LYING AWAKE

Today's reading: Psalm 63-65

"I lie awake thinking of you, meditating on you through the night." Psalm 63:6 NLT

What if...

Our long nights were caused by us not being able to stop thinking about the Lord and His greatness?

Sleep eluded us as we pondered His love for us?

Zzzz's were kept at bay because we couldn't get God off our minds?

Not that we were being kept up by looming decisions...

Or those unpaid bills...

Or what 'so and so' said/did...

Or the things we can't fix...

Or worrying about the things we don't know...

What would our days look like if we allowed thoughts of God to keep us up at night?

What would our ministries, and we all have one, look like if our minds were constantly and consistently on the goodness of God? 

LIKE A LITTLE CHILD

Today's reading: 1 Kings 1-4

"O, Lord my God, you have made me king instead of my father, David, but I am like a little child who doesn't know his way around. And here I am among your own chosen people, a nation so great they are too numerous to count! Give me an understanding mind so that I can govern your people well..." 1 Kings 3:7-9 NLT

Solomon, in all his wisdom, admitted when he was in over his kingly head.

He had been raised in the palace. He had been trained in the ways of the monarchy. He had been given all the education a little prince could be offered.

But now?

As a man?

As the one wearing the crown?

As the one holding the scepter?

As the one sporting the kingly robe?

He, in his own words, felt like a little child--and needed God's help in doing all required of him.

Isn't that where we stand before God, believing friends?

Our King has crowned us as sons and daughters of His...

He has bestowed upon us powers that can shake up the world...

He gives us peace to walk in, a Gospel to share and love knowing no boundaries...

And we stand before Him with robes of righteousness too big for us to wear, shoes of peace that are our Father's size and tasks that loom before us.

Are we asking each morning, as Solomon did, for God to direct us in our tasks? In our roles as priests in this dark world? In our mission fields?

Because we are like little children on a big adventure! 

NO TREATIES

Today's reading: Exodus 33-36

"Be very careful to never make treaties with the people in the land where you are going. If you do, you soon will be following their evil ways." Exodus 34:12 NLT

I looked into a digital thesaurus to find a few synonyms for the word 'treaty.

Concessions. Compromise. Allowance. Agreement. Bargain. Arrangement.

While I can't say I have ever made a treaty, in the worldly sense, between another country and our 15 acres of a farm, I have to confess I have in my personal life.

I've conceded to some ploys of the devil.

I've compromised on some firm stances I have taken.

I've allowed sin to creep into places I never wanted it to gain a foothold.

I've agreed to, bargained over and re-arranged a few things in my life to make room for what my enemy promised he would provide.

And because of all of that...I see exactly why God told us not to make treaties.

Sadly, where I thought I was in control--I clearly wasn't for too long.

In the instances when I seemingly had the reins--I soon found myself being reined in by my oppressor.

In regards to the areas I let sin stick its hairy toe over the line--I find it has moved in, and brought friends!

God, as usual, was so right.

THE SAME GOD

Today's reading: Galatians 1-3

"For the same God who worked through Peter for the benefit of the Jews, worked through me for the benefit of the Gentiles." Galatians 2:8 NLT

God hasn't changed from Paul's time to now.

He hasn't changed ever.

The God of Adam...

Is the God of Daniel...

Is the God of Mary...

Is the God of Peter and Paul...

Is the God of Martin Luther...

Is the God of Billy Graham...

Is the God of you--right now, in your situation and on your mission field.

Nothing about God has changed, don't forget that!

When He asks you to go and do--go and do in His unchanging strength and power.

When He asks you to wait--wait knowing He has good plans.

When He asks you to speak--speak the words He has given through the ages, words of truth and hope.

When He asks you to repent--repent knowing He loves you enough to sacrifice His Son for your sins.

The same God who worked through Peter and Paul works through you--today--where you are!

BUT IF YOU SAY SO

Today's reading: Luke 5-6

"Master, Simon replied, we worked hard all last night and didn't catch a thing. But if you say so, we'll try again." Luke 5:5 NLT

Maybe you're just rising.

Or have been up long enough to shower and grab a cup of coffee.

