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Paul Harvey brought smiles to millions with the rest of the story. But his humorous and profound stories are no match for the rest of the story found in Job chapter forty-two. What we see of Job’s life through the pages of Scripture, causes us to “feel his pain” and genuinely hurt for him. Losing his family, being directly attacked by Satan, and the condescension of his friends, all took their toll. We catch a glimpse of his pain through his emotional and passionate words. But then something happened: God spoke! And the rest of the story is a picture of grace, forgiveness, healing and restoration.

If you have read the book of Job, you know God speaks in chapters 38-41. The counsel of others brought hurt, not help in the midst of Job’s plight. But when God moved in, Job was deeply moved. Principles from Job chapter forty-two provide a dramatic conclusion. Let the rest of his story give hope for your journey.

Job 42:2-3,5-6
2 I know that you can do all
things; no plan of yours can be
thwarted. 3 You asked, ‘Who
is this that obscures my counsel
without knowledge?’ Surely I
spoke of things I did not
understand, things too wonderful
for me to know.

5 My ears had heard of you but
now my eyes have seen you.
6 Therefore I despise myself and
repent in dust and ashes.

For lack of a better way to say it, after God spoke, Job got the message. He acknowledges God’s sovereignty and speaks to God’s wisdom. And although I cannot know the depths of verse five, I believe Job was now seeing with eyes of faith and understanding that gave him the ability to accept God’s plan. Can you remember a time where your hearing became seeing, and your view of God’s plan became clear? And then when Job’s eyes were opened, repentance came. Whether at the moment of salvation, or along the spiritual journey, when our eyes are opened to our sin, repentance is needed.

As the rest of the story nears its conclusion, reconciliation between Job and his friends is in full view. God gave strong instructions to Job’s friends, and Job prayed for them. It was after this prayer that God restored to Job prosperity and blessed him again with ten more children. I sensed a heart of forgiveness in Job as he prayed for those who abused him. I sensed a heart of grace from God to restore Job’s wealth, and give him children. I am profoundly touched by the words of verse twelve. “The Lord blessed the latter part of Job’s life more than the first.” (WOW!) When we face trials, do we really believe that what God has for us is the better than anything we could imagine or wish for ourselves outside of that trial?

God knew what He was doing with Job. He knows what He is doing with you. He knows the rest of your story. So when your seasons are tough, hold tight to our Sovereign God.

Difficulties in life come in various shapes and sizes. I may not easily understand your struggles, and you might have trouble relating to mine. When we are confronted with chaos (Aurora Colorado, Sandy Hook or hurricane Sandy to name a few) or particularly personal pain, a wide range of emotions can overwhelm our spirits. Thoughts such as “does God care?” tend to invade our minds even if the words never exit our lips. God’s Word can give us confidence of His control, and our faith will help us through those seasons of difficulty. Recently, a few verses from the book of Job have given me fresh perspective on how real people really hurt.

For just a moment, look with me at Job’s plight, and maybe to a lesser degree, some emotions that may have invaded you mind and heart. As you read this, think of someone in your life that may be dealing with a Job complex even now. God allowed Satan to attack a man whom His Word called blameless. He lost his children, his wealth, and health. Why didn’t God step in sooner? Why were his friends so condescending? As Job journeyed through the pain, see if his words resonate…

Job 23:8-9
But if I go to the east, he is not there;
if I go to the west, I do not find him.
When he is at work in the north, I do
not see him; when he turns to the
south, I catch no glimpse of him.
[Have you ever felt like God was hiding?]

Job 23:10
But he knows the way that I take; when
he has tested me, I will come forth as gold.
[Often during the struggle you have probably
spoken with words of faith, just as Job did.]

Job 29:2
How I long for the months gone by,
for the days when God watched over me.
[Although you know God has not
stopped watching over you, have
you ever felt like Job did?]

Job 30:27
The churning inside me never stops;
days of suffering confront me.
[Often we wonder if the suffering will ever stop.]

Our journey struggles can cause the same heart cries as those of Job. But lest we forget, God eventually blessed Job’s life abundantly again. Trying to figure out all the reasons for our suffering, or the pain of those we love is a waste of time and a drain to our faith. By a choice of the will, we can have peace through pain. And because of that choice, others will see hope. From experience, let me share a few thoughts that I believe will help.

