In The Beginning

John 1

1 In the beginning the Word already existed.

The Word was with God,

and the Word was God.

2 He existed in the beginning with God.

3 God created everything through him,

and nothing was created except through him.

4 The Word gave life to everything that was created,

and his life brought light to everyone.

5 The light shines in the darkness,

and the darkness can never extinguish it.

I like the way the NLT puts this: “In the beginning the Word already existed.” Jesus has always existed. He is without beginning and without end. He is the Light of the world. He is the source of life. Jesus is the Creative force of the universe. Jesus is LORD, and He is worthy of my praise today and every day of my life!

Hearts Afire

Luke 24

32 They said to each other, “Didn’t our hearts burn within us as he talked with us on the road and explained the Scriptures to us?” 33 And within the hour they were on their way back to Jerusalem.

It’s the first day of the week, three days after Jesus was crucified and buried. Two men traveling to Emmaus are met by another man who doesn’t seem to know what has happened. When they try telling this guy the scoop, He starts quoting Scripture to them. Soon, the arrive in Emmaus and the stranger stops to break bread with them...lo and behold it is JESUS! This is one of my favorite Gospel passages, and I have a tie dyed t-shirt reminding me of having hearts afire for the Gospel. May my heart burn within me each day as I spend time in the Word of God, and may I seek opportunities to share the Good News, just as these two men did. May I do so this very hour!

Investigate the Gospel

Luke 24

5 The women were terrified and bowed with their faces to the ground. Then the men asked, “Why are you looking among the dead for someone who is alive? 6 He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead! Remember what he told you back in Galilee, 7 that the Son of Man must be betrayed into the hands of sinful men and be crucified, and that he would rise again on the third day.”

8 Then they remembered that he had said this. 9 So they rushed back from the tomb to tell his eleven disciples—and everyone else—what had happened. 10 It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and several other women who told the apostles what had happened. 11 But the story sounded like nonsense to the men, so they didn’t believe it. 12 However, Peter jumped up and ran to the tomb to look. Stooping, he peered in and saw the empty linen wrappings; then he went home again, wondering what had happened.

Jesus has risen from the grave, the women have just encountered two angels telling them as much, and they run off to tell the closest followers of Jesus the Gospel. Check out verse 11. It sounded like NONSENSE to them. Yes, the Gospel does sound like nonsense at first, but when investigated (like Peter did in verse 12), the Gospel stands. It withstands every test, every doubt, every fear. It is the Gospel that has the power to save people from their sin, for Jesus has indeed paid the price for that sin, and has risen from the dead!

Proper Perspective of Praise

Psalm 98

1 Sing a new song to the Lord,

for he has done wonderful deeds.

His right hand has won a mighty victory;

his holy arm has shown his saving power!

2 The Lord has announced his victory

and has revealed his righteousness to every nation!

3 He has remembered his promise to love and be faithful to Israel.

The ends of the earth have seen the victory of our God.

4 Shout to the Lord, all the earth;


break out in praise and sing for joy!


5 Sing your praise to the Lord with the harp,


with the harp and melodious song,


6 with trumpets and the sound of the ram’s horn.


Make a joyful symphony before the Lord, the King!

7 Let the sea and everything in it shout his praise!


Let the earth and all living things join in.

8 Let the rivers clap their hands in glee!


Let the hills sing out their songs of joy


9 before the Lord.


For the Lord is coming to judge the earth.


He will judge the world with justice,


and the nations with fairness.

