June 30

Today's Reading

2 Kings. The kingdom of Israel gradually grew farther and farther away from the Lord and finally were exiled from their own land. I take that as a warning for the times when I am growing farther from an intimate relationship with God. In the meantime, God was still working and another good king -- Hezekiah -- came to power in Judah. That, too, should stimulate us to walk with Him. When we disregard God and His power, we are in danger that He will take the good work He wanted to do through us and accomplish it through someone else. How tragic!

Paul was so focused! Today, in Acts, he makes it clear that he knows what lies ahead and he will walk right into it! Why? So he can complete his task. That challenges me!

Psalms. Above all else, we must praise the Lord. As we do so, we are acknowledging His Lordship, His goodness and His faithfulness over all His creation.

Proverbs. My friend told me that keeping your mouth shut is one of the best ways to avoid trouble. I need to keep working on that!

What speaks to you today? Questions on your mind?

June 29

Today's Reading
2 Kings. It is such a temptation to "succeed" by using the methods of the world around us. We do the same kinds of things evil kings did back then: we connive and scheme and work and compromise all to get what we want. It seems easier to do that than to turn our hearts to God. Obviously, it doesn't work and brings destruction in the end. But the temptation is always there.
Acts. The first part of today's reading demonstrates how easy it is for people to latch on to anything they think will bring them money and power. Based on the experiences recorded in Acts, that can include spiritual warfare. However, it's a little hard to stand up against spirits without the real power of Jesus. I smile every time I read about the men running from the house, bruised and naked. Oh, and how about that mob in Ephesus?
Psalms. I find it so easy to put my hope somewhere besides in the Lord. That is, until I realize that nothing and no one else can really help.
Proverbs. God is the source of all wisdom. Walking in wisdom is walking in His ways.
What are your thoughts? Questions?

June 28

Today's Reading

2 Kings. After generations of fighting other enemies, the Jews began to war with each other. What a sad testimony. Yet, God gave both Israel and Judah strength to keep them alive, according to His promise. Conflicts in the churches during the New Testament era should serve as a warning that struggles come to God's people both from outside and within. It's tragic that some churches get so caught up in fighting each other that they are rendered spiritually sterile.

Acts. I love how Apollos was eloquent as a teacher, but humble enough to learn God's ways more clearly. After Paul left Corinth, Apollos stayed and the church kept growing. In 1 Corinthians, Paul rebuked the church for developing factions: "I am of Paul" or "I am of Apollos."
You might wonder about the presence of so many outward signs of the work of the Holy Spirit. Those things can be common, especially where God is giving the Gospel a foothold in places that are spiritually charged and aware. We live in just such a place. The emphasis, though, is always on the Gospel and not on the signs.

Psalms. May you and I acknowledge the Lord as our helper today. May we walk with Him and let Him use us in His work of declaring and demonstrating the Good News of Jesus to our generation.

Proverbs. I want to be like Apollos (above) -- open to correction and not like the fools described here today.

What do you see? Do you have questions today?

June 27

Today's Reading

2 Kings. Joash was committed to the Lord as long as Jehoiada the priest was there to guide him. However, it was a grave sin to take the things dedicated to the Lord and use them to pay off Hazael, a pagan king. On the flip side, the priests were less than honorable when they took the money designated for restoring the temple and used it for their personal needs. Those are both great lessons to me.

Acts. Notice how long Paul stayed at Corinth compared to often hopping around among other towns. Then remember 1 and 2 Corinthians where he wrote such detailed messages to this church. It's a great picture.

Psalms. Isn't it great to know that God is there to help us when our load is heavy?

Proverbs. I heard a story about a man who loved to make his neighbors miserable because he was miserable and felt it should be spread around. True story.

And what do you see today? Questions for us?

June 26

Today's Reading

2 Kings. Jehu was a warrior. God used him to clean house. It was brutal and ugly, but God had a purpose in it. His judgment of sin can be ruthless. I have known some within the church that seem to have this warrior anointing from God; I'm pretty compassionate and at first this was hard for me, but I have come to understand that God uses them in a very special way.

