Walk in the Light

September 17, 2023

September 17th, 2023

Sunday – Poetry

Reading – Psalms 112-115

Highlight Verse:

“Good comes to those who lend money generously and conduct their business fairly.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭112‬:‭5‬ ‭NLT‬‬

You can’t out give God.

Whether your generosity is in the form of low or no interest loans to the needy as suggested in this verse, or outright giving, the more you give up to help others, the more you store up in heaven.

It doesn’t stop there. I’m not sure how or why, but it seems like the more you give, the more God will bless your situation. It might not be financially, though it might be.

It seems like every time we take a risk and give more, some opportunity comes up or some windfall comes down and we have enough to make it.

Bottom line is, if you’re generous, give more and you will be blessed. If you’re selfish, give anyway. You may find you have more to live on after you give.

More importantly, you may find God changing that selfish heart into a generous one.

Now, if you’ll pardon my, I just remembered we got paid this week so I’m gonna go online and give some of it to the church.

Do you have stories of how you’ve been blessed with more than what you’ve given? Share them here.
Do you struggle with the idea of giving? Share and we’ll do our best to encourage you.
September 16, 2023

September 16th, 2023

Saturday – Open Topic

Reading – Hebrews 12:1-13

Highlight Verse:

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.”
‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭12‬:‭1‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I have so much to do tomorrow that I wrote a to do list. That’s not normal for me.

It’s been a busy week so tonight I relaxed and plan to hitting the ground running tomorrow.

Sometimes it feels like a marathon.

My list of work, ministry, and writing tasks seems endless.

But maybe that’s good.

I love seeing the fruit of my labor. It adds to my energy level to get the next thing done.

And don’t worry, I am taking Sabbath times of rest. That’s an essential.

The bottom line is, the closer I stick to the plan God has set for my life, the more endurance and passion I have for the work. The race God has set before me becomes doable.

When I stick to God’s plan and principles,

He provides the endurance!

Are you feeling overwhelmed by the list of things you have to do?
Does that list of things to do align with the calling God has on your life?
Do you know your calling?

Let’s talk about it.
September 15, 2023

September 15th, 2023

Friday – Prophets

Reading – Jeremiah 42-44

“Ten days later the Lord gave his reply to Jeremiah.”
‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭42‬:‭7‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Why did I pick a verse that has nothing to do with the message of prophesy that God gave to Jeremiah?

We live in a world of instant gratification.

When Jeremiah delivered the message from God to the people who had inquired of God, there was no questioning why it took so long for the message to come back from God.

I’m not saying they were godly people, though they waited patiently for the message. In fact, they rejected it and went and did what they wanted to do despite the fact that they asked what God wanted them to do.

A lot of times when we pray, we want answers now.

(“Lord, give me patience – I need it now!”)

In the Bible, sometimes answers came immediately. Sometimes they took days. Sometimes they took years. Sometimes they took generations.

The tough thing is to learn to trust in God’s timing.

Oh, and it’s a good idea to follow His instructions too!

Do you have prayers that you wanted answered yesterday?
What are some things you can do to trust in God’s timing?
September 14, 2023

September 14th, 2023

Thursday – Letters

Reading – Ephesians 5-6

Highlight Verses:

“Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts.”
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭5‬:‭18‬-‭19‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I don’t drink.

I don’t think that drinking alcohol is necessarily a sin. It just would be for me since I made the decision never to drink at a young age.

My dad was an alcoholic who did some pretty awful things when he was drunk. When I found out that addictive behavior such as alcoholism, can have its roots in genetics. I never wanted to do the things my dad did, so I avoided alcohol.

So, I like this verse.

I also like that it gives alternative to drinking. Who knew that singing and making music would be a great alternative to drinking.

God did!

Maybe I’ll see you at the next worship gallery.

What is your take on drinking?
Have you tried music as an alternative?
September 13, 2023

September 12th, 2023

Wednesday – History

Reading – 2 Samuel 3-4

Highlight Verse:

“This pleased the people very much. In fact, everything the king did pleased them!”
‭‭2 Samuel‬ ‭3‬:‭36‬ ‭NLT‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

It would be very easy to take this verse out of context.

Let’s face it, the context was on the wild side.

We start out with a list of 6 children of David from 6 different women. Okay, so polygamy wasn’t so unusual in those days. But still…

Then we have Abner getting ticked off at Saul’s heir because Ish-Bosheth had confronted Abner about his affair with Saul’s concubine. Getting stranger…

Then Abner plans to put David in power over the whole nation. That’s good. But…

Joab kills Abner to avenge his brother. Dang!

Then Recab and Baanah kill Ish-Bosheth, cut off his head and bring it to David. Double dang!!

David brings swift justice, showing that he stands for what’s right (if a bit brutally).

And now I’m to draw a lesson from this?

What can I say. The truth is stranger than fiction. Old Testament standards were brutal and violent?

Let’s leave it at this – David remained a humble but tough leader. He refused to go to battle to win the full kingship, but when it was open, he wasn’t afraid to step into the role.

Despite his harsh justice and crazy marital situation, he remained a man of integrity doing what he believed the Lord had called him to do.

Do honest renditions of history like this make you wonder what they were thinking?
Are you able to maintain your integrity in the midst of this crazy world?
September 12, 2023

September 12th, 2023

Tuesday – Pentateuch

Reading – Exodus 10-11

Highlight Verse:

“Pharaoh retorted, “The Lord will certainly need to be with you if I let you take your little ones! I can see through your evil plan.”
‭‭Exodus‬ ‭10‬:‭10‬ ‭NLT‬‬

As we would say when I lived in the south, “well ain’t that the pot calling the kettle black.”

