Posts with the category “daily-faith-challenges”

Tuesday, September 22This week we are reflecting on the question; how did I end up here? Yesterday we used it as a guiding element of growth and encouragement. It can also be an assessment; do I need to make a course correction in life because I have wandered from my true north? Do I need to reroute because I’ve not been walking faithfully with God or I’ve walked away from the things of God? Where...  Read More

Monday, September 21Let me set our time today this week with this question- Have you ever wondered or thought, how did I end up here? How did I get here?It could be anything, it could be driving, getting lost, and before you know it, how did I end up here? It could be your career path, you started in one place and now you are looking back and you are like, how did I end up here?Or relationships or...  Read More

Friday, September 18thIn the original passage of Genesis 5, what two names and descriptions stood out?Let’s take a look again at Genesis 5:24, 29- 24 Enoch walked faithfully with God; then he was no more, because God took him away… 29 He named him Noah and said, “He will comfort us in the labor and painful toil of our hands caused by the ground the Lord has cursed.” Enoch and Noah, their descripto...  Read More

Thursday, September 17Yesterday we engaged with what appears to be something simple in life, life and death, blessing and curses. But my push wasn’t that they exist, my push was, how do we respond to both blessing and curses?Remember, blessing is goodness, life, increase; curse is challenge, hardship, pain, chaos, and yes death. Both are the reality of life, no one can escape blessing and curse, h...  Read More

Wednesday, September 16th Read Genesis 5 (yes, I know, it may be a struggle- but what do you notice? What stands out? BTW- don’t worry about pronouncing the names, it doesn’t matter) This is the written account of Adam’s family line. When God created mankind, he made them in the likeness of God. 2 He created them male and female and blessed them. And he named them “Mankind”  when they were created...  Read More

Tuesday, September 15Read Genesis 4:25-26- 25 Adam made love to his wife again, and she gave birth to a son and named him Seth, saying, “God has granted me another child in place of Abel, since Cain killed him.” 26 Seth also had a son, and he named him Enosh. At that time people began to call on the name of the Lord.What do you notice? This has a different feeling, doesn’t it? Reference to God’s p...  Read More

Monday, September 14thI understand that everyone’s algo rhythm is different, and I don’t pretend to understand, nor do I care. But I do find it interesting that my algo rhythm has a lot to do with “not” getting older or shall I say, staying younger. Try this cream, this pill, this workout. This will help with losing weight, growing hair, and other … and if that doesn't work, try this shirt or unde...  Read More

Friday, September 11thJohn Walton in his commentary shares it this way. “How much more should we be in awe of God’s mercy and compassion. We can never know whether Cain responded with such gratitude to God, though his initial response might suggest not. But it is irrelevant how Cain responded. What is important is how we respond once we are impressed with the power of God’s mercy and grace.”Two ro...  Read More

Thursday, September 10thLast thing I want us to pay attention to in this passage, marked by mercy. The interchange between God and Cain continues where God lays out the consequences of Cain’s actions. This wasn’t necessarily a punishment, as much as it was the reality of consequences.Because Cain didn’t tend to what was crouching within, this is the pain that resulted from it. We get this glimpse ...  Read More

Wednesday, September 9thRead Genesis 4:6-9- 6 Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? 7 If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.” 8 Now Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let’s go out to the field.” While they were in the field, Cain attack...  Read More

Tuesday, September 8thLet me ask you this question that should get our attention within Genesis 4. Are we ruled over or ruled by? Read that questions again before you jump into the passage.Read Genesis 4:6-9- 6 Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? 7 If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your ...  Read More

Monday, September 7Last week I shared the quote from the classic poem by Robert Frost The Road Not Taken, Two roads diverged in a wood, and I - I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference.How many times do we truly understand the road we take? How many times, as we look back, do we see that we had options and wish we had a warning, or had greater intention versus simply w...  Read More

Well, hi, New Lifers! Bill McCaskill here with a devotional for your week.My talk Sunday was on the Holy Spirit with a particular focus on doing mission WITH the Holy Spirit, both personally and collectively as part of a church body.Most of you know that my my dearly departed wife Kathy and I were involved in “church planting” our entire married life in some capacity and had the privilege to plant...  Read More

