that Solomon continues to obey God’s commands.
In the last part of this chapter, we get a glimpse into Solomon’s new wisdom being tested. It’s a very famous story so be sure to read through it if you didn’t already. As Solomon begins to rule, he is also very prolific in his wisdom writings, penning Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and the Song of Solomon.
2 Chronicles 1 is basically the same story from a different perspective. Solomon asks for wisdom and God grants it. What’s interesting to me in this chapter is the many words used to describe Solomon’s wealth. There is less personal narrative. The chronicler wants us to know that Solomon’s wealth was unparalleled at the time. As we have grown accustomed to in the Chronicles, there are many lists that describe Solomon’s strength and treasures.
I want us to take note in both of these chapters how well Solomon is starting his reign. He truly wants to walk closely with the Lord. Things will change later so I want us to take all of this in.
Psalm 42 was written by the sons of Korah. They were Levites, probably musicians, so I want you to imagine this psalm being sung. The psalm depicts a desperation for God. As the deer pants for water, so my soul pants for God. We don’t know exactly what the desperation stems from; it’s possible that they are seeking to worship God in the temple in Jerusalem. The bottom line is that they seek God’s presence with a sense of urgency and desperation.
Have you ever been there? Have you had times in your life in which you seek God with this kind of despair? Think about those times. How did God respond to your need?
Our New Testament passage for today is Romans 8. There is so much substance in this one chapter. Overall, Paul is telling us to live by the Spirit and he is encouraging us because no matter what, God’s love prevails. I’m going to touch on a few of the main points.
The first part of the chapter details how we need to live according to the Spirit. Yes, we are human beings, so we have a sinful nature, but that doesn’t mean we have to live according to that sinful nature. Paul says that once we accept Jesus, the Holy Spirit indwells us, meaning the Spirit can guide us, convict us, and direct us. In fact, we are only living in true freedom if we are allowing the Spirit to guide us. Being led by the sinful nature is just another form of bondage and that leads to death. When we live by the Spirit, we know that we are children of God, we have the assurance of salvation and new life in Christ.
In the next part of the chapter, Paul focuses on our present sufferings. Keep in mind, the church at the time was enduring tremendous persecution. It wasn’t easy following Jesus in the Roman world. But Paul says these sufferings are nothing compared to the future glory that they will experience. These present hardships will not last. Eternity with Jesus, on the other hand, will last forever. He is encouraging them to stay the course, hold on, because it will get so much better. In fact, he says something quite extraordinary: All of these difficulties and challenges will actually be used by God in some way to bring him glory, to extend the purposes of his Kingdom. That doesn’t mean they won’t be painful or really, really hard, but God won’t let anything go to waste.
One part that I just love is when Paul speaks about all creation groaning for all things to be made right again. Ever since the fall, God has been putting things in place to make things right, to basically reverse the effects of the fall. Not only do we as human beings look forward to when death, suffering, and pain, are no longer part of our world, but so does all of creation. I can’t help thinking about that line in the praise song, So Will I, when Hillsong sings, “If the rocks cry out in reverence, so will I.” Y’all, even the rocks are yearning for God to make things right again, once and for all.
Paul also speaks about how the Spirit intercedes for us. I love this. When things are really, really bad, when we don’t have words or don’t have the strength to say the words, we can trust that the Spirit of the living God is interceding for us at the throne of grace with words we can’t understand.
Have there been times in your life in which you just didn’t have the ability to pray? Maybe you were incapacitated or so distressed that the words couldn’t come out. I know I’ve had times in which all I can do is cry out, “Jesus!” And I know, I trust, that the Holy Spirit understands and is working on my behalf. How cool is that? What a mighty God we serve.
But I can’t finish this devotional without talking about the last part of the chapter. Paul gives us this beautiful picture of God’s love and how nothing at all can ever separate us from it. I use this Scripture quite often in funerals, especially when the person has died under difficult circumstances. I find it so hopeful that if that individual believed in Jesus, that nothing can separate them from God’s love. It very clearly says that death cannot separate from God’s love, even difficult, painful deaths like drug overdoses and suicide.
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
August 27, 2024
Day 3 of Week 22
Scripture: I Kings 2; I Chronicles 29; Romans 7
Welcome to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that goes with the New Hope Church 5 day a week Bible reading plan. Keep me posted on your learnings and how you sense God is teaching you as we walk through this Scripture. With that, let’s get started.
Today, we start with I Kings 2. David is about to die and provides some advice to his son, Solomon, the new king of Israel. It’s troubling advice, as he provides spiritual wisdom quickly followed by political strategizing that will lead to bloodshed. The first part of his advice is Godly and sounds like the wisdom of a man after God’s own heart: Follow God’s laws and walk in obedience to him and then you will prosper.
But the second half of David’s advice is about securing the kingdom. All sense of faithfulness is now gone out the window: Avenge your father, kill those people who have done us wrong, and ensure your place on the throne. Hmmm... On the one hand, David tells Solomon to follow God and keep Torah. On the other, he tells Solomon to avenge, kill, and break Torah.
Over the past few months, we have walked through all the Scriptures that detail David’s life. Overall, he was a faithful man who rarely wavered from following the Lord. He definitely had some rough patches though, in which he fell away and sinned horrifically against God and other people. But he was always repentant and turned back toward God. Over this last little portion of his life, however, it seems that David consults God less and in many ways has grown angry and bitter.
What can we learn from King David’s life? He is referred to as a man after God’s own heart. He wrote many of the Psalms which we read over and over again and use in worship and song. He loved God and his allegiance was undeniable. On the other hand, he was a human king and there were many times in which lust, fear, and arrogance ruled the day. What do you take away from these months of studying King David?
Our I Chronicles chapter also details the last moments of David’s life but from a different perspective. David offers his own treasures for the temple and requests others to give as well. People respond well. David has ensured that Solomon has a great start to getting the temple built and well-appointed. He praises the Lord with a prayer. From the perspective of the chronicler, David praised and thanked God a lot more than we read about in 2 Samuel and I Kings. As always, perspective is everything. The chapter closes with a second anointing of Solomon as king and the death of David.
Our New Testament passage for today is Romans 7. This chapter describes our relationship to the law. The law demonstrates how sinful we truly are. We continually fail to follow the law, God’s people throughout history have continually failed to follow the law, despite their best attempts. The law exposes how vulnerable we all are to sin; it is like holding up a mirror. It shows us our frailties and brokenness.
Keep in mind, this does not mean the law is bad. It just shows how weak we happen to be. On our own (that is, without Jesus), we will continue to mess up and do those things that we really don’t want to do. But in Jesus, we are new people. We have the Holy Spirit living within us. That doesn’t mean we won’t mess up – we are still human. But (and Paul will address this more in the next chapter) we have the ability to resist temptation and live for Jesus. Again, none of this is because of us but because of who lives in us.
How often have we done something that we know is wrong even though we didn’t want to? That’s our sinful nature. As we grow in our walk with Jesus, I’m hoping we begin to resist that nature and lean into what we know is right. What has been your experience with this? How have you seen your thoughts and behavior change as you have grown in your Christian walk?
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
August 26, 2024
Day 2 of Week 22
Scripture: 1 Kings 1; 1 Chronicles 26-28; Romans 6
Happy Monday and welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope. Today, we are starting the book of I Kings and we get to continue the saga with David and his family. We will also continue with 1 Chronicles and read Romans 6. This will be great so let’s get started.
As I mentioned, today we begin the book of 1 Kings, which functions kind of like a sequel to 2 Samuel. There isn’t conclusive evidence as to who actually wrote 1and 2 Kings. Tradition credits Jeremiah as the author but there is little indication that is true. What we do know is that the book was written before the Jews went into exile by someone very familiar with Deuteronomy, as well as other historical texts related to the monarchy. Thus, it could have been any of the prophets.
The general theme seems to be that Israel’s well-being is intricately related to their obedience to the covenant and their ability to listen to God’s prophets. What’s the gist of chapter one? David’s history of poor/permissive parenting is continuing to cause problems. King David is now very old and sick. He’s weak. Thus, one of his sons, Abdonijah, decides to take control of the throne. Abdonijah doesn’t ask for his father’s permission or his blessing; he manipulates the situation to ensure that he gets to be king. His arrogance is a bit appalling but seems in line with David’s other sons. Abdonijah recruits powerful people to support him.
This whole scene creates a serious issue. David had promised Bathsheba that their son, Solomon, would be king. The way things were going, it wouldn’t be long before Abdonijah had Solomon killed to ensure that he would have no rivals for the throne. Both Bathsheba and Nathan the prophet step in to inform King David. They have to move quickly. David summons equally powerful men to support Solomon. Then, they place Solomon on David’s own mule as a sign that he is the next king. Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anoint Solomon as king and he is placed on David’s throne.
Keep in mind that the previous kings were not chosen this way. With both Saul and David, the prophet Samuel communicated God’s choice for king. With Solomon, things are different. This is to signal the beginning of the Davidic dynasty, which will eventually culminate with Jesus Christ. God has kept his promise to David.
Our chapters in I Chronicles today include, guess what, more lists! The author continues to clarify the divisions of the priests, the musicians, the gatekeepers, and the treasurers who will be part of keeping God’s temple functional, effective, and in obedience to the law. I know I’ve said this a lot, but the chronicler wanted to create a record of these families. He wanted to ensure that their legacy lived on, even though they were regular people. These books are monuments to the regular Jew who did their part in taking care of God’s temple.
Let’s move on to our New Testament text, Romans 6. In this chapter, Paul discusses why we should no longer sin once we have become believers of Jesus. In the previous chapters, he has talked about how we are no longer under the law. That’s true. We are saved and our sins are forgiven. That’s also true. But that doesn’t mean we should start acting like fools. Rather, the standard is higher.
Paul explains that when someone accepts Jesus, they experience a spiritual death to sin. They then also experience a rebirth. They become new people in Jesus. As new people in Jesus, we are no longer slaves to sin, as our old selves were crucified. Sin is no longer our master. It no longer has the same hold on us. That being said, we still have a daily choice to make. We are still human and sin is still tempting. But we make a choice to live righteously.
Think about your own temptations. What daily choices do you make because you now live for Jesus? How have your own daily choices changed as you have grown in your walk with Jesus Christ?
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
August 25, 2024
Day 1 of Week 22
Scripture: I Chronicles 22-25; Psalm 78; Romans 5
Welcome back, everyone, to the Daily Dose of Hope. This is the devotional and podcast that complements the Bible reading plan for New Hope Church in Brandon, Florida. Let’s get right into our Scripture for today.
Our Old Testament Scripture starts with the book of I Chronicles. It appears that David is preparing for his death. God has told him he cannot be the one to build the temple; that honor will be saved for Solomon. In this book, we learn that the reason God said no to David is because of all the blood he shed in war. Solomon will be a man of peace and rest, and it will be more appropriate for him to build God’s house.
But while David can’t actually see it built, he can certainly make preparations and that is exactly what he does. I don’t think he really trusts his boy to do it right. He gets the supplies together and begins setting apart the people who will be part of maintaining the temple. This was David’s dream and I wonder how difficult it was for him to know he wouldn’t get to see this project to fruition.
Please be sure to read Psalm 78. We aren’t going to discuss it today, but rather will move right to the New Testament, Romans 5. In this chapter, Paul explores the origin of sin in a unique way. He speaks of Adam, through which sin entered the world. If you are familiar with the study of the spread of disease (called epidemiology), then you have probably heard of patient zero. Patient zero is the first person who brings a specific disease into an area. To find this person, the epidemiologists trace the outbreak through all sorts of people, interviewing, contact tracing, digging, and digging some more to find out where the disease began.
Adam was patient zero for sin. It was through Adam (and Eve really) that sin came into play. After that, all humans were “infected” with sin. There was no way not to be infected. The world was no longer a lovely, perfect place like the Garden of Eden. The world was now broken, filled with hardship, disease, and death.
But if Adam brought us sin and death, Jesus brings us life. Jesus died for us while we were still sinners. Through Jesus, we can be reconciled to a holy God. We can do life, walking hand in hand with God–no walls, no barriers, and no shame. Jesus has removed anything preventing us from accessing God. You see, when he died on the cross, the blood of Jesus atoned for the sins of all humanity for all time. He cleansed us from sin and gave us his righteousness.
What is righteousness? It’s the quality of being morally right, virtuous, and just. Jesus was totally righteous and we weren’t! But through the cross, in the act of cleansing us from sin, Jesus imputed (gave) his righteousness to us. We are made righteous by Jesus. Now, God doesn’t see our messed up, broken lives–he sees that which Jesus has freely gifted us. In Jesus, we are saved and made righteous. And as Jesus continues to work within us, let’s hope that the righteousness of Jesus really takes root in a different way. As we seek to grow closer to Jesus, may the righteousness, the virtuousness, the justice, and the love of Christ grow within us and make us better reflections of him.
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
August 22, 2024
Day 5 of Week 21
Scripture: 2 Samuel 24; I Chronicles 21; Romans 4
Welcome to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Church Bible reading plan. Hope you are having a great day! Please know I pray for all of you. If you need anything, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
We are starting today with 2 Samuel 24. This is the final chapter of this book. But don’t worry, the story is far from over and we will pick it up soon in I Kings. Today, we read that the Lord is angry with Israel so he incites David against them. We don’t know why God is angry, but it is most likely due to a violation of the Torah. Thus, David becomes angry with his people and demands that a census be taken of the fighting men.
Joab, his commander, protests. Why was a census a big deal? Afterall, we do a census in the U.S. every ten years. At that time, numbering the people would have been some kind of metric of the Lord’s favor. It had the potential to lead to pride and self-aggrandizement. But there was more. In the Old Testament Scriptures, you generally only counted what belonged to you. By David counting the people, it would have been a statement of sorts that the people belonged to David rather than God.
David overrules Joab and the men of fighting age are counted. There were 800,000 in Israel and 500,000 in Judah, quite impressive numbers. But the census greatly displeased God. Maybe God saw it as David overstepping his authority or David became too prideful. We really don’t know. What we do know is that God is angered and wanting to punish the nation of Israel. David is repentant and builds an altar to the Lord. However, that doesn’t mean that the consequences would be reversed.
This made me reflect on our own sin. How often have we been repentant for things we’ve done and cried out to God? We know that God forgives us but that does not reverse the consequences of our sin. Sin always has consequences. Over and over and over again humanity has to learn this lesson.
I Chronicles 21 provides us with more lists! Have you missed them? Here, we read about the divisions and descendants of the priests and the Levites. Remember, the intention was to create a monument to these men and their families who served the nation of Israel before the exile.
Our New Testament passage is Romans 4. This is an interesting chapter. Paul clearly wants his Jewish listeners to know that justification by faith is not a new concept, but there is actually a precedent in the Old Testament. He wants his Gentile listeners to know that they have a rich spiritual heritage when they believe in Jesus, as the Old Testament attests to this salvation. Paul highlights Abraham and David, two great men of faith, to demonstrate that even under the old covenant, people were saved by faith rather than by works.
Paul discusses Abraham's faith. Abraham believed, against all hope and even though it was a crazy thought, that he would become a father in his old age and even become the father of many nations. Sarah was something like 100 years old. This was not a reasonable thing to believe! Despite some mishaps along the way (think Hagar and Ishmael), Abraham had faith that God would do what God said he would do. It was Abraham's faith, rather than his adherence to the law (works), that God credited him as righteous.
It is also our faith, specifically our faith in Jesus Christ and belief that he died for our sins and was resurrected, that God credits us as righteous. To be righteous means to be in right standing with God. Let's be clear. We are not righteous at all on our own merit. Rather, because of Jesus, we are credited as righteous. We essentially get to hang on Jesus' righteousness coattails and I am so very glad for it!
Enjoy your two days off or use them to catch up.
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
August 21, 2024
Day 4 of Week 21
Scripture: 2 Samuel 21-23; Psalm 18; Romans 3
Welcome to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Church Bible reading plan. It’s Wednesday so that means it’s Recharge day! If you are available tonight, we would love to have you join us for community, worship, prayer, and small groups. I love Recharge – it is a time of refreshing my soul in the middle of the week. It starts at 6:30pm in the Garage (on the Moon Ave side of campus).
Let’s get into our Scripture for today. We begin with 2 Samuel 21. Let me start by saying that I’m struggling with this chapter. There is famine in the land, three years worth, and King David is concerned. Thus, he inquires of the Lord what is causing the issue. One year of drought and poor food production would not be unusual for that part of the world but three years is unusual. David obviously suspects that this was a curse for something the nation of Israel had done.
Remember, the law given to Moses and Israel included 613 laws, both blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience. God confirms that this famine was a result of something Saul did during his reign, when he slaughtered all the Gibeonites. Who were the Gibeonites? They were descendants of the Amorites, a group of people from Canaan who deceived the people of Israel. Read through Joshua 9 to get the full story but essentially the Amorites pretended to be people from a distant land to get the Israelites to make a treaty with them; the treaty ensured that the Amorites would not be harmed. Remember, this was at the time that God’s people were conquering one group after another in order to claim the promised land. When it turns out the Amorites were simply part of the people of Canaan, there was not much the Israelites could do. An oath had been made. Thus, the Amorites were spared but became subject to the people of Israel.
Saul, in his “zest” for Israel, decides to slaughter the Amorites’ descendants, the Gibeonites. This means that Saul broke the oath, something which very much displeased God. Thus, the curse of the famine was God’s response. As a way to atone for the deaths of the many Gibeonites who were killed, David promises to kill seven descendants of Saul. The men chosen were sons of one of Saul’s concubines and sons of one of Saul’s daughters. In the eyes of Torah-believing Jews, this was fair. An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. These men sacrificed their lives so that things could be made right. And I struggle with this. I struggle with reading about one of the mothers, Rizpah, mourning her boys. I struggle with why God would allow this.
And then I think about Jesus Christ. God himself gave his life as a sacrifice for us. In doing so, this system of blessings and curses could be done away with forever. We can rest in the forgiveness and grace of Jesus. I think I have to simply rest in that.
In 2 Samuel 22, we find a poem by David. While this poem is found later in the book of 2 Samuel, chronologically it actually should be much earlier. It was written after David had been king a few years and been delivered from the hands of Saul. The whole poem is very similar to Psalm 18 (which is our psalm reading for today). The main difference is that Psalm 18 was structured for use in worship and this poem was strategically placed here in 2 Samuel to demonstrate the religious foundation of the king of Israel.
I find it interesting that it was placed so far into 2 Samuel, as the religious fervor of the king seems to actually be fading. As we’ve seen over the last few chapters, David rarely inquires of the Lord and his life and nation are beginning to spiral. And yet, whoever put this book together found it important to add this poem here, maybe as a reminder of what was or what should be.
The poem itself states the main point of the Law/Torah–obedience to God will lead to blessing. More specifically, David’s point was that his obedience to God meant he was rewarded and delivered from his enemies. This God is worthy of praise. I’m grateful that we live on the other side of the cross, under the New Covenant. The wholes ystem of blessings and curses has been put aside for something so much better–the grace of Jesus Christ. And I say, yes, this God is worthy of praise.
Let’s head over to chapter 23. The first seven verses of this chapter comprise David’s prophetic oracle. It is intended to commemorate a faithful king whose life is guided by the faithful God Almighty. Clearly, David is the most Godly of the kings and this poem highlights this. But it also has some messianic prophecy. David is not just speaking of himself. There is something deeper, more eternal about the oracle. Reread the first seven verses and see which stand out to you as speaking to the coming Messiah.
The second part of the chapter details the men who supported David, those who were his brave and mighty warriors. God was on David’s side clearly but there had to also be human men who caught the vision that God had for King David. Over and over again through 2 Samuel, we have seen David’s men make huge sacrifices and often save him from stupid, short-sighted decisions. Each of these men were real people who stood alongside David and said yes to their calling from God. Thus, let’s pay attention to their names and think about the legacy that each left.
Think about the people who have stood by you. If you are a leader at the church or another organization, you know the value of having a team of people to support you, guide you, and protect you from stupid or rash decisions! Name those people in your own life and give thanks for them.
Our New Testament reading is Romans 3. Paul continues to discuss the sinfulness of human beings. No one is righteous, no matter one's religious upbringing (Jew vs. non-Jew), occupation, or station in life; every single person is a sinner. It sounds a bit hopeless but Paul is leading up to something very important. Yes, all people are sinners and all people fall short of God's standard BUT we can be saved through the gift of grace that comes with believing in Jesus Christ. It's pretty incredible really. We are all a broken mess. We are born inclined to sin and this sinfulness creates a barrier between God and us. But Jesus' sacrifice on the cross atoned for our sins.
What in the world does that mean? When Jesus died on the cross, our sins and the sins of all humanity died up there with him. If you think back to the Old Testament sacrificial system, Jesus was the final, perfect sacrifice. As God himself, Jesus was holy and totally without sin. He gave his life to be the sacrifice to end all sacrifices. His death on the cross created a bridge between God and us. No more barrier. If we have said yes to Jesus, then when God looks at us, he doesn't see our sinfulness but rather Jesus' sacrifice. The blood of Jesus essentially covers us or atones for us.
Now, because of Jesus' sacrifice, we are free to walk hand in hand with a holy God. And we did nothing to earn this or deserve it. As Paul writes, it was a gift of grace. Grace is God's unmerited, amazing love that is freely given to all those who believe. "Amazing grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me..."
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
August 20, 2024
Day 3 of Week 21
Scripture: 2 Samuel 18-20; Psalm 34; Romans 2
Good morning and welcome back. This is the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the Bible reading plan at New Hope Church in Brandon, Florida. Let’s go ahead and get right into our Scripture for today.
Our Old Testament text begins with 2 Samuel, chapter 18. Joab and the other commanders under David go out to fight on his behalf. But David is very clear to be kind to Absalom, even though it was Absalom that created this mess. He is the one who took his father’s throne and turned the people from David. And yet, David still loves him. He is heart-broken but he loves him.
I wonder if that’s the way God feels with us sometimes. We are disobedient. We reject him. We try to take his job. And yet, he still loves us. He is still just waiting for us to come home. God may be heart-broken at our behavior but he is always ready to receive us back into the fold.
The story doesn’t end so well for Absalom. Joab kills him, against the wishes of the king. Despite some attempts at softening the blow, David finds out fairly quickly that Absalom was killed. He is shaken and he is inconsolable for the life of his boy. It doesn’t matter what Absalom has done. David loved him and grieved for him.
In chapter 19, Absalom’s troops go back to their clans and there is much talk throughout Israel about what would happen next. Would David be welcomed back as king? Afterall, they needed a king. The people reminisced about the times in which David took care of Israel and rescued them from the hands of their enemies.
Here we begin to see a greater divide between Israel and Judah. The people of Israel pretty quickly decide to recommit themselves to David. The people of Judah are another story. For some reason, Judah had overwhelmingly lent their support to Absalom. David decides to take some very specific steps to win back their commitment to him. His first step is to ask Zadok and Abiathar, two popular priests, to lobby for his support among the elders of Judah. Second, he asked the priests to request the services of Amasa, David’s nephew who had a high position in Absalom’s regime. He promises to make Amasa commander over all his troops, both building a bridge between the disenfranchised group of Absalom supporters and punishing Joab. (Be sure to read the first part of this chapter; while Joab probably saved David’s kingship, David still sought to punish Joab.) David’s plan proves successful and he is invited back to Jerusalem.
There is quite the welcoming party waiting for him. People who previously opposed him (or he thought opposed him) met him at the Jordan and walked with him into the city as a sign of support and solidarity. But when they arrive, it’s obvious the people of Israel are enraged at the tribe of Judah. They accuse them of all kinds of offenses. The rumblings of division are strong. Nathan’s prophetic words of judgment (after David’s rape/murder incident in 2 Samuel 12) are coming to fruition. David’s family is a mess and now his nation is beginning to crack as well. All of this is happening and the Scripture never mentions David inquiring of the Lord.
Let’s move on to chapter 20. There are times when I read these texts and they sound way too similar to our modern-day television dramas–murder, violence, betrayal, and sex. And this is Scripture! The Word of God certainly doesn’t gloss over all the sin and mess that humanity creates. I was reminded of this once again as I read today’s chapter.
A man named Sheba who opposed David decided to rise up in rebellion. David commanded Abishai, Amasa’s cousin, to pursue Sheba. The troops head into Benjamite territory and are greeted by Amasa himself. You may recall that Amasa was a supporter of Absalom but David decided to make him commander of his troops in an effort to build a bridge. This would have deposed Joab, the current commander who had faithfully stood by David through the whole sordid mess. Thus, Joab takes this opportunity to gruesomely stab and kill Amasa.
But the story continues. Amasa is swiftly moved to the side of the road and they continue to pursue Sheba and those in rebellion against the king. They begin to besiege the town of Abel, where they believe that people are hiding Sheba. A wise woman decides to intervene, explaining to Joab why he should not destroy the city. She arranges to give him Sheba’s severed head if he leaves them alone. And that’s exactly what she does; she literally throws Sheba’s head over to Joab and the troops as they leave the city. Oh my. Thank goodness for the wise woman who stopped the bloodshed of an entire village. I’m not sure what I think about the severed head but the war was stopped.
What is it about humans throughout history that we continue to mistreat each other? We continue to foster division and conflict. Again, there is no mention of inquiring of the Lord. It’s become a free for all. Has David forgotten to whom he belongs?
I don’t know about you but after that, I need to head to the New Testament. Let’s move on to Romans 2. Through the end of chapter one and most of chapter two, Paul points out the sinfulness of humanity and the righteousness of God. Whether Jew or Gentile, each person will have a day of reckoning, in which they will stand before God.
But then, Paul's words take a turn as they are directed specifically at Jewish listeners. He doesn't mince words. The Jewish audience may think they are better than the Gentiles because of circumcision and the law, but truly actions speak louder than words. What good is the law if they don't obey it? Paul accuses the Jews of judging the Gentiles for not doing things "right" but really they should be judging themselves. Their faith was superficial and all about outward appearances, so they look good in front of other human beings, not God.
What God values is the work of the Spirit in our hearts. What's going on in your heart right now? Unfortunately, it is too easy for us to make faith about a list of things that make us look good to others: attending church regularly, serving and volunteering, being part of a small group or Bible study, making moral choices, being a good person, you get the idea. But if our heart isn't right with God, all those good things are worthless. What God values is the work of the Spirit in our hearts.
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
August 19, 2024
Day 2 of Week 21
Scripture: 2 Samuel 15-17; Psalms 3, 63; Romans 1
Happy Monday, everyone. Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope. Let’s get started.
We are continuing our journey through 2 Samuel, beginning with chapter 15. Absalom is positioning himself to take over as king. Having his own chariot and horses was certainly a sign of prominence and royalty. He also enlists fifty men to be with him wherever he went; this would have made quite an impression. Absalom begins to act like a king, although he wasn’t one, by administering “divine justice” for the citizens.
By getting up early and standing by the city gate, Absalom would basically intercept anyone heading to David’s court and offer his own advice and wisdom. He was pretty shady–he wanted the people to think that he cared for them more than David and attempted to alienate the common people from the king. And it worked. We don’t know whether David was aware of Absalom’s actions but most indications are that he didn’t know or didn’t take it seriously. Later in the chapter, David is informed by a messenger that Absalom was planning a coup and that the hearts of the people of Israel were with Absalom, not David. It’s only then that David acts by telling his people to flee. David, the fierce military leader, is going to flee the city and is encouraging his followers to do the same.
How could David have been so clueless as to what was going on right outside the palace? Was he that disconnected from his people that he didn’t see a shift in allegiances? Maybe he had grown too comfortable in the palace or grown complacent in his position, taking for granted God’s protection. Being king meant power, prestige, tremendous creature comforts, and also a certain amount of isolation and not a lot of accountability. Was he walking with God?
That leads us to chapter 16. David is fleeing Jerusalem with his entire household. He encounters both help and support (Ziba offers donkeys and large quantities of food) and he faces violence and opposition (from Shimel, a Saulite). Please be sure to read through the whole text for the specifics. One can only imagine how arduous the travel would be. It’s interesting though. There is still nothing in the Scripture about David asking the Lord for direction or help.
David is leaving Jerusalem while his son Absalom is arriving in the palace. Absalom, who has just successfully carried out a bloodless coup, decides to ask advice from Ahithophel how to ensure his grip on the throne and the palace. Keep in mind that at one time Ahithophel was one of King David’s most trusted advisors but he turned against David. Ahithophel felt betrayed by King David, as Bathsheba was his granddaughter; David brought shame to his family.
Nevertheless, he gives Absalom some pretty bad advice, telling him to sleep with his father’s concubines on the roof of the palace for all of Israel to see. Maybe Ahithophel thought this was retribution, an eye for an eye. But it also violated God’s law. Anger and bitterness have a way of making people make terrible decisions and give horrible advice.
I’m wondering if there is something in your life right now, a lingering anger or bitterness, that needs to be given to God. You see, without us even realizing it, these feelings of rage and resentment can eat at us and create a wedge between us and God. They can color our view of the world. What do you need to give to God today?
The drama continues in chapter 17. Hushai, a trusted advisor of King David, has convinced Absalom that he has switched camps. He is essentially a spy for David. Ahithophel has already offered advice to Absalom but Hushai intervenes and offers his own strategy. Absalom decides to go with Hushai’s plan of action for attacking David and his troops. This allows Hushai time to get word to David so they will be prepared for what is to come.
From whom do you get your advice and guidance? Obviously, we want to seek guidance first from the Lord. But then, it is often helpful to have people who we trust to advise us in times of struggle or when a big decision needs to be made. And my suggestion would be to choose these people wisely! As we have witnessed in these texts, anyone can offer advice but only a few offer wise counsel. Think about it. Who do you go to for wise counsel? Why have you chosen them? If you don’t have those people in your life, pray about who God might have put in your life for just that purpose. Friends, we need one another.
Be sure to read the Psalms for today. Psalm 3 describes David state of mind as he is fleeing from Absalom. He now acknowledges that his deliverance will only come from God. Psalm 63 finds David in the dessert. This also could have been while he was running away from his power-hungry son. I always find the psalms so fascinating. We don’t necessarily get David’s thoughts in 2 Samuel but the psalms give us a picture of his pleading with God. It seems that it is in crisis that David is closest to God. How many of us can relate? Not that we want hardship, but it does drive us closer to the Lord.
We are also starting the book of Romans today. Romans is probably one of the most impactful books of the Bible. Much of our Christian doctrine is rooted in this book. My own experience in Romans is that sometimes I need to read a chapter more than once to understand its meaning. Don't be discouraged if that is the case for you too. Pray that the Holy Spirit will guide your reading and reveal what God wants you to know in each chapter.
Romans is written in the form a letter. Paul starts by identifying himself: he is a servant of Christ, an apostle, and one who is set apart for the Gospel. He is writing to a church in Rome that he did not establish and has not yet visited. He wants to be clear from the beginning who he is and what he believes. He is clear that the purpose of his writing is Jesus. Really, it’s all about Jesus Christ, and we will see that theme woven throughout the entirety of Romans. It’s certainly a good reminder for us–it is simply all about Jesus. We get quite distracted but Jesus is what matters.
In the middle of the chapter, Paul is clear about his purpose - sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ. Take a look at some of the statements that Paul makes:
-I am obligated to both Greeks and non-Greeks, to those who are wise and foolish
-I am eager to preach the Gospel to those in Rome
-I am not ashamed of the Gospel.
Paul knows who and whose he is and that defines every other aspect of his life. He is a person sent to share the Good News to all people, he is looking forward to preaching Jesus to the people of Rome, and he is totally unashamed, unembarrassed, and ready to be a minister of the Gospel.
What are your thoughts about this? We live in a time and culture in which people are hesitant to share their faith, worried about people’s reactions, and content to just leave things be. Paul was anything but content. He felt obligated, eager, and totally unashamed! Spend some time in prayer asking God to speak to you, specifically what God wants you to learn from Paul and our new study of Romans. Ask God to open your heart and mind to new concepts and challenges.
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
August 18, 2024
Day 1 of Week 21
Scripture: 2 Samuel 13-14; Acts 28
Welcome back, everyone, to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Church Bible reading plan. Happy Sunday! I hope to see the vast majority of you in worship this morning. Let’s go ahead and get started.
We start with 2 Samuel 13. This was an ugly chapter filled with family dysfunction, sexual assault, murder, and more sin. It really marks a critical juncture in the book of 2 Samuel. The first ten chapters describe David’s victories and faithfulness. In the next half of the book, we begin to see David’s downfall and the beginning of a divided Israel.
Amnon was David’s oldest son and the heir-apparent. He lusted after his half-sister, Tamar, and despite knowing it was wrong and despite her own pleas, he rapes her and then abandons her. There are significant parallels between Amnon’s sin and the sin of his father, King David. Both committed sexual assault within the privacy and safety of the palace, both of the women experienced extraordinary grief because of the men’s actions, and both of their sins resulted in death for David’s sons.
While we could probably make many reflections on this text, what stands out to me is that the sins of one generation imprint the next generation. Each sin leads to more sin and seems to set a precedent for others to follow. Generational patterns of sin are all too common: sexual abuse, physical abuse, alcoholism and substance use, among other things. The only one who can break this pattern of bondage and sin is Jesus.
And we also read chapter 14. Joab, David’s nephew, friend, and commander, knew David well enough to sense that he was grieving. David was desperately missing Absalom but he wouldn’t admit it. Joab devises a somewhat manipulative scheme to get David to admit his desire for Absalom to return to Jerusalem. It works and David allows his son to return.
But while Absalom returns, that doesn’t mean they were all one big happy family. In fact, David refuses to see Absalom. Absalom is not invited to the royal dining table. In fact, the lack of relationship with the palace certainly puts his succession to the throne in question. Thus, Absalom insists upon seeing the king and Joab refuses to even consider the request.
Why did he bother to pick up his life and move to Jerusalem if the king won’t even look him in the face? Absalom insists-either the king would restore him as a son or he would be put to death. He was willing to take the risk. At last, David consents to see his estranged son. And when they see each other, David kisses him. This is a sign that David has fully accepted him back into the family. David has reconciled with his son and Absalom has been forgiven.
Okay, let’s move on to our New Testament reading, Acts 28. After a few months on the island of Malta, during which Paul was bitten by a viper (with no bad repercussions) and healed many people, they finally are able to secure a new ship and continue the journey to Rome. When they arrive, Paul is met by a group of believers. I love this. I picture a group waiting by the dock for the ship to come in, anxious to take care of Paul with warm hugs and casseroles! But Paul doesn't waste much time, after just three days he begins to preach, teach, and discuss his views with the Jewish leaders in Rome. It appears they are more open to Paul's teachings than the Jews in other locations.
For two years, Paul stays in Rome, in his own rented house, and welcomed all who came to see him. He taught about God's Kingdom and preached Jesus with boldness and without any obstacles. It's possible he resumed his tent-making in order to support himself but his main focus was conversion. Paul's intention was always to go to Rome. But just like in our own lives, stuff happened. Riots, jail time, and shipwrecks, all thwarted the best of intentions. Eventually, Paul did end up in Rome and had two years there to share the Gospel.
Our life journeys, though probably not as eventful as Paul's, never go in a straight line. There are ups and downs, steps backward, pauses, and spins. But God can and will use each of those experiences to grow us and to help us speak into the lives of others. It's always about the journey, not the destination.
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
August 15, 2024
Day 5 of Week 20
Scripture: 2 Samuel 11-12; I Chronicles 20; Psalm 51; Acts 27
Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional that complements the New Hope Bible reading plan. We are nearing the end of week 20 of consistent Bible reading. I would love to hear how God is teaching you and what God may be revealing to you through his Word.
As usual, let’s get started with 2 Samuel. We begin in chapter 11. This is a story that most of us know too well. David messes up bigtime. But I think it’s important that we realize this didn’t just happen. There were certain circumstances that led David down this dark path.
Let’s look at the beginning of the chapter. In the very first verse, it says that it was springtime when the kings go off to war. We talked about this yesterday with our I Chronicles passage and we find it now in 2 Samuel. David sent his commander, Joab, off to war but he stays in Jerusalem. David is a warrior. That’s his giftedness. But rather than go to war with his men, he decides to lounge around Jerusalem. We all need downtime but there is a difference between downtime and idleness. For whatever reason, David decides not to do what he is called to do and to simply waste time in the palace.
When we don’t feel purposeful, when we have too much time on our hands, when we’re not actively engaging in our faith, then that’s usually when things go awry. And boy did things go wrong for David. You know the story. He sees Bathsheba bathing (hmmm...why was this Godly king hanging on the roof watching the women bathe?), finds her beautiful, and decides he must have her. I want you to think about this. He is the king of Israel. She is the wife of a soldier. My guess is she doesn’t have a lot of choice in the situation. There is something we call that in today’s language–rape. This man, who has always been so dedicated to God, going to great lengths to follow God’s will, has now raped a woman.
But it gets worse. She becomes pregnant. To cover-up this issue, he sends Uriah, Bathsheba’s husband, into battle on the front lines, where he will surely be killed. Now, David has added murder to his list of offenses. After Bathsheba mourns her husband, David brings her into his home to be his wife. But the Lord was displeased.
So we have to ask–what in the world happened to David? From chapter 10 and the battle with the Ammonites to today’s chapter, what went on in David’s heart and mind? To say he drifted from God would kind of be an understatement. The idleness probably didn’t help but there had to be more, much more. He became like the kings in the nations around him. He forgot who he was and to whom he belonged. He totally lost his way.
As I reflected on this chapter and passed some pretty significant judgment on David, God really hit me over the head. Friends, we all have the potential to lose our way. We all have the potential to be David and I think it behooves us to recognize that. What’s the answer then? I don’t exactly know except that we have to be very, very intentional to walk close to Jesus every single day, every single second. On our own, we drift and we lose our way. We allow all kinds of sin to creep into our hearts and lives. We need Jesus. You need Jesus. I need Jesus. Not a little Jesus every now and then. But all of Jesus all the time.
Let’s head over to chapter 12. It is the job of the prophet to speak truth to power. In this situation, the prophet Nathan gets the fun job of telling David that he sinned against God. Some men may have gotten angry or defensive but David accepts the truth. He experiences conviction and is repentant. God’s response is that while David won’t die, his child with Bathsheba will.
I have always struggled with this text. Why did the baby have to die? After all, it was David who sinned against the Lord. Yet, he gets to live and the innocent one dies. And then it hit me–our sin always has ugly consequences. Look at the entire Biblical narrative–sin is destructive and it is harmful to the people around us and our communities. It is harmful to the Kingdom. We might not like to think about it but our sin always has consequences. Our sin hurts others, often hurting those who are innocent and vulnerable. I’ll just stop there for today.
I think I might have gotten a bit ahead of myself yesterday and gone through I Chronicles 20. If you recall, it speaks to how King David did not go off to war with his men. Yes, they end up victorious. But what the chapter doesn’t speak of is what happened at home in the palace. We’ve already talked about it so I’ll stop there. But the omission is glaring.
Take time to read the psalm for today but I’m not going to spend much time going over it. I really want to get to Acts 27. We find that Paul's journey continues. This time, he is on his way to Rome. They hit very severe weather, which threatens to kill all those on board. It must have been quite dire, as they throw their cargo overboard to lighten up the ship.
It sounds like weeks and weeks of hunger and misery. They finally see land. By this point, there isn't much left of the ship. The soldiers want to kill the prisoners but the centurion stops them, as he wanted to ensure that Paul was spared. It seems that the situation was a bit of a free for all; those who could swim, swam to shore. Others grabbed pieces of floating debris and yet all managed to get to shore safely.
This is such an interesting passage to me. The Scripture says there were 276 men on board that ship. They must have all been praying in whatever way they were accustomed to do so. I can't help but think that Paul was praying boldly and witnessing to all the men on board. In such a situation, it seems highly likely people would be very open to hearing about the eternal life offered through faith in Jesus. I wonder if that is why the centurion was so intent on saving Paul's life. Had he become a follower of Jesus?
More tomorrow.
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
August 14, 2024
Day 4 of Week 20
Scripture: 2 Samuel 9-10; 1 Chronicles 18-19; Psalm 89; Acts 26
Welcome back, everyone, to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Church Bible reading plan. We have a lot of Scripture to talk about today so let’s get to it.
Let’s get started with 2 Samuel. In 2 Samuel chapter 9, we see David making good on his promise to Saul and his commitment to Jonathan, Saul’s son. Despite the fact that Saul tried to kill David numerous times, it was David’s commitment to care for Saul’s descendants. He also wanted to “show kindness for Jonathan’s sake.” If you recall, Jonathan was David’s best friend who risked his own life to save David’s. Thus, David asks one of Saul’s former servants, named Ziba, if there are any descendants of Saul remaining. Ziba is honest and tells David about one of Jonathan’s sons who lives in self-imposed exile with his family. This son’s name was Mephibosheth and he was disabled.
David then offers Mephibosheth the land that belonged to Saul and includes him at the royal table. Mephibosheth asks, “What is your servant, that you should notice a dead dog like me?” It reminded me of our discussion yesterday, when David asks God, “Who am I that you should bless me?” Again, we have this beautiful picture of grace.
Let’s head over to chapter 10. In an attempt to show kindness and build alliances, David sends a delegation to the new king of the Ammonites. David had a good relationship with the king’s father and wanted to continue that relationship with the king. But the new king was not so wise. His advisors tell him that this delegation from Israel may actually be spies, sizing up the area for a conquest. The king takes their advice to heart, or possibly wants to exert his independence from the more powerful Israel, so he humiliates the men in the delegation by sending them home with half a beard and half-naked.
In those days, this was basically a declaration of war. The Ammonites expected Israel to respond militarily so they hire mercenaries, the Arameans, to help them fight. But neither group is a match for the army of Israel, led by Joab. J.oab is strategic and brave, leading the men to victory despite formidable odds. In the end, the Ammonites plan backfired. Israel becomes the strongest nation in the area, politically, militarily, and economically. With God on their side, they cannot be stopped.
Our passage from I Chronicles details several different battles during which the army of Israel was victorious. In I Chronicles 18 (as in 2 Kings 10 - it's the same story), the Hebrews are humiliated by the Ammonites and they respond by setting up battle lines. With Joab and David commanding the army, Israel is victorious. God is clearly with them.
I Chronicles 19 is a little different. Yes, it’s about war. The Israeli army conquers Rappha. But it also says that in the spring, the kings go off to war. Did you notice that David did not go? On first glance, that’s really puzzling. David was excellent in battle. Maybe he didn’t think this offensive was worth his time or he was just getting lazy. But he should have been with his men.
What we know is that David staying home led to trouble. He saw a woman bathing. Maybe you have heard of her? Her name is Bathsheba. He then commits adultery (many would say rape because there is no way she had any say in the matter). When she ends up pregnant, he sends her husband, Uriah, to the front lines to be killed (in the same battle, he himself should have participated). Certainly, a lot happened from the time David sent his men off to war and their conquering of Rappah. It’s curious that Chronicles does not chronicle this very significant event. What are your thoughts about this? Why does the chronicler leave this out of the passage?
Psalm 89 is written by Ethan the Ezrahite. He was a very wise man. He is mentioned in I Chronicles 2 and I Kings 4. His psalm praises God and also reaffirms God’s covenant with David. No matter what David’s sons do (and David’s sons have some big issues that we will be talking about soon), God will keep his promise to David. His throne will last forever. Of course, we know that it is Jesus who will sit on David’s throne and fulfill the covenant but that isn’t obvious to anyone yet.
Our New Testament passage is Acts 26. Now, Paul is pleading his case before King Agrippa, to be more precise King Herod Agrippa II. Let's think about the power-hungry and unethical family of Herodians that had lorded authority over the Jews in the past several generations. The Herods were essentially puppet kings who the Romans put in charge of Judea. There was Herod the Great who tried to kill baby Jesus. Then there was his son, Herod Antipas, who beheaded John the Baptist for speaking out about his illegitimate marriage. Next in line was Agrippa I who beheaded James, the son of Zebedee. Now, Paul is standing before Agrippa II, with no sign of fear, simply speaking the truth with clarity and boldness.
In today’s passage, governor Festus has accused Paul of insanity after hearing his full testimony, including his conversion on the road to Damascus. In response, Paul speaks directly to Agrippa, knowing that he was very familiar with the ways of the Jews. As Paul stands there in chains, he forcefully asks the king if he believes in the ways of the prophets. I kind of picture the king embarrassed in front of all his Roman/pagan friends, stammering, not quite knowing how to answer. So he asks Paul, "Do you think you can convince me to be a Christian in such a short time?" There must have been something about Agrippa that Paul knew he was curious and open. Maybe God told him to direct his questions to Agrippa. We can assume that throughout this whole trial, the Holy Spirit is directing Paul's words and actions. There is a purpose for each trial, for each giving of testimony, for each conversation, because in each setting, more and more people are exposed to the Gospel.
What's interesting to me at the end of this chapter, Agrippa and Festus are talking and say that it's a shame that Paul has appealed to the emperor because he had done nothing wrong and they could release him. However, his appeal meant he would be heading to Rome to testify once more. What they don't understand is that this isn't simply about Paul's freedom, it's about carrying the Good News to people and places it had never been before. God's up to something more.
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
August 13, 2024
Day 3 of Week 20
Scripture: 2 Samuel 7-8; 1 Chronicles 17; Psalm 132; Acts 25
Welcome back to our daily podcast and devotional, the Daily Dose of Hope. This complements the Bible reading plan at New Hope Church in Brandon, Florida. Please know I hope you are doing well. If you need anything, including specific prayer, don’t hesitate to reach out to me. Well, we have an interesting mix of Scripture to talk about today so let’s get started.
Our first Old Testament text is from 2 Samuel, chapter 7. The Kingdom of Israel was finally where it was supposed to be and God gives the nation peace. King David has united the kingdom, he has settled in Jerusalem and make that the national capital, the ark of the covenant had been transported there as well, the borders of Israel have been greatly expanded. For the first time in a long time, this is a good time for King David and a good time for the people of Israel.
David decides that he wants to do something for God. He has this idea to build a temple, a place of dignity for the ark. But God brings a word to the prophet Nathan that he doesn’t want a house of cedar. This isn’t about what David can do for God but what God will do for David. Then, God covenants with David. God says he will establish a house for David–this is another way of saying dynasty. Basically, a descendent of David will be on the throne forever.
But how can in the world could the throne be established forever? How could a descendent of David be on the throne forever? Most of us know that later on, after the death of Solomon, the Kingdom divides and then the kings and the people become so evil that God lifts his hand of protection. He allows the people to be conquered by foreign nations. Once the southern kingdom of Judah is destroyed and the temple is destroyed in 586-7 BC by the Babylonians, the Jewish people are carried off to the land of Babylon in exile. The people of Israel, from that point on, are subject to other nations.
Interestingly, it’s then that the commitment of God in this covenant becomes more clear. You see, the covenant was pointing to a future figure, a Messiah, who would come and sit on the throne of his ancestor David forever. The covenant is pointing to Jesus. One of the most interesting things to me is that despite all the dark days that the Hebrew people went through after the Kingdom was divided and then after the fall of the Kingdom, think about their days in exile, living in poverty, separated from God and one another. This went on for years and years. But they held on to this promise to David. And God was good in that he sent prophets to remind them of this promise...Isaiah 9:2, 6-7, The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned. For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this.
Despite their disobedience, their stubbornness, and their desperate circumstances at times, the Israelites believed in the faithfulness of God. For all their faults, and they had many, probably their primary strength was never losing sight of God’s faithfulness, that God is a God who keeps his promises. He did send someone who would reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness forever and forever. His name was Jesus Christ, the one who ensured that all people could be invited into God’s covenant community.
Let’s move on to chapter 8. David reigned fairly and competently over Israel. Part of his success was his choice of leaders. He chose people who were effective, had integrity, and sought to execute God’s justice and will. There was Joab, one of David’s nephews, who was in charge of the army, essentially executing justice against those who opposed the nation of Israel. Jehoshaphat was the recorder, which means he chronicled all that went on with David’s administration, allowing future generations to see how they honored God.
Zadak and Ahimelek, as priests, were in charge of proper worship. They were descendants of Aaron. Seraiah, as secretary, would have assisted with the administration. Benaiah, son of a priest and a military leader, oversaw the Kerethites and Pelethites, who essentially served as a private militia for the king. Finally, David’s sons also served as priests. This is somewhat strange, as priests must be from the line of Aaron. Scholars think they may have served in a consultive role.
Regardless, all of these leaders were trusted. They were effective. They cared about the will of God. A nation, an organization, a church, etc. can only function well with good leaders. Leadership matters. We have all seen the results of poor leadership–things fall apart, the people scatter, the organization is damaged. The people who are charged with leading a church must be committed to the values of Jesus Christ. In addition to the pastor, the leaders have they have the role of influencing and guiding the body, a huge responsibility! Besides being competent, they must have integrity, they must care about the organization, and they must be mature in their walk with Jesus. Leadership matters. Please pray for the leaders of New Hope today.
We now move to I Chronicles 17. In this chapter, we get a deeper look into David’s heart. He wants to build a house for the ark that is proper; not simply a tent. But God doesn’t want that. God speaks to the prophet Nathan pretty clearly – David is not the one to build the Temple. Most of us know, that will be for Solomon. I do love how David exhibits humility as he praises God. “Who am I? Who is my family?” he asks God.
I think we can all ask God that, can’t we? Who are we that you would do so much for us? Who am I that Jesus would die for me? None of this is deserved. We have not earned it. This is grace. It was grace for David and it’s grace for us.
Psalm 132 is another Psalm of Ascent. Remember, these were sung as pilgrims walked into Jerusalem for the annual festivals. As you read through this one, you can see how the author highlights David and his humility. He also highlights the coming of the Messiah. What else can you pick out of the psalm from our current reading?
Our New Testament passage for today is Acts 25. Paul’s on-going custody and trial continues in this chapter. Felix was recalled to Rome to handle some other events. The man who followed him died after just two years and now we find ourselves introduced to the new governor, Festus. So this means that Paul has been in custody for over two years! Festus quickly demonstrates that, while he will listen to the Jewish leaders’ accusations against Paul, he will not be bullied by them.
He appears to want to give Paul a fair hearing once again. Now, the Jews were accusing Paul of both religious and civil offenses. Even if he were innocent, this raises red flags among the Roman authorities. Paul uses last card, an appeal to Caesar himself, which was his right to do as a Roman citizen. This also means the Gospel message will now move further up the government ladder. God is at work here.
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
August 12, 2024
Day 2 of Week 20
Scripture: 1 Chronicles 14-16; Acts 24
Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Church Bible reading plan. Happy Monday! Today is also the first day of school for Hillsborough County so please keep the students, parents, teachers, school bus drivers, and all school personnel in your prayers today.
Our Old Testament reading today is from I Chronicles. In chapter 14, we read about David and his army thoroughly defeating the Philistines. But notice that before David even attempts to go to war, he inquires of the Lord. David may be king of Israel but God is still God. Israel is living in covenant with God. If they follow the law and obey the Lord, then they will be blessed. If they don’t follow the law and disobey, then things will go south very quickly. We saw that with Saul. David is trying to do it right.
Today’s important question: When you have a big decision, do you inquire of the Lord? I think this is such a valuable model.
In chapters 15-16, David creates a tent to house the ark of the covenant and this time he is going to do this right as well. No sketchy ox carts. He is going to have the Levites carry the ark on their shoulders as God requires. There are many preparations among the Levites to ensure this is done well. The musicians play, there is joy and dancing. And at the end of chapter 15, we get one line about Michal watching the celebrations from the palace window, enraged at her husband.
You can definitely see the difference here between I Chronicles and 2 Kings. I Chronicles, because it was written from more of a priestly perspective, spends a lot of time on the logistics of the ark transport. We have a list of Levites who were part of it and how they were chosen. We have a description of who participated among the priests. We have a long song of praise in chapter 16. 2 Kings, on the other hand, was more about the relationship dynamics. We had a whole chapter about Michal’s disgust at David when he sang and danced in his linen undergarment. These books cover the same story but from vastly different perspectives. For us, I think it adds validity – there is actually very little variance from one book to the next.
Our New Testament passage today is Acts 24. The case against Paul was presented by an attorney named Tertullus before the governor Felix. When he finished accusing Paul of stirring up trouble and desecrating the temple, Paul boldly defends himself. Up until this point, Paul has been found guilty of nothing. It’s seems obvious that Felix can find no fault as well, but he is hesitant to release Paul. He goes and visits him with his wife to learn more. When Paul begins to speak of righteousness (some translations say justice), self-control, and the judgement to come, Felix becomes afraid and stops the conversation. That’s because these were things with which Felix struggled. He was known for his human rights abuses and injustices, he was known for his lust and lack of self-control, and he had every right to be afraid of the judgment to come.
Sometimes, people are curious about the Gospel and may even feel convicted, but when it comes down to it, they aren’t willing to turn to Jesus. We have no evidence that Felix ever became a believer in Jesus but I like to think that his meetings with Paul were acts of prevenient grace, God at work in the life of Felix before he ever knew it. I try to remind myself of that when I speak to people about faith. They may not make a commitment to Christ right now, but seeds have been planted. God will keep seeking them, wooing them toward him. God’s not done with anyone yet.
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
August 11, 2024
Day 1 of Week 20
Scripture: 2 Samuel 6; 1 Chronicles 13; Psalm 60; Acts 23
Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope. We are starting on week 20 today! Let’s get right into our Scripture.
Our Old Testament reading starts with 2 Samuel 6. As the ark made its way into Jerusalem at last, there was much celebration among all the people. David danced and sang. The people rejoiced. All except Michal, daughter of Saul and David’s first wife. We don’t know why she wasn’t present at the celebration (other women were there) but she chose to watch from a palace window. She sees her husband, the king, joyfully celebrating and dancing, in his linen undergarment. You can kind of picture her in the window, seething with anger. Michal confronts David when he arrives home, angry with him and suggesting his leaping and dancing in a half-dressed state had more to do with sexually impressing the slave girls. David replies that his dancing was not for anyone but God. He simply could not contain his joy before the Lord and he would do even more undignified things if needed to praise God.
A couple of thoughts here. First, David was certainly covered enough to be in compliance with Torah. He was wearing a linen undergarment so he wasn’t provocative or suggestive. Just wanted to clear that up. Second, Michal’s disapproval had more to do with her own feelings toward God than David’s behavior. Something had obviously happened in the time she was separated from David; a wedge had developed in her relationship with God. There were many pagan influences all around her in Saul’s household. Now, we see underlying bitterness and danger. She described herself as a “daughter of Saul” rather than a “wife of David.”
Sometimes, without us really even being aware of it, we can find ourselves drifting from God. Maybe we are angry with God over life circumstances. Maybe we struggle with doubt. Maybe we are wrestling with our own disobedience. Whatever it is, we all have been Michal. Evaluate your own heart right now. How is your soul? Where are you with God? What kinds of business do you need to take care of with God today to ensure you walk closer to God rather than farther away.
Let’s remember that the ark of the covenant was gravely neglected during the time of King Saul. In 1 Chronicles 13, David is determined to bring the Ark of the Covenant from Kiriath-jearim to Jerusalem. The Ark was transported on an ox cart driven by two men, Uzzah and Ahio. As the cart went down the road, the oxen stumbled and Uzzah put out his hand to steady the Ark. God struck Uzzah dead, because no one was allowed to touch the Ark of the Covenant. This definitely kills the mood and instills fear in everyone, including King David. They decide not to bring the ark all the way to Jerusalem and it stayed in the home of a man named Obed-edom for three months. During those three months, Obed and his family were greatly blessed.
Okay, you guys, this is one of those Scriptures that is a struggle for me. Poor Uzzah didn’t want the ark to hit the ground and it was probably just a reflex to reach out and catch the ark. But God had given very specific instructions to Moses and Aaron for transporting the ark. David never should have brought his men with him to transport it, nor should it have been put on an ox cart. It was supposed to be carried by the Levites only on their shoulders. When we think about it, David was clearly in the wrong here too.
I know we don’t think about it much, but the ark of the covenant was holy because it housed the presence of a holy God. There should be both reverence and obedience when dealing with the ark. Any kind of short-cuts or flippancy would not be tolerated, as we saw in today’s Scripture.
Let’s move on to the New Testament reading, Acts 23. Early on in this chapter, we find Paul speaking before the high council and things aren't going well. He gets slapped by the high priest and there is violent disagreement on the council how to deal with him. The discord is so bad that Paul actually has to leave the location. Paul's fate seems uncertain at best. And then, when all seems lost, God speaks clearly to Paul, telling him to be encouraged, for this would not be the end; he would carry the message of the Gospel all the way to Rome!
I read this chapter and it immediately brought to mind what Paul himself writes in Romans 8:28, "And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them." Paul has been through so much at this point, including fear, extreme discomfort, and physical pain. He probably thought Jerusalem was going to be the end for him and he was at peace with that. But God had something else in mind. God wanted to use Paul's bold witness to bring the Gospel further, to higher levels of government, so that more could believe. What seems like desperate times to humans, God can redeem for his own purposes.
What has God redeemed in your life? I know that in the midst of dire circumstances, it is often difficult to see God at work. But later, when we have perspective, we can see how God took what was dark and ugly and brought something good from it. I should say that bringing something good out of a painful situation doesn't mean fixing it for us but rather demonstrating his glory. This is sometimes hard for us to wrap our human brains around. I think it takes lots of prayer and lots of trust.
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
August 8, 2024
Day 5 of Week 19
Scripture: 2 Sam 3-5; 1 Chronicles 12; Psalm 122; Acts 22
Welcome back, everyone, to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements our Bible reading plan at New Hope Church in Brandon, Florida. I do hope today’s devotional finds you doing well. Keep me posted on your learnings and how God is speaking to you through the text.
Let’s get started with 2 Samuel. The warring between the house of Saul and house of David is continuing. While David is attempting a peace with Abner, those around him are spending a lot of time trying to avenge various individuals’ deaths. It feels like mayhem as we read chapters 3 and 4. So and so wants to kill so and so. This person feels like they should kill this guy to avenge a brother or friend or just to prove themselves. It’s ugly. They need strong leadership. They need David as king over Israel.
With the last sons of Saul slain in chapter 4, there is no longer any plausible opposition to David as king. David certainly had all the credentials: he was a military leader and victor, he had the respect of the people, and the prophecy pointed to him. The elders would have known all these things so it was time to make it official. This had been a long time coming!
Think of the years in which David was on the run, living in foreign lands, unsure of how and when God would allow him to be king. But David trusted God and the time is now. One other important point here is that David, as ruler, would shepherd the people. He didn’t own the people. He didn’t lord over the people. He was God’s chosen human being to rule God’s people. The nation of Israel still belonged to God and David understood this. As such, David made a covenant with the elders before the Lord and he was anointed king. This would have been a religious ceremony as much as a political one. We know that as long as God is with David, he will be blessed and in turn, the people will be blessed.
As I reflect on David’s experience, I wonder how many of us have had similar experiences. I’m guessing none of us have been on the run from people who sought to kill us. But we have walked through dark seasons of life, knowing that God is with us but unsure of how or when our situation is going to get better. In those seasons, we simply have to make the decision to trust, as David did. Like so may things in life, trusting God is certainly a decision, not a feeling.
I Chronicles 12 tells us about the men who joined David’s army at Hebron. From every tribe, men came to declare their allegiance to David. And since it’s Chronicles, and we know the author of Chronicles loves lists, we have a list of all the men who joined David, wanting to ensure he was king over all of Israel.
Our New Testament passage for today is Acts 22. The scholars have mixed opinions on how being a Roman citizen in that day and time determined one's treatment by governing authorities. Certainly, in Paul's case, it kept him from being lynched and then flogged. In fact, the commander seems frightened when he finds out that the man he is about to whip is a Roman citizen by birth. (I would have hated to see what they did to the non-citizens. It was a brutal world.). But one thing Paul could not get out of was being sent before the Jewish high council.
I'm sure the Roman commander would be relieved to send Paul to the Jewish leaders. Let them be the ones faced with the repercussions of dealing with such a controversial figure. What will it mean for Paul to go before the high council? The council, also referred to as the Sanhedrin, was led by the high priest and consisted of Pharisees and Sadducees. This group had broad authority, overseeing criminal, civil, and religious cases. This was a group that would not be sympathetic to Paul. Part of their role was to discern when the Messiah returned and they clearly did not think Jesus was it. Hearing Paul preaching Jesus as Lord would be deemed blasphemous.
Will their distain keep Paul silent or make him soften his message? I think we can all guess that the answer is no! Paul is resolute in what God has called him to do. No amount of persecution, oppression, or intimidation will keep him from teaching about Jesus. So our question for the day-what keeps us from speaking boldly about Jesus?
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
August 7, 2024
Day 4 of Week 19
Scripture: 2 Sam 1-2; 1 Chronicles 11; Psalm 96, 106; Acts 21
Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements New Hope Church’s Bible reading plan.
Let’s switch things up a bit and start with our New Testament passage, Acts 21. I have to admit, I struggle with this chapter. Paul is being warned repeatedly by believers, those who have the gift of prophecy, that he should not go on to Jerusalem because it is dangerous for him. Paul has experienced persecution and danger, but what is waiting for him in Jerusalem could certainly be the worst yet. And yet, he insists upon going. Was he ignoring warnings from the Holy Spirit or simply determined to courageously carry out what God called him to do?
Now, most of us will never, ever encounter the kind of resistance and persecution that Paul is experiencing. But how often have we felt the strong call of God in a particular area and then felt dissuaded by our Christians brothers and sisters to carry it out? So often, I think people react to our plans more out of fear for us and/or how our lives might be disrupted than from clear guidance from God. (There are certainly exceptions but I wonder how people's reactions might be different if we asked them to go home and pray about it specifically and diligently for a week.) Paul clearly felt God had called him to return to Jerusalem, minister to the Jews and Gentiles there, and face the authorities, so that God's Word could be preached to the powers that be no matter the consequences. Wow, just wow.
Now, we start 2 Samuel. Certainly, the relationship between Saul and David was complex. Rather than rejoice in Saul’s death, David mourns. He seems angry at the young Amalekite who kills Saul, putting him out of his misery. David actually seems to lash out in grief and anger as he orders the young man’s death. Then, the first chapter ends with a lament. Rather than a royal coronation with lots of fanfare, David grieves.
After Saul’s death, David does not rush back to Israel to claim the throne. Rather, he inquires of God what his next move should be, a great model for all of us. God tells him to head to Hebron in Judah. It’s there that David is crowned king by the elders of Judah. But I hope you noted that David was not king over all of Israel. Rather, Saul’s commander and cousin, Abner, appointed one of Saul’s sons, Ishbosheth, to be king. We have no other mention of Ishbosheth as one of Saul’s sons. Most likely, he was born out of wedlock and not considered legitimate. Regardless, this was a calculated choice for Abner, who could allow Ishbosheth to sit on the throne while he was actually the real power behind a very weak king.
But Ishbosheth was not God’s anointed. That would have been David. Thus, David allows him to sit on Israel’s throne for two years while David stayed in Judah. That doesn’t mean there weren’t skirmishes though. We see that in the last half of the chapter. Thus begins the on-going war between the house of Saul and the house of David. More on this tomorrow.
In 1 Chronicles 11, we are fast-forwarding a bit. The author here doesn’t provide a lot of the warring details between the house of Saul and the house of David. Rather, he jumps right to when David becomes king over all of Israel. This is what God had said would happen. It took some time, there was a lot of warfare and heartache, but it came to pass in God’s timing.
How many of us really struggle with God’s timing? I know I have at times. We pray, pray, and pray some more; sometimes we even beg God to intervene in certain circumstances. Sometimes, God answers immediately. Other times, it’s a waiting game. Think of everything that David went through before he became king of Israel. Some of his experiences were horrific! And yet, God brought him through it. But God did something powerful in him during those dark times. How many of us could say the same thing? God always answers prayers, just not always in the way we want or in the timing we want.
I’m not going to talk about the psalms but do read through them. They speak of God’s glory and God’s goodness. You may recognize some of the lines as being part of hymns and praise songs that we still sing today. If you are feeling adventurous, try singing one of these psalms, remembering that your voice is a beautiful sound to the Lord.
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
August 6, 2024
Day 3 of Week 19
Scripture: I Samuel 30-31; I Chronicles 10; Acts 20
Welcome back, everyone, to the Daily Dose of Hope, on this very wet day. If anyone in the Brandon area is in need of storm assistance, don’t hesitate to reach out to me or any New Hope staff person. Let’s get into our Scripture for today.
We begin, once again, with I Samuel. In chapter 30, we read about how when David and his men were away with the armies of the Philistines, the Amalekites took advantage of their absence. They plundered the town of Ziklag, stealing all the livestock and kidnapping the women and children. Understandably, the men were beyond despair and some blamed David and even spoke about possibly stoning him. It was really, really bad. David inquired of the Lord who told him he would be victorious if he were to pursue the Amalekites and the women and children they kidnapped. So they did just that.
They were successful. They recovered everything. Every single Hebrew woman, boy, and girl was recovered and returned to their family. David and his men also took all the livestock, the flocks and herds, and divided it among all his men and the elders. The Lord was with David and his men. The ending could have been much different. Not only did God guide David every step of the way but he protected the women and children who were kidnapped. I love how the Scripture very specifically states, “Nothing was missing: young or old, boy or girl, plunder or anything else taken...” Every life was valuable and every life was recovered.
I just want to stop here and say that God values human life. Sometimes, we struggle with some of the Old Testament violence and death. But overall, throughout the whole Biblical narrative, we see how God values his creation. He cares about his people but he also cares about all people. Jesus demonstrated this with the way he dined with the outcast, touched the leper, and loved everyone. And because God loves every single person, so should we.
Chapter 31 details the Philistine conquest of the army of Israel. The Philistines didn’t simply want to defeat Saul’s forces, they wanted to do lasting damage. Saul ends up critically injured, his sons are killed, and the Hebrew army is largely annihilated. In the ancient Near East, wounded soldiers were often mutilated and tortured on the battlefield by the enemy army. Saul knew this and wanted to avoid allowing the uncircumcised pagans from humiliating and torturing him. After his armor-bearer refused to kill him, Saul falls on his own sword. The armor-bearer then follows suit.
Less than twenty-four hours after Saul’s meeting with the medium, the prophet Samuel’s words in chapter 28 have come to pass, “The LORD will deliver both Israel and you into the hands of the Philistines, and tomorrow you and your sons will be with me. The LORD will also give the army of Israel into the hands of the Philistines.” What God had said would happen has happened. The dynasty of Saul has finally ended. More on this when we get to II Samuel!
Now, let’s take some time to talk about I Chronicles 10. It tells the same story as I Samuel 31 about Saul’s army being defeated, his sons being killed, and Saul taking his own life by falling on his sword. Both chapters even go into how the Philistines took Saul’s head and his armor to put on display at the temple of their gods. But what I Chronicles 10 includes that isn’t mentioned in I Samuel is why Saul died. The author makes it clear – Saul died because he was disobedient to the Lord. Over and over again, Saul blatantly disobeyed God’s law, from chasing after David to killing all the priests. Sin always has consequences.
Our New Testament reading is Acts 20. There is a lot in this chapter that is worthy to be highlighted but I'm choosing these last several verses. Paul is leaving the elders at the church of Ephesus, people he has worked and preached alongside for quite some time. These are people he has grown to love and who love him dearly. They are brothers and sisters in Christ. They are family. And they know they will never see one another again in this earthly life.
When I was traveling in Germany with my Doctorate cohort in 2018, I met a pretty extraordinary South African couple who dedicated their lives to witnessing to Syrian refugees in some of the most dangerous places on earth. Our little group shared, prayed, laughed, and cried with them. My own life journey is forever changed because of the one day I spent with them. I say all of this to make this point. As we left each other's company that day, we were sad because we knew that chances were we would never see each other again this side of heaven. But, we also rejoiced because we knew that we knew that we would spend eternity together.
I think about this as I read about Paul leaving his dear friends. They know that life circumstances will never allow them to be together again in this world. But friends, we aren't simply citizens of earth, we are citizens of heaven! Our time apart is short compared to the eternity we will spend together in heaven. I try to remember this when I officiate a funeral of a loved brother or sister in Christ. Yes, it is very painful to say good-bye. We miss them. But if we know Jesus, then it isn't really good-bye. It's simply "See ya later! Hasta la vista! Till we meet again!" The pain and sadness are real. We must acknowledge that. But we can trust that God will turn our mourning into dancing. Thank you, Jesus!
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
August 5, 2024
Day 2 of Week 19
Scripture: I Samuel 28-29; I Chronicles 9; Acts 19
Happy Monday, everyone, and welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Church Bible reading plan. My prayer this morning is that you have stayed safe in the storm. If anyone needs help, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me or any of the New Hope staff.
Let’s start with I Samuel 28. Saul has truly spiraled. In this chapter, we find him seeking out a medium for guidance, something that is totally forbidden in the Torah. Then, less than twenty-four hours after he does so, he is dead. So what happened? Saul, expecting an attack by the Philistines, sought out a medium to contact Samuel from the dead. He had previously sought out help from the Lord but didn’t get any response because of his disobedience (not to mention he killed off the priests who might be his spiritual advisors).
The medium, upon Saul’s request, brings up the spirit of Samuel, who has very harsh words for Saul. Samuel reiterates the prophecy that the kingdom would be given to David. At this point, Saul knows this, he has heard it many times and in many ways, but he has refused to believe it. But now, he seems to get it. He falls to the ground and is inconsolable.
Throughout the Bible, we read about God’s prohibition of anything related to the occult–mediums, fortune-tellers, clairvoyants, etc. While some people may dispute they have any power at all (and some are clearly frauds), God has definitely forbidden his people’s interaction with them for a reason. My impression is that some of these individuals definitely have power but it is NOT from God. Saul should have stayed away and we need to stay away as well. It’s nothing to mess with. Our direction and guidance should only come from Jesus Christ.
Let’s move on to chapter 29. David and his men had been living in Philistine territory for quite awhile and David had earned the trust of Achish, king of Gath. Achish had asked David to go to battle with him to fight against Israel. David agreed but we certainly didn’t know what he had up his sleeve. We know that David’s ultimate authority was God and God alone. While Achish trusted David, the other Philistine commanders did not. In fact, they didn’t want David on the battlefield with them, as they were worried that he would turn on them. Probably fairly insightful on their part. Thus, David and his men are sent back to the town of Ziglag, where they’ve been residing with the blessing of the Gath king. But the story continues tomorrow...
In I Chronicles chapter 9, we find a slightly different kind of list. These were the people of Judah who came back to resettle Jerusalem after the Babylonian exile. It seems the author is jumping ahead here but he has a reason to do so. All these genealogies seem to offer us a big overview of what is to happen next. These are the names of those who are involved. These are God’s people, those before and now after the exile. But just like in I Samuel, things are going to get more interesting tomorrow.
Acts 19 is a fascinating chapter. Paul's extended time in Ephesus has obviously made a huge impact on the region. Many people are coming to know Jesus, miracles are happening, and people are no longer participating in the local idol worship. They aren't buying the trinkets!
Interestingly, the Temple of Artemis in Ephesus was considered, in its final form, to be one of the seven wonders of the world. It was extraordinary feat of how human beings can create beautiful idols to try to replace the one true God. If the worship of Artemis had been fulfilling and life-giving, then the Ephesian businessmen would have had nothing to worry about. But the worship of idols, two thousand years ago and today, always leaves one feeling empty and wanting.
Paul preached the Word of God, taught about the salvation and abundant life that comes from walking with Jesus, and created a community of people who loved God and each other. That was attractive to people who were desperate for something more. I can't help but relate this same scenario to our society today. What/Who are our modern Temples of Artemis? Which idols have we sought after, leaving us feeling empty and wanting more from life? Just a reminder: Jesus is still in the business of transforming hearts and lives! Who in your life needs to know the abundant life that only comes from a living relationship with Jesus? Who needs to experience a community of Christians who will love and accept them as they are?
Stay safe!
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
August 4, 2024
Day 1 of Week 19
Scripture: I Samuel 26-27; I Chronicles 8; Acts 18
Welcome back, everyone. We are now on Week 19 of our daily Bible reading plan. We have come a long way! Good job to all of you.
Today, we start with I Samuel 26. Once again, we see David spare the life of Saul. Saul has reneged on his previous peace with David (not surprising) and has taken 3,000 troops to pursue David in the wilderness of Ziph. David hears about this plan and tracks Saul. When Saul and his troops are asleep, he sneaks down to the camp and takes Saul’s water jug and spear, which were right next to his head. David could have easily killed Saul with his own spear but he doesn’t. Why? Because David is obedient. As much pain and heartache as Saul has caused David, he refuses to lower himself to Saul’s level. He refuses to take revenge. God told David not to kill Saul so he won’t kill Saul.
I’m sure it took a huge amount of restraint for David to allow God to take care of things in his timing. What is it about us as human beings that we feel the need to take revenge? When someone has hurt us, when a wrong has been done, we want to hurt or get back at the person who did it. We want to make them hurt as much as we do. David must have had that temptation with Saul but he didn’t give in to it. I’ve known people who held on to anger and the desire for revenge for years and years. It ended up becoming like a poison in their system, slowing killing their spirit and any joy in their lives.
Examine your own life. Do you have intense anger toward another person? Do you have the desire for revenge or maybe simply the desire for someone else “to get what they deserve”? What would it be like for you to give that to God today, to totally release it and allow God to take care of the situation in his own way and timing? I can’t help but wonder how your life might change. I keep thinking about Paul’s words in Romans 12:17-21, Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. On the contrary, “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil but overcome evil with good.
David has gotten tired of this cat and mouse game with Saul. Thus, David takes his family and his large army to live in the land of the Philistines. By this point, David has made a name for himself; he is essentially a famous outlaw and Achish, the king of Gath, allows him to stay there (remember that my enemy’s enemy is my friend so Achish saw David as an ally). That being said, this was no small thing for the king to do. David and his 600-man army, many with families, would have taken over a small Philistine town. You can imagine the townspeople might not have been too happy. Knowing this, David asks Achish to give them a town, a space of their own, to live in and not be too disruptive in the Philistine territory. David pretends his request is an act of humility (“Why should I live in the royal city with you?”) but David clearly knew what he was doing.
Interestingly, the king gives David the town of Ziklag. This was an area that was part of Judah, part of the territory that God had given the Israelites, but they had never gotten around to conquering it. David and his men promptly conquered it and made a home there. David’s time in exile was certainly not a waste, as he actually used it to continue Israel’s conquest of Canaan. From that point on, the land belonged to Judah.
After reflecting on David’s time in Philistine territory, I began to think about times in my own life that felt a bit like an exile. I’m sure you have those seasons of life as well. Maybe it’s a health issue, a stagnant job, caregiving responsibilities, or something else that keeps you from doing what you really want to do, that keeps you from feel like you are moving forward in your life. But those times in exile are not wasted. In fact, God doesn’t waste anything! These are times that God can use to teach us and help prepare us for what’s to come. If you are like me, you may get a bit impatient during these times. Instead, think of them as seasons of healing, growth, and preparation.
Okay, we are going to kind of breeze through I Chronicles 8. It is the genealogy of Saul the Benjaminite. I think we have done a pretty good job covering the importance of these genealogies. No need to belabor it. Read through the names and simply reflect on how these were men who really lived, had families, jobs, and lives. And this chapter documents that.
Our New Testament passage is Acts 18. Here, we read more about Paul’s missionary journey. He heads to Corinth, where he almost throws in the towel when it came to preaching to the Jews. But God encourages him and we continue to see his pattern of heading to the synagogue first, debating with the Jews, and then bringing the message to the Gentiles. While I’m sure it was frustrating for Paul, he did see a lot of fruit. Jews and Gentiles alike from all walks of life are beginning to believe the Good News.
Priscilla and Aquilla appear on the scene and they are a huge support to Paul, as Apollos will be as well. What I admire so much about Paul is how he traveled around frequently, built networks of believers (which become churches), and he seems almost fearless. He doesn’t get too attached to any place, although he stays some places longer than others.
And yet, he builds deep relationships. There had to be a lot of hard good-byes. He was totally and completely sold out for Jesus and he was willing to make any sacrifice to advance God’s Kingdom. How many of us can say that? Wow.
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
August 1, 2024
Day 5 of Week 18
Scripture: I Samuel 25; I Chronicles 7; Acts 17
Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope. Today, we start a new month and end our 18th week reading Scripture consistently. Friday and Saturday, you will have two days off to catch up and get ahead and then we start week 19 on Sunday. Remember, I love to hear feedback about how you are learning and what God is revealing to you through his Word.
With that, let’s get started with today’s Scripture.
Our first reading is I Samuel 25. It was sheep-shearing time, a time for festivities and rejoicing because of the profits that are generated by the wool. David and his men, over the course of their battles with the Philistines, had ensured the safety of many shepherds and their flocks, including that of a man named Nabal. Nabal was very wealthy and must have owned many sheep. At the time of the shearing, David sent some men to Nabal, asking for some kind of gift in exchange for keeping his flocks safe.
Nabal responded in a very ugly and aggressive manner. Scripture clearly calls him an evil man. But Nabal’s wife, Abigail, was much smarter and kinder than he. One of Nabal’s hired men informed Abigail of the situation and she promptly took matters into her own hands. She knew that her husband’s selfish actions would bring harm on the entire household. At that very moment, David had gathered his men and was planning an attack on Nabal and all he owned. In verses 21-22, we see David speak some incredibly bitter and vengeful words; it truly seems out of character for him. Maybe the overwhelming stress and injustice of the circumstances with Saul had built up within him; this may have simply been the straw that broke the camel’s back.
