Walk in the Light

June 10, 2024

June 10th, 2024

Monday – Gospels

Reading – Luke 25

Highlight Verse:

““And now I will send the Holy Spirit, just as my Father promised. But stay here in the city until the Holy Spirit comes and fills you with power from heaven.””
‭‭Luke‬ ‭24‬:‭49‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Many years ago, I heard the Holy Spirit explained in a story by a teacher at a conference center I worked at. I cannot remember the man’s name so if anyone knows it, let me know so I can give proper credit.

It goes something like this:

Bob got a brand-new Mercedes, and he brought it to show to his best friend, Dan.

Bob came to the door all covered in sweat and rang the doorbell.

“Hi Bob.”

“Hi Dan,”pant pant, “I brought my new car over to you to show it off.”

“Whoa, that’s cool. But why are you panting and covered with sweat?”

“Well, it’s kinda heavy and you do live at the top of a hill?”

“You mean you pushed it here?”

“Yeah, well, I had to get it here somehow.”

“Don’t you have the key?”
“Of course, how else could I unlock the doors and steer it?”

“Let me see that.” Dan takes the key from Bob and sits in the driver’s seat while Bob gets in the passenger side.

He put the key in the ignition, started the engine, put it in drive and accelerated down the street.

Bob’s eyes got wide. “I didn’t know it could do that!”

You just had to turn the key.

That’s the way many Christians live their lives.

They keep pushing forward under their own power. They’re trying to steer the right direction but without the power of the Holy Spirit, they’re hardly getting anywhere.

Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to unleash His power through His people.

We just need to decide to accept the Holy Spirit to turn on that power.

You may choose to call it the Baptism of the Holy Spirit or just living in the power of the Holy Spirit, but

that power with all the spiritual gifts listed in Paul’s letters (1 Corinthians 12 and 14 to start) is available to every believer.

It is true that with power comes responsibility so please study the gifts before you claim to have them (I have seen them misused). But that is no reason to ignore the power of the Holy Spirit.

Have you seen the Holy Spirit in action?
What are some of the good things you have seen come from the power of the Holy Spirit?
June 9, 2024

June 9th, 2024

Sunday – Poetry

Reading – Ecclesiastes 5-6

Highlight Verse:

“Don’t make rash promises, and don’t be hasty in bringing matters before God. After all, God is in heaven, and you are here on earth. So let your words be few.”
‭‭Ecclesiastes‬ ‭5‬:‭2‬ ‭NLT‬‬

This is a painful verse for a writer like me – even more painful when you consider how much I like to talk.

But then it was written by one of the more prolific writers in the Bible (Solomon).

In context, I believe this passage can be summed up as “you don’t know the big picture so don’t make promises you can’t keep.

I’ve been there. I’ve said I would do something and failed to follow through.

Sometimes outside circumstances intervened.

Sometimes I’ve flaked out.

Every time I should have followed the advice of this verse.

Now, most times, I pray it through and count the cost before I make promises. I still make mistakes but I am learning to keep my mouth shut and let my actions speak louder a little more often.

Have promises you’ve made gotten you into trouble before?
How do you wisely determine what promises to make?
June 8, 2024

June 8th, 2024

Saturday – Open Topic

Reading – Genesis 2

Highlight Verse:

“Then the Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper who is just right for him.””
‭‭Genesis‬ ‭2‬:‭18‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Today is wedding day for my daughter Hannah so

I thought that a peek back to the origin of marriage would be appropriate.

Many would say that the story of Eve coming literally from Adam’s rib was a literal historical account.

I’d say, God could create people however He wanted to and I’m fine with that.

Even if you come from the viewpoint that this story is more poetic than literal, that doesn’t keep it from being true. It was not good for Adam to be alone.

For one thing, none of us would be here if they didn’t have kids.

Though God could have created another way for humans to procreate.

Instead, He made us male and female so that we could raise kids and live life in partnership.

We give each other companionship.

We encourage each other.

We keep each other from doing stupid things(or at least try).

We pour our lives into our children.

Most importantly, we show each other love.

God could have created us however He wanted to, but He chose to make us in His image.

And God is Love! (1 John 4:8)

There is much more I could write about this subject regarding those called to be single or the problems with “pride.” I haven’t forgotten those aspects, but I chose to celebrate marriage today.

