SOLO Day 45 - 2 Kings 4:20, 24-29

You can read today's passage by clicking here

It is so hard to trust when life is full of disappointment, frustration, and unmet expectations. Things let us down. Circumstances don't go our way. The easy thing to do is pull back. Don't make yourself vulnerable. Don't get too close, so no one gets hurt-especially me.

Which is harder: trusting God or trusting others? I've wrestled with trusting people. But is my overall view of humanity jaded because I don't look at others the way God looks at them? And what about trusting God? Does it really come down to placing the responsibility on me rather than him for "justice" to be served? If so, have I been trustworthy enough to trust myself?

These are more thoughts into my head than the typical devotion generally contained here. I'd love to hear your thoughts...

SOLO Day 43 - 1 Kings 17:7-16

Here's today's passage

What a great story! It's such a challenging passage, because I know if I only had enough to care for Carrie and myself one meal, I can't imagine making for someone else first. God is so clear-he desires for us to look to the needs of other people. I firmly believe this story represents the heart of the gospel: Trust God and serve others. It's incredibly hard. That's why this woman is amazing. It could have been so easy for her to trust in her common sense, or look at her circumstances and try to make it happen some other way. But she trusted God. Don't overlook verse 9: God instructed the woman. He gave her direction. I don't know when or how, but he directed her. So some big principles: she listened, she trusted, she acted. Am I? Are you?

SOLO Day 41 - 1 Kings 12:27-33

After reading today's passage, a thought came to mind: a Godly king never again sat on the throne in Israel after Jeroboam's sin. Now Im not implying that this was the reason. Each king had the chance to choose to follow God. But I do think it's interesting that from the time of the Israelites in the Exodus, God constantly warns against other gods. He repeatedly promises demise and destruction if this command is disobeyed. Jeroboam has just been given the kingdom by God, yet he can't seem to trust that his people won't desert him if they go back to worship in Jerusalem. So he sets up golden calves, just as Aaron did for the Israelites during the exodus, and God does what he says he'll do.

The worst part about this whole thing: the entire country suffers, because they follow their leader into worshiping false gods, and God brings judgment. Like I said before, not another Godly king will sit on the throne in Israel. It could have been different, if Jeroboam had just trusted what God had already given.

Use your influence wisely. Trust God completely. He has entrusted to you everything you are and have. You're decisions have the potential of impacting eternity. Who knows how many people are counting on you!

SOLO Day 31 - 1 Samuel 26:7-11

Here's the passage

Two principles leap out at me while reading this passage:

1) A good opportunity doesn't equate to God's best
2) Don't take out of place what God has put into place

I've heard on countless occasions (and even said myself) when trying to discern God's will that we're to walk through open doors. Good is good, best is better! God has a best in mind. Just because a door is wide open doesn't mean it's right. Remember, prison cells have doors too!

But for David, this seems like a dream come true. He's finally going to be free! It's the perfect opportunity to take over the throne. The army will swoon when they wake to find Saul pinned to the ground with his own spear! They would immediately follow him and finally the rightful king would sit on the throne. There's only one little thing: IT'S AGAINST GOD'S LAW TO MURDER!!!! Why is it so easy to forget that detail?

God's sovereignty is trustworthy. Do you really believe he sees all and knows all? DO you really trust, that in due time, he will be faithful to what he says? David had the perfect opportunity, but he knew not to take out of place what God has put in place. David knew God had put Saul into position, and at any time, he could take him out.

Do we trust God enough to turn over our grievances, our plans for revenge, even our desire to be found right? Do we trust him enough to relinquish our rights? This is the calling each of us have. Are you ready?

SOLO Day 30 - 1 Samuel 17:31-40

Today's scripture

Are you depending on the things of men rather than trusting in God? Do you trust in stuff or the Creator? Where does your allegiance lie? Will you try anything to get the result you want?

Saul tried to give David all the things a soldier would wear into battle. He was going into battle-he needed protection! And I can hear all of the wise counselors saying things like, "Failing to prepare is preparing to fail!" Saul's gift of armor was logical and well-thought out. There's nothing wrong with proper preparation.

But this wasn't how David had gone into battle in the past. He couldn't even move in the stuff! While it may have appeared that David wasn't properly prepared, quite the opposite was true. He prepared based on God's faithfulness in the past and present. He went and got the weapons he was familiar with and trusted God to deal with his protection!

Sometimes trusting God is illogical and sometimes even irrational. How will you choose to respond? Regularly we miss opportunities for God to do something big in us and through us because we refuse to leap until we have a logical, sensible plan. Discernment and Patience are both virtuous, but may we never overlook our calling in order to appear more civil, reasonable, or even logical!

Be courageous, even at the risk of being foolish if God has called you to something!

SOLO Day 22 – Joshua 9:3-9, 11, 14-16

Simple thought for today. "Is what God has done in the past, and who he is, enough for you to entrust your future? your present? your past?

I'd love to hear your comments on this question.

oh, and one more thing...HAPPY VALENTINE"S DAY

SOLO Day 19 – Joshua 1:1-9

Fear shows up in a variety of ways, huh? Insecurity, doubt, stress, even arrogance. Fear is often one of the most demoralizing and debilitating emotions we face. When fear runs into someone, the collision is often paralyzing.

I'm sure Joshua was feeling a lot of fear as he took over as leader of Israel. Moses was dead, and the time had come for him to step up and lead. I'm sure he had a flurry of emotions. Maybe he was anxious with anticipation. Perhaps he was overwhelmed at the responsibilities. He very well could have been excited that his time had finally come. Whatever his thoughts and feelings, one thing is sure: he was afraid.

You ever notice that God doesn't typically speak to something that's already done or happened? He doesn't regularly ask for absence of something good when it's already present. So when God tells Joshua "Strength, Courage" repeatedly, it's worth noting. God's repetition points out the significance of what He is saying. But his repetition also points out that Joshua has some fear issues.

Another thing gets repeated in this reading as well: "I". Remember, God is speaking to Joshua, and nine times he refers to himself. He is reminding Joshua that this is his story. God has a lot more riding on it than Joshua. God continues to remind Joshua that he's going to do the work. Joshua must be faithful, he has to have courage, he needs to remember God's words, but God is the one who is doing the work.

So let this be an encouragement to us. God promises himself-not just to Joshua-to us! Courage is not the absence of fear. It is trusting who is with us despite our greatest fears. May you trust that "God, your God is with you every step you take."