• Always hold fast to the promises of God’s Word.
• Remember how God has intervened for you in the past.
• Tell the Father exactly how you feel. (He can handle it!)
• Remember to let your faith look beyond today.

God wants joy for our lives. He will, however, allow tough seasons. He alone knows the incredible worth of what they can teach us! Our challenge will be in trusting Him through the storms, knowing He is working for our good. Job said it well: “when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold.” Take hold of it, and believe it!

Do we serve an intentional God?  Is God involved in the details of a single person on a single day?  Does every day really matter?  I wish you could feel the weight and spirit of my “Yes, Yes and Yes!” answers to those very real questions.

Just two short days ago we tore off the last month on the 2012 calendar, and hung a fresh new one.  The parallels to the new beginnings that God’s grace and mercy gift us are obvious, but is January 1st just another day?  I had a close friend of mine text me something to that effect this year on New Year’s day.  It was in response to me texting that I must be getting old, as I didn’t make it to midnight to see the ball drop the night before.  “Maybe you’re getting wiser”, he said, “It’s just another day.”  I remembered stopping for a second and feeling a bit of remorse when I read those four finishing words.  I don’t know that he meant it to have a tone of defeat, but I couldn’t help thinking that there are people who genuinely feel that way.  People on one end of the scale who have been touched by deep tragedy and are lost in its aftermath.  People who have been repeatedly buffeted with the seemingly innocent daily pressures of work and family to the point where they are completely exhausted and their spirit has been broken.  People who have been let down or abandoned by others they trusted, or who said that they loved them.  To these people, January 1st may genuinely be just another day … just another day they cannot cope with, and one where God feels distant or non-existent.

I grieve and pray for those people, and want more than anything to offer them hope.  Hope in the story that we are reading right now as we journey chronologically through the Bible.  Hope in the midst of a story that seems completely devoid of it (like the lives or circumstances of those who feel God is distant or non-existent).  Hope in the deliverance and redemption that God offers every single day in the lives of individual people just like them.

I wrote a post just a couple of months ago that seemed so right to revisit and be reminded of in the context of our reading and our theme for this year … Every Day Matters.

A close study of scripture and the history of the Jewish nation shows 7 major events directly connected with God’s deliverance and redemption that happened on the very same calendar date … Nisan 17.  The events begin with the story of Noah.  And while the naming of the month in the scriptural account is different, the ark coming to rest on dry ground on the peak of Mt. Ararat happened on the very same date in the calendar year as six others (God reoriented the Jewish calendar after Israel’s deliverance from slavery in Egypt to emphasize its importance).

Israel crossed the Red Sea … on Nisan 17.  The first day of seven that the nation walked around the city of Jericho, the day that the Lord promised to deliver Jericho into Joshua’s hands was … Nisan 17.  Sticking with Joshua, Nisan 17 is the first day that the nation eats of the first fruits of the Promised Land.  On Nisan 16, God’s provision of manna ended and they ate anew on the 17th.  Hezekiah begins consecrating the temple on Nisan 1.  The work lasts 16 days.  On the 17th, sacrifices begin again in the temple.  Haman was hanged on Nisan 17; a pivotal event in the story of deliverance for the people of Israel because of Queen Esther.

And last and also greatest, is the seventh and final event that happen on this blessed and intentional day on the Jewish calendar … Our Savior rose on Nisan 17.  Deliverance for all of humanity, for all time happened that exact calendar date.

A mathematician calculated the odds of all these events happening on the exact same calendar date.  The odds were 783,864,876,960,000,000:1.  That’s one in 783 quadrillion, 864 trillion, 876 Billion, 960 Million!  My point when I wrote on this previously was, when God is involved, the odds are 1:1.

In being reminded of this as I read the story of the Flood this week, I was overwhelmed with the words of our 2013 journey theme … Every Day Matters.  And the initial impulse of defeat in the words “just another day” was completely washed away in the remembrance of God’s redemptive work and the intention of Nisan 17.  In the midst of a story that appears completely hopeless, God steps in on a single day and begins a strand of intentional deliverance and redemption.   One that was authored before time began, and that has its possibility in each one of the numbered days he blesses us with.  No matter who you are, or where you are today, today matters … every day matters; and He is ever near in each and every one of them.

