MORNING WALKS

Today's reading: Psalm 63-65

"...From where the sun rises to where it sets, you inspire shouts of joy." Psalm 65:8 NLT

Our little spot on the prairie affords us the best picture frames for sunrises and sunsets.

Each morning while I am on my walk I am greeted with God's majesty rising on the eastern horizon. Across fields, atop trees, amidst clouds.

Each evening from our little porch I watch as the sun sets in the western sky. Beyond the rise of the hill, slipping over the curve of the earth, settling in as the moon takes its watch.

Few things stir a heart to worship as do sunrises and sunsets.

They are like being given a 'Good morning, beautiful!' and an 'Until we meet again!' from the Lord.

Artists cannot capture it.

Writers cannot describe it.

Late risers and those busied with the end of day tasks can miss out on them.

But God is faithful to provide them each and every day...as He has for generations...as He will until He returns.

He truly does, by the works of His hands, inspire shouts of joy!

 OUR PERSONAL VICE

Today's reading: 1 Kings 1-4

I'm reading this morning in 1 Kings, about the death of David and the appointment of Solomon as king.

The very last few verses of 1 Kings 4 lists all of Solomon's accomplishments, strengths and abilities.

He was a very wise man.

A very shrewd business man.

A very learned man.

A very well rounded man.

He loved the Lord--but he loved the ladies more.

So much more, in fact, that they led to his downfall. His diversion. His separation from the Lord. His defeat. His downfall. His reknown.

What's your vice? Your thing that distracts and draws you away from God? What twinkles and glimmers, catching your attention?

Be careful of it. It may be the thing that you think you have control of, but truly it controls you.

Ask God to reveal to you what you place before Him. Or maybe it's a 'who'.

 GLOWING
Today's reading: Exodus 33-36

"When Moses came down the mountain carrying the stone tablets inscribed with the terms of the covenant, he wasn't aware that his face glowed because he had spoken to the Lord face to face...When Moses had finished speaking with them, he put a veil over his face." Exodus 33:29-33 NLT

When Moses spent time with the Lord he glowed. A radiant shine about him. A glorious glow. An ethereal suntan.

What about us?

Are we spending enough time with God to have that same glow about us?

Are our friends and loved ones seeing, on our faces, that we've been with the Lord?

We live in a day and time when Christians are tending to 'cover up their faces' or mask the fact that they are God followers. To prevent ridicule? To be politically correct? To fit in?

Glow where you go today.

Allow your time in the Lord's house this weekend and your time with the Lord this morning to give you a glorious glow.

A glow the world needs to see!

 ICEBREAKER

Today's reading: Galatians 1-3

"You know what I was like when I followed the Jewish religion--how I violently persecuted the Christians. I did my best to get rid of them. I was one of the most religious Jews of my own age, and I tried as hard as possible to follow all the old traditions of my religion. But then something happened!.." Galatians 1:13-15 NLT

Paul certainly had a great icebreaker to use when he met people.

If it was the folks he's worshiped with as a devout Christian-hating Jew, they knew how zealous he truly was--and he could evangelize from that point forward.

If it was new converts to Christianity he was able to share his story with? Well, it didn't matter what they'd done or the fervency and frequency with which they did it--he's been there, done that and had it ALL forgiven!

The same is true for each of us Christians.

No matter our background.

No matter our maturity as a believer.

No matter our sphere of influence.

We all have a 'I used to be' story to share.

And we all have the words, 'But then something happened!" segue into a great conversation about our forgiving Savior.

Watch for opportunities to share your story today.

 TROUBLE ALL AROUND

Today's reading: Jeremiah 42-46

"Fear not, Jacob my servant, says the Lord, for I am with you. I will destroy the nations to which I have exiled you, but I will not destroy you. But I must discipline you: I cannot let you go unpunished." Jeremiah 46:28 NLT

While turmoil boils and swells around us, God's hand of protection keeps His children safe.

As the world seemingly falls apart, God continues--unchanged and unabashed.

As His children weep and mourn over the condition of our country and the world, God remains true, faithful and trustworthy.

And God's love? Well, it still is showered on His own--and sometimes shown in the fact that He must discipline us for our sins. He loves us too much not to. His love is shown in His desire to keep us pure, holy and set apart from the world.

 A GOOD LIFE

Today's reading: Job 41-42

"Job lived 140 years after that, living to see four generations of his children and grandchildren. Then he died, an old man who had lived a long, good life." Job 41:16-17 NLT

I wonder, was it Job's own testimony that he had lived a long, good life.

