Author Archives: expressyourself4him

Passage of the Day:

The disciples came to him and asked, “Why do you speak to the people in parables?” ¹¹ He replied, “Because the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. ¹² Whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. ¹³ This is why I speak to them in parables: “Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand. ¹⁴ In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah: “‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. ¹⁵ For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.’^{[a] 16} But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. ¹⁷ For truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it. ¹⁸ “Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: ¹⁹ When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path. ²⁰ The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. ²¹ But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. ²² The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful. ²³ But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown,” Matthew 13:10-23.

Reflection:

I was taught early on in school that April showers bring May flowers. If you take this seasonal lesson and apply this to the spiritual realm, may flowers are a byproduct of weeding, watering and planting bulbs at the right time each Spring. If you’re too eager and plant too soon, freezing temperatures and or frost will either kill or stunt the growth of these plants. Meanwhile, if you wait too long to plant, arid and dry conditions can result in wilting flowers.

Prayerful Action:

You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you, John 15:16.

Preparing Your Fields to Bear Spiritual Fruit:

The next 30 days will be devoted to bearing spiritual fruit. After sharing the Parable of the Sower to a large crowd, Jesus’ twelve disciples were confused, asking for further clarification. Today’s passage provides clarity to the point Jesus was trying to impress upon this audience: search for the right spiritual environment so that you can begin to blossom. The soil and surroundings in which you are planted will influence the fruit that you bear. Seek out fertile, good soil.

Song of the Day:

The lyrics of the attached song by Wes King talks about being filled with the fullness of God. Christians who are eager and willing to keep in step with the Holy Spirit, Galatians 5:25, will make the effort to search for the right environment/spiritual soil where they will blossom this June.

by Jay Mankus

Passage of the Day:

For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. ¹² It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, ¹³ while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, ¹⁴ who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good. ¹⁵ These, then, are the things you should teach. Encourage and rebuke with all authority. Do not let anyone despise you, Titus 2:11-15.

Reflection:

The students at the Methodist Church in Colombus, Indiana where I served as youth director came up with an acronym to describe their youth group BLAZ. The B is for Bible, L for love, A for and and Z for Zeal. During a portion of my time in 1993, a revival broke out as the Holy Spirit led teenagers to give their hearts to Jesus. This was the most spiritually mature students that I ever led or was a part in my 15 years of youth ministry. The two common traits my student leadership team possessed was a yearning for God and a zeal to grow in their faith.

Prayerful Action:

Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. ¹¹ Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord, Romans 12:10-11.

Building Up Bible Believing Behaviors:

As today marks another end to a month this year, I thought combining two godly behaviors would provide a strong finish for May. Yearning is the intense longing for something, often in the form of a feeling or strong sensation deep inside of you. Meanwhile, biblical zeal is a single-minded desire fueled by enthusiasm and devotion. Although everyone tends to wear down emotionally over time, those that yearn for and possess a zeal for God will be elevated spiritually. This is the importance of adding yearning with zeal.

Song of the Day:

Passage of the Day:

“Anyone who strikes a person with a fatal blow is to be put to death. ¹³ However, if it is not done intentionally, but God lets it happen, they are to flee to a place I will designate. ¹⁴ But if anyone schemes and kills someone deliberately, that person is to be taken from my altar and put to death. ¹⁵ “Anyone who attacks^[c] their father or mother is to be put to death. ¹⁶ “Anyone who kidnaps someone is to be put to death, whether the victim has been sold or is still in the kidnapper’s possession. ¹⁷ “Anyone who curses their father or mother is to be put to death. ¹⁸ “If people quarrel and one person hits another with a stone or with their fist^[d] and the victim does not die but is confined to bed, ¹⁹ the one who struck the blow will not be held liable if the other can get up and walk around outside with a staff; however, the guilty party must pay the injured person for any loss of time and see that the victim is completely healed,” Exodus 21:12-19.

Reflection:

Following the introduction of the Ten Commandments in Exodus 20, God spends the next few chapters laying out a series of civil laws regarding how you should treat your neighbor. Moses goes into greater details of these laws in the Books of Leviticus and Deuteronomy. The founding fathers of the United States based their judicial system on the laws God gave to Moses. However, when courts banned teachers and students from praying out loud in public schools, 1962, Judeo-Christian values started to fade. One year later the public reading of the Bible during homeroom was also banned. Forty years later, 2002, the Ten Commandments were banned from being displayed in courthouses. This is what you get after 80 years of removing the Bible and prayer from public education, a former president convicted of 34 crimes that weren’t clear during Trump’s trial.

