1 Corinthians 13 for Coaches

Though I can fire up my team and get them to give their all, but not care for WHO they are and WHO they will be, I might as well just run my fingernails over the chalkboard.

And if I can see what will happen on the field or court, and understand every play, and I coach them to a winning season, but have not love for my players, I am nothing.

Even if I give all of my time and strength to the team, and surrender my personal best ... all for the glory of the win, but not live to model how God loves my players and those we play against, I have gained nothing.

As as coach I must teach and model patience and kindness. To never envy those that play better or explode in jealousy over our loss and their win. To never boast or taunt when we win. Nor strut around and mock those we play against.

I am to show my team how not to be conceited and stuffed with pride; to not be rude or get a stuffed head. To not insist that we are always right and the calls must go our way; to not seek what is best only for yourself. And when the play falls apart, the call goes against you, and you or your teammate messes up; you just get up and keep going. You don't fret or hate. You don't take account of what just happened. You get up, you learn, and you keep going.

I will never celebrate the bad call or cheating that "goes our way". I will be glad, and even cheer, when our wrongs are corrected.

I will strive to coach in such a way that my players can stand up under anything. To take off the fields and courts a life that will seek the best in people, know that endurance will yield results, and that they can endure the trials of life.

Loving and seeking the best for my players will never fail. I will soon not know what to do, nor see what play is best, nor even know what to tell my team just to keep them going. Why? Because I'm weak and only have limited abilities. So I will rather rely on God. And He alone is perfect.

As a player I wanted to be cared about. To be encouraged. To improve. To get stronger. Now that I'm the coach I desire those same things for my players. Yet, I also know how much more there is than the game and soon I will be gone from their lives.

By one thing only do I want to be known. Love. That each player, parent, and coach can feel it, hear it, and experience it.

There is ability, that is good. There is hard work, that is better. And there is Love, that is the greatest.

Day 100

As You Rise ... Micah 6-7

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“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

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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

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“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 91

As You Rise ... Ezekiel 11-15

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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 88

As You Rise ... Jeremiah 43-47

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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

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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

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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 85

As You Rise ... Jeremiah 12-17

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The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? "I the Lord search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds."

I tend to read the above in a negative way. You know ... you've been bad and are about to get a switch on your backside type of negative.

But "according to the fruit of his deeds" is also positive. And God blesses us in more ways than just getting a physical reword. Can you really put a price on the joy YOU feel when you help out your kids? When you read them a story, play catch, or help them catch a toad? Or when you give to a family that has nothing.

So ... what types of fruits are your growing in your life?

As You Walk By The Way ... Jeremiah 18-21

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Behold, I am against you, O inhabitant of the valley, O rock of the plain, declares the Lord; you who say, ‘Who shall come down against us, or who shall enter our habitations?’ I will punish you according to the fruit of your deeds, declares the Lord; I will kindle a fire in her forest, and it shall devour all that is around her.

Now back to the switch on your backside type of fruits.

I had a brand new jacket my parents had bought me. It was cold outside when my brother and I went out to play hide-n-seek. So wearing my new jacket I decided to hide under the car.

Dad told me I would get a swat for each of the grease stains on my jacket. It hurt a bit. But I also remembered to take care of all the things that are entrusted to me. Not just a jacket.

So often we flit from task to task ignoring the important people and things around us. We get lazy when we hit the 'zone' of our lives. Just remember that with a small spark all that you have found comfort in can be gone.

When You Lie Down ... 2 Timothy 1-4

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But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions, always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth.

I call these the Oprah Verses.

Nothing further to say about that.

Day 83

As You Rise ... Isaiah 59-62

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He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound.

There is freedom from my sins. There is healing for the deep pains in my soul. The doors are thrown open.

The only problem is ... I just sit there and look at the open door. I don't walk through. It is like I am some dumb animal that refuses to go out of the barn and into the daylight. Why, oh why, do we sit in our pain rather than running to God.

Run. Run to the LORD. Embrace the promise and Live!

