Walk in the Light

Friday – Prophets

October 31st, 2025

Reading – Lamentations 4

Highlight Verse:

“We looked in vain for our allies to come and save us, but we were looking to nations that could not help us.”
‭‭Lamentations‬ ‭4‬:‭17‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Years ago, I moved my mom from Illinois to here in the Denver area.

She didn’t have all that much stuff. It fit easily in a small rental moving truck. A few of her relatives helped us load it up.

I looked forward to the help from the several people who said to give them I a call when we back and they would help us.

When we got here, each helper backed out except one high school student.

We got her moved in, but it was a long frustrating day.

I don’t blame the people who couldn’t help. I will assume that each of their excuses were valid. No grudges here.

But it gave me a tiny taste of what the Israelites went through.

They put their trust in nations that had their own purposes in mind instead of the God whose purpose was to protect and prosper them.

How often do we do that?

We look for satisfaction to things that only demand more from us.

We give our devotion to ideas that make us feel good but offer no substance.

We ignore the creator of the universe because the lies of the destroyer feel better to us.

For the Israelites, it took the exile to come back to a place of devotion to God.

For many, it takes hitting rock bottom to turn to the rescuing arm of the Savior.

The wise course is to place your trust on the only one who is truly one hundred percent on your side.

On whom have you placed your trust?
What did it take to get you there?
October 30, 2025

October 30th, 2025

Thursday – Letters

Reading – 2 Thessalonians 1-3

Highlight Verse:

“Then the man of lawlessness will be revealed, but the Lord Jesus will slay him with the breath of his mouth and destroy him by the splendor of his coming.”
‭‭2 Thessalonians‬ ‭2‬:‭8‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Discussion of the end times brings anxiety to many, me included.

There is so much that is difficult to understand about end times prophecy.

So many different interpretations exist about those prophecies.

But for me, this verse sums up the most important thing I need to know about the end.

Jesus will be victorious.

In fact, all it will take for Him to beat the devil’s schemes is His breath and His presence.

I, for one, want to be on the winning team and I know for sure which side that is.

What is your greatest fear about the end times?
What are you looking forward to the most?
October 29, 2025

October 29th, 2025

Wednesday – History

Reading – 2 Samuel 17-18

Highlight Verse:

“During the battle, Absalom happened to come upon some of David’s men. He tried to escape on his mule, but as he rode beneath the thick branches of a great tree, his hair got caught in the tree. His mule kept going and left him dangling in the air.”
‭‭2 Samuel‬ ‭18‬:‭9‬ ‭NLT‬‬

If it weren’t for the macabre scene to follow, this verse would be hilarious.

When you take a look at the whole story, it borders on bizarre.

You can’t make this stuff up (more proof the Bible is real).

And that is what real life looks like.

Okay, hopefully you haven’t been royally betrayed by your son who proceeded to do all sorts of heinous things to spite you.

But humans are unpredictable, illogical and selfish.

You will be offended by what some people do or say.

You will be betrayed by others.

At times, you will react unwisely to what they do to you or what gets done to them.

Just ask David.

He had to deal with humanity in himself and those around him.

Sometimes he failed.

But he never failed to turn back to God.

When those around us start acting a little too “human,” or you do the same, remember that David always turned back to God.

He looked forward to the redemption that was to come through Jesus.

On this side of Jesus sacrifice it should be easy to trust the God who helps us survive our humanity.

What was your initial reaction to Absalom’s demise?
If you were in David’s shoes, how would you have reacted to the news of Absalom’s death?
October 28, 2025

October 28th, 2025

Tuesday – Pentateuch

Reading – Exodus 19-20

Highlight Verse:

““Don’t be afraid,” Moses answered them, “for God has come in this way to test you, and so that your fear of him will keep you from sinning!””
‭‭Exodus‬ ‭20‬:‭20‬ ‭NLT

Halloween is this Friday here in the US.

All around are images of fear and evil.

In the Bible, that’s kind of upside down.

Here Moses tells us not to be afraid but to fear God.

In the context here, that means to not be anxious about the thunder on the mountain but respect God to the point where you wouldn’t consider doing anything against His plans.

That concept repeats it self in several situations throughout the Bible.

As for us today, we can be confident in our stand against evil when we have complete faith in God.

So, when evil images pop up around you trying to scare you into the spirit of fear that seems to surround Halloween, know that when you walk in fellowship with God, there is nothing to fear but God, and he is always working for your good.

