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“But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.” (John 10:5 NIV)

The voice to follow is the familiar one.  Most of us had father’s in our lives as children.  We know their voice.  The sound of our earthly father’s voice we’ve heard since birth.  My father died when I was 16. I can still hear his voice in my head 35 years later.  He had phrases he would say often, those are what I remember most.  His voice is familiar to me.  I trust his voice when I hear it in my memory.  

One of my father’s favorite phrases was, “If you’re going to do something, do it right the first time.”  His theory, which has proven correct, is that doing it right the first time means not doing it again.  I hear his voice say this to me in my mind when I know, I’m not doing something right.  I’m not putting my best effort into whatever task is at hand.  I’m looking for shortcuts to make the job easier.  At times like this, I hear my father’s voice.  The phrase will come from nowhere, and in it, I find truth.  I know I need to listen to his voice.  The voice to follow is the familiar one.

The voice to follow is the familiar one.

Listening to our heavenly Father’s voice is similar to our earthly father.  God knew us before we were born (Jeremiah 1:5 NIV).  We heard His voice from the moment He created us.  His voice is more familiar to us than any other we’ve heard.  

“When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice.” (John 10:4 NIV)

Jesus is our shepherd, we are His sheep.  Sheep need a shepherd.  They live in a flock.  Two characteristics they exhibit: quickness to flee and panic.  A skilled shepherd knows how to handle their shortcomings.  The sheep, in their panic, know the shepherd’s voice.  Sheep also know where they get food.  They follow the one who feeds them.  Jesus stands firm for us when we want to flee.  He calms our panic.  In Him, we find nourishment for our souls.  His voice is familiar to us.  

We know the right voice to follow.  God’s voice speaks to us as we read His word.  Each day we spend time with Him, His voice is clearer.  As we memorize scripture, the verses will speak to us in moments we need direction.  His Shepherd’s voice guides us gently.  With love, He asks us to follow Him.  We know, His is the voice to follow.

  Question of the Day:

Are other voices stopping you from hearing God’s voice?

Further Reading: 1 Samuel 22:1-23:29 NIV, John 10:1-21 NIV, Psalm 115:1-18 NIV, Proverbs 15:18-19 NIV

“Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him.” (John 9:3 NIV)

When you focus on the wrong thing, you miss the point.  Jesus is walking along with His boys when He says the above words.  A blind man is sitting along the road.  The disciples ask Jesus,  “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” (John 9:2 NIV).  Today’s scripture is His response: “Neither…”. The disciples focused on sin, the wrong thing.  Jesus focused on God’s purpose.  When we focus on sin, we miss God’s purpose.

When we focus on sin, we miss God’s purpose.

Magician’s use misdirection in their acts.  After capturing the audience’s attention, the magician misdirects it to distract them.  While the audience focuses on the misdirection, the magician does his trick.  The trick isn’t magic.  A good magician knows how to direct the audience’s attention at all times. 

Satan uses misdirection as well.  He wants us focused on people’s sin. He doesn’t want us focused on people.  Satan knows, when we focus on other’s sin, we miss God’s purpose.  Jesus  gave us our purpose on earth with these words:

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12:30-31 NIV)

Our purpose on earth: Love God, love others.  The Greatest Commandment is simple.  We make it complicated.  Instead of loving the sinner, we condemn him.  Hate the sin, love the sinner.  Jesus looked past the sin, he loved the person.  The disciples exemplify Jesus’s ability to use sinful people to accomplish God’s purpose through love.

Peter struggled with pride (Matthew 26: 33-35 NIV).   Matthew was a tax collector (Mathew 9:9 NIV).  Judas betrayed Jesus (Matthew 26:14,16 NIV).  Jesus loved them all, despite their sins.  Saul of Tarsus, became Paul after he met Jesus.  Saul tortured and killed Christians.  He was an unbeliever who did unthinkable things.  But Jesus loved him anyway:

“During the journey, as he approached Damascus, suddenly a light from heaven encircled him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice asking him, “Saul, Saul, why are you harassing me?”   Saul asked, “Who are you, Lord?” “I am Jesus, whom you are harassing,” came the reply.  “Now get up and enter the city. You will be told what you must do.” (Acts 9: 3-6 NIV)

We are all sinners in need of grace.  In our imperfection, Jesus loves us. As sinners, we strive to sin less, accepting we are not sin free.  When we focus on sin, we miss God’s purpose for us: love.

