A Weekly Walk in the Word

1 Corinthians 12:4-6 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men.

What a blessing to know that we are all wonderfully and beautifully made with our own unique gifts to share with the world. The magic happens when each of us comes together to build up the body of Christ. We all bring something special to the table. Let’s work together in love to reflect the love of Christ in our broken world.

I would love to hear what your favorite verse was from last week’s readings. This week’s readings are…..

Sunday – 1 Corinthians 12:27-13:13

Monday – 1 Corinthians 14:1-17

Tuesday – 1 Corinthians 14:18-40

Wednesday – 1 Corinthians 15:1-28

Thursday – 1 Corinthians 15:20-58

Friday – 1 Corinthians 16:1-24

Saturday – 2 Corinthians 1:1-11

1 Corinthians 3:5-6 What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe – as the Lord has assigned to each his task. I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow.

I have spent my summer sprucing up our farm because our daughter is getting married beside the barn in just 5 short weeks. Early in the spring we were sharing our plans with our neighbor to the east. He told us he was planting beans in the field abutting our property and asked if we would like to plant sunflowers in a row between the beans. Mike and I looked at each other in awe. Sunflowers are Hannah’s favorite flower. When the beans were about 6” tall, our neighbor showed up with packets of sunflower seeds and a hoe. We grabbed water and the sprinkle can. I wet the ground, Jeff made a hole with the end of the hoe and Mike placed a seed and covered each one carefully. We planted from the tree line to behind our barn which is approximately 500 feet. The seed packets read “7 – 14 day germination”. Every night for the next 3 weeks, Mike and I filled 5 gallon buckets, put them in the Gator with the sprinkle can and we watered our row of sunflower seeds. I am sure everyone driving past shared a chuckle as it looked like we were watering an entire bean field. After the first week, we were excited to see green sprouting through the dirt. To our dismay, the sprouts were only weeds. We did not grow a single sunflower!

I have since moved on and spend my days watering freshly laid sod and flower beds around the house. I am happy to say, they are all doing well.

I am happy that God is in control of growing believers. I am happy to plant seeds and water, but I will leave God’s infinite wisdom tend to the growing. And I pray that I may be planting seeds and sprinkling water in your life through this blog. God bless you as you continue to grow!

I would love to hear what your favorite verse was from last week’s readings. This week’s readings are…..

Sunday – 1 Corinthians 8:1-13

Monday – 1 Corinthians 9:1-18

Tuesday – 1 Corinthians 9:19-10:13

Wednesday – 1 Corinthians 10:14-33

Thursday – 1 Corinthians 11:1-16

Friday – 1 Corinthians 11:17-34

Saturday – 1 Corinthians 12:1-26

1 Corinthians 1:18-19 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.”

Paul draws a sharp distinction between the wisdom of God and the wisdom of humans, which he calls foolishness. I have met so many people over the years who are book smart, but have no common sense and find it difficult to communicate with others. The foolishness of the world may masquerade as wisdom, but it is a state of spiritual blindness that makes people unable to comprehend the truths of God. God turns earthly thinking upside down as he uses the underdog to accomplish heavenly wisdom. With a childlike faith, let us share the message of the cross to the world.

I would love to hear what your favorite verse was from last week’s readings. This week’s readings are…..

Sunday – 1 Corinthians 2:6-3:4

Monday – 1 Corinthians 3:5-23

Tuesday – 1 Corinthians 4:1-21

Wednesday – 1 Corinthians 5:1-13

Thursday – 1 Corinthians 6:1-20

Friday – 1 Corinthians 7:1-24

Saturday – 1 Corinthians 7:25-40

Romans 8:38-39 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present no the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

In these verses, the concept of nothing has never been more beautiful. Nothing can separate you from God. No thing, no person, no hardship, NOTHING. His love is everywhere. God is all around us. Last night we were sitting outside enjoying a cooler evening when my cousin noticed the breathtaking moon in the picture above. We sat in awe as the moon’s rays of light created a perfect cross. Just another reminder that God is always with us and nothing can separate us from his love.

Where have you seen God this week?

I would love to hear what your favorite verse was from last week’s readings. This week’s readings are…..

Sunday – Romans 13:1-14

Monday – Romans 14:1-23

Tuesday – Romans 15:1-22

Wednesday – Romans 15:23-16:9

Thursday – Romans 16:10-27

Friday – 1 Corinthians 1:1-17

Saturday – 1 Corinthians 1:18-25

Romans 5:2-5 And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.

Sufferings teaches us to be steadfast and determined. Everyone handles stress and suffering differently. Some people hyper focus on the suffering causing them to spiral into depression. Others can move past the suffering by focusing on God working in their lives. Through their suffering, they learn to be steadfast and determined. Which in turn, builds character. And strong character produces trust in God and his plan for their future. They have hope.

