Another Look at the Prodigal Son Story

Unlocked: Daily Devotions for Teens

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Understanding the Elegant Math Behind Modern Machine Learning 1:14:43

14 gün önce1:14:43

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1:14:43

Artificial intelligence is evolving at an unprecedented pace—what does that mean for the future of technology, venture capital, business, and even our understanding of ourselves? Award-winning journalist and writer Anil Ananthaswamy joins us for our latest episode to discuss his latest book Why Machines Learn: The Elegant Math Behind Modern AI . Anil helps us explore the journey and many breakthroughs that have propelled machine learning from simple perceptrons to the sophisticated algorithms shaping today’s AI revolution, powering GPT and other models. The discussion aims to demystify some of the underlying mathematical concepts that power modern machine learning, to help everyone grasp this technology impacting our lives–even if your last math class was in high school. Anil walks us through the power of scaling laws, the shift from training to inference optimization, and the debate among AI’s pioneers about the road to AGI—should we be concerned, or are we still missing key pieces of the puzzle? The conversation also delves into AI’s philosophical implications—could understanding how machines learn help us better understand ourselves? And what challenges remain before AI systems can truly operate with agency? If you enjoy this episode, please subscribe and leave us a review on your favorite podcast platform. Sign up for our newsletter at techsurgepodcast.com for exclusive insights and updates on upcoming TechSurge Live Summits. Links: Read Why Machines Learn, Anil’s latest book on the math behind AI https://www.amazon.com/Why-Machines-Learn-Elegant-Behind/dp/0593185749 Learn more about Anil Ananthaswamy’s work and writing https://anilananthaswamy.com/ Watch Anil Ananthaswamy’s TED Talk on AI and intelligence https://www.ted.com/speakers/anil_ananthaswamy Discover the MIT Knight Science Journalism Fellowship that shaped Anil’s AI research https://ksj.mit.edu/ Understand the Perceptron, the foundation of neural networks https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perceptron Read about the Perceptron Convergence Theorem and its significance https://www.nature.com/articles/323533a0…

14 gün önce 4:37

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READ: LUKE 15:11-32

I was reading through the story of the prodigal son in Luke 15 recently, and instead of paying attention to the parts of the story that I normally would or that are normally preached on, I felt jealous of the young man in the story. I thought about how nice it would be to have a father come running toward you like that, to fall into his arms, to have him take care of you when you have tried to do it all on your own and things just didn’t work out.

I laughed at myself once I realized what I was feeling. Who does the father in this parable represent? God. He is my Father. I might not see Him physically run to me like in the parable, but He is there for me. This whole story was given to us to help us see how much God cares for us. It was meant to show us how much God truly loves us, and to give us a picture of how forgiving He is.

Even though I found myself feeling jealous of the prodigal son, the truth is I don’t have to be jealous of anyone. Whenever I have messed up big-time, whenever I need someone to lean on as life gets hard, I have a loving God, a loving Father who is there for me. I will never go through anything alone—I’m always going to have Him looking out for me. And just as God loves me, He loves you too. God loves each of us the way the father in the prodigal son story loves his child. • Emily Acker

• Do you long for someone to be excited to see you, for someone to pull you close when you are tired of being alone? To be with you when life gets hard, to love you still, even after you have really messed up? Consider reading Luke 15:11-32 slowly, and imagine yourself as the prodigal son. What do you notice? What do you feel? How does God feel about you?

• Jesus is the one who gave us this parable, and Jesus only says what He receives from God the Father (John 5:19-20; 12:49). Jesus reveals the Father’s heart, and He is also the way to the Father (John 14:6). Because God the Father sent Jesus, God the Son, to die on the cross for our sins and be raised from the dead, we can become His forgiven children. If you’ve put your trust in Jesus, God is your Father—forever! If you haven’t put your trust in Jesus, He longs for you to come home to Him like the prodigal son in Luke 15. He longs to pull you close, take care of you, and celebrate that you are His. You can come home— right now. Find out more on our "Know Jesus" page.

See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! 1 John 3:1 (NIV)

1979 bölüm

#Religion #Society #Christianity #Bedtime Stories #Philosophy #Keys For Kids Ministries #1 Corinthians

Another Look at the Prodigal Son Story

Unlocked: Daily Devotions for Teens

published 14 gün önce

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MP3•Bölüm sayfası

READ: LUKE 15:11-32

See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! 1 John 3:1 (NIV)

1979 bölüm

#Religion #Society #Christianity #Bedtime Stories #Philosophy #Keys For Kids Ministries #1 Corinthians

