He drove 4hrs just so he can cook for me. Why 🫠 When i walked into his apartment everything was laid out and prepped, he was waiting for me so he can show me how to do it by myself. Obviously implying that I need to learn how to cook.
Audioslave, Smashing Pumpkins, Goldfinger - we hummed through the lyrics while he cooked and while I prepped my sangria. This felt weird cause im used to being unfamiliar with the songs of other people’s playlist. He then asked Siri to pause it, turned to me and asked if there’s anything I want to play. That’s a first. I felt bad for myself for finding the gesture overwhelming. I remembered my previous partner going inside my car (my spotify was connected to the head unit) him disconnecting my phone just so he can connect and play his music. Honestly, I didn’t mind then, but now it made me realize how unconsidered I was even on the smallest things.
I didnt let it ruin the moment tho, im just really thankful that I have friends who are genuinely concerned about me. Past week was been tough, my soul needs a break.
APRIL 16, 2026, SATURDAY
Entry: 7:13am, Fairview QC
VERSE OF THE DAY:
ISAIAH 55:6
Seek the LORD while you can find him. Call on him now while he is near.
WHILE YOU STILL CAN
Have you found yourself chasing the treasures and pleasures of this world? Have you attempted to find peace and purpose outside of the One who created you? Have you discovered that your striving has done nothing but leave you anxious, empty, overwhelmed, and possible numb?
God, speaker through the prophet Isaiah, said this:
"Seek the Lord while you can find him. Call on him now while he is near. Let the wicked change their ways and banish the very thoughts of doing wrong. Let them turn to the Lord that he may have mercy on them. Yes, turn to our God, for he will forgive generously."
Isaiah 55:6-7
It's not too late for you, and you are not too far from God.
So what can you do? Seek Him. Call on Him. Change your ways. Turn to Him. and what will He do? He will be near. HE will offer His mercy. He will forgive even the worst of your decisions, mistakes and sins.
God is good. God is also good at being God. He created you, He loves you, and He wants a relationship with you. And since He designed you, He knows how you were hardwired to thrive. He knows that you need Him more than anything else in the world.
You can ignore His nudges and reject His love, continuing to do things your way. Or, you can come boldly to the throne of grace, where your will receive mercy and grace when you need it most.
So while you still can..seek Him, call on Him, change your ways, and turn to Him. He is your loving Father, and He is your merciful God.
It's not too late for you, and you are not too far from God. But remember, life is short and time is running out. Call on Him today!
God, I want to seek You and know You! Help me to run from things that are keeping me from You, and give me a desire for Your ways. Make me aware of opportunities to share Your love and grace with other- before it's too late. In Jesus' name, Amen.
THE UNEXPECTED WAY OF JESUS
if you feel unsure, stretched, or stuck, take the next step with Jesus.
DEUTERONOMY 32:4
He is the Rock; his deeds are perfect. Everything he does is just and fair. He is a faithful God who does no wrong; how just and upright he is!
Reflect on one of God's character traits mentioned in this verse and offer up praise to God.
LAMENTATIONS 3:24
I say to myself, "The Lord is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in him!"
What does it mean to place your hope in God?
Talk to Him about what's on your mind right now
God, no matter what I face today, I am grateful that I can say with confidence, "surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life" because You go with me all the days of my life. Thank You for being my source of strength and security. Right now, I give You my worries for the day because I trust in You with my life. In Jesus' name, Amen.
DAILY BIBLE READING:
2 SAMUEL 3-5
LUKE 14:25-35
As time passed David became stronger and stronger, while Saul’s dynasty became weaker and weaker.
DAVID'S SONS BORN IN HEBRON
ABNER JOINS FORCES WITH DAVID
JOAB MURDERS ABNER
DAVID MOURNS ABNER'S DEATH
But David had made a vow, saying, “May God strike me and even kill me if I eat anything before sundown.”
36This pleased the people very much. In fact, everything the king did pleased them! 37So everyone in Judah and all Israel understood that David was not responsible for Abner’s murder.
