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I Pray

Daily Reading

Psalm 1-8

Daily Thought

Blessed is the man
who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,
nor stands in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
but his delight is in the law of the Lord,
and on his law he meditates day and night. ~Psalm 1:1-2

In front of my childhood home grows a towering redwood, 60 feet high. It is beautiful and strong, a majestic tree. We planted two of these trees on our front lawn when my family moved into the house in 1973. They were 6 feet high then, and over the summer we watched as one grew and one did not. One seemed to find water, soak it in, delight in it, and so it flourished. The other did not, dried up, and died. Today I can point to the spot the other tree was planted, but there is no trace it was ever there.

He is like a tree
planted by streams of water
that yields its fruit in its season,
and its leaf does not wither.
In all that he does, he prospers.
The wicked are not so,
but are like chaff that the wind drives away. ~Psalm 1:3-4

I was a teenager in 1973, and prayer was difficult. Speaking to someone unseen felt odd. I repeated myself a lot and talked like King James, “Thee” and “Thou.” One day I opened the Psalms and was surprised by the words. They were words for me, the expressions I longed for, “Give ear to my words, O Lord” (Psalm 5:1), and “When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers” (Psalm 8:3), and “I will fear no evil for you are with me” (Psalm 23:4). I began to pray the Psalms, to walk with a Bible in hand and pray God’s Word back to him. God’s Word became my words, “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me” (Psalm 51:10), robust words that declared my thoughts and desires. I learned to pray by praying the Psalms, to “delight in the law of the Lord, and on his law meditate day and night” (Psalm 1:2). 

That man is described as blessed, a man who will grow like a tree planted by streams of water.

Daily Prayer

O Lord my God, early this morning I stop and wonder what this day will bring. What have You set before me? You prepare me to meet the wonders and challenges and opportunities and delights of this world as I read Your Word and delight in it. Fill my heart this morning with Your grace and truth. Give me wisdom, courage, and compassion so that all I do prospers me and those around me.

May I be strong in Your love today. Whether I meet friend or enemy, may my life express Your love. May I do what is good and right, may others be blessed, and may You be praised.

Amen

Daily Question

What are some of your favorite passages in the Bible and why are they favorites?

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Unsinkable

Daily Reading

Job 40-42

Daily Thought

And the Lord said to Job: “Shall a faultfinder contend with the Almighty? He who argues with God, let him answer it” (Job 40:1-2). God’s question for Job: Do you know who I am?

That’s the question, and we dare not get the answer wrong. 

“Are you capable of forgiving and loving God even when you have found out that He is not perfect, even when He has let you down and disappointed you by permitting bad luck and sickness and cruelty in His world, and permitting some of those things to happen to you? Can you learn to love and forgive Him despite His limitations, as Job does?” That was written by Rabbi Harold Kushner in his book, “When Bad Things Happen To Good People.”

Really? An “A” for effort? Good job for trying? Kushner didn’t believe God could change what happened so he changed God. 

Remember the Titanic? “There is no danger that Titanic will sink. The boat is unsinkable and nothing but inconvenience will be suffered by the passengers,” said Phillip Franklin, White Star Line Vice-President, just before midnight, April 14, 1912. The Titanic sunk, April 15, 1912, 2:20am. If you claim you are unsinkable, don’t sink. 

Kushner got it wrong. He was mistaken about God and about Job. When bad things happen, knowing why they happen or what to do is not as important as knowing the one to trust. Job rested at last, not because he knew how or why, but he knew who. He knew God. “I know that You can do all things; no plan of Yours can be thwarted,” said Job (Job 42:2). Unsinkable.

And the Lord restored the fortunes of Job. ~Job 42:10

Daily Prayer

Heavenly Father, You are good. Every good gift comes from You. You are holy and just and righteous. You are love.

There are times when people and events may argue against that, but God, I will not be swayed. I know that You are true, the First and the Last, and that in all things, You work for the good of those who love You. Father God, I love You. My life is Yours, no matter what.

Amen

Daily Question

How much do you trust God?

