Daily Dose of Hope

July 1, 2024

Day 2 of Week 14

Scripture:  Joshua 18-21; Psalm 15; Luke 18

Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Church daily Bible reading plan.  As we move into a new month, I do hope you will take some time and reflect on what you have learned so far from our reading.  We’ve been at this for three months.  I have learned a great deal and hope you have too!

Let’s get right into the Scripture!  We will start with the book of Joshua.  In chapters 18 and 19, we find Joshua completing the distribution of land.  Some of it still needs to be conquered but they are dividing it nonetheless.  They know that God will give it to them.  In chapter 20, there is a discussion about cities of refuge.  This is really interesting.  These were cities to which people who accidentally killed someone could flee and stay safely until they received a trial.  They protected people from blood revenge, which would have been common at the time (think an eye for an eye), in which a family member avenges the death of a relative. 

Chapter 21 details the towns designated for the Levites.  Remember, the Levites were those who were tasked with helping the priests and taking care of the tabernacle.  There were forty-eight towns in which they could live, along with pasture where they could keep their flocks.

Luke 18 is our New Testament chapter for today.  This is a great chapter with several parables and healings.  I’d like to focus on the parable of the persistent widow.  I’ve always found this to be a fascinating parable.  Jesus uses two opposing characters to make an important point about prayer.  First, we have a judge who is arrogant and without integrity.  Then, we have a widow, who continues to go to the judge for help from her adversary. A widow at the time would have represented helplessness and vulnerability. She must not have had money to bribe the judge so she does the only thing she can–she pesters him! She will not leave him alone until he gives her justice.  Since even an unjust judge can do justice, how much more should we expect from a loving, righteous God?

God wants his people to be persistent in prayer.  Don’t give up! God will answer, although it may not be in our timing or in the way we desire.  But God always answers.  Is there some situation or person for which you have stopped praying?  Be like the persistent widow. Continue to plead before a loving and just God. 

The rest of this week, we will have several different hosts.  Enjoy!

I will be back with my daily devotionals on July 7th.

Blessings,

Pastor Vicki

Daily Dose of Hope

June 30, 2024

Day 1 of Week 14

Scripture:  Joshua 14-17; Luke 17

Welcome to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Church daily Bible reading plan.  It’s Week 14!  Let’s get right into our Scripture for today.

Let’s start with Joshua, chapter 14.  They are continuing to divide the land among the tribes.  In this chapter, there is this interesting passage about Caleb.  If you remember, Caleb was one of the original spies that entered Canaan.  Only he and Joshua declared that the Israelites could conquer the land; the other spies were fearful and bullied them for their statements, to the point they were ready to stone Caleb and Joshua.  Caleb makes the point that he stayed faithful and has lived honoring God.  Basically, he had come asking for what was promised to him.  Thus, Joshua blessed Caleb with Hebron.  Just so you know, Hebron was (and still is) a city in Judea, in a mountainous area.  It was known for its fertile soil, good for growing fruit and vineyards.  This was prime property!  Caleb is indeed being rewarded for his trust and faithfulness. 

The inheritance of the tribe of Judah, including its boundaries and cities, are described in painstaking detail in Joshua 15.  There is also a brief narrative in the middle of the chapter about Caleb’s second inheritance.  I’m not going to go over it much here but it’s an interesting read.  Caleb offers his daughter in marriage to the person who defeats the people of Kiriath Sephur.  After a brief interaction with his daughter, in which she asks for springs of water to go along with their land, the listing of details continues.

If you get a chance, reread the final verse of the chapter.  It states that the tribe of Judah was unable to defeat the Jebusites, a group of people who lived in Jerusalem. This just leaves one to wonder.  In all other battles, God clearly stood on the side of the Israelites, ensuring they had total and complete victory.  What was different here?  For some reason, the tribe of Judah settled.  They seemed resigned to the idea that the Jebusites would remain part of the landscape.  Of course, we know that allowing the pagan people to remain in the land could prove dangerous.  The Israelites were easily tempted to fall into a pattern of idolatry.  By the time of King David (roughly 1000 BC), the Jebusites are defeated and that all of Jerusalem belongs to Israel.  I guess we will soon find out how having pagans living in their midst affects the faith of the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

Joshua 16 and 17 continue with the division of land, specifically for the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh.  Manasseh complains a bit that theirs isn’t big enough and Joshua tells them to conquer some more area.  They were fearful of the Canaanites living in those areas but Joshua does not let up.  He basically says, “If you want more, you need to work for it.  You must go conquer the Canaanites.” 

Okay, let’s move into the New Testament – Luke 17.  I want to discuss the middle passage about the healing of the lepers.  This is a wonderful text. Here are just a few reflections: 

First, Jesus told the men to show themselves to a priest while they still had leprosy.  It was as they went that they were cured.  If the priest examined them and they were no longer sick, then they were able to behave like normal people again, socialize, and live normal lives.  But walking to the priests while they still had leprosy meant trusting God even when they didn't really have grounds to do so. They really didn’t know what was going to happen. They could have gotten to the priests and still been sick and been yelled out or banned or worse.  But they had faith and trusted Jesus. That's a definition of faith–trusting in what we cannot prove.  In Hebrews11:1 it's described as "the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."  If we want everything plain and clear before we take a step of faith, it's not really faith. Faith is trust, even when we don't understand and even when the evidence is against us. 

