WRONGLY IMPRISONED
Today's reading: Isaiah 57-59

"No, the kind of fasting I want calls you to free those who are wrongly imprisoned..." Isaiah 58:6 NLT

This verse is located neatly within a chapter subtitled, True and False Worship. It's a writing giving us a heads-up into God's idea of how He wants us to honor Him--and how He wishes we wouldn't.

In its verses it talks about fasting--and freeing those wrongly imprisoned.

Now, before you head out to the local jail, county impound or state penitentiary, know there are imprisoned much closer to you.

Those you have locked up in your mind.

Those you're holding grudges against.

Those you're holding record of past offenses on.

Those for whom you're holding rap sheets.

Those you're choosing not to forgive--for whatever reason.

Those you're locking up in your heart and refusing to release.

I think what God's telling us in this verse is that while 'they' are still in your heart and head, being held until bail is posted, a confession is made, their time is served, a timely and heartfelt apology is made, or until their error is amended or rectified, or until you believe their punishment fits the crime, it's a very crowded place for them and Him.

So free them.

Let them go.

If there is only so much room in your heart, shouldn't that room go to God?

Author's note: Ouch!

GLORIOUS
Today's reading: Isaiah 53-56

"...I, the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, have made you glorious." Isaiah 55:5 NLT

In case you're not 'feeling it' this Thursday morning.

Or no one gets around to telling you.

Or nothing you do today points to the fact.

You are glorious!

As a blood-bought, saved child of God, you are glorious.

Not because of anything you have done, but because He has made you into it.

So go out there, you glorious thing, you!

WONDER IF IT'S HIM
Today's reading: Isaiah 50-52

"See, my servant will prosper, he will be highly exalted. Many were amazed when they saw him--beaten and bloodied, so disfigured one would scarcely know he was a person. And he will again startle many nations. Kings will stand speechless in his presence. For they will see what they had not previously been told about; they will understand what they had not heard about." Isaiah 52: 13-15 NLT

There are times when one might wonder 'how' God will work things out, but when He does, there is NO questioning that it's Him!

Wouldn't you agree?

When a lump is gone from a previous test?

When the doctors are left scratching their heads?

When a turn-around came from out of no where?

When reconciliation came after many long years?

When a few scratches are all that occurred among the tangled mess of metal?

When there were just enough dollars to pay the bills and feed the hungry mouths?

When the phone call or the card or the bit of news came at just the right time?

It might not look like the Sunday School picture of Jesus you grew up with, but it looks like God--just like God!

OH, THAT I HAD
Today's reading: Isaiah 47-49

"The Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel, says: I am the Lord your God, who teaches you what is good and leads you along the paths you should follow. Oh, that you had listened to my commands! Then you would have had peace flowing like a gentle river and righteousness rolling like waves." Isaiah 48:17-18 NLT

Lord,

You are right again--as usual.

If only I had listened.

If only I had followed in the way You were leading, instead of insisting on my own way, blazing my own trail, forging ahead with my own plans.

A gentle river of Your peace sounds much more inviting than the torrent I'm attempting swim across. The current drags me under. The waves pull me away from shore. The water gets deeper and deeper and I'm getting weary.

Your rolling waves of righteousness? They'd be a relief to the self-induced waves of nausea, doubt and fear that flood my spirit. Oh, to have wisdom wash over me. To have godliness spill onto my life--and into the lives of those I touch.

I'm turning back to You, Lord. To Your instruction. To Your ways. To Your plan for me--whatever it might look like and whatever it might be.

Be patient with me, God. I'm wearing the 'postcards of my journey' like bruises on my heart. You are a Good Teacher, but I am a slow learner...a very slow learner.

FOR THIS MONDAY MORNING
Today's reading: Isaiah 44-46

"...I am the Lord, he says, and there is no other. I publicly proclaim bold promises, I do not whisper obscurities in some dark corner so no one can understand what I mean. And I did not tell the people of Israel to ask me for something I did not plan to give, I the Lord, speak only what is true and right." Isaiah 45:19 NLT

If you're needing a reason to believe this bleak Monday morning, here it is.

It's God.

It's who He is.

It's his Word.

His abilities.

His track record.

His still standing, and His able-to-stand-on promises.

It's who He has always been, it's who He is and it's who He will always be.

Let's go with that this week and see how far it gets us!