Yesterday was a stressful day. Surgery for Dad postponed, stress test scheduled, and a general sense of “this is major, major stuff” coming from the doc. The ongoing situation with Ian and his search for employment is still there as well. then, this morning, I get up to find that the dishwasher is broken. I can repair it, but I spent this morning washing a full dishwasher’s worth of dirty dishes by hand. And wallowing in self-pity. Peggy, my dearest Bride loving reminded me to keep things in perspective because we know folks who are a LOT worse off than us at the moment, including a woman Peggy worked with in Kentucky who’s daughter was killed in a car accident this week. Is it any wonder that among my devotional readings these days are Psalms that exhort me to sing a new song to the Lord, for the wonderful deeds He has done? Lord, if my life is to reflect Your glory, then it must do so even on the mornings when the dishwasher breaks. Forgive me for my pity party this morning, and may the rest of this day bring You the honor You deserve! Thank You, Lord for bringing Peggy into my life. I couldn’t make it without her!!! Thank You, Father, for bring Dad and Ian into my life. I love them more than they will ever know. Thank You most of all, Lord God for bringing Jesus into my life. He is my Rock and my Salvation, and my Hope for ever more.

This is the Day

Psalm 96

1 Sing a new song to the Lord!


Let the whole earth sing to the Lord!


2 Sing to the Lord; praise his name.


Each day proclaim the good news that he saves.


3 Publish his glorious deeds among the nations.


Tell everyone about the amazing things he does.


4a Great is the Lord! He is most worthy of praise!

Let the words of my lips and my daily lifestyle sing out that the LORD is God, and that He is Great! May all who come into contact with me, know that Jesus is alive, and is most worthy of praise! May the glorious deeds of my Lord and savior be evident by the way I conduct myself, and may the whole earth hear the Good News of Jesus proclaimed because there are others who feel the same way as I do. This is the Day to praise the LORD!

A Plea to God

Psalm 94

20 Can unjust leaders claim that God is on their side—


leaders whose decrees permit injustice?


21 They gang up against the righteous


and condemn the innocent to death.


22 But the Lord is my fortress;


my God is the mighty rock where I hide.


23 God will turn the sins of evil people back on them.


He will destroy them for their sins.


The Lord our God will destroy them.

More and more, the laws of this land are in direct opposition to God’s Word. More and more, the institutions of the nation promote a lifestyle and dare I even say it, an agenda that is anti-biblical. Is it any wonder that God would turn his back on the people of this land? yet, if His people will humble themselves and pray, and turn from their wicked ways, God will hear. God will deliver. Father, may those of us who truly want to follow Jesus help win the hearts and minds of others around us this day so that Your Name will be glorified in this nation once again.

Singing to God

Psalm 92

1 It is good to give thanks to the Lord,

to sing praises to the Most High.

2 It is good to proclaim your unfailing love in the morning,

your faithfulness in the evening,

3 accompanied by the ten-stringed harp

and the melody of the lyre.

This is from a Psalm that is supposed to be sung on the Sabbath Day. Since today is Saturday, the Sabbath Day, I am singing these praises to my God and King:

You alone, O God, are God

Creator of heaven and earth

Lover of my soul

You created me from the dust of the earth

You breathed in me the breath of life

You sacrificed Your One and Only Son for me

May I never turn from You again, O LORD

May my every breath be dedicated to bring You glory

You alone, O God, are God!

Resting In God's Shadow

Psalm 91

1 Those who live in the shelter of the Most High
 will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
 2 This I declare about the Lord:
 He alone is my refuge, my place of safety;
 he is my God, and I trust him.

Father, help me to just rest in Your shadow. In these times that try a parent’s heart, Peggy and I need Your comfort and your rest. Please be with Ian in this time of transition, and may You be glorified throughout it all. I love You, God. I am so glad that You love me more!

Praise the Lord Forever

Psalm 89

52 Praise the Lord forever!
 Amen and amen!

David ends this Psalm imploring God to make His presence known, feeling like he is all alone, but knowing that God has it all under control. Then, he tags the Psalm with verse 52: “Praise the Lord forever! Amen and amen!” Given the current circumstances and possible dire outcome for my son whom I love dearly, this is my prayer today. May God be with Ian, may he humble himself before God and before those whom he needs to, and may God be glorified. I am hurting for Ian today, Lord, and You know it. I am praying that he does the right thing and that You are glorified by it. No matter the outcome of the current situation, I will give You the praise and the glory and the honor forever. Amen and amen!

