ENDING

Today's reading: Revelation 22

"The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you all." Revelation 22:21 NLT

The last month of the year.

The last day of 2021.

The last planner page.

So, why not, the last verse of the Bible?

And what does it present? Grace.

It's what has gotten us through this year--and what we can cling to as the New Year opens up before us.

It's so important that we give grace.

It's so important that we understand grace.

It's vitally important that we allow God's grace to fill us, change us, humble us and spur us on to honor Him in all we do.

That's an epic challenge for 2022!

 NEVER

Today's reading: Deuteronomy 31

"Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord is the one who goes before you. He will be with you; he will neither fail you nor forsake you." Deuteronomy 31:8 NLT

As we pull out the boxes and totes to wrap up this year and put it in storage, I cannot help but think how faithful God has been.

He went before us every single day of 2021.

Through the rise and fall , and rise and fall, of disease numbers.

Ahead of each and every storm that left us battered and bruised and collecting pieces of our hearts.

When we lost bits of us as loved ones slipped into eternity.

As the seasons of our lives changed one falling leaf, one sprout of green, one summery day and one tiny snowflake, at a time.

He has been faithful. Oh, so faithful!

And if you have accumulated a number of years walking behind Him, you know how long His track record is.

So, friend, welcome the New Year with anticipation of His faithfulness going before us into it.

Look very forward to what He will allow. How He will prove Himself. In what ways He will stretch and grow your character into the likeness of His Son's.

 SLOW DOWN

Today's reading: Psalm 111

"How amazing are the deeds of the Lord! All who delight in him should ponder them." Psalm 111:2 NLT

Pondering is not a fast-paced activity.

It's a prayer chair kind of sport. A sit on the porch swing type of activity. It's a lay awake at night and think kind of past time.

It doesn't happen in the heat of the moment, or at the height of an emergency or when your mind is bombarded with circumstances and happenings beyond your control.

Pondering is a specific, intentional, personal and private type of thought.

Have you done it lately? Have you slowed down long enough to think, not about all your problems, but about the amazing things God has done? The goodness of the Lord? The dimensions He is at work in in and around you at any given time?

Take time to ponder. Make time to ponder.

Let your mind focus solely on Him, His ways, His goodness, His love, His amazing character.

 COMPARING

Today's reading: Isaiah 40

"To whom will you compare me? Who is my equal? asks the Holy One." Isaiah 40:25 NLT

I've made the statement on numerous occasions within the walls of the women's Sunday school class I am honored and blessed to lead, Comparison is one of the worst sins Christian women commit.

It's true!

We gals, maybe you fellas, too, often measure our worth against the measuring stick of another lady. Not only is that unfair to ourselves, but it is not at all what God ever intended.

But we don't stop there.

We tend to compare God as well.

We hold Him up against our dreams.

We measure Him up to our efforts.

We put His timing, His answers and His ways on a scale of our own making--usually involving a clock or a calendar.

We see how He chose to answer another's prayer, and hold Him to the same expectations.

We claim against Him the verses that say He is good and for us, but look over the verses that make a requirement of obedience and commitment to Him.

There is no one or no thing to which we can compare God. Never has been, never will be.

His ways, His abilities, His character, His thoughts, His purposes, His reasoning, His love--none of these can be understood by our little minds, let alone ascribe any of them to anything or anyone else.

No one is His equal. No one!

 ENDURANCE

Today's reading: Hebrews 12

"...And let us run with endurance the race that God has set before us." Hebrews 12:1 NLT

With the few days left in this year, I am given opportunity to revisit some of my favorite chapters in the Bible.

Seemingly it tends to be the chapters in my Bible that have the most markings, notations, highlighted sections and circled words.

This morning, my eyes fell upon the portion of this verse that tells me although I serve a God who can answer every prayer I pray in a moment's notice or in the blink of an eye...He often allows the answer to come in stages or in portions my finite mind can handle--and in ways that give me plenty of time to condition my faith muscles.

The muscles that develop with my daily return to His throne.

