1 Cor. 15:29-16:24; 2 Cor. 1-2

“Death has been swallowed up in victory.” “Where, O Death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your Labor in the Lord is not in vain.” 1 Corinthians 15:55-58 NIV

I began my morning workout listening to a sermon that was about these verses and I knew God had a word for me. The pastor asked a question that stuck with me. “How can I expect victory with partial obedience?” Because, deep down I knew I haven’t been living in victory. Instead, I’ve been going through the motions and “limping” my way into the new year. Sometimes I am tempted to quit on the process. But, then I remember that I am not fighting for victory, but fighting from it. It’s a gift that I have to receive every day.

“Be on guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous. Be strong. And do everything with love.” 1 Cor 16:13 NLT

The devil would want nothing more than for me to give up.

“We think you ought to know dear brothers and sisters, about the trouble we went through in the province of Asia. We were crushed and overwhelmed beyond our ability to endure, and we thought we would never live through it. In fact, we expected to die. But, as a result, we stopped relying on ourselves and learned to rely on God, who raises the dead. And he did rescue us from mortal danger, and he will rescue us again. And you are helping us by praying for us. Many people will give thanks because God has graciously answered so many prayers for our safety..” 2 Corinthians 1:8-11 NLT

Dear Father. Thank you for your grace and mercy. I surrender my will to you. Thank you for the power of prayer. That you hear me and answer me. Your mercies are new ever morning. Great is your faithfulness. Amen.

Amy(amyctanner)

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John17:14 – 19:42

I make it a point not to watch movies that are too real about murder, mayhem, and gore. I confess that the Agatha Christie mysteries, Sherlock Holmes, or Midsomer Murders are among my favorites for a dose of psychological thrillers, and I do like a great war or historical movie now and again. But when I saw the heading for John 18, my heart sank: “Betrayal and Arrest in Gethsemane.” Always, my throat tightens and my stomach churns when I read the devilry that superseded Christ’s death.

And Jesus knew what was coming. Still, we who live would like to know how to stop this train heading towards a broken track spanning the gap between this life and the next. I am more aware of my thoughts about death now that I’ve lived long enough to have mourned the passing of my grandparents, stepfather, mother in-law and father in-law, and even my precious daughter. Friends younger than I have already left this life, and now I must acknowledge that my mother is ‘slipping’ in her vigor and ‘letting go’ of what used to be of importance to her happiness. No, the train is unstoppable.

Yet Jesus did not just accept the inevitable. I’m not so foolish as to think that He was joyful about His prophetic death but knowing…really knowing that the end was near inspired the most tender love letter we have from Christ. “Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world…and [I desire] that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them.” Excerpt from John 17:24, 25.

I recently hit a deer while driving to work in the early hours of morning. I thought about the poor creature that had no clue, as he crashed into the side of my car, that he could not race across this lonely stretch of interstate. I cried miserably. But I had to keep up my wits as I drove on, not wanting to stop where there truly was no source of help and willing myself to pay attention to the sounds and feeling of the car for damage. It was not until later, in the brightness of the morning sun, that I began thinking about an outcome in which I, too, went crashing out of this life.

Being held tightly by my husband, hearing the catch in my granddaughter’s throat as she asked worriedly about any injuries, seeing the startled gazes of co-workers, reminded me that living in this time and space is a fragile existence, at best. How then can each moment, each day, and if so ordained by God, each year of life be meaningful? The ‘looking back’ at my life or the ‘what would you do if you only had one day to live’ exercises are not so interesting to me, especially since I do not have power or control over the past or the future. Yet, it was in the moment I glanced at the poor creature hurling himself toward my car that the one thought, the most meaningful thought, I had was “Jesus!”

There was no time to ask for anything from my Lord. Only time to say His name. And I could feel my heart slow down. Whatever happened next was unknown, yet inevitable and accepted. That is what death is like for we who love God and are called His children. One last breath here and the next in His presence. I still do not want to experience any means of dying, but I am at peace with knowing that the name of Christ Jesus will be on my lips at the very end. And what a comfort this is to me.

Thank you, Lord Jesus, for You knew not only what awaited You in Your suffering, but that glorious peace to come in Your resurrection. You have given us those same promises of resurrection and peace. I am awestruck tasting the evidence of Your promises. Whatever we suffer on earth will not compare to being in Your presence. What joy there is in being loved by You!

Psalm 83-86

When I start to read the first eight verses of Psalm 83, I am met with a serious issue raised to God regarding the malicious designs against the people of God and His honour. This is the same prayer I hear in my prayer groups – at its core – a frustration that God is not honoured as He ought to be honoured.

Knock the breath right out of them, so they’re gasping
    for breath, gasping, “God.”
Bring them to the end of their rope,
    and leave them there dangling, helpless.
Then they’ll learn your name: “God,”
    the one and only High God on earth. – Psalm 83:16-18 MSG

I am amazed with all this intensity that I find myself, as a follower of Jesus, in a privileged relationship with God – the only High God on earth. There is honour in His name and in His social position and my blessings are designed to honour God and that relationship by placing me with Him.

 “Shame has often weaned men from their idols, and set them upon seeking the Lord.” – Spurgeon

This prayer is simple – God, show such a manifestation of power that it would be so evident that this could be traced to no one else other than You and by this demonstration, people will honour You. In my mind I see Elijah on Mount Carmel moments.

