Walk in the Light

March 3, 2024

March 3rd, 2024

Sunday – Poetry

Reading – Proverbs 15-16

Highlight Verse:

“Better to have little, with fear for the Lord, than to have great treasure and inner turmoil.”
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭15‬:‭16‬ ‭NLT‬‬

When I was 14, I went a a short mission trip to Tijuana, Mexico.

One of the workers at the little center we went to wanted to host us kids for dessert at her house.

We loaded up in the brand-new Oldsmobile wagon and fairly new Chevy Suburban and rode to her barrio.

Her house was clean and colorful.

And tiny.

It was a simple cinderblock two room home with a cement floor and metal roof. The grey walls and floors were covered with colorful blankets and the family was covered with love and joy.

You couldn’t find a more happy and content family in the nicest neighborhoods of Beverly Hills.

What little they had, they shared.

That, my friends, was all the proof I will ever need of the truth of this verse.

Are you content?
Do you own a lot of things or do a lot of things own you?
March 2, 2024

March 2nd, 2024

Saturday – Open Topic

Reading – Genesis 1

Highlight Verse:

“Then God said, “Let there be light,”and there was light.”
‭‭Genesis‬ ‭1‬:‭3‬ ‭NLT‬‬

It’s tough to find the right clothes when the closet light doesn’t work. And we won’t even talk about the basement bathroom.

Yes, we’ve had some electrical problems around here.

But what was it like before God created light.

God only knows – literally.

The university I attended right out of high school had the Latin motto “Fiat Lux” or “Let There Be Light.”

They believed that knowledge would enlighten a person. In a sense, they were right.

But some of what I learned there, I had to unlearn when I got into the real world and saw what life was really like.

Some fifteen years later I went back to college – this time a Bible college.

That was truly enlightening.

It was like today, when I replaced light fixtures in our closet and the basement bathroom. Suddenly everything became clearer.

God created literal light in today’s verse. But I don’t think it’s an accident that this verse is right at the beginning of the Bible since God’s Word can bring so much into focus.

What has become clearer to you now that you are studying God’s Word?
Is there anything that is blocking the light of His Word from you?
March 1, 2024

March 1st, 2024

Friday – Prophets

Reading – Ezekiel 46-48

Highlight Verse:

“He asked me, “Have you been watching, son of man?” Then he led me back along the riverbank.”
‭‭Ezekiel‬ ‭47‬:‭6‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I was in an office yesterday when someone stopped by looking for the normal occupant. I was just there working on a copier, so I didn’t know.

When the normal occupant returned, she asked me to describe the visitor.

Young guy in a black and grey hoodie was all I could think of.

I hadn’t been watching very well.

Then there’s those life lessons that I should have figured out but had to learn the hard way.

If I had paid attention when God tried to point out potential problems, I could have avoided them.

Where can you go to find answers to your questions about life?
Do you have examples of when you saw something you thought was unimportant that turned out to be something critical? How did you finally notice it?
February 29, 2024

February 29th, 2024

Thursday – Letters

Reading – Hebrews 8

Highlight Verse:

”And they will not need to teach their neighbors, nor will they need to teach their relatives, saying, ‘You should know the Lord.’ For everyone, from the least to the greatest, will know me already.“
‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭8‬:‭11‬ ‭NLT‬‬

All I can say is – let it be so!

We do live in the time of the New Covenant but before the second coming of Christ.

We have the mercy and grace of Jesus, but not the new Jerusalem.

Some day we won’t need to be concerned that someone needs to know Jesus because all will.

Until that day, we need to let our neighbors and relatives know about the love and grace and peace we’ve found in Jesus.

Today, instead of answering questions, let’s lift up the people who have not come to know Jesus.
If you’re not sure if you really know Jesus, feel free to put your name up and we would all be glad to pray with you.

For me, I’d love your prayers for my son and my oldest daughter. I thank you for lifting them up to God!
February 28, 2024

February 28th, 2024

Wednesday – History

Reading – 2 Kings 9-11

Highlight Verse:

“But Jehu did not obey the Law of the Lord, the God of Israel, with all his heart. He refused to turn from the sins that Jeroboam had led Israel to commit.”
‭‭2 Kings‬ ‭10‬:‭31‬ ‭NLT‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

This was a tough reading today.

Part of me wants to cheer on Jehu as he clears away any trace of Baal worship.

A bigger part of me is disgusted by all the bloodshed and violence.

Is this guy really doing what God told him to do?

I know that it was a violent time in history that sometimes required violence to make things right. But it seemed like Jehu wasn’t really motivated by zeal for the Lord.

His violence did more to establish his absolute rule than to bring true worship back to Israel.

This was confirmed by verse 31.

I know someone who often cites stories like this to discredit organized religion.

It is true that much violence has been done in the name of religion from the Crusades to witch-hunts.

Despite that, human error does not make God any less true.

The hatred and violence of man does not negate the undying sacrificial love of God.

Have the past injustices of religions ever kept you from Jesus?
How do you respond to someone who cannot get past how religious people have acted?
February 27, 2024

February 27th, 2024

Tuesday – Pentateuch

Reading – Leviticus 11-12

Highlight Verse:

“For I, the Lord, am the one who brought you up from the land of Egypt, that I might be your God. Therefore, you must be holy because I am holy.”
‭‭Leviticus‬ ‭11‬:‭45‬ ‭NLT‬‬

It’s easy to look at this section of Scripture and dismiss it altogether as old religion that has been superseded by the New Covenant found in Jesus.

But there are reasons this is still part of the Bible. I don’t just mean that it’s there to show how good we have it today. (We do).

If we look beyond the detailed rules we find a glimpse of the Father heart of God.