Question of the Day:

Whose sin has stopped you from loving them?

Further Reading: 1 Samuel 20:1-21:15 NIV, John 9:1-41NIV, Psalm 113:1-114:8 NIV, Proverbs 15:15-17 NIV

“Even in darkness light dawns for the upright, for those who are gracious and compassionate and righteous.” (Psalm 112:4 NIV)

If you want light in your life, practice grace, compassion and righteousness with others.  What you give to others is given back to you.  Paul reminds us in his letter to the Galatians:

 “Make no mistake, God is not mocked. A person will harvest what they plant.” (Galatians 6:7 CEB)

In the darkest of times it is hard to shine God’s light.  One of the best portrayals I’ve seen comes from Louisa May Alcott’s, “Little Women”.  I recently watched the latest movie version of her classic tale.  Christmas morning has arrived, cold and blustery.  The times are hard, money and food are scarce.  Marmie, the mother of the four little women returns from visiting a sick family.  As the ladies sit to eat their sumptuous breakfast, Marmie informs them of the latest news.  The family has no food, the children are starving.  The girls look at the feast before them, then at their mother.  They know what they must do.  The family wrapped and placed the food in baskets.  After bundling themselves in warm attire, the five ladies carried the meal to the starving family.  Light dawned in the darkness for both families.  Light dawns for the upright.

Light dawns for the upright.

Do not mistake “upright” for perfection.  God inspects the heart’s intention, not our imperfect actions.  I have learned about intent this past year.   The words my mother said to me are starting to compute in my brain; “He didn’t mean to hurt you.”  Mom used this sentence when discussing something one of my brothers did to me when we were kids.  I interpreted their actions the wrong way.  I made the assumption they were intentionally trying to hurt me.  They were not.  In fact, often my siblings were trying to protect me.  My interpretation was wrong.  Because I made the wrong assumption about their outward actions, I didn’t consider the intent of their heart.  If I had considered their intent, I would have realized their heart was in the right place.  God looks at our hearts, more than our actions.

We are in dark times because of COVID19, but light is available.  Take a step towards the dawning light by trusting God with your cares:

“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:7 NIV)

Once you have cast off your anxiety, let God’s light shine through you.  Look around at the people in your world.  Who needs help?  Who needs an encouraging word?  What small action on your part can give light to their world?  When you bring light to others, it will dawn in your life.

Question of the Day:

How can you plant seeds of light today?

Further Reading: 1 Samuel 18:5-19:24 NIV, John 8:31-59 NIV, Psalm 112:1-10 NIV, Proverbs 15:12-14 NIV

“David said to Saul, “Let no one lose heart on account of this Philistine; your servant will go and fight him.” (1 Samuel 17:32 NIV)

When you choose the right battle you will win.  The problem is choosing the right battle.  The battle David is choosing is one he knows he will win.  How does David know he will win this battle?  Because he has God on his side:

“The Lord who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine.” (1 Samuel 17:37 NIV)

David tended sheep.  He protected them from attacks:

“Your servant has been keeping his father’s sheep. When a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock, I went after it, struck it and rescued the sheep from its mouth. When it turned on me, I seized it by its hair, struck it and killed it.  Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God.” (1 Samuel 17: 35-36 NIV)

David is still a shepherd when he brings supplies to Saul’s army.  He knows his strengths.  He knows his weaknesses.  He chose this battle because he knew he would win.  When we choose the right battles, we win.

When we choose the right battles, we win.

How do you know the right battles to choose?  Know your strengths.  David knew how to kill a giant.  He had killed giants before this day.  They weren’t human giants, they were lions and bears.  An adult, male lion weighs on average, 480 pounds. An adult male brown bear can weigh up to 1300 pounds.  When is the last time you met a human that weighed 1300 pounds?  David wasn’t afraid of Goliath, he had already killed many that were more ferocious than him.  If you know your strengths, you will know the right battles to choose.

In marriage, I have the opportunity to choose my battles regularly.  Oftentimes, I choose not to engage, even if I know I will win.  Battles in relationships aren’t about winning or losing.  Relationship struggles are about resolution.  I may have the strengths to win the battle, but that doesn’t mean I should fight the fight.  In relationships, the question isn’t: who can win the fight?  The question is: how do we find resolution?