Or the ones that get defined as I search the Scriptures for His answers, for His thoughts, for His will.

Or the ones that are rested as I trust Him with the outcome. Completely and wholly.

This walk with Him is a marathon, not a sprint. He knows that. He operates in that way. He loves me enough to train me for the finish line.

PROVIDING FOR THEIR NEEDS

Today's reading: Acts 27-28

"The next day when we docked at Sidon, Julius was very kind to Paul and let him to ashore to visit with friends so they could provide for his needs." Acts 27:3 NLT

Paul and his friends did not gather for the sake of catching up, reminiscing. eating or sharing the latest gossip.

They gathered in an effort to provide for a friend's needs.

Could that be what we are lacking in our relationships?

Maybe I need to be more intently looking for ways to lift a burden, come alongside or walk with a friend?

To take on their prayer requests, to carry their needs to the Cross, to lighten their load?

To provide for their needs.

 QUIETLY TREASURING

Today's reading: Luke 2

"...but Mary quietly treasured these things in her heart and thought about them often." Luke 2:19 NLT

Jesus, but a few days old, left his mother in awe.

A baby, lying helplessly, in a manger.

A tiny, wrinkled, little boy, needing His mother's care to survive.

An infant incapable of walking, talking, doing miracles--and still she treasured the Spirit he held within him.

She pondered the impact He had on people.

She thought about the purpose He might have.

It wasn't the miracles performed, the moments on Calvary or the resurrection--because she hadn't seen those yet.

It left her quietly treasuring things in her heart just being near Him.

The everydayness of a God come down in human form.

THE SHOUT OF A HUGE CROWD

Today's reading: Revelation 18-22

"Then I heard again what sounded like the shout of a huge crowd, or the roar of mighty ocean waves, or the crash of loud thunder: Hallelujah! For the Lord our God, the Almighty, reigns. Let us be glad and rejoice and honor him..." Revelation 19:6-7 NLT

We can whoop and holler at the ball game, the soccer field, beside the ice at a hockey game or towards the TV as our favorite team makes a comeback...but does God hear us shouting His praise?

When we see the sunrise, pink and orange.

When we see the first shoots of spring, green and fragile.

When we see the first snowflakes, white and delicate.

When we see the first robin, hopping and spry.

When we hear the thunder in the distance.

When we hear the windchimes tinkling.

When we hear the first words of a child or the last words of a dying saint.

Do we shout His praise then?

Does He hear us roar?

 MAKING AN OFFER

Today's reading: Song of Solomon 7-8

"...If a man tried to buy love with everything he owned, his offer would be utterly despised." Song of Solomon 8:7 NLT

We see it all day long, every where we turn, in just about every person we meet--including the one in the mirror...

People 'looking for love in all the wrong places'.

Folks attempting to find love in loveless people, places or things.

Trading their souls for a moment's attention, fleeting affection and like-mist adoration.

But when they meet God...

Their hearts are filled to capacities they never imagined!

Their lives are changed in ways they never would have dreamed!

Their comfort is found.

Their purpose is revealed!

Their love is reciprocated, duplicated, multiplied and divided in so many ways they cannot help but share it!

 PRAISE HIM

Today's reading: Psalm 149-150

"Praise him with a blast of the trumpet; praise him with the lyre and harp!" Psalm 150:3 NLT

No trumpets or lyres here on our small farm, but I can praise Him!

I can praise Him by humming along to the song playing on my radio.

I can praise Him with the tap of keys as I type out a devotion.

I can praise Him with the honk of my car horn and a wave at my neighbor.

I can praise Him in the scratching of my pen on a notecard to a friend.

I can praise Him with the signal that an encouraging text message has been sent to one of my brothers or sisters in Christ.

I can praise Him with the sound of a turning page in my Bible during my time in His presence.

I can praise Him with kindness in my voice as I greet a co-worker.

I can praise Him with the sobs of a broken heart over a still not answered prayer request.

I can praise Him in the silence...as I listen for Him...as I expect to hear Him speak...as I wait for Him to remind me of His promises to me.

