Are you a FOOLISH woman or a WISE one? – Ruth 2 – 2025 Day 291

Read through the Bible in 2 Years: Psalm 79, Ruth 2

“The wisest of women builds her house, but folly with her own hands tears it down.”

Proverbs 14:1 (ESV)

Matthew Henry’s writes in his commentary on Proverbs 14:1,

A good wife is a great blessing to a family. By a fruitful wife a family is multiplied and replenished with children, and so built up. But by a prudent wife, one that is pious, industrious, and considerate, the affairs of the family are made to prosper, debts are paid, portions raised.

Many a family is brought to ruin by ill housewifery, as well as by ill husbandry. A foolish woman, that has no fear of God nor regard to her business, that is wilful, and wasteful, and humoursome, that indulges her ease and appetite, and is all for jaunting and feasting, cards and the play-house, though she come to a plentiful estate, and to a family beforehand, she will impoverish and waste it, and will as certainly be the ruin of her house as if she plucked it down with her hands; and the husband himself, with all his care, can scarcely prevent it.”

This reminded me of the passage in Matthew 7:24-27 about the wise man who built his house on the rock, versus the foolish man who built it on the sand. In looking up Matthew 7, I came across the similar, though less well-known, passage in Luke.

“Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you? Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like: he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built. But the one who hears and does not do them is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the stream broke against it, immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great.”

Luke 6:46-49

The wise woman builds her house on the firm foundation of the rock, obeying God’s Word, so when the storms of life come, her house stands. The foolish woman builds her house on the sand. She does not trouble herself to dig down to the solid foundation. She cannot be troubled to obey God’s words. When the storms of life come, her house falls.

Yet, consider this, the foolish woman of Proverbs 14:1 is tearing down her OWN house with her OWN hands. She doesn’t need any storms to tear it down for she is tearing it down herself, knowing God’s Word, but not obeying it.

My prayer is that I will spend my days building my house, not tearing it down.

Heavenly Father, help us to know Your Word and abide in it, to trust and obey Your every command. Help us to build our house on the Lord Jesus Christ that when the storms come, we can stand firm.  Help us to build our families with encouraging words and faithful lives of service for Your glory and our good.  In the name of Jesus Christ we pray. Amen.

I Set My Hope

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LOVE your Mother-in-law. LOVE your Daughter-in-law. – Ruth 1 – 2025 Day 287

Read through the Bible in 2 Years: Psalm 75, Ruth 1

Did you know that the famous words from Ruth 1:16, “For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God,” were spoken by Ruth to her mother-in-law, not her husband? Well, now you do. In fact, Ruth said this to her mother-in-law after her husband’s death.

My grandma made this for me as a wedding gift. Ruth 1:16.

Little did my Grandma know when she cross-stitched Ruth 1:16 for a wedding gift for me, what an enormous impact my mother-in-law would have on my life. To be honest, as a young bride, I struggled in my relationship with my mother-in-law, but God… God used my mother-in-law’s patience, kindness, and forgiveness to draw me to better understand God’s patience, kindness, and forgiveness.

How’s your relationship with your mother-in-law? Rather than dwelling on all the things she’s done wrong, try dwelling instead on all the things she’s done right. You married her son. She must’ve done something well. Next time you start thinking about all the ways you’d like her to change, try looking at what you could change to improve your relationship with her. Could you be more patient, kind, and forgiving toward her? Start there and see what God does. And if you need to make a call or have a face-to-face chat about something that happened days, months, or years ago, do it. Today. Don’t let bitterness take root and spoil the good fruit that God wants to bear through you.

Baby #1 – very tired parents, very happy grandparents
At Baby #1’s wedding shower
The day I first became a Mother-in-law

Heavenly Father, Thank You, Lord, for the gift of a mother-in-law who loves You and who loves me. Help me to be grateful and to recognize that this truly is a gift. Thank you for blessing my son with a wife and my daughters with husbands. Give me the wisdom and strength I need to be a patient, kind, and forgiving mother-in-law myself. In the Name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.

I Will Trust My Savior Jesus – City Alight
FORMERATHEIST58

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God Speaks to Women, Too – Judges 13 – 2025 Day 278

Read through the Bible in 2 Years: Psalm 66, Judges 13

An angel appeared to Hagar in the desert (Genesis 16) and to Mary, the mother of our Savior Jesus (Luke 1). The Lord answered the prayers of Hannah when she asked for a son (1 Samuel 1). Abigail’s discernment and quick actions spared David from having revenge on foolish Nabal (1 Samuel 25).

Here, in Judges 13, the Lord has chosen Manoah’s unnamed wife, a barren, childless woman, to be His messenger to her husband.

