SITTING IN SILENCE
Today's reading: Ezekiel 13-18

"You will remember your sins and cover your mouth in silence and shame when I forgive you of all that you have done, says the Sovereign Lord." Ezekiel 16:63 NLT

There are times I am quiet.

Most don't see it very often...or hear it, as would be more applicable.

It's not easy for me.

Silence feels awkward to me.

When I'm excited I talk. When I'm nervous I talk more. When I'm mad I spew. When I'm faced with choices I talk it out. When I'm struggling I speak words of truth from the Bible--yes, out loud. When I'm sad I share my thoughts. When I am happy I rattle on and on...and on and on.

But this morning, I am sitting quietly in my prayer chair.

I'm thinking about how very much I am loved by God. How very dear He claims I am to Him. How much He offered in the way of a sacrifice for me. How deeply stained I was from sins and yet He has washed me white as snow. How low He had to go to find me, pick me up, brush me off and adopt me into His family. How willing He was to do it. And how so very lovingly He does it for me again and again.

I'm in awe of God's forgiving power, and that leaves me speechless.

TURN AND RUN
Today's reading: Proverbs 7

"So she seduced him with her pretty speech. With her flattery she enticed him. He followed her at once, like an ox going to the slaughter or like a trapped stag, awaiting the arrow that would pierce his heart. He was like a bird flying into a snare, little knowing it would cost him his life." Proverbs 7:21-23 NLT

Run, we say.

You know better, we try to encourage.

Get out of the situation fast, we shout.

This won't end well, we advise.

Can't you see, we attempt to question.

But we all know, if we're willing to admit, it's a lot easier to spot temptation from a distance than it is up close and personal.

Sin and its entanglements aren't ugly and unbecoming. Quite the contrary. They lure us. They look good. They seem like they might be just what we are looking for. They slip right up next to us while we're not looking. They offer us glimpses of half-truths. They appeal to the exact needs we have in ways we don't have a clue would catch us.

If only sin looked like a snake. A slithery, venomous, hissing, 20 foot long snake, like the near our chicken coop last week. Villainous. Dastardly. Sneaky. Deadly. Fear-inducing.

I'd run, I did run, wouldn't you?

WITH HIM
Today's reading: Psalm 75-77

"When the Red Sea saw you, O God, its waters looked and trembled! The sea quaked at its very depths." Psalm 77:16 NLT

Maybe you need the same reminder I need today: our enemy is afraid of our God!

There are no if's, and's or but's about it--satan knows in God's presence he is defeated, deflated, defrauded and defrocked.

It's you and I that tend to forget it.

We allow satan to rise up in our hearts, tear down all we've allowed to be built up and ruin our faith, sometimes with something as simple as a passing thought.

We give him enough rope to tie us up, lead us around and trip us with every step.

But we forget satan is afraid of our Defender.

We have to remember that. We have to live in that truth. We have to believe what we know to be true enough that it changes our lives, our thoughts, our actions and our worries and our fears.

A MINI-SERIES ABOUT ME
Today's reading: 1 Kings 19-22

"...I have come because you have sold yourself to what is evil in the Lord's sight." 1 Kings 21:20 NLT

As I read over the account of Naboth and Ahab, I think I am watching, reel by reel, the unfolding of a TV mini-series.

There is greed.

There is a political power play.

There are behind the scenes bribes.

There are forged letters, paid off officials and scoundrels.

I can quickly think it applies very little to my own life, my own quiet, boring life, until I go to the verse that jumped off the page at me.

It's then I realized, I could very much be an integral character in this unfolding story.

Because it could have been me Elijah was asked to speak to.

It might well have been me Elijah had to call on the carpet.

It very well could have been my sins called in to the light.

The Lord and I have spent time this morning talking over what it very well may be that I've sold myself to--and in all honesty, to Him and to you, it's not to Him.

My affections get diverted. My focus gets blurry. My love wavers. My choices reflect idolatry in my heart.

