God is Like 2020 Boxset: God is Like

God Is Like

2020 Boxset

120-Day Devotional for Those Looking for God in the Chaos of the Year

Chris Stanley

Copyright © 2020 by Chris Stanley and Stanley Crew Publishing LLC.  

All rights reserved.  No portion of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, scanning, or other—except for brief quotations with references, without the prior written permission of the author.

Scripture quotations marked (ESV) are from the Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®, Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com. The NIV and New International Version are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™

Scripture quotations marked (NIrV) are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Reader's Version®, NIrV® Copyright © 1995, 1996, 1998 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. The NIrV and New International Reader's Version are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™

Scripture quotations marked (NKJV) are taken from the New King James Version®.  Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission.  All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007, 2013 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked (TLV) are taken from the Holy Scriptures, Tree of Life Version*. Copyright © 2014,2016 by the Tree of Life Bible Society.  Used by permission of the Tree of Life Bible Society.

Scripture taken from The Message. Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group."

Scriptures marked TLB are taken from the THE LIVING BIBLE (TLB): Scripture taken from

THE LIVING BIBLE copyright© 1971. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Any emphasis via bold words or phrases in Scripture quotations were added by the author.

Contents

God Is Like 2020 Boxset

God Is Like 2020

Introduction

#01 Quit Being Royal

#02 Footstool of Great Price

#03 Laws Abolished

#04 Acquitted

#05 Sudden Death

#06 Covid-19

#07 Freefall

#08 Final Fantasy Returns

#09 Supervolcano

#10 Monkeys Storm Thailand

#11 International Year of the Nurse and the Midwife

#12 Stolen Blood

#13 Toilet Paper Shortage

#14 Not Too Late

#15 One Man Matters

#16 Elon Musk’s Baby Name

#17 Coin Shortage

#18 Beirut Explosion

#19 The Strongest Avenger

#20 QAnon

#21 Wildfires

#22 Unhinged

#23 Where’s the Bread?

#24 Murder Hornets

#25 Election Debacle

#26 First Flight

#27 Spinning Out of Control

#28 Look Over Here!

#29 Tenet

#30 Vaccination

Final Thoughts

God is Like a Geyser

Introduction

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Old Faithful Geyser

Thought #1: God is Faithful

Thought #2: It’s Why We Are All Here

Thought #3: We Take God for Granted

Grand Geyser

Thought #4: God Uses Indicators

Thought #5: God is a Showoff

Thought #6: Your First Love

Artemesia Geyser

Thought #7: The Road Less Traveled

Thought #8: Edge of a Cliff

Thought #9: Did I Just Feel Something?

Beehive Geyser

Thought #10: I Need to Know What That is!

Thought #11: My Indicator is Broken

Thought #12: Miracle Light

Riverside Geyser

Thought #13: Rest Near the River

Thought #14: How Some See God as a Toilet

Thought #15: Be Vigilant

Lonestar Geyser

Thought #16: It Is Worth the Effort

Thought #17: Spreading the Good News

Thought #18: Sitting at the Feet

Fountain & Morning Geyser

Thought #19: Dual

Thought #20: Darkness

Thought #21: Are You Available?

Great Fountain Geyser

Thought #22: Surprises Along the Way

Thought #23: Overflow

Thought #24: Gathering

Castle Geyser

Thought #25: Strong Tower

Thought #26: It Takes Time

Thought #27: The Remnant

Steamboat Geyser

Thought #28: Brings People Together

Thought #29: Wait on God

Thought #30: Power of God

God is Like a Rocket Launch

INTRODUCTION

#01: Not Because It Is Easy

#02: Weapons of War

#03: One Time Use

#04: Intense Training

#05: Pushed to the Limit

#06: Secondary Benefits

#07: The First in Space

#08: Scrubbing the Launch

#09: Small Margin of Error

#10: In Memory of Those Lost

#11: You Can’t Stand There

#12: You Aren’t in Control

#13: G-Force

#14: Jettisoned

#15: Three Days

#16: Finish the Mission

#17: Dark Side of the Moon

#18: One Small Step for Man

#19: Heavenly Perspective

#20: Returning

#21: The Team

#22: How Long?

