Good Morning!
Let’s focus our day by spending some time with Jesus before it begins.
If you’re new to the Daily Focus, read this first.

GET FOCUSED | Worship can be as simple as thanking God for who He is & what He does. (Psalm 100:4)
Spend a few moments in silence, meditating on scripture, or writing/saying 3-5 things you’re thankful for.
Play or sing some worship music you love, or use a playlist from Paradox on Spotify.

MORNING PRAYER FOCUS | Prayer is a conversation that involves both talking and listening to God.
Choose one of the Names of God using this guide. Take time to Thank God for the ways you’ve seen Him be/do that in the past, Worship Him for it today, and Intercede (pray for) that truth for yourself and others.

SCRIPTURE FOCUS | Today’s reading is from 1 Corinthians 8
Pray a simple prayer before reading, asking the Holy Spirit to guide you into all truth. (John 14:26)
Highlight verses that capture your attention, and ask three simple questions as you read…
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?

A THOUGHT FROM TODAY’S READING…
Today we are discussing the topic of Christian freedom and what that means. This chapter reveals how the mature believer's actions can impact someone that is newer to the faith.  To start, let's think about how, if not careful, knowledge can puff up the mature Christian.  The more important issue here is for the mature believer to exhibit love and focus on strengthening the faith of your brother or sister in Christ. Christian freedom does not mean that we can just do anything.  It is knowing that our salvation comes not by good deeds or being legalistic, but it is a free gift from God. 1 Corinthian 8  talks about meat being purchased in the marketplace, that originated from pagan worship that was killed before an idol.  The newer Christian doesn’t have the faith to eat the meat and believes that in eating they would be participating in idol worship.  Whereas, the mature  Christian believes it is ok to eat the meat, because idols are false and therefore eating it is meaningless.
Paul advises against the more mature believer taking this action in front of someone who hasn’t yet reached maturity in their faith.  Because they have a more sensitive conscience in this area, they believe that eating the meat is a sinful act.   Although you may have the freedom of doing so, you shouldn’t do something that would cause a fellow believer to stumble and fall. (v. 12, 13) “When you sin against them in this way and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother or sister to fall into sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause them to fall.” Let’s consider how we disciple others and make sure we are leading with love and compassion. - Colleen Payton

EVENING PRAYER FOCUS | Re-Focus on Jesus by praying a Daily Examen each evening.
Replay = Replay your day. What made you happy or joyful? What made you anxious or burdened?
Rejoice = Give thanks to God for the small and the significant things from the day.
Repent = Ask God for forgiveness where you need. Receive His forgiveness afresh.
Refocus = Commit to walk with Jesus tomorrow. Ask for grace to see His presence more clearly.
*For help or an audio prayer version, use the Lectio 365 app.

SHARE THE FOCUS |
1. Text someone a prayer/encouragement, or share a thought/question with us in the Forum.
2. Invite someone to read the Focus with you. Text “FOCUS” to (586) 200-6277.

That’s all for today.
Stay focused on Jesus, and make it a great one!

Good Morning!
Let’s focus our day by spending some time with Jesus before it begins.
If you’re new to the Daily Focus, read this first.

GET FOCUSED | Worship can be as simple as thanking God for who He is & what He does. (Psalm 100:4)
Spend a few moments in silence, meditating on scripture, or writing/saying 3-5 things you’re thankful for.
Play or sing some worship music you love, or use a playlist from Paradox on Spotify.

MORNING PRAYER FOCUS | Prayer is a conversation that involves both talking and listening to God.
Simply pray the prayer Jesus taught his followers: the Lord’s Prayer, or pray it using this Lord’s Prayer guide.

SCRIPTURE FOCUS | Today’s reading is from 1 Corinthians 7:17-40
Pray a simple prayer before reading, asking the Holy Spirit to guide you into all truth. (John 14:26)
Highlight verses that capture your attention, and ask three simple questions as you read…
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?

A THOUGHT FROM TODAY’S READING…
”A Christian is married to another Christian. They have 2 children of their own, one adopted orphan from an impoverished nation, and they sponsor at least 2 other children through a reputable organization. They follow a 10/10/80 financial strategy and their household income is just enough to meet their needs, but no more lest they are tempted to live in gluttonous excess. They…”
STOP!!!
This is NOT what today’s reading from Paul says. But it does feel like what our western, evangelical Christian community says a Christian should be. Not that anything I typed in that opening is bad at all, but it does not make you a Christian, and you can be a Christian without those things. THAT is Paul’s point as he opens today’s reading. God is calling all people, no matter what their current relational or financial situation is. In fact Paul says God has “assigned” us to “situations” in our lives. This means none of us are less worthy of God’s love or less called to share that love with others due to the circumstances of our lives. In fact, it seems that God, in his wisdom, is calling people in all different situations. NOT calling them to change their circumstance to meet some ideal Christian life, but to “keep God’s commands” and minister to others with the gifts God has given each person within the circumstances he has assigned to us. In fact, we are more able to speak into the lives of certain people because of our unique circumstance, i.e. someone in a childless marriage may be better positioned to speak to a couple wrestling with feelings of frustration due to infertility than someone with many children. Again, God in his wisdom has positioned people of all different skills, experiences, and resources to reach others who need to hear about God’s love from them specifically.
Lastly…in much of today’s reading, Paul extolls the benefits of being single with regards to one’s ability to more easily focus on God and his kingdom. Pastor Dave shared some great thoughts about this yesterday, so if you didn’t read yesterday’s focus I encourage you to check that out. - Mike Nank

EVENING PRAYER FOCUS | Re-Focus on Jesus by praying a Daily Examen each evening.
Replay = Replay your day. What made you happy or joyful? What made you anxious or burdened?
Rejoice = Give thanks to God for the small and the significant things from the day.
Repent = Ask God for forgiveness where you need. Receive His forgiveness afresh.
Refocus = Commit to walk with Jesus tomorrow. Ask for grace to see His presence more clearly.
*For help or an audio prayer version, use the Lectio 365 app.

SHARE THE FOCUS |
1. Text someone a prayer/encouragement, or share a thought/question with us in the Forum.
2. Invite someone to read the Focus with you. Text “FOCUS” to (586) 200-6277.

That’s all for today.
Stay focused on Jesus, and make it a great one!

Good Morning!
Let’s focus our day by spending some time with Jesus before it begins.
If you’re new to the Daily Focus, read this first.

GET FOCUSED | Worship can be as simple as thanking God for who He is & what He does. (Psalm 100:4)
Spend a few moments in silence, meditating on scripture, or writing/saying 3-5 things you’re thankful for.
Play or sing some worship music you love, or use a playlist from Paradox on Spotify.

MORNING PRAYER FOCUS | Prayer is a conversation that involves both talking and listening to God.
Use the PRAY acronym to guide your prayer this morning. 
P = Pause. As you start your time of prayer, begin by pausing and being still before the Lord.
R = Read. Read the Scripture Focus slowly and focus on words/phrases the Holy Spirit highlights as you read.
A = Ask. Ask God to come and speak to you. Open up your heart to Him as your heavenly Father.
Y = Yield. We want to yield our lives to the words we have prayed and commit to follow Jesus’s way.

SCRIPTURE FOCUS | Today’s reading is from 1 Corinthians 7:1-16
Pray a simple prayer before reading, asking the Holy Spirit to guide you into all truth. (John 14:26)
Highlight verses that capture your attention, and ask three simple questions as you read…
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?

