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We are going to “test drive” a 10 month old Pug at our house tonight to see if she is a good fit for our family.  We’ll see…

Here is today’s Bible reading:  Genesis 48:1-49:33; Matthew 15:29-16:12; Psalm 20:1-9; Proverbs 4:20-27.

Proverbs 4:23 (NIV)
Above all else, guard your heart,
for it is the wellspring of life.

Our hearts are such a tender, precious treasure from God.  I believe they are a key element to what it means to be created in God’s image.  Through our hearts, God has given to us the capacity to know Him.  Yet, how careless we can be with these delicate instruments.  We expose them to the sinful influences of the world and hide them from God.  We immerse them in trivial pursuits and neglect the eternal.  They become idols of self-worship and completely miss the purpose of God-worship for which they were created.  Our carelessness leaves them dirty, bruised, calloused, and scarred.  Yet, God in is mercy stands ready to heal–to restore them to be the tender instruments of love they were intended to be.  Would you let Him heal your wounded heart today, and purpose with His help to guard this precious treasure above all else?

Here is today’s Bible Reading:  Genesis 46:1-47:31; Matthew 15:1-28; Psalm 19:1-14; Proverbs 4:14-19.

Psalm 19:7-11 (NIV)
The law of the Lord is perfect,
reviving the soul.
The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy,
making wise the simple.
[8] The precepts of the Lord are right,
giving joy to the heart.
The commands of the Lord are radiant,
giving light to the eyes.
[9] The fear of the Lord is pure,
enduring forever.
The ordinances of the Lord are sure
and altogether righteous.
[10] They are more precious than gold,
than much pure gold;
they are sweeter than honey,
than honey from the comb.
[11] By them is your servant warned;
in keeping them there is great reward.

One of the good things about trials in this life is that the Word of God comes alive during those times in a way that it is different than when you are cruising along comfortably.  Rather than time in the Word being a discipline, it is a treat.  Rather than being something you feel obligated to do, it is something you can’t wait to do.  It becomes your lifeline.  And it does not disappoint.

Here is today’s Bible reading:  Genesis 44:1-45:28; Matthew 14:13-36; Psalm 18:37-50; Proverbs 4:11-13.

Genesis 45:7-8 (NLT)
God has sent me here to keep you and your families alive so that you will become a great nation. [8] Yes, it was God who sent me here, not you! And he has made me a counselor to Pharaoh—manager of his entire household and ruler over all Egypt.

God did it.  God had Joseph thrown into a pit, sold into slavery, falsely accused, thrown into prison, able to interpret dreams, and elevated to ruler of Egypt.  There was a good purpose in it all.  Though I’m sure it was often difficult for Joseph to see the good in what God was doing.  Now he is able to look back and see how the pieces fit.  Someday we will be able to look back and see how all the events of our lives work together for good as well.  In the meantime, will we trust God the way Joseph did?

Three weeks in the books for 2012.  Great work everybody.  If you get behind, just pick up where we are today.  Whatever you do, don’t quit.  God has too much blessing in store for you.

Here is today’s Bible reading:  Genesis 42:18-43:34; Matthew 13:47-14:12; Psalm 18:16-36; Proverbs 4:7-10.

Genesis 43:8-10 (NIV)
Then Judah said to Israel his father, “Send the boy along with me and we will go at once, so that we and you and our children may live and not die. [9] I myself will guarantee his safety; you can hold me personally responsible for him. If I do not bring him back to you and set him here before you, I will bear the blame before you all my life. [10] As it is, if we had not delayed, we could have gone and returned twice.”

I appreciate Judah’s initiative and sense of personal responsibility.  He didn’t wait for someone else to step up.  He took it upon himself.  In this instance, he demonstrated some solid leadership qualities.

It is cloudy today, temps in the low ’60s, and rain in the forecast for tomorrow.  Will winter ever end?

Here is today’s Bible Reading:  Genesis 41:17-42:17; Matthew 13:24-46; Psalm 18:1-15; Proverbs 4:1-6

Proverbs 4:6 (NIV)
Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you;
love her, and she will watch over you.