No, I don't need a trumpet or a lyre to praise Him!

 QUITE THE OPPOSITE

Today's reading: Esther 6-10

"So on March 7 the two decrees of the king were put into effect. On that day, the enemies of the Jews had hoped to destroy them, but quite the opposite happened." Esther 9:1 NLT

Not to be a Debbie-Downer, but you have enemy who wants to destroy you.

Not just cripple your efforts.

Or rob some of your joy.

Or make you doubt.

He wants to destroy you.

And you, hear me out, are the one who will--or will not--let it happen.

That's right.

Will your enemy's attempts at destroying you succeed or will they make you stronger?

Stronger in your faith.

Stronger in your godly character.

Stronger in your belief in the promises of God.

Stronger in your witness to others.

Stronger in your defiance against all things enemy-scented.

Our enemy hopes to destroy us, but quite the opposite can happen!

 OUR ROCK

Today's reading: Deuteronomy 32-34

"But the rock of our enemies is not like our Rock, as even they recognize." Deuteronomy 32:31 NLT

I love capitalization. It helps me figure out the common from the extraordinary. The everyday from the holy. The minute from the monumental.

Case in point, this verse!

Our enemy would prefer we serve, bow down to, trust in and worship a rock. An inanimate object. A created object. A lump.

But we are provided a Savior. A Redeemer. A Deliverer. A Friend. A Comforter. A Shepherd.

A Rock.

The Creator, not the created.

And my favorite part of the verse--'as even they recognize'.

If our enemy can take our eyes off the truth for the slightest moment, he can slide substitutes in and we are seldom even aware. Our enemy knows the potential of our Rock. He knows the power of our Rock. He knows the depths to which our Rock is solid, unchanging and life-changing.

Blessed be the Rock!

WHAT WE KNOW

Today's reading: Jude

"I must remind you--and you know it well..." Jude 5

Sometimes you need reminded of what you know.

It isn't a matter of learning something new, but revisiting what we have already learned.

Know the Word.

Memorize the Word.

Stand on the Word.

 SPEAKING IN OUR DEFENSE

Today's reading: Acts 25-26

"Then Agrippa said to Paul, You may speak in your defense..." Acts 26:1 NLT

Speaking in your own defense sounds like a daunting challenge.

What if I say the wrong thing...

What if they attempt to trip me up...

What if I get flustered...

What if I don't know how to answer correctly...

We needn't fear!

Paul did not speak in his own defense, God gave him the words. And the audience. And the right frame of mind. And the ability.

And He will do it for you, when and if needed.

 READY OR NOT

Today's reading: Revelation 12-17

"Take note: I will come as unexpectedly as a thief! Blessed are all who are watching for me, who keep their robes ready so they will not need to walk naked and ashamed." Revelation 16:15 NLT

It always amazes me when people say, 'I'm not ready for Christmas.' 

Like it's not marked on the calendar?

Like we don't know it's the exact same day each year?

Like, with any years of experience, one doesn't know it's coming?

Like the advertisers haven't let you know it was around the corner--since the fourth of July?

The same is true with Jesus' return--He is coming.

Ready or not, He is coming.

Please...please have your life in order before His throne before He arrives.

Have your sins covered in His blood.

Have your robe of righteousness on and be comfortable in it before He gets here.

Have practiced praise before we step inside the Pearly Gates.

He is coming back, be ready!

 SLEEPLESS NIGHTS

Today's reading: Song of Solomon 5-6

"One night as I was sleeping, my heart awakened in a dream. I heard the voice of my lover. He was knocking at my bedroom door..." Song of Solomon 5:2 NLT

Ever had a sleepless night?

A night when your mind wouldn't shut off. Your to-do list clicked continually in your mind. Thoughts swirled like a tornado in your head. Excitement and anxiety wouldn't let you sleep.

I think we have all had those on occasion.

What about a night when God awakened you to talk to Him?

Just to talk.

In the quiet.

In the dark.

