Author: David LaFrance

Today’s Reading:  Leviticus 8; Psalm 9; Proverbs 23; 1 Thessalonians 2

I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart; I will recount all your wonderful deeds. Psalm 9:1

How many times do we say thank you throughout your day?  Some of our thank you’s can just role right of the tongue possibly without eye contact with the person you are talking with. Other times saying thank you can bring you to your knees with tears of joy.  Whether your thank you’s are out-loud or part of a prayer how often are they said with your whole heart?

Psalm 9:1 is a convicting and inspiring verse for me. I know, personally I have been at both ends of the spectrum with my use of saying “thank you“.  Examples can include; the everyday exchanges of small talk thank you ( E.g. How are you today? Good, thank you!). A joyful, open arms, heartfelt, eye watering,  thank you that you have with God for your significant other when you find out they are alright after a scare, for your child and wife while in labor, (and every instance that comes after that where your child or spouse requires serious medical attention) a family member uniting with their another family after time away of not seeing each other, a mother who loses one of her twins during pregnancy and thankfully prays for the health of the other. The thank you share when hearing or seeing testimonies of a people who’s lives have been changed through God. We have so much to be thankful for, we just need to stop and recognize and recount these blessings.

God has provided a life for us that deserves a whole hearted “thank you”.  Everyday is different and whatever way you spend your hours, minutes,  and seconds in a day, everything deserves praise and thanksgiving. It’s so easy just gloss over the amazing deeds He provides like we deserve them? God wants us to be thankful, He has provided and will provide all our trials and joyful moments. Our challenge is one of being whole hearted in being thankful during these times.  I often take what we have for granite without taking more time to recount His wonderful deeds. In our prayer life you may have been taught the acronym A.C.T.S or P.R.A.I.S.E pattern for praying.  This was recently discussed in our small group and reminded me about giving thanks during each of our prayers.  ACTS stands for Adoration, Confirmation, Thanksgiving, and Supplementation. PRAISE stands for Praise, Repentance, Ask, Intercede, Speak, Enjoy. Both patterns require us to thank God for who He is and all He has done. Whether you use either one or neither format for praying God has purposely put people and events that deserve whole heart thank you’s  in our journey towards an eternal destination with Him.  He has a reason for everything.

Here are a few verses to highlight verses that refer to giving thanks or being thankful.

Numbers 11:4-6 ⁴ Now the rabble that was among them had a strong craving. And the people of Israel also wept again and said, “Oh that we had meat to eat!⁵ We remember the fish we ate in Egypt that cost nothing, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic. ⁶ But now our strength is dried up, and there is nothing at all but this manna to look at.” (just like the Israelites are we grateful for what God has given us or are we always thinking about what we would like to have? Some situations God puts us in helps develop an attitude of being grateful)

1 Chronicles 16:8-34 David’s Song of Thanks – (a continuous part of life)

Psalm 86:12 I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart, and I will glorify your name forever.

Psalm 92:1-2 It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to your name, O Most High;² to declare your steadfast love in the morning, and your faithfulness by night, (all day long!)

Psalm 138: 1-3 I give you thanks, O Lord, with my whole heart; before the gods I sing your praise;² I bow down toward your holy temple and give thanks to your name for your steadfast love and your faithfulness, for you have exalted above all things your name and your word. ³ On the day I called, you answered me; my strength of soul you increased. (in all areas of life)

Luke 17:16 and he fell on his face at Jesus’ feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan. (demonstrated by the Leper)

Ephesians 5:20 giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, (for God’s strength)

Colossians 3:16 And be thankful. ¹⁶ Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. (increasing your thankfulness)

1 Thessalonians 5:18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. (how to give thanks in everything)

Hebrews 12:28 Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, (we receive a kingdom that cannot be shaken)

Dear God,

We lovingly thank you for all you do. You love us and have given a grace we don’t deserve. Lord I pray you will lead us along the path you want us to take giving us the recognition to pause and recount your amazing blessings you fill our day with. Help me to live in balance and not chase after things that are not of your will. Help us to think of you every time we say Thank You and lift up your name knowing its all in your hands.  God thank you for your Son Jesus and providing us with the Word to guide us along this journey to an eternal destiny that is with you.

