Sunday, February 3rd

Nehemiah wrote, “There were many priests who signed the agreement to follow God’s ways.  I listed their names.  But there were also doorkeepers, Levites, musicians and temple servants.  They all gathered along with their wives and children to commit to following the law given through Moses 1000 years earlier.  They committed to not give their children into marriage with non-Israelite people.  They committed to keep the Sabbath Day rest laws, to cancel debts every seven years, to bring tithes, sacrifices and first-fruit offerings to the temple in a consistent and timely way.  They committed to take turns supplying wood for the burnt offerings and to keep up the temple grounds to the glory of God.” – Nehemiah 10 paraphrased.

Dear heavenly Father,  It's the nature of faith to make us want to glorify you in the way we support the ministry of the word.  There is no temple anymore with all of its sacrificial demands.  Your Son is the temple and his body the church.  But we still have church properties, clergy who dedicate themselves to our spiritual health and the spread of your wonderful news of forgiveness through your Son.  I have benefited from this good news for many years.  I have peace in my soul and my guilty conscience has something to cling to when the devil comes hounding me with my mistakes.  I will support your ministry of the word with my money, my time and my unique abilities.  I will “be there” for those laboring in your field.  I will give and give with joy just as you give and give to me.  I want the world to know that you are a great God who restores guilty sinners and gives people a new lease on life every day.  Oh Good, cause your people to rise up today in committed support of your gospel mission. AMEN

The gospel is that something bigger than ourselves that we can be a part of without regret. 

Saturday, February 2nd

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” Hebrews 12:1-3

 Dear Jesus, I want to finish the race of faith you have given me.  But it is so easy for me to get way off track or to grow tired of the trouble it brings to run.  Help me to remember the great saints of the Bible and those you have put in my life who have finished the race in the faith.  Help me to draw insight from their lives, their successes, their failures and how you restored them.  Help me to see you at the end of the race, scarred, smiling and cheering me on.  I want to finish my life safely in the race of faith.  Even thinking about you gives me strength to keep running. If you see anything in my life weighing me down, point it out to me, and give me the wisdom to throw it off so I can run faster and better toward the finish line.  Keep me safe in the faith Lord Jesus!  AMEN

“What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?” - Jesus Christ in Mark 8:36

Friday, February 1st

"Do not be wise in your own eyes, fear the Lord and shun evil." - Proverbs 3:7

Dear Heavenly Father, the first sin revealed itself when Eve felt like she was wise in her own eyes.  All too often I am overconfident in my own thoughts and my own evaluation of things. Then I make judgments which I have to take back later.  Help me to rely more on your truth and insights and not on my own opinions or those of other fallen people.  I believe that you are watching everything that all of us is thinking and doing.  Help my thoughts and actions fall in line with yours today.  I want the people in my life to see you and your ways when they look at my life.  In short, Father, I want to be like Jesus.  Help me to grow into his likeness. AMEN

 "To long to be like God in holiness is a byproduct of faith."

Thursday, January 31st

"Peter said, " Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord," - Acts 3:19

Dear Jesus, when I hear the word "repentance" I often think of hard sobering thoughts.  It is so hard for a sinner to repent.  It is embarrassing, humbling and shaming.  But Peter's words give me hope.  When he called the people to repentance he said it was so, "times of refreshing may come from the Lord." Help me to remember that you want to bring me happy, refreshing times but the door I enter to get into that room is repentance and not stubborn pride.  Help me to readily say, "I'm sorry" to you and others.  Search my life and see if there is any wicked way in me and lead me to repentance.  Thank you that you refresh my life with forgiveness flowing from your cross, instead of condemning me when I admit my sins. AMEN

"The greatest encouragement toward repentance is the knowledge that God loves to forgive."

Wednesday, January 30th

"He who gathers crops in summer is a wise son, but he who sleeps during harvest is a disgraceful son.” Proverbs 10:5

Dear heavenly Father, at times I am tempted to be lazy and selfish.  Instead of taking advantage of the opportunities you bring I can squander away time sitting in front of the TV or just doing nothing.  Open my eyes and my heart to see all of the opportunities you give to make a brighter future for me and others. Help me to see how I can be happier spending my time making other people happy rather than focusing just on myself. And when it is time for me to spend a little extra time at my work in order to get the job done in a way that glorifies you, give me that strength and that spirit that makes me rise to the occasion and finish the job.  All to the glory of your Son for what he did for me. AMEN

"For a Christian work to the glory of God is play."

