TODAY'S THE DAY
Today's reading: 1 Samuel 16-20

"David shouted in reply, You come to me with sword, spear and javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord Almighty--the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. Today the Lord will conquer you..." 1 Samuel 17:45-46 NLT

Isn't it about time we faced our giants head on?

In the name of the Lord Almighty...

With the power of the Risen Lord behind us...

Based on the truth in His Word...

In His strength...

As He has proclaimed we can do...

Today may very well be the day God conquers your enemy. The day a verse strengthens you to give it just an ounce more of your strength. The day you decide that with God's help you're going to keep on. The day you determine that your enemy is not going to win--no matter how big he is, how long he's been around, how many times we've cowered in fear or how often his attacks come.

We serve the same God as the shepherd boy David served. David was given no more or no less power than we have been given. David's giant was as real as our own.

Will you claim victory today?

OUR RESCUE
Today's reading: Exodus 1-4

"Years passed, and the king of Egypt died But the Israelites still groaned beneath their burden of slavery. They cried out for help, and their pleas for deliverance rose up to God. God heard their cries..." Exodus 2:23-24 NLT

It took a while. Four hundred years, to be exact.

God heard the first prayer. God heard the repeated prayers. God answered when He believed it was the right time to do so.

God hears you, too.

He knows you are still shackled to your burden. He knows you are still bowed low with the weight of your illness. He knows you are ready, more than ready, for Him to provide some relief. He knows you have endured more than you wanted to, believed you could, or would ask your worst enemy to tolerate.

He knows you are waiting for deliverance.

He has sent the first part of your relief in the form of Jesus.

He has given us a Rescuer, a Redeemer, a Savior, a Friend, a Comforter, a Rock, a Shelter, a Warrior, a Hope--to help you continue on. To walk with you. To provide you with all that you need, a enough left over to share with another. To go on for one more day. To anticipate the time in your life, or in your death, when He delivers you completely. 

NOTICING PARTS
Today's reading: 1 Corinthians 11-12

"In fact, some of the parts that seem weakest and least important are really the most important." 1 Corinthians 12:22 NLT

As you check your hair for the last time as you head out the door...

As you check and double-check to make sure each member of your household has their Bible...

As you look over the calendar to see where everyone in your home is supposed to be this Palm Sunday morning in regards to their specific ministries...

As you prepare your heart and head for worship...

Don't forget the little people.

The folks who from behind the scenes prepare the house of the Lord.

The janitor. The children's workers. The greeters. The prayer warriors.

Don't overlook the parts of the Body that aren't always standing behind the pulpit.

DON'T BE AFRAID
Today's reading: Mark 5-6

"But Jesus ignored their comments and said to Jairus, Don't be afraid. Just trust me." Mark 5:36 NLT

Maybe the doctors are telling you there is no hope.

Maybe your friends are suggesting that you throw in the towel.

Maybe satan is providing you with a grocery list of reasons why what you're believing isn't helping you at all.

Maybe you're worn out.

Jesus ignored their comments, maybe you should, too.

Don't be afraid, He said. Just trust me, He told Jairus--and I believe He's telling you, too.  

TUNE YOUR EARS
Today's reading: Jeremiah 1-6

"O my people, listen to the words of the Lord!.." Jeremiah 2:31 NLT

God's words.

Not the soliloquies of a well-dressed TV evangelist.

Not the words of a suited, behind the pulpit member of clergy.

Not the shouts of a country preacher.

Not the quotes of a saintly grandmother.

Not the typings of a small town girl with lots to say.

But the words of the Lord.

The writer of the Bible.

The Author and Finisher of our faith.

CHRISTIAN FRIENDS
Today's reading: Job 25-26

I truly believe Bildad, and Job's other friends, had the best of intentions when after several days of mournful silence they opened their mouths and attempted to comfort Job.

I truly believe they did.

It's not based on some deep dark secret God has revealed to me in regards to the book of Job, it has everything to do with my own personal experience!

I've tried to comfort and console--only to find myself attempting to remove my great big foot from   my great big mouth.

