Today’s Verse: Do not let your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God; have faith also in me.  In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If there were not, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? – John 14:1-2   You will never regret the time you spend reading God’s Word. It is full of hope that encourages our hurting souls. Just like when the disciples began to feel sorrowful because Jesus told them that He would be away from them in a little while. He was speaking about going back to the Father after His mission. He spoke those comforting words to reassure them. He doesn’t want to see us low-spirited. Many are the times that we get so preoccupied with the things of this world and when we fail to achieve something, we get disappointed. Our hearts become troubled. Remember whatever it may be that weighs you down, have faith in God. He has solutions in store for you. Don’t let anything trouble your hearts, put your faith in Christ and He’ll take care of your problems. – Commentary by Dionivie M. Tacder  Today’s Prayer: Heavenly Father, put a passion in my heart to always seek You in everything I do. I pray that You would strengthen my faith and for the gift of faith for those who do not yet believe in You. Amen!

Today’s Verse:
And a woman in the city, who was a sinner, having learned that he was eating in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster jar of ointment. She stood behind him at his feet, weeping, and began to bathe his feet with her tears and to dry them with her hair. Then she continued kissing his feet and anointing them with the ointment. – Luke 7:37-38

We are now in a world where people have an entitlement mentality. People are fighting for their rights and expect to have them because they deserve it. Some would even say that life is unfair. This leads me to a question: what if God really gave us what we truly and rightly deserved? Wouldn’t that be horrible?

You see, we are sinners, and we deserve punishment. Every day we commit sins against God both great or small. So if God were to strictly implement the right punishment for each of our sins, where would we be? What would happen to us?

That is why we have to be thankful that God is gracious to us, forgiving and saving us from our sins. The woman in the verse knew how sinful she was, but at the same time, she also knows God’s great grace. That is why she offered the most expensive perfume that she had to express her great gratitude. What about us? What is our response to God’s marvelous grace? – Commentary By: Jeremy B. Trio

Today’s Prayer:
Lord, thank you for your wonderful grace and for forgiving me and saving me from my sins. Now I offer my life to you as a living sacrifice that I may give glory and honor to Your Holy Name for as long as I live. Amen.

Today’s Verse: He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? – Micah 6: 8  What a scripture to read right now, it is powerful and such a bold commandment. To do justice is to take action against injustice. It does not necessarily have to be something over the top big. It can be as simple as having a bold conversation or choosing to change something small and sustainable in your lifestyle. To love kindness sometimes can really go against our human nature. If someone wrongs, hurts you, or even annoys you, God calls us to show mercy and kindness instead of condemning, or seeking revenge. To walk humbly directly correlates to the way you serve others. Do you have time for them? Do you dismiss it because you don’t think you have enough resources? Are you listening? Walking humbly provides us space to think of other people and their needs. It gives us time, patience, and compassion to listen and help when we are needed. – Commentary by Kristina Taylor  Today’s Prayer: Lord, I pray that when it comes to others we can truly meet them where they’re at. Please help us to become aware of opportunities where we can be of help to others. I pray that You remind us of the way Jesus did justice, loved kindness, and walked humbly. Amen.

Today’s Verse: See, I am sending you out like sheep into the midst of wolves; so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. – Matthew 10: 16  How is it possible that we can be like sheep, serpents, and doves? A few verses earlier, we are told that it is our job as Jesus’ followers to go out and spread the news to those who are lost. This is not an easy job as we will encounter others who oppose, disagree, and persecute us. We need to be like sheep – able to be led by a shepherd, a clear picture that we are being sent into a world that will push back against us (wolves). We need to be as serpents – wise, understanding, watchful of the words we speak. We need to be as doves – harmless, gentle, trustworthy, and full of integrity. These three things without the other do not represent Christ well. However, all three together create a force that is reliant on God, loving, and quick to speak the truth. Are you scared to speak the truth? Well, don’t despair because at different times everyone is. However, what is awesome is we have a God who is always there for us, and we draw our strength from Him. – Commentary by Kristina Taylor  Today’s Prayer: Lord, I pray that Your people will be brave and resilient in sharing Your truth. I pray we would understand fearful things happen in life, but that we would also remember You are on our side. Amen.

Today’s Verse:
And going a little farther, he threw himself on the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; yet not what I want but what you want.” – Matthew 26:39

The text tells us that Jesus threw himself on the ground in the garden of Gethsemane which emphasizes desperation in asking the Father for the cup to pass from him. However, we all know how He ended His prayer and it is by saying, “Thy will be done.” He prayed this prayer three times hoping that our Heavenly Father would consider His plea. Jesus was battling with the flesh. His request to let the cup pass him by shows how it is in our human nature to want to avoid pain and suffering. Yet, He still managed to pray for the will of the Father to be done. Indeed, the Father’s will was done. Praise and thanks be to God and Jesus! He was crucified and paid for the sins of all humanity. We are free and forgiven today because Jesus did the Father’s will. There’s a huge lesson to learn from this, and that is if our will is in collision with God’s will, choose His and not yours! – Commentary by Dionivie M. Tacder

Today’s Prayer:
Heavenly Father, increase my faith that I may be able to completely put my trust in You in everything. Empower me to ignore the temptations around me so that I only choose Your will to happen in my life. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen!

