The Voice

Reading Job 30 for Friday, January 2nd. Job describes how despised and shunned he is now, even being ignored by God.

Reading Job 29 for Thursday, January 1st. Job remembers how blessed he was, how admired and highly esteemed his words and counsel were.

Reading Philippians 1 for Wednesday, December 31st. Paul explains that his being in chains is good for the gospel, and that suffering for Christ is part of God’s plan.

Reading Ephesians 6 for Tuesday, December 30th. Children and parents, Slaves and Masters all have ways to live out their faith with the roles they have been given. Put on all your armor to be prepared for the resistance to the exercising of your faith.

Reading Ephesians 5 for Monday, December 29th. Imitate God, and rid yourselves of every hint of impurity and immorality. Further, those who are married should model their marriage after Christ’s relationship to his bride, the church.

Reading Ephesians 4 for Saturday, December 27th. Be unified in Christ, and live as a new creation with new characteristics in line with your new nature.

Reading Ephesians 3 for Friday, December 26th. Paul explains his role as a preacher to the Gentiles.

Reading Ephesians 2 for Thursday, December 25th. We are saved by grace, and by Christ’s blood. Not by what we do or what is done to our flesh.

Reading Job 28 for Wednesday, December 24th. Job describes mining operations, but says that wisdom cannot be found on earth as man searches for jewels. God tells us where to find wisdom.

Reading Job 27 for Tuesday, December 23rd. Job states that he will not speak deceit or wickedness, and will hold on to his integrity until he dies.

Reading Job 26 for Monday, December 22nd. Job sarcastically addresses Bildad and exclaims God’s unmeasurable power.

Reading Job 25 for Saturday, December 20th. Bildad says that Job can’t be righteous before God, that it is in fact impossible for anyone to be without blame before a perfect God. Man “…is but a maggot”

Reading Job 24 for Friday, December 19th. Job wonders why God doesn’t set times for judgement. People do all sorts of horrible things to each other. Injustice is everywhere.

Reading Job 23 for Thursday, December 18th. Job replies that God is not answering his cries for help, but when He does listen, He will deliver him from his pain. Until God does take his life, he will persist while terrified of what may still be to come.

Reading Job 22 for Wednesday, December 17th. Job is criticized further by his ‘friend’.

Reading Job 21 for Tuesday, December 16th. Job replies with a question about the wicked who live at ease, while mocking the idea that there is anything God could add to their lives by praying to Him. He denounces the lies told by Zophar.

Reading Job 20 for Monday, December 15th. Job’s friend Zophar explains how the wicked have a lot of pain and calamity coming to them, and their happiness is short.

Reading Job 19 for Saturday, December 13th. Job rebukes his friends for their baseless accusations. He makes a statement of faith in God and warns them to fear God’s wrath themselves.

Reading Job 18 for Friday, December 12th. Bildad replies to Job that the evidence shows that the curses he is experiencing are consistent with the results of wickedness, and he is in error to consider his friends foolish.

Reading Job 17 for Thursday, December 11th. Job is void of hope for relief and only is consoled by the thought of the grave.

Reading Job 16 for Wednesday, December 10th. Job replies to his critical peers and explains that he would have comforted them supposing their roles were reversed. He then supposes he must have only a few years of life left.

Reading Job 15 for Tuesday, December 9th. Eliphaz accuses Job of Prideful deception and false accusations of wrongdoing toward God.

Reading Job 14 for Monday, December 8th. Job contemplates the finality of death for a man as compared to a tree, and then asks God to end his life.

Reading Job 13 for Saturday, December 6th. Job is critical of the accusatory tone his friends use toward him, but insists he is without blame. He also suggests that they might not fare so well if they were under scrutiny.

Reading Job 12 for Friday, December 5th. Job responds to his critical friends that their wisdom is not unique. He also knows what they know.

Reading Job 11 for Thursday, December 4th. Zophar speaks assuming Job’s desperate situation is a result of unconfessed sin, and suggests he start being good to get better results.

Reading Job 10 for Wednesday, December 3rd. Job describes how much he hates his life.

Reading Job 9 for Tuesday, December 2nd. Job explains that he has no way to plead his case before an all-powerful God. There is no contest. He can only plead for mercy.