Times of trials or suffering tend to make us either feel hopeless, or give us a sense of greater hope for what lays ahead. Don’t let stress keep you from living the life God has blessed you with. Go to God with all your sufferings, hopes and dreams.

I would love to hear what your favorite verse was from last week’s readings. This week’s readings are…..

Sunday – Romans 8:9-25

Monday – Romans 8:26-39

Tuesday – Romans 9:1-24

Wednesday – Romans 9:25-10:13

Thursday – Romans 10:14-11:12

Friday – Romans 11:13-36

Saturday – Romans 12:1-21

Romans 1:25 They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator – who is forever praised. Amen.

Summertime on the farm is the best time of the year. There are kittens, lambs and chicks to love up on. Every week something new is blooming in my gardens. And our evening walks through the woods to the creek out back are magical. It is easy to get caught up in all the country beauty. God created all these beautiful things for our enjoyment, but they were never meant to be worshiped. Thank God for all the wonderful things he created just for you as you worship the Creator!

I would love to hear what your favorite verse was from last week’s readings. This week’s readings are…..

Sunday – Romans 3:9-31

Monday – Romans 4:1-12

Tuesday – Romans 4:13-5:5

Wednesday – Romans 5:6-21

Thursday – Romans 6:1-23

Friday – Romans 7:1-13

Saturday – Romans 7:14-8:8

Acts 26:29 Paul replied, “Short time or long – I pray God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains.”

Over and over, Paul shares his story of how Jesus changed his heart of stone to make him a new man. Paul boldly invites others to receive the Good News and accept this Jesus who has transformed his life. For years, Paul was held in prison chains. But those chains did not stop Paul’s mission. In a straightforward manner, he continued to plant the seeds of faith with other inmates, prison guards and even powerful leaders.

What chains do you have in your life? Don’t let those chains hold you back. Walk boldly with Jesus as you share your story with others, leaving an unforgettable legacy.

I would love to hear what your favorite verse was from last week’s readings. This week’s readings are…..

Sunday – Acts 27:1-20

Monday – Acts 27:21-44

Tuesday – Acts 28:1-31

Wednesday – Romans 1:1-17

Thursday – Romans 1:18-32

Friday – Romans 2:1-24

Saturday – Romans 2:25-3:8

Acts 20:24 However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me – the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace.

Paul has been on quite a journey, traveling to several cities sharing the good news of Jesus. We are so blessed to live in the USA, where we are allowed to travel freely and more importantly, we are free to share the good news of Jesus with everyone we meet along the way. I may have retired from my job a year ago, but I am not finished running the race. I plan to finish strong as I share Jesus‘ love with everyone I meet.

Enjoy the 4th of July this week as we celebrate our freedom.

I would love to hear what your favorite verse was from last week’s readings. This week’s readings are…

Sunday – Acts 21:18-36

Monday – Acts 21:37-22:16

Tuesday – Acts 22:17-23:10

Wednesday – Acts 23:11-35

Thursday – Acts 24:1-27

Friday – Acts 25:1-27

Saturday – Acts 26:1-32

Acts 14:15 “Men, why are you doing this? We too are only men, human like you. We are bringing you good news, telling you to turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made heaven and earth and sea and everything in them.”

Taylor Swift was in Minneapolis this weekend, and people were loosing their minds. Ticket prices skyrocketed while fans waited in lines for hours to buy a T-shirt. It is easy to idolize singers, or speakers, or preachers, or even writers. But, they are only human like you. In sharing the good news of Jesus, you are a superstar. You may never be able to sing like Taylor, but you can share Jesus’ love. In God’s eyes, you rock!

I would love to hear what your favorite verse was from last weeks readings. This week’s readings are…..

Sunday – Acts 16:16-40

Monday – Acts 17:1-34

Tuesday – Acts 18:1-22

Wednesday – Acts 18:23-19:12

Thursday – Acts 19:13-41

Friday – Acts 20:1-38

Saturday – Acts 21:1-17

Acts 11:25-26 Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barbara’s and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.

Teaching has always been a cornerstone in the church. From the earliest days, God’s people were called to communicate the stories of Jesus. Barnabas and Saul spent an entire year teaching and sharing the good news of Jesus to the people in Antioch. No wonder they received the name Christian “belonging to Christ”. The stories told in Antioch have been passed down for generations. Take the time to share your personal Jesus stories with the ones you love. Today is Father’s Day. What better gift than to ask your dad to share his Jesus story with you? God bless you all this week, and especially those with the important role of dad.

I would love to hear what your favorite verse was from last week’s readings. This week’s readings are…..

Sunday – Acts 12:1-23

Monday – Acts 12:24-13:15

Tuesday – Acts 13:16-41

Wednesday – Acts 13:42-14:7

Thursday – Acts 14:8-28

Friday – Acts 15:1-35

Saturday – Acts 15:36-16:15