Amen

 

 

 

Today’s Reading: Exodus 26; John 5; Proverbs 2; Galatians 1

I’ve heard the idiom that “a mother’s work is never done.” I see this idiom lived out daily in our lives as our two energetic, imaginative, loving boys  play from sun up to sun down and then some.  Thank you to my wife, Jennifer, for being such a wonderful mother and a blessing to our children. I can also say this phrase is true when you have to raise a son like myself.(Sorry mom) The phrase, a parents work is never done, is also true. I’m sure all parents will agree with me. So when I read through today’s reading I paused on John 5:17 When Jesus says to the Jews after healing a paralyzed man, “My Father is working until now, and I am working.” To me, I think how Jesus is always working in us and he commands us to do the same.  Colossians 3:23  Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men,

Recently I was listening to a series on Effective Parenting in a Defective World by Chip Ingram and heard about the parenting phases we can go through.  I talked with some parents about these working stages of parenting and the different roles parents play throughout our children’s lives.  In the beginning years we can identify with being the commander of our children.  Parents have to physically provide, watch over every move,  protect, and help them learn what they should and shouldn’t do.  We are their lifeline of survival. Proverbs 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.

As they get to around 4+ years we then transition into a teaching role where you are still telling and modeling what to do but often having to answer the “Why?” question.  As you teach 3 John verse 4 says I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth. There are also moments when you need the verse Proverbs 29:15 The rod and reproof give wisdom, but a child left to himself brings shame to his mother. In either case God is still working in our children and us. 

As your children hit the middle school, high school, college years you turn into a coach who teaches specific skills and are able to call timeout when needed to focus on a skill, praise, or discipline. It’s an important time to influence their spiritual future. Provide them with experiences that help them see the reality of your faith and theirs. An important principle throughout parenting is to remember to only teach children what they are mentally and emotionally capable of learning. In addition to not habitually doing for your children what they can do for themselves. Allow our children to “fail forward” and turning their mistakes into stepping stones.

Our last phase of parenting falls into your children’s 20’s, 30’s, and beyond.  Your role as a parent becomes a “consultant”. This is when your children refer back to you and share their situations with you to gain your expertise. This continuum of parenting phases can vary based on our situation.   It is meaningful in the aspect of parenting as it is an opportunity to always be working in our children.  Like our spiritual Father, He has and will always be working in us.  God wants has told us to go and do work also.  Through our work we serve others. We are on Mission all the time to share the Good News. In our children, family, work, and with people we meet.  The opportunities are endless. God sent us a perfect example in Jesus and the Living Truth in the Bible. Philippians 2:13  for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

Through our work we can show love to God. One of God’s love languages is obedience. I’m amazed in Exodus the detail that goes into the building of the tabernacle.  From the skillful making of a curtain to the placing of each acacia wood beam. I believe God is reminding us that we also need to pay attention to detail in our work.  2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,

God continues to demonstrate His theme of work in us through Proverbs 2. Sharing the importance of spiritual work in us that helps gain wisdom of His Ways and understanding of His Word.  God wants us to treasure up His commandments and walk with integrity. Incline our hearts to righteousness. Our work we put into the understanding of His Word will guard you and deliver us from evil. Proverbs 2:6-7 For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding; (7)he stores up sound wisdom for the upright; he is a shield to those who walk in integrity

So in the start to your Tuesday morning, what are you working on?

Who are you working for?

Does our work show the love of the Lord or love of men?

