Daily Dose of Hope

September 7, 2026

Scripture: Genesis 22

Prayer: Heavenly Father, We come to you today in awe. You are almighty and wise but also filled with love and mercy. And we have the pleasure of experiencing that love and mercy. Despite our brokenness, you care for us and you continue to walk alongside us. Thank you, Lord, for your patience. Help us to focus more on you. Fill us with a consuming desire to know you better. Work in us. Stretch us. Challenge us. Convict us. We love you. Amen.

Welcome to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope daily Bible reading plan. We are currently working our way through the book of Genesis and today we are looking at Genesis 22.

In our reading for today, we have Abraham almost sacrificing his only son, Isaac. This passage has always kind of bothered me. It seems inconsistent with God's character to want Abraham to kill his son. And remember, when something seems off, we need to dig deeper. What is God doing here? In the past, Abraham doubted God. Think about all the mishaps we have been reading about. He tried to have children his own way instead of waiting on God. He repeatedly tried to pass Sarah off as a sister instead of his wife. By asking Abraham to sacrifice Isaac, God was testing Abraham. Does Abraham finally trust God? He is finally ready to trust in God's provision? I don't think God ever intended harm to come to Isaac. I think he wanted to see how much Abraham had grown.

Besides that, this passage is a beautiful foretelling of another sacrifice. God himself sacrificed his only son in order for us to be reconciled to a holy God. John 3:16, For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

At the end of the chapter, we find more genealogy. At first, this seemed out of place. But when you dig beneath the surface, it actually makes sense. This genealogy lists the family members of Abraham's brother, Nahor. Nahor has many descendants, including a granddaughter named Rebekah. Rebekah will eventually become Isaac's wife. God has the covenant line all taken care of.

Blessings,

Pastor Vicki

Daily Dose of Hope

September 3, 2026

Scripture: Genesis 20

Prayer: Amazing Father and Lord, Thank you for who you are. Thank you for how you care for us. We get distracted. We veer away from you and your Word. For that, we are so very sorry. Forgive us, Lord. Help us to abide in you. Help us to remain close so that we can be fruitful and effective for your Kingdom. Help us get outside ourselves and see others as you see them. Lord, we belong to you. In Your Name, Amen.

Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope daily Bible reading plan. We are currently studying the book of Genesis, and its full of sinfulness, drama, but also a lot of God's mercy. Today, we are reading Genesis 20.

So, Abraham and Sarah are back on the move, the Scripture saying that they moved toward the south, in a town named Gerar. Okay, can you believe Abraham tries to pass Sarah off as his sister again? By this time, Sarah is in her nineties. Yet, the king, Abimelech, still brings her into his palace. We could probably spend some time talking about this point, but I'll let it go. It's just kind of weird.

God intervenes again. He comes to Abimelech in a dream and tells him that Sarah is Abraham's wife. God also calls Abimelech a dead man unless he has Abraham pray for him. Once again, Abraham makes a bad decision, lies, puts his wife in a really vulnerable situation, and God saves him. It is amazing. God is going to be sure that he keeps his promise through Abraham. Despite Abraham's stupidity.

I guess that's good news for us. God keeps his promises to us, he cares for us, and he shows us mercy, even when we mess up over and over again. God uses a very flawed man called Abraham to build a nation. If he can do that, then he can also use you and me. Maybe it's kind of odd, but this gives me a lot of encouragement.

Blessings,

Pastor Vicki

Daily Dose of Hope

September 2, 2026

Scripture: Genesis 19:30-38

Prayer: Holy God, We pause before you. We become still, recognizing that you are God. You are Creator, you are Provider, you are Sustainer. Thank you, Lord. We repent for how we have failed you. We repent for our pride, our anger, our bitterness, our flawed view of others. We repent for not putting you first. Forgive us, Lord. We are broken and sinful people. Lord, use us anyway. We pray that you can lead us to a place of healing and peace so that we can then be useful to your Kingdom. Help us be your servants, open to your leading and direction. We are yours. We belong to you. In Your Name, Amen.

Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope daily Bible reading plan. We are currently doing a deep dive into the book of Genesis. Today's reading is the second half of Genesis 19, verses 30-38.

More drama! After Lot almost allows his daughters to be gang raped, now they are arranging to have sex with their dad. Let's just go ahead and say it – this is very dysfunctional, toxic even.

Let's talk about how we got here. Lot is fearful so he won't live in the town. Thus, he and his daughters are residing in a cave. This probably says something about where they are spiritually too. They are isolated, they are lonely, and they are afraid. Are they even acknowledging God? I don't get the impression God Almighty plays much of a role in their everyday lives. Not because God has moved on, but because they have chosen a path away from Him.

