In Memory

There are events that you hope to burn into memory.

I watched one of those moments this weekend. I was with my father-in-law when we went to pick up his mom from the nursing home with his father. Grandma doesn't remember much anymore and Grandpa lives at home alone now. It hasn't been many years since Grandpa could easily out work me stacking hay bales or Grandma would be making lemonade for us as we worked on their roof. But, not this day.

This day Grandma is sitting in a chair staring at the TV in the Alzheimers ward at the home. I don't know if she is watching or just looking. And this day I walk slowly with Grandpa as he shuffles along the hot sidewalk and then up the stairs to go visit.

Her son leans down to ask her if she wants to go with us to visit the graveyards this Memorial Day weekend. It takes a couple times for him to get Grandma to look him in the eye before she quietly says yes. As she answers, her voice sounds a lot like my daughter, her first great-grandchild. Though it is a little more timid and quiet than my daughter talks today. Grandpa scolds us a bit about going to fast and talking to much. He says that it scares her when we do that. Grandpa takes off his hat and bends down with difficulty to look her in the eye. He asks her if she recognizes him. She says yes, but also says "you look different".

Ever so slowly her son and husband get her to stand and start walking with us. It takes about twenty feet before we realize we didn't get her shoes on yet. Not a good start for walking across a hot sidewalk on a calm and sunny day. I grab a chair for her and we have Grandma sit back down so the nurse can put on her sandels for us. As we wait for the nurse to come back from her room with the sandels I get to just stand and watch.

Grandma looks over and sees Grandpas hand. He is leaning against the wall and waiting with his arm loose at his side. Shakily she reaches out and grabs his hand and pulls it to her. Holding his hand now she brings it to her lips for a gentle kiss.

I smile and look up at Grandpa. He has an amazing look on his face as he watches her and then looks to me. In his eyes and in his smile I can see true love.

Goal Number 1 is DONE!

I finished listening to the entire bible a couple of weeks ago. It just took me this long to finish writing the posts and thinking about the sections themselves.

102 days to listen to the entire bible.

Total Time ... 74 Hours 28 Minutes and 8 Seconds.

It takes 3 sessions a day at about 15 minutes a shot.

Praise God for the ESV translation and especially for the online api they created for people to use. It is an amazing resource to use and I encourage more people to do so.

You can listen to the entire bible like I was trying, 3 times a day. Or you can listen once a day and cover the entire bible in 306 days. Just jump back to Day 1 :)

Personally it has been a wonderful journey. My wife asked what all I've learned from this. And I really can't just answer that. What I've learned is far more than what I wrote on each of the days. I've learned more about the Word while listening and reading than I have ever had by just reading. I've been convicted by the Word before, but while hearing the Word that conviction was much deeper upon my soul. At times I had to just stop and morn for the things that were pressed upon my heart.

And covering the entire bible in about 100 days has really thrust upon me how connected God's message is for us. The Old Testament isn't meant to be separate from the New Testament. So often in the past I would read a few verses and think hard about them. But, by covering them all like this ... I can better see God's plan for our walk together. How to be a better husband, a better father, and a better man.

Deuteronomy 6:7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.

- mark

Day 102

As You Rise ... Zechariah 9-14

Chapter 9 in mp3
Chapter 10 in mp3
Chapter 11 in mp3
Chapter 12 in mp3
Chapter 13 in mp3
Chapter 14 in mp3

Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

One way to find the truth is to look at what Satan and the world hates. They hate the humble. They hate and mock those that live in the right. They hate Christ.

So it shouldn't be any surprise that a savior coming humbly is mocked by the world. The world loves the arrogant. The world loves the proud. So the world puts them up above the rest of us.

And yet the world is still self hating. And with glee rips apart those they had lifted up and throws them broken upon the ground. Only to replace them with the next arrogant and proud man.

Christ came humbly to show us how to live. So reject the world's way and follow Christ's example.

As You Walk By The Way ... Malachi 1-4

Chapter 1 in mp3
Chapter 2 in mp3
Chapter 3 in mp3
Chapter 4 in mp3

But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner's fire and like fullers' soap. He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, and they will bring offerings in righteousness to the Lord.

I love the visualization of God melting down my soul, my very being.

Through the fire of hard times, His Word, and whatever He brings into my path I see Him working at the forge. Melting me down again and again. Slowing burning off the impurities until all that is left is what is best for His design.

My sins are cast far from me. He no longer holds them against me for Christ has born the punishment. But, I don't get keep those impurities within my soul. They must be removed for we must be forged for His purpose.

So again and again you will be melted down.

Praise the LORD.

When You Lie Down ... Revelation 20-22

Chapter 20 in mp3
Chapter 21 in mp3
Chapter 22 in mp3

And he said to me, “These words are trustworthy and true. And the Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, has sent his angel to show his servants what must soon take place. And behold, I am coming soon. Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.”