Prayerful Action:

The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles, Psalm 34:17.

Beneath the Surface:

Like the great empires of the past, America is on the verge of collapse. As democratic and progressive leaders have followed the Saul Alinksy playbook by overwhelming the systems in America, this is what you get. Despite settlers from Europe coming to America to fulfill the Magna Carta, this religious founding has been removed from history textbooks. Now America finds itself like Israel rejecting God for a king in 1 Samuel 8. Only God knows the future, but for today, the apostle Paul’s prophecy in 1 Timothy 4:1-2 has been fulfilled. People now believe what their itching ears want to hear.

American Justice was founded on the belief that human beings are innocent until proven guilty. Apparently, if your name is Donald J. Trump, this doesn’t apply. Perhaps, a word from King Solomon is a good place to end: God makes all things beautiful in His time, Ecclesiastes 3:11.

by Jay Mankus

Passage of the Day:

One day Samson went to Gaza, where he saw a prostitute. He went in to spend the night with her. ² The people of Gaza were told, “Samson is here!” So they surrounded the place and lay in wait for him all night at the city gate. They made no move during the night, saying, “At dawn we’ll kill him.” ³ But Samson lay there only until the middle of the night. Then he got up and took hold of the doors of the city gate, together with the two posts, and tore them loose, bar and all. He lifted them to his shoulders and carried them to the top of the hill that faces Hebron. ⁴ Some time later, he fell in love with a woman in the Valley of Sorek whose name was Delilah, Judges 16:1-4.

Reflection:

No matter how disciplined that you are, we have all done something that we regret. During an unexpected temptation or weak moment, all have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory, Romans 3:9-12. Yet, it’s one thing to tell a lazy lie than to end up participant in some sort of X-rated moment. Although all sin is considered the same, James 4:17, committing sexual acts cause you to sin against another soul, 1 Corinthians 6:15-16.

Prayerful Action:

Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body, 1 Corinthians 6:18.

Building Up Bible Believing Behaviors:

When I grew up, X-rated content was limited to adult bookstores. Unfortunately, after forty years of pushing the envelopes, even things like coloring books have become X-rated. Curse words, perversity and nudity have become accepted in American culture as sexual content continues to sell. Nonetheless, Jesus calls His followers to strive for perfection, Matthew 5:48. While everyone has their own version of kryptonite, flee from these desires so that you avoid X-rated moments.

Song of the Day:

James 1:13-15 serves as a warning against giving into temptation. May the lyrics of God Help Me empower you to resist temptation.

by Jay Mankus

Passage of the Day:

Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, “But, Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?” ²³ Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. ²⁴ Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me. ²⁵ “All this I have spoken while still with you. ²⁶ But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. ²⁷ Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid, John 14:22-27.

Reflection:

Regardless of your spiritual state, there will always be questions that you have for God to answer. Judas wondered why Jesus only revealed Himself to twelve men. Rather than openly respond, Jesus focuses on what is truly important. Listening, knowing and obeying the Bible’s teaching are the three essentials to becoming a follower of Jesus. Therefore, if you want to wake up in God’s Spirit, emulate Jesus’ practices in Mark 1.

Prayerful Action:

Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed, Mark 1:35.

Building Up Bible Believing Behaviors:

As a former assistant golf professional, there are numerous techniques available to teach individuals how to swing a golf club. Since human beings possess different abilities, heights and strength, you have to customize your instruction to each individual. In the same manner, some people love the mornings and others are night owls. The goal is when you enter God’s presence through prayer and Bible Study, do this when you are most awake. As you figure out your most productive time to be with God, you’ll be in a better position spiritually to wake up in the Holy Spirit.

Song of the Day:

Whenever I have moving times in prayer or studying the Bible, I tend to have my most productive days at work. This was the inspiration behind today’s title, to wake up in God’s Spirit.

by Jay Mankus

Passage of the Day:

Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains. ⁸ You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near. ⁹ Don’t grumble against one another, brothers and sisters, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door! ¹⁰ Brothers and sisters, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. ¹¹ As you know, we count as blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy. ¹² Above all, my brothers and sisters, do not swear—not by heaven or by earth or by anything else. All you need to say is a simple “Yes” or “No.” Otherwise you will be condemned, James 5:7-12.

Reflection:

The tag line for Nike’s slogan “Just do it” comes from an unusual source. Dan Wieden, the founder of the Wieden+Kennedy agency, credits the inspiration to a death row inmate Gary Gilmore ’s last words: “Let’s do it.” While Phil Knight, the CEO of Nike, is often associated with Just Do It today, Jesus’ earthly brother wrote a similar expression in the middle of the first century. Rather than make a public vow to put God first in your life, it’s more powerful and effective to just do it by living this out daily.

