January 18 – Bible reading for today from the One Year Bible:

• Genesis 37
• Genesis 38
• Matthew 12:22-45
• Psalms 16:1-11
• Proverbs 3:27-32

I will bless the Lord who guides me; even at night my heart instructs me. I know the Lord is always with me. I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me. – Psalm 16:7-8

The Lord went ahead of them. He guided them during the day with a pillar of cloud, and he provided light at night with a pillar of fire. This allowed them to travel by day or by night. – Exodus 13:21 

Before long, we’ll be reading together in Exodus about how God guided the children of Israel when they didn’t know what way to go. Have you ever been there before? They had been slaves in Egypt for 430 years. How would they know where to go outside of Egypt unless God would guide them? The guidance God provided was unmistakable. How can you miss a huge pillar of cloud by day? How can you miss a pillar of fire at night? They didn’t have to think, “I wonder if this is the Lord?” or “Maybe that’s just my own thoughts?” No, they could look up in the sky and see clearly where they were supposed to go. Sounds good, doesn’t it?

You actually have it better than the Israelites traveling through the wilderness. As a follower of Jesus, you have the Holy Spirit living inside of you. That means you come with a built-in supernatural guidance system. It is the Lord’s delight to guide you and even at night to instruct your heart. That means even when you are sleeping, God is putting into your heart what you should do and where you should go. And because you can be confident that He is directing your steps, that He is in you and with you, you have no need to be shaken. Take heart, my friend, He is right beside you, taking you by the hand and leading you into a glorious future!

If you are looking for some direction this year, go ahead and pray through the scriptures below and fully expect that God will give you clear direction!

This is what the Lord says— your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: “I am the Lord your God, who teaches you what is good for you and leads you along the paths you should follow.” – Isaiah 48:17

When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future. – John 16:13

He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name. – Psalm 23:3

The Lord says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you.” – Psalm 32:8

For that is what God is like. He is our God forever and ever, and he will guide us until we die. – Psalm 48:14

You hold my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, leading me to a glorious destiny. – Psalm 73:23-24

The Lord will guide you continually. – Isaiah 58:11

So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. – Galatians 5:16

Show me the right path, O Lord; point out the road for me to follow. – Psalm 25:4

I pray that during this time of prayer and fasting, you will receive supernatural direction, insight, and revelation.

Blessings,

Pastor Kevin

January 17 – Bible reading for today from the One Year Bible:

• Genesis 35
• Genesis 36
• Matthew 12:1-21
• Psalms 15:1-5
• Proverbs 3:21-26

And his name will be the hope of all the world. – Matthew 12:21

The central event in the history of the earth is the birth of Jesus! His name has been the cause of great joy and celebration around the world. Andrew Murray said, “When His name means everything to you, it will obtain everything for you.” Oh, that we would live in the wonder and awe of His great name.

This past Christmas was different for me in some ways since it was on a Sunday, but it was still a day all about Jesus! Here are my thoughts from my journal early Christmas morning.

Lord, here I am sitting in the sanctuary on Christmas morning. It’s different in that I’m not at home, I’ll be preaching in a while, but it’s the same in that I’m with you! You are my heart’s desire.

Oh, Lord… Christmas. As a young child, Christmas for me was more about presents, eating Aunt Betty’s green stuff, seeing my grandfather dressed up as Santa, seeing family I would only see once a year, playing with new toys. But there is something I still have in common with those days – wonder, excitement, and celebration.

Back in the day, I would wonder who I would see that day, what toys I might receive, if there would be enough snow for snowmobile rides at Grandpa’s house. Today, I sit here in wonder at what You have done, Jesus – stepping out of Heaven as the Prince of Heaven coming to the earth, leaving a throne room for a manger. I’m in awe and wonder not at what I’m going to get… but at what I have received – Jesus!

