The Long and Winding Road

Friday, May 16, 2014

The Long and Winding Road

Scripture Reference:

• Proverbs 15:24 (NKJV): “The way of life winds upward for the wise, that he may turn away from hell below.”

While I’m not a Beatles fan, the title of Paul McCartney’s song, The Long and Winding Road, beautifully captures the theme of today’s proverb. Life is a journey — long, winding, and full of unexpected twists and turns.

Along the way, there will be moments of joy and seasons of sorrow. There will be stretches that feel monotonous and uneventful, followed by times when life moves so quickly that you find yourself gripping the steering wheel tightly, whispering prayers under your breath.

The key is to keep winding your way upward by making wise, God-honoring decisions. God does not condemn us every time we stumble. There will be potholes, distractions, and wrong turns along the way. When these challenges arise, the solution is simple: repent, adjust, and continue moving forward toward the upward path.

By God’s grace, staying on this path will ultimately lead you home — to Heaven, your eternal destination. Trust Him with the journey, even when the road feels long and winding.

What are you going to do with that money?

 

Wednesday, May 14, 2014

What Are You Going to Do With That Money?

Scripture Reference:

• 1 Timothy 3:2–7 (NKJV): “A bishop then must be…not greedy for money…”

• 1 Timothy 6:10 (NKJV): “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil…”

There is nothing sadder than a life ruled by money. When life is reduced to a bottom-line mentality, everything — family, friendships, faith, principles, and character — is assigned a price. Tragically, a life dominated by greed eventually leads to sorrow and spiritual ruin.

Here’s a simple antidote: regularly ask yourself what you are going to do with the money you hope to receive.

 Sometimes my kids want something unexpected, or beyond our budget, and they remind me, “I thought that was why you worked.” Over the years, I’ve reminded myself and my family why I work:

• I work not just to pay bills, but to provide a good life for my family.

• I work not to buy a bigger house, but to provide a home.

• I work not to accumulate money, but to support ministry and dreams.

• I work so my family can enjoy life, create memories, and have fun.

• I work to be generous and bless others.

The bottom line: hold on to your money without letting it hold on to you. Before spending, honestly ask: Will this glorify God and bless people? If not, it may be time to confront greed and realign your priorities.

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Thursday, May 15, 2014

But Their Heart Was in the Right Place

Scripture Reference:

• Matthew 25:21 (NKJV): “His lord said to him, ‘Well done…’”

Having a good heart is not enough. One of the saddest things anyone could hear about their life at a funeral is: “They meant well.” Jesus sets a higher standard: “Well done.”

It’s not enough to intend to do good; we must take action and do it well.

Encouragement for Today:
Do something well today. Invest your time, energy, and resources into actions that honor God and bless others. Let your life be measured not by intentions alone, but by faithful, purposeful deeds.

The proverbs

Monday, May 12, 2014

The Proverbs 31 Mother

Scripture Reference:

• Proverbs 31:1–2 (NKJV): “The words of King Lemuel, the utterance which his mother taught him: ‘What, my son? And what, son of my womb? And what, son of my vows?’”

When I read today’s proverb, the phrase “son of my vows” stood out to me. It reminded me of Hannah, who dedicated Samuel to God, and of Joseph and Mary, who dedicated Jesus at the Temple. It also brought to mind my own mother.

Some of my earliest memories are of her reminding me of the vow she made on my behalf: “Son, before you were even born, I dedicated you to the Lord. I asked God not to let you be born alive if you were not going to serve Him.”

Imagine the impact that had on a child — and later on a teenager and young man. Proverbs 31 is widely known for describing the Proverbs 31 wife, but we must not forget the Proverbs 31 mother — a mother who made vows concerning her children and used them to guide them in the right direction.

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Tuesday, May 13, 2014

Proverbs 31 Mothers — Part 2

Perhaps you are a parent who dedicated your children to God, making vows of guidance and protection. This dedication is more than a request for God’s favor; it is also a commitment from the parent to live faithfully and uphold those vows.

Or perhaps you were a child on the receiving end of such vows. You may not remember them, but they still stand. Whether parent or child, let us leverage these vows to the fullest today.