Tuesday, January 29th

“Give us each day our daily bread.” Luke 11:3

Dear Jesus, you did not accumulate any great earthly wealth.  And you lived in a very tumultuous economic time.  Yet, we never once saw you worry and fret over your provisions.  Instead, you focused on the needs of others, even our greatest need that would cost you the greatest price.  While here you taught us to pray, "Give us this day our daily bread."  What a volume of words!  Daily, not even enough for two days.  I see how you want me to live by teaching me to pray this way.  Daily!  God, take care of all my needs today and when you give me more than I need, pry my hands free from what I have so I will use it to meet other people's needs.  Make me like you!  AMEN 

"It's not what you take with you but what you leave behind, that equates value."

Monday, January 28th

"When you enter the land the Lord your God is giving you, do not learn the detestable ways of the nations there." - Deuteronomy 18:9

Dear heavenly Father, I know why you told ancient Israel not to imitate the practices of the Canaanites.  It is because we humans are so weak that we look around us to see how we ought to live.  We have darkened discernment and so we copy the culture in which we find ourselves.  I know you have put me in this world but you do not want me to be of this world.  And I struggle with all of the materialism and self-centeredness of American culture.  It is so easy to pursue worldly wealth as a sign of blessing, to guard my time for me and not serve others freely, to protect my entertainment instead of my neighbor’s welfare. Help me to get out of myself, to focus on serving you and others and to shake off American "spoil yourself" values.  Help me to live a life of sacrifice and giving and sharing and spending for you and others. Help me to shun immorality, to switch the channel and turn my face away from inappropriate commercials and to not laugh at sin or the breakdown of the family modeled on the screen.  I do not want my family or me to mimic the world because I love you and the purity you have freely given me too much to drag it back through mud. AMEN

To do your best to avoid sin is a wonderful way to tell God that you love him."

Sunday, January 27th

"Love must be sincere.  Hate what is evil and cling to what is good." - Romans 12:9

 Dear God, you have made all of us with the amazing capacity to love.  We can love you, people, pets, places, things, music and even concepts.  Since our fall, it is so hard or us to discern good things to love from the bad.  So, we fall in love with people who are bad for us, or we fall in love with things and turn a cold shoulder to people.  Or we love things that ultimately destroy us.  We can also so easily turn from our spouse or family and love only people who don't know us so well and present themselves as someone easy to love.  Please help me make my love sincere.  I want to love the unlovable, to care for the lost, and the forgotten   I also want to love unconditionally.  I want to be like Jesus, who loved us all exactly the same.  He rejected the evil thought that we can chose to NOT love anyone.  By your Holy Spirit, lead my heart to love purely all people and everything that is good for my soul, even if it causes trouble for me.  Help me to love the people I am "stuck " with too.  And help them to love me since they are "stuck" too. AMEN

 "True love is given and taught by God through his Son.  All other love is a cheap imitation."

Saturday, January 26th

"Therefore let everyone who is godly pray to you while you may be found; surely when the mighty waters rise, they will not reach him." Psalm 32:6

O Lord, as I juggle my busy schedule, I sometimes feel that I am treading water just to keep afloat.  However, there are times when the harder I work the more I feel I’m sinking.  Help me meditate on this Bible verse today. May I always remember that as I place all my problems and burdens on you, the waters will never overtake me for they can't overtake you.  You keep me from sinking.  I am never, ever alone.  You displayed your ability to do this as you carried my burden of sin to the cross, and you will carry any other burdens I bear in this life.  Continue to keep me afloat amidst the struggles I experience in this life.  With Jesus as my safety device I pray. Amen.

 "God never stops checking his phone."

Friday, January 25th

“What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith.” Philippians 3:8-9

 “Dear Jesus, every day, just like everyone else, I ask myself how I am doing. I think about the things I have done and not done.  Sometimes I feel prideful that I am not a failure like others.  Sometimes I feel sad that I am not a success like others.  Either way, I don't really have peace about myself when I am thinking this way.  Then, I look at this verse and think about what you have done.  You have freed me from myself.  I do not need to be anything other than a believer in you and your gift of righteousness.  I am free from trying to succeed in order to feel good about myself.  Now, just help me to relax in your treasures and to honestly consider all of my personal accomplishments as "rubbish" compared to you. And help me live free of self-centeredness.  Help me to throw myself into serving others out of love and not duty or ambition.  I want to know the power of your love and righteousness guiding and strengthening my life. AMEN

"To live the Christian life is to live in and through Christ without thought of yourself."