Sisters, God wants to use YOU as a blessing to your husband, your children, your church, and your community. He has a purpose for YOU. If you’re married, encourage your husband as your head by sincerely, genuinely sharing your life with him. Whether you’re married or not, whether you have a house full of kids or not, if God has chosen you as His child, then He has chosen you to be His ambassador, a messenger of the most high God.

Brothers, God wants to use YOU as a blessing to your wife, your children, your church, and your community. He has a purpose for YOU. If you’re married, encourage your wife as your helper by sincerely, genuinely listening to her. If God has chosen YOU as His child, then He has chosen YOU to be His ambassador, a messenger of the most high God.

Heavenly Father, I pray that we would call out to You, seeking You, morning by morning and evening by evening and that we would hear Your voice as You answer me. Thank You for choosing me to be a vessel of Your grace. May that grace overflow to my husband and my children and their children. May that grace bring glory to Your Name. Give my husband and I discernment as we listen for Your voice. Help us to know when You are speaking and grant us unity in Your Holy Spirit. Help us both to be humble toward each other and to You. In the Name of Jesus Christ I pray. Amen.

Give Me Jesus – Fernando Ortega
Does God only speak to MEN? – FormerAtheist58

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Who’s Fighting Your Battles? – Judges 7 – 2025 Day 272

Read through the Bible in 2 Years: Psalm 60, Judges 7

The LORD said to Gideon, “The people with you are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hand, lest Israel boast over me, saying, ‘My own hand has saved me.’

Judges 7:2 ESV

This passage has had a special place in my heart since one night about twenty years ago when the Holy Spirit convicted me about how often I used manipulation to get my husband to do what I wanted. That night, the Lord opened my eyes to the importance of trusting Him to fight my battles, rather than trusting my own skills of argumentation to get my way. That night, I decided to quit fighting against my husband and to start praying for him. That night, I finally recognized that I might be winning these marital battles, but I was losing the war for my marriage.

Can any of you relate?

Ask yourself what weapons you’re using to fight your own battles: Nagging and complaining? Threatening and yelling? Silence and the cold shoulder? Put those weapons away, friends. They’re not the Lord’s weapons; they’re the enemy’s.

If the Lord can cause the entire Middianite army to kill one another, giving the Israelites success by merely blowing their trumpets, then surely He conquer the heart of your stubborn loved one.

Put on the whole armor of God, the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shoes of the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, and the helmet of salvation. And take up your weapon, the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, and start praying in the Spirit, asking Him to fight for you. (Ephesians 6:12-17)

Join forces with the Lord.
Remember who your real enemy is.
Quit fighting your spiritual brothers and sisters
and start fighting the spiritual forces of evil.

Heavenly Father, we need You to fight our battles for us. Open our eyes to see the spiritual battle that we are in. Make us soldiers in Your army, wielding that Sword of the Spirit, your Word, with excellence and accuracy, praying without ceasing, and seeking Your face for direction day after day. Let us not grow weary of well-doing. Give us clean hands and pure hearts. Help us to root out those spirits of bitterness and selfishness. Protect us from pride and manipulation. Make us more like You. In the Name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and our Brother, we pray. Amen.

Rock of Ages
FormerAtheist58 – WHO’S FIGHTING YOUR BATTLES – Full-Length
FormerAtheist58 – WHO’S FIGHTING YOUR BATTLES – 3 minutes

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Tearing Down Your Father’s Altars: Gideon and Me – Judges 6 – 2025 Day 271

Read through the Bible in 2 Years: Psalm 59, Judges 6

I know that yesterday’s post was also from Judges 6, but I hope you’ll bear with me.

In Judges 6, God told Gideon that He is sending him to save Israel from the hand of Midian, but before sending Gideon into that battle, the Lord tells Gideon to take his father’s bulls and pull down his father’s altar to Baal. Then, Gideon is to “cut down the Asherah that is beside it and build an altar to the LORD your God on the top of the stronghold here, with stones laid in due order. Then take the second bull and offer it as a burnt offering with the wood of the Asherah that you shall cut down.” (Judges 6:25-26 ESV) Gideon obeys God, but for fear of his family and the men of the town, he does it at night so no one sees him.

The next morning, when the townspeople awake, they notice the broken down altar and the cut down Asherah and the bull atop the altar. They immediately go to Gideon’s father, Joash, and demand that Gideon be killed for such an action.

Can you guess how Joash reacts? He defends Gideon, refusing to harm his son, and calling into question the power of Baal, saying, “If he is a god, let him contend for himself, because his altar has been broken down.” (Judges 6:31b)

Whoa. I was shocked, weren’t you? I expected his dad to be really mad and lash out at Gideon for destroying his stuff, especially his altar!

I wonder how many of you have had to tear down
altars that your parents have built.

