July 31

Today's Reading

2 Chronicles. It's easy to imagine Hezekiah pondering the sorry state of the Temple in the years leading up to his reign. He must have, for he gave the restoration order in the first month he was king. It's also a lesson that it only took 16 days to make it ready for worship again. The people had been neglecting their worship for the lack of 16 days of effort. How many "small" things do I allow to keep me from time with God?

Romans. It is easy to judge someone else when they live with a freedom we don't have. It is also easy to flaunt our freedom in front of someone who is bound in a set of rules. Both are wrong.

Psalms today is a great call to worship. Throw open the gates! Unlock the doors! Let the King of the earth and all it contains enter as we bow in reverence!

Proverbs. Cathy and I have been laughing recently. My eyesight is still pretty good, but my hearing has taken some hits. She is just the opposite. I told her I will drive and talk. She can sit and listen. I'm not sure her non-talking role will work for her. She prefers me to drive so she can do other stuff.

What are your thoughts today? Questions about the passages?

July 30

Today's Reading

2 Chronicles. Uzziah's heart was humble until he got too big for his britches. Then God struck him. Ahaz started wicked and ended worse. Yet God still had people in both Judah and Israel who honored Him. No matter how bad things are, God always has a remnant. I would rather be in the remnant than "successful" and developing a hard heart. How about you?

Romans 13 should fit us like a tailored glove. I believe that it is time that we learn to humble ourselves and honor those in authority over us. It is also time that God's people learn to live as unto the Lord, no matter which direction the political winds are blowing. Our hope and salvation are from the Lord and not a political party!

Psalms. At the end of my days, may it be said that God's goodness and mercy were with me throughout my life.

Proverbs. This verse is clear enough. What does the way you act say about your loyalty and commitment?

What speaks to you today? Do you have questions?

July 29

Today's Reading

2 Chronicles. The themes in Chapter 24 are pregnant with meaning. The religious leaders failed to take care of business (so heavenly minded that they were no earthly good?). The King stepped and and took care of business, but where was his heart? As soon as Jehoiada died, Joash bowed to political pressure and re-introduced pagan worship. Then, when he was warned, he was complicit in the death of Zechariah. Finally, many of his people wanted him gone and God's hand of judgment fell.

Romans 12 begins with the command to present our bodies as a living sacrifice to God, not conforming to this world, but being transformed. It ends with the wisdom that the way to conquer evil is by doing good. What great life lessons!

Psalms 22 started yesterday with the sacrifice that would be made by Christ. Today it pictures the end result, that every knee shall bow and all those who have acknowledged Him by choice will live with Him rejoicing.

Proverbs. O, for the wisdom of those who sit in judgment.

And what do you long for? Any questions or thoughts today?

July 28

Today's Reading

2 Chronicles. Jehoram died and no one was sorry. Athaliah tried to kill every member of the royal family so she could be queen. Then Joash was rescued and became the boy king. What drama!

Romans. In Chapter 8, Paul spoke of the depth of God's love. In Chapter 9, he told about God's mysterious plan whereby He is in charge of everything, even us. In Chapter 10, he shared how God's salvation is for everyone who will call on His name. And now, he says, "Oh, how great are God’s riches and wisdom and knowledge! How impossible it is for us to understand his decisions and his ways!" Amen!

Psalms. It is hard to imagine this Psalm of David being more descriptive of the crucifixion, which wouldn't happen until hundreds of years later. If David -- and later Christ -- felt alone and abandoned, we should not be surprised to feel the same way. Hold on, though. Sunday's coming!

Proverbs. I believe that integrity is when our outside walk matches up with what we say we believe on the inside. The opposite is hypocrisy. It is the tiny decisions we make every day that build our integrity.

What do you see today? Any Questions?

July 27

Today's Reading

2 Chronicles. The account in Chapter 20 is one of my favorite in the Old Testament. But notice this verse in Chapter 19: "Jehoshaphat lived in Jerusalem, but he went out among the people, traveling from Beersheba to the hill country of Ephraim, encouraging the people to return to the Lord..." Without doubt, the victory in Chapter 20 came partly as a result of Jehoshaphat's faithful work earlier. We never know the long-term results of the work we do today. We are often encouraged, though, by seeing some of the results from work we did long ago.