Pharaoh, the man who kept a whole nation as slaves and whose predecessor ordered the Hebrew baby boys to be throw into the Nile, calls Moses’ plan evil.

But then, the human race has a long history of doing that. When one’s values don’t agree with someone else’s values, you just call them evil because your own are the best, right?

With all these conflicting values, how do you know which ones are right?

I prefer to stick to the values of the One who created us. An easy place to find them is in the Ten Commandments.

If that’s too complicated for you, let me sum up how Jesus summed up the Law in Matthew 22:34-40 –

Love God and love people.

All the rest of the Law was based on those two simple commands.

And, in case you’re wondering, enslaving an entire nation is not a great way to show that you love God and people.

What are ways that you can love God better?
What about loving people better?
September 11, 2023

September 11th, 2023

Monday – Gospels

Reading – Matthew 9

Highlight Verse:

“While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭9‬:‭10‬ ‭NIV‬‬

I wish I knew the details between verses 9 and 10. The only additional information we get is from the account in Luke where it mentions that Matthew (Levi) held a banquet in his home.

Apparently leaving everything to follow Jesus didn’t include giving up his home.

That’s a good thing since, if he had, he wouldn’t have been able to hold the banquet to introduce his tax-collector and sinner friends to Jesus.

The Bible doesn’t tell us the results of the banquet beyond the religious people complaining. If it was like most other times when Jesus was introduced to people, it’s a safe bet that many followed Him.

That’s all because Matthew was willing to open his heart, his home, and his friends to Jesus.

Are there people in your circle of friends who need to be introduced to Jesus?
Matthew’s banquet was a natural unthreatening way for Matthew to introduce his friends to Jesus. What are some unthreatening ways that you and I can introduce our friends to Jesus?
September 10, 2023

September 10th, 2023
Sunday – Poetry

Reading – Psalms 109-111

Highlight Verse:

“Great are the works of the Lord; they are pondered by all who delight in them.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭111‬:‭2‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Growing up in the Lutheran Church, some of the basic building blocks of my faith came from Confirmation Class (Catechism).

One of the basics I remember from that class was the A.C.T.S of prayer.

That stands for:
- Acclamation
- Confession
- Thanksgiving
- Supplication
Many times, we tend to skip straight to the Supplication (or asking for things) part of the prayer without thinking about giving praise, confessing our sins, and giving thanks.

I think David and the other psalmists had it right when they concentrated on praising God for His many great works.

What are some of the great works of God that you have seen in your life?
What are some of the things you can thank Him for?
September 9, 2023

September 8th, 2023

Saturday – Open Topic

Reading – Matthew 22:34-40

Highlight Verse:

“Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭22‬:‭37‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I am currently preparing a message for middle school students that focuses on this verse. In it, Jesus quotes Deuteronomy 6:5.

But there is a slight difference.

Matthew records Jesus’ words in Greek.

The original Hebrew word for love is “aháb”. That’s as generic as “love”.

In the Greek, Matthew reports the word “Agapao” which is a much stronger word. Its meaning is more like “all encompassing, self sacrificial love.”

Either way, Jesus places great emphasis on a strong form of the word “love.”

We would do well to follow His lead.
September 8, 2023

September 8th, 2023

Friday – Prophets

Reading – Jeremiah 40-41

Highlight Verse:

“So Jeremiah returned to Gedaliah son of Ahikam at Mizpah, and he lived in Judah with the few who were still left in the land.”
‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭40‬:‭6‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Jeremiah was just set free by the Babylonian captain of the guard. His liberator gave him the choice to go to Babylon where he would be taken care of; go to Governor Gedaliah, or wherever he chose. He chose to go to the governor who was the puppet of the Babylonians.

Why?

Because God told him to.

Personally, I think I would want to get as far away from the invaders of the land as I could.

Or maybe I would take the sweet deal offered by the invaders to be taken care of in Babylon.

Instead Jeremiah stayed with the remnant of Israel that was left in the land. It was the poorest of the poor who were left to tend the land as servants of the King of Babylon.

I’m no prophet, but there are times when I can sense God’s will for my life. Sometimes His will makes no sense to me. Sometimes I just don’t want to do it.

But I know that God always has my best interests in mind.

I do well when I follow it.

Have you sensed God’s guidance in your life?
Can you remember any instances when you knew His will and followed it? Or didn’t follow it?

You can’t out give God.

More importantly, you may find God changing that selfish heart into a generous one.

Sometimes it feels like a marathon.

He provides the endurance!

We live in a world of instant gratification.

(“Lord, give me patience – I need it now!”)

The tough thing is to learn to trust in God’s timing.

I don’t drink.

So, I like this verse.

God did!

Let’s face it, the context was on the wild side.

And now I’m to draw a lesson from this?

As we would say when I lived in the south, “well ain’t that the pot calling the kettle black.”

With all these conflicting values, how do you know which ones are right?

Love God and love people.

Apparently leaving everything to follow Jesus didn’t include giving up his home.

That’s all because Matthew was willing to open his heart, his home, and his friends to Jesus.

One of the basics I remember from that class was the A.C.T.S of prayer.

I think David and the other psalmists had it right when they concentrated on praising God for His many great works.

But there is a slight difference.

We would do well to follow His lead.

Because God told him to.

I do well when I follow it.