I think some of my friends think that its okay to leave God His name – that is to say, they believe they can give Him His name because they have frittered away His power. So like giving Him an empty title.

This is where the shame and repentance comes in because without turning there is shame and death. It is like trouble will cause them to turn – and the end result is not chaos but peace.

It is really hard for me to say, but the final day, the great day of judgement, will be the proof of this, before all of heaven, when everlasting shame and contempt will fall on those who have not repented and everlasting honour and praise to those who have decided to follow God.

This is why the prayer is so hard.

• Knock the breath right out of them
• Bring them to the end of their rope
• leave them there dangling, helpless

My prayer is no different – I want God to move into the lives of those who have turned their back towards Him and teach them about the fear of the Lord. I pray this way because the kingdom and the glory and the honour belong to God alone and I will not be satisfied until He has it.

Father, thank You for the passion in this prayer and for encouraging me to be just as passionate.

Erwin (evanlaar1922)

Judges 19-21; Mark 16

Now in those days Israel had no king (Judges 19:1a, NLT).

These are the opening words to a tragedy. A story that ends with this:

²⁵ In those days Israel had no king; all the people did whatever seemed right in their own eyes (Judges 21:25, NLT).

The tragic story in Judges 19-21 didn’t begin when the troublemakers of Gibeah beat on an old man’s door.

²² While they were enjoying themselves, a crowd of troublemakers from the town surrounded the house. They began beating at the door and shouting to the old man, “Bring out the man who is staying with you so we can have sex with him” (Judges 19:22, NLT).

It began here:

There was a man from the tribe of Levi living in a remote area of the hill country of Ephraim. One day he brought home a woman from Bethlehem in Judah to be his concubine. ² But she became angry with him and returned to her father’s home in Bethlehem (Judges 19:1b-2, NLT).

Whatever happened between them, I don’t know. But something happened, and she reacted. Likely, he didn’t count the cost of his actions. Surely, she didn’t count the cost of her actions. Catastrophe starts small, with an unchecked thought, word or action.

I sit with words, watching a scene unfold, grimacing at the abandonment (a host abandoning his daughter; a husband abandoning his wife; troublemakers abandoning all decency and mercy), eyes widening in shock as deaths mount by the thousands in a warfare of tribe against tribe.

I can look all over these scriptures and point out places where there’s fault. And maybe there’s something to their opening and end:

Now in those days Israel had no king (Judges 19:1a, NLT) … ²⁵ In those days Israel had no king; all the people did whatever seemed right in their own eyes (Judges 21:25, NLT).

Father God, you are Lord over all. Be Lord over my life. Be Lord over my heart. Be Lord over my words. Be Lord over my actions. I don’t want to be right in my own eyes. I want to live right by your standards. I only want your approval.

Courtney (66books365)

Hosea 4-6; Psalm 58; Matthew 17

Our family recently suffered another loss of a loved one. We spent several days at his bedside waiting, knowing the end was near, and wanting to be with him as he exited this world. It was comforting for us all to be together during this time. We shared stories and memories of days when we were all a lot younger.  We remembered times of laughter, love of family members who have already gone, and how the family dynamics has changed with the loss of the patriarchs and matriarchs of the family. That stubborn man waited until everyone had gone home to take his last breath. We are now down to one remaining member of the generation before me. But that time we all shared with him helped ease his passing for us. The grief is there, of course, as we miss someone dearly loved.

²² When they came together in Galilee, he said to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men. ²³ They will kill him, and on the third day he will be raised to life.” And the disciples were filled with grief. (Matt 17:22-23) NIV

The disciples were filled with grief over the thought of Jesus’ death. There are times when I question death and what truly happens. As I think of this in light of Jesus and his death and resurrection, everything I’ve learned about being body and spirit makes sense. Jesus was (is) God—not the body in which he dwelt.

¹After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. ² There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light.

⁵ While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!” (Matt 17:1-5) NIV

Jesus refers to himself as the Son of Man. I never thought about that before, how often he refers to himself as Son of Man but I had an “ah-ha” moment. He was God, living in a human body, and only the “Son of Man” part of him was going to die. With sin came death. Physical death of the flesh. Not of the Spirit! In the first few verses of Matthew, we witness Jesus as “Son Of God” (proclaimed by God Himself)! He was God’s plan of redemption from the beginning. Romans 6:5 states, “For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his.” We, too, are spirit—not the body in which we dwell. One day we will be gathered up with him (1 Thess 4:13-18) and be with Him throughout eternity.

This past weekend I had two of my grandchildren, aged four and eight. As we were driving in the car, the older one started asking me questions about death. “Mom-mom, what happens to your body?” I had to chuckle to myself as I thought of the study of Genesis my small group is doing and how we spent a lot of discussion on being formed from earth. I tried to explain this concept to them and how, when we die, our bodies turn back to dust but our soul, who we really are, goes to be with Jesus. These verses from Matthew were fresh in my mind as we talked. I don’t think they quite understood but somehow knowing we are all with Jesus someday satisfied them.

Somehow knowing one day I’ll be with Jesus is what satisfies me as well!

Heavenly Father—we know that death was not part of your original plan. Your love for us is beyond our understanding as you never intended for us to be absent from you. Your plan of redemption through your Son Jesus was always in place. He died the physical death of a man but rose again as our Lord and Savior. Throughout eternity, we will sing praises of gratitude and love. Thank you for loving us so much!

Cindy (gardnlady)