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God

Daily Reading

Job 38-39

Daily Thought

God speaks, at last, “Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge? Dress for action like a man; I will question you, and you make it known to me.” And he began to question Job, “Who shut in the sea with doors when it burst out from the womb, and said, ‘Thus far shall you come, and no farther, and here shall your proud waves be stayed’?” (Job 38:8, 11).

There are 362 quintillion gallons of water in the ocean. That is 362 billion billion or 3.62×1020 or 362,000,000,000,000,000,000. Or 7,250,000,000,000,000,000 bathtubs or 15,000,000,000,000,000 swimming pools, if that makes it easier.

“Can you bind the chains of the Pleiades or loose the cords of Orion? Do you know the ordinances of the heavens? Can you establish their rule on the earth?” (Job38:31, 33)

On a clear, moonless night, a few thousand stars are visible, of the 10,000,000,000 in the Milky Way galaxy. Some estimate there are 10 billion billion stars in the universe, but NASA put the number precisely at gazillions.

“Can you hunt the prey for the lion? Do you know when the mountain goats give birth? Do you observe the calving of the does? Who has let the wild donkey go free? Who has loosed the bonds of the swift donkey, is the wild ox willing to serve you? Do you give the horse his might? Do you clothe his neck with a mane? Is it by your understanding that the hawk soars and spreads his wings toward the south? Is it at your command that the eagle mounts up and makes his nest on high?” (Job 38:39; 39:1, 5, 9, 19, 26-27)

Estimates range from 5 million to 100 million different species on earth, but we’ve identified less than 2 million. Breaking this down into categories, zoologists come up with 20,000 species of fish, 6,000 species of reptiles, 9,000 of birds, 1,000 amphibians, and 15,000 species of mammals. The remaining millions are, you’ll be happy to know, insects and spiders. As to the total number of individual animals, the scientific estimate is, “I have absolutely no idea.”

“Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding. Who determined its measurements–surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it? On what were its bases sunk, or who laid its cornerstone, when the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy? (Job 38:4-7).

God. That’s the answer. To everything. God.

Job said nothing. Sometimes it is the right time to be quiet, be still, and know that He is God.

Daily Prayer

Creator God, what a world I live in, created by Your hands, Your Word, Your breath. What a delight to look at the heavens and think of You. I marvel at the myriad shapes and sizes of Your creatures. Look at us, man and woman, a reflection of Your image.

May I, God, never cease my amazement at Your creativity. May I be a good steward of what You have placed in my care. May I use all things as You intended, to ultimately glorify You.

Amen

Daily Question

What are some of the things in creation that cause you to be still and worship?

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Slow Down

Daily Reading

Job 35-37

Daily Thought

Elihu continued to speak, and, surprisingly, made some sense. Job’s problem was not he had sinned, but he was too focused on himself. “Hear this, O Job; stop and consider the wondrous works of God” (Job 37:14), was Elihu’s advice, and good advise, at that. 

Something, in fact, I should keep in mind.

I often drive back and forth between northern and southern California, always on Interstate 5. Fast lane, of course. It’s a straight shot, no distractions. NO DISTRACTIONS. Nothing to see, nothing to do. With one stop at Kettleman City for an In-N-Out double-double, I’m there. 400 miles, 6½ hours.

Interstate 5, every time. Except twice. Two times I detoured west along Highway One–a two-lane road, bending and curving, hugging the California coast. Santa Cruz, Monterey, Carmel, Big Sur, San Simeon, Santa Barbara, it commands frequent stops to take in fog-shrouded cliffs, rugged canyons, windswept cypress trees, the crashing surf of the Pacific Ocean. 500 miles, 9 hours.

Ninety-eight percent of the time, I choose speed over splendor. But lately I’ve been asking myself, ‘Why?’ Why in the world do I hurry to Los Angeles  …and bypass the wonders of God? Or as a couple guys named Simon and Garfunkel put it, “Slow down, you move too fast.”

Daily Prayer

God of wonders, what a creation!! The stars so vast, beyond count, and yet you hold them in Your palm and name them. The depth of the oceans and height of the mountains do not surpass Your grandeur. Rather, they reflect Your majesty and mystery.