I've tried to offer godly advice--only to be pushed away for being too insensitive, too ignorant of the circumstances or too biased.

I've tried to apply the 'Balm of Gilead' to hurting Christian friends--only to find myself pushed away by their choice.

I've tried to help--and done more hurting in the process.

I've tried to bind up the wounds of friends--only to find myself cowering in the corner licking the wounds they inflicted on me from their responses and reactions.

And in each instance, I truly believed I was trying to reach out in godliness and was led by God to do it.

So, I know how Job's friends might have felt. Been there. Done all of that.

And I have to trust in the grace of my great, big God to cover my errors, my offenses, my shortcomings, my mis-spoken words, my inadequacies, my restricted vision and my lapses in judgement.

    

WHAT I CHOOSE
Today's reading: Psalm 36-38

"Meanwhile, my enemies lay traps for me; they make plans to ruin me. They think up treacherous deeds all day long. But I am deaf to all their threats. I am silent before them as one who cannot speak. I choose to hear nothing, and I make no reply. For I am waiting for you, O Lord. You must answer for me, O Lord my God." Psalm 38:12-15 NLT

Satan whispers, You are so undeserving of grace.

I remain silent and wait.

Satan says, Even a good God wouldn't forgive you of those sins.

I remain silent and wait.

Satan mumbles, How many times will your God will be willing to pick you up and dust you off?

I remain silent and wait.

Satan jeers, Where is your great God in all of this?

I remain silent and wait.

Satan shouts, How can God fix this mess you've made?

I remain silent and wait.

Satan entices, My way is easier, more fun, less restrictive!

I remain silent and wait.

Satan bellows, Why keep trying?

I remain silent and wait.

Then I hear the soft and assuring words of my Savior spoken to my heart, This is my battle, little one.

And He silences Satan with the words--She is mine!

STOP AND THINK
Today's reading: 1 Samuel 11-15

"Now stand here quietly before the Lord as I remind you of all the great things the Lord has done for you and your ancestors." 1 Samuel 12:7 NLT

I'm asking the Holy Spirit to speak to your heart today...

I'm asking God to allow into your schedule a few moments of solitude, quiet and rest...

I'm asking our Heavenly Father to open your eyes and heart to all He's done...

I'm asking the Creator of the Universe to seemingly slow the world down just long enough for you to take a deep breath, center your thoughts on Him and breathe deeply of His blessings in your life...

I'm asking the Holy Adonai to hold you close...

I'm asking Jehovah Jireh to bring to your mind all the times He has provided for you...

I'm asking Yahweh Shalom to be exalted as you meditate on the times peace, peace, wonderful peace has fallen over your spirit...

I'm asking El Gibhor, our Mighty God, to give you a renewed sense of well-being--safe in His arms...

I'm asking that you pause for a while as God reveals to your heart all the great things He has done for you.

Just for a while.

Just long enough.

HE KNOWS
Today's reading: Genesis 48-50

"But his father refused, I know what I'm doing, my son, he said." Genesis 48:19 NLT

Jacob was speaking to Joseph at this point in the Scriptures.

Joseph was attempting to correct something that appeared wrong to him.

Jacob was kindly stating that he knew what was going on and was doing it the way he wanted to do it.

It's a conversation the Lord and I have on a regular basis.

I think, or over-think, on many occasions...He corrects, lovingly, but firmly...I bow to His wisdom and authority, sometimes stubbornly, sometimes with a broken heart...I see that He was right all along.

God knows what He is doing.

My prayer for today, for the remainder of my days, is that I will accept that simple, but life-changing, fact and join Him in whatever it is He is doing.

COMMON GROUND
Today's reading: 1 Corinthians 9-10

"...Yes, I try to find common ground with everyone so that I might bring them to Christ." 1 Corinthians 9:22 NLT

I tried just that today.

I was out of my element.

I attempted something that to me was big, scary and very impossible.

But I studied. And I read up. And I prayed. And I did my very best.

And the outcome? Well, it could have gone much worse and I was pleased with what I took from it. I even received a few unsolicited compliments!