Acts. Each of these places in today's passage was different from the others. Paul and his fellows were living an adventure. The people in Berea were cautious and discerning. Athens was the city where the new trends were set. Sometimes people listened with curiosity, sometimes with conviction and sometimes with rage. But the Gospel marched on!

Psalms. David, the man after God's heart, made the clear connection between walking with God and experiencing protection as well as blessings. We are not guaranteed an easy life, but we can trust in the Lord to supply our needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

Proverbs. I am challenged every time I read these verses. My personality is that of a "talker" and I have to keep working on being silent more.

Your thoughts today? Do you have questions?

June 25

Today's Reading

2 Kings. God kept providing for the Shunemite woman and her son because she had shown faith and kindness to Elisha many years before. "We reap what we sow; we reap more than we sow; we reap in a different season than we sow."

I have read some of your comments about the character and lives of the prophets. Notice that God used Elisha to serve even the enemy King Ben-Hadad. God is no respecter of persons and not every word prophets spoke was pleasant. If the prophet was from God, though, the words came true!

Acts. Many are familiar with the conversion of the jailer of Philippi in Chapter 16. It's often forgotten, however, that Paul and Silas were in jail because they cast a demon out of a girl. The girl was set free, but the men who profited from her demonization were angry because of their lost profits and had the preachers thrown in jail. The Gospel comes to town and shakes things up!

Notice the response when the city fathers wanted to quietly set them free. In spirit, Paul and Silas were already free! Additionally, they were citizens and all the power of Rome could come down for the grievous error of beating and jailing them without a proper trial. I think I would have wanted to just "get outta Dodge," but they took time to go back to the group of believers at Lydia's house and encourage them.

Psalms. David knew the stress and doubt of running from those who wanted him dead. He constantly reminded himself through his songs that God was faithful. This particular Psalm became my prayer for this day.

Proverbs is a fitting answer to those who threw Paul and Silas into prison, as we read in Acts today.

What do you see? Questions today?

June 24

Today's Reading

2 Kings. Certainly the days of Elisha were days of miracles. I wonder if he was often just amazed at the stuff that happened. I would have been!

Today's Acts passage opens with the division of Paul and Barnabas. Paul, the passionate missionary, was disappointed in John Mark for leaving them in their previous journey and didn't want him along. Barnabas, ever the encourager, wanted to help this young man get grounded in the faith and saw him as fit for service. Even though they left each other, they each took the Gospel and even more came to Christ. Years later, Paul and John Mark (author of Mark) reconciled.

Then notice in Acts that God was directing Paul's path. He twice tried to go in a direction and was hindered by the Holy Spirit. The call to Macedonia was the first incursion of the Gospel to section of the world we call Europe.

I think David's prayer in today's Psalm is great for those low times when we feel overwhelmed by life.

Proverbs. Focus on wisdom. Then live wisely and it will make those ahead of you proud.

Your thoughts? Any questions today?

June 23

Today's Reading

2 Kings. As I read today's passage, I was again puzzled as to why Gehazi got no results to his petition for the life of the boy. Then it hit me: God, who sees the heart, saw the false motives in Gehazi. If he had seen the boy healed, he most likely would wanted to turn it into a profit-making venture. May my heart always belong only to God!

Acts. The Council at Jerusalem was one of the key decisions in the early church. Some Jews had been unable to imagine following God as Christians without essentially becoming Jews first. After deliberation, it was clear that the Gospel is for all who put their faith in Christ and Gentiles don't have to convert to Judaism before they become Christians. Notice that one of the two sent with the message of council was Silas. We will read much of him in the coming chapters.

Psalms. Verse 2 says, "Accept my prayer as incense offered to you, and my upraised hands as an evening offering." I think it's easy to forget that God cherishes our prayers and our worship. I needed that reminder!

Proverbs today could easily be the front page news in our culture. We have become very skeptical of those in authority because of how common such things are.

Your thoughts? Do you have questions to discuss?

June 22

Today's Reading

2 Kings. If you were to make an action/adventure movie from the Old Testament, you couldn't do much better than what happened in the days of Elijah and Elisha!

Acts. I am always fascinated at what happened in Lystra. It seems like one minute the fickle crowd wanted to worship Paul and Barnabas; the next minute they tried to stone them. This passage conclude with the missionaries returning home to report back to the church which sent them.

