The Daily Breadcast

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Genesis 7-10

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Genesis 4-6

Read the Bible with me from start to finish:

Genesis 1-3

“Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.” ‭‭Romans‬ ‭12‬:‭10‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Competition seems to come to mind.

Competition implies

• Keeping score
• Winner/Loser
• Relentless pursuit of a goal
• Determination to succeed
• Boasting in a win
• Sulking in a loss
• Reflection in how to improve
• Trying to be the best
• Putting pieces in place while training, and practicing until you are tested

2 Samuel 16:5-14

5 Now when King David came to Bahurim, there was a man from the family of the house of Saul, whose name was Shimei the son of Gera, coming from there. He came out, cursing continuously as he came. 6 And he threw stones at David and at all the servants of King David. And all the people and all the mighty men were on his right hand and on his left. 7 Also Shimei said thus when he cursed: “Come out! Come out! You bloodthirsty man, you rogue! 8 The Lord has brought upon you all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose place you have reigned; and the Lord has delivered the kingdom into the hand of Absalom your son. So now you are caught in your own evil, because you are a bloodthirsty man!”  9 Then Abishai the son of Zeruiah said to the king, “Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Please, let me go over and take off his head!”  10 But the king said, “What have I to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah? So let him curse, because the Lord has said to him, ‘Curse David.’ Who then shall say, ‘Why have you done so?’ ”  11 And David said to Abishai and all his servants, “See how my son who came from my own body seeks my life. How much more now may this Benjamite? Let him alone, and let him curse; for so the Lord has ordered him. 12 It may be that the Lord will look on my affliction, and that the Lord will repay me with good for his cursing this day.” 13 And as David and his men went along the road, Shimei went along the hillside opposite him and cursed as he went, threw stones at him and kicked up dust.  

Have you ever been cursed? … Cussed at, belittled, someone with such rage toward you that you were ravaged with insults and an attempt was made to make you feel lower than dirt?

Jake was a resident of an orphan’s home, one of ten children supported by what contributions the home could secure on a continuous struggle. There was very little to eat, but at Christmas there always seemed to be a little more than usual to eat, and the home seemed a little warmer. It was a time for more than usual enjoyment, but more than this, there was the orange. At Christmas time, each child received an orange; the only time of year that such a rare item was provided… and it was coveted by each child like no other thing they ever possessed. They would save it for several days, admiring it, feeling it, loving it, and contemplating the moment when they would eat it. Truly, it was a “piece de resistance” to the Christmas tide, and the year, for many would wait until New Year’s Day or later to eat it.

Exodus 14:13-14 - And Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever. 14 The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.”

We live in a world where everyone wants to be seen as perfect, or somehow like the standard of humanity. The best looking, the best life, the best … whatever. We live in a fake world.

In order to maintain this standard, people put on an elaborate show for the world to see. That’s all we see in social media… the things people want to show, the absolute best of their lives. They doll themselves up and essentially do it for their own vanity. The whole thing is a sham. Appearing to you only to get your attention, at the expense of your attention. At the expense of your praise and trying to gain value by you expending your time, energy, thoughts, etc…

Another way people try to maintain this standard for others to see requires lies and manipulation at your expense. After the curtain was drawn back, it seems that I have fallen prey to this. Because to the world, there is one story told about me, but behind the curtain, there is a barrage of insults, claims that contradict all the story outwardly told. Social media posts or group texts that proclaim one thing, and then private phone calls and texts that say another thing all together.

The hardest thing to do is keep quiet and not jump to defend ourselves. What does jumping to defense accomplish?

Teams/teamwork is scattered throughout the Bible

• The 12 sons of Israel working together in Genesis
• Each of the 12 tribes
• Moses their Coach in the wilderness
• Joshua their coach throughout the conquest of Canaan
• The different armies under kings Saul, David, etc
• The people who went with Nehemiah to rebuild Judah and the walls of Jerusalem
• The disciples of Jesus during His ministry
• The Apostles

Teams always have a goal in mind, and success is generally defined by whatever that goal is.

• Jacob’s sons getting through the famine together
• Israelites escaping Egypt & surviving the wilderness and conquering Canaan 
• Establishment of the kingdom of Israel under the different kings
• Rebuilding Judah after it burned
• Spreading the message of Christ to the whole world

Using all 4 Gospels, I tried to put all accounts together in a single reading incorporating all parts of each gospel account. Beginning from the time Jesus died on the cross.

I may have gotten some out of order, but I tried to make it chronologically make sense to me based on the wordings of each account.

Using all 4 Gospels, I tried to put all accounts together in a single reading incorporating all parts of each gospel account. Beginning from the time they led him out of the Garden of Gethsemane.

I may have gotten some out of order, but I tried to make it chronologically make sense to me based on the wordings of each account.