Romans. This difficult message of God "choosing" still bears down on us in today's reading. Can we fully understand it? No! But today includes the attitude that we should have about it: gratitude. Our salvation is never something to be haughty about, but something to be humbly grateful for. Also, God's involvement doesn't give us a "pass" from telling others about Him. Our faithful sharing of the message is part of His plan.

Psalms. "The king trusts in the Lord." That's not only good for the king -- it's good for the whole nation.

Proverbs. I am deeply touched when someone makes a difficult commitment, then keeps it without wavering. In my experience, such people are rare.

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

July 26

Today's Reading

2 Chronicles. It always intrigues me that Micaiah walked into the throne room and immediately agreed with the false prophets. Then Ahab, who was hearing what he wanted to hear, told Micaiah that he wanted the truth. Then, when Micaiah tells him the truth, Ahab locks him up. But it was Ahab who was dead by the end of the battle.

Romans. "Refusing to accept God’s way, they cling to their own way of getting right with God by trying to keep the law." While Paul wrote those words about Israel, they accurately describe many of the religious people I meet in our generation. People everywhere think they are going to heaven because they are good people who try to do right.

Psalms. Ultimately and always, the final victory belongs to the Lord. We cannot overcome His ways, for they will stand until the End.

Proverbs. Are you quick to jump into an argument or a fight? There may be a time to stand up and fight, but I think it is usually better to avoid one.

What have you noticed today? Questions?

July 25

Today's Reading

2 Chronicles. The account of good King Asa stands out for me. There are so many lessons I learn from reading about him. The one that most stands out is this: put your trust in God and He will accomplish His purposes. Put your trust in human strength and you will cut off some of God's blessing. A second lesson, now that I have enjoyed many years of God's blessing, is this: never divert your trust from God Himself to His past blessings. He is the eternal God who wants my intimacy and trust  today and doesn't want me to use the strength of past blessings to buy help from someone else like Asa did with the king of

Romans. we move from Chapter 8, which is one of the most comforting chapters in the Bible to Chapter 9, which is one of the most difficult. What does it mean to you?

Psalms. I know just enough about astronomy to understand something about the movements and formation of space. Still, they are a mystery to me, always coming up with surprises. It is the same way with my own heart. "How can I know all the sins lurking in my heart?" As I mature in my understanding of God and His holiness, I see more and more of my own sinfulness. Then I am amazed at God's kindness to forgive me.

Proverbs. Having grown up in an era when most conservative Christians were teetotalers, I have noticed that our understanding of grace has freed up many in the church to drink a glass of wine with a meal or a beer on a hot afternoon. Such freedom is good, but it is also dangerous. Today's Proverbs verse is a good guardrail for living with this freedom.

What do you think today? Questions or comments?

July 24

Today's Reading

2 Chronicles. It doesn't get much simpler than this. When the leaders of the people led the way, the people followed. If they led toward intimacy with God, God protected and blessed them. If they led away from Him, they went through troubles. I must remember their example.

Romans. Many of you have favorite passages of Scripture. Romans 8 has to be among mine. The last part was my dad's favorite part of the whole Bible. In addition, I keep discovering what it means to pray for someone without knowing words to pray. God's promise of the Spirit's intercession for us means more and more to me.

Psalms. We must decide what we will do when we taste God's victory in some area of our lives. It is tempting to put a leash on our sin and hide it in a closet of our hearts. David said, "I did not stop until they were conquered." His attitude is what we must maintain to truly grow up in the faith.

Proverbs. Father, I always want to be open to correction, even when it comes with wrong motives.

And what are your thoughts as you read today?

July 23

Today's Reading

2 Chronicles. What do you think of the answer which Rehoboam gave to the people? After the wisdom of his father, how do you think he had arrived at such an attitude?

Romans. I love the latter part of today's passage, the part about hope. Hope, from a New Testament perspective, contains no element of doubt. "I hope so" doesn't meant that something might or might not happen. In the NT, hope is looking forward to something that is a sure thing, but it just hasn't happened yet.

