READING GLASSES
Today's reading: Psalm 24-26

Since entering the 40's a year ago, I've gained a new friend: a pair of reading glasses. As a matter of fact, since I'm at the beginning stages of needing them, I am able to purchase the inexpensive, non-optometrist pescribed ones--so I keep several pairs laying around.

If I want to see things up close, I need them. It's that simple. I can battle with pride. I can fight with denial. I can wage war with all I have against how un-cool the may seem. But in the end, if I want to read what is written in a font less than 20, I need them.

So, I admit here and now, I have a vision impairment. And well, after reading today's Scripture selection, I have come to the realization that it's a problem I've had for a very, very long time!

"My eyes are always looking to the Lord for help, for he alone can rescue me from the traps of my enemies." Psalm 25:15 NLT

I have weak eyes.

I cannot, choose not to, do not, will not or have not decided to focus my eyes on the Lord. My errant eyes scan back and forth, surveying what the world offers against what God lays in front of me.

And when I choose less than God's best? My reward is havoc, chaos, regret, sin, missed blessings and shame.

Today I start wearing new lenses. God lenses. By my own choice, I am determining to look to Christ for each and every decision I'll make today. I am choosing to view each and every opportunity placed before me through His eyes and in direct correlation to what I know His Word would tell me.

Call me 'Four-Eyes', if you must--but at the end of the day we'll compare notes to see whose eyes have served them most proudly.

WHAT BELONGS TO US
Today's reading: Judges 17-21

"Now in those days Israel had no king. And the tribe of Dan was trying to find a place to settle, for they had not yet driven out the people who lived in the land assigned to them." Judges 18:1 NLT

The tribe of Dan wandered. They packed and re-packed their tents. The walked and walked. They spent alot of time and energy looking for something they already had--a place of their own.

Trying to find a place to 'settle'. Attempting to locate that 'just right' spot. Looking for your 'place'. Not just a problem for the little Israelite tribe, now is it? How much time, energy and money have you spent to fit in to this world? To what extremes have you gone to locate your place in society? How hard have you to tried to find a special call, a specific purpose or a fitted-just-to-you ministry?

How about the one God has given you?

Yes, the one right under your nose. The one that's been looking you squarely in the face for a very long time now. The one you have been trying your hardest to ignore because it isn't glamorous enough, up-front enough or 'important' enough. The place in life God has already defeated satan for, just so you could have it, just so you could use it, just so you could see how very much He loves you.

You and I, dear friends, are wasting alot of time looking for something He has already given to us. We're fighting battles that are not ours to fight. We're wandering on acreage that's already ours--if we'll just claim it!

What more will come to us if we'll only, whew--what a word, claim it?

ASKING WRONGLY
Today's reading: Matthew 20-22

"But Jesus told them, You don't know what you are asking!.." Matthew 20:22 NLT

I can see the mother kneeled respectfully in front of Jesus.

I can genuinely feel the desire for the best she has for her boys.

I can understand that from whate she had witnessed, Jesus was the One to be asking.

I can see the surprised look on her face when Jesus corrects her attempt at being a good mom.

And it's not just mothers with sons...

We think we know what's best.

We believe a certain plan or goal is what's going to amass the greatest possibilities--for us and for His kingdom.

We have it all planned out--and then He simply says, 'You don't know what you are asking!'

RISING VALUE
Today's reading: Isaiah 40-44

"Others died that you might live. I traded their lives for yours because you are precious to me. You are honored, and I love you." Isaiah 43:4 NLT

Satan will try, if he hasn't already this morning, to sell you a sackful of lies before the day is over. He will try to convince you that you are worthless, unnoticed and possibly unloved. He wants to plant a seed of doubt in your heart that the world will inevitably water and fertilize. He desires that your heart be torn and your mind be always questioning.

But God speaks otherwise. His words are true. His statements are factual. His promises can be taken to the bank--and beyond.

You, dear friend, no matter what satan has previously told you, are a valuable member of God's family. So valuable in fact that He sent His Son, His Only Son, His Perfect Son, His Sinless Son, to die on the cross for you!

Would He do that for just anyone?

Would you?

ADVOCATE
Today's reading: Job 15-16

I'm a 'word hound'. Give me a dictionary and I'll be happy for hours. New words thrill me. Odd words excite me. New definitions intrigue me. Oh, it's not that I use alot of big, fancy words, but it's always nice to have an arsenal of them stored in the gray matter...never know when you might be called upon to be a contestant on a game show!

Today's word? Advocate.

"...My advocate is there on high." Job 16:19 NLT

It's a statement made by Job to his not-so-helpful friends. It's a declaration of Job's beliefs. It's a immensely powerful sentence--when you know what an advocate is.