Dear Father,

You are always working in us and through us. I pray that as we work in our own lives, our children’s, and in others, we make our work about You and building Your Kingdom.  Thank you for sending your own Son for us to have the perfect example.  Thank you for showing us how to work at being a parent and living for You. I pray that  in whatever calling you have put us in we work with integrity and have a genuine love for others. Lord I know I fall short many times in many areas. I’m grateful for the work you are always doing in me and pray for a consistent clear picture of a daily walk with You. Dear God I pray that the work I do focuses less on me and more about you. Thank you for being with us in our daily work in our family, homes, or other work places.God promises to never leave you.

“I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5)

Today’s Readings: Exodus 12:22–51; Luke 15; Job 30; 1 Corinthians 16

“He began to teach them many things in parables.” (Mark 4:2)

I love Jesus’s parables. Simple images and characters from everyday life to create a story and help illustrate His message to us. Parables were shared for those who would have “eyes to see” or “ears to hear” and in order for us to have a clearer understanding of His messages. There are three priceless parables in Luke 15. The Parable of the Lost Sheep, Parable of the Lost Coin, and Parable of the Prodigal Son. To me they are a reminder of being lost, searching, and rejoicing. Where I’ve personally been and a hope for many who are still lost. Whether you are the lost sheep, coin, or prodigal son; through Christ we are found.  (Amen) Three verses that I want to highlight in each of these parables helps me to understand who God is and what his kingdom is like.

“Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.” (Luke 15:7)

^” Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” (Luke 15:10)

“And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. ³² It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.’” (Luke 15:31-32)

 

So as we enter into our day take hold of the moments of where you may have the opportunity to be the shepherd who finds a lost sheep, the woman who finds the silver coin you have been searching for, or forgiving father who’s son was dead but now alive.  The visual of a father holding his son after he repents is how God holds us. He wants us to respond to sinners in the same way.  For we have all sinned and fall short of God (Romans 3:23). Through God’s will He provides us with divine appointments in our day where you may plant a seed that lands on good ground and will begin to grow. (Mark 4:8)

By no means will this come easy for us. It will come with many submissions from our daily routines or job schedules and take extra moments to focus on others need instead of our own.  When others “mumble or grumble” because of our lack of focus on worldly things know that you are bearing the fruit of the Spirit.  Your love you show to others can provide the opportunity of rejoicing for one sheep that may have been lost but now found. We were all lost at one point – now found, blind- but now see, dead- but now alive. All things are possible through God. (Mark 10:27)

• Are we trying to rescue like the shepherd?
• Do we search for those lost throughout the day like the woman?
• Do we forgive others like the father? 

“I will open my mouth in parables, I will utter what has been hidden since the foundation of the world.” (Matthew 13:35)

Dear God,

Thanks for sending your own Son for us. To teach everyone about your instructions for us.  These parables are instructions for our life.  You are a loving Father who gives hope to all.  I pray for you to help me to always be on guard, stand firm in your faith, be courageous about your truths, and to do everything in love.  God help us to open our eyes to others that are lost so we can share the glory of you and your kingdom.  Amen

Today’s Reading: Exodus 6; Luke 9; Job 23; 1 Corinthians 10

 
In today’s reading Jesus tells his disciples to take nothing with them but to go proclaim the word and heal.  Jesus assured them that he would provide at all times. This same assurance he has given to us today.  Sometimes in our own personal lives when the day has been long, stressful, and has you running all over the place its reassuring to take a breathe and know God will provide all we need.  God cares for us.

 1 Peter 5:7 says to cast all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

In Luke 9 after a long day of speaking and healing Jesus was not ready to just send people away. He provided food to 5,000 people that were hungry. (There was even left-overs).  When the disciples were ready to call it a night, Jesus was focused on everyone else needs.  He is always focused on us in every aspect of our life the physical as well as the spiritual.

Matthew 20:28 the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.

What an amazing example for us and how we can live our life.  The next verse is one of my pocket versus (literally).

Luke 9:23 If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. ²⁴ For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. ²⁵ For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself?

