2025-09-23
Isaiah 41:10 NIV
When you learn to forgive and accept yourself, it means you have come to terms with your humanity and learned to be at peace with your imperfections. You realize that what you have been through, together with the grace of God, has made you the person you are today.
Veronica Shoffstall said: “After a while you learn the subtle difference between holding a hand and chaining a soul… that love doesn’t mean leaning, and company doesn’t always mean security… that kisses aren’t contracts and presents aren’t promises, and you begin to accept your defeats with your head up and your eyes ahead, with the grace of [an adult], not the grief of a child, and you learn to build all your roads on today because tomorrow’s ground is too uncertain for plans and futures have a way of falling down in mid-flight. After a while you learn that even sunshine burns if you get too much, so you plant your own garden and decorate your own soul instead of waiting for someone to bring you flowers. And you learn that you really can endure, you really are strong, you really do have worth… “
Those words can be summed up in one phrase: “living life on life’s terms.” Is it easy to do? No. And on days when life’s terms seem too hard to cope with, God’s promise to you is this: “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.” And that’s a promise you can stand on!
Soul food: 1 Sam 14-15; Matt 27:11-31; Ps 91; Pro 21:28-31
2025-09-22
Deuteronomy 32:11 NIV
In Even Eagles Need a Push, David McNally describes a mother eagle teaching her young to fly: “The eagle gently coaxed her offspring toward the edge of the nest. Her heart quivered with conflicting emotions as she felt their resistance to her persistent nudging. ‘Why does the thrill of soaring have to begin with the fear of falling?’… The ageless question was still unanswered for her… Her nest was located high on a shelf of sheer rock face. Below there was nothing but air to support the wings of each child. ‘Is it possible that this time it will not work?’ she thought.
Despite her fears, the eagle knew it was time. Her parental mission was all but complete. There remained one final task – the push. The eagle drew courage from innate wisdom. Until her children discovered their wings, there was no purpose for their lives. Until they learned how to soar, they would fail to understand the privilege it was to have been born an eagle. The push was the greatest gift she had to offer… her supreme act of love. And so one by one she pushed them, and they flew!”
The Bible says, “Like an eagle that stirs up its nest and hovers over its young, that spreads its wings to catch them… The Lord… led him” (v. 11-12 NIV).
Is God pushing you out of your comfort zone? Have you lost your job and your financial security? Or a relationship you thought would last a lifetime? Do you feel like you’re being pushed out of your nest and over the cliff’s edge? Don’t be afraid; God will catch you. Better yet – He will teach you to fly.
Soul Food: Num 29:1-6; Matt 24; Rev 11:15-19; 1 Cor 15:50-58
2025-09-21
Psalm 100:4 KJV
Author Jon Gordon writes: “I’d love to share with you the benefits… of two simple words. THANK YOU. They… have the power to transform our health, happiness… and success. Research shows that grateful people are happier and more likely to maintain good friendships. Gratitude… also improves the heart’s rhythmic functioning, which helps us to reduce stress, think more clearly under pressure and heal physically.
It’s… physiologically impossible to be stressed and thankful at the same time. When you are grateful you flood your body and brain with… endorphins that uplift and energize you… Gratitude… [is] also essential for a healthy work environment… The number one reason why people leave their jobs is because they don’t feel appreciated… Gratitude is like muscle. The more we do with it the stronger it gets. Here are… ways to practice thanksgiving every day:
(1) Take a daily… ten-minute walk… and say out loud what you are thankful for. This will set you up for a positive day.
(2) At dinner with friends and family, go around the table and have each person… say what they’re thankful for.
(3) Psychologist Martin Seligman… suggests that we write a letter expressing our gratitude to someone. Then we visit this person and read them the letter… People who do this are measurably happier and less depressed a month later.
