January 1, 2021
Psalm 1
1 Blessed is the one
    who does not walk in step with the wicked
or stand in the way that sinners take
    or sit in the company of mockers,
2 but whose delight is in the law of the Lord,
    and who meditates on his law day and night.
3 That person is like a tree planted by streams of water,
    which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither—
    whatever they do prospers.
4 Not so the wicked!
    They are like chaff
    that the wind blows away.
5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
    nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.
6 For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous,
    but the way of the wicked leads to destruction.
New International Version (NIV)
               “Who goes there?”  As the sentinel Psalm through which we enter the book, the first Psalm shows us two very different ways of life and says, “Who are you?  Are you righteous or wicked?”  These days, no one wants to be self-righteous or “holier than thou.”  But do we want to be righteous and holy? 

                The unrighteous are those who walk in the way of the wicked, stand in the way that sinners take and sit in the company of the mockers.  The righteous are those who meditate in God’s law day and night.  Once again I invite you to read through the scriptures with us this year.  This week, one of my prayer partners told me he has read through the Bible twenty-two times since I challenged the church in the beginning of 1999. 

                Dallas Willard wrote, “What we set our minds on shapes us.  Being obsessed with money, sex, fame or politics doesn’t help much.  But setting our minds on Christ will take care of all these things.” 

                We will either be like healthy, fruitful trees planted beside streams of water or like chaff that the wind blows away.  Or as C. S. Lewis put it, “There are only two kinds of people.  Those who pray, ‘Your will be done,' and those to whom God says, 'Alright then, have it your way.’”  God’s will!  God’s word!  God’s way!  Let’s go!
Pray with me:         
Father, help us to read your word this year not only to get through it but to soak in it until it gets through to us.  Make the book live to us.  Show us ourselves in your word.  Show us our sin in your word.  Show us our Savior in your word.  In Jesus’ name we pray.  Amen.
Beginning on January 4, our 2021 Every Day with Jesus readings will follow the Foundations Bible reading plan.  Copies of the reading plan are available at Tallowood Baptist Church, or download your copy here:
https://www.tallowood.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Read-Through-Bible-Download.pdf
We would love for you to join us as we read through the 66 marvelous books of the Bible in one year, while still having the flexibility of reading 5 days per week.  In addition, I will continue my long-standing practice of reading one Psalm a day through the year.  We will also memorize 2 scriptures each week.  As we journal together this year,  Robby Gallaty’s H.E.A.R. plan is a good resource: Highlight a verse that stands out to you, Explain what it means, Apply that truth to your life and Respond to what you’ve read with an action or prayer.
Joyfully, 
Duane 
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