Today’s Scripture: Ruth 2:10-12 The Message – She dropped to her knees and then bowed her face to the ground. “How does this happen that you should pick me out and treat me so kindly – me, a foreigner. Boaz answered Ruth, “I’ve heard all about you – heard about the way you treated your mother-in-law after the death of her husband, and how you left your father and mother and the land of your birth and came to live among a bunch of strangers. God reward you well for what you have done.”
Today’s Word: Reputation
Today’s Prayer: Dear Lord, These verses from Ruth remind me of the song I sang as a child. “God is watching you. God is watching you.” God and people are always watching me. Solomon said the way to earn a good reputation is to never let kindness or loyalty leave me (Prov 3: 3 &4). Ruth’s life is a testimony of how important this is. Help me be like her. Amen.

Today’s Scripture: Judges 19:1 The Message – It was an era when there was no king in Israel.  Judges 21:25 The Message – At that time there was no king in Israel. People did whatever they felt like doing.
Today’s Word: Follow
Today’s Prayer: Dear Lord we could say that the people in Judges didn’t have the Holy Spirit living in them to help them follow after you, but what about people today. We still have a propensity to do things our own way. I don’t want that. I want to follow after you with my whole heart and that is why I choose to spend time soaking everyday – reading your Word and talking to you about what I am learning. Thank you for being my personal God and friend. Amen.

Today’s Scripture: Judges 13:8-12 The Message – Manoah prayed to God, “Master, let the man of God you sent come to us again and teach us how to raise this boy who is to be born. God listened to Manoah. God’s angel came again to the woman. She jumped to her feet and ran and told her husband. Manoah got up and following his wife, came to the man. He said to him, “Are you man who spoke to my wife?” He said, “I am.” Manoah said, “So when what you said comes true, what do you have to tell us about this boy and his work?”
Today’s Word: Faith
Today’s Prayer: Dear Lord, Manoah had such faith! He didn’t even question the assignment the man of God gave to him and his wife. He believed and asked for more information so he could do a good job. I want to have the kind of faith it takes to believe everything you say without hesitation. Help me learn from Manoah. Amen.

Today’s Scripture: Judges 10:11-16 The Message – God answered the people of Israel “When the Egyptians, Amorites, Ammonites, Philistines, and Sidonians oppressed you and you cried out to me to help, I saved you from them. And now you’ve gone off and betrayed me worshiping other gods. I’m not saving you anymore. Go ahead. Cry out for help to the gods you’ve chosen – let them get you out of the mess you’re in!” The people of Israel said “We’ve sinned. Do to us whatever you think best, but please get us out of this!” Then they cleaned house of the foreign gods and worshiped only God. And God took Israel’s troubles to heart.
Today’s Word: Forgiveness
Today’s Prayer: Dear God you are full of mercy and grace and you continue to forgive and rescue your people whenever we ask for your help. Thank you, God. Your patience with me is amazing. Amen.

Today’s Scripture: Joshua 24:14-16 The Message – So now fear God. Worship him in total commitment. Get rid of the gods your ancestors worshiped – You worship God. If you decide it’s a bad thing to worship God then choose a god you’d rather serve – and do it today. As for me and my family we will worship God! The people answered we’ll never forsake God! Never! We’ll never leave him to worship other gods. God is our God.
Today’s Word: god
Today’s Prayer: Dear God I know you come first, but it’s amazing what can sneak up on me and become a god. Anything I focus on more than you and your will for my life is probably a god. It could be as common as money – either the lack of it or too much of it, a position or title, an unrepented sin, or even a person. Help me recognize any gods that I am serving and get rid of them. I want to choose you and you alone to be my God and I want to do it today. Amen.

Today’s Scripture: Joshua 13:6 The Message – “I myself will drive them out before the People of Israel. All you have to do is allot this land to Israel as an inheritance as I have instructed you. Do it now.
Today’s Word: Instruction
Today’s Prayer: Dear Lord your instructions to Joshua were so precise. You told him what you were going to do, what he was supposed to do, and when he was to do it. I’d like to be the kind of listener Joshua was. When I think back on what I know of his life I remember he stayed in the Tent of Meeting in your presence even after Moses left. That might have everything to do with his ability to hear so precisely now that he was in Moses’ shoes. What a wonderful life lesson. Thank you. Amen.

Today’s Scripture: Joshua 8:1 The Message – God said to Joshua ‘Don’t be timid and don’t so much as hesitate. Take all your soldiers with you and go back to Ai. I have turned the King of Ai over to you – his people, his city, and his land.”
Today’s Word: Go
Today’s Prayer: Oh dear Lord how many times have I hesitated when you said “go” to me. Go pray for that person, pick up the phone and call that person, say a kind word to your husband, send an email. You tell me “go” and I often procrastinate with “I’ll do it later”, or “after I finish what I’m doing now”, but I think the worse one may be “is that really you Lord?” Help me remember what you said to Joshua. You had a plan to bless him and Israel. He didn’t hesitate. I want to be more like that so I won’t miss out on your blessing. Amen.

Today’s Scripture: Joshua 1:7 The Message – Don’t get off track, either left or right, so as to make sure you get to where you’re going. And don’t for a minute let this Book of The Revelation be out of mind. Ponder and meditate eon it day and night, making sure you practice everything written in it. Then you’ll get where you’re going.
Today’s Word: Direction
Today’s Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for the Bible, your written Word. It gives me all the direction I need for daily living. Your promise in this scripture is very clear. If I read it daily and practice what it says, I will get to where I am going which is exactly where you want me. Alleluia! What a great promise. Amen.

Today’s Scripture: Deuteronomy 32:4 The Message – The Rock. His words are perfect, and the way he works is fair and just. A God you can depend upon, no exceptions, a straight arrow God.
Today’s Word: Depend
Today’s Prayer:  Thank you Lord that I can always depend on you. You are my Rock. I not only stand on you I trust you with all the intimacies of my life. You know everything about me and yet you love me. You will always point me in the right direction, just like an arrow. How awesome is that! Praise the Lord. Amen.