Because if he had, I applaud him.

If it was by his own admission, I do not believe he just wrote off the tough times he had encountered.

I do not believe he ever forgot the grief and agony of those 'Job years'.

I don't think he ever just dismissed the tough times.

He had to have had them in the back of his mind EVERY day after.

It had to have changed how he lived from that point on--blameless as he was.

His trust in the Lord had to have increased. 

His value for family had to enlarge. 

His appreciation for health and wealth had to have grown enormously.

His selection process for friends had to have changed.

I wonder, would he have said his life was to good because of the bad times?

 AGAIN AND AGAIN

Today's reading: Psalm 60-62

"God has spoken plainly, and I have heard it many times: Power, O God, belongs to you; unfailing love, O Lord, is yours." Psalm 62:11-12 NLT

I wish I had a dollar for every time I've heard God whisper, I've got this.

Or a penny for every time He's said, You're not in control, I am.

Or a dime for every time He has had to remind me, No, you cannot love them on your own--but with My love in you, you can.

I'd be a be-jillionaire!

Again and again, God has to remind me of His power and His love.

That I am not Him.

That I cannot think, function, act or handle things like He can.

 DUST OFF YOUR BIBLES

Today's reading: 2 Samuel 20-24

"For all his laws are constantly before me, I have never abandoned his principles." 2 Samuel 22:23 NLT

When was the last time you picked up your Bible, excluding grabbing it as you headed out the door to church?

Have you recently picked it up for advice on a matter at hand?

Encouragement on a stormy, dreary day?

Correction when your conscience was heavy?

David sang about the fact that his success was tied directly to him keeping God's Word constantly before him.

Be like David--pick up your Bible!

 SABBATH

Today's reading: Exodus 29-32

"Tell the people of Israel to keep my Sabbath day, for the Sabbath is a sign of the covenant between me and you forever. It helps you to remember that I am the Lord, who makes you holy." Exodus 31:13 NLT

If our day of worship does nothing more than remind us that holiness comes from the Lord, then it has been a profitable Sabbath.

Because our works aren't going to do it.

Our long string of committees our names are on won't do it.

Our singing in the choir, filling in in the nursery, standing at the meet and greet counter or taking trash out of the bathrooms after service won't do it, either.

It is only the Lord.

It is the work He does in us to spur us on to do those things.

It is only the Lord poured into us on our Sabbaths that will make us stand out in the hard, mean world.

 SECOND STRING

Today's reading: 2 Corinthians 11-13

"...Christ is not weak in his dealings with you; he is a mighty power among you." 2 Corinthians 13:3 NLT

If you have taken your problem, heartbreak, need or desire for direction to the Lord, don't think you need a Plan B.

Or a backup.

Or a second string.

Or a substitute.

He is at work. He has heard. He is orchestrating all things together to get that answer answered, that problem solved, that heartbreak mended and those directions on their way!

 AUTHORITY

Today's reading: Luke 3-4

"There, too, the people were amazed at the things he said, because he spoke with authority." Luke 4:32 NLT

What areas of your life are you amazed that there, too, God has authority?

Sure, we assign Him the spiritual realm.

Physically we tend to lean on Him when our body misfires and we need His healing touch.

Sometimes, emotionally we lean on our Comforter, lean into His peace, appreciate His joy.

How about mentally?

When our thoughts override our faith, doubt crowds, questions rise up...

When the facts clearly point to a big problem, bigger possibly than He can handle...

When unforgiveness takes root in our heads and hurts are replayed again and again and again...

He has authority over all things, all parts of us, all there is to the workings that make us, well, us.

Give it all to the One who has authority over it all!

 SEEK HIM FOR US

Today's reading: Jeremiah 37-41

"But neither King Zedekiah nor his officials nor the people who were left listened to what the Lord said through Jeremiah. Nevertheless, King Zedekiah sent Jehucal son of Shelemiah and Zephaniah the priest, son of Maaseiah, to ask Jeremiah, Please pray to the Lord our God for us." Jeremiah 37:2-3 NLT

They ridicule us.

They refuse to acknowledge our God.

They accuse of us needing the 'crutch' of religion and relationship.

They scoff at the commands and the promises of blessing.

They want no part of it...

Until disaster strikes. A diagnosis drops on them like a bomb. A crisis arises.

Then, then, they ask us to pray.

To seek the Lord for them.

To turn to our God with their need.

Nothing has changed in all this time.

But, and here's the ray of hope, they see enough of Him in us to seek us out!

