Walk in the Light

June 24, 2024

June 24th, 2024

Monday – Gospels and Acts

Reading – Acts 2

Highlight Verse:

“These people are not drunk, as some of you are assuming. Nine o’clock in the morning is much too early for that.”
‭‭Acts of the Apostles‬ ‭2‬:‭15‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Did you ever notice that the first pouring out of the Holy Spirit on the New Testament Church occurred around 9 in the morning?

Why?

Why would Peter even mention the time?

Obviously, we cannot know for certain the reason. But we can conjecture.

The tongues of fire arrived with a great deal of noise.

This was on the day of Pentecost when a large number of people from all over had assembled at Jerusalem.

I would not be surprised if God chose that time of day as a moment when a large number of people were passing nearby.

It is possible that, at any other time, the noise would have been missed.

It wasn’t missed.

God brought the exact right crowd to witness the different languages being spoken through the power of the Holy Spirit.

This was no small crowd. From that crowd and those who heard from them that day, 3000 people were added to the believers!

I have known enough people who just happened to be in the right place at the right time to know that God still works that way today.

The Holy Spirit is still being poured out on the Church.

God is still arranging the timing that the right people would hear the truth.

He is still touching hearts that people may understand and find salvation.

That gives me hope, even for those loved ones who seem to have no hope of salvation.

In that hope I continue to pray.

Do you have that hope?
Will you continue to pray that the Holy Spirit reaches those you love in the way that only God knows how to arrange?
June 23, 2024

June 23rd, 2024

Sunday – Poetry

Reading – Ecclesiastes 9-10

Highlight Verse:

“Using a dull ax requires great strength, so sharpen the blade. That’s the value of wisdom; it helps you succeed.”
‭‭Ecclesiastes‬ ‭10‬:‭10‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I spent most of this morning organizing my workshop in our garage.

I still have a long way to go. It was a hot day, and I don’t yet have my cooler set up in there (another long story) so I quit by noon.

Two large trash bags and a full recycling bin later and it is much more usable.

I was even able to get one quick project done on my now mostly visible workbench.

My workbench had become my dull axe.

Now I can use it to get stuff done without requiring “great strength.”

If you’re wondering, I even got my sprinklers working right.

What are your dull axes?
What would it take to sharpen them?
June 22, 2024

June 22nd, 2024

Saturday – Open topic.

Reading – Proverbs 12:10 and 2 Samuel 12: 1-3

Highlight Verse:

“The godly care for their animals, but the wicked are always cruel.”
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭12‬:‭10‬ ‭NLT‬‬

When Nathan told the story of the poor man with a pet lamb to get David to repent, the concept of pet animals was not foreign to him.

In fact, people have been keeping pets as early as 12,000 years ago.

I don’t know if today’s proverb is about livestock or pets or both.

I do know that people who show kindness to animals are far more likely to show kindness to others.

So, if someone gives you a hard time for spoiling your pet, remind them that you are just practicing being kind for them.

Are you a pet lover?
What has taking care of a pet taught you about taking care of people?
June 21, 2024

June 21st, 2024

Friday – Prophets

Reading – Amos 1-2

Highlight Verse:

“This message was given to Amos, a shepherd from the town of Tekoa in Judah. He received this message in visions two years before the earthquake, when Uzziah was king of Judah and Jeroboam II, the son of Jehoash, was king of Israel.”
‭‭Amos‬ ‭1‬:‭1‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Have you ever had the thought, “I’m just a (insert your occupation here). God’s not going to use me to lead people.”

Well, Amos was just a shepherd.

Shepherds were at the very low end of the socio-economic scale of that culture, not too far above beggars.

Yet, King David started as a shepherd.

And Amos was apparently still a shepherd when these messages came to Him.

But he didn’t let that stop him.

He went on and prophesied anyway.

And the words he wrote made it into the Bible.

The cannon of the Bible has been closed for a long time but that doesn’t mean that God can’t use your words.