Fear makes people do desperate things and that's what we see in today's text. The girls are worried that pretty soon, their dad will die and they haven't had any children. They say there are no men. Of course, that isn't true. The nearest town would have plenty of men but they have isolated themselves to the point that they aren't thinking straight. So, they get their father drunk and have sex with him. This is really repulsive and it's hard to imagine that these young women would even think of doing this. It makes me wonder what their past was like. But we won't go there today.

Bottom line: Sin spirals downward. Lot was sinful. His wife sinned. The girls sinned. The sins of the fathers affect their children. Sin always has consequences. Always.

Blessings,

Pastor Vicki

Daily Dose of Hope

September 1, 2026

Scripture: Genesis 19:1-29

Prayer: Dear God, We come to you today with sorrow. We know that we are sinful and broken. We know that we have fallen short. We have been disobedient as individuals and as a church. Lord, please forgive us and show us your better way. How we need you. We are lost without you and our behavior so often speaks to that. Help us seek holiness. Help us love others the way you love them. In these next few moments of silence, Lord, please help us set aside our scattered thoughts and focus on you... In Your Name, Amen.

Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope daily Bible reading plan. We are currently doing a deep dive into the book of Genesis. Today's reading is the first half of Genesis 19, verses 1-29.

Lot, Abraham's nephew, chose the best land. It just happened to be that land included some pretty evil cities, both Sodom and Gomorrah. Their wickedness has been mentioned a few times before this chapter but we get the full experience in chapter 19.

The angels from chapter 18 head over the Sodom. Lot meets them with a hospitable spirit, offers them a place to stay, and food to eat. But the men of the town surround Lot's house and demand to have sex with the visiting men. Not a nice way to welcome people to town. But instead of standing up to the mob, Lot offered his two daughters for the mob to rape! What are we to make of this?

It was a sacred duty to care for those under your own roof in the ancient Near East. Hospitality was a big deal. But one would think caring for your daughters would be as well. Lot clearly has some priority issues. It shows his lack of care for his own daughters, maybe because they are women who have little value in his society, maybe because he was scared, we don't really know. It's despicable though. I'm grateful that God's messengers intervened to make sure those girls were safe.

The Bible definitely gives us the whole, ugly truth about people, their sin, their failures, their good choices, and their terrible choices. God is not lifting them up as an example, but he is allowing us to learn from them. Lot clearly had compromised his values. He moved to Sodom. He rubbed elbows with wicked people. Something rubbed off on him. But he allowed it.

The two men, God's messengers, make it clear that Sodom and Gomorrah will be destroyed. Lot and his family must leave. The sons-in-law, clearly not having a lot of respect for Lot, laugh at the thought of destruction. But Lot, his wife, and the two daughters head out of dodge. But his wife looks back, which God warns them not to do, and she turns into a pillar of salt. I would have really liked some more information here – what a shock to the family!

Sin has consequences. We get to see that again and again in Scripture.

Blessings,

Pastor Vicki

Daily Dose of Hope

August 31, 2026

Scripture: Genesis 18

Prayer: Abba Father, We come to you today, grateful for your love and care in our lives. Thank you for your presence and your peace. Help us to gather our scattered thoughts and set aside distractions so we can focus on what you have for us today. In the next few moments of silence, Lord, help me be still and know that you are God...We give you all the glory, Lord Almighty. Amen.

Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope daily Bible reading plan. We are currently studying the book of Genesis, learning a lot about God's character and truth, but also realizing how people haven't changed much at all.

Today's reading is Genesis 18. This is a fascinating chapter. Three men come to see Abraham. But we also know that the Scripture says that the Lord appeared to Abraham. Thus, we can assume that one of the men was actually the Lord in human form. The other two might have been angels.

It seems that Abraham knew right off the bat that he was in the presence of God. He runs out to meet the men, he makes sure they are fed the absolute best. We know Abraham had been in the presence of God before and so there must have been something about the men that Abraham immediately recognized.

I had some thoughts about this. How often have we encountered God? How often have we encountered his messengers, the angels? Are our eyes open to see when a heavenly being visits us? Think about Hebrews 13:2, which says not to forget to show hospitality to strangers because by doing so, some people have shown hospitality to angels without even knowing it.

The men tell Abraham that within a year, Sarah will be pregnant. She laughs and God knows it. He calls her on it. I don't blame her. Women in their nineties don't typically think of pregnancy. But God had willed it and he makes it clear, nothing is too hard for him. Do you believe that nothing is too hard for God, I mean really?