Psalms. May we be the righteous who live under the mercy and protection of God!.

Proverbs. It is amazing to see the effect a positive attitude has on physical healing. A physician told me once about someone who had a terminal illness and died much sooner than expected by just giving up. I'm sure it happens every day.

What are your thoughts? Questions?

June 21

Today's Reading

2 Kings. Elijah finished his earthly life by continuing to stand against the deception of his generation. When he was taken to heaven, God gave extraordinary power to Elisha as the successor. Remember that Elijah joined Moses and met Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration. Also, you might be interested that some scholars believe the two witnesses who preach in Jerusalem described in Revelation to be Moses and Elijah.

Acts. Paul was created to be bold in the midst of conflict. Many of the places he went were "disturbed" by the Gospel. Many turned to Christ and many others reacted in anger. You and I were designed by God for specific service, too. It's great joy when we figure out what it is!

Psalms. Made, known and unconditionally loved by God. What a wonder!

Proverbs. Left to my own devices, I am more hopeless than I can imagine!

And what do you see today? Any questions?

June 20

Today's Reading

1 Kings. If we learn one lesson from Ahab, it's that our sin always finds us out. In his case, there was no amount of deception or protection that could keep him from God's judgment. All it took was a "stray" arrow. God alone is the Lord. Worship Him! Follow Him!

In Acts, Paul's sermon was straight and to the point. He used their on Scriptures and knowledge of history to identify Jesus and explain that he was supposed to rise from the dead. Then he warned them sternly. He seems almost gentle at first, but I suspect that they were used to this type of stern conclusion.

Psalms. Verse 2 says that God backs up all His promises with His good name. I can understand that. Sometimes situations change and temptation comes to neglect something I promised. But a good name is worth more than riches and that spurs me into action. How about you? How much more does God keep His own honor by doing what He says.

Proverbs. Helping someone doesn't extend to promising to repay if they don't follow through with their commitments (cosigning). The only time we can afford to do that is if we have all the money to pay their debt and don't mind doing it.

Your thoughts today? Any questions?

June 19

Today's Reading

1 Kings. My wife reminded me that, while some of Judah's kings were good and others were evil, all of Israel's kings were evil (after the nation divided). Ahab was near the top of the heap of bad rulers. His wife Jezebel was worse than him. About 50 years ago, a pastor named R.G. Lee had a very famous sermon about them, called "Payday Someday." If you can afford the hour, here it is on youtube. Before this account is finished, we will see the judgment of God against their wickedness.

Acts. This vivid depiction of the beginning of Paul's missionary journeys keeps mentioning John Mark. Remember that, because he will be the source of some controversy later in the story. He was already mentioned the night Peter was miraculously released from prison by an angel. That night he found the disciples praying for him at the home of John Mark's mother. John Mark would write his Gospel (Mark) shortly after this, using the descriptions he heard from Peter.

Psalms. One can only imagine the torment of soul they were going through to write such a scathing curse toward their enemies.

Proverbs. Many foolish, young people go on to receive some type of education after they grow up a bit.

What do you see? What are your questions today?

June 18

Today's Reading

1 Kings. Elijah felt alone and ready to give up. God sent an angel and God spoke to him. It seems like God kept asking him, "What are you doing here, Elijah?" God knew the answer, but He wanted Elijah to think it through. Finally, God named Elisha as the one to be mentored to become Elijah's successor. It was a low time for Elijah that ended with God's work continuing and flourishing.

Acts. The persecution intensified. It was all-out war in the spirit world and ended up in casualties in the physical world. The Truth kept marching on! Don't be confused that James, the brother of John, was martyred and then Peter later tells the believers to inform James. The second James was James, the half-brother of Jesus, who became the leader of the Jerusalem church and wrote our New Testament book that bears his name.

Psalms provides the great reminder that, regardless of the difficulties, God's faithful love endures forever. 26 verses remind us of this 26 times. I get the impression this is something we ought to remember.

Proverbs. The truth is often not popular. We live in a time when the guilty are often acquitted and the innocent are often condemned. God, help us!