Tüm bölümler

1
Who Are You Called To? 5:12

14 hours önce5:12

5:12

READ: MATTHEW 6:31-34; 22:37-39; 28:18-20; 1 PETER 4:8-11 When I was in my final year of high school, I dreaded the moment when people asked me, “Do you know what you want to do?” It felt like something was wrong with me when I replied, “I don’t know.” There were so many different paths I could take—how could I ever figure out what God was calling me to? I wanted to serve the Lord but had no clue what exactly He wanted me to do. Eventually, I buckled down, held my breath, and made a choice about what to pursue after high school. I’m still not sure where God will take me on the path I’ve chosen, but I trust that He’s leading the way. One thing that has been helpful is that my perspective on how I serve the Lord has changed. You see, in high school, I was obsessed with trying to figure out what lifelong career God wanted me to commit to. However, I have since learned that calling is not so much about what God has called you to—but who He has called you to. Ever since humans first rejected God and sin entered the world as a result, God has been on a mission to bring the world back to Himself. He sent His perfect Son, Jesus Christ, to take the punishment for our sins by dying on the cross. Jesus defeated sin and death by rising to life, making the way for us to be forgiven and made new by the Holy Spirit. Hallelujah! And now, the final part of God’s master plan is underway—as we wait for the day Jesus will return and renew the heavens and the earth, we are called to encourage and teach others to come to God through Christ. All along, people have been the focus of this rescue operation, so people are the focus of our callings. God is calling each and every one of us to be a part of His beautiful mission to bring His redeeming love to people throughout the world. • Emma Schoessow • Thinking about our future can sometimes be stressful. But we find freedom in the good news of Jesus’s death on the cross and resurrection from the grave. We get to hand over our worries to God and take part in His mission. How could remembering God’s love—and how Jesus has already done all that was needed to save and redeem us—help relieve the pressure in your life? • First Peter 4:10 says, “Use whatever gift you have received to serve others.” What spiritual gifts and natural abilities or talents has God given you? How could you use these to serve others? “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I [Jesus] have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:19-20 (NIV)…

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Maria Fearing: Ready for Adventure 4:39

1 day önce4:39

4:39

READ: ROMANS 10:14-15; EPHESIANS 2:10; 2 TIMOTHY 4:2 In the year 1838, near Gainesville, Alabama, a girl named Maria Fearing was born into slavery. While she was still a kid, she heard her white master talking about the children in Africa who had never heard the gospel. This fact stuck in Maria’s mind for the rest of her life, and impacting the lives of children for God’s glory became her calling. After the American Civil War, Maria became a free woman. Though she was already an adult and past the age most people would go to school, Maria learned to read and write. She then became a teacher. For many years she invested in the lives of young people with her teaching, but when she turned 56, she sensed God was calling her to take her ministry to a new place. Never one to let age stop her, Maria set sail for Africa with a group of other missionaries. For the next twenty years, she fought for the freedom of those around her. Maria set up a home as a safe place for orphan girls and girls who were previously trapped in physical slavery, and she translated and taught the Bible so they could be free from spiritual slavery to sin. Through Jesus’s death and resurrection, He offers us freedom from slavery to sin and death. And once we’ve received that freedom, His Holy Spirit lives in us, spurring us on to see others set free too. This is the same Holy Spirit that empowered Maria to do the good works He called her to do. All throughout her life, Maria was an unlikely candidate for having a big impact. She grew up as a slave, she was a woman in a time where women had very few rights, and she didn’t learn to read or write until her thirties—but God called and empowered her for His service anyway. Whether it was teaching school in Alabama or translating the Bible for freed slaves in the Congo, Maria Fearing was always ready for a new adventure with Christ. • Careena Campbell • What has Jesus set you free from? Consider taking some time to praise Him for that freedom! • Throughout her life, Maria learned new skills such as reading, writing, and translating, and God used these skills in her life to serve others. How might her story inspire us to learn new things? • Maria eventually went to the mission field, but she started with ministering and using her skills in her hometown. Consider spending some time in prayer, asking God how He might be calling you to share His love with others in your community, church, neighborhood, or family. “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” John 8:36 (NIV)…

