Walk in the Light

March 10, 2024

March 10th, 2024

Sunday – Poetry

Reading – Proverbs 17

Highlight Verse:

“A truly wise person uses few words; a person with understanding is even-tempered.”
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭17‬:‭27‬ ‭NLT‬‬

This verse kinda makes me want to stop my comments right here.

But I’m not that wise.

Truth be told, I speak far too much and sometimes without a filter.

And if you only knew what I do filter out.

Words are my thing.

I’m rarely without them.

But sometimes I just need to let them rest.

Are you an under-talker or an over-talker?
What do you do to keep your tongue under control?
March 9, 2024

March 9th, 2024
Saturday – Open Topic

Reading – Proverbs 20:24-30

Highlight Verse:

“The glory of the young is their strength; the gray hair of experience is the splendor of the old.”
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭20‬:‭29‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I like to say I’m 29 with experience.

Today make 31 years experience at being 29!

You’d think I’d be good at it by now.

The truth is the grey hairs outnumber the dark ones. My knees have gotten to the point where I carry an adjustable camping stool for work to make it easier to get back up, and I’ve mastered the art of making old man sounds when I get off the sofa.

With the grey hair and achy joints comes a confidence I didn’t have when I was 29.
- It’s a confidence from making thousands of mistakes and learning from at least some of them.
- It’s a confidence from learning from many people wiser than I.
- And it’s a confidence from reading through the Bible dozens of times, gleaning a little bit more every time.
So, if you’re young, enjoy the strength and vitality, remembering to learn along every step of the way.

If you’re old like me, enjoy that confidence that comes from experience but don’t forget to never stop learning.

Have you looked at the mistakes in your life as opportunities to gain wisdom?
Are you still learning from the Bible and from wise folks around you?
March 8, 2024

March 8th, 2024
Friday – Prophets

Reading – Daniel 1-2

Highlight Verse:

“The king was furious when he heard this, and he ordered that all the wise men of Babylon be executed.”
‭‭Daniel‬ ‭2‬:‭12‬ ‭NLT

Have you ever had “that” kind of boss?

You know, the one who followed his own agenda, didn’t let you know what that was, and gave you grief whenever you didn’t follow that agenda down to the unknown letter.

For some of you, maybe it was a mentally unstable parent or a coach who only coached for the power trip.

Almost all of us have had to deal with someone like that at some point.

I’m blessed with a good boss now but I’ve had some who drove me to the edge of quitting. And then there was my stepdad. Don’t get me started.

So how did Daniel deal with people like that?
- He stayed calm.
- He reasoned with his handlers.
- He put forth his best effort.
- And, most importantly, he relied on God, retaining his integrity and devotion.
Can it be so hard?

Yes.

Some have it very tough. I’m guessing that very few have it as rough as Daniel and his friends had it.

Despite that, Daniel stayed strong in the Lord and put full effort toward following his boss.

Do you struggle with dealing with a difficult person?
Have you given that relationship over to God in prayer?
Can we help pray for you? (Without revealing the identity of that person please).
March 7, 2024

March 7th, 2024

Thursday – Letters

Reading – Hebrews 9

Highlight Verse:

“And just as each person is destined to die once and after that comes judgment,”
‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭9‬:‭27‬ ‭NLT‬‬

It’s just a parenthetical statement that precedes a statement about Christ, but it establishes a simple but major theological point.

There is no reincarnation.

We live once.

We die once.

After that comes eternity – with God, or not according to our acceptance of Jesus’ sacrifice.

What more can be said about that?

Have you struggled with what to believe about reincarnation?
Do you know the difference between reincarnation and resurrection?
March 6, 2024

March 6th, 2024
Wednesday – History

Reading – 2 Kings 12-14

Highlight Verse:

“But by the twenty-third year of Joash’s reign, the priests still had not repaired the Temple.”
‭‭2 Kings‬ ‭12‬:‭6‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I’ve been meaning to procrastinate but I keep putting it off.