In order to find common ground, I had to know who LeCrae was (a Christian rap artist), who Kevin Harvick was (a NASCAR driver), who a few 2015 sport figures were--now I cannot remember their names!

Just to find common ground with the youth group.

In order to bring the emphasis of Hebrews 12:1 into their perspective.

Did the message of God's Word change? No, absolutely not, but what I talked about leading up to the scripture and the truth contained in it was out of my element, but most certainly inside theirs.

I need to do that when I am presented with the opportunity to talk to people about God--in the lumberyard, in WalMart, in the line at the driver's license facility.   

CONDEMNATION
Today's reading: Mark 3-4

"Jesus went into the synagogue again and noticed a man with a deformed hand. Since it was the Sabbath, Jesus' enemies watched him closely. Would he heal the man's hand on the Sabbath? If he did, they planned to condemn him." Mark 3:1-2 NLT

I can see the Pharisees sitting together on the same pew.

I can imagine they had already spent a good portion of their time their in running commentary about the robes of other synagogue-goers, whether they were too short or too long, too old or too new and showy, wrong brand, too expensive, wrong color for church.

As they assessed the robes, they also passed judgement on the robe-wearers. I can imagine the conversation--'Yep, they sure needed to be here', or 'What gall they had to come today, especially after I heard what I heard'. 

I believe they arrived early enough to enjoy the 'coffee and donuts' prepared and provided, although according to them it was probably the wrong blend of coffee and their favorite kind of donuts had already been eaten...or maybe they didn't like the idea of coffee and donuts to start with and were there to complain about that simple fact.

I say all that to say this, they were planning on condemning Jesus no matter what He did.

There are folks like that.

There are folks in our churches like that.

We can, with one poorly thought-out comment, become one of them.

When we watch people too closely, our eyes are off God.

BECAUSE
Today's reading: Isaiah 62-66

"Because I love Zion, because my heart yearns for Jerusalem, I cannot remain silent. I will not stop praying for her until her righteousness shines like the dawn, and her salvation blazes like a burning torch." Isaiah 62:1 NLT

Because I love...I will not stop praying.

Because I love my family...I will not stop praying for them.

Because I love my church...I will not stop praying for them.

Because I love the lost and hurting friends I have...I will not stop praying for them.

Because I love the Lord...I will not stop praying.

LIGHT
Today's reading: Job 23-24

"...They are not acquainted with the light." Job 24:16 NLT

I'll tell you, when I read this verse, immediately a few folks I know--a few folks on my prayer list, came to mind.

They are not acquainted with the Light.

They prefer the darkness that overrides their hearts, minds and spirits.

They shrink back from the Son.

They seem content to live in darkness, stunted in growth and unable to really live.

That explains why sometimes they don't take me very well at all. Why there are times when they shy away from me like the plague. Why what I believe is offensive to them. Why how I choose to live leaves them scratching their heads and just a little bit intrigued.

But I cannot allow that to stop me. I've still got to shine my little light. I've got to take each and every opportunity presented to me by God to bring a small ray of hope and a sparkle of love into every conversation I am allowed with them.

They're not acquainted with the Light--yet.

'THIS'
Today's reading: Psalm 33-35

"O Lord, you know all about this. Do not stay silent. Don't abandon me now, O Lord." Psalm 35:22 NLT

Lord, I woke up with 'this' on my mind again this morning.

You know the thing--the issue.

The burden I have in my heart.

The events that are snowballing and I see a lot of good people in the path of its avalanche.

'This' is the hurt I feel for some hurting people who are hurting people.

It's my desire to fix it all blended with the knowledge that You've not released me to do anything, if there is truly anything I could do, about it.

'This' is what I've been waiting on You to address, correct and be glorified in.

It's the elephant in the room.

'This' is and has been the focus of my prayers, the heaviness in my soul.

I know You are aware of 'this'. I know 'this' has not slid under your radar. I know 'this' is not too big or too small for You to be concerned with or fix in Your glorious way.

O Lord, you know all about 'this'...don't stay silent about it. Please don't leave me to deal with 'this' on my own.