A Good Day To Praise the Lord

Psalm 89

14 Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne.
 Unfailing love and truth walk before you as attendants.
 15 Happy are those who hear the joyful call to worship,
 for they will walk in the light of your presence, Lord.
 16 They rejoice all day long in your wonderful reputation.
 They exult in your righteousness.

Father, thank You for the opportunity to lead corporate Celebration Services with people who love Jesus and want to praise His Holy Name. Thank You for the privilege of serving You, by leading people to the Throne of mercy and grace. Thank You for loving me in spite of myself. Help me to love others in that same way, always.

Giving What Is Due

Luke 20

25 “Well then,” he said, “give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and give to God what belongs to God.”

Jesus makes it as plain as can be...while we live on this planet, we need to be subject to the laws of the land, giving to the government what is due the government. That means, paying taxes, doing jury duty, serving in the armed forces, etc. We are also to give to God what belongs to God. We are to give justice, mercy, love, grace, and not just say those words, but live them out in practical ways every day. We (not the government), are supposed to take care of the widows and orphans, to draw others to Christ, and to give God the glory always. As Christians in America, we have generally failed miserably at this, haven’t we?

Burst Into Cheers

Luke 19

36 As he rode along, the crowds spread out their garments on the road ahead of him. 37 When he reached the place where the road started down the Mount of Olives, all of his followers began to shout and sing as they walked along, praising God for all the wonderful miracles they had seen.

38 “Blessings on the King who comes in the name of the Lord!
 Peace in heaven, and glory in highest heaven!”

39 But some of the Pharisees among the crowd said, “Teacher, rebuke your followers for saying things like that!”

40 He replied, “If they kept quiet, the stones along the road would burst into cheers!”

I’d rather be a stone ready to burst into cheers for Jesus than a Pharisee who just doesn’t get it. ‘Nuff said.

Seeking & Saving Sinners

Luke 19

1 Jesus entered Jericho and made his way through the town. 2 There was a man there named Zacchaeus. He was the chief tax collector in the region, and he had become very rich. 3 He tried to get a look at Jesus, but he was too short to see over the crowd. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree beside the road, for Jesus was going to pass that way.

5 When Jesus came by, he looked up at Zacchaeus and called him by name. “Zacchaeus!” he said. “Quick, come down! I must be a guest in your home today.”

6 Zacchaeus quickly climbed down and took Jesus to his house in great excitement and joy. 7 But the people were displeased. “He has gone to be the guest of a notorious sinner,” they grumbled.

8 Meanwhile, Zacchaeus stood before the Lord and said, “I will give half my wealth to the poor, Lord, and if I have cheated people on their taxes, I will give them back four times as much!”

9 Jesus responded, “Salvation has come to this home today, for this man has shown himself to be a true son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.”

I LOVE this story! Jesus rocks the world of a “notorious sinner,” the “religious leaders,” and the people in general all in one fell swoop! Thank You God, for not fitting into any box we mere people would try to place You in. Thank You for coming to save sinners like me!

Teach me Your Ways, O Lord

Psalm 86

11 Teach me your ways, O Lord,
 that I may live according to your truth!
 Grant me purity of heart,
 so that I may honor you.
 12 With all my heart I will praise you, O Lord my God.
 I will give glory to your name forever,
 13 for your love for me is very great.
 You have rescued me from the depths of death.

Lord, by spending time in Your Word, I can indeed be taught Your ways. Keep me in Your Word, so that I may grow closer to You each day. I want to give You glory and honor always, and I want my life to point others to Your Son Jesus only. Thank You for rescuing me from my sin, the depths of death. Thank You for allowing me to show others Your Light and Life. May I stay out of the way so that You alone may be glorified!

Let them come to Jesus

Luke 18

15 One day some parents brought their little children to Jesus so he could touch and bless them. But when the disciples saw this, they scolded the parents for bothering him.

16 Then Jesus called for the children and said to the disciples, “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children. 17 I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn’t receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.”