Lord, may I measure my days. May I be productive and do the work You have called me to do. May I also rest and worship. May I stop long enough to look at this world around me and reflect. May creation draw me to the wonder and worship of its Creator.

Amen

Daily Question

Why can’t you worship in a hurry? Or can you?

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The Alpha and the Omega

Daily Reading

Revelation 20-22

Daily Thought

“I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.” ~Revelation 22:13 

In Genesis, Jesus is the Ram at Abraham’s altar. In Exodus, he is the Passover Lamb. In Leviticus, he is the High Priest. In Numbers, he is the Cloud by day and Pillar of Fire at night. In Deuteronomy, he is the Cities of Refuge. In Joshua, he is the Scarlet Cord in Rahab’s window and the Commander of the Lord’s army. In Judges, he is the true and final Judge of the living and the dead. In Ruth, he is our Kinsman Redeemer. In 1st and 2nd Samuel, he is our Trusted Prophet. In Kings and Chronicles, he is our Reigning King. In Ezra, he is our Faithful Scribe. In Nehemiah, he is the Rebuilder of everything that is broken. In Esther, he is Mordecai sitting faithful at the gate. In Job, he is our Redeemer. In Psalms. he is our Shepherd and I shall not want. In Proverbs, he is the Wisdom from above. In Ecclesiastes, he is the Meaning of life. In the Song of Songs, he is our Lover and Bridegroom. In Isaiah, he is the Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. In Jeremiah, he is the New Covenant. In Lamentations, it is Jesus who Weeps over His people. In Ezekiel, he is the Fearful and Wonderful Four-Faced Man. In Daniel, he is the Fourth Man in the fiery furnace. In Hosea, he is my Lover, forever faithful. In Joel, he is the Giver of the Holy Spirit. In Amos, he is our Burden Bearer. In Obadiah, he is Mighty to Save. In Jonah, he is the gracious God and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. In Micah, he is the Messenger with beautiful feet. In Nahum, he is the Avenger. In Habakkuk, he is the Watchman that is ever praying for revival. In Zephaniah, he is the Lord mighty to save. In Haggai, he is the Restorer of our lost heritage. In Zechariah, he is our Fountain. In Malachi, he is the Son of Righteousness with healing in His wings. 

And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself. ~Luke 24:27

In Matthew, he is the Christ, the Son of the Living God. In Mark, he is the ServantSavior. In Luke, he is the Son of Man. In John, he is the Living Word. In Acts, he is the Shining Light that appears to Saul on the road to Damascus. In Romans, he is our Justifier. In 1st Corinthians, he is our Resurrection. In 2nd Corinthians, Jesus is our Sin Bearer. In Galatians, he is Liberty. In Ephesians, he is Head of the Church. In Philippians, he supplies our every need. In Colossians, he is the Fullness of the Godhead Bodily. In 1st and 2nd Thessalonians, he is our Soon Coming King. In 1st and 2nd Timothy, he is the One Mediator between God and man. In Titus, he is our Blessed Hope. In Philemon, he is a Friend that sticks closer than a brother. In Hebrews, he is the Author and Finisher of our faith In James, he is the Lord that heals the sick. In 1st and 2nd Peter, he is the Chief Shepherd. In 1st, 2nd, and 3rd John, He is love. In Jude, he is God our Savior, the one who keeps us from stumbling and presents us blameless in his presence with great joy.. And in Revelation, he is the Lion of Judah, the Lamb who was slain, King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen. ~Revelation 22:20-21

Daily Prayer

Jesus, may I start my day with You as my first thought and end my day with you as my last. You are my beginning and end, my first thought and last word, my Lord and Savior forever. 