But my Father lovingly points it all out and allows me to run back in to His arms--forgiving me and setting me back on the path He has chosen for my life.

Thank you for the account of an envied vineyard, Lord.

GETTING DIRTY
Today's reading: Leviticus 7-9

"Next Moses took some of the anointing oil and some of the blood that was on the altar, and he sprinkled them on Aaron and his clothing and on his sons and their clothing. In this way, he made Aaron and his sons and their clothing holy." Leviticus 8:30 NLT

Perfectly new priestly robes?

Sprinkled with oil? Splattered with blood?

The same garments that were painstakingly ordered and crafted in Exodus 39?

The ones of fine linen with scarlet, purple and blue yarn?

The same robes craftsmen spend hours hammering out yards and yards of gold thread for the embroidery?

The ephod? The chestpiece? The tiny pomegranates and bells hanging off the hems?

And now cover them with staining agents?

But what good are priests, then or now, if they are simply clothing models and never get their hands, or robes, dirty?

Like the robe of white Jesus gave me when I became His? When His blood was sprinkled on my life? When my sins were washed clean? When He made me one of His royal priests by adopting me into His family?

He has not saved me in order that He might set me on a shelf in some safe, clean place. He intends that I get dirty serving Him...blood, sweat and tears. Like He did while walking here on Earth.

So I can lead others to Him and He can save more!

FILLED WITH FRUIT
Today's reading: Philippians 1-2

"May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation--those good things that are produced in your life by Jesus Christ--for this will bring much glory and praise to God." Philippians 1:11 NLT

Our blackberry brambles are loaded with fruit.

Canning jars are packed with fruit to the top ring and capped off.

Pie crusts are filled with fruit, crimped and baked to perfection.

What about us?

Are we so filled with the fruit of our salvation that it touches every one we meet, influences everything we do, directs our every choice?

My Bible commentary says, "The 'fruit of your salvation' includes all the character traits flowing from a right relationship with God."

Am I like Jesus?

Are you like Jesus?

Ar we like Jesus?

MORE THAN
Today's reading: Luke 13-14

"Great crowds were following Jesus. He turned to around and said to them, If you want to be my follower you must love me more than your own father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters--yes, more than your own life. Otherwise, you cannot be my disciple." Luke 14:25-26 NLT

He is still telling those of us who desire to follow Him, You must love Me more than ________.

We all have to fill in the blank.

COMING HOME
Today's reading: Ezekiel 7-12

"When the people return to their homeland, they will remove every trace of their detestable idol worship. And I will give them singleness of heart and put a new spirit within them. I will take away their hearts of stone and give them tender hearts instead, so they will obey my laws and regulations. Then they will truly be my people, and I will be their God." Ezekiel 11:18-20 NLT

I think of the prodigal son when I read this portion of Scripture.

He went away.

He tried new things.

He wandered from his faith.

He 'became' his own man.

And yet he had to return to home in order to be repaired, restored and redeemed.

Home is where we are made. Where we have memories. Where we grow in the safety and security of those wanting the best for us.

I get that not everyone has such a warm and fuzzy feeling of the home in which they grew up. Memories of dark times, feelings of inadequacy, moments of fear may fill our minds when we think of home.

Despite your raising, here is hope:  God is home.

He is our safe place. He is where we find nurturing. He is for us completely and consistently. He is willing, if we allow, to make us into all He has created us to be.

If you are not home, why not come home today?

THINKING I KNEW BEST
Today's reading: Proverbs 5-6

"...How I hated discipline! If only I had not demanded my own way! Oh, why didn't I listen to my teachers?.." Proverbs 5:12-13 NLT

It's marked in my Bible, I was stuck on this verse last year at this very time.

The same issues I deal with in my heart.

The same independent streak I struggle with in my head.

The same sin I confessed last year, I stand before God and confess again.