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Not Abandoned 4:36

3 gün önce4:36

4:36

READ: PSALM 9:9-10; JOHN 14:16-21; ROMANS 5:5-8; 8:16, 35-39 One morning, I rushed into my parents’ room to say, “Good morning.” Mom removed her wedding ring and shoved it to the bottom of her jewelry box. “Mommy, where’s Daddy?” “He’s not coming back,” she said. I returned to my room and wept in my closet. The number of times I saw him after that, I could count on my fingers. Abandoned. I felt utterly and completely abandoned. As a teen, I made foolish choices to mask my pain. Losing my earthly father made it hard to believe there was a heavenly Father who loved me. But God never let me go. One day, I felt a strong urge to go to church. In a small church, I heard joy in the singing. And the smiles of the people shone in their eyes and reached into my heart. I felt a quiet voice telling me it was time to come close to God. I longed for the community, the love, and the joy these people shared. I knew I had done much wrong. But Jesus had already paid the price for my wrongdoing by dying on the cross. I admitted my sins, trusted God for forgiveness, and asked Him to be the leader of my life. I was no longer abandoned or alone. I had a heavenly Father and a family of Christians. When we feel hurt by an earthly parent, trusting in our heavenly Father can be difficult. But Psalm 27:10 tells us, “Though my father and mother forsake me, the Lord will receive me.” God has promised to never leave or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5-6). Nothing in all of creation can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:39). Our heavenly Father will never abandon us, and in Him we find love and joy that will never end. • Mary Schilling • Sometimes a loss in our lives makes it hard to trust others. But God has so much compassion on us and patiently brings healing to our hearts. Through His Word and His Spirit, He shows us He is trustworthy, and He provides fellow Christians who can show us His love in tangible ways. If you’ve experienced a deep hurt, who is a safe adult in your life you could talk to about it? If you need someone to talk to, you can request a free conversation with Focus on the Family’s Counseling Department by calling 1-855-771-HELP (4357) weekdays from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. (Mountain Time). Please be prepared to leave your contact information for a counselor to return a call to you as soon as possible. In Canada, book your appointment by calling 1-800-661-9800 between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. (Pacific Time) and ask to speak with the care associate. • Can you think of a time you tried to mask your pain by doing things you might regret? Jesus invites us to come to Him, confess our wrongdoing, and rest in His love and forgiveness because He already paid the price for our sins. Consider taking some time to come to Jesus now. God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5 (NIV)…

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Loved 4:21

4 gün önce4:21

4:21

READ: EPHESIANS 2:4-9; 3:12-21 One of the things that bothered me about God while I was growing up was that I thought He just loved me because He had to. I learned that God loved the whole world (John 3:16), but I didn’t think He really loved me personally. I thought He just loved me because I was part of “the world.” And honestly, I thought the main reason God saved me was so that He could save other people through me. Thankfully, God has been slowly breaking down this lie that says He doesn’t really love me for me. Over the years, He has provided different mentors who I’ve been able to honestly share my struggles with. Through these people loving me, praying with me, and pointing me to Scripture, I’ve learned that I can share my struggles—including all the messy questions and anger and shame and sorrow—with Jesus. And I’ve discovered that He really does love me. He’d love me even if I was in a permanent coma and couldn’t do one single thing for Him. He saved me, not because He wants me to do anything for Him, but because He delights in me and longs for me to be with Him. So now, when I look at the cross, I see Jesus’s love for me. He wanted to be with me so badly that the cross was worth it to Him. And through His resurrection, He frees me from every lie of the devil that accuses God of not being loving, and accuses me of not being lovable. It’s getting easier to spot these lies, and to know that they’re not true. But even when they feel true, I can bring them to Jesus and ask Him to remind me, or perhaps show me in a new way, that His love for me really is better than I could hope. Sometimes I can do this on my own, other times I need a Christian friend or mentor to remind me of Jesus’s promises and to pray with me and help me process what I’m feeling, thinking, and maybe even believing. But every time, Jesus meets me with tender compassion, life-giving truth, and—always—love. • Hannah Howe • When do you struggle to believe that God loves you for you? Consider spending some time in prayer, asking God to help you know His love for you in a deeper way. (Ephesians 3:14-21) • Who are trusted Christians in your life you can be honest with about your struggles—people who will listen well, pray with you, and point you to Scriptures where Jesus promises to love you, forgive you, give you grace, and always keep you and be with you? He brought me out into a spacious place; he rescued me because he delighted in me. Psalm 18:19 (NIV)…

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Worship Is More Than a Feeling 6:25