Lord, may I never become such an old fuddy-duddy that I forget about how Jesus loves the little children. May I love them in the same manner. Jesus makes it clear that a childlike faith is essential, and Jesus is never happy when people try to prevent other people from coming to Him. May I be a conduit to Jesus in everything I do each day of my life.

The Kingdom is here!

Luke 17

20 One day the Pharisees asked Jesus, “When will the Kingdom of God come?”

Jesus replied, “The Kingdom of God can’t be detected by visible signs. 21 You won’t be able to say, ‘Here it is!’ or ‘It’s over there!’ For the Kingdom of God is already among you.”

The Kingdom of God is already among you. Jesus said those words some 2,000 years ago. Those who look for the coming of God’s Kingdom are missing the point. It is already here! The Church is God’s Kingdom, and while the Kingdom has taken (and continues to take) its lumps, this Kingdom will prevail! Those who follow Christ and are faithful to the end shall triumph over sin! Evil will be vanquished. Jesus will return! But, make no mistake about it, the Kingdom is here now, and is not waiting for the return of Jesus to get started. May those of us whose citizenship is in God’s Kingdom start living like it now, and may God be glorified always!

Rebuke a Believer Caught In Sin

Luke 17

3b “If another believer sins, rebuke that person; then if there is repentance, forgive.”

Check it out: Jesus says if another believer sins, rebuke that person! Too often when a believer is caught in sin, they resort to that, “who are YOU to judge?” garbage. We are commanded by the Lord Jesus Himself to rebuke another believer who sins. We are also commanded to forgive a penitent believer. If fact, even if that believer sins against you seven times a day, but repents, they must be forgiven. I am all about the forgiveness, but I will never allow a believer caught in sin to try to shame me from rebuking them again!

Faithful In The Little Things

Luke 16

10 “If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities.”

Lord, find me faithful with the little things You have entrusted to my care. Please, Father, help me to be a wise steward of my time, my talents, my energy, my money, my personality, and my relationships. May they all bring glory and honor to You through Your One and Only Son, Jesus. Nothing else matters to me, Lord. Thank You for allowing me to honor of serving You.

Whose Side?

Joshua 5

13 When Joshua was near the town of Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with sword in hand. Joshua went up to him and demanded, “Are you friend or foe?”

14 “Neither one,” he replied. “I am the commander of the Lord’s army.”

At this, Joshua fell with his face to the ground in reverence. “I am at your command,” Joshua said. “What do you want your servant to do?”

It is good for me to be reminded that the question is not, “is God on my side?” but rather, “am I on God’s side?” Joshua, the Commander of the Israelite Army, the chosen vessel of the LORD God to lead the Israelites into the Promised Land, of all people could have perhaps had the right to ask this angel if he was friend or foe, but I LOVE the answer he got: “Neither one...I am the commander of the Lord’s army.” Lord, help me remember that I am called to be on YOUR side, not the other way around.

Following Christ

Luke 14

25 A large crowd was following Jesus. He turned around and said to them, 26 “If you want to be my disciple, you must hate everyone else by comparison—your father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even your own life. Otherwise, you cannot be my disciple. 27 And if you do not carry your own cross and follow me, you cannot be my disciple.

To follow Jesus, you must love Him above everything and everyone else. Jesus will not take second place in our lives, it is all or nothing. I like the way the NLT renders this passage, because Jesus isn’t saying that you must “hate” everyone else, but that your love for Jesus should be so strong that by comparison your relationship with anyone and everyone else would more closely resemble hate than love. Jesus also says that in order to be a Christ Follower we must deny ourselves even to the point of a shameful death. May my life reflect my love for Jesus, and may everyone else know that they don’t even come in 2nd place in my love list. May I deny my own evil desires and die to my selfish ways as I follow Christ daily.

Narrow Door

Luke 13

22 Jesus went through the towns and villages, teaching as he went, always pressing on toward Jerusalem. 23 Someone asked him, “Lord, will only a few be saved?”