 DO YOU STILL?

Today's reading: Job 39-40

"Then the Lord said to Job, Do you still want to argue with the Almighty? You are God's critic, but do you have the answers?" Job 40:1 NLT

Does God ever stop and ask you the exact same thing He asked Job?

As He listens to your complaints, comments and criticisms, does He ever stop and say--Ok, you are my critic, do you have all the answers?

Don't we all need the reminder that as much as we do not like what we see going on, how we feel about what we're going through, we don't have all the answers.

We cannot, do not, see past the right here, right now.

We cannot harbor the doubt that He doesn't listen, but every once in a while we've gotta stop, take a breath and hear Him say--Do you still want to argue with the Almighty?

 DO A WORK

Today's reading: Psalm 57-59

"Don't kill them, for my people soon forget such lessons; stagger them with your power, and bring them to their knees, O Lord our shield." Psalm 59:11 NLT

Stagger them with your power, Lord.

Amaze them in the power of your reign over this earth.

Astound them with the power of your love to wash away their sins.

Alarm them with the power of your steadfastness in a world that comes and goes, ebbs and flows, promises and leaves.

Affect them with the power of your drawing nature.

Do it all to get their attention and to get their hearts.

Amen.

 STOLEN HEARTS

Today's reading: 2 Samuel 15-19

"So in this way, Absalom stole the hearts of all the people of Israel." 2 Samuel 15:6 NLT

What's stealing your heart, dear Christian?

-softly spoken words

-inspirational memes

-prosperity promises

-self-affirming chants

Is what's stealing your heart biblical? Is it from God? Is is backed up by what Jesus said while He walked and talked on this earth?

Our hearts are being stolen by words that tickle our ears but do not change our hearts.

Our hearts are being whisked away by programs that promote people, products and pride in one's self and abilities--but not the Lord.

Our hearts are being sold on the slave trader's auction block to what looks easier, funner, world-approved.

I'm convicted today to watch, very carefully, what's stealing my heart away from my Savior.

 THERE IS GOD

Today's reading: Exodus 25-28

One could easily get bogged down, a little lethargic or, dare I say, bored with reading the details involved with the building of God's Tabernacle.

Measurements, quantities, spans, materials--make for a little less than exciting or encouraging time spent in God's Word.

Unless you've prayed and asked for Him to show you something...

In chapter 27 God gives directives for building the courtyard of the Tabernacle.

The courtyard? I never even knew one existed.

I knew about the Holy of Holies--the special tent within a tent in which God dwelt, but the courtyard?

That's when I got my 'ah-ha' for the morning!

God was most certainly in the high and holy place He set aside for Himself to reside among the Israelites, but He was also deeply, greatly, specifically and intimately involved in the design and layout of the courtyard--the place of waiting, the place of pause, the place of, might I call it--not yet my turn.

From what I read, the other priests mingled outside the Holy of Holies in the courtyard until it was their turn to go inside with their bells on their hems, with the rope tied on their ankle, with anticipation of their one time in the year to step into God's presence.

It reminded me of how very, very much God is in the details of every aspect of our lives.

The heart-pumping highs and the breathtaking lows--and in the waiting for one or the other to occur.

PLANTING SEASON

Today's reading: 2 Corinthians 9-10

"Remember this--a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop, but the one who plants generously will get a generous crop." 2 Corinthians 9:6 NLT

The farmers I work for are busy in the fields.

They've tilled.

They've added fertilizers to the ground.

They've waited for the perfect soil conditions and temperatures.

Now, it's time for the seed.

They could plant a kernel per field and still get a return on their planting, as one kernel might produce two to three ears of corn, or 300 new kernels of grain. 

They don't do that, of course.

The computer on the planting tractor tells them they are planting 35,000-37,000 kernels per acre! (I am so glad the farm secretary isn't required to do the counting on that project.)

They plant big because they want to harvest big.

Are we doing the same with our testimonies? Our outreach? Our mentioning the Lord in our conversations?

Are we planting one tiny seed per day--or several?

 FILLED WITH JESUS

Today's reading: Luke 1-2

"A few days later Mary hurried to the hill country of Judea, to the town where Zechariah lived. She entered the house and greeted Elizabeth. At the sound of Mary's greeting, Elizabeth's child leaped within her, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit." Luke 1:39-41 NLT

Mary, full of Jesus, spoke to Elizabeth--and Elizabeth was touched.

Simple words.

A greeting, the Word says.

But words that impacted Elizabeth. Words that impacted John the Baptist in utero. Words that impact us today.