If you are married, how many years have you been married (10 for us)?
What secrets can you share for a long happy marriage?
June 7, 2024

June 7th, 2024

Friday – Prophets

Reading – Joel 1-2

Highlight Verse:

“Tell your children about it in the years to come, and let your children tell their children. Pass the story down from generation to generation.”
‭‭Joel‬ ‭1‬:‭3‬ ‭NLT‬‬

We all know that it’s important to pass on the stories of the Bible to the next generation.

In this case, the prophet Joel is urging people to pass on the story of a locust storm that is about to strike Israel.

To him, it is a contemporary event.

What about the stories that happen all around us – the contemporary events that shape our lives.

As any student I’ve taught can tell you, I love to tell of the real stories that have happened in my life to illustrate lessons I’ve learned.

If you’ve been reading this long enough, you know I sometimes use those stories here.

You can bet my kids know most of those stories too.

If we want to pass along our faith to our children, I think it’s important that they see it in action and hear of the stories that made it what it is.

What true stories have you passed along to your kids or to anyone of the next generations?
Can you share one here?
June 6, 2024

June 6th, 2024

Thursday – Letters

Reading – 1 John 1

Highlight Verse:

“We proclaim to you the one who existed from the beginning, whom we have heard and seen. We saw him with our own eyes and touched him with our own hands. He is the Word of life.”
‭‭1 John‬ ‭1‬:‭1‬ ‭NLT‬‬

This is one of those chapters that is so full of good verses that it’s tough to pick just one.

Then I realized that this verse establishes who is writing this.

It’s not just some leader from the early church.

This was John, Jesus’ best friend.

He heard everything that Jesus taught and saw all that he had done during his ministry years.

We should pay attention here.

Of course, pay attention to the whole Bible but here is one who has firsthand knowledge of Jesus.

He’s got some especially good insight.

Which verse(s) in this chapter stood out to you?
Why?
June 5, 2024

June 5th, 2024

Wednesday – History

Reading – 1 Chronicles 28-29

Highlight Verse:

“So now, with God as our witness, and in the sight of all Israel—the Lord’s assembly—I give you this charge. Be careful to obey all the commands of the Lord your God, so that you may continue to possess this good land and leave it to your children as a permanent inheritance.”

1 Chronicles 28:8 NLT

My middle daughter is getting married in just a few days.

That wedding will be a public proclamation of their commitment to each other.

Some things need to be proclaimed publicly.

My daughter and son-in-law will be far more committed to each other if everyone knows they are married.

Solomon and the leaders of Israel were far more likely to follow through with the building of the temple and the worship of God when the entire nation knew what they had committed to doing.

Politicians will be far more committed… uhh… a bit more committed to follow through with something if they proclaim it publicly.

The point is, if it is important, we should make it known in public so that we will be fully committed to following through with what we proclaimed.

In the process, others may see our faithfulness and make some positive commitments of their own.

What kinds of things have you made public in your lives?

What are some other things that should be proclaimed but often are not?
June 4, 2024

June 4th, 2024

Tuesday – Pentateuch

Reading – Numbers 11-12

Highlight Verse:

“But now our appetites are gone. All we ever see is this manna!””
‭‭Numbers‬ ‭11‬:‭6‬ ‭NLT‬‬

On Sunday we were bumped from a flight.

No warning. No explanation. Just a “your flight information has changed.”

Granted, the new flight was a direct instead of connecting.

Still, we would be home and hour and a half later and were already at the airport where then had to wait for nearly 9 hours.

Do I sound like I’m whining?

Kinda like the Israelites were doing in today’s reading.

In the last hour of waiting for our new nearly on time direct flight, we heard the boarding announcement for our previous flight, over 4 hours late. We would have been stuck in Dallas with no connection.

Instead, the airline provided us with the best way home given the circumstances.

God was providing the best for the Israelites but the didn’t like it. So, he gave in to their demands.

They didn’t like that so much either.

God provides what’s best for us through the opportunities he places in our path.

We would do well to accept those opportunities, make the most of them, and be thankful in the midst of them.

On a side note, I feel like I should mention that I don’t believe that abusive situations are God’s best for anyone. In that sort of situation, I believe it is best to ask (beg) God for a way out and to seize that way out when it arises.

