The world is getting darker, more perplexing, more frustrating, more anxious. In the midst of all of that, there is hope. There is a design for how believers should live their life. There is a course for us to follow. In today's podcast devotional we look at the Journey and the Name, the fundamental components that give our life meaning and purpose.

"When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to him and said, 'I am God Almighty; walk before me faithfully and be blameless." Genesis 17:1

The LORD said to Moses, "Chisel out two stone tablets like the first ones, and I will write on them the words that were on the first tablets, which you broke. Be ready in the morning, and then come up on Mount Sinai. Present yourself to me there on top of the mountain. No one is to come with you or be seen anywhere on the mountain; not even the flocks and herds may graze in front of the mountain." So Moses chiseled out two stone tablets like the first ones and went up Mount Sinai early in the morning, as the LORD had commanded him; and he carried the two stone tablets in his hands. Then the LORD came down in the cloud and stood there with him and proclaimed his name, the LORD. And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, "The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation." Moses bowed to the ground at once and worshiped. Exodus 34:1-8

Additional Reading

If you are interested in a really cool personal Bible Study into the names of God see here.

The Names of God in the Old Testament – Study Tools

This is the book by Charnock I referenced in the podcast episode.

I didn't mention this one but if you are wanting to study this topic out, here is another good one.

 

What Is Going On in Hong Kong – Background On the Hong Kong Protests

Read today's Daily Update here. 

 

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In the course of life, many of us take different approaches to our faith and pursuit of God. In today's podcast devotional JB Shreve looks at three of those approaches and the one he considers the better way. It is called practicing the presence of God. Life is a journey and if our destination brings us here there is greater contentment and peace.

But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand.  The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.” Matthew 7:26-27

Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:29-30

Additional Resources: 

* Bio of Brother Lawrence

* Find More Podcast Devotionals Here

If you'd like to read the book referenced in today's podcast devotional, Practice of the Presence of God, see the link below:

Find today's Daily Update here.

Growing unrest, division, chaos, and crisis surrounds us. In the midst of these moments, we are reminded we were made to live in these times. God promised that everything that can be shaken will be shaken.

In today's podcast devotional JB Shreve looks at God's Biblical promise and purpose to shake the earth and the heavens - everything attached to creation is bound to this fate. This is the time to identify what we are made of. Are we made of that which can be shaken or that which can remain stable and endure?

And His voice shook the earth then, but now He has promised, saying, “YET ONCE MORE I WILL SHAKE NOT ONLY THE EARTH, BUT ALSO THE HEAVEN.”  This expression, “Yet once more,” denotes the removing of those things which can be shaken, as of created things, so that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.  Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe; for our God is a consuming fire. Hebrews 12:26-29

Find today's daily update here. 

Which lives matter? This is the question JB Shreve looks at in today's podcast devotional as he examines the origins of our focus on self and individualism came from. This is the basis for the nation-state system and countless systems of injustice in the world today. It is not the design of God.

Now the whole world had one language and a common speech.  As people moved eastward, they found a plain in Shinar and settled there. They said to each other, “Come, let’s make bricks and bake them thoroughly.” They used brick instead of stone, and tar for mortar.  Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves; otherwise we will be scattered over the face of the whole earth.” But the Lord came down to see the city and the tower the people were building.  The Lord said, “If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them.  Come, let us go down and confuse their language so they will not understand each other.” So the Lord scattered them from there over all the earth, and they stopped building the city. That is why it was called Babel—because there the Lord confused the language of the whole world. From there the Lord scattered them over the face of the whole earth. Genesis 11:1-9

So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith,  for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.  There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.  If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise. Galatians 3:26-28

The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp.  The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it.  On no day will its gates ever be shut, for there will be no night there.  The glory and honor of the nations will be brought into it.  Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life. Revelation 21:23-27

In today's podcast devotional, Beware the Mob, JB Shreve looks at the growth of protests across the country in the last two weeks. Is this really the solution to injustice? Is this really the path to finding light in the midst of darkness? We live in times of extremism. All around us are extreme crises, extreme injustice, and also extreme deception. We need to be cautious regarding what we give our hearts and minds to in this hour.