A PRAYER FROM TODAY’S READING…
In today’s reading, we’re invited to play a bit of jeopardy… we have the answer, so what is the question? Remember that 1 Corinthians is a letter from Paul, a real person, to the church in Corinth - full of real people living real life and asking real questions about how to really follow Jesus. We have only one side of a conversation - a conversation in which Paul claims some of the words as guidance based on his own experience, perspective, and even preference - while others come directly from God. While these are specifics that may require specific insight (reach out to a pastor at Paradox if you have questions), there is an overarching theme for navigating our relationships wisely that comes from the key verse - 1 Corinthians 7:17. "Each of you should continue to live in whatever situation the Lord has placed you, and remain as you were when God first called you." I encourage you to filter each of these specifics through this verse as the starting point and central theme. When we do, a few takeaways rise to the top…

First, we should understand our calling. Paul’s practical advice when faced with the challenges and questions the Corinthians asked about regarding marriage was to understand and honor the unique calling God has placed on your life right now. If you’re married, stay faithful and committed. If you’re single, embrace your singleness as a gift. Singleness is not a lesser state; it’s a season or a calling that allows for undivided devotion to the Lord. Use this time to grow closer to God, to serve others, and to develop your gifts and talents. Remember, your worth is not determined by your relationship status but by your identity in Christ. For those who are married, Paul emphasizes mutual respect and submission. Marriage is a partnership in which each spouse should seek to love and serve the other, meet the other’s needs, and ultimately point each other to Jesus. Toward that end, he encourages couples to work through difficulties rather than seeking separation as the first option. Paul also addresses those in marriages where one spouse is a believer and the other is not. His guidance is to remain in the marriage if the unbelieving spouse is willing to stay. Your faithfulness and love can be a powerful witness to your spouse. Trust that God can work through you to bring about change and perhaps even salvation to your household.

An underlying theme running throughout these verses, however, is the desire and openness of the Corinthian church to honor God in every area of their life - even in their relationships and sexuality - as evidenced by the simple fact that they asked. It’s ok to have questions… and it’s good to ask them! Are you open to the Lordship of Jesus in every area and relationship? Who is a trusted Christian friend, life group leader, mentor, or pastor that you can be open with about personal matters? Do you trust them enough to not only ask but listen to their (sometimes challenging) perspective as they point you toward faithfulness to Jesus’ calling in your life? Stay faithful today. - Dave Kubiak

EVENING PRAYER FOCUS | Re-Focus on Jesus by praying a Daily Examen each evening.
Replay = Replay your day. What made you happy or joyful? What made you anxious or burdened?
Rejoice = Give thanks to God for the small and the significant things from the day.
Repent = Ask God for forgiveness where you need. Receive His forgiveness afresh.
Refocus = Commit to walk with Jesus tomorrow. Ask for grace to see His presence more clearly.
*For help or an audio prayer version, use the Lectio 365 app.

SHARE THE FOCUS |
1. Text someone a prayer/encouragement, or share a thought/question with us in the Forum.
2. Invite someone to read the Focus with you. Text “FOCUS” to (586) 200-6277.

That’s all for today.
Stay focused on Jesus, and make it a great one!

Good Morning!
Let’s focus our day by spending some time with Jesus before it begins.
If you’re new to the Daily Focus, read this first.

GET FOCUSED | Worship can be as simple as thanking God for who He is & what He does. (Psalm 100:4)
Spend a few moments in silence, meditating on scripture, or writing/saying 3-5 things you’re thankful for.
Play or sing some worship music you love, or use a playlist from Paradox on Spotify.

MORNING PRAYER FOCUS | Prayer is a conversation that involves both talking and listening to God.
Pray through a Ripple Prayer or use Nations Prayer to pray for the nations and those serving them.
Submit a Prayer Request or pray with others at the House of Prayer at Paradox every Sunday at 9:00am.

SCRIPTURE FOCUS | Today’s reading is from 1 Corinthians 6:12-20
Pray a simple prayer before reading, asking the Holy Spirit to guide you into all truth. (John 14:26)
Highlight verses that capture your attention, and ask three simple questions as you read…
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?

A THOUGHT FROM TODAY’S READING…
One of the main things that hit me about this passage, is “The More Things Change, The More They Stay The Same.” This letter from Paul could have been written about today’s world, for you see the Corinthians had a very similar way of thinking as how the world thinks today. The way our world feels about personal freedoms is that you should follow your desires and be your authentic self - as long as it’s not illegal, anything goes. The Corinthians would say “I have the right to do anything,” (1 Corinthians 6:12). Their desires that are being referred to in this passage are related to sexual desires. They felt that since they had these desires, they could satisfy them any way they wanted and with whomever they wanted and whenever they wanted. Sound familiar? Here is the problem with this train of thought, as Paul reminds the people of Corinth: sexual intimacy is a gift from God. He reminds us that sex is a unifying activity “Do you not know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, ‘The two will become one flesh.’ But whoever is united with the Lord is one with Him in Spirit.” (1 Corinthians 6: 16-17). Sex is more than just a physical act, it is an emotional and spiritual bonding meant for husbands and wives. This bonding can not be taken lightly, for when sexual promiscuity is practiced, someone is inevitably going to suffer from either guilt, hurt, and possibly lose the ability to form intimate bonds the way God intended. Paul also reminds us that we were bought at a very high price, by the blood of Christ. We are to be united by the Holy Spirit with Christ, therefore we must treat our bodies as not our own, but belonging to God. “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). So if your life has been scarred by brokenness and immorality, remember, through Jesus we have been washed clean, justified and sanctified. Our sins are forgiven and in the past. Love the Lord with all your heart, soul and body. Amen - Dawn Custer

EVENING PRAYER FOCUS | Re-Focus on Jesus by praying a Daily Examen each evening.
Replay = Replay your day. What made you happy or joyful? What made you anxious or burdened?
Rejoice = Give thanks to God for the small and the significant things from the day.
Repent = Ask God for forgiveness where you need. Receive His forgiveness afresh.
Refocus = Commit to walk with Jesus tomorrow. Ask for grace to see His presence more clearly.
*For help or an audio prayer version, use the Lectio 365 app.

SHARE THE FOCUS |
1. Text someone a prayer/encouragement, or share a thought/question with us in the Forum.
2. Invite someone to read the Focus with you. Text “FOCUS” to (586) 200-6277.

That’s all for today.
Stay focused on Jesus, and make it a great one!

Good Morning!
Let’s focus our day by spending some time with Jesus before it begins.
If you’re new to the Daily Focus, read this first.

GET FOCUSED | Worship can be as simple as thanking God for who He is & what He does. (Psalm 100:4)
Spend a few moments in silence, meditating on scripture, or writing/saying 3-5 things you’re thankful for.
Play or sing some worship music you love, or use a playlist from Paradox on Spotify.

MORNING PRAYER FOCUS | Prayer is a conversation that involves both talking and listening to God.
Practice hearing from God by asking questions like, “Father, what do you want me to know about you?” or “Father, what do you want to say about your love for me?” Simply be still and listen, or journal anything that comes to mind. Learn more about hearing from God using the Tending Your Heart guide.

SCRIPTURE FOCUS | Today’s reading is from 1 Corinthians 6:1-11
Pray a simple prayer before reading, asking the Holy Spirit to guide you into all truth. (John 14:26)
Highlight verses that capture your attention, and ask three simple questions as you read…
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?

A THOUGHT FROM TODAY’S READING…
Our scripture for today is a powerful reminder of the high calling of believers - in handling disputes with wisdom, living morally, and honoring God with our bodies. The Apostle Paul began this chapter instructing the church in settling disagreements between fellow believers. Going to a secular legal system before unbelievers in the world should be the last resort; if possible. Paul reminded the believers that they have the Holy Spirit to help in resolving civil disputes. Again, Paul states, “Don’t you realize that someday we believers will judge the world? And since you are going to judge the world, can’t you decide even these little things among yourselves?  Don’t you realize that we will judge angels?  So you should surely be able to resolve ordinary disputes in this life.” (NLT v 2-3). We can resolve our disagreement and issues with one another with the wisdom of God and in love for one another.

The believers in the Corinthian church were converted to Christianity from an immoral paganistic lifestyle. Likewise, in our day, many people come to Christ from various worldly backgrounds and lifestyles. Many of the believers were still engaging in the same activities after becoming Christians. Paul was trying to instill a new mindset in them that now  you have come to Christ, “you were cleansed; you were made holy; you were made right with God by calling on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” (NLT v. 11b). Paul presented the perfect remedy in Ephesians 4: 22-24, “ to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, to be renewed in the spirit of your minds; and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.”  How does Paul’s guidance about resolving conflicts among believers challenge our usual approach to disputes? What does it mean to you personally that the saints will judge the world and angels? - Lawrence Payton

EVENING PRAYER FOCUS | Re-Focus on Jesus by praying a Daily Examen each evening.
Replay = Replay your day. What made you happy or joyful? What made you anxious or burdened?
Rejoice = Give thanks to God for the small and the significant things from the day.
Repent = Ask God for forgiveness where you need. Receive His forgiveness afresh.
Refocus = Commit to walk with Jesus tomorrow. Ask for grace to see His presence more clearly.
*For help or an audio prayer version, use the Lectio 365 app.

