Walk in the Light

November 20, 2025

November 20th, 2025

Thursday – Letters

Reading – 1 Timothy 3

Highlight Verse:

“These things I write to you, though I hope to come to you shortly; but if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.”
‭‭I Timothy‬ ‭3‬:‭14‬-‭15‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

A pillar moment

is a time when God moved in such a way that the people came away encouraged, empowered, and anointed. In the Old Testament, God had the people erect pillars so they could look and remember the great ways that God changed them.

This word stood out to me because we recently became involved in a new church plant named, you guessed it, Pillar Church.

The mission of our church is to be a place where those pillar moments happen every week.

Regardless of where we attend church, we should go anticipating the movement of God to change our lives.

When we are willing to accept the Holy Spirit’s involvement in our lives, we not only have those moments at church, but we bring them home. It is then that we get the joy of seeing God move in every part of our lives and the lives of those around us.

Whether that sounds wonderful and too radical, try it.

If you trust God, how bad could it be?

Are you challenged when you attend a church service?
Are you open to taking on those challenges and letting God change you?
November 19, 2025

November 19th, 2025

Wednesday – History

Reading – 2 Samuel 23-24

Highlight Verse:

““Take it, my Lord the king, and use it as you wish,” Araunah said to David. “Here are oxen for the burnt offering, and you can use the threshing boards and ox yokes for wood to build a fire on the altar.”
‭‭2 Samuel‬ ‭24‬:‭22‬ ‭NLT‬‬

This passage raises two glaring questions for me.

Who is Araunah and why did he act so generously toward David?

The passage points out that he was a Jebusite.

In other words, he was a resident of Jebus, the city on that site before Jerusalem came.

So, he was one of the people who were conquered by the Israelites when they took over the city a couple decades prior. He was a Canaanite.

He was not only allowed to stay but was treated with respect by King David.

Why was he generous?

Some would say it was out of fear of King David. In fact, that was my first impression.

Then I realized that he knew the importance of the sacrifices that needed to be made at his threshing floor.

He was a true believer in God.

He was willing to give whatever was needed to please God.

We all know the story of David saying that he wouldn’t sacrifice that which cost him nothing.

It was his wrongdoing. It had to be his sacrifice to correct it.

Araunah understood and accepted David’s payment.

What is the takeaway from this passage?

I believe Araunah would teach us the importance of sacrificial faith even in the face of great loss.

He would also teach us to be sensitive to the needs of others, even when they are unusual.

Have you ever been faced with the decision to give sacrificially?
Did you go through with it, or did God provide another way?
November 18, 2025

November 18th, 2025

Tuesday – Pentateuch

Reading – Exodus 24-25

Highlight Verse:

“Then Moses took the blood from the basins and splattered it over the people, declaring, “Look, this blood confirms the covenant the Lord has made with you in giving you these instructions.””
‭‭Exodus‬ ‭24‬:‭8‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Today I’m thankful modern worship.

Frankly, this verse gave me nightmares as a child.

But in a world where animal sacrifice was a common practice, it would not have seemed nearly as disgusting.

I imagine it would have been at least a little disturbing.

By disturbing, I mean it got people’s attention. It illustrated their need for forgiveness and highlighted the seriousness of sin.

Of course, it also foretold the sacrifice Jesus would make at the cross.

Now that the sacrifice is complete once and for all, the need for animal blood is over and our worship can concentrate accepting his sacrifice and on thanking and praising God for who He is and all He has done.

Is there a part of Old Testament worship that was disturbing to you?
What is your favorite part of worship today?
November 17, 2025

November 17th, 2025

Monday – Gospels

Reading – Matthew 21

Highlight Verse:

“Jesus entered the Temple and began to drive out all the people buying and selling animals for sacrifice. He knocked over the tables of the money changers and the chairs of those selling doves.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭21‬:‭12‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Today I’m thankful for holy anger.

You could call it righteous indignation.

I’m not talking about the kind the indignation that keeps people hanging on to empty traditions.

I’m also not calling all traditions empty.

I am talking about the holy anger that Luther used against the corrupt practices of the church of his day.

That same kind of anger banished slavery.

Later, Luther’s namesake, Martin Luther King, Jr. brought it to bear against racial discrimination.

Jesus’ anger was not based on selfish desires but on true devotion to the Father that could not bear to see people using God to profit instead of truly worship.