Resolution in a relationship is more important than winning.  Resolution requires work.  When you decide not to engage in a battle that will harm the relationship, you will have resolution. We choose the right battles because we know our strengths.  We  find resolution because we know some battles aren’t worth choosing.  The decision is yours, do you want victory or do you want resolution?

Question of the Day:

What battle are you deciding about today?

Further Reading: 1 Samuel 17:1-18:4 NIV, John 8:21-30 NIV, Psalm 111:1-10 NIV, Proverbs 15:11 NIV

“When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” (John 8:7 NIV)

The person you judge first is yourself.  Today’s verse is from one of my favorite stories in the Bible.  A woman, caught in adultery is dragged naked to where Jesus is teaching.  Jesus was in the temple courts, surrounded by people.  The Pharisees (religious leaders who thought highly of themselves), wanted her stoned for her sin.  These self-righteous men think they have Jesus cornered.  But they were wrong.  Jesus, in His infinite wisdom, bent and wrote in the dirt.  Then He rose and said these words:

 “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” (John 8:7b NIV)

Once again, Jesus bent and wrote in the dirt.  One by one, the crowd dispersed.  Finally, Jesus was left alone with the woman.  Lovingly, His eyes filled with warmth, He said to her:

“Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?  “No one, sir,” she said. “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.” (John 8:10-11 NIV)

The person you judge first is yourself.

Pointing the finger at another person’s faults is easy.  Pointing a finger at our own faults is hard.  One way I examine my actions is through Scripture.  I align my thoughts with God’s word, and He quickly reminds me, I’m not without sin.  Another way I examine my actions is through the trusted relationships I have in my life.  My husband and my closest friends are all people who speak truth in love to me.  These people help me take the plank out of my own eye:

“Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?  How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.” (Matthew 7:3-5 NIV)

I’m ashamed at how quickly I judge.  The deeper I draw into my relationship with God, the more aware of this ugly fact I am.  We all judge too quickly.  We make snap decisions with not enough information.  But if we focus on the plank in our own eye first, we’ll judge less.  We will recognize our own sin before we judge others.  We’ll stop judging others, we’ll start judging ourselves.  

Question of the Day:

What plank is in your eye?

Further Reading: 1 Samuel 15:1-16:23 NIV, John 8:1-20 NIV, Psalm 110:1-7 NIV, Proverbs 15:8-10 NIV

“In return for my friendship they accuse me, but I am a man of prayer.  

They repay me evil for good, and hatred for my friendship.” (Psalm 109:4-5 NIV)

When your friendship is rejected, pray.  When you did good and received evil, pray.  When a friend accuses you falsely, pray.  Before you do anything else, stop and pray.  If you take a moment to talk to God, you won’t regret your decision.  You won’t say or do something that will compound hurt feelings by acting rashly.  You will begin to calm your emotions and gain a better perspective.  When your friendship is rejected, pray.

When your friendship is rejected, pray.

We all experience rejection.  If you are an adult, you understand rejection is part of life.  When we understand the motives behind the rejection, we can accept it better.  Praying helps us understand the intent.  When we pray and seek God’s wisdom, He’ll give us His vision.  He’ll help us see our offender as He sees them. We are all children in His eyes.  Often, when God helps me see them through His eyes, I see the children they once were.

The vast majority of us had good childhoods, especially compared to third world countries.  We grew up with clothes on our back, food in our bellies and a roof over our heads.  Many of us had a period of innocence in our lives when our hearts weren’t broken.  A time where our biggest worry was what game to play next.  At some point, we had our first heartbreak, then our second and third.  Each time another layer formed around our heart, protection from future hurts.  But the layers don’t work, we are hurt again.  Eventually the soft, open heart of innocence is replaced by the hardened heart of brokenness.  In our pain of rejection, we reject others.  

Not only are we rejected, we reject people. In our brokenness, we are distrusting.  When we distrust, we reject not only those whose intent is to harm, but those whose intent is to help.  Praying can help us determine what to do, not only when we’re rejected, but when we reject others.  Praying is opening up our hearts to receive God’s goodness.  Our broken hearts heal and soften in His care.  

We will receive God’s grace as we share our heart with Him in prayer.  In His healing hands, we are healed.  Our softened hearts overflow with His love and mercy.  We will extend grace from our abundance, reflecting God to our broken friend. As we share our hearts with each other, reflecting God in our relationships, God’s Kingdom will grow.  His light shines so brightly through us, people can’t resist it.  The pain of rejection becomes the miracle of healing when we pray.  In the face of rejection, make prayer your answer. 