It’s interesting that the one who comes back is a Samaritan.  Samaritans were enemies of Jews; they hated each other.  So why was he the one to come back, rather than the Jews?  Maybe he had a deeper sense of what had been done for him.  Maybe the Jewish men felt entitled, like they deserved a healing and the Samaritan didn’t.  Regardless, it speaks of God's grace to everyone.  The men's healing doesn't depend on them coming back to say thanks.  Jesus heals them anyway; it's not as if the healing of the other nine would be miraculously withdrawn because they didn't return.  God does lots of good things for everyone, whether they acknowledge it or not.  He makes the sun shine on the righteous and unrighteous and the rain fall on the just and the unjust (Matthew 5:45). 

There are many people who are not Christians, but who are still blessed.  At one level, Christians ought just to be the people who acknowledge what God's done for them, and turn back to say "Thank you."  What do you need to thank God for?  Even when circumstances are hard, we are called to spend time rejoicing in what God has blessed us with.  It’s so easy to fall into an attitude of negativity and complaining.  But God wants us to have an attitude of gratitude, spending more time recognizing how he has healed us, blessed us, saved us, taken care of us, and loved us rather than focus on all the crummy stuff.  There is much to be grateful for.

We’ll chat again tomorrow.

Blessings,

Pastor Vicki

June 27, 2024, Day 5 Week 13

Scripture: Joshua 9-13, Luke 16

Hi! Welcome to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements New Hope Church’s Bible reading plan. The scriptures for today are Joshua 9-13 and Luke 16; however, we are going to do something a little different than we have done the last two days and instead of going verse by verse I wanted to dive into the why behind everything because I feel like that has been missing these past two days. So, I deeply encourage you to read and study these texts for yourself and listen to this podcast as sort of and accompaniment to the text. So, before I begin in honesty, we don’t exactly know why God chose to do what he did in the Old Testament and specifically in what we are reading, which is Joshua meaning the way things were done. Like the question why it had to be done this way may have crossed your minds, but what we do have is a lot of information given to us and that information has much meaning in it, it holds a lot of weight. I’ll give some examples of all of this too. Some questions you may be wondering at this point is…

Why did God choose Joshua out of everyone else to lead?

Why did God destroy the other kingdoms?

Why did God allow conflict and war to happen so much in the Bible?

I mean Joshua 9-13 is literally conflict and war. It’s difficult to read in the sense that God is backing Joshua and the Israelites through this, and it makes you wonder. Like what about all the other people. And the Bible is so specific, but what about innocent people. I think our answer lies in the overall picture of the Bible meaning we can’t just focus on this reading we have to remember what we’ve read before and keep in mind this passage for what we read in the future. It’s like this for innocent people question take Rahab that we read about two days ago. She was spared and her family because of her faith. This leads me to believe that God takes care of His people especially the innocent. As we continue to read the Bible through this plan we will learn by the end of this year that the Bible has such an emphasis also on the oppressed and/ or helping the oppressed that it would be strange for God to turn His back on such people. So, looking at these passages where no one was spared is very horrific but maybe there for more literary affect than to be taken literally. And we see this all over the Bible right that we can’t take everything super literally with the Bible there has to be some literary components that the authors are trying to use and that’s what makes it so confusing and almost like deciphering a puzzle at times. But when you look at the overall narrative or big picture of Bible it makes sense as to why all this is happening. There’s a flow to it. In Joshua or the Old Testament in general Gods trying to create harmony and a relationship with his people again by giving them this promised land they will settle into it and hopefully or God hopes they will stay faithful to Him.  But humankind has been failing miserably and God has continually had to reconcile with his people. This is what is happening in the Bible up until Joshua. This failure happens over and over again and is paving the way for Jesus to enter the scenario. It is why Jesus came to save us.  Which we will turn our attention now to the New Testament. I also want to say that Jesus doesn’t follow the typical culture mindsets most of the time. What’s interesting is that Jesus has a different attitude than what is expressed in the Old Testament a more peaceful attitude. He strives for unity and peace amongst His brothers and sisters in Christ and outside of Christ. It’s a shift from defense literally like having a defense system like an army in the Old Testament to an inviting and welcoming attitude towards others. Of course, they were different time periods in the Old and New Testament, but I think the gradual progression from this conflict we see in Joshua throughout the Bible to the peaceful parables we see in Luke 16 makes a difference. I mean it was God himself incarnate that changed everything. Because of Him we no longer are slaves to our sin. So, what does this mean for those questions I posed above and all the questions in our hearts. I do not know the answers to those questions. Sorry. But first, I want you to tell yourself that its ok to question God. Most of the time we beat ourselves up for that, God knows it’s hard being down here unable to see him physically. And secondly, we can trust God. This is what it boils down to TRUST. We must trust God or else our relationship with God will not work. If you’re married, dating, or have ever been in any kind of relationship even not romantic you know you have got to trust that other person. It’s the same with God. God has given us the resources the Bible, The Church, a community of brothers and sisters in Christ and all we have to do is keep learning, keep reading, keep attending, and keep showing up because through that we will ultimately get the peace to sit with the unanswered questions. Trust God, have a blessed day, and see you again on the daily dose of hope.