As You Walk By The Way ... Isaiah 63-66

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But now, O Lord, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand.

For a job I used to have to dig around foundations of homes. And around here I would dig through a lot of clay soil. Sometimes I would make a sculpture out of the clay. Usually it would just be a face or head.

The clay was dirty and full of rocks and organic materials like grass and rotting stuff. So it would be rather interesting when it dried. If you wanted to use the clay for *real* would you would have to clean it.

So you lay the clay out in the sun until it completely dried. Then you would take a hammer and smash it to dust. Then pass that though a couple of fine mesh screens throwing out the stones and sticks. Until all that was left was a very fine powder.

Then put all the fine powder in a bucket and mix in water. And mix it all up and agitate it. Slowly the rest of the organic material would float to the top so you could skim it off. Clean the water a couple more times and then let it set overnight.

The next day pour off the excess water and thoroughly work the clay with your hands and a cutter.

Now the clay is ready.

That is what it sometimes feels like when God is getting us ready to be molded by His hands. We are the clay and He is the potter.

When You Lie Down ... 2 Thessalonians 3, 1 Timothy 1-2

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Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all.

When you are getting smashed into power ... God may not feel like the Lord of peace.

When you are being strained out until you feel like everything that was "you" have been taken away ... God may not feel close to you.

But as God adds the healing water to wash away our sins. To put us back together. As His hands reach into our innermost being. As He shapes us into the vessels for His holy use.

Know that God loves you!

Day 81

As You Rise ... Isaiah 39-42

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A voice cries:
“In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain. And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”

John came to prepare the way. He was a fulfillment of this prophesy. We also are called to prepare the way. Every day those who are lost look at us. They see how we talk. How we act. How we live.

Are you preparing the way to their hearts?

Are you lifting up every valley?

Are you smoothing the rough patches of life?

As You Walk By The Way ... Isaiah 43-46

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I have blotted out your transgressions like a cloud and your sins like mist; return to me, for I have redeemed you.

Upon the cross Christ has redeemed us.

My sins shine like the sun. Just as I can't reach up and tell the sun to stop shining ... I can't remove my sins from God's sight.

Then Christ was lifted up and the day became as night. God has wiped the sins away by taking them upon Himself.

I can stand free by kneeling in the shadow of the cross.

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

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For you know how, like a father with his children, we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.

Exhort and Encourage. All fathers are called to this. To strongly urge our children through life and to strongly encourage our children through life.

Exhort could be replaced with "make urgent appeals" or to "incite by advice or argument". I kind of like the incite version. It is more along what you actually do as a dad. You need to fire up your kids. Like a good coach does with his team.

Make the appeals, make the arguments, yell, cheer, cry, laugh, prepare them for the fight ... and then send them out into the field.

Day 76

As You Rise ... Song of Songs 1-4

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Your teeth are like a flock of shorn ewes that have come up from the washing, all of which bear twins, and not one among them has lost its young.

"You teeth are so beautiful! All white and none missing!"

I don't think that would work on my wife. But, there are complements that do. And I don't take the time to really thank her and complement her as I should. To verbally let her know how special she is to me. And to let her know that through my actions as well.

So take the time to let your loved one know.

As You Walk By The Way ... Song of Songs 5-8

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His arms are rods of gold, set with jewels. His body is polished ivory, bedecked with sapphires.

A bit of advise for the ladies.

A man wants ... no ... needs to know that you find him manly. If he does well in something, let him know. If you like how he looks, let him know. We are rather simple that way.

When You Lie Down ... Galatians 1-4

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Brothers, I entreat you, become as I am ...

I'll be straight up. I am not a strong enough Christian to ever have told someone ... "Be like me!"

But, that is my goal. To be like Christ. And to be a good example to my sons. That I could tell them with all honesty ... to be like me.

Day 73

As You Rise ... Proverbs 13-18

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Wealth gained hastily will dwindle, but whoever gathers little by little will increase it.

That is one of the more practical statements. Did you know many of the people who win the lottery just end up bankrupt in a few years after then win? This is true no only for money, but for many things in our life. If you haven't worked for something ... you really don't understand it.