Amen

REALLY SERIOUS
Today's reading: 1 Samuel 6-10

"Then Samuel said to all the people of Israel, If you are really serious about wanting to return to the Lord, get rid of all your foreign gods and your images of Ashtoreth. Determine to obey only the Lord, then he will rescue you from the Philistines." 1 Samuel 7:3 NLT

There is wanting something and then there is really wanting something.

I think we all know that.

I think we all know the difference.

I think we've all had things we've wanted, and we've had things we've wanted so badly that our minds think of nothing else, our efforts show our desires and our talk is about little else.

Do we want God? Are we really serious?

Does it show?

END RESULTS
Today's reading: Genesis 44-47

"During the night God spoke to him in a vision, Jacob! Jacob! he called. Here I am, Jacob replied. I am God, the voice said, the God of your father. Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for I will see to it that you become a great nation there." Genesis 46:2-3 NLT

God tells us to go.

God tells us He will go with us.

God tells us the end results will always be better than we could imagine.

God doesn't always tell us what to expect in the 'middle chapters', does He?

For Jacob, it was four hundred years of slavery for his family. Then a great nation and a homeland!

For Daniel, it was a lions' den and a fiery furnace. Then a repentant king and country.

For the disciples, it was a very bad Good Friday. Then a much grander Easter Sunday! 

Maybe, just maybe, you're in the 'middle chapters. It could be you've followed God to where He needed you, but you're finding out that what He needed you for is tough--really tough.

Go ahead and stand on the promises He gives for the faithful and committed. Go ahead and believe that in the final chapter you will find it to be worth it all. Go ahead and carry on until you hear, Well done, faithful servant. 

WHAT I BRING
Today's reading: 1 Corinthians 7-8

"For the Christian wife brings holiness to her marriage, and the Christian husband brings holiness to his marriage." 1 Corinthians 7:14 NLT

Paul is talking to the guys and gals of the Corinthian church who were flying solo in their Christian walks in their homes.

It was an encouragement. It was a challenge. It was a reminder.

One I've taken to heart...

I bring holiness to my home.

I bring holiness to my church.

I bring holiness to my workplace.

I bring holiness to the grocery store I shop in every Friday morning.

I bring holiness to our nearest Wal-Mart--on several occasions each week.

I bring holiness to every place I go.

What a privilege. What an honored job He has given me.
 

IS IT WORTH IT?
Today's reading: Isaiah 56-61

The evangelist at last night's revival service spoke about the woman with the issue of blood, found in Luke 8.

He re-counted what I knew: she had been sick a long time, she had spent all her money on doctors and remedies, she was worse off than before, she was told about a man named Jesus, she determined to touch His robe.

What the speaker brought to my attention was the fact that this gal had to have used her very last ounce of strength and hope to get through the throngs of people.

She counted the costs.

She determined in her heart.

She set out with a purpose.

She decided it was worth it.

And then this morning, I read...

"Listen the Lord is not too weak to save you, and he is not becoming deaf. He can hear you when you call. But there is a problem--your sins have cut you off from God. Because of your sin, he has turned away from you and will not listen anymore." Isaiah 59:1-2 NLT

I can apply some of the same principles from last night's exhortation to this morning's verse...

Is holding on to my sin, even the ones I truly believe I have a right to hold, worth it?

Is being separated from God, because of what I hold in my heart, worth Him not hearing my prayers--the ones for myself, the ones for my child, the ones for my family, the ones for my church, the ones for the lost and dying in the world?

I am a woman with an issue--have I decided my sins are worth distancing myself from God?

A LESSON FROM JOB
Today's reading: Job 21-22

"My complaint is with God, not with people..." Job 21:4 NLT

We've all said, Oh, to have the patience of Job.

Or, What a testimony to have Job's faith.

Have you ever said, Oh, I wish I had the gall Job had.

Gall?  Nerve? Internal fortitude?

This verse tells us the secret to Job's ability to see God through the trials.

Job called it as he saw it.

He knew it was all in God's hands--and not in the hands of mere mortals.

