Daily Dose of Hope

December 26, 2025

Scripture – Acts 25

Prayer: Heavenly Father, you are almighty and all-powerful. You are God of all and yet you care for us. Thank you, Lord. Help us settle our scattered thoughts and be silent before you...Thank you, Jesus. Please guide us as we reflect on your Word today. Meet us in the midst of our reading and this devotional. In Your Name, Amen.

Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Church daily Bible reading plan. I hope you had a great Christmas day yesterday! We have been on a wonderful journey of reading and reflecting on Scripture over the last eight months, specifically the four Gospels and the book of Acts. After today, we only have three more days in Acts. We will take a brief break and then we will begin again on January 5, 2026, to walk through the letters of Paul in chronological order. I hope you will join us for that as well.

Today, we are working through Acts 25. Paul's on-going custody and trial continues in this chapter. Felix was recalled to Rome to handle some other events. The man who followed him died after just two years and now we find ourselves introduced to the new governor, Festus. So this means that Paul has been in custody for over two years!

Festus quickly demonstrates that, while he will listen to the Jewish leaders' accusations against Paul, he will not be bullied by them. He appears to want to give Paul a fair hearing once again. Now, the Jews were accusing Paul of both religious and civil offenses. Even if he were not innocent, this raises red flags among the Roman authorities. So Paul uses last card, an appeal to Caesar himself, which was his right to do as a Roman citizen. This also means the Gospel message will now move further up the government ladder. God is at work here. Think of all the people along this journey that are being exposed to the Gospel message – people at every level of government and society.

I do want to point out Paul's faith here. He is unwavering. He knows what going back to Jerusalem would mean and he stands firmly against it. While we don't have specific Scripture to demonstrate this, we can assume that Paul feels God leading him to go to Caesar. Paul didn't do anything without the guidance of the Holy Spirit. We can safely assume that he is praying, listening, and obeying. AND trusting!

What do you learn from Paul's example here? If you were being accused of an injustice, how would you handle the situation?

Blessings,

Pastor Vicki

Daily Dose of Hope

December 25, 2025

Scripture – Acts 24

Prayer: A Christmas prayer by Robert Louis Stevenson,

Loving Father, help us to remember the birth of Jesus, that we may share in the song of the angels, the gladness of the shepherds, and the worship of the wise men.

Close the door of hate and open the door of love all over the world.

Let kindness come with every gift and good desires with every greeting.

Deliver us from the evil by the blessing which Christ brings and teach us to be merry with clear hearts.

May the Christmas morning make us happy to by Thy children, and the Christmas evening bring us to our beds with grateful thoughts, forgiving and forgiven, for Jesus' sake. Amen.

Merry Christmas! Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Church daily Bible reading. We have been on a journey, reading through the Gospels and the book of Acts. Today, we walk through Acts 24.

The case against Paul was presented by an attorney named Tertullus before the governor Felix. When he finished accusing Paul of stirring up trouble and desecrating the temple, Paul boldly defends himself. Up until this point, Paul has been found guilty of nothing. It's seems obvious that Felix can find no fault as well, but he is hesitant to release Paul. He goes and visits him with his wife to learn more. When Paul begins to speak of righteousness (some translations say justice), self-control, and the judgement to come, Felix becomes afraid and stops the conversation. That's because these were things with which Felix struggled. He was known for his human rights abuses and injustices, he was known for his lust and lack of self-control, and he had every right to be afraid of the judgment to come.

Sometimes, people are curious about the Gospel and may even feel convicted, but when it comes down to it, they aren't willing to turn to Jesus. We have no evidence that Felix ever became a believer in Jesus but I like to think that his meetings with Paul were acts of prevenient grace, God at work in the life of Felix before he ever knew it. I try to remind myself of that when I speak to people about faith. They may not make a commitment to Christ right now, but seeds have been planted. God will keep seeking them, wooing them toward him. God's not done with anyone yet.

Merry Christmas to all of you.

Pastor Vicki

Daily Dose of Hope

December 24, 2025

Scripture – Acts 23

Prayer: Loving God, As we come before you on this Christmas Eve, we thank you for the love that binds us together. Bless each member of our church family and fill our homes with warmth and joy. For those who are alone, please give them peace and comfort that only you can give. For those who are dealing with struggle and difficulty, Lord, give them peace. Remind them that you are there to guide, lead, and provide strength. And continue to speak to us, Lord Jesus, as we make our way through your Word. We need to hear from you, Emmanuel – God with us. More of you and less of me. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Church daily Bible reading. We have been on a journey, reading through the Gospels and the book of Acts. Today, we walk through Acts 23.