Today's Psalm reminds me of the verse that says, "The horse is prepared for the day of battle, but victory belongs to the Lord." (Prov. 21:31) We do what we can to prepared for the challenges we face. Ultimately, though, it is God who gives us what we need to endure.

Proverbs. Even if your parents are hard to get along with in their older years, honor and care for them. Your children are learning from your model.

What do you notice today? Any Questions?

July 22

Today's Reading

2 Chronicles. It strikes me that Solomon left the intensive time in God's presence and went to work building his kingdom. So far so good, but the further he was from his time with God, the more he made decisions based on human wisdom rather than God's direction. Ultimately, this would bring great pain and destruction to the land. I appreciate the reminder in my own life!

Romans. I believe that chapters 6-8 are the "meat" of this letter. Chapter 6 makes it clear that receiving Christ produces the death of our "old man" -- that is our old, sinful nature. Chapter 7 speaks of the internal battle we have: our "new man" is alive, but the flesh (a better translation than "sinful nature" which New Living Translation uses) struggles against our reborn spirit. Chapter 8 makes it clear, that even though we have these struggles, being "in Christ Jesus" means that we are longer under condemnation for our sins. Heavy stuff. Worth a lifetime of pondering.

Psalms. This vivid word picture of God's power revealed in a storm was something we experienced quite suddenly on a summer day. The July air was very hot (116 degrees) and fairly humid for Yuma. At about 3:00 in the afternoon, Cathy looked out the window and mentioned how dark it was getting. Less than five minutes later, a roaring wind began to blow, along with dust and a smattering of rain. I heard that the wind reached peaks of 50 miles per hour, which is small compared to many storms. But it was as if the earth was shaking in the the power of it. How mighty is our God!

Proverbs. Hard work is a blessing. Correction is good for anyone who will accept it.

Your thoughts today? Do you have questions?

July 21

Today's Reading

2 Chronicles. Today's passage is the beginning of the account of God demonstrating His Shekinah (His glorious presence) at the dedication of the Temple.

Romans. We can be so much like little children. "Don't touch that hot iron," we say sternly. The next thing we know, the child is inching toward the iron wanting to see just what our command means. Because of sin, we do that with God's Law. On the other hand, the Law shows us our sin so that we can recognize our need for a Savior.

Psalms. I once was not as confident as David was in this prayer. When God scrutinized me, I wasn't absolutely sure that He found nothing wrong. This is a growth area for me and I'm so grateful. My walk is more consistent, my repentance is more timely and my fellowship with Him is more sure than ever before. Hallelujah! How are you?

Proverbs. I admire loyalty, even when the person receiving it is very flawed. A loyal person has a special quality, from my point of view.

And what do you think? Questions?

July 20

Today's Reading

2 Chronicles. Some thoughts surfaced as I read about the beginning of Solomon's reign. The first was that the details required to get the Temple built were enormous -- that in itself was an answer to Solomon's prayer for wisdom and understanding. The second was a realization of the vast amount of labor it took to build it, all with hand tools. I wonder if the laborers understood they were building a house for God. Finally, I noticed how quickly Solomon "knew" that the task of building the Temple was above him and called for a master craftsman: that's wise leadership!

Romans. This is one of the deepest chapters in the whole Bible. It really helps to take it at a simple level. Before we meet Christ and are born again, we are slaves to sin. After our spiritual birth, we are no long enslaved to sin, but are servants of God. We change from the inside out, but we must choose to walk in the freedom we have received. I think we often miss just how powerful our new freedom is. We are no longer children of darkness, but now are children of the light of Christ.

Psalms. "I know that Lord is always with me." Oh, but how easily I disregard His presence! I have to keep learning to practice His presence in my everyday life.

Proverbs. It is so easy to desire control of our own lives. We make plans and they fall apart so we are frustrated. At least I do. I need to remember that verse! God's plans are ALWAYS for my good!

And you? Thoughts or questions?

July 19

Today's Reading

1 Chronicles. This description of the final days of David's reign is a wonderful climax to his story. He instructed his son Solomon to seek the Lord, gave him details about the construction of the Temple, then led the way in giving to pay for it. What a word picture!

