Divine Diversions

So here we are we have made it to the end of the week YES! It's FRIDAY! but we have also made it to the end of the month with only two more days left in the month of June lets take this moment to reflect on these words of wisdom as we prepare to enter into the seventh month of the new year which is July with They tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to. Acts 16:7 READ ACTS 16:6–10 It can be difficult when we’re told “no” or “not now,” especially when we sense God has opened a door for us to serve others. Early in my ministry, two opportunities came my way where I thought my gifts and skills matched the churches’ needs, but both doors eventually closed. After these two disappointments, another position came along, and I was selected. With that ministry call came thirteen years of life-touching pastoral labors. Twice in Acts 16 Paul and company were redirected by God. First, they were “kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia” (v. 6). Then, “When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to” (v. 7). Unknown to them, God had other plans that would be right for His work and workers. His no to the previous plans put them in a position to listen to and be confidently led by Him (vv. 9-10). Who among us hasn’t grieved what we initially thought to be a painful loss? We’ve felt wounded when we didn’t get a certain job, when a service opportunity didn’t materialize, when a relocation got derailed. Though such things can momentarily be weighty, time often reveals that such detours are actually divine diversions that God graciously uses to get us where He wants us, and we are grateful. By Arthur Jackson REFLECT & PRAY Father, I praise You that in Your wisdom You know how to best arrange my life. Thank You for protecting me through Your detours. What loss have you grieved only to be grateful that what you desired you didn’t get? How did the situation serve to bolster your trust in the Lord? SCRIPTURE INSIGHT On his second missionary journey (Acts 16:1-18:22), Paul wanted to preach the gospel in the provinces of Asia Minor (modern-day western Turkey) and Bithynia (modern-day northern Turkey); however, God redirected Paul northwest to Troas. Through “a vision of a man of Macedonia” God called Paul to bring the gospel into Europe (16:8-9). The identity of the “man of Macedonia” is much debated. Because the pronoun “they” in verse 8 changes to “we” in verse 10, some scholars say this man is Luke himself who has now joined the mission team. Luke, a gentile medical doctor (Colossians 4:14), wrote the gospel of Luke and Acts and became Paul’s traveling companion and co-worker (Acts 16:10-40, 20:4-17, Philemon 1:24). He also took care of Paul during his last days in prison before his death (2 Timothy 4:11). K. T. Sim

Playing with Joy

As we start this New Week in the last week of June before we head into the seventh month of the New Year which will be July MAN! I can't believe that we are already making our way into the month of July but before we do let us take these words of wisdom to guide us the remainder of this Year and let us do it with JOY! The fruit of the Spirit is . . . joy. Galatians 5:22 READ GALATIANS 5:22–26 One of our sons, Brian, is a high school basketball coach. One year, as his team was dribbling its way through the Washington State Basketball Tournament, well-meaning folks around town asked, “Are you going to win it all this year?” Both players and coaches felt the pressure, so Brian adopted a motto: “Play with joy!” I thought of the apostle Paul’s last words to the elders of Ephesus: “That I may finish my race with joy” (Acts 20:24 nkjv). His aim was to complete the tasks Jesus had given him. I have made these words my motto and my prayer: “May I run and finish my race with joy.” Or as Brian says, “May I play with joy!” And by the way, Brian’s team did win the state championship that year. We all have good reasons to get grouchy: discouraging news, everyday stresses, health problems. Nevertheless, God can give us a joy that transcends these conditions if we ask Him. We can have what Jesus called, “my joy” (John 15:11). Joy is a fruit of the Spirit of Jesus (Galatians 5:22). So we must remember each morning to ask Him to help us: “May I play with joy!” Author Richard Foster said, “To pray is to change. This is a great grace. How good of God to provide a path whereby our lives can be taken over by . . . joy.” By David H. Roper REFLECT & PRAY I turn my eyes to You, God. I’m grateful I can count on Your faithfulness to me. Please bring me into Your joy. What causes you to be discouraged? Where do you find your joy? SCRIPTURE INSIGHT When we’re reading the Scriptures, it’s important to identify whether the author is imparting information about what God has already done or is giving direction for what we are to do. In Galatians 5:22-23, the apostle Paul lists the fruit of the Spirit, which is the result of the Spirit’s work in our lives, not our work. However, in verses 25-26 he tells us to “keep in step with the Spirit.” The Greek word for “keep in step” or “walk” (nkjv) means “to march in military rank; to conform to virtue and piety; to walk orderly.” Pictured here is spiritual growth that comes from teamwork. The fruit that grows is the responsibility of the Spirit, but it’s our job to see where the Spirit is working in our lives and to “keep in step” with Him. We’re participants in our spiritual growth, but not solely responsible for it. J.R. Hudberg