Your thoughts? Questions?

June 17

Today's Reading

1 Kings. 3 So Ahab summoned Obadiah, who was in charge of the palace. (Obadiah was a devoted follower of the Lord. I hope that verse will bring encouragement to those of you who serve our nation, often being placed among people who are our leaders and who are far from God. God always has a purpose for His people whom He so places.

This had to be the emotional high point of Elijah's ministry. Tomorrow we will see him at his emotional low point. I have learned more about walking with God from the latter than from the former.

Acts. I often wondered why the story of Peter's experience with Cornelius' house is told twice in it's entirety. I'm convinced it was to help those who would struggle with the idea that the Gospel was for Gentiles as well as for Jews. It seems that the power of racial prejudice must be attacked fiercely to bring it down.

Psalms. Verse 18 says, "And those who make idols are just like them, as are all who trust in them." I try to remember this as I dwell in a time and place when the idols are riches and possessions.

Proverbs. Unlike yesterday, today's Proverbs are simple (and very profound).

Your thoughts? Do you have questions today?

June 16

Today's Reading

1 Kings. Military coups and rule by force are a part of life just as much today as back then. In the meantime, amidst the bloodshed, idolatry and treachery of Israel, there was faith. The widow of Zarephath had the faith to do what Elijah said and God honored it. Hebrews (in the New Testament) reminds us that it is impossible to please God without faith.

Acts. We are tempted to look at these events and try to establish a pattern so we can simply take the right steps and God does His thing. The problem is that God is God -- we aren't! Look at the uniqueness of these events like you do the unique things Jesus did when He healed in different situations. Learn that God can't/won't be put in your box. Ask God's Spirit to control and lead you. Be sensitive to His promptings. Respond in faith. You will be amazed at some of the things He does.

Psalms. No matter the time of day or night, it is clear that somebody in the world is praising and praying 24/7.

Proverbs. Micah 6:8 tells us that the Lord requires that we "walk humbly" with our God. That means doing what these Proverbs tell us: forgive and accept correction.

What do you see today? Questions?

June 15

Today's Reading

1 Kings. For new readers of these passages, you may be surprised at how quickly we go through the lives of many kings in the divided kingdoms of Israel and Judah. I suggest you notice the way that some of the kings were primarily good and others most evil. Even so, the nation moved continually farther from God.

Acts. It was a centurion who said to Jesus, "Speak the word only and my servant will be healed, for I, too, am a man under authority..." This was a different centurion who was seeking the truth for his life. Far from the politics and pageantry of Rome, he was trying to get his life together. God's Spirit was drawing him! In the meantime, God was preparing Peter for this encounter with a Gentile seeker. Notice the words: "Do not call something unclean if God has made it clean." When we repent of sins and ask God to cleanse us, He does it! It is unbelief when we refuse to consider ourselves cleansed after that.

Psalms. I used to hear the saying, "Everybody wants to be 'one' but we can't decide which one of us we're going to be." Harmony is much different than unison. Dwelling together in harmony means that we all bring our best to the Body of Christ and share it selflessly. We each understand that we are but one part of the Body and must work together harmoniously with the other parts. That's precious to God!

Proverbs. Both these verses seem a little strange to me, especially the second one. The second one seems to commend bribing. I wonder if it is really more of a life observation that people who pay bribes often get their way.

Your thoughts today? What are your questions?

June 14

Today's Reading

1 Kings. I have spent years trying to understand the old prophet who tricked the prophet of God into eating and -- thereby -- losing his life. The best I have so far is that the old man was not fully serving God only. Duplicity had become common in Israel in this days and it's possible that the old man listened to whatever spirit he chose at any given time. His grief at the death of the other was because they shared a certain bond since both were prophets.

Acts. Following the movement of the Gospel in the early church was fascinating. I can almost hear the excited news of Dorcas' being raised as it spread from person to person. Many would consider that Jesus was Messiah because of this miracle.

Psalms. God's promise to bless Jerusalem continues to be partially fulfilled. In the end, Jerusalem will be the capital city with Jesus Christ reigning as King over all kings and Lord over all lords.