Or maybe, just maybe, you had a long night, one that counting sheep, melatonin or being weary didn't ease your tiredness.

Not to use a pun, but you're in the same boat Simon was in...

You're waking to another day of trying.

Trying to do what's right...

Attempting to follow God's commands...

Making an effort to honor God in all your choices...

Pursuing righteousness in all your actions and reactions...

Doing your dead level best to manage and appreciate all your God given blessings...

Tackling the task of being the only one honoring some vows taken...

You're worn out from trying, but know God has asked you to do it.

So you will do it again.

You will give it another go.

You will pursue obedience.

You are my kind of people! You are God's kind of people! You are the kind of people this world needs more of!

Maybe you're worn out from trying--can I ask you--Won't you try one more day? This could be the day God 'fills your nets', answers your prayers, changes the trajectory of your requests or proves He is God by giving you just enough strength to do it again! 

TODAY

Today's reading: Jeremiah 42-46

"Buckle on your armor and advance into battle!" Jeremiah 46:3 NLT

Today's the day you will need the armor of God.

So put it on.

Strap it in place.

Slip into every single piece of it--

Because the battle for the Lord's army goes on every single day, and will go on until He returns!

It's not Sunday attire.

It's not to be pulled out of the closet when a prayer need arises.

It's not for when the pastor comes for dinner.

It's for every day use, because every day we must stand firm against our enemy and his attacks!

Buckle on your armor and advance into battle! 

LIVING OUT YOUR OBITUARY

Today's reading: Job 41-42

"Job lived 140 years after that, living to see four generations of his children and grandchildren. Then he died, an old man who had lived a long, good life." Job 42:16-17 NLT

Do you read obituaries? Either in the newspaper, or online? Do you ever have the occasion to peruse the 150 words or less accounts of the lives lead by recently deceased people?

They are interesting.

They are eye-opening.

And sometimes, for those who lived life the hardest and deepest, they are inspiring.

Had Job only been known for his 'Job-years', that would have been a mere chapter in the story of his life.

His final days, surely accounted for in his 'obituary', would have pointed folks to the faithfulness and love of God the Father for him.

We all are writing our obituaries as we live.

We're living out what will be recorded of our lives.

We are breathing into our life accounts with every choice.

What's your obituary saying about you so far?

God follower?

Independent?

Successful according to the measuring sticks of the world?

Faith filled and spilling over?

WAITING QUIETLY

Today's reading: Psalm 60-62

"I wait quietly before God, for my salvation comes from Him." Psalm 62:1 NLT

"I wait quietly before God, for my hope is in Him." Psalm 62:5 NLT 

For a 'chatty-Cathy' like myself, I often need the reminder to be still before the Lord.

To stop and listen.

To wait quietly for Him to answer.

My incessant ramblings don't move Him.

My non-stop chatter doesn't sway His will.

My never-ending complaints don't change God's timetable of events.

My quietness, however, refocuses my heart and mind on Him.

My choice to wait quietly can re-instill my complete dependence upon Him.

My decision to hold my tongue as I wait for Him to appear on the stage sets Him up to receive all the glory and for me to exercise my faith muscles.

Today I'm going to begin to wait quietly.

Shhh.

WISE ADVICE

Today's reading: 2 Samuel 20-24

"Then the woman went to the people with her wise advice, and they cut off Sheba's head and threw it out to Joab. So he blew the trumpet and called his troops back from the attack, and they all returned to their homes. Joab returned to the king at Jerusalem." 2 Samuel 20:22 NLT

What will your words do today?

In the case of the woman of Abel, her wise words kept a city from being completely destroyed for one man's sins.

Will yours mend fences?

Soothe angry hearts?

Offer hope?

Stop gossip in its tracks?

Correct a misunderstanding?

Pour kindness into someone's day?

Studies show we speak anywhere from 10,000 to 30,000 words a day--are your words helpful, kind, godly, wise? 

GOD MAKERS
Today's reading: Exodus 29-32

"When Moses failed to come back down the mountain right away, the people went to Aaron. Look, they said, Make us some gods who can lead us..." Exodus 32:1 NLT 

I've heard it said we are more intelligent, more skillful and have more knowledge available to us now that any other time on earth.