SHARE THE FOCUS |
1. Text someone a prayer/encouragement, or share a thought/question with us in the Forum.
2. Invite someone to read the Focus with you. Text “FOCUS” to (586) 200-6277.

That’s all for today.
Stay focused on Jesus, and make it a great one!

Good Morning!
Let’s focus our day by spending some time with Jesus before it begins.
If you’re new to the Daily Focus, read this first.

GET FOCUSED | Worship can be as simple as thanking God for who He is & what He does. (Psalm 100:4)
Spend a few moments in silence, meditating on scripture, or writing/saying 3-5 things you’re thankful for.
Play or sing some worship music you love, or use a playlist from Paradox on Spotify.

MORNING PRAYER FOCUS | Prayer is a conversation that involves both talking and listening to God.
Choose one of the Names of God using this guide. Take time to Thank God for the ways you’ve seen Him be/do that in the past, Worship Him for it today, and Intercede (pray for) that truth for yourself and others.

SCRIPTURE FOCUS | Today’s reading is from 1 Corinthians 5
Pray a simple prayer before reading, asking the Holy Spirit to guide you into all truth. (John 14:26)
Highlight verses that capture your attention, and ask three simple questions as you read…
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?

A THOUGHT FROM TODAY’S READING…
As we look at this chapter, I think it will help us to back up to chapter 4, where Paul says in his letter to the Corinthian church that he is a father to them, basically saying that he will correct them in love - to protect them. Chapter 5 starts with Paul addressing an issue of sexual sin that is happening in the church- a man sleeping with his father’s wife. (This does not seem to indicate that she is his mother, but likely his step mother). He is calling out the sin, but more than that, he is calling out the church for not addressing the sin that is happening among them. He encourages them to mourn this sin, but even more - to remove the member of the body who is doing this. In verse 9- he reminds them that he taught them to not associate with people who are walking in sexual immorality, greed, swindling and idolatry WITHIN THE BODY OF CHRIST. He further reminds them that he is NOT talking about those outside of the church, but rather, those that would call themself a brother (or sister) in Christ. He goes on to say that the church needs to “deliver this man to Satan” so that “his spirit may be saved.” He ends this portion of his letter by saying that it is the church’s role to judge those within the body of Christ, and God’s role to judge those outside of it.

There’s a lot in there, so I will break down a few things. First, God’s definition of sexual immortality laid out in scripture means any sex outside of the covenant of marriage between husband and wife. Next, Paul is NOT talking about a member of the body of Christ who has sinned and is repentant (confessing their sin and walking in the other direction), but rather, someone in the body who is continually walking in sin. When he says that this man needs to be removed and turned over to Satan- it is because sin is serious, and those who are in Christ need to take it seriously while being loving. He goes on to say that the reason to remove him and turn him over to Satan is ultimately so that he will see his sin for what is is, and have the opportunity to repent. If he were to stay in the body and have brothers and sisters in Christ not point out his sin- THAT is what is unloving- because sin separates us from God. Lastly, when Paul talks those in the world, this means those who are outside the church. He points out that it is not our role to judge them- it’s God’s job! He tells us that the people we are to not associate with are those in the body who are continually walking in sexual immorality- not those outside of the body. I think often in the church we can be quick to tell the world how sinful they are, but stay quiet within the body- but Paul is telling us to do the opposite. So today, let’s ask Jesus how we can love the body of Christ, and how we can share his love with the world. Let’s also ask Jesus to lovingly point out if there is any sin in us that we are continually walking in, and give us the grace to confess it to him and the body of Christ. - Gwyn Kubiak

EVENING PRAYER FOCUS | Re-Focus on Jesus by praying a Daily Examen each evening.
Replay = Replay your day. What made you happy or joyful? What made you anxious or burdened?
Rejoice = Give thanks to God for the small and the significant things from the day.
Repent = Ask God for forgiveness where you need. Receive His forgiveness afresh.
Refocus = Commit to walk with Jesus tomorrow. Ask for grace to see His presence more clearly.
*For help or an audio prayer version, use the Lectio 365 app.

SHARE THE FOCUS |
1. Text someone a prayer/encouragement, or share a thought/question with us in the Forum.
2. Invite someone to read the Focus with you. Text “FOCUS” to (586) 200-6277.

That’s all for today.
Stay focused on Jesus, and make it a great one!

Good Morning!
Let’s focus our day by spending some time with Jesus before it begins.
If you’re new to the Daily Focus, read this first.

GET FOCUSED | Worship can be as simple as thanking God for who He is & what He does. (Psalm 100:4)
Spend a few moments in silence, meditating on scripture, or writing/saying 3-5 things you’re thankful for.
Play or sing some worship music you love, or use a playlist from Paradox on Spotify.

MORNING PRAYER FOCUS | Prayer is a conversation that involves both talking and listening to God.
Simply pray the prayer Jesus taught his followers: the Lord’s Prayer, or pray it using this Lord’s Prayer guide.

SCRIPTURE FOCUS | Today’s reading is from 1 Corinthians 4:14-21
Pray a simple prayer before reading, asking the Holy Spirit to guide you into all truth. (John 14:26)
Highlight verses that capture your attention, and ask three simple questions as you read…
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?

A THOUGHT FROM TODAY’S READING…
For better or worse, kids often follow in the footsteps of their parents. It is natural to see the person further down the road of life from you and emulate their ways. In today’s scripture, Paul invites the Corinthians to think of him as their spiritual father. As he is ahead of them on a journey with Jesus, they can look to his way of living and loving others as a template to follow. In fact he “urges” them to imitate him. This begs two questions:
Are we living a life worth imitating?
Who are we imitating?
Summer is a great time to make a connection with someone in a discipling relationship where one person is learning from another who is a bit further in their walk with Jesus. Is there someone less spiritually mature you can be pouring into? You don’t have to be perfect to mentor someone, just available and striving after Jesus. A side perk is that having someone looking to you as a spiritual father might make you walk a straighter path. Maybe you are in need of a spiritual father (or mother). Ask God to show you a person you can meet with regularly to learn from and imitate. We can, of course, learn from the Holy Spirit directly, and we have the life of Jesus to imitate. However, God made us to be relational, and the concept of following a human, spiritual parent has been tried and true since Paul instructed Timothy. Find your Paul. Find your Timothy. - Mike Nank

EVENING PRAYER FOCUS | Re-Focus on Jesus by praying a Daily Examen each evening.
Replay = Replay your day. What made you happy or joyful? What made you anxious or burdened?
Rejoice = Give thanks to God for the small and the significant things from the day.
Repent = Ask God for forgiveness where you need. Receive His forgiveness afresh.
Refocus = Commit to walk with Jesus tomorrow. Ask for grace to see His presence more clearly.
*For help or an audio prayer version, use the Lectio 365 app.

SHARE THE FOCUS |
1. Text someone a prayer/encouragement, or share a thought/question with us in the Forum.
2. Invite someone to read the Focus with you. Text “FOCUS” to (586) 200-6277.

That’s all for today.
Stay focused on Jesus, and make it a great one!

Good Morning!
Let’s focus our day by spending some time with Jesus before it begins.
If you’re new to the Daily Focus, read this first.

GET FOCUSED | Worship can be as simple as thanking God for who He is & what He does. (Psalm 100:4)
Spend a few moments in silence, meditating on scripture, or writing/saying 3-5 things you’re thankful for.
Play or sing some worship music you love, or use a playlist from Paradox on Spotify.

MORNING PRAYER FOCUS | Prayer is a conversation that involves both talking and listening to God.
Use the PRAY acronym to guide your prayer this morning. 
P = Pause. As you start your time of prayer, begin by pausing and being still before the Lord.
R = Read. Read the Scripture Focus slowly and focus on words/phrases the Holy Spirit highlights as you read.
A = Ask. Ask God to come and speak to you. Open up your heart to Him as your heavenly Father.
Y = Yield. We want to yield our lives to the words we have prayed and commit to follow Jesus’s way.

SCRIPTURE FOCUS | Today’s reading is from 1 Corinthians 4:1-13
Pray a simple prayer before reading, asking the Holy Spirit to guide you into all truth. (John 14:26)
Highlight verses that capture your attention, and ask three simple questions as you read…
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?

