Insults = Blessings?

TODAY’S SPECIAL: I Peter 4:12-19

TO CHEW ON: "If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you." I Peter 4:14

Which of these things has happened to you because you are a Christian?
- called names
- left out
- teased
- made fun of

It’s not fun going through things like that. But it shouldn’t surprise us. People in the past were insulted and persecuted because they trusted in God:

"Goliath" - Artist unknown

"David" - Artist Unknown

• David’s older brother made fun of him when David came to the battlefield and started asking questions about why no one was challenging Goliath when he insulted God. (1 Samuel 17:28)

• Nehemiah was teased by Sanballat and Tobiah when he began rebuilding the wall around Jerusalem. They made fun of his work, joking, “..if even a fox climbed up on it, he would break down their wall of stones.” (Nehemiah 2:19; 4:3).

• Jesus said that his followers would be arrested, persecuted, even killed (John 15:20).

Which statements below are True? Which are False (if you’re not sure, read Luke 21:12-16 and Revelation 2:10)

1. ____ Jesus’ followers will be arrested and in this way have a chance to tell kings and governors about Jesus.

2. ____ Christians should worry about and plan what to say when questioned by those who arrest them.

3. ____ Christians will be betrayed only by strangers, never by family, friends or relatives.

4. ____ Jesus will give a crown of life to those who are faithful to Him through persecution.


PRAYER: Dear Jesus, help me to stay Your loyal friend no matter what. Amen

MORE: Have You Been Persecuted?
Write about a time you or someone else was treated badly for believing in Jesus.

ANSWERS

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Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Your Story

TODAY’S SPECIAL: Acts 22:1-21

TO CHEW ON: “Brothers and fathers, listen now to my defense.” Acts 22:1

About a week after Paul got to Jerusalem he was arrested. Some Jewish leaders from the cities he had traveled to earlier saw him in the Jerusalem temple. Now they set the whole crowd against him. Soon there was another riot as bad as the one in Ephesus.

The crowd became so violent Roman soldiers had to rescue Paul or he would have been killed.

Artist unknown

The soldiers tied him up with chains. They thought someone who got the crowd so angry must be a very bad person. Then they carried him to jail.

Just before Paul was taken into the jailhouse, he asked for permission to talk to the angry crowd.

Prisoner Paul addresses the people - Artist unknown

When the soldiers let him do this, what did Paul tell the crowd? (Acts 22:1-21)
1. That they were wrong and he was right.
2. That they were all going to hell.
3. The story of how Jesus met him.
4. That he was wrong and would listen to them from now on.

Of course, we know it’s 3. Paul told the crowd the story of how Jesus met him on the road to Damascus.




We can follow Paul’s example. When we tell others about Jesus, it seldom helps to argue with them or tell them how wrong they are. But everyone loves a story, especially a story about how God finds and helps ordinary people like you and I.

PRAYER: Dear God, thank You for bringing each person to You in a special way. Give me the courage to tell my story to my friends who don’t know You. Amen.


MORE: Tell Your Story
Remember the time you found Jesus (or He found you):

• How did you feel before Jesus came into your life? (Guilty about the wrong things you’d done? Afraid of dying?)

• Where were you the day you first welcomed Him into your heart? (In your bedroom? In church? At camp?)

• Who was with you? (Your mom or dad? Your teacher? Your camp counselor? No one?)

• What did you do? (Say a prayer in your own words? Read a prayer? Say a prayer after someone?)

• How did you feel then? (Like crying? Much better? No feelings?)

• What happened the next day? (You felt happy, like singing? You wanted to confess some things to people you had wronged?)

Write your story. Then read or tell it to a friend or family member.

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Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Lament for Jerusalem

TODAY’S SPECIAL: Lamentations 1:1-12

TO CHEW ON: "Is it nothing to you, all you who pass by? Look around and see. Is any suffering like my suffering that was inflicted on me, that the Lord brought on me in the day of his fierce anger?" Lamentations 1:12

What is the saddest thing that has ever happened to you? How did you handle your sad feelings - by crying, sleeping, staying busy, playing sports, talking to others, writing?

