"Lowborn men are but a breath, the highborn are but a lie; if weighed on a balance, they are nothing; together they are only a breath. Do not trust in extorsion or take pride in stolen goods; though your riches increase, do not set your heart on them." -- Psalm 62:9-10

The scratching and clawing that so many give themselves to in this rat race of a life leads to the same end:  death.  The dead in their graves are equal.  They are silent bones.  Their wealth might allow the adorning of their burial site, but from what I gather, they know no different.  It is to this we all move toward.  So scratch and claw if you want to change your station in life.  It might make an interesting game of it.  But don't give your life away in trying to achieve it.  Give your life away in a different manner, and you will find life... even life after death.

Readings:  Isaiah 28:14-30:11; Galatians 3:23-4:31; Psalm 62:1-12; Proverbs 23:19-21

"But your dead will live; their bodies will rise. You who dwell in the dust, wake up and shout for joy. Your dew is like the dew of the morning; the earth will give birth to her dead." -- Isaiah 26:29

Prophetic or wishful thinking?

What is your understanding of life after physical death?  If you have been present to anyone who has ever died, you know what it's like when they are "not there" anymore.  Their body is there.  In many cases, it hasn't changed much at all... flesh, blood, bone.  Breathing has stopped.  Heart has stopped.  And they, we say, are "gone"... where did they go?  If we are not our bodies, then we are something else housed by our bodies.  It brings about the ageless questions and debates centered around the most fundamental question:  who am I?

Readings:  Isaiah 25:1-28:13; Galatians 3:10-22; Psalm 61:1-8; Proverbs 23:17-18

"My son, if your heart is wise, then my heart will be glad; my inmost being will rejoice when your lips speak what is right." -- Proverbs 23:15-16

Since recent findings have shown that skill mastery can be gained after approximately 10,000 hours of deep practice, parents have started their children at very young ages working with them to attain certain skills.  Whether it's sports, music, or math... the extracurricular development of children has become a multi-billion dollar industry.  But what does this say about the work we must do in developing the morals of our children?  Do we spend the same amount of time teaching ethics to them as we do how to throw a curve ball or how to play their scales?   It's something to think about.  We want our children to grow up skilled, but more importantly, we want them to be wise and morally sound.  It requires the same sort of investment of time, effort, and resources... are we willing?

Readings:  Isaiah 22:1-24:23; Galatians 2:17-3:9; Psalm 60:1-12; Proverbs 23:15-16

"... 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