The Lord shares with Abraham that he plans to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah for their horrible wickedness. It's obvious that Abraham is greatly bothered by this. He moves into this negotiation with God. Will God destroy those cities if there are fifty righteous men? What about forty-five or forty or thirty or twenty or even ten? God is patient and says that he won't destroy Sodom or Gomorrah if there are even just ten righteous people there.

God's justice is perfect. He knew that Sodom and Gomorrah needed to be destroyed. As horrible as they must have been, it's still hard for me to think about such destruction. I just have to keep going back to that truth: God's justice is perfect. He always knows best.

Blessings,

Pastor Vicki

The Daily Dose of Hope is a devotional intended to provide context and reflection to the New Hope Church Bible Reading Plan. It's our goal to read the Bible in a year together as a family of faith. Five days a week we read. Two days a week we either rest or catch up. Reading the Bible is the number one way to grow in our walk with Jesus. We have to know God's Word to live God's Word. Now for our Daily Dose of Hope… https://www.findnewhope.com

Daily Dose of Hope

August 27, 2026

Scripture: Genesis 16

Prayer: Amazing Father and Lord, Thank you for who you are. Thank you for how you care for us. We get distracted. We veer away from you and your Word. For that, we are so very sorry. Forgive us, Lord. Help us to abide in you. Help us to remain close so that we can be fruitful and effective for your Kingdom. Help us get outside ourselves and see others as you see them. And help us trust. Lord, we belong to you. In Your Name, Amen.

Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the daily Bible reading plan at New Hope Church. We are currently doing a deep dive into the book of Genesis and this will be followed by a deep dive into Exodus. Today's reading is Genesis 16.

Yesterday, God reinforces his covenant with Abram that he will be the father of many nations. God promises to give Abram and Sarai a son but when it doesn't happen in their timing, they decide to take matters in their own hands. Sarai devises a plan to have Abram sleep with her handmaid, Haggar, in order to bear him a son. When Haggar does get pregnant, Sarai isn't happy at all. Despite the fact that this was all her idea, Sarai becomes furious with Haggar and abuses her. Haggar leaves and heads into the desert, a dangerous scenario for a pregnant handmaid in those days. But God meets her there. He sends an angel who tells her to go back to Sarai and promises that her son, Ishmael, will be a strong and defiant man.

I used to read this Scripture and really burn with anger toward Sarai. Why was she so mean to Haggar and why didn't she just trust God to begin with? But over the years, I've realized how often I take matters into my own hands, I don't wait for God's timing, I jump the gun and say and do things without listening to God's clear instructions to wait on him. While I in no way condone her treatment of Haggar, it's easy to see how she burned with jealousy. She wanted to be the one who was pregnant with Abram's child! She wanted to see God's promise come true right now!!! Of course, we know the end of the story. God's mercies are so very good. He cared for Haggar in her hour of need, and he cared with Sarai, despite her disobedience. And God also cares for us, despite ours.

What's fascinating to me about this power couple, Abram and Sarai, is how very normal they are. They have times in which they make such crazy choices that leave us scratching our heads and then they have times in which their obedience toward God is incredible. Maybe we are kind of that way as well. Sometimes, I feel like I take two steps forward and one step back. Abram and Sarai were not that different.

More tomorrow.

Blessings,

Pastor Vicki

Daily Dose of Hope

August 26, 2026

Scripture: Genesis 15

Prayer: Today we pray an ancient prayer from St Ambrose of Milan, who lived from 337-397 AD...O Lord, who has mercy upon all, take away from me my sins, and mercifully kindle in me the fire of Your Holy Spirit. Take away from me the heart of stone, and give me a heart of flesh, a heart to love and adore You, a heart to delight in You, to follow and to enjoy You, for Christ's sake.

Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the daily Bible reading plan at New Hope Church. We are currently doing a deep dive into the book of Genesis and this will be followed by a deep dive into Exodus. Today's reading is Genesis 15.

In today's reading, God reinforces his covenant with Abram. But I want to go to the very beginning of the chapter when God tells Abram, in a vision, to not be afraid. Let's not forget that Abram just finished a major battle and he had every reason to expect an attack from one of the enemy kings. But God tells him that He, the Lord, will be Abram's shield. God is going to protect him.

And then there is this interesting dialogue between God and Abram about Abram's heir. Abram tells God that while God has given him wealth and now protection, what good is any of it if he doesn't have an heir? He doesn't hold in his frustration. Abram is honest with God about his frustrations and fears. Just FYI, we can always be honest with God about our frustrations and fears. God knows anyway.