#23: Rocket Garden

#24: Latest Model

#25: International Mission

#26: Passing the Torch

#27: From the Moon to Mars

#28: It Takes Time

#29: Food for Thought

#30: Wonders

Final Thoughts

God Is Like a Democrat and a

Republican

Introduction

Disclaimer

How This Book Works

Universal Health Care

Republicans on Universal Health Care

Democrats on Universal Health Care

Gun Control

Democrats on Gun Control

Republicans on Gun Control

Foreign Policy

Republicans on Foreign Policy

Democrats on Foreign Policy

Climate Change

Republicans on Climate Change

Democrats on Climate Change

Immigration

Republicans on Illegal Immigration

Democrats on Illegal Immigration

Death Penalty

Republicans on the Death Penalty

Democrats on the Death Penalty

Gay Marriage

Republicans on Gay Marriage

Democrats on Gay Marriage

Cannabis

Republicans on Cannabis

Democrats on Cannabis

Summary of Cannabis

Patriot Act and Government Spying

Republicans on the Patriot Act and Government Spying

Democrats on the Patriot Act and Government Spying

Summary on the Patriot Act and Government Spying

Income Tax

Republicans on Income Tax

Democrats on Income Tax

Summary on Income Tax

Labor Unions

Republicans on Labor Unions

Democrats on Labor Unions

Summary on Labor Unions

Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide

Republicans on Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide

Democrats on Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide

Summary on Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide

Space Exploration and NASA

Republicans on Space Exploration and Nasa

Summary on Space Exploration and NASA

Abortion

Republicans on Abortion

Democrats on Abortion

Free College

Republicans on Free College

Democrats on Free College

Final Thoughts

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God Is Like

2020

30-Day Devotional for Those Looking for God in the Chaos of the Year

Chris Stanley

Introduction

2020, what a year. It was a year many labeled the worst. While some would disagree with that, there is no argument that this was a trying year for humanity.

The global pandemic, lockdown, financial crisis, wildfires, hurricanes, political mayhem, police killings, Black Lives Matter protests, coin shortages, and a long list of other disruptive and downright depressing things happened.

People lost their jobs, loved ones, financial security, socialization, and even the privilege of seeing a stranger’s face in public. All of this has tallied up to a psychological strain on us all.

It felt as if 2020 was an unrelenting year. From memes to newspaper clippings, people have cried uncle to 2020 and are ready to move on.

Many people wonder, why? Where is God? Is He in this mess with me? What am I supposed to learn?

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Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.

- Deuteronomy 31:6 (ESV)

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The angel of the Lord spoke those words to Joshua as he and the Israelites went to war. They faced literal giants to claim the land God had promised them.

Today, we face giants of a very different kind; viruses, hunger, civil unrest, supervolcanoes, unemployment, murder hornets, hurricanes, and elections, but God’s message is the same. He won’t leave us.

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...None of this fazes us because Jesus loves us. I’m absolutely convinced that nothing—nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, high or low, thinkable or unthinkable—absolutely nothing can get between us and God’s love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us.

- Romans 8:31-39 (MSG)

This message should bring us an enormous amount of peace. God’s love is unrelenting, no matter our circumstances.

And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

- Philippians 4:7 (ESV)

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In this book, we’ll explore how God is Like 2020 by looking at the year's headlines, both serious and not so serious.

My prayer for this book, and every book in the God Is Like a book series, is that we can see God in everything around us and learn more about His character.

Just like 2020 was an unrelenting year, so too is God unrelenting in His love for us. God is like 2020.

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#01 Quit Being Royal

January should have tipped us off to how weird of a year this would be. Prince Harry and his wife Meghan announced that they would be stepping down from being royalty.

They resigned their prestigious title of royal highness and are looking to leave England and live in Canada part-time.[1]

Many people scratched their heads, wondering why anyone would want to give up the perks and financial rewards they would receive. Prince Harry is rightfully entitled by blood to all the benefits of being royalty. Most people would do almost anything to obtain such a prestigious title; some have killed for it.