Proverbs. I once read this verse as I looked across the living room at my grandson as he played with legos in the floor.

Your thoughts? Do you have questions today?

June 13

Today's Reading

1 Kings. We can learn much from Solomon, both good and bad. On the one hand, he was wise, diligent and strong. On the other hand, he somehow got lured away from God by a love for many women. The enemy captivated him in his weak area and it caused pain to following generations for hundreds of years. The enemy knows our weak spots, too!

Acts. Saul became Paul in dramatic fashion. During the early days he was a Christian, Christians didn't fully trust him. At the same time the Jews began to detest him because they couldn't stand up to his arguments. As I grow older, I think about the simple faith of the man named Ananias. He had questions, but trusted God and played an important part in Paul's beginning as a follower of Christ.

Psalms. I hope you are touched as I am by the tender description of calming and quieting our souls before God. I certainly needed the reminder about obsessing over "matters too great or too awesome for me to grasp."

Proverbs. I must admit that I find it very easy to listen to bad news about people I don't care for. May God forgive me and help me to live above that mess.

And you? What is on your mind today?

June 12

Today's Reading

1 Kings. Solomon's wisdom and wealth were beyond anything ever experienced. Yet, notice the mention of "Pharaoh's daughter" as one of his wives. He was warned against taking the wives of pagan peoples, but he did it and that brought down his descendants.

Acts tells the vivid account of Philip and the Ethiopian. This is a popular children's Bible story, but it is so much more. Think of it! Philip obeyed God and went. God led him to this specific man. God had prepared the man's heart. Philip simply shared the Good News. The man received Christ and Philip went away. In the meantime, the man took the Good News of Jesus to Africa. The history of Christianity in Ethiopia goes all the way back to that time!

Psalms. "I am counting on the Lord," wrote the Psalmist. Are you? Am I?

Proverbs. When you put today's verses together, part of gaining wisdom is having the heart tested by God. May I grow in purity of heart!

How about you today? Thoughts or questions?

June 11

Today's Reading

1 Kings. The word picture is simple and profound. King Solomon stood between God and the people and interceded to God for the people. He re-established the covenant relationship that he had inherited. Too bad that he turned his heart away after that. His deep devotion in this chapter and his later failure are a huge example for me to remember.

Acts. Like us, the early church was tempted to find refuge among their own kind and fail to carry the Gospel outside their walls. God allowed persecution, which forced them out. Then the Gospel went everywhere!

Psalms picks up the theme we just saw in Acts. Persecuted! Not defeated!

Proverbs reminds us of the deceitfulness of riches. How many times do we read stories of the conflicts in the lives of the rich and famous?

And how about you? What do you notice today? Do you have questions?

June 10

Today's Reading

1 Kings. The size and splendor of Solomon's palace is described today. What thoughts does it bring to mind for you? How would you like to clean it? Then the passage goes on with the description of the Temple furnishings. Remember that their worship at the time include copious numbers of animals being sacrificed. All the places for washing were needed. I took a few minutes to imagine the large crew needed to do this work. Huram must have been very skilled indeed to manage them all.

Having just read about the construction of Solomon's temple, we fast-forward to the book of Acts and see Stephen refer to it. No matter how spectacular it was, God's dwelling place is in human hearts instead. We are near the crisis point in Stephen's defense; hang on.

Psalms. Fear God and follow His ways. That's the road to a fulfilled life!

Proverbs really speaks to my heart today. I hope it does to yours, too! My hair is getting grayer. If I take today's passage literally, that's a good thing, right? :o)

Some of you are just joining in our readings. These passages aren't as easy to read as some that have a clear story line. Do you have comments and/or questions about them?

June 9

Today's Reading

1 Kings. David had rejoiced when Nathan brought him God's message that David's son would build the Temple. Now it was coming into being. From the description, what are your impressions of it?

In Acts today, Stephen spoke to the religious leaders who had accused him. He began his talk by building common ground -- the history of their people. He is leading up to the climax of his presentation.

Psalms. I always need this Psalm. It is so tempting to see the church grow and want to be consumed by it.  That's when life gets out of balance and goes haywire!

Proverbs. With sin at the very heart of people who haven't been born again, evil can take various and devious forms.