But are we any better off?

You see, the Israelites Moses was leading to the Promised Land, some 6000 year ago, were little god makers--are we any different?

When things don't go as we plan, we make gods.

When plans don't proceed according to our timetables, we make gods.

When circumstances leave us feeling as if our hands are tied, we make gods.

When we don't get what we want, we make gods.

When God doesn't do what we presume/assume/pray He should, we make gods.

More intelligent? I don't think so!

More advanced? Nope!

We have in our beings the exact same desire, the exact same tendency--we're all little god makers.

THEN I AM STRONG

Today's reading: 2 Corinthians 11-13

"Since I know it is all for Christ's good, I am quite content with my weaknesses and with insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong." 2 Corinthians 12:10 NLT

Have you ever prayed for weakness? For insults? Hardships? Or calamities?

Have you ever stopped and asked God to show the world what a basket case you are? How untogether you truly are? How much of a mess you are?

Maybe it's time we prayed that exact prayer.

Lord, show the world how undone I am--so they can see how very good You are!

We have a tendency to want to walk around in our 'Sunday selves', done up, made up, cleaned up and straightened up...but that's not what the world needs to see.

They need to see Jesus.

In us.

On us.

Through us.

All over us.

Shining through the cracks in our character. Flowing from the holes in our self-control. Beaming from the chinks in our self-made armor.

Because when our weaknesses are on exhibition, our God and His grace are showcased!

 

JESUS'S LINEAGE

Today's reading: Luke 3-4

In turning the pages of my Bible this morning, I will be honest--I let out a sigh as I saw that Luke 3 held several verses of 'begats'.

The hard to stay focused on, of little interest, consisting of names that are tough to read, passages of Scripture that trace lineage and ancestry.

It's kind of like reading the code lines of DNA--possible, but a little dry and requires some background to truly appreciate it.

But as I read through the list of Jesus's grandparents, I see this:

Who we come from matters as much as who follows us.

Jesus was born out of many, many God ordained relationships.

And God willing, we will bear offspring who know and love the Lord.

It's very important to remember who we are AND the mark we will leave behind. 

STILL LEFT
Today's reading: Jeremiah 37-41

"So Jeremiah returned to Gedaliah son of Ahikam at Mizpah and lived in Judah with the few who were still left in the land." Jeremiah 40:6 NLT

Israel had been captured by the Babylonians and all but the sick and poor were carted off to Babylon as prisoners of war.

Jeremiah stayed behind to continue to serve the Lord and the remnant of people left.

Why?

It's true they still needed to hear from the Lord.

And they continued in the land that had God's personalized mark upon it.

But I also believe Jeremiah was asked to remain because the Lord had promised that after 70 years, Israel would return--and they would need God, and God's people, to meet them when it happened.

The same is true of us.

Maybe you are one of only a handful of godly people in your workplace--God's there because of you!

Maybe you are one of a very few believers in your family--God's there because of you!

Maybe you are one of the minority in your neighborhood that honor the Lord--God's brought into your community because of you!

Display Him where ever you are.

Speak of Him in all the ways you can.

Honor Him in all that you do.

If enough of us do what He is asking us to do, no matter where it is He has asked us to be/work/live, it won't be long before there are more of us...and more...and more. 

DAVID'S KINDNESS TO BARZILLAI

Today's reading: 2 Samuel 15-19

"...But here is my son Kinham. Let him go with you and receive whatever good things you want to give him." 2 Samuel 19:31-40 NLT

This portion of Scripture always touches my momma heart.

Barzillai, too old to travel and rightly receive the king's honor, bestows the gift of graciousness to his boy.

Because isn't that what we parents want--better for our children than we ever had?

David accepted Barzillai's decline of his offer and brought Kinham into his kingdom and into his care.

I'm so very glad this morning that the King I serve has enough to offer me AND my son.

My heart doesn't have to choose between God's gift of salvation for me OR Him gifting my son with that precious forgiveness. We can both have it fully, completely and entirely/

Enough for us both--and for a whole world more!