Early on in this chapter, we find Paul speaking before the high council and things aren't going well. He gets slapped by the high priest and there is violent disagreement on the council how to deal with him. The discord is so bad that Paul actually has to leave the location. Paul's fate seems uncertain at best. And then, when all seems lost, God speaks clearly to Paul, telling him to be encouraged, for this would not be the end; he would carry the message of the Gospel all the way to Rome!

I read this chapter and it immediately brought to mind what Paul himself writes to the Romans in 8:28, "And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them." Paul has been through so much at this point, including fear, extreme discomfort, and physical pain. He probably thought Jerusalem was going to be the end for him and he was at peace with that. But God had something else in mind. God wanted to use Paul's bold witness to bring the Gospel further, to higher levels of government, so that more could believe.

What seems like desperate times to humans, God can redeem for his own purposes. What has God redeemed in your life? I know that in the midst of dire circumstances, it is often difficult to see God at work. But later, when we have perspective, we can see how God took what was dark and ugly and brought something good from it. I should say that bringing something good out of a painful situation doesn't mean fixing it for us but rather demonstrating his glory. This is sometimes hard for us to wrap our human brains around. I think it takes lots of prayer and lots of trust.

Blessings,

Pastor Vicki

Daily Dose of Hope

December 23, 2025

Scripture – Acts 22

Prayer: Almighty God, We come before you this morning with awe and humility. Help us remember all you have done for us. We are nothing without you. We need you desperately, Lord. Help us gather our scattered thoughts today as we focus on you. In these next few moments of silence, help us remember that we belong to you. Help us lay our worries and cares on the throne of your grace...We pray this in the powerful name of Jesus, Amen.

Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Church daily Bible reading. We have been on a journey, reading through the Gospels and the book of Acts. Today, we walk through Acts 22.

The chapter starts with Paul speaking to the crowd in Aramaic. His knowledge of their language demonstrates that he is one of them. All the lies are just that, lies. He shares his background as an educated Jew and then tells his conversion story. Remember, no one can ever argue with your conversion story. It's your story! Paul uses this time to talk about how Jesus led him to share the Gospel with the Gentiles.

But when he gets to this part --- mentioning the Gentiles --- things get heated again. They demand that he be killed for his blasphemy. It's now that the Roman commander demands that he be arrested and flogged. But just as this is about to take place, Paul mentions that he is a Roman citizen by birth. This changes things.

The scholars have mixed opinions on how being a Roman citizen in that day and time determined one's treatment by governing authorities. Certainly, in Paul's case, it kept him from being flogged and lynched. In fact, the commander seems frightened when he finds out that the man he is about to whip is a Roman citizen by birth. (I would have hated to see what they did to the non-citizens. It was a brutal world.)

But one thing Paul could not get out of was being sent before the Jewish high council. I'm sure the Roman commander would be relieved to give Paul to the Jewish leaders. Let them be the ones faced with the repercussions of dealing with such a controversial figure. What will it mean for Paul to go before the high council? The council, also referred to as the Sanhedrin, was led by the high priest and consisted of Pharisees and Sadducees. This group had broad authority, overseeing criminal, civil, and religious cases. This was a group that would not be sympathetic to Paul. Part of their role was to discern when the Messiah returned and they clearly did not think Jesus was it. Hearing Paul preaching Jesus as Lord would be deemed blasphemous.

Will their distain keep Paul silent or make him soften his message? I think we can all guess that the answer is no! Paul is resolute in what God has called him to do. No amount of persecution, oppression, or intimidation will keep him from teaching about Jesus. So our question for the day-what keeps us from speaking boldly about Jesus?

Blessings,

Pastor Vicki

Daily Dose of Hope

December 22, 2025

Scripture - Acts 21:27-40

Prayer: Dear God, We come to you today with sorrow. We know that we are sinful and broken. We know that we have fallen short. We have been disobedient as individuals and as a church. Lord, please forgive us and show us your better way. How we need you. We are lost without you and our behavior so often speaks to that. Help us seek holiness. Help us love others the way you love them. In these next few moments of silence, Lord, please help us set aside our scattered thoughts and focus on you... In Your Name, Amen.

Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Church daily Bible reading. We have been on a journey, reading through the Gospels and the book of Acts. Today, we finish with Acts 21.