An advocate, as per Merriam Webster, is one who pleads your case, one who defends or maintains or one that supports.

That is an excellent definition of my Savior.

But Merriam Webster goes on and lists some synonyms (words meaning the same, or almost the same): backer, booster, cheerleader, encourager...and my favorite, simply because I can attach a word picture to it, white knight.

God is my White Knight. It's doubtful you fellas are quite as excited about that as are the damsels in distress, but none the less--how exciting!

I can walk through my day proudly, confidently and assuredly knowing I am protected, loved and defended by my White Knight. The gown may not billow in the breeze behind me. The servants may not show up at my beckon call. The palace may look less and less like a home fit for a king, but I'll know I have the backing of my Knight!

HE LEADS
Today's reading: Psalm 21-23

"The Lord is my shepherd; I have everything I need. He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams." Psalm 23:1-2 NLT

I'm an ignorant little sheep.

Oh, I have an outstanding Shepherd, it's just that I, no one to place blame on here, am slow to catch on to how very wise He is!

I have all I need in Him. That being said, I should be satisfied, comforted and completely at peace,at all times...and yet I'm not.

I have provided for me 'green meadows' of rest and relaxation. The finest. Hand-picked. God-created. Personalized. Peaceful,quiet spots where I can sit with my Shepherd and just bask in His goodness, ponder His greatness and breathe in deeply of His love for me...and yet I don't.

I have a loving Shepherd who doesn't make me do anything. He has hard-wired me, in the depths of utter seclusion, to have an innate need for Him. He has created within me a desire to be near Him, with Him and filled by Him...and I buck at the urges.

Yes, I'm an ignorant little sheep. I have all I could ever want or need...if I would just take my eyes off of myself and look to my Shepherd!

WHERE WE SHOULDN'T BE
Today's reading: Judges 12-16

"Later Samson fell in love with a woman named Delilah, who lived in the valley of Sorek." Judges 16:1 NLT

Samson, the strong man. Samson, the judge. Samson, the man who fell for the wrong gal. Samson, the guy who where somewhere he shouldn't have gone and came back with more than he bargained for!

Samson had no reason to be in the valley of Sorek. No more reason than I have to stroll down the ice cream aisle of my local grocery store.

Samson knew better. So do I.

Samson had no one to blame but himself. Me, either.

Intentional trips to valleys bring about less than desirable consequences.

Choose now where you will go today. Better yet, choose where you won't go!

CONSTANTLY
Today's reading: Genesis 28-31

"...I will be with you constantly until I have finished giving you everything I have promised." Genesis 28:15 NLT

You are too good to me, Lord.

I am so undeserving of your grace, mercy and love--and still you give Your Word that You'll not give up on me.

You see in me more potential than I can. You see what I am to become and do not focus on the faults of which I am guilty of today.

You will be with me, what an honor. Will I have to look to see you at times? Probably. Might I have to re-focus my vision in order to get a clearer picture of You on some days? Yes, because I am easily distracted.

I'm giddy with anticipation in regards to all You have promised to me!

A WHOLE CHAPTER
Today's reading: Romans 15-16

Paul uses the entire chapter of Romans 16 as a publicly published 'thank you' card of sorts. In it he mentions 28 different people of whom he believes a great deal of thanks are due.

An entire chapter.

Twenty-seven verses.

Just imagine how long it took, in Paul's time, to jot down these thanks. There was no internet for a quick mass e-mail. No Xerox machines to multiply his thanks. No 45 cent stamps or priority mail to get his thanks to them.

It took time on Paul's part. It took a great deal of effort. It probably required hiring someone to deliver the note to his church family.

And then there's me.

I don't make the time to say 'thanks' when I should. I don't take the time to jot down my thanks in a pre-made card. I don't pause long enough at the computer to type out my thoughts of gratefulness and hit the 'send' button.

A whole chapter of thanks--I'm convicted.

SWEET, SWEET SPIRIT
Today's reading: Matthew 17-19

Doris Akers has written a song entitled, 'Sweet, Sweet Spirit'...

There's a sweet, sweet Spirit in this place,
And I know that it's the Spirit of the Lord;
There are sweet expressions on each face,
And I know they feel the presence of the Lord.

Chorus
Sweet Holy Spirit, Sweet heavenly Dove,
Stay right here with us, filling us with Your love.
And for these blessings we lift our hearts in praise;
Without a doubt we'll know that we have been revived,
When we shall leave this place.

I'm not sure if she penned the words after having gathered in a large auditorium to hear a fine praise and worship choir, traveled miles and miles to hear a wildly popular evangelist or a having attended a tear-staining church service.