Imagine the difference between two men who both own large homes. One man takes out a loan and purchases the largest house he can afford. One man works hard and builds it with his own hands. Which one will be the better home owner in the years to come?

Work for what you have. If you have the money to get stuff or the time. Don't take the easy way, rather work hard for what God has given you.

As You Walk By The Way ... Proverbs 19-24

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Unequal weights and unequal measures are both alike an abomination to the Lord.

You don't get by with the little wrongs. They aren't little sins ... they are an abomination to the LORD.

We go back to the store when they make a one dollar mistake against us. Do you go back when it is in your favor? When you put in your pocket what isn't yours that sick feeling in your stomach is the LORD letting you know it is wrong.

When You Lie Down ... 2 Corinthians 5-8

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We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means.

One sure way to not be tempted by money is to give it away.

Don't spend it on yourself. Not on things that will waste away. Not on clothes you don't need. Homes that are to large. Cars that are for show.

Give it away.

Buy up that which will never waste. Clothe the naked. Feed the hungry. Comfort the weary. Visit those in prison. Give what you have away.

And when you give it away you lose the burden of the temptation. For how can there be temptation when you give it no opportunity?

Day 56

As You Rise ... Psalms 16-19

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The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.

I've seen the glory of God in the smiles of my children.
In the red sunset of the Kansas plains.

I've seen the glory of the LORD in an eagle floating over the plain.
In the white breath of my son on a cold winter morning.

I've seen the glory of God in my wife holding a child.
In the dancing of a calf across the field.

I've seen the glory of the LORD in the black of night.
In the wind flowing across the grass.

As You Walk By The Way ...Psalms 20-25

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The below images are from a Kansas Reader textbook printed about 1920 by the State of Kansas for local schools. Click on them to read. And ... yes ... these are from the State of Kansas. It is amazing how far away the modern concept of 'separation of church and state' has removed our nation from the LORD.

When You Lie Down ... Acts 20-21

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In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’

Today working hard is a rarity. My grand parents worked harder than I do. And today the rage is "work smart not hard".

Work is a blessing from the LORD. To be able to produce and create is a gift not a burden. To often we look at leisure as the goal rather than work and its bounty.

Work hard while you can. And give away the results of that work the LORD has blessed you with ... while you can.

Day 52

As You Rise ... Job 22-27

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As I was listening to these verses one thing came to mind: What a monster I am.

Why are not times of judgment kept by the Almighty, and why do those who know him never see his days?

Some move landmarks; they seize flocks and pasture them. They drive away the donkey of the fatherless; they take the widow's ox for a pledge. They thrust the poor off the road; the poor of the earth all hide themselves.

Behold, like wild donkeys in the desert the poor go out to their toil, seeking game; the wasteland yields food for their children. They gather their fodder in the field, and they glean the vineyard of the wicked man.

They lie all night naked, without clothing, and have no covering in the cold. They are wet with the rain of the mountains and cling to the rock for lack of shelter. There are those who snatch the fatherless child from the breast, and they take a pledge against the poor.

They go about naked, without clothing;
Hungry, they carry the sheaves;
Among the olive rows of the wicked they make oil;
They tread the winepresses, but suffer thirst.

From out of the city the dying groan, and the soul of the wounded cries for help; yet God charges no one with wrong.

In your minds eye do you not see those in this world who are suffering? I see and I am shamed. Because I see and I do not act.

I listened to this as I was driving and I wanted to pull over and weep. Weep for those in pain and weep in anger against myself. I dwell over dollars I want to spend on myself for things I don't need. While I do not spend nearly enough of my own self in service of others.

As I listened it wasn't about "Where is God?" ... it was about "Where am I?"

As You Walk By The Way ...Job 28-31

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I don't know if it is sad or telling that Job didn't know that he had somewhat answered his own question of "Where is God?". He probably couldn't see through his own pain to truly listen to the words that the LORD gave him to speak.

