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“That's taxpayer’s money that is going to support research and development and pilot projects to develop a food system that is based on environmental destruction and greed and disregard for animals, fish, and any of the other marine mammals that might be around it.” - Andrianna Natsoulas Andrianna Natsoulas is the campaign director for Don't Cage Our Oceans, an organization that exists to keep our oceans free from industrial fish farms. Offshore finfish farming is the mass cultivation of finfish in marine waters, in underwater or floating net pens, pods, and cages. Offshore finfish farms are factory farms that harm public health, the environment, and local communities and economies that rely on the ocean and its resources. Don’t Cage Our Oceans are a coalition of diverse organizations working together to stop the development of offshore finfish farming in the United States through federal law, policies, and coalition building. And, although it is not yet happening, right now the US Administration and Congress are promoting this kind of farming, which would be nothing short of disastrous for the oceans, the planet and the people and animals who live here. dontcageouroceans.org…

Today Daily Devotional

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Today is a daily devotional that helps God's people refresh, refocus and renew their faith through Bible reading, reflection, and prayer.

240 эпизодов

Today Daily Devotional

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updated 44 минуты назад

Главная серий•Feed

Today is a daily devotional that helps God's people refresh, refocus and renew their faith through Bible reading, reflection, and prayer.

240 эпизодов

#Daily #Daily Devotional #Faith #Scriptures #Reframe #Media #Christian Reformed Church #Society #Religion #ReFrame Ministries #Christianity #Devotional #Bible Study #God Ministries #CRC #Family Altar

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Today Daily Devotional

1
Giving Our Best in All We Do

44 minutes назад

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Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters. — Colossians 3:23 As I think about what it means to give our best, I am reminded of a dear friend, a pastor who poured his heart into every sermon—not for applause or recognition but to honor God. His dedication inspired me to approach my work and service in a similar way. In the workplace I witnessed a colleague who consistently went above and beyond—not for promotions or praise but out of genuine passion and commitment. His example taught me the value of excellence and dedication. Considering these real-life examples, I’ve come to understand that giving our best is about more than just meeting expectations—it’s about exceeding them with wholehearted effort and dedication. Colossians 3:23 echoes this sentiment, urging us to work as for the Lord, not for human approval. It’s a mindset shift that transforms mundane tasks into meaningful acts of worship. Jesus, the ultimate example of giving one’s best, served with compassion, healed people who were sick, and taught with authority. His life exemplified wholehearted dedication and service. Heavenly Father, grant us a spirit of excellence. Teach us to give our best in all we do, inspired by the examples of people who have honored you through their dedication and passion. May our efforts bring glory to your name. In Jesus, Amen.…

Today Daily Devotional

1
Expectations and Assumptions

1 day назад

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The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding. — Proverbs 4:7 I’m thankful to have learned the valuable lesson of clarifying expectations with others and reducing assumptions that often lead to misunderstandings. It’s a process rooted in wisdom and insight. Proverbs 4:7 reminds us that wisdom begins with gaining understanding and insight. This includes actively seeking clarity in our interactions and communications with others. Rather than assuming intentions or outcomes, we should strive to clarify expectations up front. Jumping to conclusions based on assumptions can hinder relationships and lead to unnecessary conflicts. Taking the time to communicate openly, ask questions, and listen attentively fosters understanding and promotes harmony. Jesus, the epitome of wisdom, demonstrated the importance of clear communication in his teachings and interactions. He listened intently, asked probing questions, and offered clarity to people seeking guidance. Practicing clarity in expectations and reducing assumptions requires humility and patience. It involves setting aside preconceived notions and approaching situations with an open mind and heart. Heavenly Father, teach us the importance of clarity and understanding in our daily interactions. Help us to communicate openly, seek clarity in expectations, and reduce assumptions. Strengthen our relationships and promote harmony through wise communication. In Jesus’ name, Amen.…

Today Daily Devotional

1
Embracing Patience

2 дня назад

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Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. — Romans 12:12 In my younger days, impatience often clouded my vision. I yearned for instant results, quick solutions, and immediate gratification. It wasn’t until I embraced the wisdom of patience that I truly understood its importance. Patience involves more than waiting; it’s a virtue cultivated through endurance, trust, and faith. It teaches us to remain steadfast in times of trial and uncertainty, knowing that God’s timing is perfect. The Scriptures remind us to “be patient in tribulation.” This doesn’t mean passively enduring difficulties but, rather, maintaining hope and perseverance in the midst of challenges. Patience allows us to navigate life’s twists and turns with grace and resilience. Jesus, our ultimate example, demonstrated patience in his earthly ministry. He endured hardships, faced opposition, and waited for the appointed time to fulfill his mission. His patience was rooted in unwavering trust in God’s plan. Practicing patience requires discipline and a shift in perspective. It’s about focusing on progress rather than perfection, trusting that each step forward, no matter how small, brings us closer to our goals. Lord, teach us the importance of patience in our daily lives. Help us to endure trials and struggles with grace, rejoicing in hope and remaining constant in prayer. Strengthen our faith and trust in your perfect timing. In Jesus’ name, Amen.…