In a space of time during which no one else vied for your attention.

If your first inclination is to look at the clock and figure how few hours you have to sleep before the alarm goes off--put that thought aside.

Cherish His calling you out of a slumber.

Appreciate His willingness to whisper your name.

Value having His attention, His full attention, while the busy world sleeps.

Use your time with Him wisely, fully and thankfully.

Talk to the One who loves you more than anyone else ever could.

 HE

Today's reading: Psalm 146-148

"He is the one who made heaven and earth, the sea and everything in them. He is the one who keeps every promise forever..." Psalm 146:6 NLT

In case you are wondering if God is going to bail on His promises to you--stop worrying!

If your enemy has raised questions of doubt about His track record--stop listening to him!

If you are starting to doubt His love for you because of all you seeing on, or what you don't see going on--stop doubting!

Stop all that and remember this...

He...

He is...

He is the...

He is the one...

He is the one who keeps every promise forever!

 DO SOMETHING

Today's reading: Esther 1-5

"When Mordecai learned what had been done, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the city, crying with a loud and bitter wail." Esther 4:1 NLT

Mordecai could have kept worry over his people to himself. He could have spent private prayer time on his knees. He could have spoken only to God about the outcry...but he didn't.

He let the world know about the bad news he had received.

He couldn't keep it to himself.

Our world is dying--that's some pretty bad news.

Our unsaved friends and loved ones are headed to hell--that's horrible news.

We have the cure--that's Good News, but sadly, too many of us are keeping it to ourselves.

May we all be a little more like Mordecai and do something with what we know!

 ENDS OF THE EARTH

Today's reading: Deuteronomy 29-31

"Though you are at the ends of the earth, the Lord your God will go and find you and bring you back again." Deuteronomy 30:4 NLT

For those of us with 'Bring my prodigal back home' at the top of your prayer request list, this verse has to be an encouragement.

Our loved ones cannot go too far that God cannot retrieve them.

They cannot run so fast that He cannot catch them.

They cannot change their identity so drastically that God no longer knows them.

At the ends of the earth, and at the ends of their ropes, God will seek and find them and bring them back to Him!

 INFLUENCE & IMITATION

Today's reading: 3 John

"Dear friend, don't let this bad example influence you. Follow only what is good. Remember that those who do good prove that they are God's children, and those who do evil prove that they do not know about God." 3 John 11 NLT

John reminds us, even us young at heart but with older joints, that who we allow to influence us is very important.

And here's why...

Who influences us, causes us to imitate them.

No, it's not just in the instance of small children wearing their Daddy's great, big work boots.

It's the adults around us we attempt to impress with our abilities, our possessions, our homes and our habits.

We must be very careful with who influences us because eventually we will be imitating them.

 OUR TURN

Today's reading: Acts 23-24

"Now it was Paul's turn..." Acts 24:10 NLT

The great apostle Paul.

Speaker.

Evangelist.

Movement leader.

Inspiration.

Man of God.

And still he had to wait his turn to speak about Jesus.

And every time it was God-ordained.

So that every situation would be understood.

Every official would be within hearing range.

Every word spoken would glorify God.

Here's my take on it...

If Paul had to wait, and be prepared for the moment, I must know I will, too.

Wait for the right audience. The right words to come to me. The right events to be orchestrated by God.

When it's my turn, or yours, God will be glorified!

 POWER

Today's reading: Revelation 7-11

"Their power was in their mouths..." Revelation 9:19 NLT

John is allowing us to see his revelation through his written word.

In this verse he captures the second terror prophesied, the horses and riders. He mentions the smoke and burning sulphur which billowed from them.

It caught my eye that he wrote, 'their power was in their mouths'.

Maybe it didn't catch my eye, but prick my heart.

Maybe it didn't prick my heart, but heap coals of conviction onto my soul.

I am the very first to forget how very powerful what comes out of our mouths can be.

The power of life or death.

Blessings or curses.

Encouragement or discouragement.

Good or evil.