Reading Job 8 for Monday, December 1st. Bildad rebukes Job’s complaint and states that God rewards those who stay close to Him, and rejects those who depart from Him.

Reading Ephesians 1 for Saturday, November 29th. Jesus has God’s power and authority, and has chosen us and predestined us for Salvation. Paul prays for and thanks God for the Ephesians.

Reading Galatians 6 for Friday, November 28th. Be good to all, especially believers. Don’t give up. You are a new Creation. Live accordingly.

Reading Galatians 5 for Thursday, November 27th. Don’t get circumcised and think you can earn salvation. Put away the sinful nature and live by the Spirit, and you will show certain behaviors according to the nature you live by.

Reading Galatians 4 for Wednesday, November 26th. Remember that you are free and born of God’s promise, not slaves of the law and subject to death. live it out.

Reading Galatians 3 for Tuesday, November 25th. All christians are saved by believing, not by observing the law. The law brings death.

Reading Galatians 2 for Monday, November 24th. Paul’s mission to the Gentiles is accepted. Paul opposed Peter because he stopped living according to the gospel, but reverted to fearing the law as practiced by the circumcision group, and enforced Jewish laws on the Gentiles.

Reading Job 7 for Saturday, November 22nd. Job asks God why he is being subjected to this great suffering. What wrong has he done? If so, would he not still be able to forgive him?

Reading Job 6 for Friday, November 21st. Job asks why his friends accuse him of wickedness. He asks for evidence. He yearns to die.

Reading Job 5 for Thursday, November 20th. Eliphaz suggests Job’s curse could be from folly and reprimands his attitude for complaining.

Reading Job 4 for Wednesday, November 19th. Eliphaz speaks to Job.

Reading Job 3 for Tuesday, November 18th. Job wishes be had not been born, or that he were dead, for then he would be comforted in heaven. As it was, he was suffering.

Reading Job 2 for Monday, November 17th. Satan believed that Job would curse God if his flesh was attacked. God allowed Satan to inflict painful sores as long as he did not kill him. Job’s wife was no support and his friends mourned for him.

Reading Job 1 for Saturday, November 15th. Job, who was upright was tested because Satan wanted to prove that he was righteous only because God blessed him so much. His wealth and children were killed, but he still praised God.

Reading Esther 10 for Friday, November 14th. Mordecai was held in high esteem by the Jews for his advocacy and was highly regarded by the king.

Reading Esther 9 for Thursday, November 13th. The Jews defended themselves and wiped out their enemies, then Purim was celebrated to commemorate the victory after mourning and established regularly to be celebrated for two days every year.

Reading Esther 8 for Wednesday, November 12th. The king allowed Mordecai to issue another edict on his behalf to allow the Jews to protect and defend themselves and plunder their enemies. Also, Mordecai was given Haman’s property.

Reading Esther 7 for Tuesday, November 11th. At Esther’s banquet, she requested the lives of her people and herself and implicated Haman. This enraged the king. Then Haman begged Esther for mercy, which looked like molesting to the angry king, so Haman was hanged on the gallows he built for Mordecai as suggested by a… Continue reading Esther 7

Reading Esther 6 for Monday, November 10th. The king reflected on his history because of his trouble sleeping, and realized that Mordecai never was recognized for exposing the assassin’s plot to kill the king. In the morning, Haman was asked for creative direction for honoring someone, and gave it, thinking it was for himself. The… Continue reading Esther 6

I spoke at my local church men’s Breakfast about being a man of peace. Here are my notes: Men’s Breakfast Talk: Peace Isaiah 9:6 NIV [6] 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… Continue reading Men’s Breakfast Talk: Peace

Reading Esther 5 for Saturday, November 8th. When Esther entered the king’s court, he allowed her to live. Then he offered her a pre-approved request for up to half of the kingdom. She requested a dinner date with him and Haman, then another banquet to present her real request. Haman was proud to be asked… Continue reading Esther 5

Reading Esther 4 for Friday, November 7th. Mordecai mourns for the edict that would have all the Jews killed and plundered. Esther noticed his sadness and sends and receives messages about the edict and a possible solution involving her. Esther calls for a three day fast, then decides to risk her life to approach the… Continue reading Esther 4