Happy 4th!!!
Let’s focus our day by spending some time with Jesus before it begins.
Pick a song from one of our Spotify Playlists & let it play in the background.
THANK. Write down or say out loud 3-5 things you’re thankful for from the last 24 hours.
PRAY. Pray the Lord’s Prayer, a Ripple Prayer, or find more at paradoxchurch.com/pray.
FOCUS. Our memorization & meditation focus for this study is John 1:12-13.
READ. Today’s reading is from Haggai 1:1-15 & Haggai 2:1-23
ASK. After reading, ask the following SOS Questions & journal your thoughts.
S = Say. What is the main point? What does it teach about God (Jesus) & yourself?
O = Obey. What can you apply (practice) from this passage today?
S = Share. Who can you share what you’re learning with today?
THINK. A Thought (OR TWO) from Pastor Mike
Happy Independence Day! On July 4th, 1776 the Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence. NOTE, we celebrate the day our country’s Independence was declared, not the day it was won. (The Revolutionary War would rage for over 5 year with many giving their lives to win freedom from tyranny.)
Declarations are important. They are a time to take a stand, make a statement, set a course. I was so excited to see 7 people at Paradox get baptized a few days ago, making a “declaration of dependence” on Jesus. Declarations are the start of something, but are often followed by adversity to test our resolve. In today’s reading, we see that God’s people have returned to their homeland of Judah. They declare that they love the Lord, but their actions say otherwise and God calls them out on it. He challenges their leader, Zerubbabel, and all the people to rebuild HIS house first (the temple), and not their own. He points out to them that they have been struggling since their return and intimates that it is likely because they have not put Him first. The Lord makes his own declaration (Haggai 2:4): “Be strong…and work, for I am with you.” When we do the work God is calling us to and give him our first fruits, he declares he will be with us. Making a “declaration of dependence” on the Lord is a great start, but then do the work that follows… only then will you truly experience God.
TALK. That was our take - what’s yours? Share thoughts & ask questions in the forum.
SHARE. Stay focused with a friend! Invite them to text “FOCUS” to (586) 200-6277.

Stay focused on Jesus today, and make it a great one!