Back in the day, I was excited – excited to get presents, excited to give something, excited about the food and family visits. I was going to have something NEW to play with. Today, I’m excited to see family, to be with You… but also because I’ve got something new today. I’m on the verge of a whole new year! With 2016 almost behind me, the sky is the limit as to all the new and good that this next year can be filled with. I have new hopes, new dreams, new goals, new desires, new opportunities, new friendships. I’m going to learn something new about Jesus. I’m going to walk in a new sensitivity to the Holy Spirit.

Back in the day, Christmas day was always about celebration as we celebrated the birth of Jesus Christ, God’s son! It’s like everything was special. The food – there would be lots of it! Grandma would make sure that there were all kinds of fudge and yummy treats… health food of sorts. There was a festive atmosphere. Today, it’s still festive for me, it’s still filled with an atmosphere of celebration. There is nothing normal or common about this day! Before, I would celebrate over gifts under a tree… now I celebrate because Jesus came as a baby and died on a tree.

I pray that the name of Jesus will fill you with hope today. May you celebrate His name all year long!

Happy Fasting

Pastor Kevin

January 16 – Bible reading for today from the One Year Bible:

• Genesis 32:13-32
• Genesis 33
• Genesis 34
• Matthew 11:7-30
• Psalms 14:1-7
• Proverbs 3:19-20

Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.”  – Matthew 11:28

Come to me, all…

The promise of rest is for ALL… so that includes you, too! It’s not for just a select few that are thought to be God’s favorites, but to all! Notice that all we have to do is come to Jesus. Jesus didn’t say, “Come work for me, come do this and that and I will give you rest. Come and get over all your bad habits.” No, He simply and powerfully says, “Come!” Come to Jesus just as you are! Broken, tired of trying, striving, walking in sin, totally not perfect, entangled, with all your baggage and issues—come to Jesus and He will give you rest! That, my friend, is amazing grace!

…Who are weary and carrying heavy burdens

“Weary” refers to those who are actively trying and striving to do what is right… and it’s exhausting. Those “carrying heavy burdens” refers to those who are carrying burdens others have put on them. It’s more passive; it’s the burden of all the things you are told you have to do to please God, the burden of legalism, rules, spiritual to-do lists, the burden of trying to measure up, the burden of relying on your own self-righteousness. These are the ones that Jesus invites to come to Him – not those who are perfect in their eyes; those who think they are holier than others; those who are proud of how awesome they are; those who are singing, “Everything is Awesome.”

…I will give you rest

It’s not, “you will earn rest.” It can’t be earned; it can only be given. Jesus is always in the posture of giving, not taking. He is always giving to those who can’t earn what is given to them. This rest is deep and beyond physical sleep. Rest means to cease from labor in order to recover and collect strength; to be quiet; to live in patient expectation; to be in the midst (of God’s presence), ceasing from work. It’s a rest from all striving and trying to measure up; it’s a place of stillness. In this rest is a level of peace and joy that is intimidating to the enemy! There is a confidence in God that makes you worry-free and unmovable. There is a cleansing that takes place in this place of rest that will never take place in a frenzy of activity. Just as the brain is cleansed only when we rest physically, so our spirit man is cleansed in this place of rest. Here is where He washes us with His words. He sweeps over us like a beachcombing machine. He works out of us all the junk that is not like Him.

I pray for you, my friend, that this year you will experience the rest that God has for you… that your year will be filled with less frenzy and more supernatural peace!

Happy Fasting,

Pastor Kevin

January 15 – Bible reading for today from the One Year Bible:

• Genesis 31:17-55
• Genesis 32:1-12
• Matthew 10:24-42
• Matthew 11:1-6
• Psalms 13:1-6
• Proverbs 3:16-18

O Lord, please rescue me from the hand of my brother, Esau. I am afraid that he is coming to attack me, along with my wives and children. But you promised me, “I will surely treat you kindly, and I will multiply your descendants until they become as numerous as the sands along the seashore – too many to count.” – Genesis 32:11-12

Years ago, I noticed something in Renee’s Bible. It was a 3×5 card that said, “Have an encounter with God today.” I loved it – what a thought that every time we open up the pages of our Bibles, every time we come before God’s throne of grace, we are going after an encounter with the One who created the world, the One who would rather die for you than live without you!