While none of us have the direct authority that Jesus had in overturning the tables, we do have the responsibility to bring to light the injustices and corruption that we come across.

I write this not to sow division in the church. Instead,

I hope to help us find the best way to accomplish the purpose of bringing people to encounter and follow Jesus.

If we are doing things that drive people away from finding Jesus, that’s when I get angry.

What have you seen believers do that drives people away?
What can we do to correct those things?
November 16, 2025

November 16th, 2025

Sunday – Poetry

Reading – Psalms 140-143

Highlight Verses:

“O Lord, rescue me from evil people. Protect me from those who are violent, those who plot evil in their hearts and stir up trouble all day long.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭140‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭NLT

Today I’m thankful for protection against evil.

‬‬I like to find the good in people.

That doesn’t always work.

Consider this – at one point, fully a third of the world’s population was guilty of murder.

Of course there were only 3 people on Earth, but that’s because Cain murdered Abel.

Not a very auspicious beginning.

Sure, the murder rate is nowhere that high anymore, but the honest truth is, we all have a tendency toward evil.

Many mask that evil behind masks of relativism (I’m not as bad as them) or tolerance (I was made this way so you’re no better than me).

The only true way to defeat evil is through the sacrifice of Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit.

We are all drawn toward evil, but the sacrifice of Jesus rescued us from that evil.

The Holy Spirit supplies power that makes overcoming evil possible.

What do you do to avoid evil people?
How have you seen God protect you from evil?
November 15, 2025

November 15th, 2025

Saturday – Open Topic

Reading – Philippians 4:10-20

Highlight Verse:

“And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.”
‭‭Philippians‬ ‭4‬:‭19‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Today I am thankful for the same thing as the original pilgrims – God’s provision.

I’ve never been wealthy by American standards.

In fact, I’ve been terribly close to broke on multiple occasions.

But I’ve never gone truly hungry nor have I had to declare bankruptcy.

Every time I’ve wondered how I was going to pay the bills, God has worked things out for me. Sometimes with extra work, sometimes with the generosity of people around me, sometimes with mysterious unexpected provision. Occasionally, a little financial wisdom has come in handy.

While I don’t want to make this about generosity, I must share that the best blessing has been giving consistently even when the budget seems impossible.

God has honored every gift we have given with provision – not always like we expected but always what has worked out the best.

While we are reasonably comfortable now, the lessons I’ve learned throughout my life make me confident that God will provide for the rest of our lives.

In what ways has God brought unexpected provision to you?
Do you trust Him to provide today?
November 14, 2025

November 14th, 2025

Friday – Prophets

Reading – Ezekiel 1-3

“From what appeared to be his waist up, he looked like gleaming amber, flickering like a fire. And from his waist down, he looked like a burning flame, shining with splendor.”
‭‭Ezekiel‬ ‭1‬:‭27‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Is this what God looks like?

Ezekiel’s visions are pretty incredible. He described living beings with, shall we say, very interesting details.

He goes on to describe God like He was on fire.

Was this a product of his imagination?
Is this what God looks like?
Does this description fit with other descriptions of God in the Bible?

In the New Testament, we have good descriptions of God in the form of Jesus.

While Ezekiel’s vision seems a little fantastical, I don’t doubt that He appeared to Ezekiel in that form.

This is what Ezekiel needed to see and how the exiles needed Him described.

Outside of Jesus, most Biblical descriptions of God say that His glory was too much to view.

Perhaps Ezekiel gets the welder’s mask view.

But the view of God in the New Testament is a God with us.

Jesus was both human and God, able to relate to his disciples, hang out with them, and lead them in a very personal way.

God may be radiant beyond comprehension, but He is also personal.

Through Christ’s sacrifice, we are able to be in His presence, with reverence and relationship.

Is your vision of God one of blazing radiance or personal familiarity?
What kind of vision of Him do you think God would want you to see today?

Today I am thankful that God wants to have a personal relationship with me and you.
November 13, 2025

November 13th, 2025

Thursday – Letters

Reading – 1 Timothy 2

Highlight Verse:

“I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them.”
‭‭1 Timothy‬ ‭2‬:‭1‬ ‭NLT‬‬

The thing I love about the letters to Timothy is we get to sit in on the lessons between the master evangelist, Paul, and his best student, Timothy.

If the master evangelist puts the top priority on praying for people, maybe we should listen.