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

June 26, 2024, Day 4 Week 13

Scriptures: Joshua 5-8, Psalm 14, Luke 15

Hi and welcome to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements New Hope Church’s Bible reading plan. Our scripture today begins with Joshua 5-8. When all the kings on the west side of the Jordan heard what God did when He dried up the river, they lost heart and were paralyzed with fear. The Israelites at this time were reestablishing covenant ceremonies like circumcision. The reason Joshua had to circumcise the second generation of Israelites is because the first generation had died in the wilderness and those who were born after the exodus had not been circumcised. The First generation of Israelites had died in the wilderness because they had disobeyed the Lord and he forbid them to enter the promise land. So, Joshua circumcised their sons, and they rested in the camp until they were healed. Circumcision signified Israel’s identity as Gods covenant people. When God originally made the covenant with Abraham he had the symbol as doing away with old life and beginning new life with God most cultures at this time had circumcision symbolizing something else like entering adulthood only Israelites had it symbolizing relationship with God.

When Joshua was near Jericho, he saw a man standing with sword and hand. After questioning whether the man was friend or foe Joshua learned it was the commander of the Lord’s army. He fell to his face in reverence and asked what he should do. The commander said take off your sandals for you’re standing on holy ground. Now there are ways today that we can show reverence to God. For example how we speak to him, but mainly it’s through our attitudes and actions that we can show reverence to God in today’s world. And when I say reverence, I mean showing God the respect, honor, and glory that he deserves.

The gates of Jericho were tightly shut because they feared the Israelites, and no one came in or out. But God was with the Israelites and worked through Joshua. The plan was to walk around the city with the Ark of the Covenant and the priests in front once a day for 6 days then on the seventh day march seven times with the seven priests blowing rams horns and then have the men shout as loud as they can. The plan works and the walls of Jericho come down as the men yell and horns blare. The Israelites charged straight into Jericho. Like Last weeks episode Rahab was spared and her family Joshua tells the two spies to keep their agreement and go get her and her family in this chapter. Then the Israelites burned and destroyed everything except what they were supposed to keep to give back to the Lord. So, the lord was with Joshua and his reputation spread. Think about how through God Joshua was able to achieve what he set out to do, how his will and Gods will align. It’s an interesting dilemma to see happen on paper, now if only we can emulate it in our own lives.

Israel conquering Jericho aligned with Gods will, but Israel violated the clause of the things set apart for the Lord. A man named Achan had stolen some of these dedicated things, so the Lord was very angry with the Israelites. The next time Joshua sent spies to Ai and followed their report for how many men they should send which they replied no more than 3,000 they were defeated. And the courage of the Israelite army went away as they were paralyzed with fear. The elders tore their clothing in dismay, threw dust on their heads, and bowed before the Ark until evening. Joshua cried out to God as well, but God answered him about the trouble someone in Israel had caused and how they must be removed. So, Joshua brought the tribes of Israel before the Lord and by tribe, clan, and family Achan was singled out and he confessed before God what he done by stealing a robe, a bar of gold and silver that were meant to be offerings to God. Then Achan and everything he had were brought out into the valley and he was stoned to death, but the Lord was no longer angry. He meaning the Lord tells Joshua not to be afraid or discouraged because he has given him the victory over Ai and this time, they can keep the plunder and livestock for themselves.

Psalm 14 ties into these last events that happened in Joshua and here King David is saying that we have all turned away from God, but he asks when will the Lord restore his people. My interpretation of things is that we all turn away from God, but God can restore us if we turn back to Him.

In Luke 15 Jesus is telling parables about lost things returning and/or being found. One is the lost sheep, the other a coin, and lastly the son. What all these stories have in common and what I want to talk about today is the theme of being singled out by God and the rejoicing and fulfillment of being found in God. In the parable of the lost sheep the shepherd leaves the ninety-nine sheep. He has to go look for the lost one when he finds it, he will call all his neighbors and say rejoice with me. In the lost coin parable, the woman has ten coins and loses one, but she turns on a lamp and searches carefully for the one then she calls her friends saying rejoice with me. The lost son parable repeats the same theme we are seeing in its own way. The point is this we all fall short of the glory of God, and we all make mistakes, but its ok. Because God is a forgiving God, and he loves us. Let this encourage us. Just as God was with Joshua and the Israelites and King David in the Psalm we read; He is with us. I hope you all have a blessed day, keep reading, and see you again on the daily dose of hope.

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

June 25, 2024, Day 3 of Week 13

Daily Dose of Hope - June 25.

Scriptures Joshua 1-4; psalm 143; Luke 1

Hi and welcome to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements New Hope Church’s Bible reading plan. Our Scriptures begin with Joshua chapters 1-4. The chapters begin after the death of Moses and Joshua is now stepping into leadership of the Israelites, but he’s got some big shoes to fill. I mean Moses was the man who led the Israelites out of Egypt and now Joshua must be the man to lead the Israelites into the promised land… Since Joshua was with Moses then he knows it’s not going to be easy, but it’s ok because God is with Joshua. God makes sure to tell this to Joshua specifically. God is letting him know that he is not alone and is reminding him of all the resources he has available to accomplish this task, that he has the instructions from Moses who was there before him and if Joshua follows them directly and does not stray from them, he will be successful. This sounds familiar doesn’t it. The book of the Bible that we have today is very much instructional to our lives and God wants us to follow it. God also wants Joshua to be strong and courageous, knowing that God is there. The themes of courage, God’s presence, and faith are so prominent in these chapters that they are setting the scene for how we ought to be as Christian’s. So, what does Joshua do with all of this… He takes charge. He shows courage. He speaks to the Israelites, and they respond well to his leadership.  

