Friday, September 21st

By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had embraced the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son, even though God had said to him, “It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.” Abraham reasoned that God could even raise the dead, and so in a manner of speaking he did receive Isaac back from death. - Hebrews 11:17-19

Dear Lord, Abraham learned through the long saga of waiting for a child to trust your promises against all reason.  Then you asked him to sacrifice his son for you.  He stared at the unreasonableness of that request and still believed in your promise to keep Isaac on earth. He reasoned that you would raise him from the dead.  He was wrong about that but he was right about trusting your promises.  Help me to be "wrong and right" too.  What I mean is that I am asking you to give me that faith that believes your word over all reason and that tolerates being left to contemplate just how you will fulfill each promise in my life.  There's so much I don't know.  But what I do know is that you will keep your promise to graciously bring me to a blessed end.  Today, I will live by faith in you no matter how unpredictable the journey. AMEN

 "Faith is a gift from God that enables you to properly use all of his other gifts."

Thursday, September 20th

Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. - Colossians 3:13-14

 Dear Jesus, help me and all those around me to live in the optimism caused by grace and forgiveness.  I do not want to look at people as the ones who have disappointed me.  Instead, I want to see them as precious souls that you have redeemed and have put in my life so I can either introduce them to love and mercy or accent the love the mercy they already know.  Come by your Holy Spirit and create in me the love that never dies for anyone and the mercy that binds me to them in peace.  There is no unity like the unity that you create through your gospel in action.  AMEN

"Don't make people feel like they live with a "speck inspector".  Instead, help them find redeeming love with skin on."

Wednesday, September 19th

If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us. - 1 John 1:8-9

 Dear Jesus, your suffering on the cross has given me the courage to come out of the shadows of excuses and denial to face the ugliness of my own sins.  I am the reason you hung there on that cross.  But you are the reason too.  You wanted to rescue me and get me out of my huge predicament.  Now, help me to live the peaceful and honest life of one who is transparent about his failings and honest about his desire to get it right for your glory and other's good. AMEN

"When you live in the light of the SON you don't have to where sunscreen."

Tuesday, September 18th

Therefore, do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. - Ephesians 5:17-20

 Dear Lord, you have so much peace and tranquility to give your people every day.  Help your church who is called by your name to find that peace which comes from singing hymns and spiritual songs in their hearts and with one another rather than from a bottle.  When your saints self-medicate while claiming to live in the light of your freedom and grace it is a denial of the peace you promise to give freely to all who would trust your word enough to try using it to fill their hearts with your Spirit.  Oh, God, help us to live the true spiritual life. AMEN

 "Making melody in your heart to God will get you out of the blues."

Monday, September 17th

So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. - 1 Corinthians 10:31

 Dear Jesus, it is so easy to create goals for myself that give me glory in their achievement.  While I pursue them they fill my life with meaning and purpose but once I have accomplished them, like an addict I am left empty and searching for a new goal.  Help me to grasp the noble goal of simply glorifying you.  Give me the power to break free from addiction to personal glory goals. Thank you for accomplishing so many goals for me that I can be content in just being loved by you.  The contentment you grant is a huge blessing.  AMEN

"Peace and contentment are the prize of faith."

Sunday, September 16th

Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain. In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat— for he grants sleep to those he loves. PSALM 127:1-2

 Dear heavenly Father, I love how you remind me that I do not have to work at life as if it all depended upon me.  You are always at work and you are the captain of the ship.  What I struggle with is finding the balance between working hard at my various callings and resting enough because I know that you are the big X factor.  Help me to find joy in my work and family responsibilities as well as a peace in quiet reflective rest.  In both work and rest, stay by my side and fill my soul with your grace.  Without you I cannot do either.  AMEN

"God has given us a lot of things to do but being anxious over any of them is not one of them."

