Day 96 Do you feel like singing?

Do you feel like singing? The Psalmist says..."Oh sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth! Sing to the Lord, bless his name;tell of his salvation from day to day." The singing from the heart of God's greatness was popular back then and most popular now. Why not sing out next time you sing! (For more read day 96, November, 2007)

Day 95 "What is humility?"

John the Baptist created a stir and attracted crowds. He could have become the star of the day. Instead he maintained his humility knowing his role was to introduce Jesus. John the Baptist's humility was evident when he said...“I baptize you with water, but he who is mightier than I is coming, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie." (For more read day 95, November 2006).

Day 94 How do we know Jesus was human?

How do we know Jesus was human? One way is reading the story of Luke about Jesus' childhood. He disappeared on his parents and later submitted to them. This story is both humerous and makes the heart sink. What parent has not felt these emotions of a child that walks away and cannot be found? The theological explanation is Jesus was both human and divine. Today, we read one of the few stories of his childhood. (for more read day 94 in the November, 2006 link.)

Day 93 What does it mean to ponder in the heart?

Mary ponders the events of Jesus' birth in her heart..."But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart." What a wonderful devotional thought! Have we pondered the birth of Jesus? Advent is coming and a wonderful time to ponder in the heart. (for more read day 93 in November, 2006)

Day 92 "Do we believe in birth stories?"

The opportunity to be in the delivery room for my three daughters birth changed the way I read Luke's birth story accounts. Birth stories reveal God's wonder. When I read of Elizabeth's and Mary's birth stories and realize God's plan, I am in complete awe for God is so awesome! Zechariah was speechless and so am I! (For more read day 92, November 2006)

Day 91 "Do we believe?"

Luke begins with the amazing birth stories of Elizabeth and Mary. Elizabeth is barren and Mary is a virgin. God uses unbelievable stories to change history and bring the best news ever. We are one Sunday from the exciting season of Advent. Do we believe? Luke says it like this..."For nothing will be impossible with God.” Amen (For more read day 91 in the link of November 2006)

Day 90 Why forty years in the wilderness?

Why did Israel spend forty years in the wilderness? Was it poor navigation? No map. Today's reading from Numbers indicates disobedience was the reason. The wandering was a sign of people refusing God's leading. Is this still not true today? We wander when our focus is off of the Lord. We can spend our entire life wandering. The promised land for the Christian is anywhere we are with Jesus as Lord and Savior. The Psalmist says it like this..."Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands upon us; yes, establish the work of our hands!" (For more read day 90, November 2006 link)

Day 89 Is unbelief a problem?

Jesus arose from the dead and began making appearances. Mark writes about Jesus rebuking His disciples for their unbelief. Is unbelief a problem? Doubting is not a problem, when it leads us to greater belief. Doubting that leads to greater unbelief is a problem. It would appear that remaining in doubt after witnessing first hand the miracles of Jesus would be a problem. Today...choosing to remain in doubt is also a problem. The growing in faith is not the absence of doubts but rather growing through the unbelief. This is evidenced earlier in Mark (9:24) with the Father who said..."I believe help my unbelief." (For more read day 89, November 2006 link)

Day 88 Happy Thanksgiving! How many offerings?

Thanksgiving Day is a day to count our blessings and give thanks. Thanks is the greatest motive for giving an offering. Today in Numbers we read about eight different kinds of offerings. We may become concerned with too many today. Is that not silly? In readings found in both the Old and New Testaments we see the priority of giving to the Lord. Our Gospel reading in Mark is an account of Jesus offering of Himself on the cross. (For more read Day 88 in the November, 2006 link)

Day 87 Any questions?

Today is a good day to ask are there any questions about any reading so far? (For more of today's reading go to Day 87, October 2006)

Day 86 Are you the King of the Jews?

"Are you the King of the Jews?" Pilate asked this question of Jesus. Part of the larger Gospel story is who the people felt like Jesus really was. Some acknowledged Him as a rabbi, teacher, and occasionally as Lord. (Although the disciples were fickle also in Jesus' moment of arrest) This question of who we believe Jesus is obviously is just as relevant today. Jesus is both Lord and Savior for the world! In response to Pilate's question, HE IS NOT ONLY THE KING OF THE JEWS BUT ALSO OF THE WHOLE WORD! (For more read October, 2006 link)

Day 85 When to offer the best?

There is a great debate about whether Christians should have nice things or live without to better serve the poor. The text of the annointing of Jesus feet answers the question..."when to offer the best?" The Gospel seems to me to say there is a time to honor the poor and there is a time to offer the best. Balance in offering quality and living without seems to be a part of our discipleship. There are occasions where we sell out for the poor and times when we remember to offer our best! (For more read day 85, October 2006)

Day 84 Where would you rather be?

Would we rather be in an ideal situation without following the Lord or in a challenging situation in the presence of the Lord. This is a no brainer. The being in the conscious awareness of God's presence is the ideal location wherever we are! The words of Psalms says it like this..."For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere.I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my Godthan dwell in the tents of wickedness." (For more read day 84, October 2006)

Day 83 How will we know the coming of the kingdom?

Jesus teaches about the signs of the end of the age. He relates a fig tree becoming tender as sign of summer. The Kingdom of God will come when signs are abundant and most of all when God is ready. How will we know when the Kingdom is fully come? As we read other words of Jesus, He does not even know. How could we know? The message is be ready! (For more read Day 83, October 2006).

Day 82 How to answer tough questions?

Jesus is asked by the Saducees an absurd question about the resurrection (even though they did not believe in the resurrection). A woman is married to several brothers because of death. Whose wife is she in the resurrection? Jesus says "God is the God of the living and not the dead." Silence. Later Jesus is asked what is the greatest commandment in a time of endless laws...thinking they stumped Him. Jesus responds..."And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself." Silence. Truth has a way of silencing critics. Lord help us learn the truth! (For more read October 2006)

Day 81 How to have the spirit of Caleb?

