August 25, 2022
Thursday

The Great Outdoors—Valleys
Isaiah 41: 17-20

18  I will open rivers in high places, and fountains in the midst of the valleys: I will make the wilderness a
pool of water, and the dry land springs of water.”
Isaiah 41:18

“The marvelous richness of human experience would lose something of rewarding joy if there were no limitations to overcome,” said Helen Keller. “The hilltop hour would not be half so wonderful if there were no dark valleys to traverse.”

To travelers enjoying the great outdoors, valleys are a sight to behold. Certain websites suggest the most beautiful valleys in the world. Usually, the list includes the Valley of Geysers, a remarkable nearly four-mile long basin in the Russian Far East with ninety pulsating geysers sending plumes of steam into the air like tea kettles.

All of us occasionally end up in our own Valley of Geysers. Valleys are symbols of suffering and shadows. But when we’re walking with God, He creates rivers from the heights and fountains in the valleys. Isaiah 41, addressed to people in captivity, assures us that God knows how to refresh us in the valley as well as on the mountaintop. If you’re in a valley today, remember, “Though I walk through the valley…I will fear no evil; for You are with me” (Psalm 23:4).

Valleys are great places to enjoy your walk with God.

A point to ponder…

Jesus will walk with me down through the valley.
Haldor Lillenas in the hymn, “Jesus Will Walk With Me”

Read the Bible through in a year
Jeremiah 46-48
I love you!!!

© 2000-2022 B. Michael Goerlich

August 23, 2022
Tuesday

Loyal Love
Psalm 145: 1-9

“Why boastest thou thyself in mischief, O mighty man? the goodness of God endureth continually.”
Psalm 52:

We have some examples of things happening “continually” in our world: the thunderousflow of water over Niagara Falls or Victoria Falls in Africa. Or consider the constant flow of energy from our solar system’s sun, or the continual pull of gravity that keeps us grounded.Some things happen so continuously that we don’t think about them; we take them for granted and thus fail to appreciate them.

While the continual action of some things in nature might one day be interrupted, there is one continual reality that will never be—God’s goodness: “The goodness of God endures continually.” The Hebrew word translated “goodness” in Psalm 52:1 is the foundational word for God’s chief attribute in the Old Testament: hesed. It is most often translated

“lovingkindness” or “mercy,” but a more illustrative way of rendering hesed is “loyal love.” What do you think of when you think of loyalty? In a friend, loyalty means a person who is always faithful, always dependable, always there, and always good. That is a person you count on through thick and thin.

That is how the psalmist describes God when he says, “The [loyal-love] of God endures continually.” Waterfalls, sunlight, and gravity may end, but God’s goodness will not.

A point to ponder…

God’s goodness is the preeminent expression of His glory.
Jerry Bridges

Read the Bible through in a year
Jeremiah 38-41
I love you!!!

© 2000-2022 B. Michael Goerlich

August 22, 2022
Monday

Just a Prayer Away
Matthew 6: 5-8

13  Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto
the eyes of him with whom we have to do.”
Hebrews 4:13

An idea that we now take for granted used to be the stuff of science fiction. Technology now allows us to track the movements of cars, phones, and people with digital devices. We can pull up maps to that effect on our computer screens. This is not actually omniscience since there are limits.

True omniscience is one of God’s attributes; because He is love, His exhaustive knowledge is used for our benefit. The psalmist David wrote eloquently about God’s all-knowing awareness of his life (Psalm 139:2-11). The phrase “misery loves company” comes to mind: When we are suffering, the knowledge that God knows about our pain is comforting. He is with us (Hebrews 13:5) and, even before we tell or ask Him, He knows what we need (Matthew 6:8). Whether in good times or bad, God is with us, never more than a prayer away.

Are you standing on troubled ground today? Be assured that you do not stand alone. God is with you always, “even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20).

A point to ponder…

God has never promised to solve our problems. He has promised to go with us.
Elisabeth Elliot

Read the Bible through in a year
Jeremiah 35-37
I love you!!!

© 2000-2022 B. Michael Goerlich

Weekend Wisdom
August 20– August 21, 2022

The Schools of Gratitude

Giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ 
Ephesians 5:20

If we never received another thing from God for the rest of our lives, we could still fill each day with genuine gratitude: “Thank You, God, for this new day.” “Thank You for life so that I can serve You.” “Thank You for each breath I can use to praise You.” “Thank You for health.” “Thank You, Lord, for strength.”

But somehow we make the choice to turn from all that we’ve received and to focus on what we still want. We minimize the blessings of life and magnify every negative circumstance we encounter. The litany of complaints begins.

“I can’t believe the nursery workers are late again today.” “I am sick and tired of this lousy weather.” “Why can’t the kids remember to pick up after themselves?” “Nobody appreciates me.” When we focus on the negative around us, life starts to feel like a wilderness.