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Saturday, September 15th

"If two lie down they can keep warm.  But how can one keep warm alone?"- Ecclesiastes 4:11

Dear Lord, you made us to live in constant contact and interdependence upon others.  You want us striving and working together with the people you have placed in our lives.  We need each other for help with basic needs and to meet the nuanced needs of our individual souls.  We cannot "do life" alone.  Thank you for the people you have given me that help me in ways beyond their own understanding.  And give me the humility to let them help me "do life" in the best possible way.  Help me to remember to express gratitude and encouragement also.  I see your love and mercy in the people you have put on my team, especially my spouse and family.  Thanks for being the great gracious God that you are. AMEN

 "An attitude of gratitude is a mark of faith in the God of grace."

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Friday, September 14th

Love does not rejoice in evil but rejoices in the truth." - 1 Corinthians 13:6

Dear Lord Jesus, in our culture this verse is particularly challenging. We are flooded with comedies on our televisions that showcase every kind of sexual innuendo and indiscretion that anyone could ever imagine and we are trained to laugh.  Dramas lead us to rejoice in revenge. It seems every station we click to is leading our hearts to indulge with a continual lust for the more absurd.  Help me to find the "off" button and to prayerfully and honestly be happier with the truth about life, love, purity and faithfulness than - than the lie.  Give me other things to do that bless and encourage my family and friends instead of wasting hours on questionable entertainment. I always feel better when I watch my intake as much as my outflow.  Help me love the good and to neglect the seedier side of our culture.  Thank you for giving me this desire.  I know that it is you working in my heart.  AMEN

"We must lead our hearts and not follow them."

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Thursday, September 13th

Beyond all question, the mystery from which true godliness springs is great: He appeared in the flesh, was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was preached among the nations, was believed on in the world, was taken up in glory. 1 Timothy 3:16

Dear Jesus, You are the source of all true spirituality. If we didn't know you we would be destined to be a profound pile of trash when it comes to the inner person. We'd be boasting of spiritual insight and moral maturity that ultimately leads to death's dead end without hope or true and lasting peace. But you have appeared and saved us. Your life washes ours. Your message changes our everything. We are redeemed, loved, forgiven and most of all saved for eternal life. Now out of thanksgiving I want to love people and grow spiritually. I just want life the way you intend it for your glory and my good. So, today make me godly in grace that your godliness creates. Amen.

All true spirituality springs from a vehement and clear presentation of the meaning of Jesus Christ.

Wednesday, September 12th

The soothing tongue is a tree of life, but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit. - Proverbs 15:4

Lord, I want that soothing tongue that puts salve on wounded souls, that puts wind in the sails of the discouraged, that builds up the value of those feeling worthless, that gently reproves and easily compliments. Give me the tongue that refuses to cut and cajole, that will not recklessly tease or put down someone just for fun. Give me the tongue that brings life and not death, joy not sadness and peace not conflict; a tongue that refuses to complain and gossip or let loose a rant. Give me the tone of song bird that makes others smile when they hear my voice. Touch my tongue and make it pure and sublime. Make me like you, for you bring life with all your words. Amen

Love in any language sounds beautiful to tender hearts.

Although I hope to come to you soon, I am writing you these instructions so that, if I am delayed, you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God's household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth. - 1 Timothy 3:14-15

Dear Jesus, Your church is the pillar and foundation of the truth. That's why your heart aches when we let our churches grow complacent, distracted and inactive. That's why you hurt when pastors teach things foreign to your word and ways. That's why you intervene and interrupt our churches when we are fighting and competing with each other. Oh Jesus, make my church a strong pillar for the truth so we hold your gospel high to confront the world with your love and do not crumble under the weight of our own weaknesses. Amen.

God wants every church to be a healthy place for sin sick souls to be healed.