A PRAYER FROM TODAY’S READING…
I love baseball. Despite the Tigers being a frustrating team to watch right now, AJ Hinch is consistently referred to as one of the best managers in the sport. So what is a manager? A manager isn’t the one that owns the team, nor does a manager go out and get players or negotiate contracts. A manager makes the best use of the resources provided. That’s what faithful managers do. Faithful managers keep in mind whose judgment ultimately matters. The fans, the players, and the media will all make their own judgments about decisions and calls - whose ultimately matters? Faithful managers know that God’s judgment is the only one that counts. Faithful managers give credit where credit is due. You can only do anything with what’s been given to you - talent, money, etc. Recognizing where those things came from, that you’ve received something to work with, is key. Faithful managers recognize they are recipients of God’s grace. Because of that, they live to serve. A manager shouldn’t (and can’t) play every position. Instead, they manage. That involves training, serving, supporting, encouraging, challenging, making hard decisions, dealing with unfair judgments, and making sacrifices. Every one of those things are what ultimately build up and lead to success - but those very things are among the most difficult things to do. That’s what makes the last thing faithful managers do so important. Faithful managers persevere. Today, may you faithfully manage all that God has given you. Focus on pleasing Him. Humbly receive His blessings. Give them away in love and service. And keep going. - Dave Kubiak

EVENING PRAYER FOCUS | Re-Focus on Jesus by praying a Daily Examen each evening.
Replay = Replay your day. What made you happy or joyful? What made you anxious or burdened?
Rejoice = Give thanks to God for the small and the significant things from the day.
Repent = Ask God for forgiveness where you need. Receive His forgiveness afresh.
Refocus = Commit to walk with Jesus tomorrow. Ask for grace to see His presence more clearly.
*For help or an audio prayer version, use the Lectio 365 app.

SHARE THE FOCUS |
1. Text someone a prayer/encouragement, or share a thought/question with us in the Forum.
2. Invite someone to read the Focus with you. Text “FOCUS” to (586) 200-6277.

That’s all for today.
Stay focused on Jesus, and make it a great one!

Good Morning!
Let’s focus our day by spending some time with Jesus before it begins.
If you’re new to the Daily Focus, read this first.

GET FOCUSED | Worship can be as simple as thanking God for who He is & what He does. (Psalm 100:4)
Spend a few moments in silence, meditating on scripture, or writing/saying 3-5 things you’re thankful for.
Play or sing some worship music you love, or use a playlist from Paradox on Spotify.

MORNING PRAYER FOCUS | Prayer is a conversation that involves both talking and listening to God.
Pray through a Ripple Prayer or use Nations Prayer to pray for the nations and those serving them.
Submit a Prayer Request or pray with others at the House of Prayer at Paradox every Sunday at 9:00am.

SCRIPTURE FOCUS | Today’s reading is from 1 Corinthians 3:10-23
Pray a simple prayer before reading, asking the Holy Spirit to guide you into all truth. (John 14:26)
Highlight verses that capture your attention, and ask three simple questions as you read…
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?

A THOUGHT FROM TODAY’S READING…
Maybe it’s that we’re coming out of the Memorial Day weekend and I still have some unfinished projects around the house, but today’s reading brought a few “building” related questions to mind. What am I building? What am I building on? What am I building with? And who am I building up? Let’s start with the end in mind. Verses 16-17 say that we are building a temple for God, a dwelling place for His Spirit, with our life. When we don’t know what we’re building, it’s easy to get distracted and hard to ever know if we’re making any real progress toward the goal. The vision determines the steps. It’s also the blueprint for the single most important thing - laying the foundation. No one can build any structure of any height or significance without building on a foundation. Go without one or outside of one and the whole thing will surely fall. Buildings that reach new heights and last are built on a firm foundation - and verse 11 says that foundation is Jesus. Who is Jesus to you? How does Jesus live? When you set out to build a temple and dwelling place for God in your life with Jesus as the foundation, you’ll find yourself with a “shopping list” of helpful tools and materials. I love going to the local home improvement store - but without some idea of what I need for the project at hand I’ll spend a lot of time and money and come home with a whole lot of stuff that wasn’t very useful or necessary. What is the “raw material” of your life? What are you building with? What tools help you get there? (Hint: Look at Jesus! and pick something you’d like to build into your life this summer!) Finally (and I love this one), recognize that this project is going to outlast you. Every one of us is building on the work of those who came before us (parents, mentors, leaders, etc) and will hand it off someday. So, who are you leading and what are you leaving? If someone else is going to build on what you’ve started - whether in their life or in this world - who are you building up? Be careful how you build, and rely on the grace of God as you do. - Dave Kubiak

EVENING PRAYER FOCUS | Re-Focus on Jesus by praying a Daily Examen each evening.
Replay = Replay your day. What made you happy or joyful? What made you anxious or burdened?
Rejoice = Give thanks to God for the small and the significant things from the day.
Repent = Ask God for forgiveness where you need. Receive His forgiveness afresh.
Refocus = Commit to walk with Jesus tomorrow. Ask for grace to see His presence more clearly.
*For help or an audio prayer version, use the Lectio 365 app.

SHARE THE FOCUS |
1. Text someone a prayer/encouragement, or share a thought/question with us in the Forum.
2. Invite someone to read the Focus with you. Text “FOCUS” to (586) 200-6277.

That’s all for today.
Stay focused on Jesus, and make it a great one!

Good Morning!
Let’s focus our day by spending some time with Jesus before it begins.
If you’re new to the Daily Focus, read this first.

GET FOCUSED | Worship can be as simple as thanking God for who He is & what He does. (Psalm 100:4)
Spend a few moments in silence, meditating on scripture, or writing/saying 3-5 things you’re thankful for.
Play or sing some worship music you love, or use a playlist from Paradox on Spotify.

MORNING PRAYER FOCUS | Prayer is a conversation that involves both talking and listening to God.
Practice hearing from God by asking questions like, “Father, what do you want me to know about you?” or “Father, what do you want to say about your love for me?” Simply be still and listen, or journal anything that comes to mind. Learn more about hearing from God using the Tending Your Heart guide.

SCRIPTURE FOCUS | Today’s reading is from 1 Corinthians 3:1-9
Pray a simple prayer before reading, asking the Holy Spirit to guide you into all truth. (John 14:26)
Highlight verses that capture your attention, and ask three simple questions as you read…
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?

A THOUGHT FROM TODAY’S READING…
What kind of player are you? While I was reading the first few verses of chapter 3 in 1 Corinthians my thoughts landed on competition. A team that does well does so because they work well together. The game, and overall performance is a direct result of the practice put in both individually and as a whole. As followers of Christ we are a team. We all have different approaches, and ways we learn, grow, and mature in all of our pursuits. In the beginning of anyone’s walk with Christ, we learn who Jesus is and what He did for us. I think often the hardest part is continuing to walk towards Christ and learning to recognize the ways I still operate in the flesh. Like making assumptions about a person, or reacting harshly when I could have been more loving.

I believe growth happens when we can look at those things, and bring them to God and His Word. Even more growth can happen when we can see outside of ourselves to love and celebrate what each person or position brings to the advancement of the kingdom. There is no single human leader we can follow, or devotional to read. There is no amount of individual knowledge or skill a person can have that could trump God’s plan and purpose for His church. We are meant for unity, and that requires us to work together.

One thing I love about the entire book of 1 Corinthians is that it’s clear that God is so generous in His gifts. When the church at Corinth were fighting amongst one another, he didn’t remove His blessing or anointing. Instead, He inspired His beloved disciple Paul to help them learn and grow. Paul reminds this church that although we get to play our parts in Gods plan, it is God who gives the growth v6.

Today my hope is that you know how loved you are, and that God made you uniquely a part of His team. His family. I invite you to pray for and celebrate someone that you don’t know very well or maybe someone that is newer in their walk with Christ. My prayer is that God would lead, and show you the areas of your heart that are ready to be watered, and bring His loving comfort if and when those reflections seem hard.- Rachel Hood

EVENING PRAYER FOCUS | Re-Focus on Jesus by praying a Daily Examen each evening.
Replay = Replay your day. What made you happy or joyful? What made you anxious or burdened?
Rejoice = Give thanks to God for the small and the significant things from the day.
Repent = Ask God for forgiveness where you need. Receive His forgiveness afresh.
Refocus = Commit to walk with Jesus tomorrow. Ask for grace to see His presence more clearly.
*For help or an audio prayer version, use the Lectio 365 app.

