Category: International Ministry

Counterfeit Gods. Reflections from 1 Kings 12. 2026

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Read through the Bible in 2 Years: 1 Kings 12

After Solomon’s death, the kingdom of Israel was divided. Judah (and Benjamin) followed Solomon’s son, Rehoboam, while the other ten tribes of Israel followed Jeroboam, an Ephraimite who had been a hard-working servant of Solomon. Jeroboam feared that the Israelites would turn back to Rehoboam if they went to Jerusalem to worship God, so he set up counterfeit gods and counterfeit temples, counterfeit priests and counterfeit feasts.

Isn’t that just like Satan?

Satan doesn’t create his own stuff. He’s not a creator; he’s a fake trying to look like the real thing, and he copies what is true in order to draw people away from it. He disguises himself as an angel of light, and so do his followers (2 Corinthians 11:13-15).

God created mankind to worship Him. When we aren’t worshipping Him, we will worship other things, created things rather than the Creator Himself.

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.

For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.

Romans 1:18-23 ESV

There are still people all over the world who are worshipping idols, crafted objects made to resemble a supernatural being, but the majority of Americans think we’re above that. Most red-blooded Americans wouldn’t dream of bowing down to worship a golden calf or a stone Buddha. Oh, friends, but we are worshipping all kinds of counterfeit gods. We worship at the altars of money, fame, and sex. We worship at the altars of food, fame, fortune, and phones. We worship at the altars of Amazon, Facebook, and YouTube. These counterfeit gods are trying to steal our allegiance from the One True God, the only one who is worthy of our worship, and we’re falling for it.

Will you pray with me?

Heavenly Father, You alone are worthy of our worship. You are the one who created the sun, moon and stars, the earth and the seas and all that is in them. You are who created me and every man, woman, and child on the face of our planet. Open our eyes to the counterfeits that we have made with our own hands, the worthless things that we are setting before our eyes day after day. Forgive us, Father. Create in us a clean heart and renew a right spirit within us. For Your glory we pray in the Name of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.

God is Sovereign. He Holds Your Life in His Hands – 2 Chronicles 17-18 – 2026 Day 74

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Read the Bible in 2 Years: Psalm 42, 2 Chronicles 17-18

As soon as the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, they said, “It is the king of Israel.”

So they turned to fight against him. And Jehoshaphat cried out, and the LORD helped him; God drew them away from him. For as soon as the captains of the chariots saw that it was not the king of Israel, they turned back from pursuing him. But a certain man drew his bow at random and struck the king of Israel between the scale armor and the breastplate.

Therefore he said to the driver of his chariot, “Turn around and carry me out of the battle, for I am wounded.” And the battle continued that day, and the king of Israel was propped up in his chariot facing the Syrians until evening.

Then at sunset he died.

2 Chronicles 18:31-34 ESV

God is Sovereign. He Holds Your Life in His Hands – FormerAtheist58
O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing – Grace Community Church

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Fully Relying on God – 2 Chronicles 15-16 – 2026 Day 73

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Read the Bible in 2 Years: Psalm 41, 2 Chronicles 15-16

Even Maacah, his mother, King Asa removed from being queen mother because she had made a detestable image for Asherah. Asa cut down her image, crushed it, and burned it at the brook Kidron. But the high places were not taken out of Israel. Nevertheless, the heart of Asa was wholly true all his days.

2 Chronicles 15:16-17 ESV

At that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah and said to him, “Because you relied on the king of Syria, and did not rely on the LORD your God, the army of the king of Syria has escaped you. Were not the Ethiopians and the Libyans a huge army with very many chariots and horsemen? Yet because you relied on the LORD, he gave them into your hand.”

2 Chronicles 16:7-8

Fully Relying on God 🐸 – FormerAtheist58
Trust in God – Stephen McWhirter

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There is NONE like the Lord – 2 Chronicles 13-14 – 2026 Day 72

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Read the Bible in 2 Years: Psalm 40, 2 Chronicles 13-14

“Behold, God is with us at our head, and his priests with their battle trumpets to sound the call to battle against you. O sons of Israel, do not fight against the LORD, the God of your fathers, for you cannot succeed.”