Maybe she wrote the words to this ageless song after gathering at an altar of prayer with friends.

Or maybe, just maybe, she jotted down the lyrics after a prayerful kitchen table gathering with another sister in Christ.

"For where two or three gather together because they are mine, I am there among them." Matthew 18:20 NLT

You've met Him. You've felt His presence. You've been revived by gathering with other believers. You've had your countenance changed by His sweet, sweet Spirit.

TIME TO TALK
Today's reading: Job 13-14

"Tell me, what have I done wrong? Show me my rebellion and my sin." Job 13:23 NLT

In Job's case, God was allowing satan to conduct a 'little' test of Job's faithfulness and commitment to the Lord. He'd done nothing. He'd wronged no one. He'd not failed to keep to keep the commandments or missed worship service for less than excusable reasons. His life was an example of stellar righteousness. His convictions would stand up under pressure, God knew that...that's why it was all allowed.

We, on the other hand, well...

Isn't it time we ask God, truly ask God, to speak to our hearts on matters of sin? Isn't today as good as any to seek God's opinion and critiques on our daily walks with Him and for Him? Don't you think we need to get personal with our Creator about some of the struggles (self-imposed) that we deal with on a day to day basis?

Sure, we can take a survey of our friends to get their opinions. We can assemble a meeting of our nearest and dearest brothers and sisters in Christ in order to poll the external results of our walks with the Lord. We might even ask our pastor to grade us according to our service, attendance and Bible-carrying record.

But when we want to get to the bottom of our heart issues, it's time we talk to the Lord.

Ask Him what's blocking communication between our hearts and His. Seek His opinion of what's stealing the joy from our lives. Look to Him to point out sins that are preventing fruit production, effective evangelism and spiritual growth. Beg Him to address attitudes we're carrying that are less than lovely, less than grace-filled, far from Christ-like.

Go ahead, ask. He'll answer!

A NEW CLUB
Today's reading: Psalm 18-20

I'm starting up a new fitness club! Yes, me who is mildly to moderately sedentary. Me, who prefers not to sweat if at all possible. Me, whose quick sprint to the mailbox requires a few (several) moments of recomposure. Me, who can carry 50 pound feed sacks to the barn, but would prefer that remain our secret--don't tell my guys. Me, whose idea of a good stretch is reaching clear across the table for the bowl of mashed potatoes--and grabbing the milk gravy on the return trip.

Stay with me, because the 'club' I'm starting has nothing to do with anything I'm capable of accomplishing--it's all about Him!

"In your strength I can crush an army; with my God I can scale any wall." Psalm 18:29 NLT

What a motto. What a life verse. What a cheer!

We're all facing armies. We're all cowering in the shadows of some mighty big walls. We're all 90-pound weaklings in regards to what stands in our ways. We're all incapable of 'doing' this thing called life on our own.

But it's not, nothing in our life, nothing in this world, nothing this side of heaven, about us. It's all about God!

God's strength. God's faithfulness. God's love. God's mercy. God's forgiveness. God's grace. God's muscle. God's defeat of our enemies. God's presence in our lives.

Come on, join the club--membership is free, but it will require that you memorize and apply our chosen verse to make it all work!

TIE A STRING
Today's reading: Joshua 7-11

"They forgot the Lord their God, who had rescued them from all their enemies surrounding them." Joshua 8:34 NLT

Forget God? Impossible, you say. Improbable, you argue. Unbelievable, you wail.

He's everywhere. He's in everything. He gives us all we have. He holds all the hope we could ever have.

And yet we do forget.

We hesitate to remember all He's done for us when there is so much left undone.

We fail to remember what He's capable of when faced with our own weaknesses.

We choose not to recall the promises He's kept, the enemies He's defeated and the mountains He's enabled us to climb--when faced with a new challenge.

It's time we tie a string around our fingers to remind us of God!

COMPROMISE
Today's reading: Genesis 24-27

"Then Jacob gave Esau some bread and lentil stew. Esau ate and drank and went on his business, indifferent to the fact that he had given up his birthright." Genesis 25:34 NLT

Indifference. It's a nasty word. It's a compromising word. It's a word than loosely translates into a lack of care, concern or value.

We've all thought how silly and insensitive it was for Esau to relinquish what would be his for a bowl of soup and a slice of bread--but don't we do the same?

Do we diminish the work of the cross when we laugh at jokes meant to demean and criticize His church?

Do we laugh in the face of our Savior when we forfeit the importance of our adoption into His family by lowering our standards for entertainment?

