September 7

Today's Reading

Song of Solomon contains a very descriptive story about marital love. It includes loneliness and dreams, hopes and fears. It adds in the occasional warning: "Don't awaken love before it's time." In other words, wait for the physical expression of love until after the commitment of a lifetime together in marriage.

2 Corinthians. Our church has experienced the blessings Paul described, especially through our partnerships in the Dominican Republic and Mexico. We have at times shared in providing some of their needs. In turn, they are constantly praying for us. What a blessing!

Psalms. "16 You do not desire a sacrifice, or I would offer one.
You do not want a burnt offering.
17 The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit.
You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God." This Psalms should be present often in our thinking and praying.

Proverbs. Hot-tempered people are everywhere. We do well to keep our distance from them.

What has touched your heart today?

September 6

Today's Reading

Song of Solomon is rich, descriptive poetry. Many scholars believe it is about our love relationship with God. More recently, scholars have interpreted it as about romantic, marital love. The young man was Solomon. He and his young bride celebrated their passion. Either way, notice their attention to the details of their time together. See how they cherished each other. What a lesson for marriage and what a lesson about our available intimacy with the One who loves us!

2 Corinthians gives rise to different thoughts today. First, they traveled as a group with full accountability for care of the money. Misuse of money is a strong temptation and they were living above reproach. Second, Paul continued with his reference for Titus. In the past, before phones, faxes and internet, it was common for someone to carry letters of reference with them as they traveled to new places.

Psalms. If there is anything that God detests, it's us making an outward show of religion without a change of heart. We can go to church, do good works, give money, etc. and remain unclean before Him. He calls us to repent and humble ourselves before Him. Then He cleanses us through the blood of His Son Jesus Christ.

Proverbs. When Christ changes our hearts, one thing He touches is our attitude toward the poor.

What is He saying to you today?

September 5

Today's Reading

Ecclesiastes. "11 The words of the wise are like cattle prods—painful but helpful. Their collected sayings are like a nail-studded stick with which a shepherd drives the sheep." This verse near the end of the book seems to be a description of how to use it. Let the wise words poke us and prod us as we learn to walk in God's ways.

2 Corinthians. At this time, the Jewish Christians were in an economic crisis. Therefore, many of the poor, struggling Gentiles churches were sacrificing to help their brothers and sisters in Christ. Paul adds to his plea a request that Corinth, who had much more wealth, give an abundant offering on top of what the poor churches had already given. "4 They begged us again and again for the privilege of sharing in the gift for the believers in Jerusalem. " It's hard to believe that people "begged" to give. However, I have seen such a heart among Dominicans who are poor in this world and rich in faith.

Psalms. We must learn to look at life through eternal lenses.

Proverbs today makes me wonder if this is something Solomon told a distinguished guest and which got recorded by a scribe.

What do you notice?

September 4

Today's Reading
As I read Ecclesiastes today, I found some verses really speaking to me. I can only imagine some of the questions running through the heads of those who read Climbing Companions. Rather than try to guess, I'm opening it up. What questions do you have?
In 2 Corinthians today, Paul spoke of not being sorry (though he was sorry at first) for sending the harsh earlier letter to them. I went through something like this lately. I prepared a sermon on repentance. I asked some leaders to look at it and I think if felt harsh to some. I was ready to soften in when a very wise leader said it is just the message we need. Repentance is a hard-fought battle, but it must be waged for us to become the people God designed us to be.
Psalms. I'm convinced that Scripture passages like this will make more and more sense when we are with Jesus for eternity. It is about His kingdom. He Himself taught us to pray, "Thy kingdom come..."
Proverbs. "19 I am teaching you today—yes, you—
so you will trust in the Lord." Isn't that the real issue of life?
What speaks to you today? How's it going, Climbing Companion?

September 3

Today's Reading

Part of the challenge (and the enjoyment) of Ecclesiastes is that Solomon keeps going back and forth between words of despair and words of great wisdom for living. We must sift through them and let them speak to us in the right way at the right time.

2 Corinthians. Today, in Chapter 6, Paul warns them against "partnership" with unbelievers. He isn't at all talking against building friendships with unbelievers. Instead, he is warning against a union with unbelievers in which we submit ourselves to their unbelief. The most common interpretation of this is marriage, but it can be more. In Chapter 7, he recalls the instruction found in 1 Corinthians 5 and rejoices that they followed what he had said.

Psalms. "5 God has ascended with a mighty shout.
The Lord has ascended with trumpets blaring." I never noticed that verse before. God "ascended". I tend to think of God "descending", but the picture is of God, the God of Israel, ascending to His rightful throne: Lord of all the earth (and everything else).

Proverbs. I have seen (even among Christians) people who underpay their employees to keep more for themselves. I have heard the justifications. I don't think the "reasons" stand up before God.

What have you noticed?

September 2

Today's Reading

Today, we begin reading the little book of Ecclesiastes. These writings of Solomon seem to be some of his life observations as he got older. It's important to remember that Solomon was very wise, but he never received the description, "man after God's own heart" like his father did. Solomon also made the mistake of attempting to fill his life with the things of this world; some of his Ecclesiastes statements attest to the futility of that choice. How do these first three chapters affect you? Do they produce enthusiasm in you or do you find them rather depressing?

2 Corinthians. If the only writings of Paul available to you were these thoughts in 2 Corinthians, wouldn't he look like a whiner? Obviously, he wrote about half our New Testament and he was anything but a complainer. Here he is preparing the hearts of his readers for a need he will share with them. He entrusts to them that serving Christ can be difficult and painful. Those sentiments are not for the faint of heart and it says much about his respect for the spiritual maturity that was happening in Corinth.

Psalms. I like to imagine standing at an observation point and watching as a wall of snow and ice begins an avalanche or a tsunami breaks in toward the shore. The awe of such terrible force would remind me of the greatness of God. Be still and know...

Proverbs. I recently read where someone was asking what happened to controlling children when they are in public places like restaurants. The writer, who works in a restaurant, said that it's uncanny how many parents bring their small children in and allow them to run freely throughout the building. We have become a culture of many parents not disciplining their own children.

And, my friend, what speaks to you today?

September 1

(Note to readers: if you started with as at the beginning of this calendar year, you are now 2/3 of the way home. Well done! We still have much to cover as we move toward conclusion of our journey through the Bible, so hang on.)
Today's Reading

Job concludes with God challenging Job for his ignorance and unbelief. Finally, Job discovers the reality that God's ways are above ours. His final statement to the Lord is: "5 I had only heard about you before,
but now I have seen you with my own eyes.
6 I take back everything I said,
and I sit in dust and ashes to show my repentance.” Elsewhere, James 4:10 says, "Humble yourself in the sight of the Lord and He will lift you up." That's exactly what He did with Job.

2 Corinthians. The message of Christianity is always the message of the Cross. The cross was where Jesus paid the full price of our sins. The cross is the place we come with repentant hearts, asking God to strip away our old lives and re-create us into the image of Christ.

Psalms. Ephesians 5 tells us that we who are in Christ are the Bride and Jesus Christ Himself is the Bridegroom. It really enhances this Psalm for me when I read it in that light.

When I read Proverbs today, I thought of all the spam that sneaks through my online stuff (almost all is filtered from my email, but it comes in through places like Skype and Twitter). Again and again, I get lurid invitations.

How does the Scripture today relate to you?