Ending Envy

We have made it to the end of the week YES! It's FRIDAY! but I also want to Welcome you to the First Day of Summer! as we have entered into a New Season lets take a moment to reflect on these words of wisdom Each one should test their own actions. Each one should test their own actions. Galatians 6:4 READ ROMANS 6:11–14 The famous French artist Edgar Degas is remembered worldwide for his paintings of ballerinas. Less known is the envy he expressed of his friend and artistic rival Édouard Manet, another master painter. Said Degas of Manet, “Everything he does he always hits off straightaway, while I take endless pains and never get it right.” It’s a curious emotion, envy—listed by the apostle Paul among the worst traits, as bad as “every kind of wickedness, sin, greed, hate, envy, murder, quarreling, deception, malicious behavior, and gossip” (Romans 1:29 nlt). It results from foolish thinking, Paul writes—the result of worshiping idols instead of worshiping God (v. 28). Author Christina Fox says that when envy develops among believers, it’s “because our hearts have turned from our one true love.” In our envy, she said, “we are chasing after the inferior pleasures of this world instead of looking to Jesus. In effect, we’ve forgotten whose we are.” Yet there’s a remedy. Turn back to God. “Offer every part of yourself to him,” Paul wrote (Romans 6:13)—your work and life especially. In another of his letters Paul penned, “Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else” (Galatians 6:4). Thank God for His blessings—not just things, but for the freedom of His grace. Seeing our own God-given gifts, we find contentment again. By Patricia Raybon REFLECT & PRAY What talents, spiritual gifts, and blessings has God given you that you’ve forgotten to appreciate? Reflecting on them, how does your heart feel as you return to God? SCRIPTURE INSIGHT In Romans 6, Paul proclaims that as believers in Jesus our old self has been crucified with Christ, and we’re now “dead to sin” and “alive to God in Christ Jesus” (vv. 6-7, 11). If that’s so, then why do we still sin? We’re still subject to sin and are to be on our guard against it, but sin is no longer our master (v. 14). Through our identification with Jesus, believers are given a new desire to live for God and to abandon old ways of life. Although this requires intentionality on our part, the Holy Spirit living inside us guides and transforms us into Christ’s likeness (John 16:13; 2 Corinthians 3:18). Alyson Kieda

Stick-Figure Lesson

The weekend has come to end as we enter into the fourth week of June with almost one week left before we enter into the seventh month of the New Year which will be July MAN! time is moving but before we head into the month of July lets rewind and finish up with the month of June with these words of wisdom to help teach us about our true appearance in the public but what is our appearance like in private What we are in our letters when we are absent, we will be in our actions when we are present. 2 Corinthians 10:11 READ 2 CORINTHIANS 10:1–11 A friend of mine—okay, it was my counselor—drew a stick figure on a sheet of paper. She labeled this the “private” self. Then she drew an outline around the figure, about a half-inch larger, and named it the “public” self. The difference between the two figures, between the private and public selves, represents the degree to which we have integrity. I paused at her lesson and wondered, Am I the same person in public that I am in private? Do I have integrity? Paul wrote letters to the church in Corinth, weaving love and discipline into his teachings to be like Jesus. As he neared the end of this letter (2 Corinthians), he addressed accusers who challenged his integrity by saying he was bold in his letters but weak in person (10:10). These critics used professional oratory to take money from their listeners. While Paul possessed academic prowess, he spoke simply and plainly. “My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words,” he had written in an earlier letter, “but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power” (1 Corinthians 2:4). His later letter revealed his integrity: “Such people should realize that what we are in our letters when we are absent, we will be in our actions when we are present” (2 Corinthians 10:11). Paul presented himself as the same person in public that he was in private. How about us? By Elisa Morgan REFLECT & PRAY Dear God, help me to be myself first to You in private, that I might present myself with integrity as the same person in public. In what ways are you integrating your private and public life? How might you honor God even more fully with complete integrity? SCRIPTURE INSIGHT In 2 Corinthians 10:4 Paul writes, “The weapons [Christians] fight with are not the weapons of the world. . . . They have divine power to demolish strongholds” (the obstacles of sin and evil opposed to the truth of God). These spiritual weapons include truth, righteousness, faith, the Spirit, the Word of God, love, and the hope of salvation (Ephesians 6:11-17; 1 Thessalonians 5:8). We stand against evil through our relationship with the Son and the power of prayer and God’s Word. Alyson Kieda