Lamentations is a Bible book that someone (most likely Jeremiah) wrote about a very sad time – the fall of Jerusalem.


It is poetry and full of word pictures. Jerusalem is compared to a widow. She was once married but now she is a slave dressed in clothes that are dirty with the sins she has done. Jerusalem’s former rulers are like deer who are starving and so weak they don’t have the strength to run away from the hunter. The roads leading to Jerusalem weep and its gates are empty.

Though Jeremiah escaped going to Babylon, this poem shows that he felt as sad as anyone. He loved his country. He loved Jerusalem. He hated to see it destroyed and its people taken away. Writing Lamentations probably helped him work through his sad feelings.


Reading Lamentations these many years later can help us too. All of us have sad times in our lives. Lamentations shows us that it’s okay to cry and express our sadness. Lamentations also shows us one way (writing) to work through sad feelings when they come. But most of all, Lamentations helps us see, and feel, the sad end of disobeying God.



PRAYER: Dear God, please help me to obey You and avoid the sadness of disobedience. Amen

MORE: Your Lament
Think of a time you were very sad. What happened? How did you feel?

Now think of some word pictures that help describe your sad time:
- Color: If you were to give your sad time a color, what would it be?
- Music: If you were to make a video of that time, what kind of music would play in the background?
- Animal: Does your sad time remind you of an animal or animal action?
- Weather: Does your sad time remind you of a certain kind of weather?

Using one or all of your word pictures, write a lament of your own.

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Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Adult readers - DAILY DEVOTIONS FOR ADULTS  are available too at Other Food: daily devo's. 

Keep On Praying

TODAY’S SPECIAL: 1 Kings 18:41-46

TO CHEW ON: "Elijah climbed to the top of Carmel, bent down to the ground and put his face between his knees. 'Go and look toward the sea,' he told his servant. And he went up and looked. 'There is nothing there," he said. Seven times Elijah said, 'Go back.'" 1 Kings 18: 42,43

God sent the fire to burn Elijah’s sacrifice. Elijah killed all the Baal prophets. But there was more to come. For God told Elijah He would send rain on dry, dusty Israel. Even though the sun was still blazing from the cloudless sky, Elijah was sure that God would keep His promise. “Rain is coming,” he told Ahab.

Then Elijah went to the top of Carmel, got on his knees and began praying for rain. After he had prayed for a while, he sent his servant to check the distant horizon.


“Nothing,” the servant told Elijah when he got back.

Elijah prayed some more. Then he sent the servant to look again.

Again the servant saw nothing – no clouds, no sign of rain.

Five more times Elijah prayed and sent his servant to check the horizon.

- How do you think Elijah felt as he prayed and prayed but still there was no sign of rain?
- What do you think kept him praying even though his prayer wasn’t answered right away?

Finally, the seventh time, the servant came back shouting, “There’s a small cloud, rising from the sea.”


Elijah got up from his knees. “Go tell Ahab to get off this mountain before he gets caught in the rain,” he commanded.




In no time the wind had picked up, the sky was black and big drops of rain were pounding the dust. People rushed off the mountain toward home, but not fast enough to avoid getting drenched in the welcome rain.

PRAYER: Dear God, help me to keep praying even when You don’t answer right away. Amen.


MORE: Prayer and Answer Journal
We don’t know why God answers some prayers immediately, others after a short while and still others only after a long time. But we do know that when God has put a desire in us to pray for something, and a promise that He will answer, we need to keep praying until that answer comes.

To help you look for and recognize the times God answers your prayers, start a “Prayer and Answer Journal.”


What you need:
- a lined school notebook, a ruler, black or blue pen or pencil and a red pen or pencil.

What to do:
1. Draw a line down the middle of each page to divide it into two columns.

2. Label the left columns “Prayers” (using black or blue pen/pencil) and the right columns “Answers” (using red pen/pencil)

3. Write (and date) the things you are praying for (in black or blue) under “Prayers” on the left.

4. When God answers your prayers, enter the answers in the right column (in red). Date them too.

When you are watching for answers to your prayers, you won’t miss them as easily. All the answers you write down will encourage your faith and help you to keep praying.

