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I love this picture. The Hi-Res one is here. Actually, I really like most pictures by Stephen Poff. You should check him out. The picture reminded me of how much I am loving Scripture this past year. Specifically, it reminded me of the verse in Acts 14:11.

“As they went out, the people begged that these things might be told them the next Sabbath.”

Made me wonder. Do I have that same feeling, that emotional desire and drive for more? More scriptural insight, more teaching, more quiet listening, simple more of Jesus. Thankfully i don’t have to beg, but I should want to, right?

Interesting, when Paul came back to teach the Jews the next Sabbath, they didn’t hear what they were hoping for, and kicked him out. Again, I wonder…

A quick thought on what stuck out while reading Ephesians 4 today. Specifically verse 26.

“Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil.”

I think that many people are familiar with the “don’t let the sun go down on your anger” part of that verse. For me, it was the beginning that stuck out. “Be angry, and do not sin.” It’s not like it was a new revelation that its ok to be angry, but it sure is hard to not sin while being angry.  When people are involved it so easy to make it personal right away and fend your position and attack the other. When the issue is private and I’m angry at myself, it’s just as easy to start believing lies about oneself and not hold on to the Truth that God is passionate about us and accepts us, broken and flawed as we are.

So, like I said, it just stuck out to me today. Perhaps this will be a good reminder for me today, perhaps not and perhaps a good reminder for you.

Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

So, Judah and I  had some time yesterday. I thought we hadn’t had an intentional Family Fun event in awhile, so….why not grab some pop, some mint candies and create a reaction of some kind.  Here’s our adventure.

Judah was excited for the candy

Not sure what to expect.

so I kinda freaked out a little - I hate getting dirty.

Impressive, huh?

Even Judah was a little unsure

1st round over. Diet Coke shoots pretty high.

hmmm, Judah you think Diet Dr pepper would shoot higher? Let's try.

Judah starting to get into this pop experiment stuff.

pretty high too.

funky shot

All done. Judah loved it and Diet Coke worked best in case you wondered.

Do you sometimes feel like a cracked, fragile clay pot?

So today I am reading 2 Corinthians 4 – 5.  I encourage you to read along with me and share what stuck out to you. My hope is to share quick devotional thoughts every weekday on what stuck out to me in my daily Scripture reading. (I said hope, most likely not reality. )

But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. 8 We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; 10 always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies….

6 So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. 17 For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison,

Today, I got quite emotional reading this passage. I’m not going through any big affliction or struggle, either is my family, but yet the weight of Paul’s words hit me somehow.  I always ask myself questions as I read Scripture and these are the ones that raced through my head.

• When I struggle do I easily get confused, feel despair, feel like I have lost, been destroyed?
• Do I choose to thank God that He may be glorified through my weakness, physical trial or otherwise?
• I prayed that i would not lose heart when and if suffering comes my way. Lord help me to be strong and faithful.
• Do I actually consider any kind of affliction to be light, compared to the future eternal glory that awaits me?
• Do I actually even think about my future inheritance through Jesus, do I cling to His promise and His great sacrifice and salvation for me?
• I thought, this gets even harder when I walk beside those whom I love deeply, should they suffer affliction in the future. (whatever the kind)

So, today was a great reminder to me that I am indeed a jar of clay, weak, prone to suffering and yet with the incredible ability to praise God throughout because I will never be destroyed. Lord, just as Paul wrote, may I be reminded that, “this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison.” Compared to our future glory and inheritance for eternity, my current affliction is indeed “light”

Lord, grant me strength to continue to fight the good fight and live faithfully for you. I realize I am a clay pot, fragile, easily broken, and one day you will make me beautiful.

Thank you that you have overcome, so that, one day, we may as well.

There are very few smells better to me than freshly brewed coffee in the morning. And for me, that would be freshly brewed, bold, Starbucks coffee.

There is something about starting my day in a coffee shop, around those great smells that I really enjoy and that has become a daily routine.

However, I recently entered into my routine, got excited at the smell of my fresh bold coffee, sat down, expectantly tasted my first sip, and spit it out. It was horrible. Tasted like sour acid on my tongue.

Today I was reading in 2 Corinthians 2-3.  Verse 14 and 15a stuck out to me in light of this experience.

But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. For we are the aroma of Christ…

Made me think about my faith and example.

• Do I leave a good aroma of Christ to others. Does Christ smell good if you will?
• Do I “smell” good enough to encourage people to taste and see? Or just average and not “different” than anything else?
• Does their experience with me leave a bad taste in their mouths?
• Did my actions, the the reality of spending time with me, meet the expectation of the aroma they first encountered?

As I found out, something can smell very good and still taste very bad.

You smelling good today?  (Oh, I really dislike the Starbucks RED coffee and love every other bold. Starbucks, I still really like you.   )