Seriously, though, I’m a master at the art of procrastination.

According to this verse, I’m not alone. They were procrastinating almost 3000 years ago and it’s still a very common thing.

What can we learn about escaping procrastination from this chapter?
- First, find accountability. Joash brought that for the priests. Making your commitments public or at least known to your friends can have the same motivating effect.
- Second, focus on the important. The priests had to stop all their little pet projects to make sure their money and time went to the important task of fixing up the temple.
- Third, get help. The priests hired contractors to get the work done. Sometimes we need to recruit help to get what we need done.
While I’m not sure I can afford to hire people to get stuff done, I can certainly prioritize my projects and tell people about my priorities. Let’s see if that works.

What about you? Are there important things that you’ve been putting off?
What’s your plan going forward?
March 5, 2024

March 5th, 2024

Tuesday – Pentateuch

Reading – Leviticus 13

Highlight Verse:

“As long as the serious disease lasts, they will be ceremonially unclean. They must live in isolation in their place outside the camp.”
‭‭Leviticus‬ ‭13‬:‭46‬ ‭NLT‬‬

On the one hand, it’s commendable that they knew how to avoid spreading diseases way back then.

On the other hand, it was an awfully cold way to handle those who needed help.

Today we don’t shun people.

Unless, of course, you say the wrong thing on social media.

Then people will “cancel” you.

And in some churches, if you say or do the wrong thing… you get the idea.

In the New Testament, Jesus showed by example how to treat the unclean.

He didn’t “cancel” them. In fact, he reached out to them and healed them.

Maybe instead of trying to be the palace for the perfect it’s time to be the hospital for the hurting.

Instead of shunning, let’s bring healing.

Are you one who has been shunned? Have you found healing?
Are you one who has played the roll of the clean, rejecting the unclean? What would it take to turn you into a healer?
March 4, 2024

March 4th, 2024
Monday – Gospels

Reading – Luke 10

Highlight Verse:

“These were his instructions to them: “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.”
‭‭Luke‬ ‭10‬:‭2‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I did a little background research for this and was encouraged by what I found.

According to a recent Lifeway Research study, 42% of adult churchgoers actively volunteer at their church.

That’s higher than I thought.

Our church has a couple hundred volunteers each week doing everything from directing traffic, greeting, serving coffee and donuts to production team and teaching children. The amount of participation is amazing.

Somehow it never seems to be quite enough.

I was asked to substitute teach the 4th and 5th graders for one service yesterday morning. As I am committed to serving with the student ministry, I limit the times I agree to that, but I knew there was need.

There have been other times when classes have had to be combined for lack of qualified teachers. (Background checked and trained).

I am not about judging anyone for how much or how little they participate. Each person has their own circumstance.

But just in case there is anyone out there who, for whatever reason, has felt they were unqualified to serve, I suggest that you pray about it for two reasons –
- First, serving brings about such growth and encouragement to the person serving and
- Second, the workers are few and there are needs that can be met by you.
Do you have any great stories of being blessed while serving that you could share?
If you are not currently serving at a church, have you asked God to show you where you could participate?
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?

Truth be told, I speak far too much and sometimes without a filter.

But sometimes I just need to let them rest.

I like to say I’m 29 with experience.

With the grey hair and achy joints comes a confidence I didn’t have when I was 29.

Have you ever had “that” kind of boss?

So how did Daniel deal with people like that?

Despite that, Daniel stayed strong in the Lord and put full effort toward following his boss.

There is no reincarnation.

I’ve been meaning to procrastinate but I keep putting it off.

What can we learn about escaping procrastination from this chapter?

On the other hand, it was an awfully cold way to handle those who needed help.

He didn’t “cancel” them. In fact, he reached out to them and healed them.

According to a recent Lifeway Research study, 42% of adult churchgoers actively volunteer at their church.

But just in case there is anyone out there who, for whatever reason, has felt they were unqualified to serve, I suggest that you pray about it for two reasons –

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.