Sure, I thought I knew best. I just knew my way was the best way, the only way, really. I had 'it' all figured out and knew the best way to attack--but come to find out, I don't even have a clue as to what 'it' even is!

So I ask God's forgiveness again for pushing forward, for running ahead, for allowing Him to tag along as I set the pace. I ask with a repentant heart that He wipe my slate clean and that He and I begin again...this time with Him leading and me following His every footstep.

WHAT I THOUGHT ABOUT
Today's reading: Psalm 72-74

"Then one day I went into your sanctuary, O God, and I thought about the destiny of the wicked." Psalm 73:17 NLT

Sure I go to church to worship.

To fellowship.

To learn.

To encourage my Christian brothers and sisters.

I attend Sunday services to be fed.

To hear the Word of God.

To be like Christ.

But to be honest I cannot tell you the last time I went into our church sanctuary and thought about the destiny of the unsaved.

That sickens me.

But to stop and think, to spend some time pondering, to allow God to break my heart about the condition of the lost--those doomed for hell?

May, O Lord, my visit to your sanctuary be different this time!

ALWAYS ENOUGH
Today's reading: 1 Kings 14-18

"For no matter how much they used, there was always enough left in the containers, just as the Lord had promised through Elijah." 1 Kings 17:16 NLT

Thank you, Lord.

As usual, Your words were just what I needed to hear.

Our mutual enemy, yes the one You have told me over and over again is defeated, has been telling me I bother You too much and I am a much too needy person.

He's fed me the lie that I have been asking too much of You too often.

But there is always enough of You.

Always.

I will not empty Your reserves. I can not wear out my welcome in Your presence. I am not able to exasperate You in my need. I will never leave Your presence with both of us wringing our hands in despair and defeat.

Thank You.

A million times, thank You.

NEVER ENOUGH
Today's reading: Leviticus 4-6

"If any of them cannot afford to bring a sheep, they must bring to the Lord two young turtledoves or two young pigeons as the penalty for their sin..." Leviticus 5:7 NLT

"If any of the people cannot afford to bring young turtledoves or pigeons, they must bring two quarts of choice flour for their sin offering..." Leviticus 5:11 NLT

Would a blue-ribbon winning sheep be enough to cover my sins?

Would the choicest birds sufficiently pay the debt I owe for my falling short of God's best for me?

Would a few quarts of flour exchange my death for life?

I'm feeling bankrupt this morning as I read the prescribed offerings for sin. I have nothing worth giving. Nothing worth presenting. Nothing worth sacrificing.

And yet, He offered all He had on my behalf.

I needn't worry about my herds being enough, my birds being enough or my pantry full of baking supplies being enough--Jesus was enough!

Our faith itself, though it be the bond of our union with Christ through which we receive all His blessings, is not our savior. We have but one Savior; and that one Savior is Jesus Christ our Lord. Nothing that we are and nothing that we can do enters in the slightest measure into the ground of our acceptance with God. Jesus did it all.   - Benjamin B. Warfield

GROWING UP
Today's reading: Ephesians 4-6

"Then we will no longer be like children, forever changing our minds about what we believe because someone has told us something different or because someone has cleverly lied to us and made the lie sound like the truth." Ephesians 4:14 NLT

What does it mean to be a grown up?

Does it mean you have a driver's license? A diploma? A 40-hour per week job? A mortgage? A wife/husband? Children?

Does being grown up mean never making mistakes? Never failing? Never falling for temptation?

Paul tells us being mature means knowing the truth and following it.

He says an adult filters through all they hear and can determine fact from fluff, truth from half-truth and what is right from what everyone else is doing.

We're told in this verse that being grown up means carrying a set of scales with us at all time and choosing to weigh what we're being sold against what the Word of the Lord says.

Maybe it's time we, who believe we are adults, consider if we are truly grown-ups or not.

MY PLANS, OR HIS
Today's reading: Luke 11-12

"Anyone who isn't helping me opposes me, and anyone who isn't working with me is actually working against me." Luke 11:23 NLT

Okay, Lord, You caught my attention this morning!