But God intervened. While on his angry trek to Nabal’s house, he comes across Abigail. She had brought huge quantities of food and wine as a gift for David and his men. She gets off her donkey and lowers herself to the ground in front of David. Then, she begins the longest speech of any woman in the entire Old Testament. In her speech, she does three things: she intercedes on behalf of her husband, she prophesies that David will overtake his enemies and create a dynasty for the House of David, and she prevents David from breaking Torah and bringing any kind of judgment on himself (David should not be the one to take revenge on Nabal but God).
Abigail’s actions certainly saved many lives and much heartache for David. Of course, what she did was highly unusual and went against her culture’s social expectations for women. But over and over again in Scripture, we see God use unexpected people to achieve his purposes. God doesn’t call the equipped, but instead equips the called. How has God called you and have you responded?
In I Chronicles 7, we find more lists – the sons of Issachar, Benjamin, Naphtali, Manasseh, Ephraim, and Asher. You guys are probably getting tired of hearing me talk about this genealogy. I promise, we have only two more chapters of lists before we get to what we might think is more exciting. And yet, these names are important – thy are real people with real lives who served a real, living God. They may be a bit boring to get through, but there is purpose in having them in God’s Word.
Our New Testament passage is Acts 17. In this chapter, Paul preaches in Thessalonica, Berea, and Athens. At each place, he tailors his message to his audience but it’s still clearly the Gospel. The reception he receives at each location is different too. But in each city, as different as they are, some people believe or want to know more. I think this is such a great model for us. We share as God leads us and we tailor the message to those who are listening. If we are telling the Jesus story to Jews, then we will focus on the Old Testament and the various prophecies about Jesus. If we are telling the Jesus story to Gentiles, then the story will be spoken in a way that makes sense to them. Paul appealed to what they knew – think about his use of the altar to an unknown God.
In our world, I present the Gospel to someone who grew up in the church differently than I do to someone who has never heard of Jesus. I guess the theme here is know your audience and listen to the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
July 31, 2024
Day 4 of Week 18
Scripture: I Samuel 23-24; I Chronicles 6; Psalm 54; Acts 16
Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, everyone. This is the devotional and podcast that complements the Bible reading plan for New Hope Church in Brandon, Florida. It’s Wednesday and if you live in the community, we would love to have you attend our Recharge service tonight at 6:30pm in the Garage on the Moon Ave. side of our campus. There is a time of worship and then we break into small groups. There is a young adult small group, a group for middle and high school youth, an adult all-ages Bible study, and my prayer group. I would encourage you to try us out if you have never come. I promise that you will be blessed!
Okay. Let’s get into our Scripture for today, starting with I Samuel 23. David is clearly afraid. He is being hunted and he knows it. But his faith is also strong. He is relying on God’s protection, trusting in God to provide for him and literally direct his steps. Yet, that doesn’t mean he wasn’t feeling fearful. He was human. At just the right time, God sent Jonathan to visit with David and reassure him. Yes, God has a purpose for David. No, Saul would not be successful.
Jonathan, now fully aware of the evil possessing his father, is confident that God will bring about a new thing through David. Be sure to read the whole chapter. After David’s visit with Jonathan, the Ziphites (from Ziph, a town in Judah), went to Saul to report that David was hiding in their territory. They were being cunning and probably thought they would be rewarded in some way by the king for their betrayal of David.
In chapter 24, David had the opportunity to take Saul’s life but he doesn’t do it. He simply cuts off a corner of his robe when Saul is distracted. He confronts Saul, making it clear that he has done nothing to deserve Saul’s hatred and attempts on his life. David shows him the corner of his robe, demonstrating that he had (and still has) the power to kill Saul. Why? Because God is on David’s side. David repeatedly says “May the Lord be our judge and decide between us.” And David makes it clear, he chose to repay Saul’s evil with mercy. Saul is moved. He admits that he knows that God will put David on the throne and asks David to not kill off his descendants. There is some kind of reconciliation but at this point, we have no idea if Saul is sincere and if he will continue to pursue David. But if only for just a moment, there is peace.
I Chronicles 6 lists the sons of Levi and the temple musicians. I love that even the temple musicians are listed! Their gifts and contributions are incredibly important to God’s work and they need to be recognized and remembered. Keep in mind, these chapters are providing a monument to the men who served Israel before the exile. Each name is important. Each name matters.
Our psalm for today is Psalm 54, which David wrote when he found out about the situation with the Ziphites (that we read about in I Samuel 23). We get a picture of David’s desperation and dependence on God. It’s also amazing to me that he is still praising God. He is being hunted like an animal, he is scared to death, and he is praising God. Wow. Do we praise God in the darkest moments of our lives?
Our New Testament passage is Acts 16. There are two parts of this passage I want us to discuss. The first is when Paul meets Timothy and decides to bring him on his missionary journey, he circumcises him. Wait? Didn’t Paul just argue at the Council of Jerusalem that circumcision and the law were an unnecessary burden for Gentiles? Yes, he did. Now he circumcises Timothy. Is he contradicting himself? I don’t believe so but there are some layers to unpack.
Timothy’s mother was Jewish and his father was Greek so he was not circumcised. Now, he and Paul were going to be visiting many young churches, some filled with Jewish believers. While circumcision wouldn’t be required, it probably gave Timothy a bit more authority in the eyes of those new Jewish converts. It was probably also a debate they just didn’t want to have. They wanted the focus to be on Jesus and they were avoiding anything that would be a distraction. Of course, I’m thinking – was there a circumcision check at the door? How would they even know? But I digress.
The other part of the passage that is fascinating to me is how the Spirit of God discourages them from going one way so that they would end up in Macedonia. And by going into Macedonia, it opens up a whole new area to the Gospel. They head to Philippi, where they meet a woman named Lydia and she accepts Jesus. This is only the beginning! By listening to the Spirit and not insisting on their own way, the Gospel was advanced.
How often do we want to force our own way with God? Yet, the Spirit is always trying to guide us, if we let him.
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
July 30, 2024
Day 3 of Week 18
Scripture: I Samuel 21-22; I Chronicles 5; Psalm 52; Acts 15
Welcome back, everyone, to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the Bible reading plan at New Hope Church in Brandon, Florida. Let’s get right into our text for today.
Our first Old Testament reading is from I Samuel, starting with chapter 21. David is on the run. He knows that Saul is after his life and has a lot of resources with which to pursue him. David makes a quick stop to see Ahimelech the priest to gather some provisions but then heads into Philistine territory. It was certainly a risk to head into enemy territory but he wasn’t safe at home either. Desperate circumstances call for desperate measures. He is hoping to go unnoticed in the foreign land but no such luck; David’s reputation precedes him. Afterall, he is the one who killed Goliath!
In order to protect himself from Achish, the Philistine ruler of that area, he pretends to be insane. The king may have felt threatened by David as brave warrior but he didn’t worry too much about David as the insane guy. This was clearly a low point for David. Wherever he goes, he is a fugitive. He doesn’t know who he can trust. He’s left the people who love him and he must be incredibly scared and lonely. We get a picture of David’s intense emotions by reading some of the Psalms (we read some of these yesterday). Scholars suggest that Psalm 34 particularly depicts this time in David’s life. It starts by stating, “I will extol the Lord at all times; his praise will always be on my lips.” It speaks of God saving him from his troubles and encamping around those who fear him. We see themes of protection, deliverance, and trust through out the Psalm. Even in this time of fear and insecurity, David is praising the name of God. People are actively hunting him down but he’s never lost trust or faith. He knows that right will prevail.
How many of you needed to hear that today? Even in our deepest struggles, we can praise the name of Jesus and trust him with our lives. Things may not turn out the way we want them to but we can be certain that Jesus is still on the throne and right will prevail.
Moving on to chapter 22. David heads to the places where he feels comfortable and knows there will be some safety. Adullam, which means refuge, is in Judah and close by was a hill that had fortifications and caves for hiding. David couldn’t have been too clandestine, however, because his family sought him out there, as did a few hundred Israelite men who were unhappy with the current regime and wanted David to be their commander. David takes his family to a place of safety in Moab, for he knows they are at risk simply by being related to him.
In fact, anyone who helped David was at serious risk. When Saul discovered that Ahimelek the priest gave David bread and a sword, basic provisions for his journey, King Saul was irate. His reaction was over the top evil. He decides to kill all the priests and their families. But the king’s men refuse to touch the priests. These men were the anointed of the Lord; no Israelite would touch them. But Doeg the Edomite was there, a pagan, and he was fine with killing them. So Doeg strikes down the priests, eighty-five of them, and then killed all the men, women, children, and livestock in the town of Nob, which was the town of the priests.
The priestly line was almost wiped out but not quite. One of Ahimelek’s sons, Abiathar, managed to escape and find his way to David. Now, the only remaining priest has found his way to the king-to-be and they can support one another. In this time of crisis, two men of God can lean on one another, guide each other, and protect the future of the priesthood.
Think about the events of your life. I hope they haven’t been quite as dramatic as David’s, but think specifically about some of the most difficult and desperate moments. So often, I do believe that God sends just the right person into our lives at just the right time–someone to support us, guide us, and even protect us when we need it most. Who has that person been for you?
Our I Chronicles chapter has more lists of people who matter. These were sons of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh. While the names themselves don’t mean a lot to us, we trust that each person played an important role in some way to advance the Kingdom of Israel.
Psalm 52 is a psalm of David, written after David hears the tragic news of Doeg the Edomite killing the priests and their families. This had to be totally devastating for David. He writes of Saul’s deceit and sin, emphasizing how eventually Saul will meet his doom. God will only allow so much. But I love how the psalm ends in verses 8-9, But I am like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God; I trust in God’s unfailing love for ever and ever. For what you have done I will always praise you in the presence of your faithful people. And I will hope in your name, for your name is good. Despite the devastation, David praises God and rests in his hope.
Our final chapter is in the New Testament, Acts 15. This is a pretty crucial moment for the young church. Some people from Judea have gone to the churches and said that to follow Jesus, you must first be a Jew first and follow the law of Moses. Well, Paul and Barnabas are appalled and they debate fiercely with these men. Thus, they are invited to go to Jerusalem to meet with the apostles and elders to discuss the matter. This is a pivotal moment. Will the council in Jerusalem put the burden of the Law on these new Gentile believers? Because the Law is a heavy burden.
Amazingly, it seems that the discussion at the council meeting is both civil and Spirit-filled. Don’t we wish all church meetings could be this way? Paul and Barnabas give testimony to what they have witnessed with Gentile believers receiving the Holy Spirit. James stands up and quotes Scripture from the prophets which points to Gentiles accepting the Lord. Thus, they come up with a compromise to not make the burden too heavy for the new believers. They are to avoid sexual immorality, not eat meat dedicated to idols or meat from strangled animals or blood. All three of these were very pagan behaviors associated with idol worship. This is where they decide to draw the line and it makes sense.
While this seems to bring resolution, we know that these issues will continue to come up. Let’s see what tomorrow brings.
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
July 29, 2024
Day 2 of Week 18
Scripture: I Samuel 20; I Chronicles 4; Psalms 56, 57, 142; Acts 14
Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Bible reading plan. We have a lot of Scripture to cover today so let’s get started.
In I Samuel 20, Jonathan finally understands the extent of Saul’s hatred toward David. At first, David thinks maybe he had done something to bring on this treatment but Jonathan assures him that is not the case. Jonathan still doesn’t believe his father, King Saul, could truly want David dead. Jonathan appears to be deluded and a bit naïve, but his love for David is strong and genuine. They devise a plan to discern to what degree Saul is serious about his plan to kills David.
In this chapter, we witness the interaction between Saul and Jonathan. Jonathan is a bit shocked that his father hated David with such intensity but he now understands the severity of the situation and that no logical argument will change Saul’s mind. But Saul persists in trying to bring Jonathan back over to his side using three strong motivators: shame, guilt, and greed. Saul insists Jonathan is bringing shame on the family (remember this was and still is an honor/shame culture; family shame is a really serious thing.) He then tried to guilt him into turning against David. Finally, Saul tells Jonathan that his own kingdom will never be established as long as David is alive, trying to appeal to his sense of greed.
We don’t really know what was going on in Jonathan’s head; he may have been tempted to side with his dad, even for just a second, but he doesn’t. Jonathan stands firm. He is loyal to his friend and to his faith. He boldly questions his father, asking why David should be put to death. According to Torah, an innocent man should never be executed. We see again how selfish ambition and hatred have driven a deep wedge between Saul and God.
Guess what I Chronicles 4 includes? You were right, more genealogy. This chapter lists the descendants of some more clans of Judah. Just a reminder, the author wanted to create a monument of sorts of those from Israel who died before the exile. As I’ve mentioned previously, family histories in that time and culture were really only provided for the wealthy and elite. I think the author knew that all of these individuals and families were important to Israel and important to God. He wanted them to be remembered. I know genealogies are kind of boring to read through. But I want us to try to go back through the chapter and look at each name – every single name is a life, a family, a story. Every name represents part of Israel’s faith journey and really our own faith journey as well.
We were given three psalms to read for today. These are all psalms written by David when he was under attack. The first (Psalm 56) he wrote when he was seized by the Philistines, the next two (Psalms 57 and 142) he wrote when Saul is trying to kill him, and he was hiding in a cave. When David was scared, he trusted God for help. When David was unsure what to do, he trusted God for help. When David’s life was on the line, he trusted God for help. The bottom line, David poured his sorrows and fears out to God, knowing that God was his only hope. In some ways, these psalms are kind of like journal entries for David. We are getting a peak into his deepest thoughts and feelings. How do you communicate your feelings to the Lord?
We conclude today with Acts 14 and read more about Paul and Barnabas’ missionary journeys. Iconium, Lystra, and Derbe are all in what is now south-central Turkey, just to provide some geographical context. In Lystra, they were preaching and noticed a man who was disabled since birth, in that he could not walk. The Scripture says that they could tell he had faith to be healed so they healed him. And then basically all heck breaks loose! The locals believe they are gods and want to make sacrifices to them. Talk about getting the wrong idea.
Think about it. In these towns, they worshiped the Greek and/or Roman gods. Their everyday lives were very much intertwined with this kind of god worship. Want a better crop? Pray to this god and give him a few sacrifices. Want to be more fertile? Pray to this god and offer some sacrifices here and there. That was their world. And so it makes sense that when Paul and Barnabas healed, that must mean they are gods. Of course, Paul and Barnabas were appalled at all of this but it won’t be the last time something like this occurs. The Gospel was freeing, refreshing, but also a totally new concept for many of these people groups. It takes them time to understand what it means to follow the one true God.
We’ll chat more tomorrow.
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
July 28, 2024
Day 1 of Week 18
Scripture: I Samuel 18-19; I Chronicles 3; Psalm 59; Acts 13
Welcome back, everyone, to the Daily Dose of Hope. This is the daily devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Bible reading plan. We are in week 18! We have almost been reading Scripture consistently for four months. Way to go!!! Keep up the great work.
Today, we start in I Samuel, chapter 18. Scripture says that because God was with him, everything that David did was successful. After David killed Goliath, the women (mothers, wives, and daughters) were understandably ecstatic that their loved ones stayed protected. It was Israelite custom to compose songs to describe a victorious battle. The one in this chapter struck a chord with Saul. In verse 7, we can hear it, Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands. Saul burned with jealousy. It’s almost as if he knows that David is the one selected to be king and he is bound and determined to prevent this from happening.
Over the course of the chapter, he attempts to kill David and then devises a plan to ensnare David by bringing him into the royal family. In the end, David flourishes. He evades the king’s attempts on his life. Saul’s daughter does not ensnare him, she loves him fiercely. Jonathan, Saul’s son, becomes like a brother to David. Because God was with him, everything that David did was successful.
As followers of Jesus, we know that God is always with us. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, the presence of God is all around us and in us! While this does not ensure that we will be successful in the way that David was, if we seek God’s wisdom and direction, we can be effective for the Kingdom. This may not look like worldly success but it’s so much better.
In chapter 19, we see that Saul’s jealousy of David is beginning to become an obsession. Saul is determined to see David dead. It’s hard to imagine that this king, who saw the hand of God work powerfully in his life, has now become incredibly self-absorbed, bitter, and insecure. But while Saul hated David, others loved him. They saw his pure heart and his commitment to the Lord and they were drawn to him. Jonathan, Saul’s own son, was one who was fiercely dedicated to David. We even see Jonathan try to talk some sense into his father.
Saul commits to Jonathan by taking an oath that he will not kill David. Of course, we know this doesn’t go as planned. It doesn’t take long before Saul is back on the warpath. He’s willing to do anything, even betray his own son, to ensure that David will not get the throne, as if Saul had some kind of power to thwart the will of God.
In reflecting on today’s text, I began to think about how people were drawn to David. Jonathan loved his friend, David, and was willing to go to great lengths to save his life (we’ll read more about this tomorrow). The troops loved David. Saul’s daughter loved David. There was simply something about his spirit that drew people toward him. There are certainly some people in our lives that are like this. They exude the spirit of God in their words and behavior. Thus, we are drawn to them. We want to be around them. They are encouraging, loving, and kind. They never have a negative word to say about anyone. Think about some of the people in your life that fall into this category. What can we learn from them? Give thanks to God for these individuals today.
Today, we aren’t going to talk about I Chronicles, as I think we have already talked the genealogy at length. If you missed our previous discussions about these chapters, be sure to go back to last week and review. They are very important but let’s be real, there is only so much to say.
Psalm 59 is another psalm of David. It’s obvious that Saul and his men are after him and they want blood. David appeals to God for protection. As you read through this psalm, picture David pleading with God. When we feel like our world is falling down around us, how do we handle the fear?
In Acts 13, we read about the first missionary journeys. The believers feel the Holy Spirit calling them to go, so they go. Notice that wherever they go, they stop in the synagogue first and preach to the Jews. Some follow and believe which simply angers the Jewish leaders and they cause trouble. It’s then that Paul basically says, “Look, we tried to offer you salvation in Jesus. You reject us so we are moving on to the Gentiles!” The Gentiles are very pleased. And the word spread and many people believed.
I think sometimes we keep trying to do something, over and over and over again, without a lot of success because we feel like God has called us to do so. Sometimes, as in this passage, that is simply a door we need to close so that we can open up a more productive one. It’s okay to say no to good to do what’s great for God’s Kingdom.
More tomorrow.
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
July 25, 2024
Day 5 of Week 17
Scripture: I Samuel 17; I Chronicles 2; Acts 12
Dear friends, welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope! This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it! Let’s also rejoice in God’s Word and all we are learning. With that, we head into our Scripture for today.
We start with I Samuel 17. Today, we read the classic story of David and Goliath. For those of us who grew up going to Sunday School, we know this one by heart. Young, naïve David triumphs over the giant Philistine. But as I read it again today, I was reminded of something. This is not a story of human courage and power but rather incredible faith and trust in a powerful God. Goliath was truly a giant. He measured over 9 feet tall and was broad and strong. His size alone would have been quite overwhelming for the Hebrew army but he also had state of the art armor and weaponry. Goliath was a soldier who fought to the death in one on one combat. He would fight against a single man from an enemy army and the solider who was left standing won the battle for his people. The dead soldier’s people would become subjects of the victorious nation. There isn’t much evidence that the Israelite army did much one to one combat; it was typically the whole army fighting together. This was new to them and they were scared to death. No one dared to face Goliath.
David arrives at the battle lines to bring food provisions to the soldiers. His three oldest brothers were fighting with King Saul. We don’t know why David wasn’t on the battle lines, possibly because he needed to stay at home and help his father. He arrives in time to hear Goliath taunting the Israeli soldiers, who were quite fearful. David was obviously disturbed that Goliath could so boldly insult the Hebrew army, the army of the living God. He starts to ask questions, greatly annoying his older brother who, possibly out of fear himself, says some pretty awful and untrue things about David.
David is unrelenting. His offer to fight Goliath is initially refused by King Saul. But David is determined. Finally, Saul agrees and even offers David his own armor and sword. Interestingly, David clothing himself in the royal armor is a foreshadowing of what is to come: David will soon be king. But David quickly abandons the royal armor; he wasn’t used to fighting in such things. He dressed like a shepherd would have, using what seemed normal and natural to him–a stone and a sling. Just so you know, the stones were not little pebbles but would have been about the size of a tennis ball. Nothing to laugh at for sure.
But what’s most impressive to me is that David understood this was a theological battle. It wasn’t just him fighting against this Philistine. This was God’s battle. When the Israelites went to war, it was supposed to be a spiritual battle. They represented Yahweh, the one true God. For that reason, they were only to go to war with God’s blessings and they were to be ritually pure. David was making a point. This wasn’t about him. God would fight the battle for him. Of course, we know the rest of the story. Goliath is defeated.
I’m hoping none of us have to be engaged in any kind of one of one combat. But we certainly have battles to fight. What might it be like to allow God to fight our battles for us? How would that change our perspective? How would it change how we handle the situation, the words we speak, and our demeanor with the people involved? Spend some time today thinking about your current battles. Consider giving them to God, for real, and not taking them back.
Let’s move on to I Chronicles 2. From this chapter through chapter nine, we will be encountering more genealogy and lists of people. Why so many lists? I did a bit of a deep dive into the purpose of the genealogy, specifically in I Chronicles. The author did this very intentionally. He wanted to create a monument of sorts of those from Israel who died before the exile. Apparently, family histories in that time and culture were really only provided for the elite. I think the author knew that all of these individuals and families were important to Israel and important to God. He wanted them to be remembered.
I can’t help but think about all the monuments and memorials I’ve visited over the years. One that always brings me to tears is the Vietnam Wall in Washington D.C. The pure number of names is overwhelming. And then there are those who find a loved one or relative and take pictures or make an imprint onto paper of the name they came to see. It gives their lives meaning. It helps us remember. It’s critical to our history. In many ways, I think these first few chapters in I Chronicles are similar. These men deserve to have their names written, read, and remembered.
We will close today with our New Testament reading from Acts 12. Things are getting rough for Peter and the Christians. Persecution is increasing. Herod is getting especially agitated and throws Peter in prison. I want to talk about the miracle of Peter being released but first let’s discuss the Herod dynasty because I think that’s important. The Herodians were given power of the region of Judea by the Romans. While they were brutal and power-hungry, they did consider themselves to be Jews. This Herod from Acts 12 is Herod Agrippa I. His grandfather was Herod the Great; he was the Herod who called for the killing of the Jewish baby boys after Jesus’ birth. He was the nephew of Herod Antipas, who ordered the beheading of John the Baptist and to whom Jesus was brought.
All of these Herodian kings were insecure and felt easily threatened by those who criticized them or their way of life. Thus, this Herod was persecuting Christians and had already executed James, the brother of John.
Peter is arrested and thrown in prison with many, many layers of security. But no soldiers or shackles can stop God! He sends an angel who frees Peter and leads him out of the prison to a home where many believers were meeting. This is just the beginning of the miracles God is going to do.
Finally, let’s talk about Herod’s death. After securing some kind of peace deal, King Herod stands before the people and gives his royal address. The people go wild! They begin to say this is the voice of a god, not a man. And insecure Herod just soaks it up. But God is having none of it, and he strikes him down dead. Y’all, arrogance does not pay.
God calls his people to be humble. All glory and honor belong to God. Yes, there are times in which we can be appropriately proud but we have to be very, very careful. The way of Christ is always humility.
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
July 24, 2024
Day 4 of Week 17
Scripture: I Samuel 15-16; I Chronicles 1; Psalm 39; Acts 11
Welcome to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Church Bible reading plan. We have a lot of Scripture to cover today so let’s get started!
Our first Old Testament passage is I Samuel 15. What a sad chapter. Saul has come completely unhinged. He gives lip service to serving God but really does what he wants. God had tasked Saul and his army to destroy the Amalekites for their violent treatment of the Israelites as they made their way into the promised land. God’s instructions were very clear: kill all of them. But Saul decides to save the best of the livestock and keep the Amalekite king as a prisoner. When confronted by Samuel the prophet, Saul actually lies about the situation. When caught, he begins to back-pedal, saying he took the best of the animals to sacrifice to the Lord. He is almost flippant, totally not acknowledging the severity of disobedience.
It’s obvious, the power of kingship has gone to his head. Saul wants to do what he wants to do when he wants to do it. He has forgotten where he came from and who got him there. He has forgotten his place in the world. Saul is not above God. As a result of Saul’s arrogance, his disobedience, and his lack of repentance, Samuel knows he must separate from Saul. He can no longer be connected with this man. This grieves Samuel, as he had served with Saul for years. And Saul’s behavior grieved God.
I’ve been reflecting about this–are there times when we think we are above God? Are there times when we think we know better? I’m not saying I have a good answer or even an example, but it’s worth spending some time in prayer about this.
Let’s move to chapter 16. Here we see Samuel anoint David to be king. Young David was God’s choice for the next king of Israel. What’s interesting here is that all the obvious choices are rejected by God. God sought the youngest son of Jesse, the shepherd boy, the lyre player. I love this passage, “The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
As humans, we judge others by their appearance, their speech, their abilities, their job, even where they’re from. Without really knowing a person, we judge and criticize them (I see this happen all the time inside the church.). But God could care less about any of these attributes! God cares about the heart. Are we loving? Are we kind? Are we obedient? How could we be different as a body of believers if we ONLY looked at the heart? If you didn’t read through the whole chapter, I encourage you to do so. It’s fascinating to see how God orchestrates events to bring Saul and the newly anointed David together. Be sure to check it out.
Our reading today also brings us to I Chronicles 1. This book is mainly a record of the reign of King David. Much of it will be similar to what we read in 2 Samuel and I Kings so it makes sense that the Bible reading plan has us picking it up at this point. There are many, many genealogies in I Chronicles, which is what we find in chapter 1, a genealogy from Adam to Esau. But the genealogy covers all kinds of people – kings, Levites, priests, armies, and other officials.
What we will find in this book is that it is written from a priestly perspective. Whereas I and II Kings will focus on royalty, this book is going to emphasize proper worship of Yahweh. Obviously, we will dig deeper as we get more into the book. Until then, try to make sense of the genealogy, thinking about how each person is mentioned because they were important for God’s purposes in one way or another. Each person mentioned represents a life, a family, a story, and a purpose.
Psalm 39 is a painful psalm to read. King David is the author and it’s obvious that he has been chastised by God. He is facing the consequences of sin and he pleads with God about how much longer the pain will last. How much longer will he have to face God’s scorn? What we can surmise is that the baby he fathered with Bathsheba has died. David is grieving and lamenting. We get to see his pain on paper. While I read it, I also wonder what Bathsheba must be feeling. Women’s voices were rarely recorded at the time but I can’t help but thinking about her in the midst of this tragedy.
Finally, we get to visit our New Testament passage, Acts 11. What a great chapter! It starts with Peter explaining why he entered the house of a Gentile and how the new believers received the Holy Spirit. Isn’t it interesting that the church leaders in Jerusalem don’t start by asking Peter about the Gentiles’ conversion? No, they are more worried about Peter being a good Jew. They are more worried about the superficial. I think about our earlier Scripture about King David. Man looks on the outside but God looks on the heart. God is less worried about the food that’s eaten and more concerned about the souls of people.
At the same time, I get it. These Jewish church leaders had been taught the law from the time they were wee ones. Yes, Jesus had opened up new doors and broken down barriers, but the law is the law. This struggle with whether/how to follow the Mosaic Law as a follower of Jesus will be a major theme throughout the rest of the New Testament. We are quite removed from it as Gentile believers 2000 years later, but this was a big, big deal.
I don’t want to leave this chapter without at least mentioning the church at Antioch. This is the first place they are called Christians and we have the scattered Jews and the local Greeks worshiping together. This was quite revolutionary! More on this tomorrow.
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
July 23, 2024
Day 3 of Week 17
Scripture: I Samuel 14, Psalm 124, Acts 10
Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that goes along with the Bible readings for New Hope Church in Brandon, Florida. Let me start by reminding you how much God loves you. Wherever you are, whatever your history may be, whatever mistakes you have made, God loves you, God created you, God wants a deeper relationship with you. I think that’s a pretty important reminder. Okay, with that, let’s get right into God’s Word today.
We are starting with I Samuel 14. Without giving it much thought or asking the Lord for wisdom, Saul decides to make a rash oath requiring that all the men in his army fast from food until the Philistines were avenged. So now his men are scared, tired, and hungry! Saul’s son, Jonathan, eats some honey, not knowing about the oath. When he is told about his father’s oath, he is not frightened but rather exasperated with his father’s poor decision-making. The Israelites go on to defeat some of the Philistines but there is still more fighting ahead of them.
Saul is convinced that their inability to secure total victory must be due to a sin that has occurred and he asks for some confirmation of this. Whoever is at fault, Saul will put to death. When the lot falls upon Jonathan, Saul is willing to kill his own son in order to gain God’s favor and that of the people. But the army revolts. They see Jonathan as the reason they were able to have any victory at all. Jonathan is seen as a trusted leader who cares for his troops. Saul gets a vote of no-confidence. We begin to see Saul’s poor leadership, rash decision-making, and selfish desperation get the best of him.
Psalm 124 – we are back in the Psalms of Ascents. If you remember, this is a group of psalms that are sung by pilgrims as they make their way into Jerusalem for the annual festivals. Keep in mind, Jerusalem has a pretty high elevation. I want you to picture a group of Jews hiking into Jerusalem, up hill all the way, singing this psalm.
Now let’s make our way to Acts 10. Things are changing. I love this text, as it shows that God is always up to something new to lead more people to the Gospel. Cornelius, an Italian centurion, is a God-fearer. This means he is a Gentile who believes in God but does not follow the law to the tee. He is respected among Jews and gives to the causes of God. God sends an angel to tell Cornelius that he needs to send for Peter.
At about the same time, Peter falls into a trance in which God presents him with all kinds of food, much of it unclean according to the law. It’s clear God is doing something new here. He tells Peter to get up and eat. When Peter protests, God tells him that nothing that God makes is unclean. It’s at that same time that Cornelius sends for him.
Peter goes to Cornelius’ home. Keep in mind, this would have really been a no-no according to Jewish law. Jews did not associate with Gentiles; they especially did not walk into their homes. It would have rendered them unclean. But Peter knows that God has called him to do so. He speaks to Cornelius, his family, and friends about Jesus and they believe and receive the Holy Spirit. This is new territory, everyone! These are the first Gentiles that become believers. We stand on their shoulders. More tomorrow…
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
July 22, 2024
Day 2 of Week 17
Scripture: I Samuel 11-13; Psalm 38; Acts 9
Welcome back, everyone, to the Daily Dose of Hope. Happy Monday! I’m looking forward to getting right into our Scripture for today.
We begin with I Samuel, chapter 11. Here, we find the people of Jabesh Gilead being threatened by the Ammonites. They know they are outnumbered so they ask for a treaty. The Ammonites, filled with arrogance and a good bit of spite, agree to that only if they can gauge out the eye of every man in Jabesh, which would render these men basically incapable of battle ever again. This would make them effectively slaves to the Ammonites.
Messengers are sent and Saul gets word about what happened. No way will he allow this to happen. God’s Spirit falls on Saul and he gains wisdom and confidence. The men follow him and defeat the Ammonites. This was a great victory for Israel but also for Saul. They now see him as king.
In chapter 12, we see Samuel pass the leadership baton to Saul for the final time. But first, Samuel finds the need to set some things straight. Samuel stresses that he led both effectively and with integrity. Israel, on the other hand, sinned again and again. It was especially a sin to ask for a human king, as God always intended that he would be their king. Samuel, to emphasize the point of this particular sin, asks God to send thunder and rain to demonstrate both the severity of their sin and the power of God. The people immediately respond with fear.
We see Samuel reassuring the people. He doesn’t sugarcoat it. Yes, they have sinned. Yes, they probably should not have asked for a human king. But it’s done. Now, they need to repent and move forward. Fear God, trust God, and serve God.
Move on. How many people need to hear that today? Yes, maybe you have messed up royally in your past. Maybe you even messed up this week! It’s time to repent. You can think of repentance as turning away from sin and back toward God. It’s not simply being sorry for wrongdoing but intentionally moving back toward a relationship with God. What do you need to do to move back toward God?
As we see moving into chapter 13, one of Saul’s first acts as king was to establish a standing army. Both he and his son, Jonathan, commanded different divisions of the Hebrew army. We see Jonathan and his soldiers attacking the Philistine army at the town of Geba, greatly aggravating the Philistine leaders. They decide to retaliate by attacking Saul’s troops and the Israelites are greatly outnumbered. In fact, Saul and Jonathan’s men respond by running away and hiding in caves, rocks, thickets, cisterns, or wherever else they can find safety.
Saul waits for Samuel to come to offer the necessary burnt offerings that are supposed to happen before a battle occurs to receive the Lord’s favor. But Saul gets impatient. In fact, Saul is so impatient that he goes ahead and just offers the burnt offerings himself, a big no-no. Samuel, as the prophet, is still the spiritual authority, not King Saul. We don’t really know why Saul took matters into his own hands; maybe he was anxious about the battle and not thinking straight or possibly he thought himself invincible as king. Regardless, when Samuel arrives and realizes what has happened, he admonishes Saul and prophesies that because Saul did not obey God’s commands, his kingdom will not endure. God has another king in mind, someone who will be man after God’s own heart.
I don’t know about you, but sometimes I get a bit impatient. If I’m honest, I get impatient with God. Why hasn’t this happened yet, God? When are you going to act in this area? But impatience never ends well, not for Saul and not for us. I was thinking about how the opposite of impatience is not patience but trust. God calls us to trust him to do his will in his timing.
Psalm 38 is a psalm of David. In it, David is pleading with God for forgiveness for sin. His guilt has become all-consuming and he knows that he must face the consequences of God. While we don’t know for sure, this psalm could have been written after David’s experience with Bathsheba and Uriah. If you recall, David rapes Bathsheba (there was no way that she had any choice in the matter), impregnates her, and then effectively murders her husband by putting him in the front lines in battle. While he lived in denial for some time, God has convicted him of his sin. He knows what he has done and he knows that there will be severe consequences.
Acts 9 is filled with some great passages. First, we have Saul’s conversion on the road to Damascus. It’s amazing how God took the biggest persecutor of believers and very intentionally chooses him to bring the Gospel to the Gentiles. His conversion story is dramatic and it really needs to be. He doesn’t strike me as the kind of person who would take hints from God. He needs something that cannot be disputed, like the living Christ meeting him on his Damascus journey and speaking directly to him. Then, he loses his sight, only to regain it when Ananias prays for him. It’s quite extraordinary.
But we also have the story with Peter and Dorcas. This is such a beautiful passage. Dorcas, who takes care of the widows in that area, has passed away. Remember, widows are some of the most vulnerable people in that society. Without a husband or son to care for them, they have no way to care for themselves. If it weren’t for God’s people, they would be doomed to a life of poverty and/or prostitution. Dorcas cared for these women and they loved her dearly. When Peter sees the situation, he is moved with compassion. He prays and Dorcas is restored to life.
We serve a God of resurrection. How do you need to see resurrection in your life today?
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
July 21, 2024
Day 1 of Week 17
Scripture: I Samuel 9-10; Acts 8
Welcome back, everyone, to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Church Bible reading plan. Let’s get right to our Scripture for today.
Our Old Testament Scripture comes from I Samuel, beginning with chapter 9. God has chosen a king for the people and his name is Saul. At this point, we don't know much about Saul, except that his father was wealthy, he was from the tribe of Benjamin, he was quite tall, and he had lost his donkeys. Thus, he goes on a journey to find them and almost gives up. His servant suggested they go see a man of God he had heard about, for this "seer" might be able to lead them in the right direction. As we know from the reading, the man of God was Samuel. God had just revealed to Samuel who the king would be and we get this beautiful interaction between God and Samuel. We can surmise that the lost donkeys were simply a way to get Saul to Samuel. God had orchestrated the whole thing.
There are times in our lives when we can certainly see God leading us in a certain direction. It may even be that specific events are woven together in such a way that we know God had his hand in it. Now, I don't believe that every little thing we do is orchestrated by God. After all, we have free will and God allows us to make our own choices. But there are times, as we see in today's Scripture, that God has a specific purpose to achieve and he makes sure it gets done. That was true for Samuel and Saul and it is certainly true for us as well.
In chapter 10, we see Samuel anoint Saul as king of Israel. Possibly in order to reassure Saul that this was indeed his calling, Samuel goes through a long list of things that would occur before Saul reaches home. Everything Samuel said would happen does come to pass almost immediately. What’s interesting to me is that God changes Saul’s heart; God’s Spirit comes over him and Saul begins to prophecy, something that must have been very uncharacteristic of the young man. Clearly, God was making a point to Saul–God had chosen him.
Samuel gathers all of Israel at Mizpah, where Saul will be instituted as king. He explains the rights and duties of kingship. This seems to indicate that this monarchy would be different. Saul was not to be an oppressive autocrat, as the kings around him. Israel’s monarchy would fall under its covenant with God. There would obviously be privileges as king but the people also had rights. The ultimate law of the land was still God’s law.
It doesn’t take long for some people to dislike Saul. They don’t know him, they haven’t seen him govern, and they already hate him. It doesn’t matter to them that Saul is God’s choice. They want what they want and it wasn’t Saul. But I love how Saul handles it–he remains silent! Friends, there will always be detractors. There will always be people that dislike you before they know you, especially if you are in a leadership position. I think something to remember is that it isn’t about you, your abilities, your calling, or your character. It’s about them. For those who hated Saul at this point in our story, it wasn’t about Saul at all. It was about something within them–insecurity, anger, bitterness, separation from God, sin.
Maybe someone simply needs to hear that today. Trust what God has called you to do. Stay faithful. There will always be objectors. I’ve certainly had and have my fair share. And sometimes, the best way to respond is simply to stay silent.
Okay, let’s move on to Acts 8. After Stephen’s killing, the new Christians are forced to scatter around the area. Saul (not the Saul we are talking about in the I Samuel – this is a different Saul who will become Paul) is going door to door to question people and throw Christians into prison. This is serious stuff. I want you to just imagine what that would be like. We live in a place where we can worship freely but what those new Christians experience isn’t too different from many parts of the world today. Just keep that in mind.
What’s interesting to me is that wherever they go, the believers spread the Gospel. They aren’t deterred by their experience in Jerusalem. Rather, the opposite seems to be true. They are bold and tell the story of Jesus wherever they go. Think of your own life. How do you share the story of Jesus? Do you?
I also want to highlight Philip’s experience at the end of the chapter. The Holy Spirit tells him to head down the road to Gaza and when he does, he encounters an Ethiopian eunuch reading the book of Isaiah. Philip knows this is his purpose and this is a beautiful opening that God has provided. He does not hesitate. Philip asks the Ethiopian if he understands what he is reading; the man responds, “How can I unless someone explains it to me?” Okay, perfect opening. Philip takes the opportunity to explain how the prophecy points to Jesus. He shares the Gospel and the man believes and is baptized.
I want to reiterate a point here. Philip does not hesitate. He sees an opening and he takes it. Again, we need to think of our own circumstances. How often do we have an opening or we feel the nudge to share about Jesus and we chicken out? How often do we hesitate? What are we afraid of?
Okay, more tomorrow, friends.
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
July 18, 2024
Day 5 of Week 16
Scripture: I Samuel 6-8; Acts 7
Welcome back everyone! We are finishing up week 16 of the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements New Hope’s Bible reading plan. Let’s get to our Scripture for today.
We will begin with our Old Testament reading in I Samuel. Let’s start with chapter 6. The Ark of the Covenant had become a liability to the Philistines and they knew it had to be returned. They return it to Israel, sending a guilt offering of golden tumors and golden rats along with it, to "appease" the God of Israel. The Ark is met with much joy by the people of Beth Shemesh, the town to which the Philistines sent the Ark. They make offerings to the Lord and the Levites set the Ark on a large rock for all to see.
But there were problems here too. Some of the inhabitants were bold enough to look into the Ark and God struck them down. To us, this seems kind of harsh but God had given his people strict rules about handling the Ark of the Covenant. This is where the presence of God dwelt among his people. It wasn't to be taken lightly. It wasn't simply a curiosity; it was the presence of the living God and thus, there should be reverence and even fear. The people seem a bit shocked. They ask, "Who can stand in the presence of the Lord, this holy God?"
I am quite relieved that we live on the other side of the cross. Because of Jesus' death on the cross, the veil in the temple was torn. We no longer have to be fearful about being in the presence of a holy God as the Israelites once did. As Hebrews 4:16 states, we can go boldly to the throne of grace and receive his mercy. Jesus has made a way for us to be reconciled to God; no more barriers and no more fear. At the same time, I think there is still a place for reverence. We don't need to be hesitant or fearful of God but we should still have a deep respect that God is God and we are not.
In chapter 7, we see the Ark of the Covenant being taken to its proper place and the whole of Israel repenting before the Lord. Under Samuel's leadership, the Hebrew people put away their false gods and turned back to the one true God. As a sign of repentance, Samuel called the people to gather at a place called Mizpah, where he sacrificed a lamb as an offering to the Lord. The Philistines heard about this, all of Israel gathering together, and they decide this would be a good time to attack. In response, Samuel pleads to God on behalf of the Israelites. God takes care of things and the Philistines are easily defeated.
Samuel places a stone, called an Ebenezer, to mark the significant event when God interceded on behalf of the Israelites. In Hebrew, the word Ebenezer actually means stone of help. The purpose of an Ebenezer, as we see in I Samuel, is to remember what God has done for his people.
When I read this passage, I was reminded of one of my favorite hymns, Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing, which was written by Robert Robinson in 1758. In one of the verses, we sing, "Here I raise my Ebenezer, Here by Thy great help I've come, And I hope by Thy good pleasure, Safely to arrive at home." Robinson grew up in a difficult home. After his father's death, his mother sent him to London to learn a trade but he fell in with a bad crowd. But God's hand was at work. Robinson is led one night to a gathering in which George Whitefield preached and Robert Robinson gave his life to Jesus Christ. At age 23, Robinson begins to pastor a Methodist Chapel and writes the hymn. To him, raising an Ebenezer meant very intentionally remembering the good work God had done in him, pulling him out of a terrible situation and demonstrating his power and grace.
Think of the good works that God has done in your life. How has God demonstrated his power and grace? I'm wondering if we all might go get a large stone and raise an Ebenezer as a way to remember what God has done.
In chapter 8, Samuel is coming to the end of his life. We read that he wants to appoint his sons to lead Israel but the people are opposed. His sons, like Eli's sons before him, are more interested in getting rich than caring for the people. It is a strange thing that we see throughout Scripture, some of the most faithful, strong leaders raise children who have no integrity. Are they too busy leading the people to lead their own families? That may need to be a discussion for another day.
In this situation, the people recognize the weaknesses of Samuel's sons and don't want to be led by them. They request a king. Samuel is distressed by this and goes to God. God tells Samuel to warn the people what having a king will mean. The king will force their sons to fight in wars and their daughters to work as domestic servants. The king will tax them and take a portion of their crops and livestock. But the people insisted. From the earliest of days, God had been the one to direct Israel and choose its leaders. But now the people are demanding something else. They think a human king will bring stability and safety, as well as a certain status among the nations around them. And while God knew this was not what was best for Israel (the ideal way was for God to remain the one providing direct guidance and instruction to the people), he granted their request anyway. God would now achieve his purposes in a new way, through a human king and all his frailties. God will achieve his purposes.
Acts 7 covers the stoning of Stephen. When he is dragged in front of the Sanhedrin, Stephen gives a long, eloquent history of how God worked through his people, leading up to Jesus. The Jewish leaders are offended by his directness and they get really worked up when he looks up at heaven and declares that he sees Jesus standing at the right hand of the Father. Keep in mind, this would have been blasphemy to the strict Jews who sat on the council. There was no real trial, no real discussion. They simply drag Stephen out and start throwing stones.
Stephen was the first Christian martyr. This was, of course, a sign of what was to come. But Stephen also offers all Christians a beautiful model of how to live and die, trusting fully and completely in Jesus Christ.
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
July 17, 2024
Day 4 of Week 16
Scripture: 1 Samuel 3-5; Psalm 23; Acts 6
Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope daily Bible reading. It’s Wednesday and I hope you will join us for Recharge in the Garage tonight. It is such an incredible time of worship followed by small groups. I will be with our prayer group tonight, lifting up our world, nation, community, and church. We would love to have you join us. Now, let’s get to our Scripture.
We will start with I Samuel, chapter 3. We see the transition between Samuel as boy to Samuel as prophet. God calls Samuel multiple times but Samuel doesn’t know where the voice is coming from. It doesn’t immediately dawn on Eli, the priest, either that the voice belongs to God. We can kind of see how far Eli has drifted from God by his lack of insight. By the third time God calls Samuel, Eli realizes that it is the voice of the Lord. He tells Samuel to go back to bed and answer God, telling God that his servant is listening. Samuel heads back to bed and this time when God calls him, Samuel responds that he is listening. God reveals to young Samuel how he plans to basically eliminate the house of Eli. Eli and his descendants will face severe consequences for the sins of Eli’s sons and for Eli’s lack of discipline, as he failed to hold his sons accountable for their deplorable actions against God. Essentially Eli put his boys before God, breaking the first commandment.
In the morning, Eli asks Samuel about the vision. You can only imagine Samuel’s hesitation at sharing this information with the priest who raised him. I’m sure that Samuel loved Eli. How very difficult it is to be brutally honest with those we love, especially if we know it will hurt them and cause pain. And yet, Eli insisted and Samuel told him everything that would occur. There seems to be a kind of resignation about Eli; Eli knows that he has sinned, that his children sinned, and he accepts the consequence. What’s interesting is that he doesn’t fight it or defend himself. He says “He is the Lord; let him do what is good in his eyes.” In the end, Eli’s faith is strong. If God has made this decision, then it must be just.
Have you ever been in a position in which you were forced to share a hard truth with someone you love? What was that experience like? I’ve had a lot of hard conversations with people I care about. I think it’s something that requires practice but more than anything, it requires prayer. At times, I’ve begged God for just the right words, His words and not mine, and that the other person would have eyes to see and ears to hear. On the flip side, I’ve also had people speak hard truth to me. Maybe you’ve been there too. That also requires a lot of prayer and a lot of humility. Being willing to share truth also means being open to hearing it. Hard stuff, friends.
Moving on to chapter 4…After a certain period of time passes, the Israelites find themselves in a vicious battle with the Philistines. It is through this warfare that the House of Eli is obliterated. So what happened? The Israelites were losing badly, which they understood to mean that the Lord was not with them. In response, they decide to bring the Ark of the Covenant, where the very presence of God dwelt, right onto the battlefield. Either they thought this would scare the Philistines (which it did to a certain extent) or they thought it would strongarm God into allowing Israel the victory. But the plan failed. Many Israelites lost their lives, Eli’s sons were killed, the Philistines won and they stole the Ark of the Covenant. God had his own agenda and far be it from the Israelites to think they could manipulate that.
How often have we thought we might be able to manipulate God into doing what we want? We bargain, we beg, and we even connive. And yet God calls us to submit, to trust him with our whole life. Is there something in your life right now that you need to simply lay down before God?
By chapter 5, it looks like the Philistines are sorry they took the Ark of the Covenant. After defeating the Israelites in battle, the Philistines are more than happy to take the Ark and simply add another god to the mix of deities they worshipped. At first, they put the Ark next to one of their pagan gods, Dagon, in the town of Ashdod. The next day, Dagon was found on the ground, prostrate. After putting this idol back upright, they then find it back on the ground, decapitated and with its hands cut off. But God wasn't done, as he inflicted the people of the town with a plague of horrible tumors. In response, the Ark is moved, first to Gath and then to Ekron. In each place, people begin dying or being inflicted with tumors.
Eventually, they decide that the Ark of the Covenant needs to go back to where it belongs. What's interesting to me is that the Philistine people knew that the incident with Dagan, the tumors, and the deaths were all related to the presence of the God of Israel. They recognized the power of God but they didn't turn to God. They saw what God could do but they still didn't turn away from their idols and worship him.
How often do people see the power of God in their lives and yet not respond in any meaningful way? Yes, I think this happens today as well. I'm thinking of people I know who get terribly ill or are in a horrific accident, ask for prayers, and then are miraculously healed. They see the power of God at work in their life! While there may be some initial thankfulness and turning toward God, it eventually fades and they go on with life as normal. May we recognize the power of the one and only God in our midst and turn toward him. God help us.
Today, I definitely want to spend some time on the psalm. It’s one of my favorites – Psalm 23. This is a psalm of David and it is absolutely beautiful. While we often read this psalm during funerals, it might be better used to talk about how we live rather than how we die. God is the one who protects and guides us. God is the one who brings peace, even when we are face to face with our enemies. He is our shepherd. He is the one who takes care of me and provides me with what I need. And what do I lack – nothing. This is a psalm I have memorized and I would encourage you to memorize it as well. When things seem worrisome or anxiety grips you, this psalm, repeated over and over again, can bring such amazing peace.
In Acts 6, we see the choosing of the first deacons to serve the widows from both the Greek and Jewish communities. The apostles felt strongly they needed to keep preaching and teaching but they knew someone needed to be in charge of serving those in need. Stephen is chosen to lead the group who would ensure all of the early believers are fed. This is such a great model for solving a problem in the church. They had an issue, they came together and discussed it civilly, and a solution is chosen. No drama.
But later in the chapter, things take a turn for the worse. Stephen is being targeted by the Sanhedrin. They don’t like how the Gospel is spreading. I wonder if the Jewish leaders are beginning to feel like things are getting out of control. They see the church growing and they don’t have a way to stop it. Stephen is exhibiting extraordinary wisdom. How do you fight against that? Well, you cheat and lie. And that’s exactly what they did. More tomorrow.
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
July 16, 2024
Day 3 of Week 16
Scripture: I Samuel 1-2; Psalm 120; Acts 5
Welcome back, friends, to the Daily Dose of Hope. Today, we start I Samuel, read a psalm, and continue in the book of Acts. Let’s get started!
The book of I Samuel covers a period of about 110 years, from the end of the period of the judges to just after King Saul dies. On our journey through this book, we will see the birth of Samuel, his call from God and prophetic ministry, the rise and fall of King Saul, and the anointing of David. We will get a first hand look at the establishment of a central monarchy in Israel, and how kingship both benefits and causes issues for the Hebrew people. This book is set in the land of Israel, where the Hebrews have now fully settled. Numerous other people groups continue to live alongside the Israelites, often disrupting peace and tempting Israel to stray from the faith.
In chapter 1, we meet Hannah, one of two wives married to a Jewish man named Elkanah. Hannah could not have children. Elkanah’s other wife did have a number of children and this created a toxic situation, involving much hurt and jealousy. But despite her sad circumstances, Hannah is faithful to God. She prays for God to reverse her fortune and allow her to have children. She even promises to dedicate her first-born to God’s work in the world. God answers Hannah and she gives birth to a son, named Samuel, and makes good on her promise. Once he is weaned, she takes him to the temple and turns him over to Eli, the priest. I can only imagine what that must have been like for her.
As I read today’s chapter, I found it very powerful that the one with the strongest faith and the closest connection to God is Hannah, a sorrowful and barren woman, with no political or social clout in her community. Eli, the priest, the one with all the power and clout, immediately assumed that Hannah had been drinking rather than recognizing her humble posture before God. It is telling that it is often the powerless, the disenfranchised, the poor, and even the outcast, that God holds up an example of faithfulness.
In I Samuel, chapter 2, we see the stark contrast between Eli the priest’s sons and young Samuel. Eli’s sons show contempt and disregard to the sacred offerings. They are sleeping with women outside the tabernacle, in a manner similar to the pagan temple prostitutes. They are in flagrant disobedience to God’s Law. This is extremely serious. The first recorded reprimand from Eli toward his sons comes when Eli is very old. This might be part of the issue. Eli is a man of God but did he raise his children knowing the one true God? While Eli doesn’t bear responsibility for the specific actions of his sons, he does bear responsibility for putting his sons before God, a breach of the first commandment. For that reason, God’s judgment is an end to the priestly house of Eli. Eli did not fulfill his end of the bargain, so God no longer needed to hold onto his. And Eli’s descendants would experience the consequences of this sin for generations.
What’s interesting is that while Eli and his sons were being condemned, Samuel was being commended. The bigger and more severe the sins of Eli’s sons, the more Samuel grew in faith and favor. It’s through Samuel that God is preserving a remnant of faithfulness. More on this tomorrow.
Psalm 120 is the first of the psalm of ascents, songs that were traditionally sung by Jewish pilgrims headed to Jerusalem for the different annual feasts. There are fifteen of them, from Psalm 120-134. If you think about it, for most of those walking into the city, they were going from lower ground up in elevation to Jerusalem. They were literally ascending. This first psalm of ascent highlights God’s presence during our distress. This first psalm has an anonymous author.
Let’s move on to Acts 5. The story of Ananias and Sapphira is kind of disturbing. But keep in mind that this is happening within the context of the new church community. This is a community in which people are selling all their possessions and living in unity, of the same mind and spirit. Then, Ananias and Sapphira, in contrast, tell everyone they are selling a piece of land and giving all the profit to the church. But they secretly keep a big chunk for themselves. This is the thing – if they had been honest and said they were splitting the proceeds, it would not have been a big deal. Afterall, it was their property and their money. They could decide how to use it. The issue was in the deception. Rather than being filled with the Holy Spirit (as we see in the rest of the community), they were filled with a spirit of evil.
I do want to talk about the end of the chapter as well. The apostles are witnessing and people are coming to faith in Jesus. This really makes the Jewish leaders jealous and worried. Afterall, they want to control their perceived grip on religious power. When they question the apostles, the believers were clear that they were going to follow God over man. Their boldness is amazing. It’s clear the Spirit is in them in a powerful way. But what I am always alarmed by is their joy at suffering disgrace for the Gospel. I mean they are flogged! That’s extremely painful. And they praise God for this.
This leads to some pretty difficult questions for us. First, when have you suffered disgrace for the Gospel? Second, when have we experienced discomfort for the Gospel? And finally, if you have, were you filled with joy?
More tomorrow. Have a great day.
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
July 15, 2024
Day 2 of Week 16
Scripture: Ruth 3-4; Psalm 37; Acts 4
Welcome back, everyone. Happy Monday! This is the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that goes along with New Hope Church’s daily Bible reading plan.
In our Old Testament reading for today, we are finishing the book of Ruth. If you recall from chapter 2, Boaz has taken a special interest in Ruth, ensuring her safety in the fields and arranging for her and Naomi to have plenty of barley. In the beginning of chapter 3, we find Naomi conjuring up a plan to get Boaz to marry Ruth. It’s a bit manipulative and cringy at times. Ruth, always the good daughter-in-law, she goes along it. She gets dressed up and puts on perfume and heads down to the threshing floor where the men stayed during the harvest. Naomi tells Ruth to lay down next to Boaz and uncover his feet. Just FYI, feet might be a euphemism for something else or it could be feet. We really don’t know, but we do get the impression something is leading to something else.
Boaz is really a kind, honest, Godly man. He in no way wants to take advantage of Ruth. Ruth takes this opportunity to ask if Boaz will be her kinsman redeemer. The kinsman-redeemer is a male relative who, according to the law, had the privilege or responsibility to act on behalf of a relative who was in trouble, danger, or need. This concept points to God being Israel’s redeemer, the one who will rescue them and vindicate them, just as Jesus is the one who rescues and vindicates us --- this is all foreshadowing. Boaz agrees to be Ruth’s kinsman redeemer. He doesn’t have to, but he chooses to.
In the final chapter, Boaz takes care of the details to secure Ruth as his wife (there is one relative who is actually more closely related and Boaz has to make sure that person doesn’t wish to be the kinsman redeemer). When that guy declines, it clears the way for Boaz and Ruth to get married, which really pulls Naomi out of her cloud of darkness. Ruth and Boaz have a son and this becomes a sign to Naomi; she finds that with God, there is always hope. Naomi discovers that through her incredibly difficult trials, God has in fact been showing care and love. He has not abandoned her. In fact, he has not only worked in her life, but God has made it so her grandson will find himself in the line of King David, but more importantly, in the line of Jesus Christ. Did she always see and feel this loyal love? No. At times, it was horribly dark. But did God’s care and love ever leave her? No.
One thing I think we see in this story is that hope is not a feeling; it’s a virtue, rooted in the character of God. And in the book of Ruth, we see the character of God on display as he shows Naomi that he does in fact flow with loyalty and love for her.
Let’s move on to Psalm 37. It is another psalm of David. David tells the reader to put their faith and trust in the Lord. Even when it seems like an evil-doer is successful, that success will be short-lived. Soon, they will be no more; their lives are fleeting. David says to wait upon the Lord, refrain from anger, knowing that God’s blessing will endure forever.
Our New Testament passage is Acts 4. Peter and John have been brought before the Sanhedrin. Why? Because they were preaching Jesus crucified and risen. These Jewish officials felt threatened. And yet, they couldn’t deny that the man had been healed. My favorite line from the chapter is, When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. This is always such a humbling verse for me. Do others look at us and know we’ve been with Jesus?
I want to jump down to the end of the chapter. The believers are together and share all they have. They are of one mind. They sell their possessions and lay them at the apostles’ feet. They are filled with grace in a powerful way. This is the way the church began. Do you think maybe we have gotten off course a bit? The reality is that a lot of history has occurred between the church of Acts and today. But what do you take from this passage? What elements of the church might we need to bring back to right now to be more in line with the teachings of Jesus?
More tomorrow.
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
July 14, 2024
Day 1 of Week 16
Scripture: Ruth 1-2; Acts 3
Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the Bible reading plan for New Hope Church in Brandon, Florida. Today, we start the book of Ruth, a small but powerful Old Testament text, and we continue with the book of Acts in the New Testament. Let’s get started!
The book of Ruth opens in chapter one with devastation. In the very first verse, we learn there is famine in the land. We are pretty distant from famine but not so in the ancient world, nor in many parts of our world today. When there is famine, there is starvation, illness, and even war. Famine meant the loss of property, as families scrambled to sell everything they had for food. A common response to famine in that culture and time period was to sell your children into slavery just to keep them alive. I can’t even imagine that level of pain. Every day would be a fight to stay alive and find food.
In the very beginning of the book of Ruth, we meet Naomi and her family. They are Hebrews but they leave Israel and flee to Moab hoping that will allow them to escape the famine and stay alive.
What’s interesting here is that the Bible expects one consistent response to famine for the Israelites: repentance. That’s why it is disconcerting when we read that Naomi’s family flees Bethlehem and goes to live in a pagan nation. What happens when they get to Moab? Her two sons marry Moabite women, foreign women, again a no-no among Jews. Then, her husband dies and her two adult sons die. If there was desperation before, now there is real desperation, coupled with extreme grief and probably fear. Women in that culture did not fair well by themselves. Naomi knew her only option was to go home, to go back to Bethlehem and hope there was still some family alive that could help her. But now she has these two daughters-in-law, Orpah and Ruth. And they are probably still quite young. Naomi begs them to go back home to their own mother’s homes and that might give them a chance to start over. Orpah does that but not Ruth. She loves her mother-in-law, she is committed to her. It’s here that we get that famous but absolutely beautiful line in chapter 1:16-17, Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God.Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord deal with me, be it ever so severely, if even death separates you and me.
As we continue in the first chapter, we see how Naomi blames God for her affliction, for the loss of her husband and sons. She truly has lost all hope. Maybe you have been there. But in an unexpected turn of events, Ruth, the Moabite daughter-in-law, declares she will follow the God of Israel and will remain loyal to this bitter, cursed woman. It’s kind of ironic – the insider has turned her back on God due to her pain but this outsider, Ruth, is turning to God in her moment of desperation.
They go to Bethlehem. And the Scripture says that Naomi and Ruth arrived just as the barley harvest was beginning. This also is not good. The beginning of the barley harvest occurs when the society has its lowest stocks of food available. And now Naomi and Ruth are two more mouths to feed! But Ruth, once again, does something surprising. There is a barley field owned by a relative of Naomi’s deceased husband. Ruth volunteers to go into the fields and glean whatever is leftover so she and Naomi can eat. This is hard work but it’s also very dangerous work for a single woman. Now, gleaning had its root in Leviticus 19 when God commanded his people to not harvest the corners of the fields, to leave some extra grain or barley remaining in their fields. The purpose of the law was to feed the poor, the orphans, the widows, and the foreigners. It served as a safety net and resource. We see this lived out here.
Ruth is gleaning and she is working really hard and people begin to take notice. The owner of the field, Boaz, sees her and asks about her. He tells her to only glean in his fields and he makes sure that she is safe and receives plenty of barley. His kindness is surprising but also refreshing. More on this tomorrow…
Let’s discuss Acts 3. The chapter starts with Peter and John heading into the temple in the afternoon. There is a disabled man there, who could not walk, and was brought into the temple every day to beg for money. This passage always makes me smile. Peter says something like, “Look, we don’t have any money but we have something better.” And he heals him. The man wasn’t expecting it at all. He was expecting more of the same – begging, barely making it, having no dignity, simply existing. And what Peter and John offered him, through the power of the Holy Spirit, was so much better. The man jumps and leaps throughout the temple courts and praises God. People are standing there, jaws dropped, shocked.
And then the two men use this as an opportunity to preach about Jesus. Peter says, “Why does this surprise you?” He talks about Jesus. What I find interesting is that Peter tailors his witnessing to the people around him. These are Jewish people. Thus, he goes way back to the Jewish fathers, explaining how Jesus was always part of God’s plan. Yet, he was killed and then resurrected. Peter continues by telling them that Jesus is the one God sent, Jesus is the one that the prophets were speaking of, Jesus is the one you should have recognized!
Here's our question – do we recognize Jesus today? How have you failed to see the work of Jesus in your life? What have you learned from that? More to this story tomorrow.
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
July 11, 2024
Day 5 of Week 15
Scripture: Judges 19-21; Acts 2
Welcome to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complement New Hope Church’s Bible reading plan. Today, you can breathe a sigh of relief because we are finishing with the book of Judges. Look, I know it was a difficult book and some of the senseless violence is just hard to read. Tomorrow, we will be moving into the book of Ruth, which is such an amazing story! Our New Testament passage for today is Acts 2 and it should be encouraging and energizing (which is good because our Judges passages definitely are not!) Let’s get into our Scripture.
Judges 19 is a story of human depravity. As I read it, I can't help but hear the echoes of Sodom and Gomorrah (read Genesis 19 to jog your memory of the details). Certainly, this text in Judges serves to show just how horrific Israelite society had become. Of course, we see the worst of patriarchy throughout the passage as well: the nameless concubine with no control over her life circumstances, the acceptance of the rape and abuse of women (in order to preserve the men's honor), the lack of emotional response from the Levite when he finds his wife is dead, and the subsequent disgusting murder and mutilation of the woman. While we could probably dig much deeper into those themes, I really don't think this passage is intended to be about the abuse and oppression of women. Rather, it is intended to show just how pagan and vicious the Israelites had become. Everyone did what was right in their own eyes. They look more like the Canaanites than the Canaanites themselves do. And it's very, very ugly. Where is their faith? Have they totally forgotten God?
Judges 20 is not much better. The Levite tells the story of his concubine being raped (he conveniently leaves out any part that makes him look bad.) A large number of Israelites gather in response to the story. It's unclear which part of the man's story is the source of their anger and agitation but they do feel justified to wage war against the Benajmites. It appears to be a holy war of sorts against evil. What's interesting to me are the spiritual themes which have returned to the text. The Israelites gather together and assemble "before the Lord." They inquire of the Lord several times during the battles and God answers them. In the end, they give Yahweh credit for the victory over the Benjamites. Israel has drifted far from God. They have engaged in deplorable things and allowed idolatry to be regular part of their world. In so many ways, they seem to have forgotten the ways of the one true God. And yet, here we see they haven't totally forgotten God. When crisis hits, when tragedy strikes, they remember who they are. Aren't we the same way?
In the final chapter of Judges, we witness the consequence of the Israelite battle against their brothers, the Benjamites. In a fit of rage, they have sworn an oath to not allow their daughters to marry Benjamites (ironic because they seem to have no issue intermarrying with Canaanites). However, once the smoke has cleared and the battles are over, their allegiance to the Benjamites begins to resurface. There are only 600 Benjamite men remaining, as the rest were killed in battle and all the women and children were also slaughtered. The other Israelites fear they will be celibate and unable to carry on the Benjamite line. They weep loudly as a group over the literal end of the tribe of Benjamin. Their solution to the problem is brutal and violent, in keeping with the lack of value for human life which we find throughout the book of Judges. They punish those from Jabesh Gilead who failed to appear at their assembly by killing the whole village, except for the virgin women, who they give to the Benjamites in marriage. The rest of the wives were simply kidnapped by the Benjamites, at the urging of the Israelite elders. If their daughters were "stolen," then they couldn't be accused of giving them in marriage and breaking their former oath.
Again, we see the treatment of women in this time and place is appalling. We move from the rape and murder of one woman (from chapter 19), to the kidnapping and rape of literally hundreds of women. The total unraveling of the Israelite people seems to be complete. They are vicious, depraved, and worthy of death. And yet, we will continue to see God's grace shine through in the least expected ways as we work our way through the Old Testament.
Let’s move on to Acts 2. I think we need some life-giving Scripture. I’m going to read the first three verses, On the day of Pentecost all the believers were meeting together in one place. Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm, and it filled the house where they were sitting. Then, what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them.
First, let’s talk about the roaring windstorm. Throughout Scripture, wind is a symbol of the Holy Spirit. In ancient Hebrew, we have the word, ruach, which means breath/wind/spirit and we see this word quite a bit in the Old Testament. Wind represents the life-giving work of the Spirit. Think about it. In Genesis 2, God breathed life (ruach) into Adam. In Ezekial 37, we are in the valley of dry bones and God has Ezekiel prophesy to the bones, saying “I will put my Spirit (ruach) in you and you will live.” In the New Testament, the Holy Spirit is typically referred to in the Greek as pneuma. The Holy Spirit comes upon Mary to form life in her womb. In John 3:5, Jesus tells Nicodemus that the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life.
I can’t help thinking, how many people need to experience the life-giving power of the Holy Spirit right now? How many people are really struggling, barely holding on, languishing in doubt, pain, anger, cynicism? Or maybe, you simply feel nothing? There is NO true living without the presence of the Spirit, only existing.
Next, we have the tongues of fire. Let’s sit here for a second. Fire is often descriptive of God in the Old Testament and it speaks to the purifying and refining work of the Holy Spirit. In this sense, the Spirit causes things that are impure to become pure...lives, hearts. Matthew 3:11, John the Baptist says “I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” Peter speaks of the new Gentile believers as experiencing the Holy Spirit and having their hearts purified. If something is pure, it is only one thing–pure gold, pure oxygen. It isn’t filled with contaminants or additives. It is totally and completely that one thing. I picture the Holy Spirit coming upon that group of believers on the day of Pentecost and purifying or refining their hearts so they would be totally and completely dedicated to the things of God, not half filled with the stuff of the world and half filled with the things of God. I wonder that about our own hearts. What contaminants have we allowed to seep in? What do we need to purify? Come like a fire, Holy Spirit, and burn in us so that we can be pure and totally devoted to the things of Jesus.
Let’s read some more Scripture, beginning with verse 4 (this is truly a paraphrase), All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. This made a racket and a crowd forms...When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken...Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean? Some, however, made fun of them and said, “They have had too much wine.” And then Peter gets up and says, we aren’t drunk, it’s only 9 in the morning. Let me tell you what his means...and he shares with them the Gospel, he speaks of how the Old Testament scriptures point to Jesus as the Messiah, he speaks of Jesus’ ministry, his death, his resurrection and it says this, Peter’s words pierced their hearts, and they said to him and to the other apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?” Peter replied, “Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the HolySpirit.”
And what happened? 3000 believed and were baptized. The Holy Spirit came, the people were given power to act, and they did it! They trusted God and they responded. We talked about how the Holy Spirit is life-giving and purifying but it also has power. The Holy Spirit empowers believers to do really hard things. If you have said yes to Jesus, then the Holy Spirit has made a home within you. The same spirit that raised Jesus from the dead LIVES within you. And God didn’t give us that power simply for our own use. It’s for the mission of sharing the love and grace of Jesus Christ with others.
Why do you think we struggle so much with that? What part of the mission causes you to hide in fear? Friends, we have POWER within us and it is given to us for the purpose of making disciples of Jesus Christ. Let’s just let that sit and settle.
More tomorrow.
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
July 10, 2024
Day 4 of Week 15
Scripture: Judges 17-18; Psalm 21; Acts 1
Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope! Tonight, we have a special short worship service in the sanctuary at 6:30pm. Our VBS families are invited as well as all of New Hope. After the service, there will be a scavenger hunt in the social hall. For those who would like to come and pray, I’ll be leading the prayer group as we pray over every single pew and all the VBS classrooms. We want to pray for each family, each child, each person touched by our VBS so that they come to know Jesus and find a place to worship him.
Okay, let’s get started with the book of Judges, chapter 17. This chapter includes an odd story in the middle of the book of Judges about an unnamed Jewish family living in the hill country of Ephraim. On the surface, the family seems devout, even God-fearing. But as the story progresses, problems begin to emerge. The Jewish family seems to follow the Lord. The son's name, Micah, even means "Who is like God?" But right away, we see cracks in their faithfulness.
Micah is a thief who dishonors his mother by stealing her silver. He steals 1100 shekels, which is a very large sum. When he returns the silver, the mother says that she consecrates it to the Lord but there is no evidence this is done. She doesn't take the silver to the priests at the temple but rather gives it back to her son to make an idol. Note, only 200 shekels were given to the silversmith to make the idol; we don't know what happened to the remaining 900 shekels.
Idols are clearly against God's law, as is Micah's home shrine. He also establishes his own son as priest over the shrine. When a Levite man from elsewhere comes looking for a place to stay, Micah decides to pay him to be the family priest. From the theft to having a family priest over a home shrine, the law is blatantly disobeyed.
What is the author trying to teach us through this story? Why was it included in the book of Judges? Certainly, we need to look below the spiritual veneer. People and situations aren't always what they seem. Faithfulness to God is best demonstrated through actions, not words. While they may have professed faith in Yahweh, in everything this family did, they looked more pagan than Hebrew. If an objective observer was peeking into your own life and home situation, what might they say about your faithfulness to God?
Okay, let’s move on to chapter 18. The Danites decide that they want their own land and they head off to conquer it. But unlike other conquests in which God clearly went with his people, the Danites seem to be totally off kilter. They are doing this on their own for their own selfish purposes. They arrive at Micah's house (from Judges 17) and steal his priest and idols. While they don't kill Micah's family, they do find a town to attack and pillage. After burning down the town, they claim the area as belonging to them and rebuild the city. They set up the idols stolen from Micah. While they may have Israelite names, they have certainly sold their souls to Canaanite values. There is effectively no difference between the Danites and their pagan neighbors. They have turned their back on God. And the saga of the judges continues.
Now, let’s turn to the New Testament. Today, we are starting the book of Acts, one of my favorite books of the Bible. It’s incredible to see how the Holy Spirit transforms, leads, directs, and shapes the new Christians and the young church. Chapter one opens with Jesus ready to ascend into heaven. Even though this is post-resurrection, the disciples still didn’t understand everything. We find them asking Jesus when he is going to restore the kingdom to Israel. Their understanding of God’s Kingdom is still a bit misguided, but Jesus redirects them. He says only God knows the time and place for that. But, there is something even better ahead. And Jesus tells them that the Holy Spirit is coming. The Spirit of the living God is coming and when it does, they will receive a power like no other. This is the same truth for us: When God’s Spirit comes upon us, we have the ability to witness, to bear testimony, to all the things of Jesus. It really isn’t about us but about God’s Spirit in us!
And then, Jesus ascends into heaven. They don’t quite get it yet, but now it’s a waiting game. The Holy Spirit is coming and they have no idea what they are in for. Tomorrow, we get to talk about Pentecost and the birthday of the church.
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
July 9, 2024
Day 3 of Week 15
Judges 12-16; Psalm 126; Luke 24
Hello, everyone. Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope. Let’s get right into our Scripture for today.
Judges 12 details some more judges that led Israel. Some appeared to have integrity and others didn’t. I always assumed that the judges were called by God, but it seems that not all of them were. But at least when there was a judge (called by God or not), the Israelites seem to have their act together and not be quite so entrenched in idolatry. People need leaders.
That takes us into Judges 13 and the story of Samson. Not surprisingly, the last judge has died and the cycle of sin is beginning once again. God has allowed the Philistines to conquer the Israelites. In this chapter, we find the story of Samson’s birth. An angel of the Lord appears to his parents, who are childless, and tell him that the woman will bear a child and he will be a Nazirite. Nazirites were a set apart group of people who were dedicated to God. They didn’t consume any fermented drink, they didn’t cut their hair, and they did not defile themselves by getting near corpses. Obviously, God had special plans for this little boy. He was to belong to God. But as Samson grows, it becomes obvious that he isn’t too interested in the things of God. He chooses a Philistine wife, despite his parents’ disapproval. Samson wants what he wants and he doesn’t care if others don’t like it.
I have to admit, the story of Samson’s first marriage in Judges 14 is a bit strange. If you were raising your eyebrows as you read it, you weren’t the only one. There is the interesting scene with the lion and then the honey. We can see that Samson is strong. There is no doubt that God has blessed him. But then we have the week long wedding celebration. We can guess that copious amounts of alcohol are being passed around. Samson offers a riddle to his companions; it’s really a trick to which only he knows the answer. This enrages his companions who then threaten to kill his wife and her family if he doesn’t tell them the answer. These are really nice people he is hanging with, aren’t they? His bride manipulates him into telling the answer to the riddle and she shares it with the Philistine wedding guests. My guess is she is scared to death. This makes Samson furious and he leaves. When he returns later, her father has given her to someone else in marriage. The whole situation is a total dysfunctional mess.
And yet, God’s Spirit comes over Samson at various times. God is using him to allow the Israelites to conquer the Philistines. It is yet another reminder of how God uses people whom we least expect. It isn’t about their worthiness. When there is a need, God will use who he will use. Samson had a purpose – to begin to break Israel free from the Philistines. He was selfish and violent. And yet, God used him. I guess it leaves lots of room for us to ponder.
Judges 16 details the story of Samson and Delilah. Samson met his match in Delilah who seduced Samson into telling her the secret to his strength. In the end, Samson did end up relying on God and getting some revenge against his Philistine enemies.
Please read the psalm for today. I’m not going into detail about it because I really want to have plenty of time for Luke 24. In this chapter, we have the resurrection story (when the angels appeared to the women at the empty tomb) and the men on the road to Emmaus. I want to spend some time on that Emmaus journey.
Two of Jesus’ disciples, not the twelve but two other male disciples, one named Cleophus and the other left unnamed, were walking from Jerusalem to their home in Emmaus. There are some walks that are longer than others — not because of the miles or even because of the landscape, but because of the burdens. This was a seven mile walk but it might as well been a twenty-seven mile walk because these men are distressed. They are grieving. They have been following Jesus. They believed him to be the Messiah and Savior and they have just seen him killed, murdered on a Roman cross. It was gory and awful. So, they are walking slowly and speaking intensely. The Greek suggests they may have been having some kind of theological argument. But the bottom line is they are tired, weary, sad, and confused. They don’t understand what they have just witnessed. And now they have to go back home and continue with their lives. You can kind of imagine the kinds of questions they had. Why did this happen? How did God allow this to happen?
Jesus interrupts them on the path. At this point, they still don’t know this is Jesus. He is a stranger to them. I love this. Because Jesus shows up to them jsut as he shows up to us. We don’t always recognize his presence either. I don’t know about you, but I’ve had times in my life that were so difficult, so painful, so anxiety-provoking, that I am so consumed with those feelings and then I look back and realize later, that Jesus was there with me. His presence was real. It was protecting me, guarding me, guiding me. Jesus has a way of showing up when we need him most. We just don’t always recognize it.
Jesus begins to explain to the men the story of Scripture, starting at the very beginning, and walks them through the prophecies, and how God said he would send a Savior who would have to suffer and die. Hope and faith must have begun to stir their hearts as he spoke. They must have never heard, really heard, the gospel like this before—a gospel that included the suffering of the Messiah before entering his glory—told by the resurrected Lord himself! Now, keep in mind, their circumstances have not changed but their perspective is beginning to change. Faith is budding.
The men convince Jesus (remember, they still don’t know it’s him) to stay the night with them, as it’s getting late and they are done with their journey. It was that night, at the table, when they were breaking bread together that they recognize him. Just as he did on Thursday night in the Upper Room, he takes the bread, gives thanks, breaks it, and offers it to them. Their eyes are opened and they know – this is our Jesus.
But, the story is far from done. It’s also in that moment that Jesus disappears and they say, “Wow. I can’t believe we didn’t see him. Were our hearts not burning within us and he shared with us about the Scriptures?” Sometimes, it takes perspective, does it not, to see how Jesus has been at work in our lives?
The men return to Jerusalem. I’m guessing they aren’t walking but running this time, as they need to tell the others what they have experienced. It’s when they are all together that Jesus appears again. He enters a locked room and says, “Peace be with you.” I love this because it’s all so true. Jesus doesn’t swoop down and fix all our problems. But he does offer peace in the midst of them. How have you experienced the peace that passes all understanding, that only makes sense connected to the presence of Jesus in your life?