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Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.


Adult readers - DAILY DEVOTIONS FOR ADULTS  are available too at Other Food: daily devo's. 

Parent Problems

TODAY’S SPECIAL: Proverbs 23:19-25

TO CHEW ON: "Listen to your father who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old." Proverbs 23:22

Have you ever had thoughts like this:

- My parents are too serious. They just want me to work and not have any fun.

- My parents are old fashioned. They don’t understand me and my friends.

- My parents don’t let me do anything. All my friends are allowed to do it, why can’t I?

Kids getting along with parents, and parents getting along with kids has been a big deal since kids and parents were invented. In our Bible reading today, Solomon gives advice to kids on how to handle all the do's and don’t's that parents give.

Which things he does not say Proverbs 23:19-25 :

1. Don’t join those who overeat and drink a lot of wine.

2. As long as there’s an adult to supervise, you can go.

3. Be disciplined.

4. Make a project out of becoming wise and getting understanding.

5. You become like the people with whom you hang out.

6. It isn’t a big deal to your parents whether or not you obey them.

7. When you show yourself a wise, good person, you’ll make your parents proud and happy.

Though it may be natural for kids and their parents to have some clashes, it’s important to remember a few things about your parents before you ignore what they say:

1. They know you very well. They have taken care of you for years and have lived with you in good times and bad.

2. They love you very much. Your parents work hard to provide food, clothes and a house for you and want only your best.

3. They have more experience than you have. They may have made some of the same mistakes they see you making. By giving you advice, they may be trying to save you from trouble.

PRAYER: Dear God, please help me to value, respect, obey and love my parents. Amen.

MORE: My parents

Appreciate the parents you have.

1. Write five things you like/love about your mother.

2. Write five things you like/love about your dad.

Answers

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Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Adult readers - DAILY DEVOTIONS FOR ADULTS  are available too at Other Food: daily devo's. 

Trouble

TODAY’S SPECIAL: Psalm 3:1-8

TO CHEW ON: "Many are saying of me, 'God will not deliver him.' But you, Lord, are a shield around me, my glory, the One who lifts my head high.” Psalm 3:2,3

Have you ever been in big trouble? Maybe some bullies at school are picking on you, or someone in your family is deathly sick, or your house was wrecked in a storm or fire – or some other thing. What do you do when big trouble comes?


When David wrote Psalm 3, he had a big problem. By now he had been king for many years. He also had many children. One of his sons, Absalom, was ambitious. He wanted to become king instead of David.

Secretly Absalom won the hearts of the people. He did this by talking to each person who came with a problem for the king to judge. He said things like, “Isn’t it a shame the king is too busy to hear you? Now if only I were the king, things would be different.”

After acting like this for four years, he made his move. Without his father knowing it Absalom went to Hebron. Then he sent secret messengers through the land. They told everyone, “As soon as you hear the trumpets, say, ‘Absalom is king in Hebron.’”

A messenger came from Hebron to tell David. “Everyone is following Absalom.”

David knew if this were true, he and his family were in danger. Quickly they packed some things and hurried out of Jerusalem. But David felt terrible. His own son, whom he loved, was betraying him. And if all the people and the army really were going with Absalom, who was left to help him?


So David did what he had always done – in good times and bad. He went to God. Psalm 3 is the prayer he prayed when he was running away from Absalom. In it he tells God his problem (Psalm 3:1-2). He reminds himself how big and strong God is by praising Him (Psalm 3:3-4). He tells how trusting God changes even the way he acts, helping him sleep and not be afraid (Psalm 3:5-6). Then he prays that God will deal with his enemies (Psalm 3:7-9).

Read this prayer aloud, pretending you are David praying it. What is your favorite part? _______

PRAYER: Dear God, my big problem is __________. Please help me. Amen


MORE: A Prayer-for-help Psalm of Your Own
Write a Prayer-for-help Psalm of your own. You can use the words in bold to start each section.

