Over the next two weeks, the Daily Devo will be focusing on Matthew 5, and more specifically - the BEATITUDES. This section of Matthew 5 comes from a sermon that Jesus gives called the "Sermon on the Mount." We'll be looking at a new Beatitude each day, but today we're looking at "why" Jesus says they're important signs of character to the world beyond us. So we can be a LIGHT to the world around us, so God gains glory as His kids show off what it means to be His through the light we give off!

Our passage today is:   Matthew 5:16

This week's Daily Devo theme is an empowering force that keeps us going. Our theme this week is HOPE. When we face tough things in life that are unavoidable, no matter how much we stress about them - at some point, we'll have to face them. Jesus offers us hope in that space... that the troubles and hardships of life, though real and difficult - do happen, but won't last forever. In fact, we're able to draw hope from the reality that one day all of life will be made right and we'll be on the other side of this challenge, and into an eternity of rest in Jesus!

Our passage today is:   Isaiah 40:31

This week's Daily Devo theme is an empowering force that keeps us going. Our theme this week is HOPE. Sometimes free isn't entirely as clean and simple as "free." In our passage today, we look at how Paul encourages us to rejoice in the hope we have in Christ, and pray continuously, staying close to the Father... but also to be patient in tribulation. Sandwiched in between these two awesome things... is another, seemingly non-awesome thing... but it's an important ingredient that we (even if we don't realize it) really need!

Our passage today is:   Romans 12:12

This week's Daily Devo theme is an empowering force that keeps us going. Our theme this week is HOPE. When we want something to be true, it can be easy to convince ourselves of delusions and fantasies... but with God, the HOPE that we have is certain. So certain, in fact, that God gave us Himself as a despot for when Jesus comes back and fulfills His promise to set up rule here, again on earth... that Deposit? His Name is the Holy Spirit!

Our passage today is:   Romans 5:5

This week's Daily Devo theme is an empowering force that keeps us going. Our theme this week is HOPE. It's easy to hope in what we've seen, and what we know. God will sometimes invite us to step out into the unknown, like a "spiritual trust fall" in order to strengthen our faith and hope in Him. When we trust Him, and allow our HOPE to propel us towards His calling, we start to see and believe that He's always got us, even when we feel nervous about falling towards Him. 

Our passage today is:   Hebrews 11:1

This week's Daily Devo theme is an empowering force that keeps us going. Our theme this week is HOPE. As we face the world ahead of us, one of the most important things we can take with us is hope. Hope for the destination beyond the next destination... hope for the circumstance beyond the circumstance... and hope for the life after life. We don't have to wait, however, for that hope to take root and bear fruit... we can have hope now, and walk in the power and reality of all that is to come, even now! Today, we look at how a young King David understood this, even as he faced the biggest giant of them all. His hope was never rocked, but it did rock... get it?!

Our passage today is:  1 Samuel 17:45

This week's theme is an important one, but one that we often overlook - so that we can look more at ourselves. This week's theme is HUMILITY. If you're following along with us in real time it's been a heavy week, with some really awful things that have happened... but this week has offered an important reminder that our words have power. We can build up or break down, and my hope and plea is for you to choose words of life. It's what Christ showed, even under the most distressing realities of his crucifixion, as he prayed for our forgiveness in the midst of our ignorance. May we offer words of life to everyone, including those whose words bring us death, just like they did to Jesus. 

Our passage today is:  Proverbs 18:21

This week's theme is an important one, but one that we often overlook - so that we can look more at ourselves. This week's theme is HUMILITY. Sometimes life turns us over, and disorients us... sometimes we feel hidden or unseen, and still - God wants us to know He's there, He sees us and He has plans, even for our dark, hidden and unseen days. He is always at work and He cares for us. When we believe this and live out of that awareness, we're free to face whatever the days bring with joy - because He's writing the story, we just get to experience it. 

Our passage today is:  1 Peter 5:6-7

This week's theme is an important one, but one that we often overlook - so that we can look more at ourselves. This week's theme is HUMILITY. Humility isn't just about not thinking about yourself all the time... sometimes it's about thinking about yourself properly. We are needy, helpless and completely dependent upon Jesus for access to His Kingdom, no matter what good we do, and no matter how much of it we do. Humility is recognizing our need, and not thinking too highly of our efforts... but thinking all the more highly about all Christ has done for us, in our place!

Our passage today is:  Matthew 5:3

This week's theme is an important one, but one that we often overlook - so that we can look more at ourselves. This week's theme is HUMILITY. Humility is one of the most evident character traits of Jesus, and the one He calls us to so often, in following His example. Jesus thought less of his own well-being, in order that others might benefit from all He had. His salvation, His forgiveness and His provision... he offers to us, that we might have what we didn't earn. He calls us to think less of ourselves, and more of the needs and concerns of others as well! 

Our passage today is:  Philippians 2:3-4