More tomorrow.
Blessings
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
July 8, 2024
Day 2 of Week 15
Scripture: Judges 9-11; Psalm 17; Luke 23
Welcome back once again to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional that complements the bible reading plan for New Hope Church. I’m going to ask all of you to be in prayer for our Vacation Bible School, which starts today. We will be ministering to almost 200 children and their families. Please pray that those who don’t know Jesus will come to know him, that those who just give a head nod to God will come to follow him more closely, and pray a special prayer of protection, strength, and wisdom for all our children, volunteers, and staff. With that, let’s get right into our Scripture for today.
As usual, let’s begin with our Old Testament passages. At the end of Judges 8, we see that Gideon dies and the Israelites begin to engage in idolatry once again. The pattern is repeating itself. This time, in Judges 9, we read about Abimelek, who is one of Gideon’s sons by a concubine from Shechem (Gideon had something like seventy sons by his many wives and concubines). In my research, several scholars actually consider Abimelek a judge of Israel but certainly not one chosen by God. He wanted to lead Israel and does so for three years, but he is cruel and violent. Eventually, rebellion is stirred up against Abimelek. In his own violent quest to squash the rebellion, he is killed.
As we read this, it becomes evident how incredibly chaotic and ugly this time of the judges happened to be. Moving into Judges 10, we meet Tola and Jair, two other judges that led Israel. Then, it becomes clear that Israel is once again falling into depravity and idolatry. God allows them to fall into the hands of the Philistines and the Ammonites. We get the sense that a new judge is coming.
Jephthah is next. He is a complicated judge however. He is the son of a prostitute and a man named Gilead. This is kind of confusing, as the father has the same name as the region in which they live. You may have caught that. Anyway, Gilead’s sons by his legitimate wife drive Jephthah away from their home and he flees to a land named Tob, where he gains a name for himself as a warrior.
I’m going to give a bit of a summary of what happened because I think it’s not incredibly clear as we read. Basically, Israel is being oppressed pretty severely by the Ammonites and they decide to attack the region of Gilead once again. The people are hurting but they have no leader. Thus, they ask Jephthah, who they previously pushed away, to come lead them. Jephthah tries to negotiate with the Ammonites first but that isn’t successful. God’s Spirit comes over Jephthah and he is able to recruit fighters for the battle. Then, he makes a horribly misguided vow. He tells God that he will offer as a burnt offering whatever or whomever comes to meet him if he returns in victory. Jephthah then attacks and thoroughly defeats the Ammonites, so Israel is saved for the time being.
But who comes out to meet Jephthah? His only child, his daughter whom he dearly loves. He is greatly distressed and tells his daughter what he vowed to God – to either give her up as a human sacrifice OR dedicate her whole life in service to God, two different interpretations by scholars of Jephthah’s vow. The daughter requests two months of freedom to travel and spend time with friends and he grants her that. Her primary concern in not getting to marry and have kids, which makes many think that she did dedicate her life to service to God rather than become a burnt offering, which God truly would have detested. Only pagan gods required human sacrifice. Regardless, the whole story is slightly bizarre.
Psalm 17 is a beautiful prayer written by David. He is once again pledging to stay faithful to God, and he asks that God protects him from his enemies. Most likely, this prayer was penned by David as he was fleeing from Saul who wanted to kill him. David clearly trusts God completely and knows that God will answer. There is a great expression here when David asks to be the “apple of your eye.” This is a reference literally to the pupil. This part of the body is the most protected, the most guarded against even a slight touch. David asks God to guard him in the same way.
Okay, let’s move on to the New Testament. Today, we focus on Luke 23, which includes Jesus’ trial before Pilate, the crucifixion, his death, and his burial. Crucifixion was a horrific death. He was beaten and mocked by the soldiers, betrayed by his own people, and nailed to a cross to die. I won’t go into the gory details of crucifixion, as you have probably heard them before, but it was a terribly painful and humiliating way to die.
There was a man named Simon from Cyrene who was passing by and they forced him to carry the cross. Cyrene was on the tip of Africa so this man was far from home! And here he was, just going about his business, and he is enlisted, or more like seized, to carry the cross of the Savior of the world. I’m guessing that Jesus’ physical body was incredibly weak and bloody by this point. And Simon walked by him, carrying the cross that would serve to execute Jesus but also save all humanity from their sin. We don’t know what happened to Simon after the crucifixion. He isn’t mentioned again in Scripture. But my guess is that his life was never the same again. An encounter with Jesus is always life-changing.
Luke’s version of this passage has a lot of substance. We read about the criminals executed on each side of Jesus, one of whom ends up believing and Jesus says, “Today, I will see you in paradise.” Pretty amazing. But Luke also includes the observation about the curtain in the temple. When Jesus is about to breathe his last, the curtain in the temple, which separated the Holy of Holies (where God’s presence stayed) from the rest of the temple was torn in two. Only the high priest was allowed to enter the Holy of Holies one time a year to make atonement for the sins of the people. This tearing of the curtain was hugely symbolic and I don’t want us to miss it. It meant that Jesus’ death was the final atonement for sin and now the Holy of Holies was open to all people. God’s presence is never confined again, never to be in a place made by human hands. Jesus Christ is God. His body is the temple. He is the final sacrifice and he has opened the door to all people, all believers, being able to go boldly into God’s presence with no barriers.
I should also mention that now that Jesus has ascended into heaven, the presence of the living God is still with us in the form of the Holy Spirit. And if we believe in Jesus and his sacrifice, then the Holy Spirit dwells in us. The presence of God is now within us! Think about that. It’s really amazing and takes some time for us to wrap our brains around. God is closer than your very breath.
Let’s chat again tomorrow.
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
July 7, 2024
Day 1 of Week 15
Scripture: Judges 7-8; Luke 22
Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope! I hope you enjoyed having different hosts during the month of June. I want to extend a big thank you to Pastor Roberto, Pastor Lavetta, and Brianna for helping while I was on vacation. I do believe there was a little confusion last week and I apologize for that. I am now back for the daily and look forward to starting week 15! Let’s get right into our Scripture for today.
Our Old Testament reading for today comes from the book of Judges, when people did what was right in their own eyes. Just FYI…it never works out well when people do what’s right in their own eyes because we are inherently sinful. We need a standard, we need guidance, we need God. Just a reminder, in Judges there is a repetitive cycle. The people rebel, engage in all kinds of wicked idolatry, and break covenant with God. In turn, God lifts his hand of protection and allows his people to be conquered by a pagan nation. This lasts awhile until the people can no longer stand the oppression and they cry out for God’s help. God sends a judge, who conquers the pagan nation and the people live in peace for the duration of that judge’s life. When the judge passes, the cycle begins again. It happened with Othniel, Ehud, and Shamgar in Judges 3, it happened with Deborah in Judges 4.
Now it’s Gideon’s turn. After a period of lawlessness, idolatry, and general wickedness, God has allowed the Midianites to overtake the Hebrew people. The Midianites are incredibly cruel and oppressive. They destroy the Israeli crops and their livestock. The people are hungry and weak so they cry out to God for help. This time, God calls Gideon to be a judge. We read his call story last week. If you missed it, be sure to review Judges chapter 6, as it is yet another example of how God doesn’t necessarily call the equipped but rather equips those he calls.
Okay, let’s move on to our chapters for today. Gideon starts with roughly thirty-two thousand troops from four different tribes. That may seem like a lot to us but it was really a drop in the bucket compared to the massive Midianite army. And yet, God says it’s too many men. So God gives instructions to thin out the troops, first by telling those who are scared of the fight to go home. Then, he separates the men by how they drink water from a stream. God knew his people well–with a large army, they would take the credit for the victory. By the time Gideon finished with God’s instructions, only three hundred Israelites remained to fight. Now, it seems almost like a suicide mission against the Midianites EXCEPT the God of the universe is on their side. There is no earthly fighting force that can even get close to God’s power. And there would be no question–the victory totally and completely belonged to the Lord. How many people need to be reminded today that there is no earthly force greater than our God?
Gideon conquers the Midianites. But what’s a little perplexing is the end of chapter 8. Gideon takes a portion of the bounty and makes an ephod made of gold. The Israelites end up worshiping the ephod! One might think that Gideon would know better, that he would know the weaknesses of his own people. Thus, as soon as Gideon dies, the Israelites fall back into the pattern of idolatry. And the cycle begins again. More on this tomorrow.
Let’s move onto Luke, chapter 22. This is a long chapter with a lot of important pieces. It starts with Judas agreeing to betray Jesus. Of course, Judas’ heart had begun to harden long ago. Betrayal doesn’t happen suddenly; it’s a slow process of allowing bitterness, anger, and pain to filter into our heart until our decisions are guided by those negative emotions. As we know, this doesn’t end well for Judas.
Next, we have the beautiful passage about the Last Supper. Jesus takes the Passover meal, which these faithful Jewish men would have celebrated every single year of their life and turns it upside down. It’s now a sign of Jesus’ death and the new covenant. Of course, they don’t understand anything at this point. I don’t blame them for being so confused. I’m sure I would be too.
There is also the prayer in the garden. I want us to really spend some time here with Jesus on the Mount of Olives. Jesus knows what is going to happen and he is distressed. He says in verse 42, “Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” Jesus knows the inevitable outcome. He has spoken to his disciples about it. He knows he is about to face something really horrific. And yet, rather than running from the inevitable future or whining about it or worrying about it, he totally surrenders himself to God. He keeps on keeping on, working toward his purpose. Over and over again, Jesus is defiant in the face of death because he knows that he is secure in the hands of his Father. He knows that he will be held by the kind of power that never fails, never gives up, that always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.”
I read about the kind of trust and surrender that Jesus had and I sometimes feel like a total failure. I want to give it over to God. I truly believe that I am secure in the hands of the Father. I want to cast my cares upon him and not take them back. It's not like I enjoy carrying my burdens alone. It is not like I want to add weight to my cross. I would love nothing more than to cast all my cares on Him and move on with my day; anxiety free, cappuccino in hand, happy and free and fearless in the face of whatever happens, knowing that Jesus is present and real and holding me. And yet, there is always something that trips me up, always something that gets me running back to the foot of the cross to pick up a few items I had laid down, because I mean...what if He doesn't take care of things in the way that I asked? If you ask me, this whole surrender thing, while great in theory, is downright scary and hard. I’m hoping all of us, after reading today’s chapter, will really reflect and pray about Jesus’ surrender.
Some thoughts on surrender. Surrender is not the same as compliance. Compliance, which many of us are quite good at, is about following rules and regulations. Surrender is about laying it at the foot of Jesus and trusting him with our fears, our worries, our loved ones, our past, our present, our future. What is it, right now, that you know God is calling you to lay at the cross, to trust him with? What worry, burden, or fear do you need to be freed from? Furthermore, surrender is not a one and done deal. When it comes to my children (who I probably spend the most time worrying about), I lay them down at the foot of the cross every single day. It's a daily choice. Jesus made a daily choice of surrender.
Surrender, trust, and presence go hand in hand. As we grow closer to Jesus, become more aware of his presence, trust him more, then surrender becomes a little bit easier. Not easy, but easier.
I want to close today’s Daily Dose of Hope a little differently than usual. I’m going to read The Prayer of Abandonment by Charles de Foucauld. I find it powerful. I’m going to read it slowly and I encourage you to repeat each line after me.
Father, I abandon myself into your hands.
Do with me what you will.
Whatever you may do, I thank you.
I am ready for all.
I accept all.
Let only Your will be done in me, and in all your creatures.
I wish no more than this, O Lord.
Into your hands I commend my soul;
I offer it to you with all the love of my heart,
For I love you, Lord, and so need to give myself,
To surrender myself into your Hands,
Without reserve, and with boundless confidence, for you are my Father.
Amen.
I know I spent a lot of time today on surrender. The chapter goes on with Jesus’ arrest and the soldiers mocking him. Tomorrow, we will talk about this more. We are heading to his crucifixion. Get ready.
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope July 4, 2024, Day 5 of week 14
Scripture: The book of Joshua Chapter 22-24; Psalm 116: The gospel of Luke Chapter 19
Welcome back to the daily dose of hope, the devotional and podcast that complements New Hope Church’s Bible reading plan.
Let get into our scriptures today: Chapter 22-24 of the book of Joshua continue to provide details on how Joshua and the Israelites finish their journey into Cannan. In these chapters we move from dividing the land up to preparation of serving God in the promised land. Since they have obeyed all Moses commands , not desert their kindreds to this day and kept the charge of the Lord. Serving their God was in order. To complete this mission of everyone inhabiting their own land. Joshua sent the tribes of Reuben, Gad and half of Manasseh to their land that they inherited with a blessing and instructions to obey the command that Moses gave them. When the two and half tribes return to their home on the eastside of the Jordan. The first thing they did was build an altar. But when the rest of Israel heard about it. They became deeply concerned. The only acceptable place for Israel to worship was in Shiloh at the tabernacle, the tent of meeting. Their building an altar indicated to others that idolatry was brewing in the east among their brothers. To stamp this out the entire Israelite community assembled at Shiloh to go to war against them. To get clarity Phinehas son of Eleazar the priest was sent to speak on behalf of the entire Israelite community. Phinehas ask this question, “How could you break faith with God of Israel like this? How could you turn away from the Lord and build yourself an altar in rebellion against him now?” We already suffering from the sin of Peor. Presently, we have not been able to cleanse ourselves from that sin. Are you now turning away from the Lord?” They continue asking has the land been defiled. If so come and join us so you do not have to rebelled against the Lord. Reuben, Gad and half of Manasseh response was we had no intention of turning away from the Lord. We did it for fear that someday your descendants might say to our, “What do you have to do with the Lord, the God of Israel. They confessed that they had no intent of using their altar for worship of any kind. Instead, they established it as a replica of the true altar at Shiloh to bear witness to future generations that all the tribes on the east side of Jordan were true Israelites who worshiped the Lord like the rest of the community. The report pleased the Israelites, they blessed God and spoke no more about war against them to destroy their land. The Reubenites and Gadites called the altar Witness, for they said, “It is a witness between us that the Lord is God.”
As we move deeper into the text, years have passed as Israel had been given rest from their enemies. Joshua being an old man summoned all of Israel community to give his farewell speech. He knew his death was approaching, and he wanted to exhort the people one last time. He reminded the people that they had seen with their own eyes what God had done for them. It was the Lord your God who was fighting for you. Joshua commanded them to be strong by obeying all that was written in the book of law of Moses, turning aside from it neither left nor right. Please do not intermarry with the surrounding people. He was not against different skins colors. Only the prohibition against marry someone of another religion, because they would be influence by their spouse to worship their gods instead of worshiping the one true God. “I am now going the way of the whole earth.” This statement was to communicate that he was on his way to die. He reminded them not one promises of God failed, but for these promises to continue they were required to give God their loyalty and commitment. Joshua continue his farewell address exhorting the history of their journey into the promised land. In summary, God was telling them, “You got out of slavery to here because of me. When you sinned and were unfaithful, I came through. I never bailed on you, and my promises never failed. Yes, there were things you had to do, but I enabled you to succeed all the way. The people respond to Joshua bold declaration with this reply, “We will certainly not abandon the Lord to worship other gods! We will worship the Lord , because he is our God.” Their response was a little weak for Joshua so he doubled down by saying, “ God is a jealous God, if you abandon the Lord and worship other gods, he will turn against you. The people insisted they got the point. On that day Joshua made a covenant with the people. After challenging Israel to follow their God Joshua died at the age of 110. How will he be remembered? As a testimony to his faithfulness, we were given insight: Israel worshiped the Lord throughout Joshua lifetime. Unfortunately, as we approach the book of Judges next week it will be reveal, that pattern would soon change.
Our next test psalm 116, the psalmist begins with expressing his love for God, because he listened to and responded to his prayer. Therefore, he could commit to call on the Lord for the rest of his life. The psalmist faces with life-threatening trouble and sorrow appeals to God to save his life. Notice how through the psalmist corporate dimension of his worship, he point out that he is our God and he belong to all of his people. The psalmist then offer testimony of his experience with God in order to encourage the congregation. Though he had been brought low by his difficulties, the lord saved him. Therefore , he confidently say he could walk before the Lord. Though his enemies lied to him, he knew that the battle was not over, and that God would have the last word. For the Lord goodness to him, the psalmist contemplates what he could give back to God. He mention two things, First, he would take the cup of salvation( his blessings and deliverance) that God had graciously given him and call on his name. In other words, he would continue to worship and depend on the God who saves. Why would we turn anywhere but to the one who has proven that he can deliver? Secondly, he would fulfil his vows to the Lord. Why? Obedience is the only appropriate response when God has come through for us. The death of God’s faithful one is supremely valuable in his sight. God find great pleasure and joy in fellowship with his children who go to be with him eternally at death because of their personal relationship with him. Knowing this, the psalmist pledges to continue praising and serving the Lord publicity, so God’s people could do the same.
Our New Testament text opens in the 19th chapter of Luke as we see that the Blind man was not the only person in Jericho to experience God’s grace that day. A wealthy tax collector name Zacchaeus heard Jesus passing by. As the crowd was passing by, he was trying to see who Jesus was, but because he was short in stature, He ran ahead and climb in a sycamore tree to see him. This way he would have the opportunity to see Jesus. It was clear that he was very successfully involved in a time-consuming business. It was taxing, to say the least. His name mean pure, but he is anything but this to his peers because his job was that of a tax collector. The Jewish society despised and hated him as his job required him to be a vassal to the Romans. Everyone knew he was trying to see Jesus , but no one cared. All he wanted to do was see Jesus, but how many of you know you cannot hide from Jesus. When Jesus reached his spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus hurry and come down for I must stay at your house today.” Can you imagine how Zacchaeus reacted to the invitation? He was thrilled and he welcome Jesus, but the crowd was shocked. “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.” Why had he chosen this sinner instead? Because sinners were the reason he had come in the first place. Once Zacchaeus was near Jesus he had a change of heart. Knowing that he was a sinner and knowing grace that Jesus was showing to him, Zacchaeus said, I’ll give half of my possessions to the poor, Lord. And if I have extorted anything from anyone, I’ll pay back four times as much. That’s what repentance look like. Repentance doesn’t merely say, “I’m sorry, it makes amends for wrongdoing. This is why Jesus said, Salvation has come to this house. Zacchaeus’ outward actions were testimony of an inward transformation. This why Jesus came to seek and save the lost.
While the crowd was admiring what Jesus was saying, he went on to tell them a parable, because he was near Jerusalem. This would be his last time to teach on the kingdom of God. The people thought the kingdom of God was going to appear right away. Jesus proceeded to tell the story of a nobleman who commanded his servants to engage in business on his behalf until he returned. Each of the servants where given a certain amount to manage. The nobleman’s subject hated him and declared that they did not want him to rule over them. Upon the nobleman’s return, he summoned the three servants to learn how they manage his money. Two made a return on their investment, while one did nothing, because he feared the nobleman. His lack of stewardship was fueled by a lack of relationship and failure to take seriously the knowledge of the master’s expectation and the fact that he would return. Needless to say, the servant was chastised by the master, because he could have at least put the money in the bank to collect a minimal amount of interest. What is the point here ? Unfaithful believers will experience negative consequences at the judgement seat (see 1 Cor. 3:15). Don’t missed out on the eternal rewards that God has for faithful steward who manage well what he has given them. Faithfulness results in kingdom rewards; unfaithfulness results in lack and loss reward it is not about stewardship, but Lordship that God desire. Those who rebel will have their just reward, though they may have to wait for it. Though God forbears for a season, the time for punishment will come only too soon. Those who make themselves enemies of God and will not accept Jesus as king will receive eternal judgment.
After Jesus said these things, he went to Jerusalem at the hill called Mount of Olives. There he sent two disciples to the town ahead to prepare for his triumphal entry. He gave strict instructions on how the disciples were to obtain the material he need for the coming event. Not an uncertain mission, but a specific mission. Jesus never sends people on wild goose chase. Their mission was to enter the village find a colt tied up that had never been ridden. As they untie the colt the owner approach the disciples and they replied as Jesus stated, “ the Lord need it. ” Jesus got on the colt and rode to his destination. Three things to learn from this passage of scripture: The riding of the colt fulfill the prophecy of Zechariah 9:9, Jesus presenting himself publicly as the Messiah. Second, the disciple learns Jesus knowledge of what would happen demonstrated his omniscience. Third, a colt that had been ridden would not accept a rider easily. Jesus rides into Jerusalem as a humble servant of God and not an emerging military king. As Jesus move through Jerusalem the crowd shouted, “Blessed is the king who come in the name of the Lord” quoting from psalm 118. The people openly acknowledge Jesus as the Messiah. The Pharisee once again wanted Jesus’ disciple to be rebuke, but Jesus if they keep quiet the stone will cry out, Jesus wept for Jerusalem. Salvation was so close yet not grasped. Jesus entered the temple to drive out the illicit practitioners of evil there he began to teach daily in the temple, thereby providing another opportunity for those who desired to hear and receive him to do so. Unfortunately, their remain elements of person who sought to rid themselves of the presence of goodness and holiness. The religious and civic leader could not stop Jesus from conducting his mission to establish the kingdom of God. No matter how much you strive to help the organized Church to become more of the face of the true church in the world, there will remain opposition and defiance. Such person will never leave and yet refuse to love Jesus. True worshippers require more determination and effort on our part with the help of the Holy Spirit. Happy 4th of July! Until next week remember our goal as a congregation to read the bible in one year together as a family of faith. Five days a week we read. Two days rest or catch up. Reading the is the way we increase and walk out our faith as believers. This is Pastor Lavetta, and this is the daily Dose of Hope.
The Daily Dose of Hope is a devotional intended to provide context and reflection to the New Hope Church Bible Reading Plan. It’s our goal to read the Bible in a year together as a family of faith. Five days a week we read. Two days a week we either rest or catch up. Reading the Bible is the number one way to grow in our walk with Jesus. We have to know God’s Word to live God’s Word. Now for our Daily Dose of Hope… https://www.findnewhope.com
Daily Dose of Hope July 3, 2024, Day 4 of week 14
Scripture: The book of Joshua Chapter 18-21; Psalm 15: The gospel of Luke Chapter 18
Welcome back to the daily dose of hope, the devotional and podcast that complements New Hope Church’s Bible reading plan.
Let get into our scriptures today:
Chapter 18-21of the book of Joshua continue to provide details on how Joshua and the Israelites comes in the fulfillment of God’s covenant to give them the land in Canaan. We begin with all of Israel gathering at Shiloh where they set up the tabernacle to offer sacrifices to God. The land was conquered. The hard battle for it was over. Yet we learn, "And there remained among the children of Israel seven tribes, which had not yet received their inheritance." That means they had not gone into the land to possess it. It had been given to them, but they had not gone in to receive it. No wonder Joshua admonished them, saying, "How long will you neglect to go and possess the land which the Lord God of your father has given you? The thought is that they had a home in which they could settle. Not a single one of all the good promises the Lord had given to the family of Israel was left unfulfilled; everything he had spoken came true (21:25). Joshua saying “Look the land is not going to divide itself. We’ve got work to do. They subdued the people and made them pay tribute. This was coexistence, not dispossession. This program was a fruitful source of trouble for Israel. It is also a dangerous one for us to follow with regard to sin and the failure to assume our possessions in Christ. The same question could be asked of many Christians. How long will it be before we avail ourselves of the vast spiritual riches God has made possible? He has given us the privilege of life-changing prayer. He has made it possible for us to study His Word in any number of translations. We are new creatures in Christ, with all the potential that can be found in such a position. When will we possess these riches? Don't delay. Begin today to possess all the spiritual benefits God offers you. Now is the time for you to take what God has promised. God can only give what you are willing to take.
Now let us look at Psalm 15. David opens this psalm with these two questions to the Lord, “Who may Worship in your sanctuary, Lord? Who may enter your presence on your holy hill?” These relevant questions of asking what are the qualification for the worship of the true God in his sanctuary? The answer is the one who aligned with God. The one who live blamelessly, practices righteousness, and acknowledge the truth. One cannot merely profess to know God but must walk before him in integrity. In otherwards, to have access to God, one life must reflect devotion to the two great commandment: love for God and love for people (Mark 12:28-31). The righteous one cares for his neighbor and despise those who are evil. He honors those who fear God especially those who take him seriously. He keeps his word whatever it cost. No matter what personal harm may come to him, he holds true to his commitments. He does not seek to prosper by ripping out others, nor can he be bribed. Such a person will never be shaken because he aligned himself with God. He will have a stable life because he will oversees it.
Moving to our New Testament text in the 18th chapter of Luke. Jesus teaches on the importance of prayer. Through the use of a parable Jesus now encouraged his disciples to pray, and not grow weary of praying, though the situation might not change immediately. In times of persecution, this remain a valuable lesson and tool for endurance. Constancy and persistency in prayer is a sign of faith, not of a lack of faith. Jesus chose two unlikely character a poor widow and a corrupt judge to state his claims. These characters hardly seem like the proper comparison for choosing a relationship with God, but Jesus wants us to focus upon several important contrast in this story. The judge had both power and authority, and he abused both. The widow was legal resident who deserved the Judge assistance, yet she found herself to be helpless, because the judge would not hear the case. Her only recourse was to be just as troubling to the one who could do her any good-the Judge. The judge never intended to grant the woman a hearing, because he was man, who had no need of anything or anybody and what more he was proud of it. There was nothing in him that feared God or man. This is what the woman had to face on a daily basis. It looks like the judge sided with the adversary, though he was not on anybody’s side. Through the widow persistence and constancy, not only did he grant the woman a hearing, but also gave her fair justice, just so she would not return again. Jesus said there is something to learn from the unjust Judge. Those who are evil still know what is right, else how could they know what is wrong or which way to turn? A pivotal point here Jesus makes, if a person who can do this, surely God has no desire to mete out justice to the one deserving, surely God who is the just one, not only can, but will dispense Justice on behalf of all those whom he has drawn to himself by Christ. The question is “How badly do you want what you want?” When you are dragged before the courts of the world, will you continue in prayer, steadfast and unmovable ? When it seems like God is not listening will you quit praying.
As we move further along in this text, Jesus tells the parable of the Pharisee and tax collector. One was self-aware and the other not. The pharisee had a high regard for God. He believes himself to be religiously superior to the common sinner. He did not believe himself to be sinner at all. On the other hand, the tax collector knew he was corrupt and everybody else also knew this about him. We do not know what his sin is, perhaps Jesus omitted this detail so that people who read this story might know there are no particular sins that cause the person to be a sinner just the fact that all of us are human. The tax collector obviously realized this and recognized his unworthiness and inability to stand in the presence of God. The conclusion and the lesson of the story we find in verse 14. Both men needed forgiveness. The pharisee did not know he need forgiveness, did not ask for it and did not get it. The tax collector knew he needed the forgiveness that would be only by the mercy of God, ask for it, and received it. Jesus concluded those who are righteous and despise others, like Pharisee in the parable, think they have arrived spiritually, but yet have a long way to go.
Continuing along in the text it apparent the disciple had forgotten the lesson of Luke 17: 1-3 and missed the practical application of humility in the lesson just given. It is easy to forget, but now something has occurred that would bring the lesson to the forefront. Jesus went about blessing the children. As more children came to Jesus, the disciples rebuked the group as a whole, but especially the adults, speaking to them in such a stern way to prevent them from completing their purpose.
Jesus uses the opportunity to illustrate the disposition one must have to enter the kingdom and receive kingdom rewards. The kingdom of God is only for those who available to receive it like a child. In a parent-child relationship, children bring nothing to the table, but their own weakness, need and dependency. In the same way we come to God through Jesus Christ, entirely dependent on him in kingdom entry and kingdom blessing.
The text gets a little deeper when a rich young ruler asks Jesus, “Good teacher what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus’ response only God is good. Why did the rich young ruler approach Jesus with his question. It appears that the rich ruler was a genuine seeker of the truth, not just another religious leader looking up to trap Jesus in his own words. The young ruler believed that heaven is attained by goodness because he had seen that Jesus was good at heart and sought to be good to others. Jesus recognized the sincerity of the man and his question, but also saw there were other things that needed to be dealt with ahead of the answer. Jesus response , “How hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God! Instead, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” The young ruler’s love for his wealth superseded his love for people. Jesus uses his encounter with the rich young ruler to warn his disciples about the danger of wealth. Those who heard Jesus’ response to the rich young ruler said who can be saved? Jesus replied, “What is impossible for mortals is possible for God.” Jesus assure Peter that faithful kingdom disciples will be repaid, sometimes in history but ultimately in eternity.
After this encounter Jesus is headed toward Jerusalem, but in private he took his disciples aside as he predicts his death by explaining what would happen. This baffled the disciples they could not gasp it, because how could the messiah be killed at the place, they felt he would be enthroned. They would need spiritual clarity from the Holy Spirit. Although the disciples could not discern the anointing of Jesus and who he was . As they approach Jericho on their way to Jerusalem. A blind man heard people going by, he asked what was happening? When he heard it was Jesus. He shouted “Jesus, son of David, have mercy in me!” those in the crowd tries to prevent the blind man from receiving his miracles. The second shout cause Jesus to stop in response to his cry of faith and ask him what he needed, but did Jesus really have to ask? All heard his request, “Lord…. I want to see.” With the blind man proclamation of faith and Jesus’ ability to restore his sight he was healed instantly. The blind man regained his sight, he became a disciple, follow Jesus and glorified God. As a result, the people who witnesses it gave praise to God. This miracle severed as a spiritual lesson to the nation of Israel. If they respond and acknowledge their spiritual blindness. God would grant them spiritual life and entrance into the kingdom that Jesus was offering. Until tomorrow remember our goal as a congregation to read the bible in one year together as a family of faith. Five days a week we read. Two days rest or catch up. Reading the is the way we increase and walk out our faith as believers. This is Pastor Lavetta, and this is the daily Dose of Hope.
The Daily Dose of Hope is a devotional intended to provide context and reflection to the New Hope Church Bible Reading Plan. It’s our goal to read the Bible in a year together as a family of faith. Five days a week we read. Two days a week we either rest or catch up. Reading the Bible is the number one way to grow in our walk with Jesus. We have to know God’s Word to live God’s Word. Now for our Daily Dose of Hope… https://www.findnewhope.com
Daily Dose of Hope – Tuesday July 2 Scriptures: Joshua 14-17 and Luke 17
Today's readings from Joshua 14-17 and Luke 17 bring us inspiring stories of faith, courage, and gratitude. Let's dive into these passages and discover how they can encourage and guide us in our daily lives.
In Joshua 14-17, we read about the division of the Promised Land among the tribes of Israel. These chapters highlight the faithfulness of God in fulfilling His promises and the faith and courage of His people in claiming their inheritance.
Joshua 14 introduces us to Caleb, who at 85 years old, boldly asks for the hill country promised to him because he wholeheartedly followed the Lord. Caleb's story is a powerful reminder that faith and obedience to God lead to strength and courage, regardless of age or circumstance. Are there promises of God we need to claim with the same boldness and trust? How can we step out in faith today, knowing that God is with us?
In Joshua 17, we see the daughters of Zelophehad receiving their inheritance among their father’s brothers, just as the Lord commanded through Moses. This act was significant in a patriarchal society, showcasing God's justice and the importance of standing firm in faith. Their story encourages us to trust in God’s fairness and to speak up for what is right. Is there a situation where we need to trust God's justice or stand up for what we believe is right?
The detailed division of the land among the tribes reminds us of God's meticulous care for His people. Each tribe received a specific inheritance, demonstrating that God has a unique plan and provision for each of us. We most consider how God has provided for us in specific ways. How can we be more grateful and content with the portion God has given us?
In Luke 17, Jesus teaches about faith, humility, and gratitude, using powerful examples and parables.
Jesus tells His disciples that even faith as small as a mustard seed can uproot a mulberry tree and plant it in the sea. Do we feel our faith is small? Remember, the smallest faith, placed in a great God, can do great things. How can we exercise our faith in small yet significant ways today?Jesus heals ten lepers, but only one returns to thank Him. This story emphasizes the importance of gratitude. Often, we are quick to ask for help but slow to give thanks. We should reflect on the blessings in our lives and take a moment to thank God for them. How can we cultivate a heart of gratitude today?
Jesus teaches about the coming of God's kingdom, urging His followers to be ready and watchful. This reminds us to live with an eternal perspective, staying prepared for His return. Are we living in a way that reflects readiness for God's kingdom? What changes can we make to align our lives more closely with this eternal perspective?
This is the day to… • Claim God’s Promises. Like Caleb, trust in God's and step out in faith to claim what He has for us. Identify a promise from God’s Word and pray for the courage to live it out. • Trust in God’s Justice. Stand firm in our faith and trust in God's fairness. Seek God's guidance in situations where we need to stand up for what is right. • Cultivate gratitude and contentment. Reflect on the unique ways God has provided and be grateful. Make a daily habit of thanking God for specific blessings. • Exercise our Faith. Remember that even a small amount of faith can have a powerful impact. Look for opportunities to exercise our faith in our daily lives. • Live with readiness for God's kingdom. Evaluate our lives and make adjustments to live in a way that reflects preparedness for Jesus' return. I am pastor Roberto, and this is your Daily Dose of Hope. Dios te bendiga.
The Daily Dose of Hope is a devotional intended to provide context and reflection to the New Hope Church Bible Reading Plan. It’s our goal to read the Bible in a year together as a family of faith. Five days a week we read. Two days a week we either rest or catch up. Reading the Bible is the number one way to grow in our walk with Jesus. We have to know God’s Word to live God’s Word. Now for our Daily Dose of Hope… https://www.findnewhope.com
Daily Dose of Hope
July 1, 2024
Day 2 of Week 14
Scripture: Joshua 18-21; Psalm 15; Luke 18
Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Church daily Bible reading plan. As we move into a new month, I do hope you will take some time and reflect on what you have learned so far from our reading. We’ve been at this for three months. I have learned a great deal and hope you have too!
Let’s get right into the Scripture! We will start with the book of Joshua. In chapters 18 and 19, we find Joshua completing the distribution of land. Some of it still needs to be conquered but they are dividing it nonetheless. They know that God will give it to them. In chapter 20, there is a discussion about cities of refuge. This is really interesting. These were cities to which people who accidentally killed someone could flee and stay safely until they received a trial. They protected people from blood revenge, which would have been common at the time (think an eye for an eye), in which a family member avenges the death of a relative.
Chapter 21 details the towns designated for the Levites. Remember, the Levites were those who were tasked with helping the priests and taking care of the tabernacle. There were forty-eight towns in which they could live, along with pasture where they could keep their flocks.
Luke 18 is our New Testament chapter for today. This is a great chapter with several parables and healings. I’d like to focus on the parable of the persistent widow. I’ve always found this to be a fascinating parable. Jesus uses two opposing characters to make an important point about prayer. First, we have a judge who is arrogant and without integrity. Then, we have a widow, who continues to go to the judge for help from her adversary. A widow at the time would have represented helplessness and vulnerability. She must not have had money to bribe the judge so she does the only thing she can–she pesters him! She will not leave him alone until he gives her justice. Since even an unjust judge can do justice, how much more should we expect from a loving, righteous God?
God wants his people to be persistent in prayer. Don’t give up! God will answer, although it may not be in our timing or in the way we desire. But God always answers. Is there some situation or person for which you have stopped praying? Be like the persistent widow. Continue to plead before a loving and just God.
The rest of this week, we will have several different hosts. Enjoy!
I will be back with my daily devotionals on July 7th.
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
June 30, 2024
Day 1 of Week 14
Scripture: Joshua 14-17; Luke 17
Welcome to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Church daily Bible reading plan. It’s Week 14! Let’s get right into our Scripture for today.
Let’s start with Joshua, chapter 14. They are continuing to divide the land among the tribes. In this chapter, there is this interesting passage about Caleb. If you remember, Caleb was one of the original spies that entered Canaan. Only he and Joshua declared that the Israelites could conquer the land; the other spies were fearful and bullied them for their statements, to the point they were ready to stone Caleb and Joshua. Caleb makes the point that he stayed faithful and has lived honoring God. Basically, he had come asking for what was promised to him. Thus, Joshua blessed Caleb with Hebron. Just so you know, Hebron was (and still is) a city in Judea, in a mountainous area. It was known for its fertile soil, good for growing fruit and vineyards. This was prime property! Caleb is indeed being rewarded for his trust and faithfulness.
The inheritance of the tribe of Judah, including its boundaries and cities, are described in painstaking detail in Joshua 15. There is also a brief narrative in the middle of the chapter about Caleb’s second inheritance. I’m not going to go over it much here but it’s an interesting read. Caleb offers his daughter in marriage to the person who defeats the people of Kiriath Sephur. After a brief interaction with his daughter, in which she asks for springs of water to go along with their land, the listing of details continues.
If you get a chance, reread the final verse of the chapter. It states that the tribe of Judah was unable to defeat the Jebusites, a group of people who lived in Jerusalem. This just leaves one to wonder. In all other battles, God clearly stood on the side of the Israelites, ensuring they had total and complete victory. What was different here? For some reason, the tribe of Judah settled. They seemed resigned to the idea that the Jebusites would remain part of the landscape. Of course, we know that allowing the pagan people to remain in the land could prove dangerous. The Israelites were easily tempted to fall into a pattern of idolatry. By the time of King David (roughly 1000 BC), the Jebusites are defeated and that all of Jerusalem belongs to Israel. I guess we will soon find out how having pagans living in their midst affects the faith of the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
Joshua 16 and 17 continue with the division of land, specifically for the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh. Manasseh complains a bit that theirs isn’t big enough and Joshua tells them to conquer some more area. They were fearful of the Canaanites living in those areas but Joshua does not let up. He basically says, “If you want more, you need to work for it. You must go conquer the Canaanites.”
Okay, let’s move into the New Testament – Luke 17. I want to discuss the middle passage about the healing of the lepers. This is a wonderful text. Here are just a few reflections:
First, Jesus told the men to show themselves to a priest while they still had leprosy. It was as they went that they were cured. If the priest examined them and they were no longer sick, then they were able to behave like normal people again, socialize, and live normal lives. But walking to the priests while they still had leprosy meant trusting God even when they didn't really have grounds to do so. They really didn’t know what was going to happen. They could have gotten to the priests and still been sick and been yelled out or banned or worse. But they had faith and trusted Jesus. That's a definition of faith–trusting in what we cannot prove. In Hebrews11:1 it's described as "the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." If we want everything plain and clear before we take a step of faith, it's not really faith. Faith is trust, even when we don't understand and even when the evidence is against us.
It’s interesting that the one who comes back is a Samaritan. Samaritans were enemies of Jews; they hated each other. So why was he the one to come back, rather than the Jews? Maybe he had a deeper sense of what had been done for him. Maybe the Jewish men felt entitled, like they deserved a healing and the Samaritan didn’t. Regardless, it speaks of God's grace to everyone. The men's healing doesn't depend on them coming back to say thanks. Jesus heals them anyway; it's not as if the healing of the other nine would be miraculously withdrawn because they didn't return. God does lots of good things for everyone, whether they acknowledge it or not. He makes the sun shine on the righteous and unrighteous and the rain fall on the just and the unjust (Matthew 5:45).
There are many people who are not Christians, but who are still blessed. At one level, Christians ought just to be the people who acknowledge what God's done for them, and turn back to say "Thank you." What do you need to thank God for? Even when circumstances are hard, we are called to spend time rejoicing in what God has blessed us with. It’s so easy to fall into an attitude of negativity and complaining. But God wants us to have an attitude of gratitude, spending more time recognizing how he has healed us, blessed us, saved us, taken care of us, and loved us rather than focus on all the crummy stuff. There is much to be grateful for.
We’ll chat again tomorrow.
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
June 27, 2024, Day 5 Week 13
Scripture: Joshua 9-13, Luke 16
Hi! Welcome to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements New Hope Church’s Bible reading plan. The scriptures for today are Joshua 9-13 and Luke 16; however, we are going to do something a little different than we have done the last two days and instead of going verse by verse I wanted to dive into the why behind everything because I feel like that has been missing these past two days. So, I deeply encourage you to read and study these texts for yourself and listen to this podcast as sort of and accompaniment to the text. So, before I begin in honesty, we don’t exactly know why God chose to do what he did in the Old Testament and specifically in what we are reading, which is Joshua meaning the way things were done. Like the question why it had to be done this way may have crossed your minds, but what we do have is a lot of information given to us and that information has much meaning in it, it holds a lot of weight. I’ll give some examples of all of this too. Some questions you may be wondering at this point is…
Why did God choose Joshua out of everyone else to lead?
Why did God destroy the other kingdoms?
Why did God allow conflict and war to happen so much in the Bible?
I mean Joshua 9-13 is literally conflict and war. It’s difficult to read in the sense that God is backing Joshua and the Israelites through this, and it makes you wonder. Like what about all the other people. And the Bible is so specific, but what about innocent people. I think our answer lies in the overall picture of the Bible meaning we can’t just focus on this reading we have to remember what we’ve read before and keep in mind this passage for what we read in the future. It’s like this for innocent people question take Rahab that we read about two days ago. She was spared and her family because of her faith. This leads me to believe that God takes care of His people especially the innocent. As we continue to read the Bible through this plan we will learn by the end of this year that the Bible has such an emphasis also on the oppressed and/ or helping the oppressed that it would be strange for God to turn His back on such people. So, looking at these passages where no one was spared is very horrific but maybe there for more literary affect than to be taken literally. And we see this all over the Bible right that we can’t take everything super literally with the Bible there has to be some literary components that the authors are trying to use and that’s what makes it so confusing and almost like deciphering a puzzle at times. But when you look at the overall narrative or big picture of Bible it makes sense as to why all this is happening. There’s a flow to it. In Joshua or the Old Testament in general Gods trying to create harmony and a relationship with his people again by giving them this promised land they will settle into it and hopefully or God hopes they will stay faithful to Him. But humankind has been failing miserably and God has continually had to reconcile with his people. This is what is happening in the Bible up until Joshua. This failure happens over and over again and is paving the way for Jesus to enter the scenario. It is why Jesus came to save us. Which we will turn our attention now to the New Testament. I also want to say that Jesus doesn’t follow the typical culture mindsets most of the time. What’s interesting is that Jesus has a different attitude than what is expressed in the Old Testament a more peaceful attitude. He strives for unity and peace amongst His brothers and sisters in Christ and outside of Christ. It’s a shift from defense literally like having a defense system like an army in the Old Testament to an inviting and welcoming attitude towards others. Of course, they were different time periods in the Old and New Testament, but I think the gradual progression from this conflict we see in Joshua throughout the Bible to the peaceful parables we see in Luke 16 makes a difference. I mean it was God himself incarnate that changed everything. Because of Him we no longer are slaves to our sin. So, what does this mean for those questions I posed above and all the questions in our hearts. I do not know the answers to those questions. Sorry. But first, I want you to tell yourself that its ok to question God. Most of the time we beat ourselves up for that, God knows it’s hard being down here unable to see him physically. And secondly, we can trust God. This is what it boils down to TRUST. We must trust God or else our relationship with God will not work. If you’re married, dating, or have ever been in any kind of relationship even not romantic you know you have got to trust that other person. It’s the same with God. God has given us the resources the Bible, The Church, a community of brothers and sisters in Christ and all we have to do is keep learning, keep reading, keep attending, and keep showing up because through that we will ultimately get the peace to sit with the unanswered questions. Trust God, have a blessed day, and see you again on the daily dose of hope.
The Daily Dose of Hope is a devotional intended to provide context and reflection to the New Hope Church Bible Reading Plan. It’s our goal to read the Bible in a year together as a family of faith. Five days a week we read. Two days a week we either rest or catch up. Reading the Bible is the number one way to grow in our walk with Jesus. We have to know God’s Word to live God’s Word. Now for our Daily Dose of Hope… https://www.findnewhope.com
June 26, 2024, Day 4 Week 13
Scriptures: Joshua 5-8, Psalm 14, Luke 15
Hi and welcome to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements New Hope Church’s Bible reading plan. Our scripture today begins with Joshua 5-8. When all the kings on the west side of the Jordan heard what God did when He dried up the river, they lost heart and were paralyzed with fear. The Israelites at this time were reestablishing covenant ceremonies like circumcision. The reason Joshua had to circumcise the second generation of Israelites is because the first generation had died in the wilderness and those who were born after the exodus had not been circumcised. The First generation of Israelites had died in the wilderness because they had disobeyed the Lord and he forbid them to enter the promise land. So, Joshua circumcised their sons, and they rested in the camp until they were healed. Circumcision signified Israel’s identity as Gods covenant people. When God originally made the covenant with Abraham he had the symbol as doing away with old life and beginning new life with God most cultures at this time had circumcision symbolizing something else like entering adulthood only Israelites had it symbolizing relationship with God.
When Joshua was near Jericho, he saw a man standing with sword and hand. After questioning whether the man was friend or foe Joshua learned it was the commander of the Lord’s army. He fell to his face in reverence and asked what he should do. The commander said take off your sandals for you’re standing on holy ground. Now there are ways today that we can show reverence to God. For example how we speak to him, but mainly it’s through our attitudes and actions that we can show reverence to God in today’s world. And when I say reverence, I mean showing God the respect, honor, and glory that he deserves.
The gates of Jericho were tightly shut because they feared the Israelites, and no one came in or out. But God was with the Israelites and worked through Joshua. The plan was to walk around the city with the Ark of the Covenant and the priests in front once a day for 6 days then on the seventh day march seven times with the seven priests blowing rams horns and then have the men shout as loud as they can. The plan works and the walls of Jericho come down as the men yell and horns blare. The Israelites charged straight into Jericho. Like Last weeks episode Rahab was spared and her family Joshua tells the two spies to keep their agreement and go get her and her family in this chapter. Then the Israelites burned and destroyed everything except what they were supposed to keep to give back to the Lord. So, the lord was with Joshua and his reputation spread. Think about how through God Joshua was able to achieve what he set out to do, how his will and Gods will align. It’s an interesting dilemma to see happen on paper, now if only we can emulate it in our own lives.
Israel conquering Jericho aligned with Gods will, but Israel violated the clause of the things set apart for the Lord. A man named Achan had stolen some of these dedicated things, so the Lord was very angry with the Israelites. The next time Joshua sent spies to Ai and followed their report for how many men they should send which they replied no more than 3,000 they were defeated. And the courage of the Israelite army went away as they were paralyzed with fear. The elders tore their clothing in dismay, threw dust on their heads, and bowed before the Ark until evening. Joshua cried out to God as well, but God answered him about the trouble someone in Israel had caused and how they must be removed. So, Joshua brought the tribes of Israel before the Lord and by tribe, clan, and family Achan was singled out and he confessed before God what he done by stealing a robe, a bar of gold and silver that were meant to be offerings to God. Then Achan and everything he had were brought out into the valley and he was stoned to death, but the Lord was no longer angry. He meaning the Lord tells Joshua not to be afraid or discouraged because he has given him the victory over Ai and this time, they can keep the plunder and livestock for themselves.
Psalm 14 ties into these last events that happened in Joshua and here King David is saying that we have all turned away from God, but he asks when will the Lord restore his people. My interpretation of things is that we all turn away from God, but God can restore us if we turn back to Him.
In Luke 15 Jesus is telling parables about lost things returning and/or being found. One is the lost sheep, the other a coin, and lastly the son. What all these stories have in common and what I want to talk about today is the theme of being singled out by God and the rejoicing and fulfillment of being found in God. In the parable of the lost sheep the shepherd leaves the ninety-nine sheep. He has to go look for the lost one when he finds it, he will call all his neighbors and say rejoice with me. In the lost coin parable, the woman has ten coins and loses one, but she turns on a lamp and searches carefully for the one then she calls her friends saying rejoice with me. The lost son parable repeats the same theme we are seeing in its own way. The point is this we all fall short of the glory of God, and we all make mistakes, but its ok. Because God is a forgiving God, and he loves us. Let this encourage us. Just as God was with Joshua and the Israelites and King David in the Psalm we read; He is with us. I hope you all have a blessed day, keep reading, and see you again on the daily dose of hope.
The Daily Dose of Hope is a devotional intended to provide context and reflection to the New Hope Church Bible Reading Plan. It’s our goal to read the Bible in a year together as a family of faith. Five days a week we read. Two days a week we either rest or catch up. Reading the Bible is the number one way to grow in our walk with Jesus. We have to know God’s Word to live God’s Word. Now for our Daily Dose of Hope… https://www.findnewhope.com
June 25, 2024, Day 3 of Week 13
Daily Dose of Hope - June 25.
Scriptures Joshua 1-4; psalm 143; Luke 1
Hi and welcome to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements New Hope Church’s Bible reading plan. Our Scriptures begin with Joshua chapters 1-4. The chapters begin after the death of Moses and Joshua is now stepping into leadership of the Israelites, but he’s got some big shoes to fill. I mean Moses was the man who led the Israelites out of Egypt and now Joshua must be the man to lead the Israelites into the promised land… Since Joshua was with Moses then he knows it’s not going to be easy, but it’s ok because God is with Joshua. God makes sure to tell this to Joshua specifically. God is letting him know that he is not alone and is reminding him of all the resources he has available to accomplish this task, that he has the instructions from Moses who was there before him and if Joshua follows them directly and does not stray from them, he will be successful. This sounds familiar doesn’t it. The book of the Bible that we have today is very much instructional to our lives and God wants us to follow it. God also wants Joshua to be strong and courageous, knowing that God is there. The themes of courage, God’s presence, and faith are so prominent in these chapters that they are setting the scene for how we ought to be as Christian’s. So, what does Joshua do with all of this… He takes charge. He shows courage. He speaks to the Israelites, and they respond well to his leadership.
Joshua then sends two spies to scope out the land that they are going to take on the other side of the Jordan. But someone told the King of Jericho that spies were in their land, so the king sent word to Rahab, who was hiding the spies. Rahab is an interesting character because she is not the type of person one would expect to be playing a part in God’s plan, but this goes to show that God can use all sorts of people to carry out his will. Rahab sent the people who were looking for the spies away and went up to talk to them. She expressed her faith and her fear to the spies by exclaiming that she knew God had given them the land. She asked in return for saving their lives that her life along with her family be spared. The spies form an agreement with Rahab. So, Rahab, like Joshua, was quite courageous herself.
After scoping out the land and knowing God had given it to them the Israelites along with their new leader Joshua were ready to move across the Jordan. The Ark of the Covenant carried by the Priests was to go first ahead of them. The Ark of the Covenant was the presence of God and as the Priest walked out on the Jordan they walked on dry ground, meaning the water in the river dried up, like what happened when the Red Sea was parted. Eventually the whole nation of Israel crossed the Jordan on dry ground. One may think the presence of God is not here, but it is it’s all around us, in our church, in our brothers and sisters in Christ, and even in us. Then Israelites made memorials to remember what God had done, so future generations would remember.
Psalm 143 is our next Scripture and boy is it heart altering. King David is losing all hope in this psalm and is caught in the midst of fear and depression. He is crying out to God about his struggle and that’s what we see so prevalently in this psalm. It is so freeing and live giving to know that when we are in those times of fear and struggle, we can turn to God and call on him to ultimately help us carry out his will. This reminds me of Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane crying out to God that not Jesus’s will be done but God’s.
With that we move into Luke 14 found in the New Testament. In this story Jesus is eating dinner in the home of a leader of the pharisees. There was a man there whose arms and legs were swollen. Jesus questions the pharisees asking what is permitted on the sabbath particularly about healing. Then he heals the man with the swollen limbs by touching him. Then he turned to the Pharisees and questioned them again using an example of them rushing to help their son, donkey, or cow out of pit if it were to fall in. And again, the Pharisees could not answer Jesus. When I think about this I often wonder whether I could answer Jesus in this situation or not. Jesus then goes into a teaching about humility. He gives the people at the dinner the advice to not sit at the head of the table or in the seat of honor because when someone more distinguished than them comes to the wedding feast the host will ask them to move and they will be embarrassed, essentially. He told them this teaching because he had noticed they were all trying to sit in seats of honor near the head of the table. He instead instructs them to take the lowest seats at foot of the table, for then the host will instruct them to move up to a higher seat. He says this because those that exalt themselves will be humbled and those that are humbled will be exalted according to Jesus. Often our culture today thinks the other way around, but Jesus’ perspective is powerful, we should be sure to follow itl! He then also turns to his host and says when you put on a banquet do not just invite those you know and who can repay you like your friends and relatives, but invite the poor, crippled, the lame, and blind. Because God will reward you for inviting those who could not repay you. One of the people hearing all of this at the dinner responded with “what a blessing it will be to attend a banquet in the kingdom of God.” And Jesus once again responded with a parable or story. He told this story of man who threw a banquet, but when it was ready all those invited began to make excuses as to why they could not attend. He then opens the doors to everyone, the poor, crippled, blind, and lame. The host fills his house knowing that those he invited will not get a taste of his banquet. At the end of Luke 14 Jesus talks about what it means to be a disciple. How we must pick up our cross and follow him. Luke 14 really inspired me to keep reading because Jesus’ parables are so full of information that we can glean from. I hope you all have a blessed day today, keep reading, and see you again on the Daily Dose of Hope.
The Daily Dose of Hope is a devotional intended to provide context and reflection to the New Hope Church Bible Reading Plan. It’s our goal to read the Bible in a year together as a family of faith. Five days a week we read. Two days a week we either rest or catch up. Reading the Bible is the number one way to grow in our walk with Jesus. We have to know God’s Word to live God’s Word. Now for our Daily Dose of Hope… https://www.findnewhope.com
Daily Dose of Hope
June 24, 2024
Day 2 of Week 13
Scripture: Deuteronomy 32-34; Psalm 13; Luke 13
Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Church Daily Bible Reading plan. Today, we conclude the book of Deuteronomy. Good job, everyone! It’s been a journey walking through this Scripture. I would love to hear some of your big takeaways from this book.
It’s chapter 32 and it’s time for Moses to step aside and allow God to commission Joshua for the job of leading the Israelites into the promised land. (Just FYI...Moses was forty years old when he left Egypt and fled for Midian, eighty years old at the time of the exodus, and now he is one hundred twenty years old as the people are about to enter Canaan.) Over the years, Moses was an effective leader for the people, essentially a mouthpiece for God in many ways. The people knew him and listened to him. Thus, it was so important for the people to repeatedly hear that Joshua was God's chosen successor for Moses and that God would offer Joshua divine presence and protection. A change in leadership can be difficult and this was a big one! The people had been following Moses for forty years. He had carried them through some pretty tough situations, usually of their own making. Now, it's Joshua's time to lead. We don't get much insight into what Joshua is thinking but my guess is he's a little nervous and also a little excited. The shoes he is filling are big, the job is very important, and let's be honest, the people are difficult. While he knew this would be his destiny for years, it's different when it's finally right before him.
In chapter 33, God gives Moses his final instructions before the torch is passed to Joshua and Moses passes away. He is to teach the people the words to a song (32:1-33) which was intended to serve as a witness to the covenant that God was entering into with the people. This was a normal element in mid-east treaties. What God was agreeing to was available for all to see. The song also would serve as a reminder for the people of what they agreed to and it was intended to be repeated and sung for years to come.
Moses gathers the people to teach them the song and tells them to take the words of the song, as well as the whole law, to heart. He stresses, "these are not just idle words for you-they are your life." The people needed to live and breathe these words because they represented their relationship with God. If the words were not on the forefront of their mind, then they would drift and fall out of covenant. Truly, these words were life for them.
I couldn’t help but think about how we also have access to God's Word through Scripture. The words of the Bible are not idle words but truly life for us. It’s through God’s Word that we get to know God and hear his voice. When we fail to read Scripture regularly, then we also are tempted to drift away and break covenant with God. How important it is to stay connected to the words of life and allow them to soak down deep within us.
Moses’ final act before death was to bestow blessings on the tribes of Israel. He has led these people for forty years. I’m sure his emotions were strong as he spoke these blessings to the people he shepherded and loved. Bestowing blessings before death was a common tradition at the time. Think of Jacob and Esau competing for their father’s blessing on his deathbed. There was some prophetical element to the blessings but also Moses was sharing his own thoughts about each tribe as he blesses them. These are words the people can hold onto and remember as they transition to a new place and way of life.
It’s always been interesting to me what famous people say on their deathbed. In mid-east tradition, it was important to impart blessings on those you love most. In Western tradition, we tend to focus on the final words spoken by a person. John Wesley’s last words were, “Best of all, God is with us.” What an amazing legacy to leave. D.L. Moody’s last words are reported to be, “If God be your partner, make your plans large.” Regardless of what one’s final words are, they are only important if one has lived life well. Living well often leads to dying well. If we live in the knowledge of God’s saving grace, then we also can die in the knowledge of God’s saving grace.
Chapter 34 is the final chapter of the book of Deuteronomy. Moses has seen the people tot he edge of the promised land, he has ensured that the covenant between the people and God has been renewed, and he has commissioned Joshua to succeed him. He is ready to die in peace. This chapter speaks to the love the people have for Moses. But it also speaks to the kind of man that Moses was and the Godly life he led. The Scripture states that no prophet has risen up that did the mighty things that Moses did. He lived life boldly, obediently, and got to experience the wondrous deeds of God. Moses had an incredible legacy.
I often say that at the end of our lives, only three things matter: who we’ve loved, who’s loved us, and what we have done for the Lord. Moses came to the end of his life and did well in each of those categories. What about your life? Is there an area that needs work? Will you have regrets or be satisfied and thankful? As we close out the book of Deuteronomy, take some time to reflect on these questions. What kind of legacy will you leave?
Take some time to read the psalm and Luke 13. I’m not going into great depth about them because I feel like this Deuteronomy passage leaves us a lot to reflect on and pray about.
Blessings to all of you,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
June 23, 2024
Day 1 of Week 13
Scripture: Deuteronomy 27-31; Luke 12
Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Bible reading plan. We are starting week 13 today! Can you believe it? I am learning so much. I hope you are too. Give me an occasional message – I love your feedback. Let’s start with Deuteronomy. We are covering chapters 27-31 today.
Chapter 27 details the curses that will come to the Israelites if they deliberately sin against the Lord. The curses range from idolatry to leading the blind astray. These were sins against God and others. Chapter 28 details the blessings that will come upon the Israelites if they obey the laws that God has given them. It also lists the curses that will come upon them if they fail to obey the laws and uphold their side of the covenant. God would reveal himself through the people of Israel. He would do this by blessing them so much that the rest of the world would know God blessed them or he would curse them so much that the rest of the world would know God cursed them. One way or another, God would be revealed.
While we live on the other side of the cross under a new covenant, God still wants to reveal himself to us. We see the hand of God in so many things: a sunset, answered prayer, a strong conviction, a word from God as we pray or read Scripture, or simply his supernatural comfort and presence. How has God revealed himself to you this week? Make sure you share this with at least one other person in your life.
Chapter 29 talks about the assembly. It’s described with unusual fullness-the leaders, chief men, elders, officials, other men of Israel, wives, children, and even foreigners. Everybody was included in the covenant. Yes, the covenant was meant to be for the whole body but it also included individual people from all walks of life. They all were committing to a covenant renewal with God, just as they were on the cusp of moving into the promised land. Remember, the original covenant was made at Horeb with their parents. That wasn't sufficient. This new generation needed to commit themselves to the Lord and recognize their own responsibility in the covenant.
God doesn't have grandchildren, only children. This passage reminds me of this truth. Our children must make a commitment to God on their own, they must have their own faith. They cannot ride on our coattails. The new generation of Jews heading into Canaan had to make anew commitment to God on their own, just as our children must make a commitment to God in their own right. There are some religions in which you are born into that tradition. While you might be born into a Christian family, you aren't born a Christian. Rather, it's a decision that each individual must make on their own. Will I follow the Lord or will I not? I can't make thatcommitment for my kids anymore than you can make that commitment for yours. How are you encouraging the next generation of young people to follow Jesus? Is there a young person in your life that you currently pray for and disciple? What specific actions do weas a church need to make to lead children and young adults into a life of faith?
Okay, let’s talk about Luke 12. There is a lot of great stuff in this chapter and we could probably go into depth with each section. But I thought we could talk about the section on worry. I actually have several of these verses printed out and hanging in my bathroom so I can read them every day, multiple times a day.
What is it about us and worry? I have struggled with worry and anxiety for most of my life! I finally had to admit to myself that worrying is lack of trust in God. After all, God loves me and God has promised to care for me. He cares for the birds of the fields; certainly he cares for me. This doesn’t mean things will always go my way. Nor does it absolve me of responsibility in life. I still need to work hard and get things done. But I can know that I know that God is with me and God wants to take care of my needs.
For me, I’ve found the antidote to worry is prayer. Pray often, pray fervently, pray sincerely. I go through a visual exercise of giving my worry to Jesus. Sometimes I hand it right to Jesus. Other times, I lay it at the foot of the cross. Then, I have to make the decision to not pick it back up. It takes discipline to give our worry to Jesus; I’ve had to practice this many times. But it’s life-changing. When I give my worry to Jesus, I know it’s in good hands. And worry no longer steals my joy and monopolizes my thinking. I am free, knowing the God’s got this.
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope June 20, 2024, Day 5 Week 12 Scripture: Deuteronomy Chapter 23-26: the gospel of Luke Chapter 11
Welcome back to the daily dose of hope, the devotional and podcast that complements New Hope Church’s Bible reading plan.
Let’s get into our scripture today: Today our chapters of scriptures deal with purity. All of these laws are geared in conjunction with the seventh through the tenth commandment. These passages of scriptures begin with lengthy commands about keeping the land and people pure. It is interesting that purity is maintained by excluding inacceptable groups from being part of Israel’s religious community. The gathering was not a matter of sin. It was a ceremonial rule meant to teach Israel the need for perfection before the Lord.
Even when the army camps out during war, they must keep themselves pure going as far as burying their waste underground. There was a righteous way to be cleansed from bodily emission and to disposed of daily waste in order to keep the camp ceremonially clean so that our Holy God could dwell among his people. Moses was stern in his direction of not allowing the Israelites to defile the land. Cult prostitution was prevalent in Canaan at this time therefore Moses continually warns the Israelites not to be tempt with evil by patronize the Canaanite prostitute. Their wages earned if brought into the house of the Lord would defile it as a form of wicked worship. Our God is righteous in all that he does whether in covenant relationship or not. It is evident how he showed love in providing asylum to fugitive slaves by letting them live and not returning them to their masters.
As we move along through the text Moses continue with commands given by God that promote social responsibility in not taking possession of others. Our God believe in fairness and mercy for his people , but he did not exclude revenge when he felt it was justified. God wanted his people free to live in harmony, free of oppression. 1 Peter 3:8-10 states , “Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.” This happen because we place ourselves under God’s rule and authority. This text ends with a concluding exhortation of Moses reminding the Israelites what God had done and what things he required of them upon entering the promised land. In preparation to enter the promise land the Israelites were required to give a first fruit offering. A first fruit offering of their harvest was an opportunity for the people to remind themselves and to declare publicly that God had indeed given them the land as promise and the produce was the proof. Along with the offering, the Israelites were to recite the story of their deliverance from Egypt to never forget their progress.
This is our story too. We have broken God’s law as well. Some of us may escape them in this life, but God is not a liar. Moses concludes this lengthy message about Israel’s covenant relationship by calling them to commitment and obedience to his statutes and ordinances. Their responses were to obey God willingly and fully with their heart and soul. They affirmed that the Lord was their God and God response my making them a holy people to himself. As Christian the good news is we have this same hope. We will inherit every blessing promised in this text and more (2 Corinthians 1:20). We will enter the new and final garden of Eden in the new heavens and new earth (Revelation 21:1). We will be free from death, disease, and pain (Revelation 21:4). Best of all, we will be with Jesus. That’s what really makes the land good.
Moving to our New Testament text Luke Chapter 11 As Jesus continues to make his way to Jerusalem the gospel writer Luke make radical departure in Jesus’ biography from His ministry in performance to that of ministry through teaching and dialogue. This change in thinking in ministerial emphasis at this stage because of Jesus’ drift from Christology to ecclesiology. The decrease of His concern with proving his messianic identity and more concern with mentoring and discipling the twelve for kingdom extension. Jesus is now opened to providing skills to disciple and so when they ask him “Lord teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples. The model Jesus gave them replaced a sense of rivalry with a sense of camaraderie that included all who sought to be in the kingdom of God. This prayer let them know and informs us, that all who seek communion with the one true God are united a common heart toward a common goal which is made visible through relationship. The kingdom exists in relationship, in tension with God, with nature, with others, and with oneself. By tension I mean that if it were not for tension there would be no need for prayer, no desire to pray for the proper expression of one’s weaknesses and inabilities and thus for the proper expression of one’s dependence on God.
After witnessing John, John’s disciples and Jesus’ prayer life. The disciple finally concludes if John needed to pray, and his disciples needed to know how to pray they also needed to learn how to pray. So, Jesus knowing their heart taught them to pray. Not only does Jesus give them a template on how to pray, but he follows up with conveying to the disciple the power of prayer through his example of perseverance. The power of prayer is seen in the ability to have one’s needs met, and the greatest is not material but spiritual blessing. The God, who has all things at his disposal, is readily available and eager to share all He has for those in need, who are in right relationship and on friendly terms with God.
Continuously moving through the text Jesus’ again is confronted this time with his ability to cast out demons. Mainly because he does not cast them out the usual way by exorcism but uses the power available in the kingdom of God. He was called the “ruler of the demons-Beelzebul. The bystanders did not believe Jesus was a demon they just really wanted to know if he was God or not. If they really wanted to know all they had to do was compare him with others in both word and performance. They refused to because it would condemn them and they would have had confessed Jesus as the Messiah, the Christ. Jesus, while not condemning the naysayers he contrasted himself with them. It is seen that Jesus is the stronger man who by his own authority and power with proper relationship with the father is able to subdue both the source and effect of evil. In so much that the unclean spirit became homeless and by the outworking of the kingdom of God had to search for a new home. The evil spirit search for a place of rest land him back in the man spirit leaving the man in worse condition then he was in the first place. Why? Because one must build a relationship with God. If evil does not find himself building relationship with God, and in the employment of God, there is nothing to stop the evil from returning and having a greater hold than before. The saying is true that everybody has to serve somebody-either the devil or the Lord.
The crowd grew larger because of their witnessing Jesus ‘casting out the demons so , they ask for a sign for the coming of the Messiah. Jesus replied angrily saying they were evil and only evil people need a sign. Why did he call them evil? They had alternative motives as they were not trying to turn away from their evil ways, rather they were trying to find excuses to stay in their wickedness. Jesus tells them the only sign that would be given is “ the sign of Jonah the prophet.” Just as Jonah did for the people of Nineveh. Jesus would do similar in the future. The question to consider, “Would these who demand a sign repent, and turn from their wicked way?” Jesus response to them that those who accept Jesus and the kingdom as their own stand as a sign against those who reject him when the time comes.
Kingdom living is living with the light within you. God knows who the difference between those who want to be the light and those who want who want to let the light shine forth. This was the reason Jesus in a private meal upon being question by a Pharisee concerning his washing before eating a meal. Jesus denounces the Pharisee and lawyers with six woes, because they were committed to external and the appearance of righteousness. Their actions caused others to miss the mark. We are in a relationship, and therefore in tension between what we are and what we are to become. This is why, even within relationships, there is plenty of room for growth.
Finally, to be outside the kingdom may be both a conscious and unconscious decision, But, both a conscious and unconscious decision when brought to the light require a new decision. The kingdom exists in relationship, whether you are in or out. The basis is how you stand with Jesus. Until next week it is our goal as a congregation to read the bible in one year together as a family of faith. Five days a week we read. Two days rest or catch up. Reading the Bible is the way we increase and walk out our faith as believers. This is Pastor Lavetta, and this is the daily Dose of Hope.
The Daily Dose of Hope is a devotional intended to provide context and reflection to the New Hope Church Bible Reading Plan. It’s our goal to read the Bible in a year together as a family of faith. Five days a week we read. Two days a week we either rest or catch up. Reading the Bible is the number one way to grow in our walk with Jesus. We have to know God’s Word to live God’s Word. Now for our Daily Dose of Hope… https://www.findnewhope.com
Daily Dose of Hope June 19, 2024, Day 4 of week 12
Scripture: Deuteronomy chapter 19 through 22, Psalm 6, and the gospel Luke chapter 10 Welcome back to the daily dose of hope, the devotional and podcast that complements New Hope Church’s Bible reading plan.
Let get into our scripture today: Chapter 19-22 of Deuteronomy continues to lay out the rules and laws that God expected the Israelites to govern themselves by. In essence God wants them to behave and learn to live together with mutual respect. All of these laws are geared in conjunction with the 6th commandments. "You shall not murder". The representative laws in these chapters all protected people who were vulnerable for one reason or another. Criminal law, specifically crimes against persons, is in view. God instructed Moses to cover the regulation that dealt with various circumstances the Israelites would have to encounter before they reach Canaan. God's concern for His people's possessions and reputations, as well as their lives, stands out clearly in these chapters. What can we learn from this passage of scripture? Whatever we come up against God has our back. “Do not be afraid, for the LORD your God is with you.” A quote from God that often spoke to the Israelites. Understanding God’s love for his chosen people was key to him protecting them even in their rebellion. To arrive at Canaan there had to be some sort of respect for human lives, but also the Israelites needed to know how to protect themselves. Israel’s warfare as they journey to Canaan was not to eliminate their enemies. God just wanted peace among the people as the Israelites inhabit the land. God wanted them to possess. This section ends with various laws being enacted, one in particular is laws concerning sexual relations. These statues defended the sanctity of marriage, the purity and innocence of virginity, and the honor of a women’s reputation. One way they were to express faithfulness to God was by honoring the covenant of marriage. The same is true for us.
Moving to Psalm 6. In this psalm, David is seeking to discover the reasons behind his suffering. He believes his suffering is the result of God disciplining him due to his sin. Like a son appealing to his father , he asks for relief from his earned rebuke. David had sin, and his spiritual condition has physical and emotional repercussions. How long would he have to suffer, he asked of the Lord? But notice David does not run from God; He runs to God. His pleads to God was on the basis of his covenant and faithful love to God. He asks God to rescue him before he descended to the grave. He is confident the Lord heard his weeping plea for help and his prayer for mercy and deliverance has been accepted. He looks forward to how God would act on his behalf, turn back his enemies, and disgrace them for their deeds against God’s anointed one. As Christian we too can go to God for mercy and understanding according to (1 John 1:5-9) even in the context of our sin and failure because our covenant relationship with him through Jesus Christ. My friend that Good News for all of us.
Lastly moving to the New Testament; Luke chapter 10. We continue looking at heading toward Jerusalem. This chapter of scripture brings us back to some familiar texts. The sending out of the seventy, the good Samaritan and a visit to Martha and Mary. Here we see Jesus draws away from public ministry and theological debates to focus on his continue preparation of his disciples for what will happen in Jerusalem. This was a kind of “internship,” a training time while Jesus was still with them. Although Jesus wanted those then and wants Christian now to spread the message concerning the teaching of the Kingdom of God. He knew it would not be a simple task. It was difficult to give a message many in the world did not want to hear then and now. Still, efforts to tell others about our savior is our Christian’s responsibility. If we do not tell them, who will? No matter the difficulty and rejection of God’s salvific invitation, we must rejoice over our God-appointed responsibility. To lead someone to have their names written in Heaven’s records along aside of ours. As I end this devotional podcast what will it take to get you out of your comfort zone? Here is your opportunity to fulfill God’s purpose for your life! Until tomorrow remember our goal as a congregation to read the bible in one year together as a family of faith. Five days a week we read. Two days rest or catch up. Reading the is the way we increase and walk out our faith as believers. This is Pastor Lavetta, and this is the daily Dose of Hope.
The Daily Dose of Hope is a devotional intended to provide context and reflection to the New Hope Church Bible Reading Plan. It’s our goal to read the Bible in a year together as a family of faith. Five days a week we read. Two days a week we either rest or catch up. Reading the Bible is the number one way to grow in our walk with Jesus. We have to know God’s Word to live God’s Word. Now for our Daily Dose of Hope… https://www.findnewhope.com
Daily Dose of Hope June 18, 2024, Day 3 of week 12
Scripture: Deuteronomy chapter 15 through 18, Psalm 115, and Luke chapter 9 Welcome back to the daily dose of hope, the devotional and podcast that complements New Hope Church’s Bible reading plan.
Let get into our scriptures today: We begin with Moses telling the Israelites how God wants them to behave. Here we see God instructing his people to show concern for the welfare of every individual regardless of their economic or social status. In the Sabbatical year, which was seven years after a person accrued a debt. Everyone who has lent money to anyone must cancel the debt. It is interesting that God guarded against extreme wealth and extreme poverty. In God’s economy concessions were had for His people not to endure hardship. As we move further into the text, we see Moses repeating the instructions regarding the three most important feasts, which included sacrificial meals, that the people would eat at the tabernacle. These festival serves as a reminder of what God had done to deliver them out of Egypt and a requirement of all Israelites male to assembled at the sanctuary three times a year to celebrate the Passover, the Pentecost, and Festival of Booth. It was a time to reflect on Israel allegiance to Yahweh, their Lord, and their God, on their redemption from sin, their spiritually enslaved condition, while rejoicing in God's provisions, corporately and regularly. This passage of scripture stressed legislation that advocated for respecting authority figures in the nation and to their extended family. God wanted Israel to show itself to be a holy nation. This means in religious worship as well as in political relationships. Moses stresses here the key principle of justice on how to behave in public. The chapter ends with Moses letting the people know God will raise another Prophet like him as a way to prepare them for Mose’ departure since he would not enter the promise land. Moses exhortation was a measuring stick to hold up against any prophet who claimed to speak in God’s name. Ultimately, Jesus would be the only prophet who will speak for God perfectly without any sin or impurity.
Moving to Psalm 115:
This psalm tells us to trust in the LORD. This means, believe what the LORD says, and wait until on him to send you help when you need it. The important thing that the psalm teaches us is there is only one God. All other gods are man-made and cannot do anything to help us. The God that we serve is the God in heaven and he does whatever he please. God is sovereign! Our job on earth is to believe and praise the Lord. Only if we acknowledge him now will we be with him forever. In death it is too late to make this decision.
Moving to the New Testament the gospel of Luke Chapter 9
This is a familiar text to most of us where Jesus began to prepare the twelve for what had to take place in Jerusalem. Once Peter reveal Jesus to be the Messiah. Jesus validated his mission to the disciples as being the Messiah and he would be rejected by Israel religious leaders to be killed, buried and then raised on the third day. This conversation allowed Jesus’ to communicate to the disciples some expectation of what life would be like to serve as a disciple. In preparation eight days later, Jesus took his inner circle of disciples, Peter, John, and James to the mountain where Jesus was transformed as Moses and Elijah appeared in glory speaking of his departure once he accomplished his mission in Jerusalem. All of the other passage deals with Jesus divine powers and authority in the earth. This chapter ends with Jesus explaining who is fit for the kingdom of God. No one who looks back is fit for the kingdom. To all who want to have it both ways, Jesus insist that loyalty to him mean following him. As Christians, we have a responsibility to share the gospel. We must still share it even when it is rejected by unbelievers. Remember, as believers, we’re called to share even when it’s challenging. Until tomorrow remember it is our goal as a congregation to read the bible in one year together as a family of faith because reading the Bible is the way we increase and walk out our faith as believers. This is Pastor Lavetta, and this is the daily dose of hope.
The Daily Dose of Hope is a devotional intended to provide context and reflection to the New Hope Church Bible Reading Plan. It’s our goal to read the Bible in a year together as a family of faith. Five days a week we read. Two days a week we either rest or catch up. Reading the Bible is the number one way to grow in our walk with Jesus. We have to know God’s Word to live God’s Word. Now for our Daily Dose of Hope… https://www.findnewhope.com
Daily Dose of Hope
June 17, 2024
Day 2 of Week 12
Scripture: Deuteronomy 10-14; Psalm 5; Luke 8
Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the daily devotional and podcast that complements New Hope Church’s Bible reading plan. We have a lot of Scripture to cover today so let’s get started. We are going to start by walking through the passages in Deuteronomy chapter by chapter.
Let’s start with Deuteronomy 10. What does God ask of his people? He asks them to be obedient. The Lord of all, the one who put the stars in the sky and put the planets into motion, is the same God who chose Israel to be his people. He has chosen to reveal himself to a particular group of people, the Israelites. There wasn't anything particularly special about the people. Afterall, they were people like you and me. They messed up and sinned over and over again. Their brokenness was evident. But God chose this group of people to call his own. The one who created the entire cosmos was the one who showed up among this stiff-necked people.
This chapter gives us a glimpse into the heart of God. Though he is Lord of Lords, all powerful and all knowing, he is also the God who cares about the orphans, the widows, and the oppressed. He has chosen a particular group of people to form into a holy nation. Though they are a mess and he often gets frustrated with them, he continues to be faithful. How have you seen the faithfulness of God in your own life?
Now, let’s move on to chapter 11. Heartfelt obedience would be required for the people of God to drive out the people groups currently residing in the promised land. Simply going through the motions, engaging in religious ceremony, and professing faith would not be enough. They needed to seek relationship with God through love, obedience, and steadfastness. When they did this, all the land would be theirs. Obviously, our circumstances are different.
Obviously, we live on the other side of the cross under a new covenant. But as people, are we all that different? Don't we also simply go through the motions sometimes, professing religious faith but not really loving God? How often do we engage in religious ritual without connection and obedience to a holy God? After thousands of years, God is still seeking an intimate relationship with us, one that is marked with love, obedience, and steadfastness. He wants to be the center of our lives. Take some time today and think about the Israelites, just as they are on the cusp of entering the promised land. How are you different from them? How are you similar?