5 gün önce6:25

6:25

READ: PSALMS 103:1-22; 139:7-12; JOHN 14:16-18 Have you ever heard someone say, “I really feel the Lord’s presence?” I hear this most often after or during a worship service. Whether it be a church service, youth group, or some other event, I’ve heard many people say they feel closest to God when worshipping through music. Maybe you agree with them, and during worship songs you find yourself throwing your hands up in praise to God and singing with joy. Or maybe you’re not sure what you feel. You want to feel the closeness to God it seems everyone else is feeling, but all you hear is music. I love worship songs and raising my hands in praise to God. But I must remind myself that worship is not about my feelings. Worship is about bringing honor and praise to our God, the one who loves us more than any other. And God’s presence is not dependent upon how we feel. He is always with us! We can never get further from or closer to God’s presence. In Psalm 139, David writes, “Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there” (verse 7-8). If we’ve put our trust in Jesus—believing that He died and was resurrected to save us from our sins—then through the Holy Spirit, we are always with God (Matthew 28:20). If you have a difficult time remembering that God is with you when you don’t specifically feel His presence, it might help to spend time focusing on God’s presence outside of worship services. You could try writing out a few Bible verses (such as the verses from Psalm 139) and hanging them up in your bedroom or somewhere you’ll see them often. If it’s a challenge to focus on God during worship when you don’t feel anything, tell Him. Pray during the worship. Talking to Him about our struggles helps us remember that He is there, and that worship isn’t actually about us and our feelings. It’s about God and His never-changing presence. And we can worship Him whether our feelings cooperate or not. • Elizabeth Cooper • Can you think of a time you didn’t feel connected to God during worship? God invites us to talk to Him when we don’t feel connected to Him. We can tell Him we don’t feel anything during worship. We can tell Him we don’t feel His presence. And we can tell Him that we’re going to praise Him anyway, because He is good and loving and so worthy of our praise. • Besides music and singing, what are some other ways that you like to worship God? But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. Ephesians 2:13 (NIV)…

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Flotation Belt 4:51

6 gün önce4:51

4:51

READ: JOHN 8:32; EPHESIANS 6:10-20 I participate in a unique physical therapy program for a spine condition I have. Before getting into a swimming pool, I snap on a wide, thick flotation belt, which makes my body very buoyant. With this big blue belt around my midsection, I go to the deep end and stay upright. In that position, I can do all sorts of exercises to help my spine condition improve. And I am improving, as the vertebrae “decompress” in that nearly gravity-free environment. Part of the program involves just hanging still, weightless, held up by that belt alone. The spine enjoys a nice decompression that way. The belt holds me up, and I can just be still. My flotation belt reminds me of the belt of truth that Paul describes in Ephesians 6. Paul says, “Put on the full armor of God so that you can stand against the schemes of the devil…Stand, therefore, with truth like a belt around your waist” (verse 11, 14). For the Roman soldier, the belt not only held his clothing in place (kind of essential), but was also vital for holding the short, effective Roman sword. That belt was indispensable. Truth is indispensable as well. Without a firm understanding of who God is, and who we are in Christ, we are liable to fall for all sorts of lies. Believing lies is easy; we often don’t even know it when we have fallen for some lie from our enemy. That’s why we are instructed to “put on” the belt of truth, knowingly, purposely binding the truths of God around us. Because truth has power. Knowing that God seeks us, that He wants us, that from the beginning He planned a way to include us in His family through Jesus’s death and resurrection, and that He loves us with an everlasting love, counters the lies that tell us differently. Of course, none of us is perfect, and until Jesus returns we will continue to find ourselves straying from the truth. But that’s okay. In John 14:6, Jesus tells Thomas this astounding statement: “I am…the truth.” Like my flotation belt, Jesus will hold us up when we are over our heads in a sea of crazy untruths. We won’t drown. Even when we fall into believing lies, Jesus will hold us in His love (Exodus 14:14; Romans 8:38-39). Floating with His flotation belt of truth snuggly wrapped around us, we can be still in Him, safe and secure. • Kristen Merrill • Our world has been broken by sin, so it can be hard to distinguish lies from truth. Thankfully, God has given us His Word, His Spirit, and His people to help us. Who are trusted Christians in your life who can remind you of the gospel and help you identify lies you might be believing? “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6 (CSB)…