I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I heard and saw them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed them to me, but he said to me, “You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers the prophets, and with those who keep the words of this book. Worship God.”

And he said to me, “Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is near. Let the evildoer still do evil, and the filthy still be filthy, and the righteous still do right, and the holy still be holy.”

“Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay everyone for what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.”

Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates. Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and the sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.

“I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you about these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.”

The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price.

I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book, and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.

He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!



Amen. Come, LORD Jesus, Come.

Day 101

As You Rise ... Zephaniah 1-3, Haggai 1-2

Chapter 1 in mp3
Chapter 2 in mp3
Chapter 3 in mp3
Chapter 1 in mp3
Chapter 2 in mp3

They shall do no injustice and speak no lies, nor shall there be found in their mouth a deceitful tongue.

With my tongue I prove myself a hypocrite. With my tongue I curse and hate those that are made in God's image. With my tongue all of who I am is defiled.

O to finally bridle my tongue. I yearn for the time when finally we shall do no injustice, speak no lies and our tongues are finally pure.

As You Walk By The Way ... Zechariah 1-8

Chapter 1 in mp3
Chapter 2 in mp3
Chapter 3 in mp3
Chapter 4 in mp3
Chapter 5 in mp3
Chapter 6 in mp3
Chapter 7 in mp3
Chapter 8 in mp3

Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts.

Want to know how to control your tongue? Guess what ... you can't do it. No matter what self-help plans you go though you can not control your own tongue.

Only God can help you with that. So let God transform you.

Focus on Him alone and you will gain wisdom. For what fills your heart will flow from your mouth. Do not fill your heart with the things of the world. Fill your heart with the LORD and let Him bridle your tongue for you.

When You Lie Down ... Revelation 16-19

Chapter 16 in mp3
Chapter 17 in mp3
Chapter 18 in mp3
Chapter 19 in mp3

And the ten horns that you saw, they and the beast will hate the prostitute. They will make her desolate and naked, and devour her flesh and burn her up with fire, for God has put it into their hearts to carry out his purpose by being of one mind and handing over their royal power to the beast, until the words of God are fulfilled. And the woman that you saw is the great city that has dominion over the kings of the earth.

Evil consuming evil. I find it rather amazing that the command of "do what you want" is so self-destructive. People making moral choices based on what they feel is right is a rather short path to hatred and destruction.

Just consider Babylon ( the prostitute/women from the above verses ). Eventually those that are entirely dependent upon her will turn and utterly destroy her. To their own misery.

There is only one good thing: God. Everything outside of His will leads to destruction, self-hate, and chaos. It is easy to see this in those that walk their own path. Following God isn't about rules that keep you from doing what you want. It is about the freedom to live and to love as God made us to do.

Day 100

As You Rise ... Micah 6-7

Chapter 6 in mp3
Chapter 7 in mp3

“With what shall I come before the Lord, and bow myself before God on high? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousands of rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?”

He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?

Isn't it easier to pay a fine than to change?

When you give a person a "price" for their sin they just look at it as the price tag. The amount that they need to collect to pay for what they desired. Want to cheat on your spouse? Well that is only a couple hundred given to the church and an I'm sorry. What to lie, covet, rage, hate? Throw up a few prayers and maybe a tithe and you can get right back to sinning.

God accepts none of that. Everything you could throw at your sins might as well be rotted filth. He only takes one thing. Do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with Him. How is that one thing?

They all mean the same thing ... Follow the LORD with all that you are.

So if you are in sin: Stop, Turn, and Follow God.

As You Walk By The Way ... Nahum 1-3, Habakkuk 1-3

Chapter 1 in mp3
Chapter 2 in mp3
Chapter 3 in mp3
Chapter 1 in mp3
Chapter 2 in mp3
Chapter 3 in mp3

Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls.

Yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation. God, the Lord, is my strength; he makes my feet like the deer's; he makes me tread on my high places.

I find it hard at times to rejoice when I'm getting stronger. To be able to run farther than before you need to ... run farther than before. To be able to lift more weight you need to ... lift more weight. It is hard and tiring. But, to become stronger physically you need to work harder physically. And not everyone rejoices as they work hard.

But, it is a blessing of God's to be able to work hard. It is actually a blessing to live in hard times. Hard emotionally, spiritually, and physically.

So like when you keep your eyes focused down the road on the next mile you have to run. You can endure the places where you feet are striking the road.

Likewise, keep your eyes focused on the LORD. On your eternal salvation. Know that the road you are on is only there to make you the person God has designed you to be ... at the finish.

When You Lie Down ... Revelation 13-15

Chapter 13 in mp3
Chapter 14 in mp3
Chapter 15 in mp3

“Blessed indeed,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them!”