Today Daily Devotional

1
Practicing Humility

3 дня назад

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Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. — Philippians 2:3-4 When I was younger, I often felt the need to prove myself. Whether it was in school, sports, or social situations, I was always striving to be the best, to outshine others, and to seek recognition. One day a mentor gently pointed out that my constant need for validation was rooted in pride and insecurity. He shared with me the importance of humility, noting that true greatness lies in serving others and putting their needs ahead of my own. This was a hard lesson to learn, but it changed my perspective. Practicing humility doesn’t come naturally; it requires intentional effort and a heart transformed by God’s grace. It means recognizing that every good thing we have comes from God and that we are not superior to others. It involves acknowledging our limitations and being willing to learn from others, even those whom we might think are less experienced. Jesus is the ultimate example of humility. Though he is God, he chose to humble himself, taking the form of a servant and sacrificing his life for us. In following his example, we learn to value others, to listen more, and to serve without expecting anything in return. I’ve learned that humility allows us to see others through God’s eyes and to respond with compassion and grace. Practicing humility means letting go of our ego and embracing the mindset of a servant, just as Jesus did. Lord, teach us to practice humility. Transform us to reflect your love and grace. Amen.…

Today Daily Devotional

1
Comparing Myself With Others

4 дня назад

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When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise. — 2 Corinthians 10:12 In my younger years, I often found myself caught in the trap of comparison. In one situation, for example, I wanted a promotion at work. I watched colleagues advance, seemingly effortlessly, while I struggled with feelings of inadequacy. The more I compared my progress to theirs, the more disheartened I became. I remember spending sleepless nights worrying about how I measured up, rather than focusing on my own growth and abilities. Looking back, I realize how harmful that was. It robbed me of joy and blinded me to the unique gifts and path God had in mind for me. In 2 Corinthians 10 we find some helpful advice about serving the Lord and not worrying about comparisons with others, especially if they think highly of themselves. Today, social media may often magnify the temptation to compare our lives with those of others. We see snapshots of success and happiness, but people rarely reveal their struggles and failures. It’s crucial to remember that our worth is not defined by how we stack up against others but by our identity in Christ. As we go through life, let’s focus on our personal growth and the unique path God has set before us. May we find contentment in his plan and trust that he is guiding us where we need to be. Dear God, help us to resist the urge to compare ourselves with others. Remind us of our unique worth and purpose in you. With your wisdom may we find contentment in you. Amen.…

Today Daily Devotional

1
Learning From the Examples of Others

5 дней назад

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The way of fools seems right to them, but the wise listen to advice. — Proverbs 12:15 I had a friend who was a very handy repairman. One day I discovered a leak in my plumbing and didn’t know how to fix it. I went to him for advice, and he showed me how to fix the problem. His help saved me hundreds of dollars, avoiding water damage throughout my house. Over the years, I have realized the importance of learning from others’ experiences. Observing others’ successes and mistakes can provide valuable lessons. We often think we must figure everything out on our own, but wisdom invites us to learn from others. Proverbs helps us see that surrounding ourselves with wise mentors and friends can profoundly help in our decision making and growth. There were times when I didn’t heed advice, and I faced hard consequences. Ignoring a mentor’s caution about a business venture, for example, led to a financial loss. Looking back, I can see how pride and stubbornness can cloud judgment, leading to avoidable mistakes. Learning from others calls for humility and openness, recognizing that we don’t have all the answers. God places people in our lives to guide and teach us. In addition, the Bible is filled with stories of people who learned valuable lessons through their experiences—both good and bad. By observing their examples, we gain insight into living wisely and faithfully. Lord, help us to be open to the wisdom of others. May we apply their lessons to our lives as we seek to honor you. In Jesus, Amen.…

Today Daily Devotional

1
Learning to Love Myself

6 дней назад

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I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. — Psalm 139:14 In my youth I struggled with self-worth and often felt inadequate. I vividly recall a time in high school when I was surrounded by peers who seemed more talented, attractive, and confident than I was. The constant comparison made me feel flawed. One day, a caring teacher noticed my struggle and shared Psalm 139:14 with me. She reminded me that God’s creations are wonderful—including me! Learning to love myself took time. I had to deliberately practice seeing myself through God’s eyes. I realized that self-love isn’t about arrogance or self-centeredness; it’s about acknowledging and appreciating the unique person God created me to be. Psalm 139:14 declares that we are “fearfully and wonderfully made.” Each of us is crafted with intentionality and care by our Creator, who loves us. Understanding this helped me to break free of the chains of self-doubt and criticism. Loving oneself is a vital part of loving others; we cannot pour from an empty cup. As we embrace God’s love for us, we find the strength to love ourselves. This self-love allows us to live confidently, knowing that we are valued and cherished. And by accepting ourselves, we can better fulfill God’s purpose for our lives and extend his love to the people around us. Heavenly Father, thank you for creating me. Help me to see myself through your eyes and embrace the love you have for me. Teach me to love myself so that I can love others more fully. In Jesus, Amen.…

Today Daily Devotional

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So Much More to Come!