Monday, September 10th

The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron. They forbid people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and who know the truth. For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer. - 1 Timothy 4:1-4

Dear Jesus,

I know of churches that regulate what people eat and forbid their pastors to marry, although I am not in those churches. I also know that some weird and small cults have done the same for their adherents for many centuries. I'm in a church that gets grace and understands that true spirituality is found in your salvation and love and not in our self-imposed religious rules about diet and celibacy. But I know that since we are human we too, at times, will reduce the measure of our faith to the level of conformity we see in our fellows to our habits and ways of doing things.  I know the demonic world is after us to make us think it's all about what we do and don't do instead of about who we believe in and why. Protect us all dear Jesus, from the dubious trail of self-made worship that looks nothing like the pure mature freedom to love and trust that comes from understanding your great gracious rescue. Amen.

The minute we stop looking at ourselves as a burning stick snatched from the fire we will fall into a smug self-made righteousness.  Zechariah 3:2

Sunday, September 9th

"When he saw the crowds he had compassion on them because they were harassed and helpless like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, 'The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.  Ask the Lord of the harvest to send out more laborers into his harvest field.'" - Matthew 9:36-38

Lord Jesus, yesterday I met two waitresses in a small town who were sponges for your word. They we're harassed by fear and trouble and they were confused about your word and promises. There are so many hungry people and so few dedicated to patiently explaining to them your love and truth. Please send out more people dedicated to teaching minds and leading hearts back home to you. And help me avoid useless and selfish distractions but to stay on the task of harvesting souls with my few remaining days. Help all your people to team up with their church to keep their lighthouse burning brightly. Amen.

"We do not all have the gift of gab but we were all left here on earth to help rescue those who are perishing. If you cannot do it alone, partner with those who can help you get it done."

Saturday, September 8th

"Therefore I urge you to imitate me. For this reason, I have sent to you Timothy, my son whom I love, who is faithful in the Lord. He will remind you of my way of life in Christ Jesus, which agrees with what I teach everywhere in every church." - 1 Corinthians 4:16-17

Dear Jesus, you have changed my life forever. Your love has rescued me and your word has restored me. Now, I try to imitate you because I know you got it right in every circumstance.  Help me to live like you so others can have a living 3D example of how you are when they watch me.  I know I won't get it right all the time.  But I am willing to be led to do better today.  Give me an extra measure of your Spirit so I live a life way different than the world, all to your glory.  AMEN

"God showed us what he is like in Jesus Christ so we would know him and then get off the bleachers and renounce our spectatorship."

Friday September 7th

“The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate. - Luke 15:21-24

Dear Jesus, I love this parable that you told and I love this moment in the parable.  The father's love for the son takes over the whole scene.  It makes me realize that you and the Father are consumed with me as a child of yours rather than waiting to reject me when I fall.  I am all too aware of my sins.  It is your grace and love longing for my return that I often forget.  Fill me with this grace and help me to live today as if I am in the same celebratory moment with you as this son was.  You are throwing a party for me in your grace.  Let's celebrate the salvation of my soul together!  AMEN

"God's grace reconciled him to us, now let it reconcile us to him."

Thursday, September 6th

Our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all." 2 Corinthians 4:17

Dear Jesus, it is not normal to welcome disappointments and difficulties.  It is not normal to believe that there really is good to come out of a relationship difficulty.  No one I have ever met has told me that they like their health problems because ....  So, when you say that all these "abnormal" things in my life are working something good for me, I have to listen in a concentrated way.  Give me an open heart to genuinely see the spiritual and eternal benefit of all these so called "negatives."  Give me the grace to believe that you are working great things into my life through the crosses you choose for me.  Make me trust you from a heart that understands your greater good.  And when I must attend the interment of one of my own earthly dreams, give me the strength not to erect a monument over its grave and obsess so much over the loss that I do not get on with the life the you have chosen for me.  AMEN

"Through difficult relationships and circumstances God works to expose your heart so you will seek the grace that can only be found in him." - Paul David Tripp

Wednesday, September 5th

Jesus fed over 5,000 people on the east side of the Lake of Galilee. Overnight he left with his disciples to the other side of the lake.