Blessed are those who strive in their labors at the moment. For their eternal reward is in Heaven! Blessed indeed!

So as we go about today focus on your labor. Do the best you can. For your rest will come and the reward will come. It is assured.

Day 99

As You Rise ... Obadiah, Jonah 1-4

Chapter 1 in mp3
Chapter 1 in mp3
Chapter 2 in mp3
Chapter 3 in mp3
Chapter 4 in mp3

When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil way, God relented of the disaster that he had said he would do to them, and he did not do it. But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was angry. And he prayed to the Lord and said, “O Lord, is not this what I said when I was yet in my country? That is why I made haste to flee to Tarshish; for I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and relenting from disaster. Therefore now, O Lord, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live.” And the Lord said, “Do you do well to be angry?”

"Do you do well to be angry?" I love this question.

We hate those that hate us. It burns in our stomachs and we pray, in a "good" way, for God to smack them down. For them to suffer as we have suffered. For them to feel the pain that we have felt. We spend so much time, and drag so much emotional baggage along, just focusing on them.

But, do we do well to be angry?

No.

As You Walk By The Way ... Micah 1-5

Chapter 1 in mp3
Chapter 2 in mp3
Chapter 3 in mp3
Chapter 4 in mp3
Chapter 5 in mp3

But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days.

From the weakest will come the greatest.

It is never a surprise when you see the great athlete win the game. It can only come from God when the weak destroy the strong.

We may focus on the strength and wealth men. On the things that men can do. But, know that through what you never expected ... God will work. For then it is obvious that it is His hand and not yours.

And it is within the hard times of life that you will see this.

When your bank account gets empty, the crops fail, your job is gone, you become ill ...

Looking around it will become obvious that your own hand can do nothing. When we are at our weakest ... God's hand is moving. And by His strength alone will we survive.

When You Lie Down ... Revelation 9-12

Chapter 9 in mp3
Chapter 10 in mp3
Chapter 11 in mp3
Chapter 12 in mp3

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, nor did they repent of their murders or their sorceries or their sexual immorality or their thefts.

How much does it take to break you?

Just consider stealing. When would you break from your sin and confess to God?

When you walk away from the counter even though they gave you too much change?

When you write down too much money on your trip report for your job?

When your dad catches you taking money from his wallet?

When you kids catch you giving less to the church so you can buy something for yourself?

When you go to jail for stealing from your business' customers?

We all fall somewhere along the above path. Whether it is sexual sin, stealing, or worshiping the world; there will come a time when God's words in your heart become forceful. Listen to Him and act now. Not later. Because everything has a breaking point. Just break as soon as possible.

Day 98

As You Rise ... Amos 1-4

Chapter 1 in mp3
Chapter 2 in mp3
Chapter 3 in mp3
Chapter 4 in mp3

For behold, he who forms the mountains and creates the wind, and declares to man what is his thought, who makes the morning darkness,
and treads on the heights of the earth — the Lord, the God of hosts, is his name!

As You Walk By The Way ... Amos 5-9

Chapter 5 in mp3
Chapter 6 in mp3
Chapter 7 in mp3
Chapter 8 in mp3
Chapter 9 in mp3

He who made the Pleiades and Orion, and turns deep darkness into the morning and darkens the day into night, who calls for the waters of the sea and pours them out on the surface of the earth, the Lord is his name.

It is strange to live in a digital age. We are planning on staying at a cabin just across the continental divide in Colorado. So I decided to make a short "fly-by" going up to the cabin using Google Earth. It was kind of cool.

I took a family picture the other day by compositing 4 pictures into one. Very very few people will be able to tell the difference. That was kind of cool.

It is also very sad.

Playing around with software isn't the same as walking on a mountain or touching a hundred year old tree. We have so many ways today to play like man is important. We can manipulate and change things to our desires. Yet if you get stuck on a mountain during a lightening storm you quickly realize just how minor of a player you are in creation. When you place your hand one a 250 year old oak you realize how young you are.

And yet Christ suffered and died for your salvation.

When You Lie Down ... Revelation 6-8

Chapter 6 in mp3
Chapter 7 in mp3
Chapter 8 in mp3

After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.”

And Amen.

Day 97

As You Rise ... Hosea 9-14

Chapter 9 in mp3
Chapter 10 in mp3
Chapter 11 in mp3
Chapter 12 in mp3
Chapter 13 in mp3
Chapter 14 in mp3

Return, O Israel, to the Lord your God, for you have stumbled because of your iniquity. Take with you words and return to the Lord; say to him, “Take away all iniquity; accept what is good, and we will pay with bulls the vows of our lips.

Return. O please return to the LORD.

It is never to late. No matter how far we have fallen He still waits our return. And as we return our words can not be alone. Just an "I'm sorry" doesn't cut it alone.

