"... know that man is not justified by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ." -- Galatians 2:16

Who you are matters so much more than what you do.  For who you are determines the compass by which you navigate the moral terrain of this life.  If you are a selfish conniving rat, then you will follow the laws of the land provided they are useful to you.  If not useful, you'll twist them until they conform to your personal template.  If, however, you are a person of integrity who loves, and sacrifices for the sake of others, you will find yourself following a Christ-centered law that has the most elegant and simplest of centers.  If you follow Christ, the law takes care of itself.  In fact the mark of the Christian is their love for others.  What law(s) are you most careful to abide by?

Readings:  Isaiah19:1-21:17; Galatians 2:1-16; Psalm 59:1-17; Proverbs 23:13-14

"Apply your heart to instruction and your ears to words of knowledge." --- Proverbs 23:12

The one who aspires to be a teacher must first master that which they wish to teach.  The one aspiring to be a leader must know clearly to where he or she would like to lead followers.  In our society, there is so much available on leadership training and the like, that we become inundated by the volume of it.  Not only that, we come to believe that teaching and leadership are ends in themselves.  But they are not.  There has to be a destination in which people are to be led.  There has to be a topic of which the teacher desires the students to be learners.  

If there is something you aspire to be great at... and especially if you aspire to lead others to a new place and/or higher level, it begins with individual private humility.  It requires that we remain open to learn.  When we approach people/ideas/situations with a humble spirit, we will be more authentic in our response to them.  When we are more authentic, we exact more influence.  Open your mind, your spirit, and your heart and dedicate them to consistent learning and growth.

Readings:  Isaiah 15:1-18:7; Galatians 1:1-24; Psalm 58:1-11; Proverbs 23:12

"My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast; I will sing and make music. Awake, my soul! Awake, harp and lyre! I will awaken the dawn." -- Psalm 57:7-8

Music conveys so much that our words cannot.  Whether you are musically talented or not, take time today to connect with sounds that inspire, lift, and move you.  Listen to them.  Make them.  Raise them to the heavens.  Try singing something today.  Whether your a good singer or not, let your soul speak out.  Use words or don't use words.  Be on pitch or don't.  But whatever you sing, sing it from your heart.  You'll be amazed at how cathartic it is.  It truly can be a spiritual experience.  No wonder it's hard to worship without singing...

Readings:  Isaiah 12:1-14:32; 2 Corinthians 13:1-14; Psalm 57:1-11; Proverbs 23:9-11

"The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them." -- Isaiah 11:6

This verse is part of Isaiah's prophetic vision of a perfect future after the young messiah comes for his people.  There will be peace for even animals that would typically kill and devour each other.  Physical needs will be no more, and therefore killing will not be necessary.  The world will live in harmony.

So what is your vision of a perfect future?  What is your vision of even a perfect day? Spend time today picturing yourself in 1, 3, 5, and 10 years.  What would the "perfect" life be like for you?  Imagine a perfect world 1, 3, 5, and 10 years from now.  What does it look like in your neighborhood?  What can you do now to make these visions reality?

Readings:  Isaiah 10:1-11:16; 2 Corinthians 12:11-21; Psalm 56:1-13; Proverbs 23:6-8

"Listen to my prayer, O God, do not ignore my plea; hear me and answer me. My thoughts trouble me and I am distraught at the voice of the enemy, at the stares of the wicked; for they bring down suffering upon me and revile me in their anger." -- Psalm 55:1-3

We remember the horrors of 9/11.  We were stricken with fear, grief, anger, and confusion. We realized we we had enemies and oceans could not protect us from them.  Our world changed in a morning and we felt helpless in it.  But there was good that came that day too.  As you remember the pain, remember the power that was shown as people reached out to one another.  People are remembering and honoring the fallen of that tragedy today.  Many are pledging to do something to honor their memory.  What will you do?

Readings:  Isaiah 8:1-9:21; 2 Corinthians 12:1-10; Psalm 55:1-23; Proverbs 23:4-5

"Let no one take me for a fool. But if you do, then receive me just as you would a fool, so that I may do a little boasting. In this self-confident boasting, I am not talking as the Lord would, but as a fool. Since many are boaasting in the way the world does, I too will boast. You gladly put up with fools since you are so wise!" -- 2 Corinthians 11:16-19

I read this text and can't help but have the image of a football player running into the end zone to score a touchdown with finger raised high pointing to heaven.  In the interview that follows, the player says it wasn't him, but God that helped the team win (as though God wanted one team to win over another).  It always irritates me a bit when I see that, and I'm quick to point out the foolishness of it.  But after reading this, I may think a bit differently about it.  I understand that, especially in sports, bragging and swagger are all part of the show.  We talk "smack" and love to build ourselves up and put the competition down.  But to bring God into it is foolish... in that God probably isn't that interested in one team of millionaires beating another team of millionaires in a game.  Nevertheless, by pointing to heaven, they are reminding people of God.  By giving the glory to God (even if it's misplaced), God enters the conversation, and we can talk about it... even laugh a little at the fool who is bragging about God's great play in that game... in a similar way Paul was laughed at.  So it makes me realize that it's not that that player that's the fool, but maybe it's me.

Readings: Isaiah 6:1-7:25; 2 Corinthians 11:16-33; Psalm 54:1-7; Proverbs 23:1-3

"Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will serve before kings; he will not serve before obscure men." -- Proverbs 22:29

If you want to have impact, be good at something.  If you want to be good at something, dedicate your time to its development.  Over time, you will become skilled-- at just about anything you set your mind to.  But you say, "I would, but I just don't know yet what I want to do..."  Pick something.  Anything.  Follow your passions.  And dig in.  But you say, "I could have, but I started too late..."  Too late for what?  To become skilled at something?  Unless it's something that requires a young physique (gymnastics maybe?), nonsense.  But even if it's something like that, there are modified options for the older crowd (yoga, pilates, dance, etc.)... The thing that will not make you skilled is excuses.  So pick something and act.  Don't say you're going to, don't say you might, don't say you'll try.  As Yoda says,  "'do' or 'do not'... there is no 'try'."  Ideas are great, intentions are fine, but acting upon them is the only thing that counts in the end.

Readings:  Isaiah 3:1-5:30; 2 Corinthians 11:1-15; Psalm 53:1-6; Proverbs 22:28-29