Today I’m thankful for the many people God has put in my life – my wife and family, my friends, those who have mentored me, coworkers both in Christ and in my earthly job, the students I’ve worked with in the past present and future, and anyone else who may fall within my sphere of influence.

I pray that I may be a positive influence on their lives and an instrument of God to help them.

Who are you thankful for?
How would you like to influence them?
Note: I kept this short so you can have more time to pray for these people.
November 12, 2025

November 12th, 2025

Wednesday – History

Reading – 2 Samuel 21-22

Highlight Verses:

“He sang: “The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety. He is my refuge, my savior, the one who saves me from violence.”
‭‭2 Samuel‬ ‭22‬:‭2‬-‭3‬ ‭NLT‬‬

This Psalm of David is inserted here near the end of his life.

David looked back over his life and saw all the times God stepped in and protected him.

As a warrior king, those times were numerous.

And for that, David gave thanks.

I wouldn’t say I’m near the end of my life but I’ve lived long enough to be thankful for the Lord’s protection and provision.

There was the time at age 14 when I foolishly rode my bike from San Mateo to San Francisco and back, passing through dangerous neighborhoods, a protest at City Hall, and exposure to traffic.

Or the time a semi truck came around a curve in my lane on a narrow two lane highway in the mountains of North Carolina. I firmly believe God guided my little car right into that tiny space next to the guard rail as the truck flew past.

Or when my van’s engine blew up late at night on the Pennsylvania Turnpike as I was moving here to Colorado. God provided everything I needed to complete the move.

These are a tiny sampling of the times when God stepped in and protected and provided for me. I’m sure there were many more I never knew about.

For all of them, I am eternally thankful.

When in your history has God protected or provided for you far beyond normal?
How can we all show our thanks for these instances?
November 11, 2025

November 11th, 2025

Tuesday – Pentateuch

Reading – Exodus 23

Highlight Verses:

““If you come upon your enemy’s ox or donkey that has strayed away, take it back to its owner. If you see that the donkey of someone who hates you has collapsed under its load, do not walk by. Instead, stop and help.”
‭‭Exodus‬ ‭23‬:‭4‬-‭5‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I once ticked off a coworker inadvertently.

It’s a long irrelevant story but, suffice it to say, he did everything he could to snub me and undermine me at work.

While I couldn’t fully understand his reasoning, I made an effort to be friendly and helpful whenever I could.

It took over a year, but eventually, we were on friendly terms.

I wouldn’t call us besties but, in the end, we got along pretty well.

I don’t know if that is exactly what these verses are talking about.

I do know that God wants us to treat everyone with respect and generosity.

Everyone.

Including those we don’t get along with.

Maybe especially those we don’t get along with.

Both Jesus and Paul confirmed this in the New Testament. (Matthew 5:44, Romans 12:20).

Is there someone who could use your help that you have been avoiding?
What would happen if you started helping them?

A pillar moment

Regardless of where we attend church, we should go anticipating the movement of God to change our lives.

Whether that sounds wonderful and too radical, try it.

Who is Araunah and why did he act so generously toward David?

He was willing to give whatever was needed to please God.

Today I’m thankful modern worship.

Today I’m thankful for holy anger.

I am talking about the holy anger that Luther used against the corrupt practices of the church of his day.

I hope to help us find the best way to accomplish the purpose of bringing people to encounter and follow Jesus.

If we are doing things that drive people away from finding Jesus, that’s when I get angry.

Today I’m thankful for protection against evil.

Consider this – at one point, fully a third of the world’s population was guilty of murder.

The only true way to defeat evil is through the sacrifice of Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit supplies power that makes overcoming evil possible.

Today I am thankful for the same thing as the original pilgrims – God’s provision.

God has honored every gift we have given with provision – not always like we expected but always what has worked out the best.

Is this what God looks like?

This is what Ezekiel needed to see and how the exiles needed Him described.

God may be radiant beyond comprehension, but He is also personal.

Today I am thankful that God wants to have a personal relationship with me and you.

The thing I love about the letters to Timothy is we get to sit in on the lessons between the master evangelist, Paul, and his best student, Timothy.

I pray that I may be a positive influence on their lives and an instrument of God to help them.

And for that, David gave thanks.

For all of them, I am eternally thankful.

I once ticked off a coworker inadvertently.

It took over a year, but eventually, we were on friendly terms.

I do know that God wants us to treat everyone with respect and generosity.