HERE IS YOUR CALLING
Today's reading: Isaiah 41-43

"I, the Lord, have called you to demonstrate my righteousness..." Isaiah 42:6 NLT

If you think you have never been given a calling on a your life, refer to this morning's verse.

If you think you've never been given a life-verse, refer to this morning's verse.

If you think you've never been given a word from the Lord, refer to this morning's verse.

If you think God isn't answering you in regards to the situation you're currently in, refer to this morning's verse.

If you think God is too busy with everyone else to be concerned with you, refer to this morning's verse.

If you think you're too small to matter to the Lord, refer to this morning's verse.

If you think the choice you are about to make isn't important in the grand scheme of things, refer to this morning's verse.

God is calling us to demonstrate His righteousness where we are. In all we are doing. Around the people we are around. In the abilities He has gifted us with.

TELLING ME AGAIN

Today's reading: Isaiah 38-40

"Can he be compared to an idol formed in a mold, overlaid with gold, and decorated with silver chains? Or is a poor person's wooden idol better? Can God be compared to an idol that must be placed on a stand so it won't fall down?" Isaiah 40: 19-20 NLT

God has a way of repeating a lesson so I can 'get it'.

With you, too?

He keeps it at the front of my mind--in my eyesight--in my focus, enough times that one might think I'd catch on to the simple fact that He doesn't think I've quite gotten the issue fixed.

And apparently the idol issue is the one He has with me the past few months.

This morning, I have had pointed out to me, high-lighted if you would like to say, that some of the things I'm depending on--idols, I'm having to prop up in order to 'worship' them.

How wrong am I!!

If I am having to make excuses for them...

Or enable them...

Or help them to help me...

Or give them a nudge...

Or explain away their inadequacies in an effort to make them look more God-like...

Well, how much of a God, oh, let's get this right...how much of a god are they?

Only the One True God can get that message across to me, and He's sure trying to do just that!

ALL OF IT
Today's reading: Isaiah 35-37

"After Hezekiah received the letter and read it, he went up to the Lord's Temple and spread it out before the Lord." Isaiah 37:14 NLT

I can see Hezekiah in his kingly robes walking up the Temple steps with the letter in his ringed hand.

Every page of the letter.

Every. Single. Page.

He didn't leave a single page back at the palace.

He didn't hold one line back from the Lord.

When he laid them all out before God, he laid them ALL out before God.

A lesson for us all.

When we take our problems, our concerns, our worries, our requests, our needs, to Him, take the whole kit-n-caboodle!

Don't hold back the parts we feel as if we can handle on our own...

Or the parts we feel as if we deserve...

Or the parts we feel as if we need to clean up a bit before handing over to Him...

Spread it all out there!

Place it all before Him!

Give it all to Him for Him to have, for Him to hold, for Him to work out.

And trust Him with it--all.

WE HAVE WAITED
Today's reading: Isaiah 32-34

"But Lord, be merciful to us, for we have waited for you. Be our strength each day and our salvation in times of trouble." Isaiah 33:2 NLT

Oh, to truly be able to say we have waited on the Lord...

To be able to honestly state that we haven't rushed things...

Or stepped in and made things happen...

Or taken things into our own hands...

Or got things going...

Or helped the Lord out...

But to say...

God, pour Your mercy out on me because You have watched me wait for You to act. For You to move. You have watched as I have waited for You to do Your work in and around me.

UGH, YOU WILL SAY
Today's reading: Isaiah 29-31

"Then you will destroy all your silver idols and gold images. You will throw them out like filthy rags. Ugh! you will say to them. Begone!" Isaiah 30:22 NLT

Until our manufactured gods let us down one final humiliating time, we'll not push them aside.

We won't hear someone tell us to put them away.

We won't listen while the preacher warns us against having them.

We won't recognize our idols as such until they leave us stranded, high and dry.

It's a lesson learned personally. Sad, but true.

Oh, sure, it's easy to spot idols in the lives of our friends and loved ones. They stand out--they're easy to spot. But seeing our own? Recognizing our own gods? Not an easy task. Not something any of us are good at doing--or want to do.

It's only when our idols leave us wounded. Infected. Desperate. Helpless. Face-to-face with what it was we had been depending upon that we truly realize where our hope had been.

That's when we wash our hands of what it was we had been holding on to. That's when we throw away our idols. That's when we ditch our little gods and cling to the One True God with both hands!