We must let Him take our sins. We must accept the judgment and punishment He places upon us for our good. We must DO and ACT as we say that we will. Words without action are just makeup on a corpse. Rather come back to life and act on your faith.

As You Walk By The Way ... Joel 1-3

Chapter 1 in mp3
Chapter 2 in mp3
Chapter 3 in mp3

“Yet even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; and rend your hearts and not your garments.” Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love; and he relents over disaster.

Hypokrisis. In greek theater the actors (hypokrisis) all wore masks. The hypocrite played a part that you could recognize from the mask and costumes.

As you go about your daily walk do you wear a mask? Do you wear garments of fasting and weeping that everyone can recognize?

Or ...

Did you rend your heart and not your clothes?

It isn't the face you show the world. It is the heart you show the LORD.

When You Lie Down ... Revelation 3-5

Chapter 3 in mp3
Chapter 4 in mp3
Chapter 5 in mp3

“Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?” And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it, and I began to weep loudly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it. And one of the elders said to me, “Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.”

We return, repent, and rend our hearts because Christ alone is our Savior. Upon Him was the judgment of our sins. There is joy in the knowledge of Christ. There will be no more weeping when with Him we will rest.

So ... weep no more. Take joy in suffering with Christ. Take joy in a creation that cries out to praise our Savior. Take joy in salvation.

Weep no more.

Day 96

As You Rise ... Daniel 11-12

Chapter 11 in mp3
Chapter 12 in mp3

I heard, but I did not understand. Then I said, “O my lord, what shall be the outcome of these things?” He said, “Go your way, Daniel, for the words are shut up and sealed until the time of the end."

Some things are not for us. I may have a feeling about when things may happen and what may happen. But, I can never know.

Some things are only for God. So leave them to Him and don't stress it. I'm pretty sure the end times are out of our skill sets.

As You Walk By The Way ... Hosea 1-8

Chapter 1 in mp3
Chapter 2 in mp3
Chapter 3 in mp3
Chapter 4 in mp3
Chapter 5 in mp3
Chapter 6 in mp3
Chapter 7 in mp3
Chapter 8 in mp3

But I will have mercy on the house of Judah, and I will save them by the Lord their God. I will not save them by bow or by sword or by war or by horses or by horsemen.

Not by man, but by God alone.

That is the message we need to take to heart. We want to control the end times, our money, conflicts with others, our time. No matter what you think you control ... you control nothing but yourself. And rarely even that.

We look to the hands of men to deliver us. Other people's money to bail us out of debt. Soldiers and police to keep us safe. Politicians to give us answers.

The answer isn't with them. It is with Christ alone.

When You Lie Down ... Jude, Revelation 1-2

Chapter 1 in mp3
Chapter 1 in mp3
Chapter 2 in mp3

But you must remember, beloved, the predictions of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ. They said to you, “In the last time there will be scoffers, following their own ungodly passions.” It is these who cause divisions, worldly people, devoid of the Spirit.

Worldly people ... devoid of the Spirit.

What a great description of scoffers. Who is the scoffer? You know him already. They are the one that knows the truth, yet denies it. People more interested in their own passions then the Truth.

I look at Proverbs for advice on how to deal with them and what to expect ...

Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you; reprove a wise man, and he will love you.

Whoever corrects a scoffer gets himself abuse, and he who reproves a wicked man incurs injury.

A wise son hears his father’s instruction, but a scoffer does not listen to rebuke.

A scoffer seeks wisdom in vain, but knowledge is easy for a man of understanding.

A scoffer does not like to be reproved; he will not go to the wise.

Strike a scoffer, and the simple will learn prudence; reprove a man of understanding, and he will gain knowledge.

Condemnation is ready for scoffers, and beating for the backs of fools.

When a scoffer is punished, the simple becomes wise; when a wise man is instructed, he gains knowledge.

"Scoffer" is the name of the arrogant, haughty man who acts with arrogant pride.

Drive out a scoffer, and strife will go out, and quarreling and abuse will cease.

The devising of folly is sin, and the scoffer is an abomination to mankind.

Scoffers set a city aflame, but the wise turn away wrath.

Day 95

As You Rise ... Daniel 1-4

Chapter 1 in mp3
Chapter 2 in mp3
Chapter 3 in mp3
Chapter 4 in mp3

Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished and rose up in haste. He declared to his counselors, “Did we not cast three men bound into the fire?” They answered and said to the king, “True, O king.” He answered and said, “But I see four men unbound, walking in the midst of the fire, and they are not hurt; and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods.”

I did a neat experiment for VBS last summer on this. If you take a cotton ball and put it in a flame it will quickly burn to ash. If you soak the cotton ball in rubbing alcohol, take it out, and set it on fire then it will not burn. The alcohol burns, but the cotton only gets warm.