Question of the Day:

What rejection do you need to talk to God about today?

Further Reading: 1 Samuel 14:1-52 NIV, John 7:31-53 NIV, Psalm 109:1-31NIV, Proverbs 15:5-7 NIV

“The soothing tongue is a tree of life,  but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit.” (Proverbs 15:4 NIV)

When you speak soothing words, you are a tree of life to others.  Soothing is defined as flattering; softening; assuaging. In other words, gentle.  When our speech is gentle towards others we bring life to them.  Always speak genuinely as well.  False flattery is worse than nothing at all:

“For their tongues shoot lies like poisoned arrows. They speak friendly words to their neighbors while scheming in their heart to kill them.” (Jeremiah 9:8 NLT)

When you lie to someone, inevitably you are harming them.  When you speak gentle words with genuine love, you give them life.  Soothing words bring life to those who receive them.

Soothing words bring life to those who receive them.

When we speak to others, the words of life we use will help them become the person God intended.  My husband speaks life into mine.  He tells me I can do anything I set my mind too.  He lifts me up when I am down with words of encouragement.  He tells me I’m beautiful when I feel I’m not.  When I criticize myself, he corrects me.  He doesn’t allow me to speak negatively about myself.  Not only does he speak soothing words to me, he helps me speak them to myself.  My husband is a source of life to me because of the words he speaks.

Paul gave explicit instruction to the Ephesians when he wrote to them:

“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” (Ephesians 4:29 NIV)

Speaking uplifting and encouraging words constantly is a challenge. My mother taught me if I don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all.  She learned this lesson from Solomon:

“Those who guard their lips preserve their lives, but those who speak rashly will come to ruin.”  (Proverbs 13:3 NIV)

All of us are trees of life if we use wise words.  When we speak gently, in truth and love, we are a source of life that has endless possibilities.  When our soothing words are grounded in God’s promises, not only will we bring life, but life to the fullest.  We will help people realize the power of God’s presence in their lives.  The lives of those around us will flourish as they rely on God’s strength, not their own.  Their faith will grow as we encourage them to take the next steps in their relationship with God.  The garden of friends God has given us will blossom as we speak gentle words of love to them.  Soothing words bring life to those who receive them.

Question of the Day:

Who are you going to speak soothing words to today?

Further Reading: 1 Samuel 12:1-13:23 NIV, John 7:1-30 NIV, Psalm 108:1-13 NIV, Proverbs 15:4 NIV

“Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story—those he redeemed from the hand of the foe, those he gathered from the lands, from east and west, from north and south.” (Psalm 107:2-3 NIV)

The easiest way to talk about God is to tell your story.  God has always been a part of my life.  From my youngest age, I remember going to church.  My mother taught me we are all brothers and sisters, no matter what color our skin is, we are all God’s children.  I was 12 when I understood the need for Jesus.  I didn’t  completely understand why I needed Him, but I knew I did.  And so with a childlike faith, I asked Him to come live in my heart. Forty years later, I still remember the moment my life changed with that prayer.  The easiest way to talk about God is to tell your story.

The easiest way to talk about God is to tell your story.

Peter tells us we should always be ready to give an answer:

But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, (1 Peter 3:15 NIV)

The best way to prepare to have an answer is to create one in advance.  A common practice Christ followers use is the 2-minute testimony, this 2-minute video helps us understand the concept.  First we must understand our testimony is our story of what God has done for us that no one else can do.  When we understand that, we can think of a couple of areas in our life that God has convicted us of our sin. Then we explain how He helped us change our ways.  When we share how our relationship with Jesus has changed our lives, we give others a vision of how He can change theirs.

For instance, when I was 29 years old the man I thought I was going to marry informed me he didn’t think I was the one for him.  I had given everything up for this man.  We were practically living together, which went against my beliefs. I was willing to sacrifice my beliefs for him.  When that relationship ended, I found myself at rock bottom, all alone.  I contacted a friend I hadn’t talked to in three years.  She had started a relationship with Jesus during the time we hadn’t spoken.  She shared with me what Jesus had done in her life.  She reminded me of the hope we have in Him.  Because of her, I gave my broken heart to Jesus, and He changed my life forever.

The easiest way to talk about God is to tell your story.

Question of the Day:

What is your 2-minute testimony?