Today’s Verse:
For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who in every respect has been tested as we are, yet without sin. – Hebrews 4: 15

The definition of sympathize in this context is a mutual understanding. Jesus understands all of our weaknesses. He understands what it is like to be human because he was one. One of the most rejected; rejected by his hometown, the very people He loved dearly (and came to save), and His friends. He was tempted just as we are. Tempted with food, power, and short-cuts that were all outside of God’s plan. Sometimes this life can make us feel so alone, misunderstood, and out of place. Jesus sympathizes with us, He gets it, and He is the only thing that can make us feel seen, understood, and like we belong. He is our high priest that is able to sympathize with our weakness and our humanness. When you feel alone and misunderstood, look to Jesus and be assured that He gets it. – Commentary by Kristina Taylor

Today’s Prayer:
God, our world can be so dividing and confusing. I pray when we feel out of place and like no one understands that we look to You and what You have done for us. That we would look to You the example that reaches to the core of our human soul. Amen.

Today’s Verse:
Manasseh did not drive out the inhabitants of Beth-shean and its villages, or Taanach and its villages, or the inhabitants of Dor and its villages, or the inhabitants of Ibleam and its villages, or the inhabitants of Megiddo and its villages; but the Canaanites continued to live in that land. When Israel grew strong, they put the Canaanites to forced labor, but did not in fact drive them out. – Judges 1:27 – 28

If a customer in a restaurant ordered a fish fillet, the restaurant would give them exactly what the customer ordered. You don’t give the customer your choice because you think that would be delicious, or a bowl of salad, because you think it’s good for them. It would be inappropriate, presumptuous, wrong, and could lead to unforeseen consequences. Likewise, obedience to God is not about what you think; it’s about fulfilling specific demands. Our versions of obedience will not please God. In the case of the Israelites in the book of judges, God gave them specific instructions. Conquer the territories of Canaan and drive out all the inhabitants from those places. However, they did not drive out all the Canaanites. Some continued to live among them. Eventually, they were put into forced labor to show that they had conquered them. That was not what God wanted them to do! As a result, there were intermarriages which led to idolatry. The Canaanites who lived among them influenced their beliefs and culture. This is a great example of why we need to be determined and dedicated to obeying the exact commands of God. – Commentary By Jeremy B. Trio

Today’s Prayer:
Lord, thank You for making me understand that obedience is doing exactly what You command me to do. Help me remember that it’s not about what I think or believe, but following Your commands because You always know what is ultimately best for me. Amen.

How’s your day going? You probably think that if things are going bad you’re having a bad day and if things are going good, it’s a good day. But the Bible says something completely different. And it can change the way you live your life. Proverbs 15:15 says: “All the days of the downcast are bad, but a cheerful heart has an everlasting banquet.” – or – ‘All the days of the downcast are bad, but a good heart has a never-ending banquet.’

In other words, it’s not bad days that make the downcast heart. It’s the downcast heart that makes all the days bad. And it’s not the continual banquet that makes the good heart. It’s the good heart that makes the continual banquet. Get it? If your heart is complaining, your days will be rotten. If your heart is full of praise and thanksgiving, your days will be full and beautiful. So… you want a good day, a good week, a good year, a good life? Stop seeking after a good day, and seek instead to have a good heart. Give thanks in all things, and praise to God, and your life will become an everlasting banquet.
Scripture: Psalm 42:11

TODAY’S MISSION – No matter what’s around you today, give God thanks and praise Him as often as you can, and you will have a never-ending banquet.

Peter was staying at the house of Simon the Tanner and he went up on the roof to pray. So why did Peter go up on the roof to pray? He went up on the roof because he wanted to be alone with God. Because it was there that God spoke to him. And what God showed Peter changed history. It was that vision that opened up the Gospel to the Gentiles. But it would not have happened had Peter not gone up on the roof to pray and be alone with God.

Too often we don’t realize how important it is to be alone with God. We’re busy on the job, busy in our families, busy in our activities. It was crucial that Peter go up on the roof to be alone.

So how important is it for you to get alone with God?

Just imagine how many blessings have you missed because you haven’t been there for God to bless you? How many life changing, history changing instructions have we missed because we are too busy to get alone with God. There’s a blessing waiting for your life. Get alone with God today, and at least once every day. And if there’s no place in your house to be alone – then get up on the roof.

TODAY’S MISSION – Find a different – not your usual place to go and spend some time praying and listening to God today. Make it a special alone time with Him.

Today’s Verse:
Or do you despise the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience? Do you not realize that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? – Romans 2:4 

What a wonderful and gracious God we serve.

In response to our rebellion and sin, He showed us kindness and forbearance to lead us back to Him through repentance. We are certainly no different from the prodigal son who left his family to enjoy life in his own decadent way. When he had used up all his inheritance by squandering it, his father still loved and accepted him and even celebrated his return.

Friends, shame may overtake us at times when we attempt to restore our broken relationship with God. Always remember that His mercy is huge enough to forgive you. He is not against you, He is always anticipating and ready to celebrate every child who comes back to Him. The Door of forgiveness is always open for you to walk through.

So, no matter what has occurred, no matter the distance you have placed between you, Our Father stands with His door to forgiveness open to you today.

Today’s Prayer:
Father in heaven, thank You for being kind and patient toward me. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to walk into your presence and obtain mercy.

Forgive me for the things I am ungrateful for and for the sins that I have committed. Purify me with the cleansing blood of Jesus and make me spotless in your sight again. Amen!

Pastor Mike