SHORT-SHEETING YOURSELF
Today's reading: Isaiah 26-28

"For you have no place of refuge--the bed you have made is too short to lie on. The blankets are too narrow to cover you." Isaiah 28:20 NLT

Been there?  Done that?

Found yourself in a pickle of your own making?

In a stew of your own conjuring?

In a predicament of your own problematic messes?

Whatever has happened, you find that the spot you find yourself in, the very spot you feel as if you tried really hard to make work out, the place you attempted to avoid, the acreage you were warned repeatedly against visiting--

You're there.

And it doesn't feel good.

Not good at all.

It doesn't fit well.

It isn't comfortable.

As a matter of fact, it's worse than you would have ever imagined it could be.

Call out to God.

He will hear you from there. Yes, even from there!

FOR US ALL
Today's reading: Isaiah 20-25

"But to the poor, O Lord, you are a refuge from the storm..." Isaiah 25:4 NLT

When you can't rub two nickels together, He's there.

When there is more month than money, He's there.

When the bills pile up and the paycheck dwindles, He's there.

When the funds decrease quickly, He's there.

When you aren't, and probably won't ever be known, by your bank account, He's there.

When your needs far outweigh your haves, He's there.

He is our refuge in any storm!

ROYAL TITLES
Today's reading: Isaiah 9-11

"...These will be his royal titles: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." Isaiah 9:6 NLT

Consider it a 'Christmas in July gift', to be reminded just who God is.

It states clearly and specifically in this verse--these are His royal titles.

Bestowed upon Him.

Memorializing Him.

Not just nicknames given to Him by a group of friends on the playground but names stating His power, His realm, His abilities and His capacity.

I needed the reminder this morning, did you?

ON A LEASH
Today's reading: Isaiah 5-8

"The Lord has said to me in the strongest terms: Do not think like everyone else does." Isaiah 8:11 NLT

If you're like me, it's time you put your thoughts on a leash.

Yes, a leash.

Yes, like a dog leash.

It's time we no longer allowed our thoughts, our fears, our doubts, our self-accusations, our judgements to run loose terrorizing the neighborhood.

We need to give them only so far to travel. A specified length of chain to their own. A safe, controlled and clearly marked area in which to run, jump, play fetch and stretch their legs.

But we need to set the boundaries.

God tells us that very clearly.

CANCELLING THE PARADE
Today's reading: Isaiah 1-3

"Why do you keep parading through my courts with your worthless sacrifices?" Isaiah 1:12 NLT

How easy it is for me to picture the pious Jews making grand spectacles of themselves as they presented their offerings and sacrifices in the Temple.

Their long flowing robes. Their skullcaps carefully perched over their graying heads. Their prayer boxes shined up and on display for all to see as they walked through the courtyards towards the place where they would lay their offerings.

'Parading' is the perfect word for God to use to catch my attention on this verse.

Until, that is, He honed it in on my own heart.

Making it quite personal.

Fine-tuning it to touch my soul.

Specifically bringing to my own mind when I 'parade' myself before Him instead of bow.

When I carry the air of 'Look, here I am!' instead of having the heart attitude of 'Who am I that I can come before You?'

When I'm focused on what all I can bring instead of why I am bringing it at all.

The times, the many times, when I make it all about me--and not about Him.

I think, friends, it's time I cancel my parade.

BETTER
Today's reading: Song of Songs 5-8

"My lover is dark and dazzling, better than ten thousand others!" Song of Songs 5:10 NLT

Christians,

We sing and praise the One who loves us more than anything else.

We lift up His name each and every Sunday--and sometimes as we travel in the car with the radio blaring.

We hold His Word as truth and stand on its promises.

We know the verse that states 'For God so loved the world...'

We pray with hurting souls, pointing them to Him again and again.

But are we, are we truly, believing that He is better than ten thousand others?

Are we living it out in our lives, in our choices, in our words, in our actions?

Better than ten thousand--meaning we have to look no further.

GUEST OF HONOR
Today's reading: Song of Solomon 1-4

"He brings me to the banquet hall, so everyone can see how much he loves me." Song of Solomon 2:4 NLT

Imagine being dressed in your finest. Wearing your best. Hair done up in that special way you do it. Imagine wearing your best jewelry, maybe even Grandma's pearls, for the occasion.

Picture yourself being escorted into a grand hall, lavishly decorated, sumptuously catered, standing room only, by God.

On His arm.

As His 'date'.

Do you see Him beaming as He introduces you to people?