Job didn't lash out at fellow soul-holders, because He knew God was the One in control.

We tend to place blame on the ones standing before us, forgetting His plan is what's being played out in our lives.

Do the actions of people hurt us?  Yes.

Do we want to be disqualified from this race of faith for our poor reactions to the sins of others? Not me, how about you?

Is it time we approach the Most High God with our complaints, hurts, fears and doubts? Yes. Nothing we tell Him will cause Him to gasp or catch Him off guard! 

FOR YOUR HONOR
Today's reading: Psalm 30-32

"You are my rock and my fortress. For the honor of your name, lead me out of this peril." Psalm 31:3 NLT

So that you will receive all the glory Lord, make a dramatic difference in my attitude.

So that all the praise will go to You, soften my heart to the things that matter to You.

So that all will see how wonderful You are, weave the ugliness of my past into a beautiful tapestry of Your grace.

So that people will stand in awe of You, strengthen me to walk faithfully through whatever it is You have planned for my life.

So that people will know You in a grander sense, allow a spirit of forgiveness to wash over me, fill me, change me and spur me on.

So that You be glorified, magnified, deified, amplified and honored, do a work in me that others will not be able to overlook!

ONLY TOKENS
Today's reading: 1 Samuel 1-5

"The Philistines attacked and defeated the army of Israel, killing four thousand men. After the battle was over, the army of Israel retreated to their camp, and their leaders asked, Why did the Lord allow us to be defeated by the Philistines? Then they said, Let's bring the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord from Shiloh. If we carry it into battle with us it will save us from our enemies." 1 Samuel 4:2-3 NLT

It didn't work. The children of God were thumped again--and what's worse, the Ark was taken by the enemy army where it remained for a long while.

Trinkets and tokens don't work. Things you can carry in your hands are no match for what God is asking us to carry in our hearts.

A Bible cannot be carried around like one would a lucky rabbit foot. It's words must penetrate and change the heart.

A receipt from your tithe is not a 'Get Out Of Jail Free' card. Our part must be given will the full intention of it being an offering to Him.

A completed Sunday School lesson. A rotation on the nursery schedule. A lifetime worth of perfect church attendance. A card punched showing participation each and every time the church doors were open. We should not forsake the assembling of our selves together, but how's our attitude when we arrive--what are we hoping to get out of it?

Trinkets, in some cases. Talismans. Tokens of mis-laid hope keeping our hands full.

What He needs us to carry, what will change our lives without a shadow of a doubt, a real game-changer--is Him!

Is He in you, or are you just carrying around a few tokens hoping to look good? 

GOD'S BUSINESS
Today's reading: Genesis 40-43

"And they replied, We both had bad dreams last night, but there is no one here to tell us what they mean. Interpreting dreams is God's business, Joseph replied, Tell me what you saw." Genesis 40:8 NLT

Joseph knew the wirings of the mind were outside his realm of knowledge.

But Joseph knew an Expert in the subject matter.

Joseph knew that getting inside another's head, or heart, was not a job for a mere human. Providing hope when desperation was all that was offered. Giving peace to troubled spirits. That was God's business.

But Joseph, sitting in a prison for something he hadn't done, knew God. Knew Him well. Knew Him intimately. Knew Him in the deepest core of his being. Joseph knew Him.

Do I know God well enough to be about His business? Oh no, not to be doing His job, but to be so closely involved with Him that I see Him at work and come along beside? Is His business my business? Are the hearts of men and women as much my calling as His? Is the disgust of sin as appalling to me as it is to Him? Do He and I share the values, goals and desires?

Whose business am I busying myself with?

AN END TO MY BOASTING
Today's reading: 1 Corinthians 5-6

"How terrible that you should boast about your spirituality, and yet you let this sort of thing go on. Don't you realize that if even one person is allowed to go on sinning, soon all will be affected." 1 Corinthians 5:6 NLT

Paul was talking to the church at Corinth about a flagrant sin being committed by one of its members. It was a sin, apparently, everyone knew about, yet it was overlooked.