Our lives are the same. The fire is the stress and hard times you will go through. Without God you will be quickly reduced to ash. With God you still go through the flames, but He takes the burning for you. You experience the hard times and yet they don't consume you.

As You Walk By The Way ... Daniel 5-10

Chapter 5 in mp3
Chapter 6 in mp3
Chapter 7 in mp3
Chapter 8 in mp3
Chapter 9 in mp3
Chapter 10 in mp3

“O King Darius, live forever! All the presidents of the kingdom, the prefects and the satraps, the counselors and the governors are agreed that the king should establish an ordinance and enforce an injunction, that whoever makes petition to any god or man for thirty days, except to you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions. Now, O king, establish the injunction and sign the document, so that it cannot be changed, according to the law of the Medes and the Persians, which cannot be revoked.” Therefore King Darius signed the document and injunction. When Daniel knew that the document had been signed, he went to his house where he had windows in his upper chamber open toward Jerusalem. He got down on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had done previously.

"As he had done previously"

Isn't that the thing. He prayed to God daily and it didn't matter how society changed around him. He kept on doing what was right.

Anyone can be a fair-weather christian. It is the times of trial that burn away the masks we put on. Our faith isn't a mask that we wear on the nice days. It requires living it out, not putting it on when it is popular and taking it off when it doesn't suit you.

When You Lie Down ... 1 John 4-5, 2 John, 3 John

Chapter 4 in mp3
Chapter 5 in mp3
Chapter 1 in mp3
Chapter 1 in mp3

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.

There is so much of our wealth, our time, and our very souls that we sacrifice for the world. To get fame. To be "loved" by man. To be rich beyond measure.

I've seen people through away their self-respect for a bit of laughter. Sure, they are being laughed at, but they are seen. I've seen fathers through away their families for just a couple more dollars. Sure, they get the money, but they are alone and hated.

Everything the world tells you to chase ... is dry grass. Dry grass waiting for the flame to quickly consume it. In an instant there is rushing heat and flames ... and then it is gone.

Only God is eternal.

Day 94

As You Rise ... Ezekiel 40-44

Chapter 40 in mp3
Chapter 41 in mp3
Chapter 42 in mp3
Chapter 43 in mp3
Chapter 44 in mp3

And behold, the glory of the Lord filled the temple.

I remember sitting with my oldest son when he asked the LORD into his heart. It was a wonderful moment and a wonderful memory. As Christians we are the temple of the Spirit of God.

Think about that for a second.

This isn't figurative or symbolic. The Holy Spirit lives within you. Every action you have ... the LORD is right there with you and within you.

Use that thought as you live your life and walk the path God leads you on.

As You Walk By The Way ... Ezekiel 45-48

Chapter 45 in mp3
Chapter 46 in mp3
Chapter 47 in mp3
Chapter 48 in mp3

And the name of the city from that time on shall be, The Lord Is There.

Now, as you go about your day to day stuff. Can it be said of you "The LORD Is There"? The name Christian is a label. A label that I can't really claim on my own. It is to be "Christ-Like".

And, being like Christ is not really something I can declare for myself. It can only be seen by my actions. Yes my faith in Christ is how I am saved. But only by what I do can people see the Spirit of God within me.

The LORD Is There! O that I could live that way.

When You Lie Down ... 1 John 1-3

Chapter 1 in mp3
Chapter 2 in mp3
Chapter 3 in mp3

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

Live for me or Live for GOD.

I know the right choice and I know what I should do. Yet I still battle this. Within each of us is a battle: World vs GOD.

LORD ... Help me to live for you. Help me to be victorious.

Day 93

As You Rise ... Ezekiel 30-34

Chapter 30 in mp3
Chapter 31 in mp3
Chapter 32 in mp3
Chapter 33 in mp3
Chapter 34 in mp3

Say to them, As I live, declares the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live; turn back, turn back from your evil ways, for why will you die, O house of Israel?

I think most people are like Jonah. We would rather see God send down fire from heaven ... well righteous fire from heaven ... upon the wicked. The problem we have with "the wicked" is that we believe OTHERS are the wicked and that they have been wicked to us. So we deeply desire within our hearts for them to suffer.

But, before God all sins are the same. The truth is that all of us are "the wicked".

Likewise we must also understand that if anyone does not turn, then God will leave them to the consequences of their actions. God isn't one to give you a hug and say: "I love you man! It's OK that you live a wicked life."

No, there are consequence and there will be punishment. So don't lie to people in telling them that it is just fine to sin. It isn't.

As You Walk By The Way ... Ezekiel 35-39

Chapter 35 in mp3
Chapter 36 in mp3
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Then you will remember your evil ways, and your deeds that were not good, and you will loathe yourselves for your iniquities and your abominations.