Am I barreling forward with my plans, agenda and goals--or with Yours?

Am I attempting to show the world what I can do on my own--or working alongside You?

Am I trying to make a name for myself--or for You?

Lots to think about this morning!

WHAT MY DAD SAID
Today's reading: Proverbs 4

"My father told me, Take my words to heart. Follow my instructions and you will live." Proverbs 4:4 NLT

If only we would listen to our Dad.

Our Heavenly Father.

Our Creator.

Our Very Best Friend.

The One who made our ears in the first place!

NO STUMBLING
Today's reading: Psalm 69-71

"O God, you know how foolish I am; my sins cannot be hidden from you. Don't let those who trust in you stumble because of me, O Sovereign Lord Almighty." Psalm 69:5-6 NLT

Lord,

I don't want to lead anyone astray.

I also don't want to mis-speak.

I don't want to turn someone off of the You because of how I live.

I don't want to mess up so mightily that another's faith could waver.

I don't want to be one person at church and another in the world.

I don't want to preach it and not live it.

I don't want to be a stumbling block to anyone--in my home, in my workplace, in my church, in my sphere of influence.

I don't want to make You look bad.

I don't want anyone, least of all You, thinking I think myself higher, mightier, more godly or less likely to fall than I am.

I don't want to mess up this one job You've given me of telling the world about You.

I don't want to do it wrong--and I certainly don't want to buy into satan's lies that I am doing it wrong and become so discouraged that I stop trying.

You know me, Lord...and You've got to help me with this!

Amen

NO EASE IN WORSHIP
Today's reading: 1 Kings 10-13

"So on the advice of his counselors, the king made two gold calves. He said to the people, It is too much trouble for you to worship in Jerusalem. O Israel, these are the gods who brought you out of Egypt! He placed these calf idols at the southern and northern ends of Israel--in Bethel and in Dan." 1 Kings 12:28-29 NLT

I stood in this worship place in Dan when I traveled to Israel.

The very place where King Jeroboam attempted to make worship easier for his people.

The place where he led them astray.

The place where he went against all God had told Israel to do.

He wanted to 'help' the people, but worship wasn't intended by God to be easy, but intentional.

God specifically chose a place to be worshiped, Jerusalem.

God specifically chose times to be worshiped, like during the festivals or feasts.

God specifically told them how to worship, with offerings and sacrifices.

God specifically selected a place for His Holy Place with great altitude so the people had to make an effort to get there. Hills. Inclines. Steps.

Our effort is part of our worship of Him.

 Are you preparing each day, not only Sunday, to have a worshipful heart? Are you putting aside other things just to think about and delight in your Lord? Are you diligent in keeping idols out of your heart and mind?

Are you making the effort to worship or have you been told it should come easy?

OFFERINGS
Today's reading: Leviticus 1-3

"The Lord called to Moses from the Tabernacle and said to him, Give the following instructions to the Israelites: Whenever you present offerings to the Lord, you must bring animals from your flocks and herds." Leviticus 1:1-2 NLT

I'm in complete charge of the farm this week.

The feedings are up to me. Full water troughs are my responsibility. Making sure fences and pens are latched securely falls squarely on my shoulders.

So I laughed when I read this verse...because with the temperatures rising and my week as busy as what it already is, I'm thinking about packing up all our flocks and herds and delivering them to the Lord as an offering!

One large offering!

One noisy, squawking, flapping, bleating, if you're aren't careful knock the feed bucket out of your hands, always thirsty, constantly moving offering!

It would be from my own farm, as the Word instructs...but it would quite honestly be more because I'd like to ditch the chores than honor Him with my gifts.

Offerings and sacrifices have to be carefully thought about and deliberately given. To be true gifts to our Savior, they must not be thrown together, given out of our overstock or something from another's 'barn'.

Every one of us have something to offer Him today. Every one of us.