Maybe the man sinning was a leader in the church. A deacon perhaps? A Sunday school teacher? A great tither?

Who ever it was, Paul was very specific in letting them know the sin could no longer be allowed to run rampant in the church.

Sure, they'd done some growing. Sure, the church had drawn folks in. Sure, there were people being affected by the Gospel.

But there were also folks in the congregation being touched by this sin.

I have some praying I need to do in regards to what I might be infecting my own church with. I have some attitudes and issues I need to place at the foot of the Cross. I have some opinions and plans that I need to have pre-approved by my Lord before I stand up and march forth with them.

I have nothing to boast of, except that I realize my overwhelming need for God's forgiveness and grace.  

AT THE TABLE
Today's reading:  Matthew 26-28

"When it was evening, Jesus sat down at the table with the twelve disciples. While they were eating, he said, The truth is, one of you will betray me. Greatly distressed, one by one they began to ask him, I'm not the one, am I, Lord?" Matthew 26:20-22 NLT

I can just imagine at the moment Jesus spoke these words, a dead silence fell over the room. The laughter ceased. The conversations ended abruptly. The forks fell silent beside the plates, or in midair. The servants, I believe, even stopped in their tracks.

Quietly the closest followers of Jesus began personal inventories of their hearts. They began in that spur of the moment to do some soul searching. They started looking deep within. Replaying conversations. Thinking over attitudes they had. Motives they were working on.

Imagining how I would have felt, I can only think this would most certainly be a time for self-evaluation.

But then again, in regards to our relationship with the Lord, shouldn't every day have a time we spend looking deep within-analyzing our hearts, re-thinking our actions?

Judas was sitting at that table. I believe he probably lost his appetite after Jesus' statement. Maybe he choked on his piece of lamb.

I think I'd have choked up at that moment, too.

Maybe not for betrayal per say, but for ignoring my Savior, refusing to listen to my Lord, letting my Redeemer down, distracting myself with good things instead of doing what He was asking of me, busying myself with ministries.

I am thinking about what it would be like to be sitting at that table with Jesus.

THE WEIGHT OF MY SINS
Today's reading: Isaiah 51-55

"Yet it was our weaknesses he carried; it was our sorrows that weighed him down..." Isaiah 53:4 NLT

Ever thought about what really held Jesus to the cross?

Ever paused and considered the part we played, though thousands of years separate, Good Friday?

Ever meditated upon the pain we transferred to Him, the debt He paid, the security He gave up for our eternity?

Our weaknesses. Our sorrows. Our sins.

My weaknesses. My sorrows. My sins.



    

MY OWN EYES
Today's reading: Job 19-20

"I will see him for myself. Yes, I will see him with my own eyes. I am overwhelmed at the thought!" Job 19:27 NLT

I will probably never catch a glimpse of a majority of the beautiful things on this earth--the Hawaiian islands, the Alaskan glaciers, the architectural wonders called pyramids, the bonny hills of Scotland--they are too far away.

I will probably never even see all the beautiful things in Southern Illinois--the wildflowers blanketing the pastures in the Shawnee Forest, the sun rising over the cliffs in the Garden of the Gods, the bald eagles soaring over the city lake--my timing may be off as to when to be in the right spot, the weather may be bad, the crowds may block my view.

There are things in this life I will not see, but this morning I'm thinking about what I will most certainly, no doubt in my mind, no one's going to keep me from doing it, see...

My Savior's face!

The One who died on the cross of Calvary for me!

The Redeemer of my sins!

The Creator of my inmost parts!

The Author and Finisher of my faith!

I will see Jesus. With my own eyes. For a million billion trillion years. Up close and very personally.

I am overwhelmed at the thought!

SO WHY SHOULD I?
Today's reading: Psalm 27-29

"The Lord is my light and my salvation--so why should I be afraid? The Lord protects me from danger--so why should I tremble?" Psalm 27:1 NLT

I know the facts about God.

I know He is omnipotent, omniscient, all-knowing, powerful, loving, kind, the holder-together of all things--now and to come.

I know God knows my past, and before me, and I am well aware that He knows the future, far beyond what I plan.

