So, I changed up the format on the podcast a little, and I’d love your thoughts!
Check out EPISODE 2 here
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Freedom from Lifelong Slavery – Hebrews 2 – 2025 Day 155
Read through the Bible in 2 years: Psalm 122; Hebrews 2
“Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood,
Hebrews 2:14-15 LSB
He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and might free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives.”
Growing up without God shaped how I saw life. I didn’t believe in any kind of higher power who was working behind the scenes. My life was all up to me. I was the potter, holding my own world in my hands. I believed I was the master of my own fate, the captain of my own soul, the determiner of my own destiny, so I better work hard and be good if I wanted to get ahead in life.
Not believing in God, also shaped how I saw death. My life was overshadowed by my fear of death. My last day on earth would be my last day. There was no afterlife, so I better be oh so careful how I lived.
When I became a follower of Jesus Christ in April of 1994, my views of life and death began to change. I became convinced that Almighty God ruled over my life, my death, and my life after death.
In the summer of 2023, two members of my small, local church body passed away in the same week. One was beginning his ninth decade of life, and one was beginning his second.
None of us know when our lives on earth will draw to a close. How thankful I am for the hope of life on earth with Christ, and the hope of eternal life in Heaven with Him as well. Do you have that hope or are you still in slavery to fear of death?
Heavenly Father, Thank You for the hope and peace that are mine because Jesus died in my place. I know that Jesus conquered death, and so will I. You are my hope in life and in death. Praise Your Name.
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NEW PODCAST!!! Episode 1: The Eternal, Unchanging God – Psalm 120-121, Hebrews 1
I hope you’ll check out my new Podcast. It’s called “Teach What Is Good” and is currently hosted on YouTube.
Today I read Psalm 120 and 121, along with Hebrews 1, shared a few thoughts, and led us prayer. I’d love you to check it out, then like 👍, subscribe ✅, and share it with your friends ⏩.
I’m looking forward to hearing your feedback! What do you think of the new format? Any suggestions???
The Eternal, Unchanging God – Hebrews 1 – 2025 Day 154
Read through the Bible: Psalm 120-121; Hebrews 1
“You, Lord, laid the foundation of the earth in the beginning, and the heavens are the work of your hands; they will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment, like a robe you will roll them up, like a garment they will be changed. But you are the same, and your years will have no end.”
Hebrews 1:10-12 ESV
I’m thankful God has given mankind the ability to grow and change, so we can shed our slavery to sin and be born anew after the image of our creator. I’m thankful for the blessing it’s been to watch my own babies grow up – learning to walk and talk, and read and write, and now with one raising babies of her own, one navigating married life, one on the verge of getting married, and one just graduated from high school and preparing to go to college.
But I’m equally thankful that God doesn’t change. He is immutable – that’s a fancy word for “unchanging.” God is perfect. He always will be perfect. Everything He does is perfect. We don’t need to worry that He’ll outgrow His love for us or learn something new about us, because He already knew it all from before the beginning of time. God is God. And we’re not. All Praise to His Holy Name!
If you’d like to learn more about who God is and what He’s like, I hope you’ll pick up a copy of my latest book, “Who is God? A Former Atheist Looks at the Attributes of God.” It examines twenty of God’s attributes, including His holiness, sovereignty, and self-sufficiency, in simple, practical language that even a brand-new Christian can understand.
Heavenly Father, What a comfort it is to know that You are the unchanging God! Even things that seem unchanging – the sandy seashore, the rocky mountains, the sun, moon, and stars – even these things change and wear out. But You, oh God, You remain the same. You never have to get better because You are already completely perfect. You will never wear out or grow old or get weary. I’m looking forward to eternity with You. In the name of Jesus Christ, Your Eternal Son, I pray. Amen.
Did you know that I started a podcast??? Today was my first episode! Please check it out and subscribe today!
Would you like to receive my daily blog posts sent directly to your email? Subscribe for free by entering your email below.
Click here for more information about my Read Through the Bible in Two Years plan.
If you would like prayer, please leave a comment below or send me a message. I’m happy to pray for you.
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The Year of Jubilee – Leviticus 25-27 – 2025 Day 153
Read through the Bible in 2 years: Psalm 119:161-176, Leviticus 25-27
“And you shall consecrate the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty throughout the land to all its inhabitants. It shall be a jubilee for you, when each of you shall return to his property and each of you shall return to his clan.”
Leviticus 25:10 ESV
My parents bought the house I was raised in when my sister was three and I was just a baby. They sold it when I got married.
I hadn’t been back to visit my hometown in almost two decades, but shortly after turning fifty, I had the opportunity to go back. Some of my neighbor’s homes had a fresh layer of paint, and the state capital building’s dome had a fresh layer of gold leaf, but underneath not much had changed.
The skywalks connecting the downtown buildings still shielded pedestrians from the Iowa cold. Huge piles of snow still rested in the corners of parking lots. The familiar Arby’s sign still stood beside East 14th street.