Caleb had a different spirit. He was confident, visionary, and trusting of God's power. Caleb found favor with God. One passage today says..."But my servant Caleb, because he has a different spirit and has followed me fully, I will bring into the land into which he went, and his descendants shall possess it." A different spirit is needed to lead. God give us more folks like Caleb! (For more read day 81, October, 2006)

Day 80 Why mess with Moses?

Moses had a special relationship with God. God spoke directly to him. What a wonderful chapter, 12, to consider such a relationship with God. You get the impression...God's presence and power was quite evident through Moses. Caleb also beamed with God's faith, as he saw possibilities in Canaan and not giants. (Day 80, October, 2006).

Day 79 How long are God's hands?

In Numbers we read...“Is the Lord's hand shortened? Now you shall see whether my word will come true for you or not.” The NIV notes says that human impossibility is an opportunity for the Lord to show His Power. What an awesome thought! How long are God's hands? (For more read Day 79, October 2006)

Day 78 What's in it for me?

In most settings and endeavors, people are influenced by the question..."what's in it for me?" I suppose this question is even relevent in some settings. In the matter of discipleship, "glorifying God" is the motivation. The life of discipleship gives us "life" but not always convenience, position, or "perks." The disciples obviously thought advantage was in store for those who were in Jesus' inner circle. No. To whom much is given much is required. We still struggle with this message today! (For more read October 2006 Link)

Day 77 What must I do to inherit the Kingdom of God?

The Rich Young Ruler asks the question..."What must I do to inherit eternal?" Jesus instructed him to give up all for the benefit of the poor. He went away sad. It was not impossible for him to inherit the Kingdom with wealth...obviously the wealth stood in the way. Is this not the answer to the question..."what must I do?" The answer depends on what stands between us and God. (For more read day 77, October 2006)

Day 76 Who is the greatest?

Who is the greatest? The disciples, as now, much have considered earthly kings. The answer was a complete surprise! The greatest is a servant! We are invited to greatness! Our service makes us candidates to be great in the Kingdom of God! (For more read day 76, October, 2006)

Day 75 How to get rid of unbelief?

The story of the father of the son with the evil spirit has one of the most profound statements in the Bible..."I believe help my unbelief." Is this not relevent to all of us? How many of us believe in our head but lack the conviction in our everyday circumstances that God is at work. Especially when the circumstances look daunting! Lord...help our unbelief and may our belief grow. (For more read day 75, October 2006 link)

Day 74 Do you not understand?

Jesus teaches and performs miracles...yet the disciples do not grasp the Kingdom of God. When hungry the disciples forget Jesus is the source of miracles. Jesus questions..."do you not understand?" This is a common theme of the Gospel, Bible, and even today! Do we not understand? Another important question today is..."what does it profit a man to gain the world and lose his soul?" (For more read day 74, October of 2006)

Day 73 What have you done for me lately?

Is our reading from the Gospel of Mark and misprint today? Did we just not read of Jesus feeding the 5000 days earlier? Are these not the same disiciples who asked Jesus how to feed a mulitude and then have baskets left over? How short are our memories of God's provision! The disciples lived as many of us today..."what have you done for me lately?" (For more read day 73 in October of 2006)

Day 72 Do we believe in miracles?

Jesus touches a man who cannot speak, whom everyone else give up on, and he speaks clearly. Jesus is known as someone who can do anything! Miracles are a part of Jesus' ministry. What do we make of them?
(For more read day 72, October 2006)

Day 71 What to make of troubles?

What do we make of life's troubles? The Psalmist gives us one answer in today's reading. We grow through the troubles and become greater..."You who have made me see many troubles and calamities will revive me again; from the depths of the earth you will bring me up again. You will increase my greatness and comfort me again" We resist trouble but does not trouble make us grow? (For more read day 71, October, 2006)

Day 70 An eye for an eye or grace?

The "eye for an eye" (lex taleonus) law of Leviticus is expanded in the Sermon on the Mount. In addition to justice a second subject of grace is introduced. Legal systems are often guided by justice but only Jesus can balance justice with grace. Are we not always struggling with both a world of justice and forgiveness? (For more read day 70, October 2006)

Day 69 Why doubt?

Jesus teaches..." And Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor, except in his hometown and among his relatives and in his own household.” And he could do no mighty work there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and healed them. And he marveled because of their unbelief." The problem of being accepted by your own people is a problem. He also points to the problem of belief. The doubting of God and His power remains a mystery. Why doubt? Why not faith? (For more read Day 69, October, 2007).

Day 68 Who touched my garment?

In a day of reading of Jesus' miraculous healing stories, Jesus asks..."who touched my garment?" Jesus' power, even when pressed by the crowd, was unmistable. The woman knew the Great Physician did what others could not do. Jesus all healed Jairus' daughter, even though some laughed at the prospect. The power of Jesus is beyond what human hands can do and the mind perceive! (For more read day 68 in the October 2006 link)

Day 67 How to have a healing ministry without making people sick?"

Peter Wagoner raised the question...How to Have a Healing Ministry Without Making Your People Sick? Good question. Most of us steer clear of healing. Yet...many of Jesus' stories involve healing such as the demonic man known as "Legion" for he was many. What a story as evil spirits are cast into a herd of pigs! This story is amazing. As I ponder this story, I wonder in less dramatic story how God's healing still moves today? In a world of so many broken in body, soul, and spirit...God's healing is needed. May God make us whole! (For more read Day 67 in the October, 2006 link)