Clear Communication

Yes, we have come to the end of the third week of June It's FRIDAY! the week has come to an end as we take a moment to reflect on ALL that God has brought us through let's take these words of wisdom to heart when we go to our heavenly father to communicate with him in prayer sometimes we have NO Words to speak but he totally understands our groans here are his words to us The Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. Romans 8:26 READ ROMANS 8:18–27 While traveling in Asia, my iPad (containing my reading material and many work documents) suddenly died, a condition described as “the black screen of death.” Seeking help, I found a computer shop and encountered another problem—I don’t speak Chinese and the shop’s technician didn’t speak English. The solution? He pulled up a software program in which he typed in Chinese, but I could read it in English. The process reversed as I responded in English and he read in Chinese. The software allowed us to communicate clearly, even in different languages. At times, I feel like I’m unable to communicate and express my heart when I pray to my heavenly Father—and I’m not alone. Many of us struggle sometimes with prayer. But the apostle Paul wrote, “The Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God” (Romans 8:26-27). How amazing is the gift of the Holy Spirit! Better than any computer program, He clearly communicates my thoughts and desires in harmony with the Father’s purposes. The work of the Spirit makes prayer work! By Bill Crowder REFLECT & PRAY Father, I thank You for the gift of Your Spirit and the privilege of prayer. Help me to lean on Your Spirit in moments when I don’t know how to pray. What challenges have you experienced in your prayer life? How can you lean on the Holy Spirit as you seek to pray more passionately to God? SCRIPTURE INSIGHT In chapter 8 of Paul’s letter to the Romans, he uses the word groan or groaning three times (vv. 22-23, 26). However, each sigh comes with hope: All creation groans like a mother in labor (v. 22). With a taste (“firstfruit”) of Christ’s Spirit, we groan in anticipation of a better day (vv. 23-25; see also Galatians 5:22-23). And as we groan, the Spirit of God groans with us and for us (Romans 8:26-27)—understanding far better than we do that nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus (vv. 31-39). Mart DeHaan

Sharing Slices

The weekend has come to an end and we are gearing up to enter into the third week of June as we start this New Week take a moment to reflect on these words of wisdom to help shape your way into the ways God wants to use your generosity no matter what the circumstances that others are going through he may be wanting to use you for his Glory A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed. Proverbs 11:25 READ PROVERBS 11:23–31 Steve, a sixty-two-year-old homeless military veteran, made his way to a warm climate where sleeping outdoors was tolerable year-round. One evening, as he displayed his hand-drawn art—his attempt to earn some money—a young woman approached and offered him several slices of pizza. Steve gratefully accepted. Moments later, Steve shared his bounty with another hungry, homeless person. Almost immediately, the same young woman resurfaced with another plate of food, acknowledging that he had been generous with what he’d been given. Steve’s story illustrates the principle found in Proverbs 11:25 that when we’re generous with others, we’re likely to experience generosity as well. But we shouldn’t give with expecting something in return; rarely does our generosity return to us as quickly and obviously as it did for him. Rather, we give to help others in loving response to God’s instruction to do so (Philippians 2:3-4; 1 John 3:17). And when we do, God is pleased. While He’s under no obligation to refill our wallets or bellies, He often finds a way to refresh us—sometimes materially, other times spiritually. Steve shared his second plate of pizza too with a smile and open hands. Despite his lack of resources, he is an example of what it means to live generously, willing to cheerfully share what we have with others instead of hoarding it for ourselves. As God leads and empowers us, may the same be said of us. By Kirsten Holmberg REFLECT & PRAY We can be generous with what God’s given us. With whom can you share today? How have you been blessed through another’s generosity? SCRIPTURE INSIGHT While the book of Proverbs contains many pithy sayings that are unrelated to each other (with the exception of chapters 1-9 and 31), there are also a surprising amount of ideas that are linked together. For example, 11:23-31 compares the righteous and the wicked and the generous and the greedy. The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will be refreshed. People will curse those who hoard grain but bless the generous (vv. 24-26). In verse 28, however, it’s interesting that generosity and righteousness are linked together. “Those who trust in their riches [those unwilling to share or to be generous] will fall, but the righteous [those who share] will thrive like a green leaf.” Here the greedy are contrasted to the righteous, not to the generous. A love of money seems to have a deep impact on our character. J.R. Hudberg