Where is God for the fatherless? For the widows? For the poor? For the suffering?

I delivered the poor who cried for help, and the fatherless who had none to help him. The blessing of him who was about to perish came upon me, and I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy.

I was eyes to the blind and feet to the lame. I was a father to the needy, and I searched out the cause of him whom I did not know. I broke the fangs of the unrighteous and made him drop his prey from his teeth.

If I have rejected the cause of my manservant or my maidservant, when they brought a complaint against me, what then shall I do when God rises up? When he makes inquiry, what shall I answer him? Did not he who made me in the womb make him? And did not one fashion us in the womb?

If I have withheld anything that the poor desired, or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail, or have eaten my morsel alone, and the fatherless has not eaten of it (for from my youth the fatherless grew up with me as with a father, and from my mother's womb I guided the widow)

If I have seen anyone perish for lack of clothing, or the needy without covering, if his body has not blessed me, and if he was not warmed with the fleece of my sheep, if I have raised my hand against the fatherless, because I saw my help in the gate.

Then let my shoulder blade fall from my shoulder, and let my arm be broken from its socket. For I was in terror of calamity from God, and I could not have faced his majesty.

Job acted. And why did he act? For the LORD. When the cry goes out "Where is the LORD?" the answer should have those that suffer pointing their fingers at a Christian and saying "The LORD is in you! For I see Him and feel Him!"

And what a list Job has given me. Have I ...

... delivered the poor?
... helped those that had no help?
... made their heart sing for joy?
... become eyes to the blind?
... become feet to the lame?
... been father to the fatherless?
... searched out the cause of him whom I did not know?
... broken the fangs of the unrighteous?

If I do not act what then?

As Mordecai told Esther, “For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father's house will perish. And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”

They have hope in God. Deliverance and justice will come, if not now then in the age to come. But, God has put this before me NOW.

O LORD and Heavenly Father ... help me to be as Job.

When You Lie Down ... Acts 11-13

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Get up ... Dress ... Put on sandals ... Wrap your cloak ... Follow me.

Peter was sitting in jail waiting for his death. If God wanted He could have just moved him from the jail and into his friends home. Why not?

As we sit in the darkness of our lives. As we sit in chains beside the people who are against us and who inflict pain beyond measure. As the night comes ... and still we suffer ... and still we pray for deliverance.

We pray that God will 'poof', make it go away.

That would be nice. But, that isn't what builds up a stronger man or woman. Even Peter had to get up to get out of the prison. And as we struggle we need to do likewise.

Get up. Stand and look upon the LORD.

Dress. Get your body, mind, and soul ready for what God will have in store for you.

Put on your sandals. Prepare yourself for the walk. A walk in LORD.

Wrap your cloak. Wrap yourself in the Word of the LORD. In the people that he will bring into your life. Reach out and let them wrap their arms around you.

and Follow Him.

Day 49

As You Rise ... Esther 1-5

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An orphan girl didn't know why her parents were taken from her. She was raised by her cousin who loved and treated her as his daughter. Then she was taken from him to be placed into the king's harem. Daily he would walk to the court of the harem just to find out how she was doing.

And from that beginning she became queen.

We may never know what God's plan is. But we have our part. All we can do is live it and look for where He leads us.

As You Walk By The Way ...Esther 6-10

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Trust in God.

Esther threw her life on the line to save God's people. God raised her and Mordecai to a place where they could act. But, they were called to act.

When we come to the points of action we must act as well. When there is temptation ... walk, no, run away. When there is pain ... give comfort. When there is a child ... don't exasperate them, rather strengthen them. When there is loss ... give.

Trust in God and Act.

When You Lie Down ... Acts 5-6

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... if this plan or this undertaking is of man, it will fail.

And there is our path.

When we do act are we acting for God or for man? I can't tell you how many times I took my own council and then went off before aiming. It isn't "ready ... FIRE ... aim!"

Getting ready and aiming is about getting in a personal relationship with God. About listening to wise council. About listening to the LORD. Once you are primed and your aim is true. Explode your life for God.