It doesn't take long before people see Paul and get worked up. Some Asian Jews, who saw Paul at the Temple, accuse him of bringing a Greek in the Temple (not true) and teaching people to not follow the law (again not true). Who were these Asian Jews? They were most likely from the province of Asia Minor (modern day Turkey) and quite possibly from Ephesus. They could very well have remembered Paul from his extended stay in Ephesus and the various conflicts that arose.

It doesn't take long for a few rabble rousers to work up a riot. Paul finds himself in the middle of it, being beaten by a mob. When the Roman soldiers hear about the riot, they rush to figure out what's going on. What's interesting is that they also make assumptions about Paul and have been bound, to be thrown in the barracks. It seems no one really cares much for finding the truth.

The main charge brought against Paul was that he brought a Gentile into the Temple. This would be a serious offense. The Jews did not allow women or Gentiles into the central courts of the Temple, believing them to be unclean. Although the Law did not specifically forbid Gentiles from going into the Temple courts, by the first century, Herod the Great had expanded the Temple courts so that there was a large area where everyone was welcome, the Court of the Gentiles.

Despite the fact that the charge is false, no one comes to Paul's defense. None of the Jewish believers, who must have seen the whole thing, say a word. While this was out of fear, for sure, it is still surprising. Silence, as we know, always empowers wrongdoers.

Let's talk about silence for a moment. There is good silence, like being silent before the Lord, and then there is bad silence, like not standing up for what is right. Bullies exist because the majority stays silent. Martin Luther King, Jr., famously said, "In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends," emphasizing that friends' lack of support is deeply painful and is what enables injustice. Unfortunately, we have seen this over centuries in the church. We saw it with Jesus and the disciples. We see it in the early church. We saw it during the persecutions of the first several centuries and through many wars. How many Christians stood in fear and watched the Nazis murder millions of helpless Jews? How many Christians have been silent in the face of slavery, racism, and gross injustice across our own nation?

What are the main forces of injustice in our world right now? Where has the church stood up and done the right thing and where have we been silent? What about you?

More tomorrow.

Blessings,

Pastor Vicki

Daily Dose of Hope

December 19, 2025

Scripture - Acts 21:1-26

Prayer: Holy God, We sing your praises today...

For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the greatness of his government and peace
there will be no end.
He will reign on David's throne
and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
with justice and righteousness
from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the Lord Almighty
will accomplish this. Amen.

Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Church daily Bible reading plan. We are getting close to finishing this reading plan after going through the Gospels and now the book of Acts. Today, we walk through the first portion of Acts 21.

I have to admit, I've always struggled with this passage. Paul is being warned repeatedly by believers, those who have the gift of prophecy, that he should not go on to Jerusalem because it is dangerous for him. Paul has experienced persecution and danger, but what is waiting for him in Jerusalem could certainly be the worst yet. And yet, he insists upon going. Was he ignoring warnings from the Holy Spirit or simply determined to courageously carry out what God called him to do?

Now, most of us will never, ever encounter the kind of resistance and persecution that Paul is experiencing. But how often have we felt the strong call of God in a particular area and then felt dissuaded by our Christians brothers and sisters to carry it out? So often, I think people react to our plans more out of fear for us and/or how our lives might be disrupted than from clear guidance from God. (There are certainly exceptions but I wonder how people's reactions might be different if we asked them to go home and pray about it specifically and diligently for a week.) Paul clearly felt God had called him to return to Jerusalem, minister to the Jews and Gentiles there, and face the authorities, so that God's Word could be preached to the powers that be no matter the consequences.

The part of the chapter about Paul purifying himself with the four other men was kind of interesting and worth mentioning. Why did he do this? He wanted to show the other Jewish believers that, while the law was not necessary for salvation, he still wanted to honor Jewish traditions. Though these Jews had become Christians, they had not come to the realization that salvation through Jesus made the law of Moses inoperative as a redemptive system. Accordingly, these new Christians still circumcised their children (as a covenant sign), and they observed many of the "customs" of Mosaic law.

There were plenty of Jews who were disparaging Paul, saying he didn't want anything to do with the Jewish law. Paul is still Jewish. He has never preached or taught that. Think about how Paul circumcised Timothy to show respect for the Jewish Christians in the churches for which they were working. But rumors happen and they can be hard to break.