Instead, we need to grow in our level of gratitude. Thankfulness is a spiritual discipline that we can learn, starting with elementary school gratitude, then high school gratitude, and finally graduate school gratitude. Let’s visit these three schools of gratitude.

The elementary level teaches us to be thankful in the most basic sense. We learn to “continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name” (Hebrews 13:15). At the elementary level, thankfulness feels like a sacrifice. We wring out of our hearts, “Thanks, God. There

I’ve said it, God, so You should be happy.” When God helps us, we say thanks out of obligation. Now that is something, but it’s not much. When thankfulness is a begrudging sacrifice, we won’t find much joy.

With high school gratitude, we come to a better place. “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thessalonians 5:18). In every situation, we can always find something to bethankful for always. We can make the decision to focus not on what’s wrong but on what’s good and right in our lives and give thanks for that. This growing level of gratitude does produce joy . . . as long as we’re not going through anything too difficult.

But if you want real joy, if you want to be done with poverty of spirit, if you want to escape from the cheerless, joyless wilderness forever, then advance to level three, graduate school thankfulness. Be thankful for all things. Whereas high school thankfulness searches for a good aspect in a challenging circumstance, graduate school thankfulness trusts God and thus feels grateful for the bad things, even the things we wouldn’t choose. “Be filled with the Spirit . . . giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Ephesians 5:18b, 20).

This is the Mt. Everest of thankfulness, and here you will find victory over every circumstance. No matter what you’re suffering—a health crisis, a deep sorrow that won’t go away, a financial need—you can come to the place where you sincerely say by faith, “Thank You, God. This is the thing You’re using in my life. You’ve allowed it because You love me, and I trust You. Thank You, God, even for this!” When you grow up into that kind of thankfulness, you will experience a depth of joy you never thought possible.

We really have so much to be thankful for. Did the sun come up again this morning? Do you have another day to live for the glory of God? Then you can give thanks. You might argue, “Yes, but I have plenty of negatives to focus on and complain about too.” Exactly the point. You have a decision to make.

Points to ponder…

 How would you assess your ability to give thanks? Are you enrolled in the elementary, high school, or graduate school of gratitude?
 When thankfulness is part of the discipline of our lives, our joy increases. Does your life feel joyful, focusing on the positives in life, or more like a wilderness, fixating on the negatives?

Saturday’s Reading
Jeremiah 30-31
Sunday’s Reading
Jeremiah 32-34
I love you!!!

© 2000-2022 B. Michael Goerlich

August 19, 2022
Friday

One Solitary Man

1 Timothy 1: 15-17

9  Jehoiachin was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned three months and ten days in
Jerusalem: and he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD.”
2 Chronicles 36:9

James Baker’s influence in Washington was legendary. He could walk in and out of the Oval Office at will. One day while serving as Presidential Chief of Staff, Baker was traveling home in his limousine. He noticed a man walking alone. No reporters were around him. No security. Just a man on an empty street. Baker recognized him as the Chief of Staff of a prior administration.

“There he was, alone,” Baker said. “No reporters, no security, no adoring public, no trappings of power—just one solitary man alone with his thoughts.” That image became a constant reminder to Baker of the fleeting nature of power. “That man had it all,” said Baker, “but only for a time.” 1

History is littered with the names of people who rose and fell, who lived and died. But we serve a God whose power will never diminish and whose rule and reign will      never end. Our God doesn’t rule for three months and ten days. His kingdom is forever.

A point to ponder…

Having a position of power does not bring inner security and fulfillment. That comes only by developing a personal relationship with God, which for me is personified in Jesus Christ.
James A. Baker

Read the Bible through in a year
Jeremiah 26-29
I love you!!!

 
1 From James Baker’s Address at the 1990 National Prayer Breakfast.

© 2000-2022 B. Michael Goerlich

August 18, 2022
Thursday

The Great Outdoors—Mountains

Psalm 121

“I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.
2  My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth.”
Psalm 121:1-2

A vacation in the mountains provides majestic vistas, hiking trails, high altitudes, and cooler temperatures. The hills also provide a reminder of the One who is our help.

To the writers of the Psalms, the mountains were testimonies of God’s durable strength. If you see mountains outside your window this summer, consider these verses from Psalms: Your righteousness is like the great mountains…. Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever You had formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God…. As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds His people from this time forth and forever…. [He] established the mountains by His strength, being clothed with power Mountains and all hills … Let them praise the name of the Lord (Psalm 36:6; 90:2; 125:2; 65:6; 148:9, 13). 

Whenever you’re outdoors, take time to reflect on the artistry of God. His handiwork is visible in every pine cone, lofty crag, winding trail, and wildflower. Lift up your eyes, notice His workmanship, and sing His praises.

A point to ponder…

I sing the mighty power of God, that made the mountains rise.
Isaac Watts

Read the Bible through in a year
Jeremiah 23-25
I love you!!!