Maybe your parents worshipped at the altar of success, power, fame, and prestige. Maybe they worshipped wealth, spending their lives in pursuit of bigger cars, houses, and toys. Maybe they worshipped human philosophy and wisdom. Maybe they worshipped false gods of their own making or false gods made by other men through the centuries.

And maybe you, like Gideon, and me, and so many others, have been afraid to start chipping away at those altars for fear of your parents’ rejection, disapproval, or worse.

But as we saw in Gideon’s life, you never know how the Lord might work. Maybe the Lord has already begun working on your parents’ hearts and they just need you to take that first step of obedience in helping them to pull down those altars. Or maybe the Lord wants you to heed the words of Jesus in Matthew 10.

“Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. And a person’s enemies will be those of his own household.

Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.”

Matthew 10:34-39 ESV

What altar is the Lord calling you to tear down today?

Remember, friend, if you have surrendered your life to His Lordship, He is with you. Go in His power and might. Be a woman of valor for the Lord is fighting your battles for you.

Heavenly Father, please help me not to afraid – not because life isn’t scary, but because You are with me. Help me to love others more than myself and help me to love You most and best. You are worthy of it all. If you are for me, who can be against me? What can man do to me? In You I have all I need. In the Mighty, Majestic Name of Jesus Christ I pray. Amen.

Worthy of It All – Cece Winans
TEARING DOWN YOUR FATHER’S ALTARS

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A New Generation – Judges 2 – 2025 Day 267

Read through the Bible in 2 Years: Psalm 55, Judges 2

On October 1, 2023, my youngest son was baptized. Watching him commit his life to Jesus Christ is a joy like no other.

I have found such peace, comfort, and hope in knowing the Lord. I believe His Word that eternal life is only available to those who trust in Christ and that eternal damnation awaits those who reject Him. It absolutely breaks my heart into a million pieces to think that any of my children or grandchildren might abandon the Lord and wander away after other gods.

I believe that I have done my best through many ups and downs to be faithful to the Lord in shepherding and discipling my children, but ultimately their faith must be their own. I can’t force anyone to believe, but I can pray – and so can you – for God to open their eyes, that they might receive Him by faith.

Heavenly Father, I pray that my children and grandchildren and the generations not yet born will come to You by faith. Let them not wander away after other gods and turn their backs on You, the One True God. I pray that this generation will walk day by day in obedience, trusting in Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord. Send out a mighty army of Christ-followers to share this good news to the ends of the earth! In the name of Jesus I pray. Amen.

City Alight – Rise with the Sun
Teach What is Good

The Love Chapter – 1 Corinthians 13 – 2025 Day 248

Read through the Bible in 2 Years: Psalm 36, 1 Corinthians 13

If I choose all the strongest verbs and most descriptive adjectives and write the most compelling blog on the web, but have not love, I am no greater than a tabloid writer or paparazzi photographer.

If I study the Bible every single day and night and tell every person I meet on the street all about the good news of the gospel, but have not love, I am no greater than a Pharisee or prosperity preacher.

If I homeschool all my kids and feed them organic fruits and vegetables with every meal, but have not love, I am no greater than Elmo or the Jolly Green Giant.

If I teach preschoolers every Sunday morning and women every Wednesday night, but have not love, I gain nothing.

If I volunteer every Tuesday at my local food pantry and march every Friday morning at the abortion clinic, but have not love, it profits neither me nor my neighbor.


“If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.
If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.

Love is patient and kind; Love does not envy or boast; It is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; It is not irritable or resentful; It does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.

Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends.

As for prophecies, they will pass away; As for tongues, they will cease; As for knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways.

For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.

So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.”

– 1 Corinthians 13:1-13 ESV

Heavenly Father, I love You, Lord, because You first loved me. You made the first move, the move of love. You pursued me while I hated You. Strengthen me to love others like that. Help me to love others as You loved me. Help me to love them while they are yet sinners, for that is how You loved me. You *are* love and all You *do* is loving. Make me more like You, for I am Your child. I want to live and move and have my being in You, that I might live and move and have my being in Love. To the glory and praise of Your Holy Name. Amen.

Love Never Fails – 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a – Truth Songs
Here is Love, Vast as the Ocean (Everlasting Praise) –  Live from Sing! – The Gettys, Sandra McCracken
Using the Bible Memory App to memorize 1 Corinthians 13
Today’s “Teach What is Good” podcast on YouTube.

Or click here to watch today’s podcast on YouTube.

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The Sun Rises Even in the Rain – 1 Corinthians 2 – 2025 Day 239

Read through the Bible in 2 Years: Psalm 27; 1 Corinthians 2

Two years ago, when I originally wrote this post, I’d woken up early because I wanted to watch the sun rise. I was eagerly anticipating the sun turning the sky pink, purple, and orange as it crested the horizon over the lake where my sisters-in-Christ and I have been staying since Friday. Instead, I was greeted by a rainstorm beating down on the metal roof of the porch under which I was taking shelter.

