Sowing Seeds

[l00k1nggl4ss]

Ephesians 5:1-2 (New Living Translation)

Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God.

[yorgen-sh]

[monamoni]

The Veluwemeer Aquaduct in Netherlands, is one of 41 water bridges in the country letting boats pass over the road while vehicles drive safely below

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car wash

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Forging ship anchor chains

[salt-n-tigers]

@weergang

[blessedbeyondallbelief]

[voiceforjesus]

Jesus stepped into our flesh so we could step into His glory.

[voiceforjesus]

Every breath I take will praise Jesus Christ.

[l00k1nggl4ss]

The Mercy of God

I cry aloud to the Lord; I lift up my voice to the Lord for mercy. I pour out before him my complaint; before him I tell my trouble.

 Psalm 142:1–2 (NIV)

In today’s scriptures, David cries out for mercy as he tells God his complaints and troubles. Let’s consider Hebrews 4:15–16, which tells us how we can obtain God’s great mercy: For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

The prophet Jeremiah also writes of God’s mercy, reminding us that without God’s mercy, we would have been consumed (Lamentations 3:22 NKJV). His mercies are new every morning (Lamentations 3:23), and I, for one, am glad.

God wants us to ask for mercy, receive it for ourselves, and then extend it to others. This simply means that even though someone may deserve punishment, we can graciously show them mercy instead, just as God shows us.

Take time to breathe in God’s mercy. Believe that He is giving mercy to you, as you have asked Him to do. He is a merciful God. Receive God’s mercy today and do not waste your time feeling guilty about a past sin. Let God’s mercy flow into you and then let it flow out to others.

Prayer of the Day: Father, thank You so much for Your mercy. Help me be gracious to others and extend mercy to them as You have extended it to me.

[savedbychristsblood]

Rise Again

"For the righteous falls seven times and rises again, but the wicked stumble in times of calamity."

Proverbs 24:16

A reminder that as Christians we will stumble, we will fall short of the Glory of God each and every day. But we know that we are Christ's in that we will get back up to follow Him, especially in times of relapses when we fall into that one specific sin Jesus had conquered for us and that we haven't committed in a while, whether it be lust, anger, jealously, greediness, idolatry, slothfulness, etc.

[heartsings77]

[voiceforjesus]

Bibleverse of the day!

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December 3, 2025

*Growth Through Pain*

It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn your decrees. - Psalm 119:71

*Today's Scripture*

Psalms 119:65-72

*65 Thou hast dealt well with thy servant, O LORD, according unto thy word. 66 Teach me good judgment and knowledge: for I have believed thy commandments. 67 Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word. 68 Thou art good, and doest good; teach me thy statutes. 69 The proud have forged a lie against me: but I will keep thy precepts with my whole heart. 70 Their heart is as fat as grease; but I delight in thy law. 71 It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes. 72 The law of thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver.*

*Today's Devotional*

The brain is remarkably small, but stress can make it even smaller. Recent research has revealed that cumulative stress can shrink the prefrontal cortex, the part of the brain responsible for managing emotions, impulses, and social interactions. This shrinkage is linked to anxiety and depression, highlighting the toll that a lifetime of stress can take. But there’s good news—the brain’s plasticity allows it to heal through intentional practices like exercise, meditation, and meaningful relationships.

The psalmist in Psalm 119 understood this idea of growth and healing after facing stress and hardship: “It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn your decrees” (v. 71). Affliction, though painful, became the psalmist’s teacher—taking us from being “astray” from God to choosing to “obey [His] word” (v. 67). The psalmist expresses gratitude for his bitter medicine and God’s goodness (v. 68). While he understood that affliction and suffering could diminish him, he trusted God to use those experiences to refine and restore him (v. 66).

Like our brains, our spirits are capable of being stretched. God uses this stretching to cause growth and renewal. Through Scripture, prayer, and a Spirit-inspired perspective, He can reverse the effects of our hardships. He can use our afflictions for our spiritual growth, transforming pain into purpose.

*Reflect & Pray*

How has God helped you grow in faith through suffering? How have you embraced gratitude?