Well, hi, New Lifers! Bill McCaskill here with a devotional for your week.My talk Sunday was on the Holy Spirit with a particular focus on doing mission WITH the Holy Spirit, both personally and collectively as part of a church body.Most of you know that my my dearly departed wife Kathy and I were involved in “church planting” our entire married life in some capacity and had the privilege to plant...  Read More

Well, hi, New Lifers! Bill McCaskill here with a devotional for your week.My talk Sunday was on the Holy Spirit with a particular focus on doing mission WITH the Holy Spirit, both personally and collectively as part of a church body.Most of you know that my my dearly departed wife Kathy and I were involved in “church planting” our entire married life in some capacity and had the privilege to plant...  Read More

Well, hi, New Lifers! Bill McCaskill here with a devotional for your week.My talk Sunday was on the Holy Spirit with a particular focus on doing mission WITH the Holy Spirit, both personally and collectively as part of a church body.Most of you know that my my dearly departed wife Kathy and I were involved in “church planting” our entire married life in some capacity and had the privilege to plant...  Read More

Well, hi, New Lifers! Bill McCaskill here with a devotional for your week.My talk Sunday was on the Holy Spirit with a particular focus on doing mission WITH the Holy Spirit, both personally and collectively as part of a church body.Most of you know that my my dearly departed wife Kathy and I were involved in “church planting” our entire married life in some capacity and had the privilege to plant...  Read More

Friday, August 28thTwo people, two paths, one God. Reminded me of the last stanza in Robert Frost classic poem, The Road Not Taken, Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference.One path is the path of perceived rejection. You don’t believe that God is for you, that he is generous, or if you do, it’s because you’ve been good enough or don...  Read More

Thursday, August 27thRead Matthew 20:1-15- “For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard. 2 He agreed to pay them a denarius[a] for the day and sent them into his vineyard. 3 “About nine in the morning he went out and saw others standing in the marketplace doing nothing. 4 He told them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard, and I ...  Read More

Wednesday, August 26thRead Genesis 2:2b-5- Now Abel kept flocks, and Cain worked the soil. 3 In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord. 4 And Abel also brought an offering—fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering, 5 but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was...  Read More

This week, as we look at the passage we are looking at what MUST get our attention. We want to be drawn towards what got God’s attention.The first element that got God’s attention, that should get our attention is the favored intention. Unfortunately, I’m not a huge fan of this summary, unfortunately I didn’t take enough time to wordsmith it better. But my hope is that by the end of our time you w...  Read More

Monday Today I want you to take some time and read this story, that may be familiar, but take your time with it. Underline, highlight, jot down questions or thoughts of discovery. Genesis 4:1-16-Adam made love to his wife Eve, and she became pregnant and gave birth to Cain. She said, “With the help of the Lord I have brought forth a man.” 2 Later she gave birth to his brother Abel. Now Abel kept f...  Read More

  We hope you have felt encouraged throughout this week and have taken some time to spend with God around the different challenges/encouragements. As we wrap up this week, we have one last encouragement for you. One of the testimonies shared this past Sunday was from Easton, a freshman in high school. He shared how at the end of the mission trip, during one of our debriefing sessions, he felt chal...  Read More

  Have you ever been in awe of something in nature? Have you ever gazed upon something filled with tremendous beauty and thought, “Wow, God is an amazing creator! How could anyone doubt a creator after seeing that? No one or nothing can create like God!”The rolling mountains, the sun glistening upon a river, the waves of the ocean rolling beautifully to just name a few. One of the testimonies shar...  Read More

  Genesis 6:14-15 “So make yourself an ark of cypress wood; make rooms in it and coat it with pitch inside and out. This is how you are to build it: The ark is to be three hundred cubits long, fifty cubits wide and thirty cubits high.”A cubit is roughly 18” which would mean the ark was roughly 450’ long, 75’ wide & 45’ high.Saturday, we got to visit the Ark Experience. It’s a full-size replica of ...  Read More

  A “Yay God” is a special moment throughout the day where we can see and celebrate how God is working, moving, providing, or showing more of himself.Every night at the end of our work days while on the mission trip, we spent time in community sharing our individual “Yay God’s” with our work crews and as a large group. This video clip showed a small snippet of what that looked like - so fun, encou...  Read More

  The picture above was taken at the Carter Caves State Park, a beautiful space we got toexplore on our adventure day. We had no clue what the day would hold, except foradventure. We hiked to the Smokey Valley Lake & spent intentional time in prayer. First wespent five to ten minutes of intentional time praying by ourselves. Next, we huddled into acircle to find a partner for team prayer time. We ...  Read More

