God is a Fun Father..Craig Denison Ministries

 God is a Fun Father

Craig Denison Ministries

Weekly Overview:

There is no better father than Creator God. He formed us and knows us. He provides for us, loves us unconditionally, and longs for real, life-giving relationship with us. He runs out to meet us in our sin, clothes us with new identity, and restores to us the abundant life he has always planned for us. As we spend time looking at the father heart of God, may a fresh revelation of his love for you guide you into greater depths of relationship with your heavenly Father.

Scripture:“You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; you have loosed my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness, that my glory may sing your praise and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks to you forever!” Psalm 30:11-12

Devotional:

There is a terrible misconception in the church today that our Father is not a fun God. For most Christians, what they know of God comes through worship services rather than direct encounters with the living God. As the body of Christ, we have not cultivated a culture of restored relationship well. But regardless of faults in the church today, God longs to give you a revelation of how incredibly fun it is to have him as your Father. He longs to guide you into a lifestyle of abundant joy as you grow in your relationship with him.

While God’s fun may look different than the world’s, every form of fun apart from his is a cheap imitation. We see countless examples in Scripture of God’s children experiencing a depth of joy unattainable apart from God. David writes in Psalm 16:11, “You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” The fullness of fun is found with God because he alone guides us to the path of true life. He alone frees us, heals us, loves us, rejoices over us, has grace for us, and longs to fully satisfy our desires. In John 10:10 Jesus said, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” God longs to lead you to the fullness of life today. He longs to guide you to the riches of his love that you might experience how fun it is to be truly loved by your Creator, Sustainer, and Lord.

Our Father loves parties. He loves to celebrate and have fun with his children. Ecclesiastes 2:24-26 says, “There is nothing better for a person than that he should eat and drink and find enjoyment in his toil. This also, I saw, is from the hand of God, for apart from him who can eat or who can have enjoyment? For to the one who pleases him God has given wisdom and knowledge and joy.” Jesus’ first miracle was turning water into wine to keep a wedding feast going (John 2:1-11). The Parable of the Prodigal Son in Luke 15 is the story Jesus told of an earthly father and son and a parallel to our relationship with the heavenly Father. When the prodigal son returns home, the father tells his servants, “Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found” (Luke 15:22-24). While the older son was out in the field, he heard everyone celebrating with music and dancing. He couldn't help but go see what was going on. And Revelation 19 foretells the great marriage supper of the Lamb where we will celebrate our total and complete union with God, the party to end all parties.

Psalm 30:11-12 says, “You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; you have loosed my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness, that my glory may sing your praise and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks to you forever!” Your heavenly Father longs to lead you to the fullness of fun today. He longs to clothe you with gladness and turn your mourning into dancing. The God you serve is the inventor of fun. He loves to celebrate with his children. He longs to fill your days with that which will satisfy the deepest longings of your heart, including your need for fun. May you encounter the fun heart of your heavenly Father today as you enter into guided prayer.

Guided Prayer:

1. Meditate on God’s desire to give you a fun life. Allow Scripture to reorient your understanding of what it’s like to live life with your heavenly Father.

“You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” Psalm 16:11

“You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; you have loosed my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness, that my glory may sing your praise and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks to you forever!” Psalm 30:11-12

“There is nothing better for a person than that he should eat and drink and find enjoyment in his toil. This also, I saw, is from the hand of God, for apart from him who can eat or who can have enjoyment? For to the one who pleases him God has given wisdom and knowledge and joy.” >Ecclesiastes 2:24-26

2. Where do you need more fun in your life? Where do you need God to clothe you with gladness? Where do you need to experience the abundant life Jesus died to give you?

3. Ask the Holy Spirit to show you how to have the fullness of fun today. What is he providing for you that you might experience all the joy and celebration available to you? What is keeping you from living a more fun life? He wants to free you today. Spend timing resting in his presence and allow him to do a work in your heart today.

Sometimes we hold to an idea that advancing the kingdom and having fun don’t go together. We leave parties and fun to others as we are too busy with more important matters. But why would a nonbeliever want to get to know a boring God? Why would they want to spend time with a group of boring people? As children of God, we have the greatest source of joy available. We should be the happiest, most fun, and most loving people the lost will ever encounter. It’s in our joy, love, and fun that we will best advance the kingdom. It’s living the abundant life God longs to give us that will encourage others to want to know the God we serve. May you advance the kingdom of your heavenly Father by living today with the fullness of fun.