Tomorrow it all starts again.  Every day will matter, and we will have choices during each and every one of them.  Not one of us knows what 2013 will hold for us individually, or in our world globally. However, there are some aspects of life that we can control, and I want to implore you (yes implore) to let 2013 be a year that you discipline yourself to read Scripture on a daily basis.  There is nothing (nothing!) that can take the place of God’s Word infused into your life.  To get the point, take a lesson from this true story about an old Harley Davidson, and what happened one ordinary day.

In his book Meeting God at a Dead End, Ron Mehl tells the story of a garage sale guru named Bob. Bob hailed from Downey, CA and obviously was enthralled with the weekly opportunity to find a diamond in the rough in the midst of someone else’s junk. On one particular Saturday morning, an old motorcycle caught his attention.  Bob asked about its price, but the owner tried to discourage him, explaining that the motor was frozen and repairing the old bike could cost as much as a new motorcycle. But Bob, the garage sale guru, won the day and the motorcycle for thirty-five dollars.

In a few days Bob reached out to Harley Davidson to get information on prices for some new parts.  He gave the registration number of the vehicle, and after a wait, received an odd response from the other end of the line. “Uh, sir… I’m going to have to call you back, okay?  Could I get your full name, address, and phone number, please?”

Bob was rightfully concerned, and wondered if the bike had been involved with an accident or even a crime? A few days later the answer began to unfold. He received a call from an executive with Harley Davidson. His odd request was, “Bob, I want you to do something for me. Take the seat off your bike and see if anything is written underneath. Would you do that for me, Bob?”

Bob moved to his bike, removed the seat, then went back to the phone and told the executive what he found. “Yes,” Bob replied, “it does have something written there. It’s engraved, and it says THE KING.” There was moment of silence on the phone and then Bob heard these words, “Bob, my boss has authorized me to offer you $300,000 for that motorcycle.  How about it?” I can’t imagine what Bob was thinking at that moment, but the garage sale guru let the executive know he would have to think about it, and hung up.

The very next day Bob got another call from someone you have undoubtedly heard of … Jay Leno. “Bob,” Jay said, “I’ve heard about your motorcycle and want to offer you $500,000 for it.”  By now you must have figured out that Bob had stumbled upon an old motorcycle that had been owned by THE KING, the King of Rock and Roll, Elvis Presley. It’s a safe assumption that Bob would agree that Every Day Matters on the garage sale circuit.

Think about it; on one ordinary day, what looked to be a broken down and useless motorcycle became a treasure to behold.  Now please accept my challenge in the right spirit.  You hold within your possession a priceless Treasure. It may be on the shelf, in a closet, on a coffee table, or even left in your car from week to week. In contrast, many reading this article may have held this Treasure in high esteem during 2012. Good for you! But tomorrow, we all begin a new journey, and every day will matter.  The question we must all ask for 2013 is this; how will I view and what will I do with this Treasure?

Comparing a broken down motorcycle owned by the king, Elvis Presley, to the Treasure of God’s Word (given to us by the King of glory) may seem trivial, but I hope you get my point. It’s all about understanding value. When we do, the Word will become a priceless treasure to us. For 2013, I can make you a promise … daily infusion of His Word will change your life.  And remember, Bob would certainly tell you and me that Every Day Matters!

This is a great week to reflect on 2012, and begin preparations for 2013 in earnest. The highs and lows of the past year may be fresh in your mind, but what should our posture be for 2013? At dinner an evening ago my wife, daughter and I talked about one thing we each need to change for next year. To help challenge your thinking, let me share one of my 2013 goals that I shared with them over dinner. It was something that I articulated in a post earlier this year.

Without much effort, I can create too many options for too little time. And then I find myself frustrated with the quick pace, crammed schedule and being mentally distracted. Well, who is to blame for all of that? … I think you know the answer. To live in the moment is a phrase I could speak convincingly about, but too often they are words that resonate in my soul more as cliché than reality. It is my assumption that your schedule, pace and mental distractedness may, in a small way, resemble mine. Therefore, I would like to challenge you with a radical shift that causes you (and I) to embrace God moment by moment.

Let me illustrate my point. During a vacation/part business meeting last summer, I found myself not enjoying the moments as much as I was trying to control them (still recovering as a type-A personality). But then something happened that brought living in the moment to the forefront of my mind. At a big party on the last night of the meeting, my daughter grabbed my hand and then cajoled and badgered me to come out onto an already crowded dance floor with her and her mom. Nothing could be further from my comfort zone … NOTHING! Nothing on that trip will be remembered as much as the laughter (at non-rhythmic dad) and fun that we had in those few moments, and to think I almost missed it. Remember, a moment lost is just that … lost.