Oh, that we would read our Bibles more, that we would be diligent students of God’s Word! What could happen to you this year if, instead of reading through a One Year Bible plan, instead of being able to check off the box, you actually encountered God every day? You became more aware of His nature and His thoughts toward you? You encountered the way He forgives, the way He loves, the way He is relentless at working in you? What could happen if every day you began to experience God more? I think it would change everything for you.

“One moment in His grace wipes away years of disgrace.” – Dave Williams

If we know our Bibles, we know what God has promised to us! This allows us to stand in the midst of the greatest of trials and say, like Jacob, “But you promised me…”

I pray for you, my friend, that with every day you are joining me in reading through the One Year Bible, you will have an encounter with God! With every day, you will see the Prince of Peace in the pages of your Bible. You will see His heart toward you and you will hear His voice. And may the result be a year of extraordinary fruitfulness for you!

Your Friend and Pastor,

Pastor Kevin

January 14 – Bible reading for today from the One Year Bible:

• Genesis 30
• Genesis 31:1-16
• Matthew 10:1-23
• Psalms 12:1-8
• Proverbs 3:13-15

“Heal the sick, raise the dead, cure those with leprosy, and cast out demons. Give as freely as you have received.” – Jesus
– Matthew 10:8 

You’ll notice something about the nature of God in our Bible reading that you will see all year long – He delights to tell you to do what you can’t do on your own! We are meant to live with the need for supernatural assistance. We are meant to go after things that are so big they require angelic activity, a divine “suddenly,” and supernatural power.

Earlier we saw that God told Noah to build a boat to save the lives of the human race and all animal life. Okay, I can’t always get my dog to come to me! Seriously, gather up all the animals on the planet and get them in a boat together?

Today we see Jesus issue a command for the disciples to heal the sick, raise the dead, cure those with leprosy, and cast out demons! He didn’t say pray for the sick, because they could do that. He said heal them!

Watch this. God told Moses to tell Aaron to turn all the water in the Nile into blood. Jesus told the servants to put water in a jar and serve wine to the master of ceremonies. Jesus told Philip to feed thousands when he had no food. Jesus told Peter to go fishing and find money in the mouth of the fish to pay their taxes. Jesus told Lazarus to come forth; only one problem with that – he was dead – “was” being the key word.

Throughout this year, don’t be surprised when the Lord tells you to do something that looks impossible. When He does, simply obey, believe, take action, and leave the rest to Him. Then will come the suddenly moments!

So Moses and Aaron did just as the Lord had commanded them… Aaron raised his staff and struck the water of the Nile. SUDDENLY, the whole river turned to blood! – Exodus 7:20

I pray that this new year will be filled with divine adventures, supernatural provision, and suddenly moments as you become increasingly sensitive to the voice of the Holy Spirit.

Blessings on your fast,

Pastor Kevin

January 13 – Bible reading for today from the One Year Bible:

• Genesis 28
• Genesis 29
• Matthew 9:18-38
• Psalms 11:1-7
• Proverbs 3:11-12

Two blind men followed along behind him, shouting, “Son of David, have mercy on us!” – Matthew 9:27

That was the day that a healing service spontaneously took place. It wasn’t planned; flyers weren’t handed out; there wasn’t an announcement made at the Temple that week. This healing service was the result of somebody who simply would not take “no” for an answer!

In our Bible reading today, we learn about these two nameless guys who cry out to Jesus for mercy. It appears Jesus said nothing back to them, but they would not take “no” for an answer, so they followed Jesus into the house! There is something about a desperate heart that always gets the attention of the King.