Joshua then sends two spies to scope out the land that they are going to take on the other side of the Jordan. But someone told the King of Jericho that spies were in their land, so the king sent word to Rahab, who was hiding the spies. Rahab is an interesting character because she is not the type of person one would expect to be playing a part in God’s plan, but this goes to show that God can use all sorts of people to carry out his will. Rahab sent the people who were looking for the spies away and went up to talk to them. She expressed her faith and her fear to the spies by exclaiming that she knew God had given them the land. She asked in return for saving their lives that her life along with her family be spared. The spies form an agreement with Rahab. So, Rahab, like Joshua, was quite courageous herself.

After scoping out the land and knowing God had given it to them the Israelites along with their new leader Joshua were ready to move across the Jordan. The Ark of the Covenant carried by the Priests was to go first ahead of them. The Ark of the Covenant was the presence of God and as the Priest walked out on the Jordan they walked on dry ground, meaning the water in the river dried up, like what happened when the Red Sea was parted. Eventually the whole nation of Israel crossed the Jordan on dry ground. One may think the presence of God is not here, but it is it’s all around us, in our church, in our brothers and sisters in Christ, and even in us.  Then Israelites made memorials to remember what God had done, so future generations would remember.  

Psalm 143 is our next Scripture and boy is it heart altering. King David is losing all hope in this psalm and is caught in the midst of fear and depression. He is crying out to God about his struggle and that’s what we see so prevalently in this psalm. It is so freeing and live giving to know that when we are in those times of fear and struggle, we can turn to God and call on him to ultimately help us carry out his will. This reminds me of Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane crying out to God that not Jesus’s will be done but God’s.

With that we move into Luke 14 found in the New Testament. In this story Jesus is eating dinner in the home of a leader of the pharisees. There was a man there whose arms and legs were swollen. Jesus questions the pharisees asking what is permitted on the sabbath particularly about healing. Then he heals the man with the swollen limbs by touching him. Then he turned to the Pharisees and questioned them again using an example of them rushing to help their son, donkey, or cow out of pit if it were to fall in. And again, the Pharisees could not answer Jesus. When I think about this I often wonder whether I could answer Jesus in this situation or not. Jesus then goes into a teaching about humility. He gives the people at the dinner the advice to not sit at the head of the table or in the seat of honor because when someone more distinguished than them comes to the wedding feast the host will ask them to move and they will be embarrassed, essentially. He told them this teaching because he had noticed they were all trying to sit in seats of honor near the head of the table. He instead instructs them to take the lowest seats at foot of the table, for then the host will instruct them to move up to a higher seat. He says this because those that exalt themselves will be humbled and those that are humbled will be exalted according to Jesus. Often our culture today thinks the other way around, but Jesus’ perspective is powerful, we should be sure to follow itl!  He then also turns to his host and says when you put on a banquet do not just invite those you know and who can repay you like your friends and relatives, but invite the poor, crippled, the lame, and blind. Because God will reward you for inviting those who could not repay you. One of the people hearing all of this at the dinner responded with “what a blessing it will be to attend a banquet in the kingdom of God.”  And Jesus once again responded with a parable or story. He told this story of man who threw a banquet, but when it was ready all those invited began to make excuses as to why they could not attend. He then opens the doors to everyone, the poor, crippled, blind, and lame. The host fills his house knowing that those he invited will not get a taste of his banquet. At the end of Luke 14 Jesus talks about what it means to be a disciple. How we must pick up our cross and follow him. Luke 14 really inspired me to keep reading because Jesus’ parables are so full of information that we can glean from. I hope you all have a blessed day today, keep reading, and see you again on the Daily Dose of Hope.

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

June 24, 2024

Day 2 of Week 13

Scripture:  Deuteronomy 32-34; Psalm 13; Luke 13

Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Church Daily Bible Reading plan.  Today, we conclude the book of Deuteronomy.  Good job, everyone!  It’s been a journey walking through this Scripture.  I would love to hear some of your big takeaways from this book.

It’s chapter 32 and it’s time for Moses to step aside and allow God to commission Joshua for the job of leading the Israelites into the promised land.  (Just FYI...Moses was forty years old when he left Egypt and fled for Midian, eighty years old at the time of the exodus, and now he is one hundred twenty years old as the people are about to enter Canaan.)  Over the years, Moses was an effective leader for the people, essentially a mouthpiece for God in many ways.  The people knew him and listened to him.  Thus, it was so important for the people to repeatedly hear that Joshua was God's chosen successor for Moses and that God would offer Joshua divine presence and protection.  A change in leadership can be difficult and this was a big one!  The people had been following Moses for forty years.  He had carried them through some pretty tough situations, usually of their own making.  Now, it's Joshua's time to lead.  We don't get much insight into what Joshua is thinking but my guess is he's a little nervous and also a little excited.  The shoes he is filling are big, the job is very important, and let's be honest, the people are difficult.  While he knew this would be his destiny for years, it's different when it's finally right before him. 