I know there is no limit as to how high, low or far He will, and has, gone to get my heart and show me His love.

I know the whole universe is at His beckon call. Everything. All things. Everyone. Each of us.

I know He is never caught off guard, found aloof or does He determine that what I need is beyond His abilities or too small for Him to deal with.

I know He is my light and my salvation-my only way into eternal life, the only One who could possibly forgive my sins and declare me His daughter.

I know all those things.

So why should I be afraid? Why should I tremble in fear?

So why should I?

HIS TIME
Today's reading: Ruth

"So Naomi returned from Moab, accompanied by her daughter-in-law Ruth, the young Moabite woman. They arrived in Bethlehem at the beginning of the barley harvest." Ruth 1:22 NLT

If I'll stop long enough to look deeply into this verse, I'll see God's hands creating an opportunity for a miracle.

A specific season. A good harvest. A reputable farm. A kind man. A willing kinsman redeemer.

Pausing long enough to see what He's revealing, I catch a glimpse of His power of it all. His power over the sun, moon and stars to create the spring barley crop.His willingness to allow for a bumper crop that specific year, a year when the foreigners and widows were needing to glean behind the workers for sustenance. A farm stewarded by a man known for his kindness and reputation. A distant relation whose heart was pliable in God's hands.

Those are a lot of coincidences, if I were one to believe in coincidence.

God was in it all. Every step of it. Each and every thing that needed to be set in place for Him to receive the glory and for us to have this fine record of His accomplishments.

That being said, how in this wonderful world of all He has placed together for a purpose, can I doubt His timing isn't sufficient for me? That He isn't working all things together? That in my waiting He is knitting specifics together for a glorious reveal?

I'll continue to wait. I'll continue to watch for Him, even when I don't see any movement. I'll continue to expect great things from my Great Father!

MY ROBE
Today's reading: Genesis 36-39

"...So one day he gave Joseph a special gift--a beautiful robe." Genesis 37:3 NLT

Joseph's coat of many colors has my mind thinking this morning...

God has given me a beautiful robe, too. A robe of righteousness. A garment of forgiveness. A dress made of the finest by the Finest for his child.

Sadly, there are times I parade around in it wanting folks to think I've earned it for myself--when the truth is, it is truly a gift. A gracious, given-out-of-love gift.

There are days when I wear my beautiful robe into places this fine garment should never go. Down paths He never intended me to walk. In directions He has clearly warned me against. Into predicaments He doesn't want me to be involved in. Into conversations not appropriate for my 'attire'. Into grudge matches of my own making.

Too many times the countenance on my face is not appropriate for one wearing a beautiful robe of righteousness. The scowl. The disapproving glare. The raised eyebrow. The looking down my nose. The intimidating glance. The better-than-most stare. None of which accessorize the gown. None of which denote the royalty given by the gift.

God has given me a beautiful robe of righteousness--I need to be more careful in wearing it.

NOT WHAT I WANT TO HEAR
Today's reading: 1 Corinthians 3-4

"...And you still aren't ready, for you are still controlled by your own sinful desires." 1 Corinthians 3:2-3 NLT

Paul is talking to his new brothers and sisters in Christ living in Corinth. He'd been with them. They'd accepted the Good News. He left them with instructions for growth and the direction to take for their faith walks. Now he was back. And they were still where they were when he left them.

Babies in faith.

Unable to grasp deeper spiritual truths because they were still stumbling over the baby steps of the Christian life.

Still too close to their old ways of life.

That is not something I ever want to hear said to me. That I'm not ready for the deeper things of God. That I'm still too spiritually immature for all of His blessings, His trials, His leading.

And yet, at times, I know it's the truth. I do hold too tightly to the old ways, the ways I gave to God--and quickly picked back up. My sinful attitudes, my sin-filled thoughts, my own ways and plans.

My prayer this morning is that I will mature in Christ. That I will grow in faith. That I will move past the baby-steps of grace and take the bigger steps of trust, obedience and grasping mercy. I want to represent Him well in my grown-up life.

What about you?