Proverbs 24:15-16 NLT15 Don’t wait in ambush at the home of the godly, and don’t raid the house where the godly live.16 The godly may trip seven times, but they will get up again. But one disaster is enough to overthrow the wicked.The book of Proverbs is referred to as a book of wisdom, written mostly by King Solomon, and composed of roughly 3000 proverbs and 1500 songs. but I will only cover one ...

Isaiah describes a group of people who are coming to God looking for answers but all they are getting is silence and the echo of their own heartbeat. They persist in asking for God’s justice for themselves to provided and even fast to make sure God will respond to their prayers. They use right words and conduct themselves in the appropriate way when at temple, but they have been living two differe...

I love Ephesians 6! It is so very practical and applicable to our everyday lives. For example, the 5th of the 10 Commandments is quoted in verse 2-3. Even though the 10 Commandments were given to Moses, they are also given to us today to teach us what righteous behavior looks like and the many benefits of good choices. For example, children don’t naturally know that they should obey their parents,...

Today’s New Testament reading is Ephesians 5. It is widely believed that the apostle Paul wrote this letter to the church at Ephesus while he was a prisoner in Rome. It is further believed that he was imprisoned at the Mamertine Prison. I am currently in Rome and staying at a guesthouse about a mile from this archeological site. I have had the privilege this past weekend of walking around the Colo...

Few passages contain as much scope as this passage.  It involves each person of the Trinity and the essentials of the gospel for each of us.  It’s much more than can fit in a brief blog.  But as I read through the verses, there was one aspect of the passage that stood out—the one body, the “body of Christ” (v 12) that threads its way through the entire passage.  And it’s the reason that Paul, as h...

First look:Ephesians 1:4-5 (CSB) 4 For He chose us in Him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in love before Him. 5 He predestined us to be adopted as sons through Jesus Christ for Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will[.]When I first look at Ephesians 1, I am just blown away by how it was God who chose us and predestined us by His will. Thanks be to God for ...

Galatians 6:7-10, “A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people…”I like the farming aspect of these...

Yesterday was Grandparents’ Day at a grandchild’s school, and I blew it! The schools had been shut for visits since COVID, but now the golden opportunity was open again. Instead of taking fried chicken, pizza or a juicy hamburger like all the other grandparents, I was going to do better and healthier. In pouring down rain, I stopped at a health food store and bought my grandson a pina colada smoot...

Psalms 62:7-8 "In GOD is my salvation and my glory. The rock of my strength and my refuge is in GOD. Trust in Him at all times, you people, pour out your heart before Him. GOD is a refuge for us. Selah"The Christian life is not an easy life. There are many hard places we must go through. There are many trials and tribulations we must endure. But we have the promise of scripture that He will never ...

Proverbs 23:13-1413: Do not withhold discipline from a child; If you punish them with the rod They will not die.14: Punish them with the rod and save them from death.Those of you that have been following the blog readings for some time will remember my mentioning the verses my folks had framed and displayed throughout our home. These two verses were no exception. They were on prominent display als...

I recently started learning more about how grape vines work, and it is fascinating. Grape vines are incredibly durable, able to be trimmed down to almost nothing and then grow back at an unbelievable rate. If the roots are strong, the stump will grow new buds, which will turn into shoots, becoming fruitful vines. Yet, to look at that barren stump before the growing season begins, one would think i...

4 "Don’t wear yourself out to get rich; because you know better, stop! 5 As soon as your eyes fly to it, it disappears, for it makes wings for itself and flies like an eagle to the sky." (Prov. 23:4–5, CSB)From today's reading, "earthly riches" are an obvious trap. They promise happiness, but the problem is, they are fleeting. They don't last. At least, they don't last as long as we might hope. Of...

In today’s One Year Bible reading from Isaiah chapters 1 and 2, God, speaking through the prophet Isaiah, laments that the people of Israel had rebelled against Him, and were suffering as a result. Instead of doing things God’s way, they wanted to do things their way. And God wasn’t pleased—to put it mildly!The people of Israel were “going through the motions” of religious practices (some of which...

Love your husband or your wife.  Song of Solomon 5-8Love to give and show generosity.  II Corinthians 9God, you are a God who loves for us to be generous.And you wish to be generous back to us.Help us to give extravagantly.Cause us to remember that you supply all our needs,So that we can help others.Then we will sing of your grace.Thanks for your indescribable gift of salvation!Love to confess you...

Song of Solomon 1-4I’ve always held Song of Solomon at arm’s length, so I chuckled a bit when I saw the first four chapters on my scheduled day. It holds its place in the canon as a book of wisdom, but you could spot it in a crowd - to put it mildly. Solomon lived an extravagant life, and this is an extravagant book. There’s no gentle warning of what is coming, look at the first three verses!“Let ...

2 Corinthians 4:16 “Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.“We will not get through life without hardships, heartaches, trials, and troubles, yet we have a hope and a promise.  First of all God is with us and will not forsake us: “The Lord Himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake yo...

In today’s reading from the New Testament (2 Corinthians 3), Paul reminds the Corinthian church that as believers in Christ, they (and all believers) are ministers of the “New Covenant”. The New Covenant may be described as a new relationship between God and mankind established by Jesus Christ for all who place their faith in the finished work that Jesus accomplished by His life, death, and resurr...

Job 28:28 “He (God) said to mankind, the fear of the Lord is this: wisdom.  And to turn from evil is understanding.”In the middle of the book of Job is a fascinating chapter—chapter 28—which divides the book into two sections.  It follows the three exchanges that Job has with his three “comforters”, which end at somewhat of an impasse and precedes three speeches by Job, Elihu and finally God that ...

Job 16:5 (CSB): "Instead, I would encourage you with my mouth, and the consolation from my lips would bring relief."When Job was enduring prolonged, intense suffering, his friends basically told Job that he got what was coming to him. Rather than lifting Job up and supporting him, Job’s friends accused him that his own wrongdoing caused the punishment that he was enduring.Job’s response to his fri...

Today’s Proverbs couplet is Proverbs 21:30-31. Its deals with planning ahead. These verses are not saying that planning is a bad thing or unnecessary. Instead, they address how we go about planning.Verse 30 is saying that God is so far wiser and greater than people that no one can out think or outwit Him. This obviously means His enemies cannot frustrate His ultimate Will. That is a comforting tho...