Extended Reading: Luke 15

Finished Seasons..NICKI KOZIARZ

 Finished Seasons

NICKI KOZIARZ 

“Better is the end of a thing than its beginning, and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.” Ecclesiastes 7:8 (ESV)

There’s a valid question a lot of people find themselves asking: “When this season of my life ends, what am I supposed to do next?”

In the present, as my three daughters continue to grow up, my role as parent has shifted, and I find myself tossing that question around in my mind.

In the past, when a job I held for five years was coming to an end, I felt like I asked that question every day.

And when I look into the future and see other various roles that could be ending soon, the question lingers over my calendar.

Seasons come and go. But sometimes we struggle to know just how long we should hold on to a season because we can’t see what’s ahead.

Letting go of a season is challenging, especially if it’s something we really love doing or being a part of. It’s even harder if our identity has become attached to that season, and we wonder if we bring value anywhere else.

Here’s something I’ve come to understand about seasons in our lives — as hard as it can be, there’s always a way to finish a season well.

Solomon, the author of Ecclesiastes 7:8, knew that the human heart tends to romanticize the past. Often, as things in our current season of life begin to change when we don’t want them to, we will hold on to all of the best things about that season. Which isn’t always bad … but sometimes it can keep us from seeing the potential of the future.

“Better is the end of a thing than its beginning, and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.” (Ecclesiastes 7:8)

Solomon gives us wisdom about patience and surrendering to God’s pace and plan for seasons in our lives. Every beginning starts with the ending of something else, and finishing seasons well is something we should take time to consider.

Just like when seasons on earth transition from one to the next — like summer to fall — there is evidence of change. In some parts of the world, the leaves change colors, or the temperature fluctuates, and even the amount of daylight goes from more to less.

There will be signs your season is changing too.

You may feel like you are out of ideas, like you’ve done all you can do. Or you may get a sense from the Lord that it’s time to move on to what is next. Sometimes when people hold on to seasons for too long, those people can become easily frustrated or even angry.

Once we realize a season is changing, how do we finish that season well? The second half of today’s key verse has some insight for us:

“… and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit” (Ecclesiastes 7:8).

Often pride holds us back from an honest conversation with God about the direction of our life. Pride can also convince us that who and where we’ve been could never match what God has planned ahead for us.

When we have a patient and humble heart, we can ask God for His help in learning to let go of what needs to be let go. To get our hopes up about what is still to come. And we can confidently ask Him, “What’s next?” — trusting He hears that question and will answer it in His timing.

These are some signs of finishing a season well.

We don’t live in yesterday; we live in today. God was there, and God is here. Life is a constant ebb and flow of learning to let go of what’s done and seek what is still yet to be.

I don’t have all the answers to what’s ahead in my life, and there are things I am struggling to let go of — like the good things each of my seasons has held. And you may feel this tension in your soul too.

But I know that, with God, we can finish these seasons well and hold on to hope for what God has planned for us next.

God, thank You for our seasons of life. Help us to know when it’s time to finish and how to finish well. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

The Source of Jealousy..Dr. Charles Stanley

 The Source of Jealousy

Dr. Charles Stanley

Galatians 5:17-21

Most likely, you have been caught off guard by a wave of jealousy at some point in your life. Was it a spiritual attack? Did the Enemy make you covetous? Was someone or something working to make you resentful?

The answer—which may surprise you— is no. Jealousy actually springs from within us, even though we might try to deflect the blame. For example, we may say, "Well, they just shouldn't have that. They don't deserve it, so I'm perfectly justified in feeling this way."

Do you see what is actually going on here? We are not only feeling envious of someone, but we're also saying that our jealousy is the other person's fault! That's simply not true. We are each 100 percent responsible for our own feelings of envy.

Jealousy is a product of the flesh. In the Bible, it is listed among such sins as idolatry, immorality, drunkenness, and sorcery—sins which stand against our holy God and are described as "earthly, natural, demonic" (Gal. 5:17-21; James 3:15).

Envious feelings can lead to unhealthy comparison of one's own success to someone else's. That pattern can grow into a competition to out-perform others—and may result in full-blown fear and resentment. What a horrible way to live!