“There is a way that appears right, but in the end it leads to death.” Proverbs 14:12

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:2

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In today's podcast devotional JB Shreve looks at the idea of a "righteous nation." He examines what scripture says about a nation that is walking in line to God's will for comparison to many of our assumptions.

For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in,  I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?  When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you?  When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ Matthew 25:34-40

People who don't take care of their relatives, and especially their own families, have given up their faith. They are worse than someone who doesn't have faith in the Lord. 1 Timothy 5:8

 

JB Shreve looks at the multiple deaths of unarmed African-Americans that have dominated the media and cultural landscape in recent days. The cry of a believer's heart should be one for justice at this time, but what does that look like? What is the Biblical perspective?

Scripture References in this Podcast Devotional on Justice

“Give justice to the weak and the fatherless; maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute,” Psalm 82:3

“Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, and plead the widow’s cause,” Isaiah 1:17

He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” Micah 6:8

That which is born of flesh is flesh, that which is born of Spirit, is spirit. John 3:6

When all Israel heard of the judgment which the king had handed down, they feared the king, for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him to administer justice. 1 Kings 3:28

Learn More About the Death of George Floyd

* The Death of George Floyd

Follow our Daily Updates with JB Shreve & the End of History here.

JB and Casie Shreve continue to look at the idea of "journeying" and "pilgrimage." Today they look at the importance of a correct future focus and the dangers with being tied to closely to the present or the past.

We remember the fish we ate in Egypt at no cost—also the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions and garlic.  But now we have lost our appetite; we never see anything but this manna!” Numbers 11:5,6

But Lot’s wife looked back, and she became a pillar of salt. Genesis 19:26

When we journey through life in God we recognize the reality of seasons. In today's podcast devotionals JB Shreve is joined by Justin Petron and Jose Tenas, two friends at different seasons of their life and home. The way we interact with the seasons and timing of God helps to shape our contentment and joy in the season.

There is a time for everything,

and a season for every activity under the heavens:

a time to be born and a time to die,

a time to plant and a time to uproot,

a time to kill and a time to heal,

a time to tear down and a time to build,

a time to weep and a time to laugh,

a time to mourn and a time to dance,

a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,

a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,

a time to search and a time to give up,

a time to keep and a time to throw away,

a time to tear and a time to mend,

a time to be silent and a time to speak,

a time to love and a time to hate,

a time for war and a time for peace.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

Godliness and contentment is great gain. 1 Timothy 6:6

The great concern with the pandemic now is the threat of a second wave. For weeks we have been watching this in our daily updates. Every day a different government source or research team raises the alarm of some new sign that a second wave of the coronavirus is coming.

What is the second wave? Most of us know in theory, but where did this idea come from, and why is it so concerning? In this podcast episode, we look at the second wave threat from three different angles.

The History of the Second Wave

First, we look at the unique history of the second wave in the 1918 Spanish Flu pandemic. Believe it or not, the idea of a second surge of new infections was not a significant concern in disease outbreaks until this time. The second wave of 1918 was kind of the granddaddy of all of them. What caused it and what stopped it during the great global pandemic one hundred years ago? Is there anything we can learn from that event for today?

The deaths of the Spanish Flu in the second wave of 1918 far exceeded the first wave.

Current Events

We look at what is going on today that raises alarms for a second wave. Cases in New York are falling. Does that mean we are past the threat? We outline some of the facts and figures you should be paying attention to over the next few weeks.

States with at least 500 newly confirmed cases in the last 24 hours, coronavirus hot spots. May 22, 2020, Daily Pandemic Update

Scripture

Last up, we look at what scripture can show us about how to respond to an environment and crisis like we are experiencing today. Thanks to a review of the story of Noah in Genesis 7 and 8, JB Shreve offers a unique perspective on how believers can be strong and find direction during a crisis and even this unique threat. Is it time to come out of the ark yet?

Additional Reading/Listening:

* What History Tells Us About a Second Wave

* Plagued - Humanity's History with Disease, Outbreaks, and Pandemic