Do we brush off the Spirit's wooing when we ignore His attempts to direct us, correct us, speak to us?

Do we compromise the value of His love for us when we speak poorly of another of His children, their attitudes, their actions, their failings?

What are we selling our birthrights for? Maybe not a loaf of bread and a bowl of stew, but perhaps a laugh, an opportunity to make ourselves look more godly, or just to fit in with a crowd we have no business fitting in with at all?

HIS PEOPLE
Today's reading: Isaiah 28-33
"God will greatly bless his people..." Isaiah 32:20 NLT

Expecting His blessings? Anticipating an overflow of His love? Planning on basking in His abundance, mercy and grace?

Well, not to burst anyone's bubbles but...you gotta be His first!

Not just say it. Not just show it on Sunday. Not just have the t-shirt hanging in your closet or the necklace adorning your neck.

He's gotta know you're His. By what you do. By what you say. By how you obey. By how you seek His presence. By how you react. By how you live.

Don't expect anything of Him if He's not yours!

YET
Today's reading: Job 11-12

"...When he closes in on someone, there is no escape." Job 12:14 NLT

Who came to your mind?

What unsaved loved one or friend's face flashed before your eyes?

Who, that you've been praying for, might have their picture posted beside this verse in the Bible?

It reassures me. It revives my prayer life. It confirms that their salvation is something God wants--not just a hair-brained idea I have dreamed up for their lives. It convinces me that once the Hound of Heaven is on their trail, they're not going to elude Him!

So the ones you and I are praying for, they're not walking with God yet. They've not given their hearts and minds over to Him yet. They've not stopped running yet.

They'll not escape--so keep praying! I will, too.

SATISFACTION GUARANTEED
Today's reading: Psalm 15-17

"But because I have done what is right, I will see you. When I awake, I will be fully satisfied, for I will see you face to face." Psalm 17:15 NLT

Here's a newsflash: Your satisfaction is not guaranteed on this great, big blue and green orb!

We were not created to spend an eternity here. This is not our home. Satisfaction and gratification will only come once we've stepped back into the presence of the One who has created us and breathed life into our beings.

Here we will be disappointed. We will spend a few years brokenhearted and heartsick. Happiness will probably elude us for most of our lives. Ecstatic living will only when our lives here end.

So we continue to strive. We deliberately seek joy, which trumps happiness any day of the week. We make an effort to trust our Maker. We choose to walk worthy of the One who will welcome us into loving arms--and provide us with the satisfaction we've spent an entire life attempting to grasp.

I believe it's time we started expecting less out of this old world and anticipating more from our Savior and Lord!

HOME TURF
Today's reading: Judges 1-6

I'm not well-versed in sport lingo. I can recognize the appropriate balls used in each sport, but that bit of knowledge is where it all ends. I get muddled in regards to which sport receives homeruns and which sport gets baskets or goals. I usually pick my favorite team based on the color combination of their uniforms. What I do know is about 'home turf' advantage. It's the comforting effect of a team playing in their own surroundings. Common ground alleviates fear, apprehension and worry. I'm not sure, but I'll guess there's a pretty high percentage of teams that prosper with the 'home turf' thing on their side.

We as Christians should be using the same principle in our walks with Christ! The Israelites used it, so I believe it's recording is set to inspire us to do the same.

"The Lord was with the people of Judah, and they took possession of the hill country. But they failed to drive out the people living in the plains because the people there had iron chariots." Judges 1:19 NLT

My Bible commentary tells me that iron chariots were the most sophisticated weapons of that time. Quite an upperhand when compared to travel-worn, sandaled warriors. Their swift feet were no match for horse drawn battle machines on the wide-open plains.

But if you'll continue reading, you'll find that on a few occasions the Israelites led their enemies into battle back in the hill country they'd procurred.

To places where the chariots got stuck, flipped over or were useless because of the terrain.

My point: Satan wants to fight us on his home court. He wants to fluster us with the surroundings he is most acquainted with. He wants to lead us out into the wide open 'plains' he is most familiar with and stomp us into the dirt.

Our solution: Take him to our home turf. If he attempts to feed you a headful of lies, remind him loudly and proudly of the fact that God loves you. If he wants to bring up your sordid and ugly past, state for the record that those sins have been covered by Jesus' blood. If he wants to drag you off to the desert he's most used to playing in--sink your nails in, plant your feet and state, in no uncertain terms, that God has bought you with a price and satan will not be taking you anywhere without His approval.

There's no use us being wimps. There is no use us not using each and every promise God has given us to our advantage. There is no use us worrying, fretting and throwing in the towel when faced with the uncertain things satan likes to throw our way--take him to where we know God resides, to what we know to be the truth, to places you and I both know satan hates to go and where he loses the upperhand--Christ's feet!