Thursday, January 24th

“My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him.  He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress; I will never be shaken.”- Psalm 62:1

Dear Heavenly Father, I remember crossing a creek once and putting my foot on a large round stone, thinking it would hold me.  But it rolled out from under my foot and I plopped into the water. That's the way I feel each time I try to make people around me to become my strength.  Even if they hold me up or meet my needs for a time, sooner or later, they "roll" and I plop down in the "water". You really are the only rock for any of us.  We can rest secure in your love and in your truth.  Help me not to depend on others so much that I step on their hearts until they roll out from under me.  Help me to have proper balance, being interdependent on others but not totally dependent on them.  You are the only One on whom I can totally depend.  And in this way keep me from getting so disappointed and angry if others let me down.  I want to love them and help them even if they do not give me what I need.  I know I can only do this if my heart rests fully on you.  Lord, Jesus, you are my truest friend.  Become the rock for my soul depend upon. AMEN 

"A soul resting in God blesses enemies and friends alike."

Wednesday, January 23rd

"If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.” - 1 Corinthians 13:1-3

Dear heavenly Father, I get interested in pursuing many different things in life.  I want more knowledge, better health, more wisdom, better living circumstances, a better job, more attention from others, less clutter, more freedom, -- all of these things beckon me.  To focus on them threatens my happiness.  But it is love that you want me to pursue more than anything else.  You want me to love you and people with all my heart, soul, and mind.  While I know I will never be perfect at this love, I do want to make it my aim.  Because when I pursue loving you and others, that's when I feel my greatest worth, my most peaceful place and I experience joy that cannot be taken away by anyone.  Help me to keep this aim - to love you and people faithfully the way you have loved me in your Son.  Keep me from the viscous downward spiral of constantly thinking about how well I am loved or not loved by others and to persistently spiral up to loving people unconditionally. AMEN

"True value of a human being has little to do with his accomplishments and a lot to do with his maker's purpose."

Tuesday, January 22nd

“But blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream.  It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green.  It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.”  Jeremiah 17:7-8

Dear Heavenly Father, I want to bear fruit in my life whether I am in hard times or good.  I know that there is no way I can persistently bear fruit unless I remain close to you and your Word.  Otherwise, my problems overwhelm me and I become parched, dry and useless to everyone.  Fill my mind with your words and nourish my soul inside, so that, whenever I experience trouble it cannot drain all of my emotional and physical strength. I trust you because you are my God and Savior.  You have taught me to trust that you are always working good for me in everything.  Thank you for the challenges I face and for the Word of your Spirit that enables me to meet them with a cheerful heart. AMEN 

"Apart from Jesus you can do nothing." -  John 15:5

Tuesday, January 22nd

“But blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream.  It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green.  It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.”  Jeremiah 17:7-8

 Dear Heavenly Father, I want to bear fruit in my life whether I am in hard times or good.  I know that there is no way I can persistently bear fruit unless I remain close to you and your Word.  Otherwise, my problems overwhelm me and I become parched, dry and useless to everyone.  Fill my mind with your words and nourish my soul inside, so that, whenever I experience trouble it cannot drain all of my emotional and physical strength. I trust you because you are my God and Savior.  You have taught me to trust that you are always working good for me in everything.  Thank you for the challenges I face and for the Word of your Spirit that enables me to meet them with a cheerful heart. AMEN

"Apart from Jesus you can do nothing."   John 15:5

Monday, January 21st

“All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had. With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all. There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need. “ Acts 4:32-35

Dear Jesus we long to experience the kind of community that you created in that early church.  We want to share everything.  We want to be one heart and mind as we do life together.  We want to be close friends and have close friends.  Often our own crazy thinking gets in the way.  We do things that distance others without even realizing it.  Help us overcome our spiritually odd selfishness and to be simple hearted, generous and sharing with one another.  Give us the love you have that gives more freely than anyone else so that we learn to power of losing everything for others so that we might gain everything for all.  Today is our gift to you help us see how we can use it to make you smile!  AMEN

"Life is being spent without our approval.  Best to spend it investing in eternal life for all."