How have you seen God use ordinary people around you?
In what ways do you think God want to use you to get His word out?
June 20, 2024

June 20th, 2024

Thursday – Letters

Reading – 1 John 3

Highlight Verse:

“See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are! But the people who belong to this world don’t recognize that we are God’s children because they don’t know him.”
‭‭1 John‬ ‭3‬:‭1‬ ‭NLT‬

I’ve spoken before about the love of the Father for us.

The question is, does the Father love those who don’t recognize Him as their Father?

The obvious answer to me would be that He loves them so much that

it breaks His heart that they don’t recognize Him.

If we are truly God’s children,

it should break our hearts too.

How can we express God’s heart to people so that they can see the love and grace of the Father?
(My answer would be to pray first, love second, talk third.)
How would you put that into action?
June 19, 2024

June 19th, 2024

Wednesday – History

Reading – 2 Chronicles 4-6

Highlight Verse:

“The trumpeters and singers performed together in unison to praise and give thanks to the Lord. Accompanied by trumpets, cymbals, and other instruments, they raised their voices and praised the Lord with these words: “He is good! His faithful love endures forever!” At that moment a thick cloud filled the Temple of the Lord.”
‭‭2 Chronicles‬ ‭5‬:‭13‬ ‭NLT‬‬

In my days as an audio engineer (sound guy) for a large Christian Conference Center, my favorite conference was the Jews for Jesus.

As part of their cultural heritage, they knew how to celebrate.

Worship was like a dance party.

Perhaps that stems from the early days of the nation of Israel as they gained freedom from a life of slavery.

My second favorite group was a large, mostly black church from the nearby large city.

The first time I ran sound for them, I asked if they wanted me to put up microphones for their choir. The worship leader laughed and said they wouldn’t be needing microphones.

He was right.

That was a large auditorium with a lot of exposed rough wood that tended to soak up the sound. Despite that,

the choir was loud and clear

in the back row, and even the porch area outside the open back of that auditorium.

They knew how to worship!

Again, perhaps that stems from a cultural history that celebrates freedom from the bonds of slavery.

As we observe that freedom today, Juneteenth, I suggest we remember the freedom from sin we have been given when we trusted our rescuer, Jesus.

If you don’t know what Juneteenth is, I suggest you look it up.

If you don’t know what freedom from sin is, shoot me a message. Let’s talk!

Have you ever experienced an escape from bondage that you just had to celebrate?
Can you imagine what that June 19th, 1865 was like for the slaves who were set free in Texas?
What do you think that celebration was like?
June 18, 2024

June 17th, 2024

Tuesday – Pentateuch

Reading – Number 15-16

Highlight Verse:

“When you see the tassels, you will remember and obey all the commands of the Lord instead of following your own desires and defiling yourselves, as you are prone to do.”
‭‭Numbers‬ ‭15‬:‭39‬ ‭NLT‬‬

No, I’m not advocating bringing back tassels on clothing (though that could be interesting).

But there are things we can put around us to remind us of the right way to live.

Notice that the purpose of the tassels was not to advertise how holy you are but to give you personal reminders to stay on the right path.

For this reason, the “tassels” we wear in public should draw our attention to God rather than drawing attention to ourselves.

My “tassels” range from the music I choose to start my day with (WAY-FM) or this little sign on the wall by my desk.

One of my favorites was a little polished square of steel in my pocket that reminded me to “stand like steel.”

What are your “tassels”?
What reminds you to keep following God and how do they work for you?
June 17, 2024

June 17th, 2024

Monday – Gospels and Acts

Reading – Acts 1

Highlight Verse:

“Men of Galilee,” they said, “why are you standing here staring into heaven? Jesus has been taken from you into heaven, but someday he will return from heaven in the same way you saw him go!”
‭‭Acts of the Apostles‬ ‭1‬:‭11‬ ‭NLT‬‬

To me, faith has always been about action.

I’m not saying that we shouldn’t spend time worshiping and trying to figure it out like the disciples and apostles were doing in this verse after Jesus ascended into heaven.

