Day 219: Ancient Pathways

Today's Reading: Jeremiah 4-6

ANCIENT PATHWAY
Jeremiah 6: 16
For Michael Evanchak

There are paths of Destruction
There’s the Pathway of Peace
There are roads into Bondage
There’s the Road to Release
There are ways of the Idol
And the Way of Jesus’ feet

Christ, our Way,
Ancient Pathway
Lead us on, Lead us on
Christ, our Way,
Ancient Pathway
Lead us on.

There are paths that are Crooked
There is One that is Straight
There are roads toward the Evil
There is One toward the Great
There are ways into Darkness
And Light’s Way to Heaven’s Gate.

Christ, our Truth,
Ancient Pathway
Lead us on, Lead us on,
Christ, our Truth,
Ancient Pathway
Lead us on.

There are paths into Ruin
There’s the Path Restoring Earth
There are roads into Sadness
There’s the Road of Joy and Mirth
There are ways into Death’s grasp
And the Way into New Birth

Christ, our Life,
Ancient Pathway
Lead us on, Lead us on.
Christ, our Life,
Ancient Pathway
Lead us on.

Day 218: I Knew You

Today's Reading: Jeremiah 1-3

"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,
before you were born I set you apart;
I appointed you as a prophet to the nations."

Jeremiah 1:5

In my mind, I have an idea for a landscaping design which will set off perfectly a screened in porch which is also only real in my mind. I am hoping one day to sit on that porch on the chair, I also have in mind, and watch the world go by.

None of my designs are reality. The trees have not been bought, nor the plants. The stone and the paint have yet to be purchased. Even the furniture is still a dream, but in my mind I know it. Before it is actually formed, I know it, I have plans for it.

Can't you just see God doing the same thing? God says to Jeremiah, before I formed you in the womb, I knew you. To think that God plans and designs for each and everyone of us is a mysterious wonder.

Have you ever thought what it is for which you have been set apart? Perhaps it is for many great tasks. Perhaps it is for one moment. Perhaps you have been born to serve one lonely one, or to change the world.

No matter what it is, God knows, and God knows YOU.

And it doesn't matter whether you think you can do it, whether you are old enough, smart enough, wise enough, kind enough...none of this matters, for God is able to command any thing or any one into God's will.

I think this is exciting!

God what are your plans for me today?

Day 217: Good Housekeeping

Today's Reading: Zephaniah

It's Friday.
Time to clean the house.

The kitchen needs its dishes washed
And a roast needs to be put in the oven.
Bread needs to be kneaded and raised.
Cookies formed and baked to fill the empty jar.
Windows, streaked cloudy with the weeks dust
Call for the powerful ammonia to clear the
Smudges to allow the morning sun's entrance.
Cobwebs and grime need to be swept away.
New linen upon the beds.
Places of cleansing and toilet require
Sanitizing, so freshness can return.
Pull the sweat laden clothes from the hamper.
Dirty rags from the week.
Handkerchiefs and underwear soiled with life's waste.
Plunge them into the cleansing waters.
Scrub them with the fresh hyssop.

It's Friday, LORD.
You are cleaning house.
You are preparing for the Great Banquet,
A feast and festival for your children.

Welcome, Holy Sabbath!
Welcome, Filling Feast!
Welcome, Sunshine's Light!
Welcome, Fresh Clean Garments!

Day 216: Unearthed Huldah

Today's Reading: 2 Kings 22-23; 2 Chronicles 34-35

The scrolls of the Word of God are unearthed by young King Josiah's temple rebuilders. They are pulled from ruined vessels and dusty cobwebs are cleared. Their ancient truths are once more given voice.

The gentle heart of the innocent child king is cardioverted by the high voltage shock of truth. A kingdom is about to be resuscitated into a new and second chance life. "How?" asks the young king, "How can we live into this new reality?"

King and priests, counselors and sages seek the wisdom of another unearthed treasure. A prophetess, whose name points to a wise creature who lives underground, comes to the surface to interpret truth which has been buried by idolatry.

What voices of truth have we buried because of our pride and idolatry?

Whom have we long silenced and put underground because of our prejudice and culture?

LORD, unearth the voices of your truth.
No matter our station
Call us to seek humbly
And engage in the life giving dialogue
Of your word and your prophets.

Day 215: Victory Song

Today's Reading: Nahum

I rejoice in God, my Defender,
My Victory, My Song!
Whom shall I fear,
For who can stand against Him?

My God is not a gentle enemy.
Patient, yes. Slow to anger, yes.
But once my LORD moves to strike,
There is no turning back.

God calls forth Creation's waters
to flood the Enemy's path.
Thorns from the earth
Tear at and entangle advancing boots.

Grapes of wrath do their worst
Changing the wine of joy
Into the confusing seduction
Of drunken stupor.

God's anger spreads like wild fire
Burning, consuming
All the lifeless rubble of the
Enemy's taunts.

The strength of the Enemy of God
Is drained
And its life blood now
Paints its weapons of war.

"I demand Peace," says the LORD.
"My people will have Peace.
The treasures I have planned for them
Will be returned;
The treasures of Heaven will be theirs."

"Shame upon you, O Enemy of the Most High!
Let your naked weakness be exposed.
Your skirts cannot be lifted high enough
To cover your reddened face."

"You are no threat to our King.
He is the Lion King of Judah.
Your growl can no longer
Put fear in our bones."

"We will pelt you with your own garbage
And send you away
Like a dog with its tail
Between its legs."

"Your strength is weakness,
Your defense is squashed like a bug.
You are fleeing with no where to hide.
Run, run, run away into your destruction!"

The LORD is my Strength
And my Defender.
My sure and certain hope.
Whom shall I fear!

Day 214: Morning Prayer

Today's Reading: 2 Chronicles 32-33

PREPARING FOR ATTACK
for Mark, my gentle Warrior
2 Chronicles 32:1-8

Today...

Before my eyes open to Light
Not knowing what the day will bring
Whether peaceful tidings of a friend
Or arrows of the enemy

I invite Wisdom to be my guide,
I check my Living Water supply
I make sure the springs and streams
Are flowing toward me

I dare not waste this precious source
Of life, on things destructive.
I check for the weak areas in my life
And repair them quickly.

Broken places in my wall
Could allow a leak of bitterness
Or pride to sneak in.
Best patch them quickly and let them dry

And set, while setting up way high
An extra watch tower or two
So approaching evil can be spotted
Way before it comes knocking on my door.

How about a double wall?
My life and all the treasures of God
In me, are precious.
I dare not be frivolous for even a moment.

Now shield my heart with Righteousness
And fashion the Spirit's sword
Not only guard the outside places
But the precious inner core.

O Captain, may I hear your cry:
Be strong and courageous; do not fear!
I am greater with you in me
Than any foe that comes my way

Today.

Day 213: Fifteen more years

Today's Reading: 2 Kings 20-21

Hezekiah is dying. He has an incurable illness. God has revealed to him that he is going to die. "Get your house in order," says the LORD.

Hezekiah weeps and prays to the LORD for his life. The LORD gives Hezekiah fifteen more years to live.

Most of us do not know the day of our death. I wonder what would change in my life if I knew I had fifteen years yet to live. I'm sure it would change things dramatically.

What would you do differently if you had just fifteen more years? If you knew the day of your death?

Would you live in fear and worry, or would you begin to live with an intentionality never known before? Would you cower in your home awaiting the "grim reaper" or would you joyfully welcome each day and begin checking off things on your "bucket list?"

Fifteen years.

Now that is something to think about.