"This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it." -- Psalm 118:24

What would you do with a free day?  In the One Year Bible, there are no readings for February 29th!  How will you let God work through you today?  It will be unlike any you've ever lived, because you've never experienced this particular day before.  Rejoice and be glad in it!

Peace,
Jeff

"Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, 'If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all.'" -- Mark 9:35

I wonder what it would be like to be a celebrity where you don't wait in lines.  In our culture, the rich and powerful and the celebrity get to be first-- more options, more opportunities, more choices.  They go to the best schools, work in the best positions, and live in the best places.  They are served by servants.  But in the Kingdom of God, Jesus teaches us that it is the one who is last who is first-- the servant is king.  The lesson for us in the middle?  Whichever way we drift, whether it's to the side of wealth, or to that of want, wherever we land, we are called to serve.  Don't get hung up on material things.  Focus on making a difference for God.

Readings:  Leviticus 22:17-23:44; Mark 9:30-10:12; Psalm 44:1-8; Proverbs 10:19

"Everything is possible for the one who believes." -- Mark 9:23

One day, when my youngest was learning to ride a bike, I was watching her and noticed that she was riding strong with little need for the training wheels that were still connected to the back of her bicycle.  Clearly, she was ready to ride without them.  So I told her it was time to take them off.  She was a little hesitant, but agreed, not sure of herself.  We took them off, she started zipping down the road, lost her balance, and wiped out.  Crying, she said, "I'm not ready, Daddy!  You shouldn't have taken them off!"  The training wheels went back on.  Two days later, she came to me and said, "Now I'm ready Daddy!  Can you take the wheels off now?"  I said, "No, Baby, remember what happened the other day?  I don't want to take them off until you're sure you're ready."  She responded, "I'm ready Daddy.  PLEEEAASSSSE take them off!"  So I did.  She got on that bike and confidently zoomed down the road with no problem whatsoever.  When it came to stopping, I was watching her and holding my breath just a bit.  She tipped over, but immediately turned to me and said, "I'm okay!  Stay there!"  She got back on the bike and rode powerfully back to where I was watching.  "See, Daddy!  I told you I was ready!!"

Did my daughter get special lessons in the day between the two events?  Did she acquire any special skills that she didn't have the first time she tried?  No.  The difference was that she believed.  How much are we not doing because we don't believe we can?  You can do a lot more than you think.  You'd better believe it.

Readings:  Leviticus 20:22-22:16; Mark 9:1-29; Psalm 43:1-5a; Proverbs 10:18

"He who heeds discipline shows the way to life, but whoever ignores correction leads others astray." -- Proverbs 10:17

There are a couple of different ways to look at "discipline".  There's discipline in the sense of consistent behavior and routine actions (the discipline of diet & exercise, reading, working, etc.), and there's discipline in the form of punishment and correction.  The first is internal-- "self"-discipline-- the other external, as when a parent disciplines a child.  Both lead to the same end, though.  Whether it's self-discipline, or submitting to corrective authority, it is for the sake of keeping us in line with healthy living and good choices.  When we are young, we have the opportunity to experience a great deal of external discipline from parents, teachers, and others in positions of authority.  As we mature, however, external discipline becomes more rare, and while we may experience this sort of discipline on rare occasion in the workplace or in society for committing crimes, if we live decent lives, others won't be disciplining us on a day-to-day basis.  Therefore, self-discipline becomes so much more important as we age.  The discipline you need to heed most is the disciplined placed upon yourself.   Decide the kind of life you're going to live, and shape your daily actions to match your heart.  This leads to the good life.

Readings: Leviticus 19:1-20:21; Mark 8:11-38; Psalm 42:1-11; Proverbs 10:17

“Blessed is he who has regard for the weak; the Lord delivers him in times of trouble.” – Psalm 41:1

I love the old illustration about strength in numbers where the teacher takes a thread and with both hands snaps it easily in two.  Then they take several strands of thread, wind them together, and they have string.  It’s a little harder to break.  Then they take several strands of string until they have twine… then rope… then cable.  You get the idea-- one alone is weak, many together are strong.  If you feel strong, I pray it’s because of the authentic relationships in your life.  The richest and strongest is not the one with money, but the one with friends.

Readings: Leviticus 16:29-18:30; Mark 7:24-8:10; Psalm 41:1-13; Proverbs 10:15-16

"Listen to me, everyone, and understand this. Nothing outside a man can make him "unclean" by going into him. Rather, it is what comes out of a man that makes him "unclean." -- Mark 7:14-16

As we now find ourselves in the season of Lent, many are choosing to "give something up" in order to live sacrificially as they prepare for Easter.  Our Old Testament readings from Leviticus have been filled with rules and regulations and instructions on what makes a person clean or unclean.  But in the New Testament reading today, Jesus says clearly that it's not what goes into a person that makes them unclean, but it's what comes out.  If you eat only kosher foods, but spew hateful things from your lips, then you are unclean.  If you eat bacon-enriched everything (which is not kosher), but speak in love, you are clean.  Funny how the rules change.  This sort of thing is what led to Jesus being killed.  If you have chosen to fast and sacrifice during Lent, don't be legalistic and mean about it... do so out of a spirit of love and gratitude.  If you really want to give something up for Lent, why don't you make it something that comes out of you that's not reflective of God's spirit?  And don't just give it up for Lent... just give it up.

Readings:  Leviticus 15:1-16:28; Mark 7:1-23; Psalm 40:11-17; Proverbs 10:13-14

"Hatred stirs up dissension, but love covers over all wrongs." -- Proverbs 10:12

When there is division in our families and in our communities, and when venomous words are being thrown at one another, it's time we check ourselves and examine our hearts.  When you think of others, what is the primary nature of the thoughts?   When you think of "that" person, does your mind go to negative thoughts, and do you feel anger welling up in you?  Or do you consider that person in a loving, understanding way?  Lincoln once said that the best way to get rid of an enemy is to make them your friend.  When we consider others in a way that seeks to lift up, encourage, and support, we find that our relationships dramatically improve.  However, when we use up mental, emotional, and spiritual energy contemplating negative things about them, hate stirs up in our hearts, and we bring destruction to a web of relationships around us.  Exercise your capacity to love.  It's a better way.

Readings:  Leviticus 14:1-57; Mark 6:30-56; Psalm 40:1-10; Proverbs 10:11-12