THIS GENERATION
Today's reading: Judges 9:22-10:18, Luke 19:29-48, Psalm 74:18-23

"After that, he taught daily in the Temple, but the leading priests, the teachers of religious law, and the other leaders of the people began planning how to kill him. But they could think of nothing, because all the people hung on every word he said." Luke 19:47-48 NLT

We are considered to be living in the most educated, most highly refined, most connected generation to ever exist.

We have mechanical wonders.

We have medical discoveries that teeter on the edge of miraculous.

We have connectivity that intertwines the lives of people on opposite sides of the world.

We have knowledge that exceeds our every day purpose.

And yet, amidst all those accolades, could it be said that we 'hang on every word' spoken by the Lord?

Do we pour over the Scriptures with a hunger and thirst for what it offers?

Do we seek to arrange our lives around time for us to 'just' be at His feet?

Do we refuse to let anything come in the way of our worship of Him, in His house, on His day, gathered with His people?

So, in all reality, are we any better off than those Jewish crowds who followed along in the dust of this unknown, at the time, Rabbi?

MORE THAN LISTENING
Today's reading: Judges 8:1-9:21, Luke 19:1-28, Psalm 74:12-17

"The crowd was listening to everything Jesus said..." Luke 19:11 NLT

I can imagine the throngs of people following close to this hometown rabbi.

I can see them, in my mind, leaning in to every word He spoke.

I can picture their minds whirling with what He said.

I can envision the hush that would fall over the crowd as His voice began to orate what His Father has said.

I see the church doing that today.

Listening.

I see the Christians doing that today.

Listening.

Here is what I don't see a lot of...following through and doing what we hear Him say.

It's true.

If we are hearing His word proclaimed from our pulpits, how it is influencing our homes?

Our neighborhoods?

Our communities?

Our country?

There is listening, which is great and important and a first step--but then there is doing what we are told to do, what He hear Him ask us to do, what He says we should be doing as His own.

Don't just stop at listening.

WHEN FAITH STEPS IN
Today's reading: Judges 6:25-7:25, Luke 18:18-43, Psalm 74:4-11

"We see no miraculous signs as evidence that you will save us. All the prophets are gone, no one can tell us when it will end." Psalm 74:9 NLT

Scholars believe this psalm was written by predecessors of David during the time when the Temple in Jerusalem was being destroyed.

God's Temple.

The one ordained and built according to His specifications.

The one where, in the Holy of Holies, God met with His people.

The people didn't understand how it could happen. They didn't see God stepping in and stopping it.

Maybe you've had an event in your life where you can relate.

A time when your dreams, you believe God-given dreams were shattered? A moment in time when you were blindsided? A phone call that up-ended your world? A chain of events far beyond your influence that affected you in a way that left scars?

Maybe you've been there.

Maybe you are there.

Friend, this exact moment in time...

When you don't understand...

When you don't see any glimmer of hope...

When you cannot hear God speaking words that encourage your heart or stop the chaos...

This is when our faith begins.

Faith is the evidence of things unseen.

It's when all we've said we believe about God is put to the pavement of our hearts and heads.

Faith only happens when we do not see.

IT'S GONNA TAKE SOME EFFORT
Today's reading: Judges 5:1-6:24, Luke 18:1-17, Psalm 74:1-3

"One day some parents brought their little children to Jesus so he could touch them and bless them, but the disciples told them not to bother." Luke 17:15 NLT

I don't know what, or who, it is you are wanting God to touch and bless, but I'll wager a guess on this--it, or they, may not be so keen on the idea.

I'm guessing it's not easy.

Or fun, some days.

Or seemingly worth the effort it requires.

Here is what I suggest: Keep at it!

Drag it, or them, kicking and screaming.

Don't change your determination because of how hard it is or how little help you get in doing it.

Don't listen to society about it, listen to God.

It's gonna take some, oh okay, a lot of effort, but it will be worth it!

TODAY'S TEST
Today's reading: Judges 3-4, Luke 17:11-17, Psalm 73:21-28

"These people were left to test the Israelites--to see whether they would obey the commands the Lord had given to their ancestors through Moses." Judges 3:4 NLT

The Philistines, Canaanites, Sidonians and Hivites were left, by God, in the Promised Land for the Israelites to drive out.