It was good to go back and remember what things used to look like, because it helped me remember how greatly other things in my life have changed since I grew up in that big old white house.
- God has blessed me with four children on earth and two more in heaven.
- I’ve lived in five different houses and three different states.
- I’ve written books and recorded videos and shared the gospel with hundreds of people.
- I’ve traveled to China and Hungary and Russia and Mexico.
- My oldest two children have gotten married.
- I’ve become a grandmother.
- And more important than any of these incredible things, God has given me Himself. He has saved me and transformed me from an evangelical atheist to an evangelical Christian.
I remember when I celebrated my own year of Jubilee. Fifty trips around the sun. My year of Jubilee was hard in many ways. I was diagnosed with kyphosis and osteoporosis. I began seeing a physical therapist to help my posture, and I suffered my first broken bone – a stress fracture in my right foot.
But it was also very good. Trials bring growth. I’m learning that secret of contentment – that Jesus is my strength and that I need to rest in Him. I’m learning to lean on Jesus – rather than trying to do it all on my own. I’m learning to be faithful. I’m learning that my worth is not in what I do, but in who I am and who I belong to.
Have you celebrated your year of Jubilee yet? Jubilee or not, what would you like to learn this year? I’d love to hear from you. Please leave me a comment.
Heavenly Father, A Jubilee is no celebration without You. Help us to fix our eyes on You, the author and perfector of our faith. Help us to remember who we used to be – so that we can have hearts of gratitude for all that You have done. Help us, though, to remember who You ALWAYS are. Your grace is always with us. You are always good and You are always kind and Your goodness is everlasting. All my life You have been faithful. All my life You have been good. All my life I will sing of the mercies of God. In the name of Jesus I pray. Amen.
by Caleb and Kelsey
Keep the Light Burning – Leviticus 24 – 2025 Day 152
Read through the Bible in 2 years: Psalm 119:121-160, Leviticus 24
One summer morning, while on vacation in Pensacola Florida, my family decided to go see the Blue Angels practice. We got up early and headed out, only to get stuck in a crazy traffic jam unlike anything I’ve seen before. After moving a mile in an hour, we decided we needed to make another plan. We turned left, away from the Navy base, and motored to the Walmart parking lot where we joined a dozen other wanna-be air show watchers.
The air show was scheduled to begin at 10:30, and sure enough at 10:30 we saw a couple planes in the air, but it was nothing particularly earth-shattering. After about 20 minutes of this, out in the heat on an asphalt parking lot, several members of our family decided they’d rather go get a cold drink and a snack from inside Walmart than wait in the parking lot with their heads craned toward the skies.
Minutes after they disappeared inside, the magic began. The planes started flying every which way, roaring through the blue skies.
And they missed it.
Command the people of Israel
Leviticus 24:2-3 ESV
to bring you pure oil from beaten olives for the lamp, that a light may be kept burning regularly….
Aaron shall arrange it from evening to morning before the LORD regularly.
It shall be a statute forever
throughout your generations.
I’m not good at doing things regularly or forever. I like to make plans. I like to start new projects. I struggle at maintaining the commitment once the novelty wears off. That’s one reason why I’m trying so hard to write here every day until I’ve blogged through the Bible.
But, friends, God commands us to be faithful, to keep our lamps burning, evening to morning, day after day, forever. He wants us to pass on our faith to the generations coming after us.
Do we have our eyes fixed on the skies, waiting for His return, and our hearts rooted in His Word that it can be that light to our path and lamp to our feet which He promised for us?
Or are we so busy shopping for cold Cokes and salty chips that we miss the real show?
“Stay dressed for action and keep your lamps burning, and be like men who are waiting for their master to come home from the wedding feast, so that they may open the door to him at once when he comes and knocks.”
Luke 12:35-36 ESV
“Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps.
As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept. But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’
Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’
But the wise answered, saying, ‘Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.’ And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut.
Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ But he answered, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’
Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.
Matthew 25:1-13 ESV
Heavenly Father, You are always faithful. Always. You never change. You never grow tired or weak or weary. You never get bored and give up. You are the perfect example of steadfastness. Help us, Father, to be faithful like You. We can’t keep our lamps burning on our own. Give us the oil of Your Spirit and the living water of Your Word that we may be found faithful. And embolden us to share the good news with others, that they may enter the kingdom with us, to the praise of Your glorious might. In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen.
A Sabbath Rest – Leviticus 23 – 2025 Day 151
Read through the Bible in 2 years: Psalm 119:81-120; Leviticus 23
“Six days shall work be done,
Leviticus 23:3 ESV
but on the seventh day is a Sabbath of solemn rest, a holy convocation.
You shall do no work. It is a Sabbath to the LORD in all your dwelling places.”
When our children were little, my husband and I began to try to arrange our week such that Saturday became a day for house and yard work, while Sunday was set apart for fellowship and fun. Though it has been hard to be consistent, we saw the value of having a day for church and family and friends.