Don’t Miss the Chance

So the second week of June has come to an end Yes! we have made it to the end of the week it's FRIDAY! as we prepare ourselves for the weekend lets take a moment to Thank God for ALL that he has brought us through with these word of wisdom The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Psalm 19:1 READ PSALM 19:1–4 “Don’t ever miss the chance to show your babies the moon!” she said. Before our mid-week prayer service began, a group of us talked about the previous night’s harvest moon. The full moon was striking, as it seemed to sit on the horizon. Mrs. Webb was the eldest voice in our conversation, a gray-haired lover of God’s grand creation. She knew my wife and I had two children in our home at the time, and she wanted to help me train them in a way worth going. Don’t ever miss the chance to show your babies the moon! Mrs. Webb would’ve made a good psalmist. Her brand of attentiveness is reflected in David’s description of the heavenly bodies that “have no speech . . . . Yet their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world” (Psalm 19:3-4). Neither the psalmist nor Mrs. Webb had any intention of worshiping the moon or the stars, but rather the creative hands behind them. The heavens and skies reveal nothing less than the glory of God (v. 1). We too can encourage those around us—from babies and teenagers to spouses and neighbors—to stop, look, and listen, for declarations and proclamations of God’s glory are all around us. Drawing attention to the work of His hands, in turn, leads to worshiping the awesome God behind the whole show. Don’t ever miss the chance. By John Blase REFLECT & PRAY If we stop, look, and listen, we’ll see creation declaring God’s glory. How can you slow down and notice the work of God’s hands right now? How can you encourage others to do the same? SCRIPTURE INSIGHT In C. S. Lewis’s Reflections on the Psalms, he refers to Psalm 19 as the greatest poem in the Hebrew songbook with some of the most beautiful lyrics in the world. He goes on to note, however, that it can be easy to miss the connection and progression of “six verses about Nature, five about the Law, and four of personal prayer.” According to Lewis, “The key phrase on which the whole poem depends is ‘there is nothing hid from the heat thereof’ ” (v. 6 kjv). Like the relentless light and heat of the Middle Eastern sun, the words of our Creator (v. 1), Lord (v. 7), and Redeemer (v. 14) pursue the runaway thoughts that hide in our hearts (vv. 11-14). Hearing God’s voice, the poet and songwriter prays, “May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock, and my Redeemer” (v. 14). Mart DeHaan

Night Watches

The weekend has come and gone and now we are jump-starting a New Week we have now entered into the sixth month of the New Year Welcome to the month of June as we take a moment to reflect on ALL that God has brought us through lets get ready for the third quarter because in the next season of the third quarter God is going to do some Outstanding things so let these words of wisdom help guide your personal relationship with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night. Psalm 63:6 READ PSALM 63:1–8 During my college days, my summers were spent working at a guest ranch in the stunningly beautiful mountains of Colorado. On a rotating basis, staff members were assigned “night watch” duty—to keep an eye out for forest fires in order to protect the guests as they slept. What initially seemed to be an exhausting and thankless task became a unique opportunity for me to be still, reflect, and find solace in the majesty of God’s presence. King David earnestly sought and thirsted for the presence of God (Psalm 63:1), even from his bed and through the “watches of the night” (v. 6). The psalm makes it clear David was troubled. It’s possible the words contained in it reflect his deep sadness over the rebellion of his son Absalom. Yet the night became a time for David to find help and restoration in the “shadow of [God’s] wings” (v. 7)—in His power and presence. Perhaps you’re dealing with some crisis or difficulty in your life, and the night watches have been anything but comforting. Perhaps your own “Absalom” weighs heavy on your heart and soul. Or other burdens of family, work, or finances plague your times of rest. If so, consider these sleepless moments to be opportunities to call out and cling to God—allowing His loving hand to uphold you (v. 8). By Evan Morgan REFLECT & PRAY Dear God, thank You for always being awake and present with me in every night watch. How do God’s promises encourage you when you face challenges that keep you awake at night? How can the night watches draw you closer to Him? SCRIPTURE INSIGHT The introductory note to Psalm 63 states, “A psalm of David. When he was in the Desert of Judah.” Psalms 61-63 were probably written when David sought refuge in the wilderness during his son Absalom’s rebellion (2 Samuel 15-18). What do we know about Absalom? And why did he revolt against his father? Absalom, the son of David and Maakah (3:3), was a handsome man noted for his long, thick hair (14:25-26). When his beautiful sister Tamar was cruelly raped by their half-brother Amnon, Absalom took in his sister and waited for their father to punish Amnon. Two years later, after Absalom’s anger had simmered unabated and David still hadn’t intervened, Absalom ordered his brother killed and then fled. Eventually father and son were reunited, but it was far too late. David’s inaction ultimately led to Absalom’s attempt to usurp the throne. Alyson Kieda