And to use the imagery of a horse? My absolute favorite animal? One which has strength in its neck and legs--but its mouth is mentioned?

Quite the word picture for this girl to think on today!

 INTIMACY

Today's reading: Song of Solomon 3-4

It feels a little awkward and intrusive to be reading the words Solomon and the Shulammite woman share between each other.

Their words are private.

Personal.

Raw.

Honest.

Real.

Filled with emotion.

Loving.

Very, very much like our conversations with the Lord should be.

 BASIC TRAINING

Today's reading: Psalm 143-145

"Bless the Lord, who is my rock. He gives me strength for war and skill for battle. He is my loving ally and my fortress, my tower of safety, my deliverer. He stands before me as a shield, and I take refuge in him. He subdues my people under me." Psalm 144:1-2 NLT

Do you remember this song from your childhood...

I may never march in the infantry, ride in the calvary, shoot the artillery. I may never soar o'er the enemy, but I'm in the Lord's army!

I don't know how many times in my childhood--Sunday School, Vacation Bible School, Wednesday night kids' meetings, we sang that song. 

Proudly. Assuredly. Loudly. Confidently. 

I don't know just what I thought 'being in the Lord's army' might consist of, but I'm finding out it's a tough gig.

A heart-ripping job.

A twenty-four hour a day, seven days a week assignment.

A mind, body, heart and soul task.

A vocation that requires I be in constant contact with my Commander.

A purpose that requires I rise and shine each day with my wrinkled fatigues on and boots laced up for the day.

From the prayer-fought wars to the daily battles that keep me whispering the name of Jesus--I am a soldier of the Lord. 

Proudly. Assuredly. Loudly, Confidently. 

I'm in the Lord's army! I'm in the Lord's army! Yes, Sir!

 WHAT HAVE WE DONE TO THE SABBATH?

Today's reading: Nehemiah 10-13

"So I confronted the leaders of Judah, Why are you profaning the Sabbath in this evil way? Wasn't it enough that your ancestors did this sort of thing, so that our God brought the present troubles upon us and our city? And now you are bringing even more wrath upon the people of Israel by permitting the Sabbath to be desecrated in this way!" Nehemiah 13:17-18 NLT

You can read in this chapter what exactly the Israelites did to mar the holiness of the Sabbath. To modern Christians, it wouldn't look too wrong...

-They worked in the winepresses.

-They loaded their donkeys.

-They were bringing merchandise in to town for sale.

-They were making business transactions on the Sabbath.

When I think of all we 'cram' into our Lord's Day, I believe we are as guilty--if not more--than any one of these Israelites of profaning the Sabbath.

-We rush in and out of our services.

-We fill our trips to the 'temple' with as many meetings as we can get done with one trip.

-We bypass the sermon with our thoughts and lists of things to do.

-We possibly grumble our way into the church house because of the ministries we have been asked to perform.

-We view our Sundays as 'our days', not His.

Guilty, aren't we?

These two verses are giving my heart pause to consider what I have done to the Sabbaths, and what I intend to do in order to reclaim them for the Lord!

I want to 

 WHAT ARE YOU CHOOSING?

Today's reading: Deuteronomy 26-28

"But if you refuse to listen the Lord your God and do not obey all the commands and laws I am giving you today, all these curses will come and overwhelm you:" Deuteronomy 28:15 NLT

Who in the world would ever choose to refuse God? And yet, we do.

Who in their right mind would ever choose curses over blessings? And yet, we make that very choice.

Who would ever opt to step outside of the pleasure and presence of the Lord our God? And yet, we find our selves there too often.

Who would ever, after knowing the immensity of our Creator, the graciousness of our Savior, the loving care of our Shepherd, the strength of our Warrior, the comfort of our Friend, not turn to Him first--and always? And yet, we are guilty of that very thing.

Today's verse sure makes me ponder what it is I am choosing when I am not choosing to trust and obey, lean into and listen for, love and serve our God.