I’m not suggesting we go back to all those Old Testament rules, but we can certainly learn from them.

That loving Father God rescued His children from the land of Egypt into freedom.

He gave them rules that would both keep them healthy and guide them toward holiness.

He guided them closer to Himself.

A good father wants to raise his children to be good people and to be able to spend time with them.

God the Father shows us a perfect model for that.

What have you learned from reading about the rules and rituals found in Leviticus?
How can you apply that knowledge to your life today?
February 26, 2024

February 26th, 2024

Monday – Gospels

Reading – Luke 9

Highlight Verse:

“Jesus said, “You faithless and corrupt people! How long must I be with you and put up with you?” Then he said to the man, “Bring your son here.””
‭‭Luke‬ ‭9‬:‭41‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Can you hear the frustration in Jesus’ voice?

No matter how much he taught them, they didn’t seem to grasp the concept of faith.

But then, I would probably be like one of the disciples who failed to deliver the boy from the demon. I would try, but would I have the faith?

I profess faith but when the rubber hits the road and it comes to praying for miracles, sometimes my faith comes up short.

Don’t get me wrong. I’ll never be a “name it and claim it” kind of person. But, with as many miracles as I’ve seen, I should expect more.

The next time I pray for healing or some other miracle, I need to pray with a faith that expects the miracle to be the rule not the exception.

Have you seen God pull off the miraculous? Tell us about it.
Can you pray with me from a platform of faith rather than doubt?
February 25, 2024

February 25th, 2024

Sunday – Poetry

Reading – Proverbs 12-13

Highlight Verse:

“A worthy wife is a crown for her husband, but a disgraceful woman is like cancer in his bones.”
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭12‬:‭4‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Let’s face it – I’m blessed!

My wife is definitely my better half.

I married out of my league.

And I can fully attest to the first part of this verse.

The second part of this verse does not apply to her or me.

But I know some for whom it does apply.

All I can say about that is God can heal cancer so he can certainly heal marriages too.

So, to you who are blessed or are the blessing, may God richly bless you beyond what you can imagine.

For those who relate to the second half of this verse, I pray for your healing in every way, again, beyond what you can imagine!

If you are blessed with a godly spouse, feel free to give them a shout out here.
If you feel like you relate more to the second part of this verse, don’t be afraid to seek counsel and prayer, having faith that God can heal.
February 24, 2024

February 24th, 2024
Saturday – Open Topic

Reading – Acts 16:16-40

Highlight Verse:

“Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening.”
‭‭Acts of the Apostles‬ ‭16‬:‭25‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Every time I read this; I have to wonder what I would be doing.
- Trying to sleep?
- Brooding in anger at the injustice?
- Desperately praying for deliverance?
- All of the above?
But Paul and Silas sang as they prayed.

And when miraculous deliverance came, they chose to stay so they could minister to those around them including their jailor.

Paul would call those times “light and momentary trials.”

Most of us would crumble under those circumstances.

Maybe if we (me included) would pray and sing in the midst of our truly light trials, we would be able to stand up under the heavier ones.

What trials are going on in your life that you could stand to pray and sing in the midst of?
How would that change your perspective?
February 23, 2024

February 23rd, 2024

Friday – Prophets

Reading – Ezekiel 43-45

Highlight Verse:

“And the glory of the Lord came into the Temple through the east gateway.”
‭‭Ezekiel‬ ‭43‬:‭4‬ ‭NLT‬‬

If this whole section sound familiar, that’s because it repeats many of the themes from Exodus, Leviticus, and Deuteronomy.

Like before, God’s glory fills the temple.

While this is a vision of the near future, the hope cast by this vision comes to life little by little as the exiles return from captivity.

You might even say that it is a vision of Israel’s rebirth.

The holy nation was “dead” in exile but returns to life as the exiles come back to the land.

This section also serves to remind me of the rebirth that we can experience today.

As we repent and trust God, true life returns to us.

How do you perceive the purpose of this prophecy?
Is there a part that stands out to you? Let’s talk about it.

When I was 14, I went a a short mission trip to Tijuana, Mexico.

You couldn’t find a more happy and content family in the nicest neighborhoods of Beverly Hills.

That, my friends, was all the proof I will ever need of the truth of this verse.

God only knows – literally.

That was truly enlightening.

God created literal light in today’s verse. But I don’t think it’s an accident that this verse is right at the beginning of the Bible since God’s Word can bring so much into focus.

I hadn’t been watching very well.

If I had paid attention when God tried to point out potential problems, I could have avoided them.

All I can say is – let it be so!

Until that day, we need to let our neighbors and relatives know about the love and grace and peace we’ve found in Jesus.

A bigger part of me is disgusted by all the bloodshed and violence.

I know someone who often cites stories like this to discredit organized religion.

The hatred and violence of man does not negate the undying sacrificial love of God.

If we look beyond the detailed rules we find a glimpse of the Father heart of God.

A good father wants to raise his children to be good people and to be able to spend time with them.

God the Father shows us a perfect model for that.

Can you hear the frustration in Jesus’ voice?

But then, I would probably be like one of the disciples who failed to deliver the boy from the demon. I would try, but would I have the faith?

The next time I pray for healing or some other miracle, I need to pray with a faith that expects the miracle to be the rule not the exception.

Let’s face it – I’m blessed!

All I can say about that is God can heal cancer so he can certainly heal marriages too.

Every time I read this; I have to wonder what I would be doing.

Maybe if we (me included) would pray and sing in the midst of our truly light trials, we would be able to stand up under the heavier ones.

You might even say that it is a vision of Israel’s rebirth.

As we repent and trust God, true life returns to us.