He replied, 24 “Work hard to enter the narrow door to God’s Kingdom, for many will try to enter but will fail.”

Make no mistake about it: it is difficult to get into the Kingdom of Christ. It is the narrow road, the narrow door, not everyone who tries to enter will be able to. Too many folks are confused about how to enter that door. I would simply tell the confused that they should read God’s Word, and see how those who entered the Kingdom did it. Read the book of Acts, and see the clear pattern. Those who try to change the pattern established in the book of Acts will fail to enter that narrow door. Period.

Encouraging Words

Proverbs 12

25 Worry weighs a person down; an encouraging word cheers a person up.

For much of my life, I was a worrier. From the time I was young, I was told by others to “lighten up,” or to “stop being a little old man.” It was my nature. As I have grown in my walk with Christ, I have learned to turn my worries over to Him. Not that I am ALWAYS successful in this, but as soon as I recognize that I am falling back into the pattern of worry, I pray and release it to my Lord Jesus. I also try to put into practice being the one who gives out an encouraging word. I have found that being an encourager to others is in fact, encouraging to me, and my worries seem to melt away. Thank You, Lord for Your Word and for the encouragement I draw from it each day. Thanks for taking my worries away and helping me to be a much more cheerful person these days!

True Peace

Luke 12

49 “I have come to set the world on fire, and I wish it were already burning! 50 I have a terrible baptism of suffering ahead of me, and I am under a heavy burden until it is accomplished. 51 Do you think I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I have come to divide people against each other! 52 From now on families will be split apart, three in favor of me, and two against—or two in favor and three against.

53 ‘Father will be divided against son and son against father; mother against daughter and daughter against mother; and mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.’ ”

This whole, one world movement just is not of God. In fact, Jesus flat out rebukes such a notion with this passage of Scripture. There will be no “world peace” on this planet, and Jesus is the source of much of the division. Because mankind rejects Jesus, there can be no peace. Those of us who follow Christ are not looking to make peace with those who reject Him, we are looking to love them into the Kingdom. And yes, there are times when we must shake the dust off of our sandals and move on. True peace comes from surrendering to Christ. Anything else is just an illusion leading to division.

Counter Culture

Luke 12

29 “And don’t be concerned about what to eat and what to drink. Don’t worry about such things. 30 These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers all over the world, but your Father already knows your needs. 31 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and he will give you everything you need.

32 “So don’t be afraid, little flock. For it gives your Father great happiness to give you the Kingdom.”

The American Dream is so counter Christian culture. Far too many of us who claim to follow Christ get sucked up into the American Dream, and material possessions become our gods. Father, help me to realize that You provide my needs, and all the rest is just stuff to be used to build up Your Kingdom and to assist people in Your name. May my happiness come from knowing that You delight in giving me the Kingdom, and may I share with others liberally so that they, too, may have a share of Your Kingdom!

Pass It On

Psalm 78

1 O my people, listen to my instructions.

Open your ears to what I am saying,

2 for I will speak to you in a parable.

I will teach you hidden lessons from our past—

3 stories we have heard and known,

stories our ancestors handed down to us.

4 We will not hide these truths from our children;

we will tell the next generation

about the glorious deeds of the Lord,

about his power and his mighty wonders.

Having been in student ministry for more than two decades now, I LOVE those who want to pass on the instructions of the LORD to the next generation. The next generation is NOT the church of tomorrow, they are the church of today. If we lose them now, there will be no church tomorrow. One of the saddest lessons from the Old Testament is that the instructions of the LORD were not properly passed along, and the next generation turned its back on God. Over and over again. May it not be so with us. We’ve just celebrated Resurrection Sunday…let us boldly proclaim that Jesus is Alive to everyone, every day!

Proper Perspective

Luke 11

27 As he was speaking, a woman in the crowd called out, “God bless your mother—the womb from which you came, and the breasts that nursed you!”