Part 1: O Lord, _____ (Name your problem and say what people or your thoughts are telling you about it.).

Part 2: But _____ (Write about how great God is and how able to help).

Part 3: I _____ (Tell how your actions would change if you knew God would help you.)

Part 4: Arise O Lord _____ (Write out exactly what you want God to do).

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 Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

A Bible Journal

TODAY’S SPECIAL: Psalm 23:1-6


TO CHEW ON: "Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever." Psalm 23:6

Do you keep a journal or diary? Have you ever read someone else’s, like The Diary of Anne Frank? You can tell a lot of things about someone by reading their journal. You can tell whether they’re mainly a happy or sad person. You can tell how they feel about others like family members and friends. And you can tell the things that make them scared, excited, discouraged or hopeful.



David, the boy Saul anointed king, kept a kind of journal. We still have it today. His journal was made up of poetry or songs called psalms. Many of David’s writings are found in our Bible book of Psalms (though not all the psalms in it are written by David). Since we know that David was someone who pleased God, it’s a great thing to have these personal writings of his.

Like most journal writers, David wrote about everyday things familiar to him. He was a shepherd and knew about sheep and looking after them. In Psalm 23 he wrote about sheep. But his heart was also so full of thoughts about God that he put God in his world. He called God his shepherd and pretended that he was a sheep.

Suppose you didn’t know anything else about David except that he was a shepherd. By reading this psalm, what can you tell about:
1. The things David liked.
2. The things that made David afraid.
3. Who David trusted in.
4. How David felt about God.

PRAYER: Dear God, thank You for the Bible and especially the Psalms which help us see inside the heart of David and others who knew You well. Amen


MORE: Your own journal
If you don’t already keep a journal, you may want to start one. Your journal doesn’t have to be a fancy book. A school scribbler works just fine. Here are a few journal points that will help make yours a treasure long after the book is full:

1. Date your entries.

2. Write about the everyday things in your life.

3. Write about God, or to God, or the things you hear God say to you.

4. Write regularly, even if it’s just a line or two.

5. Reread your journals later to remind you of the things you’ve learned and how God has been with you.



Answers










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Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

 Adult readers - DAILY DEVOTIONS FOR ADULTS  are available too at Other Food: daily devo's. 

Unlikely Warrior

TODAY’S SPECIAL: Judges 6:11-16

TO CHEW ON: "The Lord answered, “I will be with you, and you will strike down all the Midianites, leaving none alive.' ” Judges 6:16

After Joshua died the people quickly forgot his final instructions. They began marrying their Canaanite neighbors and were soon praying to idols. So God allowed the nations around them to pick fights with them and win. The kings of these nations took their cities, made them servants and stole their crops.

When this happened, the people prayed for help. Then God raised up rulers called judges. These judges trusted God. They helped the people turn back to God. They led them into battle, helped them get back their land and live in peace again.

But the peace never lasted for long. No sooner was the danger past than the Israelites went back to worshiping idols. Then God allowed their enemies to trouble them again.

In one of these times the people from Midian – the Midianites – were hassling the Israelites so much they had to leave their homes and live in caves. They were running out of food because the Midianites stole their crops and cattle, and wrecked their land.

Gideon, threshing wheat in his hideout - Artist unknown

A farmer named Gideon lived at this time. One day he was secretly threshing wheat in his hideout.
1. Choose the words from the list below that describe how he may have been feeling:


2. Suddenly an angel appeared to him. What did the angel call him? (Judges 6:12)
a] humble farmer
b] idol worshiper
c] mighty warrior.

An angel comes to Gideon - Artist unknown

3. The angel went on to give him an assignment. He – Gideon, the farmer – was the one God had chosen to lead his people against the Midianites. Gideon knew he could never do this. But then the angel went on to tell him, he didn’t have to do it alone. Who would be with him? (Judges 6:16) _________________.

4. Choose the words from the list above that describe how Gideon may have felt after the angel talked to him.

What an amazing day for Gideon. And what a hard assignment! But Gideon didn’t have to do this assignment alone. God would be with him.

