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.

Exodus 18:18 “You and the people with you will certainly wear yourselves out, for the thing is too heavy for you. You are not able to do it alone.” 

Jethro will go on to instruct Moses to: “look for able men from all the people, men who fear God, who are trustworthy and hate a bribe, and place such men over the people as chiefs of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens. And let them judge the people at all times. Every great matter they shall bring to you, but any small matter they shall decide themselves. So it will be easier for you, and they will bear the burden with you. If you do this, God will direct you, you will be able to endure, and all this people also will go to their place in peace.”

What is God saying to me? What God has called me to do, He has not called me to do alone.

How will I obey? I will look at my workload this morning, prioritize, and delegate.  In addition, I must look for the opportunity to serve those around me.  Like me, they “are not able to do it alone.”

Who will I tell? My administrative assistant.

Great leaders delegate to alleviate.

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.

Psalms 25:9 “He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble his way.”

What is God saying to me? Personal humility leads to spiritual clarity.  Several verses earlier we read: “Make me to know your ways, O LORD; teach me your paths”(Psalms 25:4).  If I will humble myself, God will direct me to the best decisions.

How will I obey? Rebecca and I have been praying diligently for the Lord to show us “his way” for a family decision.  I’m reminded this morning that I must humble myself before God in order to be lead.  I will look for areas of pride and confess them.  Through confession God cleanses (1 John 1:9).

Who will I tell? I am meeting with a close friend today.  I will ask him to point out where he sees pride in my life.

Personal humility leads to spiritual clarity. 

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.

Scripture: Matthew 13:44 “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.”

What is God saying to me?: Nothing compares to the “treasure” and “joy” of the kingdom of heaven.  I need to deny myself, take up my cross daily and follow Jesus.  For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for Jesus will save it.

How will I obey?: Today, I want to look for things in my life that I have not been ready to sell for the sake of Jesus.  Then, I want to prayerfully turn them over to God.  “Lord, show me things that I am holding back from You.  What do I have that I haven’t been willing to sell in order to buy the kingdom?”

Who will I tell?: Rebecca.

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.

S – Psalm 9:1-2 “I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart; I will recount all of your wonderful deeds. I will be glad and exult in you; I will sing praise to your name, O Most High.”

O – I will be glad when I focus on the goodness of God.

A – This morning I want to spend an extended time singing praise songs and thinking about God’s wonderful deeds.

P – Lord, thank you for sending Jesus to save the world!  Help me to give You thanks with my whole heart.

Do you want to be glad?  Focus on the goodness of 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.