Unlocked Archives: July 2023
July 31, 2023
READ: MATTHEW 23:11-36; ROMANS 15:7; 2 CORINTHIANS 5:1-21 Jesus Christ had a lot to say about hypocrisy. In Matthew 23, He confronted a group of religious leaders, repeating the phrase, “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites!” not once, but six times. Jesus called out their self-righteousness. When we think of [...]
July 30, 2023
READ: 1 CHRONICLES 16:8-27 I will write a letter to You, Lord A letter to say I thank You, for the people You provided me, for the opportunities You allowed me, I thank You, Lord. I will write You a letter, Lord A letter to say I praise You, when life is calm, when life [...]
July 29, 2023
READ: ISAIAH 62:5; HOSEA 2:19; JOHN 3:28-31; EPHESIANS 5:25-29 As someone who is married, I think the image of Jesus as a Bridegroom to the church is a beautiful comparison. The love, companionship, and union of marriage is designed to mirror the relationship of Jesus and His church. That’s why one name for Jesus in [...]
July 28, 2023
READ: LUKE 11:1-13; ROMANS 8:15-17, 26-30 God loves being in close relationship with us. That’s why He invites us to be in communication with Him and enjoy the closeness and unity we have with Him. The Trinity is the perfect example of unity. God is one, and God is also three persons: the Father, the [...]
July 27, 2023
READ: PSALM 37:1-7; PROVERBS 16:1-9; 19:20-22 As a young child, I dreamed of many variations of my future: a ballerina (which I was told I could never accomplish), or a nurse who flies in helicopters to help with medical emergencies, or an environmentalist who protects God’s creation. I also fantasized about opening a shop that [...]
July 26, 2023
READ: EXODUS 34:5-6; MATTHEW 22:35-40; EPHESIANS 4:31-5:2 Do you ever feel like you’re failing in your relationships? I do. I often find myself asking God to help me be a better friend, daughter, wife, mother, church member, coworker, and so on. And while these prayers have good intentions, I would often spend more time berating [...]
July 25, 2023
READ: LUKE 15; JOHN 15:13; ROMANS 5:5-11 Elle’s dragon, Thon, had run away many times. But never before had he been missing for more than one rotation of the two moons. Elle had hand fed him from his hatching, taught him to fly, nursed him through dragon pox. Loved him. Elle sat up on her [...]
July 24, 2023
READ: ROMANS 12:1-2; PHILIPPIANS 2:13; COLOSSIANS 3:12-17 What do you think of when you hear the word "worship"? For me, I tend to think of worship music, my personal devotional time, or maybe a worship service at church. However, worship as the Bible describes it is much bigger than a song or something we participate [...]
July 23, 2023
READ: JOHN 13:34-35; GALATIANS 5:22-23; EPHESIANS 4:24-32 On the night before Jesus went to the cross, He told His followers, “As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:34-35). Have you ever had the opportunity to [...]
July 22, 2023
READ: EPHESIANS 4:1-16; PHILIPPIANS 1:3-6, 9-11 Imagine for a moment you were caring for a newborn baby, and then, the day after their birth, you just expected them to be able to walk. That would be ridiculous, right? Babies can’t do everything right away when they’re born. They grow up gradually, learning a little at [...]