The Daily Devotional | Cypress Meadows Community Church

The Daily

Daily devotions and thoughts from Cypress Meadows

The Daily is a devotional sent out via text each morning. The Daily devotions are written by folks at Cypress Meadows, including Tribe members, elders and our Lead Pastor. There is a different theme each week and each devotional includes a prayer, a scripture verse, a brief reading from well-known authors, and a daily reflection.

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It seems to me that Paul sees Yeshua (Jesus) as 1) the first fruit of acceptability before God for all who will follow, and 2) the guarantee that there is something after death, something real as evidenced by the risen Messiah. What’s new is that this man came back from the grave to proclaim the victory of God over death itself. What’s new is that there really is a reason to push on; that this life is not the end. What’s new is the flesh and blood evidence of vindication, justice and resurrection. Because he lived this life in obedience, YHWH (GOD) raised him to be the final authority in this realm, and as his followers we have hope that we will participate in his eternal kingdom. Dr Skip Moen

Outside Bethany, Lazarus’s sister Martha went out to meet Jesus. “If you had been here,” she said, “my brother would not have died.” Such was her faith in Jesus’ power to heal. Jesus replied by assuring Martha that her brother would rise again. Martha responded again in faith: “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.” At this point, Jesus makes His fifth “I Am” statement in John’s gospel, “I am the resurrection and the life,” and He follows it with a call to faith: “He who believes in me will live, even though he dies, and whoever lives and believes in me will never die” (John 11:21-24). Jesus’ statement that He is the resurrection and the life provides a godly perspective on several spiritual matters. Martha believed that the resurrection is an event; Jesus showed her (and us) that the resurrection is a Person. Martha’s knowledge of eternal life was an abstract idea; Jesus proved that knowledge of eternal life is a personal relationship. Martha thought victory over death was a future expectation; Jesus corrects her, showing that victory is a present reality.-Got Questions Ministries

As a 13 year old who had just lost her 42 year old dad to a heart attack, I did not have the faith of Martha. I gave up my faith and decided God didn’t exist, so I could avoid any thoughts of hell. Jesus’s statement, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die…” fills me with hope. Hope for today, hope for tomorrow. Hope for my dad and hope for so many others. The COVID-19 pandemic has brought death to many of us. The losses leave gaps in our hearts and in our souls. For me, I am thankful that Jesus is the resurrection and the life...and that it is a present reality. Today remind yourself that you have hope. Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life…”

150 funerals. That is how many funerals I have officiated in my 40 years of being a Pastor. One of the things I have said in these moments of grief over words that were yet to be said, memories left unmade, and a chair that will sit unoccupied is this: “It doesn’t end here”. “It ends in the presence of the Heavenly Father where we will see our Jesus and reunite with those who put their faith in Him. And we will dance and dazzle through the ages in that bright eternal city where death can never, never come”. We Christians call this our hope, our blessed hope.

“The greatest enemy of hunger for God is not poison, but apple pie. It is not the banquet of the wicked that dulls our appetite for heaven, but the endless nibbling at the table of the world….The greatest adversary of love to God is not in his enemies but his gifts. And the most deadly appetites are not for the poison of evil, but for the simple pleasures of earth. For when these replace an appetite for God himself, the idolatry is scarcely recognizable, and almost incurable. ” John Piper

My grandfather modeled and taught me the art of “animal husbandry”. How to manage, care for, protect, and provide for livestock. He took pride in it. When it was time to call the cows in from the pasture all he had to do was call out “come boss” and the herd would follow him as he walked them to the barn. They knew and trusted his voice and they knew they were safe to go where he led them. Those cows taught me a bit about following Jesus, the good shepherd…knowing who you are following is more important than having to know where you are going.

“It should be understood that Jesus is “the” good shepherd, not simply “a” good shepherd, as others may be, but He is unique in character (Psalm 23; Zechariah 13:7; Hebrews 13:20; 1 Peter 2:25; 1 Peter 5:4). The Greek word kalos, translated “good,” describes that which is noble, wholesome, good, and beautiful, in contrast to that which is wicked, mean, foul, and unlovely. It signifies not only that which is good inwardly—character—but also that which is attractive outwardly. It is an innate goodness. Therefore, in using the phrase “the good shepherd,” Jesus is referencing His inherent goodness, His righteousness, and His beauty. As shepherd of the sheep, He is the one who protects, guides, and nurtures His flock.”-Got Questions Ministries

The good shepherd... He is with you and me protecting, guiding and nurturing. Whatever the day holds, Jesus, the good shepherd, is with you and me. He is noble, wholesome, good, and beautiful. The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. Psalm 23

God does not peer down upon the world as the heavenly policeman. He is not watching every move you make in order to catch you in some sin and apply the heavenly hammer. God sees in order to save. His sight is the precursor to His provision of sacrifice for our redemption. God watches over us like the Good Shepherd, exhibiting His care in His dying for us. Instead of cowering under His judgmental eyes, we are blessed under His watchful care. Abraham experienced God’s sight. His son was redeemed. But it did not stop there. God appeared to us in the same redemptive vision. His Son spared us. We serve the God who sees. Dr Skip Moen