In chapter 33, God gives Moses his final instructions before the torch is passed to Joshua and Moses passes away.  He is to teach the people the words to a song (32:1-33) which was intended to serve as a witness to the covenant that God was entering into with the people.  This was a normal element in mid-east treaties.  What God was agreeing to was available for all to see.  The song also would serve as a reminder for the people of what they agreed to and it was intended to be repeated and sung for years to come. 

Moses gathers the people to teach them the song and tells them to take the words of the song, as well as the whole law, to heart.  He stresses, "these are not just idle words for you-they are your life."  The people needed to live and breathe these words because they represented their relationship with God.  If the words were not on the forefront of their mind, then they would drift and fall out of covenant.  Truly, these words were life for them. 

I couldn’t help but think about how we also have access to God's Word through Scripture.  The words of the Bible are not idle words but truly life for us.  It’s through God’s Word that we get to know God and hear his voice. When we fail to read Scripture regularly, then we also are tempted to drift away and break covenant with God.  How important it is to stay connected to the words of life and allow them to soak down deep within us.

Moses’ final act before death was to bestow blessings on the tribes of Israel.  He has led these people for forty years.  I’m sure his emotions were strong as he spoke these blessings to the people he shepherded and loved.  Bestowing blessings before death was a common tradition at the time.  Think of Jacob and Esau competing for their father’s blessing on his deathbed.  There was some prophetical element to the blessings but also Moses was sharing his own thoughts about each tribe as he blesses them.  These are words the people can hold onto and remember as they transition to a new place and way of life. 

It’s always been interesting to me what famous people say on their deathbed.  In mid-east tradition, it was important to impart blessings on those you love most.  In Western tradition, we tend to focus on the final words spoken by a person.  John Wesley’s last words were, “Best of all, God is with us.”  What an amazing legacy to leave.  D.L. Moody’s last words are reported to be, “If God be your partner, make your plans large.”  Regardless of what one’s final words are, they are only important if one has lived life well.  Living well often leads to dying well.  If we live in the knowledge of God’s saving grace, then we also can die in the knowledge of God’s saving grace.

Chapter 34 is the final chapter of the book of Deuteronomy.  Moses has seen the people tot  he edge of the promised land, he has ensured that the covenant between the people and God has been renewed, and he has commissioned Joshua to succeed him.  He is ready to die in peace.  This chapter speaks to the love the people have for Moses.  But it also speaks to the kind of man that Moses was and the Godly life he led.  The Scripture states that no prophet has risen up that did the mighty things that Moses did.  He lived life boldly, obediently, and got to experience the wondrous deeds of God.  Moses had an incredible legacy.

I often say that at the end of our lives, only three things matter: who we’ve loved, who’s loved us, and what we have done for the Lord.  Moses came to the end of his life and did well in each of those categories.  What about your life?  Is there an area that needs work? Will you have regrets or be satisfied and thankful?  As we close out the book of Deuteronomy, take some time to reflect on these questions.  What kind of legacy will you leave?

Take some time to read the psalm and Luke 13.  I’m not going into great depth about them because I feel like this Deuteronomy passage leaves us a lot to reflect on and pray about.

Blessings to all of you,

Pastor Vicki

Daily Dose of Hope

June 23, 2024

Day 1 of Week 13

Scripture:  Deuteronomy 27-31; Luke 12

Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Bible reading plan.  We are starting week 13 today!  Can you believe it?  I am learning so much.  I hope you are too.  Give me an occasional message – I love your feedback.  Let’s start with Deuteronomy.  We are covering chapters 27-31 today.

Chapter 27 details the curses that will come to the Israelites if they deliberately sin against the Lord.  The curses range from idolatry to leading the blind astray.  These were sins against God and others.  Chapter 28 details the blessings that will come upon the Israelites if they obey the laws that God has given them. It also lists the curses that will come upon them if they fail to obey the laws and uphold their side of the covenant.  God would reveal himself through the people of Israel.  He would do this by blessing them so much that the rest of the world would know God blessed them or he would curse them so much that the rest of the world would know God cursed them.  One way or another, God would be revealed. 

While we live on the other side of the cross under a new covenant, God still wants to reveal himself to us. We see the hand of God in so many things: a sunset, answered prayer, a strong conviction, a word from God as we pray or read Scripture, or simply his supernatural comfort and presence.  How has God revealed himself to you this week?  Make sure you share this with at least one other person in your life.

Chapter 29 talks about the assembly.  It’s described with unusual fullness-the leaders, chief men, elders, officials, other men of Israel, wives, children, and even foreigners. Everybody was included in the covenant.  Yes, the covenant was meant to be for the whole body but it also included individual people from all walks of life.  They all were committing to a covenant renewal with God, just as they were on the cusp of moving into the promised land.  Remember, the original covenant was made at Horeb with their parents.  That wasn't sufficient.  This new generation needed to commit themselves to the Lord and recognize their own responsibility in the covenant.