 OH, THE DETAILS

Today's reading: Exodus 25-28

Oh, the details I read about in God's instructions for the Tabernacle He has asked the Israelites to build for Him!

The color of thread.

The specific lengths.

The construction particulars.

Verse after verse of detailed guidance in making an earthly home for God.

He loves us that much.

He desired to be with us that much.

He wanted our devotion and obedience and honor that much!

HE PROVIDES

Today's reading: 2 Corinthians 9-10

"For God is the one who gives seed to the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will give you many opportunities to do good, and he will produce a great harvest of generosity in you." 2 Corinthians 9:10 NLT

God provides the seed.

From the seed, God provides the bread to eat.

In all that He asks of us, He does not expect us to muster the ability, to manufacture the outcome or to take on the burden of being the provider of His expected purpose.

All that He asks of us He has placed within us.

All that He desires to provide for us He has placed the possibility in our hearts.

We don't make the seed--we merely offer up a fertile heart in which the seed, in His time, will germinate and produce.

 

HE TOOK NOTICE

Today's reading: Luke 1-2

"Mary responded, Oh, how I praise the Lord. How I rejoice in God my Savior! For he took notice of his lowly servant girl, and now generation after generation will call me blessed." Luke 1:46-48 NLT 

This young Jewish girl was chosen for a task that would impact mankind. She was selected from among many for a role that would change history. She accepted the mission given her and her acceptance would eventually save the world.

Her prayer, called the Magnificat, places all glory and honor on God--for taking notice of her!

For acknowledging her existence.

For seeing her among the masses.

For selecting her from among many.

Isn't her song of praise one we should be singing at the tops of our lungs?

For Him taking notice of us sinners...

For Him sending His Son to die for our sins...

For Him allowing the Holy Spirit to come to us, to help us, to make us, to direct us...

In all that He does, controls, orchestrates, manages--He took notice of us!

Oh, how I praise the Lord!

THE HOPE OF HIS WILL

Today's reading: Jeremiah 32-36

"They will be my people, and I will be their God." Jeremiah 32:38 NLT

If I might borrow these words from Jeremiah, God's prophet...

Words that can ignite a fire to burn for those completely lost in sin.

Expectation that can rekindle the embers of prayer for a prodigal.

Anticipation that can stir up the coals of prayers that have been prayed for years--and years--and years.

The hope of 'will', in regards to all God wants to do, should excite us to the core of our beings!

Bringing our loved ones to a saving knowledge of God and an intimate relationship with Him is His desire.

It's what He wants.

It's His will.

We don't have to talk Him into it...

We don't have to convince Him of it...

We don't have to nudge Him into wanting it...

It's His will that none should perish.

There is hope in His will!

STOP AND CONSIDER

Today's reading: Job 37-38

"Listen, Job; stop and consider the wonderful miracles of God!" Job 37:14 NLT

Do you hear God speaking those same things to you...

Stop and consider the wonderful miracles I have done.

When life is harried.

When life is good.

When life knocks you down, runs over you--and then backs up and does it again.

When the skies are blue.

When thunder and lightning strike too closely for comfort.

Do you stop and consider the wonderful miracles of God?

They are everywhere.

They can been seen in everything.

They can be viewed in the faces of those around you.

When you stop and consider them, that is.

 

BUT WHEN I AM AFRAID

Today's reading: Psalm 54-56

"But when I am afraid, I put my trust in you." Psalm 56:3 NLT

Does fear ever grip your heart, steal your next breath or shadow the hope you should have?

Do circumstances leave you wringing your hands, picking up pieces of well-laid plans or send you to a corner to hide?

It happens to us all.

Life happens to us all.

It's what we do in those moments that will turn the tide of events--in our heads and in our hearts.

We must put our trust in God.

Not in the strongest loved ones we know. Or in doctors. Or in titles, degrees, bank accounts or pedigrees.

Our hope is in the Lord.

And when we choose to remind ourselves of that simple, yet world changing, fact...

When we consciously focus on that truth..

As we take the next step, and the next step, and the next step, in that confidence... 

We will find that hope pushes out the fear.