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The Navigator 5:53

7 gün önce5:53

5:53

READ: PSALMS 40:1-3; 119:1-16; 1 JOHN 1:8–2:2 Tanisha stepped off her lander onto the strange planet. The ground was soft, almost gelatinous. Odd formations surrounded her. But when she took a step toward one, her navigator—programmed by the king himself to guide her on her mission—beeped insistently. Glancing at it, she saw it was directing her the opposite way. It was no big deal if she explored for a minute though, right? She silenced the navigator and continued forward. With each step, the ground became stickier, and it was harder to lift her feet. She tried to turn around, but her right foot was stuck fast. She tugged frantically, until without warning her foot popped out of her boot and she fell headlong. She tried to get up, but she sank deeper into the muck with each movement. Completely alone on this strange world, Tanisha knew the ground would swallow her within minutes. Why hadn’t she paid attention to the navigator! Suddenly, she remembered: she had an emergency signal that went straight to the king. But could she really ask him for help when this whole mess was her own fault? Tanisha realized it was her only hope. Carefully working the emergency signal out of her pocket, she pressed the button. As the ground began to close over her, she prepared for the worst. Then, she felt a touch on her arm. Strong hands lifted her out, but Tanisha, feeling both relieved and ashamed, was unable to look at her rescuer. When a familiar voice said her name, she almost fell over in shock. The king, here? After what she’d done? Perhaps he was angry with her. Surely he wouldn’t let her continue the mission. But when she glanced at the king’s face, his eyes were compassionate. He held out the navigator, and said simply, “You’ll be needing this.” • Faith Lewis • Have you ever felt like Tanisha? In this allegorical story, she had the navigator, and God has given us the Bible to guide and help us. God’s Word may feel restrictive at times, but all His commands are for our good. The truth is, though, we can never keep His commands perfectly, and He knows this. In fact, the primary reason He gave us His commands was to show us our need for Jesus. John 20:31 says the entire Bible was written so that we would constantly and consistently place our confidence in Jesus—who is Messiah, the promised one foretold throughout the Old Testament—and by believing that we “may have life in his name.” If you want to know more about this good news, see our " Know Jesus " page. • When we disobey God and get into bad situations, we may feel unworthy of rescue. However, God knows that we all sin, and He loves us so much that He sent Jesus to save us by His death and resurrection. When we repent from our sin, we are placing our faith in His promised forgiveness. Until Jesus returns, we will continue to sin daily because, while the Bible shows us what the good way is, it cannot keep us from sinning. But Jesus’s obedience to the Father on our behalf is our confidence and hope. Consider taking a moment to pray, confessing any sins that come to mind and resting in His sure forgiveness. • If you’ve put your trust in Jesus, His Holy Spirit lives in you, empowering you to turn away from sin and embrace joy-filled obedience to God’s good ways. When you face temptation, how could it be helpful to remember that in Jesus you are forgiven, and that you have the Holy Spirit? Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path. Psalm 119:105 (NIV)…

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Where Do You Turn? 4:05

8 gün önce4:05

4:05

READ: LEVITICUS 19:4; JOHN 4:1-26; 1 CORINTHIANS 10:14 When things get tough, my instinct is to run—run to everything else and away from what is causing me pain and stress. I run to overworking. I run to comfort. I run away from staying connected with others. We all have vices we turn to when things get tough. It’s easy to go to things like overwork, exercise, screen time, food, shopping, or busyness because we like to think they fill something in us that we’re seeking. It’s easy to run to something else because it takes our minds off of what is truly going on in our lives. But that’s not where we want to go. Even good things—like exercise and work—can turn into something sinful when we begin to idolize them. Sometimes we don’t recognize it at first because we convince ourselves we’re doing a good thing. We justify our actions because we say what we’re doing is for the benefit of ourselves or others. The problem is, there can quickly come a point where we turn to those things instead of to God. That’s when we know we have crossed a line. That’s when we know we need to turn back to the only one who can fill us. Only Jesus can satisfy our deepest needs. Once we’ve put our trust in Jesus— believing He died and rose again to save us—we don’t have to chase after idols anymore. As we rest in His love, we often find that idols begin to lose their appeal. And even when we are facing tough times, Jesus gives us strength to persevere. • Tynea Lewis • What do you tend to turn to when you get stressed? How have these things let you down? • We’re all guilty of turning good gifts from God into idols, especially when life is hard. But God has so much compassion on us, and He invites us to come to Him and be refreshed in His presence. Consider taking a moment to pray, confessing any idolatry that comes to mind, resting in Jesus’s sure forgiveness, and being honest with Him about all the needs and longings you have today. “Those who cling to worthless idols turn away from God’s love for them. But I, with shouts of grateful praise, will sacrifice to you…I will say, ‘Salvation comes from the LORD.’” Jonah 2:8-9 (NIV)…

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Refiner's Fire 4:38

9 gün önce4:38

4:38

READ: ZECHARIAH 13:7-9; 1 PETER 1:3-25 The image of fire appears many times in the Bible. For example, in Exodus 13, God comes as a guiding pillar of fire to the Israelites. And in 1 Kings 18, He uses fire to show His power and legitimacy against the false god Baal. But another type of fire mentioned in the Bible is a refining fire. When metals are heated in a refining fire, this process removes impurities. The metal has to go through this fire in order to become strong. Otherwise, a sword that contains impurities may crack in the heat of battle. The judgement of God is compared to a refiner’s fire. Although these are intense images, it’s good to remember that God is not only almighty and powerful, He is also loving and faithful. He knows that sin twists and breaks everything it touches, and He does not leave sin undealt with. The good news is we have a Savior who already took on the wrath of the Father and His judgment for our sins. Because of God’s great love for us, Jesus suffered the punishment necessary for sin by enduring the cross. He gave up His life for us so we could be spared from that punishment. And in His resurrection, Jesus gave us new life in Himself so we can begin to be refined. Once we put our trust in Jesus, we are conformed to His image (Romans 8:29). There’s a good reason the picture of a refiner’s fire is used in the Bible. This work of refinement isn’t always fun or easy. It can be embarrassing and painful for us to look inward and come face-to-face with our own shortcomings. But this is all part of the process of becoming more like Christ. Thankfully, God has given His people the Holy Spirit, who guides us in the process of refinement. He helps us examine ourselves, notice actions and thoughts that aren’t Christlike, and bring these to God. Take heart, His love and forgiveness never fail, and He is always at work in us, transforming us to become more and more like Jesus. • Naomi Zylstra • How does it feel when you see something in yourself that’s not Christlike? As we examine ourselves, we can thank God for helping us notice sin, and we can confess our sin to Him. We can also thank Him for Jesus’s death and resurrection, through which He has provided our forgiveness and is already working to renew us. Consider spending some time in prayer, asking God to reveal impurities in you that He wants to refine today, and thanking Him for His mercy. These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold. 1 Peter 1:7 (NLT)…