God has provided us victory against our enemies...that gives us the home turf advantage!

NEW VISION
Today's reading: Genesis 20-23

Hagar.

A used woman. A discarded woman. A selected, then rejected, woman. A broken woman. A desperate woman. A woman filled with the instincts of motherhood. A woman left in the desert. A woman seen by God.

"Then God opened Hagar's eyes, and she saw a well..." Genesis 21:19 NLT

A woman whose vision was corrected by God. A woman who was given what she needed and was looking for in a very desolate place. A woman who was given 'God lenses' through which to see.

Are you Hagar?

Are you worn out, used up, holed up, lonely? Have you been discarded by God based upon a current circumstance, diagnosis or choice of another? Blinded by the chaos within your life, your head and your heart?

Have you asked God to see things as He does? Have you asked God to give you 'corrective lenses' through which to see your current situation? Have you asked Him to heal your sight so that you might see that He is providing, present, praiseworthy?

He offers new vision--will you take it?

MY WORTH
Today's reading: Romans 11-12

"As God's messenger, I give each of you this warning: Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring your value by how much faith God has given you." Romans 12:3 NLT

What a gem! Such a priceless verse! What richness, depth and honesty is wrapped in this one sentence of His Word!

I needed it. I have errantly been valuing myself, my accomplishments and my desires against warped scales.

I don't look like the world's model of a Christian--Beth Moore(hint of jealousy there), Mother Teresa, Billy Graham.

I don't sound like the standard Christian woman--I yell, I gossip, I moan and I groan(just ask my husband).

I don't minister according to the standards the 'church' (notice I say the 'church', no God) has set--televised, massive print media or stadium-filled venues.

But upon reading this verse, I find those are not the curves I should be grading, assessing or comparing my worth to, at all.

I am valuable because I have the God of the universe as Lord of my life. I am worth a mint because I have chosen to accept His gift of salvation and eternal life. I am worthy because Christ's blood has flowed down, over and through me.

No more comparisons. No more stepping up to the line the world has drawn. No more allowing myself to be defeated, deflated or demeaned by wrong thinking.

I have faith in a hugely powerful God! I walk each day in the knowledge of His vastness and wealth! I believe, without a doubt, that I am His and He is mine--that makes me priceless!

WHAT POWER!
Today's reading: Matthew 11-13

I think I knew it. I'm pretty sure I did. I had heard it preached. I had probably read it at one time or another. But this morning? This morning's reading of the same words illicit a different response to my heart, mind and soul...

"My Father has given me authority over everything.." Matthew 11:23 NLT

The power that rests in praying in Jesus' name! The faith we hold in communion and conversation with Him! The mountains that become molehills when we speak His name into the issue, circumstance or matter!

Aaah, what power!

PASS THE KLEENEX
Today's reading: Isaiah 23-28

"...He will wipe away all tears..." Isaiah 25:8 NLT

It's just a reminder.

It's a promise you can hold in your heart.

It's just one of the many rewards He plans on extending to His children when they step into His presence for eternity.

It's soothing.

It's a reason to go on.

It's a balm that covers today's happenings and calms tomorrow's fears.

It's hope.

REMINDED
Today's reading: Job 9-10

"His great works are too marvelous to understand. He performs miracles without number. Yet when he comes near, I cannot see him. When he moves on, I do not see him go." Job 9:10-11 NLT

I needed reminded today of God's greatness.

I'll lay it out here: there are a few requests I've made of Him that are going un-touched. Unchanged. Unnoticed. Unanswered.

And, well, I tend to forget that while my prayers go rambling on, He is still mighty, His ways are still marvelous, His miracles abound--whether I see them or not!

When I'm in a 'stew' of this sort, I fail to notice His presence...His awesome, mighty, holy presence.

How can that be when I breathe His air? Depend upon Him for a heartbeat? Am surrounded by His creativity--in nature and in others?

I needed to be reminded. Maybe, just maybe, you did too.

In the words of Chris Tomlin:

How great is our God, sing with me
How great is our God, and all will see
How great, how great is our God

SING
Today's reading: Psalm 12-14

"I will sing to the Lord because he has been so good to me." Psalm 13:6 NLT

If the Lord's done (past tense) anything for you, He deserves a song from your heart!

If the Lord's ever answered (past tense) a prayer for you, He deserves a song from your heart!

If the Lord's breathed (past tense) life into you, formed (past tense) you in utter seclusion and written (past tense) your name on the cross bearing His Son , He deserves a song from your heart!

No waiting (present tense).