Long before there was a Proverbs 31 wife, there was a Proverbs 31 mother — shaping the future through vows of honor and devotion. The Proverbs 31 wife is celebrated for her tireless labor and care, bringing material blessings to her family (Proverbs 31:28–29). Yet for those blessings to truly matter, spiritual values must be instilled early in life, and that is the crucial role of Proverbs 31 mothers and fathers.

He is Risen!

Celebrating Easter is a great time to engage with the Bible.

He Is Risen! Today is Easter Sunday, when Christians all over the world join together in celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Tap, save, and share this image on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Many also make today an opportunity for renewal, a chance to pursue new beginnings. No matter how you choose to celebrate, here are a few easy ways that you can keep the Bible front and center: Share the Bible App when you’re together with friends and family. Many people are more open to talking about the Bible this time of year, and even to reading and learning more about Jesus’ life. Show them the updated features in Bible App 5 on your device. You can even offer to install it for them! Share Bible Verses on Facebook and Twitter. The Bible App makes it easy to share your favorite passages. Now is a great time to share verses that describe Jesus’ resurrection, or about the hope and life He brings us. Start a Plan. With literally hundreds of Bible Plans you can read or listen to, it’s easy to learn more about Jesus or about God’s promises, and for new believers to explore what comes next. Many plans can even help you connect with the Bible in as little as five minutes a day! Share the Good News Now We also thank God for you and your desire to seek Him through the Bible. Please take a little time today to pray for your brothers and sisters throughout the global community of believers, and also to thank God our Father for Jesus, who is the way, the truth, and the life. “We always thank God for all of you and continually mention you in our prayers. We remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. For we know, brothers and sisters loved by God, that he has chosen you…” 1 Thessalonians 1:2–4 Follow us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter

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Short Bible Plans Developed Specifically for Easter

Prepare Your Heart for Easter with the Bible App

With Easter just a week away, now is the perfect time to focus your heart and mind on Christ through His Word. The YouVersion Bible App offers several Easter Plans designed to help you reflect, grow, and prepare spiritually during this special week.

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Featured Easter Plans

1. My Utmost for His Highest: Holy Week

A special edition of Oswald Chambers’ timeless devotionals, encouraging a deeper, more passionate walk with God.
Duration: 7 days | Publisher: Discovery House

2. Our Daily Bread: The Hope for Easter

Quick daily devotionals chosen to bring peace, comfort, and encouragement through God’s great love.
Duration: 7 days | Publisher: Our Daily Bread

3. The Story of Easter

Follow the biblical account of Jesus’ final week on earth, His prayers, prophecies fulfilled, and His ultimate victory over sin and death.
Duration: 7 days | Publisher: LifeChurch.tv

Other notable plans:

• Love to the Uttermost: Holy Week with John Piper (9 days, Desiring God)
• Seven Mile Miracle Easter Devotion (7 days)
• For the Joy Set Before Him (8 days, Just Joy Ministries)
• The Children’s Guide to Easter (7 days, 4Soils)
• Matt Maher – The Overflow Devo (7 days, The Overflow)
• The Artist Bible: Easter (8 days)
• Red-Letter Day (12 days, LifeChurch.tv)

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Easter Stories for Kids

Teaching children about Easter has never been easier. The Bible App for Kids includes two new stories:

• “It Is Finished” – Tells the story of Jesus’ sacrifice in a way children can understand.
• “A Happy Sunday” – Celebrates the power of His resurrection.

The app is completely free and available on iOS, Android, and Kindle Fire, with nearly 3 million downloads to date.

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Inspire Others with Easter Art

YouVersion has created custom artwork to accompany the Verse of the Day for each of the seven days leading up to Easter.

• Free to download
• Shareable on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or anywhere you want to inspire others

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Make This Easter Meaningful

Use these resources to:

• Deepen your faith
• Teach your children about Jesus
• Share the hope of Christ with friends and family

“Align your heart and mind toward Christ this Easter and watch His light shine through your life.”

Elisha: A Tale of Ridiculous Faith – Part 5

Elisha: A Tale of Ridiculous Faith – Part 5

Scripture Reference: 2 Kings 6:1–7 (NKJV)

Introduction

In Part 4, we saw the widow’s faith produce a miraculous provision from God. Now, we explore another instance of “ridiculous faith” through Elisha and the floating axe head. This story reminds us that God honors faith that acts boldly and trusts Him with the seemingly impossible.