Thank You for coming for me, for loving me, for dying for me, and for conquering death. I look forward to Your coming again and wish it was soon! I love You with all my heart and soul and mind and strength,

Amen

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And They Lived Happily Ever After

Daily Reading

Revelation 17-19

Daily Thought

“Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great!
She has become a dwelling place for demons.” ~Revelation 18:2

Babylon is the last battle and Satan’s last stand, and as God’s wrath finishes its destruction, all the people who had placed all their hope in this world watch the smoke rise, “Alas, alas, for the great city that was clothed in fine linen, in purple and scarlet, adorned with gold, with jewels, and with pearls! For in a single hour all this wealth has been laid waste” (Revelation 18:16-17). The great city was Babylon, representing the commerce and culture of this world, and the Bible calls her “the great prostitute who corrupted the earth with her immorality” (Revelation 19:2). She is rightly destroyed, for none is less welcome at a wedding than the prostitute, and it is time now for the marriage supper of the Lamb.

“Hallelujah! For the Lord our God
the Almighty reigns.
Let us rejoice and exult
and give him the glory,
for the marriage of the Lamb has come,
and his Bride has made herself ready. ~Revelation 19:6-7

The Lamb is Jesus Christ and his bride is the church. She has purchased her gown, but rather than Babylonian purple and scarlet, her fine linen is heavenly, “bright and pure, for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints” (Revelation 19:8). The world began with a wedding, “a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh” (Genesis 2:24). God called it very good. Now, as one world ends, there is a new beginning and another wedding, and it is even better and forever.

“And they lived happily ever after” is no mere fairy tale ending, but the promise of God to those who enter his Story.

Daily Prayer

My God Eternal, You have given me a glimpse of the future and it fills me with anticipation–a world pure and good, filled with Your love and holiness. I live now in preparation for an everlasting Kingdom with Your Son on the throne reigning in righteousness.

May my life reflect now what is to come, displaying the goodness and godliness of eternity with You, and may it attract others to believe in You and enter Your story, full of grace and truth.

Amen

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The Wrath of God

Daily Reading

Revelation 9-12

Daily Thought

The judgment and wrath of God stand out in the book of Revelation, but only for a time and a measure. When angels sound their trumpets, locusts are released and “allowed to torment for five months, but not to kill” (Revelation 9:5), and plagues “prepared for the hour, the day, the month, and the year, were released to kill a third of mankind” (Revelation 9:15). The torment, though terrible, is limited, but the righteous reign of God is forever.

There are those who shame God for his wrath, yet stand unashamed in their sin. God is our King and Creator, “who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and what is in it, the earth and what is in it, and the sea and what is in it” (Revelation 10:6), yet he presents himself to us with a choice, and despite the majesty that should lead us to worship, or the wrath that should drive us from sin, we may yet choose poorly, and many do, “the rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands nor give up worshiping demons and idols of gold and silver and bronze and stone and wood, which cannot see or hear or walk” (Revelation 9:20), but we can. 

“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.” ~Romans 1:18-20

Daily Prayer

Almighty God, You had to shout loudly for me to hear, but I did hear, and I am Yours. You keep turning my heart toward You. I long to have that deep desire to listen to You, so You can speak with the still soft voice and I will pay attention. But please, shout when You need to, when I’m distracted by the noise and the clutter that I surround myself with in this world.

Your eternity has changed my life today. I can bear the trials, because I know You, and in You my heart finds peace.

Amen

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Forewarned

Daily Reading

Revelation 4-8

Daily Thought

The reign of Rome was trying times for the persecuted churches, and lest they wonder where is God and what is he doing, the apostle John is given a “revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place” (Revelation 1:1). John enters “a door standing open in heaven” (Revelation 4:1) to discover a throne cascading “flashes of lightning, and rumblings and peals of thunder, and before the throne were burning seven torches of fire, which are the seven spirits of God” (Revelation 4:5). Upon the throne sits God, holding a scroll “sealed with seven seals” (Revelation 5:1), each unfolding a certain future, “what must take place after this” (Revelation 4:1), and Jesus alone, at the same time the Lion of Judah and the Lamb of God, is able to open the scroll and usher forward what is to come.

Enter now the four horsemen of the Apocalypse, the white horse of conquest leading the bright red of war, the black of famine, and the pale horse of death. The imagery is wild and wonderful, promising both wrath and redemption; and redemption arrives first. Twelve thousand from each of the twelve tribes of Israel and “a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages” stand before the throne, clothed in white, and cry out, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” (Revelation 7:9-10). Then follows wrath upon the rest, a proper wrath from a righteous God upon a rebellious humanity. Seven angels blow seven trumpets of destruction, and this book of Revelation is a forewarning, “Woe, woe, woe to those who dwell on the earth” (Revelation 8:13).