  Scripture: Colossians 3:12Have you been impatient, harsh, or focused primarily on yourself? The good news is that God’s grace offers a fresh start. Today, take a moment to examine your heart. Invite God to renew your mind and help you begin again, clothed in compassion and kindness.Prayer: Lord, thank You for new beginnings. Renew my heart and help me reflect Your kindness today....  Read More

  Scripture: Ephesians 4:15Many people think kindness means avoiding difficult conversations, but biblical kindness is rooted in truth. Genuine love seeks the highest good of another person. Sometimes that means offering encouragement; other times it means providing honest, gracious feedback. Truth without love can wound. Love without truth can mislead. Christ calls us to both.Prayer: Jesus, help ...  Read More

  Scripture: Luke 10:33-34The Good Samaritan saw a need and responded. He crossed social barriers, interrupted his plans, and spent his own resources to help someone who could offer nothing in return. Biblical kindness is more than sympathy; it is compassion in action. Ask God to open your eyes today. Someone around you may need encouragement, assistance, or simply a listening ear. Don’t walk past...  Read More

  Scripture: Colossians 3:12There is a difference between being nice and being kind. Niceness often seeks comfort and approval. Biblical kindness seeks the good of others, even when it requires effort, sacrifice, or difficult conversations. Real kindness helps people grow, serves practical needs, and is rooted in truth. Today, consider your recent interactions. Were you simply being nice, or were ...  Read More

  Day 1: Get Dressed for the DayScripture: Colossians 3:12Every morning we make a choice about what to wear. Paul reminds us that believers also have a spiritual wardrobe. Compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience are not automatic; they are attitudes we intentionally put on each day. Before rushing into your schedule, ask God to clothe you with His character. The way you are dresse...  Read More

  I love this summary of how Jesus extends grace to us and what it means for today and eternity. Eugene Peterson shares it in Romans 5:17-21- If death got the upper hand through one man’s wrongdoing, can you imagine the breathtaking recovery life makes, absolute life, in those who grasp with both hands this wildly extravagant life-gift, this grand setting-everything-right, that the one man Jesus C...  Read More

  Ok, let’s finish the chapter. Genesis 3:22-24- 22 And the Lord God said, “The man has now become like one of us, knowing good and evil. He must not be allowed to reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat, and live forever.” 23 So the Lord God banished him from the Garden of Eden to work the ground from which he had been taken. 24 After he drove the man out, he placed on the ...  Read More

  Let’s finish the chapter and see more of how God responds to a broken and lost world. We’ll pick up in Genesis 3:21- 21 The Lord God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them. Do you notice the care and compassion God shows them? They were naked, tried to solve it on their own by sewing fig leaves together. God, knowing that they were going to be exiled out of Eden into the wi...  Read More

  Reflect back on Genesis 3:14-15- 14 So the Lord God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, “Cursed are you above all livestock and all wild animals! You will crawl on your belly and you will eat dust all the days of your life. 15 And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.”God spoke to the...  Read More

  We are back in our Genesis series- creation, failure, redemption, repeat. We are just finishing up with chapter three, and I realized the last time we were together in this series; I left you on a cliff hanger, literally.For those of you who were with us, I shared about how I was camping, hiking, exploring the backcountry of SD with some college friends and as I was climbing the face of this str...  Read More

  17Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! (2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV)What do you notice about the simplicity of this passage? How do you become a new creation?Much like Jesus’ death, old life buried, sin buried, new life rises again, rises from the depths of the grave. Jesus does the same thing in our life when we surrender and trust him. Our old...  Read More

  The next passage I want us to look at is from the Message version and it is Romans 6:3-5- That is what happened in baptism. When we went under the water, we left the old countryof sin behind; when we came up out of the water, we entered into the new country of grace - a new life in a new land! That’s what baptism into the life of Jesus means. When we are lowered into the water, it is like the bu...  Read More

  The next passage I want us to look at is from the Message version and it is Romans 6:3-5- That is what happened in baptism. When we went under the water, we left the old countryof sin behind; when we came up out of the water, we entered into the new country of grace - a new life in a new land! That’s what baptism into the life of Jesus means. When we are lowered into the water, it is like the bu...  Read More