Walk in the Light

May 18, 2025

May 18th, 2025

Sunday – Poetry

Reading – Psalms 59-61

Highlight Verse:

“for you are my safe refuge, a fortress where my enemies cannot reach me.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭61‬:‭3‬ ‭NLT‬‬

David was serious when he wrote this Psalm.

God offers impenetrable protection for His children.

We need not fear the enemy!

Over the years of teaching kids and youth about God, I’ve found that many fear demons and the devil.

I always reassure them that as long as we dwell in the shelter of God, we have no need to fear evil.

The powers of darkness may attack but they have no power against me unless I give it to them.

I choose not to.

How do you deal with the attacks of the enemy?
Do evil things inspire fear in you? How do you deal with that fear?
May 17, 2025

May 17th, 2025

Saturday – Open Topic

Reading – Psalm 112

Highlight Verse:

“They do not fear bad news; they confidently trust the Lord to care for them.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭112‬:‭7‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Bad news.

We’ve all had our share.

The expensive repair.
The painful diagnosis.
A friend’s betrayal.
The loss of a loved one.

Sometimes the news is saddening.
Sometimes devastating.

To say it will all work for the better is misleading and hurtful at best.

How can we live out this verse?

Trust that God is sovereign and compassionate before the bad news comes.

Know that terrible news comes to each of us.

The feelings of grief and anger and hopelessness are inevitable.

But so is the faithfulness of God that will outlast every feeling and doubt no matter how strong.

Trust and love Him with all your heart soul mind and strength and He will see you through it.

How have you gotten through bad news in the past?Are you in the midst of bad news now? Let us share in your struggle.
May 16th, 2025

Friday – Prophets

Reading – Isaiah 58-60

Highlight Verse:

“All nations will come to your light; mighty kings will come to see your radiance.”
‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭60‬:‭3‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I love the full moon.

I’ve admired the moon over majestic snowy mountains, across shimmering harbors, and filtering down through autumn leaves.

It always inspires me.

But the moon would be nothing but a big dark rock without the sun’s light to reflect.

The light this verse refers to is the glory of God (v. 1 and 2).

We were meant to reflect that light.

So how do we shine the brightest?

Don’t let anything block the light.
• Sin
• Selfishness
• Pride, etc.

And do what you can to magnify it.
• Love
• Charity
• A servant heart, etc.

When we truly shine with God’s light, we will not only dispel the darkness but also attract those who need the light.

How have you seen God’s light reflected well?
What have you seen that blocked that light?
May 15, 2025

May 15th, 2025

Thursday – Letters

Reading – 1 Corinthians 7-8

Highlight Verses:

“Anyone who claims to know all the answers doesn’t really know very much. But the person who loves God is the one whom God recognizes.”
‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭8‬:‭2‬-‭3‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I tend to be a “know it all” or at least act like one.

I like trivia.

I’m an information geek, addicted to YouTube for car shows and history and travel documentaries.

And I love the Bible.

I can’t always quote chapter and verse, but I can usually get you close.

I like to say that I have a photographic memory – but I sometimes run out of film (storage memory for you young folks).

But no matter how much I can stuff into this brain and recall at will, it all means nothing!

What really matters is love.

Love God! (v. 3)
Love people! (v.13)

It can be said that knowing the Bible helps you love people by leading them to Jesus.

That’s true, but we have to guard against knowledge replacing love as the goal.

How do you balance loving God and people with learning more about God?
Does learning about other things help you to love God and people?
I would say it can. Prove me right or wrong.
May 14, 2025

May 14th, 2025

Wednesday – History

Reading – Ruth 3-4

Highlight Verse:

“After Boaz had finished eating and drinking and was in good spirits, he lay down at the far end of the pile of grain and went to sleep. Then Ruth came quietly, uncovered his feet, and lay down.”
‭‭Ruth‬ ‭3‬:‭7‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Why on earth would Ruth uncover Boaz’s feet?

It seems like such a strange gesture.

Some have even suggested that she was coming on to him sexually.

I believe his response proves them wrong.

I did a little research (thanks to EnduringWord dot com) and found that in this gesture, she was making herself available to be his servant.

That is supported by her words proclaiming herself his servant.

There are many other subtleties in this chapter that I don’t have time to go into.

Suffice it to say that Ruth shows a great example of humility here while Boaz responds with great integrity and respect.

How can we show humility in our relationships?
How about integrity and respect?
May 13, 2025

May 13th, 2025

Tuesday – Pentateuch

Reading – Genesis 31-32

Highlight Verse:

“He has reduced our rights to those of foreign women. And after he sold us, he wasted the money you paid him for us.”
‭‭Genesis‬ ‭31‬:‭15‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I find it ironic that Rachel and Leah are complaining about being sold by their father to the man who bought them.

Reading between the lines, it appears that Jacob treated them much better than their father Laban did.

The very fact that Rachel and Leah felt free to say, “That’s fine with us!” (v.14) shows that Jacob respected them.

What I find sad in this whole story is how Laban made his daughters and son-in-law feel like they didn’t belong in the family.

From his speech later in the chapter, it’s evident that Laban did not see anything wrong with his actions and attitude toward Jacob and his daughters.

I pray that I would never be so blind as to make my extended family feel that disrespected.