What is your take on the atmosphere of fear that surrounds Halloween?
What method do you employ to combat that fear?
October 27, 2025

October 27th, 2025

Monday – Gospels

Reading – Matthew 15-16

Highlight Verse:

“Why can’t you understand that I’m not talking about bread? So again I say, ‘Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.’””
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭16‬:‭11‬ ‭NLT‬‬

It’s easy to look at the disciples and judge them for being dense.

But every now and then, I’ll read a passage or hear a sermon, and something dislodges in my brain, revealing truth I didn’t understand before.

The disciples were with Jesus in person, and they didn’t grasp everything He taught them.

I have the advantage of 2000 years of commentaries and teachers expounding on God’s Word.

But, let’s face it, all that can make it even more difficult to understand.

I’ve said before that I know there will be ideas I hold that will be corrected when I arrive in heaven.

That should not be an excuse to stop learning while I’m still here on Earth.

I need to recognize that there is still much for me to learn and be open to the Holy Spirit chipping away the blocks in my mind that keep me from understanding.

If I am open to the work of the Holy Spirit teaching me, I will understand God better and be able to share about Him more.

Have you ever read a passage or listened to a sermon and stopped listening because you were sure you already had a complete understanding of that subject?
Do you think God could teach you more if you stayed open to what the Holy Spirit has to say to you?
What has the Holy Spirit had to correct in your theology in the past?
October 25, 2025

October 26th, 2025

Sunday – Poetry

Reading – Psalms 130-133

Highlight Verse:

“I long for the Lord more than sentries long for the dawn, yes, more than sentries long for the dawn.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭130‬:‭6‬ ‭NLT‬‬

What moves you to seriously strong anticipation?

I’ve never been a sentry, but I recall awaiting the warmth of daylight in a cold tent.

If you are a student, maybe you watch the clock awaiting that final bell that dismisses school.

Likewise, if you get off work at 5pm, you watch the clock seem to slow down around 4:45.

We all have things we anticipate with a longing hope that takes over our thoughts.

This song was designed to build that anticipation as the faithful journey to Jerusalem to worship.

Do you have that longing when you are heading to church?

Don’t worry, most people don’t.

But maybe we should.

True worship can bring great joy.

Learning from the Word of God can satisfy curiosity and bring confidence and purity.

Fellowship with other believers can satisfy the need for companionship and provide much need support.

These and many other things are good reasons to approach church gatherings with great anticipation.

What do you look forward to the most when you are heading to church?
Is there anything that hinders your anticipation of church?
October 25, 2025

October 25th, 2025

Saturday – Open Topic

Reading – John 14:1-14

Highlight Verses:

“There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am.”
‭‭John‬ ‭14‬:‭2‬-‭3‬ ‭NLT‬‬

TobyMac recently released the official music video for the song “Heaven on My Mind.”

You may want to watch it before you read on – spoilers ahead.

In it, people get to meet those who went on to heaven before them.

That got me wondering if that is how it happens.

I admit, I hope so. Scripture is not perfectly clear.

One thing I do know is that all those who trust in Jesus will be with Him in the Father’s house.

That must be an amazingly large house because Jesus said there was more than enough room for all believers there and that He was preparing a place for us there.

I have questions.

Many questions.

But when I get to heaven, all will be clear (1 Corinthians 13:12).

I believe from that clarity and all believers being in one place that we will see our loved ones who enter heaven before us.

While that will be wonderful, I believe that joy will pale in comparison to the joy of being in God’s presence.

Who are you looking forward to seeing in heaven?
Who do you want to bring with you? Not at the same time unless the rapture comes first, be nice 🙂
October 24, 2025

October 24th, 2025

Friday – Prophets

Reading – Lamentations 3

Highlight Verses:

“Yet I still dare to hope when I remember this: The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning.”
‭‭Lamentations‬ ‭3‬:‭21‬-‭23‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I have fond memories of the hymn based on these verses.

Verse 22 was the theme throughout the summer that I ran sound at Mount Hermon Christian Conference Center back in the ‘80s.

I heard that hymn so many times that it is ingrained into the fabric of my mind.

That’s a good thing.

But then, most of us sing this hymn with no thought to the context.

The author proclaims a long list of complaints about the exile of Israel to Babylon.

It was a hopeless time for Israel.

In the middle of the long list of bad news sits this little treasure chest of encouragement.

Israel needed it desperately.

Sometimes we do too.

While most of us haven’t been exiled, we all still have difficult days, weeks, months.

In our best days and our worst, God is our hope.

In the midst of our worst trials, He is faithful.

On the darkest mornings, His mercies still arrive anew.

