“Therefore, take care to be careful…using time.” — Ephesians 5:15-16
On March 14, 2019, a NASA rocket launched astronaut Christina Koch into orbit on her way to the International Space Station. Koch did not return to Earth for 328 days, which became a record for the longest continuous space flight by a woman. Each day, approximately 254 miles above Earth, the screen tracked the astronaut’s time at five-minute intervals. She had a myriad of daily tasks, and hour after hour a red line on the screen constantly showed whether Koch was ahead or behind schedule. It was not possible to spare even a minute.
Of course, the apostle Paul was not recommending anything so intrusive as a red line to rule our lives, but he was encouraging us to use our precious and yet limited time resource wisely. “Therefore, take care to behave carefully, not as unwise, but as wise, using the time – for the days are wicked” (Eph. 5:15-16). God’s wisdom teaches us to fill our days with good intentions and care, using them to practice obedience to God, to show love to our neighbor and to participate in Jesus’ redemptive work in the world. Unfortunately, people can ignore the instructions of wisdom and instead use their time unwisely.
It is not a matter of scrupulously monitoring the use of one’s time, but simply following God in obedience and trust. It will help us get the most out of our days.
What does time mean to you? How can you best use it today?
Dear God, please help me to make the best use of my time.
Author: Wynn Collier
“On that day, the Lord’s congregation will be beautiful and glorious.” — Isaiah 4:2
The plowed land contained a secret, something hidden. In preparation for their fiftieth wedding anniversary, Lee Wilson set aside eighty acres of land to make perhaps the grandest floral gift his wife had ever seen. He secretly planted countless sunflower seeds, which later grew into 1.2 million golden plants – his wife’s favorite flowers. As the sunflowers raised their yellow crowns, Renee was shocked and overwhelmed by Lee’s incredible display of love.
Speaking to the Jewish people through the prophet Isaiah, God revealed a secret. Although the Jews could not see it now, after God’s promised judgment on them for their unfaithfulness to Him (Isa. 3:1–4:1), a new, golden day will come: “On that day the growth of the Lord will be beauty and glory, and the fruit of the earth – majesty and splendor for the saved of Israel” (Isa. 4:2). Yes, the people will experience devastation and exile to Babylon, but then a beautiful “sprout” will appear, a new shoot from the earth – a remnant of God’s people, set apart (“holy”, v. 3) and purified (v. 4), which God will lovingly lead and take care of (vv. 5-6).
Our days may seem dark and the fulfillment of God’s promises hidden. But when we hold on to God by faith, one day all His “precious and great promises” will be fulfilled (2 Pet. 1:4). A beautiful new day awaits us!
Why do God’s promises sometimes seem hidden? How can you receive them by faith today?
Loving God, thank you for the beauty of your faithful promises.
Author: Tom Felten
brokenness We see it around us. We feel it on ourselves: in our relationships, in our dreams, in our bodies. But something happened over two thousand years ago that still has the power to heal that brokenness.
1 Peter 2:24 says, “He Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live to righteousness; By his wounds you were healed.”
Jesus Christ, the sinless Son of God, took upon Himself the burden of our sins. He carried them to the cross, giving His life not for His sins, but for ours. This is the essence of the Gospel. With His sacrifice, He offered us a path from darkness to His light – a life transformed by His grace.
Thanks to Christ’s sacrifice, we have received a deep healing of our spirit; new life has come in place of the sins and darkness that separate us from God. Through His wounds we are offered forgiveness and a new relationship with God, healed and whole.
Understanding His sacrifice transforms us. We can no longer live in darkness. Brokenness may surround us, but it is no longer within us. His righteousness washes over us. His healing flows through us. Our whole lives are transformed in response to the deep love and sacrifice that Jesus showed us, and to the healing that He alone can provide.
We invite you next Sunday, October 20, to the Thanksgiving Day, which we will celebrate with the church in Pustovarivka.
We gather as usual at 10:00 a.m. and after glorification and prayer, we go to the service in Pustovarivka.
We will be glad to see you and share the joy of the Kushchev holiday with you!