Once the crowd realized that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they got into the boats and went to Capernaum in search of Jesus. They found Jesus on the other side of the lake. Jesus told them, “Very truly I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw the signs I performed but because you ate the loaves and had your fill. Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.” - John 6:23-27

Dear Jesus, I am so closely tied to the material world that I would have been just like those people.  Once you bless me I am right back at your feet begging for more food, more creature comforts, more temporal security.  I love the tangible gifts you give to me more than the spiritual.  It is hard to admit, but it is true.  Help me to want you and the spiritual gift of eternal life more than the earthly things you freely give to me and my family.  I believe you have already given me this gift that lasts.  Help me to not just say it is meaningful to me.  Instead make it my greatest treasure in the deepest place of my heart.  AMEN

"Do you love God for the life he has given you in his Son or the game of 'Life' he allows you to play for a short time on earth?  He wants to be loved for both."

Tuesday, September 4th

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?” - John 11:25-26

Dear Jesus, Yes, I believe what you told Martha that day at the grave of Lazarus.  I believe that my dearest loved ones who have fallen asleep in the faith are still living with you, but sometimes I miss them so much that I cannot stop grieving for them.  I need your help by your Holy Spirit to let your words be the thing that makes me happy that they are now happy with you.  They are already living past the sad events surrounding their earthly end but I get stuck reliving them.  They are exploring new heights in heaven while I am running on the treadmill of loss and loneliness without them.  I sometimes think that I am worried that we will forget them here.  Maybe I am also afraid that they would forget me too.  Oh, Jesus, your promise of a final and long lasting reunion is my only hope. Thanks for the silver lining of redemption and heaven.  Give me freedom from my grief so I can live well in my remaining days here before we are reunited in heaven.  AMEN

"Grief shows the deep value of our personal relationships.  Faith shows the deeper value of a Savior who really made all things new."

Monday, September 3rd

Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart. But as for me, my feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold. For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. They have no struggles; their bodies are healthy and strong. They are free from common human burdens; they are not plagued by human ills. Therefore, pride is their necklace; they clothe themselves with violence.

This is what the wicked are like— always free of care, they go on amassing wealth. Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure and have washed my hands in innocence. All day long I have been afflicted, and every morning brings new punishments. If I had spoken out like that, I would have betrayed your children. When I tried to understand all this, it troubled me deeply till I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood their final destiny.

Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand.

You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory. Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. - Psalm 73 - Selected Verses

Dear heavenly Father, it is very easy for me to envy the wealthy carefree people around me that have no interest in you or living in repentance and faith.  Sometimes you seem to bless them more than your struggling believers.  It is comforting to know that a thousand years before your Son walked the earth that Asaph had the same inner struggle.  And I love the solution you gave him.  You are working in every life and we should never judge your justice until the end.  That's when it all will make sense.  I can live with your answer to wait because I know you gave up your son for me.  If you saved me like that, I know you can be trusted when you temporarily bless a godless person.  Help me to see my own worldliness when I am chaffed by their success and help me to want them to experience grace and not justice.  Make me a patient, loving friend instead of an envious judge.  AMEN

"Grief is good when it mourns what God hates, but it is dangerous when it questions God's goodness and love." - Paul David Tripp

Sunday, September 2nd

"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." - Matthew 6:19-21

Dear Jesus, this is a hard one. I have never been to heaven and no one I know who is still on earth has either. So, we all get tied to the things of this earth as if they constitute wealth and security. But in fact both savers and spenders are fools if they do not consider that it will all be removed from their lives eventually. You are my greatest treasure and I already have all of you. Help me to live in peace knowing I have everything when I have you. And give me the wisdom and courage to speak to others about you. I want to lay up treasures in heaven and there is no greater treasure to you than people. AMEN

"Hoarding money on earth is like feeling really rich when you win at Monopoly. At the end, both winner and loser walk away and re-enter reality."