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The Floating Axe Head

In 2 Kings 6, some prophets were cutting down trees near the Jordan River. One man’s borrowed axe head fell into the water — an incident that could have ended in despair. But instead of giving up, the man sought Elisha’s help, demonstrating faith in God’s power through His prophet.

Elisha’s response:

“Where did it fall?” When he showed him the place, Elisha cut a stick and threw it in there, and the iron floated” (2 Kings 6:6).

Notice: The solution seemed absurd — a stick making a heavy iron axe float? That’s “ridiculous faith” in action. But God used Elisha to demonstrate that no situation is too small or too impossible for Him.

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Lessons from Ridiculous Faith

1. Faith Acts in the Moment

   • The man could have panicked, blaming circumstances or giving up. Instead, he ran to Elisha immediately. Faith acts without delay.

2. God Uses Unlikely Tools

   • The floating axe was restored by a stick, illustrating that God often uses ordinary, unexpected methods to accomplish the extraordinary.

3. Faith Magnifies God’s Glory

   • This miracle reminds us that God’s power shines brightest when we trust Him with the impossible, even in small, everyday matters.

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Application for Today

• Trust God with your small emergencies. Sometimes what seems trivial — a broken relationship, a lost job, or a financial struggle — is an opportunity for God to show His miraculous power.

• Step out boldly. Ridiculous faith requires stepping forward with trust, even when logic says otherwise.

• Be persistent. Just like the man sought Elisha immediately, don’t delay in bringing your concerns to God.

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Conclusion

The floating axe head reminds us that God is faithful, creative, and powerful. Ridiculous faith doesn’t mean blind faith; it means trusting God when the solution seems impossible, unreasonable, or unconventional.

“Jesus looked at them and said, ‘With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible’” (Matthew 19:26).

Elisha: A Tale of Ridiculous Faith - Part 4

Elisha: A Tale of Ridiculous Faith – Part 4

Scripture Reference: 2 Kings 4:1–7 (NKJV)

Introduction

Faith is often tested in ways that stretch our understanding and push us beyond what seems reasonable. Elisha’s ministry provides multiple examples of this “ridiculous faith” — moments when God calls His people to act in obedience, even when the circumstances seem impossible.

In 2 Kings 4, we encounter the story of the widow of one of the prophets. She faced a dire situation: her husband had died, and creditors were coming to take her two sons as slaves to settle debts. Her resources were nearly gone, and yet Elisha gave her instructions that seemed unusual and even impractical at first glance.

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The Call to Ridiculous Faith

Elisha told the widow:

“Go, borrow vessels from everywhere, from all your neighbors—empty vessels; do not gather just a few. Then go in and shut the door behind you and your sons. Pour out from the vessels; when each is full, set it aside” (2 Kings 4:3–4).

Notice how her faith was tested: she had to trust in God’s provision before seeing any tangible results. She could not pour water into vessels she did not have, nor could she predict how God would multiply what seemed like nothing.

Ridiculous faith often requires:

1. Obedience without full understanding – Trusting God even when instructions seem unusual.

2. Persistence in the process – Continuing to act faithfully, step by step.

3. Dependence on God’s power – Acknowledging that the solution comes from God, not human effort.

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The Miracle and Its Meaning

The widow obeyed. She gathered all the vessels she could find, poured the small amount of oil she had, and God multiplied it so that she had more than enough to pay her debts and provide for her family (2 Kings 4:7).

This story teaches us:

• God honors faith that acts in obedience. Faith without action is incomplete (James 2:17).

• God can multiply even the smallest resources. What seems insufficient in our hands is more than enough in God’s hands.

• Ridiculous faith requires trust over reason. God often calls us to step into the impossible to experience His miraculous power.

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Application for Today

1. Trust God with your “empty vessels.” Whether it’s finances, relationships, or opportunities, bring what little you have and trust God to multiply it.

2. Take steps of obedience immediately. Don’t wait for perfect conditions; act in faith now.

3. Expect God to exceed your expectations. When we obey God, He provides abundantly, often in ways we could never imagine.

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Conclusion

The widow’s story reminds us that faith may sometimes seem ridiculous, but obedience paired with trust unlocks God’s miraculous provision. Today, God is calling you to step out in faith, pour out your resources, and watch Him multiply what seems impossible.

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1).