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Broken Eggs and God's Love 4:25

10 gün önce4:25

4:25

READ: PSALM 103; ISAIAH 1:18 Egg-eaters are one of a chicken keeper’s worst nightmares. Nothing can ruin your day faster than when you head out to the henhouse, only to discover your hens have smashed their freshly laid eggs, leaving you with nothing but a sticky, eggy mess to clean up. I found myself in that situation several years ago. My flock had started eating eggs, and while I was able to break most of my hens from this bad habit, my little rescue hen, Ivy, continued to smash her eggs daily. Cleaning up Ivy’s broken eggs was frustrating, but every time I finished cleaning up her mess, I looked down at Ivy, and she looked up at me with her adorable face that always seemed to say, “You’re the best thing that has ever happened to me.” Sometimes, Ivy’s egg messes reminded me how much God loves us. He cleans up our sinful messes and wipes away any trace of our wrongdoings. In Psalm 103, David reminds us how far God’s forgiveness reaches. “He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west” (verse 12). Isn’t it amazing that God’s love is so perfect that He can remove all traces of our sin? Isaiah 1:18 says: “‘Come now, let’s settle this,’ says the LORD. ‘Though your sins are like scarlet, I will make them as white as snow. Though they are red like crimson, I will make them as white as wool.’” Just as I cleaned up Ivy’s eggy mess, God wiped away our sinful messes the moment we put our trust in Jesus, believing in His death and resurrection. Let’s thank our heavenly Father, who removes our sins and remembers them no more. • Erin Snyder • Because of Jesus’s death and resurrection, those who have put their trust in Jesus are clothed in His righteousness—in God’s eyes, it’s as if we never sinned. No longer do we sit in our eggy, sinful mess. How does it make you feel knowing God has removed your sin “as far…as the east is from the west”? • When we confess our sin, God always forgives us, but He doesn’t always remove the natural consequences of our sin. While those consequences can be painful, Jesus walks through them with us, offering His strength and comfort. And when He returns, all will be made well. Consider taking a moment to confess any sins that come to mind, and rest in Jesus’s sure forgiveness. He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west. Psalm 103:12 (NLT)…

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Left-Handed Hero 4:15

11 gün önce4:15

4:15

READ: JUDGES 3:12-30; 1 CORINTHIANS 1:18-31; 2 CORINTHIANS 12:6-10 In a world that prized normal, I was abnormal. A left-hander in a world of righties. For me, being left-handed meant not learning archery because there were no left-handed bows. Not being able to use most scissors. Being left-handed made me feel like the villain rather than the hero. Then I read Ehud’s story. Ehud lived in a nation filled with fear. An oppressive Moabite government had ruled Israel for the past eighteen years. Judges 3:15 says, “the Israelites cried out to the LORD, and he gave them a deliverer—Ehud, a left-handed man, the son of Gera the Benjamite.” Ehud traveled to the foreign court to pay tribute to Eglon, king of Moab. When he entered, Ehud told the king, “I have a secret” (verse 19). So the king sent everyone away. He didn’t envision Ehud as a threat. The guards would have searched him. But they wouldn’t have checked the right side—where a left-handed man would hide his weapon. Once Ehud had the king alone, he revealed his secret. With his left hand, Ehud plunged his hidden knife into King Eglon’s stomach. After killing the king, Ehud snuck out of the palace and led a rebellion against their oppressors. Because of Ehud’s left-handedness, and the Lord’s favor, Israel defeated the Moabites and enjoyed peace for eighty years. God used Ehud’s abnormality to defeat his enemy. God turns our weaknesses into strengths. He can work through anyone if only we will give Him our abnormal lives. • Sarah Schwerin • Have you ever felt abnormal or like God could never work through you? Remember that we are each made in God’s image (Genesis 1:27), we’re all unique (aka “abnormal”), and He wants to work through all of us. How might God be inviting you to be part of the good work of His kingdom? (Galatians 6:10; Ephesians 6:12) • God gives us all natural abilities, and He gives Christians spiritual gifts. What gifts and abilities has God given you that you could use to serve others? Who is a trusted Christian in your life who could help you spot gifts in yourself that you may not see? Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. 1 Peter 4:10 (NIV)…

