DEUTERONOMY - What to Do?

It’s a competitive world, isn’t it?!

It seems like everyone is caught up in the “rat race” – always trying to get ahead, make more money, be more popular, look younger, beat the other guy – WIN, WIN, WIN!

There’s a lot of pressure to succeed.

I once saw a license plate frame on a fancy sports car – “He who dies with the most toys, wins!”

Can you imagine a more futile life purpose?

Unfortunately, that’s how most of the world operates. Thinking they’re in control, people only look to fulfill their selfish desires. It’s all about “me” – and being better than “you.”

As Christians, we’re supposed to be different…right?!

But are you like me? Sometimes I get caught up in my own form of spiritual “rat race.” I put a lot of pressure on myself to DO more for God – and then I chastise myself when I fall short and fail. Am I dotting all those saintly “i’s” and crossing all those godly “t’s”? Sometimes I run through a “checklist” – Bible Study, check…prayer, check…go to church, check…tithe, check…oops, could do a little more serving – oh man, I’m such a failure as a Christian.

Just the other day, I was feeling a little frustrated. Couldn’t escape the feeling that I wasn’t doing everything God wanted me to do. As a matter of fact, what DID He want me to do? So, I turned to His Word – “Lord, speak to me…”

And He did!

Today’s “Bible Pick ‘Ems” comes from Deuteronomy. And these verses told me exactly what God wants from me:

“…what does the LORD your God require of you? He requires only that you fear the LORD your God, and live in a way that pleases him, and love him and serve him with all your heart and soul…Look, the highest heavens and the earth and everything in it all belong to the LORD…And he chose you…You must fear the LORD your God and worship him and cling to him…He alone is your God, the only one who is worthy of your praise…Show love to the LORD your God by walking in his ways and holding tightly to him.”

(Deuteronomy 10:12, 14-15, 20a, 21a / 11:22b)

The checklist just became really easy…

Fear the Lord.
Live in a way that pleases Him.
Love Him and serve Him with all your heart and soul.
Worship Him.
Praise Him.
Cling to Him.
Walk in His ways.
Hold tightly to Him.

Lord, I can do that!!! – Check!


“When in doubt, search God out!”

MICAH - Light of Hope!

Ever feel just OVERWHELMED?

Like you're in a dark valley, unable to crawl out, surrounded by troubles?

I feel like that sometimes - I hate to admit it, but I'm one of those "glass half-empty" kind of people! And, to tell you the truth, sometimes, I don't even see ANY water in the glass at all!!

Today's "Bible Pick 'Ems" comes from the book of Micah in the Old Testament. Micah was a prophet, a contemporary of Isaiah and Hosea. Amidst his prophecies of doom and gloom, Micah presents a true picture of God - the Almighty Lord who hates sin and loves the sinner.

Micah offers hope to those who turn toward a gracious God.

"As for me, I look to the LORD for help. I wait confidently for God to save me, and my God will certainly hear me. DO NOT GLOAT OVER ME, my enemies! For though I fall, I will rise again. Though I sit in darkness, the LORD will be my light...The LORD will bring me into the light, and I will see his righteousness. Then my enemies will see that the LORD is on my side...with my own eyes I will see their downfall."

(Micah 7:7-8, 9b, 10)

All too often, circumstances and struggles really get me defeated. I cave in, I fall down, and sometimes I give up. Darkness overcomes my spirit like a shadow. Satan finds a way to gloat over me, accusing me in my weakness, and never letting me forget that I am small. He shouts me down, and I collapse.

But...ALL IS NOT LOST!

Micah showed great faith in God. He proclaimed that he would wait on God because He hears and saves us when help is needed. God would bring His people through the worst circumstances, upholding them when times were tough.

We, too, can have a relationship with God that will allow us to have confidence like Micah's.

With God as my shield, I can fight like a warrior!!

"For though I fall, I WILL RISE AGAIN!"


"When in doubt, search God out!"

JOSHUA - Victory!

Today’s “Bible Pick ‘Ems” comes from the book of Joshua.

Moses, the great leader of the Israelites, handpicked Joshua to be his assistant. God later confirmed his choice when He instructed Moses to commission Joshua as his successor (Numbers 27:15-23).

Joshua was a hero. He was smart, confident, brave, and faithful to God.

Today’s verses are inspiring. They talk about courage – courage that comes from complete trust in a powerful God, a God who assures us of victory.

Joshua 10:8, 25, 42

“ ‘Do not be afraid of them,’ the LORD said to Joshua, ‘for I have given you victory over them. Not a single one of them will be able to stand up to you.’

‘Don’t ever be afraid or discouraged,’ Joshua told his men, ‘for the LORD is going to do this to all of your enemies.’