 IN OUR HEARTS

Today's reading: 2 John

"...the truth that lives in us and will be in our hearts forever." 2 John 2 NLT

Ever thought about how much God's truth lives in your heart?

How grounded you are in it?

How dependent you are upon it?

How very much you believe it?

There is a gauge, you know, as to how you can determine just how very full your heart is with His truth...

We can tell by our words.

By our actions.

By our responses.

By our trust versus worry quotient.

 CANNOT BE STOPPED

Today's reading: Acts 21-22

"The whole population of the city was rocked by these accusations, and a great riot followed. Paul was dragged out of the Temple, and immediately the gates were closed behind him." Acts 21:30 NLT

If one were to stop reading at this verse, one might think Paul's ministry ended.

I mean, the man was dragged out.

The gates were closed behind him.

The doors shut.

The opportunities ended.

But God...

God chose to use Paul's story, his abuse, his tough times and even his time spend in prison as a way to reach people--even us today!

No one closes a door God cannot open.

No one. No thing.

No fella. No wayward child. No fallen pastor. No dysfunctional family. No mis-spent youth. 

No one! No thing!

 NEVER GIVE UP
Today's reading: Revelation 1-6

"You have patiently suffered for me without quitting." Revelation 2:3 NLT

God had quite a bit to say to the church in Ephesus through John's writing.

He knew how hard they had worked.

He knew all about their patient endurance.

He knew their desire to check out apostles against God's standards not just how their sermons tickled their ears.

He also knew that their hearts were wandering away from Him. From their first love.

But still He commended them on not quitting.

He saw their efforts. He saw their deeds. He saw their determination and drive. He saw their dedication to Him and to His work.

He noticed it.

He notices yours, too.

On the days when the sun hides from view--He sees you continue on in faith.

In the early morning hours when you're not feeling so Christlike--He sees you spend a little time with Him in order for Him to do a makeover on you.

In the circumstances when you don't see Him at work--but you trust Him anyway.

On the days when the Bible doesn't speak to you, spark your interest or inspire you to great things--He sees you pick it up anyway, in honor of Him, in hopes of hearing from Him, in a desire to please Him.

He sees that you haven't quit!

 CATCHING FOXES

Today's reading: Song of Solomon 1-2

"Quick! Catch all the little foxes before they ruin the vineyard of your love, for the grapes are all in blossom." Song of Solomon 2:15 NLT

I won't say this is the only verse I have underlined in the entire book of the Song of Solomon, but it's always a go-to for me.

No matter the season. No matter the problem. No matter the interaction.

I love the reminder it gives of how diligent I must be in watching for the 'foxes of sin' that burrow into my life.

When I'm afraid--I must watch for foxes.

When I'm comfortable--I must watch for foxes.

When I'm worn out and weary--I must watch for foxes.

When I bump into another soul who rubs me the wrong way, or dismisses me--I must watch for foxes.

When things don't go my way. Or use my plan. Or fit neatly into the planner boxes of my life--I must watch for foxes.

When the sun shines and when the stars twinkle--I must watch for foxes.

Even when the lights are strung, the tree is lit, the carols play in the background and the gifts are piled up before me--I must watch for foxes!

 NEVER TOO LOW

Today's reading: Psalm 140-142

"Hear my cry, for I am very low..." Psalm 142:6 NLT

My Bible tells me the theme of David's psalm is a prayer when overwhelmed and desperate.

Maybe he was overwhelmed by the power placed on his shoulders as king. Or his constant looking over his shoulder for King Saul. Or his long and shadowy, dark nights watching over the sheep scattered across the hills of his father's land.

Or family troubles.

Or loneliness.

Whatever brought this mighty of man of God down to his knees in prayer, it was heavy. It was hard. It had him by the throat.

So he called out to God.

Because you cannot be too low for Him to raise you up. Too overwhelmed that He cannot amaze you with His will and ways. Too scared. Too alone. Too dirty. Too bad. Too far down the wrong path. Have too many labels. Have too many scars. Have too many hang-ups.

No matter your 'low', He is the God to call out to! Any time. Every time.