As our hearts turn more to God we start to see the evils we have done. Like the morning after a drunken binge, your actions from the night before come crashing down upon your head. Just don't let that cripple you from acting.

Emotions are a good thing. For example fear. Fear can lead you to make the right choices in life. Easy example: don't play with the lion. But, emotions are meant to be understood, controlled, and used. Fear that gets out of hand will cripple a person from doing the right thing at the right time. You must accept it and control it.

Loathing is another emotion. How can it be bad? If you begin to loath yourself it can lead to crippling inaction. Where you would rather hate yourself and hold back from others. Others that may need you to act NOW and to love them NOW. But, it can be good. Use that feeling to remind yourself on what not to do. Know and understand what actions lead to it and rather take a new path.

A child will keep their hand off a hot stove after being burned once. Do likewise.

When You Lie Down ... 2 Peter 1-3

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Chapter 2 in mp3
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The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.

Remember.

Your calender and day planner is not God's calender and day planner.

Day 92

As You Rise ... Ezekiel 20-23

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Father and mother are treated with contempt in you; the sojourner suffers extortion in your midst; the fatherless and the widow are wronged in you. You have despised my holy things and profaned my Sabbaths.

Rather fitting description for what you watch on TV and experience in our culture. And if you fill your daily thoughts with that ... how sad the LORD must be trying to get through the mess of what is left of our minds. And if that is your actions ... be prepared for the smack down.

As You Walk By The Way ... Ezekiel 24-29

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Chapter 25 in mp3
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The word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, behold, I am about to take the delight of your eyes away from you at a stroke; yet you shall not mourn or weep, nor shall your tears run down. Sigh, but not aloud; make no mourning for the dead. Bind on your turban, and put your shoes on your feet; do not cover your lips, nor eat the bread of men.” So I spoke to the people in the morning, and at evening my wife died. And on the next morning I did as I was commanded.

Many times the suffering of others has been to our grace. The powerful speaker at the front of the church is many times the person who has suffered greatly and came through the other side. And I can understand things without having to experience it by understanding those people that HAVE experienced it.

Yet, I can't imagine being told before hand that you are about to suffer as a lesson for others. It is one thing to be prepared that God may call you for that kind of suffering. But, to be told that you were going to lose what you love before it happens? That would be hard. Even Christ prayed that the cup would pass from him.

When You Lie Down ... 1 Peter 1-5

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But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.

Suffering is suffering. It isn't that you should actually rather feel joy. You are suffering! But, intellectually we can understand we are sharing the same pain, the same loss, the same sufferings as Christ. And in that we can rejoice.

There is nothing wrong with being sad and in pain. There is nothing wrong in trying to see the LORD's good in it. It is a hope that can get you through some of the darkest hours of your life.

Day 91

As You Rise ... Ezekiel 11-15

Chapter 11 in mp3
Chapter 12 in mp3
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Chapter 15 in mp3

And I will give them one heart, and a new spirit I will put within them. I will remove the heart of stone from their flesh and give them a heart of flesh.

O how I love the times that I truly spend with God. When I can hear His voice and feel His hand.

God gives us a new heart. One that is not stone and callused from the pain and hate of this life. But, one that is new and tender. One that cries with those in pain and reaches out to help. One that leaps for joy when salvation comes to those that hate us.

It is an amazing thing.

As You Walk By The Way ... Ezekiel 16-19

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What do you mean by repeating this proverb concerning the land of Israel, ‘The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge’?

One thing I try to instil within my children is to accept consequences. When you do wrong you make it right and you take the punishment. You don't put it off and you don't pass on the blame.

Today we as a nation are doing a terrible evil.

We are passing on the consequences of our evil and selfish actions upon our children and our grandchildren. As fathers we must take the responsibility of what we have done wrong. It is better to financially suffer ourselves than to bail out our foolish actions of spending what we do not have and taking from those coming behind.

A nation that lives in debt is raping the future of its children.

When You Lie Down ... James 1-5

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So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

I was thinking about this passage of James and the tie between faith and works ...

Our lives are like a great ocean. We sit upon it in our sail boats waiting to go somewhere. The sail that each of us has is our faith. The wind that drives our boat is the Grace of God. With no faith we keep our sails tied up and don't catch the wind of God's Grace. We may rock the boat a bit as we stomp around, but this is a sail boat not a row boat, so we go nowhere.

We can cry out to other people in their boats: "Look at my great sailing ship and how far I can go!" But, if your sails are still tied up you aren't going anywhere.

Untie your sail and watch the Grace of God fill it and suddenly you begin to move. Soon your little ship is making great waves that the dolphins jump and play in. And the wake behind you trails out forever; spreading and touching many other ships. Sometimes giving them a little push in the right direction. And sometimes rocking them and letting them know something is wrong with having tied up sails.