There is a Latin proverb, Praemonitus praemunitus, and it means “to be forewarned is to be forearmed,” but to be armed against the coming wrath of a righteous God is not to stand against the Lion of Judah and prepare for battle, but to kneel before the Lamb of God and prepare for peace.

Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. ~Jude 24-25

Daily Prayer

Jesus, Almighty God, Savior and Lord, conquering Lion, redeeming Lamb, you are worthy to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing! Open my eyes to see Your wonder. I kneel before You, and in Your amazing grace, You lift me up. You give me what I need to live confidently now, preparing for eternity. I know You hold the future, so I know the future holds righteousness and peace for those who belong to You.

Thank You, Jesus.

Amen

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All In

Daily Reading

Revelation 1-3

Daily Thought

Jim was a high school senior, a nice kid who decided to ask the most popular girl in the school to Prom. He wasn’t sure, however, she knew who he was. Undeterred, he picked up the phone, “Hi Shari, this is Jim.” It was silent for a moment. “I sit behind you in History.” She remembered. “Would you like to go to Senior Prom?” Silence. “With me?” he added. More silence. Then, finally, “Sure, why not.” The most popular girl said she would go.

But that wasn’t good enough, and Jim knew it. “I’m sorry Shari,” Jim insisted, “‘Sure, why not,’ won’t do. It has to be either, ‘Jim, I want nothing more than to be your date to Senior Prom,’ or ‘Jim, you’re the last person on earth I’d want to be seen with.’”

Jesus said to the church at Laodicea, “Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth” (Revelation 3:15-16). “Sure, why not,” won’t do.

It was silent again. A longer silence. And then, “Jim, I want nothing more than to be your date to Senior Prom.” They had a fabulous evening.

“I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” ~John 10:10

Jesus is standing at the door of our heart, knocking, and think about how we respond. In the first place, he’s not some nice kid, he is “the Alpha and the Omega, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty” (Revelation 1:8). “Sure, why not,” won’t do. But open the door and let him in, all in, and it is time for a banquet.

“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.” ~Revelation 3:20

Daily Prayer

Jesus, since You are all in for me, ought not I be all in for You! You are worth my everything and more. All that I have is from You and for You.

Forgive me for and protect me from my half-hearted efforts. I want You to be with me in everything in my life, and I want everything in my life to point to You and give You pleasure. You are my God, Lord, and Savior. And my friend. I want nothing more than to be with You.

Amen

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Bibles Well-Worn and Tattered

Daily Reading

2John 1; 3John 1; Jude 1

Daily Thought

Mr. Hooper taught Sunday School, 6th grade boys. They were not in the habit of bringing Bibles, but Mr. Hooper thought they should. “Bring your Bibles next Sunday.”

The next week, all had obeyed. “Okay, hold your Bibles up,” commanded Mr. Hooper. Nine obeyed. Their Bibles were very nice, cool covers, white clean pages. They looked almost new, almost unread, except Billy’s. Billy’s was still hidden in his backpack. His was old and tattered, rabbit-eared pages with lots of writing and underlining, and a frayed cover. He was embarrassed.

Mr. Hooper said, “Billy, what about yours? Let’s see it. Every one look at Billy’s Bible.” Now he was really embarrassed!

“That’s what a Bible should look like. That’s the best Bible, well worn and well used. When it falls apart, buy a new one and start all over again. Well done, Billy.”

“I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.” ~3John 1:4

If any book should be found at a Used Book Store, it is the Bible.

Daily Prayer

God, I love Your Word. It is the Word of life. In it, I see what You are like. I also see what I am like and what I should be like. Keep me in Your Word, God. The devil will keep me from Your Word, but Your Word will keep me from the devil. It is the Truth.

May I not only know Your Word, but live it, too. May my life be Your Word to others, leading them to Your Word, the Bible, leading them to Your Word, the Son, Jesus Christ.

Amen