Romans. I thank God for the day when He began to wake me up to the depths of my sin. Only then could I begin to realize the greater depths of His love and grace. He loved me as a sinner, not as someone who had cleaned up my act enough to deserve Him. Now, from the deepest part of my heart, I want to know Him and serve Him. It is the natural response to His great love.
There is, I think, a very important verse in today's passage. I was a young pastor when I was asked why we believe that tiny children haven't reached an "age of accountability" for their sins. I wondered what Scripture we used to back it up. I called a Bible professor whom I knew (perhaps the most learned Bible Scholar I ever knew) and asked him. He wasn't sure of the answer. Then one day I was reading in Romans 5 and came upon verse 13, which says, "...it was not counted as sin because there was not yet any law to break." I asked my professor friend if he thought this could be the answer -- little kids (and some others who have certain mental challenges) can't understand that they have broken God's law until they reach a certain maturity. Only then are they held accountable for their sins. My professor friend agreed with my interpretation and I have found no other verse that so clearly states our "age of accountability" belief.

Psalms. For you and me, worship in God's sanctuary means having intimate heart-communion with Him. Notice the list of attitudes and actions that will keep us from such intimacy. Also, verse 3 says "...speak evil of their friends." A more literal translation says, "take up a reproach against". I like that because it can be taken two ways. Reproaching (speaking evil of) our friends will short-circuit our communion with God. However, we can also squeeze God out by picking up the reproaches others make against our friends. God never gives you the grace to handle my reproaches, but He gives that grace to me! If you grab hold of my offenses and get angry at the offenders, you will lose communion with God because of your bitterness.

Proverbs. An angry person is no fun to be around, but we do them no good by rescuing them from the results of their anger. If we let them face those results, perhaps they will be broken and let God change their heart.

Whew! That's a bunch. What do you see today? Questions for us?

July 18

Today's Reading

1 Chronicles. I found a quiet testimony to faithfulness and courage in Chapter 26 today. It was the selection of people from the "clan of Hebron" to take charge of things for David, both east and west of the Jordan River. Hebron was the capital city during the first seven years of David's reign. Perhaps more important, it is the region that was conquered by Caleb, during the days of Joshua. Caleb and Joshua were the two spies who pleaded with the nation to believe God and possess the land shortly after Moses received the commandments. The people rebelled and all of them over 20 years old -- all except Caleb and Joshua -- died in the wilderness. When they finally got into the Land, they conquered territory for five years. Then, at 85 years old, Caleb asked Joshua for permission to possess the hill country which had been promised to him 45 years earlier. That hill country was the territory of some of the most ferocious giants in the Land, but Caleb claimed and conquered it. By then (and still today), it is called Hebron.

Romans. Paul couldn't have made it clearer than today's passage. Faith -- complete trust in Christ's sacrifice for our sins -- places us in a right relationship with God. A right relationship results in a changed heart that wants to obey. It's never the other way around.

Psalms. Life is full of Fridays, the day that Jesus hung on the cross and hope seemed gone. But God always follows them with Sundays, when the power of death is conquered and joy overflows. Always!

Proverbs. Since we always will have poor near us, we will always have someone to help. It's part of God's process.

Your thoughts? Questions?

July 17

Today's Reading

1 Chronicles. Prior to the resurrection of Christ and the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit came upon people for special acts of service, but He didn't indwell them as He does those who believe today. Therefore, one way of determining God's will was by the "sacred lot." They would ask God to lead them by way of the way the lots fell, then trust Him to be faithful. Notice the level of organization they had for doing the work at the Temple. It was amazing!

Today in Romans, Paul lays out the case for us being considered righteous before God. This is not something we work to earn, but something we receive by faith. It's a great example when we look at the way Paul described Abraham. Abraham trusted God for things humanly impossible. That is where God wants to take our faith, but we must be broken enough to see the limitation of our own resources.

Psalms today does a good job of describing just how I feel at times. I love the way it ends. How about you?

Proverbs. God's commandments will protect us -- if we let them!

Your thoughts? Do you have questions?