Do you hear how He refers to you in such a loving and honorable way?

Do you notice how He makes sure everyone knows you are with Him?

That's today, friend.

Right now.

This day.

Whether you are going to work, heading in to clean the bathroom, tackling the yard or sitting at your prayer chair--you are being escorted by God Himself into the banquet hall of this day.

Chin up, honored guest!

PIECES OF ADVICE

Today's reading: Ecclesiastes 9-12 

"Here is my final conclusion: Fear God and obey his commands, for this is the duty of every person." Ecclesiastes 12:13 NLT

With the craziness of this spring and early summer, graduations ceremonies were unlike any we've ever seen before.

They were telecasted. They were socially distanced. They were Zoomed. They were postponed and condensed almost to the point of being non-existent.

And it's a shame.

Why? Because a lot of heartfelt, wise words of advice are given in some graduation speeches that kids--and the grown-ups in the audience--need to hear.

Like the words of Solomon today.

After studying all he could study. Collecting and owning all he could amass. After traveling abroad, or as abroad as they did in his time. After having the wisest of people in his courts.

After all he could do and read and gather, he rested on this piece of advice...

Fear God and obey his commands.

The man knew a thing or two.

And he shared this.

Might be worth listening to.

ACCEPTING
Today's reading: Ecclesiastes 5-8

"...To enjoy your work and accept your lot in life--that is indeed a gift from God." Ecclesiastes 5:19 NLT

Wouldn't you agree, gifts from God are the strangest of things.

They show up when you least expect them.

In ways you would never imagine them happening in.

At times when you are most caught off guard.

Using circumstances, and sometimes people, you would never think He would use.

You can't conjure up the feelings of enjoyment and acceptance, they have to come from Him.

Only from Him.

ETERNITY IN OUR HEARTS
Today's reading: Ecclesiastes 1-4

"God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God's work from beginning to end." Ecclesiastes 3:11 NLT

Down deep we all want to know what's going to happen next...

What's coming tomorrow...

What tomorrow holds...

If our plans will happen as we have laid them out...

That desire is placed in us by God.

But we cannot see the future. We cannot fathom eternity. We cannot be placed in charge of tomorrow with our limited scope.

So we must trust God. With every detail. With every moment. With our tomorrows.

Because in His hands, everything will be beautiful in its time.

THE PROVERBS 31 GAL
Today's reading: Proverbs 30-31

Aah, the Proverbs 31 gal.

The epitome of Christian woman-hood.

The Miss America of godliness.

The Barbie of the 'What -Would-Jesus-Do' clan.

The lady most of us women have attempted to emulate at least a few hundred times in our lives--usually to much avail.

I will be the first to admit, it's frustrating. It's hard. It's depressing. It's exhausting. It's condemning.

And it always will be as long as we attempt to be her.

What?!?

You read it correctly, we can't be her.

We can learn from her.

We can fashion our actions and reactions after her.

We can even take advice from her life, and her words.

But we will waste our lives attempting to be her--because we aren't her.

I am called, by God, to be the best, most godly me I can be.

And you are called to be you.

The Proverbs 31 gal hasn't lived my life, been written into the story of me, isn't called to be the hands and feet of Jesus in the shoes I walk in.

Sure, she has some great pointers on doing life the right way. From her life I can glean lots of great how-to's and tips. I can even desire to have some of the benefits she reaped--but only to the degrees to which God gives them to me, when He deems them suitable for me.

So, all that to say this. I'm tired and worn out from trying to be 'her', I'm just gonna be me--with God's help.

And I urge you to be you.

REWARDED FOR OUR WORK
Today's reading: Proverbs 27-29

"Workers who tend a fig tree are allowed to eat its fruit. In the same way, workers who protect their employer's interests will be rewarded." Proverbs 27:18 NLT

I am so glad God doesn't choose to wait to reward us in full when we get to heaven!

He gives us tastes of wonderful each and every day.

He allows blessings to trickle, shower and sometimes pour into our lives like summer rains.

Just when we need them.

In ways that remind us He is still in control.

In subtle gifts to our souls.

He allows His workers to feast on His bounty...here and now while we wait for our grand reward!

LAZINESS
Today's reading: Proverbs 24-26

"I walked by the field of a lazy person, the vineyard of one lacking sense. I saw that it was overgrown with thorns. It was covered with weeds, and its walls were broken down." Proverbs 24:30-31 NLT

This proverb stings!