God doesn't have grandchildren, only children.  This passage reminds me of this truth.  Our children must make a commitment to God on their own, they must have their own faith. They cannot ride on our coattails.  The new generation of Jews heading into Canaan had to make anew commitment to God on their own, just as our children must make a commitment to God in their own right.  There are some religions in which you are born into that tradition. While you might be born into a Christian family, you aren't born a Christian. Rather, it's a decision that each individual must make on their own.  Will I follow the Lord or will I not?  I can't make thatcommitment for my kids anymore than you can make that commitment for yours. How are you encouraging the next generation of young people to follow Jesus?  Is there a young person in your life that you currently pray for and disciple? What specific actions do weas a church need to make to lead children and young adults into a life of faith?

Okay, let’s talk about Luke 12. There is a lot of great stuff in this chapter and we could probably go into depth with each section.  But I thought we could talk about the section on worry.  I actually have several of these verses printed out and hanging in my bathroom so I can read them every day, multiple times a day.

What is it about us and worry?  I have struggled with worry and anxiety for most of my life!  I finally had to admit to myself that worrying is lack of trust in God.  After all, God loves me and God has promised to care for me.  He cares for the birds of the fields; certainly he cares for me.  This doesn’t mean things will always go my way.   Nor does it absolve me of responsibility in life.  I still need to work hard and get things done.  But I can know that I know that God is with me and God wants to take care of my needs. 

For me, I’ve found the antidote to worry is prayer.  Pray often, pray fervently, pray sincerely.  I go through a visual exercise of giving my worry to Jesus.  Sometimes I hand it right to Jesus.  Other times, I lay it at the foot of the cross.  Then, I have to make the decision to not pick it back up.  It takes discipline to give our worry to Jesus; I’ve had to practice this many times.  But it’s life-changing.  When I give my worry to Jesus, I know it’s in good hands.  And worry no longer steals my joy and monopolizes my thinking.  I am free, knowing the God’s got this.

Blessings,

Pastor Vicki

Daily Dose of Hope June 20, 2024, Day 5 Week 12  Scripture: Deuteronomy Chapter 23-26: the gospel of Luke Chapter 11

Welcome back to the daily dose of hope, the devotional and podcast that complements New Hope Church’s Bible reading plan. 

Let’s get into our scripture today: Today our chapters of scriptures deal with purity. All of these laws are geared in conjunction with the seventh through the tenth commandment. These passages of scriptures begin with lengthy commands about keeping the land and people pure. It is interesting that purity is maintained by excluding inacceptable groups from being part of Israel’s religious community. The gathering was not a matter of sin. It was a ceremonial rule meant to teach Israel the need for perfection before the Lord. 

Even when the army camps out during war, they must keep themselves pure going as far as burying their waste underground. There was a righteous way to be cleansed from bodily emission and to disposed of daily waste in order to keep the camp ceremonially clean so that our Holy God could dwell among his people. Moses was stern in his direction of not allowing the Israelites to defile the land. Cult prostitution was prevalent in Canaan at this time therefore Moses continually warns the Israelites not to be tempt with evil by patronize the Canaanite prostitute. Their wages earned if brought into the house of the Lord would defile it as a form of wicked worship. Our God is righteous in all that he does whether in covenant relationship or not. It is evident how he showed love in providing asylum to fugitive slaves by letting them live and not returning them to their masters.

As we move along through the text Moses continue with commands given by God that promote social responsibility in not taking possession of others. Our God believe in fairness and mercy for his people , but he did not exclude revenge when he felt it was justified. God wanted his people free to live in harmony, free of oppression. 1 Peter 3:8-10 states , “Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.” This happen because we place ourselves under God’s rule and authority. This text ends with a concluding exhortation of Moses reminding the Israelites what God had done and what things he required of them upon entering the promised land. In preparation to enter the promise land the Israelites were required to give a first fruit offering. A first fruit offering of their harvest was an opportunity for the people to remind themselves and to declare publicly that God had indeed given them the land as promise and the produce was the proof. Along with the offering, the Israelites were to recite the story of their deliverance from Egypt to never forget their progress.

This is our story too. We have broken God’s law as well. Some of us may escape them in this life, but God is not a liar. Moses concludes this lengthy message about Israel’s covenant relationship by calling them to commitment and obedience to his statutes and ordinances. Their responses were to obey God willingly and fully with their heart and soul. They affirmed that the Lord was their God and God response my making them a holy people to himself. As Christian the good news is we have this same hope. We will inherit every blessing promised in this text and more (2 Corinthians 1:20). We will enter the new and final garden of Eden in the new heavens and new earth (Revelation 21:1). We will be free from death, disease, and pain (Revelation 21:4). Best of all, we will be with Jesus. That’s what really makes the land good.

Moving to our New Testament text Luke Chapter 11 As Jesus continues to make his way to Jerusalem the gospel writer Luke make radical departure in Jesus’ biography from His ministry in performance to that of ministry through teaching and dialogue. This change in thinking in ministerial emphasis at this stage because of Jesus’ drift from Christology to ecclesiology. The decrease of His concern with proving his messianic identity and more concern with mentoring and discipling the twelve for kingdom extension. Jesus is now opened to providing skills to disciple and so when they ask him “Lord teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples. The model Jesus gave them replaced a sense of rivalry with a sense of camaraderie that included all who sought to be in the kingdom of God. This prayer let them know and informs us, that all who seek communion with the one true God are united a common heart toward a common goal which is made visible through relationship. The kingdom exists in relationship, in tension with God, with nature, with others, and with oneself. By tension I mean that if it were not for tension there would be no need for prayer, no desire to pray for the proper expression of one’s weaknesses and inabilities and thus for the proper expression of one’s dependence on God. 

