Life can be sweet, sour, bitter or intense (or a mixture of each).
Which season are you currently in? As the saying goes, a spoonful of sugar makes the medicine go down.
Here’s some life hacks we hope can help you get through each season.
April 20, 2016
READ: John 15:16-27
The world would love you as one of its own if you belonged to it, but you are no longer part of the world. I chose you to come out of the world, so it hates you (v.19).
While on vacation, my daughter and I strolled on the beach in the cool of the evening. Interrupting her mid—sentence, I tapped her arm and pointed. “Look over there!” What appeared to be sand moving back and forth proved—upon closer inspection—to be a tiny crab scuttling across the beach. Its beige color, tiny size, and quick reflexes provided protection against being seen, much less caught. The small creature wanted to survive, not stand out.
Jesus has called us to stand out for Him, something that can lead to fruitfulness, love, and hate. When we read Jesus’ words in John 15:16—18, we may wonder how these three things can be linked. For instance, if we love and we’re fruitful, why should we expect to be hated? (v.19). The opening portion of John 15:16, however, provides the context for our understanding. God has called us to be visible on Earth, for we’re part of His kingdom being established here (Matthew 6:10). In other words, we’re created to proclaim His glory (Psalm 66:2).
Cultures around the world encourage people to blend in and follow designated customs. And the prevailing mindset of the day is the desire for self—preservation and selfpromotion via the approval of others. Believers in Jesus, however, can follow His lead and influence culture instead of looking to it for identity (John 15:19).
We can’t live fully for Jesus if we’re too busy running for cover by trying to simply fit in. Rather than blending in to protect our well—being, let’s follow Him and His principles, loving others and not requiring them to love us in return (John 13:34—35). And if by standing for Christ we stand out, may He be honored and lives changed!
—Regina Franklin
365-day-plan: 1 Kings 19:1-21
(Check out Our Daily Journey website!)
April 20, 2016
READ: Numbers 7:1-9
They were to carry on their shoulders the holy things, for which they were responsible. Numbers 7:9
We really needed to hear from God. Having been asked to foster two young children as an emergency measure just for 3 months, a decision had to be made about their future. With three older children of our own, becoming foster parents to preschoolers didn’t seem to fit with our life plan and having our family almost double in size had been hard work. Our book of daily readings by the veteran missionary Amy Carmichael directed us to some unfamiliar verses in Numbers 7.
“I wonder how the Kohathites felt?” Amy wrote. “All the other priests had ox-carts to carry their parts of the tabernacle through the desert. But the sons of Kohath had to trudge along the rocky tracks and through the burning sand, with the ‘holy things for which they were responsible’ on their shoulders. Did they ever grumble inwardly, feeling that the other priests had an easier task? Perhaps! But God knows that some things are too precious to be carried on ox-carts and then He asks us to carry them on our shoulders.”
My husband and I knew this was our answer. We had often thought of sponsoring a child from an undeveloped country, but we hadn’t done so. That would have been easier, much like the ox-cart. Now we had two needy children in our own home to carry “on our shoulders” because they were so precious to Him.
God has different plans for each of us. We might feel that others have an easier assignment, or a more glamorous role to play. But if our loving Father has handpicked us for our task, who are we to whisper, “I can’t do this”?
— Marion Stroud
God uses ordinary people to carry out His extraordinary plans.
April 19, 2016
READ: Matthew 7:24-27
Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock (v.24).
In recent years, researchers have begun exploring what leads to human resilience. What helps someone bounce back after physical, emotional, or spiritual trauma? Psychologist Martin Seligman suggests four main factors:
Emotional fitness: having the ability to amplify positive emotions like peace, gratitude, hope, or love while managing bitterness, sadness, or anger. Family fitness: having strong relationships by building trust and extending forgiveness. Social fitness: having good friendships and work relations by developing empathy and emotional intelligence. Spiritual fitness: having a sense of purpose by serving something greater than ourselves.
