Walk in the Light

June 30, 2023

June 30th, 2023

Friday – Prophets

Highlight Verse:

“When he speaks in the thunder, the heavens roar with rain. He causes the clouds to rise over the earth. He sends the lightning with the rain and releases the wind from his storehouses.”
‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭10‬:‭13‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I’ve always loved thunderstorms.

When I was a teenager in Virginia, we lived near the top of a hill. On Summer afternoons, I would sit on the porch and watch the lightning across the valley.

One afternoon when the storm got a little too fierce, I went inside and watched from a window. A lamp glowed beside me.

Until lightning struck the house.

The breaker tripped and the light bulb burned out.

Moments later, as I was still staring at the lamp, lightning struck again. It arced across the circuit breaker and across the blown lightbulb with a bluish glow.

Each time the boom was immediate and deafening.

I was thrilled by the display of God’s power.

Everyday there are an average 3 million lightning strikes around the globe.

I saw a few hundred of them on my drive home today.

And each one reminded me of the awesome power of God.

I know that you can explain lightning with physics and meteorology. But God created the physical laws that cause the lightning.

We also know that he can stop a storm with just a word.

So, as they say, “If that don’t light your fire, you got wet wood.” (You shouldn’t have left it out in that storm).

What most reminds you of God’s power?
Can you relate to Jeremiah in this verse?
June 29, 2023

June 29th, 2023

Thursday – Letters

Reading – 2 Corinthians 3-4

Highlight Verse:

“It is not that we think we are qualified to do anything on our own. Our qualification comes from God.”
‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭3‬:‭5‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I thought about highlighting verse 2 or 3. I could have written about what a joy it is to see people that I taught in children’s church when they were little turn out to be faithful adults.

Of course, I know that their parents had much more to do with that than I did.

Still, I’d like to think that I helped and am still helping. The joy that brings is beyond compare.

The verse I picked puts that into perspective. You may have heard the saying before –

“God doesn’t call the qualified, He qualifies the called.”

He has given me the privilege to work with children and youth and the reward has far outweighed the cost.

My qualification came from my willingness to learn, to work, and to serve.

Would you like to see some of that great reward in your life but don’t think you’re qualified?
Do you believe God can qualify you?

Believe it!
June 28, 2023

June 28th, 2023

Wednesday – History

Reading – 1 Samuel 11-12

Highlight Verse:

“But Saul replied, “No one will be executed today, for today the Lord has rescued Israel!””
‭‭1 Samuel‬ ‭11‬:‭13‬ ‭NLT‬‬

If I were Samuel, I’d been feeling pretty good about this time.

The man he anointed as King had stepped up and led Israel to rescue Jabesh.

Not only that but King Saul kept the attention on God and not himself.

Most of you know the path Saul veers onto in the years after this story. He starts off strong but goes astray. Way astray!

I’ve seen that happen with other people as well. I’ve personally known people who started strong, led people to Christ with infectious joy.

Then pride, or doubt, or selfishness crept in. Bit by bit, they backed away from leadership, from ministry, some even from God altogether.

Saul struggled with doubt from day one, but it wasn’t until pride took over that he really began to slide.

I can relate. I struggle with pride, over-confidence, sometimes even arrogance.

I need to remain diligent to keep those kinds of things from taking over my life and destroying my ministry.

Have you had the chance to step out into your calling through taking action?
If you take a serious look at your life, do you struggle with pride, doubt, or selfishness?
June 27, 2023

June 27th, 2023

Tuesday – Pentateuch

Reading – Genesis 42-43

Highlight Verse:

“Then Joseph hurried from the room because he was overcome with emotion for his brother. He went into his private room, where he broke down and wept.”
‭‭Genesis‬ ‭43‬:‭30‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I have a bunch of stories bouncing around in my head. Occasionally my characters cry.
Sometimes uncontrollably.

But I never imagined a story like Joseph’s.

Perhaps I lack imagination.

Or maybe it’s because, as I’ve said before, the truth is stranger than fiction.

Joseph’s crazy story has been used to make many points in teachings and sermons over the years.

