Here is today's communion meditation.

 The other day I came across Numbers 33:51-52 which says, "When you cross the Jordan into the land of Canaan, 52 you must drive out before you all the inhabitants of the land, destroy all their carved images and cast idols, and demolish all their high places."

This reminded me of 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 which says, "The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ."

When the people crossed over into the promised land they were to demolish all of the high places. In a similar way, for us to take our promised land and step into all of the promises of God we must demolish every argument and imagination that exalts itself against the knowledge of God and His standard of grace. 

In today's communion we are asking God to help us demolish strongholds so that we take possession of and get established in His promises. 

Today's Health and Fitness Tip

There are some strongholds in the area of our health that must be demolished. These are usually belief systems and arguments for how to do things that are based on what the world has taught us, not God's way. 

I am praying for you.

Daniel

Here is today's communion meditation.

 1 Peter 5:7-10 says, " Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time; 7 casting all your anxiety upon him, because he cares for you. 8 Be sober, be watchful: your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walks about, seeking whom he may devour: withstand him steadfast in your faith, knowing that the same sufferings are accomplished in your brethren who are in the world. 10 And the God of all grace, who called you unto his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, shall himself perfect, establish, strengthen you."

To be steadfast in our faith is to be fixed, immovable, and consistent. I think our fight of faith is to keep out focus on God when there are issues and problems going on around us, because we trust that God is with us, he loves us, and nothing is impossible for him. 

God's love is described as steadfast and we can be steadfast knowing that His love for us is consistent. 

In today's communion we are asking God to help us be steadfast in our faith. 

Today's Health and Fitness Tip

One of the goals in our health and fitness is to be steadfast and consistent, even when it's not convenient. 

I am praying for you.

Daniel

Here is this week's Yearly Cycle update.

We are moving into the wintertime, a season of the year when many transitions happen. Don’t be surprised if God starts shifting things around. If you are in a leadership position, there will often be some shifts in people during this time. During transitions, be patient.

God transitions things slowly so that nothing tears or breaks. We just finished going through the heat of the year, and now we are moving into the colder season. We can’t just move from hot to cold. Imagine putting hot glass in a freezer. It would break.

In this season, God will often slow things down and cause some unexpected delays. This is a time when things just seem to sit on the shelf and cool for a while. If you have been through the fire this year, don’t be surprised if it seems like you are just waiting for a season. If this happens, be of good cheer—because it means that God is actually lining things up perfectly. These delays and slowdowns may be frustrating, but God knows the perfect timing, and a few months from now you will actually look back and be grateful for  the delay.. 

Here is our filter for this week... Cooling Off

I am praying for you. 

Daniel

Here is today's communion meditation.

 In Daniel chapter 5 a hand appears and starts writing on the wall. The king is trying to understand what the writing on the wall means and someone tells him:

"There is a man in your kingdom who has the spirit of the holy gods in him. In the days of your father he was found to have insight, intelligence, and wisdom like that of the gods. Your father, King Nebuchadnezzar, appointed him chief of the magicians, enchanters, astrologers, and diviners. Your own father, the king, 12 did this because Daniel, the one he named Belteshazzar, was found to have an extraordinary spirit, as well as knowledge, understanding, and the ability to interpret dreams, explain riddles, and solve difficult problems."

The spirit of God within Daniel gave him wisdom, understanding, knowledge and the ability to solve difficult problems because he had wisdom from above. 

Today's communion is a time of gratitude that we have the spirit of God and the ability to solve difficult problems and we are asking God to help us function in this the way he desires. 

Today's Health and Fitness Tip

When lifting weights make sure to grip/hold them firmly. The hands are made to secure things, and when we hold the weights firmly it strengthens the whole body. 

I am praying for you.

Daniel

Here is today's communion meditation.

In Luke 22 Jesus told Peter that Satan wanted to sift him like wheat but then Jesus said, "But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”

Recently I heard someone say that the phrase, "that your faith may not fail," can actually be translated as "that your faith may not become inactive." Sometime the pressures of life can feel overwhelming to the point where our faith becomes inactive, but we need to keep exercising our faith, even if it's only in small amounts. 