WORSHIP THE LORD

Today's reading: 2 Samuel 10-14

"Then David got up from the ground, washed himself, put on lotions, and changed his clothes. Then he went to the Tabernacle and worshiped the Lord..." 2 Samuel 12:20 NLT

I don't know where you are today.

Grieving? Flat out on the ground from brokenness? Dirty as all get out? 

Did you know worshiping the Lord can change your position in life?

From grieving to joy.

From face down to face aglow in His goodness.

From stained to white as snow.

Just a glimpse God's way.

Just a simple decision to choose worship.

Just a choice to honor Him in the way He is owed.

No matter how you are feeling...

No matter the place you're at...

No matter the state of your heart or mind...

Choose worship! 

A LITTLE AT A TIME
Today's reading: Exodus 21-24

"I will send my terror upon all the people whose lands you invade, and they will panic before you. I will send hornets ahead of you to drive out the Hivites, Canaanites, and Hittites. But I will not do this all in one year because the land would become a wilderness, and the wild animals would become too many to control. I will drive them out a little at a time until your population has increased enough to fill the land." Exodus 23:27-30 NLT

Just this week I read this quote...

Idols cannot be removed, they must be replaced.

Meaning a hole in our desires, our inborn need to worship something, will be filled by something.

God gave us an example of that in his instructions to the Israelites as they entered their new land.

He could have wiped everything clean before they arrived...

He could have removed any trace of the former occupants...

He could have taken care of any and all obstacles that might have stood in their way...

But He desired that they invest a little sweat equity.

He wanted His people to know how hard won this new land was, how much of a gift it was from His hands and how very, very important it would be for them to stay close to Him through it all.

For every victory they experienced, He wanted their hearts to be filled with gratitude for Him.

For every hard fought battle, He wanted their allegiance.

For every accomplishment, He wanted their love.

A little at a time.

HOW PROUD

Today's reading: 2 Corinthians 6-8

"I had told him how proud I was of you--and you didn't disappoint me..." 2 Corinthians 7:14 NLT

Paul had told Titus all about the love and faithfulness of the Corinthians.

He had regaled their acts of good deeds, applauded their work in the community and told story after story of how they had cared for Paul himself.

And when Titus finally met them--he found it all to be completely and utterly true!

I want that of myself.

I want God's love to flow out of me, at all time, to such a degree that others love God because of it!

I want my faith to be so strong that others are infected by it!

I want my love for my Savior to so completely imbed all I do to the point people around me are introduced to the Good News!

I want, one day, to stand before God and hear Him say this to me--you didn't disappoint me! 

That's what I want, and I want to arrange my life and actions and words around that single goal.

What do you want out of life--or better yet, eternity?

OUR CONVERSATIONS

Today's reading: Mark 15-16

"On the way they were discussing who would roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb." Mark 16:3 NLT

Let me ask you this question...

The question that God asked me as I read this passage of Scripture...

The question that arose from reading this single verse, about the women's conversation as they went to the tomb that first Easter morning...

What do your words say about your faith?

Really, what do they say?

Are your conversations littered more with dread, fear, doubt and impatience than they are faith?

Do you ramble on and on about the immensity of the situation, the burden of the prayer request or the overwhelming size of your need--or do you talk in positive future tense about when the Lord will answer?

Do you refer to 'when God answers' and 'as soon as God moves in this matter' when it comes to your prayer requests?

These women had probably seen Jesus heal the sick.

They might have eaten some of the meal Peter's mother-in-law prepared.

They might have witnessed firsthand the vitality of Jairus's daughter as she played.

They might have eaten from the baskets of leftovers from the little boy's lunch.

They were there as the day turned to night at his crucifixion.

They had sat under the sound of His voice as He spoke with wisdom and authority.

And still they worried about the stone?

And still we worry about _____?

TOO STRONG FOR THEM

Today's reading: Jeremiah 29-31

"For the Lord has redeemed Israel from those too strong for them." Jeremiah 31:11 NLT

Read that single verse again...

"For the Lord has redeemed Israel from those too strong for them." Jeremiah 31:11 NLT

And again, with emphasis I have placed...

"For the Lord has redeemed Israel from THOSE TOO STRONG FOR THEM." Jeremiah 31:11 NLT

It's never been, is not now and will never be about any enemy being too strong for the Lord!

