"Hear my prayer, O Lord; let my cry for help come to you. Do not hide your face from me when I am in distress. Turn your ear to me; when I call, answer me quickly." -- Psalm 102:1-2

People in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic parts of the US have had many sleepless hours as wind, rain, and snow have pounded them throughout the night... sometimes we think the storms in our lives will never cease.  But they will.  There will be times of calm, just as there are turbulent times.  It is remembering that we are not alone in the storm that helps us through it.  Pray to God in all times, so that you will be quick to remember that he is with you when the storms descend upon you.  My prayers go out to those weathering storms of all kinds.

Readings:  Lamentations 2:20-3:66; Hebrews 1:1-14; Psalm 102:1-28; Proverbs 26:21-22

"Without wood a fire goes out; without gossip a quarrel dies down." -- Proverbs 26:20

What in this life and in this world do you feed with your energy?  Whether it's your time, your money, your attention, or your presence, your engagement with the world feeds it.  You yourself are like tinder and oxygen to a fire.  What do you want to feed?  If you feed pettiness, drama, and cheap thrills, you will strengthen the influence and hold of things that do not build up, but instead tear down.  If, on the other hand, you feed things of beauty and worth, then your living itself will make the world a better place.  You have more power than you think.  Choose wisely that to which you give your life.

Readings:  Lamentations 2:20-3:66; Hebrews 1:1-14; Psalm 102:1-28; Proverbs 26:21-22

"Like a madman shooting firebrands or deadly arrows is a man who deceives his neighbor and says, 'I was only joking!'" -- Proverbs 26:18-19

The old saying "sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me..." is a lie.  Words have a wounding effect that lasts far longer than a bruise incurred from a stick or stone.  The thing about words is they can't be unsaid.  Think long and hard before you say anything hurtful or mean to another person.  Even if you are joking, don't do so at another's expense.  It's not the way God made us to be.  Love is kind.

Readings:  Jeremiah 51:54-52:34; Titus 3:1-15; Psalm 100:1-5; Proverbs 26:18-19

"O Lord our God, you answered them; you were to Israel a forgiving God, though you punished their misdeeds." -- Psalm 99:8

We ask, "How can God be such that he allows violence, war, and poverty to exist?  We pray for peace, but the fighting continues..." and we read verses like this one and have to wonder... is God answering our prayers?  Does God give us the means to peace and for the alleviation of poverty?  Perhaps he has answered our prayers, but it is we who refuse to accept his solution.  And so the consequences to our actions that we don't like so much-- we attribute them to unanswered prayers?  No, I believe God has provided us what we need to be a peaceful and prosperous people.  It's like he's given us the answer key, but we refuse to check our work.

Readings:  Jeremiah 51:1-53; Titus 2:1-15; Psalm 99:1-9; Proverbs 26:17

"To the pure, all things are pure, but to those who are corrupted and do not believe, nothing is pure." -- Titus 1:15

When you live your life in a way that is authentic and perfectly aligned with your values, there is peace.  When you act in a way counter to your values, there is dis-comfort, dis-chord, and dis-ease... There is righteousness that is dictated by the culture (dress codes, social conduct, etc.), and then there is righteousness that is governed by the universal moral law.  Seek to live according to the latter-- the law Jesus taught and modeled-- and you will find the way to a pure and beautiful way of life.

Readings:  Jeremiah 49:23-50:46; Titus 1:1-16; Psalm 97:1-98:9; Proverbs 26:13-16

"Sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth. Sing to the Lord, praise his name; proclaim his salvation day after day." -- Psalm 96:1-2

When I speak to my children about their days, I'm always excited to hear what they have to share, as my heart warms whenever I hear of a new discovery or new learning in their life.  To them, I'm sure I stay the same... I'm the guy that always asks those same dull questions.  And maybe they feel their own life is static to some degree... but I know better.  They're growing by leaps and bounds.  While the changes may be more subtle now than when they were babies and toddlers, they're still changing, and it brings me joy to watch them grow.  If that's how we feel about our children, perhaps that's how God feels about us.  So sing a new song to the Lord and let him rejoice in all the ways you're growing. 

Readings:  Jeremiah 48:1-49:22; 2 Timothy 4:1-22; Psalm 95:1-96:13; Proverbs 26:9-12

"Don't have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels." -- 2 Timothy 2:23

In the United States, we are quickly approaching an election day that will impact our country for the next four years.  It is a country divided, and the tension from the hostility of both sides at times is palpable.  What is the believer's role in this?  The debates have been substantive, but the internet water cooler clashes have been much less civil.  They have been petty and even ludicrous at times.  As we lend our voice to the democratic process, let's keep in mind the teachings of our faith.  If you're going to argue and debate, do so in a way that preserves relationship. No need to fight, as we're all on the same team.

Readings:  Jeremiah 44:24-47:7; 2 Timothy 2:22-3:17; Psalm 94:1-23; Proverbs 26:6-8