My prayer is we all be so full of Jesus that simple words to others will touch their lives.

Kind greetings.

Encouraging conversations.

Uplifting chats.

 WRITTEN DOWN

Today's reading: Jeremiah 32-36

"Perhaps the people of Judah will repent if they see in writing all the terrible things I have planned for them. Then I will be able to forgive their sins and wrongdoings." Jeremiah 36:3 NLT

Jeremiah, led by the Lord, wrote out God's Word for the people to read.

Black and white.

Ink to paper.

So they could see it with their eyes.

God hoped that them actually seeing it, not just hearing it, would stir them to repentance.

He does the same for us.

He doesn't see it as enough for us to hear God's Word from the pulpits on Sunday mornings. 

He has placed it, written form, in front of us by way of our Bibles.

Something to hold in our hands.

Something to see with our eyes.

Something for our brains to process as we read it word for word.

Something sent directly from God to touch our hearts.

Are we reading it?

 GOD'S VOICE IN THE THUNDER

Today's reading: Job 37-38

"God's voice is glorious in the thunder. We cannot comprehend the greatness of his power." Job 37:5 NLT

Ever listened to the thunder?

The sound rolling across the sky.

The earth shaking booms of an occasional clap.

The slight rumble in the distance.

As God so eloquently puts it, it's His voice in the thunder.

(Not Him moving furniture around, like I was told as a child.)

It's His voice stating--I'm in this storm. I have complete control of this storm. You can look for me, even in this storm. I will walk with you through this storm.

I will never listen to thunder in the same way again.

 PRAISING HIS WORD
Today's reading: Psalm 54-56

"O God, I praise your word..." Psalm 56:4 NLT

"O God, I praise your word. Yes, Lord, I praise your word." Psalm 56:10 NLT

Sure we read God's Word.

And we listen to it on Sunday's when the pastor stand behind the pulpit.

Maybe we even decorate our homes with Scripture art.

Our closets and dresser drawers burst with t-shirts with a Bible verses on them.

We scribble His Word on cards--especially those we don't really know what to write to the recipient.

But, and I am asking myself the same question, do we praise God's Word?

Do we place honor, value, importance on it?

Are we ever so thankful we have it given to us?

Do we stake our hopes and dreams and desires upon it?

Do we praise God's Word?

 WHAT DO WE DO WITH NATHAN?

Today's reading: 2 Samuel 10-14

"Then Nathan said to David, You are that man!.." 2 Samuel 12:7 NLT

I wouldn't have wanted Nathan's job that day.

To go before the king, and point out his sin--no, thank you.

It could have ended rather badly. Quite badly.

But Nathan, being led by God, did what was asked of him in order than a child of God be corrected, guided and brought back into a relationship with the Lord.

So, what do we do with the Nathans in our lives?

The very people God sends our way with messages that are a little hard to swallow, issues that have to pass through walls of pride, embarrassing things, ways which we thought were completely unknown to others.

How are we accepting them?

How well are we listening for them?

How important are they to us in regards to our spiritual growth?

 BEING LED

Today's reading: Exodus 21-24

"See, I am sending my angel before you to lead you safely to the land I have prepared for you." Exodus 23:20 NLT

We know God loved/loves the Israelite people. 

He chose them.

He made promises to them.

He gave them a land.

He gave them a high status in the world they/we lived/live in.

As surely as the Bible points to that fact, it points to the fact that He loves us, His children, as much.

He chose us.

He makes promises to us.

He gives us a land, a heavenly land.

He has given us high status, a royal calling, in this world we live in.

And just like He did for the Israelites, He has given us a guide, a leader while here on earth--the Holy Spirit.

This Spirit directs our paths. This Spirit holds our hands, and teaches us when to hold our tongues. This Spirit allows us to participate in and to see God at work.

He loves us that much.

 BEYOND

Today's reading: 2 Corinthians 6-8

"Best of all, they went beyond our highest hopes..." 2 Corinthians 8:5 NLT

In this passage Paul, speaking to the church in Corinth, was applauding the church in Macedonia for their godliness, goodness and generosity.

He said they went above and beyond in their service and love.

Oh, friend, that those same words might be said of every Bible believing church in this land of ours.

May it be said that we were friendlier...

That we were more welcoming...

That we exceeded the wildest expectations...

That God was preached, but more than that--that God was shown.

 JUST THEN

Today's reading: Luke 15-16

"A man named Simon, who was from Cyrene, was coming in from the country just then and they forced him to carry Jesus' cross." Luke 15:21 NLT

Just then...

