A Life Worthy

  • Partners One-a-Day Monday  8/3/26

    Partners One-a-Day Monday  8/3/26

    In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now…  (Philippians 1:4-5)

    Who did you pray for last week?  Were you able to pray with joy? Paul could, because he was praying for fellow believers. There is a sweetness that comes when you are praying for a “partner in the gospel.” Knowing that they are saved frees you to pray for their sanctification, to pray that they would draw closer to Christ every day.

    Pick someone who is your partner in the gospel.  It can be the same person you prayed for last week, or it can be someone else. I’m not keeping track.  Pray for them, that God will draw them closer and closer to himself, and cause them to be conformed to the image of Christ, even this day.

    Who knows?  Someone out there may be praying for you.

    Happy Monday, Beloved.

  • Remember One-a-Day Friday  7/31/26

    Remember One-a-Day Friday  7/31/26

    I thank my God every time I remember you (Philippians 1:3).

    In college I had a prayer wall, where I had pictures of friends and family posted.  There was no rhyme or reason to the arrangement—just dozens of snapshots stapled to the wall of a dorm room.  Every time I looked at those pictures, I remembered people who were important in my life. Some of those people I saw every day; some were thousands of miles from me. Just seeing those photos prompted me to pray for them.

    This is what Paul is talking about.  These are people he cares for, people who are important to him.  He wants them to know that he is thinking about them, covering them in prayer even when he can’t be with them. He may not  have snapshots, or staples for that matter, but the principle’s the same.

    Who’s on your prayer wall, Beloved?  Whose face popped into your mind when you read this Scripture?  Spend some time praying for them today.  Start your weekend by bringing someone you love before the throne of God.

    Happy Friday, Beloved.

  • First Things First One-a-Day Thursday  7/30/26

    First Things First One-a-Day Thursday  7/30/26

    Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ (Philippians 1:2).

    Paul begins each of his epistles with these words.

    And always in this order.  

    Grace and Peace

    Go ahead and check for yourself.  I’ll wait…

    …

    …

    See what I mean?

    Grace comes first, because without grace there can be no peace.

    No peace with God

    No peace with family

    No peace in your own heart

    None of it happens without the grace of God.  And why would it?  Without grace, you are judged solely on your own merit.

    And you know how far that gets you.

    Apart from God’s grace, you are a hopeless, pathetic lump, destined for destruction.

    Feeling encouraged yet?

    Don’t fret–the encouraging part is coming.

    Here it is–but you are not apart from God’s grace, are you, Beloved?  If you belong to Him, you have his grace, sufficient to all your needs. Your pathetic lumpiness has been forgiven, atoned for.  You, my friend, are complete, you are whole, you are loved.  

    You are His.

    Nope, peace is not something you can earn or deserve or accomplish.

    Only receive.

    You can’t get there, but you can be there.

    Oh, of course you know that already, you being so spiritual and all.

    But Paul seems to think it’s worth the reminder, and who am I to argue?

    Walk in grace, Beloved.  And know peace.

    Happy Thursday

  • Who Are You? One-a-Day Wednesday  7/29/26

    Who Are You? One-a-Day Wednesday  7/29/26

    Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons…(Philippians 1:1).

    I’m feeling a little Philippianial.

    Shall we?

    Much of Paul’s letter to the Church at Philippi is going to be concerned with two vital questions:

    Who are we?

    Whose are we?

    Paul hits the ground running. He identifies himself as a servant of Christ–not an apostle, but a servant. He takes the humble route–a road he will encourage us to travel in a little bit–thereby undermining any thoughts the Philippians may have had about boasting or bragging. I mean if he, The Paul, is merely a servant, his readers can’t exactly think more highly of themselves, now can they?

    But…

    Then he turns to his audience and addresses them as saints. Though he has just pointed out that he is but a servant, he calls them Holy Ones, whom the Lord of the Universe has chosen as his own. There can be no higher position in creation. It’s like, before he even begins his discourse, Paul is sending us a message:

    You are so much less than you think.

    And so much more.

    Chew on that today, Beloved.

    Happy Wednesday

  • It’s Not in My Contract One-a-Day Tuesday    7/28/26

    It’s Not in My Contract One-a-Day Tuesday    7/28/26

    Final thoughts before we leave Jonah son of Amittai…

    Jonah wanted to serve God.

    On Jonah’s terms.

    Our relationship with Jesus Christ is portrayed in many ways in Scripture.

    We are servant, disciple, ambassador, friend, brother, child, bride.

    Never—not once—contract employee.

    A contract employee signs an agreement to do a specified job for a specified amount of pay.  Employer and employee negotiate over duties and payment, and the employee is not expected to perform any tasks not detailed in the negotiations.

    “Sorry,” he can say, “That’s not in my contract.”

    The Lord of the Universe doesn’t work that way.

    He’s not interested in negotiation—only surrender.

    Utter, complete obedience and submission, whether you understand what he’s doing or not.  Whether you like what he’s doing or not.  It sounds harsh, and I wouldn’t recommend it with anyone else but the One who gave his only son, that if you trust him you shall not perish, but have everlasting life.

