He came for testimony,

to bear witness

       to the light,

that all might believe

through him.

         John 1. 7

(You are not

       on jury duty.

You are on the stand

as a witness 

to reveal the truth.

Your life 

  is evidence of 

  the gospel in real life,

the power of His Spirit

   live streaming in you.

Why are you here

in this place,

in this awkward situation,

among these people?

Bear witness to the light.

Even in this.)

Serve the LORD 

   with gladness!

         Psalm 100. 2

(What does that 

look like today?

In this.

Even in this.

Am I bringing Him

glory in the hard places

or just my complaints?

How can I approach 

this with a happy heart?)

...and it became a snare to Gideon

          and his family.

                  Judges 8. 27

(What has a hold on you?

Do not let a good thing

         or even a great thing

become the ultimate thing.

Idols usually start small,

and the worship of any idol

       always becomes a snare.

The first warning sign of an idol

is that it erodes our relationships

    with others and with God.

And it always comes with

a list of justifications.)

And Gideon divided the 300 men

into three companies,

and put trumpets 

into the hands of all of them

          and empty jars,

with torches inside the jars.

                  Judges 7. 16

(God always uses the unlikely 

against the odds

to do impossible things

in overwhelming situations

       for His glory.

God is never limited by what

    is stacked against us.

His greater victory

emerges in unexpected ways.

Even in what you are facing,

         "Trust Me.")

And he said to him,

"Pray, Lord,

     how can I deliver Israel?

Behold, my clan is weakest 

                 in Manasseh,

and I am least in my family."

And the LORD said to him,

"But I will be with you..."

               Judges 6. 15-16

(His Presence makes

      all the difference.

There is always victory

          in obedience

sometimes in ways

    beyond our understanding.

"But I will be with you..."

How does that reality change

my vision in this situation?

How does God 

        change my heart?)

Does not the LORD go out

        before you?

             Judges 4. 14

(Follow the LORD into this,

not for a particular outcome,

but in faithfulness to Him.

The first step of His victory

     is a willing heart.)

It is good to give thanks

          to the LORD,

to sing praises

          to Your name,

          O Most High,

to declareYour steadfast love

   in the morning,

and Your faithfulness 

                 by night.

               Psalm 92. 1-2

(Bookends of the day

and everything inbetween.

Circumstances may

            or may not change,

but God transforms

                      my heart.

Even better.)