The Israelites had a choice: leave them there and risk contamination, from their gods and from disobedience to what God had asked of them, or fight them--destroy them and claim ALL God had given as their special possession.

You guessed it, maybe from personal experience, they took the easier way out.

They just knew, as I'm sure we all do, that their faith was stronger than to be swayed by outside forces.

They decided, as quite possibly you have, that they knew better than God. Oh, not that they would ever put it that way, but it's what was implied.

So here is what I understand...

Today I will come across tests of my faith and love and desire to obey God.

It may be in the form of actual people, circumstances, thoughts that arise in my mind or opportunities to choose between what is good versus what is better.

I have to see those tests as from God.

I have to know, right out of the gate, that the choice is mine.

Will I choose obedience?

Will I choose to believe God?

Will I choose what is commanded of me--or what is easiest on me?

The tests are coming, friends. I want to pass with flying colors!

CLAIMING WHAT'S MINE
Today's reading: Judges 1-2, Luke 16:19-17:10, Psalm 73:10-20

"After Joshua sent the people away, each of the tribes left to take possession of the land allotted to them." Judges 2:6 NLT

I want you to pretend you are an Israelite.

Pretend you have been on the road for a long while.

That all you have is on your back, or on the back of your pack mule or camel...if you have a rich sense of imagination.

I want you to step into the role of one who has seen the hand of God feed you, protect you, guide you and guard you.

I ask you to think like a person who is about to gain a great inheritance in a place so great and provision-filled you can't wrap your mind around it.

Are you in that mindset?

Are you really there?

Because that's where I believe God wants us to be all the time.

People who are ready to claim what's ours.

Believers who are trusting His every word.

Travelers who know this place is nice, but a grander place awaits us.

So, with this mindset, go get what's yours.

The peace He gives.

The joy He provides.

The blessings He has supplied.

The grace He bestows.

The mercy He showers.

The love He lavishes.

The opportunities to share the Good News He places in our paths on a daily basis.

I'm not asking you to take what isn't yours, only to grab up what's been allotted to you!

Go forth, fellow Israelite, God is with you.

WHAT THEY DID SAY
Today's reading: Joshua 23-24, Luke 16:1-18, Psalm 73:1-9

"All right then, Joshua said, destroy the idols among you, and turn your hearts to the Lord, the God of Israel. The people said to Joshua, We will serve the Lord our God. We will obey him alone." Joshua 24:23-24 NLT

Just like us, the Israelites wanted God's blessings.

Loads of them.

Pile after pile of God's riches deposited into our deficit accounts.

They wanted all God could give them--and more.

The problem was, as they listened to and responded to Joshua's charge, they wanted it on their own terms.

Sound familiar?

Joshua said to do two things:

1. Destroy the idols.
2. Turn their hearts to God.

Did you catch what the people responded? (I'm wondering if was a corporate statement drafted by a lawyer of the time in order to maintain any loop holes in the agreement.)

They said...

"We will serve the Lord our God. We will obey him alone."

There was nothing said about the idols.

Nothing at all.

Nada.

They, like us, wanted a contingency plan in place in case this 'God thing' didn't work out as smoothly or as easily as they had hoped.

So I believe they kept some 'idols in their pockets'.

Oh, don't think I'm just pointing my finger at these spiritual adulterers...because I have been convicted by God of doing the same thing.

When I don't hear Him, I reach for my idol.

When I don't see Him at work, I reach for my idol.

When I don't feel His presence, I reach for my idol.

When I don't want to do what He is asking of me, I reach for my idol.

What I want to do is turn my heart completely and without doubt to Him, leaving my idols in the dust.

I'm praying that for myself this morning--and I'm praying it for you, too.

YOUR WITNESS
Today's reading: Joshua 21:43-22:34, Luke 15:11-32, Psalm 72:12-20

"The people of Reuben and Gad named the altar, Witness, for they said, It is a witness between us and them that the Lord is our God, too." Joshua 22:34 NLT

This small group of Israelites were separated from the remaining tribes by the Jordan River.

Oh, they were the same lineage as the others.

And they had fought all the battles alongside the others.

They were obeying the same commandments as the remainder of the tribes.