Living in the moment seems elusive in our fast-paced world. My daughter’s dance lesson illustrated to me the awesome power of a moment, and also how easily it can be lost by our frailties and fears.  Now, every week is not a vacation or big party, but every week is filled with countless moments given to us by God to be cherished. It is easy for all of us to use the pace of our life and busy schedules as an excuse. And it doesn’t take much energy to be diverted by yesterday’s failures and tomorrow’s fears. But when I (and you) live in the moment, excuses aren’t necessary. In his book, God Is Closer Than You Think, John Ortberg shares that the greatest moment of your life is right now. We cannot change yesterday, nor control tomorrow.

So how are we to live in the moment when the pace of the world we live in is not likely to slow any time soon? Our schedules will be full, demands will seek to overwhelm us, our minds will be pulled in a hundred directions and we will have a million reasons to excuse our weariness. But if we choose to relish the moments, perspective can come, our minds will relax and our souls will quiet down. Believers in Christ are to be people of joy, radically embracing God’s design for each moment. It is a matter of faith to enjoy Him with each moment, while trusting Him with all of the demands we face. Another quote from God Is Closer Than You Think gives us clear perspective on understanding how to live in the moment.

We are not meant to embrace moments, but to embrace God. Moments are not always good; God is never anything else but good. Moments are simply the place where we meet Him.

Not tomorrow, but right now, embrace God in each moment. It’s all we are guaranteed. I illustrated my crazy dance lesson because I struggle, just like you. God gave me a moment to enjoy my daughter, and I almost missed it!

When you and I consciously seek to embrace God in each and every moment, something will be different. It will be challenging, but when we embrace God’s design for each moment, we’ll not be as bound to the issues of yesterday and tomorrow. We will all battle our fast-paced world until He comes. But we can seek to embrace Him in each moment!  Remember a moment lost is just that … lost!

In 2013, I will seek to embrace God in each moment … will you join me?  Our emphasis at Journey onWord is to encourage and provide opportunity for you to be in God’s Word daily.  Our chronological reading through the Bible in 2013 will do just that.  Will you join us in our desire to capture a moment(s) each day to meet Him in and through His Word?  Sign up today (if you don’t already get our weekly notices on the Daily Bible reading schedule) at the JourneyonWord.com site.  You’ll find a section on the right menu, titled “Subscribe”.  Click the link in that section and enter your email name when prompted to receive the weekly Bible reading schedule as well as automatic email alerts for our twice weekly devotional posts.  God bless as we begin anew in 2013!

Children around the world are filled with wonder because of this day. Families give presents, presence, and love on this day. Music about this day resonates from churches to malls, and even office buildings. Retailers build their yearly budgets to hinge on this day. Laughter, joy and even tears seem to be magnified on this day. Every year’s journey starts with this day in mind. But have you ever imagined in a larger context, that the journey of all mankind was directed to intersect on this day?

Isaiah prophesied, that “The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.” (Isaiah 7:14b)  We celebrate that on this day. Prophecy tells us in the book of Micah that He would be born in a place called Bethlehem. Some simple shepherds had their journey diverted by an angel that told them, “Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” (Luke 2:11-12)  What must have changed in the shepherd’s journey because of this day? Some wise men came from the east, when they saw His Star. They came to worship the one who had been born on this day.

Mary and Joseph were chosen by God to parent the Child born on this day. Stop and consider how a simple journey towards marriage took a divine turn that would affect all mankind. Young Mary would give birth to the Son of God, and Joseph would be obedient to the call of God. And to top it off, they had to journey eighty miles to Bethlehem because of a decree from Caesar Augustus. It fulfilled Scripture that Christ would be born in Bethlehem, and it happened on this day. Imagine how the child born on this day profoundly changed forever the lives of Mary and Joseph. Parenting the Son of God, WOW!

Jesus, who was born on this day, lived by His Father’s design and died for all of our sins. History hinged on the events of this day. He had to be born of a virgin. He had to be born in Bethlehem. God’s Word had to be fulfilled, and it was on this day. All who have placed simple faith in Jesus as their Savior have great reason to smile about this day.