© 2000-2022 B. Michael Goerlich

August 17, 2022
Wednesday

God and Time
Psalm 90: 1-6

8  But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a
thousand years as one day.”
2 Peter 3:8

Time management could be an oxymoron—two words that are contradictory. We know what management means: adjusting resources to accomplish a goal. And we know what time is: the progress the earth makes in circling the sun. But let’s face it: Nobody manages time. We can manage our activities, but we do not manage time—speed it up, slow it down, put it on hold, go back in time, or go forward in time.

But God? God doesn’t manage time either because time doesn’t apply to Him. He is aware of the marking of time on earth, but God Himself is timeless. God is eternal: “Even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God” (Psalm 90:2). God is “the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last” (Revelation 22:13). So, what does that mean for us? Unlike us, God is never surprised—by anything.

The next time you are surprised by an unforeseen event, remember: God saw it before it happened. He knows what you will need. You can trust Him.

A point to ponder…

God’s plans reach from an eternity past to an eternity to come. Let Him take His own time.
William S. Plumer

Read the Bible through in a year
Jeremiah 18-22
I love you!!!

© 2000-2022 B. Michael Goerlich

August 16, 2022

Tuesday

Hard to Imagine

Isaiah 64: 4-5

9  But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, thethings which God hath prepared for them that love him.”

1 Corinthians 2:9

Moving to a new town or state, going to new schools, working at new jobs—what will it be like? Most of the time, things work out. Once we settle in, our worries subside and we get inthe flow.

If moving to a new city is a big transition, what about moving from our earth to a new earth? And what about finding yourself in very difficult circumstances, wondering if things will ever change? That was Israel’s experience—under God’s judgment. Isaiah the prophetwrote first about judgment(Isaiah 1-39) and second about restoration (Isaiah 40–66). In the latter, God promised new heavens and a new earth (65:17;66:22), telling the Jews it would be hard to even imagine what God has prepared for them (64:4-5). As that theme of blessing unfolded through Jesus the Messiah, the apostle Paul quotedIsaiah’s words in 1 Corinthians 2:9—we can’t imagine what God has prepared for us.

Living in a new earth will be quite a transition, but it’s one with which we can trust God.

A point to ponder…

Trust the past to God’s mercy, the present to God’s love, and the future to God’s providence.

Augustine

Read the Bible through in a year

Jeremiah 14-17

I love you!!!

© 2000-2022 B. Michael Goerlich

August 15, 2022
Monday

Triple Play
Titus 3: 4-7

23  Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)”
Hebrews 10:23

The nineteenth-century Irish clergyman Robert Traill once pondered the “He” in Hebrews 10:23. Who did the writer have in mind? God the Father, the Son, or the Holy Spirit?

“It is no great matter,” Traill said. “We find … That the promises that are the ground of the Christian’s faith, are the promises of the Father, as the author … We find the promises ascribed unto Jesus Christ, and He is the promiser. So when He left His people and went out of this world, He left them with the … abundance of promises…. The promises are also given by the Holy Ghost; He is called the Spirit of promise.” 1

All three Persons of the Godhead work in concerted effort to make and keep every promise in the Bible. God the Father ordains them. Christ purchased them for us with His blood. The Holy Spirit brings them to fruition in our daily experiences.

Broken promises are the source of pain here on earth, but God is changeless. His promises are as sure as His immutable nature; and they are tripled in power for they come from Him who is One, yet Three.

A point to ponder…

Believe me, there are times when the only thing that keeps me going is a promise from God.

Charles Swindoll, in Start Where You Are

Read the Bible through in a year
Jeremiah 10-13
I love you!!!

 
 
1  Robert Traill, The Works of the Late Reverend Robert Traill, Volumes 3-4.
© 2000-2022 B. Michael Goerlich

Weekend Wisdom
August 13– August 14, 2022

Sufficient For You

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”
Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest
upon me 
2 Corinthians 12:9

When we study Scripture, we don’t want to get buried in the details of the Hebrew and Greek texts so we miss the meaning. But every now and then, a little nuance in the original language changes everything. In 2 Corinthians 12:9, the word order in the original Greek provides us with an enlightening insight we don’t want to miss. In English, the verse reads, “My grace is sufficient for you.” In the original Greek, the verse reads, “Sufficient for you is the grace of Me.” Notice the subtle difference. Essentially the Lord told the Apostle Paul, “I am the grace.” He didn’t say, “I send you grace.”

“I am the grace.”

God does not dispense grace the way a pharmacist fills a prescription: “Here, take two of these, and call Me in the morning.” He is the grace. He is the strength. His presence is the power. All we need comes through intimacy with Him. No matter what we face, He is the complete answer. “Sufficient for you is the grace of Me,” He promises. He doesn’t hand us what we need and then go somewhere else, off to solve someone else’s life crisis. He comes to stay. “I am with you always” (Matthew 28:20).