“…for the LORD…was fighting for his people.”

Who are our enemies?

Temptations, struggles, failures, suffering – so many earthly circumstances threaten to steal away our peace. They can lead us into the dark valleys of discouragement, destruction, and despair.

And there is another enemy – a very real enemy – Satan. He is described in the Bible as a “devouring lion.” He is constantly on the hunt, looking for ways to ruin us – to steal away our trust in a good God. He has clever and effective weapons. He knows how to get to us at our weakest point. He delights in our vulnerability.

But, we too can claim the promise of God – “Not a SINGLE ONE OF THEM will be able to stand up to you.”

The very same God who empowered Joshua, is the same God who will help us with ALL of our needs.

He ALONE gives us victory – He ALONE delivers us from our enemies.

“No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.” (Romans 8:37)

"If God is for us, who can ever be against us?" (Romans 8:31b)


How goes your battle?!


"When in doubt, search God out!"

LAMENTATIONS - Woe is Me!

Times are tough, aren’t they? It doesn’t seem like you can count on anything anymore. The earth is quaking and shaking, the environment is being poisoned, the economy is falling apart, and governments can’t be trusted. It’s a time of great upheaval.

Our world is filled with poverty, injustice, rebellion, and uncertainty.

Where can we turn for help – where can we turn for hope?

Today’s “Bible Pick ‘Ems” comes from the book of Lamentations. The prophet Jeremiah wrote this book, during a time of great sadness for the nation of Judah. The Babylonians had destroyed Jerusalem, and her people had been killed, tortured, or taken captive.

But Jeremiah affirmed that there was hope in the midst of affliction.

He knew that God would bring future restoration and blessing. He banked on God’s faithfulness, always trusting in the unshakeable promises of a loving and merciful Lord.

“Peace has been stripped away…Everything I had hoped for from the LORD is lost. The thought of my suffering…is bitter beyond words. I will never forget this awful time, as I grieve over my loss. YET I STILL DARE TO HOPE when I remember this:

THE FAITHFUL LOVE OF THE LORD NEVER ENDS!

His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning. I say to myself, ‘The LORD is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in him!’
…I called on your name, LORD, from deep within the pit. You heard me when I cried…Yes, you came when I called; you told me, ‘DO NOT FEAR.’”
(Lamentations 3:17-24, 56-57)

What causes your tears?

God knows about them – every single one.

“You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book.” (Psalm 56:8)

Rest assured, God is there – in every moment, every day. He will never fail you; He will never forsake you. His plan and purpose for your life is being worked out, even in times of suffering and hardship.

Yes, my dear friends, we have a bright hope for tomorrow!

"When in doubt, search God out!"

BIBLE "PICK 'EMS"

Back when my sons lived at home, we had this “tradition” when we went out to eat. Everyone usually ordered something different, so we would kinda “share” our meals. Or if you were done eating, someone might reach over and “finish” your food. (Incidentally, I didn’t really understand the whole “doggie bag” concept until those boys got past puberty. For several years there, EVERYONE was a member of the “Clean Plate Club!”) Anyway, we called our little practice – “pick ‘ems.”

For a couple of months now, I’ve been doing a version of that – I call it, “Bible Pick ‘Ems.” I know it probably isn’t spiritually “PC” to randomly open the Bible and expect to find a meaningful verse – it opens the door to the whole “out of context” dilemma. And...you might just find yourself in Leviticus!! But, I decided that I wanted to do this, along with my regular reading through the Bible. The way I figured it, I wasn’t “testing” God – in other words, “prove something to me, Lord” – but I was “trusting” God – “show something to me, Lord.” After all, don’t we know that His Word is living, breathing, and powerful?!

So, from time to time, I will be sharing my “Bible Pick ‘Ems” with you.

Today’s verse is 1 Samuel 30:6b:
“But David found strength in the LORD his God.”

David was literally running for his life at this point. He was surrounded by enemies, afraid, doubtful, overwhelmed – certainly not feeling like that boy who killed Goliath. BUT…he found strength in God – HIS God. God wasn’t just a name to David, or an abstract concept – No, the Lord was his PERSONAL God, his friend, his ally, his EVERYTHING.

Can’t you identify with David? How often do we feel surrounded by our enemies – our personal struggles and trials? How often do we feel afraid, doubtful, overwhelmed – are you like me…MOST DAYS?! But…where is our REAL source of strength, our ONLY source of strength? Isn’t it truly in the Lord – the Lord who is our PERSONAL God, our friend, our ally, our EVERYTHING?

So, I read this verse like this: “But (in spite of all the surrounding circumstances, the struggles and trials, the feelings) Sharon found strength in the Lord HER GOD!”

Do you?

"When in doubt, search God out!"