Jeroboam had sent an ambush around to come upon them from behind. Thus his troops were in front of Judah, and the ambush was behind them.

And when Judah looked, behold, the battle was in front of and behind them. And they cried to the LORD, and the priests blew the trumpets. Then the men of Judah raised the battle shout. And when the men of Judah shouted, God defeated Jeroboam and all Israel before Abijah and Judah.

The men of Israel fled before Judah, and God gave them into their hand. Abijah and his people struck them with great force, so there fell slain of Israel 500,000 chosen men.

Thus the men of Israel were subdued at that time, and the men of Judah prevailed, because they relied on the LORD, the God of their fathers.

2 Chronicles 13:12-18 ESV

There is NONE like the Lord. Rely on HIM – FormerAtheist58
My God Fights for Me – People and Songs

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When God Scatters Families – 1 Chronicles 5-6 – 2026 Day 39

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Read the Bible in 2 Years: Psalm 7, 1 Chronicles 5-6

God scattered the families of Simeon and Levi because they’d impulsively massacred the men of Shechem. (See Genesis 34:24-30 and 49:5-7) Yet, God still worked in that scattering. My family, too, has been scattered. 💔 But I trust that God will use each of us in our own towns to be a blessing. How about you?

Heavenly Father, You are Almighty Lord, ruler over the whole world. I pray that You will use each of us in our cities and states and countries for Your glory. I pray that You would use our scattering to multiply Your glory to the four corners of the earth, that all creation might sing Your praise. In the Name of Jesus I pray. Amen.

God Scatters Families – FormerAtheist58
The Sower’s Song – Andrew Peterson

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God Redeems Individuals and Families – 1 Chronicles 1-2 – 2026 Day 36

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Read through the Bible in 2 Years: Psalm 5, 1 Chronicles 1-2

On the surface, 1 Chronicles 1-2 is just a bunch of genealogies. Look deeper and you’ll see God’s hand of redemption and restoration.

Wonderful, Merciful Savior – Selah

Submitting to Authorities and Making No Provision for the Flesh – Romans 13 – 2026 Day 33

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Read through the Bible in 2 Years: Psalm 2, Romans 13

Personally, I don’t often struggle with  obeying America’s government authorities. I agree that I should obey the speed limit and make a complete stop at a stop sign. I agree that I shouldn’t steal or murder or lie in court.

My government allows me to freely worship and to teach my children all the ins and outs of our Christian faith. When I was a homeschooling parent, my state’s laws allowed me the freedom to choose any curriculum I believed to be appropriate for my children, and now as a director for a local LifeWise program, I’m honored to be able to help public school children learn the Bible even during hours with parental permission.

But what would I do if I lived in a nation that forbade such practices?

  • What if my country regulated what pastors were allowed to say from the pulpit?
  • What if my country said I wasn’t allowed to teach my children the Bible or take them to church?
  • What if my country banned prayer altogether, even a child’s silent prayer before eating lunch or taking a test?
  • What if my nation wouldn’t allow me to choose a private Christian school or a Christian homeschooling curriculum?
  • What if my government banned homeschooling altogether?
  • When would I say, “I must obey God rather than men,” (Acts 5:29) and refuse to submit to the government’s orders?

Many of our brothers and sisters in other nations are currently wrestling with these issues, and I’m afraid many of these issues are on the horizon for us as well. Please join me in prayer.

Heavenly Father, I thank You for the freedom that we in America have enjoyed for hundreds of years, the freedom to worship You in spirit and in truth, the freedom to teach our children the Word with passion and conviction. I pray that we would make the most of this freedom while we have it. I pray that we would not give up meeting together, and that we would teach our children diligently, verse by verse and precept upon precept. I pray for our brothers and sisters in other nations who do not enjoy these freedoms. I pray that You would give them wisdom about when to submit and when to refuse. Help them to have genuine love for their enemies and to overcome evil with good. Help them to remember that Your Word is their most powerful weapon. Please, Father, fight their battles for them and shelter them under Your wings. In the name of Jesus Christ I pray, Amen.

Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.

For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.

Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed. The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy.

But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.

Romans 13:8-14 ESV

What do I think about night after night, day after day? Am I thinking about loving and obeying God or loving and obeying my own fleshly lusts?

Before coming to faith in Christ, sexual immorality was a normal part of my life, but by God’s grace those chains have been broken. But what about quarrelling and jealousy? What about selfishness and gluttony? What about laziness and pride?

Am I putting on Jesus Christ every morning, clothing myself with His righteousness? Or am I still walking in the lusts of my flesh?

Am I loving the Lord by loving my neighbor? Or do I simply “love me some ME“?

Again, the Word brings conviction and forces me to ask hard questions about how I’m living and where my treasure and pleasure are found – in Christ or in created things, in the Word or in the World?

Heavenly Father, You are my greatest treasure. Your Word is both convicting and comforting. I need Your help to live a pure, holy life. Please speak deep into my heart, that I would live for You and not for me, that I would follow You rather than my flesh. I know that Your ways are good and good for me. Please help me to trust You moment by moment and walk in the obedience of faith. In the name of Jesus Christ, my Lord and my Savior. Amen.

Found It in Jesus – Stephen McWhirter and Matt Maher

What You Worship as Unknown, this I Proclaim to You – Acts 16-17 – 2026 Day 13

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Read the Bible in 2 Years: Proverbs 13, Acts 16-17

So Paul, standing in the midst of the Areopagus, said:
“Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious. For as I passed along and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar
with this inscription:
‘To the unknown god.’

What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you. The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything.

And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him.
Yet he is actually not far from each one of us,

Proverbs 12:16 ES
What You Worship as Unknown, this I Proclaim to You – FormerAtheist58
O Worship the King – Grace Community Church

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Who are they Persecuting?  YOU or JESUS? – Acts 9 – 2026 Day 7

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Read the Bible in 2 Years: Proverbs 7, Acts 9

Acts 9:4-5 ESV — And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.

John 15:19 ESV — If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.

Don’t be surprised if the world hates you. As a Christian, you should expect persecution. If your life is easy, if you never have to defend your faith, if no one is accusing you of being stupid for following Jesus, you need to get out more! Take a risk. Speak the name of Jesus. Refuse to hide your light under bushel. Remember, it’s really HIM they’re persecuting.

Who are they Persecuting? YOU or JESUS? – FormerAtheist58
By Faith – Keith and Kristyn Getty

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Advent Day 11 – A Kingdom Divided (Ruth + Luke 11)

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Read through the Bible in 2 Years: Luke 11

I’m loving reading the advent devotional in “From Creation to Christ” along with a daily reading of a chapter of Luke. Hope it blesses you, too. Here’s an excerpt from today’s, Day 11, devotional.

Even though Ruth was a Moabite, she loved God and she wanted to go along with Naomi when she returned to Israel.

God’s love is available to people from every nation. Anyone who trusts in Jesus, the only Son of God, can become a child of God, whether they are an Israelite, a Moabite, an American, or a Russian. God judges us by our heart of faith, not by the color of our skin or what language we speak.

Like John 1:11-13 says, “[Jesus] came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.”

…

Luke 11:17 ESV — But [Jesus], knowing their thoughts, said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and a divided household falls.”

Heavenly Father, thank You for making a way for us to become Your children. Thank You for loving us, no matter what color our skin or language we speak. May there be clear division between light and dark and no division between the children of Your kingdom. Break down the walls of division in the body of Christ. Make us one, Lord, as You are ONE. In the Name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.

Silent Night – Chris Tomlin
Make us One – Twila Paris