Today’s Readings: Josh 7:16‐9:2, Luke 16:1‐18, Ps 82:1‐8, Prov 13:2‐3

Proverbs 13:3 – Whoever guards his mouth preserves his life;
he who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.

Observations:

• Guarding your mouth = life
• Opening wide your lips = ruin

This verse is convicting for me.  Hang with as I connect it to something related to but not completely contained within this verse….  Over the last few weeks I have been working on  guarding my mouth.  In my journal a month ago I wrote: “I need to consciously think 1. Pray (continually) 2. Listen (attentively) 3. Speak (boldly).”  It has been exciting to see how transformational these basic steps are when I apply them.  It has been humbling to see how often I do not get close to any of the three.

Apply: Today I want to focus on guarding my mouth.

What are tangible things you have done to guard your mouth?

Today’s Readings: Josh 5:1‐7:15, Luke 15:1‐32, Ps 81:1‐16, Prov 13:1

Psalm 81:8 – Hear, O my people, while I admonish you!
O Israel, if you would but listen to me!

Observations:

• Hear – sh’ma in Hebrew
• O my people / O Israel – God’s chosen people
• While I admonish – warn strongly, counsel in terms of behavior
• If you would but listen to me! – implying benefits if we would sh’ma

Apply: I want to diligently sh’ma the admonition of the Lord.

Where do find the admonition of the Lord outside of scripture?

Today’s Readings: Josh 3:1‐4:24, Luke 14:7‐35, Ps 80:1‐19, Prov 12:27‐28

Luke 7:10-11 “But when you are invited, go and sit in the lowest place, so that when your host comes he may say to you, ‘Friend, move up higher.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at table with you. 11 For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Observations: The parable of the seating at the wedding feast seems very tangible.  After the first read this morning, in my pride I was excited to choose the lowest places today and receive the benefit of being exalted.  However, the verses that follow encourage us to serve those who cannot repay us.    After further reading into the passage, I see the context of the kingdom of God.  I believe the reward of being exalted for humbling ourselves is not being promised until our eternal “host comes.”

Application Prayer: Lord, give me kingdom motivation and the strength to humble myself.

What are a few ways through which you have chosen the lowest place?

Today’s readings: Deut 34:1‐12; Josh 1:1‐2:24, Luke 13:22‐14:6, Ps 79:1‐13, Prov 12:26

Joshua 1:16 (The people of Israel) answered Joshua, “All that you have commanded us we will do, and wherever you send us we will go. 17 Just as we obeyed Moses in all things, so we will obey you. Only may the Lord your God be with you, as he was with Moses! 18 Whoever rebels against your commandment and disobeys your words, whatever you command him, shall be put to death. Only be strong and courageous.”

Observations:  Israel’s two desires for Joshua’s leadership

1.      That God would be with him (v17)

2.      That he would be strong and courageous (v18)

Apply:  As I lead, I must walk with God and act with strength and courage.

Do you have an example of this type of leader in your life?

Today’s Readings: Deut 33:1‐29, Luke 13:1‐21, Ps 78:65‐72, Prov 12:25

Proverbs 12:25 Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs him down,
but a good word makes him glad.

Observation: Anxiety weighs a man down.

Applications:

1.      Philippians 4:6-7 “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.  And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

2.      A good word makes a man glad. When feeling anxious, I should seek good words from God and others. I want to give good words to those who are anxious.

How do you deal with anxiety in your life?

Today’s Readings: Deut 32:28‐52, Luke 12:35‐59, Ps 78:56‐64, Prov 12:24

Deuteronomy 33:46-47 (Moses”) said to them, “Take to heart all the words by which I am warning you today, that you may command them to your children, that they may be careful to do all the words of this law. 47 For it is no empty word for you, but your very life, and by this word you shall live long in the land that you are going over the Jordan to possess.”

Observations:

• Other than the formal blessing of Israel in chapter 33, these are the last recorded words of Moses.
• We are to command his words to our children
• His words are not empty
• His words are our very life
• By his words we are to live long.

Apply: We must see God’s words as our life… to truly depend on them to lead us as we live.

How have you seen God’s words actually be life to you?

Today’s Readings: Deut 31:1‐32:27, Luke 12:8‐34, Ps 78:32‐55, Prov 12:21‐23

Deuteronomy 31:6 – Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.”

Observation:  Moses says to Israel, and he will tell Joshua the same in the next two verses, to be strong and courageous.  They are to have “no fear or be in dread” of their enemies.  The given reason for courage is not because their enemy is week.  Neither is their courage based on their own strength.  Instead, their reason for courage is to be their confidence in the Lord’s strength.  This is a reoccurring theme throughout scripture.  Courage is a function of faith.  In other words, courage is fear that has said its prayers.

Apply: I have more on my plate than I am used to.  Tonight I must decide to live by faith and approach the next few days boldly in the strength that only God can give.

How do you remind yourself where your courage comes from?

Today’s Readings:  Deut 29:1‐30:20, Luke 11:37‐12:7, Ps 78:1‐31, Prov 12:19‐20

Luke 12:1-3 In the meantime, when so many thousands of the people had gathered together that they were trampling one another, he began to say to his disciples first, “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. 2 Nothing is covered up that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. 3 Therefore whatever you have said in the dark shall be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in private rooms shall be proclaimed on the housetops.

Observations:

• Immediate context: Thousands of people have gathered and are trampling one other to get to Jesus and he turns, first, to tell his disciples this…
• Beware – be on guard against, look out for, your senses should be alert to this
• Of the leaven – affects everything around it
• Of the Pharisees – he defines it as hypocrisy – things that you cover up, hidden, have done in the dark or whispered.

Application:  We must live knowing that nothing in our lives will be kept secret.

Will you feel comfortable when your hidden life is revealed?

Today’s Readings: Deut 28:1‐68, Luke 11:14‐36, Ps 77:1‐20, Prov 12:18

Psalm 77:12 I will ponder all your work,
and meditate on your mighty deeds.

If obedience did not jump off the page in both Deuteronomy and Luke as you read today, then you were asleep.  However, because I have journald/blogged on obedience many times in the last few weeks, I want to note a few of the things God showed me in the Psalms.

David, the man after God’s own heart, took time to ponder all of God’s works and to meditate on his mighty deeds.  With the pace of my life, I rarely stop long enough to really think about what God has done.

Apply: Tonight I am going to spend time thinking about God’s works.  I want to truly meditate on what he has done throughout history and in my life.

What has God done in your life recently?

Today’s Readings: Deut 26:1‐27:26, Luke 10:38‐11:13,Ps 76 1‐12, Prov 12:15‐17

Luke 10:38-42 Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. 39 And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. 40 But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” 41 But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, 42 but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”

Observations:

• Martha was distracted with much serving…

• “Martha, Martha (I love that Jesus says her name twice), you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary.”

• “Mary has chosen the good portion” – sitting at the Lord’s feet and listening to his teaching.

• “… which will not be taken away from her.”

Apply: Every time I read this passage I am deeply convicted. I want to choose the good portion. Today I will make a point to sit at the feet of my God and listen to him.

How do we have a Mary heart in a Martha world? (This is a book title)