Day 46

As You Rise ... Ezra 1-4

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

When we build for the LORD we will always be opposed. Opposed by the powers of this earth and the powers of the prince of this earth.

We prepare in sports for the difficult games by pushing our bodies to their limits. By studying and pushing our minds to know what to do. Why not prepare our minds and bodies for the difficult battles of our daily lives?

Strengthen the will of your body by fasting and not giving into your desires. To put your mind over your flesh. Strengthen your mind by studying the word of God and looking for where He would have you work in the world.

As You Walk By The Way ...Ezra 5-8

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

One way to handle the task is to tell others about it.

Writing this blog hasn't been easy for me. It takes time and drains me mentally and physically at times. Just listening to the Bible and thinking nearly constantly on it take more out of me than I thought.

One thing out of many that keeps me going ... I told others I would do this. And like Ezra I would be ashamed before them if I didn't finish.

Want to hold yourself accountable? Tell someone else what you will do.

When You Lie Down ... John 20-21

Chapter 20 in mp3
Chapter 21 in mp3

"Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

For us to look back upon the cross and Christ for our salvation requires what John has given us: A Witness. The Bible is a witness to the LORD our God.

What a blessing it is today to have it always upon our hands. And available whenever we need it. So use it. Think on it and prepare your heart and mind for the day.

Day 40

As You Rise ... 1 Chronicles 13-18

Chapter 13 in mp3
Chapter 14 in mp3
Chapter 15 in mp3
Chapter 16 in mp3
Chapter 17 in mp3
Chapter 18 in mp3

And as the ark of the covenant of the Lord came to the city of David, Michal the daughter of Saul looked out of the window and saw King David dancing and rejoicing, and she despised him in her heart.

I suppose it comes down to which you find more important. Your status with your neighbors. Or God. Most people will quickly answer "God", but by our fruit you can tell where our heart is.

Which do you find more embarrassing:

• Talking to friends about God or Talking to friends about someone you hate?
• Helping the beautiful woman at the store or Helping the homeless man in the parking lot get food?
• Talking yourself up to someone important or Talking to the person no one at school likes?

To me the best word for what society does to us is brain washing. Over and over it tells us that hating, lust, and power are important. And God, the helpless, and the hated are not. But God flips that on its ear.

By looking at your own works you can know that is more important to you. What is it?

As You Walk By The Way ...1 Chronicles 19-24

Chapter 19 in mp3
Chapter 20 in mp3
Chapter 21 in mp3
Chapter 22 in mp3
Chapter 23 in mp3
Chapter 24 in mp3

You shall not build a house to my name, because you have shed so much blood before me on the earth.

Going to a Christian collage that was supported by a pacifist denomination was how I was first introduced to Christian pacifists. For myself, I was raised by a Christian dad who was also a veteran. I was taught early on that sometimes violence is needed to protect others and keep peace. The above verses are where I found my own understanding between the calling of a warrior and the calling of a pacifist.

God called David. All that David did was for the LORD. Including the blood he shed. And today some are still called to be warriors. To serve as soldiers and police officers. But, the calling of David was not the calling of Solomon.

God called Solomon. And Solomon could build the temple of the LORD where David could not. Today some are still called to the building of the Church in a way that a warrior can not.

Do not confuse the two men. God did not call only Davids to His work. And God did not call only Solomons to His work. They are two very different Men of God.

The question for you is so find what God has called you to be.

When You Lie Down ... John 7-8

Chapter 7 in mp3
Chapter 8 in mp3

Let him who is without sin ...

Christ knows our hearts.

Ever notice how Christ doesn't answer the actual questions that are asked by those trying to trap Him? And it isn't because He was being tricky in not getting "caught". Rather notice how He answers the real problem that is in the heart of the people talking to him.

Everyone that came to Christ to question him had a personal agenda. And Christ directly spoke to that agenda. The rich man wanting to know if he was following the law was told to sell everything. The authorities on taxes were told about the giant chasm between God and Caesar. And the men wanting to point out the sin in others had their own sin placed in front of them.