The wake of your boat is your actions for God.

If you are moving with God you must be creating a wake.

If you see no wake ... it is because your ship isn't moving.

So it is with faith. We are saved by the Grace of God and faith alone. But, your faith will make wakes as your move through life. Someone can profess the LORD. But if their ship is just rocking in place ... their sails are still tied up.

Day 90

As You Rise ... Ezekiel 1-4

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Chapter 2 in mp3
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Speak to them and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God,’ whether they hear or refuse to hear.

The Word of God is true and eternal. It doesn't favor anyone. Not and rich and not the poor. Not the people up high and not the people down at the bottom of life.

When we read it God is speaking to us. On how to live and on how we will be corrected if we continue on the wrong path.

We listen to it and we read it. And we know that whether we actually listen and burn it upon our minds and hearts ... or refuse the truth. It is still true.

The warnings God gives ... are still true.

The blessings He promises ... are still true.

So maybe we should listen and do it.

As You Walk By The Way ... Ezekiel 5-10

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Chapter 6 in mp3
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Son of man, do you see what they are doing, the great abominations that the house of Israel are committing here, to drive me far from my sanctuary? But you will see still greater abominations.

As a Christian what is the temple of the LORD? You are.

God points out to Ezekiel the abominations that were in the temple. Other gods. Idols. The worship of the sun. If God took you on a tour of your own soul what would you see? When you look in deep within yourself do you see other gods?

Our time is spent on us. So I suppose you would see a huge golden idol made to look like the ideal you. Sculpted muscles and a beautiful body.

Our time is spent chasing after money. So I suppose you would see carvings of the chase upon the walls. Wealthy men purchasing the best of everything. Wealthy women at leisure doing as they pleased.

And you would would be found bowing down under a bright spot light. The spot light of fame. Where others cheer you on and praise all the little things you do. No matter how stupid.

I know I need to clean the temple of the LORD. Do you?

When You Lie Down ... Hebrews 11-13

Chapter 11 in mp3
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These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar.

"They will get what the deserve in the end." I've said that and have heard other Christians say that as well. If said in the context of this world and this life ... it isn't true. If said in the context of a saved Christian ... it definitely isn't true.

In this world good people pass on never getting a break or having peace in their lives. And evil people pass on never being punished for their sins.

And a saved Christian KNOWS that they will not get what they deserve in the end. Because they know what they deserve is eternal punishment. They are joyful that the Grace of God rather gives them what they do not deserve.

The second is a salve for the pain of the first.

Day 89

As You Rise ... Jeremiah 51-52

Chapter 51 in mp3
Chapter 52 in mp3

The word that Jeremiah the prophet commanded Seraiah the son of Neriah, son of Mahseiah, when he went with Zedekiah king of Judah to Babylon, in the fourth year of his reign. Seraiah was the quartermaster. Jeremiah wrote in a book all the disaster that should come upon Babylon, all these words that are written concerning Babylon. And Jeremiah said to Seraiah:

“When you come to Babylon, see that you read all these words, and say, ‘O Lord, you have said concerning this place that you will cut it off, so that nothing shall dwell in it, neither man nor beast, and it shall be desolate forever.’ When you finish reading this book, tie a stone to it and cast it into the midst of the Euphrates, and say, ‘Thus shall Babylon sink, to rise no more, because of the disaster that I am bringing upon her, and they shall become exhausted.’”


Whenever I read of Babylon I think of "culture" and "civilization". The things in life where man runs around pretending to be god. Where we focus on self, wealth, and status. Where we step on the poor and crush the fatherless.

It will not go on forever. Like all civilizations before us, all civilizations today will be laid waste. As we run to build towers to shoot arrows at God. The foundations upon which we build are being torn down. The worship of self guarantees it.

As You Walk By The Way ... Lamentations 1-5

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She weeps bitterly in the night, with tears on her cheeks; among all her lovers she has none to comfort her; all her friends have dealt treacherously with her; they have become her enemies.

...

He has made my teeth grind on gravel, and made me cower in ashes; my soul is bereft of peace; I have forgotten what happiness is; so I say, “My endurance has perished; so has my hope from the Lord.”

...

But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope:

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.”

The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him. It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord. It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth.

Let him sit alone in silence when it is laid on him;let him put his mouth in the dust — there may yet be hope; let him give his cheek to the one who strikes, and let him be filled with insults.

For the Lord will not cast off forever, but, though he cause grief, he will have compassion according to the abundance of his steadfast love; for he does not willingly afflict or grieve the children of men.


Sometimes the best advise ... and worst advise is to Endure. Best because our Hope is in God. And worst because we just want the pain to end. Like the time you sit in bed after surgery and the pain starts to become unbearable. Yet, you still must bear it. Though you scream into your pillow and beg God for the pain to pass. It is still there.