Chapter 12 offers some more review of how the Israelites are to worship. After commanding the removal and destruction of idols, we now move on to where and how God must be worshiped. The worship of the one true God was to look very different from the worship of pagan idols. It was to be in a place chosen by God himself. It was to be in one place alone and there God would take up residence. This would be God's tabernacle, his temple, among his people.
Throughout the Old Testament, God dwells in a specific place. His presence is found in the tabernacle and then eventually the temple in Jerusalem. Obviously, God is omnipotent and can be everywhere all at once. But for his people, that specific place was holy. It was a beautiful picture of God's presence among them.
When Jesus came, he became the temple. He was the very presence of God. Once Jesus ascended to heaven, the Holy Spirit was given to the church. Now, the presence of God resided within the people. If you have said yes to Jesus, then the Spirit of the Living God lives within you! I find it amazing and spectacular how God continues to do a new thing among his people. Now, we can definitely say that the presence of God is here with us. We don't have to go to a specific building. God's presence is closer than our very breath. There is no place we can go where God's presence is not.
Chapter 13 presents several scenarios about what to do if strangers, loved ones, or whole communities tried to tempt them to worship other gods. No matter who does the tempting, the answer is always the same. Don't do it and get rid of the culprit, even if it is a loved one. No one is allowed to tempt them to worship false gods. The consequences for doing so should be swift and severe.
God clearly knows his people. He knows they will be tempted to worship false idols. If we look at the course of Biblical history, idolatry was eventually the undoing of the Israelites. Most of us have a hard time imagining bowing down to a medal statue representing a god or a golden altar to some false deity. And yet, we have to be very careful here. Our false gods are less obvious but still present. Far be it from us to think we are somehow better than the Israelites. After all, we worship money, power, technology, sports, our children's activities, our own hobbies, and our own families, among many other things. Anything at all that we put before God is an idol and if we are honest, we put a lot before God. What kinds of things are you tempted to put before God? How can you reprioritize your life to right this wrong?
And finally, chapter 14. Most of this chapter details the food laws and tithing. But why are there specific rules regarding which foods the Israelites could eat? Well, because they are the children of God, a holy people, and God chose them to be set apart from the other people groups of the world. The separation between pure and impure animals simply is a reflection of the separation that God's people have with the rest of the world. God is clearly forming a unique people. We've discussed this whole idea of holiness before but it certainly bears repeating. Holiness means being unique and set apart. Something that is holy is cut off from other things, in a class of its own. But that which is holy is also morally pure.
One of the defining characteristics of God is his holiness. God is both totally pure and without sin and also like nobody else, in a class separate from all other classes. God called on the Israelites to become a holy people, set apart from all the people groups of the world. It says in Lev. 19:2, "...Be holy because I, the Lord God, am holy." They were to look differently, act differently, and be morally pure. Obviously, the Israelites were not going to be without sin because they were human beings but they were to make every attempt to avoid sin and atone for their sins regularly.
So where does that leave us? In the New Testament, the Greek word for holy is hagios and it comes from the same root word as saint or sanctified. Just as Jesus Christ is holy, we as his followers are also to seek holiness. I Peter 1:14-16 reads, "As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.” In New Testament language, being holy is also to be set apart but not to be separate, to be in the world but not of it. Our lives are to be characterized by holiness: we are to look different from the culture around us, we are to seek moral purity, and work toward sanctification. To be sanctified is to become more and more like Jesus. One might even go so far as to say that to become holy is to become like Jesus. Do you think of your life as holy? Why or why not?
Be sure to read the Psalm today but we aren’t going to have much discussion around it. It is another Psalm of David. He is once again pleading with God for protection against enemies and for God to bless the righteous. What are your thoughts about David’s big ask?
Let’s move on to Luke 8. There is so much great stuff in this chapter. There is no way that I can touch on all of it. We have some pretty significant healings – the bleeding woman, the sick girl, and the man filled with demons. Jesus also calms the storm, leaving his disciples almost speechless, “Who is this man, they ask?” But I want to spend just a little time on the parable.
This is the parable of the sower. Jesus says that a farmer goes out to sow seeds. But the farmer doesn’t worry so much about where he is throwing the seeds. He seems to be pretty indiscriminate with his seed-throwing. He is literally just throwing seed everywhere. Some of the seed falls right on the path, where all the people walked and the soil was hard and had been packed down. The birds ate most of that seed. Some of the seed fell in rocky places (there are lots of rocky places in that part of the world) and while it would sprout, the soil was shallow, and there wasn’t enough root for the plant to survive. Some fell among thorns, and the thorns were invasive and took over. The plants had no real chance of survival there. But then some seeds fell on good soil, which produced an amazing crop---100, 60, or 30X what was sown. So, here’s the question: what is Jesus trying to teach us here?
First, I think it’s important for us to not dwell on the different kinds of soils too much. I think one of our first temptations is to go, I know someone who is like that soil, and then that group of people are like this soil, and so forth. We’ll get to the soil but I want us to start with what is most important. Who is the star of the story? Well, the farmer or the one who is sowing the seed. He throws that seed everywhere–he is generous with the seed, throwing it everywhere there is any chance it might take root. Friends, we are the sowers. We are the ones called to throw seed. What’s the seed we are supposed to be throwing around? Well, the Good News of Jesus Christ of course.
Jesus is calling us to sow extravagantly. We aren’t supposed to decide who to share our faith with. No, we are truly to share our faith, in word and deed, with everyone. This is so important. We aren’t just supposed to share Jesus with those in our congregation, with our friends who are “safe.” We are supposed to be kind of reckless, sharing the love of Jesus Christ, sharing our faith story, telling people the source of our hope, with all kinds of people: people who don’t look like us, people who we don’t know and people we do know. If God has brought us to a certain place, a certain store, a certain vacation spot, a certain meeting---we trust that there is a greater purpose.
Another thing we learn is that God gives up on no one and neither should we. We just keep sowing. As the sower, we truly have the desire for all the soil to bear fruit. That’s why we keep throwing those seeds, having those conversations, offering to pray for someone, telling people how much Jesus loves them. God loves all people, we are called to love all people. Remember that love of God and love of others cannot be separated. They are intricately linked.
But we have to recognize that some soil has had people trample on it. It has not been nourished, it might be filled with rocks. It may take years to get to the point in which the soil can bear fruit. I read that to gets soil just right, really nourished, it can take years. And it usually means continuing to add nourishment to it, continuing to add things to it to develop it and enrich it so that it can be fruitful. People are no different. We love on people, we pray for them, we tell them Jesus loves them. We listen to their stories. We ask questions. And this could go on for years. But we don’t give up on anyone because God doesn’t give up on anyone. We trust that God is at work in ways we can’t see or understand. We trust that God is working behind the scenes to nourish the fields, to strengthen the roots.
Is there someone you have given up on? Remember, God isn’t done with any of us yet!
For the rest of this week, friends, you will hear Pastor Lavetta. She is completing this week for me. She is absolutely wonderful and I know you will be blessed. You will hear from me again on Sunday.
Have a wonderful day!
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
June 16, 2024
Day 1 of Week 12
Deuteronomy 6-9; Luke 7
Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Church daily Bible reading plan. Happy Father's Day to all the dads, granddads, and spiritual fathers out there. You are loved and appreciated!!! With that, let's get right into our Scripture.
In Deuteronomy 6, we read the Shema, which is essentially the heart of the law. Verses 4-9, Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.
The Shema recognizes the uniqueness and oneness of God. There aren't other gods but only one true God. God calls his people to love him and obey him with every part of their being. He called the ancient Israelites to this this and he calls us to do this as well. Jesus took the Shema and added an important element. In Matthew 12:30-31, Jesus says this: Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” Yes, we love God with our whole being but we also love others. In fact, love of God is demonstrated by love of others. As Christians, we cannot separate the two.
The Shema is a prayer that Jewish families for thousands of years have said daily and it is often the earliest prayer that Jewish children are taught. It is repeated over and over again to ensure that the next generation will know it and live it. While I don't think we need to write the commands of Jesus on our foreheads, how do we ensure the next generation will know who they are in Jesus? Even if you don't have children or your children or older, all of God's people, the whole church, bears responsibility for teaching and guiding the next generation. Pray about how God may be calling you to mentor, teach, or bless the younger generation. Are you called to volunteer in children's ministry? Maybe there is a child in your own life to which God is leading you to disciple and teach. Maybe you currently have younger children or teenagers. How is learning about Christ woven throughout your family's daily routine?
In Deuteronomy 7-9, we find Moses reiterating God’s laws as they prepare to enter the land of Canaan. There is another emphasis on eliminating God’s enemies as they enter the land (again, a bit hard to swallow), but there is more focus on trusting God and following him only. The people are reminded of the golden calf and how it angered the Lord. They are reminded that they belong to God. They are entering into the next part of their journey and they have to remember who and whose they are. Otherwise, it could go totally awry.
We’ve been talking about our journey as a church lately at New Hope. As we move into a new season, we also need to remember that we belong to God and we are his church. May we know who and whose we are, listen to God’s voice, and boldly step into the next part of our church journey.
Let’s move on the Luke 7. This is a great chapter filled with much substance. However, I really want to focus on the last portion of the passage when Jesus is anointed by a woman. Basically, this woman crashes a fancy dinner party with a group of Pharisees who wanted to have some deep religious discussion with Jesus. What do we know about this woman? We don’t know her name but we do know that she is described as sinful. Many scholars have assumed she was a sex worker but that is not a definite. There are other sins. But it becomes obvious that Simon knew her and knew her reputation, which is kind of curious. But whatever her history, she knew Jesus and is incredibly grateful to him (she has had some kind of encounter with Jesus and her life has been changed). She brings an alabaster jar of perfume, of very high value at the time, and she stands at his feet weeping. Then, she gets down on her hands and knees, lets her hair down, and wipes his feet with her tears. She kisses his feet as well, and pours the perfume on them. Keep in mind, this sort of behavior, especially the intimate nature of the touching, would have been very taboo.
The Pharisees aren’t so thrilled that Jesus is allowing this woman to touch him and the judgment in the room is heavy, so Jesus tells a story. He tells this story about two men who owed money. One owed 500 denarii and the other 50. In my research, I found varying accounts of how much this would have been. Generally, 50 denarii would have been about 2 months wages, 500 would have been about 2 years wages. Basically, a lot of money. In the story, neither man can repay the money. Generally, what happened in the ancient world when you couldn’t pay your debts? Well, you were enslaved. You (or your children) had to work as a slave to the person you owed until it was paid off. It was called debt bondage and it still exists in some parts of the world today. Two months of wages would have taken some time to work off but two years worth of wages would have taken a long, long time (years) to work off. But in the story, the moneylender forgives both the men. It was kind of shocking really. That didn’t happen much and the listeners would have known that.
But Jesus is wanting to teach them in this moment. In the midst of this awkward meal, where this woman has made herself incredibly vulnerable and broken all these social taboos, Jesus sees something much deeper. What does he want them to understand? The amount forgiven is related to the amount of love returned. If you feel like you don’t have that much to be forgiven, then you aren’t going to be that grateful when the slate is wiped clean. But if you have a tremendous debt, a heavy debt, something that will keep you in bondage for years, well, you are going to be incredibly grateful when that debt is forgiven. And that’s exactly what this woman has experienced. Whatever her debt was, it was big. And she is overwhelmingly grateful, so grateful that she acts very inappropriately. She does things that are awkward and too intimate. The woman is basically making a fool for herself. But it’s truly beautiful, because she is so grateful for Jesus’ mercy – there is obviously something really difficult or painful in her past or present – and she doesn’t care what others think. She has received forgiveness. Jesus isn’t embarrassed or even surprised. He sees her gratefulness and her sincerity. He could care less about the awkwardness of the moment. He sees her heart. And we know, God cares about our heart.
Jesus then contrasts the lack of hospitality of the Pharisee with the extravagant hospitality of this woman. And he makes a point of emphasizing how her many sins have been forgiven. Jesus isn’t saying that her actions at the meal led to the forgiveness. Rather, she received forgiveness (and we don’t know when), and her actions at the meal are a very public, very dramatic act of love toward Jesus in response. He has offered her freedom and so she is overflowing with gratitude and love.
Of course, the other guests are really concerned with Jesus forgiving her sins. They say, “Who is this who even forgives sins?” Forgiving sins was, after all, something that only God could do. But I have to say, I love how Jesus just ignores them. He is focused on this woman. Jesus cares for individual human beings. Yes, God so loved the world that he gave his only Son --- but he also loves you and me. He is focused on this particular woman. He values her. He loves her. And he says, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”
Keep this in mind: Jesus welcomes us all to his awkward dinner party. All of us, we are invited to sit around the table with Jesus, as members of his family. Regardless of what tables you have been turned away from in your past, at Jesus’ table you are accepted, wanted, chosen. If you have said yes to Jesus, then you are a child of God and you are part of his beautiful, weird, awkward, diverse, unique, imperfect family. That’s us, we are brothers and sisters in Christ, and we will spend eternity together. We get to do life together NOW and in the future. So if you have held off extending forgiveness or asking for it, offering grace, demonstrating love, then go ahead and do that now. Y’all, we are a family and that’s huge.
Let’s chat again tomorrow.
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope - Thursday, June 13
Scriptures: Deuteronomy 4-5 and Luke 6
Today's readings from Deuteronomy 4-5 and Luke 6 present us with powerful teachings about the importance of God’s commandments and the radical call of Jesus’ ministry. Let's explore these passages and see how they can shape our daily walk with the Lord.
In Deuteronomy 4-5, Moses continues to remind the Israelites of the importance of obeying God's laws and commandments as they prepare to enter the Promised Land.
Moses emphasizes that God's laws are not just senseless rules, but life-giving guidelines meant to set the Israelites apart as His chosen people. These laws are a reflection of God’s wisdom and righteousness. For us today, God's commandments still guide our lives, helping us to live in a way that honors Him. I think we need to reflect on how we see God's commandments. Are they burdensome, or do we see them as a path to life and blessing?
Moses instructs the Israelites to teach their children about God's laws and deeds. This highlights the importance of passing on our faith to the next generation. How can we share our faith journey and the truths of the Bible with your family, friends, or community? We should consider ways to incorporate God's Word into our daily conversations and routines.
In Deuteronomy 5, Moses reiterates the Ten Commandments, which serve as a foundation for a life pleasing to God. These commandments cover our relationship with God and with others. Yes, let’s take some time to meditate on each commandment. How can we better align our lives with these principles?
In Luke 6, Jesus delivers profound teachings, including the Beatitudes and instructions on loving our enemies, which of course challenge conventional thinking and call for a radical and countercultural way of living.
Jesus begins with the Beatitudes, pronouncing blessings on those who are poor, hungry, weeping, and persecuted. He also warns the rich, well-fed, and those who are praised by others. This teaches us that God’s kingdom values are often the opposite of worldly values. Where our priorities lie? Are we seeking earthly comfort and approval, or are we pursuing the deeper blessings of God’s kingdom?
Jesus’ command to love our enemies and do good to those who hate us is perhaps one of the most challenging aspects of His teachings. It calls us to extend grace and forgiveness beyond our natural inclinations. I think we all know someone who might be difficult to love. How can we show them kindness and reflect Jesus’ love?
Jesus concludes with a parable about the wise and foolish builders, emphasizing the importance of not only hearing His Words but putting them into practice. To build our lives on a solid foundation, we must apply Jesus’ teachings daily. What practical steps can we take today to live out Jesus’ Words more fully?
Let us…
• Embrace God’s Commandments. View His laws as a guide to a fulfilling life. Look for ways to integrate His commandments into our daily decisions and actions. • Teach and Share our Faith. Find opportunities to share God’s Word and our faith experiences with others, especially the younger generation. Consider starting a Bible study or devotional time with our family. • Align with Kingdom Values. Reflect on our priorities and make adjustments to align more closely with the values of God's kingdom. Seek ways to serve and bless others, especially those in need. • Practice Radical Love. Identify someone we find difficult to love and intentionally show them kindness. Pray for the strength to love as Jesus loves. • Apply Jesus’ Teachings. Make a commitment to not only hear Jesus’ Words but to live them out. I am pastor Roberto, and this is your Daily Dose of Hope.
Dios te bendiga.
The Daily Dose of Hope is a devotional intended to provide context and reflection to the New Hope Church Bible Reading Plan. It’s our goal to read the Bible in a year together as a family of faith. Five days a week we read. Two days a week we either rest or catch up. Reading the Bible is the number one way to grow in our walk with Jesus. We have to know God’s Word to live God’s Word. Now for our Daily Dose of Hope… https://www.findnewhope.com
Daily Dose of Hope - Wednesday June 12.
Scriptures: Deuteronomy 1-3; Psalm 36 and Luke 5
Today's readings from Deuteronomy 1-3, Psalm 36, and Luke 5 offer us rich insights into God's faithfulness, the depth of His love, and the transformative power of Jesus' call. Let's explore these passages together and see how they can inspire and guide us in our daily walk with God.
In Deuteronomy 1-3, Moses recounts the journey of the Israelites from Egypt to the brink of the Promised Land. He reminds them of their past failures, God’s judgments, and His unwavering faithfulness.
Moses emphasizes the importance of remembering God's faithfulness and learning from past mistakes. As we reflect on our own lives, it's crucial to remember how God has guided and sustained us. How about if we take some time to recall moments where we experienced God's faithfulness. How can these memories strengthen our faith today?
The Israelites had some big enemies, yet God assured them the victory. Similarly, we encounter "giants" in our lives—challenges that seem impossible. We most trust that God is with us, fighting on our behalf. What "giants" are we facing today? Let us pray for courage to trust in God's power and promises.
Psalm 36 contrasts the wickedness of humanity with the steadfast love and righteousness of God.
David describes God's love as precious and all-encompassing. In times of uncertainty, we can find comfort in the boundless love of God. What if we stop and reflect on the ways we experience God's love daily. How can we share this love with others around us today?
The psalmist declares, "For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light." God's Presence brings life and clarity. We should seek His light in our decisions and actions today. How can we bring the light of God into our workplace, family, or community?
In Luke 5, we see Jesus calling His first disciples, performing miracles, and teaching about the Kingdom of God.
When Jesus tells Simon Peter to cast his nets after a fruitless night of fishing, Peter obeys despite his doubts, resulting in an overwhelming catch. Obedience to God's Word brings about blessings, even when it doesn't make sense. Is there an area in our lives where God is calling us to trust and obey? We should take a step of faith and watch Him work.
Jesus' calling transforms ordinary people into brave and bold followers who will change the world for His glory. His calling is powerful and life-changing. How is Jesus inviting us to follow Him more closely and impact those around us?
Jesus heals a man with leprosy and a paralyzed man, demonstrating His authority to heal and forgive sins. These miracles remind us of Jesus' power to restore and renew. Do you or someone you know need healing, whether physical, emotional, or spiritual? Bring these needs to Jesus in prayer today, believing in His power to heal.
Let us…
· Remember God's Faithfulness. What if we keep a journal of His faithfulness in our lives and revisit it when we need encouragement?
· Trust in God's Love. Embrace His love and let Him guide our actions. Share His love through acts of kindness and compassion.
· Obey God's Calling. Listen for His direction in our lives and respond with faith. Trust that His plans are bigger and better than ours.
· Seek Healing and Forgiveness. Bring our needs to Jesus, trusting in His power to heal and forgive. Pray for those in our lives who need His touch.
I am pastor Roberto, and this is your Daily Dose of Hope.
Dios te bendiga.
The Daily Dose of Hope is a devotional intended to provide context and reflection to the New Hope Church Bible Reading Plan. It’s our goal to read the Bible in a year together as a family of faith. Five days a week we read. Two days a week we either rest or catch up. Reading the Bible is the number one way to grow in our walk with Jesus. We have to know God’s Word to live God’s Word. Now for our Daily Dose of Hope… https://www.findnewhope.com
Daily Dose of Hope - June 11
Scripture: Numbers 34-36 and Luke 4
Today's readings take us through Numbers 34-36 and Luke 4, offering us a profound glimpse into God's provision and guidance for His people, both in the Old and New Testaments. But, let's dive in and see how these scriptures can speak to us in our daily lives.
In Numbers 34-36, we see God instructing Moses on the boundaries of the Promised Land and the allocation of cities for the Levites, including the establishment of cities of refuge. These chapters remind us of God’s meticulous planning and care for His people.
God sets clear boundaries for the Israelites, ensuring they have a defined and protected inheritance. This teaches us that God is a God of order and intentionality. In our lives, we can trust that He has a plan and purpose, and even when He sets boundaries, they are meant for our good. We really need to reflect on how God has placed boundaries in our lives for our protection and growth. Are there areas where we need to trust His wisdom more?
The cities of refuge were designated places where someone who accidentally killed another could flee for safety and await a fair trial. This concept points us to the justice and mercy of God. It’s a reminder that in Christ, we have a refuge and a safe place. When life feels overwhelming, or when we feel guilty and condemned, we can run to Jesus, He is our ultimate refuge. Why don’t we take a moment to thank God for His mercy and justice, and for being our safe place in times of trouble.
Luke 4 presents the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry, starting with His temptation in the wilderness and continuing with His teaching in Nazareth.
Jesus' victory over temptation in the wilderness shows us the power of God’s Word. Each time Satan tempted Him, Jesus responded with Scripture. This is a practical reminder for us to immerse ourselves in the Word of God. When faced with challenges or temptations, we can rely on Scripture to guide and strengthen us. Consider today, setting aside more time to read and meditate on the Bible. How can you use Scripture to combat the struggles you face?
When Jesus reads from Isaiah in the synagogue, declaring He has come to proclaim good news to the poor, freedom for the prisoners, and recovery of sight for the blind, He outlines His mission. This mission is still ongoing through us, His followers, today. As part of the body of Christ, we are called to continue His work. So, let us reflect on how we can bring hope, healing, and freedom to those around us. What practical steps can we take to serve others in our community?
We should…
· Trust in God's Plan, embrace the boundaries and directions He has placed in our lives, pray for clarity and trust in His provision.
· Seek Refuge in Christ. When we feel lost or overwhelmed, let us remember that Jesus is our haven, spend time in prayer and seek His comfort and guidance.
· Use Scripture in Daily Battles. Equip ourselves with the Word of God. Memorize key verses that can help us stand firm against temptation.
· Continue Jesus' Mission, looking for opportunities to serve and uplift those around us. Small acts of kindness can have a big impact in fulfilling Christ’s mission.
I am pastor Roberto, and this is your Daily Dose of Hope.
Dios te bendiga.
The Daily Dose of Hope is a devotional intended to provide context and reflection to the New Hope Church Bible Reading Plan. It’s our goal to read the Bible in a year together as a family of faith. Five days a week we read. Two days a week we either rest or catch up. Reading the Bible is the number one way to grow in our walk with Jesus. We have to know God’s Word to live God’s Word. Now for our Daily Dose of Hope… https://www.findnewhope.com
Daily Dose of Hope
June 10, 2024
Day 2 of Week 11
Scripture: Numbers 30-33; Psalm 35; Luke 3
Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Bible reading plan. Let’s get right into our Scripture.
Today’s passage in Numbers is difficult. I’m talking especially about chapter 31. After the Israelites conquer the Midianites, the army returns and Moses gets quite angry at them. Why? Because they allowed the women to live. Now, many of these were the women who had led the Israelite men into sin but still, these guys had minds of their own too. And then there were the children. The boys were killed and the young girls were saved, presumably to be slaves or concubines. This is all very, very hard to swallow. What is going on here? This doesn’t seem to be consistent with the character of God.
I have to lean into Isaiah 55:8, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. God had a reason for dealing with the Midianites the way he did. We know that God said he would have vengeance against the people of Midian. They were evil in God’s eyes. They worshipped many gods and engaged in some pretty horrible rituals to those gods, include child sacrifice and temple prostitution. They were a violent people with no moral compass.
That being said, the passage is still troubling and raises questions within me that I can’t answer. But when we find ourselves in a place like this, we are left at a crossroads: we can either call God to account based on our twenty-first century human understandings OR we acknowledge our limited grasp of God and his purpose and plan for people. I have intentionally chosen the latter. I am a mere human with my limited understanding and doubts. Yet, God has never failed me, even if there are times I simply don’t understand. I have chosen to trust God and not get too preoccupied with some passages in Numbers when I have a whole Bible to learn and understand. Remember, we have to always look at the whole narrative of Scripture and not get too worked up over a passage. I hope that offers some help and didn’t muddy the waters too much.
Psalm 35 is another Psalm of David. In it, King David is detailing the sins of his enemies and asking God to conquer them. There is a desperation to his words. While this psalm isn’t connected to a specific instance in David’s life, there were certainly several times in which David could have potentially written it, including when Saul was after him or when Absolom wanted him dead. I think it’s normal to want revenge against one’s enemies but on the other side of the cross, we have different marching orders. Jesus was pretty clear about loving one’s enemies, something pretty revolutionary at the time. Think about Paul’s letter to Romans 12:17-21, Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him;if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil but overcome evil with good.
With that, let’s move on to our New Testament passage for today, Luke 3. This text, when John baptizes Jesus, marks the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry. This call to ministry was accompanied by the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove and confirmed by God’s voice from heaven. It is a beautiful picture of the Trinity. What’s interesting and even a bit puzzling about this scene is that John’s baptism was one of repentance. It was for sinners to come, repent, and be cleansed. But Jesus was sinless. He had no need of a sinner’s baptism. And yet, he chose to go through the ritual. Jesus sought to identify with the people he came to save.
Some of you will recall talking about the incarnation during Advent, as we prepare for Christmas. Incarnation is a churchy word that refers to God coming to earth to become a human being. It’s in the incarnation that Jesus becomes one of us. Jesus goes to the people, identifies with them, and gives them a real-life demonstration of who God is and how much God loves them. The baptism was simply the beginning.
Please be sure to read through all of chapter 3. It’s worth spending some time reflecting on John the Baptist’s ministry as he prepares the way for his cousin, Jesus. What must that have been like for John? The chapter closes with a genealogy of Jesus. Take a moment and read through this genealogy again, as well as the genealogy in Matthew 1. What are the similarities and differences? How does each author go about telling the story of Jesus’ family?
Just a reminder, tomorrow through the end of this week, you will be hearing Pastor Roberto’s voice. He is brilliant and I can’t wait to hear his take on the end of Numbers and the beginning of the book of Deuteronomy.
Blessings to all of you,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
June 9, 2024
Day 1 of Week 11
Scripture: Numbers 26-29; Luke 2
Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Bible reading plan. We are starting week 11 today. Can you believe it? Please keep me posted on what you are learning and how God is speaking to you. Also, just so you know, the next four weeks will be a little different. I will be doing days 1 and 2 of these weeks and we will have guest hosts on days 3-5. This week, Pastor Roberto will be our guest host on days 3-5.
Let’s get right into Numbers. Chapter 26 has the Israelites numbering themselves again. Moses has the various tribal leaders count their people. This is to determine how much of the land each tribe will receive. Larger tribes receive a larger inheritance of land and smaller tribes receive a smaller inheritance. Makes sense.
It won’t be long now. The Israelites will soon cross over into the land of milk and honey that God promised them. Because Moses won’t be allowed to go into the land, God has him go to the top of a mountain and look over at the promised land. Moses’ earthly life will soon end and he knows that God needs to appoint a new leader. That new leader is Joshua and in chapter 27, we see the changing of the guard so to speak. Why did God choose Joshua? First and foremost, the Spirit of God dwelt in him. Scripture makes this clear. But he was also one of the spies who believed that God could bring them victory. He wasn’t afraid because he knew God was with them. These are two pretty critical traits of a leader – Spirit-filled and trusting of God.
Our New Testament reading is Luke 2. Like yesterday, this is going to be pretty familiar Scripture. It’s the traditional Christmas story and the words are beautiful and joy-filled. I could literally read them over and over again. Take some time and meditate on the first twenty verses.
However, I wanted to choose something a little less familiar to talk about as well. Joseph and Mary are good, law-abiding Jews. Thus, they visit the Temple at just the right time to give sacrifices for Mary’s purification (done about 40 days after giving birth.) It was also at this time that they dedicate their first-born son to the Lord. The new parents offer a pair of doves or two young pigeons, which would have been the sacrifice offered for those who are poor or possibly middle-class. This just serves to reinforce that Jesus did not come from money or influence.
The Spirit leads an older man in the Temple, named Simeon, to greet Jesus and his parents. The Scripture says that Simeon was righteous and devout and had been waiting for the consolation of Israel. This consolation does not refer to the Jewish political hopes of conquering the Romans but rather the hope that will come with the Messiah, the salvation of Jesus Christ and the coming of God’s Kingdom. Simeon’s song to God is quite beautiful. He says that now he has seen God’s salvation, he can die in peace. Jesus will be a light to the Gentiles and the glory of the nation of Israel. It says that his parents marveled at what was said about him. Remember, they knew their child was special but as sleep-deprived parents of an infant, all of this was probably pretty difficult to wrap their heads around.
Simeon’s words are prophecy. Jesus’ message will divide the nation. Some will believe and others will oppose him. The journey toward promise-fulfillment will be a difficult one. To walk with Jesus will bring pain and persecution and many will int urn reject him. Mary’s heart will be broken or pierced as well. It is incredibly painful for a mother to see her child rejected. Most moms I know would gladly endure pain and suffering so their child wouldn’t have to do so. Simeon is preparing Mary for what’s to come.
One more phrase of interest is that “the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed.” Jesus is essentially God’s litmus test for the hearts of people. Do I need to follow Jesus and seek the light OR can I just attempt to do this life based on my own version of right and wrong? Jesus will reveal what is in the hearts of people.
Okay, more tomorrow.
Blessings to all of you,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
June 6, 2024
Day 5 of Week 10
Scripture: Numbers 22-25; Luke 1
Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that goes along with the New Hope five day a week Bible reading plan. Let’s get right into our Scripture for today.
We are about two-thirds through the book of Numbers. You are doing great. I know this isn’t the easiest book to read and digest. But it is still God’s Word and we need to read it and understand it. Today’s reading is quite fascinating to me. The story of Balaam doesn’t involve Moses, Aaron, or any specific Israelites and yet is lasts several chapters. In case you didn’t quite get it (because I didn’t at first), Balaam was a seer, or a prophet for hire.
The king of Moab has been keeping up with Israel’s conquests and is very fearful. He knows its only time before it’s the Moabites turn. Thus, the king of Moab, Balak, hires Balaam to curse Israel. The king knows he can’t win in a physical battle but maybe he can make sure that the Israelites are cursed and that will give him an upper hand. But Balaam realizes there is no way he can curse Israel. First, God tells him not to. Then, he physically prevents him from doing so by sending an angel to block his path. Finally, God gives the donkey speech so that Balaam knows he means serious business! In the end, Balaam does not curse Israel but actually blesses Israel. The blessing restates God’s promise to Israel, that they will conquer their enemies and settle in Canaan.
In chapter 25, we find the Israelites camping at Shittim. While there, the men begin to have sex with the Moabite women and worship their gods. I don’t think this would have gotten a mention in Scripture if it were just a few rogue philanderers. Rather, the impression is given that this was an epidemic. God is justifiably enraged and orders Moses to have all those who engaged in this activity killed. Literally, as people were weeping in penitence near the Tent of Meeting, an Israelite man very openly brings a Midianite woman into his tent. The son of the priest, Phinehas, sees this and kills them both with his sword. This puts an end to the immorality and Baal worship but by this time, 24,000 had been killed.
I’m not even sure what to say about this, except for the fact that we are sinful and broken people. When I hear people say how bad things have gotten in the current day, I’m always a bit confused. You mean we used to be righteous and obedient? No, our sinfulness runs pretty deep. Maybe the popular forms of sin have changed throughout generations but humans have always been broken. That’s why we need a savior, then and now.
That leads us nicely into our New Testament reading. We are starting the Gospel of Luke today. Luke 1 starts with what Bible scholars consider a very well-written prologue. Luke speaks highly of those writers who have gone before him. Many ancient writers would start by disparaging others who wrote on the topic, but Luke does the opposite. He also very intentionally creates credibility for his account. While he was not an eyewitness, he makes it clear that gathered is from people who were. He also did a thorough investigation himself. This isn’t sloppy scholarship but clear, well-researched authoritative writing. Luke was orderly and very careful in his work.
But my question has always been, who is Theophilus? Most likely, this would have been a believer (his name means lover of God) who financed the cost of Luke’s research and writing. Considering the title, “most excellent,” this was probably someone with some rank and respect. Or, it could be that Theophilus was simply someone who was questioning about Jesus and Luke wanted to provide an account that encouraged and convinced him of the validity of Jesus, that these events surely have been fulfilled among us.
The bulk of this first chapter is part of what we consider the Christmas story. There is the story of Zechariah and Elizabeth, who become John the Baptist’s parents. There is Mary’s story, a young girl who shows exceptional faith and courage when told that she would become pregnant by the Holy Spirit and give birth to the Savior of the world. I know this is Scripture that is quite familiar. I would encourage you to read it again. Try to read it with fresh eyes. What stands out to you? What do you see that you possibly never noticed before?
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
June 5, 2024
Day 4 of Week 10
Scripture: Numbers 19-21; Colossians 4
Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that goes along with the New Hope five day a week Bible reading plan. Let’s get right into our Scripture for today.
As usual, let’s start with our Old Testament reading in the book of Numbers. In chapter 19, we find the sacrifice of a red cow. Eleazar the priest was to oversee the ritual outside the camp of the Israelites. After the animal was killed, Eleazar was to sprinkle some of its blood toward the front of the tabernacle seven times. Then he left camp again and oversaw the burning of the carcass of the red cow. As it burned, the priest was to add “some cedar wood, hyssop and scarlet wool” to the fire. The ashes of the red heifer were collected and stored in a ceremonially clean place outside the camp and then were used in the water of cleansing to purify those who had become unclean. Specifically, the law goes into detail when and how the ashes of the red heifer were used in purifying those who came in contact with a dead body. It’s quite involved.
Some say that the ritual of the red cow was foreshadowing of Jesus’ own sacrifice. Afterall, it had to be a heifer without blemish, just as Jesus was a perfect, unblemished sacrifice. It was to be killed outside of camp, just as Jesus’ crucifixion happened outside the city walls. Finally, the remnants of the cow were used to purify those who had become unclean. Likewise, Jesus’ death was to cleanse and purify all of us from our sins and “uncleanliness.”
Okay, let’s move on the chapter 20. Here, we find Miriam pass on. She is the first of Moses’ siblings to die. Aaron dies soon after. God is making good on his promise that no one from this generation, except a very few of the spies and their families, would make it into the promised land.
Also in the chapter we witness a big uprising against Moses and Aaron. The people do their complaining and lamenting about the lack of water. They really never learn, do they? But in the process of all this complaining, Moses doesn’t follow God’s instructions. Rather than trusting God and doing exactly what he asked, Moses gets angry and hits his staff against a rock in frustration. As a consequence, God tells Moses that he will not get to enter the promised land. When I first read this, it felt like a pretty harsh punishment. Afterall, Moses has put up with a lot from these difficult people. But the more I read it, it seems that really Moses was trying to take the problem into his own hands. He didn’t simply misunderstand God, he was deliberately disobedient toward God. He was a servant leader; God never intended for Moses to usurp his authority. Again, God is making a very clear point.
On that happy note, let’s move on to the New Testament, specifically Colossians 4. This last chapter of Colossians begins with a word to slave owners to treat their slaves in a way that is fair and right. Please note that Paul's mention of slavery is in no way supportive of it. Slavery was a reality in the Roman Empire. Paul's discussion of loving others as Jesus loved them and his focus on people being equal in Christ Jesus (Galatians 3:28), suggests his disapproval of the institution. Among those in the early church, slaves were treated as brothers and sisters in Christ.
This chapter also offers important advice for Christian living that Paul offers to the church at Colossae. He reminds the Colossians that three things are crucial: prayer, wisdom, and grace-filled speech/communication. First, their lives were to be devoted to prayer. This isn't too different from his command to the Thessalonians to pray without ceasing. A devoted prayer life includes a lifestyle of prayer, rooted in both gratitude and vigilance. I love how he asks them to pray for open doors to share the Gospel message, specifically that God would provide opportunities for Paul to share the Good News of Jesus wherever his life journey took him.
Then, there is this focus on wisdom. Remember, Paul is encouraging them to stay away from the false teachers and immerse themselves in Godly wisdom. Wisdom provides the right atmosphere for the Christian walk. We must be wise in what we allow ourselves to ingest into our minds and bodies, wise in our talk, and wise in our actions. This is so critical because it's our everyday, walking around lives that are the strongest witness to those outside the church.
Finally, there is an emphasis on grace-filled speech and communication. Oh, how our mouths get us into trouble over and over again. My guess is it wasn't too different 2000 years ago. Paul implores them to speak words of grace which are also "salty," words that make a difference but also words that are well-seasoned, not offensive, effective. Words can build up and words can tear down. Paul is saying to use words that effectively build up the Kingdom of God. Those who follow Jesus need to be intentional and careful in what and how they speak. We could just as easily have this same discussion today.
Without even thinking too much about it, Christians are so careless with what they say and do. Certainly, the foundation of transformation is a devoted prayer life, to which Paul alludes. When we are vigilant about prayer, when we develop a lifestyle of prayer, then we are less careless in the other areas of our lives. We are wiser, we are more grace-filled in speech and actions. It's possible that if every single person at New Hope made an intentional commitment to maintain a devoted, vigilant lifestyle of prayer, then Jesus could surely change the world through us. Certainly, our church would be transformed in pretty incredible ways.
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
June 4, 2024
Day 3 of Week 10
Scripture: Numbers 15-18; Psalm 113; Colossians 3
Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements New Hope Church’s daily Bible reading plan.
Let’s get right into Numbers. These are some hard chapters. In chapter 15, we have the guy who is stoned for picking up wood on the Sabbath. It’s no accident this story comes immediately after the discussion about intentional sin. This guy is definitely being used as an example. This is what happens when… Don’t take the Lord’s commands lightly. I’m not sure how I feel about this but it does make me overwhelmingly grateful for Jesus.
After such a passage, it isn’t surprising that we then get the Scripture on tassels. Men were to wear the tassels on their clothing to be a reminder of God’s laws. Obviously, they needed reminders. Who are we kidding? We need reminders too! These tassels were like old-school WWJD bracelets but a lot more serious. Infractions had pretty serious consequences.
I want to spend some time on Numbers 16. Here we have some Levites who are challenging Moses and Aaron. They are not direct descendants of Aaron but they feel like they should be able to do the work of the priests, that they are just as holy. Their arrogance is a bit alarming. They want the power and prestige, or what they perceive to be power and prestige. Keep in mind, their behavior is a direct and overt disobedience against God. They may appear to be challenging Moses but they are really challenging God. As I read it, I’m actually getting a little scared about what God is going to do to them. You know it isn’t going to be good. And it isn’t. They die and it isn’t pretty.
This is the thing. God chooses the humble. Throughout Scripture, God chooses the humble and obedient to be leaders over his people. When leaders allow power to go to their head, that is typically the beginning of their downfall.
Let’s talk briefly about Psalm 113. It’s a little different from the other psalms we have been reading. It’s a psalm of praise and the author lists quite a few reasons why God is to be praised. But then he says this in verses 7-9, He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap; he seats them with princes, with the princes of his people. He settles the childless woman in her home as a happy mother of children. The author concludes by emphasizing that while God is transcendent and over everything, he is also active in our lives and in this world. He may sit high but he looks low. Obviously, there are still poor people and motherless children. There is still heartache but that does not mean God isn’t intricately involved in our lives. He may not swoop in and fix everything in the way we want but that isn’t the kind of God we serve. We know that God’s ultimate putting things right move was to send Jesus. Jesus was all about putting things right, reconciling humanity to God, and providing a way for new life and resurrection.
Let’s move on to Colossians 3. In this chapter, Paul begins a discussion on sanctification, encouraging the believers at Colossae to grow in their walk with Christ and reflect Jesus in all they do. He implores them to live differently than those around them; they have a higher calling. The false teachers were concerned with life on earth but Paul is telling the Colossians that there is so much more for which to live.
Paul begins by speaking of the vices that must be set aside as Christ-followers. Then, he begins to speak of virtues. I love this! He speaks of these character traits like clothing; "clothe" yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Because they are new people in Jesus Christ, they put on new clothes that represent that new life. One can accept Christ and receive salvation, but it is a process learning how to live like a believer. It takes practice putting on these new clothes and yet it is so very important. They must also learn to forgive one another and love each other.
We take these concepts for granted in today's church because we talk about love and forgiveness so often. But this would have been new stuff for these early believers. For many, it would have been a drastic shift from their previous life. While we talk a great deal about love and forgiveness in the modern-day church, I think we also still are figuring out how to live out these concepts. If you ask people who left the church why they did so, it often amounts to being mistreated by a church member or being turned off by hypocritical behavior. It would probably do all of us some good to do an assessment. How much do we reflect compassion in our interactions with others? How often do we reflect kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience? How loving have we been toward others over the past week? How forgiving have we been? Take a moment and think about each virtue. Rate yourself on a scale of 1 to 10. What areas need work and how might you practice living these out?
Take some time and reflect on today’s readings. There is a lot to digest.
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
June 3, 2024
Day 2 of Week 10
Scripture: Numbers 12-14; Psalm 28; Colossians 2
Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements New Hope Church’s daily Bible reading plan. Happy Monday! Let’s get right into our Scripture for today, starting with Numbers.
Well, the Israelites have done it again. They sent some recon units into the land of Canaan to scope out the land and they discover it really is a land of milk and honey. But it is also a land with big, strong enemy tribes. Those who returned told stories of how scary the people were who inhabited the land and how there was no way the Israelites could defeat them. Only two of the spies reported otherwise, Joshua and Caleb. Both of these men were confident that God would ensure their victory, trusting God at his word. But the others were so angry that they almost stoned Joshua and Caleb for their statements.
Then, the whole community got worked up. They wailed and yelled, complaining to Aaron and Moses, again lamenting that none of this would be happening if they were still slaves back in Egypt. Not surprisingly, this enraged God and he was ready to be done with them all. But Moses, once again, stands up for these stiff-necked people. God declares that he won’t kill them but he will not allow any of them to actually see the promised land, except for the spies (and their families) who trusted God.
Let’s think about this. This is year two and none of them will be allowed to enter the land of Canaan. Now, it makes a lot of sense why they wandered around a fairly small area of desert for forty years. It wasn’t because they were really bad at navigation; it was because God needed this first generation to pass on. I guess you can take the Israelites out of Egypt but you can’t quite get the Egypt out the Israelites.
The psalm is another written by King David. He is pleading with God to hear his cries and answer him. What’s interesting to me is that he starts by asking God to help him personally, to save him from his enemies. But as the psalm makes its way to a close, he prays for all of God’s people. Verses 8-9, The Lord is the strength of his people, a fortress of salvation for his anointed one. Save your people and bless your inheritance; be their shepherd and carry them forever. Do your prayers tend to be self-focused or others-focused? Why are both important?
Let’s move on to Colossians 2. Paul was very concerned that the people of the Colossian church would be swayed by fancy and smart-sounding arguments. The arguments of false teachers often sound very convincing. They typically take a small bit of truth and twist it so that it sounds just right enough that people will be convinced. Paul knew this. His goal was for them to grow in their knowledge of Christ, become mature, well-developed disciples, so they would see through the untruths.
If they were rooted in Christ, like a solid tree with deep roots, then they would be less apt to be affected by the winds of false teachings. I love this idea of growing our roots deep into Jesus Christ. If we look at plants, we tend to focus on that which we can see. We see the trunk, the branches, and the leaves, and they maybe very beautiful. But what's most important is what we can't see-the deep roots which are vital to the health and longevity of the tree. If a bad storm comes, the tree will stay put because its roots are deep and strong. Paul wanted the Colossian church to have a deep root system as well, one that was firmly based in Jesus Christ. If they grew into strong, mature believers with strong roots, then they would be much less likely to be swayed by the fancy, sophisticated arguments of false teachers.
Historically, we haven't focused on having deep roots. In fact, our discipleship in most American churches has been quite shallow. We have required little of our members; we've asked them to simply warm a pew. Where has that gotten us? Being rooted in Jesus Christ means so much more than church attendance. It means reading and knowing God's Word and abiding with Jesus through prayer and Scripture reading. It means connecting with others for real accountability and listening to others who tell us hard truths about life and faith. It means serving others with the love of Jesus. It means giving sacrificially. And when the strong winds blow, we are ready. We stay solid and united in Jesus Christ, our roots strong and steady.
Let’s convene again tomorrow.
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
June 2, 2024
Day 1 of Week 10
Scripture: Numbers 8-11; Colossians 1
Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Church daily Bible reading plan. I hope you enjoyed your two days off and used them to rest or catch up. Please be sure to keep me posted on what you are learning and how God is speaking to you through your reading and study.
Let’s get into today’s Scripture, starting with the book of Numbers. Let’s start with the dedication of the Levites, which we find in chapter 8. The Levites were not the ones who actually made the sacrifices before God; that was reserved for the priests. But their work was still very important. They made it possible for the priests to do what they did. They supported all the work of the tabernacle and God was making it clear that this was also essential. They also needed to be purified and set apart.
In chapter 9, we find God commanding the Israelites to celebrate the second Passover. He gives them a primary date for the celebration and then a secondary date for those who were unclean or simply couldn’t be there. Remember, it was extremely important for God’s people to remember what God had done for them. He had led them out of slavery in Egypt, he had spared their lives, he had cared for them along the way, and he was making a way for them to be led back to the land of their ancestors.
Passover is still the “master story” of the Jewish people. It is a story of redemption and freedom. Of course, as Christ-followers, we see this story being completed and fulfilled in the person of Jesus Christ. I find it incredibly meaningful to celebrate Passover, because I know how it ends. Jesus brings us true freedom.
The cloud where God’s presence dwelt above the tabernacle is a fascinating passage as well and deserves some discussion. At night, the cloud looked like fire. Just imagine that. I’m thinking the presence of a fiery cloud would instill both fear and comfort in the Israelites. When the cloud lifted and moved, they knew it was time to pick up and move camp. When it stayed, they stayed. The presence of God in the cloud guided all their movements. Obviously, we don’t have God hovering over us in a fiery cloud, but we do have the presence of God with us at all times through the person of the Holy Spirit. How do we do in allowing God’s presence to guide our movements, our decisions, and our thoughts?
Finally, we have to talk about the quail. The people were complaining once again to Moses about how tired they were of eating manna all the time. They started reminiscing about their time in Egypt as slaves when they had all sorts of foods to eat. Their whining must have been quite annoying, as Moses goes to God with his own complaining, saying something like, “Why did you make it so I have to deal with these crazy people?” So God answers their complaints by burying them in quail. There were more birds than they had ever seen; they blew in from the direction of the sea, according to the Scripture. But it was while the quail was still between their teeth, that God’s anger was unleashed on the Israelites. He struck them with a plague and many died.
Okay, this is a really hard passage. I know that the people were ungrateful and entitled. They were gluttonous – think of all the quail they gathered. But the plague seems incredibly harsh. I mean, it was really bad. As a result of so many people dying from this plague, the name of that place was called Kibroth-hattaavah (v. 34) which means “the graves of the craving.” Perhaps the people who were killed here were the ones that were obsessed with gathering all the quail they could for themselves, and were the most eager to consume huge quantities. We will never understand the why in the passage. God had his reasons, I am sure of that. He truly wants us to crave him over anything else.
Today, we are also starting the book of Colossians. The author is Paul and when he wrote this letter, the church at Colossae was facing threats from false teachers. As we read this, we will find a clear theme: the centrality of Jesus Christ. While details aren't known, there was apparently a movement within the town to remove Christ from the church. Thus, Paul goes to great lengths in this short little book to describe the person and work of Jesus and what it means to live as a Christ-follower. While Paul did not start the church at Colossae, he very much feels responsible for it. Therefore, Paul writes this letter with much urgency from a Roman (or possibly Ephesian) prison cell.
From today’s reading, I would like to highlight verses 15-18, The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. Here we see the emphasis on the identify of Jesus Christ. Notice how in the previous verses Paul speaks about Jesus as Savior, as the one who rescues and redeems us. Now, Paul is speaking of Jesus as Lord.
This section is considered a hymn to Jesus Christ and it is rich in theology. Jesus is the visible manifestation of God, God in human form; Jesus is God and nothing less. God's character can be seen in Jesus Christ. Let that sink in. But there is more. Jesus was present at creation and serves as Lord over all creation. He is supreme over all things. Jesus is Lord and everything exists to reveal his glory. Then, Jesus as creator and redeemer are brought together again. Jesus, who is head over all creation is also head over the church, his body. Obviously, Jesus existed without the church but the church cannot exist without Jesus. The church is the visible body of Christ in this world but Jesus serves as the head of the church. A body can't function or exist without a head. The church cannot function or exist without Jesus.
It almost seems laughable to me that there was a movement within Colossae trying to remove Jesus from the church. A church can't be a church without Jesus. It's totally absurd. And yet, even as I write that, I realize that there are probably many churches in existence right now that basically function separate from Jesus. Maybe they are religious social clubs or possibly political organizations but they aren't the body of Jesus. This could have happened gradually and slowly. After all, we live in a very distracted, self-reliant culture. I have to admit, even the thought of this is so, so scary to me. How can we ensure that Jesus stays central in all we do at New Hope? Pray, friends. Pray diligently and specifically that Jesus stays at the core of all we do.
We will chat again tomorrow.
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
May 30, 2024
Day 5 of Week 9
Scripture: Numbers 6-7; Hebrews 13
Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements New Hope Church’s Bible reading plan. Let’s get right into our Scripture for today.
Numbers 6 speaks of the Nazirites. A man or woman could make a vow to become a Nazirite. The purpose of this was to draw closer to God and separate oneself from the pleasures and comforts of the world. For that reason, they had very specific things they could not do, including cut their hair or drink alcoholic beverages. One wasn’t a Nazirite forever but rather for a specified period of time. There were some pretty famous Nazirites in the Bible, including Samson and John the Baptist. Don’t confuse being a Nazirite with the word Nazarene, which is someone from the town of Nazareth in Israel.
Numbers 7 details the offerings brought by the leaders of each tribe to dedicate the tabernacle. It was quite a lot of stuff! I find it interesting how detailed the Scripture is about what was brought. You may have noticed that each leader brought the same offerings, with one leader per day bringing their offerings before God. It should be noted that since everyone brought exactly the same thing, no one tribe could claim to be more generous or worthy. It was all for God’s glory, not their own.
Moving on to Hebrews 13. This is an interesting chapter. It’s filled with words of encouragement (and maybe even warning) about what it means to follow Jesus faithfully. There are instructions on hospitality, fidelity in marriage, and even avoiding the love of money. There is also instruction to be content.
Why should we seek to be content? The author then answers that question with some text from the Old Testament (words from Deuteronomy and Joshua) to provide evidence that God is always with us. We can be content, we can make it through tough times, because we have the presence and power of God with us at all times. This is what’s real: God has always walked with his people through hardships and challenges. Why would now be any different?
Think about the many, many instances in Scripture in which God walked alongside his people, providing for them and sustaining them. There was the time in the wilderness, there was the exile, there was the ministry of Jesus and the disciples, and there was the work of the early church, among many others. Think about the many times in your own life in which God walked alongside you. How has God sustained you in times of struggle, in loneliness, in grief, in tough financial situations, in illness, etc.? We serve a God who will never leave us or forsake us. And because of that, we don’t have to fear. We can make a decision to trust him. Remember, trust is not a feeling but a decision we make.
What’s your contentment level today? Have you made a decision to trust Jesus?
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
May 29, 2024
Day 4 of Week 9
Scripture: Numbers 3-5; Hebrews 12
Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements New Hope Church’s Bible reading plan. Let’s get right into our Scripture for today.
Our first two chapters in Numbers we read this morning are about counting Levites, those who will help the priests and care for the tabernacle. For the most part, this seems pretty straightforward. However, chapter 5 is a bit bizarre. Or is it just me? It’s about purity in the camp. So far, this sounds okay. Anyone with skin diseases has to go outside the camp so as not to spread the disease. Got it. But then, we have this test for purity of wives. If a husband suspects his wife has been unfaithful or is simply jealous, then he can send her to the priests to undergo a ritual.
This all seems pretty one-sided. Are women being singled out here? What about the guys? We know this is a patriarchal society but aren’t God’s laws supposed to be just. Remember, when something doesn’t sit well, it’s time to do more research and digging.
What we read about in Numbers 5 is a trial by ordeal. Many ancient cultures have rituals that depend upon God protecting people who are innocent. In the cultures surrounding the Israelites, women could be executed for almost anything. They would have absurd trial by ordeal rituals where there was absolutely no way the woman could be found innocent, not unsimilar to the Salem witch trial women who had no chance at being exonerated.
But God’s law really was intended to provide a fair chance for women. The accuser, the man, was the one with all the cultural power but he still couldn’t decide the consequences for his wife. Rather, he had to submit to another, the priest, who stood in protection of the wife and her guilt or innocence was decided through this ritual in which only God could decide. Simple jealousy or an arbitrary accusation was not going to do it. God provided the ultimate decision and this meant it was going to be fair.
Now, let’s move on to Hebrews 12. We talked about this Scripture on Sunday when we were talking about the value of remembering. The first two verses read like this, Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
If you recall from yesterday’s reading, Hebrews 11, the author gives us a wonderful list of people who are commended by God for their faith. It is a catalogue of men and women, named and unnamed, that stand as witnesses to lives that honored the Lord – the author reminds us of Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, and Jacob, these huge OT figures, they were the hall of fame of faith.
The author is saying that these people, as well as other unnamed believers, are called "a great cloud of witnesses," and indeed their lives demonstrate a trust in God that stands as a wonderful testimony to the faithfulness of God in their lives, and a great encouragement for us to run the race that lies before us and press forward as we keep our eyes on Jesus. These are the people who paved the way for us; their story is our story. They persevered through adversity and hardship. They provide this amazing example of faith.
The author of Hebrews describes our Christian journey as a race. I don’t know how many of you have run races. I talked about this on Sunday. I used to run races. During a race, you hit all kinds of obstacles. It’s usually hot and it never fails, there is usually some body part hurting on race day – or you get a cramp or you have to use the bathroom – and you have to just push through. Think about the finish line – don’t drop out and don’t even think about quitting.
As believers, our lives are going to be filled with all kinds of stuff. We are going to have great things, triumphs, joys, but we are also going to have struggles and sorrows. There will be times when our faith will feel flimsy. We are going to deal with illness and death, relationship problems, loneliness, anxiety, physical pain…you get the idea. People will hurt our feelings. All of these things have a way of making the race more difficult. There are times we might want to quit, to stop coming to church, to drop out of faith all together. The author is saying. Don’t do it. Remember those who came before you. It wasn’t easy for them either. And you have Jesus. Fix your eyes on him! Don’t forget where you’ve been and who got you there. You belong to Jesus. Hold of tightly to that truth.
How are you doing holding tightly to this truth?
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
May 28, 2024
Day 3 of Week 9
Scripture: Numbers 1-2; Psalm 64; Hebrews 11
Welcome back, everyone, to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that goes along with New Hope Church’s Bible reading plan. Today, we start the book of Numbers, we spend some time in a Psalm, and we continue with the book of Hebrews. Let’s get started!
Let’s start by talking about the book of Numbers. Keep in mind, God’s people were in Egypt for over 400 years. God has been camping with them at Mount Sinai for over a year, teaching them how to relate to him and to one another. Remember, God is forming a set apart people and it hasn’t been easy. Now, he is planning on taking them on a long journey toward the land he promised their ancestors.
Before they leave Mount Sinai, however, God orders a headcount, a census of sorts, to number all the people. This is what we read about this morning. Spoiler alert: all of these people will die (we will get to that in later chapters) and then God will count the next generation. All this counting gives the book its name – Numbers. Beyond the counting, the book of Numbers will teach us about the Israelites’ difficult journey from Mount Sinai to the Promised Land.
Keep in mind, we are only in year two of the journey. If you know much about Israel’s history, they wandered in the desert for forty years. Why so long? Well, that’s what we will learn over the next few weeks. Also, take a moment to look at a map. It really isn’t very far at all from Mount Sinai to the promised land of Israel. So, y’all, they really did simply wander.
Let’s move on to our psalm. I know we haven’t spent a lot of time on the psalms. I hope you are still reading through them or even singing them, as that is how they were originally meant to be communicated. Today’s psalm is a Psalm of David. It’s a psalm of safety and protection. David goes into the lies and schemes of his enemies. They think they know better. They think they have the upper hand. But what they will soon discover is that God always has the upper hand. God will avenge him and the enemies will be defeated. It’s obvious that David is speaking these words from experience. Can you relate?
Hebrews 11 is a great chapter. It could be called the “Hall of Fame of Faith.” The chapter begins with these two famous verses, “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for.” The author is writing to a group of Christians whose faith was waning. They were dealing with a great deal of persecution and adversity and many were beginning to drop out of the faith. So, the author begins this passage on the importance of faith. Faith isn’t something flimsy, but it’s strong and provides a solid foundation for our lives.
Then, the Scripture says, “this is what the ancients were commended for.” The author begins to tell stories about real human beings who had this kind of intense, life-changing faith:
-He speaks of Abel, who because of his faith brought God the better offering than Cain.
-He speaks of Enoch (the great, great, great, great grandson of Adam) who lived a very righteous life that honored and pleased God. It was because of his faith that he sought to please God and he was one of only two people who did not physically die but was taken directly to heaven.
-He speaks of Noah, who had significant faith to build a massive ark just because God told him to. The people thought he was crazy. It was only because of his tremendous faith in God that he persevered and we know the rest of the story.
-He speaks of Abraham and Sarah. He really spends some more time on them.
Keep in mind he is speaking to Jewish Christians so these are amazing fathers and mothers of the faith. He wants to remind them, look---there are others who have had hardship but through faith, they have maintained hope and persevered into an unknown future. So Abraham and Sarah were called, by faith, to leave their home and move into a strange land. They lived in tents. Because of their faith, they listened to God and trusted God, doing what he asked them to do.
What the author is saying is that these are great people of faith that we can learn from AND this same kind of faith resides within you. You can have this same kind of foundational faith.
Obviously, we can look at these incredibly faithful examples listed in this chapter and they may seem so far removed from us. They lived so long ago. They know nothing about what it means to live now in 2024. So, let’s think about people closer to you that have this kind of faith. Who are the people who have built their hope and their lives on the solid foundation of faith in God? Who is it you know who has boldly stepped into the unknown because of their faith? Take time and reflect on this, thanking God for putting these individuals in your path.
Let’s chat again tomorrow.
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
May 27, 2024
Day 2 of Week 9
Scripture: Leviticus 26-27, Psalm 112, Hebrews 10
Welcome to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Church five day a week reading plan. If you can believe it, we have made it to the end of Leviticus. I would love to hear some of your big takeaways. Let’s get right to our Scripture for today.
Leviticus 26 is a chapter of blessings and curses. If you obey the covenant, you will be blessed. If you don't obey, things won't be so good for you. But we tend to think of things in terms of individual obedience. These blessings and curses were for the nation of Israel as a whole. If the entire nation was faithful and obedient, then the rain would come and the land would be fertile. This did not mean that one faithful man would get rain on his land and his unfaithful neighbor would experience drought.
So what is the application for us today? I think this chapter hints at how we have a tendency to forget God in times of prosperity. When life is good, when we are getting along with our spouse, when the bills are all paid, when there is plenty of food on the table, we don't focus much on God, despite the fact that he is the one who has provided us with all these good things. It typically is when things are really hard that we go to God and plead for help.
This chapter also speaks to another truth. When we find ourselves in sin, we can confess to God and receive forgiveness. While we aren't the covenant community of Israel, we are individual Christ-followers who have a unique relationship with the living God. Because of Jesus, we can go boldly before the throne of grace and ask for forgiveness for our individual sins. I don't believe the blessings and curses apply to us like it did the ancient Jews but we still reap what we sow. Thus, when we have messed up, we need to fall on our face before a holy God and ask for restoration.
And now, let’s talk about the final chapter of Leviticus. To make a vow meant to make a promise to God voluntarily; it was not done in response to a rule or any kind of divine requirement. Someone might make a vow to dedicate their child to God during a time of crisis, or possibly out of extreme gratitude, or even out of a sense of calling. This did not mean their child would work in the tabernacle (that was for priests), but they followed these guidelines as a way to consecrate their child to God. People were assigned a value based on age and usefulness to society as a whole. We could probably spend a lot of time talking about why women were valued less than men but for now we will have to settle on this-it was a different culture, a different time, in a highly patriarchal society. While we don't assign monetary value to individuals (thank goodness!), we certainly do consecrate ourselves and even our children to God. The word consecrate simply means to make something sacred by dedicating it to God. As Jesus followers, we are called to consecrate our whole lives to God. This means our whole life, every single part of our existence, is dedicated to the Lord and his work in the world.
Let’s talk about Hebrews 10. The author of Hebrews is speaking about why the New Covenant is so much better than the Old Covenant. He starts off by saying that the old law was simply a shadow of the good thing to come. He reiterates the sacrificial system and its inability to deal effectively with sin. Then, we hear a quote from Jeremiah 31, a prophecy made 600 years before the time of Christ. At a time when all seemed dark and hopeless, God promised a new covenant that would be written on the minds and hearts of people rather than tablets and scrolls.
This new covenant, God promised, will eliminate the constant sacrifices at the temple and God will truly remember their sins no more. And it’s the very Spirit of God that testifies to this! It’s the Holy Spirit that assures us that we are forgiven and redeemed. We don’t have to walk around with uncertainty, not knowing if we will spend eternity with Jesus. Rather, the Holy Spirit offers us assurance of the truth of God’s promises. The New Covenant has come, it has been fulfilled in the person of Jesus, and that makes all the difference! If you have said yes to Jesus as your Savior, then you can have this assurance as well. I hope you know that you know that God remembers your sins no more. You are forgiven, the work is done. We are free.
Let's chat tomorrow.
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
May 23, 2024
Day 5 of Week 8
Scripture: Leviticus 21-23; Hebrews 8
Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the daily devotional and podcast that complements New Hope Church’s daily Bible reading plan. We are getting close to the end of Leviticus. Stay the course! We are almost there.
Our first chapter in Leviticus discusses the rules for priests. As the people's representatives before God, they were held to some pretty hefty standards regarding holiness. The high priest, as the one person who walked into the holiest of holies (where the presence of God dwelt) one day a year, had even stricter lifestyle guidelines to which to adhere. While I am sure it was an honor to be a priest, it was also a heavy responsibility.
Christian leaders are also held to a higher standard than the average churchgoer. There is something special but also a bit fearful when we lead others in the faith. In our context, a leader's character is critical. Paul details the requirements to be an elder in the early church; it meant being a person with high integrity. Church leaders are supposed to be good examples to the flock they guide. Check out I Peter 5:2-3. Too often, we have seen public Christian leaders fall from grace, damaging the lives of all those involved in their scandals and damaging the Kingdom at the same time. Your leaders need your prayers. It can be a stressful and heavy load. Pray that they can walk close to God even when (especially when) things are tough.
Chapter 22 concludes the section that details the rules concerning priests. "Keep my commands and follow them...I am the Lord, who made you holy and brought you out of Egypt..." What was the priests' motivation to follow all these various rules that God instituted regarding the priesthood, including what they could eat, who they could marry, how they could behave when a loved one died, etc.? This was the God who led them out of slavery in Egypt! God was their deliverance and that motivated their faithful service. Of course, our motivation is different. We probably don't think much about the Israelites being delivered out of Egypt, but we do find motivation in the cross. We serve a God who voluntarily died for us so that we could be reconciled to a holy God. His amazing love is our motivation for Christian service.
Our last chapter of Leviticus for today details the appointed feasts that God instituted for his people. These were national celebrations, during which the people of God renewed their allegiance to God. For the most part, the religious feasts coincided with the agricultural seasons. I do hope you have read through the chapter and gotten a feel for the religious festivals. I would suggest you pick one or two and do some deeper research online. These are fascinating! God truly cared about his people, their well-being, and their dedication to him.
What's interesting to me is that the Sabbath is considered the primary, foundational religious festival. I guess I've never looked at Sabbath that way, but it was the most celebrated feast (once a week) and it was the basis of all the other feasts. It was so important that it was included as part of the ten commandments. The reason I picked this particular feast on which to focus is that we as a society truly struggle with it. How many of us take one day every single week and set it aside for rest and focusing on God? I'll be very honest-I am terrible at this! Since Sunday is a work day for me, I've always said that Friday or Saturday is my Sabbath. However, it's very tempting to simply work through these days too. It needs to be done, right? As I sit here and think about how Sabbath was the foundational religious feast, I'm really convicted. While I'm not legalistic and I do believe that things are different on this side of the cross, I still think that God designed us to take times for rest. When do you take your Sabbath day? Do you treat it as a feast or simply another day?
Okay, let’s spend some time in Hebrews 8. The old priesthood and sacrificial system was part of the Old Covenant, the covenant that God made with Moses and the people of Israel at Mt. Sinai. God promised to be their king, protect them, bless them, and make them his treasured possession. In return, the people of Israel were to follow God’s law. As we have learned from our reading, God’s law was pretty expansive. It consisted of 613 rules, including both blessings and curses. When the people were obedient, they were blessed. When they were disobedient, they were cursed. The intent of these laws was to change the hearts of people, to help them understand who God was, and what it means to be God’s people. This didn’t work too well. Hearts didn’t change and people were disobedient over and over again. The Old Covenant didn’t help people grow closer to God but rather the opposite happened. They pulled further away, they separated themselves from God, they bucked up against the rules that were supposed to protect and transform them.
Thus, a New Covenant was necessary, one that was written on the hearts and minds of people rather than on tablets and scrolls. The prophets spoke about this New Covenant. When Jesus showed up on the scene in the beginning of the New Testament, the people had been waiting for the fulfillment of the New Covenant for a very long time. All the signs pointed to the fact that Jesus was the one God promised, he was the fulfillment of the New Covenant. As our new high priest, he has a ministry that is far superior to the old priesthood. His sacrifice was for all time, totally perfect and complete. This New Covenant, which Jesus fulfilled, is based on better promises than the old one.
What are some of these promises?
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God’s forgiveness is eternal and complete. God remembers our sins no more (Heb 8:12, 10:17; Jer. 31:34). In terms of justification, it’s as if we never did them. We don’t have to live in shame or fear. No matter what we have done or will do, living under the New Covenant means we are forgiven. The slate is wiped clean. It’s done. The ultimate High Priest, Jesus Christ, took care of it once and for all.
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God qualifies us (Col 1:12). It’s no longer a case of what we do (under the old
covenant) or who we’re related to (under the Abrahamic covenant), but who we trust. We don’t have to worry about if we’ve done enough good things. If we believe in Jesus, then tha tis how we receive salvation. So, we can stop striving to be good enough and simply serve others as a response to what God has done for us.
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Jesus has made sure there are no more barriers between us and God (Hebrews 10:19-22). We are like VIPs, we get a free pass to go directly to God whenever we like. Under the Old Covenant, you had to go to the tabernacle. But now, the presence of God is free from the restraints of the tabernacle. God is present with us and available to us at anytime. We can walk hand in hand with God
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Jesus’ presence is with us (Heb. 13:5 and Matthew 28:20).
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God gives us the Holy Spirit to teach us and empower us (Acts 1:8) and remind us of our righteousness (Jn 16:10).Hebrews 10:22 says that not only are we saved, redeemed and restored through Jesus’ precious blood, but under the New Covenant, the Holy Spirit constantly speaks these things to us so that we will have confidence in our relationship with God.
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God makes us new people. We are new creations in him (2 Cor. 5:17). Under the Old Covenant , hearts were not changed. But with the Holy Spirit dwelling within us, God can begin to change us from the inside out.
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Under the New Covenant, God offers us eternal life (John 3:16 & I John 5:13-14).
We have so much to be thankful for. Let’s chat again tomorrow.
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
May 22, 2024
Day 4 of Week 8
Scripture: Leviticus 19-20; Hebrews 7
Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the daily devotional and podcast that complements New Hope Church’s daily Bible reading plan.
Let’s start with Leviticus, chapter 19. This includes a list of various laws that illustrate a lifestyle of holiness. These are laws that demonstrate that being holy isn't simply about how we interact with God but itis most seen in how we live our lives in community. Holiness indicates separation; the Israelites were to be separate and behave differently from the cultures around them. While holiness was often seen as religious piety, how they obeyed and worshiped God, it is clear from this chapter that God also saw holiness as being lived out in how people cared for one another. This valuing of human life separated the Israelites from the people around them.
As Christ-followers, we often think that holiness is something that was required of God's people long ago. But living a life characterized by holiness is still an important attribute of God's people. In Romans 12, the apostle Paul urges us to offer our whole selves as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God. In I Thessalonians 4, Paul tells the church in Thessalonica to live holy lives. I Peter 1 says to be holy is all we do.
What are we to make of this? How does this connect to the Old Testament passage we just read? As previously mentioned, God was forming a holy nation, a people that behaved and looked different from the pagan nations surrounding them. In the same way, God calls us to behave and look different from the people around us. If we are blending so well into the culture around us that people don't know we belong to Jesus, then we've got a huge problem! I want to be clear, as Jesus-followers, we aren't supposed to separate ourselves from the world. We need to be in the world to shine the light of Jesus, to be in the world but not of it. We are to seek a life that reflects the holiness of Jesus Christ; to live with integrity and Godly values, to demonstrate the fruit of the Spirit, to love and care about others. These things will naturally separate us from our surrounding culture and people will take notice.
Chapter 20 is filled with some very serious regulations. Most, but not all, are related to sexual relations. The penalty for sexually deviant behavior was usually death (although there isn't a lot of evidence that the death penalty was actually carried out as a result of these offenses). To our twenty-first century, post-resurrection sensibilities, this all seems very severe. But I have to keep returning to this point: God was forming a holy people, a nation that was so very different from the pagan cultures around them, a group of people who valued the God-given gift of creation. Anything that even slightly resembled the pagan people groups around them, things like child sacrifice, incest, or the occult, was absolutely detestable to God. His people were set apart. God still calls us to be set apart. While we have experienced the grace of Jesus Christ, we aren't supposed to abuse our freedom. There are still standards of behavior for God's people. It was never the plan for us to blend so nicely into our culture that no one would know who and whose we are. How are you set apart? What kind of changes may you need to make to live a life characterized by holiness? Spend some time in prayer today.
Let’s move on to Hebrews 7. In this chapter, we see that the ideal qualities of a high priest are found in Jesus and Jesus alone. What are the qualities? First, the ideal high priest exemplifies holiness. Jesus is totally holy and without sin. Second, he was set apart from sinners. He is blameless, innocent and free from any kind of moral contamination or weakness. He did not need to constantly make sacrifices on behalf of others. Rather, he was the perfect sacrifice, once and for all. Thus, God appointed him as the ultimate high priest forever and ever.
What does this mean for us? Jesus is the perfect one to represent us before the Father. As the final and perfect sacrifice, nothing else has to be done by us. We simply have to believe. God no longer sees our sins but rather Jesus’ atoning sacrifice. No human high priest could have achieved this. It is done. It is finished. We are accepted, loved, and there is no more separation between us and holy God.
Let’s talk again tomorrow.
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
May 21, 2024
Day 3 of Week 8
Scripture: Leviticus 15-17; Psalm 31; Hebrews 6
Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the daily devotional and podcast that complements New Hope Church’s daily Bible reading plan. I know that we are getting into some of the drier parts of Leviticus. Stay with me. God will honor your dedication.
With that, let’s get into our Leviticus passage for today. The first chapter we read deals with abnormal male discharges and normal and abnormal female discharges. What a fun chapter! According to the law, when a woman had her monthly period, she was unclean for seven days. Whatever and whoever she touched would also be considered unclean. At first, I had a tendency to be put off when I read this. What do you mean a woman is unclean because she's on her period? She has no choice in this matter! But after I thought about it a bit, I wonder if this wasn't a time of respite for women. In a world where they worked constantly caring for children, cooking, and cleaning, there was one week a month during which they removed themselves from the world and got a little break. Other women probably stepped up and cared for their families. Then, they would care for the children of these other women when it was their time of the month. What initially appears punitive may in fact be healing and restful.
Chapter 16 details what is called the Day of Atonement (the contemporary name for this Yom Yippur). This was the one day of the year in which the high priest would enter the most holy place, also called the holiest of holies, in which God's presence dwelt. He had to engage in some pretty elaborate purification rituals and sacrifice many animals in order to atone for the sins of the people. While we may see this task as an honor from our modern vantage point, the reality was that this was a pretty scary time for the high priest. He had to do everything just right. He was going to be in the presence of the Lord and if he didn't follow instructions properly, there was always the risk of being killed, which was what happened when something unholy came into contact with the holy. This was serious business.
I just can't read this chapter without thinking about Jesus. Why? Because when the high priest went into the holiest of holies, probably shaking in his boots, his rituals and sacrifices atoned for the sins of the people for one year. Then it had to be done again the next year and the next and the next. Besides that, there were sacrifices that had to be done on days in between to atone for other individual sins. Because humans are sinful and mess up a lot, these acts of atonement were a constant in the lives of the Israelite people. Jesus put an end to all of it. Jesus was the "once and for all" sacrifice that ensured all these other rituals and sacrifices could cease. The perfect sacrifice, the lamb of God, voluntarily sacrificed his life on a cross so that our sin could be atoned for forevermore! And now, we don't have to be scared to enter the presence of God. God welcomes us boldly to his throne of grace. We may still be a broken mess, but God doesn't see that. Rather, he sees the atoning work of Jesus. The blood of Jesus covers us and that makes all the difference.
Chapter 17 begins what scholars call the holiness codes for the Israelites. These are the everyday ways that they were to seek holiness, to be set apart from the surrounding cultures and nations. On the surface, it looks like this chapter is more instructions on where to do their sacrifices and what food to eat, but it is really about not sacrificing animals to demons (the goat idol), violating the first and second commandments.
Apparently, the sacrifices made in open fields rather than the tent of meeting tended to be for the purposes of idolatry. This was about worship of the one true God. It's easy for us to say that we don't sacrifice animals to a goat idol. I'm quite certain that isn't an issue among any of today's listeners. But that doesn't mean we can dismiss this passage. Idolatry is still a very real thing in 2024. I think it tends to be a bit more insidious and that makes it even more dangerous!
How might idolatry sneak into the lives of God's people today? What kinds of things do we put before God? What do we worship? Let's be real. Take a moment and spend some time with God right now. Ask God to reveal any ways that idolatry has snuck into your life.
Take time to read through Psalm 31, another psalm of David. It is beautiful. David chooses to trust in God, no matter the hardships he is facing. He commits himself totally and completely into God’s hands. Of course, the question we need to ask is do we do the same? Do you trust God to take care of you, even when things seem to be going poorly in your life? Are you willing to submit everything to him?
Our Hebrews reading today was chapter 6. The author of Hebrews continues the discussion about the importance of becoming mature believers and he uses some pretty strong language. He seems to be speaking to those among the church who have said yes to Jesus but now are returning to Judaism (possibly because the persecution was so severe). If they are turning away at this point, does this mean their original profession of faith was false? There is no way to tell but he contends that by turning away from the faith, they are nailing Jesus to the cross again. They are exposing Jesus (and the church for that matter) to public shame and humiliation.
We may be able to relate. Think about those people who profess faith in Jesus, go through the motions, say the right words, maybe even say the sinner’s prayer, but then turn away quickly when things get hard. Some claim that these verses indicate that people can “lose” their salvation. Others say that isn’t what the author intended at all, that they were never really believers in Jesus to begin with. Was what they experienced true belief in Jesus? If the Spirit of the Living God comes and makes a home within you, doesn’t that leave a mark, change you in some way? I think we simply have to say we don’t know. I encourage you to spend some time in prayer about what God wants you to take from these verses. These are challenging concepts but I think it’s important we wrestle with them. If nothing else, what we can glean from these verses is that we are called to live as true believers of Jesus, demonstrating our faith in real and tangible ways, not hiding it away. How’s that going for you?
Until tomorrow.
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
May 20, 2024
Day 2 of Week 8
Scripture: Leviticus 12-14; Psalm 111; Hebrews 5
Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the daily devotional and podcast that complements New Hope Church’s daily Bible reading plan.
Let’s get right into our Scripture for today, beginning with our reading in Leviticus. In chapter 11 (which we read yesterday), we began the discussion of clean vs. unclean. While chapter 11 dealt specifically with food, the next few chapters talk about uncleanliness surrounding bodily functions.
Chapter 12 details childbirth. It seems important to point out that because something is unclean, it doesn't make it morally sinful or wrong. Childbirth was seen as a joy; God commanded humanity to be fruitful and multiply. A woman who has just given birth is in no way sinful but is considered ritually unclean. Blood was associated with life and the loss of it meant things were not whole and clean. Loss of blood could lead to death. If you haven't been part of a birthing experience, just trust me that there is a great deal of blood (and other fluids) lost in the process. It's messy. Thus, there was a process then for bringing things back into a state of cleanness.