Tomorrow, December 25^th is the day we celebrate Christmas. But reflect today on why we celebrate. Gifts, and toys, and family are special. But the reason to celebrate is the birth we honor on this day. Centuries ago, Isaiah 9:6 gave us a great picture of who the Baby born on this day really is: For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders.  And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

As you celebrate tomorrow, stop for even a brief moment in the middle of this day, and meditate once again on what it means. Let your mind reflect on the wonder and eternal glow of this day.

Remember, this day is the day that changed the world forever.

Merry Christmas from Journey onWord!

Songs of the season are familiar to everyone. Last Sunday night my wife and I sang Christmas Carols with a group of seniors. The average age of the group was certainly north of eighty-five years old. Those folks could mouth the words of every song from memory. It struck me today that most of them had been singing these same songs for over 80 years. Wow! I have been singing them for over fifty years, and although I know there must be some newer songs of the season, I couldn’t name any.  Except for one! I’m fairly certain you have heard of the only one I can name … “Mary, Did You Know?” by Mark Lowry.

Every time I hear that song, there is an emotional response.  Something about what Mary knew and what she didn’t know fascinates me.  Very quickly after hearing the classic words of this song, I typically move on to something else, and often the words (and their meaning) don’t linger. You may feel the same way, so I wanted to rehearse with you a few of the lines from this newer song of the season. Just maybe, they will cause you to reflect on His majestic birth and awesome power. Remember, we are celebrating that God became flesh, and that truth can never be overstated.

Take just a moment to reflect on some select words from this song that you have heard, enjoyed and maybe never stopped to internalize.

Mary, did you know that your Baby Boy would one day walk on Water?

Mary, did you know that your Baby Boy would save our sons and daughters?

Jesus did walk on water.  And He will give eternal life to anyone who puts their trust in Him for salvation. Can you imagine raising the Son of God in your home? Mary fixed Him meals, gave Him baths as a child, never had to punish Him for misdeeds, and was probably profoundly impacted by the infinite capacity of His greatness. But could she have imagined Him on the water, or that He would one day die on the cross for us?

Mary, did you know that your Baby Boy will give sight to a blind man?

When you kiss your little Baby, you kiss the face of God?

My Savior (and I trust yours) did heal the blind man, and He still can and will heal today. Never let your soul become so barren that you doubt His ability to do what doctors only wish they could do. One of the thrills of every parent and grandparent is giving that special little boy or girl hugs and kisses. Mary undoubtedly loved to give the baby Jesus those same hugs and kisses. I get chills just typing the words that she was kissing the face of God. Could she have imagined in any way the depth of His specialness?

Mary, did you know that your Baby Boy is the Lord of all Creation?

This sleeping Child you’re holding is the Great I Am!

We find in Scripture that by Him (Jesus) were all things created in heaven and on earth. But on the day that Christ was born, and Mary held Him close, what must she have been thinking? She was holding the Lord of all Creation to be raised in her humble home. He was called Immanuel—which means God with us. My mind races in wonder trying to wrap my arms around what Mary sensed and knew about Immanuel in her home. Today we have Scripture, history and the Holy Spirit helping us worship the Lord of all creation – the Great I Am.  Mary had an angel’s pronouncement that the Lord was with her and that she would give birth to the Son of God. She knew His name would be Jesus, but I can only imagine what she sensed and wondered as that Holy Child grew up in her household.

I admit that I am fascinated by one of the newer songs of the season, “Mary, Did You Know?” On Christmas Day, we will celebrate what we do know – that hope was born on that day.  The child that Mary raised grew up and walked on water, healed the lame, calmed the storm, raised the dead and died on a cross, and then to top it off, rose from the grave … ALL FOR US!

On this earth, we’ll never know all that Mary really understood. But I am so glad that this song of the season reminds me that Christmas is about the Lord of all creation, the great I Am….. Savior of all who accept Him!

For those who are interested, click here to view Mark Lowry singing “Mary, Did You Know?”

We know the songs … Silent Night, O Holy Night, Away in a Manger, and others like them … we’ve sung them so many times.  These beautiful songs seem to set the mood so well, and lead us to a place of true worship.  But in the intentional practice of Advent this Christmas season, I have collided into a compelling question that challenges some of these traditional Christmas carols.  Was it really a silent night?