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Finding Home 4:38

12 gün önce4:38

4:38

READ: EXODUS 13:21-22; 40:34-38; DEUTERONOMY 1:33; PSALM 73:25-27 Have you ever been between houses or apartments? When you had to leave one home, but you didn’t have another home to go to? That’s happened to our family. It’s not pleasant. Those times can be very stressful, and there are so many unknowns. You don’t know how long you will have to stay with friends, or live in a hotel, or camp in a tent. You don’t know when you will find a new place, or where your new home will be. The Israelites were in a similar predicament. God delivered them from slavery in Egypt, but then they had to constantly move around. They would camp for a time, then move on when God told them. The Bible describes the scene in beautiful detail. God’s presence could be visibly seen as a pillar of cloud during the day and a pillar of fire at night. These would actually come down into the camp and rest in a special room, called the Holy of Holies, within a series of tents, called the tabernacle, which the Israelites had made specifically for God by His direction. The people would know that God was there with them because of the cloud and the fire. Then, when God wanted them to move on, the cloud would lift from above the tent. The people would see God’s presence move, and they’d know it was time to pack up and head out…where, exactly? Nobody knew, not even Moses, the one God had appointed to lead His people. That would be hard! Can you imagine the uncertainty of never knowing if tonight is the last night at this camping spot, or if we’ll hang out here for months, or even years? And yet, the Israelites had something pretty wonderful. They had the very presence of God, right there in front of them, in a pillar of cloud during the day, or in a pillar of fire at night. The visible presence of God. Perhaps they learned to look toward that cloud often. Perhaps they learned that any peace about next steps would only arise when gazing upon His cloud. Today, we don’t have a cloud or a fire showing us the presence of God that we can look at when we face uncertainties. But we have something better! Jesus is Immanuel, which means “God with us” (Matthew 1:23). When Jesus died on the cross and rose from the grave, the curtain that sectioned off the Holy of Holies was torn in two (27:51). Now everyone who puts their trust in Jesus has the Holy Spirit of God living in them. We don’t need a tabernacle anymore—we can march right into God’s presence anytime (Hebrews 4:14-16). • Kristen Merrill • In what ways do you need guidance today? Consider taking a moment to talk to God about this. Your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you… 1 Corinthians 6:19 (NIV)…

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Source of Hope 5:07

13 gün önce5:07

5:07

READ: PSALM 107; ROMANS 5:1-10; 15:1-13 Our world is constantly changing, and our individual lives are no different. At any given moment, the most mundane of days can be altered by some life-changing event. When change is inevitable, and happy days are not a guarantee, where do we look for hope? The apostle Paul was well acquainted with massive life changes and plenty of brutal trials. But in his letter to the church in Rome, Paul talks about our source of hope. He reminds the Roman believers that the law was never enough to save us from sin—God’s plan was always to send His Son to save both Jews and Gentiles, everyone who calls upon His name (10:9-13). Paul reviews the history of the Jews: the depravity of people’s hearts, the dark hold of sin, the need for a Savior. Through all the people’s disobedience, God remained faithful to His promises—and these promises are fulfilled in Jesus Christ. Hope will never disappoint us when the foundation of our hope is Jesus—because He died and rose again to save us (5:5). He alone can give us the endurance and encouragement required to navigate the ever-changing seas of life. He has given us His Word to guide us. As we read the Bible, His Holy Spirit will use these words to teach us, provide us with the endurance we need, and fill us with encouragement (15:4). Just look at the Old Testament—it’s full of “hopeless situation stories.” Psalm 107, for example, reminds us of God’s faithfulness as His people were constantly turning from Him, receiving His discipline, then tasting His mercy and love as He drew their hearts back to Himself. This psalm is a beautiful picture of God’s heart for humanity. No matter how many times we are faithless, God remains faithful to us (2 Timothy 2:13). His love is unfailing. God promises to fill us with joy and peace as we trust in Him; He has given us His Holy Spirit to fill our hearts to the brim with overflowing, ceaseless hope (Romans 15:13). • Savannah Coleman • What situations look hopeless to you right now? Remember, in every disappointment and every difficulty, Jesus is with us. He promises to help us—and one day He will make all things new. • In Psalm 119:147, the writer rises early to spend time in God’s Word, confident that this is where hope is found. Psalm 130:5 talks about waiting on the Lord while placing our hope in His Word. In Psalm 52:9, David writes about placing his hope in the good name of God. What Scripture can you meditate on today to remind your heart of the unfading hope we have? For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope. Romans 15:4 (NIV)…