I’ll spare you the lesson this time.

Instead, I’d like to know – what have you learned from Joseph’s story?
Has his story affected the way you live your life?
June 26, 2023

June 26th, 2023

Monday – Gospels

Reading – Mark 10

Highlight Verses:

“When Bartimaeus heard that Jesus of Nazareth was nearby, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” “Be quiet!” many of the people yelled at him. But he only shouted louder, “Son of David, have mercy on me!””
‭‭Mark‬ ‭10‬:‭47‬-‭48‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I love Bartimaeus’ attitude.

There was no way he was going to let people get between him and Jesus.

It’s worth noting that this was one of Jesus’s quickest healings. He didn’t make Bartimaeus do anything beyond what he had already done. He just told Bart that his faith had healed him and, instantly, he could see.

After he was healed, he immediately followed Jesus.

When we are facing a hardship, whether physical problems, impossible financial situations, or desperate emotional situations, it seems easy to call desperately to Jesus.

Sometimes He answers our cries immediately. Sometimes we don’t hear a response.

I dare say we often don’t hear a response because we don’t want to hear the type of response He gives us.

Jesus saw Bartimaeus’ heart and knew he would drop everything to follow.

May we have that level of desperation for Jesus.

Have you had times in your life when you were desperate for Jesus?
Did you call out to Him for help?
We’re you willing to follow Him whatever his response?
June 25, 2023

June 25th, 2023

Sunday – Poetry

Reading – Psalms 78-79

Highlight Verse:

“We will not hide these truths from our children; we will tell the next generation about the glorious deeds of the Lord, about his power and his mighty wonders.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭78‬:‭4‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I grew up in the age of Sunday schools with folding metal chairs and flannelgraphs.

When I was old enough, I went to a youth group that was focused more on keeping kids out of trouble than raising them up for ministry.

But then there was camp.

Confirmation camp when I was 13 opened my eyes to a whole new species of people. These people had a genuine love for God and each other. They were not afraid to live out loud for Jesus.

A few years later, I went back there for C.I.L.T. (Campers In Leadership Training) which taught me that

anyone could be in ministry.

I’ve been in ministry of one sort or another ever since.

I’ve focused on nextgen (children and youth) ministry since something like 85% of Christians today came to faith before the age of 18.

Keep in mind that Samuel was called by God at a very young age.

So was David.

And Mary.

And Timothy.

Notice a pattern here?

Tomorrow’s leaders are in our nextgen ministries today.

It is critical that we reach them with a faith that is honest and alive.

Have you considered getting involved in nextgen ministry?
What gifts and talents do you have that can be used to reach the next generation?
June 24, 2023

June 24th, 2023

NOTE: I struggled with this one for over an hour last night and was still not satisfied with it. This morning I realized what was missing so it has been revised.

Saturday – Open Topic

Reading – Jeremiah 18:1-10

Highlight Verse:

“But the jar he was making did not turn out as he had hoped, so he crushed it into a lump of clay again and started over.”
‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭18‬:‭4‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Does God change His mind?

If it were anyone else, you might think so. The reality is, we’re the ones who need reshaping sometimes.

We think we’re bargaining with God when the truth is, he is taking that mis-sharpen lump of clay and turning it into a masterpiece.

I met someone yesterday who was full of it –

Full of joy,

Full of hope,

Full of grace,

Full of the Holy Spirit.

A few years ago his life was like that mis-shaped lump of clay. It was falling apart. The pursuit of pleasure through drugs, alcohol, and carnal pursuits had brought him to a place of complete hopelessness.

He was ready to chuck it all and take his life.

But God intervened.

He allowed God to reshape him. God is still reshaping him into a man who will impact the world for good.

Do feel like a mis-shaped lump of clay with no hope of ever straightening out?
Or perhaps you are a usable vessel but are bothered by your imperfections?

Turn it over to the Master Potter. He will create a masterpiece out of you.
June 23, 2023

June 23rd, 2023

Friday – Prophets

Reading – Jeremiah 7-9

Highlight Verse:

“They pile lie upon lie and utterly refuse to acknowledge me,” says the Lord.”
‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭9‬:‭6‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I love science.