God has/can/will always redeem us from an enemy that is too strong for us. 

We cannot do it.

We don't have enough willpower, even if we borrowed it from another.

We don't have enough discipline to live a life worthy of redeeming ourselves.

We don't have enough soap to clean our slate to start again.

It's about God's strength, God's love and God's desire that we be His!

So hear this friend: You aren't strong enough to defeat your enemy, but your God is!

 

 LISTENING AND CONCERNED

Today's reading: Job 35-36

"But it is wrong to say God doesn't listen, to say the Almighty isn't concerned." Job 35:13 NLT

Maybe you've muttered the phrase, God just isn't listening to me!

Or you've bemoaned the fact that the Lord doesn't seem to care about your needs, wants and desires.

Might it be that you are wrongly accusing God of not being who He claims He is and not doing what He promises He can do?

Could it be that the more accurate statement of your faith is that you are impatient to see God work?

Do you truly believe He doesn't hear--or is He not answering in your allotted time frame?

Do you really think He isn't concerned--or are your own uncaring character traits rising to the surface as you wait for Him to do a work?

Be reminded of this: God hears and God cares.

Always.

In regards to all things.

CREATE IN ME

Today's reading: Psalm 51-53

"Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a right spirit within me." Psalm 51:10 NLT

One of my favorite activities with the Awana Cubbie kids was 'playdoh' night.

The Cubbie leaders and I would present each child with a ball of playdoh and instruct them to make various things--a snake, a cookie, a dinosaur, etc.

Then we would collect the playdoh and ask them to create something--an elephant, a tree, a person.

They would look at us like we had two heads and quickly tell us they couldn't do what was asked because they didn't have the materials.

Creating is making something out of nothing.

That's not something any of us can do!

So when we pause to think about God creating a clean heart in us--we should stand in utter amazement!

It's not that He's re-working the heart we have...

Or taking over where we've begun a heart renovation...

It's about Him making something (a clean heart) out of nothing (our hearts before Him)!

 

GETTING AHEAD OF OURSELVES

Today's reading: 2 Samuel 5-9

"...So David went there and brought the Ark to the City of David with a great celebration. After the men who were carrying it had gone six steps, they stopped and waited so David could sacrifice an ox and a fattened calf." 2 Samuel 9:12-13 NLT

As a child, I don't know how many times I was warned, Now don't get ahead of yourself!

I would rush into matters.

I would hurry to accomplish a task.

I would race to get a job done like I was in a firetruck heading to a fire.

The warning was given to me in order that I not miss the details, that I would not hurry past the heart of the matter and that I wouldn't forget the 'why' of what I was attempting to do.

Our 'Ark-bearers' are a prime example of making sure to go at a pace that pleases the Lord and make the journey enjoyable.

I understand that every time they went six steps, they paused and worshiped.

Could they have gotten the Ark from Gath to Jerusalem much quicker--oh, yes!

But would they have honored God as intentionally, sought Him as desperately and promoted the sanctity of the Ark as emphatically--no!

Isn't that what we do when we rush through life?

We assume we'll have tomorrow, we hurry by all the small blessings God desires to reveal to us and we don't make the time to invite others into the pilgrimage to heaven.

I want to take on an 'every six steps' attitude in regards to how I live.

I desire that I make the effort to honor Him more often than every seven days, before I eat a meal or when I find myself in a pickle.

Lord, help me not to get ahead of myself!

 

MORE THAN ORDINARY

Today's reading: Exodus 17-20

"Now if you will obey me and keep my covenant, you will be my own special treasure from among all the nations of the earth; for all the earth belongs to me." Exodus 19:5 NLT

If you're tired of being ordinary...

Bored with mediocre...

If you're worn out from fitting in and just being part of the crowd...

Obey the Lord!

Following Christ, wholeheartedly surrendering to God, being led by the Holy Spirit will make you extraordinary!

God will bless and keep you.

People will notice the stark contrast of your life to the world.

You will see attitudes, desires and priorities change in your heart and mind.

Don't settle for so-so anymore--you can be a special treasure of the Lord's!