Reportedly, there are things that the couple want to do that go beyond their duties to England. They are passionate about creating a fair & equitable world, and the environment[2] and feel that the best way for them to do that is to give up their royal status.

By all rights and design, Jesus Christ was royalty. He gave up all privileges as the creator of the universe, the King of Kings, and became a lowly man.

Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to.

7 Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being.

- Philippians 2:6-7 (NLT)

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Christ not only came down here to experience life as we lived it, but He came to sacrifice Himself and reconcile us back to God.

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When he appeared in human form,

8 he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.

- Philippians 2:7-8 (NLT)

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Just like Prince Harry and his wife Meghan gave up their royal rights for things they believed in, so too did Jesus, the King of Kings, give up His royal rights to sacrifice Himself for us.

#02 Footstool of Great Price

Not every story in 2020 was negative.

A man who lived in Michigan purchased a footstool from a thrift store for $70[3].  Upon using the footstool, his daughter-in-law realized the cushion didn’t feel right. She investigated by unzipping the cushion. I can imagine she was scared that something disgusting was inside—possibly a rat's nest, maybe someone’s old gun, or a kids toy.

Inside they found $43,000 that the previous owner had placed inside. The footstool was a makeshift safe.

Can you imagine digging through the thrift store bins, searching through dusty shelves, and you happen to find a footstool you want to purchase, and inside is a years’ worth of wages?

Imagine if you had worked at the thrift store and had considered buying that footstool but hadn’t because it was out of your price range. How many other people had passed on purchasing the footstool previously? No one bought the footstool because people didn’t value it. They didn’t know what it was truly worth.

Jesus tells a similar story in Matthew.

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44 "The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.

45 "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls.

46 When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.

Matthew 13:44-46 (NIV)

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Finding God and accepting Jesus is undervalued in our culture. Being a Christian is looked down on, even despised, but the value of Christ is priceless. The cost of anything that you may have to give up to follow Christ is nothing compared to what you stand to gain, eternal life.

The man who purchased the footstool tracked down the previous owner and discovered that the man had passed. He contacted the family and gave all the money to the man’s granddaughter. Some stories in 2020 do have happy endings.

Just like the man who purchased a footstool and discovered a treasure, so too do we have the opportunity to give up a small amount and receive an eternal prize.

#03 Laws Abolished

The state of Virginia repealed century-old laws in 2020. In February, the state Senate voted to repeal a law that banned cursing in public. Previously, anyone charged with cursing could receive a misdemeanor for cursing.[4]

It wasn’t the only law to be removed. Virginia also voted out a law against fornication in the same session. Although they seemed to be in the mood for removing old rules, Virginia didn’t see fit to repeal a law that made it illegal to spit in public. The Senate found it too yucky and voted to keep it in.

Virginia Beach pushed hard to encourage courtesy by putting up signs on their boardwalk against cursing and charged twenty-five people with cursing in 2019 alone.[5] Virginia Beach passed a local ordinance against swearing due to the state legislature repealing the state law. It’ll still be illegal to swear on the boardwalks, so watch your mouth when on vacation.

Laws have been around for as long as there have been humans. Humans have ignored and broken these laws for as long as they’ve been on the planet.

Genesis records the first law that God ever gave,

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16 And the Lord God commanded the man, "You are free to eat from any tree in the garden;

17 but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die."

- Genesis 2:16-17 (NIV)

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Shortly after mankind heard the law, we found a way to break it and got ourselves kicked out of heaven on Earth, paradise, the Garden of Eden.

2500+ years later, God tried again to give His creation a set of rules to follow to help them live a better life.

2 "I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.

3 "You shall have no other gods before me.

4 "You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the Earth beneath or in the waters below...

7 "You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God...

8 "Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy...

12 "Honor your father and your mother...

13 "You shall not murder.

14 "You shall not commit adultery.

15 "You shall not steal.

16 "You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.

17 You shall not covet your neighbor’s house... or anything that belongs to your neighbor.

- Exodus 20:2-17

The Israelites did not keep these commandments long and broke them often. We all do as well in our own lives, but that was the point behind God’s law, to show that we can’t live up to His expectation on our own.