They were even worshiping and honoring the same God.

It's just that the river separated them.

So they built this altar.

As a reminder, to who ever crossed back or forth into their portion of the land, that God was theirs, too.

We all have a 'witness'.

A flag we fly for Christianity.

A bumper sticker we tout.

A t-shirt we wear.

A yard sign that you are a member of a certain church.

A cross necklace we wear all the time.

Or even our words.

Yes, our words are a witness to Whose you are.

Think about that as you approach the customer service counter with a complaint.

Or wait in traffic.

Or argue a charge to your bill with the person on the other end of the telephone.

Something you say, do or wear will be your witness to another that God is your God.

Be very careful...be very careful.

WHEN THEY COME
Today's reading: Joshua 19:17-21:42, Luke 15:1-10, Psalm 72:1-11

"Tax collectors and other notorious sinners often came to listen to Jesus teach." Luke 15:1 NLT

You can question why they came...

-Did their mommas nag them?
-Did they think attending might release them from conviction?
-Had they made someone a promise?
-Were they searching for something--anything?
-Had they hit rock bottom?

Maybe you questioned some of the folks who showed up Easter Sunday in your church house.

-You hadn't seen them since last Easter, okay, well, maybe Christmas?
-They only come when a meal is being served?
-Their wives were tickled to have them sitting on the pew with them?
-They wore 'church clothes' reserved for the once a year they come, or for a funeral?

But they were there.

And if your church is anything like mine, and I sure hope it is, they heard the Gospel presented.

So maybe their lives didn't change.

Or they didn't go down to the altar.

Or they weren't baptized as a public acknowledgement of Jesus coming into their lives.

But they were there.

And a seed was planted.

And for a brief time, however long your services lasted, you had the opportunity to love on them while your music minister and pastor spoke words of truth into their hearts.

The 'tax collectors and notorious sinners' visit churches often, but if you are busy seeing them as 'needing to be there', you, friend, might need to spend some more time at the altar yourself.

Welcome them.

Love them.

Receive them with open arms.

And let Jesus change them...how He chooses...when He chooses...in ways He chooses.

SHOUTING FOR JOY
Today's reading: Joshua 17:1-19:16, Luke 14:16-35, Psalm 71:22-24

"I will shout for joy and sing your praises, for you have redeemed me." Psalm 71:23 NLT

It's very quiet in the house.

It's still dark outside.

No one is stirring.

No one is about the day's busy-ness.

So I can imagine.

My mind can wander and my thoughts can run freely--so they do.

I'm picturing the garden where Jesus was laid to rest.

At this point that Easter morning, it was still dark and quiet there, too.

No one had come to prepare Jesus' body.

No other mourners were milling around the cemetery.

The night was still upon the tombs. The sky was still dark. The birds were quiet.

But there had to be one 'early bird' who knew what the day held.

Maybe that 'early bird' had seen Jesus step out of the grave.

It could have been it had been startled awake by the earthquake that rolled the stone away and placed the soldiers into a deep sleep.

Maybe that 'early bird' had seen the Light shine forth from the borrowed tomb.

But that 'early bird' knew the sunrise was holding more that morning than it would ever hold again.

It knew the songs had to be sung more clearly, more brightly, with more exuberance than ever before.

The song was pulsing in its chest. Resounding in its heart. Sitting on the tip of its little bird tongue ready for the first ray of the morning sun to break open the gift of Easter morning.

There is a song in my heart this morning, too.

It's the song of a redeemed, blood-bought, all-sins-forgiven, can't-understand-how-or-why-He-would-do-it-but-believes-wholeheartedly-He did 'early bird'.

"Redeemed, how I love to proclaim it!
Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb!
Redeemed through His infinite mercy!
His child and forever I am!"

THE NARROW WAY

Today's reading: Joshua 11:16-13:33, Luke 13:22-35, Psalm 71:7-16

"He replied, The door to heaven is narrow. Work hard to get in, because many will try to enter." Luke 13:24 NLT

I've made a mistake with a recent purchase.

Sure, it was only a laundry basket.

A nice laundry basket.

The nice large one that will hold plenty of freshly washed and still warm from the dryer clothes.

It has large handles and, well, it looks pretty, too.

