Read Deuteronomy 31:1 through 34:12 Sometimes circumstances can lead people to feel like they have been abandoned by friends, relatives, and even God. Anthony Hawkes may have felt that way after a mishap left him stranded in a wooded area. Hunting squirrels along the Loosahatchie River north of Memphis, Hawkes somehow became mired in mud up to his waist. He …
Fatal Error
Read Deuteronomy 12:1 through 18:22 Violating the spearfishing regulations in the Florida Keys can be deadly. Fisherman Gary Cagle died in September 2006 after shooting a goliath grouper, a member of the sea bass family that is illegal to kill in the Keys. The wounded fish, weighing between 160 and 200 pounds, swam under a coral reef. Unfortunately, Cagle’s spearfishing …
Gospel Summary
Read Acts 17:1 through 19:41 Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you had only five minutes to share the gospel? Many have tried to summarize the good news in the public arena, and usually someone takes exception to any attempt to do so. Outside of church walls, the gospel is not a subject people want to talk …
Avoid Black Crabs
Read Numbers 11:1 through 15:41 A certain motivational speaker has painted a word picture of a bucket of black crabs gathered by a morning beach walker. One of the crabs dreams about climbing out of the bucket and escaping to a new life. He stretches, pushes up, and manages to get one claw over the edge. But just as the …
Order Out of Chaos
Read Numbers 1:1 through 2:34 Chaos exists throughout this world: crime, disease, war, natural disasters. We also experience chaos in our own lives from demanding schedules, financial overload, illness, and broken relationships. Is there a remedy for the deluge of confusion that surrounds us? No one can rectify the disorder in the world. But God, the Creator of the universe …
Desperate Needs Answered
Read Leviticus 13:47 through 15:33 The phone awoke Connie, 71, in the early morning. It was the hysterical cry of Julie, 27, living next door. Connie had met her by hosting her three children in a neighborhood Bible club. “I’m pregnant, and my husband has rejected me. I’m going to get an abortion!” Connie went to see Julie and offered …
God Is in the Details
Read Exodus 35:1 through 40:38 Compare today’s reading with Exodus chapters 25 through 30. At first glance, it may seem that you’re looking at the same six chapters; each contain detailed minutiae about the construction and function of the tabernacle. The difference is that in the first passage, the Lord was giving exhaustive instructions to His people. In the second, …
FRIENDS
Read Exodus 32:1 – 34:35 When Teresa was a third grader, her teacher encouraged her class to write French children. Teresa was excited to receive a response from Louise. They wrote to each other regularly. By the time they were fifteen, they were exchanging weekly messages. They learned to speak each other’s language and planned to meet face-to-face someday. When …
Sound Advice
Read Exodus 16:1 through 18:27 Kathryn complains, “I feel like I’m always rushing around, always stressed. With family, work, church—my life is so busy! And I can’t seem to say ‘no!’” In some circles, stress has almost become a status symbol. However, there are times that it is necessary to “cut back” on one’s responsibilities to maintain health and peace …
A Sure Word
Read Genesis 45:1 through 47:31 Most people are apprehensive about making changes in their routines. Starting a new job, enrolling in an unfamiliar school, or moving to a different city can easily push stress levels higher. But try relocating to a country where the customs are strange and the language is foreign. Local markets do not accept your money. Best …