God has a special assignment for you too. Right now you may or may not know what it is. But when God tells you what He wants you to do, He will be with you, helping you do it.

PRAYER: Dear God, thank You for promising to help us do the jobs You give us to do. Amen.

MORE: Mighty you
1. The Lord’s angel called Gideon “Mighty Warrior”
If an angel from God visited you and called you by an empowering name, what would you want to be called? __________

2. Perhaps you already have an idea of the job God has for you. Write your thoughts about it.

Answers

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Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.


Adult readers - DAILY DEVOTIONS FOR ADULTS  are available too at Other Food: daily devo's. 

No-Whine Zone

TODAY’S SPECIAL: Numbers 11:4-6, 31-34

TO CHEW ON: "But while the meat was still between their teeth and before it could be consumed, the anger of the Lord burned against the people, and he struck them with a severe plague." Numbers 11:33

The Israelites camped at Mount Sinai for a long time. Then one day the cloud lifted from over the tabernacle. Quickly the people packed up their tents and belongings while the Priests and Levites took down the tent church. It was time to move on.

The cloud led them from place to place. Though their feet got tired from walking, they were never hungry for long. Each morning they awoke to a new supply of manna on the ground.

Israelites gathering manna - A. F. Pearse

The manna kept them from getting hungry but after a while they got bored. “We’re so tired of this manna,” they whined. “We want the food we had in Egypt – the fish, cucumbers, melons, leeks onions and garlic.” As the wailing spread through the whole camp, Moses prayed for God’s help.

God was angry with the Israelites for their grumbling. Even so, He sent a great wind. It brought quail from the sea. Quickly news spread around the camp: “Birds have landed all around.” The people went out and caught the quail – dozens and dozens. At last they would have their feast of meat!

Israelites capture quail to eat - Artist unknown

But God wasn’t through with them. As the people were stuffing themselves with quail, they become ill. Many died that day. And God taught them that sometimes the things we want most are not the things that are good for us.

Do you ever grumble and complain about things like your clothes, the stuff you want but can’t afford, the food your Mom makes? Learn from the Israelites. Instead, choose to be thankful for all the good things you have.

PRAYER: Dear God, I’m sorry for whining, complaining and grumbling. Help me to be thankful. Amen.

MORE: Blessing surprise.
An old song goes: “Count your blessings, name them one by one, and it will surprise you what the Lord has done.”

Give yourself a blessing surprise by making a list of things for which you’re thankful. Can you think of 20?

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Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.


Adult readers - DAILY DEVOTIONS FOR ADULTS  are available too at Other Food: daily devo's. 

Noah Faith

TODAY'S SPECIAL: Read: Genesis 6:14-22

This Noah's Ark mural was once in the children's entrance of my church.

TO CHEW ON: "Noah did everything just as God commanded him." (Genesis 6:22)

Imagine this: you and your family are the only people who love God on the whole earth!

People talk about you. They say things like “Have you heard about that Noah family? They’re no fun. All they care about is pleasing God!”

Then one day God tells you to build a big boat (the Bible calls it an ark). Then people talk even more: “Get a load of this. That crazy Noah is building a boat – a BIG boat. And there’s not even any water nearby.”

And then God tells you to bring pairs of all the birds, animals and ground creatures – insects and reptiles – into the boat.

Now people laugh even more and and point fingers: “That Noah nut-case is turning his boat into a zoo!!”


In spite of how strange this must have seemed to Noah’s neighbors (and maybe even to Noah and his family), we never read that Noah or his family argued with God or asked for an explanation. Instead they obeyed, trusting that God knew exactly what He was doing.

PRAYER: Dear God, please help me to have faith in You even when I don’t understand. Amen.
 

SECOND HELPING: Ark Journal

Pretend you are one of the passengers on the ark (person or animal).

Write three journal entries about what it is like:

1. After just getting on board the ark.

2. In the middle of your time in the ark.

3. On the day you know you are going to leave the ark.

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Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.