Here is the problem...our old farmhouse doors were not built to accommodate large, cute laundry baskets.

As a matter of fact, when I enter our laundry room, it feels like I'm trying to maneuver an eight-foot long 2x4 through the doorway.

I have had to change my 'way of entry'.

I can no longer go in straight ahead with the laundry basket in my arms. I now must turn sideways, tilt the basket ever so slightly and angle myself, and said laundry basket, through the entry.

Our doorway is narrow but what I am attempting to bring through it is not.

Like the gates to heaven.

Oh, I can go in. Goodness, because of Jesus' gift of the cross, we all can go in--but it takes some 'changing of our ways' to enter.

We cannot take all we want into God's presence.

We cannot barge in with our burdens on our backs, in our hands, filling our heads and hearts.

We cannot go in how we want to go in, but instead how He has designed it for us to enter.

We cannot enter into heaven as we would the doors of WalMart or even church.

Like through a narrow laundry room door.

It can be done, but it must be done in a certain way.

Jesus is the only way we will enter. The only way!

UTTER CHAOS
Today's reading: Joshua 10:1-11:13, Luke 13:1-21, Psalm 71:1-6

"Joshua traveled all night from Gilgal and took the Amorite armies by surprise. The Lord threw them into a panic, and the Israelites slaughtered them in great numbers at Gibeon..." Joshua 10:9-10 NLT

Read these verses a few times.

Go ahead. Read them.

Come on, I don't ask you to do a lot for me.

Thank you.

Now that you've read them, did you notice it?

Really, did you notice it?

Panic is not for the ones on God's side. Not for His kids.

Chaos is reserved for the enemies of God, not His children. It's saved for the ones destined to go down in a heap. It's a feeling of unrest those going against God have right before they fall into the dust.

So--if your life feels chaotic or panic-ridden right now, determine to see who is 'stirring it all up'.

I'll guarantee it's not God.

Satan wants you to think the sky is falling and all you know is about to go down in a blazing fire of messed-up attempts...but not God.

Just because you don't know all He has planned or how in the wide world He will work it out, there is no need to worry or fret, trust Him!

DECEPTION
Today's reading: Joshua 8-9, Luke 12:49-59, Psalm 70

"But when the people of Gibeon heard what had happened to Jericho and Ai, they resorted to deception to save themselves...But that day he made the Gibeonites the woodchoppers and water carriers for the people of Israel and for the altar of the Lord--wherever the Lord would choose to build it. That arrangement continues to this day." Joshua 9:3, 27 NLT

Allow me to let you in on a little secret.

A secret that may change your life.

A tidbit of information that may well turn the tide of your future!

Satan will lie and scheme to get you to believe him.

It's the truth.

He knows he is defeated, he found it out the day Jesus rose from the grave--but he's banking on the fact that you are not believing it fully.

So he will lie.

He will twist the truth.

He will appear to present facts.

He will plant seeds of doubt.

He will exaggerate circumstances.

He will point out problems.

But, he is, and always will be, the loser.

So put him in his place!

Remind him, and yourself.

Make him work for you. Open your eyes to the truth about him, so that you will be prepared when he whispers in your ear.

Satan will attempt to deceive you, because it's all he knows to do!

SEEING GOD
Today's reading: Joshua 5:13-7:26, Luke 12:41-48, Psalm 69:29-36

"The humble will see their God at work and be glad..." Psalm 69:32 NLT

It's only when I remember who I am in comparison to God that I'll see all He is doing around me.

Only when I take my eyes off my own hands, my own abilities, my own accomplishments that I will see all He is working on.

Only when I stop flexing my puny muscles in the mirror of comparison will I see His mighty acts.

I will see God at work when I stop admiring my own attempts.

WHEN THEY HEARD
Today's reading: Joshua 3:1-5:12, Luke 12:16-40, Psalm 69:18-28

"When all the Amorite kings west of the Jordan and all the Canaanite kings who lived along the Mediterranean coast heard how the Lord had dried up the Jordan River so the people of Israel could cross, they lost heart and were paralyzed with fear." Joshua 5:1 NLT

Psst...your enemy will keep attacking you as long as he knows you are afraid of him.

He absolutely loves it when all you do is talk about the wrenches he has thrown in the gears of your life plans and the way in which he has caused you to stumble and fall.

