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Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.
– Psalm 110:105

I love Wednesday afternoons.  This is when I sit down to write these devotionals.  I get to do two of my favorite things-pray and write.  I always start by asking God for His word for you (doesn’t mean I always get it right, but that’s where I begin).  Most days, God is gracious enough to allow me to share His word through stories from my own life.  Then there are days like today.  I got nothin’. It may be I’m not really listening.  It may be there are too many things in my life “crowding” Him out.

Regardless of whether or not I have something, God does have a word for you.  His Word is full of His words and truth waiting to be revealed to you.  I encourage you to spend some time before going to bed this evening praying, reading your Bible and listening for His word for you.

Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you!  – Isaiah 49:15

I am easily distracted.  I shared this with some of you a few weeks ago.  It’s the reason I like to sit up front during worship. I am able to listen and focus better on the message when I can’t see other people and their movements.  I have recently recognized this as a significant weakness of mine and have begun to actively work on it.

Even as I type this, I heard my Assistant say something on the phone and started looking at something else.  Two minutes later, I’m back typing. Go ahead and laugh.

I am so glad God is not distracted from His purposes and plans for our lives.  He’s not forgetful either.  This verse from Isaiah demonstrates that.  We see it again in Matthew 6:28-34.  If God cares for the wildflowers and sparrows, He certainly cares for you and me.  Need further confirmation?  Read Psalm 139.  Even when we’d like God to forget, He doesn’t.  He knows everything about us and cares deeply for us.

I forgot how I was going to close this, but I think you get the point.

As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.
– Proverbs 27:17

Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.”– I Corinthians 15:33

Yesterday, I was treated to lunch along with some other women.  It was one of the most delicious and beautifully presented meals I have ever eaten.  However, even though the food was excellent, it was the conversation around the table that was perfectly seasoned.  It was full of life, humor and honesty about our journeys with God.  By the end of the meal, I felt spiritually refreshed and physically full.

I left thirsty for more.  I love those moments with friends where conversation flows with lighthearted laughter and humor and is mixed with testimony and faith.  I was reminded of the effect of the company we keep.  It can sharpen us and season our lives with God’s grace and love, but it can also lead to anger, frustration and even despair about life.  I wonder what kind of company you are keeping and what kind of company are you?  There’s some food for thought.

In his heart a man plans his course,
but the LORD determines his steps
-Proverbs 16:9

I caught a bug this week-a spring cleaning bug. I know…it’s a little late for spring, but I’m slow.  I cleaned my desk at work.  If you’ve seen my desk, then you know this is a task.  I also cleaned out my email.  Here’s hoping tomorrow I clean house.  This is one bug I don’t mind catching.

I’m not sure where I caught the bug, but I think it began incubating during our Single Adult VBS last week.  James Tippit shared some great teaching with us on God’s wisdom and grace.  In the middle of it all, he talked about wisdom and God’s goals for our life.  This particular evening sparked something in me that has been missing for a while.  It also refreshed my personal time with God.

There are a lot of things in life that I want, but last week, I was reminded that I need God’s wisdom in planning my course.    When was the last time you stepped back allowing God to do some cleaning in your heart?  When was the last time you sought His wisdom in setting goals?  If it’s been a while, perhaps it’s time for some spring cleaning for you as well.

Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. –Philippians 4:9

What comes to mind with the word “practice?”  I think about piano and tennis.  While there are aspects of both that I enjoyed, there was also much to make me cringe.  I wanted to play songs, not practice scales.  I wanted to play tennis, not run wind sprints and do drills.

In Philippians 4:9, Paul tells the Philippians to put into practice what they had learned and received.  When was the last time you, as a disciple of Christ, put into practice what you received through studying the Word, hearing a sermon or Bible Study lesson? Just as in piano and tennis, we learn and grow by putting our faith into practice.

When I was in college, I made a practice on Monday afternoons of reviewing my sermon notes and creating an action for the week to put into practice what I heard.  The following week, I reviewed my actions and journaled about what God was teaching me.  I remember this being a great time of spiritual growth because I was intentionally practicing my faith.

I don’t claim this as a full proof method for growth, but it helped me greatly.  My challenge to you this week is to put into practice what God is teaching you.  If you don’t know what He is teaching, perhaps you aren’t listening.

Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity  Colossians 4:5

How do you live out your faith on a daily basis?  This is a question I have thought about a lot lately. It is a personal question for me.  However, it is also a question I ask as I consider how I can help you live out your faith.

We are to live wisely among non believers. What does this mean?  For starters, it means that our faith life doesn’t end the minute the Sunday worship service ends. The next verse, goes on to say that our conversation should be gracious.  One translation says “full of grace and seasoned with salt.” What is your conversation like each day?

Our conversation is just one of the ways we live wisely.  There are other principles God shows us in His Word.  As you think about this verse, here are some other questions to consider.  Are you aware of and actively looking for God’s work in your life and the lives of those around you?  What is your sphere of influence and are you living out your faith in the sphere? Make the most of every opportunity.

