RED — The Overflow Devo (Day 2 of 7)

GLASS HOUSE

There is a constant battle between who we are inside and what we show people on the outside. Sometimes we feel like a broken mess. The "Glass House" is a reminder that God can see into the deepest parts of our souls. He can see our pain and distress that we have caused on ourselves from trying to put on a face and hide our sin. Only when we surrender to the will of God and what is right in our lives can He make us whole again and put back the pieces. So let's stop hiding and let our true face shine in the light and love of what God's will is for us.

Lamentations 1:20-22 —Behold, O Lord; for I am in distress: my bowels are troubled; mine heart is turned within me; for I have grievously rebelled: abroad the sword bereaveth, at home there is as death.
They have heard that I sigh: there is none to comfort me: all mine enemies have heard of my trouble; they are glad that thou hast done it: thou wilt bring the day that thou hast called, and they shall be like unto me.
Let all their wickedness come before thee; and do unto them, as thou hast done unto me for all my transgressions: for my sighs are many, and my heart is faint.

RED — The Overflow Devo (Day 1 of 7)

SAME DISEASE

All have fallen short of the glory of God. We are all sinners yet Christ died for us. That was the greatest love that was ever shown in history. In the song "Same Disease," it talks about how we are all toxic and infected with this thing called sin. Sometimes it can feel like we are the only one that is infected with this disease, causing us to be shameful and to hide our sickness. We need to lean on each other and carry each other's burdens day-by-day, living in the proof of God's Grace presented through Christ as a sacrifice of atonement for our sins.

As Christians it can be easy to say there are two sides to every moral issue, black and white. Which in most cases I would say is true, but we shouldn't have the mindset of Christians against Non-Christians. Since we are all in the same boat, so to speak, with this disease, we need to show that same love that Christ showed for us. Remember, they will know we are Christians by our Love. So let's infect this world with some of God's love today.

Romans 3:21-31
21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;
²² Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:
²³ For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
²⁴ Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
²⁵ Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;
²⁶ To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.
²⁷ Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.
²⁸ Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.
²⁹ Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also:
³⁰ Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith.
³¹ Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.

Making Wise Choices (Day 4 of 4)

1 Samuel 23: 14-18 — "And David abode in the wilderness in strong holds, and remained in a mountain in the wilderness of Ziph. And Saul sought him every day, but God delivered him not into his hand.
And David saw that Saul was come out to seek his life: and David was in the wilderness of Ziph in a wood.
And Jonathan Saul's son arose, and went to David into the wood, and strengthened his hand in God.
And he said unto him, Fear not: for the hand of Saul my father shall not find thee; and thou shalt be king over Israel, and I shall be next unto thee; and that also Saul my father knoweth.
And they two made a covenant before the Lord: and David abode in the wood, and Jonathan went to his house."

John 15: 11-15 — "These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.
This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.
Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.
Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you."


The friends we surround ourselves with determine who we become. They either support us in making wise decisions, or lead us down a path of bad choices. Choose to surround yourself with friends who make wise choices. Find a friend like Jonathan was to David, one who encourages you to seek God's wisdom.

The decisions we make define the person we become. So in our day-to-day moments we must constantly look to God. He gives us His wisdom for a purpose — so that we may live the life He intended for us.

We must pray and remain connected with Him so that when it comes time to decide, we choose the right path. And in choosing the right path, we choose to be defined by God's wisdom.

Making Wise Choices (Day 3 of 4)

Proverbs 13:1-6 — "A wise son heareth his father's instruction: but a scorner heareth not rebuke.
A man shall eat good by the fruit of his mouth: but the soul of the transgressors shall eat violence.
He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life: but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction.
The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat.
A righteous man hateth lying: but a wicked man is loathsome, and cometh to shame.
Righteousness keepeth him that is upright in the way: but wickedness overthroweth the sinner."

Proverbs 22:24-25 —"Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go: Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul."

The choices we make don't just affect us, they can also affect others in either a good or bad way. When we make bad decisions, we sometimes hurt others and damage our relationship with them. To avoid hurting others with our bad decisions, we must look to God to know how to make a wise choice.

In this episode, we see how Nicole's series of bad decisions leads her to hurt her brother, damaging their relationship.

Making Wise Choices (Day 2 of 4)

Genesis 3:1-13 — "Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden:
But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.
And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:
For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.
And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.
And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.
And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God amongst the trees of the garden.
And the Lord God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou?
And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.
And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat?
And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat.
And the Lord God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat."

Every decision you make will affect you, either good or bad. If you make the best choice in a situation, things will be better for you. If you make a bad choice, often things will be harder for you in the long run.

Everyone makes bad decisions at times. But when we do, it's important that we don't run away and hide ourselves from God like Adam and Eve did in the garden. We must stay connected with Him so He can help us through our bad decisions.

In this episode, we see Nicole continue to make unwise choices. She lies and hides from her mother, causing separation in their relationship.

Making Wise Choices (Day 1 of 4)

Proverbs 2: 1-15 — "My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee; So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding; Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; Then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God. For the Lord giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding. He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: he is a buckler to them that walk uprightly. He keepeth the paths of judgment, and preserveth the way of his saints. Then shalt thou understand righteousness, and judgment, and equity; yea, every good path. When wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul; Discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee: To deliver thee from the way of the evil man, from the man that speaketh froward things; Who leave the paths of uprightness, to walk in the ways of darkness; Who rejoice to do evil, and delight in the frowardness of the wicked; Whose ways are crooked, and they froward in their paths:"

Every single day we're faced with decisions — decisions that affect others and ourselves. Often though, what feels like the easy decision, is not the wisest decision. God's wisdom leads us to live the best possible life. He has promised to give us His wisdom when we look for it — so we must look for it by staying connected with Him. Then we'll live the life He designed for us to live.

In this episode, we learn that our choices define who we are. Nicole makes the unwise choice to have her friend Kaylin over even though her parents told her not to. Watch and see what happens as Nicole doesn't choose wisely in this episode of Day Off.

Beating Burnout: Finding Hope and Health (Day 3 of 3)

Matthew 5:9 — "Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God."

RELATIONAL HEALTH: BEING PEACEMAKERS

Stress and burnout can cause us to project our pain and exhaustion on others — usually those closest to us. Some people respond to burnout by lashing out in anger and storming around in a rage as their lives are falling apart.

Exhaustion can cause us to shut down and stop communicating with our spouse or our friends. And by "communicating," I mean both talking and listening. We no longer feel connected to those around us, and we begin not to care about nurturing those relationships that God has placed in our lives.

After not communicating for a while, resentment can develop. Our spouses or friends may not feel comfortable opening up to us anymore, and bitterness can be formed and directed toward us, toward the church, and even toward God.

REFLECT

In Matthew 5:9, Jesus directs us to be "peacemakers." It will take effort and intentionality on our part to bring balance back into our relationships. We are to make peace and strive for unity.

Have you cut off communication with people because you're feeling burned out? Write down their names and a trait you admire about each one of them. Then write down a date you will contact them, making amends if necessary.