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Another Look at the Prodigal Son Story 4:37

14 gün önce4:37

4:37

READ: LUKE 15:11-32 I was reading through the story of the prodigal son in Luke 15 recently, and instead of paying attention to the parts of the story that I normally would or that are normally preached on, I felt jealous of the young man in the story. I thought about how nice it would be to have a father come running toward you like that, to fall into his arms, to have him take care of you when you have tried to do it all on your own and things just didn’t work out. I laughed at myself once I realized what I was feeling. Who does the father in this parable represent? God. He is my Father. I might not see Him physically run to me like in the parable, but He is there for me. This whole story was given to us to help us see how much God cares for us. It was meant to show us how much God truly loves us, and to give us a picture of how forgiving He is. Even though I found myself feeling jealous of the prodigal son, the truth is I don’t have to be jealous of anyone. Whenever I have messed up big-time, whenever I need someone to lean on as life gets hard, I have a loving God, a loving Father who is there for me. I will never go through anything alone—I’m always going to have Him looking out for me. And just as God loves me, He loves you too. God loves each of us the way the father in the prodigal son story loves his child. • Emily Acker • Do you long for someone to be excited to see you, for someone to pull you close when you are tired of being alone? To be with you when life gets hard, to love you still, even after you have really messed up? Consider reading Luke 15:11-32 slowly, and imagine yourself as the prodigal son. What do you notice? What do you feel? How does God feel about you? • Jesus is the one who gave us this parable, and Jesus only says what He receives from God the Father (John 5:19-20; 12:49). Jesus reveals the Father’s heart, and He is also the way to the Father (John 14:6). Because God the Father sent Jesus, God the Son, to die on the cross for our sins and be raised from the dead, we can become His forgiven children. If you’ve put your trust in Jesus, God is your Father—forever! If you haven’t put your trust in Jesus, He longs for you to come home to Him like the prodigal son in Luke 15. He longs to pull you close, take care of you, and celebrate that you are His. You can come home— right now. Find out more on our " Know Jesus " page. See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! 1 John 3:1 (NIV)…

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Trusty Lead 4:37

15 gün önce4:37

4:37

READ: PSALM 23; ROMANS 8:28-29; JAMES 1:5 My dog, Gibson, wakes me up very early every morning. Some mornings I just feed him, and other mornings I take the time to let him outside. But either way, it’s still dark when we get up. Because the rest of the family is still asleep, I often leave the lights off. The problem is, then I can’t see—and my mom is constantly rearranging furniture, so I can’t memorize my surroundings. So, I rely on Gibson to lead me through the house, assuming he’ll direct me around the corners, couch edges, and table legs. Unfortunately, Gibson is not a good lead dog—especially in the dark. Especially when he’s hungry. So I end up walking into walls and stubbing my toes on furniture. My mom and I were talking about this, and she mentioned how often we put our trust in the wrong things. We put our trust in ourselves, our money, our education, our work, and other people. Many of the things we rely on can flip, leaving us out to dry. And many of the people we rely on may not have our best interests at heart— just like Gibson would rather get to his food dish faster, and sacrifice my big toe, than slow down and guide me. Thankfully, God is not like that. Jesus is God the Son, and He is the Light of the World (John 8:12). He came into the sin and darkness of our broken world to bring us hope. Jesus taught us many things, and ultimately He died and rose again to save us from sin. Now, God the Father has sent God the Holy Spirit to guide all who trust in Jesus. He will never lead us astray. God has our best interests at heart (Romans 8:28). He is not going to trick and rob us. He lights our dark path. He won’t ram us into a couch because he wants breakfast. • Natty Maelle • Have you ever been in a place where you couldn’t see where you were going? Have you ever had to rely on someone else to guide you? What was that like? • Do you feel like there’s an area of your life where you’re walking in darkness, and you need guidance? Consider spending some time talking to God about this in prayer. • James 1:5 tells us God generously gives wisdom to everyone who asks, and He does so through His Holy Spirit, His Word (the Bible), and His people (the church). According to James 3:13-18, how can we recognize God’s wisdom? Who are trusted Christians you can talk to about this? • If you want to dig deeper, read Psalm 146:3-7; Isaiah 9:2; Matthew 9:36; Mark 6:34; John 1:4-5; 10:1-30; 14:26; 16:13; Colossians 1:13-15. Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path. Psalm 119:105 (NLT)…

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