It wasn’t until they walked into the house without an invitation—because they were desperate for a miracle—that Jesus asked them, “Do you believe I can make you see?” Maybe that was His way of saying, “Why are you following me? Is it because I can make you see?” That’s when the healing service started!

Then he touched their eyes and said, “Because of your faith, it will happen.” Then their eyes were opened, and they could see! – Matthew 9:29-30

Are you in need of a healing? Have you given up on your miracle? Here’s the good news – Jesus is still in the healing business! It’s not so much about the size of your faith as it is the size of God’s heart for you. It’s your cry for mercy and your refusal to give up that moves His heart.

If you’ve lived for years with sickness, if pain has become just a normal part of life, I pray for you, my friend, joining my faith with yours. I pray that the power of the Holy Spirit settles down over you right now. May God stretch forth His hand with healing power over your life. May the healing that Jesus purchased for you be yours! May you, like our two nameless blind guys, be a walking healing service just waiting to happen!

Blessings on your fast,

Pastor Kevin

January 12 – Bible reading for today from the One Year Bible:

• Genesis 26:17-35
• Genesis 27
• Matthew 9:1-17
• Psalms 10:16-18
• Proverbs 3:9-10

When Esau heard his father’s words, he let out a loud and bitter cry. “Oh my father, what about me? Bless me too!” he begged. – Genesis 27:34

Why all this drama over a father’s blessing? Jacob works to deceive his father in order to steal his brother’s blessing. Esau breaks down in tears because he didn’t get the blessing. Why? They knew something that in our modern culture we don’t get – the blessing has supernatural power to it!

This is your year to walk in the secret power of the blessing! The blessing given from God to Abraham, then to Isaac, and then to Jacob, is now to you through God’s Son, Jesus Christ! The Apostle Paul, who wrote most of the New Testament, said, “So all who put their faith in Christ share the same blessing Abraham received because of his faith” (Galatians 3:9). In today’s Bible reading, we see this blessing being passed from Isaac to Jacob.

Isaac blessed Jacob and said… “From the dew of heaven and the richness of the earth, may God always give you abundant harvests of grain and bountiful new wine. May many nations become your servants, and may they bow down to you. May you be the master over your brothers, and may your mother’s sons bow down to you. All who curse you will be cursed, and all who bless you will be blessed.” – Genesis 27:27-29

Isaac blessed Jacob with three things:

1. Plenty – “May God always give abundant harvests.” This implied the highest flow of prosperity! It’s a picture of Heaven and Earth coming together to make Isaac rich.

2. Power – “May you be the master over your brothers.” Through Jesus Christ, you have the blessing of supernatural power in which to walk. Acts 1:8 tells us the words of Jesus, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you.”

3. Prevailing – “All who curse you will be cursed, and all who bless you will be blessed.” No matter what people do to you this year—blessings or cursings—you win! You are an overcomer in Christ Jesus!

I decree a blessing over you, my brother and my sister. May 2017 be a year filled with plenty for you. May you find yourself blessed this year so that you can be a blessing to others! May you walk in the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit this year. May you thrive through everything that comes your way this year! I speak this as a blessing over you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Happy Fasting,

Pastor Kevin

January 11 – Bible reading for today from the One Year Bible:

• Genesis 24:52-67
• Genesis 25
• Genesis 26:1-16
• Matthew 8:18-34
• Psalms 10:1-15
• Proverbs 3:7-8

This Christmas, we had the chance to be part of something amazing at Mount Hope Church. We were able to give away 500 gifts to members of our own church family as well as some amazing people in our community! It was the response of the people that stood out to me the most. From the kids at St. Vincent’s Home for Children to some dear couples that we were able to surprise… from tears of joy, the eyes of children getting an extra sparkle, to the smiles… I’m so thankful for the generous church family that I get to be part of.

While the people were various ages and at different places in life, they all had one thing in common: they responded. The Lord’s amazing grace—when it is gazed upon, when it is experienced firsthand—will always bring about a response. In today’s Bible reading, we see three great ways for us to respond to the Lord:

Worship.