July 16

Today's Reading

1 Chronicles. David and Solomon both exercised great wisdom as they dedicated themselves to build the Temple and worship God. They were building something that opened the way to God for all who had a heart to follow Him. Unfortunately, many Jews took it as a sign of their superiority over others. How many Christians have had the same attitude through the ages?

Romans. Sin is universal. We are all guilty! There is only one adequate payment for sin and it was made by Jesus Christ, the Son of God, on the cross. The only way to clear our sin account with God is through faith, trusting in Christ alone for salvation. That's the Gospel in a nutshell!

Psalms. God loves the poor and oppressed. Do we?

Proverbs. Thank you, Lord, for my wife. She is truly a gift to me!

What do you see today? Do you have questions for us?

July 15

Today's Reading

1 Chronicles. David faced a common temptation for leaders, that of looking at the size and breadth of his territory and attempting to find his identity there. It's always dangerous to think our personal worth is in what we have acquired or what we have accomplished. That pride often leads to some type of destruction.

Romans. People with truly humble hearts have a "default position." To them, God is God. Always. If a wrong has taken place, it was not God who did it. Even though God transforms some of our sinful acts and brings good from them, (like the illegitimate baby who grew up to be a gifted evangelist) it still takes the power of Christ's blood to pay for our sins. We are not to excuse them, but to confess and forsake them.

Psalms. At various times in my life, it seems like evil is overcoming good in our world. BUT, God will ultimately prevail!

Proverbs. With today's understanding that "all men are created equal", I find verse 10 difficult. Anyone can become a leader and princes have no more rights than slaves. It wasn't that way, though, when this verse was penned.

What are your insights today? Questions?

July 14

Today's Reading

1 Chronicles. God promised David that He would "...raise up one of your descendants, one of your sons, and I will make his kingdom strong. He is the one who will build a house—a temple—for me. And I will secure his throne forever. I will be his father, and he will be my son. I will never take my favor from him as I took it from the one who ruled before you. I will confirm him as king over my house and my kingdom for all time, and his throne will be secure forever." No one else could meet that description other than Jesus, Messiah, the son of David. Notice David's prayer following his receipt of the Word from the prophet; He claimed the promise by faith. I must do the same when I receive one of God's promises.

Romans. "24 No wonder the Scriptures say, 'The Gentiles blaspheme the name of God because of you.'” I heard someone say that there are two reasons people don't know Christ. The first is that they don't know a Christian. The second is that they do know a Christian. May God deliver us from living like stumbling blocks!

Psalms. The Scripture draws a distinct line between the humble victims of a cruel world and those who would use difficulties as an excuse to do evil.

Proverbs. My own desire is to always cherish understanding, even when it threatens my previous view of things.

I have been well fed by today's verses. How about you? Any questions?

July 13

Today's Reading

1 Chronicles. "...King David skipping about and laughing with joy..." I hope that someone with Michal's attitude didn't see me and a bunch of other adults at children's camp this week. I'm certain that our worship would look less than "proper" to them. The person after God's heart is willing to look undignified in worship. It doesn't matter if it's a king or a pauper. By the way, David gave gifts to the people on that day of celebration, including loaves of bread. Since he was from Bethlehem -- house of bread -- I'm sure he knew where to get it!

Romans today is a graphic word picture of sliding down a slippery slope. It mentions three levels of sin, each more depraved than the one before. In each case, "God abandoned them" at that level and the sin got worse. It's a dangerous thing to shut out the conviction of God's Spirit and fail to repent while we can.

Psalms. The humble who seek God may have great difficulty now, but God's salvation is ahead. The wicked may think they are getting away with sin, but judgment is coming.

Proverbs. The world tends to disregard the poor. There are those who call attention to the poor, yet their ultimate goal is for their own gain. God's people, however, naturally have compassion on the poor -- it's from God's heart. On the other hand, many Christians in our own nation have chosen to shut down the influence of the Holy Spirit in this area.

And your thoughts today? Do you have questions?

July 12

Today's Reading

1 Chronicles. David's kingdom began with great joy and unity. It was probably the most unified the Jews had been in their history. It's but a picture of what Christ's kingdom will be like when we are all bound together in love and harmony.