“I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full!” —John 15:11
“Move at the speed of joy.” This phrase came to me one morning as I was prayerfully considering the coming year, and it seemed apt. I had a tendency to work myself into exhaustion, so I decided to work at a pleasant pace for the coming year, making room for friends and joyful pursuits.
This plan worked… until March! That’s when I partnered with the university to oversee course testing. I needed to recruit students and teach. So, I started working overtime to keep up with the schedule. How could I now move with the speed of joy?
Jesus promises joy to those who believe in Him, because it comes through staying in His love (John 15:9) and prayer (John 16:24). “I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full” (Jn. 15:11). This joy comes as a gift through His Spirit (Gal. 5:22-25). I realized that I could only maintain joy in my busyness when I spent time each evening in quiet, trusting prayer.
Because joy is so important, we must prioritize it in our schedule. At the same time, life is never completely under our control, so I am glad that we have another source of joy available to us – the Spirit. For me, walking at the speed of joy now means moving at the speed of prayer, that is, finding time to receive joy from its Giver.
What is clouding your joy? How will you rest today in the presence of the Giver of joy?
Holy Spirit, please fill me with Your love, peace and joy.
Author: Sheridan Voysey
“Go in peace! And what we both swore in the Lord’s Name… may it be forever!” — 1 Samuel 20:42
You may have heard some variation of this saying: “If you want to go fast, go alone. But if you want to go far, go together.” Great idea, isn’t it? But are there any solid studies that would assure that these words are not just nice, but also true?
Yes! One such study, conducted by British and American scientists, showed that people judged the size of mountains to be significantly smaller when they were standing next to them with someone else, as opposed to when they were standing next to them alone. In other words, “social support” is so important that thanks to it, even the size of mountains decreases in our minds.
For David, his friendship with Jonathan was just as beautiful and true. King Saul’s jealous anger was like an insurmountable mountain for David, which made him fear for his own life (see 1 Sam. 19:9-18). Without the support of his closest friend, David’s story could have turned out very differently. Jonathan “was saddened for David, because his father insulted him” (1 Sam. 20:34), so he supported his friend. “Why would he be killed?” Jonathan asked his father (v. 32). Their friendship, sanctified by God, strengthened David and helped him become king!
Our friendship matters too. If God is at the center of it, we can inspire each other to achieve far greater things than we can imagine.
Where do you find social support? Who can you support with your friendship?
Heavenly Father, thank you for those whom You have brought into my life and who help me to look at the mountains correctly.
Author: John Blaze
“And the Lord took me from the flock, and the Lord said to me: Go, prophesy.” — Amos 7:15
Michigan has fourteen billion trees, most of which are quite common. Therefore, there is an annual “Big Tree Hunt” held there – a competition to determine the oldest and largest trees that can be considered a living monument. The competition raises ordinary trees to another level: in any forest there can be a “winner” just waiting to be noticed.
Unlike most people, God always notices the ordinary. He does not care about those who are overlooked by others. During the reign of Jeroboam, God sent a simple man named Amos to Israel, who began to call the people to turn away from evil and seek justice. However, he was forced to shut up. “Clearly, go, escape to the land of Judah… and prophesy there,” people said with contempt (Am. 7:12). Amos answered: “I am not a prophet, and I am not the son of prophets – I am a shepherd and a cultivator of wild fig trees. And the Lord took me from the flock, and the Lord said to me: Go, prophesy to My people Israel” (vv. 14-15).
God knew and noticed Amos when he was an ordinary shepherd tending flocks and trees. After hundreds of years, the Lord Jesus noticed and called Nathanael (Jn. 1:48) and Zacchaeus (Lk. 19:4-5) near the fig trees. No matter how unknown we feel, God sees us, loves us, and uses us for His purposes.
Why is it sometimes hard to believe that God sees you as a person? How does His knowledge of you inform you of His love?
Dear God, thank you for loving me even though I feel insignificant.