28 Jesus replied, “But even more blessed are all who hear the word of God and put it into practice.”

There are religious traditions that try to elevate Mary, the Mother of Jesus almost to a state of Deity. Jesus Himself squashes that foolish notion with His words in this passage. While Mary indeed played a special role in history, as did the Jewish nation, neither of these are to be revered above those who follow the Word of God and put it into practice. While I never want to diminish the roles of Mary, nor the nation of Israel from which Jesus came, I also do not want to elevate them to an undeserved status while diminishing the status of Christ-Followers today. A proper perspective is needed, and I am praying for that proper perspective each day.

Perfect Balance

Luke 10

38 As Jesus and the disciples continued on their way to Jerusalem, they came to a certain village where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. 39 Her sister, Mary, sat at the Lord’s feet, listening to what he taught. 40 But Martha was distracted by the big dinner she was preparing. She came to Jesus and said, “Lord, doesn’t it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work? Tell her to come and help me.”

41 But the Lord said to her, “My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! 42 There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.”

Today is Resurrection Sunday. After a morning filled with all it takes to lead two Celebration Services (which I love doing and feel so honored to be able to do), we spent the day at home with folks we love. Dad, Emily, Ian, Turtle, Melvin, Katy, and Kevin were all with Peggy & me at various times throughout the day. Yeah, there was plenty of meal preparation and cleanup, but we all pitched in. Mostly there was time with each other loving on one another and remembering our Lord Jesus. Finishing off the evening by watching “The Passion of the Christ” and then a comedy video by Tim Hawkins…yeah, it was the perfect balance for this very special day.

Always Proclaim What God Has Done

Psalm 75

9 But as for me, I will always proclaim what God has done; I will sing praises to the God of Jacob.
10 For God says, “I will break the strength of the wicked, but I will increase the power of the godly.”

Yesterday was Good Friday, the day Jesus died on the cross for my sins. Tomorrow is Resurrection Sunday, the day Jesus conquered sin, death, the grave, and hell so that I could have hope of eternal life. Today is a day I should proclaim what God has done and sing praises to Him! Yeah, I will lead our congregation in singing praises tomorrow, but today, I need to lead my family and all those around me in the proclamation of the greatness of the Lord God Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, and Author of Life. You alone, O God, are worthy of such praise. Thank You for providing a Way for us to be saved from our sins and to spend eternity with You! Thank You for Jesus!

On His Mind

Luke 9

51 As the time drew near for him to ascend to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem.

On this Good Friday, when I have been filled with thoughts of the sacrifice Jesus made on that cross for my sins, this verse jumps out and convicts me even more. Jesus RESOLUTELY set out for Jerusalem. Jesus was resolved to do the Father’s Will, which meant that He was resolved to pay the penalty for my sins and for the sins of every human being to ever walk this planet. I have spent the good part of this day pressure washing our pool deck, with songs from a “genius playlist” from my iPod leading me in a time of praise and worship. The play list was based on the song, “The Stand” and included such tunes as:

Take All of Me

God of This City

Happy Day

My Savior My God

Tell The World

Mighty to Save

How He Loves

You Hold Me Now

…just to name a few. Thank You Jesus for having me on Your mind as you resolutely set out for Jerusalem and as you were hanging on that cross. You are on my mind always.

Remember What He Says

Luke 9

43b While everyone was marveling at everything he was doing, Jesus said to his disciples, 44 “Listen to me and remember what I say. The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of his enemies.” 45 But they didn’t know what he meant. Its significance was hidden from them, so they couldn’t understand it, and they were afraid to ask him about it.

Jesus always made His intentions and His purpose clear, but even His closest followers didn’t “get it.” Not only was this purpose “hidden from them,” but “they were afraid to ask.” Don’t let fear keep you from seeking the will of God the Father through Jesus the Son! Don’t let your slowness to comprehend deter you from following the Christ. I say these things to Scott Blount, and if they help anyone else, so be it! Scott, today, you need to listen to Jesus and remember what He has said! Only a few more days until we celebrate Resurrection Sunday. Jesus has risen! Nothing else matters!