All that is left is the knowledge that in time it will pass. And it will pass.

The difficult times are here and it is between us and God. Not between us and the one that caused the pain. They take joy in our pain, so why focus on them? It must be between us and God alone.

Keep your eyes forward, don't turn to the left (self-hatred) and don't turn to the right (hatred of others). Keep your eyes on God and pray for the strength to Endure.

When You Lie Down ... Hebrews 9-10

Chapter 9 in mp3
Chapter 10 in mp3

You joyfully accepted the plundering of your property, since you knew that you yourselves had a better possession and an abiding one. Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised.

Joyful ... Plundering of MY PROPERTY!? O.K. God what is up with that? :)

An issue we all have with endurance is that it takes actual pain and struggle to build it up. It isn't something you have, it is something you work on.

In the beginning we choose to endure the pain. There is no joy. There is anger, rage, and a desire for God to strike those that hurt us down.

Then over time it is about enduring. We continue to be placed in harms way. In ways that are deeper and much more painful. Yet we continue to hope for the light that God has promised us.

In the end we have endured and grown. We begin to actually feel the Love Christ had for us. For a people who hated Him, tore the flesh from His body, and beat him beyond recognition. A love for a people each of whose sins caused Him unimaginable pain. Pain beyond which the worst you have ever felt is nothing.

You are loved. Upon God was the justice of our sins. God takes joy in your life and your growth. ...

For the Lord will not cast off forever, but, though he cause grief, he will have compassion according to the abundance of his steadfast love; for he does not willingly afflict or grieve the children of men.

Day 88

As You Rise ... Jeremiah 43-47

Chapter 43 in mp3
Chapter 44 in mp3
Chapter 45 in mp3
Chapter 46 in mp3
Chapter 47 in mp3

Then confirm your vows and perform your vows!

Do what you say.

It is easy to talk, it is not easy to actually walk in the way you know to be true. I always give advice to my students about working early in the semester and long before the exams come around. But, I personally struggle with that in my own life.

I know what is right ... yet I still hold back on acting out on it. I need to confirm what I say ... and DO IT.

As You Walk By The Way ... Jeremiah 48-50

Chapter 48 in mp3
Chapter 49 in mp3
Chapter 50 in mp3

Their Redeemer is strong; the Lord of hosts is his name.

Do you believe the LORD is strong? That He can do anything?

Or do you hold on to your daily life? Your finances? Your everyday decisions?

When things are going smoothly it is so easy to walk your own path. One where you ignore God and where He wants you to go. Remember: Your God is strong. Trust in Him.

When You Lie Down ... Hebrews 5-8

Chapter 5 in mp3
Chapter 6 in mp3
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I will put my laws into their minds, and write them on their hearts, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

You know the difference between what "the rules" say and what is right and wrong. Kind of like when you are speeding down the highway. You know it is wrong, but you still try to get away with it. Until your heart drops out of your stomach when you pass the cop you didn't see. Then you slow down for a bit ... and then go back to speeding.

God has placed His Law within you. You know the Truth.

Now all that is left ... is to do it.

Day 87

As You Rise ... Jeremiah 32-36

Chapter 32 in mp3
Chapter 33 in mp3
Chapter 34 in mp3
Chapter 35 in mp3
Chapter 36 in mp3

Give thanks to the Lord of hosts, for the Lord is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!

LORD ...
I raise my voice to praise You.
I lift my arms in surrender and lower my head in humility.

For You are good.
For all that we have is by Your Grace.

I live a life in love of respect for Your Power and Your Love.

For You alone are God.

As You Walk By The Way ... Jeremiah 37-42

Chapter 37 in mp3
Chapter 38 in mp3
Chapter 39 in mp3
Chapter 40 in mp3
Chapter 41 in mp3
Chapter 42 in mp3

Because you sinned against the Lord and did not obey his voice, this thing has come upon you.

LORD ...

I pray for forgiveness.

I beg for forgiveness.

For the sins in my heart that a foolishly imagine to hide for You.

For the sin on not acting as You have called me to live.

LORD ... forgive

LORD ... restore

When You Lie Down ... Hebrews 1-4

Chapter 1 in mp3
Chapter 2 in mp3
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Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says,

“Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, on the day of testing in the wilderness, where your fathers put me to the test and saw my works for forty years. Therefore I was provoked with that generation, and said, ‘They always go astray in their heart; they have not known my ways.’ As I swore in my wrath, ‘They shall not enter my rest.’”

LORD ...

You are my Father. And like a child I have tried to walk without your hand in mine. I've run away at times, and then when I was frightened I ran back.

I'm so like the young child.

Help me to grow closer to you. To not go astray. But, to walk in the Light with confidence in You. For you ARE God.