In many ways this research is only catching up to what Jesus said will help us to be resilient amid the storms of life (Matthew 7:24—27). His teaching strengthens us in those four areas: We’re strengthened emotionally by being the “blessed” ones who are comforted in our mourning, cared for by the Father, and equipped to manage anger and worry (5:3—4,23—26, 6:8,25—32). We’re strengthened relationally by living out His faithfulness, honesty, grace, and forgiveness (5:27—48, 6:12). We’re strengthened socially by loving others as God has loved us. We’re strengthened spiritually by serving the One who gives us a mission to become salt and light to our world (5:13—16).
The storms of life will come—loss, betrayal, illness, tragedy, assaults on our faith, or just plain difficulty. Jesus’ teaching is more than simply gaining heaven when we die; it’s about living a resilient life now by His power. His words and presence help us build a base for our lives that will withstand even the fiercest of winds.
—Sheridan Voysey
365-day-plan: 1 Kings 18:16-46
(Check out Our Daily Journey website!)
April 19, 2016
READ: Psalm 42
My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. Psalm 42:2
Nezahualcoyotl (1402–1472) may have had a difficult name to pronounce, but his name is full of significance. It means “Hungry Coyote,” and this man’s writings show a spiritual hunger. As a poet and ruler in Mexico before the arrival of the Europeans, he wrote, “Truly the gods, which I worship, are idols of stone that do not speak nor feel. . . . Some very powerful, hidden and unknown god is the creator of the entire universe. He is the only one that can console me in my affliction and help me in such anguish as my heart feels; I want him to be my helper and protection.”
We cannot know if Nezahualcoyotl found the Giver of life. But during his reign he built a pyramid to the “God who paints things with beauty,” and he banned human sacrifices in his city.
The writers of Psalm 42 cried out, “My soul thirsts for God, for the living God” (v. 2). Every human being desires the true God, just as “the deer pants for streams of water” (v. 1).
Today there are many Hungry Coyotes who know that the idols of fame, money, and relationships can’t fill the void in their souls. The Living God has revealed Himself through Jesus, the only One who gives us meaning and fulfillment. This is good news for those who are hungry for the God who paints things with beauty.
— Keila Ochoa
Lord, You are the One my soul needs. Only You can bring meaning and fulfillment to my life. You are the One my heart cries out for. I put my hope in You.
Beneath all of our longings is a deep desire for God.
Title: Confessions of a Christian Life Hacker Materials: Digital Illustration Description: Is life really just a complex problem? Are quick fixes our best bet? I’ve discovered how unhelpful my “fix-it” mentality can be for my relationship with God. How often I’ve mistaken the thanks I mumble to God before meals, or my desperate ramblings before falling asleep, for […]
“Steps, methods, ways.” This seems to be the craze today. We are on the constant pursuit of getting things done better, quicker and with
I can do all this through him who gives me strength (Philippians 4:13).
April 18, 2016
READ: James 2:14-26
Even the demons believe this (v.19).
Jean Vanier, founder of the L’Arch communities, has spent his life loving those often ostracized by society. L’Arch creates living communities for those with disabilities or those who, because of their need for intense care, would be institutionalized if they didn’t have such a home. Vanier talks about how the communities are centered around the most basic acts of caring for the physical body—bathing, dressing, and feeding residents who can’t do those things on their own.
The work of L’Arch resonates with James’ forthright question: “What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don’t show it by your actions?” (James 2:14). Faith isn’t merely a mental category or an abstract idea, but a life infused by truth and the practice of it.
Faith that merely manifests itself in words but doesn’t express itself in our life isn’t true faith. When we see another human destitute and in danger and merely pat him on the back, offer him an empty blessing, or an off—handed comment in wishing him well, we face James’ rebuke: “What good does that do?” (v.16). The answer is plain: This kind of pious inaction does no good at all.
In fact, a half—baked faith is no better than the faith of demons. James wrote, “Even the demons believe” in this way (v.19). True faith acts. True faith receives what God says, and then true faith moves in response. True faith—deep belief—isn’t merely a matter of using our mind but also our body, our will, our hopes, our desires, and our commitments. Faith is demonstrated as we trust God and then obey and follow Him in action. True faith is far better than anything a demon has ever known, for true faith flows from God Himself.
—Winn Collier
365-day-plan: 1 Kings 17:1-24
(Check out Our Daily Journey website!)