There were four Hebrew men who had placed themselves under a vow, probably a Nazarite vow. It was about time for their ritual to be concluded by a purification ceremony in the temple. It was suggested that Paul identify with them, paying their temple fees, and, "purifying" himself along with them. This would be done so that the Jews might see that Paul was being obedient to the law. We know that Gentiles, of course, were under no such constraints. Paul isn't required to do this but he is trying to calm tempers.

Blessings,

Pastor Vicki

Daily Dose of Hope

December 18, 2025

Scripture – Acts 20

Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, We are so grateful that your mercies are new every single morning. No matter what our week has been like, we can come to you today afresh and anew. Lord, forgive us for our many failings. We want to do better. In these next few moments of silence, Lord, hear our prayers...In Your Name, Amen.

Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Church daily Bible reading plan. We are getting close to finishing this reading plan after going through the Gospels and now the book of Acts. Today, we walk through Acts 20.

We start with more of Paul's travels. He stops by a number of the churches to encourage them but also has to take a number of circuitous routes to avoid those who wished him harm. Paul relies so much on the Spirit here. He knows where to go and when to go, based on where God is leading him.

At his stop in Troas, Paul spends a lot of time preaching. I mean, he basically preaches all day and night. One young man, Eutychus, nods off and then falls out of the third floor window and dies. Paul sees this happen and rushes outside, grabs him, and through the power of Jesus, brings him back from the dead. Then, Paul keeps on preaching. Does not miss a beat. Anyone who ever thinks I preach too long needs to read this passage.

Towards the end of the chapter, Paul is leaving the elders at the church of Ephesus, people he has worked and preached alongside for quite some time. These are people he has grown to love and who love him dearly. They are brothers and sisters in Christ. They are family. And they know they will never see one another again in this earthly life.

When I was traveling in Germany with my Doctorate cohort in 2018, I met a pretty extraordinary South African couple who dedicated their lives to witnessing to Syrian refugees in some of the most dangerous places on earth. Our little group shared, prayed, laughed, and cried with them. My own life journey is forever changed because of the one day I spent with them. I say all of that to make this point. As we left each other's company that day, we were sad because we knew that chances were we would never see each other again this side of heaven. But, we also rejoiced because we knew that we knew that we would spend eternity together.

I think about this as I read about Paul leaving his dear friends. They know that life circumstances will never allow them to be together again in this world. But friends, we aren't simply citizens of earth, we are citizens of heaven! Our time apart is short compared to the eternity we will spend together in heaven. I try to remember this when I officiate a funeral of a loved brother or sister in Christ. Yes, it is very painful to say good-bye. We miss them. But if we know Jesus, then it isn't really good-bye. It's simply "See ya later! Until we meet again!" The pain and sadness are real. We must acknowledge that. But we can trust that God will turn our mourning into dancing. Thank you, Jesus.

Blessings,

Pastor Vicki

Daily Dose of Hope

December 17, 2025

Scripture – Acts 19

Prayer: Lord, We come to you today with humble hearts. As we venture towards Christmas, help us think less of ourselves and more about others. Help us focus more on you, and less on our own wants. It is our inclination to complain and whine. Forgive us, Lord. We need you. More of you and less of me. In Your Name, Amen.

Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the daily Bible reading plan at New Hope Church in Brandon, Florida. We have been on a great journey of reading the Gospels and Acts. Today, we are covering Acts 19.

Paul's extended time in Ephesus has obviously made a huge impact on the region. Many people are coming to know Jesus, miracles are happening, and people are no longer participating in the local idol worship. They aren't buying the trinkets!

Interestingly, the Temple of Artemis in Ephesus was considered, in its final form, to be one of the seven wonders of the world. It was extraordinary feat of how human beings can create beautiful idols to try to replace the one true God. If the worship of Artemis had been fulfilling and life-giving, then the Ephesian businessmen would have had nothing to worry about. But the worship of idols, two thousand years ago and today, always leaves one feeling empty and wanting.

Paul preached the Word of God, taught about the salvation and abundant life that comes from walking with Jesus, and created a community of people who loved God and each other. That was attractive to people who were desperate for something more. I can't help but relate this same scenario to our society today. What/Who are our modern Temples of Artemis? Which idols have we sought after, leaving us feeling empty and wanting more from life?

Just a reminder: Jesus is still in the business of transforming hearts and lives! Who in your life needs to know the abundant life that only comes from a living relationship with Jesus? Who needs to experience a community of Christians who will love and accept them as they are?

Blessings,

Pastor Vicki