We begin the reading of Romans today. Even though Acts concluded with Paul's arrival in Rome, you will notice that this book was written before that time -- he was planning to come, but hadn't made it yet. Romans is perhaps the deepest and richest book in the whole Bible. The great themes are introduced in this first chapter...
1. The Gospel is powerful to change people from the inside out.
2. We become righteous by faith rather than by works.

Psalms. "The wicked are trapped by their own deeds." I once knew a leader who misused his influence to get rid of a subordinate in a very harsh and humiliating way. Only a year or so later, his organization got rid of the leader using the same methods. Afterwards, someone said to me, "He taught them how."

Proverbs. Whether the issue is money or words, the truth has a way of coming out. May we live truthfully.

What do you see today? What questions come to mind?

July 11

Today's Reading

1 Chronicles. The narrative today turns to David and his mighty men. I'm certain that, while others proudly lauded him as king, David turned his appreciation to those who put their lives on the line for the kingdom. As a fierce warrior, He was respected by his "mighty men." As a man of compassion, he was loved by the people.

Acts concludes with Paul's arrival at Rome. He would see great fruit there and he would also suffer. It was in Rome where Paul was finally martyred, though many historians believe that didn't happen at this time. Paul had other ministry elsewhere before he was finally executed for his faith.

Psalms. God cares for the helpless. That's a far cry from helping "those who help themselves." Yes, we must sometimes take action to deal with our own problems, but we must be cautious lest we try to seize control of our own lives and leave God out completely.

Proverbs today is a mouthful. Which verse speaks the most to you?

What are your questions and thoughts today?

July 10

Today's Reading

1 Chronicles. We have (finally) moved from the list of names to the narrative. Saul lost the kingdom because of disobedience. He tried to hold onto it by his personal power. Have you ever made similar mistakes?

Acts. Like Saul (above), the sailors went to sea when they were warned not to. Then they tried to make everything work out by their own ingenuity. What a mess! But God always has a plan!

Psalms. Whether in the mountains, on the desert sands, or standing next to an ocean, God's majesty is everywhere. He has designed us for a very special place in His kingdom. We are a "little lower than God." God has given us significant authority and, along with it, huge responsibility to care for a created order gone awry. We have much work to do!

Proverbs. I have seen people destroy each other over money when an inheritance is on the line. Genuine friends value the friendship above any earthly thing.

What are your thoughts today? Do you have questions?

July 9

Today's Reading

1 Chronicles. The record of the families continues, with occasional personal history stories thrown in.

Acts. This graphic telling of a shipwreck must be one of the best descriptions of such in ancient writing. It is critical to note that Paul's foreboding wasn't a natural fear, but something he sensed in his spirit. However, he was bound to go. Note had the care taken by the crew wasn't enough to forestall disaster. There's a great lesson there.
The ship landed on Crete (Titus' location when the letter bearing his name was written) and was trying to get to another Cretan port when the storm blew them off course. This event happened, as best as we can ascertain, not long before Paul wrote his letter to Titus. It's possible that his brief stay (only a day or so?) at Fair Havens, Crete was enough to give him some in-depth awareness of what was happening to the churches on the island.

Psalms. David was quick to declare his dependence upon God. He was also quick to look inwardly to make sure He wasn't short-circuiting God's protection and provision by harboring sin. my current trial something God has allowed to produce maturity in me? Or is it the consequence of some sin I need to deal with?

Proverbs. This verse is certainly true for me! Next to my salvation, Cathy is the greatest blessing of my life.

What do you see today? Do you have questions?

July 8

Today's Reading

Today's 1 Chronicles passage concludes with the assignment of territory to the priests, who served throughout the country, serving God and the people.

Acts. Paul's speech before King Agrippa is a masterful and passionate proclamation of the Gospel. Agrippa would have had the authority to release Paul, but Paul's appeal to the Emperor would surely have been forwarded to Rome. There was no turning back on that. Paul, then, used every opportunity to continue sharing the Gospel. What an example for us!

Psalms. David's spot as "a man after God's own heart" didn't insulate him from many trouble. As you read his Psalms, you realize that he often felt overwhelmed by the challenges of life. However, he kept crying out and trusting God. The Christian life is not one of painless joy, nor is it one of constantly being strong in the midst of hardship; it's about struggles, stumbles, rejection and -- sometimes -- being totally unsure of what to do. Through it we keep learning to trust God.