After witnessing John, John’s disciples and Jesus’ prayer life. The disciple finally concludes if John needed to pray, and his disciples needed to know how to pray they also needed to learn how to pray. So, Jesus knowing their heart taught them to pray. Not only does Jesus give them a template on how to pray, but he follows up with conveying to the disciple the power of prayer through his example of perseverance. The power of prayer is seen in the ability to have one’s needs met, and the greatest is not material but spiritual blessing. The God, who has all things at his disposal, is readily available and eager to share all He has for those in need, who are in right relationship and on friendly terms with God.

Continuously moving  through the text Jesus’ again is confronted this time with his ability to cast out demons. Mainly because he does not cast them out the usual way by exorcism but uses  the power available in the kingdom of God. He was called the “ruler of the demons-Beelzebul. The bystanders did not believe Jesus was a demon they just really wanted to know if he was God or not. If they really wanted to know all they had to do was compare him with others in both word and performance. They refused to because it would condemn them and they would have had confessed Jesus as the Messiah, the Christ. Jesus, while not condemning the naysayers he contrasted  himself  with them. It is seen that Jesus is the stronger man who by his own authority and power with proper relationship with the father is able to subdue both the source and effect of evil. In so much that the unclean spirit became homeless and by the outworking of the kingdom of God had to search for a new home. The evil spirit search for a place of rest land him back in the man spirit leaving the man in worse condition then he was in the first place. Why? Because one must build a relationship with God. If evil does not find himself building relationship with God, and in the employment of God, there is nothing to stop the evil from returning and having a greater hold than before. The saying is true that everybody has to serve somebody-either the devil or the Lord. 

The crowd grew larger because of their witnessing Jesus ‘casting out the demons  so , they ask for a sign for the coming of the Messiah. Jesus replied angrily saying they were  evil and only evil people need a sign. Why did  he call them evil? They had  alternative motives  as they were not trying to turn away from their evil ways, rather they were trying to find excuses to stay in their wickedness. Jesus tells them the only sign that would  be given is “ the sign of Jonah the prophet.” Just as Jonah did for the people of Nineveh. Jesus would do similar in the future. The question  to consider, “Would these who demand a sign repent, and turn from their wicked way?” Jesus response to them that  those who accept Jesus and the kingdom as their own stand as a sign against those who reject him when the time comes. 

Kingdom living is living with the light within you. God knows who the difference between those who want to be the light and those who want who want to let the light shine forth. This was the reason Jesus in a private meal upon being question by a Pharisee concerning his washing before eating a meal. Jesus denounces the Pharisee and lawyers with six woes, because they were committed to external and the appearance of righteousness. Their actions caused others to miss the mark. We are in a relationship, and therefore in tension between what we are and what we are to become. This is why, even within relationships, there is plenty of room for growth. 

Finally, to be outside the kingdom may be both a conscious and unconscious decision, But, both a conscious and unconscious decision when brought to the light require a new decision. The kingdom exists in relationship, whether you are in or out. The basis is how you stand with Jesus. Until next week it is our goal as a congregation to read the bible in one year together as a family of faith. Five days a week we read. Two days rest or catch up. Reading the Bible is the way we increase and walk out our faith as believers. This is Pastor Lavetta, and this is the daily Dose of Hope. 

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 June 19, 2024, Day 4 of week 12

Scripture: Deuteronomy chapter 19 through 22, Psalm 6, and the gospel Luke chapter 10  Welcome back to the daily dose of hope, the devotional and podcast that complements New Hope Church’s Bible reading plan. 

Let get into our scripture today:  Chapter 19-22 of Deuteronomy continues to lay out the rules and laws that God expected the Israelites to govern themselves by. In essence God wants them to behave and learn to live together with mutual respect. All of these laws are geared in conjunction with the 6th commandments. "You shall not murder". The representative laws in these chapters all protected people who were vulnerable for one reason or another. Criminal law, specifically crimes against persons, is in view. God instructed Moses to cover the regulation that dealt with various circumstances the Israelites would have to encounter before they reach Canaan. God's concern for His people's possessions and reputations, as well as their lives, stands out clearly in these  chapters. What can we learn from this passage of scripture? Whatever we come up against God has our back. “Do not be afraid, for the LORD your God is with you.” A quote from God that often spoke to the Israelites. Understanding God’s love for his chosen people was key to him protecting them even in their rebellion.  To arrive at Canaan there had to be some sort of respect for human lives, but also the  Israelites needed to know how to protect themselves. Israel’s warfare as they journey to Canaan was not to eliminate their enemies. God just wanted peace among the people as the Israelites inhabit the land. God wanted them to possess. This section ends with various laws being enacted, one in particular is laws concerning sexual relations. These statues defended the sanctity of marriage, the purity and innocence of virginity, and the honor of a women’s reputation. One way they were to express faithfulness to God was by honoring the covenant of marriage. The same is true for us. 