How are you doing today? Do you have thoughts about your reading or questions? Please take advantage of the comments section.

June 8

Today's Reading

1 Kings. Now that Solomon's power was solidified, we are given some detail about his wisdom and the resources necessary to keep his house in operation. I was amazed by the vast territory of Solomon's kingdom. It extended all the way from modern Iraq to Egypt.

Acts moves today from the glorious victories of the early church to some of the significant trials. Yesterday we read about Ananias and Saphira. Today we learn about the complaints over racial discrimination within the church and persecution intensifying from outside. When God is moving, problems abound!

Psalms. "Those who plant in tears will harvest with shouts of joy." Planting the love of Christ can be painful work; not everyone has an open heart to receive it. Some do receive it, however, and the harvest is the deepest joy for us. I am convinced that the troubles during "planting season" can seem unconquerable. Then harvest time comes and God sends victories like water cascading over a high cliff.

Proverbs. Watch out for those who love to spread juicy gossip. It is easy to be caught up in their sin and very difficult to imagine the damage it causes.

What do you see today? What questions do you have?

June 7

Today's Reading

1 Kings. Because we live in a day and a place in which bloodshed is abhorred, it's hard to comprehend what Solomon did as he took control of the kingdom. I believe he had to take strong action or the nation was susceptible to anarchy.

Acts gives us a window into what life was like for the Apostles in the early days after Pentecost. What a movement of God! People were choosing Christ by the thousands. Many miracles were taking place and everyone was in awe. They also got a reality check as they faced the opposition of the religious leaders. Just a few years earlier, those Pharisees, Sadducees and Scribes represented God to them! Now the apostles saw them for what they were: empty, religious people trying to hang on to their lifestyle. You and I must learn from this!

Psalms. The Lord surrounds His people, now and forever! Hallelujah!

Today's Proverb is more understandable when paired with Psalm 119:59: "I considered my ways and turned my feet to Your testimonies."

What do you see? What questions come to mind?

June 6

Today's Reading

We begin the next section of Israel's history with the book entitled, 1 Kings. It starts with the end of David's reign and moves on from there. It's amazing that some of the same people who loyally followed David in Absalom's rebellion turned against David in Adonijah's rebellion. It could be that they didn't trust the king to handle the transition definitively and they wanted to assure their spot in the new administration.

Acts gives the account of the boldness and bravery of the early disciples. They were facing the earliest stages of persecution. Their response after Peter and John faced off against the religious leaders is a warning shot to us. We have grown used to the idea that "safe" supersedes all other values in life. For this reason, many Christians today would say, "Let's be safe" rather than "Let's be bold." It's time to repent of that attitude!

Psalms. Do you remember one of those experiences when you were on a weak team and were constantly losing? Then a really top-notch player or two stepped in and suddenly you were winners? Do you remember what it did to you? That's the cry of praise in this Psalm. I love it!

Proverbs. It's amazing to watch the power of a few kind words. Try it out!
Your thoughts? Questions?

June 5

Today's Reading

2 Samuel. One of the great leadership temptations is to look at our "kingdom" with pride, thinking, "This is what I built." A second temptation is to look at those resources and put our trust in them rather than in God. God stepped in with David, the man after His own heart, and disciplined him quickly. Israel, under David, was strong because of dependence on God. Placing trust in the number of warriors was the road to destruction.

Acts. Healing the lame man opened a door for Peter to speak the gospel. When I looked over his message today, I was amazed at the clarity of it. Jesus is described as crucified, risen and coming again.

Psalms. I think I have seen the attitude portrayed in this Psalm when I visit the Dominican Republic. The government there, while free, controls much about the lives of the people. The poor especially feel the oppression and would pray prayers just like this.

Proverbs. It's simple. Love wisdom and follow wise advice.

How about you today? Questions or comments?

June 4

Today's Reading

2 Samuel. We are nearing the conclusion of this book and the story of David's great kingdom in Israel. "To the faithful you show yourself faithful; to those with integrity you show integrity. To the pure you show yourself pure, but to the wicked you show yourself hostile. (2 Samuel 22:26, 27 NLT) How you perceive God is a direct reflection upon your own character.