What is your favorite hymn or song to remind you of God’s faithfulness?
How have you seen God’s faithfulness show up in dark times?
October 23, 2025

October 23rd, 2025

Thursday – Letters

Reading – 1 Thessalonians 3-5

Highlight Verses:

“Do not stifle the Holy Spirit. Do not scoff at prophecies, but test everything that is said. Hold on to what is good. Stay away from every kind of evil.”
‭‭1 Thessalonians‬ ‭5‬:‭19‬-‭22‬ ‭NLT‬‬

For a change, I highlighted four verses.

Together, they make one unified thought.

How is it that people stifle the Holy Spirit?

Four ways are listed right there:
• Making fun of prophecies.
• Accepting or rejecting prophetic ideas without testing them against the Bible.
• Letting go of the good.
• Welcoming evil.

To keep from stifling the Holy Spirit:
• Respect prophetic attempts.
• Test those prophecies to make sure they are Biblical.
• Learn from those prophecies that agree with the Bible.
• Reject evil.

I once was given a prophecy that, in essence, was rooted in evil.

I didn’t know what to do with it, so I sought advice from a trusted wise friend.

He simply asked me if the message agreed with the principles of the Bible.

I checked. The so-called prophecy was rooted in fear and gossip, not Biblical wisdom.

I embraced the good that I learned from testing that prophecy against the Bible. I released the fear and gossipy nature of it and stuck to Biblical principles.

I also accepted the fact that I am as imperfect as those people who brought the “prophecy” to me in error.

I honestly don’t remember if I brought my concerns to my prophetic friends.

But I learned the importance in checking everything by the principles of the Bible, whether I am receiving or giving advice or guidance.

With this scripture and my experience in mind, I urge you to check prophecies with the Bible. If they are Biblical, do not hesitate to accept or give them depending on whether you are on the receiving or giving side.

No matter how good or bad they are, learn from them in accordance with what the Bible has to say.

Have you been on the receiving end of an inaccurate prophecy? How did you deal with it?
If you have been used in prophecy, how did you check to be sure it was correct?
October 22, 2025

October 22nd, 2025

Wednesday – History

Reading – 2 Samuel 15-16

Highlight Verse:

“Then Absalom would say, “You’ve really got a strong case here! It’s too bad the king doesn’t have anyone to hear it.”
‭‭2 Samuel‬ ‭15‬:‭3‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I used to be more into politics.

I once backed a candidate who was very honest (a rare bird indeed).

He had some great ideas and would have had a very positive impact on our state as Lieutenant Governor.

His opponent had more money and flooded the state with lies and exaggerations.

Our candidate stayed honest and polite.

Election Day wasn’t that pleasant for us that year.

Absalom reminds me of the opponents of our candidate.

You gotta admit he was intelligent.

But he used that intelligence and persuasive power to win enough support to take over the kingdom through deception.

But the lies were empty, and his intelligence didn’t translate well to running a country.

In the end…, well, let’s save that for another day.

Let’s just say it’s far better to stay honest and to align yourself with honest people.

That doesn’t mean that honest people don’t have tough times. But, in the end, integrity will win out.

When has honesty and integrity helped you succeed?
When have you seen the dishonest come to shame?

But it gave me a tiny taste of what the Israelites went through.

We ignore the creator of the universe because the lies of the destroyer feel better to us.

The wise course is to place your trust on the only one who is truly one hundred percent on your side.

Discussion of the end times brings anxiety to many, me included.

But for me, this verse sums up the most important thing I need to know about the end.

Jesus will be victorious.

If it weren’t for the macabre scene to follow, this verse would be hilarious.

But humans are unpredictable, illogical and selfish.

On this side of Jesus sacrifice it should be easy to trust the God who helps us survive our humanity.

In the Bible, that’s kind of upside down.

As for us today, we can be confident in our stand against evil when we have complete faith in God.

It’s easy to look at the disciples and judge them for being dense.

That should not be an excuse to stop learning while I’m still here on Earth.

If I am open to the work of the Holy Spirit teaching me, I will understand God better and be able to share about Him more.

What moves you to seriously strong anticipation?

Do you have that longing when you are heading to church?

These and many other things are good reasons to approach church gatherings with great anticipation.

That got me wondering if that is how it happens.

But when I get to heaven, all will be clear (1 Corinthians 13:12).

While that will be wonderful, I believe that joy will pale in comparison to the joy of being in God’s presence.

But then, most of us sing this hymn with no thought to the context.

Israel needed it desperately.

Sometimes we do too.

On the darkest mornings, His mercies still arrive anew.

No matter how good or bad they are, learn from them in accordance with what the Bible has to say.

Election Day wasn’t that pleasant for us that year.

But the lies were empty, and his intelligence didn’t translate well to running a country.

Let’s just say it’s far better to stay honest and to align yourself with honest people.