In the fall of 2021, after a prolonged interruption in regular in-person attendance (Thanks, COVID) our church started hosting a post-service meal and time for congregational sharing. I must admit that I initially complained about the extra work of preparing a dish to share, but this fellowship time has been such a huge blessing to our whole body.
In the spring of 2023, our pastor shared a three-part sermon series on the value of setting apart Sunday as a regular day for rest, renewal, and worship. He explained everything so much better than I can, so please listen for yourself. Here’s a link to the first sermon.
So, what a beautiful reminder here in Leviticus 23 of establishing a regular rhythm of both annual and weekly times for rest, worship, and fellowship.
Heavenly Father, Please help us to be faithful and diligent to work – and to rest – and to do it all in the name of Jesus Christ. We need them both. We need to work, and we need to rest. Help us to offer them both back to You. In the name of Your Son, Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.
Profaning His Holy Name – Leviticus 21-22 – 2025 Day 150
Read through the Bible in 2 years: Psalm 119:41-80; Leviticus 21-22
And you shall not profane
Leviticus 22:32-33 ESV
my holy name,
that I may be sanctified
among the people of Israel.
I am the LORD who sanctifies you,
who brought you out of the land
of Egypt to be your God:
I am the LORD.”
Heavenly Father, I am Your child. You have called me by name and I belong to You. You have engraved Your name across my heart, and You have engraved my name in the palm of Your hand. You have brought me out of the land of darkness and slavery to sin, and You have brought me into the land of light and freedom in Your Holy Name. I pray that I will draw others to You by how I live and speak and love. I pray that others will see Your Holiness in me – not only in what I *don’t* do, but also in what I *do* do. I pray that I will love justice and practice kindness and walk humbly with my God. I pray that I will love my neighbor as myself. I pray that I will abstain from sin – from slander, lying, and sexual immorality. I’m a new creation in Christ. In the name of Jesus I pray, Amen.
Separate – Leviticus 20 – 2025 Day 149
Read through the Bible in 2 years: Psalm 119:1-40; Leviticus 20
The Israelites were to be a set apart people in Egypt and now they are to be a set apart people in Canaan. God pulled them out of a nation of idol-worshippers, and now He’s sending them into a new nation of idol-worshippers.
God has always been – and will always be – holy. It is His very nature. To be holy, by definition, means to be set apart.
From the beginning of creation God separated. He separated the light from the dark, the water above from the water below, the land from the sea, the day from the night. He made animals of different kinds and He designed the animals to reproduce after their own kinds.
From the beginning of the nation of Israel, God desires His people to be separated from the nations. And when God gave Moses instructions for building the tabernacle, He told Moses to hang a veil to separate the Most Holy Place where the priest would meet with Him. (Exodus 26:33)
Yet, mankind doesn’t like to be separate. We like to mix and mingle. We like to be part of the crowd. We like to fit in.
So God says,
You shall be holy to me,
Leviticus 20:26 ESV
for I the LORD am holy
and have separated you from the peoples that you should be mine.
Heavenly Father, please give us the strength to be separate, to stand out from the crowd. Help us to remember that even when we feel alone, You are with us. Please place like-minded believers into our lives who can encourage us and hold up our arms when we feel weak. We especially pray for our children and other young people who have to learn to swim upstream in a current that wants to pull them down. Make us holy for You, our Creator and Father, are holy. In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen.
Genesis 1:4 ESV — And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness.
Genesis 1:6 ESV — And God said, “Let there be an expanse in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters from the waters.”
Genesis 1:14 ESV — And God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night. And let them be for signs and for seasons, and for days and years,”
Exodus 26:33 ESV — And you shall hang the veil from the clasps, and bring the ark of the testimony in there within the veil. And the veil shall separate for you the Holy Place from the Most Holy.
Love God. Love people. – Leviticus 17-19 – 2025 Day 148
Read through the Bible in 2 years: Psalm 118, Leviticus 17-19
Reading through chapter after chapter of unlawful practices and their consequences can feel irrelevant or confusing, but tucked in their midst is this gem:
Love your neighbor as yourself:
Leviticus 19:18b ESV
I am the LORD.
Matthew, Mark, and Luke, recorded Jesus uttering these very words and Paul and James repeated them in their letters. What if we read all of Scripture through the lens Leviticus 19:18, “love your neighbor as yourself”?
- Don’t steal. Love your neighbor as yourself.
- Don’t lie. Love your neighbor as yourself.
- Don’t commit adultery. Love your neighbor as yourself.
- Help the poor. Love your neighbor as yourself.
- Speak encouraging words. Love your neighbor as yourself.
- Make disciples of every nation. Love your neighbor as yourself.
Do you love God? Then love the people that He made. Remember, they’re created in His very own image.
Heavenly Father, help me to love others the way that You have loved me. Help me to love others as much as I love myself. Help me to do good to others even when they hurt my feelings – because that’s how I want to be treated. Help me to speak the truth and speak it with love. I can’t do it on my own, Lord. Please do it through me. In the name of Jesus, my Lord, Amen.
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