In their case, it took a pair of angels to get them to go where they could experience the coming of the Holy Spirit and put the Gospel into action.

Once the Holy Spirit came, the early church spread the truth of the Gospel throughout Jerusalem and beyond. They encouraged each other and supported one another. They demonstrated the love of God in every community they entered.

The Holy Spirit is already here. We should do no less.

Let’s enjoy the worship and seeking after God’s truth. But then let’s get out and share it in words and deeds.

Can you share about a time when you stayed too long in worship and learning without putting the Gospel into action?
What are some ways that you have put your faith into action?
June 16, 2024

June 15th, 2024

Sunday – Poetry

Reading – Ecclesiastes 7-8

Highlight Verse:

“Finishing is better than starting. Patience is better than pride.”
‭‭Ecclesiastes‬ ‭7‬:‭8‬ ‭NLT‬‬

There is a lot of wisdom in today’s reading.

For instance, I still need to finish programming my sprinklers for this season but I haven’t had the patience to figure out the process.

Solomon hit a double for me with today’s highlight verse! (Maybe he should sign for the Rockies, couldn’t hurt this season).

Seriously, I’m pretty good at starting things or at least planning them.

I’m not so good at finishing them.

Often that’s because I don’t exercise enough patience to do something exactly right (and I am a perfectionist).

I’m still learning and I’ll let this verse remind me to follow through on what I start.

What verse in today’s reading brought conviction for you?
What are you going to do about it?
June 15, 2024

June 15th, 2024
Saturday – Open Topic

Reading – Numbers 22:21-41

Highlight Verse:

““But I am the same donkey you have ridden all your life,” the donkey answered. “Have I ever done anything like this before?”
“No,” Balaam admitted.”
‭‭Numbers‬ ‭22‬:‭30‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Today I decided to try to find the funniest story in the Bible.

My wife suggested this one. I agree with her.

Not only is Balaam saved by his donkey, the animal proceeds to explain the situation to him.

I mean, I’d be whipping out my cellphone and recording that conversation!

Yes, I know that cellphones didn’t exist back then, but NEITHER DID TALKING DONKEYS!

Well, except one.

I can’t leave this topic without quoting the song Balaam, that Don Francisco wrote in the late 70s.

The final lines read:

“So when the Lord starts usin’ you
Don’t you pay it any mind.
He could have used the dog next door
If He’d been so inclined.”
- Balaam, ©️1979, Don Francisco
The bottom line is God can use anyone or any thing He chooses.

And sometimes, the funnier, the better.

What do you think the most humorous story of the Bible is?
What have you learned from humor in the Bible?

Did you ever notice that the first pouring out of the Holy Spirit on the New Testament Church occurred around 9 in the morning?

God brought the exact right crowd to witness the different languages being spoken through the power of the Holy Spirit.

In that hope I continue to pray.

I spent most of this morning organizing my workshop in our garage.

My workbench had become my dull axe.

Now I can use it to get stuff done without requiring “great strength.”

I do know that people who show kindness to animals are far more likely to show kindness to others.

So, if someone gives you a hard time for spoiling your pet, remind them that you are just practicing being kind for them.

Well, Amos was just a shepherd.

But he didn’t let that stop him.

The question is, does the Father love those who don’t recognize Him as their Father?

it breaks His heart that they don’t recognize Him.

it should break our hearts too.

Worship was like a dance party.

the choir was loud and clear

If you don’t know what freedom from sin is, shoot me a message. Let’s talk!

But there are things we can put around us to remind us of the right way to live.

For this reason, the “tassels” we wear in public should draw our attention to God rather than drawing attention to ourselves.

To me, faith has always been about action.

The Holy Spirit is already here. We should do no less.

Seriously, I’m pretty good at starting things or at least planning them.

I’m not so good at finishing them.

I’m still learning and I’ll let this verse remind me to follow through on what I start.

Today I decided to try to find the funniest story in the Bible.

The bottom line is God can use anyone or any thing He chooses.

And sometimes, the funnier, the better.