Moving to Psalm 6. In this psalm, David is seeking to discover the reasons behind his suffering. He believes his suffering is the result of God disciplining him due to his sin. Like a son appealing to his father , he asks for relief from his earned rebuke. David had sin, and his spiritual condition has physical and emotional repercussions. How long would he have to suffer, he asked of the Lord? But notice David does not run from God; He runs to God. His pleads to  God was on the basis of his covenant and faithful love to God. He asks God to rescue him before he descended to the grave. He is confident the Lord heard his weeping plea for help and his prayer for mercy and deliverance has been accepted. He looks forward to how God would act on his behalf, turn back his enemies, and disgrace them for their deeds against God’s anointed one. As Christian we too can go to God for mercy and understanding according to (1 John 1:5-9) even in the context of our sin and failure because our covenant relationship with him through Jesus Christ. My friend that Good News for all of us. 

Lastly moving to the New Testament; Luke chapter 10. We continue looking at heading toward Jerusalem. This chapter of scripture brings us back to some familiar texts. The sending out of the seventy, the good Samaritan and a visit to Martha and Mary. Here we see Jesus draws away from public ministry and theological debates to focus on his continue preparation of his disciples for what will happen in Jerusalem. This was a kind of “internship,” a training time while Jesus was still with them. Although Jesus wanted those then and wants Christian now to spread the message concerning the teaching of the Kingdom of God. He knew it would not be a simple task. It was difficult to give a message many in the world did not want to hear then and now. Still, efforts to tell others about our savior is our Christian’s responsibility. If we do not tell them, who will? No matter the difficulty and rejection of God’s salvific invitation, we must rejoice over our God-appointed responsibility. To lead someone to have their names written in Heaven’s records along aside of ours. As I end this devotional podcast what will it take to get you out of your comfort zone? Here is your opportunity to fulfill God’s purpose for your life! Until tomorrow remember our goal as a congregation to read the bible in one year together as a family of faith. Five days a week we read. Two days rest or catch up. Reading the is the way we increase and walk out our faith as believers. This is Pastor Lavetta, and this is the daily Dose of Hope. 

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 June 18, 2024, Day 3 of week 12

Scripture: Deuteronomy chapter 15 through 18, Psalm 115, and Luke chapter 9  Welcome back to the daily dose of hope, the devotional and podcast that complements New Hope Church’s Bible reading plan. 

Let get into our scriptures today:  We begin with Moses telling the Israelites how God wants them to behave. Here we see God instructing his people to show concern for the welfare of every individual regardless of their economic or social status. In the Sabbatical year, which was seven years after a person accrued a debt. Everyone who has lent money to anyone must cancel the debt. It is interesting that God guarded against extreme wealth and extreme poverty. In God’s economy concessions were had for His people not to endure hardship. As we move further into the text, we see Moses repeating  the instructions regarding the  three most important feasts, which included sacrificial meals, that the people would eat at the tabernacle. These festival serves as a reminder of what God had done to deliver them out of  Egypt and a requirement of all Israelites male to assembled at the sanctuary three times a year to celebrate the Passover, the Pentecost, and Festival of Booth. It was a time to reflect on Israel allegiance to Yahweh, their Lord, and their God, on their redemption from sin, their spiritually enslaved condition, while rejoicing in God's provisions, corporately and regularly. This passage of scripture stressed legislation that advocated for respecting authority figures in the nation and to their extended family. God wanted Israel to show itself to be a holy nation. This means in religious worship as well as in political relationships. Moses stresses here the key principle of justice on how to behave in public. The chapter ends with Moses letting the people know God will raise another Prophet like him as a way to prepare them for Mose’ departure since he would not enter the promise land. Moses exhortation was a measuring stick to hold up against any prophet who claimed to speak in God’s name. Ultimately, Jesus would be the only prophet who will speak for God perfectly without any sin or impurity.

Moving to Psalm 115:

This psalm tells  us to trust in the LORD. This means, believe what the LORD says, and wait until on him  to send you help when you need it. The important thing that the psalm teaches us is there is only one God. All other gods are man-made and cannot do anything to help us. The God that we serve is the God in heaven and he does whatever he please. God is sovereign! Our job on earth is to believe and praise the Lord. Only if we acknowledge him now will we be with him forever. In death it is too late to make this decision.

Moving to the New Testament the gospel of Luke Chapter 9

This is a familiar text to most of us where Jesus began to prepare the twelve for what had to take place in Jerusalem. Once Peter reveal Jesus to be the Messiah. Jesus validated his mission to the disciples as being the Messiah and he would be rejected by Israel religious leaders to be killed, buried  and then raised on the third day. This conversation allowed Jesus’ to communicate to the disciples some expectation of what life would be like to serve as a disciple. In preparation eight days later, Jesus took his inner circle of disciples, Peter, John, and James to the mountain where Jesus was transformed as Moses and Elijah appeared in glory speaking of his departure once he accomplished his mission  in Jerusalem. All of the other passage deals with Jesus divine powers and authority in the earth. This chapter ends with Jesus explaining who is fit for the kingdom of God. No one who looks back is fit for the kingdom. To all who want to have it both ways, Jesus insist that loyalty to him mean following him. As Christians, we  have a responsibility to share the gospel. We must still share it even when it is rejected by unbelievers. Remember, as believers, we’re called to share even when it’s challenging. Until tomorrow remember it is our goal as a congregation to read the bible in one year together as a family of faith because reading the Bible is the way we increase and walk out our faith as believers. This is Pastor Lavetta, and this is the daily dose of hope. 

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