And, yes,  I know my offering for Him doesn't require a sack of feed or a fence!

PRESENT TENSE
Today's reading: Ephesians 1-3

"In those days you were living apart from Christ. You were excluded from God's people, Israel, and you did not know the promises God had made to them. You lived in this world without God and without hope. But now you belong to Christ Jesus. Though you were once far away from God, now you have been brought near to him because of the blood of Christ." Ephesians 2:12-13 NLT

I don't think it's adding a 'jot or a tittle' to the Word of God by placing a few words in bold print.

I really just wanted you to see the two words that are pivotal, life-changing, a demarcation, a certain line in the sand...

But now.

You were. You were. You were. You did not. You did not. You did not.

But now.

I pray today is your 'but now' day!

That today is the day you come to know Him. Come to believe Him. Come to throw caution to the wind and take His promises as your own--because they are!

What you were can be changed today...isn't that exciting?

CIRCLES
Today's reading: Luke 9-10

"So they(apostles) began their circuit of the villages, preaching the Good News and healing the sick." Luke 9:6 NLT

When I read the word 'circuit' in this verse, I think of circles.

When I think of circles, I think of ripples in a pond.

When I think of ripples in a pond, I think of how far reaching one small circle can become.

I know of a few kids leaving on a mission trip this morning--God is enlarging their circle of influence by about 200 miles!

A man leaves on a mission trip this morning that enlarges his 'ripple' by about 1400 miles.

I know I will be going to my local grocery store and Wal-Mart today, that's God allowing my circuit to increase by about 15 miles.

We all have circles, circuits, ripples allowed to us only by God--make the most of them!

ALWAYS THE SAME
Today's reading: Lamentations

"But Lord, you remain the same forever! Your throne continues from generation to generation." Lamentations 5:19 NLT

The bullfrogs thrumming.

The red-winged blackbirds hopping back and forth across the blades of cane grass.

The moon as big as it gets and as bright as it can be at 5:00AM.

The Queen Anne's lace growing in clumps along the roadside, white and wispy in the morning breeze.

The smells changing as I walk past freshly tilled dirt to newly mowed hayfields to thickets blooming with honeysuckle.

The steam rising off the pond in haunting swirls.

It's the same path I walk four mornings a week. It's the exact same distance each morning. It's the same time. The same place. But every morning it's different.

It's darker some mornings. The fields change as the crops grow inch by inch. The animals are silent during some of my walks and all I hear is my tennis shoes pounding the pavement. The moon is sometimes hidden by the clouds. The smells change as the seasons do.

But, and this is what stirs my heart this morning, but my God is the same!

My God is the same.

The same as He was for my ancestors. The same as He was last year, last week, yesterday. The same as He will be for my boy.

That's peace. True peace.

And it took a verse and a walk to remind me of it!

LET IT IN
Today's reading: Proverbs 2-3

"For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will fill you with joy." Proverbs 2:10 NLT

You know the peaceful feeling of doing exactly what you know you should?

The settled spirit you have when you've done all you can?

The joy that fills your heart when you feel God speaking to your heart, 'Well done!'?

True gifts from Him. From time in His presence. For being His.

Rewards the world doesn't offer.

Prizes for lives well lived, hearts with pure motives and desires that are godly.

My prayer is that we realize, and live out, the simple truth that if He is indeed in us, we have hearts filled with wisdom and joy-filled lives due to our knowledge of what He desires of us.

Seek Him and obey Him.

FOR THE GALS
Today's reading: Psalm 66-68

"The Lord announces victory, and throngs of women shout the happy news." Psalm 68:11 NLT

We women have a way of spreading news, don't we?

We telephone, we text, we email, we talk across the kitchen table, we talk across the fence, we talk as we sit beside one another in office cubicles, we talk as the kids play on the playground or we wait as the oil is changed in our cars.

Women share.

It's our nature.

It's our creative design.

It's our downfall at times...