I can't help but think this time of seclusion after birth was a gift that God gave the mother. Before she had to move on to the normal activities of life, she was forced to rest, to be cared for, to have other women tend to her children and her physical needs. Life slowed down for a time so that she could heal. This was not a time of punishment but part of God's bigger plan of caring for new mothers.
Leviticus 13 details the various skin conditions and diseases that could make someone unclean. Anyone with these ailments had to live outside the camp by themselves, wear torn clothing, let their hair down, and yell, "Unclean!" if someone were to come near. Being outside the camp would have meant being separated not just from other people but also from God, since the presence of God dwelt in the camp itself. It was almost like the unclean person was in mourning, being isolated and alone, and the behaviors they had to engage in (torn clothing, unkempt hair, etc.) certainly would have been associated with the mourning process.
This is hard for me to read. I struggle with ostracizing anyone for being afflicted with something out of their control. At the same time, I understand that isolating the sick person minimized spread, which could have occurred at an alarmingly quick rate in the Israelite camp. Furthermore, at the time, there was a strong connection between wholeness and healthy things without blemish AND holiness. If a priest had a physical flaw or disability, he couldn't be a priest. If an animal had a defect, it could not be sacrificed in the tabernacle. Only that which was totally clean, healthy, and whole could risk being near the holiness of God's presence in the tabernacle.
This was an almost impossible standard to keep up. In fact, the people could not keep it up. One purpose of the law was to demonstrate that humanity could not measure up. They could not be whole enough, healthy enough, perfect enough, or pure enough. It just wasn't possible. Thus, a savior was needed. A mediator between God and the people was essential. Jesus Christ became that mediator, the final, perfect sacrifice to end all sacrifices. Jesus fulfilled the law. Everything about him was whole, healthy, pure, and holy. Of course, the irony here is that there was something about the holiness of Jesus that sinners, outcasts, and the sick flocked toward. And Jesus welcomed them with open arms. No more banning skin diseases to outside the camp, Jesus touched the ill. He demonstrated acceptance and love. He turned their mourning into dancing and joy.
Finally, chapter 14 details the cleansing rituals for skin conditions once an individual was well enough to be included back in the camp. The priest would examine the person and determine if they were truly healed and would then arrange for a ceremony to mark their reentrance into the covenant community. The interesting thing for me is that the priest had nothing to do with the healing, they were simply the examiner. If someone was to be healed, that was up to God.
This is in direct contrast with Jesus, our great high priest. He didn't just look to see if someone was sick, he actually healed them. Think of the New Testament miracle stories in which Jesus healed a leper and then instructed them to go to the temple to be examined by the priest. But while Jesus may have complied with the Jewish cleanliness laws before his crucifixion, after his death and resurrection, it was obvious that things had changed. There was no doubt. Jesus was God. The temple was no longer the dwelling place of God; rather, the presence of God was in the person of Jesus. The laws given to preserve the Israelite nation had served their purpose and a new thing was occurring. God's Kingdom had dawned and that changed everything! All were included in God's Kingdom-the sick, the infirm, and the outcast. Because of Jesus, no one is left outside the camp
Let’s jump to Hebrews 5. This chapter starts with a discussion about the role of high priest. This is the person who represents sinful human beings before God. He would not choose this position but rather God would call him, as God called and chose Aaron. The high priest is also someone who must have compassion, grace, and mercy toward those who are struggling. The author makes the point that Jesus had all these qualifications and more. He was called by God to be our high priest and he had incredible mercy and love toward sinful people. Jesus served as both our mediator before God and as the perfect sacrifice. Because of his ultimate sacrifice, we can be reconciled to holy God.
But as the chapter progresses, the topic moves toward spiritual maturity. Those who are not spiritually mature are not effective in serving Jesus and his Kingdom. The author states there is more to say about the role of the high priest but the audience is not capable of hearing or understanding. Even though they’ve been believers for a long time, they act like little babies in the faith. They aren’t able to eat solid food but still need milk; they need to be spoon fed. And this is their own fault! They have failed to go deep in their spiritual training and they have closed their minds to God’s message.
These are harsh but necessary words. It’s easy to simply attend church services, go to Sunday School classes or small groups, and live a “religious” life. In fact, we can participate in a lot of religious activity without ever growing in our walk with Jesus. No one wants to acknowledge this because the truth of it is so painful. We have thousands upon thousands of Americans who come to church but are spiritual babies. They can’t handle solid food. The scarier thing to me is that they don’t really want solid food. Milk is fine with them. Superficial belief is fine. Going deeper means sacrifice. Going deeper means doing hard things. Going deeper means confronting some of the darker parts of ourselves. We are no difference than the audience of Hebrews. Jesus, help us.
More tomorrow. Have a wonderful day.
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
May 19, 2024
Day 1 of Week 8
Scripture: Leviticus 8-11; Psalm 110; Hebrews 4
Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the daily devotional and podcast that complements New Hope Church’s daily Bible reading plan. Today is Pentecost Sunday. As Christians, Pentecost is the day we celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit in Acts 2. Pentecost was originally a Jewish harvest celebration, specifically to commemorate the beginning of the wheat harvest. It was called the Feast of Harvest or the Feast of Weeks. It was for that reason that so many people had gathered in Jerusalem in Acts 2, When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. I would encourage you to read through the rest of Acts 2 and see the miracles that occurred that day. As Christ-followers, we don’t celebrate Pentecost as a harvest day but as the day the Holy Spirit came and changed everything! From that point forward, the Spirit of the Living God would reside within believers. Think about it, the same power that raised Jesus lives in us. There is power in that!
Okay, let’s move on to our Scripture reading for today, beginning with Leviticus. We read about Aaron and his sons being ordained as priests and beginning their ministry. Their first act is to sacrifice a bull calf and a ram as a sin offering to the Lord. It is worth mentioning that the last time Aaron was the main character in the text, he allowed the people to make a golden bull calf to which they bowed down and worshiped. God could have taken his life then and there but instead we see God's great mercy. Rather than death for allowing idolatry, Aaron is now high priest. Aaron is now the representative for the people before God, responsible for the sacrifices that atone for the sins of the community and individuals-a hugely important task.
But then we move to chapter 10. It’s here we abruptly moved from joy to horror. Up until this point, everything has been done just as the Lord commanded. But here, we find two of Aaron's sons bring unauthorized fire before the Lord. What does this mean? Most likely, they brought fire from an unholy place outside the sanctuary and then presented it before the Lord. Maybe they had the attitude that fire is fire. Who cares? I think we should mention that their behavior wasn't simply a slip-up; this wasn't an accident but an intentional disregard for what God commanded. It demonstrated irreverence before a holy God, possibly like a Christian pastor adding some kind of cult ritual to a service of communion. As Christians, we like to worship God with gladness and joy; he is Abba Father, daddy, we are comfortable with him. All of this is wonderful. But we also have to remember that he is still holy God. He is powerful, he has all authority on heaven and earth, he is the God of all. Thanks to Jesus, we get to have a relationship with holy God. We get to walk hand in hand with him. At the same time, how important it is for us to remember that God's holiness is real. There always needs to be some level of reverence, deep respect for the God who was and is and is to come, the God who deserves our utmost worship, veneration, and awe.
Take time to read Psalm 110. We won’t be discussing it today except to say it was written by King David and it is considered messianic prophecy. As you read through it, can you find the verses that speak to the coming of Jesus Christ?
Hebrews chapter 4 begins with a discussion about entering God’s rest. Moses and Joshua tried to lead the Israelites into God’s rest but the people disobeyed and did not receive it. But Jesus is superior to both Moses and Joshua because he provides a better way to receive God’s rest. What is meant here by rest is the experience of salvation and dependence on God, rather than on one’s own works.
Christians are born again when they say yes to the free gift of grace. It’s not about anything we do but rather who we trust. Jesus has provided the way to receive this wonderful rest. As one matures in faith, rest might be thought of as unbroken fellowship with God. As I read this, I can’t help but be reminded of Jesus’ words in Matthew 11:28-30, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” I don’t know about you, but I can use this kind of rest!
I do want to take some time to point out verse 12, For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. This is a verse that’s familiar to many of us, but what does it have to do with rest?
Because God’s Word is alive and powerful, those who listen to it can receive God’s rest. The Word of God gives us everything we need to know about receiving salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. It provides all we need to know about being in fellowship with God. The Bible is a living book to those who believe in Jesus. It provides the means to learn about God but also the way to get to know God. We meet Jesus Christ on the pages of Scripture! Because the Word of God is active, alive, and powerful, it also has the ability to penetrate deep within our soul. It’s like a sharp scalpel, with the ability to cut out the cancerous parts of our lives so we can be healed and whole. As we read God’s Word, our own thoughts, desires, temptations, and sins, come to light. The Holy Spirit convicts us of them, and points us toward Jesus. How often have you been reading Scripture and you just knew that you needed to make some adjustments in your own heart and life?
Let’s chat again tomorrow.
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
May 16, 2024
Day 5 of Week 7
Scripture: Leviticus 4-6; Hebrews 3
Welcome to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional that complements New Hope Church’s Bible Reading Plan. I hope you’ve had a great week. Keep me posted on your big takeaways from the reading.
Let’s start by continuing with the book of Leviticus. First, we find God giving Moses instructions for the kinds of sacrifices needed for unintentional sins. The first section details what needs to be done if a priest unintentionally sins. This is particularly important because the priest is the representative of the people before God. If they sin, then the whole nation is guilty. Next, we read about how to atone for the unintentional sins of the community, the leaders, and the individuals.
After unintentional sin sacrifices, we read about sacrifices needed for inadvertent sins, such as accidentally touching a dead animal or a dead body.
The final kind of offering that we read about in Leviticus is the guilt offering. So, we have covered the sin offering, the burnt offering, the grain offering, and the fellowship offering. Confused yet? Each of these offerings was intended for a very specific purpose. What’s interesting is that the more I researched these offerings, the more I realized that even the best scholars aren’t clear on the distinctions of each one. Thus, we will certainly do our best to understand and pray God offers the clarity we need.
With that, let’s move on to Hebrews 3. Just as the Israelites were susceptible to falling away from God, the author of Hebrews makes the point that Christians are also vulnerable to sin and turning away from the living God. The audience of Hebrews was already drifting from the core of the faith; they were disconnected and a sense of apathy had set in.
What was life like for these early Christ-followers? Really, really hard. They were experiencing persecution from Jews and Gentiles alike. It was difficult to be a faithful Christ-follower in the first century. For that reason, the author stresses the importance of supporting one another, not allowing your fellow brother or sister in Christ to turn away from the faith, encouraging one another daily.
How often do we encourage one another daily? While we aren’t experiencing the same kind of persecution as our first-century brothers and sisters, our world isn’t an easy place to follow Christ. We are painfully distracted by so many outside voices, we are inundated with negativity and division, and we are part of a culture that is increasingly hostile to anything related to the church. Thus, we often settle for mediocre faith-oriented lives, religious activity rather than Spirit-filled, passionate lives solidly rooted in Jesus. Churches have become social clubs rather than springboards for mission and discipleship. And we accept this as if there is no other way. Friends, there is another way. What if we each made an intentional decision to live for Jesus, pay attention to the Spirit, and love others extravagantly? To do so, we would have to encourage one another daily (maybe even hourly). We need each other. We need the body of Christ. Life can be hard (think John 16:33) but Jesus is still on the throne and for that, we should constantly rejoice.
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
May 15, 2024
Day 4 of Week 7
Scripture: Leviticus 1-3; Psalm 27; Hebrews 2
Welcome to the Daily Dose of Hope, New Hope Church’s daily devotional that complements our 5 day a week Bible reading plan.
Today, we are starting the book of Leviticus. This means we are right in the middle of the Torah. Leviticus has a reputation for being both harsh and boring, but there is definite purpose in this book. In Genesis, we saw the origin story of both humanity and Israel. We see God revealing himself among a people. We meet Abraham and see how God covenants with him and promises that he will become a father of many nations.
Then, we read through Exodus. If you recall, the Hebrews had multiplied greatly in Egypt and this threatens the Egyptian authorities. Thus, they enslave and oppress the Hebrew people. God hears the cries of his people and frees them from bondage through a man named Moses. It’s also through Moses that God covenants with his people. He provides them the law and they agree to obey. In return, God will provide for and protect his treasured possession.
Despite its bad reputation, Leviticus is actually an important book. It’s in this book that we once again see God living among his people. We might say that the theme of the book is holiness, both God’s holiness and the holiness he expects of his people. They are a set apart people, and these laws that God provides are both for their protection and to ensure that they look very different from the cultures around them. God very specifically outlines what his expectations are for the priests and for his people.
In chapters 1-3 of Leviticus, we find God giving very specific and detailed guidelines for giving offerings. In chapter 1, God is giving Moses instructions on burnt offerings, specifically how to choose an animal out of one's herd or flock. The Israelites would have been familiar with burnt offerings, as the cultures around them used them, and we see burnt offerings in both Genesis and Exodus. While familiar, God's instructions were unique to their particular circumstance. In chapter 2, God offers them instructions for grain offerings and in chapter 3, we read the guidelines for fellowship offerings.
I think we typically see burnt offerings as something the people did because of their sin. And that certainly is true. But the fellowship offering, also called a peace offering, was offered because of a peace that God has brought into their life.
What peace has God brought into your life? Take a few moments and list some of the ways. It’s easy to get fixated on the problems, but where are you experiencing peace. Take a moment and give thanks. No burnt offerings needed, but do spend some time in prayer.
Let’s move on to our psalm for today. Psalm 27 is truly beautiful. Be sure to read through it. The psalmist, most likely King David, has this deep longing for God. At the same time, there is a trust in God’s power and provision. Picture yourself speaking these words to God. How do they sit with you? Do you believe them? Why or why not?
Let’s move on to Hebrews 2. This chapter focuses on why we should listen to Jesus. The author begins by speaking about how the consequences of NOT listening to Jesus are incredibly severe. It is only through Jesus that we can receive salvation. Salvation does not come through the law or any other means – only through faith in Jesus Christ. Second, Jesus is the central figure in God’s new plan, what we call the New Covenant. Jesus is the fulfillment of all the covenants and prophecies that came before. The author quotes Psalm 8:4-6, ...what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them? You have made them a little lower than the angels and crowned them with glory and honor. You made them rulers over the works of your hands; you put everything under their feet...” He is making a point about the insignificance of humans and the supremacy of Jesus. God puts all things below him.
The author also highlights the incarnation of Jesus Christ. Jesus did not become like the angels (as some at the time may have thought), but he became a human being. The God of the universe came to earth and became a human being to demonstrate the fullness of his love for us. As a perfect man, Jesus could be the perfect sacrifice for sin, providing atonement for all people for all time. He was the ultimate high priest, providing a way for to be reconciled to God. Also, because he became human, he understands our emotions and temptations. He isn’t a God who is far removed from us. He is present with us and he gets us. He gets you, every single part of you. Spend some time with Jesus right now, talking to him about those things with which you are struggling. Know that Jesus understands and wants to comfort you, guide you, and offer his wisdom. Share with Jesus and then listen. Remember, the God of the whole universe is wanting to spend time with you.
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
May 14, 2024, Day 3 of Week 7
Scripture: Exodus 38-40; Hebrews 1
Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, New Hope Church’s daily devotional that complements our Bible reading plan. I hope your week is going well. If you need prayer, don’t hesitate to reach out to me! Okay, let’s get right into our Scripture.
We are finishing the book of Exodus today. In chapter 38, they made the bronze basin and its bronze stand from the mirrors of the women who served at the entrance to the tent of meeting. This chapter continues the instructions for building various elements of the tabernacle–the altar for burnt offerings, the wash basin, and the courtyard. Again, there are many details included, down to the specific amount of gold, silver, and bronze, donated by the community.
There is one line in these instructions that I find really interesting, verse 8, which describes the making of the bronze wash basin. Ironically, it would be really easy to simply read it and not think too deeply about it, as it seems to get such a small mention among the more wordy descriptions of the burnt offering altar and the courtyard. The wash basin needed to be made from a finer quality bronze since it was in a prominent location. Where does one find fine quality, consistently even bronze in the middle of the desert? Apparently from the mirrors of the women. The mirrors would have required a higher quality bronze that was polished very well, in order to produce a reflection.
Then, there is a mention that the mirrors were given by those women who served at the entrance to the tent of meeting. Just this one little line but really important! There were ladies who served God by standing by the tent of meeting and taking care of the needs of the priests. They may have washed dishes and utensils, done laundry, or cleaned up the courtyard, but their quiet dedication and service was essential to the running of the tabernacle. They are mentioned once again in I Samuel 2:22 (in reference to the evil committed by Samuel’s sons). This immediately makes me think of the countless women who have quietly served in churches for centuries, doing the mundane but necessary tasks of cleaning, sewing, washing, and cooking. Like the women at the entrance to the tent of meeting, they go unnamed and probably many times unnoticed. Yet, their dedication to God and service to Jesus’ church is extraordinary. Today, I thank God for all my sisters who have gone before me, serving God humbly and quietly, by doing the important but unglamorous tasks that keep the church running.
In the final chapter of Exodus, we find Moses and the Israelites setting up the tabernacle. All they had constructed now needed to find its proper place. Once all was in place, the Scripture says that “the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.” The presence of the Lord was a cloud by day. At night, there was fire in the cloud so it could easily be seen. When the Israelites saw the cloud move, they knew it was time to pick up and move. When the cloud stayed in place, they knew to stay in place as well. The cloud was visible manifestation of an invisible God. In a hot, sunny, arid climate, God’s presence was a sign of both comforting shade and divine authority, right in their midst. How do we see the presence of God in our midst today? Think about the last week, how have you seen the living God at work in your daily experiences, in your interactions with others, in your prayer and study time, or in times of worship? While God may not show up as a visible cloud, God is here with us through the presence of the Holy Spirit. I would love to hear about how you have experienced God’s glory.
Our New Testament reading today comes from the book of Hebrews. The author of Hebrews is speaking to a group of Christians, probably Jews who had become Christians, and they need encouragement. They have grown tired, they are weary of the Christian life–they were dealing with significant challenges and hardships, facing external pressures & persecution. As we read, we’ll find that they have stopped meeting together, essentially they have stopped making attending worship services a priority. Sound familiar? Their faith was waning. The author of Hebrews is presenting them with this letter/sermon to reawaken their faith. He’s like, “Hey guys, this is worth it! Faith isn’t flimsy dreaming, there is substance and reality to it.” So he starts with a definition of faith and then brings to mind stories of real people that illustrate this kind of faith. He presents a Hall of Fame of faith and over the next two weeks, we will be talking about those people in the Hall of Fame, their specific stories, and what we can learn from them.
Hebrews chapter one focuses on how God communicates. He spoke through the prophets. Now, he speaks through the embodied Word, Jesus Christ; the one who was present at creation, who radiates God’s glory, who is an expression (an “imprint” in other translations) of God’s character, who is full of God’s power. The one who was born as a human being and came to cleanse us from our sins is also the one who sits at God’s right hand and is the name above all names. Emmanuel, God with us, is also King of Kings and Lord of Lords, Almighty One, Lord of All (Phil 2:9-11, Rev. 1:8, Rev. 17:14).
Many of you are probably familiar with Ricky Bobby’s prayer to “dear sweet babyJesus.”(Talledega Nights: The Legend of Ricky Bobby). Despite protests that Jesus isn’t a baby anymore, Ricky insists that he likes praying to “8 pound, 6 ounce, infant baby Jesus.” While this is a silly example, I don’t think it’s that unusual for people to prefer the unassuming, nonthreatening Jesus in a manger to the all-powerful, supreme King of Kings who is GOD himself. The reality is that the beauty and sweetness of Christmas baby Jesus can’t be separated from the one to whom every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that he is Lord (Phil. 2:9-11). He is the one who came to save us, to die for us, and who will ultimately judge us. He isn’t just a cute little baby but he is God himself who has chosen to dwell among his people. I find this awe-inspiring. The God who created all, the one who is above all things, the Redeemer, the Lord of All chose to be among his people and honestly, that has made all the difference. John 1:14 (The Message), “The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood. We saw the glory with our own eyes, the one-of-a-kind glory, like Father, like Son, generous inside and out, true from start to finish.”
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
May 13, 2024, Day 2 of Week 7
Scripture: Exodus 35-37; Psalm 26; Philippians 4
Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, New Hope Church’s daily devotional that complements our Bible reading plan. I thought we would switch things up a bit today and start with our New Testament passage.
It doesn’t hurt that Philippians 4 is one of my all-time favorite chapters in the Bible! Why? Because in the midst of living in a society that strives to be happy and fails, Paul shares with us the keys to true joy. We are going to just focus on v. 4-8 today but be sure to read through the whole chapter. It’s truly a beautiful end to his letter to the Philippians.
Philippians 4:4 is a great verse to memorize. Paul writes, Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Have joy in God. Be joyful in the Lord always. What’s interesting to me about this letter that Paul uses some form of the word joy fourteen times in these four short chapters. He is serious about joy. And he isn’t at some resort somewhere drinking good wine and eating steak. Not at all, he is in a Roman prison cell. Paul is in a dank, dark, poorly ventilated Roman prison cell. Keep in mind, Roman prison cells were designed to strip a prisoner of dignity. They were filthy, often crowded. Unlike today, there was no such thing as being condemned to serve a sentence in prison. Although people could spend a lot of time in prison, it was time in which they were awaiting trial to then be given their real punishment, which could very well be death.
Paul, at the time he wrote this letter, has probably been in prison for about four years. He had no idea what was going to happen to him. He had been charged with inciting riots among the Jewish communities in different cities and he was simply waiting to hear whether or not he would be put to death.
And yet, Paul writes to rejoice in the Lord always. To the world, this wouldn’t make any sense. What makes sense to the world? Well, seeking happiness. Happiness is based on your happenings. When your happenings, your circumstances, are going really well, when you feel really good, when things are going your way, then you are happy. But joy is something else entirely. Our world doesn’t really understand joy. Joy is not a feeling or an emotion. Joy is not dependent on circumstances or whether things are going our way. No, joy is a fruit of the Spirit, it’s the manifestation of God in the midst of ALL circumstances. It’s an orientation that declares every day is a gift from God.
But Paul goes on in verses 5-7, Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
When tragedy hits, when we are in the midst of despair but when we know that God is near, then it creates space for a different response than anxiety. Rather than constant worry and anxiety, we can move to prayer and petition. So now this is beginning to make a little more sense. When we are gentle and know the Lord is near, we seek God in prayer. This isn’t a formula by any means but Paul is saying that one generally follows the other…
Choose to REJOICE --- Be gentle/be like Jesus --- Know God is near ---- Seek God in prayer.
This in turn, will lead to less anxiety and more thanksgiving. Why? Because gratitude does something to our heart. When we are thankful, we are reminded of God’s faithfulness. We are reminded of all the times God has shown up and taken care of us.
I recently read that there are two kinds of people: Those who are currently facing hard circumstances and those who will soon be facing hard circumstances. Think of what Jesus said in John 16:33, In this world you will have trouble, but take heart because I have overcome the world. This is the reality. When, not if, we face trouble, we have 2 choices: anxiety or rejoicing.
Anxiety is generally how the world responses. Sometimes, it’s how we respond to. But it is the world’s go-to response. It leads to more distress, more seeking escape in things like food, alcohol, drugs, sex, shopping, anything that will bring pleasure, no matter how short-lived.
God is calling us to respond differently: by rejoicing. Rejoicing reminds us who God is, who we are, and that we are not alone. REJOICING leads to peace. Anxiety leads to inner conflict and misery.
Let’s end this part of our discussion with verse 8, Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. I would encourage you to memorize this verse. This is about changing our thought life. It’s a method/strategy for dealing with worry and anxiety. So often, we get in a loop. We play the tape over and over again in our head. What if this happens? Why did that happen? What will I do if this occurs?
I’m wondering if Paul, in his Roman prison cell, sometimes fell prey to this kind of thinking. It’s like he is telling us, “look, you think you can’t rejoice but you can. Stop thinking about the bad stuff and start thinking about that which is true, that which is noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, or worthy of praise.”
This means turning off the news. It means turning off Facebook. It means removing the external sources of negativity from your life as much as possible. Focus on what is worthy of praise. What things in your life are worthy of praise?
I know we haven’t been spending a lot of time on the psalms but do make sure you read through Psalm 26 today. It’s another psalm of David. He is asking God to test his heart. He is seeking to lead a blameless life and he wants God to search his heart and soul. How do you feel about God searching your heart and soul? The reality is, whether we like it or not, God knows our every thought and feeling. He is searching our soul! Take some time and let that sink in a bit.
Okay, let’s just briefly talk about Exodus today. Moses is passing down the detailed instructions for the tabernacle to the people and they get to work. From their own belongings, they voluntarily give the needed materials to begin the process. What I love here in the Scripture is how we can see all the people, men and women, use their resources and their giftedness to do the work of God. Haven't we seen this through the ages? Everyone can contribute to the work of God in some way. It could be through providing resources or talents, but every single one of us has something important to offer. Furthermore, we don't offer our leftovers but rather, we give our best. We give and serve with excellence, not for human praise or accolades, but rather for the audience of one.
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
May 12, 2024, Day 1 of Week 7
Scripture: Exodus 32-34; Philippians 3
Welcome back, friends! It’s time to begin week 7 of our reading. By the way, this is the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional that complements the New Hope Church Bible reading plan. We have a lot to cover today so let’s get started!
We are in the final quarter of the book of Exodus and we have made it to the famous "golden calf" passage. Moses has spent awhile on the mountain with God getting holy instructions for living and the people have grown restless. They complain to Aaron, Moses' brother (the one who will soon lead the family of priests!) and he melts all their gold to make a golden calf for them to worship.
I know what you are thinking, this is totally crazy! What in the world are these people doing??? It helps to understand (but not excuse) their behavior if we remind ourselves that the Israelites had been living in Egypt, with its many gods and idols, just a few months prior. Now Moses has been detained for an important purpose but he isn't there to babysit them. They fail the maturity test. It also demonstrates how quickly people will drift from God. Without intentional connection (Moses provided this for the people), we are a fickle and distracted bunch.
For us as Christ-followers, we also have to be very intentional about walking with God: daily prayer, communing with God through the Scripture, staying in connection with other believers, and being part of a worshiping community. If we don't do these things, it becomes easy to simply...drift. Maybe we don't start worshiping a golden calf, but we certainly place other things, activities, and people before God. I hesitate to say this but I'm going to risk it and say it anyway. Because of COVID, many people were forced to pull away from their family of faith for quite some time. At first, maybe they stayed connected and worshiped every week online very diligently. As time went on, though, it was easy to let things slide. How many people do you know who just never really returned to church and Christian community? They decided other things were more important. It's not a golden calf but could it be worse?
In chapter 33, we find God wants the Israelites to leave the place they have been and move on. They are not intended to be in the Sinai Peninsula forever. God has better things for them. But at the same time, God is clearly telling them that because they are a disobedient, stiff-necked people, God will no longer be present with them in the way he has been up until this point. The people are distressed and mourn at this news. They have been craving a divine presence (hence the golden calf debacle) and now God won't be with them as they desire because of their tremendous disobedience.
The most interesting part of this passage to me is Moses' response. He expresses what I would consider burn-out and frustration. He says to God in verses 12-13,“You have been telling me, ‘Lead these people,’ but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. You have said, ‘I know you by name and you have found favor with me.’ If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you. Remember that this nation is your people.” Moses is advocating on behalf of these people. He is tired and probably really mad at them for their behavior but he also loves them. In response, God consents that he will not remove his presence from the people. Furthermore, he will provide rest for Moses.
I'm not sure I'm supposed to do this but I can't help extrapolating a bit here-could this passage be expanded to speak to those of us, volunteers and paid, who work in ministry? How often in ministry work have we felt frustrated and burned-out, in need of great rest? Maybe our people haven't just gotten in major trouble for worshiping a golden calf but there is other stuff going on in our church or organization. Or, maybe we don't sense the presence of God like in the past. I'm wondering if we need to try a prayer similar to Moses, "You have been telling me to lead these people..."
I don’t want to move on until we discuss chapter 34 as well. After Moses returned to Mt. Sinai to get a new and improved copy of the Ten Commandments on stone tablets, it is obvious he has been with God. Scripture says that his face was radiant. Inf act, it says that whenever Moses went to speak with God, his face always appeared radiant and he would actually put a veil over his face. I t must have been quite bright!
Why was this a big deal? What was the significance of sharing about the radiance of Moses' face? Pointing out the change in Moses' face showed that he truly had been with God. He was God's representative to the people and there was no way they could deny that. It also confirmed that God's presence was still with them. God's presence made a lasting effect on Moses' face that the people would constantly be reminded of. Finally, it was a visible demonstration of God's power. Moses didn't even look directly at God but yet his face was powerfully changed. If simply being in a somewhat near proximity to God made such an impression, then obviously God was capable of much, much more.
When I read this chapter, I couldn't help hear the words of the praise song, Holy Ground, by Passion. It goes something like this, "Here as we wait, Seek your face, Come and make your throne upon our praise. Here in this place, Have your way, the moment that we see you, we are changed. Show us your glory, Show us your glory, In wonder and surrender we fall down..." We may not see the presence of God in the same way that Moses did, but God still can demonstrate and show us his glory. When he does, we are changed. We might not radiate it on our faces but our hearts and lives are transformed. God's glory is still powerful and leaving undeniable marks in our lives.
How have you experienced God's glory? How do you want to experience his glory in your life right now?
Alright, let’s move on to Philippians 3. In this chapter, we find that Paul considers himself living in a state of in-between-ness. He is in the middle of a journey. The longing for arrival is strong, but what he has in front of him is the journey. He can only press on, stay the course, be thankful for what God has put in front of him.
Up until this point, Paul has had a pretty interesting journey. Remember, he started out as a zealous Jew. He talks about this early in the Scripture passage. He says that at the beginning of his journey, he thought of himself as righteous, as deserving, as better and more religious than others because of his background. Paul writes this in verse 4-6…If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for righteousness based on the law, faultless. Paul is almost challenging the others --- look, if this journey is all about accumulating religious merit badges, I win hands down. I was circumcised on the eighth day, I was part of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew if there ever was one. Remember, he was a Pharisee, which was one of the strictest sects of Judaism. He persecuted Christians, who he felt were breaking God’s law. He held people’s coats as they stoned Stephan. And at that time, he felt that these things proved his spiritual worth to God and to others.
I wonder how many of us look at our Christian journey in a similar way? I wish I could say that I only really tried to rack up spiritual kudos and merit badges before I knew Jesus well. Even after we say yes to Jesus, even after we get involved in church and small groups and we are trying to walk with God, we have the same tendency as the apostle Paul. We try to prove our spiritual worth to others and to God. Of course, we are influenced by all the normal sources of pride that the world tells us are important, right? Money, stuff, accomplishments. I hope those things have less a hold on us but if we are real, we know this kind of stuff still seeps into our lives.
But then, there is also a need to demonstrate what good Christians we are, our spiritual merit badges. I’m in three Bible studies. I took this training and then I led it. I’ve been on this committee four times. I’ve been a member of the church since I was in the womb. Pastors do this too. You know one of the very first questions that another pastor will ask you when you first meet them at some luncheon or event? So, how many people are in your congregation? As if that somehow is what defines your value. But the good news is, there is more to the story. Paul tells us that the journey is far from over.
In fact, Paul has some pretty strong words about accumulating these spiritual merit badges, taking pride in how “spiritual” we are. He says, v. 7-9, But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. So he is saying, now that I know Jesus, I understand that all those things pale in comparison with knowing Jesus. They aren’t gains, they actually are now losses.
Those things I thought were so important, those things that I thought demonstrated my value, those things that I thought earned me some gold stars with God – they are nothing. Jesus is everything. But then Paul goes one step further. These spiritual merit badges are not simply counted as losses now that I know Jesus, NOW “I consider them to be garbage.” His whole life, these were things that he took huge pride in, they were what made him admired in his community. Now, he is saying – now that I know Jesus, these things are like rubbish in comparison. He is telling the Philippians, God has brought me to a new place in my spiritual journey, one in which I realize that I’m nothing without Jesus Christ and that nothing else besides Jesus matters.
Compared to Jesus, friends, all these things that we think are so important, they pale in comparison. Our spiritual merit badges truly have no value in comparison to the grace we have through Jesus. Now, this doesn’t mean that these things are worthless, but we have to know their place. (If you led a Bible study and people grew in their walk with Jesus and lives were changed, then that is amazing. It made a huge difference for God's Kingdom...but it didn't make put you in a better place before God. Jesus already did that for you!) These things don’t make us better than others, they don’t increase our value before God, and they don’t make us better Christians.
And Paul has more to say. In v. 10, Paul states that because he now knows Christ, he seeks to be like him. But he has not arrived. He has not made it. This journey we are on is just that, a journey. We don’t arrive at the destination and say, “Yea, I’ve made it. I can now stop striving to be like Jesus.” No, faith is a lifelong journey. In v. 13, Paul says we can’t look backwards, we must “forget what is behind and strain toward what is ahead.” There is more ahead. At the moment, we are all in a state of in-between-ness. We haven’t made it. We haven’t arrived. Rather, we must press on toward the goal which God has for us in Christ Jesus. What is the goal? To seek his glory, to be part of his Kingdom, to be with Jesus eternally. All of the above.
Until then, we pay attention to the journey. Paul is saying, how you do life as a follower of Jesus matters. It is not all about the destination, it is about the journey, the day to day struggle and gratitude and joy of following Jesus Christ.
Think about your own life…think about your spiritual journey.
PAST: Where have you come from? Where has God brought you? What have you learned in this in between time? My guess is there are things you regret. My guess is there are things you wish you had done differently. While we don’t want to forget the past, because of Jesus, we know that we are not defined by it either.
PRESENT: Where are you now in your spiritual journey? What are you grateful for? Who are you grateful for? Have you thrown away your spiritual merit badges in favor of Jesus alone? What is Jesus teaching you now about thanksgiving, about dealing with adversity, about walking closely with the Lord?
FUTURE: Where might God be bringing you next? What is that next NEW thing that God wants to do in you? What is God calling you to do in the church or in this community for his Kingdom? None of us have arrived in our faith journey. We are all still striving to be more and more like Jesus, to do his will, to expand his Kingdom. You don’t retire from your faith.
I’ve been reflecting on this a lot lately. I have personally gotten to this place where I know that following Jesus is really all that matters. I am not defined by what happens here on earth. I am only defined by who I am in Jesus. And yet, Jesus continues to call me to his work, he calls me to his next new thing. He is also calling you.
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
May 9, 2024
Day 5 of Week 6
Scripture – Exodus 28-30; Philippians 2
Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope. Can you believe we have already made it to the end of the sixth week of our reading plan? I do hope this has been as much as a learning experience for you as it has been for me! Keep me posted on your big takeaways.
Let’s dig in to our Exodus passage for today. Chapter 28 details the garments for the priests. A quick word on the priesthood: it was an inherited trade, passed down from generation to generation, in one particular tribe of Israel. The idea was that the priesthood could not be bought, earned, or won in an election. Those who became priests were priests because God made them so. The garments or vestments worn by these men would have made them easily identifiable. In the nation of Israel (at this point), there were no kings so the beautiful attire worn by kings in other cultures were worn by priests in this one. This identified them as representatives of the one true God, Yahweh.
While chapter 28 details the clothing of the priests, chapter 29 then discusses their ordination ceremony. The priests at the time were Aaron (Moses' brother) and his sons, but would eventually include their sons and their sons and their sons. You get the idea. The ceremony is very specific and detailed. There were essentially six steps in the ceremony: washing, clothing, and anointing the priests and then preparing and carrying out the sacrifices. There is order and precision in every single step in the process. Nothing is taken lightly and every element of the ceremony has meaning and significance. The whole process took a week.
As I read this, I can't help thinking about how we serve a God of order. Just as the building of the tabernacle was highly ordered, so are the priestly garments and the process for ordination. There is nothing left for happenstance; everything has a place and a purpose. While things in this world may sometimes seem random and chaotic, the reality is that most of our world is highly ordered. God created it that way. Furthermore, our lives are not random exercises in confusion and haphazardness. God knew us before we were born; God knew us as we were being knitted together in our mother's womb. The human body is precise and complicated, designed to work in very specific, very ordered ways. From the earth's tides to the systems of the human body to the specific guidelines for how the Israelites were to ordain their priests, our God is a God of order.
There is so much substance in Philippians 2. We could spend a week on this one chapter alone. If you didn't get the opportunity to read through the whole text, please do so! Paul begins the chapter with this amazing narrative about the attitudes that should characterize Christians. To whom should we compare ourselves? To Jesus Christ, who is the ultimate example of humility, sacrifice, and love. This is some of my favorite Scripture and I can read it over and over again. If you get a chance today, simply take some time to meditate on verses 1-11.
The rest of the chapter is really interesting though. Paul is speaking to the Philippians about working out their salvation with fear and trembling. First, obedience to God was a central concept for Paul. Whether he was present with them or not, the expectation is that they should stay obedient to the faith. With salvation comes an expectation of obedience. What does that mean?
We know, and Paul has certainly established this in other writings, that salvation is a free gift. We are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ alone. If we have said yes to Jesus, then we receive salvation. However, once saved, we don't simply go on living exactly the same way (if we do, then maybe there was no real heart change to begin with). Thus, our attitudes, behavior, and speech should demonstrate our new life in Jesus in some way. When Paul says we work out our salvation through fear and trembling, he is getting at this point. Yes, salvation is a free gift but then we begin to figure out how to live as saved people. We grow in obedience to Jesus, we live out those attitudes that Paul speaks of earlier in the chapter (humility, love, sacrifice), and we begin the process of becoming more like Jesus. What has your sanctification process been like? How are you working out your salvation with fear and trembling?
Remember, you have Friday and Saturday as rest or catch-up days.
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
May 8, 2024
Day 4 of Week 6
Scripture – Exodus 25-27; Psalm 90; Philippians 1
Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional that complements New Hope Church’s five day a week Bible reading plan. We have a lot to cover today so let’s get right to it.
In Exodus 25, we find God giving instructions for how to build a place of worship. The instructions are very specific and they require sacrificial offerings on the part of the people. God is God. He could have easily provided all the different kinds of woods, stones, oils, leather, and other things required, but instead he asks the people to provide these various elements for worship themselves. This required sacrifice and hard work.
Even today, there is something deeply meaningful when people give sacrificially to provide for the worship of God. When we were in Cuba several years ago, our team brought a large amount of satin fabric with us. It was for the church to use as they saw fit. In less than twenty-four hours, some of the ladies in the church had created beautiful and elaborate vestments to cover the communion table and other gorgeous curtains to hang around the outdoor worship area. They must have stayed up all night to create these items in such a short time. It was their sacrifice for the worship of God. What sacrifice do you bring to the worship of God in our setting?
I’d really like to take some take and talk a bit about chapter 26. I'm not a detail-oriented person so the details in this chapter make my head spin a bit. There were layers upon layers of curtains, inner curtains and outer curtains, and covering layers. The purpose of these curtains and covering layers were mainly functional but their beauty, exquisiteness, and the precision with which Scripture details them certainly underscores the importance of this place. This was where the holy, loving, and protective presence of God was "housed." While God's presence was invisible, the extraordinary symbols in this place were a reminder to the people that God was there.
Towards the end of the chapter, there are details about the curtain that would separate the holy place from the most holy place, some translations say "holiest of holies." In this place, the ark of the covenant would be positioned, representing the presence of God himself. The ark was definitely a beautiful object, with much silver and gold. The interesting thing to me is that this was an object that the Israelites, even the Levites, never laid eyes on. God put all kinds of protective elements in place (i.e. the curtains in today's Scripture and layers upon layers of protective fabric) to ensure that no one saw the ark. Why was this? It's possible that the ark, in its beauty, and the objects within it, could have become an idol to the people. Just as we are, they were prone to making idols of things. It could also be that God wanted people to believe in him because of faith and not some extravagant object.
This got me thinking. Are there certain elements in our worship that remind us of God's presence? As products of the New Covenant, we recognize that God's presence is always with us. We don't have to be in a church sanctuary or a special holy place to experience God. On the other hand, there are certain places in our lives that seem to allow us to experience God in more powerful ways than others. I've had many people mention to me that when they arrived in the New Hope sanctuary after worshiping online only (after COVID), they felt the presence of the Holy Spirit in a really strong way. Some were moved to weeping. What about you? Are there places that help you experience the presence of God in life-changing ways? I would love to hear about them. God is so good, to meet us in all kinds of different places and circumstances, to hear our cries, and to simply be present with us.
Today, we are starting Paul’s letter to the Philippians. Philippi was a Roman colony and all of its people were Roman citizens. There was a spirit of Roman pride there; it was different from some of the areas in which the citizens felt like were under Roman occupation. The Philippians saw themselves as Roman and were proud to live under Caesar. It was also the first European city in which Paul planted a church. You may recall in the book of Acts, Paul meets a woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth, and she becomes the first Christian convert in the area. Lydia extended the invitation to Paul and Silas and other coworkers to come and stay at her home. Her whole household accepts Christ and is baptized. It’s in Lydia’s home that the Philippian church begins.
But it’s also in Philippi where Paul and Silas are beaten and thrown in prison, something that was probably excruciating for the new little church. Acts 16 --- they sing hymns all night and God does a miracle – the doors of the prison are opened. When the jailer realizes this, he is ready to kill himself but Paul stops him and says, “We are all here.” This opens the door for Paul to share the Gospel message with the jailer and he believes, as does his family, and they are all baptized.
That powerful experience truly bonds Paul to the little congregation at Philippi. There is something about going through something very difficult or very powerful with people that bond you in a way that is hard to describe. Thus, Paul is forever bonded to this group of people. And they remain in touch. He visits them multiple times and he writes them letters. The letter we have that Paul writes to his dear brothers and sisters in Philippi is probably one of Paul’s last letters. It is written from prison, possibly in Rome.
After reading chapter one, it’s obvious that Paul has a deep love and affection for these people. He is grateful for them. While in prison, the Philippians have sent him money and supplies (they were the only one of Paul’s churches to do so), most likely at great sacrifice to themselves. They send these gifts through a man named Epaphroditus and he is the one who returns with this letter. If you think about Paul’s letters in the New Testament, usually he is upset with the church for something or he is giving them warnings. But the tone of this letter is totally different. Paul is longing for the Philippians, he has deep affection for them. They are partners in the Gospel and he is so very thankful for that.
This is some of my favorite Scripture, so humor me a bit as I read through some of the passage. These are verses 9-14, And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God. Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel. As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. And because of my chains, most of the brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord and dare all the more to proclaim the gospel without fear.
Just in case you have forgotten, Paul is writing this letter about being thankful and grateful while sitting in a dank, Roman prison cell. He is voicing this gratitude from prison. How many people can be truly grateful in such circumstances? I think it’s important to point out that this is the power of the Gospel. In the midst of extreme hardship, Paul finds a way to be grateful. He is witnessing to the prison guards and they are coming to know Jesus. He knows that his situation has inspired the rest of the Philippian church to not be fearful about preaching Jesus. There are all these forces at work that would normally rob him of any sense of well-being, and yet this sense of gratitude just wells up within him. What the enemy meant for evil, God used for his good and Paul can see that, trust that, believe that, know that from the center of his very being.
How convicting! I get one person complaining or saying something hurtful and I’m complaining and even wallowing. But Paul didn’t do that. He was grateful for each circumstance, knowing that God could and would use that to advance the Gospel. Has there been someone in your life who is seemingly surrounded by horrible circumstances, maybe they are dealing with the evils of aggressive cancer or chronic pain? Maybe they are healing from intense grief or some other hardship? And yet, they are grateful in the midst of it. It doesn’t mean they are free from pain and they don’t cry (normal human things) but they truly see each new day as a gift. I’ve known a few of those people like that but not a lot. And their lives are a witness to the those around them of the power of the Gospel. It is totally a counterintuitive thing --- I’m dying of cancer, I’m in pain, and yet I’m grateful for this new day. That is the power of Jesus Christ working in us. Trusting that God is in control and we are not.
There is so much more in this chapter but I’m going to stop here. I think we need to just kind of meditate on this.
Thankfulness is not a feeling. I think we can see that from today’s Scripture. Paul probably had all kinds of human feelings – hunger, pain, fatigue. But he made a decision to be grateful. He made a decision to demonstrate thanksgiving. Let’s be clear, it was only because of the Gospel --- the power of Jesus in him --- he could be truly grateful. Friends, we have a choice on how we do life. One way honors God. One way witnesses to the power of the Gospel of Jesus. We have a choice.
Friends, John writes that the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. Can you claim that? He that is in YOU is greater than he that is in the world! Not in your own power, but through the power of Jesus within us, we can live grateful lives. Not lives in which we are complaining all the time, not lives in which the world looks at us and says what a miserable person, not lives in which we are cynical and angry and bitter. But lives in which, in the midst of hardship, gratitude wells up within us.
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
May 7, 2024
Day 3 of Week 6
Scripture – Exodus 22-24; Psalm 109; Ephesians 6
Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional that complements New Hope Church’s Bible Reading Plan. This is just a reminder. If you have any particular prayer concerns or the need for pastoral care, please reach out to me! With that, let’s get into today’s Scripture.
We have started working our way through the specifics of the law. Today’s Scripture passages detail laws that pertain to personal property, justice and mercy, the Sabbath, and the annual festivals.
What I want to focus on more today is chapter 24, when Moses accepts the Lord's invitation to ratify the covenant with him. Only a certain number of Israelites were asked to ascend the mountain and Moses was the only one allowed to have any near proximity to God. The people have agreed to live up to the covenant code with God and this ceremony essentially marks that agreement.
At the end of the chapter, the Scripture speaks of the cloud covering the mountain. If you recall, the cloud symbolizes God's presence and glory, both protective but also mysterious. To those at the foot of the mountain, God's presence looked like fire. The fire certainly would signify God's guidance but also his holiness and power.
We probably don't speak enough about the holiness of God. God's holiness is one of his defining characteristics. In Hebrew, holiness refers to being separate and set apart. It refers to his power, his goodness, his purity, and how God is totally without sin. His holiness clearly set God apart from the other pagan gods that were worshiped at the time.
But God's holiness can be totally overwhelming for humans, as we can see in today's passage. We know that Jesus Christ, God incarnate, was also holy and called us to be holy as well. What does this mean for us as humans to be holy? Is it even possible? Well, we aren't going to be holy in exactly the same way God is holy, but we can have lives characterized by holiness. This means we live "set apart" lives. As believers, we should behave differently from those who don't know Jesus. This has nothing to do with what we wear or how we look on the outside (believers over the centuries have gotten this a bit wrong), it's all about what's going on in our hearts. If we blend so well into our culture that our friends and neighbors don't know we profess faith in Jesus, then there's a problem.
Okay, this is our last day in the book of Ephesians. Let’s provide a little context here. When we take a look at the first-century church, we see the Holy Spirit at work in amazing ways. But we also see opposition. As we've mentioned over the past few days, Ephesus was a very pagan city. One of the largest and most famous temples, the Temple of Artemis, was in Ephesus. Worship of other gods was everywhere. Forces working against God were everywhere. While the church was growing and experiencing signs and wonders, it was also experiencing resistance and opposition. Evil was present and real.
Evil is still present and real. True, it is no match for the Holy Spirit but for us mere humans, we need to be sure to stay strong in the Lord and his mighty power. If we don't, we can easily and without our knowledge, be used by the evil forces of this world. I often say that most of the time, we don't make the devil work that hard because we do such a good job making bad choices. But we must be aware that evil is out there, tempting us, and looking for our weak spots. The enemy wants us to experience defeat and discouragement, rather than the freedom and victory we can experience in Jesus.
So what's the answer? Paul tells us to put on the whole armor of God. How might we do this in practical ways? Off the top of my head, I immediately think of frequent prayer and dwelling in God's Word. By making these two things a priority in your life, you will know God better, stay connected to the Spirit that dwells within you, and you will have a growing awareness and knowledge of God's truth, wisdom, and love. But what else does Paul say in chapter 6?
·Verse 14-Put on the belt of truth. Our belt is what holds our clothes on the body. Our integrity holds our lives together. Are you a person of integrity?
·Verse 14-Put on the breast plate of righteousness. The breastplate would have protected vital organs on a soldier. Any crack in the breastplate would have been dangerous. Any crack in our righteousness is dangerous, as it allows impurity and evil to creep in.
·Verse 15-Put the gospel of peace on your feet. Our foundation needs to be the peace of Jesus Christ. The enemy will try to steal our peace and if that happens, we stumble. How's your foundation holding up lately?·Verse 16-Hold up the shield of faith. Paul says that the shield protects us from Satan's arrows. Prayer and Scripture are two ways to stand firm in faith and protect ourselves from those fiery arrows.
·Verse 17-Put on the helmet of salvation. A helmet protects our brain; damage to the head has horrible consequences. Because of our salvation by grace through faith in Jesus, we are new people, called to have the mind of Jesus. When we seek to have the mind of Christ, evil has a much harder time creeping into our thoughts.
·Verse 17-Hold up the sword of the Spirit, which is God's Word. God's Word is the most powerful weapon against the evil one. Think of Jesus being tempted by the devil in the wilderness-he used Scripture to fight back. Knowing and dwelling in God's Word is critical if we are to push back anything the enemy throws at us.
I’m not going to discuss the psalm today but please be sure to read it. It’s another one of David’s psalms, written during a dark and difficult time in his life.
More tomorrow. Have a blessed day.
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
May 6, 2024
Day 2 of Week 6
Scripture – Exodus 19-21; Psalm 33; Ephesians 5
Welcome back! This is the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional that complements New Hope Church’s Bible Reading Plan. Let’s get right into our Scripture for today.
We have come to the passage in which God covenants with his people. Moses has led the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt, through the Red Sea, and into the desert. They have finally made their way to Mt. Sinai, located on the Sinai Peninsula in northeastern Egypt, very close to Israel. It's here that God's covenant is offered to his people through Moses.
What is a covenant? God makes binding agreements with people, promising to do certain things and asking his people to do the same. Covenant agreements were quite common in the ancient near east so basically God uses a concept that was already meaningful to the people. He uses what already makes sense to them.
God made a covenant with Abraham and with Noah. Now, he is making one with Moses, on behalf of the Hebrew people. God uses covenants to begin to reconcile human beings to himself, to begin to fix what went wrong in the Garden of Eden. Through each covenant that God makes, we see how God attempts to be in relationship with stubborn human beings, demonstrating his deep love for creation, and wanting them to understand that, and so badly wanting them to reciprocate. Through these covenants, God is beginning to reveal his plan of salvation.
Today’s covenant with Moses and the Israelite people is what’s known as the Old Covenant. We read in Exodus 19 how God calls these people to be a holy nation and a kingdom of priests. If they keep up their end of the agreement, the covenant, then they will be God's treasured possession. They agree to do so. Today’s reading is only the beginning of the Scripture describing the Old Covenant. It starts in Exodus 19 and basically runs through the remainder of the book of Exodus.
What does life under God's Old Covenant look like? Well, there are some very specific boundaries and guidelines which God provides his people and it's what we call the law. This includes the Ten Commandments, which we read about in Exodus 20, but also so much more. God's law in total contained 613 commands, and they were both blessings and curses. This points to how this was a conditional covenant. If the people obeyed, they would be blessed by God; if they didn't obey, then they would be cursed. We have a tendency to want to separate the law into pieces (the ceremonial laws, worship laws, the food laws, the moral laws, and so forth) but the law was a unit. If you broke one piece of it, you broke it all.
The covenant was with the whole nation of Israel. It wasn't with one person--it was for Israel as a whole. This is important-it wasn't for Gentiles and Gentile nations. It wasn't for the church. It was for Israel. If someone wanted to be a Jew, then they had to agree to live under the covenant, which included becoming circumcised for men. A couple more things about the law: Sometimes, especially in Christian circles, we think of the law as bad. We read about the legalistic Pharisees in the Gospels and we read through Paul's letters and we think about how horrible the law was. But that is really the opposite from the truth. The law, this Old Covenant, was good. When God's people came out of Egypt after generations of living in a pagan world, having adopted pagan ways, they didn't know who God was. They didn't understand at all who they were as God's people.
After redeeming them the Israelites from bondage, God gave them guardrails in the form of the law. Have you ever driven on a mountain road with no guardrails? It can be really scary! I had this happen when we were in Rocky Mountain National Park. It felt like an eternity I was driving on these incredibly steep mountain roads with no guardrails. When we finally got to the place with a little guardrail, I could breathe. As human beings, we need boundaries. We think that freedom means no rules at all, being able to do what you want when you want and how you want. But if you have lived that way, and some of you probably have, you realize that isn't freedom. You end up in bondage to your own brokenness, your own sin, your own desires, your own depravities. Having been delivered from bondage, God's people needed to know what living a free life looked like. Thus, God gave them guardrails which allowed them to be in relationship with God and relationship with each other in a healthy way.
As we read through the law over the next few days, some of it isn’t going to make any sense to us. Remember, we are reading through twenty-first century eyes. There is so much about the history and context we just don’t understand. And remember this – God was forming a people, shaping a people really, who he had called to be separate and set apart. He wanted them to look drastically different from the cultures around them. He wanted to protect them but he also wanted to teach them. We will talk about this in more depth as we begin to address more confusing passages.
Please read through Psalm 33. It speaks of God’s sovereignty but also how he is the provider and sustainer of his people. Most likely written by David, this is a song that praises God and eagerly awaits God’s goodness. There is an expectancy here. Do we praise God with expectancy for what he will do in our lives?
Okay, let’s move on to Ephesians 5. Paul is imploring the Ephesians to live as God’s holy people. This is kind of ironic. In our Exodus passages, God is trying to create a holy people through the law, by instituting the Mosaic Covenant (what we call the Old Covenant). But Paul is speaking as a follower of Jesus Christ living under the New Covenant. Jesus has fulfilled the Old Covenant. The law is no longer what makes people holy. Those to whom Paul is writing would be Christians, with the Spirit of the Living God within them. They are being sanctified by God’s grace. It’s only through the Holy Spirit in them that this is possible and they can even seek holiness. This standard is actually harder – it’s a circumcision of the heart. Paul is asking the Ephesians to seek this high standard because of who they represent. I love verses 8-10, For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord.
But I don’t want to neglect the second half of this chapter because I think it’s incredibly important. It’s here that Paul speaks of mutual submission, Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. Mutual submission - it's what marriage is all about. Of course, if you grew up in Christian circles, you know how badly the whole of Ephesians 5 has been distorted. The focus has been on wives submitting to husbands. But before Paul talks specifics, he says this: submit to one another out of reverence to Christ. Then, he talks about wives submitting and husbands loving.
We should note that this discussion would have been revolutionary at the time. To say women had a low social and legal status in the Roman Empire is quite the understatement. And here is the Apostle Paul telling the Ephesians that marriage is a covenant and that there needs to be mutual submission between the parties. That means women submitting to men (which would have been the norm at the time in that culture) but also that men should submit to their wives. Husbands submitting to wives? That would have been unheard of!
To make it even more earth-shattering, Paul says that husbands should love their wives in the same way that Christ loved the church. How much did Christ love the church? He died for the church! He is telling these guys to love their wives sacrificially. Wow! Once again, we read these words through our twenty-first century eyes and we may think something like, "How outdated and sexist." But the truth was anything but the sort. Paul's words elevated the status of wives in significant ways. They were to be loved and valued. There should also be unity and fidelity in the marriage relationship, which means only one wife and no affairs. Paul wants Christian men to understand that holiness within their marriage is also important. It demonstrates that those who are "in Christ" do life differently. They are new people in Jesus and the church, as the body of Christ, is drastically different than the culture at large.
We could probably stop there and that would be enough. But wait, there's more. Paul is using the marriage relationship as an analogy. The relationship of the husband and wife in marriage points to the beautiful relationship between Christ and the church. Just as there needs to be unity between husband and wife, there needs to be unity between Christ and the church. So let's be real, the universal church has messed this up a bit. Sometimes, the church demonstrates unity with Jesus and sometimes it doesn't. I'll stop here today but I ask you to reflect on this question: Does New Hope demonstrate unity between Christ and his church? What do we do well? How do we struggle with this? And how do we do better?
We’ll chat again tomorrow.
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
May 5, 2024
Day 1 of Week 6
Scripture – Exodus 16-18; Ephesians 4
Welcome to the Daily Dose of Hope, New Hope Church’s devotional that complements our Bible reading plan. I hope you enjoyed your two days off; now it’s time to get back to it. Let’s start with our Old Testament reading from Exodus.
Well, the Israelites have begun the road trip of all road trips!!! It’s only the middle of the second month and the Israelites are already complaining! Just think about it. It’s been what, roughly forty-five days, and they are already saying that Moses and Aaron should have left them in bondage in Egypt. I can’t help but think this points to how much the people have forgotten; they have forgotten how God provides; they have forgotten God’s miraculous hand. They saw miracles in Egypt with the plagues and the parting of the Red Sea, but they are a people who has been displaced for generations. It’s going to take some time before they really understand who and whose they are.
It’s easy to get exasperated when we read about the Israelites trekking through the desert. This won’t be the only time we find ourselves frustrated with them. Over and over again, as we read through Exodus, we will ask these questions: Why are they so impatient? Why do they think the grass is always greener on the other side? Why are they so quick to forget God? Why do they not trust God when they have seen his miracles and goodness? Why, why, why???
While we might not like to admit it, aren’t we just like the Israelites? I think of how often I’ve gotten frustrated with God’s timing or forgotten God’s work in my life. We are all quick to complain. We are also forgetful.
And yet God is still faithful. He is faithful to us, just as he was faithful to the Israelites. Despite their grumbling, God provided manna for them in the morning and quail at night. They didn’t have to hunt for their food or grind grain for flour. God provided. When they complained about lack of water, God provided water from a rock. When the Amalekites attacked, God provided. At every turn, God provided. How has God provided for you, even when you grumbled and complained?
Let’s chat just briefly about the Amalekite battle. This is the first of many battles that the Israelites will be called to fight. But this was no ordinary battle. It wasn’t going to be won with fancy weapons or fighting skill. In fact, we quickly learn that the outcome didn’t rest on the Israelite army’s strength or weakness at all. Rather, victory rested in Moses lifting his arms. When Moses lifted his hands to heaven, in a symbolic act of prayer and surrender to God, then the Israelites started winning the fight. If Moses’ arms were to fall, they would take losses. Thus, Aaron and Hur held up Moses’ arms for him. They found a nice big rock for Moses to sit on and they each took an arm. It took a number of hours, but Joshua and the Israelite army thoroughly defeated the Amalekites.
This may not have been the intent of the passage but I can’t help but draw the analogy between this battle and our lives as followers of Christ. When we are walking closely with Jesus, surrendered and prayerful, then things tend to go smoother. We remember to whom we belong. We make better choices; we demonstrate more wisdom, peace, and mercy toward others. But we are human - we get distracted! We listen to the wrong voices, we get caught up in other things (health issues, grief, fatigue, frustration, bitterness, etc.) and the end result is we move away from God. This is why we need Aaron and Hurs in our life. We need Christian friends to hold up our arms when we get tired. We need people to walk alongside us, help us persevere, and remind us who we are. Y’all, I need you to help hold my arms up. Sometimes they just get tired. I’m sure yours do too. Let me know. I’d be happy to hold yours up whenever you need it.
Let’s move on to Ephesians 4. Paul has been discussing the new life we have in Christ and the new faith community that is created, what we call the church. The church, as the body of Christ, is an entirely new kind of community-a family of people who belong to Jesus and to one another AND love one another with the extravagant love of Christ. But this unique community has standards. Look at verses 2-4. This body of believers should be humble, gentle, patient, and bear one another in love. There should be unity among them as a demonstration of to whom they belong.
While there is unity, there is diversity in gifts and strengths. Jesus has made sure that his church has everything it needs to become mature and effective. Thus, some people are given the gifts and graces to become apostles, others prophets, still others evangelists, pastors, and teachers. Jesus obviously excelled in all of these categories but we don't. Thus, we need one another desperately to build up and strengthen the body of Christ.
Historically, the church has focused more on pastors and teachers than the apostles, prophets, and evangelists. If we look at the state of the Western church, you can see how badly this has hurt us. We are incomplete, we are missing some of these critical roles, and without them we are ineffective. We need everyone to build up the church. Here is a quick summary of these roles:
-Apostles are the entrepreneurs of the church, starting new mission and ministries, leading the church into new territory. Without apostles, we get stuck in the same place, not responding to the changing needs of our world. Apostles are critical.
-Prophets often stand on the fringes of the church, as God's messengers, speaking hard words into the family of faith. We have pushed the prophets aside because we tend to not like hard words. Prophets are also critical.
-Evangelists are the salespeople of the faith. They are particularly gifted at sharing the Good News of Jesus with people who don't get know him. We are ALL called to be evangelistic but certain people are truly gifted in leading new people to Christ. We need them.
-Pastors are shepherds of the flock. They nurture and protect the congregation. They are essentially the caregivers of the flock, ensuring and guarding the spiritual health of the people. Pastors are incredibly important to the health of the church.
- Teachers are the communicators of the faith. They help the people remain Biblically grounded, teach the next generation about Jesus, and ensure that the church is faithful to God's Word, growing in their knowledge of Scripture and doctrine. Teachers are essential! How off-track we would get without teachers.
Think about your unique gifts. Are you an apostle, a prophet, an evangelist, a pastor, or a teacher? How can you use your gifts to build up Jesus' church?
Have a wonderful day. We will talk again tomorrow.
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
May 1, 2024
Day 5 of Week 5
Scripture – Exodus 13-15; Psalm 114; Ephesians 3
Welcome to the Daily Dose of Hope, New Hope Church’s devotional that complements our Bible reading plan. Let’s get right into the Scripture for today.
I’ve saved the final plague for today even though it was part of yesterday’s reading. I thought we could talk about the plague of the firstborn, Passover, and the exodus out of Egypt in one section. Many of us are familiar with this story. Pharoah has been prideful and stubborn. He has refused to listen to God through Moses. He has been warned but must have thought he was above all of this. I keep going back to how pharaohs believed themselves to be like gods. He must have thought that nothing could touch him. Boy, did God demonstrate who is the one true God.
I used to struggle with this passage. Why in the world would a kind and loving God allow all these innocent little Egyptians babies to die? Let’s reflect on this some more. Remember how several generations before, Pharoah ordered all the Hebrew baby boys to be killed? It was evil personified. Then, God raised up Moses for such a time as this to confront Pharoah and give him opportunities to repent and allow the Hebrew people to be released from slavery. God gave Pharoah many, many chances, probably over a period of quite a few years. Each plague was a warning and a chance for repentance. The plague of the first-born was the absolute last resort. Pharoah was so evil and so prideful that it would take something absolutely outrageous to get his attention.
That being said, it still breaks my heart that innocents were killed. The only way I can really rationalize this is that sin has consequences. Unbridled sin leads to tragedy. And that is exactly what we find here. Did God want these babies to die? Of course not. Pharoah, however, had free will and he freely chose to rebel against God and not care about anyone but himself. The end result was devastating.
I should also mention that this whole passage plays a critical role in the Jewish experience. As we read through the rest of the Old Testament, this event will frequently be retold. Remember who brought you out of slavery in Egypt! Remember who caused the Red Sea to part! Remember, remember, remember. Even now, Jews around the globe remember God freeing them from bondage in Egypt every year during the Passover celebration. Of course, as Christians, we remember it too but we also know that it was in the Upper Room two thousand years ago, that Jesus turned the Passover meal upside down. Remembering a huge part of faith, isn’t it? We need to remember what God has done in order to trust in what he will continue to do in the future. Take a moment and spend some time to remember what God has done in your own life.
Psalm 114 is a beautifully written psalm. This psalm is part of a six-psalm collection called the Egyptian Hallel, each one being related in some way to the deliverance of the Hebrews from bondage in Egypt. Psalm 114 is a psalm of praise, focusing on Israel’s redemption story.
What we know is that the Egyptian Hallel was sung at the three Jewish pilgrimage festivals. At a Passover meal, Psalms 113-114 were read before the meal and Psalms 115-118 were read afterward. Think about it, this means that Jesus and the disciples sang these psalms that night in the Upper Room the night before Jesus was betrayed. These psalms reminded the Jewish people of how they came to be a people in the first place.
In today’s Ephesians chapter, we find this beautiful prayer in verses 16-19 that Paul offers for the people in the Ephesian church. He starts by asking God to strengthen them by the power of the Holy Spirit. Remember, Ephesus was a very pagan city. The church there dealt with opposition on a daily basis. Paul knew they needed supernatural strength. The same could probably be said of us today. The sources of our distractions and opposition are different but still powerful. How do you personally need God’s supernatural strength today?
Next, Paul prayed that they would be rooted in Jesus' love and understand how expansive and deep his love truly is for his people. In understanding this, it would change how they interacted with one another and with the unbelieving world. Having a solid understanding of God's extravagant love for us, we can extravagantly love others. Think about that...when we experience God's love so deeply, it's much easier to act in love toward others, even when they aren't very lovable. I've had to deal with some pretty unpleasant people over the past few weeks who I didn't feel like being loving toward. But then I read this verse and God quickly reminded me-he loved me when I wasn't so lovable. Because of his deep love for me, I can respond to others with love, period.
Finally, Paul prays that as they have this full understanding of God's love, they will be filled with the fullness of God. What might it be like to be filled with the fullness of God? I'm not sure I've gotten there yet but I sure want to get there. It sounds like there could be nothing better!
Have a great day. Don’t forget. The next two days are for rest, catching up, or getting ahead. We will start week 6 of the Daily Dose of Hope on Sunday. We’ll chat then.
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
May 1, 2024
Day 4 of Week 5
Scripture – Exodus 10-12; Ephesians 2
Welcome to the Daily Dose of Hope, New Hope Church’s devotional that complements our Bible reading plan. Remember to give me your feedback and let me know what you are learning and how God is speaking to you through the reading.
Let’s move to our Exodus text for today, chapters 10-12. In these chapters, we encounter more plagues. With each one, we have the same pattern as before. God tells Moses to go to Pharoah and tell him to release the Hebrew people so that they can worship God. Pharoah refuses and a plague is released upon the land. After a lot of grief and destruction, Pharoah demonstrates remorse and calls Moses back, asking for forgiveness and relief from the plague.
But at the end of chapter 10, we sense something different is going to happen. The plague of darkness is Moses’ last attempt to compromise with Pharoah. When Pharoah sends Moses and Aaron away this time, Moses is clear, “Just as you say,” Moses replied. “I will never appear before you again.” But Pharoah has no idea what is coming. His repeated acts of pride and disobedience will have dire consequences for him and his people. More on that story tomorrow.
Let’s talk about Ephesians 2. Central to our belief as Christians is that Jesus was not only resurrected but also exalted to a high place. In fact, he sits at the right hand of the Father. The amazing thing is that we as believers receive new life in Christ AND we also are exalted with him in the heavenly realms. Paul states that the purpose of this is that we can be shown the incomparable riches of his grace. Think about that for a moment. The Message translation says it a different way: Once God has us where he wants us, he will have all the time in the world to "shower grace and kindness upon us." Both sound absolutely marvelous. We get to know and experience Jesus' amazing love for us right now. We are exalted with him and he continues to shower us with grace and love. Wow.
But there is more. Our salvation is totally and completely based on faith and nothing else. We are saved by grace through faith in Jesus alone. There is nothing else needed to be saved. At the time Paul wrote this, there were plenty of people who said that circumcision and following the law were also necessary to be saved. Paul has made it clear that NOTHING else is needed-we are saved by the amazing grace of Jesus and all we have to do is have faith. God knows us well and he did this so that we couldn't brag about our salvation because it was totally his doing and not ours. Again, wow.
One more thing from today’s reading - we are God's handiwork. Other translations say "masterpiece." We are created by God to do good things that God designed us specifically to do. If you needed a Scripture to illustrate the phrase "God don't make no junk," this could be it. You are God's masterpiece. He lovingly designed you. You are not a random experiment. He had YOU in mind when he made you. Your gifts and talents were also not random but were given to you by God to do good things for his world. You are a masterpiece and you have a purpose. Let that sink in.
Have a great day. We’ll talk again tomorrow.
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
April 30, 2024
Day 3 of Week 5
Scripture – Exodus 7-9; Psalm 105; Ephesians 1
Welcome to the Daily Dose of Hope, New Hope Church’s devotional that complements our Bible reading plan. I hope you are having a great Tuesday. Please know I pray for all of you. If you have any specific prayer needs, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me directly at vicki@findnewhope.com. I want to be there for all of you. Okay…let’s get into today’s Scripture.
Today begins the real showdown between Pharoah and Moses, or might we say Pharoah and God. Moses and Aaron demand that Pharoah release the Hebrew people on the command of God Almighty. Pharoah doesn’t really care about God Almighty and he continues to refuse. Even after all these horrible plagues, Pharoah refuses to comply.
But one piece of the story that has always puzzled me is the hardness of Pharoah’s heart. I mean God told Moses ahead of time that he would hardened the ruler’s heart and we can see that throughout each plague. Sometimes, it seems to indicate that God hardened his hard and other times, it appears that Pharoah does it on his own. How it’s worded will differ depending on which translation you are using. But it leads to these questions: How much free will does Pharoah have in this situation? Who is actually calling the shots? And why does the situation have to escalate into such destruction and violence?
The first thing I discovered in learning more about this passage is that Pharoah is not one singular person. Remember, there were many pharaohs in Egypt. From what I can deduce, this passage probably refers to a sequence of pharaohs over a long period of time. And while the author could have named the pharaohs specifically (I mean, they all have names we recognize – Rameses I or II, Thutmose, etc.), he chose not to. Pharoah here simply represents the evil ruler of Egypt, but more generally is a symbol of human rebellion and sin. Pharoah is an example of what happens when one person puts their own desires/values/well-being over another. Pharoah is what you get when a person and society decides what is right and wrong apart from God’s wisdom and direction. You find yourself with a nation, in this case Egypt, building it’s resources on the backs of a persecuted and enslaved people. As the story progresses, we even find Pharoah putting his pride above the welfare of his own people. Pharoah truly defines the human condition.
But what about the whole hardening of the heart issue? In the first five plagues, we are told that Pharoah’s heart becomes hard. In his arrogance and greed, Pharoah refuses to comply with God. Pharoah thinks he has more power and authority. I can’t help but think about how the pharaohs considered themselves to be gods. Think about that for a minute.
But there are certainly some plagues in which it appears that God hardens Pharoah’s heart. Why would God do such a thing? Well, I’m not an ancient Hebrew scholar in any way, shape, or form, but my understanding of this text is that the hardening of the heart is not passive but active. That means Pharoah’s heart hardens (not “was hardened” by someone else). God didn’t harden it, Pharoah hardened his heart on his own free will. This is one reason I like the NIV translation because it does leave this ambiguous.
While I’m not going to spend much time discussing Psalm 105, please do read through it. I think as you read it, you will recognize how the psalmist included so many of the passages and themes we’ve been reading about in Genesis and Exodus.
Today, we are starting another New Testament book, Paul’s letter to the Ephesians. Paul's letter to the church at Ephesus is quite extraordinary! The prose is both beautiful and powerful. It speaks to who we are in Jesus, new life in Christ, and what we must now do about it.
The church at Ephesus, in modern-day Turkey, was established on Paul's second missionary journey. On his third missionary journey, Paul spent 2-3 years in the city. He addressed false doctrines and pagan practices. In his letter to the church of Ephesus, written roughly ten years later, Paul commends the Ephesian church on their faith and love. They have done well and we see that expressed in this letter.
There is a lot to say about this first chapter, but I want to focus on the middle portion. Paul states how he has heard of their faith and love, and he gives thanks for them and their dedication to Jesus. He lifts them in prayer, specifically that they will know God even more and will be given supernatural wisdom and revelation. While he is pleased with their spiritual maturity, he is still praying for them, that they continue to grow in holiness. Paul wants them to truly have the knowledge of God, which can't be gained by study but only through God himself.
As I reread this, I couldn't help but think about how we are never done growing spiritually. We never get to the point in our walk in which we can say, "That's it, I've made it, no more study, prayer, or service needed for me!" If we aren't dead, we aren't done. God isn't done with any of us yet.
Have a wonderful day. Let’s reconvene tomorrow.
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
April 29, 2024
Day 2 of Week 5
Scripture – Exodus 4-6; Galatians 6
Welcome to the Daily Dose of Hope, New Hope Church’s devotional that complements our Bible reading plan. Let’s get right into our Scripture for today.
In the book of Exodus, our reading starts with the signs God gives Moses, including a staff turning to a snake, his hand turning leprous when he puts it in his cloak and then becoming healthy flesh again, and water from the Nile turning to blood when Moses splashes it on the ground. The purpose of these signs was to demonstrate to others that Moses spoke for God. The whole time, we can sense Moses’ reluctance. He is fearful. I think we can all relate to his statement when he says in verse 13, Pardon your servant, Lord. Please send someone else.
While we know God was angry at Moses for his lack of confidence (which ultimately was a lack of faith), God shows much grace. He comes up with the practical solution of having Moses’ brother, Aaron, be his mouthpiece. God will give Moses the words, Moses tells Aaron what to say, and then Aaron communicates the message. Together, they tell the Israelite elders about Moses going to Pharoah to release the Hebrew people from slavery, they showed them the signs from God, and they all believed.
Before we move on to chapter 5, I did want to touch on one really bizarre paragraph. Maybe you caught it too. In chapter 4, verses 24-26, the Scripture says that God attempted to kill Moses but his wife, Zipporah, knew immediately what the problem was: their son had not been circumcised. Thus, she immediately circumcised the boy, took the foreskin and touched Moses’ feet, and then all was well. This is one of those stories when we can pretty much say we don’t have all the information. Why would God call Moses to this hugely important task of freeing and redeeming his people, only to kill him because one of his sons’ was not circumcised? We recognize that circumcision is important, but I think we are definitely missing a whole piece of the story.
During the next two chapters, we see Moses and Aaron going to Pharoah to deliver God’s message of letting the Hebrew people go free. Pharoah is having none of it and rather than listen to Moses, he decides to double down on the Israelites. He requires more work than humanly possible and punishes them severely when they can’t deliver. Moses and the Hebrew people become discouraged. More on this tomorrow…
We have reached the final chapter of Paul's letter to the Galatians. Paul once again emphasizes the main point of the letter, that salvation is found in the cross of Jesus and not in the law. It’s somewhat ironic after what we read in Exodus regarding the circumcision situation. How thankful I am for Jesus! To live under the law was so difficult. True freedom is only found in Jesus Christ.
But Paul also gives the Galatians some words of encouragement. He speaks of sharing one another's burdens. Notice the assumption: every single one of us has burdens and the intent is not for us to bear them alone. There are certainly people who are resistant to sharing their concerns and burdens with others. Some are embarrassed, others are too proud, some don't want to appear needy, and others truly don't want to impose. But Scripture tells us that God wants us to share our burdens with others so that they can help us carry them. AND...God wants us to do the same for others. None of us are too important or too busy to care for our friends.
Psalm 55:22 reads, Give your burdens to the LORD, and he will take care of you... Then there are the words of Jesus in Matthew 11:28-30, Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light. Certainly, we can give our cares and burdens to the Lord. But I think part of God bearing our burdens is through other people, through the body of Christ. By God's design, our brothers and sisters in Christ can hold us up and care for us during life's hardships and us for them.
How have you experienced others' bearing your burdens? How have you carried burdens for your brothers and sisters in Christ? Spend some time today reflecting on this.
Until tomorrow…
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
April 28, 2024
Day 1 of Week 5
Scripture – Exodus 1-3; Galatians 5
Welcome to the Daily Dose of Hope, New Hope Church’s devotional that complements our Bible reading plan. If you know someone who might benefit from this devotional, please send them the link. They can sign up on our website, findnewhope.com, but the Daily Dose of Hope is also available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
Okay, let’s get right into our Scripture for today. We are starting the book of Exodus and it begins on a dark note. The Hebrews flourished and multiplied in Egypt but the Pharoah who admired Joseph and his brothers have died. The current Egyptian authorities feel threatened by the Hebrews. First, they respond by enslaving them and then move more into genocide. We can see how fear drives violence and genocide. But God is with the Hebrews. The more Pharoah drives to eliminate them, the stronger they become. I love the story of the midwives. Pharaoh’s desire to kill the boys spurs the women to action. With confident defiance, the women of Exodus 1-2 protect the boys, among them the one boy who will become the future rescuer of the people.
It's here that we meet Moses, the unconventional rescuer. God has his hand on Moses from the time he was born. Afterall, he was raised by Pharoah’s daughter! But Moses knows who he is and doesn’t take long for him to rebel against the Egyptian oppression of the Hebrew people. But rather than stay and fight, Moses flees to Midian, which is in the northern part of modern-day Saudi Arabia. He seems pretty content being a dad and helping his father-in-law take care of his flocks.
The turning point comes in chapter three of Exodus. Moses is doing his thing, tending flocks in the wilderness, when an angel appears to him in a burning bush. This is what we call in church language a “theophany.” A theophany is a manifestation of God. This isn’t too different from when Jacob wrestled all night with God. Now, Moses is having a personal encounter with God. This is his theophany. So God tells him to take his shoes off because this is holy ground. God is here and he is calling Moses.
