Tag: Bible

July 7, 2024

July 7th, 2024
Sunday – Poetry

Reading – Song of Solomon 1-2

Highlight Verse:

“This is Solomon’s Song of Songs, more wonderful than any other.”
‭‭Song of Songs‬ ‭1‬:‭1‬ ‭NLT‬‬

There have been many interpretations of the Song of Solomon. They boil down to three categories:
- It is an allegory of the love between man and God.
- It is the love story of Solomon and his one true love.
- Or it is the story of a young shepherdess who is wooed by Solomon but chooses to stay faithful to the simple young man to whom she is committed already.
We’ll spend the next few weeks looking at those possibilities as we read through it.

Today I want to focus on the simple fact that God values romantic love.

No matter how you think this book should be interpreted, it is couched in very romantic language.

While some are more romantic than others, the language of this book, along with the claim that it is “more wonderful than any other” makes it clear that

God strongly believes in romantic love.

Those of us who might not be the most romantic should take note.

Romance in the context of a committed relationship is important to God.

Lesson noted. I should work on that.

Those of you who are married or will soon be married, how can you better express that godly romance?
How should the concept of godly romance affect your relationship with God?
Which of the three main interpretations do you think is more accurate?
July 6, 2024

July 6th, 2024

Saturday – Open Topic

Reading – John 11:1-44

Highlight Verse:

“Then Jesus wept.”
‭‭John‬ ‭11‬:‭35‬ ‭NLT‬‬

One of our members just lost their adult son to a long-term illness.

I cannot begin to express my sympathy for them. It is a situation that no parent should ever have to deal with.

As a father to an adult daughter who has multiple medical issues, the situation spikes my fears.

I don’t know what I would do in that situation.

But I know what Jesus would do.

He would weep.

He would sympathize with our sorrow. He is well acquainted with pain and sorrow.

There are times when He will step in and heal. I believe in healing and know that God is able to extend life.

I also know that all of us are only on this earth for a limited time.

In theory, I trust God’s timing.

I try to trust in practice as well.

Please join me in praying for that family who is dealing with loss that God would be their comfort and strength even as their faith is tested.

Thank you.
July 5, 2024

July 5th, 2024

Friday – Prophets

Reading – Amos 5-6

Highlight Verse:

“What sorrow awaits you who lounge in luxury in Jerusalem, and you who feel secure in Samaria! You are famous and popular in Israel, and people go to you for help.”
‭‭Amos‬ ‭6‬:‭1‬ ‭NLT‬‬

This verse struck me as I’m lounging in a recliner in our family room. (we’re staying up late to comfort the dogs with all the fireworks going off around us).

Our youngest and I walked down to the local park at the height of the fireworks.

It sounded like a war zone.

That made me think of people in some countries who were prospering when war came their way. Many lost everything to war and violence.

While it seems very unlikely here, I realize that nothing is impossible, and

I should work toward peace.

Some might think that means gun control or more police.

This scripture makes the answer clear.

If I want peace in this land, I should worship God alone, strive to follow in obedience to his leading, and encourage others to do the same.

How do you work for peace?
What does following in obedience to Him look like in your life?
July 4, 2024

July 4th, 2024

Thursday – Letters

Reading – 1 John 5

Highlight Verse:

“Dear children, keep away from anything that might take God’s place in your hearts.”
‭‭1 John‬ ‭5‬:‭21‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Today I wear a T-shirt that says, “I stand at the flag and kneel at the cross.”

I am a patriotic person.

I love the United States of America.

I believe in the constitution, the freedoms it defends, and the inalienable rights of all US citizens.

And, in the language of the constitution, I believe that we are endowed by our Creator with those rights.

I respect our flag, our military, and our means of government.

But I worship only God!