Sunday, January 20th

“But the fruit of the Spirit is...patience.” Galatians 5:22

Dear Jesus, patience is a virtue that does not come naturally.  Ever since I was baby I have wanted what I wanted right now!  I need your Holy Spirit and the insight he brings - that waiting on you to order my life is better than pushing everything and everyone to give me what I think I need right away.  Help me to be patient from deep down in my heart.  Help me to remember that the plans you worked out for people like Old Testament Joseph, David and Abraham were wonderful once they reached their completion.  I want to be patient and loving while I wait for your plan to unfold.  Give me that peace which makes me smile when frustrations come.

"To be truly patient in the face of life is a miracle worked by God."

Saturday, January 19th

"How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him." - 1 John 3:1

Dear heavenly Father, the family in which I grew up is unique.  We all have a similar look, a similar sound and the same general outlook on life that was imprinted on us by two active faithful parents.  We are similar to one other but different from so many others.  I find it is the same for me in your Christian family.  Your imprint on me has made me like my Christian friends but very different from this world.  I have peace, security and purpose because you have redeemed me and made me your child.  I don't have to fight for these.  They are already mine.  Thank you for adopting me.  Help me today to enjoy the sublime truth of knowing I am your child and heir.  Give me the outlook on everything that factors in your fatherly loving concern for me. Keep me positive and encouraging. AMEN 

"Being a child of God brings so much more security that resting on any of our own accomplishments."

Friday, January 18th

“Be very strong; be careful to obey all that is written in the Bok of the Law of Moses, without turning aside to the right or to the left. Do not associate with these nations that remain among you; do not invoke the names of their gods or swear by them. You must not serve them or bow down to them But you are to hold fast to the Lord your God, as you have until now….So be very God.” Joshua 23:6-8, 11

Lord God, You make it clear that we, as human beings, are prone to wander and stray from you. Left to ourselves and inattentive to our walk with you, we will drift from the faith. It happens all too naturally. You made it clear when you spoke to the people in Moses’ departure. You make it clear in these closing words from Joshua. He carefully warns them and now me to be careful, to be attentive, and to stay vigilant so that I don’t wander from you. Lord God, keep me alert, watchful and full of prayer so that I don’t wander from you. Keep me faithful to you all the days of my life. Lord God, do whatever it takes to keep me as your child all the days of my life. And Lord, I ask you, do the same in the lives of my family. You also must care for them. When they are under my care I can be watchful and attentive to teach and instruct them, to train them in your ways. But when they are out of my care and even when they are in my care I must entrust them to your prayer. Lord, I fear for them because I know what I am like and I know what human beings are like, that we are prone to wander. Lord, teach me to watch and pray for them. Lord God, I entrust them to your care because you love them more than I possibly could and know what is better far more than I do. Lord, to you I entrust all those whom I love. Amen.

Thursday, January 17th

“When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, ‘What if Joseph holds a grudge against us and pays us back for all the wrongs we did to him?’ So they sent word to Joseph, saying, ‘Your father left these instructions before he died: This is what you are to say to Joseph: I ask you to forgive your brothers the sins and the wrongs they committed in treating you so badly.”’ Now please forgive the sins of the servants of the God of your father.’ When their message came to him, Joseph wept.” Genesis 50:15-17

Joseph’s brothers had committed those sins many years earlier. And yet, they were still plagued by fear and guilt. It made them listen to their worries and fears more than to Joseph. How Joseph’s heart must have ached that his brothers thought things about him that weren’t true. It troubles me when I hear that people are thinking things about me that aren’t true. It seems so unfair to have to battle lies that they believe. Give me the patience and love you gave Joseph so I hang in there with them even though they cling to worthless ideas that affect our relationship. Also, come into my heart and mind and clean out the false ideas I believe about others and help me to only focus on the truth that I know and the grace that forgives and restores. Amen.

When the Holy Spirit enters your heart he makes you clean out the lies you have hoarded for years.

Wednesday, January 16th

“But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua 24:15

Lord God, I am beginning to see once again how hard it is for a person to stay faithful to you their whole life. I am beginning to see how difficult it is for faith to be passed on from one generation to the next. Lord God, help me, my family, my children, and my church daily make this commitment to you, to follow you and to serve you with all our might. Teach us to repent and to repent again on a daily basis. Keep on reminding us of all your goodness and then remind us again. Lord God, we will not stay faithful to you on our own. I beg you, finish the work that you began in me at my baptism and keep me, my family, my church, and all your people committed and faithful to you until the very end of their life’s journey. Then, dear Lord, bring us into our home in heaven. Amen.