Like it wasn't God ordained.

Like it just happened coincidentally.

Like the Romans themselves, thinking they had control of the whole situation, selected a random stranger.

I don't know how many 'just thens' have happened in your life, but I'm sure you now see God's hand in each and every one of them.

God is not sporadic.

God is not haphazard.

God is not caught off guard by situations and circumstances to the point He must just 'throw together something' to make things work out for you.

Every 'just then' is planned. Orchestrated. Purposed. Timed. 

 LAWS OF NATURE

Today's reading: Jeremiah 27-31

"I am as unlikely to reject my people Israel as I am to do away with the laws of nature!" Jeremiah 31:36 NLT

I watched yesterday afternoon as a few dirt devils skipped and hopped across a tilled field. Spinning, twirling, picking up small sticks and chaff as it danced along the newly planted rows. Then, as quickly as they appeared, they vanished. The refuse they had collected in their vortexes dropped from midair.

And now, this early, full-of -bird-song morning I read about God's love for me in relation to nature?

What a gift He has given me.

To know, because He says it, His love for me will never change. 

As sure as the sun rises and sets...

As sure as the clouds form, billow and blow away...

As sure as the thunder booms and the lightning lights up the sky...

As sure as the lightning bugs are going to blink in the first few days of summer...

As sure as the tides ebb and flow...

As sure as all of those, and so many more I cannot list, happen--that's how surely God will love us.

Nature declares His glory--and His love!

 PRIDE

Today's reading: Job 35-36

"And if they cry out and God does not answer, it is because of their pride." Job 35:12 NLT

Ever thought about the simple fact that God EVER answering us is a gift.

A true gift.

A blessing.

Something given to us that we do not deserve.

It's when we begin to think it's owed to us that we become irritated, angry and shake our fists at the Lord.

He never owes us an explanation or an answer, but we think He does.

He will not assume we could possibly ever fully understand His ways, and yet we do.

He doesn't not 'need' us included in on His plan, but we believe He needs all the help we can give Him.

It truly is our pride that makes us believe He should give us an answer.

It is our humble spirit that convinces us He knows what He is doing--and we can trust Him.

 BE LIKE AN OLIVE TREE

Today's reading: Psalm 51-53

"But I am like an olive tree, thriving in the house of God. I trust in God's unfailing love forever and ever. I will praise you forever, O God, for what you have done. I will wait for your mercies in the presence of your people." Psalm 52:8-9 NLT

An olive tree thrives because it knows its God-ordained purpose.

An olive tree trusts the Lord to send rains when needed.

An olive tree grows in faith because of its having seen the goodness of the Lord.

An olive tree waits for its 'season', knowing it has a right time to produce fruit.

An olive tree stands in the olive grove EVEN WHEN it doesn't like its neighbor, its neighbor gets more sunlight, its neighbor seems to have a bumper year--it doesn't move to a new grove.

I think it's about time we all were more like an olive tree.

Thriving. Trusting. Growing. Producing. Waiting. Fellowshipping. 

JUST

Today's reading: 2 Samuel 5-9

"Now go and say to my servant David, This is what the Lord Almighty says: I chose you to lead my people Israel when you were just a shepherd boy, tending your sheep out in the pasture." 2 Samuel 7:8 NLT

If I were a tech-geek, I would have used a computer graphics program to highlight, animate and quite possibly, read this text to you with the word 'JUST' emphasized.

It's that important.

Read it again and put your own emphasis on that one single word--JUST.

Because, not only does it refer to the state David was in when God chose him, it refers to the sorry state we were in as well.

While we were sinners...

When we were in the gutter...

Because of our poor choices...

When we put ourselves first...

However it was we got into the condition we were in when Jesus found us...

He still chose us. Dirty. Messed up. Lost. Angry. Depressed. Used up. Worn out. Thinking we knew better.

He chose us while we were just ________ (you fill in the blank).

 FIRST THINGS FIRST

Today's reading: Exodus 17-20

"I am the Lord your God, who rescued you from slavery in Egypt." Exodus 20:2 NLT

Before God ever gives His people the ten commandments, He restates who He is and what He had done for them.

It places value to His words.

It puts importance to His commands.

It focuses their attention on the authority with which He gives them.

It reminds them of His power.

It premises all He asks of them with all He has done for them.

It puts first things first. 

Every morning when we rise, we should be reminded of those same words--before the day opens up to us, before problems arise, before our minds gets distracted from Him.