In what ways have you learned to balance respect for our country and worship of God?
What other ways do you see this verse applying to our lives?
July 3, 2024

July 3rd, 2024

Wednesday – History

Reading – 2 Chronicles 10-12

Highlight Verse:

“But Rehoboam rejected the advice of the older men and instead asked the opinion of the young men who had grown up with him and were now his advisers.”
‭‭2 Chronicles‬ ‭10‬:‭8‬ ‭NLT‬‬

It is so tempting to say that Rehoboam blew it because he didn’t listen to the advice of older men.

It’s not that simple.

The fact is, not all older men are wise.

In this case, the men were advisors to Solomon, a man thought to be the wisest king ever. That’s some pretty high qualifications.

But, it’s also true that God had sent a prophecy that Rehoboam would lose the ten tribes.

Does that mean that God chose to force Rehoboam to choose poorly?

I won’t go so far as to say that is impossible. But I don’t believe that would be in line with God’s character.

But God did know what Rehoboam would choose.

For all his father’s wisdom, Rehoboam was not a wise King. He was unfaithful to God and the Kingdom of Israel suffered as a consequence.

Here’s the tough part – Was Jeroboam any better?

If not, the people of Israel had a very difficult choice – To follow the bad man or to follow the worse one.

The best answer to that is to follow God, not the imperfect human politicians.

What leader do you follow after?
What makes that person a good leader to follow?
July 2, 2024

July 2nd, 2024

Tuesday – Pentateuch

Reading – Numbers 19-20

Highlight Verse:

“Why did you make us leave Egypt and bring us here to this terrible place? This land has no grain, no figs, no grapes, no pomegranates, and no water to drink!””
‭‭Numbers‬ ‭20‬:‭5‬ ‭NLT‬‬

They could have gone to Moses and begged him to ask God for water.

Mind you, they were still receiving Manna from God every morning except the Sabbath so

they knew God could provide.

Yet they dwelt on the negative.

Instead of asking for provision, they whined, complained, and tried to assign blame.

How often do we do that?

I work for a big corporation that swallowed up the smaller family company that I used to work for.

It’s very easy to look back at the family atmosphere of the smaller company and whine about that all being gone now.

I know because I’ve done it.

It’s not as easy to look at the positive side of working for a big corporation.

While I miss many of the good things of the past,

I find it makes my job much easier if I look at the advantages

I now have in the corporation.

Yes, it may be harder to find the positives, but they are there.

Even Moses got caught up in the negativity and it cost him entry into the promised land.

Is negativity taking a toll in your life?
What are some of the positive aspects of your current situation?
July 1, 2024

July 1st, 2024

Monday – Gospels and Acts

Reading – Acts 3

Highlight Verse:

“Peter saw his opportunity and addressed the crowd. “People of Israel,” he said, “what is so surprising about this? And why stare at us as though we had made this man walk by our own power or godliness?”
‭‭Acts of the Apostles‬ ‭3‬:‭12‬ ‭NLT‬‬

It’s another banner day for the early church.

I’m certain that Peter and John had seen the lame man before as he was put there each day.

Perhaps this is the first time that he asked Peter and John for money. Perhaps this is the first time they listened to him.

I prefer to think that the Holy Spirit spoke to Peter and prompted him to heal the man.

As the commotion over the healing grew, that’s when Peter seized the opportunity and spoke to the crowd.

Because Peter listened to the Holy Spirit’s prompting and he seized the moment, His words hit home.

We find out in the next chapter that many who heard the message believed and that the church grew significantly.

All because Peter listened and acted, many were saved.

Have you heard that prompting from the Holy Spirit before?
Have you acted on it?
June 30, 2024

June 30th, 2024

Sunday – Poetry

Reading – Ecclesiastes 11-12

Highlight Verse:

“Farmers who wait for perfect weather never plant. If they watch every cloud, they never harvest.”
‭‭Ecclesiastes‬ ‭11‬:‭4‬ ‭NLT‬‬

My perfectionist heart cringes.

But I want it to be just right.

Maybe the weather will be better next week.