He smiles ear to ear with his devilish grin when he hears you tell tale after tale of his successes in his battle against your mind.

He sees all your comments and conversations about him as fuel for the fire he is building under you.

So stop!

Stop talking about all satan has done and start talking about what God has done.

Start telling the world about God's victories in your life...

The ways in which He has released you...

The times He has proven Himself faithful to you...

The healings you have experienced because of His love for you...

The long nights He has held you through...

The beautiful days He has gifted to you...

Talk more about your God than your enemy and your life will change!

MY VALUE
Today's reading: Deuteronomy 34-Joshua 2, Luke 12:1-15, Psalm 69:10-17

"And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don't be afraid; you are more valuable to him than a whole flock of sparrows." Luke 12:7 NLT

When you feel unnoticed.

When you feel insignificant.

When you feel overlooked.

When you feel like just another face in the crowd.

When you are sure no one even realizes you are present.

Remember you were not born and placed on earth to gain personal value, it was given to you by God when He first allowed your microscopic heart to beat.

Whose you are makes you valuable!

WHAT AM I DEMONSTRATING?
Today's reading: Deuteronomy 32:23-33:29, Luke 11:37-54, Psalm 69:1-9

"...You failed to demonstrate my holiness to the people of Israel there. So you will see the land from a distance, but you may not enter the land I am giving to the people of Israel." Deuteronomy 32:51-52 NLT

Two things God has asked of my heart this morning as I sat among the words of these verses...

1. Where in my life am I not demonstrating holiness? Reflecting Him? Doing what Jesus would do?

2. What might I miss out on because of my choice to demonstrate 'Malinda-ness' instead of God-lines?

I am mining these words this morning, like a miner looking for the diamond among the coal.

I am chewing on them, like a delicious morsel of food.

I am pondering them, as Mary did the happenings at the nativity.

I am carrying these words like a heavy load on my soul, because I know I am much more guilty than Moses ever could be of not demonstrating holiness.

CHECKING YOUR LIGHT
Today's reading: Deuteronomy  31:1-32:22, Luke 11:24-36, Psalm 68:28-35

"Make sure that the light you think you have is not really darkness." Luke 11:35 NLT

Think about the compliments you've received lately.

Go ahead, consider them.

Were the kind words spoken of you a reflection of God in you, or the efforts you've made on your own?

Are you busy being busy or are you busy going about your Father's business?

Are you kind and compassionate to get ahead or are you full of goodness because you want to be like your Abba Father?

Are you immersed in 'church things' or are you bathed in having spent time with God?

Are folks seeing a lot of your efforts or a lot of God's?

Check the light you are shining. Make sure it's God shining through you and not just yourself, your efforts, your attempts and your busy-ness.

HOW I SHOULD PRAY
Today's reading: Deuteronomy 29-30, Luke 10:38-11:23, Psalm 68:20-27

"He said, This is how you should pray: Father, may your name be honored..." Luke 11:2 NLT

I needed this prayer reminder this morning.

You see, lately a lot of my prayers have started off with, Lord, I need...

Or, Lord, I want...

Or, Lord, help me...

Or, Lord, forgive me...

But today's reading reminds me that when I pray, when I speak to the Creator, when I converse with my Savior, when my words are being formed in order to be heard by my God...it's all about Him.

It's ultimately about Him receiving all the glory.

It's about Him being spotlighted in my life by what He chooses to do, and when He chooses to do it.

It's about Him honoring His own promises to me because that is who He is and how He does things.

It's about Him, it's all about Him!

CHECKING MY ROUTE
Today's reading: Deuteronomy 28:15-68, Luke 10:21-37, Psalm 68:15-19

"The Lord himself will send against you curses, confusion, and disillusionment in everything you do, until at last you are completely destroyed for doing evil and forsaking me." Deuteronomy 28:20 NLT

There are times when bad things happen to good people.

Those times leave us scratching our heads, questioning our faith and wondering what in the world God is up to.

Things don't seem fair. Happenings make no sense. We cannot believe God would allow what He has allowed.

But then there are the times that we see God grabbing our attention back from idols, distractions and the enemy's grasp.