(4) Say thank you at work. When Doug Conant was the CEO of Campbell Soup, he wrote approximately 30,000 thank you notes to his employees and energized the company in the process… Organizations spend billions of dollars collectively on recognition programs but the best and cheapest recognition program of all consists of a sincere THANK YOU.”
Soul Food: Gen 1:1-2:3; John 1:1-18
2025-09-20
1 Thessalonians 5:18 NIV
Breathing is a complicated process. It requires physiological precision, and the average person takes about twenty-three thousand breaths a day. And while we’re inclined to thank God for everything that takes our breath away, maybe we should also thank Him for all of our other breaths.
In 2000 Pastor Ed Dobson was diagnosed with ALS, a degenerative disease with no known cause or cure. Sharing his ongoing struggle to be thankful while living with an incurable condition, Dobson writes: “There are many things for which I am not grateful! I can no longer button… my shirt. I can no longer put on a heavy jacket… [or] raise my right hand above my head. I can no longer write… [or] eat with my right hand. I eat with my left hand, and now even that is becoming a challenge. And over time… these challenges will get worse…
So what in the world do I have to be grateful for? So much. Lord, thank you for waking me up this morning… that I can still turn over in bed… that I can still get out of bed… that I can walk to the bathroom… that I can still brush my teeth… that I can still eat breakfast… that I can still dress myself… that I can still drive my car… that I can still walk… Thank you that I can still talk… The list goes on… I have learned… to focus on what I can do, not on what I can’t do. I have learned to be grateful for the small things in life and for the many things I can still do.”
What do you have to be thankful for? “Give thanks in all circumstances.”
Soul food: 1 Sam 11-13; Matt 26:69–27:10; Ps 13; Pro 21:22-27
2025-09-19
James 1:7-8 NKJV
Don’t be double minded and attempt to think in two different ways at the same time. For example, we come to church to get “the wisdom that is from above” (James 3:17 KJV), then leave church and get the wisdom from below and try to combine them. But it doesn’t work.
You cannot mix unleaded fuel and diesel fuel. The moment you do, you have cancelled the unleaded because of the diesel – merely looking like gas doesn’t mean it will help you. As Christians, we attend church on Sunday to get unleaded, and on Monday go into the world and get diesel. Then we wonder why we’re wearily labouring.
Let’s illustrate it this way: We have AM and FM frequencies on our radios: both different, both separate. When riding in a car, you choose which one to listen to; you can’t listen to both at the same time, even though you have both options.
The Bible says: “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways” (James 1:5-8 NKJV).
God responds to a faith that is single minded and focused on His Word. So, the word for you today is – don’t be double minded!
Soul food: 1 Sam 8-10; Matt 26:47-68; Ps 54; Pro 21:18-21
2025-09-18
James 5:16 NKJV
We all make mistakes, misjudge issues, and mess up at some point. We’re all human. The truth is that mistakes are one of the major ways in which we learn and get wiser. But because of our fear of being criticized or losing face, we often attempt to hide our mistakes.
The only real calamity about mistakes is if you don’t learn something from them. Failing to admit a mistake blocks the path to growth. Listen to the words of the Lord when He admonished the Israelites to learn from their mistakes: “‘Jeremiah, say to the people, “This is what the Lord says: ‘When people fall down, don’t they get up again? When they discover they’re on the wrong road, don’t they turn back?'” (Jeremiah 8:4 NLT). It’s a relief to you and an inspiration to others when you can acknowledge your mistakes without being defined or derailed by them.
Circumstances and other people may have swayed our decisions, but in the end, we are each responsible for what we do. When we make a mistake, the action we take is – our choice. The best approach for dealing with your mistake is to accept complete responsibility, learn from it, decide how not to repeat it, and go on. Interestingly, other people will connect with you more and even respect you more when you are able to acknowledge your weaknesses. And it sets them free to do the same thing. Humility is one of the attributes that people esteem in others; pride is hated – even by other proud folks.
Soul food: 1 Sam 4-7; Matt 26:30-46; Ps 52; Pro 21:17