*Loving God, thank You for teaching me through my trials.*

*Today's Insights*

Psalm 119 is an extended song/poem about the beauty of the law even in hard times. In today’s text (vv. 65-72), the psalmist uses a variety of terms to describe the law, including “word,” “commands,” “decrees,” “precepts,” and “law.” These ideas are intensely personal for him, for he speaks from his experiences of pain. He uses terms like “afflicted” (vv. 67, 71) and “smeared . . . with lies” (v. 69) to cry out to God‚ grateful for all he’d learned from those seasons of struggle. In spite of his afflictions and mistreatment, however, he concludes in verse 68, “You are good, and what you do is good.” In a broken world filled with hatred and pain, we too can rest in the never-failing goodness of God. He uses all things, even our trials, for our spiritual growth and to conform us to the image of His Son, Jesus.

Credit: Our Daily Bread devotionals

[yahushuasworld]

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[l00k1nggl4ss]

In What Should We Boast?

God's instructions and actions don't always appear reasonable from a human perspective.

1 Corinthians 1:18-31

18 For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

19 For it is written, ``I WILL DESTROY THE WISDOM OF THE WISE, AND THE CLEVERNESS OF THE CLEVER I WILL SET ASIDE."

20 Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?

21 For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe.

22 For indeed Jews ask for signs and Greeks search for wisdom;

23 but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness,

24 but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.

25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

26 For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble;

27 but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong,

28 and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are,

29 so that no man may boast before God.

30 But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption,

31 so that, just as it is written, ``LET HIM WHO BOASTS, BOAST IN THE LORD."

Genesis 3:4-6

4 The serpent said to the woman, ``You surely will not die!

5 ``For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil."

6 When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate.

The first challenge to humanity’s faith in God took place in the garden of Eden. Spurred on by the serpent’s lies, Eve looked at her situation from a different perspective and began to doubt the Lord. Her faith faltered as she considered all she had to gain from eating the fruit God had forbidden (Genesis 3:4-6).

God has blessed human beings with the ability to reason, but this skill should take a back seat when the Lord speaks. In fact, His instructions and actions don’t always seem logical from our perspective. Why? Because His thoughts and ways are higher than ours (Isaiah 55:8-9).

Paul takes this truth a step further by pointing out that God’s choices can even seem foolish by the world’s standards (1 Cor. 1:18-20). Those who recognize their helplessness against sin understand their great need for Christ, the One who saves and raises them to stand with Him in righteousness.

That day in Eden, sin and disobedience entered the human heart. But to God, all the worldly wisdom that fuels our pride amounts to nothing. He’s not looking for great and impressive people; instead, He wants meek, humble servants who can boast only in Christ. The Savior alone is all they need.

[l00k1nggl4ss]

How Grace Changes Everything

We can do nothing to earn God's forgiveness—we just need to accept it.

1 Timothy 1:12-17

12 I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, putting me into service,

13 even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor. Yet I was shown mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief;

14 and the grace of our Lord was more than abundant, with the faith and love which are found in Christ Jesus.

15 It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all.

16 Yet for this reason I found mercy, so that in me as the foremost, Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience as an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life.

17 Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.

Think about the life of Saul of Tarsus before He was known as the apostle Paul. He persecuted anyone claiming to follow Jesus. He played a significant role in the unspeakable violence aimed at Christians and, in his own words, was the “chief” of sinners (1 Tim. 1:15 KJV). Nothing he did deserved God’s love or forgiveness.

Divine grace—God’s unmerited favor—led the Almighty to reach down, forgive Saul, and change the trajectory of his life. God lovingly transformed him into a man who dedicated himself to sharing the gospel message. The apostle’s life beautifully illustrates the power of God’s goodness.

No matter how many good deeds we perform, we are unable to earn our way into heaven. Salvation is possible only because of Jesus Christ; the One who made it possible for us to be free from sin deserves all credit for our redemption. He blesses us according to His goodness, apart from anything we’ve done.

There is no transgression too great for Jesus to forgive. We can add nothing to His all-sufficient act of atonement—all we’re able to do is receive this free gift. If we trust in Christ as Savior, God will save us, making us His children forever.