So, this is when God reinforces the covenant that he made with Abram. God promises that Abram's descendants will be as plentiful as stars in the sky. It is clear and Abram believes (he has faith in God), but he expects it to be soon. Yet in the chronology of Abram's life, the fulfillment of this promise was still 15 years away. God's timing is often very different from our own timing.

The chapter ends in an interesting way. God has Abram fall asleep. He then prophesies that Abraham's descendants will be in slavery for 400 years (we know this happens in Egypt) and that God will ensure that those descendants eventually gain wealth and be able to return to the land God promised them.

God's plan is in place.

Blessings,

Pastor Vicki

Daily Dose of Hope

August 25, 2026

Scripture: Genesis 14

Prayer: Heavenly Father, We come before you today in awe of your Word. Thank you for speaking to us through Scripture. Help us commit to being grounded in your truth. Help us make learning more about you a priority. We get so distracted! The world comes at us from all sides. Lord, in these next few moments of silence, help us set aside our scattered thoughts and focus on you...In Your Name, Amen.

Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the daily Bible reading plan at New Hope Church. We are currently doing a deep dive into the book of Genesis and this will be followed by a deep dive into Exodus. Today's reading is Genesis 14.

In today's reading, we have the first recorded battle in Genesis. It's also the only time Abram is connected to warfare (who knew he had so many armed men at his disposal?) You might have noticed here that Abram is called a Hebrew as well.

But what is going on? Remember that Abram and Lot are now living in separate places. Lot actually lived in Sodom, which happened to be captured in the battle described in verses 1-11. Lot is taken captive.

Now, God has promised to protect and care for Abram and it seems he is finally trusting in that. Abram goes into battle to save his nephew and is very successful. He meets up with two kings, Melchizedek (Salem's priestly king) and the king of Sodom. Melchizedek comes with wine, food, and blessings. The king of Sodom comes with his hand out. These were obviously very different kings, which seem to further highlight the difference between Abram and Lot. Abram is upstanding and generous, not worried about wealth or property. Lot is living in what we will learn is a sinful place, possibly hanging out with the wrong people, and espousing values that are very different from Abram's.

I want to just briefly touch on King Melchizedek. If his name sounds familiar, it may because the author of Hebrews says that Jesus is a priest and king, in the order of Melchizedek. What does this mean? Well, Jesus was not in the family line of priests. His appointment as high priest and king came directly from God. This is similar to Melchizedek, who is kind of mysterious figure, a king-priest which would have been highly unusual. We have no evidence that Melchizedek's kingship or priestship were inherited. Yet, he is called a priest of the most high God. Did God directly appoint him too? We really don't know, but it is fascinating that the author of Hebrews makes this connection.

More tomorrow.

Blessings,

Pastor Vicki

Daily Dose of Hope

August 24, 2026

Scripture: Genesis 13

Prayer: Lord, How we need you. Thank you for your presence, thank you for the way you continue to pursue us. Lord, in these next few moments of silence, help us set aside our scattered thoughts and focus on you...In Your Name, Amen.

Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the daily Bible reading plan at New Hope Church. We are currently doing a deep dive into the book of Genesis and this will be followed by a deep dive into Exodus. So far, Genesis has been filled with lots of truth and lots of drama. Let's see what today holds.

The reading for today is Genesis 13. Abram, Sarai, Lot, and all their herdsmen and animals came back from Egypt. The two men are so wealthy now that the land where they previously lived just couldn't sustain both households. Plus, their herdsmen were bickering. So Abram comes up with a plan to separate the two households. He gives Lot the option which land to take, and he would go in the other direction. Lot goes to the plain of Jordan and Abram heads to Canaan.

Let's just say Abram handles this situation really well. He deals with conflict in a very selfless way. The crowded land and the arguing herdsmen could have ended up with a much different ending. But Abram doesn't hold on tight to anything; he lets Lot take the best land for himself. He is not greedy and he trusts God to make sure he and his own household are taken care of.

Possibly as a result of Abram's wisdom and selflessness, God reinforces the covenant he made with Abram. These are the words he uses, which are pretty powerful, Now, lift up your eyes, and look from the place where you are, northward and southward and eastward and westward, for I will give all the land which you see to you and to your offspring forever. I will make your offspring as the dust of the earth, so that if a man can count the dust of the earth, then your offspring may also be counted. Arise, walk through the land in its length and in its width; for I will give it to you."

God is a God who keeps his promises. He is going to build a people through Abram. Are we beginning to see a new and different Abram that has grown in maturity and trust? I hope so.

Blessings,

Pastor Vicki