SHARE THE FOCUS |
1. Text someone a prayer/encouragement, or share a thought/question with us in the Forum.
2. Invite someone to read the Focus with you. Text “FOCUS” to (586) 200-6277.

That’s all for today.
Stay focused on Jesus, and make it a great one!

Good Morning!
Let’s focus our day by spending some time with Jesus before it begins.
If you’re new to the Daily Focus, read this first.

GET FOCUSED | Worship can be as simple as thanking God for who He is & what He does. (Psalm 100:4)
Spend a few moments in silence, meditating on scripture, or writing/saying 3-5 things you’re thankful for.
Play or sing some worship music you love, or use a playlist from Paradox on Spotify.

MORNING PRAYER FOCUS | Prayer is a conversation that involves both talking and listening to God.
Choose one of the Names of God using this guide. Take time to Thank God for the ways you’ve seen Him be/do that in the past, Worship Him for it today, and Intercede (pray for) that truth for yourself and others.

SCRIPTURE FOCUS | Today’s reading is from 1 Corinthians 2
Pray a simple prayer before reading, asking the Holy Spirit to guide you into all truth. (John 14:26)
Highlight verses that capture your attention, and ask three simple questions as you read…
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?

A THOUGHT FROM TODAY’S READING…
You know what is so wild to me? As I read this chapter I was blown away by God’s desire for us to know his thoughts and secrets. The Creator of all things in Heaven and on earth wanted little old us to know His mysterious, wise, and profound thoughts. He gifted this to us as believers through his Holy Spirit.

Have you ever been in conversation with someone, whether a stranger or a close friend or family, and all of a sudden you get this download of words, scripture, thoughts, etc to share with that person? It almost feels like someone is just typing up this document for you to share as you’re talking with the person but yet it is everything they needed or longed to hear! Often times, you almost forget what you just said when the conversation is done but you realize that God was speaking wisdom through you. He loves us so much that he longs to use us even in the most mundane day to day occurrences. I just think it’s really special and humbling that God himself reveals His heart to us and through us. He’s so intentional and personal. He’s not a King sitting on his throne spitting out demands. He’s a King who longed to be with us so much that He gave Himself to us in the Holy Spirit. There’s no greater love than the love of Christ. I’m so glad He reminds us of God’s love for us. No matter how long you’ve been following Jesus, we’re never too far along to be reminded of the basics: He really loves us. He longs to use us. And He gives himself to us. All because God sacrificed his one and only Son for us to be one with Him again. Thank you, Jesus. - Cecelia Thapa

EVENING PRAYER FOCUS | Re-Focus on Jesus by praying a Daily Examen each evening.
Replay = Replay your day. What made you happy or joyful? What made you anxious or burdened?
Rejoice = Give thanks to God for the small and the significant things from the day.
Repent = Ask God for forgiveness where you need. Receive His forgiveness afresh.
Refocus = Commit to walk with Jesus tomorrow. Ask for grace to see His presence more clearly.
*For help or an audio prayer version, use the Lectio 365 app.

SHARE THE FOCUS |
1. Text someone a prayer/encouragement, or share a thought/question with us in the Forum.
2. Invite someone to read the Focus with you. Text “FOCUS” to (586) 200-6277.

That’s all for today.
Stay focused on Jesus, and make it a great one!

Good Morning!
Let’s focus our day by spending some time with Jesus before it begins.
If you’re new to the Daily Focus, read this first.

GET FOCUSED | Worship can be as simple as thanking God for who He is & what He does. (Psalm 100:4)
Spend a few moments in silence, meditating on scripture, or writing/saying 3-5 things you’re thankful for.
Play or sing some worship music you love, or use a playlist from Paradox on Spotify.

MORNING PRAYER FOCUS | Prayer is a conversation that involves both talking and listening to God.
Simply pray the prayer Jesus taught his followers: the Lord’s Prayer, or pray it using this Lord’s Prayer guide.

SCRIPTURE FOCUS | Today’s reading is from 1 Corinthians 1:16-31
Pray a simple prayer before reading, asking the Holy Spirit to guide you into all truth. (John 14:26)
Highlight verses that capture your attention, and ask three simple questions as you read…
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?

A THOUGHT FROM TODAY’S READING…
I LOVE today’s reading! I was literally saying “amen” and “thank you” as I was reading it. As someone for whom communication is a big part of my job, I feel much more at peace knowing that God’s expectation for me isn’t eloquence. I often stumble over my words. Use “umms”. Feel like I can’t quite get my thoughts out of my mouth. What I read today is that when I strive to speak truth/encouragement/comfort from God, he can and does use the jumbled mess I say for his glory. The message of his grace and love are so powerful, that they shine through my murky mumbles. The Holy Spirit speaks directly to individuals in ways that our words never could. Though Paul references preachers, debaters, and scribes specifically, this concept goes beyond just communications. “God chose what is weak in this world to shame the strong.” And it is not that God would rather have stronger, wiser, more influential people spreading his love. He PREFERS the low things of this world. That way, when his love shines through, the only explanation is that God himself intervened.
What does this mean for us? We can do his work with confidence, knowing that the responsibility for success is on him, not us. We still have an important role to play, and we should still give him our best efforts. But the pressure is off. At his weakest and most foolish, God is stronger and wiser than humans can be. And part of his wise plan is to use us. Amen. Thank you, Lord! - Mike Nank

EVENING PRAYER FOCUS | Re-Focus on Jesus by praying a Daily Examen each evening.
Replay = Replay your day. What made you happy or joyful? What made you anxious or burdened?
Rejoice = Give thanks to God for the small and the significant things from the day.
Repent = Ask God for forgiveness where you need. Receive His forgiveness afresh.
Refocus = Commit to walk with Jesus tomorrow. Ask for grace to see His presence more clearly.
*For help or an audio prayer version, use the Lectio 365 app.

SHARE THE FOCUS |
1. Text someone a prayer/encouragement, or share a thought/question with us in the Forum.
2. Invite someone to read the Focus with you. Text “FOCUS” to (586) 200-6277.

That’s all for today.
Stay focused on Jesus, and make it a great one!

Good Morning!
Let’s focus our day by spending some time with Jesus before it begins.
If you’re new to the Daily Focus, read this first.

GET FOCUSED | Worship can be as simple as thanking God for who He is & what He does. (Psalm 100:4)
Spend a few moments in silence, meditating on scripture, or writing/saying 3-5 things you’re thankful for.
Play or sing some worship music you love, or use a playlist from Paradox on Spotify.

MORNING PRAYER FOCUS | Prayer is a conversation that involves both talking and listening to God.
Use the PRAY acronym to guide your prayer this morning. 
P = Pause. As you start your time of prayer, begin by pausing and being still before the Lord.
R = Read. Read the Scripture Focus slowly and focus on words/phrases the Holy Spirit highlights as you read.
A = Ask. Ask God to come and speak to you. Open up your heart to Him as your heavenly Father.
Y = Yield. We want to yield our lives to the words we have prayed and commit to follow Jesus’s way.

SCRIPTURE FOCUS | Today’s reading is from 1 Corinthians 1:1-15
Pray a simple prayer before reading, asking the Holy Spirit to guide you into all truth. (John 14:26)
Highlight verses that capture your attention, and ask three simple questions as you read…
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?