There is a phrase that's repeated all throughout the Bible that says, "if you would see with your eyes, hear with your ears, understand with your heart, and turn," then on the other side of the turning is where the healing, refreshing, and good things are. 

In my book, "The 8th Date," we talk about how understanding God's grace is what leads to the turning. When we understand that even when we miss it and fall short that God is still working for our good, then that understanding leads to turning back to him. And once we turn back to him it's time to strengthen our brothers. 

In today's communion we are asking God to help us have a consistently active faith, to turn to him in any areas that we need to, and to help us strengthen our brothers. 

Today's Health and Fitness Tip

If you are on track with your health and fitness one of the best ways to get to the next level is to teach someone else. 

I am praying for you.

Daniel

Here is today's communion meditation.

 Lately I've been seeing some things talking about circuits or closing a circuit. 

This reminded me 1 Samuel 7:15-17, " So Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life. 16 Every year he would go on a circuit from Bethel to Gilgal to Mizpah, judging Israel in all these places. 17Then he would return to Ramah because his home was there, and there he judged Israel and built an altar to the LORD."

Samuel would go on a circuit throughout Israel. To go a circuit is to come full circle and come to completion. 

In today's communion we are asking God to help us close circuits in our lives and bring things full circle. 

Today's Health and Fitness Tip

Our muscles open and close, and a lot of joint pain comes from muscles that aren't fully able to open or close. This can be restored by training our body to move through better ranges of motion. 

I am praying for you.

Daniel

Here is today's communion meditation.

Lately I've been thinking about Deuteronony 32:20 which says, How could one man chase a thousand, or two put ten thousand to flight, unless their Rock had sold them, unless the Lord had given them up?"

In our natural minds this math doesn't make sense. If we though of this like a business, one person can generate $1,000 but two people can generate $10,000. That is $5,000 each instead of only $1,000 by doing something by yourself. 

There is a synergy that happens when people work together that is hard to explain. 

In today's communion we are asking God to help us work in synergy with people so that our results grow exponentially. 

Today's Health and Fitness Tip

One of the best ways to accelerate progress is to find a good workout partner. 

I am praying for you.

Daniel

Here is today's communion meditation.

We are in a time of the year when God often starts moving the pieces around to transition us to the next level. But during these transitions he often slows things down. And during these times we must remember to wait on the Lord. If we are unsure which direction to go, we should also wait on the Lord.

Isaiah 40:31 says, "But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.

In today's communion we are asking God to help us wait on him the way he desires so that he can renew our strength. 

Today's Health and Fitness Tip

We need the ability to go fast and slow. One of the qualities to develop in our fitness is the ability to slow down and apply the brakes. An easy way to practice this is by lowering the weight down slowly on the last rep of an exercise. 

I am praying for you.

Daniel

Here is today's communion meditation.

 Right after Jesus fed the multitudes from a little bit of fish and bread the disciples got into the boat to cross the sea and started arguing about how they didn't have enough bread. 

Jesus looked at them and said in Mark 8:17-18, “Why are you debating about having no bread? Do you still not see or understand? Do you have such hard hearts? 18‘Having eyes, do you not see? And having ears, do you not hear?’ And do you not remember?…

The disciples had seen God take care of everyone, but they very quickly forgot. 

Today's communion is a time to remember God is with us, he loves us, and nothing is impossible for him. 

Today's Health and Fitness Tip

Exercise is also a great time to remember that God is with us and that he wants to do the work through us. 

I am praying for you.

Daniel

Here is today's communion meditation.

 In Luke 19 is the parable of the minas. And in this story the master tells the servants to take what he's given them and "do business until I come back."

I find it interesting that he didn't say to give the minas away, he said to do business with them.

In the original Greek, the word used for business can mean trade, invest, or manage for a profit.  

In today's communion we are asking God to help us do business the way he desires.

Today's Health and Fitness Tip

Keep going for walks with God. 

I am praying for you.

Daniel