In fact, we see God lay his plan out for Moses. Moses is the one God has chosen to save the Jews from the oppressive and violent hand of Pharoah. Can you imagine what Moses is thinking? He is probably quaking with fear and doubt. I mean, God isn’t asking him to bake banana bread for a sick neighbor or even pray with a stranger; God is telling him that he is the chosen one to free the Hebrews from the yoke of slavery in Egypt. Moses has to approach one of the most powerful men in the world at the time and be the mouthpiece of God. So it isn’t that surprising when Moses asks, “Are you sure, Lord? Who am I?” But God insists.
When God calls us to his service, he isn’t joking. We can try to ignore the call but that doesn’t mean God will let up. My own humble piece of advice: If God is calling you to do something, just go ahead and say yes. You won’t win. More on the Moses story tomorrow.
Our New Testament Scripture for today is Galatians 5. Throughout the book of Galatians, Paul is emphasizing that in Christ, we have freedom. Under the law, we live in bondage. He is imploring the Galatians to live as free people, true heirs of God, experiencing the fullness of life that comes knowing you belong to Jesus Christ.
In this chapter, Paul speaks to how easy it is to slip back into a life of bondage. Others use their freedom to engage in sin. Paul is stating that neither is acceptable. True Christian freedom manifests itself in obedience, self-control, and love. Just as Christ sets us free, Paul says that it is the continuing work of the Holy Spirit in our lives that sanctifies us, allows us to better reflect Jesus. When the Holy Spirit comes and makes a home within us, it begins to transform us from the inside out. We cannot stay the same people once the Spirit of the Living God is within us. There should be fruit that demonstrates our new nature. That fruit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
Reflect on the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. How well do you exemplify these attributes in your own life? Are some easier than others for you? Something I find interesting about these is that they are "fruit" of the Spirit, not "fruits." God intends for us to live out each of these, not just some of them. If we are very kind people but we lack self-control, then we need to spend time in prayer and ask God to help us with our self-control and then be intentional about working on that trait. If we struggle with patience, then we do the same thing. Friends, we have the Spirit of God living within us and that is powerful and transformative. Spend some time today praying about the transforming power of the Holy Spirit in your life.
Until tomorrow…
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
April 25, 2024
Day 5 of Week 4
Scripture – Genesis 49-50, Galatians 4
Welcome to the Daily Dose of Hope, New Hope Church’s devotional that complements our Bible reading plan. We are at the end of the fourth week – congratulations! You are making great progress. I would love to hear some of your big takeaways thus far.
Today, we are finishing up the book of Genesis. This has been quite a journey. Did you know that Genesis is the second longest book in the Bible? (Jeremiah is the longest by just a tad.) We have covered a lot of ground in Genesis and this is Scripture that provides the foundation for the rest of the Bible.
As I mentioned yesterday, Genesis 49 includes Jacob’s deathbed prophecies for his twelve sons who will lead the twelve tribes of Israel. Be sure to read through them. Understandably, they aren’t all positive. Most of the blessing was reserved for Joseph. When Jacob finishes speaking, he dies.
The final chapter of Genesis spans quite a few years. It starts with Pharoah giving Joseph and his brothers permission to bury Jacob in Canaan and ends with the death of Joseph himself. But despite Jacob’s desire to Joseph to go back to his homeland, he is embalmed (keep in mind that Jews don’t embalm so this was a very Egyptian way to handle his body), and his body stays in Egypt. Joseph’s dying promise to his family is that God will pull them out of Egypt and resettle them in Canaan. How will this happen? We begin that journey tomorrow as we start the book of Exodus.
Let’s move on to Galatians 4. Boy, is Paul frustrated with the Galatians or what? He doesn’t mince words. But he continues to make his point. Paul contrasts humanity's condition under the law versus in Christ. Under the law, people were heirs to a promise that God made with Abraham, but really they were no better than slaves, for they were still in bondage to the law. Under Christ, however, there is true freedom. People aren't merely heirs to a promise. They are children of the one true God.
Our salvation has nothing to do with the law. Rather, our salvation rests in the work of Christ. We are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. When we are saved, God puts his Holy Spirit within us. There is an intimacy there. Now, we call out "Abba, Father" which effectively means "Daddy." We aren't slave children. We are truly God's children whom he loves. We can rest in the love of our father. We don't have to be fearful or timid. We can spend time with our Father God, sit in his lap, and soak up the love he has for us. I'll close today with Romans 8:15-16, So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.” For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children.
Over the next two days, you can rest, catch up, or get ahead. Our next devotional on Sunday will start week 5. Have a wonderful day.
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
April 24, 2024
Day 4 of Week 4
Scripture – Genesis 47-48, Psalm 25, Galatians 3
Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope! I want to take a moment for a quick announcement. It’s Wednesday so I hope you will consider attending New Hope’s Recharge tonight at 6:30 in the Garage. It’s a wonderful time of worship, followed by small groups. I lead a prayer group at that time that you are all welcome to attend. We also have some great topical groups that you can join. Okay, with that, let’s get into our Scripture for today.
We are nearing the end of Genesis and Jacob is now on his deathbed. He summons his youngest son, Joseph, and Joseph’s two oldest sons for their deathbed blessing. By doing this, Joseph and his boys are getting double blessing, which means double inheritance. This places Joseph’s sons higher in the pecking order than Reuben and Simeon, Jacob’s two firstborn sons. Considering the horrific treatment of Joseph by his brothers (you know, the whole selling him into slavery thing), it’s not surprising that Jacob wants to give this blessing to his second youngest son. If you recall, Jacob always favored Joseph as well.
In kind of an ironic twist, Jacob decides to give the primary blessing to Joseph’s younger son, Ephraim, rather than the oldest son, Manasseh. Remember, Jacob himself managed through some conniving to “steal” his father’s deathbed blessing from his older brother, Esau. Joseph isn’t too happy about this, as evidenced in the Scripture, and tries to correct his father but Jacob wasn’t having any of it. He wanted Ephraim to have the bigger blessing. The blessing itself consists of a prayer for these two men to experience the same blessings Jacob has received from God during his lifetime. Jacob asks God to continue the legacy of Abraham and Isaac through them. The chapter concludes with Jacob giving Joseph and his two boys a specific piece of land in Canaan.
One thing to notice here is that Jacob is making sure that Joseph and his sons understand that Egypt is not the end for them. Jacob has told his sons to bury him in Canaan, not Egypt. He also tells Joseph that God will be with him and will bring him back to the land of his fathers. He gives Joseph a double portion of the land. All of this is intentional. He wants them to understand that Egypt is not their home. God has promised them more.
In chapter 49, which we read tomorrow, we will find Jacob giving both blessings and prophecies to the older brothers. They aren’t nearly as positive.
Let’s move on to Psalm 25. This is a psalm of David, probably written a little later in his life. It’s a psalm about trusting in God, even when circumstances are really tough. More specifically, David asks God for instruction on how to avoid shame and disgrace and then provides instruction of those who wait on the Lord. His plan, summarized, is to pray to God, actively acknowledging the utter dependence upon God, receiving the help that comes with God’s instruction, and exhorting God to selective remembering, meaning to forget his sins and remember the times he was faithful. How many of you today are struggling with shame, disgrace, or embarrassment? How might this wisdom from David help you right now?
Galatians 3 is our New Testament reading today. Paul is discussing with the Galatian church about the role of the law. Remember, he is very frustrated with them, as they are now placing more emphasis on the law than they are on faith. This is alienating their Gentile brothers and sisters. As you read through this, don’t worry if it feels repetitive because it is. Paul is making his point strongly.
I want to focus mainly on the last portion of the chapter. Paul speaks of the law being our guardian until Jesus arrived. The promise was given to Abraham but the people needed more boundaries so God gave them the law through Moses. But with Jesus, we can be justified by faith. Paul is pointing out that we no longer live "under the law" but are "in Christ" despite our inability to keep the law. We are no longer condemned by God because of our sin. Rather, because we now live in Christ, God is our father. Because of the forgiveness and salvation that we have in Christ, we don't have to approach God with fear of punishment, but rather we know that God loves us. We are his sons and daughters and we have the privileges that children have with their father. This isn't because of anything we've done but because of what Jesus Christ has done for us.
In verse 27, Paul writes that those who have been baptized into Christ are now clothed in Jesus. What does that mean? Well, baptism is a visible sign of the union we have with Jesus. Our salvation is NOT dependent on baptism (remember Paul is making a point that salvation is by faith alone and nothing else). But baptism is an outward and visible sign of what Christ has done within us. Through the inward faith in Christ, we are now sons and daughters of God. Belief in Jesus is the great equalizer. As sons and daughters of God, we not only belong to God but we also belong to one another. We are brothers and sisters and there is no distinction of race, rank, or sex. We are equal in the eyes of Jesus and thus, we should be equal in the eyes of one another. Over thousands of years, this is a doctrine that has been twisted andor ignored. We are all equal and we belong to one another. Period.
More tomorrow. Have a great day!
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
April 23, 2024
Day 3 of Week 4
Scripture reading for today – Genesis 45-46; Psalm 108; Galatians 2
Welcome to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional that complements New Hope’s Bible reading plan. I’m hoping that you are finding this daily reading helpful. Keep in mind, even when the Scripture passages are difficult, there is purpose in them. So keep up the good work!
I’ve always loved the story of Joseph, which we’ve been covering in Genesis. Through Joseph, we can learn so much about staying true to our faith, trusting in God, and forgiveness in the most difficult of circumstances. If you haven’t done so already, read through Genesis chapters 45 and 46. I think we have covered most of the main points in the past few days. Today, I want to mix it up a bit and start with our New Testament passage.
On we go to Galatians 2. This chapter provides an interesting discussion about how, early on, the apostles accepted Paul's ministry to the Gentiles and even blessed it. There was a clear understanding, in Paul's view anyway, that Gentile Christians didn't have to follow Jewish law but needed to simply believe in Jesus Christ. But the power of criticism is strong. People within the church were highly upset about this and the apostles started to cave. They began to profess the need to follow Jewish law again and even stopped eating with Gentiles. Paul was forced to confront Cephas (Peter), who ministered primarily to Jewish Christians, about his hypocrisy which seemed to be spreading among the apostles.
Let's think about the definition of hypocrisy: to state specific beliefs and values to which one's actions clearly defy. The church has often been accused of being hypocritical, professing one thing and doing another. Individual Christians have often been accused of being hypocritical, saying one thing and then doing another. Hypocrisy has been incredibly damaging to the Kingdom. Paul is calling it out in today's Scripture, as he recognizes how dangerous it is for the new Gentile believers. It has the potential to not only confuse them, but lead them away from the Gospel message.
The same can be said today. When we live by the mantra "do as I say but not as I do" then people are turned off. I've had a number of friends and family members leave the church permanently because they couldn't stand the way those who gathered on Sunday and professed one thing behaved poorly the rest of the week. Friends, our behavior, attitudes, and words matter to an unbelieving world! As we continue our week, ask God to give you a hyper awareness of the kinds of things you say and do. Are you representing Jesus well? Are we representing Jesus well as a church? Might I add, even in our social media?
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
April 22, 2024
Day 2 of Week 4
Scripture reading for today – Genesis 43-44; Psalm 24; Galatians 1
Welcome to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional that complements New Hope’s Bible reading plan. Today we are continuing in Genesis, we have a Psalm to read, and we also get to start a different New Testament book – Paul’s letter to the Galatians. This is good stuff!
Let’s dig in to our Genesis reading. Joseph’s brothers have now journeyed to Egypt two times, seeking food. The famine that was described in Pharoah’s dream (which Joseph interpreted) has come and affected the whole region. When the brothers come down to Egypt, they don’t recognize Joseph; he probably had changed quite a bit from the young man they sold into slavery. But Joseph does immediately recognize his brothers. As he interacts with them, he has to leave the room to weep several times.
I’m going to jump ahead a little. Tomorrow, in chapter 45, we will read about how Joseph reveals himself to his brothers. He has been kind of playing with them, hiding various things in their bags, including a silver cup in Benjamin’s bag, testing them at different times and trying to learn about his father. Understandably, the brothers are incredibly fearful of Joseph, as they know he is Egypt’s second most powerful man. He has the power to punish or kill them with just a word.
It’s at a large banquet that Joseph tells them who he is. This really scares the brothers! But Joseph forgives them. He totally and completely forgives them and weeps over them. He embraces them and provides for their needs. He goes to great length to help them bring their father, their wives, and families, down to Egypt where they can be safe and fed. Do they deserve any of this? Of course not. They were horrible to Joseph. But this bold act of forgiveness foreshadows another one, one all of us have experienced. Despite our denials of Jesus, he forgives us totally and completely and has gone to great lengths to welcome us into his family.
I think there is another piece of the story here that we need to address – the issue of God’s sovereignty. The brothers sold him into slavery. It was horrific. Joseph was successful at various times in Egypt, but he also experienced extreme hardship. God took care of him. In the good and in the bad, God had a bigger purpose of Joseph and he seemed to accept it with faithful confidence and peace. If he cried out to God in anger, we don’t know. What we do know is that God took all the really terrible things and used them for his glory. What man meant for harm, God turned into good.
Now, let’s take a moment and discuss Psalm 24. I’m afraid I haven’t spent enough time talking about the various psalms. They are certainly important and I do hope you have been reading through them and maybe doing some of your own research. Psalm 24 is another Psalm of David. He begins by stating that everything belongs to God, The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it; for he founded it on the seas and established it on the waters. When we look around our world, at the skies, ocean, animals, trees, and even all the various kinds of people, it’s easy to forget that all of it belongs to God. He is creator and sustainer of this place. While we like to think in terms of “ownership,” the reality is that God is the real owner. Our own lives belong to him. So David is asking what right is it of ours to have any of it? Can we go to heaven and stand in the holy place? Only if God makes it so and invites us in.
Our New Testament reading for today is the first chapter of Galatians. During Paul's three missionary journeys, he established churches throughout what is now Turkey, Greece, and in Rome. Once the church was started, he sent pastoral letters, providing both encouragement and rebuke to the new believers. Over the next six devotionals, we will be reading through the pastoral letter sent to the churches at Galatia. The region of Galatia included several cities where Paul evangelized during his first missionary journey, including Pisidian Antioch, Iconium, Lystra and Derbe. In fact, this letter may be the earliest pastoral letter that Paul wrote, penned around AD 48 or 49.
Since Paul had established the various congregations in Galatia, the churches had been plagued by false teachers. They fiercely rejected the Gospel that Paul preached, which was that people are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ alone. Rather, the false teachers were saying that to be saved, people must also be circumcised and follow the whole law of Moses. Besides rejecting the Gospel, they also attacked Paul's credibility. Throughout the letter, we will see Paul continually going back to these two themes-his credibility and apostleship AND the gift of grace offered by the Good News of Jesus.
There is a lot of great substance here. But what I want to focus on today is Paul’s astonishment at their falling away. He speaks of how there is no other Gospel that the one he taught. He is emphatic that if anyone preaches anything other than the truth, then they should be under God’s curse. He concludes the chapter by giving some of his own testimony, in order to provide credibility of the call he received from God.
Paul is clear that anything less than the true Gospel is not the Gospel at all. Those who teach that something other than faith is needed for salvation are twisting the Good News and Paul expresses shock that the Galatians would be so quick to believe this false teaching. Salvation by grace through faith in Jesus is the core teaching of our faith. Are there times in which we try to twist this doctrine? Do we add or subtract from it? What can we do to ensure that this teaching stays central to the church's teaching?
More tomorrow. Have a wonderful day.
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
April 21, 2024
Day 1 of Week 4
Scripture reading for today – Genesis 41-42; Mark 16
Welcome to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional that complements New Hope’s five day a week Bible reading plan. We have made it to week four! Good job everyone. Please give me feedback. I am learning a lot, but I want this to be useful for you as well.
Let’s start with our two chapters in Genesis. It’s obvious God’s had his hand on Joseph. Whether Joseph is in prison, interpreting dreams, or running Pharoah’s food operations, he leans on God. Let’s be clear that Joseph did not flourish because of any special skills or abilities. He did so well because he listened to God in everything. He made no compromises, didn’t take short-cuts, and simply trusted completely in God. We will talk more about Joseph’s brothers visiting Egypt tomorrow, but it’s obvious that Joseph’s character is exceptional even when faced with grief and uncertainty.
Okay, I really want to spend most of our time today on Mark 16. We have made it to the best part of the story–the resurrection! I absolutely love this passage. But before we dig in, let’s talk context. Jesus was crucified on a Friday because the Jews had to have it done and over with before Sabbath (which for them runs from Friday sundown to Saturday sundown). Thus, the women who wanted to anoint Jesus’ body for burial had to wait until the Sabbath was over before heading over to the tomb.
Three women are specifically mentioned: Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome. I want to point out that these women were also specifically mentioned at being present at the crucifixion. They watched Jesus die. I want you to think about how the reality of suffering and intense grief is hanging over this whole scene. These were women who walked alongside Jesus, took care of his needs, and loved him. It is because they loved him that they wanted to ensure that his dead body was properly prepared for burial. Jews did not embalm but they ceremonially washed the body, wrapped it in cloths, and used herbs and spices to help with deterioration and smell. In that culture, a proper burial was quite important, it demonstrated honor for that individual; for these women, this was an act of love and respect.
As they head over to prepare the body, they discuss what they think will be their biggest obstacle and decide it’s going to be the heavy stone. They were at the crucifixion. They knew that a large stone was rolled in front of the tomb. How will they move it? What’s interesting to me here is that they have no inkling that the tomb would be empty. Jesus has taught about his death and resurrection but no one got it.
Now, when they get to the tomb and the stone was the least of their worries. It had already been rolled away. When they entered the tomb, it’s completely empty except for a young man dressed in a white robe just sitting there. Mark doesn’t say so, but it’s implied this man is an angel. The scripture says the women are alarmed. They have been so consumed by their grief and suffering, so focused on taking care of this final act for Jesus, and then the stone is gone and there is this angel-like character sitting inside the tomb. Of course they are alarmed. And this man/angel person tells them that Jesus wasn’t there because he had risen, just as he said he would. This is all a bit much for these ladies. They were scared. They flee and say nothing to anyone. And the book of Mark ends.
Over the years, people have added more appealing endings to this Gospel. You may even have some of these manuscripts added to the end of chapter 16. But most scholars agree these were added on later. While Mark’s Gospel may feel a bit unsatisfying in how it so abruptly ends, it also creates a sense of anticipation and yes, even HOPE. We don’t have to make up fake endings for Mark like some of the church fathers may have done.
What Mark tells us is enough. Why?
Because the tomb was empty! Jesus was resurrected.
Because death could not keep Jesus down! Death was defeated.
Because the women were given the message to “Go and tell, Jesus is risen!”
Because all the promises that Jesus made have come true.
Every single one.
Just as Jesus said, he suffered, died, and was raised. Just as he said, Judas betrayed him, the disciples scattered, and Peter denied him. We know that eventually these women speak and they must speak a lot. Because the message was shared. After they get over their initial shock, it all begins to sink in. Yes, Jesus had told them this would happen. Yes, they would choose to believe and share the good news. He wasn’t dead but alive! They chose to believe and share.
Will you? Will you share the Good News of the resurrection?
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
April 18, 2024
Day 5 of Week 3
Scripture reading for today – Genesis 38-40; Psalm 12; Mark 15
Hello, everyone! This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. It’s also the final reading for week 3. We will take Friday and Saturday off for you to catch-up, get ahead, or simply rest and spend time in prayer.
Oh my, there is a lot to cover today. Let’s start with Genesis 38. Judah (who is Jacob's oldest son) arranges for his oldest son, Er, to marry a woman named Tamar. But Er was evil in the eyes of God, so God took his life. Judah then arranged for Tamar to marry his second son, Onan. In levirate marriage, which they practiced at that time, if a man died before he produced a male heir, then the next oldest brother would sleep with his sister in law to try to produce an heir. The baby would then be considered a child of the dead brother. This may sound weird to us but it was one of several systems that God put in place to ensure that the most vulnerable segments of society would be cared for.
But Onan also did evil in God’s eyes, because he prevented Tamar from getting pregnant by spilling his semen on the ground. (I bet you didn’t realize the Bible is this explicit.) So, God took Onan’s life too. At this point, Judah’s third son, Shelah, was too young to marry. But what we know is that Judah has decided he didn't want to risk his third son with Tamar. If Shelah dies, then Judah will be without heirs, and any inheritance he may gain from Jacob will be lost. Judah misleads Tamar into waiting until Shelah is grown up. I'm not sure that we can understand the significance of this. This was a grave sin, denying Tamar the ability to have a husband, a male heir, or any kind of meaningful life. He doesn't release her from the marriage-he tells her to go live as a widow which means she could not remarry-but he doesn't offer her the option of his third son. Tamaris in a no-win situation here. She is doomed to live a life of poverty and/or prostitution. Keep in mind, women were very vulnerable at that time if they didn't have a male to provide for them.
After some years go by, Tamar takes matters into her own hands. Judah has basically abandoned her. Shelah, the third son, is definitely marrying age and Judah has never sent for Tamar. She knows he isn't planning to, nor is he planning to release her from living as a widow. She knows that her fate isn't good unless she does something drastic. She takes off her widow's clothing and dresses like a prostitute. She hangs out where her father-in-law will see her and he propositions her. So, this gives us more insight into Judah's character. Maybe he frequented prostitutes, Tamar must have somehow known that he would be willing to solicit her.
This is a small thing but when Judah originally solicited Tamar as a prostitute, she was not a shrine prostitute. Shrine prostitutes were part of the worship of Canaanite fertility goddesses. It seems that Judah simply acted out of regular old lust and probably a bit of impulsiveness. Later, he asks his friend to go look for the shrine prostitute, possibly because it seemed more acceptable. Of course, both were really bad in God's eyes.
Tamar gets pregnant by Judah. When Judah finds out she is pregnant, he considers her guilty of prostitution and is ready to have her killed. Of course, he has no idea that he is the father of the baby. Tamar then presents a cord, seal, and walking stick, saying the father of her baby is the owner of these items. Just so we know, his cord, seal, and walking stick would be the equivalent to a driver’s license and credit card. When Judah finds that he was the guy who got his daughter in law pregnant, he declares her righteous. Even though she was deceptive, she was the one who managed to continue to family line.
Okay, so this whole scenario seems kind of strange, right? Evil sons, so evil that God kills them. A conniving father-in-law who doesn't care for the well-being of his daughter-in-law or his family line. A desperate daughter-in-law who pretends to be a prostitute so her father-in-law can get her pregnant. This story really demonstrates how God uses broken, messed up people to achieve his purposes. Judah was far from godly. Tamar, though God called her righteous and she was certainly courageous, was still a bit deceptive and scrappy. Yet, God chose these two people to carry on the line of Jacob. It was the union of these two flawed individuals that produced an heir in the direct line of Jesus. If you look at Matthew 1, Tamar is the first of four women specifically mentioned by name in the genealogy of Jesus Christ. God could have chosen anyone, but he chose them.
There is a great quote by Vance Havner, a preacher and evangelist, "God uses broken things. It takes broken soil to produce a crop, broken clouds to give rain, broken grain to give bread, broken bread to give strength. It is the broken alabaster box that gives forth perfume. It is Peter, weeping bitterly, who returns to greater power than ever.” God uses imperfect people like you and me to achieve his purposes. We may not have a great past. We might not even have a super present, but he wants to use us, flaws and all, to expand his Kingdom, to carry out his mission in the world.
Please take some time to also read through Genesis 39-40. These chapters are about Joseph after he became a slave in Pharoah’s palace. Because he was so upstanding, leaning on God the whole time, he flourished. But then the Pharoah’s wife tried falsely accused him of sexual assault. This ended up landing him in prison. But he flourished there too, because he walked so closely with the Lord. God’s has his hand on Joseph. More on this tomorrow…
I can’t finish today without touching on the Mark passage. In Mark 15, we read about the crucifixion and death of Jesus Christ. It was a horrific death. He was beaten and mocked by the soldiers, betrayed by his own people, and nailed to a cross to die. I won’t go into the gory details of crucifixion, as you have probably heard them before, but it was a terribly painful and humiliating way to die.
Most of us have read this a lot but there is one piece that we often gloss over. It’s about Simon of Cyrene. Simon was just passing by when he is stopped and forced him to carry Jesus’ cross. Cyrene was on the tip of Africa so this man was far from home! And here he was, going about his business, and he is enlisted, or more likely seized, to carry the cross of the Savior of the world. I’m guessing that Jesus’ physical body was incredibly weak and bloody by this point. Simon walked by him, carrying the cross that would serve to execute Jesus but also save all humanity from their sin.
We don’t know what happened to Simon after the crucifixion. He isn’t mentioned again in Scripture. But my guess is that his life was never the same again. Afterall, he had an encounter with Jesus.
Let’s chat again tomorrow.
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
April 18, 2024
Day 5 of Week 3
Daily Dose of Hope
April 17, 2024
Day 4 of Week 3
Scripture reading for today – Genesis 35-37; Psalm 12; Mark 14
Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the daily devotional that complements the New Hope Bible Reading Plan. We have a fair amount of Scripture to cover today so let’s get right to it.
The family drama continues in Genesis. It seems that Jacob has not learned anything from the favoritism and rivalry in his family of origin and begins to repeat it among his own children. It is amazing how family dysfunction breeds more family dysfunction. Unless an intentional effort is made the break the cycle, it isn’t going to change. Joseph, Rachel’s oldest son, is blatantly favored by Jacob. Joseph certainly doesn’t help the situation either. In his own immature arrogance, he is more than happy to share his vivid dreams with his brothers, dreams that had his older brothers bowing down to Joseph. Some things we really should just keep to ourselves.
As we learned before, favoritism never turns out well. It always, always, always leads to toxicity. Not surprisingly, the brothers’ resentment turns to intense anger and bitterness, so much so that they plot to kill Joseph. In the end, they decide on selling him into slavery and lying to their father, saying that a wild animal devoured the boy. Jacob is understandably broken-hearted. But God uses this for his purposes as well as we will find out over the next couple days.
Let’s briefly touch on today’s Psalm. It is kind of shocking. David complains that no one is faithful anymore and everyone’s a liar. Maybe some of you felt that way just this week. David makes a definite connection between being wicked with an abuse of the poor. You can kind of see the progression as David finally trusts that God will bring vengeance upon those who are evil. My big takeaway from this Psalm 12 is that people are people. We tend to get upset and say things like, “this generation is so far from God, this culture is so evil.” Y’all, this has been going on for millennia. This isn’t a new thing. Evil has been present and will be present in different forms until Jesus returns. As God’s people, we should be actively working AGAINST evil, to free people from oppression in Jesus’ name, to be agents of healing, and to boldly proclaim the Gospel. At the same time, we have to trust that God is in charge and Jesus is on the throne. In the end, God will hold everyone accountable. There will be a day of reckoning.
But I don’t want to end before talking about Mark 14. This chapter begins the passion of Jesus Christ. It starts with an unnamed woman anointing him with expensive perfume at Simon’s home in Bethany. Then, we have the Lord’s Supper, when Jesus celebrates the Passover meal with his disciples and turns things upside down (as Jesus was prone to do), pointing to his own death. Then, there is Jesus’ prediction of Peter’s denial (which we get to experience later in the chapter), Jesus’ prayer and the disciples’ nap in the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus’ arrest, and his time before the Sanhedrin. It’s a rather long chapter and a very important one so try to go through it slowly and take it all in.
I did want to spend a little time on Peter’s denial of Jesus. I don’t know why but I’ve always been fascinated by this passage. Peter was Jesus’ closest friend. He swore that if all the others fell away, he would not. And yet, he did. What made Peter deny Jesus? Probably fear. Fear does all kinds of things to us as human beings. Maybe he was scared of being arrested himself, or of being ostracized by the Jewish leaders, we don’t really know. But whatever the reason, he vehemently denies Jesus three times. When Peter realizes this, he has tremendous remorse and begins to cry.
Maybe I’m fascinated by this text because I have so often found myself in the same boat. I have denied Jesus. I haven’t spoke up when I knew I should have, I haven’t stood firm on certain issues, I haven’t loved others the way Jesus calls me to, I haven’t put Jesus first, I could go on and on. I have denied Jesus. I hope that I’ve gotten to the place in my spiritual walk in which I deny Jesus less. But I know that I am far from perfect and there are still those times. When I realize my denial, like Peter, I cry and I’m filled with sorrow and I have to go back to Jesus and repent. And just like he did for Peter, I’m forgiven and restored.
Think about your own life. How have you denied Jesus? What has been your reaction when you realize this?
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
April 16, 2024
Day 3 of Week 3
Scripture reading for today – Genesis 32-34; Psalm 145; Mark 13
Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the daily devotional that complements the New Hope Bible Reading Plan. We’ve been working our way through Genesis, some of the Psalms, and the Gospel of Mark. It’s been an interesting daily combination and I hope you are learning as much as me!
Today’s Genesis reading leaves a lot to think about. I’m only going to focus on certain pieces of it. If you want to go deeper, I would suggest you do so. I can always suggest some commentaries and there are some pretty good free ones online.
Jacob knew he needed to leave Laban and go home but he is fearful of meeting up with his brother, Esau. Afterall, he has tricked Esau out of his birthright and his father’s deathbed blessing. He expects that Esau will still be quite angry, possibly angry enough to kill him and his very large family. Jacob prays and comes up with a plan of action.
Jacob begins sending huge quantities of animals over to Esau as gifts. This includes 200 female goats, 20 male goats,200 ewes, 20 rams, 1530 female camels with their young, 40 cows, 10 bulls, 20 female donkeys, and 10 male donkeys. You see, he is essentially returning Esau’s birthright to him plus some. And he tells the servants who deliver these animals to refer to Esau as “the master” and Jacob as “the servant.” (They belong to your servant Jacob, but they are a gift for his master Esau. Look, he is coming right behind us.) Again, he is returning the blessing that belonged to Esau in hopes that Esau will have mercy on him and spare his life and the lives of his family members. Jacob is scared. He feels desperate. Now, Jacob has done everything he can do. He sends off his family across the river, half in one direction and the other half in another direction to reduce the bloodshed. He stays behind in the camp alone.
It was then, when Jacob was alone, that a man showed up and wrestled with Jacob all night. Jacob believes firmly that this man is God himself. This was a pivotal moment for Jacob. He is 60 years old, he is at the lowest moment of his life, and God shows up (maybe not in the way he expected, but he shows up!) Now, God could have defeated Jacob quickly but he allows him to keep holding on, and God doesn’t let go of Jacob either. Then, God changes Jacob’s name. He asks him his name and Jacob tells him (remember the name Jacob means deceiver) and God changes it to Israel. Here is where Jacob has come full circle. He is no longer the arrogant deceiver who could care less about his brother, his dying father, his many wives and their maidservants, but he is someone who says, “I’m not going back. I’m going to hold on to you, God. I’m going to be the man YOU knew I could be.”
Have you wrestled with God? This is our story, is it not? We wrestle with God all the time. We wrestle with God when we do something that we know we shouldn’t be doing. We wrestle with God when we are somewhere we know we shouldn’t be. If you are like me, you hear that still small voice, “Vicki, don’t make that choice. Don’t talk about that person. Don’t answer in anger. Don’t be judgmental.” We wrestle with God when we answer the question, Is there a God? We wrestle with God when we deal with tragedy, when we are disappointed, when we’ve prayed and prayed and prayed and still our loved one dies, or we lose our job or our marriage. We wrestle. We want to believe but we are angry, tired, and weak.
But like Jacob, our wrestling with God is actually an act of faith. It’s saying that, yes, I do believe in you, God, and I am going to hold on. I am going to hold on even though I don’t want to, even though I feel let down and grief-stricken. I will not let go!
By the way, things turn out okay for Jacob and Esau. Esau offers forgiveness and doesn’t even want to accept Jacob’s many gifts because he too has done pretty well for himself. It’s a great picture of reconciliation.
The topic of this Mark 13 is eschatology, or end times. Scholars agree that this chapter most likely gathers all of Jesus’ teachings on the topic and consolidates them here. I think one of the key features of this text is that Mark warns readers against making timetables and searching for the signs of the end of time. Instead, Jesus tells his disciples to be watchful, to be ready, and to be on guard. They are not to be deceived by the various signs or the people who think they know the signs. After all, Jesus himself does not know the day or hour. Simply be ready. Are you ready?
I find it fascinating how people have been trying to predict the end of time for hundreds, possibly thousands of years. Around the world, people have pointed to various geographical and sociological signs and said, “This day will be doomsday!” I mean, we just saw that with the most recent solar eclipse! I’ve been around many people in Christian circles who want to point to this event or that event and say, “The end times must benear.” And yet, Jesus clearly warns us against doing this in today’s reading. As Christians, there is not anything for which we need to fear. We simply have to be ready. Are you ready?
Until tomorrow.
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
April 15, 2024
Day 2 of Week 3
Scripture reading for today – Genesis 30-31; Psalm 11; Mark 12
Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope. I do hope these devotionals are helping provide some valuable context to our Bible reading. I know some of this reading is hard to make sense of at times. But we plug along faithfully. It’s actually quite a blessing for me to write these because I learn so much in the process. I hope you do too.
Today, we continue the saga of Jacob and his wives. As we mentioned yesterday, it seemed that Leah got the raw deal, discarded by her dad and not really loved by her husband. But God saw her pain and blessed her with many sons. With each child, we see a spiritual change in Leah based on what she names her boys. Reuben was the first-born and his name means “behold, a son.” When Leah had Reuben, she felt like the Lord had seen her misery. Simeon was second and his name means “God has heard.” Levi was third and his name means “joined in harmony,” because Leah thought after three sons, her husband would finally feel attached to her. By the fourth son, Judah, we see a change in Leah. Judah’s name means “the praised one.” It took four births before we see some healing. Instead of lamenting about her life, she begins to see God’s hand and starts to praise him!
But while Leah has born Jacob four boys, Rachel has been unable to conceive. Now, she is incredibly jealous of her sister. This is when the drama begins! Rachel has Jacob sleep with her handmaiden and through her, they have two sons. Leah, who has stopped having kids, responds by having Jacob sleep with her handmaiden and they have two sons together. Rachel is desperate for a baby of her own and there is this interesting interaction between sisters, sharing some mandrakes (which were thought to increase fertility in barren women) and making arrangements about who gets to sleep with Jacob when. As a result, Leah has two more babies, a boy and a girl, and Rachel finally has Joseph.
So, what in the world was Jacob thinking??? Scripture certainly doesn’t mention him having an opinion or taking any kind of stand against this craziness. It appears to the outside observer that he was perfectly fine being thrown from wife to wife to handmaiden to handmaiden. It appears he will sleep with whomever and whenever. We have perspective, of course, so what we know is that God’s purpose is for all of these sons to be the leaders of the twelve tribes of Israel. God was planning to fulfill the covenant he made with Abraham through these sons. We just get to see the messiness of getting there.
Today’s Psalm is written by King David. Listen to some of these verses, “The Lord is in his holy temple; the Lord is on his heavenly throne. He observes everyone on earth; his eyes examine them. The Lord examines the righteous, but the wicked, those who love violence, he hates with a passion.” As much difficulty as David was going through, he rested on the truth that God is always in control. Take some time and think about your own life. Do you trust that God is in control?
Mark chapter 12 is filled with many different teachings that are quite important to Jesus’ ministry. We can’t discuss all of them today but I do encourage you to read through the whole chapter if you haven’t done so already.
I’d like to just touch on the first part of the chapter, the parable of the tenants. I’m sure most of you have heard it before. A man plants a vineyard and hires some tenant farmers to tend to it. Tenant farmers rent the land from the owner and typically pay their “rent” in either money or crops. In this parable, the landowner is seeking his rent in some of the fruit that was produced. He sends several servants to go collect the produce from the tenant farmers and each servant is either beaten severely or killed. Finally, the landowner sends his own son to collect the debt but the wicked tenant farmers kill him as well.
As with all parables, this has much deeper meaning. The tenant farmers represent the Jewish leaders and teachers of the law. God continues to give them chances to respond to his prophets and the prophets are continually rejected. Finally, God sends his own son and he is killed. At any point, the chief priests and teachers of the law could have turned away from their plot to kill Jesus. They actually stood there and listened to this parable as Jesus shared it. Rather than being convicted, they became all the more intent on killing this man who threatened their way of being. Something to think about…
Until tomorrow.
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
April 14, 2024
Day 1 of Week 3
Scripture reading for today – Genesis 28-29; Mark 11
Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope. I hope that you took the two off days to spend extra time in prayer or catch up on your reading.
Let’s dig into our Genesis reading for today, chapters 28-29. Here we find Jacob, the deceiver, actually getting deceived himself. Jacob, at his father’s request, goes to the land of his people to find a wife. He is searching for his uncle, his mother’s brother, Laban. He quickly falls in love with his uncle’s younger daughter, Rachel (you’ve probably figured this out, but that would have made her Jacob’s first cousin). But Laban is sneaky man. He agrees to let Jacob marry Rachel after seven years of work on his land. But when the time comes, Laban switches out his older daughter, Leah, for Rachel. So, without knowing it, Jacob marries Leah and sleeps with her.
I know, I know. How in the world could Jacob not notice he was marrying a different woman? They may have been about the same size but wouldn’t they look different? There are several possible reasons that Jacob didn’t notice. First, Leah was probably wearing a veil. Second, it was dark. And lastly, Jacob may have had a bit too much to drink at his wedding celebration. Still, it does seem weird to us. When Jacob finds out he married Leah instead of Rachel, he gets quite angry with Laban. Laban decides to allow him to marry Rachel as well, but in turn, Jacob owes him seven more years of work.
More deception. More dysfunction. I’ve always felt really sorry for Leah in this scenario. I kind of picture Rachel being the pretty and popular girl at school and Leah is the one living in her shadow. She seems to be unwanted by her father and now her husband. Can you imagine her husband looking at her the day after they got married and being enraged that she wasn't her sister? Talk about putting a dark mark on wedding memories. But, as we find out in tomorrow’s reading, God has not forgotten Leah in her sorrow. He does bless her and she begins to praise God as well.
Let’s at least touch on Mark 11 as well. The first part of the chapter is the Palm Sunday scripture, what we call in church language, the triumphal entry. This is when Jesus rides on a colt into Jerusalem and gets a royal welcome, from the branches and cloaks being thrown on the ground to the shouts of Hosanna, the people were welcoming a king. Of course, they think that Jesus would be the kind of king who would save them from the oppressive Romans. In reality, he is a different kind of king, who intends to save them in a much more significant way.
But what I want to focus on in this chapter is Jesus’ clearing of the temple in verses 15-18. Let’s talk a bit about the temple. This was Israel’s third temple and it was still under construction. It was huge! It had four sections: the Court of the Gentiles (which was a large open air area), the Court of Women, the Court of Israel (for circumcised Jewish men), and the Holy of Holies. The three latter sections were in the inside sanctuary.
In today’s passage, Jesus encounters the unholy commerce in the Court of the Gentiles. There were many merchants selling animals for sacrifice and there were money changers present for foreign Jews to exchange their money to the local currency for the temple tax.
So why was Jesus so upset? Wasn’t this all part of the sacrificial system? This was the one area of the temple designated for Gentiles (the nations) to pray. They weren’t allowed in any other area of the temple. And the Jewish people had taken over the entire area for trade and profit. Lots of money was being made here. Jesus is beyond angry. The religious leaders have an interesting reaction to this. They are scared. I’m thinking that they know they are in the wrong but they don’t want to submit to this Jesus character. Thus, they begin to plot how to kill him.
More tomorrow…
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
April 11, 2024
Day 5 of Week 2
Scripture reading for today – Genesis 26-27; Mark 10
Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the daily devotional that complements New Hope Church’s 5 day a week Bible Reading Plan. We have now made it halfway through the book of Genesis! Keep up the good work. As difficult as some of these passages can be, they were included in God’s Word for a purpose. I would love to hear some of your big takeaways thus far.
Let’s get right into our Scripture for today. In the beginning of chapter 26, God confirms the covenant he made with Abraham to his son, Isaac. God emphasizes to Isaac how he plans to make his descendants numerous and give him the land of Canaan, and that all nations will be blessed through his offspring. Isaac, following in his father’s footsteps, passes off his wife as his sister in their new residence. Like so many of us, Isaac is deceitful in some ways but incredibly obedient in others. But obviously, Isaac's heart wants to serve God and God continues to pour his blessings into his life. Remember, God looks on the heart. God looks on our hearts too!
But in the very next chapter, things turn darker. Isaac’s boys are at it again. Here we have Jacob stealing his father’s deathbed blessing that was truly intended for the older son, Esau. Let’s be real. This is a family whose dysfunction has been fueled by parental favoritism and ugly rivalry between brothers. Just in case you didn’t know, parental favoritism of one child over another always leads to toxicity. And in this family, the toxic ripple effects will last for generations. After stealing Esau’s birthright in chapter 25 (which Esau carelessly allowed because he was hungry for a bowl of soup), today we read about Jacob scheming with his mother to steal even more from Esau - his father’s blessing. Words are powerful, but this deathbed blessing wasn’t just words. When Isaac speaks a blessing over Jacob, he’s passing along a divinely ordained covenant with Yahweh. He’s bringing Jacob into the Abrahamic covenant, and essentially saying, “It’s through your family that God will redeem the world.”
As a mom, I have to wonder why Rebekah did what she did. Why did she favor Jacob so much? What was her issue with Esau? Maybe they weren’t as close, maybe Esau wasn’t as bright and maybe his wives were annoying, but he was still her son. I think what is most distressing is her deceit and dishonesty. Everything is so conniving and manipulative, so sinful. Scripture holds nothing back. And yet, God continues to use this totally imperfect family to carry out his purposes.
After a few chapters of Genesis, I’m usually quite ready to move onto the Gospel of Mark. Today’s chapter, Mark 10, has Jesus turning things on their head. I love this! Jesus is teaching that following him will affect how we behave in the most fundamental parts of our lives. He starts the chapter by teaching on divorce; teaching that marriage is not simply a contract, but a creation of God, and that both men and women are equal partners in the marriage. At that time in Jewish marriages, divorce was common but the men were clearly in control, as they could easily discard their wives and remarry. But Jesus is turning this upside down. He is saying, no, in God’s Kingdom, marriage is a covenant between the man, the woman, and God. The commitment is sacred.
He goes on to teach about children. Parents were bringing children to him to be blessed and the disciples scolded them. Jesus intervenes and says, “No, let the little children come to me.” Keep in mind that children in the first century weren’t seen as having much value. Again, Jesus is flipping things upside down. He says that to follow him, we have to actually become like little children–vulnerable, powerless, needing someone else to provide safety and sustenance. I wish I could see the faces of his listeners as he said this. They were probably shocked.
Then we come to the really tough teaching. A man comes to Jesus and asks, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus says, “Well you need to follow all the commandments.” He lists them, you shall not murder, commit adultery, steal, or give false testimony. You shall honor your father and mother. Than, he adds one - you shall not defraud. This wasn’t in the ten commandments, possibly Jesus added it because many of the wealthy were wealthy because they had taken advantage of the poor. If that was the case with this man, we don’t know.
The man simply says, “Yes, I’ve done all those things since I was a boy.” Then, Scripture says, “Jesus looked at him and loved him.” The word for love used here, in the Greek, is the highest form of love in the New Testament, meaning love that characterizes God. There must have been something really rare and admirable about the man, because this is the only place this form of love is used in Mark. Because he loved the man, Jesus looks at him and says there is still one thing you lack.
It was assumed that if one followed the law perfectly (we know that’s impossible but if one did a good job following the law) then they would receive eternal life. Jesus is saying, that is not the case. Jesus isn’t denying that this man is following the law. This is obviously a man of high integrity who is clearly doing all he can to be obedient to God’s laws. “One thing you lack,” Jesus said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
The text says that the man’s face fell. He went away sad because he had great wealth. This is the irony. The children in the former story who possess nothing are told that the kingdom of God is theirs; yet this man who possesses everything still lacks something! Only when he sells all he has—only when he becomes like a vulnerable child—will he possess everything. But he isn’t willing to do that. He decides to walk away from Jesus. The man wasn’t expecting to have to make that kind of sacrifice. He had no idea following Jesus would be so hard.
The disciples are really confused by this. At that time, most people believed that being wealthy was a sign of God’s blessing. Jesus is saying that this man has to sell everything and give it to the poor. And that’s when Jesus says the really, really hard thing...it’s easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. They ask, “Then who possibly can be saved?” Jesus says, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.”
Most of us should feel at least slightly uncomfortable when we read this passage. Don’t dismiss that feeling, rest in it a bit before you move on. The reality is that we are all wealthy in comparison to the rest of the world. Jesus isn’t saying that having possessions is a bad thing. Allowing our stuff, our resources, to get in the way of our relationship with Jesus is a bad thing though. What does it mean to be a follower of Jesus? I think we have so often fallen into the trap of thinking that following Jesus, being a disciple, is about following a list of rules: following commandments, generally being a good person, going to church, giving some money to good causes, and doing good “Christian” things. But here Jesus is saying that being a disciple is not about following a list of rules. If that were the case, then the rich young ruler would have been a shoo-in. Jesus is saying, following him is about denying yourself and picking up your cross. We just talked about this, how we don’t like to deny ourselves. We don’t like to be uncomfortable. This means looking at our lives and renouncing any part that gets in our walk with Jesus.
Following Jesus isn’t simply one activity in a busy life filled with lots of great stuff. No, following Jesus means radically reorienting our life. Jesus comes first and our devotion to Jesus as Lord and Savior affects every other area of our lives. Our dedication to Jesus affects how we treat other people, it affects how we spend our money, it affects how we spend our time, it affects how we behave. Following Jesus means a radical adjustment to priorities.
What is it that keeps you from fully following Jesus? What part of your life have you not yet submitted to him? What do you need to renounce in order to submit your whole life to Christ?
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
April 10, 2024
Day 4 of Week 2
Scripture reading for today – Genesis 24-25; Psalm 4; Mark 9
Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope. We are going to switch things up today and start with the New Testament Scripture, Mark 9.
Today, we join Jesus, Peter, James, and John, on the mountaintop. This text is referred to as the transfiguration. They all trek up to the top of the mountain and Jesus “transfigures” right before their very eyes. For just a moment, put yourself in the position of these three disciples. They had only known the flesh and blood Jesus. We know Jesus as risen Lord and Savior. Thus, I think we would expect Jesus to wear dazzling white robes and be all shiny and glorious. But they didn’t. Then, right before their very eyes, they get a glimpse of Jesus’ glory, as they had never seen it before. Jesus was radiating the very presence of God and these three disciples got to be witnesses to it.
Then, Moses and Elijah appeared before them and they were talking to Jesus. We don’t know why Moses and Elijah appear on the mountain with Jesus except that they were two Old Testament figures who anticipated the coming of Jesus, the final prophet to come and deliver God’s people once and for all. Their work, their ministries, are basically fulfilled by the person of Jesus. They were servants of God but they weren’t God. Jesus, on the other hand, is God and the disciples get a glimpse of that right here.
But there is something about being confronted by the power and glory of God which can make us uncomfortable and even fearful. In awe, yes, but also frightened. Maybe you’ve been there. Peter is there. He struggles to simply rest in the presence of God’s glory. He doesn’t know what to do or say so he blurts out, “let’s set up three shelters–one for you, Jesus, and one for Moses and Elijah.” Now, Peter is referring to the festival of booths or tabernacles which faithful Jews participating in every year. They make structures in their yards as a sign of when God will tabernacle with his people. Thus, this might seem like a weird thing for Peter to say to us but it wasn’t too off the wall. He is like, “umm...I think God is tabernacling with us and we need to make the shelters.” He is kind of panicky. It seemed like a good thought at the time. What Peter doesn’t quite understand yet is that before his eyes God’s dwelling with humanity is present, for Jesus is the new tabernacle of God dwelling with humanity. The shelters aren’t needed. God is present with his people through Jesus Christ.
There is something about mountain-top experiences–times in which we get a glimpse of the glory and presence of God in our lives. I’m hoping you have each had some kind of mountaintop experience in your walk with Jesus, times in which the veil is removed and you’ve gotten a taste of the presence of God. These are times in which we are confronted with God’s power and it can’t help but change us. You realize that Jesus wasn’t just a good, wise man and teacher who walked the earth 2000 years ago but rather was God himself, King of Kings, and Lord of Lords.
Be sure to read through the Genesis chapters today. It’s the passage detailing Isaac marrying Rebekah, Abraham’s death, and the animosity between Jacob and Esau. Yes, there is still more family drama. We’ll chat more about that tomorrow.
Have a great day.
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
April 9, 2024
Day 3 of Week 2
Scripture reading for today – Genesis 21-23 Psalm 107; Mark 8
Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope. Please keep me posted on how you are doing with your daily Bible reading. I know keeping up with the reading can be a challenge but I do feel like it is worth it. God is good and he will honor our efforts. We have to know God’s Word to live God’s Word.
The drama continues in Genesis! What I find so fascinating is that nothing is really held back in Scripture. There is no pretending that these people who God works through don’t have faults. Rather, their faults are front and center for all to see. And today we see more of the this. Isaac, the son of Abraham and Sarah, is born and Sarah is once again enraged with Haggar and Ishmael. She feels like Ishmael is mocking Isaac so she decides to throw them both out of household. Thus, Haggar is back out in the desert with her son. There is probably a lot to say about Sarah’s cruelty and jealousy, but for now I just want to focus on how God once again meets Haggar in the desert. In her darkest hour, God shows up. He provides everything her little family needs to survive. Think about your own life. How has God shown up in the middle of your deserts?
The next chapter has Abraham almost sacrificing his son, Isaac. This passage has always kind of bothered me. It seems inconsistent with God’s character to want Abraham to kill his son. And remember, when something seems off, we need to dig deeper. What is God doing here? In the past, Abraham doubted God. Think about all the mishaps we have been reading about. He tried to have children his own way instead of waiting on God. He repeatedly tried to pass Sarah off as a sister instead of his wife. By asking Abraham to sacrifice Isaac, God was testing Abraham. Does Abraham finally trust God? He is finally ready to trust in God’s provision? I don’t think God ever intended harm to come to Isaac. I think he wanted to see how much Abraham had grown.
Besides that, this passage is a beautiful foretelling of another sacrifice. God himself sacrificed his only son in order for us to be reconciled to a holy God. John 3:16,For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
Now, let’s jump to Mark 8. Again, there is a lot of great substance here but I want to focus on the end of the chapter, specifically verses 34-38. This is a pretty tough passage about what it means to truly be a disciple of Jesus.
Somehow, in our American Christian lifestyles we have lost sight of what it means to really be a disciple. We tend to think that being a disciple is about going to church, being a good person, and maybe sometimes giving some money to a worthy cause. We have narrowed down discipleship to a list of tasks. We have accepted comfort and being good enough. How wrong we have been. Being a disciple of Jesus is not about tasks, it is certainly not about comfort, but all about heart. There is self-sacrifice and maybe even some pain involved. Jesus says, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.” Wow. How many of us like to deny ourselves? That doesn’t sound very comfortable. We also have to take up our cross. Ouch. Carrying a cross doesn’t sound like much fun either. I would imagine it would be heavy and quite difficult. And yet, this is how Jesus describes following him. Then, he says that those who want to gain their lives will have to lose them. Total surrender to him. We are no longer our own. We belong to Jesus. Are you ready to be a true disciple of Christ?
I didn’t touch on Psalm 107 today but do take some time to read through it.
Let’s chat again tomorrow. Have a great day!
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
April 8, 2024
Day 2 of Week 2
Scripture reading for today – Genesis 19-20; Psalm 1; Mark 7
Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the daily devotional that complements New Hope Church’s 5 day a week Bible Reading Plan.
Today presented us with more head-scratching stories in Genesis. There are two things that happened with Lot that are incredibly difficult for us to grasp. The first is when the strangers (angels) came to see Lot and he graciously offered them hospitality. The men of the town demanded that Lot send the strangers outside so they could have sex with them. Lot, bound my an ancient near east standard of hospitality and protection of guests, refused to do so. What he did do though was to offer up his own daughters to the men to essentially be gang-raped. The men didn’t want the girls though and continued to threaten Lot. Thankfully, the angels rescued lot and struck the townsmen with blindness so they couldn’t harm anyone.
Obviously, Lot had spent too much time in Sodom. While Lot was right to protect his visitors, he was absolutely wrong to offer up his daughters. Possibly because he had been living far away from relatives or the influence of God in his life, Lot had obviously been highly influenced by the culture around him. He had backslidden and he was wrong.
We see this theme again later in the chapter when Lot’s daughters get him drunk in order to sleep with him and become pregnant. The whole family has moved so very far from God. Without any kind of godly influence in their lives, they are doing whatever they deem right in the moment. It’s a scary lesson for all of us, really. We have to stay connected to other people of God. We need each other. This is kind of an extreme example, but it certainly makes its point.
It's interesting that the Psalm we read for today starts out, “Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night.” There is a theme here about evilness leading to destruction. We’ve already seen the consequences of sin over and over again in Genesis and we are only halfway done with the book. Lot seems to have lost his way, no longer delighting in the law of God. He’s been walking with the wicked and it shows in his behavior. The sin of Lot and his daughters will now affect the next generation. Each of the daughters did get pregnant by their father. One had a boy who would become the leader of the Moabites. The other had a boy who would lead the Ammonites. These two groups become enemies of Israel and were known for their idolatry, violence, and immorality.
Okay, I don’t want to neglect Mark 7 today because I feel like there is important teaching here. In this text, there are Pharisees from Jerusalem who have gathered around Jesus. Maybe they were checking him out, trying to find fault, we aren’t really sure. Remember, the Pharisees were part of the strictest sect in Judiasm, and they believed in following the Law in the fullest sense. They would have expected a rabbi and his disciples to follow the letter of the law.
These Pharisees notice that Jesus’ disciples were going about their day, coming back from the marketplace, and not going through the ceremonial hand-washing rituals required by the oral traditions of the rabbis. Keep in mind, Scripture did not always give a lot of detail so the rabbis would fill in the gaps with their own rules. Thus, they ask Jesus why his disciples eat with defiled hands. This is a dig–it was more like, why aren’t you properly teaching your disciples? Jesus has this interesting reply, he quotes Scripture from the prophet Isaiah: “‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are merely human rules.’ You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to human traditions.” The prophets were known for warning the people because they would follow the letter of the law and completely lose the spirit of it
On the surface, there wasn’t anything wrong with what the Pharisees were trying to do. They had purity laws which they thought were very important in following God. But you see, Jesus could see past their words, past their ritual, and into their hearts. He saw insincerity, hollowness, and hypocrisy. Thus, he sees this as a fulfillment of Biblical prophecy. Just as in the times of Isaiah, the Pharisees were giving lip service to following God but their hearts were farfrom him. They were concerned about the Sabbath being followed to the tee but they would cheat people in the marketplace. They were concerned about following the specifics of the handwashing but they weren’t at all concerned about the widow and the orphan. Something was truly skewed here. They were all about piety but they neglected compassion, justice, and love. Jesus emphasizes that God is not as concerned about following rules as he is about their heart. Their hearts were hard. Their hearts were far from God.
Of course, it’s the same for us. God cares about our hearts! He isn’t interested in our religious busyness, he wants us to walk closely with him. He doesn’t care if we “look” like a good Christian, he actually wants us to be one – to love him and love others. He doesn’t care about our ceremonial handwashing---he cares about if we are treating others with the love of Christ. And if we aren’t, then all the ceremony, all the church stuff, it’s kind of just a farce. Why? Because God looks on our hearts. We aren’t fooling God.
Lord, create in me a clean heart and renew a right spirit within me.
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
April 7, 2024
Day 1 of Week 2
Scripture reading for today – Genesis 16-18; Mark 6
Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the daily devotional that complements New Hope Church’s Bible Reading Plan. Our aim is to read the Bible in a year, growing in our walk with Jesus along the way.
If you recall, at the end of last week, we met Abram and talked about how God promised to make him a father of many nations. Despite some bad choices, God uses Abram in a powerful way. We see the continuation of this in today’s Scripture. God promises to give Abram and Sarai a son but when it doesn’t happen in their timing, they decide to take matters in their own hands. Sarai devises a plan to have Abram sleep with her handmaid, Haggar, in order to bear him a son. When Haggar does get pregnant, Sarai isn’t happy at all. Despite the fact that this was all her idea, Sarai becomes furious with Haggar and abuses her. Haggar leaves and heads into the desert, a dangerous scenario for a pregnant handmaid in those days. But God meets her there. He sends an angel who tells her to go back to Sarai and promises that her son, Ishmael, will be a strong and defiant man.
I used to read this Scripture and really burn with anger toward Sarai. Why was she so mean to Haggar and why didn’t she just trust God to begin with? But over the years, I’ve realized how often I take matters into my own hands, I don’t wait for God’s timing, I jump the gun and say and do things without listening to God’s clear instructions to wait on him. While I in no way condone her treatment of Haggar, it’s easy to see how she burned with jealousy. She wanted to be the one who was pregnant with Abram’s child! She wanted to see God’s promise come true right now!!! Of course, we know the end of the story. God’s mercies are so very good. He cared for Haggar in her hour of need, and he cared with Sarai, despite her disobedience. And God also cares for us, despite ours.
What’s fascinating to me about this power couple, Abram and Sarai, is how very normal they are. They have times in which they make such crazy choices that leave us scratching our heads and then they have times in which their obedience toward God is incredible. After the Sarai and Haggar situation, we move right into God’s covenant with Abram. This is when God changes Abram’s name to Abraham and changes Sarai’s name to Sarah. God tells Abraham to circumcise all the men in his household and he does it. He doesn’t argue, he doesn’t complain and talk about how painful it will be; he just obeys. God reconfirms his promise to give Abraham the land of Canaan, to give him a son through Sarah (he’s more specific this time!), and make him the father of many nations. From that point forward, circumcision was a sign of belonging to the people of God.
It's easy to spend a lot of time on the Genesis scripture because there is a lot of it but I hope you also made it through Mark 6. There is a lot of substance there as well! I wanted to focus on just one portion of that chapter, verses 6-13, when Jesus sends out his disciples. I’ve always had a particular affinity toward this Scripture. I like to picture Jesus telling his disciples to go into the towns two by two, take nothing with them, and simply preach about the Kingdom, telling people to repent. I wonder what they are thinking – are they scared and apprehensive like I might be, do they consider changing professions?
The best part of the Scripture to me is that they did it; they did exactly what Jesus told them to do. This was such a huge step of faith. I mean, they brought nothing with them! They didn’t pack snacks or make sure the local inn had space for them, just in case. They trusted Jesus. And the message he had them preach was simple – Repent! I think sometimes we make things way too hard and complicated. If we just did what Jesus said to do and trusted his guidance, how much easier things would be for us. Please know I’m saying this to myself as well.
But here is the thing – Jesus sends all of us out into the towns to preach about him. The disciples were sent and so are we (after all, we are his disciples too!) Jesus sends us into our neighborhoods, our workplaces, our communities, and our families. What message are we preaching into these places? What message do you bring with you?
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
April 4, 2024
Day 5 of Week 1
Scripture reading for today – Genesis 12-15; Psalm 148, Mark 5
Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope. Congrats!!! You have made it through week 1 of the New Hope Bible Reading Plan. Remember, we are doing a 5 day a week reading plan to give you extra time at the end of each week to either rest, catch up, or get ahead. Please give me feedback on how it’s going.
Today, we read about God’s calling of Abram. What’s fascinating about this is that God calls Abram out of the land of Ur and Abram complies, bringing both his wife, Sarai, and his nephew, Lot. We get the impression this man named Abram must be super godly and held in high esteem. I mean God has promised to bless him and make him into a great nation. Then, in the very next section, Abram lies to the Egyptian royalty, saying Sarai isn’t his wife but his sister, which means she is taken into the Egyptian palace to be a concubine. Abram is safe but our opinion of him is certainly lessoned. He then has a falling out with this nephew over land. And yet, God makes a covenant with him in chapter 15, promising to give him the land in which the Canaanites are currently residing. We will read more about Abram’s poor choices tomorrow.
So, does this make you scratch your head? Sometimes, I read Scripture and I’m like, “Really, God???” And then, God reminds me that he uses regular, normal, broken, messed up people to do his work and advance his purposes. He used Abram (later Abraham) to create a new nation. He used Moses, David, the prophets, the disciples, and Paul. All of these people had serious faults. Just like you and me. But he calls us anyway. While we are far from perfect, he calls us anyway to advance his Kingdom. No matter how far we’ve strayed or broken we may be, God wants to use us. Thank you, Jesus!
I can’t finish today’s devotional without mentioning Mark 5. This includes two of my favorite miracles, the healing of the demon-possessed man and the healing of the woman who had been bleeding for twelve years. I’m just going to touch on the first one today. Jesus heads to the other side of the lake, which means the gentile, or pagan, side of the lake. These people were not Jews and would have been shunned by the Jewish people. I love how Jesus is breaking barriers here. He meets this man who is being tortured by evil spirits. The man is cutting himself, howling at night, and any chains they use to restrain him, he manages to break. We can guess he had been this way for some time and thus, had been relegated to the graveyard. He must have been quite a nuisance to the townspeople.
But then he meets Jesus. Jesus seems to actually seek him out. And what does Jesus do? Well, he heals the man. He totally and completely heals him–physically, emotionally, and spiritually. You know what’s interesting here is that when the townspeople see the man healed, what do they do? Do they rush over to him and say, “How wonderful to see you healed and whole so you can have a nice life.” No, they’re scared and they beg Jesus to leave. Why do you think that was? Clearly, the loss of 2000 pigs would have been a terrible economic loss. But I think that would have made them mad, not necessarily afraid. I can’t help thinking it was because they didn’t want to face their own demons. Rene Girard, a 20th century philosopher said, “Clearly the drowning of the pigs bothers them less than the drowning of their demons.” Is it that they didn’t want to be healed? My guess is they wanted to be healed but they didn’t want to do the work that leads to healing. And what work is that? First, it means admitting you have some issues. It means admitting they you don’t have it all together. It means admitting that you are wounded and may have wounded others. It means admitting that you can’t handle it on our own, that you can’t fix it, that you have been wrong, that you are hurting, that you need help, that you need healing deep within. This isn’t surface level healing I’m talking about because that’s what’sgot us here in the first place. All of us, we need deep soul healing.
Here's the truth: True healing always starts with Jesus. In fact, there is no true healing without Jesus. Healing ourselves, our churches, and our land begins with healing the wounds of our own heart. Before we can heal the legion of demons that our nation is facing, we must address the evil within ourselves. No one really likes this kind of question but friends, have you faced the evil within yourself?
Okay, I know I should probably stop here but there is just one more thing that amazes me about this miracle story. After Jesus heals the man, he wants to go with Jesus. But Jesus tells him to go and share what happened to him. And the man did! We know from later passages that by the time Jesus returns to that side of the lake, the healed man had shared the Gospel with hundreds, if not thousands. I love how we see, once again, God working through a broken, flawed person. God healed this man and in turn, his witness led to many, many, many others receiving the spiritual healing they so desperately needed. And if God can use Abram and if God can use this guy, then God can certainly use us!
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
April 3, 2024
Day 4 of Week 1
Scripture reading for today – Genesis 9-11, Mark 4
Welcome to the Daily Dose of Hope, New Hope Church’s daily devotional that complements our Bible reading plan.
Let’s be real. Today’s reading from Genesis is a bit strange. This isn’t the first and it won’t be the last time we read Scripture in Genesis that raises both eyebrows and questions. One minute, we have this beautiful covenant that God makes with Noah, signified by the rainbow. The next minute, Noah gets drunk and passes out naked in his tent. There is family drama and Noah becomes furious with his son, Ham, for looking upon his nakedness and not doing anything to cover him up. Then, the two other sons do their best to cover up dad’s naked body. I’ve been asked about this passage quite a bit by people confused about what made Noah so mad. Noah’s reaction is strange to our modern minds, particularly since he curses not Ham, but Ham’s son, Canaan.
The short answer to eveyone’s question is I don’t really know. I’ve done a lot of research, reading commentaries by people a lot smarter than myself, and it seems that there is no consensus. Some think something a lot more immoral and insidious happened in that tent with drunk Noah and his son, Ham. The truth is that we will never know and we don’t need to know. The whole situation simply reveals that sin was still clearly an issue on planet earth. The flood did not “cure” humanity from the evils of sin in any way, shape, or form. This will only become more evident as we work our way through the book of Genesis. It’s going to take something bigger and more powerful than flood waters to truly cleanse all of us.
What about the whole cursing of Canaan? It’s possible that Noah recognized something in his son and grandson that was quite disturbing to him. A truth was revealed. God knew that Noah was without fault but something happened to Ham and that was passed to Canaan. The following generations of Canaanites were known for their brutality and lack of regard for human life.
Be sure to also work through Mark chapter 4. There are some pretty powerful parables here, including the sower and the mustard seed. What I want to briefly touch on, however, is Jesus calming the storm. This is such a powerful narrative. The disciples are in the boat with Jesus when a serious storm comes upon them. Living in Florida, we know about really bad storms that up up fast. The disciples are clearly scared and seriously think that drowning is a possibility. Jesus, however, is quite content, sleeping like a baby in the stern of the boat. The disciples start yelling at him as they are furiously bailing out water, “Don’t you care about us?” And of course we know what happens. Jesus wakes up and calms the storm with just a few stern words.
It’s worth mentioning that we aren’t promised a perfect life, not at all! There are times when the storms in our lives are quite nasty. Afterall, we live in a broken and sinful world (which hasn’t really changed that much since Noah’s time). But there is good news, very good news really! What God does promise us is that when the world comes crashing down, God is right there with us. Jesus is there with us, in the sinking boat. Whatever difficulties you are dealing with right now, you are not alone bailing out water. Jesus is with you. This is an important part of the story: Jesus isn’t elsewhere. He isn’t in some cushy palace somewhere eating olives and hummus. He is in the boat with the disciples. Sinking and bailing. Bailing and sinking.
J.D. Walt (author of Seedbed’s Wake-up Call) writes, “We aren’t sending our prayers up there somewhere.” Rather, we are speaking directly and immediately to the risen Lord. Though unseen to the naked eye, he is right here, right now. Jesus is not with us in the sense that someone who can’t come to our birthday party says they will be with us “in spirit.” Jesus is not with us “in spirit,” but in person–in the power of the Holy Spirit. He is closer than our very breath. So wherever you are, whatever anxieties, worries, sadness, grief you are dealing with, YOU are not alone...you are never alone. You are with the one who has the power to calm the storm on the outside and on the inside.
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
Daily Dose of Hope
April 2, 2024
Day 3 of Week 1
Scripture reading for today – Genesis 6-8, Psalm 104, Mark 3
Once again, welcome to the Daily Dose of Hope, New Hope Church’s daily devotional that complements our Bible reading plan. Congrats! You have made it to day 3. Keep up the good work. If you are struggling at all to get through the reading, I would suggest you spend some time in prayer beforehand and ask the Holy Spirit to give you insight and inspiration. Even for those who aren’t struggling, praying beforehand is always a good idea.
Today’s reading in Genesis is text with which many of us are familiar. It’s Noah and the flood. Humanity had gotten so depraved, so horrific, and so sinful, that God is simply fed up. He wants to cleanse the earth. I’ll be honest, I’ve always struggled with this passage. No matter how bad things were, it’s hard to imagine all the innocents who were killed in the flood waters. In the end, I have to trust that our totally just and loving God had a bigger and better plan. Aferall, all of those who died were made in his image as well. He loved them all.
I want to focus today on the Psalm, number 104. The Psalmist focuses on God as both creator and sustainer. For this, he is to be praised! He speaks of how nature serves God’s purposes. God created nature and God provides all that the natural world needs to thrive. Although this Psalm is speaking about creation, echoing Genesis 1, I can’t help but think that it also sheds like on our reading about Noah and the flood. God created everything – every bird, every stream, every flower and tree. It was beautiful and perfect, all things worked together in harmony, bringing glory to God, providing witness to his majesty. And then, God allowed it all to be washed away. Sin was so very serious and devastating that God allowed all of this perfection to be laid to waste under a sea of saltwater. I guess the final verse of the Psalm sums it up (v. 35), But may sinners vanish from the earth and the wicked be no more. God is serious about sin. I guess the big question is, “are we?”
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
The Daily Dose of Hope is a devotional intended to provide context and reflection to the New Hope Church Bible Reading Plan. It’s our goal to read the Bible in a year together as a family of faith. Five days a week we read. Two days a week we either rest or catch up. Reading the Bible is the number one way to grow in our walk with Jesus. We have to know God’s Word to live God’s Word. Now for our Daily Dose of Hope… https://www.findnewhope.com
Daily Dose of Hope March 31, 2024 He is Risen! Day 1 of Week 1
Scripture reading for today – Genesis 1 and 2, Psalm 19, Mark 1
Happy Easter and welcome to the very first Daily Dose of Hope, New Hope Church’s daily devotional that complements our Bible reading plan. While reading through the Bible in one year may sound a bit challenging, I know that all who participate will be blessed. The number one way we grow in our faith at Christians is to read God’s Word. My prayer is that everyone will make a concerted effort to do the daily reading. If you can’t do it all, then do part of it. Some is always better than none. And the good thing is this is a five day a week reading plan so you will have two extra days to catch up if you need them. My promise to you is that I will keep up with these daily devotionals to provide a little context and extra reflection for the reading. I won’t typically address all the Scripture reading in the devotional, but will speak to what the Holy Spirit brought to my attention on any given day. Your feedback is always welcome!
Today, we are literally starting at the very beginning. What we find in the first two chapters of Genesis are two different but complementary creation narratives. In Genesis 1, we read about God creating the world and everything in it in six days and resting on the seventh day. God declares everything he made, “good.”
In Genesis 2, we read about God creating the world in a slightly different order and he creates man from the dust of the ground. We find God creating the exquisite garden of Eden, where the man lived along with plentiful trees and food. But unlike Genesis 1, God said that things weren’t so good because man was alone. Just the animals were not enough; thus, God created woman from Adam’s rib.
We could go in a lot of different directions with this text but what I find most striking today is how, from the very, very beginning, God knew our need for community. God’s creation is amazing. The majesty of all God made is hard to put into words. But God knew that we needed more than trees. We need more than animals (some of you might disagree with me here but I’m leaning into Scripture on this one.) We need one another. Human beings are designed to be in community. Community, being with other people, fills a deep soul need. It’s simply how God made us. How are you fulfilling this deep soul need for being in community with others?
The second reading today was Psalm 19. This is one of five creation Psalms, so it seems very appropriate that this is the first one we read. It’s not too long so be sure you read through it all slowly and take it in. The Psalmist has been speaking about the perfection of God’s decrees and their own deep desire to follow God’s ways. The final verse of the Psalm is probably something you have heard before: May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer. How can we know if our words and the thoughts of our heart are pleasing to God? Do you have a sense of that in your own life? How I need God’s Word to guide me. On my own, I can come up with all kinds of excuses but God’s Word is the standard by which we measure our walk with the Lord. Take a moment and say this verse aloud, May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.
I want to just briefly touch on Mark 1 in closing. Mark is probably my favorite Gospel because it is short, sweet, and gets right to the point. There is no beating around the bush with Mark. The writer seeks to get right down to business and answer the most pressing questions of life: Who is Jesus? and What is this Good News that he proclaims? Take a moment and think about your own answer to these two questions. Let’s see how your answers begin to take shape as we work our way through the text over the next two weeks.
Blessings, Pastor Vicki
Happy Easter!
Pastor Vicki Harrison
Luke 24:6-7, He isn't here! He is risen from the dead! Remember what he told you back in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be betrayed into the hands of sinful men and be crucified, and that he would rise again on the third day.
Matthew 28:5-6, Then the angel spoke to the women. "Don't be afraid!" he said. "I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He isn't here! He is risen from the dead, just as he said would happen. Come, see where his body was lying. Now, sing with joy and passion as we praise our risen Savior today!
Christ the Lord is Risen Today Charles Wesley, 1739
- Christ the Lord is ris'n today, Alleluia! Sons of men and angels say, Alleluia! Raise your joys and triumphs high, Alleluia! Sing, ye heav'ns, and earth, reply, Alleluia!
- Lives again our glorious King, Alleluia! Where, O death, is now thy sting? Alleluia! Once He died our souls to save, Alleluia! Where thy victory, O grave? Alleluia!
- Love's redeeming work is done, Alleluia! Fought the fight, the battle won, Alleluia! Death in vain forbids His rise, Alleluia! Christ hath opened paradise, Alleluia!
- Soar we now where Christ hath led, Alleluia! Foll'wing our exalted Head, Alleluia! Made like Him, like Him we rise, Alleluia! Ours the cross, the grave, the skies, Alleluia!
- Hail the Lord of earth and heaven, Alleluia! Praise to Thee by both be given, Alleluia! Thee we greet triumphant now, Alleluia! Hail the Resurrection, thou, Alleluia!
- King of glory, Soul of bliss, Alleluia! Everlasting life is this, Alleluia! Thee to know, Thy pow'r to prove, Alleluia! Thus to sing, and thus to love, Alleluia! . https://www.findnewhope.com Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Daily Devotional
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
Ephesians 6:18, And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord's people.
Colossians 1:9, For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives.
Augustine Nobles Reflection:
Prayer was obviously a high priority for the apostle Paul, who wrote the letter to the Colossians. Some of the most beautiful prayers ever written are found in his letters. Paul's prayers are magnificent, not only because of their content but also because he was so diligent in prayer. He prayed "continually" for others and always thanked God for them.
It's true that some people are simply more interested in prayer than others. But God wants prayer to be a top priority in everyone's life. God wants us to experience prayer as a delight, and not a duty. Let us ask God to help us develop a passion for prayer and make it a cherished habit.
Prayer: Lord, I know that prayer is always a blessing, but it's easy for me to neglect it. Help me to make it a top priority. Please increase my desire and my opportunities to spend time with you. Dear God help me to be devoted to prayer. Help me to connect with you in whatever way I can. Use me to help others grow in prayer as well. In Jesus name. Amen .
https://www.findnewhope.com
Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Daily Devotional Good Friday
Luke 23:44-46, By this time it was about noon, and darkness fell across the whole land until three o'clock. The light from the sun was gone. And suddenly, the curtain in the sanctuary of the Temple was torn down the middle. Then Jesus shouted, "Father, I entrust my spirit into your hands!" And with those words he breathed his last.
Pastor Vicki Harrison Reflection:
Today is Good Friday. It may seem odd that we would call the day that Jesus was crucified and died "good." Apparently, the term came into common use in the 1200s because for us, it was a truly good day, as Jesus became the final sacrifice for all sin for all people for all time. As the full expression of God's love for us, Jesus voluntarily gave his life so that we could be reconciled to holy God. It is very much good.
Join us at New Hope for our Good Friday service today in Logan Hall at 7:30pm. It's being led by our Spanish-speaking congregation and will be a time of celebrating the "goodness" of what Jesus did for us.
I do hope you will read through both of today's chapters, Luke 22 and 23. They are somewhat long but well worth the extra time. These are the last few days of Jesus' life. They are deep with meaning. I want to point out just one aspect of today's focus verses. Right before Jesus breathed his last breath on the cross, the curtain in the Temple was torn down the middle. This is the curtain that separated the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place (the Holiest of Holies) where the ark of the covenant was kept and the presence of God remained.
When the curtain tore, it was a sign that the New Covenant was instituted. Because of Jesus' sacrifice (the final sacrifice for sin), those who believe in him can now go directly to the throne of God's grace. When Holy God looks at us, he doesn't see our sinfulness but the blood of Christ. Thus, there are no more barriers that can separate us from God. I'd like to make our closing prayer today an adaptation of Hebrews 10:19-25.
Prayer:
Thank you, Lord, that we can boldly enter heaven's Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus. By his death, Jesus opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the Most Holy Place. And since we have a great High Priest who rules over God's house, let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him.
For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ's blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water. Lord, help us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near. Amen. .
https://www.findnewhope.com
Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Daily Devotional
Luke 6:12 In these days he went out to the mountain to pray; and all night he continued in prayer to God.
Julie Burroughs Reflection:
No matter when or where we are, mountains stand remote, somehow removed from the congestion and busyness characteristic of valleys below. They are majestic in height, drawing our attention and encouraging the expenditure of effort required to climb.
Once on a mountain, you experience a different environment than below. You breathe different air and respond to exertion differently. You have a different perspective not just of the ground below looking down from above, but also of things above and the mountain itself.
While prayer can and should happen anywhere and everywhere, it is good to sometimes get away from everyday tasks, take in a new perspective and quietly spend time talking to God alone. "And he came down with them and stood on a level place, with a great crowd of his disciples and a great multitude of people..." Luke 6:17 Following mountaintop experiences, it's also good to come back down to share with others the hope and joy you found there.
Prayer: Thank you, Lord, for your faithfulness! Help me remember and keep in constant communication with You, as Your line is always open.
. https://www.findnewhope.com
Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Daily Devotional
Psalm 6:1-4 O Lord, do not rebuke me in your anger, or discipline me in your wrath. Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am languishing; O Lord, heal me, for my bones are shaking with terror. My soul also is struck with terror, while you, O Lord-how long? Turn, O Lord, save my life; deliver me for the sake of your steadfast love.
Carina Lopez-Ramos Reflection:
At times, I have a hard time saying, "I'm sorry." Actually, I do say "I'm sorry, but ..." My acknowledgment of how I have hurt someone or disappointed someone is often followed by my excuse as to why it happened. However, I don't think I'm unique in this. Perhaps you may too, have a hard time saying it. The psalmist expresses deep sorrow for his sin, asking God for help and forgiveness. Both his body and his soul feel overwhelmed with terror.