Only one man standing there had the right to judge the woman and that was Christ. At that time He wasn't on earth as the judge. He was there as the living sacrifice for her sins. But soon He will return to judge.

So like the adulterer ... Go and sin no more.

Day 39

As You Rise ... 1 Chronicles 4-7

Chapter 4 in mp3
Chapter 5 in mp3
Chapter 6 in mp3
Chapter 7 in mp3

They ministered with song before the tabernacle of the tent ...

One thing I like to do is sing. Play the mountain dulcimer and sing. I'm not that good and at times my daughter asks me not to. But, I really enjoy it.

God has given us a great gift in playing music and singing. It is a blessing to Him and to us. So if you are at home don't just listen to the music ... sing out loud. Sing with joy.

As You Walk By The Way ...1 Chronicles 8-12

Chapter 8 in mp3
Chapter 9 in mp3
Chapter 10 in mp3
Chapter 11 in mp3
Chapter 12 in mp3

The chapters above list "mighty men" and men that were in "charge of the utensils of service". Not all of us are called to the front lines of the spiritual battle. But, we all are called.javascript:void(0)

In what God has placed before you ... you must do. If it is as the leader of many, lead well. If it is as the worker behind the scenes, work well. If it is as the man seeking out the poor, seek and help. If God has given you wealth, share with generosity.

You are called. So listen and do.

When You Lie Down ... John 6

Chapter 6 in mp3

After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him.

Much of what God does and calls for us to do is hard. We try to understand and many times it is impossible to do so.

There have been two plane crashes close together. In one everyone lived. In the other everyone died. Many people point to the hand of God in the first. And many point that there must be no god because of the second. How can a god not save everyone? Why is there suffering?

The sad part is that they are pointing to their own idols not God. Their desire is an idol that will "save" everyone from tragedy. Life is life. God did not promise that we would stay in the womb for eternity. Constantly fed, warm, and cared for with nothing happening in our lives. He gave us life, not slavery.

He calls us to love Him. He calls us to love others.

In life there is joy, pain, hate, love, blood, and comfort. Expect that and live. If God grants us joy and love ... embrace it and be thankful. If tragedy comes ... endure and help.

Day 29

As You Rise ... 2 Samuel 1-5

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

Pride comes before the fall. The Jebusites felt that Jerusalem was so safe that the blind and lame could fight off David. They were wrong.

Myself, I like to argue ... a lot. And part of that is a pride that I have in figuring out what is right or wrong in a debate. It is my job ( teaching mathematics / logic classes ) and I really like to break down things until I know the why's and how's.

But, pride is a very dangerous thing. Having honorable pride in what we do is a good thing. It drives you to work hard and do well. Having a false pride based on past experience can lead laziness and a fall.

As You Walk By The Way ... 2 Samuel 6-11

Chapter 6 in mp3
Chapter 7 in mp3
Chapter 8 in mp3
Chapter 9 in mp3
Chapter 10 in mp3
Chapter 11 in mp3

Who am I, O Lord God?

Who am I. That is on my mind a lot. It is so hard to access yourself honestly. To not lift yourself up and to not cut yourself down. Just to be honest in looking at where you are, who you are, and what you have done.

I know my weakness and my strengths. And sometimes they are one in the same. O LORD God ... just ... lead me.

When You Lie Down ... Luke 14-15

Chapter 14 in mp3
Chapter 15 in mp3

Ever lose something?

While listening to the parables of the lost sheep and coins I was thinking about the times I lost something at home. You are running around the house getting angry and upset over not finding it. You rip open the curtains to let in more light and shake bags upside down. Take the covers off the bed and the cushions from the couch. Get on the floor and rub your hands on the carpet to see if you can feel it. Yell at the kids in case one of them took it.

And then the feeling you get when you find it. The release you feel in your stomach at finally having it in your hand. It is like you can breathe again.


Or ....

may be it is like this ....

We were at the mall ... And I lost track of my son.

My heart hit my stomach and I got scared and angry and ... I can't even find the words. I thought maybe he went to the restroom. I go in and look under each of the doors.

