Psalm 117:1-2 (The shortest chapter in the Bible.  It is two verses long) “Praise the Lord, all nations! Extol him, all peoples! For great is his steadfast love toward us, and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever. Praise the Lord!”

What is God saying to me? God wants all people from all nations to praise Him.  What am I doing to welcome that?  What am I doing to stand in God’s way (Acts 11:17)?

How will I obey?  I am going to watch my actions today and stop at lunch and dinner (take notes) to ask myself if I am including or excluding all people with my lifestyle.

Who will I tell?  My friend Luke

Are you drawing all people to God or are you pushing people from God?

Our Bible Reading Challenge: The Bible is the Word of God and the power of God is released in our life when we apply it. Join us as we follow the One Year Bible plan. Links to read digitally can be found online at www.pcbc.org/bible.

John 4:34 “Jesus said to them, ‘My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work.’”  Jesus goes on to say “the fields are white for harvest.”

What is God saying to me?  God has prepared work for me to do today that has eternal significance (Eph. 2:8-9).  Nothing is more satisfying than accomplishing what God has sent me to do.  Not even a plate full of eggs, pancakes and bacon.

How will I obey?  Specifically, I want to pray over my (His) to do list.  At the end of the day, I want to look back on what He did through me.

Who will I tell?  Anna – on the way to school.

Find satisfaction in doing what God has sent you to do.

Our Bible Reading Challenge: The Bible is the Word of God and the power of God is released in our life when we apply it. Join us as we follow the One Year Bible plan. Links to read digitally can be found online at www.pcbc.org/bible.

Luke 18:9-14 “He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

What is God saying to me?  I must never reach the place where I believe I am more righteous than other people.  True humility lives in constant realization that God has been merciful to me, a sinner.

How will I obey?  In response to the Cross, empowered by the Holy Spirit, I will walk in newness of life.  However, I must live in constant realization of the grace and forgiveness that I need.  I must never exalt myself over someone else.

Who will I tell?  Rebecca

Do you believe you need God’s mercy today? That’s a good place to be.

Our Bible Reading Challenge: The Bible is the Word of God and the power of God is released in our life when we apply it. Join us as we follow the One Year Bible plan. Links to read digitally can be found online at www.pcbc.org/bible.

Joshua 1:17-18 “Just as we obeyed Moses in all things, so we will obey you. Only may the Lord your God be with you, as he was with Moses! Whoever rebels against your commandment and disobeys your words, whatever you command him, shall be put to death. Only be strong and courageous.”

What is God saying to me?  The people of Israel tell Joshua they will follow him.  However, they have a request,  “Only may the Lord your God be with you, as he was with Moses!”  We read earlier: “And there has not arisen a prophet since in Israel like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face” (Deuteronomy 34:10 – emphasis added).  We need our spiritual leaders to be intimate with God.  We need to know that God is leading us through them.

And this leads to the other request: “Only be strong and courageous.”  Where do spiritual leaders get this strength and courage?  It is a direct result of their intimacy with God.  We read earlier: “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9 – emphasis added).  Leaders can be strong and courageous because the Lord is with them.

What do we desire in our spiritual leaders? Intimacy with God, strength and courage.

How will I obey?  I will pray for my spiritual leaders to be with God wherever they go today.  As a man called to lead others spiritually, I will prioritize meeting with God “face to face.”

Who will I tell?  My ministry team

In response to Joshua 1:17-18, how can you grow as a spiritual leader today?

Our Bible Reading Challenge: The Bible is the Word of God and the power of God is released in our life when we apply it. Join us as we follow the One Year Bible plan. Links to read digitally can be found online at www.pcbc.org/bible.

Deuteronomy 11:22 (NLT) “Be careful to obey all these commands I am giving you. Show love to the lord your God by walking in his ways and holding tightly to him.”

What is God saying to me? We do not obey to earn favor with God. God has freely given us undeserved favor = grace.  Obedience is an opportunity to live in a love relationship with God. Jesus said in John 15:10 “If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love.”

How will I obey? I want to look for ways to express love to God today through obedience.  Like writing a letter to express love to my parents, wife or daughter, I want to write a letter of love to The One who first loved me.