Author: Karen Pimpo
“When he was slandered, he did not slander each other, and when he suffered, he did not threaten, but handed over to the One who judges justly.” — 1 Peter 2:23
George was working on a construction site in the hot summer sun when suddenly one of his neighbors came into the yard where he was working. The man, clearly angry, started cursing and criticizing everything about the project and how it was being done. George received verbal blows, but left them unanswered until the angry neighbor stopped shouting. Then George softly replied, “You must be having a rough day today, aren’t you?” Suddenly, the man’s expression softened, he lowered his head and said: “I’m sorry that I talked to you like that.” George’s kindness eased his neighbor’s anger.
There are times when we want to strike back. Pay back an insult for an insult. Instead, George showed an example of kindness, which was most perfectly manifested in the sacrifice of Christ, who bore the consequences of our sins: “When he was reviled, he did not revile one another, and when he suffered, he did not threaten, but handed over to the One who judges righteously” (1 Pet. 2:23).
All of us will have moments when we are misunderstood, misrepresented, or attacked. We may want to respond in kind, but the heart of the Lord Jesus calls us to be kind, seek peace and show understanding. Today, by giving us an opportunity, God can use us to bless someone who is going through a difficult day.
Why is it so easy to take revenge on others for their unkind words? Instead, how can you show kindness to those who treat you unkindly?
Heavenly Father, please help me find in You the strength, grace, and wisdom to reflect the character of Jesus Christ.
Author: Bill Crowder
“Put on the full armor of God, so that you can stand against the wiles of the devil.” — Ephesians 6:11
Every year my wife and I put hundreds of miles on our bikes pedaling the trails of West Michigan. For your convenience, we have some accessories that we have attached to the bikes. Sue has a front light, tail light, odometer and bike lock. My bike has a water bottle holder. In fact, we could successfully drive our route every day and rack up all those miles without the extras. They are helpful but not required.
In the Epistle to the Ephesians, the apostle Paul writes about another set of “accessories”, but it is mandatory. We must “put on” these things if we are to be successful in following Jesus. Our life is not an easy walk. We are in a battle in which we must fight “against the wiles of the devil” (Eph. 6:11), so we should be well prepared.
Without the wisdom of Scripture, we can make mistakes. Without Jesus, who helps us live His “truth,” we will succumb to lies (v. 14). Without the Gospel, we will not have “peace” (v. 15). Without “faith” to protect us, we will succumb to doubt (v. 16). Our “salvation” and the Holy Spirit strengthen us so that we live well for God (v. 17). This is our armor.
It is important that we, traveling along the roads of life, are protected from its real dangers. This is only possible when Christ equips us to overcome the challenges along the way.
What does it mean for you to “put on” God’s armor? In what situations do you find yourself in need of God’s armor the most?
Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for reminding me in the scriptures how I can resist Satan’s attacks.
Author: David Brenon
“Who will despise the day of small things?” — Zechariah 4:10
During the wedding ceremony, our shy friend Dave stood in the corner clutching a long cloth-wrapped object. When it was his turn to present his gift, he handed it to us. Evan and I opened the package to find a hand-carved piece of wood with perfect concentric circles inside and engraved with the words, “Some of God’s miracles are small.” This plaque has hung in our home for forty-five years and reminds us again and again that God works even in the little things. In paying bills. In providing food. In healing from a cold. All this makes up an impressive list of God’s provision.
Through the prophet Zechariah, Zerubbabel, the ruler of Judah, received a similar message from God regarding the rebuilding of Jerusalem and the temple. After the return from the Babylonian captivity, a period of slow progress began, and because of this the Israelites became discouraged. “Who will despise the day of small things?” – proclaimed God (Zech. 4:10). He fulfills His desires through us, and sometimes against us. “Not by might or power, but only by My Spirit” (v. 6).
If we are sorry that we do not see the great work of God in us and around us, let us remember that some of His miracles can be “small”. He uses small things to accomplish His great purposes.
Where have you seen “small” miracles of God in your life? How has He used the little things to meet your needs and the needs of others?
Dear God, thank you for Your “little” miracles in my life. Help me to notice all Your works!
Author: Eliza Morgan