We notice, as He is blocking our way, allowing chaos in our lives and letting our worlds spin out of control, that He is doing it in order that He might be placed back into the right place in our lives.

It's during those times when we have allowed others things to take priority...

It's when we've let our affections be given towards others gods...

It's when He seems less important than our scheduled events, our own plans and what the world offers...

He wants all of us and He isn't afraid to inconvenience us in an effort to get our attention.

So let's all check our hearts. See how it's going. Investigate our affections. Watch for signs that trouble is coming because we've allowed our First Love to be put on a back shelf.

BLESSING OTHERS
Today's reading: Deuteronomy 26:1-28:14, Luke 10:1-20, Psalm 68:7-14

"Whenever you enter a home, give it your blessing." Luke 10:5 NLT

I don't know where all you will go today, but where ever it is, leave a blessing behind.

If you go to a friend's house for coffee and a chat, leave her better off than you found her.

If you go to work today, give them your best, bless your employer by giving your all.

If you go to WalMart, bless the kid who rings you up with a smile and a kind word.

If you have banking to do, deposit friendliness into the teller's heart account.

If you are grocery shopping, bless those moving slowly ahead of you in the aisle.

Jesus asked His disciples to leave blessings where ever they went.

We are His disciples, too.

RESOLUTELY
Today's reading: Deuteronomy 23:9-25:19, Luke 9:43-62, Psalm 68:1-6

"As the time drew near for his return to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem." Luke 9:51 NLT

Jesus knew He had a job to do.

A job needing done on our behalf.

He had close friends who urged Him to not go. He had enemies who would make going so very easy.

But He set His mind to doing what needed done and He went to Jerusalem.

We have things needing done today.

Hard things.

Tough things.

Things we may be the only one doing.

But if He has called us to do it, He will enable us to accomplish the task.

Our service, our obedience, our showing up for the mission, may mean eternity for another.

We have to remember it's worth it!

USE THIS DAY
Today's reading: Deuteronomy 21:10-23:8, Luke 9:23-42, Psalm 67

"May your ways be known throughout the earth, your saving power among people everywhere." Psalm 67:2 NLT

If I could pray one prayer for the church at large this beautiful spring Sunday morning it would be this verse.

That each church house...

No matter the denomination...

Regardless of the number of congregants gathered...

Or musical preference...

Or what's on the typed up, printed off and planned out program...

I pray that God's way be known and His saving power be seen across this land and this big, blue and green orb!

Isn't that what His day is all about?

WHO I KNOW HIM TO BE
Today's reading: Deuteronomy 19:1-21:9, Luke 9:1-22, Psalm 66:16-20

"One day Jesus was alone, praying, he came over to his disciples and asked them, Who do people say I am?..Then he asked them, Who do you say I am?" Luke 9:18-20 NLT

There came a time in my life when Jesus asked who He was to me.

He didn't want the answer I knew from listening to my preacher.

He didn't want the answer I'd learned in Sunday School.

He didn't even want the answer my parents had raised me to believe.

He wanted to know my thoughts.

Who He was to me.

He was asking about the relationship between the two of us.

Or was there one?

Did I know Him...or did I just know about Him?

Oh, I know Him!

I know the salvation He brought to my life!

I know of all the sins, and there are many, that He forgave and saved me from!

I know of the sweet communication there is between the two of us!

I know of the awe I have for Him, and the love He has for me!

Those are things no one could have ever taught me about, convinced me of or instructed me to speak of in the way that I now know them.

I know Him, do you?

IN PROPORTION
Today's reading: Deuteronomy 16:9-18:22, Luke 8:40-56, Psalm 66:8-15

"...Bring him a freewill offering in proportion to the blessings you have received from him." Deuteronomy 16:10 NLT

I'm thinking about the offering plates we pass in church each Sunday morning and how they would never be able to hold the offering I should bring Him in proportion to how He has blessed me.

In all reality I'd need to carry my offering in to the church in buckets-full. I'd have to gather as many five-gallon buckets as I could find, and still they wouldn't hold what I owe Him...

Or perhaps I could borrow the area farmers' grain-hauling semis. I'd load the tractor trailers down with the offering I owe Him for all the blessings He has given me and I'd still arrive at church sorely owing Him more...