    So once again, we find ourselves at the question: Do you trust him, Beloved?

    Submit boldly today.  Kneel tall, and surrender at the top of your lungs.

    Happy Tuesday, Beloved.

  • And Cattle, Too One-a-Day Monday    7/27/26

    And Cattle, Too One-a-Day Monday    7/27/26

    The Lord said, “You have been concerned about this vine, though you did not tend it or make it grow…but Nineveh has more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left, and many cattle as well.  Should I not be concerned about that great city?” (Jonah 4:10-11)

    Ouch.

    Sometimes, it’s just too much for me.

    The heart of God, I mean.

    My world is so small, the things that affect me so close, I forget that God cares about the whole world.

    All of it.

    Even the cows.

    I am important to him, yes.

    So very important.

    But so are the others.

    There are, quite literally, millions upon millions of people out there who are living without Christ, who don’t know right from wrong because they have never been introduced to Truth.

    And my biggest worry today is how I’m going to get to Costco and the DMV after work and still have time to deal with the pile of tree branches in my yard.

    I’ve always wondered what Jonah’s response to God’s question was.  Did getting a peek into the scope of God’s love change his perspective?

    Does it change mine?

    Happy Monday, Beloved.

  • Pretty Petty  One-a-Day Friday  7/24/26

    Pretty Petty  One-a-Day Friday  7/24/26

    But God said to Jonah, “Do you have a right to be angry about the vine?” 

    “I do,” he said. “I am angry enough to die.”  (Jonah 4:9)

    Wow, Jonah

    Childish, much?

    Look, I’d love to say that I can’t identify with Jonah at all here, that I’ve never been whiny and self-righteous and small before the Lord.

    But He knows better.

    And, probably, so do you.

    What amazes me at this point in the story is God’s reaction. He reasons with Jonah, talks him off the ledge. Frankly, after all of Jonah’s lip and disobedience I would likely say, “You got it, kid!” and reduce him to a pile of fish-smelling ashes.

    Let’s call it Reason #8635 to be glad I’m not God, and give a loud Huzzah for mercy.

    Happy Friday, Beloved.

  • Lesson From Job One-a-Day Thursday  7/23/26

    Lesson From Job One-a-Day Thursday  7/23/26

    But God said to Jonah, “Do you have a right to be angry about the vine?” (Jonah 4:9). 

    God has asked Jonah this before.

    It’s a good question…and a good reminder.

    “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised. “

    That quote was from Job, a man who knew a thing or three about suffering. 

    Job understood.

    Jonah, not so much.

    And what of you, Beloved of Christ? Do you have a right to be angry over the wrongs, the slights, the misfortunes and mistreatments of life? Or do you recognize that everything–everything–has its place in God’s design? 

    Trust and Obey–two of the toughest tasks we’ll ever encounter.

    But the reward is pretty nifty.

    Happy Thursday, Beloved.

  • Perspective   One-a-Day Wednesday  7/22/26

    Perspective   One-a-Day Wednesday  7/22/26

    Jonah wanted to die, and said, “It would be better for me to die than to live.” (Jonah 4:8).

    Have you been there, Beloved?

    Before we write Jonah off as overly dramatic, can you identify with him? Have you ever been in a place where your outward circumstances and your inward turmoil were just too much, and you wanted it all to be done? 

    Well, then.

    I don’t know what got you out of that place, or if you are out of that place. All I can point out is that the more Jonah focused on his circumstances, his desires, and what he saw as the proper outcome, the more frustrated and disappointed and angry he got. In fact, the only time in this narrative that Jonah seems truly at peace is when he abandons any sense of his own righteousness or understanding and focuses entirely on the mercy of God. 

    And that happened, oddly enough, in the belly of the fish.

    Go figure.

    Happy Wednesday, Beloved.

  • God Provided One-a-Day Tuesday    7/21/26

    God Provided One-a-Day Tuesday    7/21/26

    Then the Lord God provided a vine and made it grow up over Jonah…and Jonah was very happy about the vine.  But at dawn the next day God provided a worm, which chewed the vine so that it withered.  When the sun rose, God provided a scorching east wind, and the sun blazed on Jonah’s head so that he grew faint (Jonah 4:6-8).

    A vine, a worm, a scorching wind.

    Wow, gee…thanks God.

    Notice the repetition.  God provided…God provided…God provided.  Delightful vine and icky worm and painful wind, it all came from Him.

    And now, Ladies and Gentlemen, it’s time for the “Truth You Didn’t Wanna Hear Show.”  And here’s your host…Michael!

    Provision isn’t about what you think you want.

    It’s about what God knows you need.

    I know you didn’t wanna hear that…hence the name of my imaginary show.

    But it’s true. 

    Do you trust God, Beloved?  Do you believe that what he provides will be good and right and exactly what you need, even if it looks like a worm?

    Do I?

    I hope so, for both of us.

    Happy Tuesday, Beloved.