Jesus said He didn’t come to abolish the law but to fulfill it. He simplified the law down from an exacting list of rules to two commandments, love God and love each other.

Jesus wants our heart. He wants our hearts to be full of love. Jesus doesn’t want us to follow actions for the sake of the law. He wants us to act based on the love that we have for Him and each other.

Just like the state of Virginia created laws to help people live better, so too did God make laws to instruct us on how to live, but thank God for His son Jesus who came to save us from ourselves.

#04 Acquitted

For two years leading up to 2020, there have been allegations that President Trump pressured Ukraine into investigating his political opponents by withholding military aid from the country.

December 2019 saw two articles of impeachment brought against the President of the United States. One for abuse of power and the other for obstruction of congress.[6]

As with the two other presidents who faced impeachment before President Trump, President Andrew Johnson, and President Bill Clinton, the Senate acquitted President Trump of both charges.

With the Senate acquitting the President, the allegations and accusations finally began to fall away. Many believed Trump did some questionable or wrong things, but these issues are behind him.

Every person has issues in their own lives. We all have done wrong.

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23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God

Romans 3:23 (ESV)

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According to God, if you aren’t perfect, blameless, and pure, you can’t make it into heaven. You stand convicted of sin and, therefore, cannot be in the presence of God. God cannot be with sin.

The fate we face is something far worse than President Trump ever had to imagine. They would just remove Trump as President, but if God convicts us, He would remove us from His presence for all eternity. He would banish us into the fiery abyss of hell and would be forever wanting to be with God.

Thankfully, someone will testify on our behalf and be a mediator to the judge. His name is Jesus Christ.

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For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.

- 1 Timothy 2:5 (ESV)

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Jesus approaches the judge's seat and offers a plea bargain on our behalf. Jesus is willing to trade places with us and accept punishment for our sins. His only stipulation is that we are released.

God slams the gavel down, ending the commotion in the courtroom and announces His ruling,

not guilty of offending him if we trust in Jesus Christ, who in his kindness freely takes away our sins.

- Romans 3:24 (TLB)

Just like the Senate acquitted President Trump, so too are we acquitted of any wrongdoings if we accept Jesus Christ’s gift of forgiveness.

#05 Sudden Death

A sad story broke on January 26th, 2020. I was in a busy retail store and heard people talking nearby about a tragic death. I ignored it, assuming they were discussing the passing of a personal friend.

Moments later, a different shopper got a phone call and repeated the same conversation. Standing in line, I heard the conversation repeated all around me. Someone had died and it affected everyone in the store.

The tragedy was a helicopter crash involving Koby Bryant. Koby Bryant was a famed basketball star who played for the Los Angeles Lakers. He is considered one of the most successful basketball players of all time. In his 20 years as a player, he accomplished a lot. He was a part of five NBA championship teams, an eighteen-time All-Star, 2008 MVP of the NBA, and two-time NBA Finals MVP. He ranks fourth on the all-time scoring list and second in most points ever scored in a game.

Bryant was only forty-one years old and was traveling by helicopter to coach his 13-year old daughter’s basketball game when it crashed. His daughter, Gianna, also died in the tragedy.

In addition to basketball, Koby Bryant started a media company and was a kid’s author of a book my son had loved. He was full of life. He was doing good things when his life was cut short.

The Bible tells us that tomorrow is not promised.

13 Now listen, you who say, Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.

14 Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.

15 Instead, you ought to say, If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.

- James 4:13-15 (NIV)

We don’t know how much time we have on Earth or how much time the Earth has left, for that matter.

But the day of the Lord will come as unexpectedly as a thief. Then the heavens will pass away with a terrible noise, and the very elements themselves will disappear in fire, and the earth and everything on it will be found to deserve judgment.

- 2nd Peter 3:10 (NLT)

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Just like Koby Bryant was not promised tomorrow, God does not promise us or the Earth tomorrow. He promises a very sudden end. Make every second count.

#06 Covid-19

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During 2020 we saw the world shut down all aspects of travel, attempting to stop the transfer of