Who is the wisest person you know?  What makes them wise?  It has been said more than once that our culture is rich in knowledge and poor in wisdom.  How can we turn that tide?  How can we raise wise children and not just kids who know a bunch of stuff?

There is a guy here at the church today looking for some financial assistance.  He volunteered to help with chores or anything we might need help with and is working crazy hard on cleaning up some leaves.  His work ethic has ministered to me today.

Here is today’s Bible reading:  Genesis 39:1-41:16; Matthew 12:46-13:23; Psalm 17:1-15; Proverbs 3:33-35.

Genesis 39:2-4 (NIV)
The Lord was with Joseph and he prospered, and he lived in the house of his Egyptian master. [3] When his master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord gave him success in everything he did, [4] Joseph found favor in his eyes and became his attendant. Potiphar put him in charge of his household, and he entrusted to his care everything he owned.

Joseph had “it.”  “It” was not great intelligence, great physical prowess, or great wealth (Joseph was a slave after all).  “It” was the Presence of God.  The Presence of God made such a tangible difference in the life of Joseph that people recognized that there was something special about him.  Do people see it in me?  Do they see it in you?  May the Presence of God fill our lives to overflowing.

I am the chapel speaker at the Christian school next Wednesday.  I don’t think I will be speaking on the story of Judah and Tamar in Gen. 38.  Yikes!  I love the brutal honesty of the Bible.  If it were a made-up book, you wouldn’t include a story like that.  The Bible tells the true story of real people with real sin.  Fortunately, there is a real God with real grace.

Here is today’s Bible reading:  Genesis 37:1-38:30; Matthew 12:22-45; Psalm 16:1-11; Proverbs 3:27-32.

Psalm 16 is very encouraging to me today:

Psalm 16:7-11 (NIV)
I will praise the Lord, who counsels me;
even at night my heart instructs me.
[8] I have set the Lord always before me.
Because he is at my right hand,
I will not be shaken.

[9] Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices;
my body also will rest secure,
[10] because you will not abandon me to the grave,
nor will you let your Holy One see decay.
[11] You have made known to me the path of life;
you will fill me with joy in your presence,
with eternal pleasures at your right hand.

So thankful to be able to work with my wife each day.  She is a blessing from God.

Here is today’s Bible reading:  Genesis 35:1-36:43; Matthew 12:1-21; Psalm 15:1-5
Proverbs 3:21-26.

I appreciate Psalm 15 so much.  It paints a picture for us of what a holy life looks like.  It challenges us to raise the bar of morality in our lives and not settle for what the world says is “OK.”  After all, the desired destination is the presence of a holy God and not the approval of a sinful world.  In what area is God challenging you to live according to a higher standard?

Happy Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.  Where are the courageous leaders today?

Here is today’s Bible reading: Genesis 32:13-34:31; Matthew 11:7-30; Psalm 14:1-7; Proverbs 3:19-20

Genesis 32:26 (NIV) 
    Then the man said, “Let me go, for it is daybreak.”
    But Jacob replied, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.”

There is so much I don’t understand about Jacob’s wrestling match.  But what I do know is that Jacob was a tenacious seeker of God’s blessing.  He is a great example of Jeremiah 29:13 (NIV): “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”  It is so easy to go through the motions of having a devotional time so we can check it off the “to do” list.  It is a completely different thing to wrestle with God until we receive His blessing.  Wrestling takes time and energy.  Are you willing to wrestle?

We were so blessed today at First Baptist by Brandy’s baptism and Evan’s mission testimony.  Jesus is alive!

Here is today’s Bible reading: Genesis 31:17-32:12; Matthew 10:24-11:6; Psalm 13:1-6; Proverbs 3:16-18.

Matthew 10:38-39 (NIV) 
    and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. [39] Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

This life is not about me, though I constantly battle to make it about me.  Peace will come when I finally and completely surrender.  When I die to myself I will discover what it is to truly live.