What plans has God changed for you that seemed bad at first but turned out good?
In what ways have you provided God’s answer for those in bad situations?
June 3, 2024

June 3rd, 2024

Monday – Gospels

Reading – Luke 23

Highlight Verse:

“Then Jesus shouted, “Father, I entrust my spirit into your hands!” And with those words he breathed his last.”

Luke 23:46 NLT

It’s all about trust.

Even Jesus knew that.

He trusted that the Father knew what He was doing when He came to Earth.

He trusted in the perfect and only plan to rescue humankind.

He trusted enough to allow himself to be arrested and tried.

He never trusted more than at the moment of His death on the cross.

On the third day the tables turned and He rose from the dead.

From then on, He has asked us to trust Him.

Have you?

Do you?
June 2, 2024

June 2nd, 2024

Sunday – Poetry

Reading – Ecclesiastes 3-4

Highlight Verse:

“Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end.”
‭‭Ecclesiastes‬ ‭3‬:‭11‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I think it’s glaringly obvious that we cannot see the whole scope of God’s work.

What we sometimes miss is the fact that “God has made everything beautiful for its own time.”

We get down on ourselves and on our circumstances and forget how temporary they are.

God planted eternity in our hearts, but we dwell on the temporary.

If we could look at everything through the eyes of eternity, we could see how the worst of our troubles are temporary and that good will come from each one.

They may not be good while they are happening, but God can bring good from the worst of circumstances.

Can you think of any good that has come from your past bad circumstances?
How different would your life look today if you viewed it with an eternal perspective?
June 1, 2024

June 1st, 2024

Saturday – Open Topic

Reading – 2 Thessalonians 3:6-14

Highlight Verse:

“As for the rest of you, dear brothers and sisters, never get tired of doing good.”
‭‭2 Thessalonians‬ ‭3‬:‭13‬ ‭NLT‬‬

My kids know better than to tell me they’re bored.

Typically, my reply will be, “There’s plenty of weeds to be pulled.” Or “Mom’s van needs washing.”

Boredom is not something that I typically experience.

I have more than enough on my plate and usually have to force myself to relax (like I’m doing now on vacation).

But my summer schedule is often less busy, and I may find times of boredom.

In those times it may prove useful to remind myself of this verse.

There are many ways to be “doing good.”

It could be a simple as posting an encouraging note on Facebook or writing a thank you note.

It could be as complicated as getting involved with a good organization that can use your volunteer time.

I’m not saying to neglect the much needed times of rest.

I am saying that most of us could step beyond our comfort zones to do more good.

What are effective ways you have found to do more good?
Do you have any innovative ideas that go beyond the normal ideas of “doing good?”

You just had to turn the key.

We just need to decide to accept the Holy Spirit to turn on that power.

that power with all the spiritual gifts listed in Paul’s letters (1 Corinthians 12 and 14 to start) is available to every believer.

In context, I believe this passage can be summed up as “you don’t know the big picture so don’t make promises you can’t keep.

Every time I should have followed the advice of this verse.

I thought that a peek back to the origin of marriage would be appropriate.

Even if you come from the viewpoint that this story is more poetic than literal, that doesn’t keep it from being true. It was not good for Adam to be alone.

And God is Love! (1 John 4:8)

To him, it is a contemporary event.

If we want to pass along our faith to our children, I think it’s important that they see it in action and hear of the stories that made it what it is.

This is one of those chapters that is so full of good verses that it’s tough to pick just one.

This was John, Jesus’ best friend.

He’s got some especially good insight.

Some things need to be proclaimed publicly.

The point is, if it is important, we should make it known in public so that we will be fully committed to following through with what we proclaimed.

In the process, others may see our faithfulness and make some positive commitments of their own.

Do I sound like I’m whining?

God provides what’s best for us through the opportunities he places in our path.

It’s all about trust.

He never trusted more than at the moment of His death on the cross.

From then on, He has asked us to trust Him.

What we sometimes miss is the fact that “God has made everything beautiful for its own time.”

God planted eternity in our hearts, but we dwell on the temporary.

They may not be good while they are happening, but God can bring good from the worst of circumstances.

My kids know better than to tell me they’re bored.

In those times it may prove useful to remind myself of this verse.

There are many ways to be “doing good.”