A PRAYER FROM TODAY’S READING…
In these past few years since turning 40, it seems I need to be reminded of more and more every day. From reminders on my phone to reminders from my wife, I’m growing more thankful and appreciative of each one with every passing day. But there is no reminder more necessary than the reminder of who I am. No, I haven’t forgotten my name - yet. Paul starts his first letter to the Corinthians with an address - to those "sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints." Reminder: you’re a saint. You’re set apart. You’re chosen by God. But here’s the thing - it wasn’t as if “sainthood” was something the Corinthians had earned. In fact, quite the opposite. They had some issues… which we’ll soon find out as we look a little closer. Just like you and me. But that’s where it get’s really interesting. It’s pretty easy for us to define ourselves by our mistakes and generally assume that God gives us a laundry list of things to fix. That’s not where this letter starts, because that’s not who we are. Paul starts by thanking God for them. And today, I’m thanking God for you. It’s a reminder that even in the midst of our flaws, God doesn't just see what we did, what we’re doing, or even who we are right now; He sees who we can become. He sees our potential, our hidden strengths, our capacity for growth. When we become Christians, God sees Christ in us. In one of his other letters to the Philippians, Paul reminds us that God is faithful to complete the work He begins in us. Here, Paul reminds the Corinthians (and us) all over again that it's not about how strong or put-together we are; it's about how faithful God is to keep working in us, no matter what. We start becoming the person God created us to be the moment we stop trying to “be somebody” and start allowing Jesus to embrace us in our imperfections and God’s grace to cover them. Remember who you are today, and who you’re becoming because of it. Paradox, you are loved just as you are, not as you should be. But Jesus loves you too much to let you stay that way. - Dave Kubiak

EVENING PRAYER FOCUS | Re-Focus on Jesus by praying a Daily Examen each evening.
Replay = Replay your day. What made you happy or joyful? What made you anxious or burdened?
Rejoice = Give thanks to God for the small and the significant things from the day.
Repent = Ask God for forgiveness where you need. Receive His forgiveness afresh.
Refocus = Commit to walk with Jesus tomorrow. Ask for grace to see His presence more clearly.
*For help or an audio prayer version, use the Lectio 365 app.

SHARE THE FOCUS |
1. Text someone a prayer/encouragement, or share a thought/question with us in the Forum.
2. Invite someone to read the Focus with you. Text “FOCUS” to (586) 200-6277.

That’s all for today.
Stay focused on Jesus, and make it a great one!

Good Morning!
Let’s focus our day by spending some time with Jesus before it begins.
If you’re new to the Daily Focus, read this first.

GET FOCUSED | Worship can be as simple as thanking God for who He is & what He does. (Psalm 100:4)
Spend a few moments in silence, meditating on scripture, or writing/saying 3-5 things you’re thankful for.
Play or sing some worship music you love, or use a playlist from Paradox on Spotify.

MORNING PRAYER FOCUS | Prayer is a conversation that involves both talking and listening to God.
Pray through a Ripple Prayer or use Nations Prayer to pray for the nations and those serving them.
Submit a Prayer Request or pray with others at the House of Prayer at Paradox every Sunday at 9:00am.

SCRIPTURE FOCUS | Today’s reading is from Revelation 22:1-2 & Colossians 1:15-20
Pray a simple prayer before reading, asking the Holy Spirit to guide you into all truth. (John 14:26)
Highlight verses that capture your attention, and ask three simple questions as you read…
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?

A THOUGHT FROM TODAY’S READING…
Last weekend I had the incredible opportunity to take my son backpacking at the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore with a few other guys from Paradox. On one particular trail, we hike past Chapel Falls, which follows a river until it empties into Lake Superior at Chapel Beach. The water is crystal-clear, sparkling, and refreshing after a long hike. It’s just a tiny glimpse of what Revelation 22:1-2 describes. There’s a river - an eternal source of life - flowing straight from the heart of God Himself. Colossians 1:15-20 shows us that Jesus - the Son of God, the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation - is this Source by which everything was created by and for, and in Him everything is held together. As we’ve gone through the book of John looking at the images Jesus used to describe himself, it’s a bit like standing there on the shore of Lake Superior. Each one offers an awe-inspiring and breathtakingly beautiful view of the width and depth of God’s heart. A glimpse that reminds us we still only see in part, and that the reality is so much bigger and better than we can see or understand. Not only is Jesus seen in each one - Jesus is the Source of each one! Like the spring that gives life to the waterfall and rivers that feed into the Greatest of Lakes, Jesus is the very reason it exists! And this same Jesus invites us to drink freely of His overwhelming, refreshing river of life and find satisfaction and sustenance in Him alone. So, as we go about our day today, let’s not just stand back and look or even dip or toes in, but drink deeply from the river of life, drawing closer to Jesus and finding our all in Him. - Dave Kubiak

EVENING PRAYER FOCUS | Re-Focus on Jesus by praying a Daily Examen each evening.
Replay = Replay your day. What made you happy or joyful? What made you anxious or burdened?
Rejoice = Give thanks to God for the small and the significant things from the day.
Repent = Ask God for forgiveness where you need. Receive His forgiveness afresh.
Refocus = Commit to walk with Jesus tomorrow. Ask for grace to see His presence more clearly.
*For help or an audio prayer version, use the Lectio 365 app.

SHARE THE FOCUS |
1. Text someone a prayer/encouragement, or share a thought/question with us in the Forum.
2. Invite someone to read the Focus with you. Text “FOCUS” to (586) 200-6277.

That’s all for today.
Stay focused on Jesus, and make it a great one!

Good Morning!
Let’s focus our day by spending some time with Jesus before it begins.
If you’re new to the Daily Focus, read this first.

GET FOCUSED | Worship can be as simple as thanking God for who He is & what He does. (Psalm 100:4)
Spend a few moments in silence, meditating on scripture, or writing/saying 3-5 things you’re thankful for.
Play or sing some worship music you love, or use a playlist from Paradox on Spotify.

MORNING PRAYER FOCUS | Prayer is a conversation that involves both talking and listening to God.
Practice hearing from God by asking questions like, “Father, what do you want me to know about you?” or “Father, what do you want to say about your love for me?” Simply be still and listen, or journal anything that comes to mind. Learn more about hearing from God using the Tending Your Heart guide.

SCRIPTURE FOCUS | Today’s reading is from John 21:20-25
Pray a simple prayer before reading, asking the Holy Spirit to guide you into all truth. (John 14:26)
Highlight verses that capture your attention, and ask three simple questions as you read…
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?

A THOUGHT FROM TODAY’S READING…
These verses make me thankful that we have a God of second chances. I am sure Simon felt this way too. In these verses Jesus is working with Simon to get him to focus on his call going forward and get back in front of the movement that they had started. In the verses 16, 17, and 18, Jesus is reminding Simon of his call by asking Simon if he loved him. When Simon answers yes, Jesus responds “Tend my sheep.” With this question Jesus is telling Simon that his call is to continue to tend to Jesus’ sheep, his followers. I think Simon is still struggling with having denied Jesus in his time of need, especially after having told Jesus that he would always have Jesus’ back. We need to be reminded once in a while of what our call is in the kingdom. I catch myself getting involved in all kinds of things that either make it harder to answer my call or just completely get in the way of answering it altogether. There are a lot of distractions in this world and we have to be mindful of not getting caught up in them. Even if they are kingdom work, is this the work that we are called to do? Along with being reminded of what our call is, sometimes, like Simon, we need Jesus to nudge us back into the saddle. Tough times come along that test us, and we need Jesus to encourage us and get us going again. Even at church in the past, I’ve caught myself doing things just because I could do them and then realizing that I shouldn’t have been doing it because it was having a negative impact on the things I was being called to do. I had to realize that I needed to get out the way of the people who were called to do those things. In Romans 12:4 the apostle Paul writes, “For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function…” For my part, I need to be sure that I am leaving room for those whose call (their function) is the task that I am trying to do instead of answering my own calling. Everyone should be offered room to move into their call. It’s a big kingdom and there is plenty to do out there. No reason for us to be falling all over each other trying to do the same thing differently. God Loves You and So Do I - Scott Rose

EVENING PRAYER FOCUS | Re-Focus on Jesus by praying a Daily Examen each evening.
Replay = Replay your day. What made you happy or joyful? What made you anxious or burdened?
Rejoice = Give thanks to God for the small and the significant things from the day.
Repent = Ask God for forgiveness where you need. Receive His forgiveness afresh.
Refocus = Commit to walk with Jesus tomorrow. Ask for grace to see His presence more clearly.
*For help or an audio prayer version, use the Lectio 365 app.

SHARE THE FOCUS |
1. Text someone a prayer/encouragement, or share a thought/question with us in the Forum.
2. Invite someone to read the Focus with you. Text “FOCUS” to (586) 200-6277.

That’s all for today.
Stay focused on Jesus, and make it a great one!