With last week's busy-ness, almost 5 inches of rain--and the prolific nature of our weed population, one walking by my garden my consider it owned by a lazy person.

It doesn't take long at all for things to get completely out of control.

And I'm not just talking about gardens!

Life is like that.

Especially the Christian life.

Godly disciplines can easily be replaced by complacency, postponement and 'weeds'.

Oh, it's never intended. It's never what one sets out to do. It's never a goal.

It just happens after a busy week, a flood of un-scheduled happenings and/or priorities being slightly out of order.

Today is the day I'm tackling the weeds in the garden...the weeds in my heart, too!

ONE THING IN COMMON
Today's reading: Proverbs 21-23

"The rich and poor have this in common: The Lord made them both." Proverbs 22:2 NLT

I asked God for a verse to take with me throughout the day.

One that would keep my mind and heart focused on Him.

One that would change my life--and in turn change another's...

He came through.

When I think about this morning's verse, I can be sure He intended for me to think far past income potential in the lives of those I come in contact with.

The kind and unkind customers have this in common: The Lord made them both.

The thoughtful and demanding people have this in common: The Lord made them both.

The mannerly and the rude people have this in common: The Lord made them both.

The soft-spoken and the foul-mouthed have this in common: The Lord made them both.

The Republicans and the Democrats have this in common: The Lord made them both.

That's going to have a huge impact on me for today's mission.

IT IS THE LORD
Today's reading: Proverbs 18-20

"How can we understand the road we travel? It is the Lord who directs our steps." Proverbs 20:24 NLT

Maybe like me, you have your week ahead planned out.

What you'll be doing...

Where you'll be going...

What you'll be eating...

Who you'll be seeing...

What you'll be accomplishing...

And like me, you've probably had experiences where your plans were not completed as you had laid out.

Things came up...

Things came undone...

Things surprised you...

Things escalated into emergencies...

We think we know what we need to prepare for, how we might handle situations as they arrive, but it is the Lord who knows.

We see the current, in our self-contained abilities. He sees all. Past. Present. Future.

We cannot understand this road we're traveling because we don't see the road map. We don't know the hills and turns ahead of us.

The Lord does. We can trust Him.

SWEET AND HEALTHY
Today's reading: Proverbs 15-17

"Kind words are like honey--sweet to the soul and healthy for the body." Proverbs 16:24 NLT

I don't know who you'll bump into today...

Who you will engage in conversation with...

Who it is you might end up talking to...

God's Word tells us this, our words can flavor their life sweetly and boost their health--if we choose the right ones.

SLOW DOWN
Today's reading: Proverbs 12-14

"Trouble chases sinners, while blessings chase the righteous!" Proverbs 13:21 NLT

I'd never really thought about the truth behind today's verse until this morning.

It's true.

Wicked people spend their lives having to watch their backs--to see what consequences they will finally meet, to see what revenge will be paid back upon them, to see what or who might be lurking in their shadows.

The godly, however, if we would slow down--would see blessings catch up with us.

Rewards for choosing the right path, thanks for doing what Jesus would do, blessings that come from living for God.

So today, slow down and see which catches up with you!

FOCUSED
Today's reading: Proverbs 8-11

"I love all who love me. Those who search for me will surely find me." Proverbs 8:17 NLT

I don't know about you, but I need to be a whole lot more intentional in looking for God in every situation.

My Bible tells me He will be found if I look.

Sometimes, however, it takes more than a quick glance on my part.

More than a hurried look across the spectrum of the situation.

It's going to take focusing more on finding Him than being overwhelmed by the happenings, the hurt and the hub-bub.

It makes me excited to see where I might see Him today, because I'm going to be looking!

AVOID THEIR HAUNTS
Today's reading: Proverbs 4-7

"Do not do as the wicked do or follow the path of evildoers. Avoid their haunts. Turn away and go somewhere else..." Proverbs 4:14-15 NLT

Allow me to bare my soul.

Most of the sins I fall into, are the same ones I always fall into.

Repeat offenses.

Constant stumbling blocks.

Reoccurring temptations.

I believe this morning's verses speak directly to that...

When I see a familiar path, one I've traveled too many times to count, one I know will lead me to temptation and eventually into sin, a comfortable because I've worn ruts in it kind of road...avoid it.

God has and will provide alternate routes.

Avoid the haunts of the wicked. Steer clear of the tendencies that lead to demise.

Learn from past mistakes.