7 дней назад

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“There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” . . . “I am making everything new!” — Revelation 21:4-5 Jesus has removed the barrier to reconciliation with God, so we can enjoy fellowship with God and abundant life in his kingdom even now. And yet there’s much more to come! When a believer in Christ dies, we grieve their loss. But we know they are in the Lord’s presence in a greater way than we experience now. So while death brings sadness, it has become, through Christ, a bridge into God’s presence. And there’s still more! When Jesus comes again, all believers—those who have died and those who are still alive—will be transformed physically and spiritually, with glorious, imperishable bodies (1 Corinthians 15:50-55). God will bring his “New Jerusalem” to a renewed earth, where he will live with his people forever. There will be no more death, mourning, crying, or pain, because the Lord will make everything new. What about Judgment Day? Yes, it’s coming (Revelation 20:11-15), but “there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1). So it’s crucially important that we surrender ourselves to Christ and accept his free gift of salvation. Then we can serve him with our whole lives, urging everyone to turn to God in repentance and faith so that they too may have eternal life. In the Lord we can live in hope and anticipation and without fear. Lord Jesus, transform us so that we may live fully for you, sharing your love and good news everywhere. Amen.…

Today Daily Devotional

1
When the Daily News Gets Us Down

8 дней назад

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“This gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.” — Matthew 24:14 Sometimes I get discouraged when I hear about so much evil in our world—there’s so much injustice, godlessness, suffering, immorality, corruption, and more. When doubts start to rise in my mind, I want to cry out, “Lord, where are you? It doesn’t seem like you’re doing much about it, and it’s getting worse by the day.” But then I recall what Jesus told his disciples when they asked about the future, and I realize that this is exactly what we should expect—wars, calamities, and opposition toward God’s people. And Jesus points out that the main thing that needs to happen before the end is that the gospel needs to be proclaimed everywhere. Later Jesus commissioned his followers, saying, “Go and make disciples of all nations . . .” (Matthew 28:19). And this task is for every generation of Jesus’ followers, including you and me. The best way to deal with our doubts and worries about what’s happening in the world is to get busy with the work Jesus has given us to do until he comes again. That means proclaiming the good news of God’s kingdom—that we are saved through God’s grace in Christ—and backing that up with the consistent, credible witness of showing God’s love in our everyday lives. Come, Lord Jesus, to bring the fullness of your kingdom here on earth. And empower us to be faithful and effective in spreading your love and good news everywhere. Amen.…

Today Daily Devotional

1
How to Pray for Missionaries

9 дней назад

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Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel. — Ephesians 6:19 In today’s passage we see that Paul—one of the great missionaries of the early church—needed prayer partners, and he probably had many. Today’s text gives us a helpful start on how to pray for missionaries and other gospel workers. We can pray that God will give them the right words (relevant and effective messages); that they will make known the true gospel (free of false teachings); and that they will proclaim it courageously (knowing when to challenge false ideas and practices, and when to leave it to the Holy Spirit to convict people of the truth). In the film Schindler’s List, Oskar Schindler was able to prevent many Jews from going to the gas chambers in World War II. But toward the end of the film, he sobs, saying, “I didn’t do enough. . . . I could have saved more.” Missionaries can have similar guilt feelings about people they haven’t reached or work left undone. Ask God to give them peace and to leave the unfinished work in his hands, guiding them to see the right priorities. May God show them bridges that will overcome barriers; provide healthy family relationships, friendships, and connections with fellow workers; and supply guidance for training local leaders to continue the ministries. Let’s stay connected with our missionaries, receive their prayer concerns, and pray faithfully for them. Lord, strengthen and encourage all your gospel workers. Bless them with joy in serving you. In Christ’s name, Amen.…