Here’s how that plays out in your life: perfectly and powerfully. “For my power is made perfect in weakness,” God explained to Paul, and to us. “Perfect” means fulfilled, accomplished, completed, finished. It’s the same as Jesus’ final word on the cross: tetelestai, “It is finished” (John 19:30b). God brings Himself to the relationship, and all His sufficient, powerful grace; all we bring is weakness. And all of this is grace, because we can never do anything to deserve what He does for us.

God’s grace is completed in your weakness. And until you realize you’re weak and you recognize the need for His grace, you can never fully experience it. Even that understanding of your own need is a gift of grace. The perfect power of Jesus’ grace can’t be fully realized until weakness is rightfully acknowledged. The moment when you’re overwhelmed by your absolute helplessness is the moment you are ready to hear Jesus say, “Sufficient for you is the grace of Me.” In other words, “I am all you need.”

If you want to live by God’s sufficient grace, you won’t catch it falling from the sky as you rush off to your next task. You won’t receive it as your mind drifts off to your plan for how to solve your own problems. You won’t get your dose in the drive-thru line at the spiritual pharmacy.

Because He is the grace, you need Him. He will go with you every step of the way. He is a faithful friend, always with you. When a trial threatens to overwhelm you, when you feel a keen sense of your own weakness and insufficiency, remember His promise: “Sufficient for you is the grace of Me.” He is the grace you need.

Points to ponder…

 The perfect power of Jesus’ grace can’t be fully realized until weakness is rightfully acknowledged. In what ways are you weak?
 God doesn’t send us grace, like a FedEx overnight shipment. He is the grace. Why is that such a powerful promise? How have you experienced it to be true?

Saturday’s Reading
Jeremiah 4-6
Sunday’s Reading
Jeremiah 7-9
I love you!!!

© 2000-2022 B. Michael Goerlich

August 11, 2022
Thursday

The Great Outdoors—Rivers

John 7: 37-38

38  He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.”
John 7:38

God delighted in running His finger across the planet and creating rivers. Four of them watered the Garden of Eden. The Promised Land was watered by the Jordan River, and other rivers provided picturesque settings for many Bible stories, such as the call of Ezekiel by the River Chebar and the founding of the church in Philippi by the riverside in Acts 16:13. This summer, many of us will enjoy the great outdoors alongside a scenic river.

Jesus used the metaphor of rivers to describe how spiritual ministry should flow from our lives. We quench our spiritual thirst by taking a drink of Him (John 7:37), believing in Him for eternal life (verse 38), and that drink soon becomes a river flowing from our innermost being into a parched world.

This is an image we can visualize. As you move through your day, meeting people and tackling jobs, see the people around you as thirsty ground, and imagine a river of refreshment flowing from you to them. Be a refreshing person today. Let the river of God’s Spirit stream through you.

A point to ponder…

High up in the throne of God are the everlasting springs of divine mercy.
Charles H. Spurgeon

Read the Bible through in a year
Isaiah 64-66
I love you!!!

© 2000-2022 B. Michael Goerlich

August 10, 2022
Wednesday

True Identity
Zechariah 8: 22-23

4  Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy: for all nations shall come
and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest.”
Revelation 15:4

As much as modern cultures have tried to assimilate citizens, “identity” is still an issue: race, religion, gender, economics,personality, vocation, education. Humanity has compartmentalized itself now more than ever.

That is not true with God. From the beginning, God’s plan has been sweeping: to bless “all the families of the earth” (Genesis 12:3) without regard to the identity categories we force people into today. God called Abraham, through his descendants, to be a light to the world. If we are in Christ, then we are “Abraham’s seed” and heirs of God’s promises to Abraham without distinction (Galatians 3:28-29). This is what John saw in his vision of heaven—all nations coming before God to worship Him. This had been God’s plan from the beginning: to reveal His holiness to all of humanity and offer them an eternity in His presence (Psalm86:9; Isaiah 45:22-23; Malachi 1:11; Philippians 2:9-11).

Regardless of who you are on earth, the worship of our holy God is your purpose in Christ.Your true identity is found in Him, now and forever.

A point to ponder…

A holy God calls His people to holy living.
John Blanchard

Read the Bible through in a year
Isaiah 59-63
I love you!!!

© 2000-2022 B. Michael Goerlich

August 9, 2022
Tuesday

Life With Purpose
1 John 2: 12-14

24  But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which
exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the
LORD.”
Jeremiah 9:24

When you buy an expensive item that comes with a warranty, the warranty often requires that service on the item be performed by an authorized repair center. Why the “authorized” requirement? Because the manufacturer’s technicians know the workings of your item better than anyone else, they know how to extend the efficiency and lifespan of the product.