Not there.

As I go out I notice that the door next to the restrooms that leads outside is propped open ...

That isn't supposed to be like that.

Now I'm really angry and scared. Heading back down the hallway I see a play area with a corner that is kind of hidden. Looking over the wall ...

There he is.

NOW I can't describe the feeling of ... completeness ... that I felt just looking at him.

I suppose that is what God feels when we come home.

Day 6

As You Rise ... Exodus 12-17

Chapter 12 in mp3
Chapter 13 in mp3
Chapter 14 in mp3
Chapter 15 in mp3
Chapter 16 in mp3
Chapter 17 in mp3

And here we see what happens when God softens your heart the hard way. You can continue your life with the illusion that you are in charge. Surrounding yourself with people and ideas that give some semblance of control.

I pray that we understand that we are just men. Before God has to show us that He is in charge.

As You Walk By The Way ... Exodus 18-22

Chapter 18 in mp3
Chapter 19 in mp3
Chapter 20 in mp3
Chapter 21 in mp3
Chapter 22 in mp3

Pride. It can kill you.

We landscaped our house with stones from a friend's field out in the Flint Hills. Every now and then I would get a 200+ lb stone into the back of the pickup just to prove I could do it alone. My father-in-law would offer to help, but I would just have to do it myself. Pride.

I never did blow out my back. But, after moving one or two of those ... I was pretty much worthless for awhile. Getting help is not weakness. Together we accomplish so much more. You just need to swallow your pride, smile, shake your friend's hand, and say thank you.

When You Lie Down ... Matthew 16-19

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

Chapter 16 verse 17 Jesus blesses Peter and then by verse 23 it is ... get behind me Satan. Don't know if that was the record for quickest turn around, but I'm sure it was pretty close.

All my life I've gone hot and cold. Do what is right and then follow up with sin. It is comforting to know that Christ is right beside me the entire time. Praising the good and correcting the bad. Even if Peter was flawed, Christ still worked with him for good. I pray that He will continue to work with one more flawed man for good.

Day 2

I'm adding mp3 links for the text as well as the shockwave flash player that I used on Day 1. That way you can listen on data-plan cell phones or just download the mp3 to listen to on the way to and from work.

As You Rise ... Genesis 20-24

Chapter 20 in mp3
Chapter 21 in mp3
Chapter 22 in mp3
Chapter 23 in mp3
Chapter 24 in mp3

Hold nothing back. Leave it all on the field. We use those phrases often for sports. But, when it comes to God we tend to hold what we desire most back from Him. We don't give Him the best of our gifts. Abraham was called to give what he most loved and he didn't hold it back. He was going to leave it all on the field. All of the blood of his only son. God also gave it all ... so why can't we at least work to give our best?

As You Walk By The Way ... Genesis 25-28

Chapter 25 in mp3
Chapter 26 in mp3
Chapter 27 in mp3
Chapter 28 in mp3

After getting a stomach virus last week I didn't think I'd ever be hungry. Then I spent an afternoon helping my father-in-law clean up a hedge tree. After awhile, even with a lot of work to be done, I was willing to cut the work short just to get some supper. How often do we do that with our spiritual life? Just like Esau we cut the work God has given us short just for temporary comfort. Rather, tighten your belt and get back to work. The sun is going down and there is precious little time left to us.

When You Lie Down ... Matthew 7-8

Chapter 7 in mp3
Chapter 8 in mp3

And behold, all the city came out to meet Jesus, and when they saw him, they begged him to leave their region. Matt 8:34

I have been praying. Praying for the healing hand of God to stun the doctors. To reach into a life and leave everyone surrounding those whom I am praying for to just be stunned by healing. That they would go home speechless and confused about a miracle.

I have had that prayer answered before. And it was frightening ... even though I asked for it. Seeing God really work, to really answer us, can be a heart stopping event. An entire city came out to BEG Jesus to leave because of that same fear.

Maybe I'll also pray for the courage to accept answered prayers.