Hebrews 5 - 8.25.25

Scripture

Hebrews 5:14

“But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.” 

Observation

This chapter begins with the role of a High Priest and how Jesus is our ultimate High Priest. Then it speaks about the difference between a baby Believer and a Mature Believer. Mature Believers are able to distinguish between good and evil. The writer is urging his audience to grow their faith into maturity. 

Application

To grow from infancy to maturity, set aside daily time to be in God’s Word.

As we study and apply His Word everyday, we are better able to discern God’s voice vs. the enemy’s voice.  

The devil knows scripture too and can twist God’s Words, just like he did in the Garden with Eve and with Jesus in the desert. However, Jesus is stronger than our adversary, so we must not let that scare us from diving into Scripture. We will also be able to discern good from evil as a believer because we have the Holy Spirit living inside of us! We all get tempted by evil.  Even Jesus wasn’t exempt from it, but He overcame through knowing God’s Word.

Last Sunday, Pastor Katie spoke about how we will be doing a Bible challenge to read our Bibles everyday starting in the month of September! I’m so excited for that! The great news is that we don’t have to wait until the kick off for that challenge to start. We can read our Bibles everyday with help from our Bible reading and SOAP journal blog! Here’s the link: https://desertstreams.com/bibleandjournal

There’s this song that I was taught as a young child that goes: “Read your Bible, pray everyday and you grow, grow, grow.” 

Let’s read our Bibles and continue growing in Christ! 

Prayer

Dear Lord,

Thank You for Your Word.  Thank You for our daily bible readings and SOAP blogs, where we discipline ourselves to be in Your Word everyday. Holy Spirit, please help us to read, study and apply it to our lives so that we can overcome any evil and temptation the devil throws at us, just like You did when tempted in the desert. Help us to discern good from evil through Your Word. Thank You that we are overcomers and conquerors through You Jesus. Amen!

-Michelle Gaddi

Psalm 11 - 8.22.25

Scripture:  Psalm 11:7

“For the Lord is righteous,
 he loves justice;
 the upright will see his face.”

Observation:  

David is stating his trust in God when others are telling him he should take charge of his life and flee.  He states he will take his refuge in the Lord, who is in His holy temple on His heavenly throne observing and examining everyone. Then, David states the verse that stuck out to me.  We can trust the Lord.  He is righteous and loves justice.  He will defend us against the wicked.  I love the last part, “the upright will see his face.”  How cool is that?  When you look at someone’s face, you are close to them.  You see their expressions of joy, concern, etc.  It is wonderful to know we have this kind of access to our God.

Application:

I need to always remember God is just.  I can take my refuge in Him.  People, even well-meaning Christians, will give me advice. I need to be sure what I do is in line with His plan for my life and not an easy escape.

Prayer:

Oh Lord, You created such a wonderful heaven and earth.  So many amazing details woven into place.  Thank you for your guidance in my life.  Help me to be securely in your will for me.  Help me to look to you when others advise me to flee or protect myself in some way.  When I’m attacked may I take refuge in you.  Knowing you are the good shepherd and you will lead me through. Amen

- Cindy Howard

Hebrews 1 - 08.21.25

SCRIPTURE 

“The SON is the RADIANCE of God’s glory 

and the exact representation—of His being, 

sustaining all things —by His powerful word. 

After HE had provided purification for sins—HE sat down 

at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.”

Hebrews 1:3 NIV

OBSERVATION 

The writer of Hebrews describes Jesus (God the Son) as the radiance of God’s glory.

In Greek, the word radiance (apaugasma) can describe a reflection of what is external OR what is internal. With Jesus, both are True. 

Underneath Jesus’ human appearance was the glory of God.

Jesus said,

“Don’t you KNOW me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time?

Anyone who has SEEN—ME—has SEEN—The Father. 

How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Don’t you believe that I AM—IN the Father,

and that the Father IS—IN me?”  (John 14:9 NIV)

Jesus IS not only the Radiance of God’s glory—

HE is the exact representation— of HIS—BEING

Being (eimi) is Greek for—I exist—I AM. 

Jesus—IS—The Visible representation of the invisible God—Jesus IS God Himself.

After HE had provided purification for sins

HE—sat down—at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.

When Christ—sat down—it signified—the work IS—complete!

No sacrifice for sin could be greater than the sacrifice offered by the Creator—

Jesus cleansed the world from the domination of sin and took the penalty for our individual sins by dying in our place—on the Cross.

No other penalty ever needs to be paid. 

APPLICATION

Jesus is Sovereign Over ALL—His eyes Watch Over His Creation

HE IS our Supply

Trust Him…

Have you ever found yourself turning on the news and becoming anxious over the state of world events? Or maybe there are life circumstances that are challenging you and causing worry. Health concerns, family needs, financial stresses. Are there prayers you are growing weary of coming to God with because they seem to go unanswered…

As I read this scripture in Hebrews I am reminded that Jesus IS Sustaining ALL THINGS by His Powerful Word. HE sees and Knows everything. HE is Sovereign. Jesus is—I AM. Our Provision. Our Supply.

If a prayer is yet to be answered it is not necessarily no..God may very well be teaching us something in the waiting. Lord Jesus, what is it that You are wanting to teach me through this season?

I am continuing to learn more about God’s Sovereignty.

I am reading a book that said something stunning about intercession prayer. It poses the question, “Is your prayer motive for your benefit OR God’s glory”? 🤯 I can’t help but think there have been times some degree of selfish motive was mixed in with my heartfelt desire to see people saved. But How do I get to a completely pure motive? The book by Joy Dawson (a well respected YWAM author) states that we must be willing— like Abraham—to lay down what’s most precious to us to in order to see others— receive.

“Then Jesus said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it.”  (Luke 9:23-24 NIV)

God Knows what HE desires to do IN and THROUGH each of us. God is sovereign and Loving and in Perfect Control. HE is Trustworthy.

And God is looking for a people who are genuinely willing to lay down their lives for Him.

PRAYER

Lord Jesus,

How good it is to meditate on Your word and remember who You are. You hold us in the palm of Your Hand and Every single one of our days is laid out before You. You have pursued us and You Call us Your own. Your very own. Your thoughts about us outnumber the sands on the shore. A number beyond my imagination.

I desire that Your Love for me sinks in SO deep—that it will transform me in a way that will draw others to You. Help me Lord to live a life in complete sync with You. YOU say, “Follow Me”..Teach me what this looks like. 

I can do Nothing apart from You.

Help me to breathe in Your Presence as I sit at Your feet—

Here I am Lord..

My heart is Yours

Tina L Kudelka