And the same is true for us and our Creator. For prolonging our life and living it with the utmost purpose and fulfillment, nothing is more important than knowing our Creator. The world boasts of finding purpose in strength, riches, status, or power (Jeremiah 9:23), but we must agree with the apostle Paul who agreed with the prophet Jeremiah: “As it is written, ‘He who glories, let him glory in [understanding and knowing] the Lord’” (1Corinthians 1:31; 2 Corinthians 10:17).

Life is lived against the backdrop of eternity, and eternal life is knowing God and Jesus Christ whom He has sent (John 17:3).

A point to ponder…

Man, made in the image of God, has a purpose—to be in relationship to God, who is there.
Francis Schaeffer

Read the Bible through in a year
Isaiah 54-58
I love you!!!

© 2000-2022 B. Michael Goerlich

August 8, 2022
Monday

Transformed Inside Out
Romans 12: 1-2

2  And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may
prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”
Romans 12:2

International newspapers recently ran a story of a young man in Argentina who decided to transform himself into an elf through plastic surgery. His jaw was broken and reassembled; his chin was reshaped; his ears were cut open and stretched out; his eyes were made cat- like; and he is having four ribs removed to be thinner at the waist. “I have my own beauty ideal and want to achieve that no matter what,” he said.

Romans 12:1-2 has a better approach to total transformation: (1) Receive the mercy of God available through Christ; (2) offer your body a living sacrifice to Him; (3) refuse to let the world push you into its mold; (4) renew your mind daily with Scripture; (5) trust God to transform you from within; and (6) commit to fulfilling His good and acceptable and perfect will day by day.

When we encounter the holiness of God, we are transformed, not by plastic surgery but by spiritual renewal. True transformation isn’t from the outside in, but from the inside out.

A point to ponder…

Holiness consists of three things—separation from sin, dedication to God, transformation into Christ’s image.
James H. Aughey

Read the Bible through in a year
Isaiah 49-53
I love you!!!

© 2000-2018 B. Michael Goerlich

Weekend Wisdom
August 6– August 7, 2022

Survival

No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let
you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of
escape, that you may be able to endure it 
1 Corinthians 10:13

When you’re overwhelmed by a problem that isn’t going to get better in a couple days or even weeks, you might begin to falter. The pressure to falter is great—to slip down, go under, give in, lose the battle—and at times we would falter without an exceedingly great and precious promise from God. You need something larger and stronger than your problems. Serious days call for a serious promise: God is always watching; I will not falter.

God is watching and He wants you to succeed at the Christian life. Considering His great love for you, do you honestly think He would let you go through more than you can handle? No. He won’t let the waters drown you. He will keep the fires from burning you (Isaiah 43:1–2). He won’t allow the temptation to become so strong it knocks you off your feet

In the original Greek of the New Testament, there is just one word for “temptation” and “trial.” It’s used interchangeably, based on the intent of the passage. A trial refers to an adversity allowed by God to transform your character. A temptation is a solicitation to do evil, which could never originate with God (James 1:13).

In 1 Corinthians 10:13, both meanings are in view. God won’t allow a temptation or a trial into your life that you won’t be able to handle. Neither one will overtake your life or last forever. “God is faithful.”

Every trial and temptation you face is “common to man.” You might feel as if nobody has ever gone through what you’re going through, but that’s false. The enemy tries to paint your difficulties as unique in order to make you falter. Don’t fall for that! In the past, many people have gone through a trial just like yours, and more will in the future. You don’t get singled out for a customized set of temptations. You’re probably getting about average. God will not allow you to be tried beyond your ability to withstand.

He’s watching closely. God actively controls the severity of everything we face. He says, “This far—no further. That’s all. That’s My daughter; I know what she can handle.” God protects His own. He will not allow you to be tested beyond what you are able to handle.

You might argue, “I’m already being tried beyond what I can bear!” But the truth is that God knows you better than you know yourself. You’re not going to lose it. You will survive. You don’t know what you are capable of in God’s strength. You will get through this. The trial won’t last forever.

When the time comes that you really can’t take it anymore, 1 Corinthians 10:13 promises, “He will also provide the way of escape.” With practice you can learn to recognize exit ramps when you see them. “The way of escape” might look like
. . .

 An instant end to the trial. When God moves, the mountains get leveled, the floods get lowered, and the sun suddenly breaks through. In my experience, trials end as quickly as they start.

 Encouragement to endure. Out of the blue, God may send another Christian to encourage you and remind you that you’re not alone.

 Wisdom and direction. God may show you a new angle on the problem. So many trials in life hinge for the good on one, simple, God-given piece of wisdom.

 Strength to persevere. There may be days when you don’t think you can face that difficult circumstance or person one more time. God may energize you for a new season of faithfulness.

 A friend to share the burden. Sometimes God dispels the darkness through the comforting assurance of friendship. The way of escape may be someone who has walked the same road before.

 A few days of relief. Sometimes God gives an oasis in the middle of the desert to replenish your reserves. Perhaps those tough circumstances will return for a season, but that temporary relief enables you to endure.