“If you have the Shepherd, you have grace for every sin, direction for every turn, a candle for every corner and an anchor for every storm. You have everything you need.” Max Lucado

“Jesus not only gathers each of us as individuals, He gathers us together as a flock. Jesus does not save us individually, one-by-one. He saves us together. He comes to give us life together. He not only relates to each of us personally, He is also in the midst of us, uniting us as one, bringing us together, and leading us forward together. Life in abundance is not just each of us enjoying him or herself in the comfort of his or her own solitude. Life in abundance is not just being left unbothered by my neighbor. Life in abundance means coming together as brothers and sisters. It means sharing with others the life that we receive. It means rejoicing in one another. It means seeing each other as a gift. It is taking the time to encounter one another, even in little ways. Taking a moment for an unexpected conversation instead of wishing you were left undisturbed. Smiling at someone who looks down. Writing to a family member or friend. Volunteering to help people in need. All of these bring us together as a flock. All of these show us that we are not alone. Even through simple gestures, we can show others that they are not alone either.” Julian Paparella

As we move into this holiday season, I want to live a life in alignment with the values of our Shepherd…inclusion, belonging, community, and connection. Though filled with much joy and celebration, this season can be difficult for many. Grief, loss, depression, strained family relationships, among other challenges, can weigh heavier this season. Just as He guides us, and leads us, and seeks us out when lost; I want to intentionally mirror His light in the world. I want to really see others, to sit with the hurting and broken, to work to remind all I come in contact with, that they are not alone.

“In these words, Jesus was declaring Himself the great “I Am,” the only path to heaven, the only true measure of righteousness, and the source of both physical and spiritual life. He was staking His claim as the very God of Creation, the Lord who blessed Abraham, and the Holy One who inhabits eternity. He did this so the disciples would be able to face the dark days ahead and carry on the mission of declaring the gospel to the world. Of course, we know from Scripture that they still didn’t understand, and it took several visits from their risen Lord to shake them out of their disbelief. Once they understood the truth of His words, they became changed people, and the world has never been the same.”-Got Questions Ministries

“We live in a pluralistic age that bristles against definitive statements and objective truth. If I’m bold enough to say, “Salvation can only be obtained through Jesus Christ,” I may receive some pushback from those who don’t agree, or those who don’t appreciate the exclusive nature of that claim. That’s part of what makes me appreciate what Jesus states in John 14:6-7 even more. He doesn’t mince words. He doesn’t give a “qualified” answer. He states facts plainly, and makes it clear that He alone is three things, the way, the truth, and the life…Jesus satisfies the deepest longings of our hearts. Our hearts long for direction, and He is the way. Our hearts long for honesty, and He is the truth. Our hearts long for eternity, and He is the life.” -John Stange

There are so many days when my world feels shaky. Days when I question my path, my direction, my next steps…days when I lack the confidence to make the difficult decisions or follow the way less traveled. And although I’m uncertain based on my own “knowing”, I can have complete confidence in Him. If I can create space from the outside noise, His way and His truth will guide me. Step by step, day by day, week by week, month by month, and year by year. His way and His truth are objective. His path is clear. And these things lead to life everlasting.

“One of my key words for this season is less—less everything. Our house is feeling a little cramped, so I’m on a “get rid of it” spree. I’m simplifying, clarifying my contributions to various teams and projects. I’m inching out of all sorts of things, redrawing lines, making things smaller. And it feels so much better to live in an uncluttered mind. Less, less, less….My nature is more, but this season is less. Paring down to barer bones, making space, scraping away. We love big stories, ones that involve passports, mountains, and photo-ops. But sometimes being courageous means less, quieter, stiller, smaller. Clearing away all the excess makes space for what needs to come to life.” -Shauna Niequist

The cover on my computer reads, “Do less, Be more,” which serves as a constant and necessary daily reminder for me. I feel Shauna’s words, “my nature is more, but this season is less.” My personality feels enveloped in the phrase “go big or go home”…I have a deep urge to see the world and experience all of the beauty within it. But I’m also learning to find the beauty in less…in making space…in pruning away those things that don’t matter. When there’s space I find creativity, joy, and beauty in the everyday. With less I have the ability to hear the whispers of my soul and the nudges from the Lord. The laughter and joy from my children is crisper and more soul filling. The delight in, and gratitude for, the life that surrounds me is overwhelming. In these moments, I’m able to do less, and be more.

The economic systems of this world are at war against the truth of God and His created order, but most Christians don’t realize the enormity of the

battle that’s been raging or what the implications are in society.

Unlike the world’s economic systems which begin with the allocation of scarce resources, Kingdom Economics begins with the first commandment “You shall have no other gods before me.” If people believe God and place Him first in their lives, they are acknowledging Him for who He says He is which includes: creator of the universe, author of the instruction manual for successfully living in His creation, and the redeemer of those who disobey His instructions. What follows is the recognition that God is the rightful owner over all creation, the supreme authority, and the judge over all of life and society. Obedience to the first commandment requires that all individual and societal pursuits of progress, prosperity and wealth accumulation be conducted within His prescribed boundaries of righteous living. -John C Thorman

Amid all the unknowns of today’s unprecedented chaos, there’s one thing we’re surely learning—how interconnected we all are. This is such a contrast to the modern worldview of stringent individualism that we inherited from the Enlightenment era.