Who will I tell?  Friends at the gym

Do you see your obedience as a demonstration of love to God?

Our Bible Reading Challenge: The Bible is the Word of God and the power of God is released in our life when we apply it. Join us as we follow the One Year Bible plan. Links to read digitally can be found online at www.pcbc.org/bible.

Psalm 63:3 “Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you.”

Sunset our spring break camping trip Anna said: “Daddy, God is a good artist.”

What is God saying to me?  Nothing compares to the love of God.  Not my family, not my ministry success, not my financial stability, not my athletic ability… His love is better.

How will I obey?  I will praise Him with my lips.  Specifically, I will memorize this verse today and repeat it throughout the day in worship.

Who will I tell?  My accountability partners

What is the best thing in your life right now?  If it is not the steadfast love of God, you are missing out on something better.

Our Bible Reading Challenge: The Bible is the Word of God and the power of God is released in our life when we apply it. Join us as we follow the One Year Bible plan. Links to read digitally can be found online at www.pcbc.org/bible.

What is Ash Wednesday?  Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the 46 day Easter season on the liturgical calendar.  40 days are dedicated to prayer and fasting (reflecting the 40 days that Jesus fasted in the desert) and they are interrupted by 6 Sundays of feasting.

Why Ashes?  In the Bible, ashes symbolize repentance from sin and/or great grief over loss (2 Sam 13:19, Esther 4:1, Job 2:8, Jer 6:26, 25:34, Mark 11:21, Luke 10:21, etc…).

Looking back on Jesus’ 40 days in the wilderness, I’m reminded that it was a time of preparation for His ministry.  This year, during the Easter Season, I want to refocus myself on the ministry that God has called me to.  I plan to spend intentional time each day listening to the Holy Spirit’s direction for my life.

In addition, it is clear that Jesus’ 40 days were a time where Satan tempted Jesus, seeking to derail Jesus’ ministry.  “The Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. And he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. And he was with the wild animals, and the angels were ministering to him” (Mark 1:12–13 ESV).  I must be ready to resist my enemy.

What does God want to prepare you for through this Easter season?

If you are in Dallas, join us tonight for this exciting worship experience to kick off the Easter season.

Proverbs 10:25 (NLT) “When the storms of life come, the wicked are whirled away, but the godly have a lasting foundation.”

What is God saying to me? Storms are coming. If I follow Jesus every day, I will make it through.

How will I obey? Though not listed specially in this verse, I have consistently reminded over the past few weeks of my need to pray continually in order to follow Him fully.  Today, I will pray through my commute to and from work and before each of my meetings.

Who will I tell? My friend Travis.

There are two seasons in life: the storm and the calm before the storm.  Do you have a lasting foundation?

Our Bible Reading Challenge: The Bible is the Word of God and the power of God is released in our life when we apply it. Join us as we follow the One Year Bible plan. Links to read digitally can be found online at www.pcbc.org/bible.

Journaling after my Bible reading today…

Psalms 40:16 “But may all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; may those who love your salvation say continually, “Great is the LORD!””

What is God saying to me? Joy and gladness are found in the Lord as I focus on the salvation He has given me.

How will I obey? I will spend 15 minutes today just thinking about how the Lord has saved me.

Who will I tell? Anyone I see at the gym.

Bible Reading Challenge: The Bible is the Word of God and the power of God is released in our life when we apply it. Join us as we follow the One Year Bible plan. Links to read digitally can be found online at www.pcbc.org/bible.

Mark 2:27 “And (Jesus) said to them, ‘The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.’”

What is God saying to me? To bless me, God wants me to Sabbath rest, “do no ordinary work” (Lev 23.3), one day a week.

How will I obey? I am a doer.  I will make an effort to set aside one day a week as a day of “no ordinary work.”  I will focus on resting in Him.

Who will I tell? Rebecca

How do you think God wants you to receive the gift of Sabbath rest?

Our Bible Reading Challenge: The Bible is the Word of God and the power of God is released in our life when we apply it. Join us as we follow the One Year Bible plan. Links to read digitally can be found online at www.pcbc.org/bible.