Good Morning!
Let’s focus our day by spending some time with Jesus before it begins.
If you’re new to the Daily Focus, read this first.

GET FOCUSED | Worship can be as simple as thanking God for who He is & what He does. (Psalm 100:4)
Spend a few moments in silence, meditating on scripture, or writing/saying 3-5 things you’re thankful for.
Play or sing some worship music you love, or use a playlist from Paradox on Spotify.

MORNING PRAYER FOCUS | Prayer is a conversation that involves both talking and listening to God.
Choose one of the Names of God using this guide. Take time to Thank God for the ways you’ve seen Him be/do that in the past, Worship Him for it today, and Intercede (pray for) that truth for yourself and others.

SCRIPTURE FOCUS | Today’s reading is from John 21:15-19 & 1 Peter 5:1-4
Pray a simple prayer before reading, asking the Holy Spirit to guide you into all truth. (John 14:26)
Highlight verses that capture your attention, and ask three simple questions as you read…
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?

A THOUGHT FROM TODAY’S READING…
I see so much of Jesus' patience, restoration, and grace in these passages. Jesus has risen and is spending final moments with His disciples. The Bible records an important conversation between Jesus and Simon Peter. Jesus being fully God already knows Peter's heart and what is in it. Jesus knows that Peter loves Him and Peter multiple times in the Gospels is the first to declare that Jesus is the Christ and vows to never leave Him. (Matthew 16, Mark 8, John 6) But we have also just read about Peter's betrayal of Jesus in what was most likely a very painful and confusing time in Peter's life and history in following Jesus. We see almost this split of his heart and soul in minutes earlier being with Jesus in the garden and vowing to fight to the death to denying ever knowing Jesus after Jesus was arrested. Following Jesus isn't always this linear path of growth. Jesus uses this conversation to heal Peter's heart, remind Peter of who He is, and restore him to the disciple, apostle and shepherd of the church He had originally called Peter to be. There's a challenge for us all to evaluate if we love Jesus more than our past way of life, our career, reputation, etc just as Jesus asked Peter, 'Do you love me more than these?' And then, Jesus asks Peter 3 times 'Do you love me?' Not a mistake considering Peter had just denied Jesus 3 times. By the 3rd, Peter is hurting and his response is an emotional one demonstrating that his heart had changed. We see this unifying of his heart in a wholehearted love and devotion for Jesus that would leave all to follow Jesus, sharing in His suffering. We see Peter again responding to the call of Jesus to forsake and abandon all to love and follow Jesus. This charge and call comes to us time and time again in our walk with Jesus. After all this, Jesus calls Peter up into his role as a Shepherd and Apostle who would be a key leader in the early church. Despite Peter's mistakes and immaturity, Jesus continues to call and speak a new identity over Peter. Jesus calls Peter to 'feed His sheep'. We then see Peter living out this new identity and calling in his exhortation to other leaders and pastors to continue to feed the sheep. Peter tells them how to do this and with heart and mindset to shepherd their flock - the ones God would entrust to them. Peter's heart in 1 Peter sounds and looks so much like Jesus. Peter exhorts these leaders in the same way Jesus led them and we see this multiplication of the life and character of Jesus in Peter. Where do you see yourself in this story? What stage in your walk with Jesus are you in? How might Jesus be calling you to interact with those He has entrusted to you to lead and shepherd? I hope that you are encouraged by Peter's story and journey and are filled with hope for your own walk, relationship with Jesus and for others. - Jessica Glenn

EVENING PRAYER FOCUS | Re-Focus on Jesus by praying a Daily Examen each evening.
Replay = Replay your day. What made you happy or joyful? What made you anxious or burdened?
Rejoice = Give thanks to God for the small and the significant things from the day.
Repent = Ask God for forgiveness where you need. Receive His forgiveness afresh.
Refocus = Commit to walk with Jesus tomorrow. Ask for grace to see His presence more clearly.
*For help or an audio prayer version, use the Lectio 365 app.

SHARE THE FOCUS |
1. Text someone a prayer/encouragement, or share a thought/question with us in the Forum.
2. Invite someone to read the Focus with you. Text “FOCUS” to (586) 200-6277.

That’s all for today.
Stay focused on Jesus, and make it a great one!

Good Morning!
Let’s focus our day by spending some time with Jesus before it begins.
If you’re new to the Daily Focus, read this first.

GET FOCUSED | Worship can be as simple as thanking God for who He is & what He does. (Psalm 100:4)
Spend a few moments in silence, meditating on scripture, or writing/saying 3-5 things you’re thankful for.
Play or sing some worship music you love, or use a playlist from Paradox on Spotify.

MORNING PRAYER FOCUS | Prayer is a conversation that involves both talking and listening to God.
Simply pray the prayer Jesus taught his followers: the Lord’s Prayer, or pray it using this Lord’s Prayer guide.

SCRIPTURE FOCUS | Today’s reading is from John 21:1-14 & Hebrews 2:17-18
Pray a simple prayer before reading, asking the Holy Spirit to guide you into all truth. (John 14:26)
Highlight verses that capture your attention, and ask three simple questions as you read…
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?

A THOUGHT FROM TODAY’S READING…
I’ll never forget the day I returned to my elementary school as an adult. It had been MANY years since I had been in that building and I was immediately stunned at how short everything was. The coat hooks. The library shelves. The monkey bars. All these things I needed to reach up for as a child, now literally beneath my line of sight. I remember in the library specifically, squatting down to recreate the vantage point of my youth, trying to better understand what life was like for little Mikey. The world can be a complex, confusing, and scary place for kids from their vantage point, not just physically, but with their level of understand of how things work.
I love that we have a God that squatted down to our vantage point to better understand our experience. The writer of Hebrews says Jesus “had to be like” us “in every way” in order to become the sacrifice needed for our sins. He also needed to experience temptation in order to be able to help us through it. Because not a lot is recorded about Jesus’ young life or daily adult life outside of when he was ministering to people, I think we forget that for 30 some years he was a human, experiencing everything we go through. This is profound, and beautiful. His human experience allows God to understand the human experience, and meet us where we are. God is like a good parent stooping down to a child at their level, explaining things in terms they can understand with the loving assurance that they need.
We see an example of this in John 21 today when Jesus reveals himself his disciples after his resurrection. After a long night of frustrating and fruitless fishing, he greets them in a fun, familiar throwback to the day he met several of them for the first time. He meets them right where they are, helping them with their labor, greeting them with breakfast, and most importantly reassuring them in their faith through a very personal interaction. It is almost as if he knew exactly what they needed!
I follow an omniscient, omnipresent, omnipotent being, in part, because he was willing for a time to give up his “omni” existence to understand my “nomi”nal existence.
Thank you, Lord! - Mike Nank

EVENING PRAYER FOCUS | Re-Focus on Jesus by praying a Daily Examen each evening.
Replay = Replay your day. What made you happy or joyful? What made you anxious or burdened?
Rejoice = Give thanks to God for the small and the significant things from the day.
Repent = Ask God for forgiveness where you need. Receive His forgiveness afresh.
Refocus = Commit to walk with Jesus tomorrow. Ask for grace to see His presence more clearly.
*For help or an audio prayer version, use the Lectio 365 app.

SHARE THE FOCUS |
1. Text someone a prayer/encouragement, or share a thought/question with us in the Forum.
2. Invite someone to read the Focus with you. Text “FOCUS” to (586) 200-6277.

That’s all for today.
Stay focused on Jesus, and make it a great one!

Good Morning!
Let’s focus our day by spending some time with Jesus before it begins.
If you’re new to the Daily Focus, read this first.

GET FOCUSED | Worship can be as simple as thanking God for who He is & what He does. (Psalm 100:4)
Spend a few moments in silence, meditating on scripture, or writing/saying 3-5 things you’re thankful for.
Play or sing some worship music you love, or use a playlist from Paradox on Spotify.

MORNING PRAYER FOCUS | Prayer is a conversation that involves both talking and listening to God.
Use the PRAY acronym to guide your prayer this morning. 
P = Pause. As you start your time of prayer, begin by pausing and being still before the Lord.
R = Read. Read the Scripture Focus slowly and focus on words/phrases the Holy Spirit highlights as you read.
A = Ask. Ask God to come and speak to you. Open up your heart to Him as your heavenly Father.
Y = Yield. We want to yield our lives to the words we have prayed and commit to follow Jesus’s way.