It seems that we are not quite so autonomous as we imagined. And that’s a good thing. The demand for autonomy has bred an epidemic of loneliness, despair, and alienation. -Bill Dilvaux

But we were not created to be self-sufficient. We were created to live connected to God and to each other.

In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father, David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.” “How will this be, “ Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. For no word from God will ever fail.” “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her. Luke 1:26-38

The faith of Mary still leaves me speechless. As Gabriel unfolds the plan to Mary, she doesn’t ask for a detailed explanation of the road she’ll be traveling. She doesn’t try to convince Gabriel that he must have made a mistake and she couldn’t possibly be the one God has chosen. She doesn’t do any of those things. She simply says “I am the Lord’s servant. May your word to me be fulfilled.” Her yes changes the everything. May we all move a little closer to living life with a faith like Mary’s.

In essence, what Mary was doing under the cross was this: She couldn’t stop the crucifixion (there are times when darkness has its hour) but she could stop some of the hatred, bitterness, jealousy, heartlessness, and anger that caused it and surrounded it. And she helped stop bitterness by refusing to give it back in kind, by transforming rather than transmitting it, by swallowing hard and (literally) eating bitterness rather than giving it back, as everyone else was doing.

Had Mary, in moral outrage, begun to scream hysterically, shout angrily at those crucifying Jesus, or physically tried to attack someone as he was driving the nails into Jesus’ hands, she would have been caught up in the same kind of energy as everyone else, replicating the very anger and bitterness that caused the crucifixion to begin with. What Mary was doing under the cross, her silence and seeming unwillingness to protest notwithstanding, was radiating all that is antithetical to the crucifixion: gentleness, understanding, forgiveness, peace, light. – Ronald Rolheiser

Mary spent the most time with Jesus out of anyone, including His apostles, and it wasn’t even close. He spent the first thirty years of His life with her, not the apostles. I’m sure God blessed her with a great intellect and memory, and so she remembered everything Jesus did and said in those thirty years together with her, and even more so in the three years of His public ministry, including His passion and death. Then she passed these memories and her understanding of them on to the apostles and early Church. In order to have faith, one must have a memory of the experiences, events, and people that have formed that faith. Memories are also necessary for hope, because when things become dark in our lives, and we feel hopeless, we can rely on our memories to remind us that God helped us in times of darkness before, and is still with us now. -Chris Antenucci

Mary pondered these things…She remembers. She hopes. She believes. As we move through the Advent season and enjoy the Christmas lights, the beautiful trees, hear Christmas carols, see nativity scenes….ponder and remember. Remember God’s faithfulness. Remember what He has brought you through. Our hope and trust is in Him.

Our memories bring us hope. Remember that God is with you in times of joy and darkness, let your faith grow.

Let this be a Merry Christmas. Ponder these things.

(I pray you take time to ponder…as I pondered I was overcome with emotion of love and gratitude. I felt God with me❤️)

Mary, mother of Jesus. She is the only person to have been with Him at both His birth and His death. She nursed him as an infant and protected him from King Herod’s infanticide. She presented Him in the temple to the Lord and raised Him in the fear of God. She marveled and pondered at the prophecy’s spoke over Him. When she found herself concerned for His emotional and mental well-being she sought to pull Him away to a place where she could provide a mothers nurture and protection. When her beloved son was beaten, placed on a cross and a sword pierced His side…a sword of grief pierced her soul. Then when He rose from the grave on the third day she realized her son, her Jesus, was Immanuel…God with us. And so, it’s no wonder we called her “Blessed”. -Douglas Poole

Fearful and troubled, Mary found herself in the presence of the angel Gabriel listening to his announcement. She could never have expected to hear the most incredible news—that she would have a child, and her son would be the Messiah. Although she could not comprehend how she would conceive the Savior, she responded to God with humble belief and obedience.

Although Mary's calling held great honor, it would demand great suffering too. There would be pain in childbirth and motherhood, as well as in the privilege of being the mother of the Messiah. - The Lexham Bible Dictionary

“...The Devil would not have begun by an open and obvious sin to tempt man into doing something which God had forbidden, had not man already begun to seek satisfaction in himself and, consequently, to take pleasure in the words: 'You shall be as Gods.' The promise of these words, however, would much more truly have come to pass if, by obedience, Adam and Eve had kept close to the ultimate and true Source of their being and had not, by pride imagined that they were themselves the source of their being. For, created gods are gods not in virtue of their own being but by a participation in the being of the true God. For, whoever seeks to be more than he is becomes less, and while he aspires to be self-sufficing he retires from Him who is truly sufficient for him.” - from The City of God by St. Augustine

All ages are welcome to join us for a fun night of skating and food.

875 Cypress St, Tarpon Springs, FL 34689875 Cypress St, Tarpon Springs, FL 34689