In college, I started as a physics major. Granted, I couldn’t hack the math so I changed majors, but what I learned in freshman Physics for Physics Majors has helped me tremendously in my career of fixing machines.

Another favorite class was astronomy. I remember having a very honest professor. When someone asked him if he believed in the Big Bang Theory, he gave a very telling answer.

He informed us that the study of science must exclude the existence of God in order to be consistent. Thus, with no Creator, the Big Bang Theory was the only viable explanation.

That’s what today’s verse reminded me of. If science is based on the lie that there is no God, then every assumption and theory based on that is also false. When you look at science with a mind believing in a Creator, the possibilities are endless.

Truth is stranger than fiction.

That makes honest science exciting!

What scientific possibilities do you see open up when you believe that God exists?
How do you think the world began?
June 22, 2023

June 22nd, 2023

Thursday – Letters

Reading – 2 Corinthians 1-2

Highlight Verse:

“In fact, we expected to die. But as a result, we stopped relying on ourselves and learned to rely only on God, who raises the dead.”
‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭1‬:‭9‬ ‭NLT‬‬

The back end of my little pick-up lifted on the water streaming across the freeway and swung out to the left. I over-compensated. Now the front of the pick-up careened toward the left guardrail. The impact sent me spinning down the center of the freeway with a semi jack-knifing straight toward me.

My tires caught with me rolling backwards. I was able to safely back off onto the grass center median past the end of the guardrail.

That was the closest I ever got to thinking I might die.

That was nothing compared to the trials Paul went through. While this instance is not described here, we know that during his mission travels he was shipwrecked, beaten, whipped, and otherwise persecuted.

He was no stranger to fear.

But he also knew that fear was temporary and his security was eternal.

It is rare that we in the states have to deal with life-threatening situations.

In those cases, we do well to rely on Him the one who can raise the dead.

Have you experienced a life threatening situation?
Can you trust God to bring you through?
June 21, 2023

June 21st, 2023

Wednesday – History

Reading – 1 Samuel 9-10

Highlight Verse:

“So they asked the Lord, “Where is he?” And the Lord replied, “He is hiding among the baggage.””
‭‭1 Samuel‬ ‭10‬:‭22‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Saul had a crisis of confidence. From the way he acted, it’s evident that he didn’t trust that God could enable him to rule Israel.

I would say that it was that very lack of trust and confidence that was the undoing of his rule.

It was his lack of trust in God that led some to not follow his lead.

It was his lack of trust in God that led to needing a hero to defeat Goliath.

It was his lack of trust in God that led him to fear and despise that very hero, David.

Sometimes it’s our lack of trust in God that holds us back from accomplishing all that He has for us.

Are there areas where your trust in God is lacking?
How would your life be different if you acted in faith that God could do what He promised to do through you?

I’ve always loved thunderstorms.

And each one reminded me of the awesome power of God.

“God doesn’t call the qualified, He qualifies the called.”

Believe it!

If I were Samuel, I’d been feeling pretty good about this time.

Saul struggled with doubt from day one, but it wasn’t until pride took over that he really began to slide.

I need to remain diligent to keep those kinds of things from taking over my life and destroying my ministry.

But I never imagined a story like Joseph’s.

I’ll spare you the lesson this time.

I love Bartimaeus’ attitude.

May we have that level of desperation for Jesus.

anyone could be in ministry.

It is critical that we reach them with a faith that is honest and alive.

Does God change His mind?

I met someone yesterday who was full of it –

Full of joy,

Full of hope,

Full of grace,

Full of the Holy Spirit.

But God intervened.

Turn it over to the Master Potter. He will create a masterpiece out of you.

I love science.

That makes honest science exciting!

That was the closest I ever got to thinking I might die.

In those cases, we do well to rely on Him the one who can raise the dead.

I would say that it was that very lack of trust and confidence that was the undoing of his rule.

Sometimes it’s our lack of trust in God that holds us back from accomplishing all that He has for us.