Know God, know peace. No God, no peace. Peace is not something we search for and find. It is a by-product of those who fix their eyes on Jesus. A piece of peace is gained in each moment we abide in God's word.

Bible Reading: Ezekiel 7-12

Verse of the day: Ezekiel 7:25, "When anguish comes, they will seek peace, but there shall be none."

Word of the day: Peace. It is the Hebrew word: שָׁלוֹם (shaw-lome').

I will never forget a sermon I heard maybe 30 years ago. The pastor said, "don't just do what is right – go beyond the right". He wasn't saying to do good works, but to go beyond the call of duty.

Bible Reading: 1 Kings 1-5

Verse of the day: 1 Kings 2:3, "Do your duty to the LORD your God, to walk in His ways, to keep His statutes, His commandments, His ordinances, and His testimonies, according to what is written in the Law of Moses, so that you may succeed in all that you do and wherever you turn,"

Word of the day: Duty; charge. It is the Hebrew word: מִשְׁמֶרֶת (mish-mer'-reth).

It's not what is expected that ensures a job is well done, but what is inspected. And when we are accountable and do what God has commanded us, we will be blessed.

Bible Reading: Exodus 37-40

Verse of the day: Exodus 39:43, "Then Moses inspected all their work. When he found it had been done just as the LORD had commanded him, he blessed them."

Word of the day: Commanded. It is the Hebrew word: צָוָה (tsaw-vaw').

Ever tried to keep somebody out of the cookie jar? It was no problem if there were no cookies, but once there were cookies, temptation seized anyone nearby. So, too, transgression is born when we become aware of the law. Trying to earn what Christ already paid is when good works are bad.

Bible Reading: Gal. 1-3

Verse of the day: Galatians 2:18, "For if I rebuild what I have once destroyed, I prove myself to be a wrongdoer."

Word of the day: Transgressor. It is the Greek word: παραβάτης (par-ab-at'-ace).

No one wants to be a loser. We want to win in this life. But we can win the entire world and still be the biggest loser of them all. The loser wins in God's economy, when we lay down our life for the sake of Christ.

Bible Reading: Luke 9-11

Verse of the day: Luke 9:24, "For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it."

Word of the day: Lose. It is the Greek word: ἀπόλλυμι (ap-ol'-loo-mee).

Choices, choices, choices. There are so many of them to make every day of our lives. But there is one choice that rises above them all. The most important choice we make is to fear God.

Bible Reading: Proverbs 1

Verse of the day: Proverbs 1:29, "For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD."

Word of the day: Choose. It is the Hebrew word: בָּחַר (baw-khar').

When I was little, I wanted my big brothers to defend me when I was under attack. But sometimes they failed to protect me. When we need defending, there is no greater defender than our God.

Bible Reading: Psalms 59-61

Verse of the day: Psalm 59:1, "Deliver me from my enemies, O my God; Defend me from those who rise up against me."

Word of the day: Defend. It is the Hebrew word: שָׂגַב (saw-gab').

To be like someone who is excellent is a compliment. The likeness of anything gives us a glimmer of the real thing. But there is no comparison to the other worldly likeness of our God.

Bible Reading: Ezekiel 1-6

Verse of the day: Ezekiel 1:28, "Like the appearance of the rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day, so was the appearance of the surrounding radiance. Such was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. And when I saw it, I fell on my face and heard a voice speaking."

Word of the day: Likeness. It is the Hebrew word: דְּמוּת (dem-ooth').

Sometimes we don't know how to express our grief and it feels pointless to cry out to God, but those who will admit their need and call out to God will be heard. The most important call we make is a heavenly one.

Bible Reading: 2 Sam. 21-24

Verse of the day: 2 Samuel 22:4, "I call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised, And I am saved from my enemies."

Word of the day: Call. It is the Hebrew word: קָרָא (kaw-raw').

Mercy is such a blessing to receive, but so costly to the giver. Mercy is not meant to be taken for granted. The gift of God's mercy is so we can draw near, not be separated again because of sin.

Bible Reading: Exodus 33-36

Verse of the day: Exodus 33:19, "The LORD replied, "I will make all my goodness pass before you, and I will call out my name, Yahweh, before you. For I will show mercy to anyone I choose, and I will show compassion to anyone I choose."

Word of the day: Mercy. It is the Hebrew word: רָחַם (raw-kham').