SCRIPTURE FOCUS | Today’s reading is from John 20:19-30
Pray a simple prayer before reading, asking the Holy Spirit to guide you into all truth. (John 14:26)
Highlight verses that capture your attention, and ask three simple questions as you read…
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?

A PRAYER FROM TODAY’S READING…
Jesus, I pray that this morning you would come and “stand among us” as we Focus on you by spending time in scripture and prayer. Thank you for showing us God’s love in your hands and your side. Remind us who you are and who we are. This morning, we receive your Holy Spirit. We receive your peace in the midst of worry, anxiety, and fear. (Pause to receive from Jesus. Specifically imagine Jesus with you in a place or fear as you pray.) We receive your forgiveness this morning. (Pause to receive forgiveness from Jesus. Imagine Jesus with you in a specific place of sin. See him showing you his hands and his side. Offer that same forgiveness to others who have hurt you.) We receive belief from you this morning. (Pause to ask Jesus what He sees and says about who you are today. Believe Him and be blessed.) Jesus, we receive your mission this morning. Just as the Father sent you, you are sending us to live and love as you did in the world. Thank you for giving us your Holy Spirit as we do. In Jesus’ name, Amen. - Dave Kubiak

EVENING PRAYER FOCUS | Re-Focus on Jesus by praying a Daily Examen each evening.
Replay = Replay your day. What made you happy or joyful? What made you anxious or burdened?
Rejoice = Give thanks to God for the small and the significant things from the day.
Repent = Ask God for forgiveness where you need. Receive His forgiveness afresh.
Refocus = Commit to walk with Jesus tomorrow. Ask for grace to see His presence more clearly.
*For help or an audio prayer version, use the Lectio 365 app.

SHARE THE FOCUS |
1. Text someone a prayer/encouragement, or share a thought/question with us in the Forum.
2. Invite someone to read the Focus with you. Text “FOCUS” to (586) 200-6277.

That’s all for today.
Stay focused on Jesus, and make it a great one!

Good Morning!
Let’s focus our day by spending some time with Jesus before it begins.
If you’re new to the Daily Focus, read this first.

GET FOCUSED | Worship can be as simple as thanking God for who He is & what He does. (Psalm 100:4)
Spend a few moments in silence, meditating on scripture, or writing/saying 3-5 things you’re thankful for.
Play or sing some worship music you love, or use a playlist from Paradox on Spotify.

MORNING PRAYER FOCUS | Prayer is a conversation that involves both talking and listening to God.
Pray through a Ripple Prayer or use Nations Prayer to pray for the nations and those serving them.
Submit a Prayer Request or pray with others at the House of Prayer at Paradox every Sunday at 9:00am.

SCRIPTURE FOCUS | Today’s reading is from John 1:1-28 & Hebrews 1:1-4
Pray a simple prayer before reading, asking the Holy Spirit to guide you into all truth. (John 14:26)
Highlight verses that capture your attention, and ask three simple questions as you read…
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?

A THOUGHT FROM TODAY’S READING…
As we conclude this study through John, we find that the “end” is the “beginning” all over again. John 1 says that, in the beginning, Jesus was “with” God and “WAS” God. Hebrews says that Jesus is how God has spoken finally and most fully, and that He is the “exact imprint” of His nature. All that to say, if you want to know what God is like, look at Jesus. Everything we’ve studied comes down to this. God thinks, feels, speaks, acts, looks like, and loves like Jesus. If Jesus is or does anything - it’s only because (in Jesus’ own words,) it’s what the Father is or does. A friend recently told me that it’s been said that trying to know and understand God is like several blind people touching different parts of an elephant. The implication is that no one can fully see, know, or understand God. We all see and know in part. And while that is true - even biblical, as we cannot fully know or understand God as humans - what the story doesn’t account for is the outside observer who reveals that this is an elephant. In Jesus, the fullness of God has been revealed and made known. And if you want to know what God is saying to you today, how God feels about you today, and what God wants you to do today… just look at Jesus. Thank you, God, for showing us who you are. We receive you and believe you, Jesus! - Dave Kubiak

EVENING PRAYER FOCUS | Re-Focus on Jesus by praying a Daily Examen each evening.
Replay = Replay your day. What made you happy or joyful? What made you anxious or burdened?
Rejoice = Give thanks to God for the small and the significant things from the day.
Repent = Ask God for forgiveness where you need. Receive His forgiveness afresh.
Refocus = Commit to walk with Jesus tomorrow. Ask for grace to see His presence more clearly.
*For help or an audio prayer version, use the Lectio 365 app.

SHARE THE FOCUS |
1. Text someone a prayer/encouragement, or share a thought/question with us in the Forum.
2. Invite someone to read the Focus with you. Text “FOCUS” to (586) 200-6277.

That’s all for today.
Stay focused on Jesus, and make it a great one!

Good Morning!
Let’s focus our day by spending some time with Jesus before it begins.
If you’re new to the Daily Focus, read this first.

GET FOCUSED | Worship can be as simple as thanking God for who He is & what He does. (Psalm 100:4)
Spend a few moments in silence, meditating on scripture, or writing/saying 3-5 things you’re thankful for.
Play or sing some worship music you love, or use a playlist from Paradox on Spotify.

MORNING PRAYER FOCUS | Prayer is a conversation that involves both talking and listening to God.
Practice hearing from God by asking questions like, “Father, what do you want me to know about you?” or “Father, what do you want to say about your love for me?” Simply be still and listen, or journal anything that comes to mind. Learn more about hearing from God using the Tending Your Heart guide.

SCRIPTURE FOCUS | Today’s reading is from John 1:29-51 & Isaiah 53:7-12
Pray a simple prayer before reading, asking the Holy Spirit to guide you into all truth. (John 14:26)
Highlight verses that capture your attention, and ask three simple questions as you read…
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?

A THOUGHT FROM TODAY’S READING…
In the latter verses of John 1 we read that John the Baptist describes Jesus as the Lamb of God who would take away the sins of the world. This was a description of Jesus that the people living during this time in history could understand. It was Jewish custom that lamb animals were being sacrificed as an atonement/sacrifice for the people's sins. The prophet Isaiah had also prophesied the Messiah Jesus would be sacrificed in the same way lambs were as a sin offering. During Jesus’ baptism God revealed that Jesus was His Son when John witnessed the Spirit come down from heaven like a dove and remain on Jesus - also revealing that Jesus was God’s Chosen One. John and his disciples were excited to tell the others that they had found the Messiah (Christ). They later found Nathaniel to share the good news with him and his reply was, “Can anything good come from Nazareth?” Jesus prophesied to Nathaniel and told him who he was and what he was doing before they met up. Nathaniel declared, “You are the Son of God.” Jesus replied in Chapter 1:50 (NIV) “You believe because I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You will see greater things than that. He then added, "Very truly I tell you, you will see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.” The city of Nazareth had a poor reputation in morals and religion, which is why Nathaniel had doubted that Jesus the Messiah would come from such a place. Throughout the Bible, God chooses the most unlikely circumstances and people to reveal himself and or his message. Our thinking has to be aligned with the power of God. Most certainly he can work through any person, place, or thing to reveal Himself as God Almighty. As we meditate on today’s Scripture passages, let us take in the gravity of God becoming human through the personhood of Jesus bringing salvation to the world. And let us also be mindful of the places, persons or things we so easily discredit in the same manner that Nathaniel did. What is seemingly insignificant within our own intellect, could be the very thing God is working with. - Colleen Payton

EVENING PRAYER FOCUS | Re-Focus on Jesus by praying a Daily Examen each evening.
Replay = Replay your day. What made you happy or joyful? What made you anxious or burdened?
Rejoice = Give thanks to God for the small and the significant things from the day.
Repent = Ask God for forgiveness where you need. Receive His forgiveness afresh.
Refocus = Commit to walk with Jesus tomorrow. Ask for grace to see His presence more clearly.
*For help or an audio prayer version, use the Lectio 365 app.

SHARE THE FOCUS |
1. Text someone a prayer/encouragement, or share a thought/question with us in the Forum.
2. Invite someone to read the Focus with you. Text “FOCUS” to (586) 200-6277.

That’s all for today.
Stay focused on Jesus, and make it a great one!