When Abraham’s servant heard their answer, he bowed down to the ground and worshiped the LORD (Genesis 24:52). I love that the first thing this amazing man did, who knew his prayers had been answered, was to bow down to the ground and worship! Before he moved forward with the planned gifts he brought for Rebekah, he first gave thanks to God! The first always goes to God – the first ‘thank you,’ the first place we put our trust, and the first 10% of our income. Remember, Jesus said to seek FIRST the Kingdom of God. Why not make it your goal to have worship be your first response to news this year – from good news to bad news? He’s always worthy!

Obey.

We read today that in response to God’s command, Isaac stayed in Gerar (Genesis 26:6).  It seems insignificant, but this simple act of obedience opened up the door to God’s blessing on Isaac. Because Isaac trusted God, not his own understanding; because he followed God’s leading, even though it may not have made any sense to him, look what happened. When Isaac planted his crops that year, he harvested a hundred times more grain than he planted, for the LORD blessed him (Genesis 26:12). Your seemingly small acts of obedience can open the door for big blessings from the Lord.

Have faith.

The disciples, just like us at times, faced a surprise storm. How did they respond? They woke up Jesus, shouting at Him. I think it’s safe to say that it’s a bad idea to wake up anyone by shouting! But it’s not the rude awakening that Jesus had a problem with; it was their lack of faith. “The disciples went and woke him up, shouting, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!” Jesus responded, “Why are you afraid? You have so little faith!” Then he got up and rebuked the wind and waves, and suddenly there was a great calm” (Matthew 8:25-26). Jesus had told them that they were going over to the other side of the lake. But when the disciples saw the storm they said, “We are going to drown!” When it looks like you are sinking… when it looks like things aren’t working out very well… respond to God not with what you see, but with what He said!

Happy Fasting,

Pastor Kevin

January 10 – Bible reading for today from the One Year Bible:

• Genesis 23; 24:1-51
• Matthew 8:1-17
• Psalms 9:13-20
• Proverbs 3:1-6

Years ago while lying on a beach in Florida, I noticed a guy walking around with a metal detector. Now and then he would stop and pick up something or dig something up. I thought it was the strangest thing on the planet. Why would you waste time looking for people’s leftover stuff, when you have the beauty of the beach and ocean right in front of you? But that random guy did remind me of something extremely important – the one who seeks is the one who finds!

In 1989, an Australian man found a 12-inch-long gold nugget shaped like a boot. They named it “Boot of Cortez” after the famous Spanish explorer. It sold at an auction in 2008 for over $1.5 million! I’m guessing he understood something we all need to understand – seeking is the key to finding.

Today in our scripture reading, we see an example of three people that discovered the secret power of seeking God and the blessings that followed. Those are the same blessings available for you today. They teach us to:

Seek God for favor in our day-to-day dealings.

Abraham’s servant, after a long trip to get a wife for Isaac, stopped to seek the Lord when he said, “O Lord, God of my master, Abraham, please give me success today…” (Genesis 24:12). And before he even finished praying, he saw the answer coming! Ask God for success and favor for every task you have today.

Seek God with great faith.

Jesus was amazed at the faith he saw in a Roman officer who came to Him for a miracle. His young servant was in bed paralyzed and in terrible pain. Jesus said, “I’ll come and heal him.” That’s when the officer, full of faith said, “Just say the word from where you are and my servant will be healed” (Matthew 8:6-8). And sure enough, Jesus gave the word, and healing came! When you are seeking God, add faith to the mix!

Seek God when you need direction.

Do you have an important decision to make? Are you at a crossroads and simply need to know what path to take? No problem – seek God and He’ll tell you clearly what path to take. This is the promise for all who seek Him. “Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take” (Proverbs 3:5-6).

Happy Fasting,

Pastor Kevin