Acts. "What shall we do?" "...and the Lord added..." The huge results on the Day of Pentecost were clearly because of God's power and grace, not human argument or conviction.

Psalms. "I was glad when they said to me, 'Let us go into the House of the Lord.'" When our hearts are lonely and our lives are needy, we feel the need to join with God's people. Too bad that doesn't happen very frequently for some Christians I know.

Proverbs. Listening to instruction is a key to prosperity. It may not make us rich, but we can grow in joy and peace.

And what do you see today? Do you have questions?

June 3

Today's Reading

2 Samuel. I don't claim to "understand" the whole situation with Saul's family being executed by the Gibeonites so God would let it rain. The only way it begins to make even a little sense to me is if this was God's chosen method of bringing promised judgment on Saul's family. Even then, it's hard for me to grasp why.

We begin the history of the early church today in the book of Acts. Acts was written down by Luke, the physician who wrote the Gospel that bears his name. Luke was the consummate historian and told these accounts with passion and clarity. Today in Acts 1, we read about the choosing of one to take the place of Judas. If I remember correctly, this is the last time we read anything about Matthias, the one chosen. It makes me wonder if God already had made a choice they hadn't seen yet -- Saul of Tarsus, who would be known as Paul the Apostle.

I also noticed today that Jesus talked with His disciples about the kingdom of God during the days leading up to His ascension. Since "Thy kingdom come" is a part of the model prayer and since I pray constantly for God to bring His kingdom in the hearts and lives of people, I am fascinated by what the King might have said.

Psalms. He will not let you stumble;
the one who watches over you will not slumber.
The Lord himself watches over you!
The Lord stands beside you as your protective shade.
The Lord keeps you from all harm
and watches over your life.
The Lord keeps watch over you as you come and go,
both now and forever. (Psalm 121:3, 5, 7, 8 NLT)
I really needed that today!

Proverbs. Certain verses spring into my mind frequently. This is one of them. I think of it often because I am tempted by pride often.

What are you thinking about as you read today's passages? Insights or questions?

June 2

Today's Reading

2 Samuel. David's victory was shaky. The effect of Absalom's rebellion was to make everyone more tentative than before. It's what happens when a group of people go through what I call a "train wreck." Everyone wonders if someone else is about to abandon them; many question themselves and aren't sure if they can stay with the group.

Did you notice Amasa's failure to follow David's order to have the army assembled in three days. It is unlikely that David would have given the order if it wasn't feasible. Amasa's slow response was what put him face to face with Joab far away from the King. It cost him his life.

John. Three times, Jesus asked Peter, "Do you love Me?" Each time Peter's affirmation was followed by variations of "Feed My sheep." If Jesus asked you, "Do you love Me?", what would you say? If you said, "Yes," what would He tell you to do?

John's concluding statement is telling. "Jesus also did many other things." Truthfully, He's still doing them in and through His body, the church.

Psalms. What should we do with our troubles? Take them to the Lord! He WILL answer!

Proverbs. Wisdom will lead us around evil, whenever possible.

What do you see today? What do you wonder?

June 1

Today's Reading

2 Samuel. David the king had been betrayed; David the dad had just lost his son. It's hard to imagine the dilemma he felt. Joab, for all his impetuous action (often bordering on rebellion) was right about this. David needed to acknowledge those who fought bravely or he would lose his kingdom. The people were like sheep without a shepherd. Though many had followed Absalom, they were ready to return to David immediately. I can't understand how people can do this with so little thought, but I have experienced it.

John. "By believing in him you will have life by the power of his name." That's a powerful summation of the resurrection account! John knew that the responsibility of the disciples was simply to live their lives demonstrating Jesus' teaching and example by the power of the Holy Spirit. Then they were to declare what they had seen and let God do the work of drawing people to Jesus. It's like that for you and me, too.

Psalm 119. "Rescue me; bring me back when I stray; loose my tongue to sing your praise." These are the repetitive themes at the close of this prayerful Psalm. Amen!

Proverbs. Much authority is placed in the rulers of this world. Consequently, it is wise to live honorably toward them.

Climbing Companion, what do you see today? Questions?