Prayerful Action:

If you make a vow to the Lord your God, do not be slow to pay it, for the Lord your God will certainly demand it of you and you will be guilty of sin, Deuteronomy 23:21.

Building Up Bible Believing Behaviors:

One of the things I told Leanne when we first started dating was that I had been careless in the past of my use of the word love. I had told other girls that I loved them, but my actions didn’t align with the biblical definition of love, 1 Corinthians 13:1-7. In the same way, if you truly want to put God first in your life, the actions, behavior, choices and decisions you make will reflect your desire. This is the meaning of let your yes be yes and no be no. The goal is to please the Lord, not people, Galatians 1:10.

Song of the Day:

The main aspect of keeping any vow is having the will to fulfill what you have declared. This inner desire will be challenged and tested by trials in life. In the end, your actions will determine whether or not you put the Lord first in your life.

by Jay Mankus

Passage of the Day:

The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. ² Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron. ³ They forbid people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and who know the truth. ⁴ For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, ⁵ because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer, 1 Timothy 4:1-5.

Reflection:

At some point in their lives, every generation of Christians over the past 2000 years have believed that they are living in the last days. This refers to Jesus’ second coming to the earth, often known as the rapture, where living Christians living on earth suddenly disappear, vanishing without a trace. As I read today’s featured passage, I visualize what’s going on daily with talk shows. As opinions have become elevated to truth status, facts no longer hold their weight to persuade minds. This is what Christians have to understand when reaching a secular audience where truth has become relative, constantly changing and evolving with the times.

Prayerful Action:

Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world, 1 John 4:1.

Building Up Bible Believing Behaviors:

In my younger years, I was extremely gullible, easily fooled by friends and family. As I have matured, I have learned to test the information people tell me before passing this on to others. This is the advice one of Jesus’ disciples shares with first century Christians. The apostle Paul uses the Church at Berea as model to emulate, Acts 17:11, testing what you hear with Scripture to decipher truth from lies. Although podcasts and talk shows continue to spread in popularity, make sure you confirm the validity of what you hear before sharing thisinformation with others.

Song of the Day:

Like the words from Jack Nicholson in A Few Good Men, most people can’t handle the truth. Perhaps this fear stems from the fear of dying and the afterlife. The attached song breeches this topic and explains what happens when you die. May the lyrics of this Kry song speak to your heart and prepare you to understand the times that we are currently living in.

by Jay Mankus

Passage of the Day:

As for God, his way is perfect: The Lord’s word is flawless; he shields all who take refuge in him.
³¹ For who is God besides the Lord? And who is the Rock except our God? ³² It is God who arms me with strength and keeps my way secure. ³³ He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; he causes me to stand on the heights.³⁴ He trains my hands for battle; my arms can bend a bow of bronze.
³⁵ You make your saving help my shield, and your right hand sustains me; your help has made me great. ³⁶ You provide a broad path for my feet, so that my ankles do not give way, Psalm 18:30-36.

Reflection:

These words of David have been called by some the Runner’s Prayer. As a lowly shepherd, David regularly moved his sheep to new fields to find green grass to graze upon. This constant travel meant walking upon rugged and uneven terrain. Since hiking boats hadn’t been invented yet, David likely wore scandals which made twisting or turning your ankle a daily occurrence. While the context of Psalm 18 was written after God rescued David from the jealous hands of King Saul, the degree to which David trusted down was so vast that even his steps were lifted up to God.

Prayerful Action:

When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. ⁴  In God, whose word I praise—in God I trust and am not afraid.  What can mere mortals do to me? – Psalm 56:3-4

Building Up Bible Believing Behaviors:

I wore a soft cast on my ankle for several years after my reconstruction surgery in high school. I didn’t know if I was going to be able to fully run again or compete in any sports for the rest of my life. Despite being an infant Christian, this time of uncertainty led me to trust in the Lord like never before. As the bleeding stopped and pain subsided, I trusted God to do a miracle in my life. By the end of college, 5 years later, I regained full function of my ankle and was even offered a roster spot to play professional Ultimate Frisbee with the local team in Philadelphia. Although I declined this offer, this is the power of trusting God in times of uncertainty.

Song of the Day:

Whenever you begin to see progress, light on the other side the tunnel, trusting in God becomes a daily habit. Although you may be tempted to take the wheel back from God into your own hands, follow the advice from Lauren Daigle to trust the Lord.

by Jay Mankus