Today Daily Devotional

1
Pray for Harvest Workers

10 дней назад

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[Jesus] said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” — Matthew 9:37-38 We were living in Beijing to learn Mandarin, the official language of China. We weren’t planning to do anything else, but the English fellowship in the church we were attending asked us to start a new small group Bible study. It grew rapidly, and soon people were coming to faith in Christ. They needed to be baptized, so we also led a class for preparation for baptism. Then they needed to be discipled, so we led a discipleship class. The church also asked us to train others to lead small groups. The work was beginning to pile up, becoming more than we could do. It was a happy kind of problem, but still a problem. The responsiveness to the gospel made it obvious that many people were ready—or nearly ready—to be harvested into God’s family. But there were not enough harvest workers—just as Jesus said 2,000 years ago. Research has shown that in general, people in unreached people groups (where there is little or no opportunity to receive the gospel) are more responsive than other nonbelieving populations when the gospel is presented. Cross-cultural mission workers need to be trained and mobilized to meet this great need. Pray faithfully and diligently that God—the Lord of the harvest—will raise up harvest workers. Lord, as you prepare people to open their hearts to you, show each of us how you want to use us as harvesters. For Jesus’ sake, Amen.…

Today Daily Devotional

1
Beautiful Feet

11 дней назад

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How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, “Your God reigns!” — Isaiah 52:7 One day in 1987 the rain poured down as we made our way to a church workers meeting in a little chapel on Panay Island in the Philippines. The chapel was separated from the nearest road by a kilometer of rice fields. We took off our shoes and socks, rolled up our pantlegs, and walked across the fields on little dikes between the rice paddies. I was not skilled at this, and my foot slipped into a muddy paddy several times. The meeting was a monthly gathering for fellowship and mutual encouragement—and sometimes problem solving— for leaders from 10 churches on the island. It was a warm time of worship, sharing, and prayer. I won’t forget the tasty sinuk mani (a sweet rice treat) served on banana leaves by the host church that day. Then we walked back across the rice fields. Soaked again with rain, I took a picture of my muddy feet. Later I sent copies, with Isaiah 52:7 written on them, to the churches that were supporting me. When we get involved in God’s mission, muddy feet and rain-soaked clothes may be among the least of the challenges we face. But they won’t measure up to the joys of sharing the good news and gathering for fellowship with believers in remote places. Where is God leading you to bring the good news? Thank you, Lord, for the joys of cross-cultural fellowship. Be with mission workers who may be struggling with cultural-adjustment challenges today. In Jesus, Amen.…

Today Daily Devotional

1
Creative Bridge Making

12 дней назад

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“Take an iron pan, place it as an iron wall between you and the city and turn your face toward it. It will be under siege, and you shall besiege it. This will be a sign to the people of Israel.” — Ezekiel 4:3 God told the prophet Ezekiel to act out various scenes as signs of punishment that the people would face because of their unfaithfulness. Each scene gave a nonverbal demonstration that the people could understand as it was acted out. And the dramatic effect was often powerful. One highlight of our ministry in the Philippines was to work with young adults in discipleship. A group on Negros Island developed an evangelistic team that they called Halieus (“Fishermen”). They practiced pantomime presentations (sometimes in our home) portraying the gospel story. Then they worked with churches to hold rallies in local neighborhoods where they presented the pantomimes. A shiver would go up and down my spine when I watched them. God used them to open the hearts of people for whom words alone were inadequate. One reason why some people groups have not been reached, or have not responded to the gospel, is that typical strategies are not effective with them. To bridge those barriers, we need to understand the people and their culture more deeply, and to find creative strategies that can reach their hearts. That can also be true close to home, with people who live with us and around us. Lord, guide us in developing effective strategies to reach people who need to know you. Help us to understand how to share the good news in creative ways. Amen.…

Today Daily Devotional

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Is the Church Itself a Barrier?

13 дней назад

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“Woe to you experts in the law, because you have taken away the key to knowledge. You yourselves have not entered, and you have hindered those who were entering.” — Luke 11:52 Jesus spoke pointedly and critically against the leaders of God’s people in that day. Instead of helping people draw near to God and enjoy his blessings, those leaders put up barriers through their legalistic, self-serving practices. Sadly, throughout history, some churches and church leaders have blocked access to spiritual life for people and have even abused people. We often hear of such cases in the news today. Corrupt leaders put barriers instead of bridges in front of people. As God’s people who make up the church today, we must repent of these sins, be sure we have measures in place to prevent them from happening again, and be agents of healing to people who have been hurt. Have you been hurt by the church or its leaders? If so, you may be hesitant to participate in the life of a church. That’s understandable. What can you do? Here are some suggestions: (1) Keep your focus on Jesus himself, especially through prayer and Bible reading. (2) Ask God to provide a few caring Christians with whom you can fellowship and grow spiritually; they can be a helpful bridge. (3) Through a Christian counselor, seek healing and strength to forgive. (4) Remain open to a time when you can fully participate in a healthy church again. Forgive us, Lord, if we have acted as barriers instead of bridges. Bring healing to all who have been hurt by the church. Infuse us all with your love and grace. Amen.…

Today Daily Devotional

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To the Ends of the Earth

14 дней назад