Though jealousy is a common emotion, it has no place in a believer's life. So each of us should try to look objectively at our heart motives. Are you plagued with an attitude of jealousy today? Lay your honest feelings out before the Lord, and ask Him to cleanse you of this sinful attitude.

Jehovah Rohi – God is Our Good Shepherd..Jennifer Kostick

 Jehovah Rohi – God is Our Good Shepherd

By Jennifer Kostick

Today's Bible Verse: The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. - Psalm 23:1

When I was a little girl, age ten, my grandfather passed away. The paternal side of my family was not active in church and to my knowledge knew nothing about the Jesus my next door neighbors introduced me to so intimately. I have a vivid memory of sitting in the living room at my grandparent’s home when the pastor, who would be conducting the funeral asked, “Is there a specific passage of scripture you would like mentioned at the service?” I was shocked as I heard my great uncle say, “Yes, Psalm 23.” A family who never spoke of the Word of God seemed to actually be familiar with something in the Bible. I remember that moment as if it happened yesterday.

Throughout adulthood, as I’ve thought back to that grief-filled living room and the faces inside it, I’m forever grateful to realize Psalm 23 is so much more than a familiarly recited passage read graveside. After all, the Bible is a book about giving life while abolishing death. It provides instruction for abundant living while actively giving spiritual CPR to the weary.

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.- Psalm 23:1

When I read Psalm 23:1 I make it personal and speak, “My Jehovah is my Good Shepherd. He watches over, protecting me from all things. I want for nothing, because He is all I need.”

I’ll tell you why:

One of the names of God is Jehovah Rohi. It speaks of a Good Shepherd. When doing research into the occupation of shepherds, we learn that a shepherd’s position is one of authority and protection. It is a dangerous job requiring much sacrifice. King David himself in 1 Samuel 17 spoke of rescuing lambs from mouths of lions and bears.

King David authored Psalm 23, and because he began his life as a shepherd, he was obviously familiar with the role. A true shepherd puts his flock at ease by giving everything it needs. Psalm 23 is actually quite prophetic, especially now that we have a clear view of Jesus’ work on the cross.

In John 10:11, Jesus said, “I am the good Shepherd, the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep” In the New Living Translation, it uses the word sacrifices. “The good Shepherd sacrifices His life for the sheep.” It is Jesus who sacrificed Himself to protect us. When we read this small section of scripture with this in mind, we can be confident that we will never want for anything. Our Jesus sacrificed His life for us, the work is done and we can find confidence and contentment in light of the cross.

A Prayer to Grow in Christ..Kristine Brown

 A Prayer to Grow in Christ

By Kristine Brown

“I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding.” (Philippians 1:9 NLT)

A nuisance plant in my backyard became so overgrown that it stood between the sun and the withering grass. I couldn’t put off the task any longer; I needed to do something. So I had the huge plant cut down to the ground and covered with dirt, hoping the surrounding grass would grow over where the plant once stood. I wanted the plant to be a distant memory. But before I knew it, small shoots of leaves reached up from that spot. I just could not keep the plant from growing!

It amazes me how resilient some plants can be. Once they get the nutrients needed to sustain life, they will continue growing, even in the most drastic conditions. Even if they’ve been reduced to nothing, the strong roots give them the strength to come back. 

In Paul’s letter to the Philippian church, he encouraged believers to keep on growing with these words, “I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding.” (Philippians 1:9 NLT) 

Much like my persistent plant, Paul knew what it took to thrive in the worst conditions. He wrote to the believers in Philippi from a prison cell. He showed them how to rely on the hope of Jesus in difficult times. He also knew they needed to keep developing strong roots by learning more about their Savior and living according to his ways.

Paul continued in verse 11 with this hope, “May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation—the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ—for this will bring much glory and praise to God.”

Our all-knowing God foresaw the adversity we would face and the suffering we would endure. So he gave us Holy Spirit-inspired words to help us grow. Paul’s letters instructed the church back then, and they still hold true for us today. Our growth matters to God.

Are difficult circumstances in life making you feel dried up and weak? Is something or someone trying to cut you down? Let’s allow today’s key verse to propel us upward. Let’s keep praying, keep reading God’s Word, and keep growing.