Of course, the variety of exit  ramps is as endless as God’s creativity, but you can be confident He won’t let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. He doesn’t promise you eight options, or six, or even three—but you will find at least one exit ramp. When you see it, take it. Sometimes He gives us extra strength to endure our trials, but whether you’re enduring or exiting, you will not falter; God is always watching.

Points to ponder…

 The enemy paints our problems as unique, but God describes them as common
and average. How does that truth inspire you to endure?
 What are some exit ramps God has provided in your life?

Saturday’s Reading
Isaiah 42-44
Sunday’s Reading
Isaiah 45-48
I love you!!!

© 2000-2022 B. Michael Goerlich

August 5, 2022

Entropy Versus Eternity

Ecclesiastes 12: 1-8

August 4, 2022
Thursday

The Great Outdoors—Fields
Genesis 24: 62-67

63  And Isaac went out to meditate in the field at the eventide:..”
Genesis 24:63

Summer provides a great time to stroll through a field—maybe a park, meadow, or backyard. Beneath you, grass. Around you, flowers or crops. Above you, blue skies or starry nights. Jesus often preached in the fields of Galilee; and in the fields of Judah, the shepherd boy David composed some of his psalms. Boaz and Ruth met in the fields of Bethlehem; anin 1 Corinthians 3:9, Paul compared the Church to “God’s field… God’s building.”

Isaac found solitude and serenity in the fields of Genesis 24. His day’s work finished, he went out to think and pray—to meditate. He was heir of God’s promises, the boy nearly slain on Mount Moriah, the son of a dead mother and aged father. Isaac found his strength walking in the fields with God. And at the end of his walk he also found a wife!

This summer, get outdoors. Take time to meditate on Scripture and pray to the Lord. Grab some solitude and serenity. It’s the best way to be outstanding in your field.

A point to ponder…

[Isaac] went out to take the advantage of a silent evening, and a solitary place, for meditation and prayer; those divine exercises by which we converse with God and our own hearts.
Matthew Henry

Read the Bible through in a year
Isaiah 31-35
I love you!!!

© 2000-2018 B. Michael Goerlich

August 3, 2022
Wednesday

The Fool’s Tongue
Colossians 4: 2-6

12  The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself.”
Ecclesiastes 10:12

Medieval royal courts employed a jester, or fool, to entertain the monarch and courtiers with tricks, jokes, and songs or recitations making fun of those in high position. Because no one took the fool seriously, his words and actions were allowed to slip past the court censors.

In the book of Proverbs, the fool had a moral, not a comic, dimension. The fool is used more than thirty times in Proverbs as the opposite of the wise man or woman. Whereas the wise man feared God, the fool did not. Indeed, the fool was the epitome of a person who was “right in his own eyes” (Proverbs 12:15); he was a person who failed to learn from experience. Take speech, for example: Eventually, most people learn that barbs, sarcasm, arguments, put-downs, and distasteful humor are not acceptable. They get the message and change their speech. But a fool does not. The fool continues sowing seeds of speech that produce a harvest of destruction: “The lips of a fool shall swallow him up.”
 

Be wise and gracious in your speech. Don’t be consumed by the errors of a foolish tongue.

A point to ponder…

The heart is the metal of the bell, the tongue but is the clapper.
George Swinnock

Read the Bible through in a year
Isaiah 28-30
I love you!!!

© 2000-2018 B. Michael Goerlich

August 2, 2022
Tuesday

Invisible Wisdom
Numbers 22: 21-35

10  The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.”
Proverbs 9:10

Waking up each morning, we use our eyes to gauge our surroundings. Is it morning? What time is it? Throughout the day, we rely on our sight. When Balaam traveled to the princes of Moab, he was most likely lost in thought or focused on his physical surroundings. He knew God had given him permission to go, but he did not realize the importance of relying on God for the words to speak. The moment God opened Balaam’s eyes to see the Angel of the Lord, he realized that God’s wisdom was the difference between life and death.

Foolishness starts small. Too often, we rely on our own understanding based on what our eyes can see and on our past experiences. God is untainted by the past or the bias of people. He is omnipresent. When we draw close to God, we draw close to wisdom. This is good news. We can rely on Him and rest in quiet trust, even if we are unsure of what to say or how a situation will unfold. 

A point to ponder…

Spread out your petition before God, and then say, “Thy will, not mine, be done.” Thesweetest lesson I have learned in God’s school is to let the Lord choose for me.
D. L. Moody

Read the Bible through in a year
Isaiah 23-27
I love you!!!

© 2000-2018 B. Michael Goerlich

August 1, 2022
Monday

The Certainty of God
Matthew 25: 24-30

4  He that observeth the wind shall not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap.”
Ecclesiastes 11:4

When television meteorologists miss a weather prediction, their only consequence is being ribbed by friends and viewers. But it’s a different story for farmers—their very livelihood depends on being right about the weather.