There are only two books in the Bible that speak directly of that blessed evening in Bethlehem … the night of our dear Savior’s birth.  Matthew’s gospel and Luke’s gospel are the only two that tell the story of the nativity (birth) of Jesus.  Yes, there are other prophetic writings, but these two gospels are the only mention of the specific narrative of the story.  So what do these two books have to say about that night?

Matt 2:1
After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea…

Luke 2:6-7
While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

Matthew provides no details at all, but chooses to jump right from a big list of lineage and the backstory of Mary and Joseph’s engagement, right to the wise men.  (As a side note, when you are reading Matthew 1 this coming Saturday, pause a second at verse 17.  We serve an intentional God!)  Luke gives us two whole verses, but hardly enough detail to pen multiple verses of sacred Christmas carols.

Where are the lowing cattle?  Wait … check that, were there even animals there at the actual time of his birth?  My nativity sets have sheep … OK, they must have come a little later with the shepherds.  But wait, does Luke’s narrative (chapter 2, verses 8-17) mention that the shepherds even brought their sheep with them?  One of my nativity sets has a camel … OK, it must have come with the three wise men.  Wait … did I say three wise men?  What was the chapter and verse reference for three, again?  And although no one would argue that the wise men would have had a camel with them, neither the wise men nor the camel belong in the stable scene with the shepherds. 

I will stop at this point and acknowledge that my purpose in all of this is not to blow apart the beauty and holiness of that night … quite the contrary.  What I have found over the past couple of years in the intentional practice of Advent, is that we add a lot of sentimentality to the nativity of Jesus.  And while that can certainly make for a deeper worship experience in the a capella harmony of Silent Night or O Holy Night, I think it distracts us from the most shocking and life-giving truth of that holy night.  Namely, that God chose to become fully human in the person of his Son and acquaint himself with every single thing that defines us and our experience of being fully human.

I don’t believe it was a silent night.  Make no mistake, it was holy … but I don’t believe it was silent.  I believe Mary labored, and experienced the pain every mother experiences in childbirth.  It’s quite possible there were cattle in the stable, and they may have woken the baby Jesus with their lowing … but I am not convinced that He didn’t cry.  I was in the delivery room for the birth of both my boys … they cried (so did my wife and I – I connect with Mary and Joseph in the experience of the birth of my boys).  God chose a redemption plan that had as its cornerstone, a fully human Savior.  Jesus, Immanuel, Prince of Peace, a baby boy not conceived like any other, but born exactly like every other. 

I do not reject the notion that the face of Jesus glowed as He laid in the manger.  I firmly believe that the nativity of Jesus was unlike any other before it, or since, and that absolutely means it could have been unlike anything that I have seen or experienced.  I do choose, however, to see a very human scene that night … the pain of childbirth, the sounds of a newborn baby, the joy of holding Him, and the very real fear of “now what?!”  This fully human experience expands the story for me.  It rings true with a God who chose for his Son to experience the full breadth of us and how we enter the world and navigate through it.  To me, an all-was-not-calm night shouts, “God with us!  Immanuel!”   That is anything but silent, but entirely Holy.

At Journey onWord, we pray for a blessed Christmas for each and every one of you who intersects with this space.  In the news and in our own lives there is obvious pain and suffering that doesn’t know what season it is.  But praise God that He chose to send us a Savior that experienced every bit of the joy and pain that we have, and will in our lifetime.  He knows, He cares … draw near to Him and He will draw near to you (James 4:8).  At Christmas we celebrate a birth.  If you have experienced the rebirth that comes in accepting this Jesus we speak of as your personal Savior, rejoice in that, and we rejoice along with you.  If you have never experienced this Jesus we speak of, and the fully human story of His birth, please reach out to us.  We would love to introduce you to the one person who will forever change your life … Jesus Christ.

“As for God, his way is perfect:
The Lord’s word is flawless;
he shields all who take refuge in him.
II Samuel 22:31

Every day matters! At minimum, each ordinary day is an extraordinary gift from our Creator.  None of us can project how any ordinary day will affect our lives. So it is critical for all of us to be prepared for each one. There is no better preparation for the onslaught of events that consume our days than by starting each day in the Word. Every Sunday after reading Scripture, our pastor says the same words, and they are profound. “This is God’s Word and it is true”. Something takes place when we read Scripture. We are getting great counsel, insight for living each day, and absolute truth. And whether we see it or not, we are being changed.  Wow!  Why wouldn’t anyone sign up for such a great opportunity? At Journey onWord, we are offering you that very opportunity for 2013.