THE MURDER OF ISHBOSHETH
DAVID BECOMES KING OF ALL ISRAEL
4David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years in all.
DAVID CAPTURES JERUSALEM
DAVID CONQUERS THE PHILISTINES
THE COST OF BEING A DISCIPLE
And if you do not carry your own cross and follow me, you cannot be my disciple. “But don’t begin until you count the cost. So you cannot become my disciple without giving up everything you own. Flavorless salt is good neither for the soil nor for the manure pile. It is thrown away. Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand!”
ACTS 1:6-11
THE ASCENSION OF JESUS
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
11“Men of Galilee,” they said, “why are you standing here staring into heaven? Jesus has been taken from you into heaven, but someday he will return from heaven in the same way you saw him go!”
INSIGHT
The plan that Jesus gave His disciples in Acts 1:8 unfolds throughout the book of Acts. In the very next chapter, the power that Christ promised would come to all the disciples who were gathered in the upper room (2:1-12). Immediately after this event, Peter proclaimed to thousands of listening ears in Jerusalem the story of Jesus and the promise of salvation through Him (vv. 14-39). Over the next several chapters, Peter would go to the believing Samaritans who’d heard Philip’s preaching, and they too would receive the power of the Holy Spirit (8:4-17). Finally, the gentile centurion Cornelius and his family would respond to the gospel and, through Peter’s preaching, they and all who heard the message and believed in Christ—both Jews and gentiles—were marked with the Spirit (ch. 10). When we embrace His call and follow His plan, we can carry the message of the gospel wherever we go in the power of the Holy Spirit.
By: Jed Ostoich
TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH
Kiribati, an island country in the Pacific Ocean, is the only nation in the world that exists in all four hemispheres of the globe. The thirty-three islands of Kiribati straddle both the equator and the 180th meridian. It’s also one of the most remote nations in the world.
We serve a God who cares about these remote places. As Jesus prepared His disciples for His return to heaven, He told them, “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8). “To the ends of the earth” is a call to take the message of the gospel to the world’s most isolated spots. But the call wasn’t limited to remote places only. It included their current location of Jerusalem and the nearby regions of Judea and Samaria.
After Jesus gave these parting words to His disciples, “He was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight” (v. 9). Two angels appeared and said, “This same Jesus . . . will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven” (v. 11).
The gospel of Jesus Christ is the most important news anyone can ever hear. The challenge for us as His ambassadors is to share that news. With the Holy Spirit’s help, we can see that everyone—near and far—gets a chance to hear.
By: Bill Crowder
REFLECT AND PRAY
What does it mean to be Jesus’ witnesses “to the ends of the earth”? How does His command inspire you to share His love with others?
Dear Father, please give me a heart for those who don’t know You. in Jesus' name, Amen.
EVERYDAY EVANGELISM
LEAD SOMEONE TO CHRIST
"Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."
Romans 10:13 NIV
There’s nothing more beautiful than witnessing someone take their first step of faith in Jesus. If you sense that someone is ready, invite them to make a personal decision to follow Christ.
Leading someone to Christ doesn’t require a perfect script. Simply ask if they’re ready to trust Jesus with their life. If they say yes, guide them in a prayer of salvation, such as:
"Jesus, I believe You died for my sins and rose again. I ask You to forgive me, lead my life, and fill me with Your Spirit. Amen."
If you feel nervous, remember that the Holy Spirit is already at work in their heart, and He’ll guide you in the moment. Pray for boldness to ask the question and for the joy of seeing someone begin their journey with Jesus.
If they're not ready, that's okay. Stay faithful, keep loving them and praying for them, and trust God with the timeline.
Who in your life might be ready to take the next step toward Jesus, and how can you invite them into that decision?
Pray:
Jesus, thank You for inviting people into new life with You. If someone around me is ready to take that step, give me the boldness to ask the question and guide them in prayer. Help me trust the Holy Spirit to lead the moment. Thank You for the joy of seeing lives transformed by Your love. Use me as an instrument of Your grace. in Jesus' name, Amen.