The primary crop in biblical days was grain—specifically wheat and barley. Those crops were sown and harvested by hand. When it was time to sow grain seeds, a high wind could scatter the seeds before they ever hit the ground, providing patchy coverage in the field. So it was better to sow on a calm day. At harvest time, rain was the enemy. The grain would be cut by hand and lie in the field until it could be bundled and stored. Rain could ruin a harvest laying in the field. A farmer would check the wind and check the clouds and make his best guess as to the approaching weather. A farmer bound by uncertainty would never sow and never reap a harvest.

Life is filled with uncertainty. But that should never keep us from making decisions based on prayer and counsel and trusting God with the outcome. Submit all your uncertainties to the certainty of God’s providence.

A point to ponder…

Nothing in the world causes so much misery as uncertainty.
Martin Luther

Read the Bible through in a year
Isaiah 18-22
I love you!!!

© 2000-2018 B. Michael Goerlich

Weekend Wisdom
July 30– July 31, 2022

Survival

No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let
you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of
escape, that you may be able to endure it.
1 Corinthians 10:13

When you’re overwhelmed by a problem that isn’t going to get better in a couple days or even weeks, you might begin to falter. The pressure to falter is great—to slip down, go under, give in, lose the battle—and at times we would falter without an exceedingly great and precious promise from God. You need something larger and stronger than your problems. Serious days call for a serious promise: God is always watching; I will not falter.

God is watching and He wants you to succeed at the Christian life. Considering His great love for you, do you honestly think He would let you go through more than you can handle? No. He won’t let the waters drown you. He will keep the fires from burning you (Isaiah 43:1–2). He won’t allow the temptation to become so strong it knocks you off your feet.

In 1 Corinthians 10:13, both meanings are in view. God won’t allow a temptation or a trial into your life that you won’t be able to handle. Neither one will overtake your life or last forever. “God is faithful.”

Every trial and temptation you face is “common to man.” You might feel as if nobody has ever gone through what you’re going through, but that’s false. The enemy tries to paint your difficulties as unique in order to make you falter. Don’t fall for that! In the past, many people have gone through a trial just like yours, and more will in the future. You don’t get singled out for a customized set of temptations. You’re probably getting about average. God will not allow you to be tried beyond your ability to withstand.

He’s watching closely. God actively controls the severity of everything we face. He says, “This far—no further. That’s all. That’s My daughter; I know what she can handle.” God protects His own. He will not allow you to be tested beyond what you
are able to handle.

You might argue, “I’m already being tried beyond what I can bear!” But the truth is that God knows you better than you know yourself. You’re not going to lose it. You will survive. You don’t know what you are capable of in God’s strength. You will get
through this. The trial won’t last forever.

When the time comes that you really can’t take it anymore, 1 Corinthians 10:13 promises, “He will also provide the way of escape.” With practice you can learn to recognize exit ramps when you see them. “The way of escape” might look like
. . .

 An instant end to the trial. When God moves, the mountains get leveled, the floods get lowered, and the sun suddenly breaks through. In my experience, trials end as quickly as they start.
 Encouragement to endure. Out of the blue, God may send another Christian to encourage you and remind you that you’re not alone.
 Wisdom and direction. God may show you a new angle on the problem. So many trials in life hinge for the good on one, simple, God-given piece of wisdom.
 Strength to persevere. There may be days when you don’t think you can face that difficult circumstance or person one more time. God may energize you for a new season of faithfulness.
 A friend to share the burden. Sometimes God dispels the darkness through the comforting assurance of friendship. The way of escape may be someone who has walked the same road before.
 A few days of relief. Sometimes God gives an oasis in the middle of the desert to replenish your reserves. Perhaps those tough circumstances will return for a season, but that temporary relief enables you to endure.
Of course, the variety of exit ramps is as endless as God’s creativity, but you can be confident He won’t let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. He doesn’t promise you eight options, or six, or even three—but you will find at least one exit
ramp. When you see it, take it. Sometimes He gives us extra strength to endure our trials, but whether you’re enduring or exiting, you will not falter; God is always
watching.

Points to ponder…
 The enemy paints our problems as unique, but God describes them as common
and average. How does that truth inspire you to endure?
 What are some exit ramps God has provided in your life?

Saturday’s Reading
Isaiah 9-12
Sunday’s Reading
Isaiah 13-17
I love you!!!

© 2000-2022 B. Michael Goerlich 

July 29, 2022
Friday

Tenderness of the Shepherd

Luke 12:32

11  He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his
bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.”
Isaiah 40:11

Many artists have painted pictures of Jesus holding a lamb in His arms. Interestingly, there
is no reference in the New Testament to Jesus holding a lamb, though it is easy enough to
imagine the Good Shepherd doing so.