Will you consider taking a chronological walk through the Bible with us? We believe you’ll become convinced that Every Day Matters!

Our goal in reading through the Bible chronologically in 2013 is to help you journey through the Word as events occurred. You will be excited to complete reading through all 66 books of the Bible, but with a bit of variety that you may never have experienced before.  It will take a measure of discipline to start strong and finish well.  Remember, every day matters.

Our process will be the same every day throughout the year. You will typically read just a few chapters each day, with a chronological flow through Scripture. Each Saturday evening in 2013 you will continue to receive the next week’s Bible reading assignment via email. By sending it to you weekly, there is a natural reminder to get started well for the next week. There will be times that you get behind (we all do), but catching up is not hard to do. And those weekly updates keep you on track.  Applying what you read is critical, and we will provide study sheets for those who enjoy taking notes on each passage.

As part of our goal to encourage you in the Word, you will continue to receive the two weekly devotionals to help enhance your walk in Christ. Typically, they are focused on the passages of Scripture that we are reading each week.

Remember, we believe at Journey onWord that every day matters.

Yesterday didn’t have much of that Christmas season feel to me … until last night! My wife was the emcee at an appreciation concert for a ministry that helps the hurting in our area.  I thought it was a great thing for her to do, but I wasn’t really into it. You may not be like me, but sometimes I get just a bit too selfish with my time. But since my wife chose to volunteer my participation, I had to be there.  And I am glad I did! There was incredible talent displayed in those who entertained us, but the evening held more than great music for me.  Would you like to know why?

When I heard the story of how the ministry of helps started, I was reminded again of our All Knowing God who really cares. And after listening to the founder of this ministry speak, I deleted the article that I had already started to write for today.  For me, it is frankly difficult to transition from the insane commercial aspects of Christmas into the real purpose of why we celebrate. But after listening to the founder speak, the stage is set for a good Christmas this year.  God is the ultimate helper of the hurting! He gave us His Son, born in a manger, hung on a cross and raised from the dead to redeem us.

As you read the story of this ministry of helps as I heard it, think of  the words of Warren Wiersbe, taken from his  book entitled  Wiersbe’s  Expository Outlines on the Old Testament.  “God’s name is nowhere seen in this book (Esther), but God‘s hand is nowhere missing!  He is “standing somewhere in the shadows” ruling and overruling.“  I believe He does the same today.

One day 18 years ago, my wife’s friend Clarence received a phone call from a total stranger.  The caller was desperate, and told him that some nuns from a hospital had given her his name and number.  Clarence thought that was odd since he didn’t know any nuns.  After hearing Bertha’s story laced with tragedy and pain, Clarence got some others to help him, and they ministered to the needs of Bertha’s family.  But the story doesn’t end there.  Bertha was later admitted to the hospital with a serious condition, and felt the need to write Clarence a letter.  She wanted him to know that she had lied about their introduction. There were no nuns … it was a phone book.  As she kneeled, crying out to God for help (Bertha had two daughters and six grandchildren living with her – and no hope), she opened a phone book in front of her.  By divine providence, Clarence’s appeared to be larger and bolder than all the rest — so she dialed his number!  But the story doesn’t end there.  In doing the math, I calculated Clarence was about 70 years old when Bertha called him with the nun story. He is going to be 89 next month, and his ministry of helps that was started by a phone book is still vibrant today.  It might also interest you to know that his ministry has cared for over 6,000 people in our area. The greater good of this ministry is the hundreds and even thousands of people who have been given the message of real help and real hope through Jesus Christ.  And before you start thinking that this is one of those nice stories, but not really true … I must tell you that Bertha was at the appreciation concert last night.

God is the ultimate giver of help, but all Christ followers can reflect His care in some small way during this Christmas season.  None of us is exempt from extending a loving hand that just may help change a life. As your friend, I want to gently challenge you to do something …

Over the next two weeks, find someone to help as part of your Christmas giving.  

Even the simplest act will rightly ready you for the celebration of Christmas.  And then, don’t settle for just helping at the holidays.  It’s a wonderful life — let yours speak as Clarence’s has.  “It is not the healthy who need a doctor…” (Mark 2:17, Luke 5:32, Matt. 9:12)