David realizes he is experiencing the consequence of his own sin. He cries out in physical and spiritual pain, knowing that God's discipline is justified for the ways he has disobeyed God. David's confession before God is anchored in his confidence that God will forgive. He calls out for God's deliverance, convinced that God will hear and answer because of God's steadfast love.
Despite the situation in which David finds himself, he knows that he will not permanently abide in terror and distress because of God's unfailing love. "Depart from me, all you workers of evil, for the Lord has heard the sound of my weeping. The Lord has heard my supplication; the Lord accepts my prayer" (V. 8-9).
As we enter this Lenten season, we can say, "I'm sorry" before God. When we confess before our merciful Lord, we are assured of God's forgiveness. Instead of saying, "I'm sorry, but" we can say, "I'm sorry because of your steadfast love and forgiveness!" What a wonderful God we serve! What a wonderful God who still accepts us with all our flaws, with arms wide open.
Prayer: Father God, we confess before you our sins, our brokenness, our mess, and our lives. We all need to experience your abundant mercy. We are not perfect Lord but please help us each and every day to come before you to say, "I'm sorry" with a sincere heart and no explanation. Thank you for your grace. We pray this in Jesus's name, Amen.
. https://www.findnewhope.com
Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Daily Devotional John 17, A Prayer of Jesus After saying all these things, Jesus looked up to heaven and said, "Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son so he can give glory back to you. For you have given him authority over everyone. He gives eternal life to each one you have given him. And this is the way to have eternal life to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the one you sent to earth. I brought glory to you here on earth by completing the work you gave me to do. Now, Father, bring me into the glory we shared before the world began. "I have revealed you to the ones you gave me from this world. They were always yours. You gave them to me, and they have kept your word. Now they know that everything I have is a gift from you, for I have passed on to them the message you gave me. They accepted it and know that I came from you, and they believe you sent me. "My prayer is not for the world, but for those you have given me, because they belong to you. All who are mine belong to you, and you have given them to me, so they bring me glory. Now lam departing from the world; they are staying in this world, but I am coming to you. Holy Father, you have given me your name; now protect them by the power of your name so that they will be united just as we are. During my time here, I protected them by the power of the name you gave me. I guarded them so that not one was lost, except the one headed for destruction, as the Scriptures foretold. "Now I am coming to you. I told them many things while I was with them in this world so they would be filled with my joy. I have given them your word. And the world hates them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. I'm not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one. They do not belong to this world any more than I do. Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth. Just as you sent me into the world, I am sending them into the world. And I give myself as a holy sacrifice for them so they can be made holy by your truth. "I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message. pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me. "I have given them the glory you gave me, so they may be one as we are one. I am in them and you are in me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me. Father, I want these whom you have given me to be with me where I am. Then they can see all the glory you gave me because you loved me even before the world began! "O righteous Father, the world doesn't know you, but I do; and these disciples know you sent me. I have revealed you to them, and I will continue to do so. Then your love for me will be in them, and I will be in them." Amen. . https://www.findnewhope.com Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Daily Devotional 1 Thessalonians 5:17 Pray constantly Julie Burroughs Reflection: Have you ever thrown coins in a fountain, raised your feet off the floorboard of the car when crossing a railroad track, held your breath while traveling through a tunnel, and kissed the clock when all the digits were the same number (for example, 4:44)? All of these were fun games I played as a kid to occupy otherwise idle moments. All were accompanied by making a wish, which was thought to come true if the given procedure had been followed. There were plenty of wishes to not come about, but that didn't keep me from the fun of playing the game. Nowadays, I take such opportunities as a reminder to pray. I offer up a prayer request for whatever is my greatest wish or concern at the moment. Whether prompted to by reflexes from a childhood practice or just because something important is on your mind, turn every wish into a prayer. Prayer: Lord, please help me instill practices in myself to constantly remember to pray and "have a word" with You. May it be as fun as childhood games, a long-lasting impression and bring joy! . https://www.findnewhope.com Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Daily Devotional Sunday "Little Easter"
Every Sunday in Lent is considered a "little Easter," a time to celebrate the Lord's resurrection and spend time praising God. So, in keeping with this, our Sunday devotionals will be traditional Easter hymns. Take a moment to sing these with your family or by yourself. If you like, listen to the song on your computer or phone. But be sure to spend time rejoicing and praising God for our new life in Jesus Christ.
Because He Lives By Bill and Gloria Gaither
- God sent his son, they called him Jesus He came to love, heal and forgive He lived and died to buy my pardon An empty grave is there to prove my savior lives. Because he lives I can face tomorrow Because he lives All fear is gone Because I know he holds the future And life is worth the living Just because he lives.
- How sweet to hold a newborn baby And feel the pride and joy he gives But greater still the calm assurance This child can face uncertain day because he lives. Because he lives I can face tomorrow Because he lives All fear is gone Because I know he holds the future And life is worth the living Just because he lives.
- And then one day I'll cross the river I'll fight life's final war with pain And then, as death gives way to vict'ry I'll see the lights of glory and I'll know he reigns. Because he lives I can face tomorrow Because he lives All fear is gone Because I know he holds the future And life is worth the living Just because he lives. .
- https://www.findnewhope.com
- Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Daily Devotional
2 Cor. 5: 14-17 Either way, Christ's love controls us. Since we believe that Christ died for all, we also believe that we have all died to our old life. He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them. So we have stopped evaluating others from a human point of view. At one time we thought of Christ merely from a human point of view. How differently we know him now! This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!
Pastor Vicki Harrison
Reflection: The Apostle Paul, who wrote this Scripture, is saying, "I know personally that God's love can change people!" Because of Christ's death on the cross, his old way of life - his angry, Christian-hating, law-obsessed way of life - it died up on that cross with Jesus. Now, he has an intimate relationship with a life-giving Savior. He became a different person when he received new life in Jesus. In fact, Paul went from a man who persecuted and stoned Christ-followers to one of the strongest, most amazing Christian missionaries of all time.
He was made new. This was great news. Even better news is that Paul is saying that we can be made new too. We also can experience transformation in Jesus Christ. No matter who we are or what we've done, when we say yes to Jesus, our old life dies and a new life begins. Remember, when we say yes to Jesus, the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of the Living God, comes and makes a home within Us, transforming us from the inside out. This doesn't mean we just try a little harder and we become a better person. No, we become new people!
And yet, as we walk further on our faith journey, life gets messy and difficult. Sometimes, it feels like our "newness" has worn off. We don't feel new anymore. In my own life, I simply feel tired and heavily burdened, not new! What God has taught me is that I have to be very intentional about staying connected, walking hand in hand with Jesus through prayer, reading Scripture, and daily worship.
Being made new is not a one-time experience. I need God's renewing power every, single day! I need to constantly, continuously be reminded of who and whose I am. I am made new and transformed into a new creation and a child of the one true King!
Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for your amazing love and sacrifice. Thank you for salvation and the newness and transformation that can only come from you. Jesus, I need you. Fill me anew today so that I can be renewed and refreshed by your grace and power. I want to live like a new person, one who is totally and fully focused on you. In Your Name, Amen.
. https://www.findnewhope.com
Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Daily Devotional
John 11:41-43 So they rolled the stone aside. Then Jesus looked up to heaven and said, "Father, thank you for hearing me. You always hear me, but I said it out loud for the sake of all these people standing here, so that they will believe you sent me." Then Jesus shouted, "Lazarus, come out!"
Jeff Sheffer
Reflection: Leading up to this moment in which Jesus raises his friend Lazarus from the dead, things were contentious for Jesus. He had several confrontations with people, even those who had seen him do miracles, yet find other reasons to not believe he is the Messiah sent by God. Not only do they not believe, but they are plotting to kill him.
I don't know about you, but I often get in the way of God's work in my life. I get wrapped up in working on and fixing the problems I face that I tend to forget whose I am. I love the adage that says "work as if it all depends on me and pray as if it all depends on God". If you are familiar with this quote you know it is credited to St. Augustine and that I worded it wrong.
Prayer comes first. But I quoted it the way that most often reflects my own actions. Honestly, sometimes not only do I work first, omit the prayer. I could easily fit into the crowd surrounding Jesus as he raises Lazarus. Jesus says out loud for all to hear, "Father, Thank you for always hearing me.." This verse serves as a good reminder to me to pray because Jesus is the Messiah and the Holy Spirit that dwells in me is my connection to the power, might, and glory of the Father.
This season of prayer that pastor Vicki is leading us into is so important to New Hope and I don't want to get it backwards. Would you join me in flipping the adage to start with "Pray as if it all depends on God"? Holy Spirit, You are welcome here Come flood this place And fill the atmosphere Your glory God Is what our hearts long for To be overcome By Your presence, Lord
Prayer: Father, Thank you for hearing me. Let my thoughts and prayers be acceptable to you. Lord, my prayer is not that you hear us, my prayer is that we hear you. Lord, let your Holy Spirit increase in our lives. Speak to us and guide us in the way that you would have New Hope move forward to reach and win more people for the glory of your kingdom. Amen.
. https://www.findnewhope.com
Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Daily Devotional
Psalm 138:3 On the day I called to you, you answered me. You made me strong and brave.
Julie Burroughs
Reflection: I do not like public speaking. One time, I was on my way by plane to where I'd be giving a business presentation. I practiced it by reading it over and over silently to myself. My anxiety and airsickness tried to take control, so I put the speech write-up down and picked up my Bible instead.
I decided to pray and give the outcome to God. I was directed to Psalm 138:3 and keep it close for similar situations. It's a reminder that when I call to God, He answers. But I have to do the calling - or, in other words, the praying!
It's also a reminder that strength and bravery are not things I have to come up with on my own. God is the one who gives strength and courage!
Prayer: Lord, Thank You for always lifting me up, and giving me strength and courage when I call out to You in need. Amen. .
https://www.findnewhope.com
Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Daily Devotional
Reflect on this Scripture from Colossians and then read the poem attributed to Mother Teresa.
How do you struggle with this?
What do you need to ask God for today so that you can remember it is, really, truly, only about an audience of one?
Colossians 3:23-24, Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, and that the Master you are serving is Christ.
Do It Anyway By Mother Teresa (This version found written on the wall in Mother Teresa's home for children in Calcutta)
People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered. Forgive them anyway. If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives. Be kind anyway.
If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies. Succeed anyway.
If you are honest and sincere people may deceive you. Be honest and sincere anyway.
What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight. Create anyway.
If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous. Be happy anyway.
The good you do today, will often be forgotten. Do good anyway.
Give the best you have, and it will never be enough. Give your best anyway.
In the final analysis, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway. .
https://www.findnewhope.com
Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Daily Devotional
Matthew 28:18-20, Jesus came and told his disciples, "I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age."
John 15:19-20, The world would love you as one of its own if you belonged to it, but you are no longer part of the world. I chose you to come out of the world, so it hates you. Do you remember what I told you? 'A slave is not greater than the master.' Since they persecuted me, naturally they will persecute you. And if they had listened to me, they would listen to you.
Pastor Vicki Harrison
Reflection: On this day, let's spend time in prayer for our Christian brothers and sisters around the globe who are being persecuted for their faith. We shy away from sharing our faith, simply for fear of rejection or embarrassment. They, on the other hand, often practice and share their faith, knowing that being caught could mean severe consequences.
Pray for boldness, for courage, for comfort, and for openings so that the Gospel can be shared. May their courage inspire us to be bolder in our interactions and encourage us to listen more closely to the Spirit's promptings throughout our days.
Prayer for Persecuted Christians O God of all the nations, the One God who is and was and always will be, in your providence you willed that your Church be united to the suffering of your Son. Look with mercy on your servants who are persecuted for their faith in you. Grant them perseverance and courage to be worthy imitators of Christ.
Bring your wisdom upon leaders of nations to work for peace among all peoples. May your Spirit open conversion for those who contradict your will, that we may live in harmony. Give us the grace to be united in truth and freedom, and to always seek your will in our lives. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
. https://www.findnewhope.com
Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Daily Devotional
James 1:5, If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives to all men generously and without reproaching, and it will be given him.
James 4:3, You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passion.
Julie Burroughs
Reflection: At various points in the writing of my own email devotional, I have that perhaps l'm doing it "wrong" or that l'm somehow unsuccessful because I don't have a regular timetable for publication, such as once a week. One season of Lent, I considered a goal of sending out a devotional each day. Then it occurred to me that I was attempting to give the Spirit a goal, telling God He should inspire me daily!
Instead, I made my goal to pray for my writing daily. I prayed, "God, I give it up to You whether You send inspiration and opportunity to write for You today." Through this daily prayer, I did not produce daily devotionals, but I followed through with a discipline of praying about it daily, turning my writing over to God in prayer daily, and writing when inspired by the Holy Spirit.
Praver: Thank you, Lord, for your faithfulness! Help me remember and keep in constant communication with You, as Your line is always open. .
https://www.findnewhope.com
Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Daily Devotional Sunday "Little Easter"
Every Sunday in Lent is considered a "little Easter." a time to celebrate the Lord's resurrection and spend time praising God. So, in keeping with this, our Sunday devotionals will be traditional Easter hymns. Take a moment to sing these with your family or by yourself. If you like, listen to the song on your computer or phone. But be sure to spend time rejoicing and praising God for our new life in Jesus Christ.
The Solid Rock By Edward Mote, 1834
Scripture: Matthew 7:24-27
- My hope is built on nothing less Than Jesus' blood and righteousness; I dare not trust the sweetest frame, But wholly lean on Jesus' name. Refrain: On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand; All other ground is sinking sand, All other ground is sinking sand.
- When darkness veils His lovely face, I rest on His unchanging grace; In every high and stormy gale, My anchor holds within the veil.
- His oath, His covenant, His blood Support me in the whelming flood; When all around my soul gives way, He then is all my hope and stay.
- When He shall come with trumpet sound, Oh, may I then in Him be found; Dressed in His righteousness alone, Faultless to stand before the throne.
- . https://www.findnewhope.com
- Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Daily Devotional
Ephesians 2:10 For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Paul Lancaster
My Experience As a college student majoring in American History, I was very excited about my future. I had been a volunteer coach for baseball and football throughout my college years. As a history major, the plan was to complete my degree and start a teaching and coaching career. During this time, I worked for a local heavy construction company in Tampa. Through the years my knowledge and value to the company increased as did my compensation. By college graduation time, I was making appreciably more money in the construction industry than I could make as a beginning teacher and coach.
I felt an emptiness inside; my passion and purpose were gone. A nagging question continued to haunt me. "God, you know I wanted to teach and coach so why do you have me stuck in this position in construction?" | struggled with this question for years. Finally, I received an answer from God. The answer -- 'Teach and Coach'. What did this mean? As a maturing Christian with a family, I desperately prayed for God to give me an answer that I could understand. The words I received from Him were again, "teach and coach". This time His words stirred my heart.
My purpose and passion returned. I realized not only could I teach others the skills I had learned through the years in construction but more importantly, I could mentor them in the ways of Jesus through Bible studies, small groups and accountability groups. I finished my construction career in 2018 but my work for Jesus continues.
My Prayer
Father God, thank you for using all of us to do good works in your name. Help us to be bold in our faith and humble in your service. Lord melt us, mold us, fill us and use us when and where you need us; give us a purpose and a passion for making more and better followers of Jesus Christ. Amen. .
https://www.findnewhope.com
Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Daily Devotional
Phillippians 4:6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
Suzanne Mohammed
Reflection: Early in my walk with God, I was sitting in church service and during prayer time, I opened my eyes. A few pews ahead of me to my left, I noticed a woman close to my age silently praying with such conviction, emotion, and passion. Her face and body language made it evident she was having a deep personal conversation with God.
Another time, during a casual conversation, a friend was cooking and a bowl was about to fall off the kitchen island, but she caught it and immediately praised God. I wanted what these women had - a prayerful relationship with God. So now I just keep talking to God about everything and praise Him even when I miss catching the bowl. Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow.
Praver: Thank you, God, for sending your son Jesus who made a relationship with you possible. Thank you, Heavenly Father, that you are with us through thick and thin. We praise you for who you are: a loving, faithful Father, full of grace and mercy. Please continue to put Godly people in all our paths to guide us and draw us closer to you so we can know more and more of Jesus. In Jesus' Name I pray, Amen. .
https://www.findnewhope.com
Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Daily Devotional
Psalm 91:2 I will say of the Lord, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I trust."
Elaine Connor
Reflection: How many of you were ever caught in a snow blizzard? They can be terrifying, as you cannot see even an inch around you. The snow flakes are mesmerizing too. Everything together means that a blizzard can be confusing and it's easy to lose your sense of direction. When I was a child in the 1950's and 60's, we had terrible blizzards in upstate N.Y.
The snow would pile up to the second story of our farmhouse. Daddy had to milk the cows and the cow barn was about 150 feet away from the house. When he heard a blizzard would hit us, he got out a very long and sturdy rope which he tied between the house and barn. He would hold tight to the rope and it would safely lead him back to the house during a storm. God is like that rope.
He is strong, trustworthy, protecting, an ever-present help and guide to us. We just have to hold on to him, never take our focus off of him, and to always remember to thank him.
Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for your love, care, and guidance. Thank you that we can trust You in all our circumstances. It is in Your Strong Name, Lord Jesus we pray. Amen.
. https://www.findnewhope.com
Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Daily Devotional
As you reflect on this prayer today, also read Ephesians 6:10-18.
The Prayer of St. Patrick: Morning Prayer
l arise today Through the strength of heaven; Light of the sun, Splendor of fire, Speed of lightning, Swiftness of the wind, Depth of the sea, Stability of the earth, Firmness of the rock.
l arise today Through God's strength to pilot me; God's might to uphold me, God's wisdom to guide me, God's eye to look before me, God's ear to hear me, God's word to speak for me, God's hand to guard me, God's way to lie before me, God's shield to protect me, God's hosts to save me Afar and a near, Alone or in a multitude.
Christ shield me today Against wounding Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ on my right, Christ on my left, Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down, Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of me, Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me, Christ in the eye that sees me, Christ in the ear that hears me. l arise today Through the mighty strength Of the Lord of creation. .
https://www.findnewhope.com
Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Daily Devotional
Luke 5:16 But he [Jesus] withdrew to the wilderness and prayed
Julie Burroughs
Reflection: Withdrawing involves an intentional moving away from something or somewhere. In Jesus' case, He removed Himself from the hubbub of the "multitudes" gathering to listen to Him and looking for healing (verse 15).
He was getting away from His daily grind. The verse indicates an intentional move not only away from one place, but also to a specific other place: the wilderness. I don't know about you, but the word "wilderness" doesn't make me think of quiet and calm. While it might be isolated from people, there are still possibly animals and other elements of nature and place that might be, well, "wild." Sometimes a house full of children and bets with a lot going on can be thought of as its own sort of wilderness (it's certainly wild, at any rate).
Sometimes a city is described as a wilderness - the cement jungle. What is your wilderness? To pray, remove yourself from the daily grind. Face whatever wilderness is available. Jesus didn't get on a plane to head to some beach, lake, city or jungle. He went to the desert, because that is what was right there where He was. Don't neglect, make space. One morning I sat at the table with my Bible and prayer journal.
My son asked if I would play a game with him, to which I replied, "as soon as I finish my Bible study time." He was still in the next room bouncing and playing - being the little wild thing he is, but I turned my focus on the Lord and had some quality time to get my day started right.
Prayer: Lord, Help me realize that I don't need to search for peace to pray, but to pray for peace. You give me the place I need to be and here it is that I will pray. Grant me Your peace that passes all understanding, no matter the wilderness I face. .
https://www.findnewhope.com
Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Daily Devotional
Isaiah 40:31 For those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They shall run and not grow weary. They shall walk and not faint.
Pastor Tom Bridges
Reflection: This is my favorite passage in the Old Testament for a few different reasons. One is the imagery of soaring high, on wings like eagles. I served in the 101st Airborne Division, and our nickname is the Screamin' Eagles. Since that time, I've been fascinated by the incredible power, strength, and beauty of the eagle.
The passage also holds special meaning for me, as it helped me get through a tough situation. When I was in Airborne school, I got the flu the night before a critical run had to be completed. If I did not complete the run with my class, I would have to repeat the entire week's training (trust me, I did NOT want to repeat a week of grueling training). That morning, I was sweating profusely and didn't see any possible way I could keep pace with my class for the 3-mile run.
But as I started, I began saying the words of this verse over and over. As my left foot hit the pavement, I said: "Run and not grow weary'" and as my right foot hit the pavement, I said (under my breath) "Walk and not faint." It was only the power of God that got me through that morning. I was sick as a dog. But I leaned on the power of prayer, on the power of Scripture, and on the power of the Holy Spirit, and God was good. And God still is!
Prayer: Lord, Help us to lean upon you for strength; may we run and not be weary, and may we walk and not faint. Amen. .
https://www.findnewhope.com
Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Daily Devotional Sunday "Little Easter"
Every Sunday in Lent is considered a "little Easter." a time to celebrate the Lord's resurrection and spend time praising God. So, in keeping with this, our Sunday devotionals will be traditional Easter hymns.
Take a moment to sing these with your family or by yourself. If you like, listen to the song on your computer or phone. But be sure to spend time rejoicing and praising God for our new life in Jesus Christ.
Crown Him with Many Crowns By Matthew Bridges, 1852
- Crown Him with many crowns, The Lamb upon His throne; Hark! How the heav'nly anthem drowns All music but its own! Awake, my soul and sing Of Him Who died for thee, And hail Him as thy matchless King Through all eternity.
- Crown Him the Lord of love! Behold His hands and side-Rich wounds, yet visible above, In beauty glorified. No angel in the sky Can fully bear that sight, But downward bends His wond'ring eye At mysteries so bright.
- Crown Him the Lord of life! Who triumphed o'er the grave, Who rose victorious in the strife For those He came to save. His glories now we sing, Who died, and rose on high, Who died eternal life to bring, And lives that death may die.
- Crown Him the Lord of heav'n! One with the Father known, One with the Spirit through Him giv'n From yonder glorious throne, To Thee be endless praise, For Thou for us hast died; Be Thou, O Lord, through endless days Adored and magnified. .
- https://www.findnewhope.com
- Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Daily Devotional
Acts 16:23,25 After they had given Paul and Silas a severe flogging, they threw them into prison. About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.
Debby Cumbie
Reflection: Nothing Can Silence The Song There is something deep and powerful about music. It can motivate. It can praise. It can spark gratitude, peace and joy in a way that few things can. It is no wonder that music is so intricately woven through the history of our faith.
As we read the passage above from Acts, we see how Paul and Silas were so convinced that they would not die, but live, that - even in prison, even in the middle of the night - they sang. Nothing can silence the song of love. lam reminded of a song that has been so much on my heart lately that I find myself singing it over and over, silently in my head. I sing it as my prayer many times every day.
If Stuart, our Tech Arts director, were recording this as a mission video, I would sing it for you; but I think that the words to the song are impactful enough to touch your hearts and minds during this season of Lent. I know that the lyrics will linger long after this singer is gone! Truly, nothing can silence the song of Love!
So I close with the words to "Looking Through His Eyes" as our prayer: "Let me see this world, dear Lord, as though I were looking through Your eyes. A world where people don't want You Lord; but a world for which You died.
Let me kneel with You in the garden. Blur my eyes with tears of agony; For if once I could see this world the way You see, I just know I'd serve You more faithfully. Let me see this world, dear Lord, through Your eyes when men mocked Your Holy Name.
When they beat You and spat upon You, Lord, let me love them as You loved them just the same. Let me stand high above my petty problems, and grieve for people, hell bound eternally; For if once I could see this world the way You see, I just know I'd serve You more faithfully." Amen.
Words and music by Mike Otto; copyright 1979 by John T. Benson Publishing Company . https://www.findnewhope.com
Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Daily Devotional
Acts 16:23,25 After they had given Paul and Silas a severe flogging, they threw them into prison. About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.
Debby Cumbie
Reflection: Nothing Can Silence The Song There is something deep and powerful about music. It can motivate. It can praise. It can spark gratitude, peace and joy in a way that few things can. It is no wonder that music is so intricately woven through the history of our faith.
As we read the passage above from Acts, we see how Paul and Silas were so convinced that they would not die, but live, that - even in prison, even in the middle of the night - they sang. Nothing can silence the song of love. lam reminded of a song that has been so much on my heart lately that I find myself singing it over and over, silently in my head. I sing it as my prayer many times every day.
If Stuart, our Tech Arts director, were recording this as a mission video, I would sing it for you; but I think that the words to the song are impactful enough to touch your hearts and minds during this season of Lent. I know that the lyrics will linger long after this singer is gone! Truly, nothing can silence the song of Love!
So I close with the words to "Looking Through His Eyes" as our prayer: "Let me see this world, dear Lord, as though I were looking through Your eyes. A world where people don't want You Lord; but a world for which You died.
Let me kneel with You in the garden. Blur my eyes with tears of agony; For if once I could see this world the way You see, I just know I'd serve You more faithfully. Let me see this world, dear Lord, through Your eyes when men mocked Your Holy Name.
When they beat You and spat upon You, Lord, let me love them as You loved them just the same. Let me stand high above my petty problems, and grieve for people, hell bound eternally; For if once I could see this world the way You see, I just know I'd serve You more faithfully." Amen.
Words and music by Mike Otto; copyright 1979 by John T. Benson Publishing Company . https://www.findnewhope.com
Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Daily Devotional
John 10:11-21, "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd sacrifices his life for the sheep. A hired hand will run when he sees a wolf coming. He will abandon the sheep because they don't belong to him and he isn't their shepherd. And so the wolf attacks them and scatters the flock. The hired hand runs away because he's working only for the money and doesn't really care about the sheep. "am the good shepherd; I know my own sheep, and they know me, just as my Father knows me and I know the Father. So I sacrifice my life for the sheep. I have other sheep, too, that are not in this sheepfold. I must bring them also. They will listen to my voice, and there will be one flock with one shepherd.
Pastor Vicki Harrison
Reflection: What image comes to mind when you think of a sheep? Maybe you imagine a cute, cuddly, fluffy animal roaming around eating green grass. Maybe you think about nursery rhymes, like Mary Had a Little Lamb, which makes sheep sound more like dogs, kind of like fluffy Golden Retrievers. But real-life sheep aren't as cute. In reality, we are very disconnected from sheep and shepherding living in Brandon, Florida, in 2023. Sheep are dirty animals.
I remember the last time we went to Colonial Williamsburg and the ladies there said their least favorite job was shearing the sheep because they are so filthy. Sheep tend to also be unintelligent animals and won't survive if they don't have someone to guide them, to protect them, to make sure they don't walk off a cliff or away from the group. In fact, a sheep who wanders away from the group will starve to death because it will not go where the food is. It can hurt itself by rubbing itself to death on a tree or falling down and breaking a leg. Sheep need constant care and attention; a sheep that skips out on this kind of care will in fact die. Hence, the need for a shepherd.
Keep in mind, the people that Jesus is speaking to would have understood this. Sheep were plentiful in Palestine in the first century. The people would have known about shepherds. They would have known that shepherding was dangerous, tedious, and hard work. There was nothing cute and cuddly about the sheep the shepherds took care of and really, there was nothing cute and cuddly about the shepherds either. These would have been the kind of guys that were considered a little rough around the edges. They were low, low, low on the totem pole - a necessary job but certainly not one held in high esteem.
But what does Jesus say? He says, "I AM the Good Shepherd." This is one of those statements I love because it is another time that Jesus is turning convention on its head. The religious elite would never have compared themselves to a lowly shepherd. But Jesus is saying, "I AM the Good Shepherd." Just like the story of the Good Samaritan when Jesus makes the hated Samaritan the hero of the story, here Jesus is bringing attention to a shepherd of all people. In fact, he says, "I AM the Good Shepherd." I love this because it shows that God's Kingdom comes in surprising ways through surprising people and tends to turn our prejudices upside down.
But Jesus is saying not only am I a shepherd, but I am a good shepherd. I am good at what I do. I'm not like the hired hands, the ones who are only watching the sheep because they couldn't get a job doing anything else. You see, the hired hand is not going to risk his life to care for his sheep. He knows it's dangerous work and he knows the sheep are stupid and sometimes he is going to have to get into messy and difficult situations to save them, but in no way is he going to risk his own life to save the sheep.
But Jesus, you see Jesus is different. He is willing to give up his own life for the sheep. He is the good and perfect shepherd. He loves his sheep. He is the one who cares for them, feeds them, protects them, promises to never leave them, and who will go to any length to save them. Jesus is our good shepherd. The truth is that we are very similar to sheep - we wander, we make bad choices, we need care, and we don't even realize it! But Jesus loves us anyway. Jesus loves YOU and he gave his life up for you. No matter what you've done, no matter how far you have wandered, the good shepherd is willing to search you out, to find you, clean you up, and tell you how much you are loved!
Luke 15:3-7, Then Jesus told them this parable: "Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn't he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.' I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.
. https://www.findnewhope.com
Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Daily Devotional
Scripture Reading: Habakkuk 3:2, LORD, I have heard of your fame; I stand in awe of your deeds, LORD. Repeat them in our day, in our time make them known; in wrath remember mercy.
Matthew 7:11, So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him.
Ephesians 3:16-19, I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God's love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.
Pastor Vicki Harrison
Reflection: Real revival is always birthed in and sustained by prayer. That's why passionate, continuous prayer must be more than a church program; it must become a lifestyle of seeking God. When we pray for a spiritual awakening, we want to pray that God fills us with his Holy Spirit in a new way and that we become renewed in a powerful way.
But awakening is more than simply becoming a little bit closer to God, it's truly become alive again. It's resurrection within us, within our church, within our community. Spiritual awakening involves looking in to our own lives (turning from sin), looking up to God (asking for his presence and power), and looking out to those around us (uniting to spread the hope of Christ). Let's believe that God will do extraordinary things as we turn, pray, and unite with one cry for spiritual awakening here at New Hope.
Prayer: Lord, we pray for spiritual awakening within each of us. Give us each a spirit of humility and a fervent desire to grow in our walk with you. If we are comfortable, make us uncomfortable. If we are complacent, give us passion. If we are selfish, give us an incredible love for your people. Speak to us as individuals, Lord, and help us be willing to listen and obey. We pray for spiritual awakening here at New Hope, in this community of faith. Renew us as a church, Lord. Let your Spirit be so evident here that people notice it as soon as they walk on our campus.
Where we are divided, Lord, help us be unified. Heal any wounds that are present so that as a body of believers, we can grow together, worship together, live out our faith together in ways that yield fruit for your Kingdom. Give us a fervent desire to make NEW WINE, to be willing to take risks. Speak to us as a congregation, Lord, and help us be willing to listen and obey.
We pray for spiritual awakening in our community, Lord. Help us be part of something new, something amazing, a movement of God right here in Brandon, Florida. Amen. . https://www.findnewhope.com
Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Daily Devotional
John 10:27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me."
Pastor Guy Weatherly
Reflection: A few years ago, I purchased a pre-owned car that was engineered to respond to verbal commands. After it was synced in, you were supposed to be able to tell the car to do something and it would acknowledge and do it. I was so excited when I took it out for the first time. It was on a hot Florida day when the heat was radiating from the scorching pavement. I leaned over and said, "Turn the climate to 71 degrees." It spoke back, "Now turning the climate to 81 degrees." I spoke louder, "Turn the climate to 71 degrees." It responded again, this time saying, "Now turning the climate to 84 degrees." This time I bent over the dash board and in a loud voice shouted, "TURN THE CLIMATE TO 71 DEGREES!" Then it said, "This system is not programmed for temperatures above 84 degrees." It was at that moment I heard God speak, "Now you know what I feel like when I am talking to you." Busted.
When we decide to follow Jesus, the Holy Spirit "syncs" us in. We can hear His voice when we are lost, we can hear His voice when we are hurting, we can hear His voice when we say "Here am I Lord, send me." All that He requires from us is to simply listen. Listening is a simple thing but it is so hard to do in our noisy world when we are thinking about other things and listening to other voices. It may require us to do impossible things like turn off the tv and push back the distractions enough so we can hear Him!
This 40 day season of Lent is an opportunity to listen for His voice - not only for ourselves but for our Church. " My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me." John 10:27 .
https://www.findnewhope.com
Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Daily Devotional
John 10:27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me."
Pastor Guy Weatherly
Reflection: A few years ago, I purchased a pre-owned car that was engineered to respond to verbal commands. After it was synced in, you were supposed to be able to tell the car to do something and it would acknowledge and do it. I was so excited when I took it out for the first time. It was on a hot Florida day when the heat was radiating from the scorching pavement. I leaned over and said, "Turn the climate to 71 degrees." It spoke back, "Now turning the climate to 81 degrees." I spoke louder, "Turn the climate to 71 degrees." It responded again, this time saying, "Now turning the climate to 84 degrees." This time I bent over the dash board and in a loud voice shouted, "TURN THE CLIMATE TO 71 DEGREES!" Then it said, "This system is not programmed for temperatures above 84 degrees." It was at that moment I heard God speak, "Now you know what I feel like when I am talking to you." Busted.
When we decide to follow Jesus, the Holy Spirit "syncs" us in. We can hear His voice when we are lost, we can hear His voice when we are hurting, we can hear His voice when we say "Here am I Lord, send me." All that He requires from us is to simply listen. Listening is a simple thing but it is so hard to do in our noisy world when we are thinking about other things and listening to other voices. It may require us to do impossible things like turn off the tv and push back the distractions enough so we can hear Him!
This 40 day season of Lent is an opportunity to listen for His voice - not only for ourselves but for our Church. " My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me." John 10:27 .
https://www.findnewhope.com
Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Daily Devotional
Psalm 23
The LORD is my shepherd, lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
Pastor Vicki Harrison
Reflection: It is hard to tell the exact occasion of the writing of the 23rd Psalm. We know that King David was older, as the text suggests he had both enemies and had experienced hardship and prosperity.
Possibly, the 23rd Psalm was written while David was at Mahanaim, as he contemplated how the battle was going between his forces and those of his son, Absalom, during the civil war caused by Absalom's rebellion. David would certainly have been grief-stricken and heartbroken. And yet, in the midst of some of the darkest circumstances of his life, there is no doubt where his life finds its center. His center, his protection, his comfort, and his hope come from the Lord and the Lord alone.
When life is uncertain or difficult, I find it helpful to pray over the 23rd Psalm. I picture King David in the midst of his troubles. I think about all the people over the course of history who have praved this powerful psalm. Then, I actually picture myself being led by still waters and lying in a pleasant, bugless green pasture. I visualize each line of the psalm, praying it over and over again. It helps me center myself in God, becoming fully immersed in his comfort and protection.
Prayer: Thank you, Lord, for your comfort and protection. Thank you for being present with us in the good and the bad, in the mountain and the valley. Help us center ourselves in you and fill us with your amazing peace. Amen. .
https://www.findnewhope.com
Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Daily Devotional
Luke 18:1 And he told them a parable, to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart.
Julie Burroughs
Reflection: Recently, my family went to the second session of a new dog training class. We ran late, forgot Rocky's harness and leash, and were all tired and more than a little discombobulated. Class went less than spectacular. I barely held back tears on the way home. Later that night, I couldn't sleep. My mind kept wandering with ideas how to prepare for class the following week to avoid disaster and make up for the poor performance.
Then I realized how much I have to be thankful for: my son's maturity in getting in the car after class and apologizing for acting so loopy, my husband's willingness to help and attend this class, his initiative to solve the forgotten harness and leash issue by stopping at a Petsmart along the way, and that we have a happy and healthy and eager-to-please dog. As I realized one class-night-gone-crazy did not outweigh our many blessings, it occurred to me the best preparation for the following week I could do, was pray, leaving it in God's hands. We still practiced "homework", laid out stuff to go beforehand, and made sure to leave home earlier, but other circumstances did not stress me out the same.
Did we have a perfect performance with no issues? Certainly not! But I enjoyed the time much better. Praying about everything, especially even the smallest thing, if it is something that may worry me, is simply treating God as a friend. Praying about my activities is showing a deer desire that I want His involvement in my life, my whole life. As much and more than any friend, God wants to listen to whatever I have to say. Nothing is the "Wrong" topic!
Prayer: Dear God, Thank You for wanting to be a part of my whole life and that no part of my life is too small or insignificant or unrelated to speak to You about.
. https://www.findnewhope.com
Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Daily Devotional Sunday "Little Easter"
Every Sunday in Lent is considered a "little Easter," a time to celebrate the Lord's resurrection and spend time praising God. So, in keeping with this, our Sunday devotionals will be Easter hymns or songs. Take a moment to sing these with your family or by yourself. If you like, listen to the song on your computer or phone. But be sure to spend time rejoicing and praising God for our new life in Jesus Christ. Today's song is newer than some of the others but one of my very favorite praise songs. Reflect on the powerful words.
What a Beautiful Name By Hillsong Worship
You were the Word at the beginning One with God the Lord Most High Your hidden glory in creation Now revealed in You our Christ
What a beautiful Name it is The Name of Jesus Christ my King What a beautiful Name it is Nothing compares to this What a beautiful Name it is, the Name of Jesus
You didn't want heaven without us So Jesus, You brought heaven down My sin was great, Your love was greater What could separate us now?
What a wonderful Name it is The Name of Jesus Christ my King What a wonderful Name it is Nothing compares to this What a wonderful Name it is, the Name of Jesus
Death could not hold You The veil tore before You You silenced the boast of sin and grave The heavens are roaring The praise of Your glory For You are raised to life again. You have no rival You have no equal Now and forever, God You reign Yours is the kingdom Yours is the glory Yours is the Name above all names
What a powerful Name it is The Name of Jesus Christ my King What a powerful Name it is Nothing can stand against. What a powerful Name it is, the Name of Jesus .
https://www.findnewhope.com
Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Daily Devotional
Spend some time praying the following prayer. What images or feelings are brought forth as you say these words? What Scripture verses come to mind?
Prayer to the Holy Spirit Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful. And kindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created. And you will renew the face of the earth. Lord, by the light of the Holy Spirit you have taught the hearts of your faithful. In the same Spirit help us to relish what is right and always rejoice in your consolation. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
. https://www.findnewhope.com
Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Daily Devotional
Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future that they ought always to pray and not lose heart.
Carole Valdespino
My Story: Twenty years ago, as a one-year-old, my grandson was diagnosed with a brain tumor. Although it was intended for the exiles in Babylon, this is the Scripture we prayed for him as an individual. Surgery was performed and the doctors hoped that the tumor would not return, but it did return a year later. As we continued to pray fervently he was treated with chemo, but he developed a severe allergy and it was necessary to discontinue therapy altogether.
Imaging was ordered to provide more information for continued treatment. Options were limited, and we continued our prayers, trusting in God. The images showed absolutely no trace of the tumor! We ascribe that miracle to God's work in his life. Today he is a bright, healthy young man with a heart for God, and I am a grandmother with a heart overflowing with gratitude to our Lord for this blessing and so many others. I thank God for his Word which provided this scripture.
Prayer: Gracious Heavenly Father, thank You for all the blessings You shower on us--the ones we realize at the time, the ones we realize later and the ones we never even notice. We acknowledge that we are not worthy of this bounty and accept it with gratitude and awareness of our need for You. We love You for all that You are and all that You do. In the precious name of Jesus we pray that You will continue to guide us in becoming the sons and daughters you want us to be. Amen.
. https://www.findnewhope.com
Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Daily Devotional
Isaiah 40:3 A voice of one calling: In the wilderness prepare the way for the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
Pastor Roberto Chaple
Reflection: Lent is a season of preparation that seems to be more relevant than ever this ear. The domino effect generated by the pandemic feels like a true desert as many mourn the loss of dear ones or walk on top of their chattered dreams. But perhaps we tend to put too much blame in this current crisis and forget that our materialistic lifestyle has given us false hope in a control that we actually never had.
It is in the midst of these tensions that Lent is great time to tune-in our expectations, because our responsibility before God will never go beyond preparing the way for Him and walk ourselves in it. Even though we know this biblical truth, we always tend to celebrate achievements and get frustrated when things don't happen as "we" planned. In times of pain and uncertainty, may this season be a loud and clear reminder that faithfulness is our greatest achievement.
Prayer: Dear God, as we prepare to celebrate your amazing Love and Power, help us abandon ourselves for the sake of others as you did. Help us prepare the way for you so others can know and follow You. It is in your Holy and Mighty Name we pray, Amen. .
https://www.findnewhope.com
Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Daily Devotional
Matthew 14:23 And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone.
Julie Burroughs
Reflection: Have you ever met someone at an event or while out someplace, and then sought out a chance to be alone with them? When you get away from others, activities, noise, etc., you can talk and get to know each other better. Alone time together helps build relationships. Even when you're not new to each other, alone time together helps sustain a relationship. One way couples work at this is through "date nights." Jesus went off alone to pray.
But it's not that He was completely alone. He was alone with God! lam never alone. God is always with me. Going off "alone" to pray is just getting to a time and place that's quiet and away from distractions where I can talk with and focus on the Lord to build and sustain my relationship with Him. Take advantage of the moments where you just happen to have some time alone with the Lord, but also be intentional about scheduling "date night" kind of moments with Him too. While corporate prayer and worship are important, so is alone time together with God!
Prayer: Lord, Thank You that I am never truly alone! Thank You that when I get a chance to "get away" from others, that I can be alone with You. Help my relationship with You grow stronger with continuous prayer. Amen. .
https://www.findnewhope.com
Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Daily Devotional
Night Prayer by Rev. John Williamson, from A New Zealand Prayer Book
Lord, it is night. The night is for stillness. Let us be still in the presence of God. It is night after a long day. What has been done has been done; what has not been done has not been done; let it be. The night is dark. Let our fears of the darkness of the world and of our own lives rest in you. The night is quiet. Let the quietness of your peace enfold us, all dear to us, and all who have no peace. The night heralds the dawn. Let us look expectantly to a new day, new joys, new possibilities. In your name we pray. Amen.
Reflection Questions: • Is there a word or a phrase that stood out to you? Why was it meaningful?
• What do you need to release that has been left undone?
• What fears do you need to lay down and lay at the foot of the cross?
. https://www.findnewhope.com
Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Daily Devotional Philippians 4:6 Don't worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. Philippians 4:6
Julie Hamilton
Reflection: Each year as Lent approaches I begin considering what I might "give up" for this season. As Christians we accept this time of reflection and preparation for Easter as a period of sacrifice, a symbol of the great love Jesus demonstrated as he went to the cross and bore the weight of our sins. We look for areas in our lives where we can lessen or omit something that isn't good for us, like sweets, coffee, fast food, watching too much tv, and so on.
Even in this modern world where we can quickly search the internet for lots of ideas for how to tackle the sacrifice of Lent, I had never considered giving up something less tangible, like worry. I mean if you think about it, it fits the bill, right? It isn't good for me, it keeps me from the things of Christ, it is a useless waste of valuable time I could devote to kingdom work, and it is down right exhausting. But giving up worry doesn't feel sacrificial, in fact the idea of not worrying sounds liberating.
As I have thoughtfully considered the idea of "giving up" worry, I have come to a simple conclusion; though the outcome may be liberating, the journey of Lent may be one of the hardest ever. It's not like the cup of caffeine charged coffee I can watch swirl as I pour it down the drain; it is inside me, ingrained in my imperfect human brain. It's a part of how I plan, how I interact with the world, how I handle stress, even how I define the control I have over the everyday.
I'm powerless against it, yet I somehow feel completely out of control with just the thought of it being absent. It's mine. It's part of who I am, right? The Bible tells us over and over again (300 plus times) that God doesn't want us to worry. He didn't design us that way and he doesn't want that for us. But the Bible doesn't just say, "don't worry", it also tells us what to do when worry tries to take hold. Pray with gratitude to a loving Father who will gladly remind us He is in control of every detail of our lives. It is all in His hands.
Prayer: Father God, lead me. Show me those things that prevent me from being all you have designed me for. Love me Father, when I press you away with my fears and worry and forget YOU ARE IN CONTROL. In this time of remembrance may I be washed with the knowing that your sacrifice was made so that I might live fully and abundantly for your kingdom. Amen .
https://www.findnewhope.com
Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Daily Devotional Sunday "Little Easter" Every Sunday in Lent is considered a "little Easter." a time to celebrate the Lord's resurrection and spend time praising God. So, in keeping with this, our Sunday devotionals will be traditional Easter hymns. Take a moment to sing these with your family or by yourself. If you like, listen to the song on your computer or phone. But be sure to spend time rejoicing and praising God for our new life in Jesus Christ.
He Lives By Albert Ackley
- I serve a risen Savior, He's in the world today I know that He is living, whatever men may say I see His hand of mercy, I hear His voice of cheer And just the time I need Him He's always near.
He lives (He lives), He lives (He lives), Christ Jesus lives today He walks with me and talks with me Along life's narrow way. He lives (He lives), He lives (He lives), Salvation to impart, You ask me how I know He lives? He lives within my heart.
- In all the world around me I see His loving care And though my heart grows weary I never will despair I know that He is leading, through all the stormy blast The day of His appearing will come at last
He lives (He lives), He lives (He lives), Christ Jesus lives today He walks with me and talks with me Along life's narrow way. He lives (He lives), He lives (He lives), Salvation to impart You ask me how I know He lives? He lives within my heart.
- Rejoice, rejoice, O Christian, Lift up your voice and sing Eternal hallelujahs to Jesus Christ, the King The Hope of all who seek Him, the Help of all who find None other is so loving, so good and kind.
He lives (He lives), He lives (He lives), Christ Jesus lives today He walks with me and talks with me Along life's narrow way. He lives (He lives), He lives (He lives), Salvation to impart You ask me how I know He lives? He lives within my heart. . https://www.findnewhope.com
Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Daily Devotional Luke 18:1-8 Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. He said: "In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared what people thought. And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, 'Grant me justice against my adversary.' "For some time he refused. But finally, he said to himself, 'Even though I don't fear God or care what people think, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice so that she won't eventually come and attack me!'" And the Lord said, "Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?"
Julie Burroughs
Reflection: 1 highly dislike "push notifications" on my devices because they are, well, pushy! I love to create checklists, but allowing my device to essentially do this for me and continually nag me about what it (or the various app creators) deems most important, creates a lot of stress for me. I feel tied to my phone with a list that never seems to get completely checked off and somehow missing what is important. There doesn't ever seem to be a rewarding sense of accomplishment, but more of a burden of never feeling good enough.
Fortunately, I can select which apps and features "allow" push notifications, so I choose to limit them a great deal. God, on the other hand, allows all the "notifications" I throw at Him come through and be marked as important. Whether I put in one or one hundred requests (prayers), He gets the notification. He hears me and sees me every time. He doesn't get stressed out or irritated by them, because He's already known and completed them every time.
Prayer: Lord, Thank You that no worry is too insignificant to turn over to You in prayer and that Your perfect love dispels all need for fear and anxiety. Amen. . https://www.findnewhope.com
Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Daily Devotional Psalm 3:3-5 But you, Lord, are a shield around me, my glory, the One who lifts my head high. I call out to the Lord, and he answers me from his holy mountain. I lie down and sleep; I wake up again, because the Lord sustains me.
Paul Brooks
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord my strength and my redeemer. Amen. My experience: In the morning, I had tested positive for COVID-19. As a chronic asthmatic, I had reason to be concerned. Barbara's negative test had not come back yet, and she was worried for us both, but we knew we must guarantine in the house.
She was most worried that I would sleep alone and she wouldn't know if I slipped into a crisis. I put on a brave face with her: "I'll be fine. I have my phone; I'll call you if I need you." But alone in my bed that first night, I was scared. I didn't want to fall asleep. And so I prayed. And prayed. And prayed. And God answered me. As I prayed, I felt a blanket of comfort wrap around me. It brings tears to my eyes to remember it. I felt a peace that I cannot put into words, settling my soul. I knew that no matter what happened, I was going to be fine. My eyes grew heavy, my heart quieted down and I mercifully drifted off to sleep. When I awoke the next morning, I was refreshed and thankful. was confident that I was in the Lord's hands. The Lord sustains me!
Prayer: Almighty and most merciful Father, your love and compassion for us surpasses anything we could ever hope for. Though we have erred and strayed like lost sheep, you never leave our side. Through Jesus, you restore us in your sight. Through the Holy Spirit, you comfort and guide us in your ways. Pour down on us the continual dew of your blessing, that we may truly please you. Let us give thanks to you in all circumstances, and always keep our trust in you. Through our mediator and advocate, Jesus Christ. Amen. . https://www.findnewhope.com
Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Daily Devotional
Today, read the Lord's Prayer through slowly, with your eyes following the words but your heart directing them to God. Praying it aloud will help. Next, read the prayer through again, this time making it very personal. "My Father in heaven. . Give me today the food I need ... forgive me my sins. "
While we can never forget the prayer is corporate and concerned with others too, it's fine to speak personally to God through it. Again, don't rush. Pray slowly and deliberately. Finally, now take one more reading of the prayer, but this time linger on each line, inviting God to bring specific people, situations and responses to mind as you pray. Matthew 6:9-13,
Pray like this: Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy. May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us today the food we need, and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against Us. And don't let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one. .
https://www.findnewhope.com
Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Lent Devotional - Day 7 - March 1, 2023 .
Daily Devotional 1 Thess. 5:17 Never stop praying.
Also take a moment to read some of Jesus' teachings on prayer: Matthew 6:5-15, 7:7-17, Mark 17:23-26, Luke 17:7-13, Luke 18:7-14, John 15:7.
Pastor Vicki Harrison
Reflection: In Acts 4, when Peter and John were arrested and released, they prayed for boldness. When Peter was arrested again the church offered "constant prayer" for him (Acts 12:5). In fact, they prayed all night long (we stay up worrying all night long, they prayed all night long). When the seven were appointed in Jerusalem to care for the widows, they prayed about it (Acts 6:6). When the church in Antioch first sent out Paul and Barnabas to preach, they prayed about it (Acts 13:3). Peter was in prayer when the vision concerning Cornelius was revealed to him (Acts 10:9; 11:5). Paul and Silas were praying while in the middle of a Philippian jail (Acts 16:25). When Paul and Barnabas appointed elders in the churches they planted, they prayed about it (Acts 14:23). Not, please Lord, bless our decision which we already made, but truly guide our thoughts, actions, and decisions. The early believers prayed often and they prayed persistently.
Paul writes in I Thess. 5:17, "Never stop praying.' What's interesting to me is that they prayed persistently even when they didn't get the "results" they wanted. Stephen and James were martyred but that didn't stop the early Christians; they still prayed persistently for Peter. They must have been frustrated and grief-stricken, but they kept praying boldly nonetheless. Prayer is not simply about getting the results we desire. There is no special prayer formula. We tend to think prayer + faith = results (love, healing, relationships, peace). But that just isn't how it works. God answers prayers. We can trust in that. But he doesn't always answer the prayers the way we want him to. And probably a more important point --- a BIG part of prayer is about what God is doing in us when we pray.
Prayer is essentially an act of submission. When we pray, we are saying, "God, WE need you. You are Lord of this world and we are not. You are in control. We are not. We yield to you." And there is something that happens within us when we do that. Sometimes, our prayers are answered swiftly, just the way we want. Other times, the answer we receive isn't exactly the way we imagined. Sometimes, we don't get to see the answer on this side of eternity. But Jesus tells us to pray boldly, persistently, and with determination. Paul says to pray continually. Why? Because persistent prayer changes our heart. We draw closer to God. Through the process of regular, persistent prayer, we begin to look more like Jesus. And isn't that the point?
Prayer: Dear God, Thank you for always listening to my prayers. Give me the strength and courage to pray boldly and continuously, and change my heart in the process. Lord, I submit to you. In the name of Jesus, Amen.
. https://www.findnewhope.com
Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Lent Devotional - Day 6 - February 28, 2023.
.Philippians 4:6-7 Have no anxiety about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will keep your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Julie Burroughs Reflection: A lot of parenting involves learning patience. When my son was an infant and toddler, he instructed me in patience through battling sleep. I held him, rocked him, and sang to him, but if I were not completely relaxed, he sensed it, would not relax, and postpone sleep. I had to not only take time to hold, rock, and sing, but I had to have patience with him through the process. This patience could not be faked. He could always tell when it was not genuine.
Impatience crawls under the skin and seeps out somehow, revealing a missing inner peace no matter what the face attempts to show. Parenthood is one of the most anxiety-ridden roles in life that comes to my mind. The worry related to it can be so oppressive. My child can be quite accident-prone. He has had a concussion from a mere slip on wet pavement in our driveway, and he once shut his thumb in a door jam, resulting in losing his thumbnail, bleeding that was difficult to stop, and a chipped bone.
So, what did I do for personal peace and genuine patience in such challenging parenting moments? I pray. I breathe deeply and clear my mind as best I can. When singing, I sing Christian music, focusing in on the words. I move my mind from other distractions and busyness and instead count my blessings.
All of these are forms of prayer. Whatever forms you use, pouring out in conversation with God releases anxiety and realizes peace. "Have no anxiety about anything" sounds like the perfect "get out of jail free" card when it comes to worry. Of course, just like you have to draw that card in a game of Monopoly, you have to take action to have no anxiety. Think about how thankful you are in a game of Monopoly to pull that "get out of jail free" card out of the deck. That is when to be thankful, at the moment of prayer.
Prayer: Lord, Please grant me self-control to practice techniques for patience in those situations where impatience likes to creep in and steal my peace. Remind me of the blessings I have. Thank You for always hearing and answering! Amen. https://www.findnewhope.com
Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Lent Devotional - Day 5 - February 27, 2023
Read and pray over the Scripture from John 17.
Then, spend some time in prayer, using the prayer from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., as your guide.
How do we need to seek unity as the people of New Hope? How might we become more unified with our Christian brothers and sisters from other cultures, races, and denominations? Ask God to show you those places deep within you that are resisting unity, peace, justice, and wholeness.
John 17:20-21, I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message. I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one-as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me.
A Prayer from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
O God, the Creator and Preserver of all mankind; in whom to dwell is to find peace and security; toward whom to turn is to find life and life eternal, we humbly beseech Thee for all sorts and conditions of men; that thou wouldst be pleased to make thy ways known unto them, Thy saving health unto all nations.
We also pray for Thy holy Church universal; that it may be so guided and governed by Thy Spirit, that all who profess and call themselves Christians may be led into the way of truth, and hold the faith in unity of spirit, in the bond of peace, and in righteousness of life.
Finally, we commend to Thy Fatherly goodness all those who are in any way afflicted or distressed in mind or body. Give them patience under the suffering and power of endurance. This we ask in the name of Jesus. Amen. .
https://www.findnewhope.com
Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Lent Devotional - 1 Little Easter - February 26, 2023 .
Daily Devotional Sunday "Little Easter"
Every Sunday in Lent is considered a "little Easter," a time to celebrate the Lord's resurrection and spend time praising God. So, in keeping with this, our Sunday devotionals will be traditional Easter hymns. Take a moment to sing these with your family or by yourself. If you like, listen to the song on your computer or phone. But be sure to spend time rejoicing and praising God for our new life in Jesus Christ.
Crown Him with Many Crowns By Matthew Bridges, 1852
- Crown Him with many crowns, The Lamb upon His throne; Hark! How the heav'nly anthem drowns All music but its own! Awake, my soul and sing Of Him Who died for thee, And hail Him as thy matchless King Through all eternity.
- Crown Him the Lord of love! Behold His hands and side- Rich wounds, yet visible above, In beauty glorified. No angel in the sky Can fully bear that sight, But downward bends His wond'ring eye At mysteries so bright.
- Crown Him the Lord of life! Who triumphed o'er the grave, Who rose victorious in the strife For those He came to save. His glories now we sing, Who died, and rose on high, Who died eternal life to bring, And lives that death may die.
- Crown Him the Lord of heav'n! One with the Father known, One with the Spirit through Him giv'n From yonder glorious throne, To Thee be endless praise, For Thou for us hast died; Be Thou, O Lord, through endless days Adored and magnified .
https://www.findnewhope.com
Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Lent Devotional - Day 4 - February 25, 2023
Phillippians 4:6 Have no anxiety about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
Julie Burroughs Reflection: My Facebook timeline popped up a memory this morning describing a list of what I called "trials" that occurred all in one day at the time. Those trials seem trivial now in the light of what the world is facing with COVID-19 and all the actions being taken to battle the pandemic. We have a lot to worry about, but let's turn that worry into prayer!
An important element to prayer is to fill it with trust in and praise for our Lord. The ability to fill our words and actions with trust and praise, especially in times of adversity, sets us apart as Christians and, by doing so, serves as a witness to the world.
Prayer: Lord, Let us never forget we are Yours and You deeply care for us. Grant me Your peace as a sign to others that You are in control no matter what. . https://www.findnewhope.com
Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Lent Devotional - Day 3 - February 24, 2023 .
Psalm 96:1-2 Sing a new song to the LORD! Let the whole earth sing to the LORD! Sing to the LORD; praise his name. Each day proclaim the good news that he saves.
I Will Sing a New Song by Howard Thurman
The old song of my spirit has wearied itself out. It has long ago been learned by my heart; It repeats itself over and over, bringing no added joy to my days or lift to my spirit. I will sing a new song. I must learn the new song for the new needs. I must fashion new words born of all the new growth of my life - of my mind - of my spirit. I must prepare for new melodies that have never been mine before, that all that is within me may lift my voice unto God. Therefore, I shall rejoice with each new day and delight my spirit in each fresh unfolding. I will sing, this day, a new song unto the Lord.
Prayer: Lord, bless this day. Let me rejoice and sing a new song. Let your spirit come within me and let me do something about it. Amen. . https://www.findnewhope.com
Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Lent Devotional - Day 2 - February 23, 2023 .
Luke 17:20-21 Once, on being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, "The coming of the kingdom of God is not something that can be observed, nor will people say, 'Here it is,' or 'There it is,' because the kingdom of God is in your midst."
Pastor Vicki Harrison Reflection: It was on a family road trip this past summer that I found myself with my three young adult children in a thrift store in downtown Milwaukee, Wisconsin. We had been driving through the Midwest, working our way to Michigan. After a morning of bicycling, we were all tired. My husband, Richard, headed back to the Airbnb and we decided to check out some shops. The thrift store was run by an organization that provides resources to chronically mentally ill individuals. It was in the basement of an older downtown building and we were the only customers. We weren't there long before one of the employees fell off his stool and hit his head on the concrete floor. It appeared the man lost consciousness, at least briefly, and the other workers were understandably upset. I asked my oldest son, an EMT at the time, to see if he could help. Daniel went over to the man, identified himself, and asked some basic questions. He called 911 and continued to keep the man still and the others calm.
While waiting for the ambulance, I felt led to pray for the man. He was still on the floor with Daniel and another man sitting close by him. I walked over and asked if I could pray for the man who fell. I explained 1am a pastor and I believe in the power of prayer. The man's friend, also a worker at the store, said he didn't know female pastors existed. I laughed and assured him we are real, adding a bit of levity. They both agreed to a prayer. While it felt rushed and awkward, both men seemed more at peace.
The ambulance arrived and it seemed like the right time for us to leave. We had made our way out of the building when I hear a man calling out, "Wait!" turned and the man's friend was running toward us. "Will you pray for me too?" he asked, breathing heavily after running to catch us. "I used to have faith a long time ago but a lot has happened in my life. I need prayer that I can believe again." "Of course," I said, "Let's pray right now." Then, standing on the sidewalk in downtown Milwaukee, I took his hands and we prayed. I don't remember exactly what I said, the words weren't really mine after all. When I finished, the man was crying.
The presence of the Spirit was strong, almost palpable. We hugged briefly and he headed back to the store. The moment was over. But it wasn't really over, was it? When the Kingdom of God comes near to us, whether we are in worship or on a sidewalk in Milwaukee, it isn't over at all. When we encounter the presence of the Living God, we always are transformed in some way.
For me, it was additional confirmation to listen to the Spirit's promptings. For my children, it demonstrated how God can and will use us in the most unusual of places. For the two men, my prayer continues to be that seeds were planted, pointing them one step closer to faith in Jesus. There was a purpose for our visit that day and I trust that the Holy Spirit will now send another faithful person to sow, another to water, and another to harvest. Come, Holy Spirit.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, I cry out to you for only Your Voice and Your Direction. You have told me You are doing a new thing. You brought me to Mt. Precipice and reminded me again of Your Word. Give me eyes to see, ears to hear, wisdom to discern, and boldness to step out in Your Strength. In the Name Above All Names, I humbly offer my prayer, Amen.
. https://www.findnewhope.com
Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Lent Devotional - Day 1 - February 22, 2023
Psalms 103:13-17 "The Lord is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate to those who fear him. For he knows how weak we are; he remembers we are only dust. Our days on earth are like grass; like wildflowers, we bloom and die. The wind blows, and we are gone— as though we had never been here. But the love of the Lord remains forever with those who fear him…".
Reflection: When Daniel was in high school, he really struggled to wake up in the morning. I did everything I could to get him up, from playing loud music to pouring water on his head (desperate times call for desperate measures!) I was really worried he would go off to college and never wake up for classes. In a last-ditch effort, I bought what Amazon declared was the loudest alarm clock available. It was called the Sonic Boom. One of the reviews said it was like the Russian army invading your bedroom in the morning. The first morning it went off, the whole house shook and Richard and I sat up immediately in our bed on the other side of the house.
No living thing could sleep with the Sonic Boom to wake them from their slumber. Today is Ash Wednesday. Many of you have asked what the purpose of Ash Wednesday is for us as Methodists. I like to think of Ash Wednesday as an alarm clock for our tired, routine lives. After a global pandemic, internet church services, and loss of connection, we have been coasting spiritually. We need a spiritual Sonic Boom to wake us from our deep slumber and remind us how short these lives really are!
Are we using our one and only life in a way that brings glory to God? Are we right with God? Are we putting value in things with eternal value? What changes do we need to make to reorient our lives toward God and away from the things of this world? For what do we need to repent? Ash Wednesday reminds us how fragile and temporary our lives in this world truly are. As we place the ashes on each forehead in the sign of the cross, we say, “From dust you have come and to dust you will return.” All of us will return to dust. But God and God’s love are eternal. I don’t know about you, but I need that reminder.
Prayer: Lord, Thank you for loving me. Wake me up from my spiritual sleepiness so that I can be fully focused on you. During this season of Lent, help me to be fully aware of your presence in my life. I want to be closer to you! I’m sorry for how I have messed up over and over again. Forgive me, Lord. I know this life is short. May I use my days to glorify you and you alone. In the name of Jesus, Amen. .
https://www.findnewhope.com
Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
New Hope Soap - February 21, 2023 To all those who receive the SOAP devotional, During Lent, instead of doing our typical SOAP note, we will be sending out a specific Lenten devotional. These will be available in a text and audio version. There will be a Scripture, some reflection, and prayer. I hope you enjoy it! After Lent, I am encouraging all of our SOAP subscribers to sign up for Wake-up Call, a daily devotional produced by Seedbed, the publishing arm of Asbury Seminary. Wake-up Call includes daily Scripture, reflection, prayer, and questions. It’s designed to help us reorient our lives around loving Jesus. Could there be anything better? Many of us at New Hope already receive Wake-up Call in our email every morning. Reading this together as a church family will be unifying and provide us with common language. Recently, there has been a focus on awakening and revival, particularly with the events at Asbury University. To register for Wake-up Call, go to seedbed.com and scroll down the page. You will find a place to add your name and email. I have personally felt led to take a sabbatical from writing the SOAP. It has been a blessing for me these past couple years to have this daily practice and I have benefited from the regular rhythm of reading, praying, reflecting, and writing. However, it also takes a great deal of time. It’s time for me to simply take a break from this particular writing venture and maybe try some different kinds of writing projects. In the meantime, I think we will all benefit from the daily encouragement of Wake-up Call. I appreciate your understanding. I will close this note with some of my favorite Scripture about the power of God’s Word. Hebrews 4:12, For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Keep reading, keep praying, and keep allowing God’s Word to change you from the inside out!!! Blessings, Pastor Vicki . https://www.findnewhope.com Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
"Facing Challenges and Hardships" John 16 - February 17, 2023 - Tara Prather Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/JHN.16.NIV
. Welcome to the Daily SOAP from New Hope. This is Tara Prather, your guest host for today, Friday, February 17th. Today we are reading from John, chapter 16 and continuing our discussion on Facing Challenges and Hardships. I encourage you to take the time to read the entire chapter if you have not already done so. In this part of the book of John, Jesus has been preparing his disciples for his departure. He is warning them about all of the hard times they will be facing once he’s gone.
I’m going to read the verses we will focus on for today: verses 22-24: “So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice and no one will take away your joy. In that day you will no longer ask me anything. Very truly I tell you, my Faither will give you whatever you ask in my name. Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete”
In this chapter, Jesus is trying to prepare his disciples for what is about to happen. He warns them of the trials and hardships they will face once he is departed from them. But the message is ultimately a message of hope. Jesus assures his disciples that he will see them again and that the Holy Spirit will be with them after he leaves them.
Today, we can be assured that the Holy Spirit lives in us and around us, to help us navigate our challenges and our hardships. There will always be grief, disappointment & failures in our lives, but we can trust in Jesus and know that through the Holy Spirit he is there when we call on him for help.
Let us pray, Father, we thank you for sacrificing so much for us. We thank you for being there with us and carrying us through our tough times. As we face the challenges ahead, let us remember to call on you for guidance, peace and support. In the holy name of Jesus, amen.
. https://www.findnewhope.com
Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
"Facing Challenges and Hardships" 2 Corinthians 12 - February 16, 2023 Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/2CO.12.NIV
. 2 Corinthians 12:7-10, …Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
Facing Adversity and Challenges – The apostle Paul was used by God in amazing, extraordinary ways. He started many churches, preached to the famous and the lowly, and made his way through all kinds of trials and tribulations, bringing glory to God every step of the way. Paul was a superhero of the faith.
And yet, in this text, he describes having a thorn in his flesh. There was something significant that held him back. We don’t know what that was. Many scholars contend that it was a physical ailment that he didn’t have to describe in detail because the Corinthians would have known immediately to what he was referring. Others say it was a psychological issue, like anxiety or depression, that plagued him, possibly due to the massive trauma he endured.
The truth is that we don’t know the specifics of Paul’s thorn. What we do know is that Paul had a serious obstacle to be overcome. Thus, he could not do things in his own strength; he had to totally and completely depend on God. Interestingly, what Paul expresses here is somewhat ironic. Yes, he begged God to take away this obstacle but that did not happen. Rather, what happened was that Jesus could be glorified because of Paul’s weaknesses. Paul actually brags about his weaknesses. Why? Because it shows that whatever amazing Kingdom wins happen in his ministry, they only occurred because of Christ within him.
On his own, he simply wasn’t capable of doing what he was called to do. He needed Jesus and Jesus shined through him. And the irony continues. If we know Jesus, if we allow Jesus to work through us, then we will be strong despite our weaknesses. His strength comes through. What is your thorn? The reality is that we all have some kind of thorn. Are we hiding it or are we allowing Jesus to work through it? When we are weak, He is strong.
Let’s pray…Jesus, You are strong and we are weak. Work in us, Lord. May our lives, every single part of them, bring you glory. Amen..
https://www.findnewhope.com
Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
"Facing Challenges and Hardships" Psalm 55 - February 15, 2023
Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/PSA.55.NIV
. Psalm 55:16-17, As for me, I call to God, and the Lord saves me. Evening, morning, and noon I cry out in distress, and he hears my voice.
Facing Adversity and Challenge – As you read this Psalm of David, you can truly feel the anguish that is present. David’s life is on the line. He is being hunted by a former friend (we know him as Saul). Besides the obvious fear, there are also feelings of betrayal and emotional strife. I can only imagine how David must be at the end of his physical and emotional rope.
Reread our focus verses. Because his enemy has driven David to prayer, the enemy has now lost his power. David is praying to the God who listens to his people. This is certainly the turning point in the Psalm. David goes from fear to confidence. He is reminded of who and whose he is. He cries out to God morning, noon, and night and God hears him. Are you aware that God hears you? When you cry out to God, he listens. He hears every word of your prayers. He knows your struggles. He knows your pain. The turning point comes when you turn it all over to him. It’s not easy but it’s life-changing.
Let’s pray…Lord, Help us turn our deepest pain over to you. We trust that you hear us when we cry to you. We know you love us. Help me lay my worries and fears at the throne of your grace and not take them back. In Your Name, Amen..
https://www.findnewhope.com
Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
"Facing Challenges & Hardship" 1 Peter 5 - February 14, 2023 Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/1PE.5.NIV
. 1 Peter 5:7, Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
Facing Adversity and Challenges – Peter is writing to a church that is encountering severe persecution. He begins the chapter by encouraging the elders to care for the flock under such significant pressure. He implores the young people to listen and submit to the elders. Things are rough and they need to stick together to encourage one another and stay faithful.
But beyond that, Peter says for all of them to give their anxieties to God. He says “cast all your anxiety on him.” These are people with very, very serious worries! Their very lives are being threatened because of their faith. And Peter says to give all those worries, give all those concerns, give all those heavy burdens to God because he cares for you. God can see what’s going on. God hasn’t forgotten about you. God truly cares. What is it in your life that you need to lay at the feet of Jesus? What heavy burden have you been holding that is weighing you down?
Let’s pray…Lord Jesus, Hear our prayers. Take our burdens. They are too heavy for us to hold. In Your Name, Amen.
. https://www.findnewhope.com
Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
"Facing Challenges & Hardship" Psalm 121 - February 9, 2023 Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/PSA.121.NIV
. Psalm 121:1-8, I lift up my eyes to the mountains— where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip— he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord watches over you— the Lord is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord will keep you from all harm— he will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.
Facing Adversity and Challenges – Today’s Psalm is one of the Psalms of Ascent. These were sung by the Jewish pilgrims who would travel to Jerusalem for the annual festivals. Reread the words of this Psalm. We can all imagine the importance of protection as they made the trek to Jerusalem. There was always the possibility of wild animals and wild people getting in the way.
As you read this, notice how the author moves from the immediate preoccupation with safety on the journey to the need for safety and protection for all of our existence. Where does this protection come from? Well, only from God of course. Think about all the ways we seek safety and protection today. We seek financial safety and security. We seek physical safety and security. But how often do we reflect on our spiritual safety and security?
Furthermore, how often do we recognize that so much of our safety is out of our own control? How much easier life is when we acknowledge that we are in God’s hands. We can do our best to insulate ourselves from difficulty and pain, from physical attack or financial ruin (and that’s perfectively fine). We live in a broken world with natural disasters, volatile stock markets, and dangerous people. However, in the end, we are in God’s hands. We are totally and completely in God’s hands. Do you believe that?
Let’s pray…Lord Jesus, We are in your hands. I submit my whole life to you, Lord. I know that my help, my security, and my eternal protection comes from you and you alone. In Your Name, Amen. .
https://www.findnewhope.com
Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
"Facing Challenges & Hardship" 1 Corinthians 10 - February 8, 2023 Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/1CO.10.NIV
. I Corinthians 10:11-13, These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the culmination of the ages has come. So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted[d] beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.
Facing Adversity and Challenges – Today’s Scripture is a little different, in that it focuses on temptation. Paul seems to indicate that the Corinthians were overly sure of themselves. Of course, the Israelites had been as well. They put a lot of confidence in their own abilities. The reality is that when we put too much confidence in our own skills and abilities rather than in God, we can easily fall. We can be tempted and mess up.
Think about a time in your own life in which you put too much emphasis on what you could do and you ended up failing. Maybe you encountered a difficult challenge and you did all you could to handle it totally on your own without any prayer or discussion with God. What was the result? Lean on God. In temptation, lean on God. In dealing with hardship, lean on God. God is strong and powerful. He won’t let us be tempted more than we can handle. He helps us find solutions to the most difficult of problems. God can make a way where there seems to be no way.
Let’s pray…Lord Jesus, Thank you for how my security and confidence can be found in you. Help me not veer. It’s so easy for us to rely on ourselves only. Lord, continue to remind us that we need you. In Your Name, Amen.
. https://www.findnewhope.com
Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
"Facing Challenges & Hardship" Hebrews 13 - February 7, 2023 Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/HEB.13.NIV
. Hebrews 13:5-6, …because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?”
Facing Adversity and Challenges – This is an interesting chapter – it’s filled with words of encouragement (and maybe even warning) about what it means to follow Jesus faithfully. There are instructions on hospitality, fidelity in marriage, and even avoiding the love of money. In fact, right before our focus verses for today, there is instruction to be content.
Why should we seek to be content? The author then answers that question with some text from the Old Testament (words from Deuteronomy and Joshua) to provide evidence that God is always with us. We can be content, and we can make it through tough times, because we have the presence and power of God with us at all times. This is what’s real: God has always walked with his people through hardships and challenges.
Why would now be any different? Think about the many, many instances in Scripture in which God walked alongside his people, providing for them and sustaining them. There was the time in the wilderness, there was the exile, there was the ministry of Jesus and the disciples, and there was the work of the early church, among many others.
Think about the many times in your own life in which God walked alongside you. How has God sustained you in times of struggle, in loneliness, in grief, in tough financial situations, in illness, etc.? We serve a God who will never leave us or forsake us. And because of that, we don’t have to fear. We can make a decision to trust him. Remember, trust is not a feeling but a decision.
Let’s pray…Lord Jesus, We thank you for your faithfulness and steadfastness. We are so very grateful for your presence. Lord, we need you. Over and over again, we need you. Amen.
. https://www.findnewhope.com
Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
"Facing Challenges & Hardship" Psalm 54 - February 6, 2023 Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/PSA.54.NIV
. Psalm 54:1-7, Save me, O God, by your name; vindicate me by your might. Hear my prayer, O God; listen to the words of my mouth. Arrogant foes are attacking me; ruthless people are trying to kill me— people without regard for God.[c] Surely God is my help; the Lord is the one who sustains me. Let evil recoil on those who slander me; in your faithfulness destroy them. I will sacrifice a freewill offering to you; I will praise your name, Lord, for it is good. You have delivered me from all my troubles, and my eyes have looked in triumph on my foes.
Facing Adversity and Challenges – This is a Psalm of David. David has been betrayed and now finds himself rejected by his own men. David is calling on God is save him and vindicate him. He wants to be saved but he also wants justice. David’s attackers would have been pagans. We can see the contrast between how David and his attackers would have approached the situation. David is faithful and he seeks help from the one true God. He feels strongly that the Lord is on his side. God is his helper and sustainer.
This Psalm is a great reminder that when we suffer adversity at the hands of others, God is the place to go for help. We aren’t to go seek vengeance on our own. Rather, we are to lay it all before God and allow him to provide us with justice. He is our protector. He is the one who provides perfect justice.
Let’s pray…Lord Jesus, We thank you for your protection and help in times of deepest need. We lay our worries, our cares, and our fears at the throne of your grace. We trust you. In Your Name, Amen.
. https://www.findnewhope.com
Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
"Facing Challenges & Hardship" Romans 8 - February 3, 2023 - Paton Cadwallader
Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/ROM.8.NIV
. Welcome to the Daily SOAP from New Hope. This is Paton Cadwallader, your guest host for today, Friday, February 3, 2023. Today we will be reading from Romans 8 and addressing the question “What does the Bible teach us about facing challenges and hardships?” I strongly encourage you to take the time to read the entire chapter if you haven’t already done so.
Romans 8 has been referred to by many as “the most wonderful chapter in the Bible” and for good reason. The author, Paul, provides comfort, encouragement and reinforces that our salvation is absolutely secure no matter what difficulties we are dealing with or struggles we are facing. I pray that the following verses (35-38 from the New Living Translation) will provide you with comfort and soothe your soul.
35 Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? 36 (As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.”[o]) 37 No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us. 38 And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[p] neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. 39 No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Through the love and sacrifice of our savior, Jesus Christ, our future is secure, and the battle is won. No matter what struggles and hardships may come our way here on earth, nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. We are His precious children, and He has a plan for us in eternity that is far greater than we can ever imagine. When life’s challenges come your way, keep your eyes focused on Christ. Take comfort in knowing that you are not alone, and He is walking with you each and every step of the way. NOTHING can ever separate him from you. NOTHING.
Let’s close in prayer. Dear Jesus, Life is tough. So many of us are battling illness, depression, anxiety, grief, financial concerns, and physical ailments. Lord, through all of our challenges, may we find our strength in you. May we read your words when we are being battered down and remember that we are not alone. You are with us and you love us. Nothing can ever separate us from you. And most importantly, through your Son, Jesus Christ, the battle has already been won. Help us to cling to you through whatever life throws our way. You are our lifeline who will never leave us, and we give praise and glory to your holy name. Amen.
. https://www.findnewhope.com
Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
"Facing Challenges & Hardship" Hebrews 4 - February 2, 2023 Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/HEB.4.NIV
. Hebrews 4:15-16, For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
Facing Adversity and Challenges – Jesus is our great high priest. It is because of his sacrifice that we can go boldly into God’s presence. Unlike the Jewish high priests who had to return to the holy of holies every single year to atone for the sins of the people, Jesus took care of it once and for all. He is the final, perfect sacrifice that made it possible for us to be in communion with Holy God.
But here’s the thing. He is also a great high priest because he can empathize with us. He has been tempted. He has lived as a human. He understands what it’s like to live on this earth. He understands the full expression of human emotions. Jesus gets us.
Thus, in the middle of crisis and hardship, we can go to Jesus. Having been where we’ve been, he understands pain, betrayal, humiliation, and rejection. He knows what it’s like to go through really dark times. If you don’t believe me, read about Jesus as he makes his way to the cross. Not only can we go to Jesus, but we can boldly go before him. We can ask God anything. We can bring him our fears, our anger, our pain, our sadness, and our disappointment. We can lay it at the throne of God’s grace. It’s there that we will find mercy and peace.