Perhaps the idea of Jesus holding a lamb arose from the image of God in Isaiah 40:11. In
words of comfort for Israel, God is described as gathering the lambs in His arms, embracing
them, and gently leading the mothers “who are with young.” It is a tender image of care
and concern—an image that was carried forward by Jesus. When speaking to His disciples of
God’s care and provision, Jesus referred to them as “little flock” (Luke 12:32). His disciples
were like lambs in terms of their faith—young, mistake-prone, and dependent. Yet He told
them that God the Father had given the kingdom of God to them—something they would
understand better in time. Jesus is a tender and compassionate Shepherd, ready to
embrace His flock.

Take advantage of Jesus’ tenderness as your Good Shepherd. Go to Him and find rest for
your soul (Matthew 11:28-30).

A point to ponder…
Faith is not a distant view, but a warm embrace of Christ. 
John Calvin

Read the Bible through in a year
Isaiah 5-8
I love you!!!

© 2000-2022 B. Michael Goerlich

July 28, 2022

Thursday

No Hiding

2 Thessalonians 1: 3-10

7 And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his

mighty angels,”

2 Thessalonians 1:7

According to Oklahoma City newspapers, a man is in jail now because of his mother’s

obituary. Nearly forty years ago, Stephen Michael Paris escaped from prison. He’s been

living and working in Houston under a false name all these years. When his mother died,

her obituary listed him by his alias, Stephen Michael Chavez, and that gave authorities the

clue they needed to hunt him down.

When it comes to God, we can’t hide from His justice. He has no trouble tracking us down,

and the Bible warns of a day when God will pay with tribulation upon those who trouble His

people and rebel against His righteousness: “In flaming fire taking vengeance on those who

do not know God,” says 2 Thessalonians 1:8.

But the same passage reveals He will be glorified by His saints and admired among all those

who believe in Him (verse 10). God’s love as shown through Jesus Christ is the answer to

the rebellion in man’s heart today. His love changes our situation now and our

destination tomorrow. And when our obituary finally shows up in the newspaper, we’ll be

rejoicing in His presence in heaven.

Don’t hide from God. Hide in Him.

A point to ponder…

Rock of Ages, cleft for me, let me hide myself in Thee.

Augustus Toplady

Read the Bible through in a year

Isaiah 1-4

I love you!!!

© 2000-2022 B. Michael Goerlich

July 27, 2022

Wednesday

Judgment

2 Timothy 4:1

25  But there was none like unto Ahab, which did sell himself to work wickedness in the sight of the LORD,

whom Jezebel his wife stirred up.”

1 Kings 21:25

Somewhere in the world an act of corruption or evil is being planned or carried out. History

is filled with acts that have taken the lives of millions. Other times, a single innocent person

is the object.

King Ahab and his wife, Jezebel, acted wickedly against a simple farmer named Naboth.

Ahab wanted Naboth’s vineyard, but Naboth wouldn’t sell because it was family property.

So, Jezebel ordered corrupt officials to charge Naboth with blasphemy and he was stoned to

death. Then Ahab took the vineyard. What are we to think about such evil? We are to think

in biblical terms: God is judge of the living and the dead (2 Timothy 4:1). Ahab lost his life

not long after this incident (1 Kings 22:29-40), as did Jezebel some years later (2 Kings

9:30-37). Whether in this life or in the final judgment, God will balance His scales of justice.

Don’t consider doing anything evil. If you have suffered evil, trust in God. Vengeance is His

(Romans 12:19).

A point to ponder…

The fact that Jesus will sit upon the throne of judgment will be the consternation of his

enemies and the consolation of his people.

John Murray

Read the Bible through in a year

Song of Solomon

I love you!!!

© 2000-2022 B. Michael Goerlich

July 26, 2022

Tuesday

Snap Shot

Psalm 36: 5-10

18  Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all

perseverance and supplication for all saints;”

Ephesians 6:18

We take pictures in our minds and it takes us mere seconds to frame a judgment. Part of

this is brain efficiency—our brains need structure and simplicity to function well. If we are

not careful we can walk through each day like a sleep walker, never fully present or paying

attention to the people and opportunities around us, or worse yet, never seeking God during

our day to day life.

When we intentionally slow down and set rhythms in place to connect with God, we begin to

sense His Spirit and presence throughout the day. We notice the nudge to call a friend and

ask how they are doing. We breathe in the scent of nature and slow our footsteps as we exit

work, thanking Him for vibrant color and an evening of rest. We pause before turning on

music to talk to God.

Instead of relegating God to a specific time each day, intentionally seek to weave your

awareness of Him throughout your day. He is present and waiting for you to invite Him into

each moment of your unfolding life.

A point to ponder…

Few people arise in the morning as hungry for God as they are for cornflakes or toast and

eggs.

Dallas Willard

Read the Bible through in a year

Ecclesiastes 9-12

I love you!!!

© 2000-2022 B. Michael Goerlich