Sorry to say, more of us are still complaining about what's not been accomplished than shouting the happy news of what God has done for us!

Sure, we talk fashion. We speak of current events. We discuss 'kid' issues. We swap labor and delivery stories. We whisper diet tips. We allow our hearts to spill out into the ears of others.

But the Good News?

Are we shouting it from the rooftops?

Are we claiming the victory He has already won for us?

ROAR OF PRAISE
Today's reading: 1 Kings 5-9

"The stones used in the construction of the Temple were prefinished at the quarry, so the entire structure was built without the sound of hammer, ax or any other iron tool at the building site." 1 Kings 6:7 NLT

Imagine a building site with no sounds of hammering or sawing.

Imagine no power tools.

Imagine to pounding, no yelling of measurements, no foremen shouting instructions.

Imagine, if you will, the roar of silence overtaking this jobsite.

The immensity of the job at hand.

The overwhelming sense of awe at the task each and every worker was called to participate in.

The humility that overtakes a heart when it acknowledges that it is a part of a very large gesture for the Lord.

I would guess the sound was deafening...the sound of praise!

HOLY GARMENTS
Today's reading: Exodus 37-40

"...the holy garments for Aaron the priest and for his sons to wear while on duty." Exodus 39:41 NLT

I'm intrigued by the details involved in all things regarding the Tabernacle.

The specific measurements.

The ornateness.

The attention to the tiniest details.

Including the garments worn by the priests...right down to their underwear!

Special clothing the priests were to wear while on duty.

Clothing that set them apart.

Garments that weighed heavily on their shoulders and reminded them of the immense job responsibilities they carried.

Apparel designed by their God for their service for Him.

You and I are priests, if we have accepted God as our personal Savior.

We are always on duty, serving Him, spreading the Good News about Him, ministering for Him.

What are we wearing?

Are we set apart? Are we in uniform? Are we convicted by the garments of mercy, grace, love and joy He has asked us to wear?

AM I TRYING TO FIND FAVOR
Today's reading: Galatians 4-6

"You are trying to find favor with God by what you do or don't do on certain days or months or seasons of the year." Galatians 4:10 NLT

Let's ask ourselves these important questions this morning:

-Why are we setting aside this day as God's?
-Why are we up and getting ready to attend a public service?
-Why are we determined to get our family to a place or worship this specific day of the week?

Why are we doing it?

The struggle Sunday's bring? The effort Sunday's require? The tension Sunday's often bring about in our homes?

Is it that we're trying to gain favor--or that we are responding with our hearts to the grace He has poured out on us?

The grace we cannot reciprocate?

The grace that has saved us from all our sins?

The grace that amazes us when we take the time to really think about it?

The grace that causes us to worship the Grace-Giver?

DEPENDENT
Today's reading: Jeremiah 47-52

"Because you have trusted in your wealth and skill, you will be taken captive.." Jeremiah 48:7 NLT

Okay, You have me thinking, Lord.

What is it I'm trusting in?

Is it You?

Is it ONLY You?

Am I depending upon any titles I've been labeled with?

My strength? My health? My abilities?

Am I trusting in my bank account? My job?

Am I more confident in my plans than I am in You?

I'm sorry, truly sorry.

I want the freedom found in trusting You completely.

TURNING OUR BACKS
Today's reading: Proverbs 1

"My child, if sinners entice you, turn your back on them!" Proverbs 1:10 NLT

"My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not." Proverbs 1:10 KJV

Would I wander off down a dark alley with a serial killer?

Would I invite a murderer in my front door?

That's what I'm thinking this morning as I read this verse.

A sinner is an offender. One who deceives, one who attempts to persuade, one who flatters and allures in hopes to kill, steal or destroy, one who commits a crime.

So why wouldn't I turn my back on them? Their appealing ways? Their deceitful temptations?

Today as I am tempted, what will my response be? Will I turn away from what leads me to sin?

Will I myself become an offender or will I see my enemy's attempts as what they are?