If you have grown children and children-in-law, how do you keep them feeling welcome?
If you are younger adults, how do your parents and in-laws make you feel?
How do you positively contribute to those relationships?
May 12, 2025

May 12th, 2025

Monday – Gospels

Reading – John 20-21

Highlight Verse:

“Simon Peter said, “I’m going fishing.” “We’ll come, too,” they all said. So they went out in the boat, but they caught nothing all night.”
‭‭John‬ ‭21‬:‭3‬ ‭NLT‬‬

There’s not a lot of detail before this story. We know that Jesus already appeared to the disciples. Apparently, some time had passed, and the disciples had been waiting.

Peter got impatient.

Maybe they were running out of food or money.

Maybe they were just bored.

But Peter said I’m fishing, and the others followed his lead back to their old profession.

It might have been the wrong thing to do.

They probably should have had more faith and patience.

But Jesus met them where they were, though He had to get their attention through the fish.

He then went out of His way to make sure that Peter felt forgiven from his denials (ch 18) and that knew he was to lead Jesus’ followers.

Sometimes we miss the path that God set before us.

We may not be doing anything bad, but God might have a better path for us.

Rest assured that He will meet us where we are and guide us to where we should be.

We have only to listen and trust.

What course corrections has God made in your life?
What did it take to get your attention?
May 11, 2025

May 11th, 2025

Sunday – Poetry

Reading – Psalms 56-58

Highlight Verse:

“I praise God for what he has promised. I trust in God, so why should I be afraid? What can mere mortals do to me?”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭56‬:‭4‬ ‭NLT‬‬

When I was young, I feared a lot of things.
• What do people think about me?
• What if I get lost?
• Is someone going at attack me?
• Will I get in a car wreck?

When I read this verse, I had to think about when the last time I had any fear.

I don’t fear often now but my fears mostly happen when one of my children or my wife is late getting home.

Then there’s the fear of any of my children not finding salvation in time – a very real possibility at this point.

As much as those are concerns to me, there is one in this household whose concern for our children is even stronger.

A mother’s love goes deeper than life itself.

She fears for her children every day and intercedes on their behalf constantly.

And if you try to harm her children, you’d better fear!

My mom has been in heaven for almost 5 years now.

With that in mind, I would urge those of you who still have their moms around to show her your appreciation today while you have her around.

Letting her know you’re doing well might help her feel better too.
May 10, 2025

May 10th, 2025

Saturday – Open topic

Reading – Genesis 2:1-3

Highlight Verse:

“On the seventh day God had finished his work of creation, so he rested from all his work.”
‭‭Genesis‬ ‭2‬:‭2‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I had a busy week with a lot of physical activity.

When Friday morning came, my body said, “I don’t think so.”

Since I didn’t have anything I needed to do in person, I decided to take the day off after a morning online meeting.

Then the workaholic kicked in and I spent over half the day getting some computer work done, but at least I gave my body a break.

Seriously, I have always had a tendency to overdo it.

As I age, I realize more and more the importance of giving my body and mind a break.

God’s standard for rest is one day a week.

In recent years I’ve been more consistent in getting that rest.

I also believe the precedent set in the Old Testament for consistent worship with others on that day off is still valid today.

If it worked for God and the people of Israel, why shouldn’t it work for me?

Do you get the rest God commanded us to take?
Have you been able to work in group worship time each week too?
May 9, 2025

May 9th, 2025

Friday – Prophets

Reading – Isaiah 55-57

Highlight Verse:

““My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.”
‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭55‬:‭8‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I’d like to think that I’ve gotten close enough to God to understand His thoughts.

But then, when I first read this chapter, my thoughts went something like, “Ooh, free food and drink.”

My perspective is so tied to this physical life that I often totally miss God’s perspective.

My limited perspective makes completely understanding God impossible.

My best bet is to follow the advice of verse 3 and listen with my ears wide open to what God would want me to hear.

Have you been able to get glimpses of God’s perspective?
How did it differ from your perspective?

David was serious when he wrote this Psalm.

The powers of darkness may attack but they have no power against me unless I give it to them.

I choose not to.

Bad news.

How can we live out this verse?

But so is the faithfulness of God that will outlast every feeling and doubt no matter how strong.

I love the full moon.

We were meant to reflect that light.

When we truly shine with God’s light, we will not only dispel the darkness but also attract those who need the light.

I tend to be a “know it all” or at least act like one.

And I love the Bible.

Love God! (v. 3)Love people! (v.13)

Why on earth would Ruth uncover Boaz’s feet?

I believe his response proves them wrong.

Suffice it to say that Ruth shows a great example of humility here while Boaz responds with great integrity and respect.

I find it ironic that Rachel and Leah are complaining about being sold by their father to the man who bought them.

What I find sad in this whole story is how Laban made his daughters and son-in-law feel like they didn’t belong in the family.

I pray that I would never be so blind as to make my extended family feel that disrespected.

Peter got impatient.

But Jesus met them where they were, though He had to get their attention through the fish.

Rest assured that He will meet us where we are and guide us to where we should be.

As much as those are concerns to me, there is one in this household whose concern for our children is even stronger.

With that in mind, I would urge those of you who still have their moms around to show her your appreciation today while you have her around.

When Friday morning came, my body said, “I don’t think so.”

As I age, I realize more and more the importance of giving my body and mind a break.

If it worked for God and the people of Israel, why shouldn’t it work for me?

But then, when I first read this chapter, my thoughts went something like, “Ooh, free food and drink.”

My best bet is to follow the advice of verse 3 and listen with my ears wide open to what God would want me to hear.

Love God! (v. 3)
Love people! (v.13)