Proverbs. Dear God, please remind me throughout the day to tame my tongue.

What is on your heart? Do you have questions?

July 7

Today's Reading

1 Chronicles. Verse 9, near the beginning of today's passage is the short story of a man named Jabez. Bruce Wilkinson wrote an excellent little book called The Prayer of Jabez that is definitely worth reading. It will spark your faith!

Acts. Festus, like Felix before him, was caught in a political quandary. He knew he had no legitimate charges against Paul. On the other hand, he wanted to please the Jewish leaders who were often making waves in the Empire. He was willing to take Paul back to Jerusalem, then claim innocence if they were ambushed and Paul was killed on the road. Paul knew that God had other plans for him, so he appealed to Caesar.

Psalms. "Each morning I bring my requests to you and wait expectantly." That's a great example for us to follow.

Proverbs. This is one of the reasons that Jesus said,
"Make friends quickly with your opponent at law while you are with him on the way, so that your opponent may not hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the officer, and you be thrown into prison." Matthew 5:25 (New American Standard Bible) Our pride wants to sulk over perceived wrongs and justify our retaliation. However, the sooner we try to make amends, the more likely we will be able to move to a reconciliation.

What do you see? Questions?

July 6

Today's Reading

1 Chronicles. The names in Israel's history have quickly moved through the generations to King David's time. Hebron, the city in the hill country which Caleb had claimed as one of the twelve spies under Moses, was David's first capital. Following the mention of Solomon, we get this simple listing (in order) of the Kings of Judah, which we just read about: "10 The descendants of Solomon were Rehoboam, Abijah, Asa, Jehoshaphat, 11 Jehoram,[k] Ahaziah, Joash, 12 Amaziah, Uzziah,[l] Jotham, 13 Ahaz, Hezekiah, Manasseh, 14 Amon, and Josiah.
15 The sons of Josiah were Johanan (the oldest), Jehoiakim (the second), Zedekiah (the third), and Jehoahaz[m] (the fourth).
16 The successors of Jehoiakim were his son Jehoiachin and his brother Zedekiah."

Acts. You will notice that Paul's imprisonment was far more about politics than about truth. However, Paul used every opportunity to share the Gospel with political rulers who, up until then, may have never considered their own need for Jesus. What an example for us; I'm afraid that I would have been entirely focused on getting free, if I was Paul. If it was a member of my family, I would have fought even harder for release. Not Paul! God had a purpose in his imprisonment. Don't fight it; go with it!
Psalms. I think it showed significant maturity for David to keep from anger, considering the number of his enemies.
Proverbs. The middle verse in today's reading is the one that comes most often to my mind. Every story has at least two sides and we do well to hear them both before we pass judgment.
What do you think today? Do you have questions?

July 5

Today's Reading

1 Chronicles. It's easy to drown in this sea of names, isn't it? I suggest you skim over them to get a semblance of the order and the family groups. I'm not sure how this part of Scripture came about, but it's possible that it was the result of beginning to write down history that previously had been passed on by word of mouth from one generation to the next.

For instance, I have cousins who grew up near me. One part of our family trees are the same. Yet we each had another side of our family that wasn't related to the cousins. Each side of those families has a history, often told from one generation to the next. If someone were writing a "Chronicles" today, they would gather each of those histories and compile them, telling the "high points."

I hope that helps because we will read several chapters of names before we really get back to a story, which will retell some of the history we have read in 1 & 2 Samuel and 1 & 2 Kings.

Acts. On the one hand, Paul was a prisoner of Rome. On the other hand, God was in charge so Paul was a victor rather than a victim. God protected Paul by having his nephew hear of the plot to kill him and passing the info on to the Roman commander.

Psalms. Long before Paul (above), David learned how God protects those who call upon Him. It is one of the most valuable lessons in life!

Proverbs. The first verse reminds me of the darkness of depression. It pulls down the depressed person and all sorts of people nearby. The second verse is a challenge to never quit learning and growing.

What are you learning today? Do you have questions?