Let’s pray…Lord Jesus, We give you glory and praise. Thank you for making a way where there seems to be no way. Thank you for understanding me. In the middle of my fears and doubts, I will worship you. I will lay it all down at the throne of your grace. In Your Powerful Name, Amen.
. https://www.findnewhope.com
Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
"Facing Challenges & Hardship" Philippians 4 - February 1, 2023 Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/PHP.4.NIV . Philippians 4:4-8, Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Facing Adversity and Challenges – When crisis strikes, our typical go-to response is anxiety. That’s too often my own reaction. As someone prone to anxiety, my mind goes to the worst possible scenario. But this Scripture gives us a better way to deal with adversity. Paul says to start with rejoicing. Rejoice when things are good and rejoice when things are bad. Always rejoice. We may not feel like rejoicing but he is saying to make an intentional decision to rejoice regardless. Rejoicing leads to gentleness. Gentleness means not causing harm, being gracious, humble, meek, not looking out for your own needs but those of others; seeking to be like Jesus. Gentleness is the disposition of someone who knows that the Lord is near. When tragedy hits, when we are in the midst of despair but we know that God is near, then it creates space for a different response than anxiety. Rather than worry and anxiety, we can move to prayer and petition. Present our requests to God (with thanksgiving) and the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, can fill us. This is the pattern: Rejoicing ---- Gentleness ---- Know the Lord is near ----- Prayer & Petition Yields: Less anxiety (peace) and Thanksgiving One other thing to mention is this only makes sense connected to Jesus. We can only have peace in hardship because of Jesus Christ. It’s his presence that leads to peace. Nothing else. Verse 8 is a great way to close this devotional today. I would encourage you to memorize this verse. This is about changing our thought life. It’s a method or strategy for dealing with worry and anxiety. So often, we get in a loop. We play the tape over and over again in our head. What if this happens? Why did that happen? What will I do if this occurs? I’m wondering if Paul, in his Roman prison cell, sometimes fell prey to this kind of thinking. It’s like he is telling us, “Look, you think you can’t rejoice but you can. Stop thinking about the bad stuff and start thinking about that which is true, that which is noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, or worthy of praise.” This means turning off the news. It means turning off Facebook. It means removing the external sources of negativity from your life as much as possible. Focus on what is worthy of praise. What things in your life are worthy of praise? In my own life, it’s this congregation, this church, my staff, my family, my dogs, my friends… When you get stuck in the negative thought loop, using this verse is an exercise in turning anxiety into joy. Jesus came to give us life and to give it to us abundantly. He didn’t want us to simply exist but to thrive, to rejoice in all circumstances, to experience shalom, and to bring him glory. Don’t settle for less. No matter what you are dealing with, no matter what you are going through, God is with you. As believers in Jesus, we are tasked with demonstrating to the world, the unhappy world, that there is a different way of doing life, in which you can experience joy and hope, even in the darkest times. Let’s pray…Lord Jesus, Fill me with your Spirit. Fill me with your peace. Amen. . https://www.findnewhope.com Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
"Facing Challenges & Hardship" Psalm 46 - January 31, 2023 Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/PSA.46.NIV
. Psalm 46:1, God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.
Facing Hardship and Adversity – If you haven’t read through this Psalm carefully, I would encourage you to go back and do so. This is the Psalm that inspired Luther’s hymn, A Mighty Fortress is Our God. It proclaims the sovereignty and power of God in all things: his power over nature, over the city, and over nation-states and wars. It was obviously written during a crisis, in which the author’s faith is being tested. While scholars have theorized what the crisis may have been, I like the fact that the crisis is left unnamed. It allows us to see how these words go far beyond a local, specific situation and can speak into the most difficult crises of our lives as well.
The focus verses for today are probably familiar to many of you. God is our refuge and our strength. Regardless of what the world tells us, God is the one who brings security and strength. It isn’t God plus something else. It’s simply God. He is the one who is an ever-present help in the midst of our struggles. He is ready and willing, simply waiting for us to call upon him. For what do you need to call upon God today? Which struggle or trouble feels overwhelming? Trust that God is present and God is powerful. He can change your circumstances, though often not in the way we would do so. Call out to God right now. Allow him to hear your pleas.
Let’s pray…Lord Jesus, Hear our prayers. Hear the deepest desires of our hearts. Amen. . https://www.findnewhope.com
Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
"Facing Challenges & Hardship" Isaiah 41 - January 30, 2023
Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/ISA.41.NIV
. Isaiah 41:10, So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Facing Challenges and Adversity – I hope you got a chance to read through all of chapter 41. I know it’s long but it’s also pretty interesting. God is about to argue a case for why the Jews should trust in the Lord to deliver them. They are currently in exile and things seem utterly hopeless. In this scene, God is the judge and he has convened the world before him; yet, he is also one of the litigants. He is the judge AND he is arguing the case.
Why should God’s people trust him for deliverance? Well, the issue at hand is, who rules the world? Who is really in charge of the earth and everything in it? God makes it clear – he is! Throughout the text, we see the author highlight the weakness of Israel. God is all-powerful but God’s people are weak. And yet, they have overcome tremendous obstacles because God is on their side. God is not passive. God is actively involved in their lives. God is transforming circumstances. Thus, they have no need to fear, and no need to experience anxiety. He will give them supernatural strength. By his own hand, they will persevere. God loves them and he wants them to understand that there is a future beyond what they currently see. There is hope.
Let’s fast forward to 2023. I know many of you are experiencing hardship and challenges. Some are experiencing medical and health issues, others might be dealing with relationship or family problems, financial hardship, emotional turmoil, or grief. Let’s think about this Scripture. God wants us to know that we are loved and there is a future beyond what we currently are experiencing. God is not passive but is actively working in your situation. Sometimes we don’t see it or understand how. My prayer for each of you is that God reveals himself to you and lets you get a glimpse of how he is at work in your life.
Let’s pray…Lord Jesus, Show us your glory, show us your power, show us your strength. We need you. In Your Powerful Name, Amen.
. https://www.findnewhope.com
Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
"Who I Am in Christ" James 1 - January 27, 2023 - Michael Heaton
Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/JAS.1.NIV
. Welcome to the Daily Soap from New Hope. My name is Michael Heaton your guest host for today. We will be reading from the book of James Chapter 1 verses 1 through 18. I will be reading from the New Living translation I encourage you to read the whole chapter. I encourage you to read the whole book.
Before I read the selected verses, I want to ask you a couple of questions. Who are you? How do you define yourself? Would you respond with your name, your age, your grade level? Do you define yourself by gender, race, hair color, your profession, the region where you come from, your family system? What about your identity in Jesus Christ?
Let’s read, James 1:1-18. Greetings from James 1 This letter is from James, a slave of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ. I am writing to the “twelve tribes”—Jewish believers scattered abroad. Greetings!
Faith and Endurance 2 Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. 3 For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. 4 So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing. 5 If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. 6 But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind.
7 Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8 Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do. 9 Believers who are poor have something to boast about, for God has honored them. 10 And those who are rich should boast that God has humbled them. They will fade away like a little flower in the field. 11 The hot sun rises and the grass withers; the little flower droops and falls, and its beauty fades away. In the same way, the rich will fade away with all of their achievements.
12 God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. 13 And remember, when you are being tempted, do not say, “God is tempting me.” God is never tempted to do wrong,[c] and he never tempts anyone else. 14 Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away.
15 These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death. 16 So don’t be misled, my dear brothers and sisters. 17 Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow. 18 He chose to give birth to us by giving us his true word. And we, out of all creation, became his prized possession.
So, what is the scripture all about? More importantly, what does this text teach us about our identity in Jesus Christ? The book of James is authored none other than James. There are several men named James mentioned in the New Testament, but reliable tradition assigns this book to the one called James the Just, the half-brother of Jesus (Matthew 13:55) and the brother of Jude (Jude 1), who led the church in Jerusalem (Acts 15:13).
Yet the writer of this letter is the same James who received a special resurrection appearance of Jesus (1 Corinthians 15:7). This was probably the cause of his conversion, because up to that time the brothers of Jesus seemed unsupportive of His message and mission (John 7:5). The scripture we read begins by describing who James was…he describes himself as a slave of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ and that he was writing to the scattered believers.
For you see the church was under attack and many believers were being persecuted. So, he writes to encourage them in their challenging times. James wrote an epistle to the scattered house of Israel, encouraging them to be patient in their afflictions and to seek wisdom from their Heavenly Father. James also taught them to resist temptation, to be doers of the word, to serve others, and to stay spiritually clean.
This may supply information to how we are known. If you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior, then you have an identity in Christ. We are no longer a part of this world soaked in sin, We are a child of God Let our hardships be an opportunity for joy as God shapes us. Every day we have an opportunity to grow in our identity in Christ.
Let’s pray. Lord, I pray that you would help me that I might be fully alive to my identity in you. I thank you that I am your child, that I am your friend, that I am forgiven, that I am a new creation. Help me to live out this truth in my life every day. In Jesus name, amen. .
https://www.findnewhope.com
Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
"Who I Am in Christ" Matthew 5 - January 26, 2023
Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/MAT.5.NIV
. Matthew 5:13-15, “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead, they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
Who I Am in Christ – In Christ, you are salt and light. Jesus tells his followers, “You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its taste, with what can it be seasoned? It is no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.” Now obviously, during Jesus’ time, salt was extremely important. It was a seasoning, a preservative, a disinfectant, and a component of ceremonial offerings, and because of its value, it was even used as a unit of exchange.
So what is Jesus saying? He is telling his followers that God’s people should add some flavor and value to this world. If salt loses its saltiness or flavor, then it’s useless. If we lose our ability to change or influence the world, then are we useless? Well, we certainly lose what is at the heart of being a Christ-follower and that is making a difference for the Kingdom. We are meant to change the world around us for the better in the name of Jesus Christ. Jesus continues, “You are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden.”
Salt improves food because it tastes different from what it's being placed on. In the same way, light is useful to have because it is different from darkness. Light casts out darkness. Light makes a difference. If the light is hidden, it loses what makes it valuable. Likewise, if we fail to be different in a positive way from the culture around us, then we are Christians in name only. In Christ, we are called to be salt and light, to truly make a difference.
Let’s pray…Lord Jesus, You have called me. Show me how to respond. Give me courage. In Your Name, Amen.
. https://www.findnewhope.com
Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
"Who I Am in Christ" 2 Corinthians 5 - January 25, 2023
Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/2CO.5.NIV
. 2 Corinthians 5:17, Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!
Who I Am in Christ – In Christ, we are new people. When we believe in Jesus, we are no longer defined by our sin and brokenness. The Holy Spirit makes a home within us and begins to change us from the inside out. We are now defined by the righteousness of Jesus Christ. We are born again and become new people.
In addition, as Paul discusses in this chapter, we are new creatures with a heavenly destiny and a glorious inheritance. Think about your life before and after Jesus. How are you a new creation? How have you seen the Holy Spirit shape and transform your life and your heart? Are there still pieces of your old life that you have allowed to remain and fester? What are you going to do about that?
Let’s pray…Jesus, I am a new creation in you. I seek to reflect you in all I do. More of you and less of me. Amen. .
https://www.findnewhope.com
Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
"Who I Am in Christ" 2 Corinthians 2 - January 24, 2023
Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/2CO.2.NIV
. 2 Corinthians 2:15-17, For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are an aroma that brings death; to the other, an aroma that brings life. And who is equal to such a task? Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, as those sent from God.
Who I Am in Christ - The apostle Paul here speaks of how Christ-followers carry around the pleasing aroma of Jesus Christ to the world. Of course, we are not the source of the pleasing aroma; it comes from the message of Jesus. Paul makes a similar statement elsewhere when he says we are ambassadors of Jesus. We represent Jesus to those who don’t yet know him. To some, the aroma won’t be well-received and to others, it will bring life.
I can’t help but think of how life and death both have odors to them. It’s up to each individual person what they choose. Some will choose the stench of death and others will choose the beautiful aroma of life in Jesus. In Christ, we are messengers of the Good News of Jesus. We carry with us something that is precious and valuable that is meant to be shared with all. The only way people can begin to make a choice is to hear the message. And who will tell them? Friends, we are plan A and there is no plan B.
Let’s pray…Lord, Help me remember who and whose I am. May I represent you well in whatever I do and be free to share your message with others. Take away my fears, take away my insecurities, and help me listen solely to you. May I share the sweet aroma of YOU with all those you put in my path. Amen.
. https://www.findnewhope.com
Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
"Who I Am in Christ" 1 Corinthians 6 - January 23, 2023 Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/1CO.6.NIV . 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies. Who I Am in Christ – Please know that you were bought at a price. In Christ, you have infinite value. This is an interesting chapter. In this reading, Paul speaks to how believers should behave. We shouldn’t engage other believers in lawsuits because it provides a terrible witness to the world. We shouldn’t engage in sexual immorality either. This obviously provides a terrible witness to the unbelieving world but it also degrades our bodies. Our bodies matter. They are temples of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit of the Living God resides within our physical bodies. I don’t think we consider this enough. We are hard on our physical bodies. We damage our bodies in so many ways and we are kind of flippant about it. Who cares if I eat poorly? Who cares if I don’t exercise? Who cares if I do this or that? But we should care! Because these bodies are not really ours. They belong to God. We belong to God. We were bought at a price, a high one! We were bought with the blood of Jesus Christ. Consider this: Your body was bought at a high price. You are valuable, priceless really, to God. Care for yourself, remembering who you are and who is in you! Let’s pray…Lord Jesus, We give you glory and praise. Help us remember who and whose we are. Help us care for our physical bodies, even when it’s hard, because you care for them. And help us truly care for others. We were bought at a high price. Help me not forget that, Lord. Amen. . https://www.findnewhope.com Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
"Who I Am in Christ" 1 Corinthians 3 - January 20, 2023 - Zach Alexander
Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/1CO.3.NIV
. Hey New Hope, welcome to the Daily SOAP. My name is Zach Alexander, and I’m the worship director. Today we’re going through 1 Corinthians 3, verses 18-19.
1 Corinthians 3:18-19 – Stop deceiving yourselves. If you think you are wise by this world’s standards, you need to become a fool to be truly wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness to God.
In Christ, we are…foolish? Not exactly, but following Jesus sometimes looks foolish to today’s world. Every which way we look, we see a world that thinks it has it all figured out – that you need to live in a specific way to be successful. But our success is not defined by this world; it is defined by how we serve Jesus with our lives. Today, I challenge you to live like Christ and serve those around you over yourself.
Let’s pray – God, we love you, and we thank you for loving us when we don’t deserve it. Inspire in us a servant’s attitude over a selfish one so that we can honor You with our lives. In Jesus’ name, amen. .
https://www.findnewhope.com
Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
"Who I Am in Christ" Colossians 3 - January 19, 2023
Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/COL.3.NIV
. Colossians 3:17, And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Who I Am in Christ – When we are in Jesus Christ, all we do is for his glory. Over the past two thousand years, we have gone a drift quite a bit when it comes to living for Jesus. Somehow, someway, we have separated our “regular” lives from our “spiritual” lives. We’ve made faith a private thing. We’ve said it’s simply between us and God. What we do at work is what we do at work. What we do when we drive is what we do when we drive. What we do on the golf course or in the book club or on the baseball field is what we do there. You get the idea.
And yet, when we believe in Jesus and submit our lives to him, it should affect every single part of our life. That’s the whole Lordship issue. Jesus is not simply Lord of our lives on Sunday morning or Lord over part of our lives. Jesus is Lord over the cosmos, the world, the nation, the church, our families, and ourselves! If Jesus is Lord, then nothing else can be. That means that all we do, all we do, should be done for Jesus. This is hard. I know it. But in Christ, all we do is for Jesus. Just let that resonate a bit.
Let’s pray… Lord Jesus, I am yours. I am not my own. Help me live like it. Amen. .
https://www.findnewhope.com
Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
"Who I Am in Christ" Colossians 1 - January 18, 2023
Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/COL.1.NIV
. Colossians 1:21-22, Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of] your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation…
Who I Am in Christ – In Christ, we are reconciled to a holy God, free from any blemish or accusation. Because Jesus voluntarily went to the cross, we can walk hand in hand with God. Before the cross, our sin created a chasm between us and God. Because of his death on the cross, Jesus became the final sacrifice for sin and his blood atoned for the sin of all humanity for all time. Just think about that, your sins and my sins were cleansed totally and completely because of Jesus’ atoning work on the cross.
Now, when God looks at us, he doesn’t see our brokenness, he sees the blood of Christ. We are cleansed, freed from sin, and without blemish in God’s eyes. Thus, the chasm is gone. The cross creates a bridge for us to have a relationship with God. We don’t have to be ashamed, we don’t have to be fearful, and we don’t have to rely on good works. We are saved fully and completely through our faith in Jesus.
Let’s pray…Lord, Thank you for your sacrifice on behalf of me. Forgive me for my sins. Help me submit my whole life to you. In Your Name, Amen. .
https://www.findnewhope.com
Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
"Who I Am in Christ" Romans 8 - January 17, 2023
Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/ROM.8.NIV
. Romans 8:15-17, The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.
Who I Am in Christ – We are sons and daughters of Jesus Christ, the one true King. When we say yes to Jesus, the Spirit of the Living God comes and makes a home within us. It’s through the Spirit that we can be assured of our adoption. God is not some far off, distant deity. He is like our Daddy, Abba Father. We can crawl up in his lap and know that we are loved, that we are protected, and that we belong to him. We can be assured that we are truly his heirs. We share in all the things that a child of God will share in. We share in his sufferings (“take up your cross and follow me”) but we also share in his glory.
We can share in his amazing glory! In Christ, we can know that we know that we know, that we are children of God. God has chosen us. We are chosen by the God of the universe! I am a daughter of the King! Whenever I feel down, let me rest in this truth.
Let’s pray…Lord Jesus, Thank you that we can call you Abba, Father. We are not estranged but rather, we are adopted, accepted, chosen, and loved. Help us all know that with every part of our being. In your name, Amen.
. https://www.findnewhope.com
Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
"Who I Am in Christ" Romans 5 - January 16, 2023
Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/ROM.5.NIV
Romans 5:19, For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous. Who I Am in Christ - We are made righteous through Jesus Christ.
In this chapter, Paul explores the origin of sin in a unique way. He speaks of Adam, through which sin entered the world. If you are familiar with the study of the spread of disease (called epidemiology), then you have probably heard of patient zero. Patient zero is the first person who brings a specific disease into an area. To find this person, the epidemiologists trace the outbreak through all sorts of people, interviewing, contact tracing, digging, and digging some more to find out where the disease began. Adam was patient zero for sin. It was through Adam (and Eve really) that sin came into play. After that, all humans were “infected” with sin.
There was no way not to be infected. The world was no longer a lovely, perfect place like the Garden of Eden. The world was now broken, filled with hardship, disease, and death. But if Adam brought us sin and death, Jesus brings us life. Jesus died for us while we were still sinners. Through Jesus, we can be reconciled to a holy God. We can do life, walking hand in hand with God – no walls, no barriers, and no shame. Jesus has removed anything preventing us from accessing God. You see, when he died on the cross, the blood of Jesus atoned for the sins of all humanity for all time. He cleansed us from sin and gave us his righteousness. What is righteousness? It’s the quality of being morally right, virtuous, and just. Jesus was totally righteous and we weren’t! But through the cross, in the act of cleansing us from sin, Jesus imputed (gave) his righteousness to us.
We are made righteous by Jesus. Now, God doesn’t see our messed up, broken lives – he sees that which Jesus has freely gifted us. In Jesus, we are saved and made righteous. And as Jesus continues to work within us, let’s hope that the righteousness of Jesus really takes root in a different way. As we seek to grow closer to Jesus, may the rightness, the virtuousness, the justice, and the love of Christ grow within us and make us better reflections of him.
Let’s pray…Lord Jesus, Thank you for your sacrifice. I know I’ve been made righteous. Now, may I actually live righteously. More of you and less of me. In Your Name, Amen. .
https://www.findnewhope.com
Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
"Who I Am in Christ" Hebrews 12 - January 13, 2023 - Paul Brooks
Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/HEB.12.NIV
. Welcome to the Daily SOAP from New Hope. This is Paul Brooks, your guest host for today. I hope you are having a good day. Today we will explore Hebrews 12:1-3. It actually refers back to Hebrews 11, considered to be the “Hall of Fame” of faith. I encourage you to read both chapters 11 and 12. January 13, 2023 Read Hebrews 12:1-3
Scripture – Hebrews 12:1-3: 1Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. 2Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. Each verse of this passage speaks to me in its own right.
Verse 1 paints a glorious picture of the saints surrounding us and cheering us on every step of our lives. Like a marathon runner, we move among them and they offer us encouragement, refreshment, prayer, and if we falter, they stay with us, through the finish line. Next time you bow your head in prayer, consider that around you are the likes of Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Gideon, Samson, David, and the prophets. Not only those, but I also envision my parents, my friends who have passed on. A great cloud of witnesses, indeed! “Throw off everything that hinders you”, they say.
Verse 2 reminds us that Jesus is in that crowd, too. We are to fix our eyes on Him who sacrificed everything for our salvation, died for us, rose again, and ascended into Heaven, where he is seated at the right hand of God the Father. And he prays for us as believers, as recounted in John 17:20-26.
Verse 3 challenges us to consider his victory over the sin of this world, so that we do not grow weary and lose heart. He is the perfect picture of how we should strive to live, and the promise of our ultimate hope.
And collectively, they help me focus on an important word for all of us: Perseverance. Jesus told us, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” The history of Christianity, going all the way back to Eden, is a history of persevering through trouble. The challenges we face today are a continuation of the challenge of this world. But we are to carry on.
Two memories come to mind. The first is that old children’s hymn, which my Mom had us sing at her celebration of life, that starts out, “I sing a song of the saints of God “Patient and brave and true, “Who toiled and fought and lived and died “For the Lord they loved and knew. “And one was a doctor, and one was a queen, “And one was a shepherdess on the green: “They were all of them saints of God – and I mean, “God helping, to be one too.”
The second is my most enduring verse from the Bible, Romans 5:1-5. It hit my heart when my Dad was placed in the care of hospice, and was a source of discussion between us about faith, about suffering, and about hope. “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.” Dad persevered through 18 months before going on to glory.
So, as we face the challenges of this world, remember the amazing cloud of witnesses cheering us on. Remember the hope they promise us if we just persevere. Remember the character we are building as we run the race and strive to be part of that cloud for eternity. And there are more, right here on earth, cheering us on. As the song ends: “You can meet them in school, or in lanes, or at sea, “In church, or in trains, or in shops, or at tea, “For the saints of God are just folks like me, “And I mean to be one too.”
Let’s pray. Almighty God, thank you for the grace you have given us through Jesus Christ. As this world poses challenges, help us remember that great cloud of witnesses cheering us on. Help us keep the faith and persevere through the turmoil and strife of this world, remaining focused on Jesus. And help us all, even as broken as we are, be a saint of God for those around us. Amen. Paul Brooks .
https://www.findnewhope.com
Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
"Who I Am in Christ" Hebrews 10 - January 12, 2023 Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/HEB.10.NIV . Hebrews 10:10, And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. Who I Am in Christ – In Christ, we have been made holy. Think about that, in Christ, you have been made holy. What does it mean to be holy? To be holy means to be set apart and separate from sin. We serve a holy God. He is sinless, he is set apart from the rest of the world, he has perfect purity, and he is the definition of moral goodness and integrity. What today’s Scripture in Hebrews is saying is that we have been made holy through Christ. Obviously, on our own, we are sinful and broken. There is nothing perfectly pure about any of us! But through the act of the crucifixion, we were cleansed of all unrighteousness and made holy. Jesus did this for us. We did nothing to earn it or deserve it. It was a free gift for which we simply have to say, “Yes!” A very simple and kind of silly analogy would be the story of King Midas. Remember how everything he touched turned to gold? Something like that happens when we come into relationship with Jesus Christ, the one who entered the holy of holies to heal the chasm that sin had created in our relationship with God. Jesus is the one who makes us holy, enabling us to stand in God’s presence and join the angels as they sing “Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord.” The author of 1 Peter writes, But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. As the body of Jesus on earth, we are called to be holy and set apart. We are called to live with moral purity and integrity. We are called to look different from the world around us. Holiness is a big deal! In Christ, we are made holy. The question is, “Are we living like it?” Let’s pray…Lord Jesus, Holiness is what I long for. You have made me holy, help me live a life characterized by holiness and love. Amen. . https://www.findnewhope.com Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
"Who I Am in Christ" Hebrews 4 - January 11, 2023
Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/HEB.4.NIV
. Hebrews 4:14-16, Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. Who I Am in Christ – In Christ, we have a high priest who understands all our needs. The author of Hebrews uses the theme of Jesus as high priest throughout the book.
There are three attributes of Jesus as high priest that should be noted. First, he is described as great, which means superior to all the others. Second, he has ascended into heaven. Whereas, the Jewish high priest could only enter a portion of the temple. Jesus is actually in the heavens, seated next to God the Father Almighty. He has access to God and thus, we have access to God. Third, he is called Jesus the Son of God. We see both his humanity (Jesus) and his divinity (Son of God) in this statement. It’s because of this that he understands our weaknesses. He has been where we have been (but unlike us, he did not sin). Because Jesus Christ is our high priest, he has made it possible for us to go directly before God. He can approach the throne of grace with confidence. We don’t need to be afraid or hesitant.
Jesus was both the final sacrifice for sin and the high priest that advocated on behalf of us. In every way, Jesus cleared the way for us to boldly, unabashedly come before God Almighty with any need, any worry, any question, any doubt, anything! In Christ, we can confidently approach the throne of grace. We have direct access to God.
Let’s pray…Lord Jesus, You are the great high priest. Thank you, Lord, for making a way for us to walk hand in hand with a holy God. You are my Lord, you are my Savior, and I thank you. In Your Name, Amen.
. https://www.findnewhope.com
Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
"Who I Am in Christ" Hebrews 3 - January 10, 2023
Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/HEB.3.NIV
. Hebrews 3:6, But Christ is faithful as the Son over God’s house. And we are his house, if indeed we hold firmly to our confidence and the hope in which we glory. Today, we continue to explore who we are in Jesus Christ. Who I Am in Christ - In Christ, we are the house of God. What in the world does that mean? The author is speaking about the superiority of Jesus over Moses. The builder of the house is greater than the servant in the house. You can imagine how this would have angered the Jews at the time.
But then he makes the statement that we, as believers/coheirs/followers/siblings/friends of Jesus, are actually the house of God too. In Christ, you are God’s house. Redeemed human beings are now the dwelling place of God. When we say yes to Jesus, the Holy Spirit (the Spirit of the Living God) comes and dwells within us. There is power in that! We are little God houses walking around. Visualize that for a moment.
But there is more to this Scripture. The author of Hebrews says that we are the house of God IF we hold firmly to the confidence and hope we have in Jesus. Let’s be careful in how we interpret this verse. The text is saying that our faith must be more than just superficial. It can’t be fleeting. It’s not saying the sinner’s prayer one moment and then living life in exactly the same way that we always did. The presence of the Holy Spirit within us will inevitably change us. How can the presence of God be in us and we not be changed? We are the house of God if we hold fiercely to the courage, boldness, and hope we have in Jesus. This doesn’t mean that sometimes our faith won’t waver. But it means that we will always seek God and maintain hope. It’s that hope that is the mark of a believer. It’s that hope that can be found in us little God houses.
In Christ, you are a house of God. In Christ, the power of the Holy Spirit is within you!
Let’s pray…Lord Jesus, May the mark of your hope always be evident on and in me. Amen. .
https://www.findnewhope.com
Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
"Who I Am in Christ" Hebrews 2 - January 9, 2023 Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/HEB.2.NIV
. Hebrews 2:11-12, Both the one who makes people holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters. He says, “I will declare your name to my brothers and sisters; in the assembly I will sing your praises.” Today, we continue to explore who we are in Jesus Christ. Who I Am in Christ – In Christ, we are sanctified, being made holy, and being set apart for use in the Kingdom of God. Because of his death on the cross, Jesus has prepared the way for us to have everlasting life but he has also prepared the way for us to be made holy. Jesus atones for our sins on the cross, we are cleansed of all unrighteousness, but this was all done for a purpose. We were cleansed in order to be set apart for God’s use. Think about that. If you have said yes to Jesus Christ, you are cleansed of sinfulness. We are free to live the abundant life with God. Friends, we can now walk hand in hand with a holy God – no barrier and no shame. When God looks on us, he no longer sees our sin but rather the atoning blood of Jesus Christ. Amen! Praise God! But, and this but is important, this was done for a purpose – so that we can be used by God for his work in this world. We aren’t to simply sit around and enjoy the wonderfulness of our faith (even though it is wonderful), but we are called to a higher purpose, we are called to something greater. God is calling every single one of us to be used by him.
Furthermore, the one who makes us holy and the one who is holy are of now of the same family. Jesus isn’t ashamed of us. Rather, he delights in us! God delights in you!
Let’s pray…Lord Jesus, Thank you for continuing to sanctify me. Help me to look more like you in all I do. I am so grateful to call you friend. More of you and less of me, Jesus. Amen.
. https://www.findnewhope.com
Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Today's Scripture Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/PHP.3.NIV
Hello, this is Paul Lancaster, your guest host for today’s SOAP from New Hope Church in Brandon, Florida for Friday, January 6, 2023: Our scripture reading today is from Philippians chapter 3 verses 10-12 and 18-21. I will be reading from the New International Version. As always, we recommend you read the entire chapter of Philippians 3 to receive other thoughts, blessings, and revelations from God. Scripture: Philippians 3: Our Identity in Christ - No Confidence in the Flesh Philippians 3:10-12 — “I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of His resurrection and participation in His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.” Philippians 3: 18-21 — “For as I have often told you before and now tell you again, even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables Him to bring everything under His control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like His glorious body.” Observation: The Apostle Paul’s focus is to be “found in Christ”, finding a righteousness not based on works but on faith (Philippians 3:9). His goal is to know Christ and the power of His resurrection. He wants to also share in His sufferings, becoming like Him in death (Philippians 3:10). Paul emphasizes in Romans 4:4-5, that “Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a favor, but as an obligation. But to the one who does not work, but believes in the One who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness.” Application: How should we live our lives in light of our identity in Christ? Our identity in Christ is first and foremost one of newness. We are new creations in Christ Jesus. Identity is defined as “the collective aspect of the set of characteristics by which a thing is definitively recognizable or known.” So, our new identity in Christ should be always recognizable both to ourselves and others. If we are “in Christ,” that should be evident, just as “being in the world” is equally evident. Another definition of identity is ”the quality or condition of being the same as something else.” In the case of our identity in Christ, our lives should indicate that we are the same as Christ. New Hope is a body of believers who strive TOGETHER to grow closer to God. If we have accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we are no longer citizens of this world. Even though sin is ever present, our mission statement is to make more and better followers of Jesus Christ. Let’s place our identity where it truly belongs — in the outstretched arms of Jesus. How about giving yourself a new identity in Christ in 2023 — how about you as a: “Child of God”, you as an: “Ambassador for Christ”, you as a: “Faith Follower”, you as a: “Believer”, you as a: “Christian”, and my favorite, you as a: “Child of the One True King.” Prayer: Lord, I don’t want to be identified with titles of earthly jobs and occupations. I want to be a Child of The One True King, Jesus Christ, my Savior and Lord. I want everyone to see my identity and love for You, Our Creator. Make me more like Jesus and less like Paul Lancaster. Amen. This is Paul Lancaster, child of the One True King Go to https://www.findnewhope.com to plan your visit! Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/EPH.2.NIV
. Ephesians 2:10, For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Who I Am in Christ – In Christ, you are God’s handiwork. Some translations say masterpiece. You are a work of art, my friend! Why is this important? Because before we knew Jesus, we were marred by sin. We were broken, unhealthy, and lost. But when we said yes to Jesus, the Holy Spirit (the Spirit of the Living God) came and made a home within us and began to transform us from the inside out. We are still broken vessels but Jesus is beginning to put us together again. He is making us into new creations. The old life is gone and the new is here (2 Cor. 5:17). This new creation into which God is forming us is beautiful, good, and worthy of love. This isn’t something we have done, it is God within us (although we certainly have to cooperate with God, creating space and structure for the Holy Spirit to do his work.) And God is transforming us for a purpose. In Christ, you have a purpose! What is it? To glorify God and do good works for his Kingdom. There is no higher purpose under heaven. Let’s pray…Lord Jesus, Thank you for transforming me! Help me continue to be clay in your hands. Mold me and make me into your beautiful masterpiece! Amen.
. https://www.findnewhope.com
Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/EPH.1.NIV
. Ephesians 1:13-14, And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory. Who I Am in Christ – In the ancient world, a seal was the personal sign of an owner who was sending something very important. It also indicated that what was received was genuine, in that it was truly from the person who it said it was from. The Jews thought of circumcision as a seal, in that circumcision indicated they belonged to the one true God. In today’s Scripture, the apostle Paul is saying that we as Christians are also marked with a seal, the seal of the Holy Spirit, which guarantees to whom we belong and that what we believe in true and genuine. In Christ, you are marked with the most important seal in the world! If you have said yes to Jesus, then the Holy Spirit has marked you. You are claimed. You can be assured that you are a child of God. Let’s pray…Lord Jesus, Thank you for claiming me. I know and trust that I belong to you. In Your Name, Amen.
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Go to findnewhope.com to plan your visit! Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap
(813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/JHN.15.NIV . John 15:9-17, “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. This is my command: Love each other. We are trying something new with the Daily SOAPs this month. Rather than reading a book of the Bible straight through, we are going to do some topical studies. Our first topic is Who I Am in Christ. This seemed like a great way to start the new year. Every day, we will read through a chapter, reflect on a portion of the verses, and then specifically gear the devotional piece to the topic at hand. I hope this is a blessing for you! Who I Am in Christ: We are loved by God. Not just a little bit loved, but the love of Jesus Christ is expansive and wide, self-sacrificing and extravagant. The words of Jesus in this text urge us to remain in God’s love. It’s only when we remain in Jesus, abide in him, that we have complete joy and can be a true friend to Jesus. How do we remain in God’s love? God’s love is a firm foundation, never moving or changing. We, on the other hand, drift all over the place! To remain in Jesus’ love, we have to make an intentional effort to keep our connection with him strong. We must pray, read Scripture, and make a special effort to listen and obey. My experience has been that the more I seek Jesus, the more I feel surrounded by his presence and love. There have certainly been times throughout my life in which I’ve gotten busy, distracted, and selfish. I’ve worshiped superficially. I am still loved in those times, but I bear less fruit and I begin to feel dry and detached. It’s only when I am being deliberate about staying connected to Jesus that I feel complete, fulfilled, and productive for the Kingdom. It’s then that I experience the presence of Jesus in a profound way and truly feel the love that God intends me to feel. In Christ, we are loved and we are chosen. We were designed to be in relationship with a loving God who has been seeking us and pursuing us. Let’s pray…Lord Jesus, Thank you for loving us so much. Help us know that in you, we can be assured of your never-ending, extravagant love. In Your Name, Amen. . We hope you have a blessed Christmas! We invite you to worship with us this Christmas Eve at one of our Worship services, Saturday, December 24th at 3, 5, or 7 pm, in-person or online at https://www.findnewhope.com And Christmas Day, Sunday, December 25th in English or Spanish at 11 am in-person or online. Go to findnewhope.com to plan your visit! Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Today's Scripture Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/LUK.21.NIV
Welcome to the Daily SOAP from New Hope. This is Jaci Alexander, your guest host for today. I hope you are having a good day. Today we are reading from Luke 21. If you haven’t read it yet, you might want to do so now. I will be focusing on Luke, specifically, Luke 21:34 My version is from the modern English bible. Luke 21:34, the words of Jesus, “Take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts become burdened by excessiveness and drunkenness and anxieties of life, and that Day comes on you unexpectedly.” This scripture leans heavy on my heart today. In preparation for the busy week ahead, and then some well-deserved rest, I write this devotion moments after finding out someone near and dear has passed suddenly. This passage is full of information about the ‘end days’. Jesus was telling us about signs we could see coming together prior to His return, but I find it hard to believe he wasn’t also reassuring us of our own mortality, and fear of death from this world we know. I find myself busy, running myself around to all the “to-dos” and I even get anxious about all the things I am not doing. And in dwelling in this passage for a bit, I wonder if Jesus is also saying not to waste our time running from one thing to the next. We have such a short time here and it can be up in a moment. If you are just completing the next task, or worrying about something potentially happening, you’re squandering your time away. I know this message is coming to you after the holidays and possibly a good chunk or your ‘free time’ has been used up, but I hope you take some time each day to just be at peace with yourself. Just take a moment and not worry or overthink or get one more thing off the to do list done. I hope you release yourself from excessive obligations and prioritize yourself. Spending time in things that build you up, like family time, reading your bible for pleasure, or sending a card letting someone know you are thinking about them. The time is coming quicker than we all know. Let’s not use it on things that tear us down. Heavenly Father, Your timing is good and just. The things that we focus on in this world are deceitful and use up our time. Change our hearts to focus on You and the good things You have put in our lives. Remove any anxiety and stress from our lives that keeps our focus off You and Your Word for our lives. Forgive us when we fall short and make bad decisions. And give us Your peace that passes all understanding, knowing that You are the one who holds the future. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Go to https://www.findnewhope.com to plan your visit! Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/LUK.20.NIV
. Luke 20:20-26, Keeping a close watch on him, they sent spies, who pretended to be sincere. They hoped to catch Jesus in something he said, so that they might hand him over to the power and authority of the governor. So the spies questioned him: “Teacher, we know that you speak and teach what is right, and that you do not show partiality but teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. Is it right for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?” He saw through their duplicity and said to them, “Show me a denarius. Whose image and inscription are on it?” “Caesar’s,” they replied. He said to them, “Then give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.” They were unable to trap him in what he had said there in public. And astonished by his answer, they became silent. In this chapter, we get a pretty clear picture of how hard the Pharisees are trying to catch Jesus saying or doing something punishable by Jewish law. They keep trying to trick him; they have no idea with whom they are dealing! No one enjoys paying taxes and in first century Palestine, this was a particularly sticky topic. The Jewish leaders are trying to trap Jesus so they ask him if it is lawful to pay taxes, meaning according to God’s law. But if Jesus says it isn’t lawful, then he could get in trouble with the Romans. The Jewish authorities are hoping he will be in trouble no matter which way he answers. But Jesus is not deceived. He asks for a coin, which had Emperor Tiberius’ image stamped on it, and asked who was on it. When they said Caesar, he told them to give to Caesar what it Caesar’s and to God what it God’s. It left no room for argument and his enemies are literally stunned silent. Jesus is making the point that we are citizens of both earth and heaven at the same time. While we have allegiance to both our nation and God, there is no question that our first and primary loyalty is to God. Jesus is Lord over all the earth, over our nation, over the church, and over our lives. Think of Paul’s words in Philippians 3, But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body. Let’s pray…Lord Jesus, You are Lord of all! Help me live that way. In Your Name, Amen.
https://www.findnewhope.com
Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/LUK.19.NIV
. Luke 19:1-10, Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. He wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short he could not see over the crowd. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way. When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly. All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.” But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.” Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” Zacchaeus’ encounter with Jesus is worth a fair amount of reflection. Zacchaeus was a tax collector. The Roman government hired local Jews to actually go around collecting the taxes for them. One article I read said that they didn't receive a salary per se but instead collected significantly more in taxes than was owed so they could keep that money for themselves and evidence suggests they took a lot for themselves. Thus, tax collectors tended to be wealthy and they were hated by their fellow Jews. The Jews thought of them as selling their services to a foreign oppressor at the expense of their own people. The rabbinical writings refer to these tax collectors as "robbers" and the Gospels call them "sinners." They were the scum of the Jewish community. And Zacchaeus was one of them. Zacchaeus wasn't just a run of the mill tax collector but a chief tax collector. You typically don't get to be chief of something unless you have worked at it for a while and climbed your way to the top so I'm thinking Zacchaeus had probably been living a dishonest life for years, extorting and deceiving others for his own financial gain. He wasn't a newbie at this. Zacchaeus lived in the town of Jericho, which was Jesus' last stop on his journey from Galilee to Jerusalem. It's interesting...people must have heard that Jesus was coming through. Zacchaeus must have heard it because he is determined to see him. I'm curious what it was that made Zacchaeus want to see Jesus so badly - curiosity or conviction - but Scripture says that the crowd that had gathered was quite large and he couldn't see over all the people because he was short. But he was persistent, so he ran ahead to a place where he knew that Jesus would walk by, he climbs a tree, and he waits. As Jesus walks by, he notices Zacchaeus and he calls him by name. He knows him. (I hope each of you know that Jesus knows your name too!) When Jesus calls to him, he tells Zacchaeus to climb down from the tree, for he had plans to go to his home. We might not recognize the significance of this, but to go to someone's home, to dine with them, demonstrated connection and belonging. To break bread with someone was a big deal. It was pretty much a given that the Pharisees didn't like this. He was hanging out with "those" people again. But Jesus goes to Zacchaeus' home and possibly while they are dining together, something happens within Zacchaeus. Maybe it started when Zacchaeus heard Jesus was coming through Jericho - something within him stirred for a different way of doing life. Maybe it started when Jesus really knew him and saw him up in that tree. Maybe it was when Jesus offered him the gift of acceptance by offering to dine with him. Maybe it was in their dinner conversation (I wonder what they talked about over their meal)...but we know that because of his encounter with Jesus, something changes within Zacchaeus. In fact, he eventually tells Jesus, "I'm going to give half of my money to the poor and if I have cheated people, I will pay back four times as much." Four times! He didn't just say, I'll pay them back, I'll make amends, but he specifically says he will pay them four times as much as he took. He was no longer the crooked, thieving Roman sympathizing tax collector, but rather a repentant, generous Jesus follower. What can we learn here? • God has the power to transform any person, no matter how far gone we think they are. God isn’t done with anyone yet! I’m guessing many people had given up on Zacchaeus but Jesus wasn’t one of them. • Never discount how God may use you to be prevenient grace for someone else. I think about how Jesus noticed Zacchaeus in the tree. There were many people, probably lots of noise and distractions, and yet Jesus notices individual people and responds to their needs. That was an act of prevenient grace that led Zacchaeus closer to a place of change. Do we notice individual people around us, do we really notice them, and show them care and kindness in a way that leads them closer to Jesus? Let’s pray…Lord, Thank you for noticing us, knowing our name, and forgiving us for the ways in which we have failed you. Help us be noticers of the people around us and help us love them, really love them, in a way that points them to you. In Your Name, Amen. . https://www.findnewhope.com
Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/LUK.18.NIV
. Luke 18:1-8, Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. He said: “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared what people thought. And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’ “For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or care what people think, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually come and attack me!’” And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?” I’ve always found this to be a fascinating parable. Jesus uses two opposing characters to make an important point about prayer. First, we have a judge who is arrogant and without integrity. Then, we have a widow, who continues to go to the judge for help from her adversary. A widow at the time would have represented helplessness and vulnerability. She must not have had money to bribe the judge so she does the only thing she can – she pesters him! She will not leave him alone until he gives her justice. Since even an unjust judge can do justice, how much more should we expect from a loving, righteous God? God wants his people to be persistent in prayer. Don’t give up! God will answer, although it may not be in our timing or in the way we desire. But God always answers. Is there some situation or person for which you have stopped praying? Be like the persistent widow. Continue to plead before a loving and just God. Let’s pray…Lord Jesus, You know my heart. Please hear my prayers. In Your Name, Amen. .
https://www.findnewhope.com
Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/LUK.17.NIV
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Luke 17:11-19, Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy[b] met him. They stood at a distance and called out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!”
When he saw them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed.
One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan.
Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?” Then he said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.”
This is a wonderful text. Here are just a few reflections:
First, Jesus told the men to show themselves to a priest while they still had leprosy. It was as they went that they were cured. If the priest examined them and they were no longer sick, then they were able to behave like normal people again, socialize, and live normal lives. Walking to the priests while they still had leprosy meant trusting God even when they didn't really have grounds to do so. They really didn’t know what was going to happen. They could have gotten to the priests and still been sick and been yelled out or banned or worse. But they had faith and trusted Jesus. That's a definition of faith – trusting in what we cannot prove. In Hebrews 11:1 it's described as "the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." If we want everything plain and clear before we take a step of faith, it's not really faith. Faith is trust, even when we don't understand and even when the evidence is against us.
It’s interesting that the one who comes back is a Samaritan. Samaritans were enemies of Jews; they hated each other. So why was he the one to come back, rather than the Jews? Maybe he had a deeper sense of what had been done for him. Maybe the Jewish men felt entitled, like they deserved a healing and the Samaritan didn’t.
Regardless, it speaks of God's grace to everyone. The men's healing doesn't depend on them coming back to say thanks. Jesus heals them anyway; it's not as if the healing of the other nine would be miraculously withdrawn because they didn't return. God does lots of good things for everyone, whether they acknowledge it or not. He makes the sun shine on the righteous and unrighteous and the rain fall on the just and the unjust (Matthew 5:45). There are many people who are not Christians, but who are still blessed. At one level, Christians ought just to be the people who acknowledge what God's done for them, and turn back to say "Thank you."
What do you need to thank God for? Even when circumstances are hard, we are called to spend time rejoicing in what God has blessed us with. It’s so easy to fall into an attitude of negativity and complaining. But God wants us to have an attitude of gratitude, spending more time recognizing how he has healed us, blessed us, saved us, taken care of us, and loved us rather than focus on all the crummy stuff.
Let’s pray from God’s Word today, the words of I Thess. 5:16-18, “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” Thank you, Jesus! Amen.
. https://www.findnewhope.com
Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Today's Scripture: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/LUK.16.NIV
Welcome to the Daily SOAP from New Hope. This is Paul Brooks, your guest host for today. I hope you are having a good day.
Today we will explore Luke 16. If you haven’t read it yet, you might want to do so now. I will be focusing on Luke 16:1-15 and, specifically, Luke 16:9 from the NIV version.
Scripture – Luke 16:9: [Jesus said,] “I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.”
I am drawing here a passage from The Parable of the Shrewd Manager. Let me set the stage. We learned in Luke 15:1-2 the following: 1Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. 2But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” We can surmise from a passage later in Luke 16 that The Parable of the Shrewd Manager was shared at this same time. So, Jesus is speaking to the detestable tax collectors and other sinners (like us) and is teaching about “true” wealth versus “earthly” wealth while the Pharisees sneer at Him.
Like some other parables, this one made me think twice. In it, a rich man calls in the manager of his estate, accuses him of wasting his possessions, and summarily fires him. The manager, worried about his future, then proceeds to contact his master’s debtors and forgive large portions of their debts. He does this to curry favor, hoping that his future will be better for that favor. These are debts owed to his master, not to him personally. In our world, this would set off a string of police filings, lawsuits, legal expenses, social media rampaging, and overall ugliness. Yet in this lesson, the master actually commends the manager for these actions because he had acted shrewdly. Jesus goes on to say, “8For the people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the people of the light. 9I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.”
What is Jesus saying to us here? This sounds confusing. I think he is contrasting our way of life as “People of the world” with the life we should lead as “People of the light”:
Our Earthly World – “People of the world”
Shrewdness often means figuring out how to get more out of others for our own benefit.
Take care of yourself at others’ expense.
The Goal is to attain worldly wealth and other “valuables”.
Jesus’s Perfect World – “People of the light”
Shrewdness is blessing others who, like us, have debts to pay – just as He blessed us and forgave our debts through his birth, death, and resurrection.
Take care of yourself by living like Jesus.
The Goal is to follow His Commandments and Example, and so attain eternal life with Him.
On its face, this seems to be a money-related lesson. Jesus ends this parable as follows: 13 “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.” But there is more to this lesson than simply money.
Luke goes on to write in verses 14 and 15: 14The Pharisees, who loved money, heard all this and were sneering at Jesus. 15[Jesus] said to them, “You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of others, but God knows your hearts. What people value highly is detestable to God.” This, in my opinion, goes well beyond money. What did the Pharisees value, and what does our society still value, in addition to money? We value respect. We value status. We value power. We value consideration. We value positive feedback. We value like-mindedness. We value things that build us up on the eyes of other human beings. We lock them in the treasure chest of our souls. Sometimes we count them. And where we have been “slighted” or “shorted” or “affronted”, we write that down and track it as one of those worldly debts. It’s all part of our personal “portfolio” … our “treasures.”
But what does Jesus tell us to value? The list is long, but it starts here, from Matthew 22:37-40: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like unto it, love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”
In this season of Christmas, as we approach that glorious day after tomorrow when we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior, maybe we should take a minute and think about those “treasures.” Who owes us a worldly “debt”. Who do we hold accountable for any of those worldly assets? How can we forgive them of that burden, thus unburdening ourselves in the process? Wouldn’t you treasure the gift of “forgiveness” by someone you had offended in some manner? I know I would. After all, God gave us the greatest gift of all – full free forgiveness and a welcome into “eternal dwellings” with Him.
As Jesus said in Matthew 6:19-20: “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
I invite you to pray this with me.
Almighty and most merciful Father. I am too quick to focus my attention on the treasures of this world. I store them in the vault of my soul and pull them out and count them as valuable items. These “assets” include the “debts” I perceive others “owe” me. Like money or status, I pull them out from time to time and recount them, often to make myself feel better, or more “righteous” in some way. But, in reality, they tear me down. Doing so is not what you command of me – to love others as myself. I am sorry and I want to do better. Please forgive me and help me be more like you. As you forgive me, let me also forgive others of these worldly things, and in doing so glorify you. And, even more so, let me be a blessing to my neighbors in other ways. Let me be part of your ministries, bringing your Gospel, your help, your love to all who need them. As we celebrate the birth of Jesus, help me remember that you came to be with us that we might know you, to listen to us, to walk in our shoes, to care for us, to teach us, to die for us, and through your resurrection, to live with us now and through eternity. I pray this in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
This has been the Daily SOAP from New Hope. We hope you will join us to celebrate the birth of Jesus on Christmas Eve or Christmas morning or both. But wherever you are, Celebrate! God is with us!! God is with you!!! Rejoice!!!!
I’ll leave you with a poem by Phillips Brooks titled, Christmas Everywhere.
Everywhere, everywhere, Christmas tonight!
Christmas in the lands of the fir-tree and pine,
Christmas in the lands of the palm-tree and vine,
Christmas where snow peaks stand solemn and white,
Christmas where the cornfields stand sunny and bright.
Christmas where children are hopeful and gay,
Christmas where old men are patient and gray,
Christmas where peace, like a dove in flight,
Broods o’er brave men in the thick of the fight;
Everywhere, everywhere, Christmas tonight!
For the Christ-child who comes is the master of all;
No palace too great, no cottage too small.
Paul Brooks
. . . . . We hope you have a blessed Christmas! We invite you to worship with us this Christmas Eve at one of our Worship services, Saturday, December 24th at 3, 5, or 7 pm, in-person or online at https://www.findnewhope.com . And Christmas Day, Sunday, December 25th in English or Spanish at 11 am in-person or online. Go to findnewhope.com to plan your visit! Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Luke 15 - December 22, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/LUK.15.NIV
. . . . We hope you have a blessed Christmas! We invite you to worship with us this Christmas Eve at one of our Worship services, Saturday, December 24th at 3, 5, or 7 pm, in-person or online at https://www.findnewhope.com
And Christmas Day, Sunday, December 25th in English or Spanish at 11 am in-person or online. Go to findnewhope.com to plan your visit! Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Luke 14 - December 21, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/LUK.14.NIV
. . . . We hope you have a blessed Christmas! We invite you to worship with us this Christmas Eve at one of our Worship services, Saturday, December 24th at 3, 5, or 7 pm, in-person or online at findnewhope.com. And Christmas Day, Sunday, December 25th in English or Spanish at 11 am in-person or online. Go to findnewhope.com to plan your visit! Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Luke 13 - December 20, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/LUK.13.NIV
. . . . We hope you have a blessed Christmas! We invite you to worship with us this Christmas Eve at one of our Worship services, Saturday, December 24th at 3, 5, or 7 pm, in-person or online at findnewhope.com. And Christmas Day, Sunday, December 25th in English or Spanish at 11 am in-person or online. Go to findnewhope.com to plan your visit! Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope! Today's Reading: Luke 12 - December 19, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/Luk.12.NIV . . . . We hope you have a blessed Christmas! We invite you to worship with us this Christmas Eve at one of our Worship services, Saturday, December 24th at 3, 5, or 7 pm, in-person or online at findnewhope.com. And Christmas Day, Sunday, December 25th in English or Spanish at 11 am in-person or online. Go to findnewhope.com to plan your visit! Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Luke 11 - December 16, 2022 - James Jacobs - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/LUK.11.NIV
. . . . . We hope you have a blessed Christmas! We invite you to worship with us this Christmas Eve at one of our Worship services, Saturday, December 24th at 3, 5, or 7 pm, in-person or online at findnewhope.com. And Christmas Day, Sunday, December 25th in English or Spanish at 11 am in-person or online. Go to findnewhope.com to plan your visit! Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Luke 10 - December 15, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/LUK.10.NIV
. . . . We hope you have a blessed Christmas! We invite you to worship with us this Christmas Eve at one of our Worship services, Saturday, December 24th at 3, 5, or 7 pm, in-person or online at findnewhope.com. And Christmas Day, Sunday, December 25th in English or Spanish at 11 am in-person or online. Go to findnewhope.com to plan your visit! Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Luke 9 - December 14, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/LUK.9.NIV
. . . . We hope you have a blessed Christmas! We invite you to worship with us this Christmas Eve at one of our Worship services, Saturday, December 24th at 3, 5, or 7 pm, in-person or online at findnewhope.com. And Christmas Day, Sunday, December 25th in English or Spanish at 11 am in-person or online. Go to findnewhope.com to plan your visit! Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Luke 8 - December 13, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/LUK.8.NIV
. . . . We hope you have a blessed Christmas! We invite you to worship with us this Christmas Eve at one of our Worship services, Saturday, December 24th at 3, 5, or 7 pm, in-person or online at findnewhope.com. And Christmas Day, Sunday, December 25th in English or Spanish at 11 am in-person or online. Go to findnewhope.com to plan your visit! Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope! Today's Reading: - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/bible/111/LUK.7.NIV We hope you have a blessed Christmas! We invite you to worship with us this Christmas Eve at one of our Worship services, Saturday, December 24th at 3, 5, or 7 pm, in-person or online at findnewhope.com. And Christmas Day, Sunday, December 25th in English or Spanish at 11 am in-person or online. Go to findnewhope.com to plan your visit! Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Luke 6 - December 9, 2022 - Jeff Sheffer - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/LUK.6.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope! Today's Reading: - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/bible/111/LUK.5.NIV . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Luke 4 - December 7, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/LUK.4.NIV
. . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Luke 3 - December 6, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/LUK.3.NIV
. . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Luke 2 - December 5, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/LUK.2.NIV
.. . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Luke 1 - December 2, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/LUK.1.NIV
. . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Esther 10 - December 1, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/EST.10.NIV
. . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Esther 9 - November 30, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/EST.9.NIV
. . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Esther 8 - November 29, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/EST.8.NIV
. . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Esther 7 - November 28, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/EST.7.NIV
. . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Esther 6 - November 25, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/EST.6.NIV
. . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Esther 5 - November 24, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/EST.5.NIV
. . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Esther 4 - November 23, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/EST.4.NIV
. . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Esther 3 - November 22, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/EST.3.NIV
. . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Esther 2 - November 21, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/EST.2.NIV
. . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Esther 1 - November 21, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/EST.1.NIV
. . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Mark 16 - November 17, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/MRK.16.NIV
. . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Mark 15 - November 16, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/MRk.15.NIV
. . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Mark 14 - November 15, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/MAT.9.NIV
. . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Mark 13 - November 14, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/MRK.13.NIV
. . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Mark 12 - November 11, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/MRK.12.NIV
. . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Mark 11 - November 10, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/MRK.11.NIV
. . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Mark 10, November 9, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/MRK.10.NIV
. . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope! Today's Reading: Mark 9 - November 8, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/MRK.9.NIV
Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison
Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU
Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap
(813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Mark 8 - November 7, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/MRK.8.NIV
Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison
Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU
Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap
(813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: November 3, 2022 - Mark 7 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/MRK.7.NLT
To learn more about what those in the Methodist tradition call the "Wesleyan Quadrilateral" check out this video and blog post: https://www.wesleyan.org/the-wesleyan-quadrilateral
Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read.
Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU
Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap
(813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope! Today's Reading: Mark 6 - November 3, 2022
Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/MRK.6.NIV
Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison
Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU
Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap
(813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope! Today's Reading: Mark 5 - November 2, 2022
Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/MRK.5.NIV
Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read.
Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison
Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU
Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap
(813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Mark 4 - November 1, 2022 -
Read Here: https://www.bible.com/bible/111/MRK.4.NIV
Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read.
- Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison
-- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU
Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap
(813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope! Today's Reading: Mark 3 - October 31, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/bible/111/MRK.3.NIV . . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Nehemiah 15 - October 28, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/NEH.15.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Mark 1 - October 27, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/MRK.1.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Nehemiah 13 - October 26, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/NEH.13.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Nehemiah 12 - October 25, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/NEH.12.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Nehemiah 11 - October 24, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/NEH.11.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope! Today's Reading: - Nehemiah 10 - October 21, 2022 - Amy Jo Rodriguez - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/NEH.10.NIV . . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Nehemiah 9 - October 20, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/NEH.9.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Nehemiah 8 - October 19, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/NEH.8.NIV
.. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope! Today's Reading: Nehemiah 7 - October 18, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/NEH.7.NIV . . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Nehemiah 6 - October 17, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/NEH.6.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Nehemiah 5 - October 14, 2022 - Stuart Mackey - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/NEH.5.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Nehemiah 4 - October 13, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/NEH.4.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Nehemiah 3 - October 12, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/NEH.3.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Nehemiah 2 - October 11, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/NEH.2.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Nehemiah 1 - October 10, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/NEH.1.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Matthew 28 - October 7, 2022 - Zach Alexander - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/MAT.28.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Matthew 27 - October 6, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/MAT.9.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Matthew 26 - October 5, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/MAT.26.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Matthew 25 - October 4, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/MAT.25.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Matthew 24 - October 3, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/MAT.24.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Matthew 23 - September 30, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/MAT.23.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Matthew 22 - September 29, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/MAT.22.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Matthew 21 - September 28, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/MAT.21.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Matthew 20 - September 27, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/MAT.20.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Matthew 19 - September 26, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/MAT.19.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Matthew 18 - September 23, 2022 - Jaci Alexander - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/MAT.18.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Matthew 17 - September 22, 2022 - Julie Boroughs - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/MAT.17.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope! Today's Reading: Matthew 16 - September 21, 2022 - Julie Boroughs - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/MAT.16.NIV . . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Matthew 15 - September 20, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/MAT.15.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Matthew 14 - September 19, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/MAT.14.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Matthew 13 - September 16, 2022 - Karen Marsh - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/MAT.13.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Matthew 12 - September 15, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/MAT.12.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Matthew 11 - September 15, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/MAT.11.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Matthew 10 - September 14, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/MAT.10.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Matthew 9 - September 13, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/MAT.9.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Matthew 8 - September 12, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/MAT.8.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Matthew 8 - September 9, 2022 - Carina Ramos - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/MAT.8.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Matthew 7 - September 8, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/MAT.7.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Matthew 6 - September 7, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/MAT.6.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Matthew 5 - September 6, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/MAT.5.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Matthew 4 - September 5, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/MAT.4.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope! Today's Reading: - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/MAT.3.NIV . . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope! Today's Reading:
- Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/MAT.2.NIV
Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -
- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU
Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap
(813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/MAT.1.NIV
Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison
--
Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU
Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap
(813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/EZR.10.NIV
Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU
Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap
(813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope! Today's Reading:
- Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/EZR.9.NIV
Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison
--
Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU
Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap
(813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Ezra 8 - August 26, 2022 - Bill Dines - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/EZR.8.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Ezra 7 - August 25, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/EZR.7.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Ezra 6 - August 24, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/EZR.6.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Ezra 5 - August 23, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/EZR.5.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Ezra 4 - August 22, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/EZR.4.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Ezra 3 - August 19, 2022 - Michael Heaton - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/EZR.3.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Ezra 2 - August 18, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/EZR.2.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Ezra 1 - August 17, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/EZR.1.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Revelation 22 - August 16, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/REV.22.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Revelation 21 - August 15, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/REV.21.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Revelation 20 - August 12, 2022 - Paul Lancaster - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/REV.20.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Revelation 19 - August 11, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/REV.19.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope! Today's Reading: Revelation 18 - August 10, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/REV.18.NIV . . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Revelation 17 - August 9, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/REV.17.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Revelation 16 - August 8, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/REV.16.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Revelation 15 - August 5, 2022 - Karen Marsh - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/REV.15.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Revelation 14 - August 4, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/REV.14.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Revelation 13 - August 3, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/REV.13.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Revelation 12 - August 2, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/REV.12.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Revelation 11 - August 1, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/REV.11.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Revelation 10 - July 29, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/REV.10.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Revelation 9 - July 28, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/REV.9.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Revelation 8 - July 27, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/REV.8.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Revelation 7 - July 26, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/REV.7.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Revelation 6 - July 25, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/REV.6.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Revelation 5 - July 22, 2022 - Lavetta Pope - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/REV.5.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Revelation 4 - July 21, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/REV.4.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Revelation 3 - July 20, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/REV.3.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Revelation 1 - July 18, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/REV.1.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Revelation 2 - July 19, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/REV.2.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: 2 Kings 25 - July 15, 2022 - Becky Jordan - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/2KI.25.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: 2 Kings 24 - July 14, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/2KI.24.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: 2 Kings 23 - July 13, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/2KI.23.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: 2 Kings 22 - July 12, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/2KI.22.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: 2 Kings 21 - July 11, 2022 - Paton Cadwallader - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/2KI.21.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: 2 Kings 20 - July 8, 2022 - Becky Jordan - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/2KI.20.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: 2 Kings 19 - July 7, 2022 - James Jacobs - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/2KI.19.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: 2 Kings 18 - July 6, 2022 - Paul Brooks - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/2KI.18.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: 2 Kings 17 - July 5, 2022 - Chris Temple - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/2KI.17.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: 2 Kings 16 - July 4, 2022 - Jaci Alexander - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/2KI.16.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: 2 Kings 15 - July 1, 2022 - Paul Brooks - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/2KI.15.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: 2 Kings 14 - June 30, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/2KI.14.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: 2 Kings 13 - June 29, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/2KI.13.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: 2 Kings 12 - June 28, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/2KI.12.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: 2 Kings 11 - June 27, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/2KI.11.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: 2 Kings 10 - June 24, 2022 - James Jacobs - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/2KI.10.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: 2 Kings 9 - June 23, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/2KI.9.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: 2 Kings 8 - June 22, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/2KI.8.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: 2 Kings 7 - June 21, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/2KI.7.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: 2 Kings 6 - June 20, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/2KI.6.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: 2 Kings 5 - June 17, 2022 - Becky Jordan - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/2KI.5.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: 2 Kings 4 - June 16, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/2KI.4.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: 2 Kings 3 - June 15, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/2KI.3.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: 2 Kings 2 - June 14, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/2KI.2.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: 2 Kings 1 - June 13, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/2KI.1.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: 2 Kings 1 - June 13, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/2KI.1.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Jude - June 10, 2022 - James Jacobs - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/JUD.1.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: 3 John - June 9, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/3JN.1.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: 2 John - June 8, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/2JN.1.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: 2 John 5 - June 7, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/2JN.5.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: 2 John 4 - June 6, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/1JN.4.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Acts 2 - June 3, 2022 - Becky Jordan - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/ACT.2.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: 1 John 3 - June 2, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/1JN.3.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: 1 John 2 - June 1, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/1JN.2.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: 1 John 1 - May 31, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/1Jn.1.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: 2 Peter 3 - May 30, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/2PE.3.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: 2 Peter 2 - May 27, 2022 - Karen Marsh - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/2PE.2.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: 2 Peter 1 - May 26, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/2PE.1.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: 1 Peter 5 - May 25, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/1PE.5.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: 1 Peter 4 - May 24, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/1PE.4.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: 1 Peter 3 - May 23, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/1PE.3.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Grad Sunday | Special Guest Speakers | May 22, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/1PE.2.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: 1 Peter 1 - May 19, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/1PE.1.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: 1 Kings 22 - May 18, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/1KI.22.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: 1 Kings 21 - May 17, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/1KI.21.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: 1 Kings 20 - May 16, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/1KI.20.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: 1 Kings 19 - May 13, 2022 - Paul Landcaster - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/1KI.19.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: 1 Kings 18 - May 12, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/1KI.18.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: 1 Kings 17 - May 11, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/1KI.17.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: 1 Kings 16 - May 10, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/1KI.16.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: 1 Kings 15 - May 9, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/1KI.15.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: 1 Kings 14 - May 6, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/1KI.14.NIV
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Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read.
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Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope!
https://goo.gl/o2a9oU
Subscribe at:
http://www.findnewhope.com/soap
(813) 689-4161
keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: 1 Kings 13 - May 5, 2022 - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/1KI.13.NIV
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Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read.
- Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison
--
Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope!
https://goo.gl/o2a9oU
Subscribe at:
http://www.findnewhope.com/soap
(813) 689-4161
keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: 1 Kings 12 - May 4, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/1KI.12.NIV
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Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read.
- Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison
--
Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope!
https://goo.gl/o2a9oU
Subscribe at:
http://www.findnewhope.com/soap
(813) 689-4161
keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: 1 Kings 11 - May 3, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/1KI.11.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope! Today's Reading: 2 Kings 5 - May 2, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/1KI.10.NIV . . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: 1 Kings 9 - April 29, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/1KI.9.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: 1 Kings 8 - April 28, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/1KI.8.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: 1 Kings 7 - April 27, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/1KI.7.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: 1 Kings 6 - April 26, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/1KI.6.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: 1 Kings 5 - April 25, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/1KI.5.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: 1 Kings 4 - April 22, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/1KI.4.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: 1 Kings 3 - April 21, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/1KI.3.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: 1 Kings 2 - April 20, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/1KI.2.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: 1 Kings 1 - April 19, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/1KI.1.NIV
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Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read.
- Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison
--
Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope!
https://goo.gl/o2a9oU
Subscribe at:
http://www.findnewhope.com/soap
(813) 689-4161
keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Luke 24 - April 18, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/LUK.24.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: John 20 - April 17, 2022 - Happy Easter! He is Risen! - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/JHN.20.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: John 18 + 19 - April 16, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/JHN.18.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Luke 22+23 - April 15, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/LUK.22.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Mark 14 - April 14, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/MRK.14.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: James 5 - April 13, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/JAS.5.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: James 4 - April 12, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/JAS.4.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: James 3 - April 11, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/JAS.3.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: James 2 - April 10, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/JAS.2.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: James 1 - April 9, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/JAS.1.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: 2 Samuel 24 - April 8, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/2SA.24.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: 2 Samuel 23 - April 7, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/2SA.23.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: April 6, 2022 - 2 Samuel 22 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/2SA.22.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: April 5, 2022 - 2 Samuel 21 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/2SA.21.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: 2 Samuel 20 - April 4, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/2SA.20.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: 2 Samuel 19 - April 3, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/2SA.19.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: 2 Samuel 18 - April 2, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/2SA.18.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: 2 Samuel 17 - April 1, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/2SA.17.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: 2 Samuel 16 - March 31, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/2SA.16.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: 2 Samuel 15 - March 30, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/2SA.15.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope! 2 Samuel 14 - March 29, 2022 - March 28, 2022
- Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/2SA.14.NIV
. . . . .
Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU
Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap
(813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope! Today's Reading: 2 Samuel 13 - March 28, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/2SA.13.NIV . . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope! Today's Reading: 2 Samuel 12 - March 27, 2022
- Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/2SA.12.NIV
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Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison
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Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU
Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap
(813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: 2 Samuel 11 - March 26, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/2SA.11.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: 2 Samuel 10 - March 25, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/2SA.10.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: 2 Samuel 9 - March 24, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/2SA.9.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: 2 Samuel 8 - March 23, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/2SA.8.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: 2 Samuel 7 - March 22, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/2SA.7.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: 2 Samuel 6 - March 21, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/2SA.6.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: 2 Samuel 5 - March 20, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/2SA.5.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: II Samuel 4 - March 19, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/2SA.4.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Becky Jordan -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: II Samuel 3 - March 18, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/2SA.3.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Becky Jordan -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: II Samuel 2 - March 17, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/2SA.2.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Becky Jordan -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: 2 Samuel 1 - March 16, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/2SA.1.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Becky Jordan -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Hebrews 13 - March 15, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/HEB.13.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Becky Jordan -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Hebrews 12 - March 14, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/HEB.12.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Becky Jordan -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Hebrews 11 - March 13, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/HEB.11.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Hebrews 10 - March 12, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/HEB.10.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Hebrews 9 - March 11, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/HEB.9.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Hebrews 8 - March 10, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/HEB.8.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Hebrews 7 - March 9, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/HEB.7.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Hebrews 6 - March 8, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/HEB.6.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Hebrews 5 - March 7, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/HEB.5.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Hebrews 4 - March 6, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/HEB.4.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Hebrews 3 - March 5, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/HEB.3.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Hebrews 2 - March 4, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/HEB.2.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Hebrews 1 - March 3, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/HEB.1.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Philemon 1 - March 2, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/PHM.1.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: 1 Samuel 31 - March 1, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/1SA.31.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: 1 Samuel 30 - February 28, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/1SA.30.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: 1 Samuel 29 - February 27, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/1SA.29.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: 1 Samuel 28 - February 26, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/1SA.28.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: 1 Samuel 27 - February 25, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/1SA.27.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: 1 Samuel 26 - February 24, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/1SA.26.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: 1 Samuel 25 - February 23, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/1SA.25.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: 1 Samuel 24 - February 22, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/1SA.24.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: 1 Samuel 23 - February 21, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/1SA.23.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: 1 Samuel 22 - February 20, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/1SA.22.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: 1 Samuel 21 - February 19, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/1SA.21.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope! Today's Reading: 1 Samuel 20 - February 18, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/1SA.20.NIV . . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: 1 Samuel 19 - February 17, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/1SA.19.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: 1 Samuel 18 - February 16, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/1SA.18.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: 1 Samuel 17 - February 15, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/1SA.17.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: 1 Samuel 16 - February 14, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/1SA.16.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: 1 Samuel 15 - February 13, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/1SA.15.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: 1 Samuel 14 - February 12, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/1SA.14.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: 1 Samuel 13 - February 11, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/1SA.13.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope! Today's Reading: 1 Samuel 12 - February 10, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/1SA.12.NIV . . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: 1 Samuel 11 - February 9, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/1SA.11.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: 1 Samuel 10 - February 8, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/1SA.10.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: 1 Samuel 9 - February 7, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/1SA.9.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: 1 Samuel 8 - February 6, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/1SA.8.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: 1 Samuel 7 - February 5, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/1SA.7.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: 1 Samuel 6 - February 4, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/1SA.6.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: 1 Samuel 5 - February 3, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/1SA.5.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: 1 Samuel 4 - February 2, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/1SA.4.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: 1 Samuel 3 - February 1, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/1SA.3.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: 1 Samuel 2 - January 31, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/1SA.2.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: 1 Samuel 1 - January 30, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/1SA.1.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Titus 3 - January 29, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/TIT.3.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Titus 2 - January 28, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/TIT.2.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Titus 1 - January 27, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/TIT.1.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Ruth 4 - January 26, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/RUT.4.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Becky Jordan -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Ruth 3 - January 25, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/RUT.3.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Becky Jordan -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Ruth 2 - January 24, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/RUT.2.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Becky Jordan -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Ruth 1 - January 23, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/RUT.1.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Becky Jordan -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: 2 Timothy 4 - January 22, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/2TI.4.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: 2 Timothy 3 - January 21, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/2TI.3.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: 2 Timothy 2 - January 20, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/2TI.2.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: 2 Timothy 1 - January 19, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/2TI.1.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: 1 Timothy 6 - January 18, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/1TI.6.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: 1 Timothy 5 - January 17, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/1TI.5.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: 1 Timothy 4 - January 16, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/1TI.4.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: 1 Timothy 3 - January 15, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/1TI.3.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: 1 Timothy 2 - January 14, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/1TI.2.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: 1 Timothy 1 - January 13, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/1TI.1.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Judges 21 - January 12, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/JDG.21.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Judges 20 - January 11, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/JDG.20.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Judges 19 - January 10, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/JDG.19.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Judges 18 - January 9, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/JDG.18.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Judges 17 - January 8, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/JDG.17.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: 2 Thessalonians 3 - January 7, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/2TH.3.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: 2 Thessalonians 3 - January 7, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/2TH.3.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: 2 Thessalonians 2 - January 6, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/2TH.2.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: 2 Thessalonians 1 - January 5, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/2TH.1.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Judges 16 - January 4, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/JDG.16.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Becky Jordan -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Judges 15 - January 3, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/JDG.15.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Becky Jordan -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Judges 14 - January 2, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/JDG.14.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Becky Jordan -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Judges 13 - January 1, 2022 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/JDG.13.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Becky Jordan -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Judges 12 - December 31, 2021 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/JDG.12.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Becky Jordan -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Judges 11 - December 30, 2021 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/JDG.11.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Becky Jordan -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Judges 10 - December 29, 2021 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/JDG.10.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Becky Jordan -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Judges 9 - December 28, 2021 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/JDG.9.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Becky Jordan -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Judges 8 - December 27, 2021 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/JDG.8.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Luke 1-2 - December 26, 2021 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/LUK.1.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Matthew 1-2 - December 25, 2021 - Merry Christmas! - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/MAT.1.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: John 1 - December 24, 2021 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/JHN.1.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Isaiah 53 - December 23, 2021 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/ISA.53.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: 1 Thessalonians 5 - December 22, 2021 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/1TH.5.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: 1 Thessalonians 4 - December 21, 2021 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/1TH.4.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: 1 Thessalonians 3 - December 20, 2021 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/1TH.3.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Dr. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/1th.2.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: 1 Thessalonians 1 - December 18, 2021 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/1th.1.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Judges 7 - December 17, 2021 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/JDG.7.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Judges 6 - December 16, 2021 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/JDG.6.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Judges 5 - December 15, 2021 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/jdg.5.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Judges 4 - December 14, 2021 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/jdg.4.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Judges 3 - December 13, 2021 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/jdg.3.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Judges 2 - December 12, 2021 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/jdg.2.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Judges 1 - December 11, 2021 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/Jdg.1.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Colossians 4 - December 10, 2021 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/COL.4.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Colossians 3 - December 9, 2021 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/col.3.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Colossians 2 - December 8, 2021 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/col.2.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Colossians 1 - December 7, 2021 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/col.1.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Philippians 4 - December 6, 2021 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/PHP.4.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Philippians 3 - December 5, 2021 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/PHP.3.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/PHP.2.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Philippians 1 - December 3, 2021 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/PHP.1.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Joshua 24 - December 2, 2021 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/JOS.24.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Joshua 23 - December 1, 2021 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/JOS.23.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Joshua 22 - November 30, 2021 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/JOS.22.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Becky Jordan -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Joshua 21 - November 29, 2021 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/JOS.21.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Becky Jordan -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Joshua 20 - November 28, 2021 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/JOS.20.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Becky Jordan -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Joshua 19 - November 27, 2021 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/JOS.19.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Becky Jordan -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Joshua 18 - November 26, 2021 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/JOS.18.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Becky Jordan -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Joshua 17 - November 25, 2021 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/JOS.17.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Becky Jordan -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Joshua 16 - November 24, 2021 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/JOS.16.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Becky Jordan -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Joshua 15 - November 23, 2021 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/JOS.15.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Joshua 14 - November 22, 2021 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/JOS.14.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Joshua 13 - November 21, 2021 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/JOS.13.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Joshua 12 - November 20, 2021 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/JOS.12.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Joshua 11 - November 19, 2021 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/JOS.11.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Joshua 10 - November 18, 2021 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/JOS.10.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Joshua 9 - November 17, 2021 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/JOS.17.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Joshua 8 - November 16, 2021 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/JOS.8.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Joshua 7 - November 15, 2021 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/JOS.7.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Joshua 6 - November 14, 2021 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/JOS.6.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Joshua 5 - November 13, 2021 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/JOS.5.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Joshua 4 - November 12, 2021 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/JOS.4.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Joshua 3 - November 11, 2021 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/JOS.3.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Joshua 2 - November 10, 2021 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/JOS.2.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Joshua 1 - November 8, 2021 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/JOS.1.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Ephesians 6 - November 7, 2021 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/EPH.6.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Ephesians 5 - November 6, 2021 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/EPH.5.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Ephesians 4 - November 5, 2021 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/eph.4.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Ephesians 3 - November 4, 2021 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/eph.3.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope!
Today's Reading: Ephesians 2 - November 3, 2021 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/eph.2.NIV
. . . . . Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope! Today's Reading: Ephesians 1 - November 2, 2021 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/bible/111/EPH.1.NIV
Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read.
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Rev. Vicki Harrison -
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Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU
Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap
(813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
Welcome to Daily SOAP from New Hope! Today's Reading: Galatians 6 - November 1, 2021 - Read Here: https://www.bible.com/bible/111/GAL.6.NIV
Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. - Rev. Vicki Harrison -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU
Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap
(813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study