The instructions of the Lord are perfect,
      reviving the soul.
   The decrees of the Lord are trustworthy,
      making wise the simple.
The commandments of the Lord are right,
      bringing joy to the heart.
   The commands of the Lord are clear,
      giving insight for living….

They are a warning to your servant,
      a great reward for those who obey them.

                                                                       -Psalm 19:7-8, 11

I love to learn.  In fact, I took a strengths finder test a couple years back and learning was one of my top 5 strengths.  It is one of the reasons I like to read so much and often think about taking more classes.  That said, I can’t say I have often thought of instruction as being reviving to my soul-even God’s instruction.  I think that’s why this hit me fresh today.  God was reminding me.  The note in my Life Application Bible says,

“When we think of instructions, decrees, and commandments, we often think of rules that keep us from having fun.  But here we see the opposite:  God’s laws revive us, make us wise, bring joy to the heart, give insight, warn us, and reward us.  God’s laws are guidelines and lights for our path, rather than chains on our hands and fee.  They point at danger to warn us, and then point at success to guide us.”

God’s instructions do guide, warn and point us in the right direction.  This doesn’t guarantee a life of ease.  It does however keep us from some harm and gives a measure of peace in the midst of conflict. So who are you learning from these days?  What books are you reading?  I hope you are continuing to learn.  First and foremost, I hope you are continuing to learn from God and reading His book.  You can’t beat God’s Instruction.

Wickedness never brings stability,
      but the godly have deep roots.
                                                              -Proverbs 12:3

My senior year of college, an F5 tornado hit the town.  I remember helping with the clean up afterwards and seeing trees with massive roots pulled up out of the ground like toothpicks.  I was in awe of the power that could uproot those trees.

Over and again in Scripture, we see the godly described as being rooted and strong, standing firm.  Psalm 1 describes the righteous as being ‘like trees planted along a riverbank”.  Ephesians describes the mature Christian as one “not blown about by the wind.”

As I read the above verse today, I wondered what my roots look like?  How ‘bout yours?  Are they deep and strong or are you uprooted with the slightest wind of opposition?

How do you strengthen your roots?  I could answer that for you, but I think it’s worth thinking about.  What do you think?

So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you. -Romans 12:1-2 (The Message)

Have you worshipped today? Mark Roberts says worship is “our response to God, in which we offer God our praise, adoration, gratitude, and most of all, ourselves.” This is one of several definitions of worship we learned in a Seminary class on the topic. I like this definition because I see throughout Scripture in connection with giving ourselves.

Worship is not something we do on Sunday mornings when we come to this building at 555 Tallowood. Certainly, we worship here, but worship should not end when we walk out the door Sunday morning. When we love God with all our heart, soul and mind and strength, we worship here, at home, at work, when we are exercising, when we are on vacation… When we love God with our all, we worship God all the time.

That’s something to think about. If this sounds familiar, yes, Dr. Brook’s did preach on the subject Sunday. If you missed it, listen online. The subject is worth repeating. If you are interested in a little more study in Scripture, check out the following verses courtesy of my Seminary notes.

Genesis 4:3-16

Genesis 12:1-8; 22:1-14

Genesis 36:24-25

Genesis 28:10-22; 35:1-7, 14-15

Exodus 3:1-12; 4:29-31

Exodus 14:29-31; 15:1-21

Exodus 19:3-25; 20:1-11, 22-24

Exodus 23:13-17, 20-25, 32-33; 24:1-18

Exodus 29:38-46

Exodus 32:1-25

Leviticus 1-9

Deuteronomy 6:4-15

Deuteronomy 7:1-6; 8:10-20; 12:1-7

Deuteronomy 29:16-18, 24-26; 31:30-32, 43

Psalms 29, 30, 33

Psalms 42, 46, 47, 48, 63

Psalms 84, 92, 95, 96, 98

Psalms 103, 111, 136, 145, 150

Isaiah 1:2-4, 10, 18

Jeremiah 10:1-6

Daniel 3:1-4:3

Amos 5:1-24

Zephaniah 2:8-11; 3:17-19

Malachi 1:1-14

Matthew 2:1-11

Matthew 14:25-33

Matthew 28:16-20

Mark 7:1-8

Luke 1:45-55

Luke 1:67-79

Luke 2:13-14 and Hebrews 1:6

Luke 2 25-32

Luke 4:1-8

Luke 4: 14-20

Acts 2:42

Romans 1:21-25

Romans 12:1-2

Romans 15:5-6

I Corinthians 11:17-34

I Corinthians 14:26-40

Philippians 2:1-11

Colossians 2:18-23

I Timothy 2:1-10

Hebrews 12:28-29

Hebrews 13:15

I Peter 2:4-9

I John 5:18-21

Revelation 4:1-11

Revelation 5:1-14

Revelation 7:9-17

Revelation 11:15-17

Revelation 13:1, 5-8; 14:9-11

Revelation 14:6-7

Revelation 22:8-9