I carry this verse around with me in my back pocket along with a few others because it is a reminder to submit my life to Him at all times. Putting aside my own selfish desires that I lived with for many years. I still struggle with selfishness but prayerfully look to God now as much as I can. I will continue to pray along this journey as we live our life for His purposes. In my own experiences when I’m doing things for myself and not for God’s kingdom I’m often hurting myself or others and ultimately hurting God when he has asked us to “follow me”. Our testimony’s are amazing examples of the divine plan he has for our lives when we submit to him. Am I willing to deny myself and my ambitions to take up my cross and follow him? Following Jesus is easy when life is going good; our true commitment to Him is revealed during trials. Here are a few questions to ponder.

• Would I still follow Jesus if it meant losing friends?
• Would I follow Jesus if I lost a family member?
•  Would I still follow Jesus if it meant those uncomfortable conversations with family?
•  Would I still follow Jesus if it meant the loss of my reputation?
• Would I still follow Jesus if it meant losing my job?
•  Would I still follow Jesus if it meant losing my life?

Luke 9:59 – 62 says “Follow me.” But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” ⁶⁰ And Jesus^[g] said to him, “Leave the dead to bury their own dead. But as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” ⁶¹ Yet another said, “I will follow you, Lord, but let me first say farewell to those at my home.” ⁶² Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”

Dear God, I know you love me where I’m at and I often have a “but let me” attitude when you want me to do something. I ask to give me a total dedication life to you God that you deserve. I know I’m not always dedicated like I know I should be please give me your courage, strength, and guidance to “take up my cross” and give my life to you daily. When facing various trials remind me that in Psalms 16:5 you say  Lord, are all I have, and you give me all I need; my future is in your hands.  God, in Philippians 3:13 you remind us to keep our faith in you. “Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus”.

Amen

Today’s Readings: Genesis 49; Luke 2; Job 15; 1 Corinthians 3

As children, we remember the story of the Three Little Pigs,  and in grade schools this story may come up now and then.  As we reflect on this fable the moral is about what we build our house with and whether or not it will stand based on “various trials”.  What we build our foundation on makes a difference.  I know someone who builds houses that could definitely go into more details, but the house I want to focus on today starts with one Cornerstone…Christ.

I Corinthians 3:11  For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

 

Our foundation plays a factor in all life moments.  This includes our “highs and lows” (as we call them around our dinner table) and everything in-between of our daily lives.  Each day our foundation prayerfully shows characteristics of faith, prayer, wisdom, truth, humbleness, obedience, patience, giving, forgiving, and love.   When we have laid this foundation in ourselves we can depend on the Lord for everything. A daily foundation based in God’s truth, love, and grace will help us to keep a mind of Christ.  Just like our wisdom that comes from above, so does our foundation in life.

Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Luke 6:48 He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built.

The foundation we create starts in our own lives based around God.  It starts with me.  If my foundation is made with the wrong materials or my blueprints are off it can be detrimental. This is something I experienced for many years of my life.

2 Timothy 2:19  But God’s firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity.”

We then impact our families and everyone we interact with. Our Christ filled foundation impacts our heart, words, and actions. You will leave a legacy with your family. Often in education people will talk about the legacy they would like to leave with students and colleagues.  Our most important legacy will be with our family.  Your family always sees everything we say and do whether you want them to or not.  A daily walk with God as our foundation will build a foundation in your family. I pray daily that as a family we live more like Christ each day. I pray that God helps me to do this.  If there are any legacy’s I hope to leave it is that God has to be the center of everything. If you build your life on the foundations of God’s truth it can never be shaken.

Matthew 7:24 “Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock.

On what have you built the foundation of your life?  Is it holding up?

What distractions in your life keeps you from fully building your foundation on the Bible?

Dear God, Let us always make your truth be our foundation. Let your perfect Word guide us daily and not let storms shake our foundation. Its about you and not me. Thank you for our foundation built on you Lord. Amen