Or maybe a fleet of U-Haul's? I could call all the local rental agencies and have a convoy converge upon our church parking lot full of the offering I owe my Lord. But all the U-Haul's wouldn't hold what I owe Him...

His oceans couldn't hold the offerings I owe Him...

His sky, as far as the Milky Way goes and beyond, couldn't hold what I owe Him in proportion to how He has blessed me...

So I can only give my heart.

The whole thing.

My heart filled with praise, thanks, honor and a desire to spend every waking hour obeying Him--in proportion to how He has blessed me!

CLIMBING INTO THE BOAT
Today's reading: Deuteronomy 14:1-16:8, Luke 8:22-39, Psalm 66:1-7

"One day Jesus said to his disciples, Let's cross over to the other side of the lake. So they got into the boat and started out." Luke 8:22 NLT

Oh, I can see these big, burly men climbing over each other in an effort to be in the boat before Jesus even finishes His sentence.

I can see them jostling for position, wanting to sit closest to Him.

I can imagine the excitement on their face as they consider how privileged they were to be asked.

Would things have been different if Jesus had asked...

-Come on, fellas, let's get out into the middle of the lake and about lose the boat and our lives in a storm!

-Hey guys, let's live out a harrowing account for me to include in the pages of the Bible!

-Disciples, ole buddies, ole pals, let's spend today testing your faith!

Would any of them have stepped foot on the boat had they known what all was going to happen?

Let's be honest, it might have been a solo journey for Jesus.

Sometimes we, as educated, modern Christians, spend more time asking questions, debating issues and scoping out the future to get on the boat.

We ponder.

We discuss.

We pray...and pray...and pray.

None of us would sign up for a ride on the 'cancer' ship.

Or the 'prodigal child' ship.

Or the 'break an addiction' ship.

But the journeys led by Jesus are the most amazing! We find out more about Him, and ourselves, than we ever would had we stayed on shore.

So, today, if He asks, climb on board the vessel. Don't ask where it's going. Don't ask how long of a ride it might be. Get on board. Cinch up your life vest. Apply sunscreen to your nose. And prepare to see God do something big with your mustard-seed faith!

AGAINST GOD
Today's reading: Deuteronomy 12-13, Luke 8:4-21, Psalm 65:9-13

"You must not do this to the Lord your God..." Deuteronomy 12:31 NLT

Ever paused to think that our sins, though touching our lives and the lives of others, are truly against God?

Our sins mock Him.

Go against His commands.

Break His heart.

When we know His will, His desires, His commandments, and yet make the choice to forego them, we sin against the Lord our God.

We turn our back on Him.

We reject Him.

We discredit Him.

We tell Him, in no uncertain terms, that we know more than He does.

Sounds harsh?

Sin is.

AWESOME DEEDS
Today's reading: Deuteronomy 10-11, Luke 7:36-8:3, Psalm 65:1-8

"You faithfully answer our prayers with awesome deeds, O God our savior..." Psalm 65:5 NLT

Isn't that the truth?

I'm sure you, like me, have asked God in prayer, only to be simply amazed with His response.

Overwhelmed with how He chose to answer.

In awe of His timing, His ways, the depths to which He chose to move.

As a matter of fact, I don't think I've ever seen God move in a situation that left me saying, 'Oh, is that all?'

He answers in over-the-top ways.

He is faithful to fulfil His promises in extraordinary acts.

He never leaves a detail untouched, unturned, unchanged.

So, praying friend, keep praying--an awesome answer is coming for you!

THE SEARCH IS OVER
Today's reading: Deuteronomy 8-9, Luke 7:18-35, Psalm 64:6-10

"The disciples of John the Baptist told John about everything Jesus was doing. So John called for two of his disciples, and he sent them to the Lord to ask him, Are you the Messiah we've been expecting, or should we keep looking for someone else?" Luke 7:18-19 NLT

Friend, we don't have to look any farther than Jesus!

He came for us.

He died for us.

He defeated death and the grave for us.

He drew us to Him.

He lived a life we can example ours after.

He loves us, so much He fulfilled His Father's will-as painful, hurtful, shameful and undeserved as it was.

He endured the cross so we would not have to pay the debt we owed.

No, we needn't look any farther than Jesus!