Let’s pray:

Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for giving me everything I need to grow strong in my relationship with my Savior, Jesus Christ. Without Jesus, I feel weak and withered, but I know according to your Word, “...I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.” (Philippians 4:13) 

Forgive me for striving to do things on my own. I want my life to glorify you and point others toward your son, Jesus. The more I spend time with you, the more I will grow in knowledge and understanding of your will and your ways. Thank you for your holy Word. It is the instruction you give me for living a life that honors you. Proverbs 12:3 says, “Wickedness never brings stability, but the godly have deep roots.”

Lord, help me continue growing in Christ, so that I may develop deep roots to sustain me, even through any difficulty I face. Help me gain understanding through your Holy Spirit as I apply the truth of Scripture to my life.
In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Living Transparently in Your Faith..Liz Lampkin

 Living Transparently in Your Faith

By Liz Lampkin

“For we walk by faith, and not by sight.” - 2 Corinthians 5: 7

Faith. A small word with so much meaning. Faith is the stuff, the things hoped for. It is the evidence or proof of things we want but don’t see. It is believing that the God we serve whom we cannot see exists. It is having confidence that He will keep the promises of His Holy Word. Walking by faith in God is a charge that all believers are challenged with. Every day, we as believers are faced with tests of faith to secure and strengthen our faith in God. As we go through life, many obstacles befall us, and let’s be honest they are not easy to go through or overcome. Many times, when we face challenges of any kind, or when we are given a new assignment from God we have the tendency to smile and pray our way through it, publicly. We show others our strength in the Lord. We show them how “unshakeable” our faith is in Him. However, what we fail to exhibit to other believers and non-believers of Christ are the struggles that come along with faith. We hide our tears, questions and frustrations from others. We conceal and deny our doubts. We mask our fears behind our beliefs. 

Why do we do this? Why do we not want others to see where we falter in our walk-in faith? Why do we fail to show others that while we are believers in a very living God, we are still human flesh? Is it pride? Is it a fear of being judged or mis-judged? Is it shame? Is it fear that God will turn His back on us? There may be a number of reasons why we as believers do not live in transparency when it comes to openly sharing our struggles with faith. However, what many of us fail to realize is that struggling in faith isn’t anything new. 

Imagine being given away at birth, becoming royalty, becoming a murderer, having a speech impediment and being told by God that you are to free His people from bondage. Moses, the man sent by God to free the Israelites from Pharaoh, struggled with His assignment from God. He constantly gave reasons as to why he could not fulfill His assignment. He did not believe he could do what God instructed Him to do. However, he did. 

Imagine having everything you’ve ever wanted: good health, wealth, family. Then suddenly, everything is gone. Everyone around you encourages you to walk away from God, but you don’t. You remain steadfast and unmovable, but you don’t do it without expressing some frustration. God’s servant Job. While he remained firm in his faith, he questioned God, he openly displayed his emotions of pain and anguish for his suffering. He was not ashamed of expressing his struggle with his losses. 

These two servants of God had faith in Him, but it was clear that they had moments of difficulty. God is aware of everything we go through before we go through it, and He wants us to be open about our struggles. Here’s why. If we keep our struggles to ourselves, we create a false narrative to believers and non-believers about God. People will believe that our walk with Christ is easy. They will believe that we do not struggle. They will believe that we are always happy. This is not true. Not only this, if we hide our struggles how will that shape our testimony about God’s faithfulness to us? If it appears that Christians do not have challenges in our faith people will become misled in their walk. They will go in blindly thinking that God will instantly solve their problems without struggle. Again, not true. The fact is, that if we don’t struggle in our faith we won’t grow. If we hide our struggles within, we can’t help others see how God works in our lives.

Intersecting Faith and Life:
Do you hide your struggles in your faith or do you share them? Are you ashamed of the fact that you struggle with your faith? If so, why? There is nothing to be ashamed of. We are all humans, saved by faith through Christ. This means we are God’s children. He loves us, but it does not mean that we will not struggle in our walk with Him. The next time you’re faced with a new assignment, or a new obstacle be open about it. Be open about your fears, doubts, and frustrations. You’d be surprised at who’s going through the same things you’re going through and you can help each other. There is no shame in struggle. There is no shame in struggling in your faith in God. If you weren’t struggling with it, then you probably aren’t walking in faith as you should. 

Further Reading:
Job 1:20-21, Job 10
Hebrews 11