Fortunately, many years of experience usually overrules my perfectionist tendencies.

On one such experience, I managed to get a ticket to a Christian concert festival at a big farm in New Jersey. (I lived near Philadelphia at the time).

The only problem was the remnants of a hurricane were due to blow through the area that day.

The event went on, though not exactly as planned.

The main stage faced the rain-filled wind. It never opened.

But the worship tent was active all day and the alternative stage gave me new respect for the likes of MXPX and KJ52 who performed straight through downpours.

After KJ52 finished I met a few artists at their merch tables in a big tent. I spent the next couple of hours with a group of guys helping push cars out of the muddy fields.

When I finally arrived home, I was covered head to toe with mud.

It was one of the best days of that otherwise lousy year.

Sure, the biggest bands never got to play, and I ruined a brand-new T-shirt, but I got to meet a bunch of interesting people. I got to jam out in the rain to some awesome new-to-me rock and hip-hop. And I got some great stories to tell.

So, the next time the weather threatens to dampen your big event, prepare to dance in the rain!

Have you ever danced in the rain? Are you willing to try?
Can you share stories of when things didn’t go as planned but turned out better?
June 29, 2024

June 29th, 2024

Saturday – Open Topic

Reading – Psalm 23

Highlight Verse:

“The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭23‬:‭1‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I want a new iPad.

I’d like a newer car.

I’d love to have a little more money in savings… okay, a lot more.

If only my body would work and feel like it did in my twenties – and I had the free time to do the things I used to be able to do.

But…

I have all that I need!

In fact, I have far more than I need.

I’m blessed with a loving family.

I live in a house with plenty of room and a roof that keeps off the rain and windows and doors that keep out the heat and cold.

This old body can still walk and run – just a little slower nowadays.

I have a Heavenly Father who loves me, a church that is alive, and an eternal home under construction in heaven.

I have rest when I need it and energy when I don’t.

And, in the middle of the whirlwind of my life, I have peace that passes all understanding.

Life is Good!
God is great!

What is the difference between want and need for you?
Has God filled all those needs for you?
June 28, 2024

June 28th, 2024

Friday – Prophets

Reading – Amos 3-4

Highlight verse:

“This is what the Lord says: “A shepherd who tries to rescue a sheep from a lion,’s mouth will recover only two legs or a piece of an ear. So it will be for the Israelites in Samaria lying on luxurious beds, and for the people of Damascus reclining on couches.”
‭‭Amos‬ ‭3‬:‭12‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Sometimes one needs to be shockingly graphic or blunt to get people’s attention.

This is one of those times.

The people of Israel, Samaria, and Damascus needed a serious wake-up call.

Amos, a shepherd by profession, was not afraid to grab people’s attention.

Maybe I could learn a thing or two from Amos.

I tend to dance around issues instead of dealing with them directly.

Amos got right to the point.

As a result, some followed.

What gets your attention in Scripture?
How does it affect you when you see such graphic imagery in the Bible?

Tag: Bible

God strongly believes in romantic love.

He would weep.

It sounded like a war zone.

I should work toward peace.

This scripture makes the answer clear.

It’s not that simple.

For all his father’s wisdom, Rehoboam was not a wise King. He was unfaithful to God and the Kingdom of Israel suffered as a consequence.

They could have gone to Moses and begged him to ask God for water.

they knew God could provide.

How often do we do that?

I find it makes my job much easier if I look at the advantages

It’s another banner day for the early church.

All because Peter listened and acted, many were saved.

My perfectionist heart cringes.

Fortunately, many years of experience usually overrules my perfectionist tendencies.

It was one of the best days of that otherwise lousy year.

So, the next time the weather threatens to dampen your big event, prepare to dance in the rain!

I have all that I need!

Life is Good!God is great!

Sometimes one needs to be shockingly graphic or blunt to get people’s attention.

Maybe I could learn a thing or two from Amos.

Life is Good!
God is great!