But still, the sun rose.

But still, it got brighter minute by minute.

But still, a new day dawned.

Friends, God is still on His throne even when we don’t see His glory. God still reigns even when His presence is hidden behind clouds, and His voice can’t be heard over the pouring rain.

In God’s perfect wisdom, He had decreed before the ages that His Own Son would be hung upon a cross to die for the sins of man. In the eyes of human wisdom or logic, it appeared that Satan had won and God had been defeated.

Oh, sisters, but God. Up from the grave He arose!

Suddenly, the cries of a bird rang out over the pounding of the storm. The birds were awake and singing in the trees, despite the rain. The storm won’t stop them, and it shouldn’t stop us, either.

Darkness can’t overpower the light. The rain can’t drown out the sun. The sun still rises, even in a thunderstorm.

Heavenly Father, Death could not contain Him. A grave could not defeat Him. Darkness, no matter how deep, cannot keep the King of Glory from shining. I pray that our faith would be in You and You alone. You are Almighty. You are Victorious! No storm can delay what You have decreed. Your purposes will stand. You don’t always give us “cream colored ponies and crisp apple strudels.” Sometimes you give us pitch black nights and thunderstorms that last for hour upon hour. Help me remember that the trees need the rain so they can grow, and the world needs the darkness of night so it can rest. Help me trust You, rather than myself. Help me to doubt human reasoning and believe Your Word. Help me remember that You reign over the rain. In the Good and Sovereign Name of Jesus Christ I pray. Amen.

“Draw Me Close” – Shane and Shane

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As For Me and My House – Joshua 24 – 2025 Day 236

Read through the Bible in 2 Years: Psalm 24, Joshua 24

“Now therefore fear the LORD and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the LORD, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” …

“Then Joshua said to the people, “You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen the LORD, to serve him.” And they said, “We are witnesses.”

He said, “Then put away the foreign gods that are among you, and incline your heart to the LORD, the God of Israel.” And the people said to Joshua, “The LORD our God we will serve, and his voice we will obey.”

Joshua 24:14-15; 22-24 ESV

Heavenly Father, What foreign gods am I serving? Where is my heart not inclined toward You? Where am I still limping between the world and the Lord rather than fully surrendering all to You? Show me where I’m falling short, Lord. I don’t want to be blind to my own iniquity. I want to love You more, that I might serve You better, for You are worthy and good. I pray that my whole family will be surrendered to Your will and live for Your glory. In the Name of Jesus Christ who died in my place I pray. Amen.

Click HERE to watch or listen to today’s podcast.

Teach What is Good Podcast Episode 33 “As for Me and My House”
As for Me and My House – Keith & Kristyn Getty, Cochren & Co, Live from “Sing”
As for Me and My Home – Brandon Lake

God Keeps His Promises – Joshua 23 – 2025 Day 235

Read through the Bible in 2 Years: Psalm 23, Joshua 23

God is faithful to keep every word of every promise. If He said it, we can believe it. We may not know exactly when it will come to pass, but we can trust that it will.

Like He said to the Israelites as they took possession of the Promised Land,

But just as all the good things that the LORD your God promised concerning you have been fulfilled for you, so the LORD will bring upon you all the evil things, until he has destroyed you from off this good land that the LORD your God has given you.

Joshua 23:15 ESV

Are we promise-keeping parents? If we tell our child that we will take them for ice cream if they finish all their chores, do we do it? If we tell our child that they will get a spanking if they do that ‘one more time,’ do we do it? Am I the only one who has an easier time keeping my promise of a treat than my promise of a punishment?

In God’s absolute sovereignty, omniscient wisdom, and omnipotent power, He is able to keep every promise. Let’s trust Him and cling to Him and try to be more like Him which includes not making random threats that we’re never going to keep, nor manipulating our children with promises of rewards that we don’t intend to give.

Heavenly Father, I’m so glad that I can trust You. I’m so thankful that You are honest and faithful, mighty and true. You are a promise keeping God. If you’ve said it, I can believe it. Grow my faith, Lord. Bury Your Word deep in my soul, water it with Your Spirit, bathe it in the sunshine of Your love, that it may bear great multitudes of fruit and bring You glory. I love You, Lord. Turn my heart, and my mouth, to sing Your praise and to speak Your Holy Words to others. In the name of Jesus Christ, the Words made flesh, I pray. Amen.

Great is Thy Faithfulness – Hymnology
Promises – The Worship Initiative
Promises – Crossroads Kids

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