Further Reading: 1 Samuel 10:1-11:15 NIV, John 6:43-71 NIV, Psalm 107:1-43 NIV, Proverbs 15:1-3 NIV

Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?” Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.” (John 6:28-29 NIV)

The work God wants you to do is believe in Jesus.  Before we can do anything else for God, we have to believe in His Son.  Why is it important to believe in Jesus?  Because once you believe in Him, your life changes forever.  In order to believe in Jesus, we must first admit we’re sinners.  We admit that what we are doing in our life isn’t working and we need help.  When we do that, and place our trust in Jesus, He will show us a new way to live.  The work God wants us to do is believe in Jesus.

The work God wants us to do is believe in Jesus.

When we believe in Jesus and place our faith in Him, we’ll want to do things differently.  The first thing we experience is His grace and mercy.  He forgives us of all our sins:

“Our sins are washed away and we are made clean because Christ gave His own body as a gift to God. He did this once for all time.” (Hebrews 10:10 NIV)

When we experience Jesus’ grace and mercy in our own lives, we want to share it with others.  We want them to know the new life we have found.  Jesus’ light shines into us, then through us to others.  God does the work, we don’t.  He’s the One who illuminates our lives in ways we never imagined.  He gives us dreams we would never have dreamt.  All He asks is that we put our faith in Him.

The fruits we begin to bear as we follow Jesus, against such things there is no law:

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,  gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” (Galatians 5:22-23 NIV)

The light that shines through us is communicated to others by the fruits we produce.  When we are kind to another person, we’re bearing good fruit.  When we show love to someone who thinks they are unlovable, we are being Christ in the flesh for them.  When we are faithful in our relationships, God’s light is shining.  As we practice self-control when emotions are threatening to overtake us, Jesus is being glorified.  When we find joy in the midst of heartache, peace in the middle of turmoil, love in the face of hate, we’re shining Jesus light for the world to see.

The work God wants us to do is believe in Jesus.  He takes care of the rest once we place our faith in Him.  

Question of the Day:

Have you done the work God wants you to do?

Further Reading: 1 Samuel 8:1-9:27 NIV, John 6:22-42 NIV, Psalm 106:32-48 NIV, Proverbs 14:34-35 NIV

“But they soon forgot what he had done and did not wait for his plan to unfold.” (Psalm 106:13 NIV)

We forget too quickly.  We forget too quickly what God has done for us.  When we are in the valley and life is overwhelming us, we cry out to God.  He answers.  He provides.  He helps us out of the valley. He gets us back on stable ground.  Once we are on solid ground again, feeling good, we quickly forget God.  We go back to doing what we were doing until we end up in the valley again, which is inevitable.  That’s when we once again remember God. We forget too quickly what God has done for us.

We forget too quickly what God has done for us.

The entire Bible is a collection of authors, writing down what God has done for them.  Over and over again in it’s pages we see people calling on God for help.  He helps them, then they immediately go back to their sinful ways.  Yet God still loved them, and He still loves us, even when we forget.

When I was single, I forgot God quickly when I was in a relationship.   I’d forget what He says about premarital relationships.  I’d forget what He says about marriage and its sanctity.  I’d forget quickly.  Until the relationship went south, then once again I’d call on God.  

I finally realized, this was not working.  I remember the moment I decided I was going all in with God.  I was going to do it His way. I was done forgetting Him.  No more sleeping around.  God taught me some of the most valuable lessons of my life because of that decision.  The first gentleman I met in church pressured me quickly to sleep with him.  I didn’t.  When he finally realized I was serious, he informed me of all the other women who were currently sleeping with him.  I had no idea.  I thought we were exclusive.  I was very wrong.  If I hadn’t put God first in that relationship, I would have never known.  I’ve never forgotten that lesson.

We forget too quickly what God has done for us, when we do, we miss His plan.  I would have missed His plan if I had done what I always did.  I wouldn’t be married to the love of my life, if I’d forgotten God back then.  When we remember God and all He has done, we’ll wait in anticipation for His plan to unfold for us.  And when His plan unfolds, we’ll be glad we remembered Him.

Question of the Day:

What is something God has done for you in the past that strengthens your relationship with Him today?

Further Reading: 1 Samuel 5:1-7:17 NIV, John 6:1-21 NIV, Psalm 106:13-31 NIV, Proverbs 14:32-33 NIV