July 4

Happy Independence Day in the USA!

Today's Reading

2 Kings. God's judgment was becoming reality for the people of Judah. It's an amazing story, though, of grace. Many people suffered, but many of the humble were spared some of the worst difficulty. The next section of their history was in exile. From that crucible came the witness of Esther and Mordecai, Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. From a faraway land, Daniel was used by God to help pave the way for Magi to travel from "the East" (several hundred years later) to a tiny town named Bethlehem where a Child was born.

Acts. Paul was respectful, even in the midst of adversity. On the other hand, he knew how to bind up the religious leaders. He did it by simply playing to their long-standing differences.

Psalms. The following verses make a great prayer to pray for our President and leaders throughout the world...
10 Now then, you kings, act wisely!
Be warned, you rulers of the earth!
11 Serve the Lord with reverent fear,
and rejoice with trembling.

Proverbs. These wise words speak to me as a husband. How do they speak to you?

Other thoughts or questions today?

July 3

Today's Reading

2 Kings. A careful reading of today's passage shows just how far the people had strayed from God. It seems that they worshiped just about any and everything around them -- except God. It's amazing how far we can stray when we take one step off course and don't repent!

Acts. Did you notice how the crowd was trying to kill Paul (yesterday's reading) and how it was Paul that got arrested? Now, Paul gives a hint to the commander that begins to change their relationship. He uses the term "citizen of Tarsus." That will come back in the next day or so.

Psalms. "For the Lord watches over the path of the godly..." That stirs my heart, making me want to walk more and more with God. How about you?

Proverbs. Our church has been highly blessed by God. The thoughts in these verses are another reminder that we must rely on God alone and not lean on our own resources or our past successes.

What do you think? Any questions today?

July 2

Today's Reading

2 Kings. The historians seem to picture Hezekiah as a selfish man. He wanted to live at all costs. When God did give him life, he bragged about all his wealth to pagan leaders who had a history of conquering and stealing. Then, when he heard about God's coming judgment, he was simply glad it wouldn't happen in his life. He didn't seem to care about his descendants. If that is an accurate depiction of his character, by God's grace I don't want to be like him!
There is much more about Manasseh in 2 Chronicles. The 2 Kings account never tells the story about how Manasseh ultimately repented. We will read that one in the Chronicles account.

Acts. Once again Saul the ex-persecutor became Paul the persecuted. Can you imagine what it was like to attempt to love people whose minds were so closed and were so full of prejudice? God loves them. If He couldn't, He can't love me, either. I'm glad He does!

Psalms. I have, on occasion, been in the midst of a large crowd of people who were simple, humble and unrestrained in their worship. It's just a taste of what heaven must be like!

Today marks our half-way point of reading the Bible in a year. We will read through Psalms a second time and complete the rest over the coming months. If you have been with us since the beginning, congratulations!

Proverbs. God created us to make a difference in this world. When we are lazy, our part of the work is simply decaying. Also, I love the second verse in this passage today. Oh, how I need Him!

What are your thoughts? Questions?

July 1

Today's Reading

2 Kings. Hezekiah first fell into the temptation to rescue himself by his own works. He even took the gold dedicated to the Lord and tried to bribe his way out of trouble. How many times have I done the equivalent? I get into a mess and, rather than repent, I try to get myself out of the mess. One reason it's tempting to do it that way is because our flesh wants to remain in control of our lives. Repenting means yielding my life to God. Hezekiah repented and God delivered him. I love this passage and it always challenges me to put my trust only in the Lord. Only when He is in control do I find full joy.

Acts. Paul knew that he had to travel a specific road in order to obey God. It's amazing how various ones foresaw the troubles ahead of him and tried to warn him off. Instead Paul chose to listen to the still, small voice of God and keep moving ahead; even if it meant he would die. What an example of devotion! Someone said that the safest place to stay is in the center of God's will.

Psalms. I fear that sometimes we are so "civilized" that we don't really release ourselves in praise. We are afraid of looking foolish.

Proverbs. I must watch my heart regarding this verse. In my flesh, I love to hear rumors about people -- especially ones I don't particularly like.

And you? What is God saying to you today? Do you have questions for us?