Scripture for Friday, August 18 (8/18)

The scripture for today, August 18 (8/18), is Mark 8:18f as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

00-cover-kindle-medium-new“Do you have eyes but fail to see, and ears but fail to hear? And don’t you remember when I broke [in pieces] the five loaves for the five thousand [hungry people]? How many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?”

Economic and political times are uncertain and unstable right now for a lot of people. Jobs may be hard to find.  Jobs are there, but you do not qualify for them. Your health is bad and now you cannot work.  Perhaps you have been hit by a sudden debt you see no way to pay.

How much do you worry about it? Planning is good. But worrying? Has God forsaken you in the past?

Sit down and make a list of every time you made it through a bad period of time in your life. How did God get you through it then? This is your proof.

Remember your proof.

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#worry, #problems, #debts, #finances, #job, #home, #family, #trust, #faith

Scripture for Friday, August 4 (8/4)

The scripture for today, August 4 (8/4), is Acts 8:4 as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

00-PAUL COVER-Medium-“Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went.”

Sometimes our plans get scattered, our dreams shattered. We lose our home, our job, our chance at an education, our savings, our family.

Satan loves to discourage us. He’s good at it. But Romans 8:28 says that God can make something good come out of all things ~ good or bad.

What about you? What if, for instance, you lose your home or job or worse? Will it make you bitter?

 It apparently did not make the early Christians bitter. How could that be? They had been forced out of jobs, out of homes, out of their country. Some Christian friends had been killed before they could escape.

There was something about them.  Something different. They counted it joy to be considered worthy of suffering for Christ. (James 1:2) They did not slink around or hide so it wouldn’t happen again. They rose up out of the ashes. They rose up and declared they had an eternal home no one could snatch from them.

How about you? If you lost everything, would you keep your joy or turn bitter?  What if that loss was because of Jesus? Would you turn right around and declare him again anyway? Really and truly, would you?

What stuff is your Christianity made of? Getting up in front of a congregation and expounding or performing, or being on committees? Or is it teaching one on one how to be saved? Where are your priorities? What part of Christianity brings the kind of joy that keeps on going, even in the ashes?

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#joy, #bitterness, #loss, #salary, #education, #house, #fire, #flood, #war, #persecution, #RunAway, #troubles, #problems, #priorities, #Christianity, #SoulSaving

Scripture for Wednesday, August 2 (8/2)

00-COVER-KINDLEThe scripture for today, August 2 (8/2), is Matthew 8:2 as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

A man with leprosy came and knelt before him and said, ‘Lor if you are willing, you can make me clean.’ Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. ‘I am willing,’ he said. ‘Be clean!’ Immediately he was cured of his leprosy.’ “

People in Jesus’ day who had leprosy had to live outside of town in what we would call a leper colony. And if someone without leprosy started getting close to them, they were required to call out, “Unclean! Unclean!”

But here was a man who apparently pushed his way through a crowd where he didn’t belong. He didn’t ask Jesus if he could heal him; he asked if he was willing to. After all, he was “unclean”. Remarkably, Jesus said yes.

Then Jesus did another remarkable thing: He touched the man. He touched the leprosy. Not only was he willing to be seen with an unclean man, he was willing to touch him.

Jesus still does this today. When we come to him with a diseased heart wondering if we are good enough, Jesus reaches out across the centuries and touches us. And his voice echoes across the centuries and says, “I am willing.”

No matter how much sin mars your life, Jesus still today can say, “Be clean.”

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#sin, #dirt, #unclean, #touch, #prayer, #diseases, #heart, #blessing, #cure, #cleansing, #healing, #brokenness, #problems, #troubles, #compassion, #humility

Scripture for Sunday, July 30 (7/30)

inside-cover-mediumThe scripture for today, July 30 (7/30), is John 7:30 as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

“At this, they tried to seize him, but no one laid a hand on him because his time had not yet come.”

Even though during the last year of his life, many people wanted to kill Jesus out of jealousy or fear or pure meanness, he was never afraid to keep teaching. Why? Because he knew his life was ultimately in the hands of the heavenly Father.

Do we feel fear sometimes because of things going on around us? Do we fear failure, or ruin, or false rumors, or even imprisonment or our life? Remember, each life is in the heavenly Father’s hands.

So, do not fear. Keep on keeping on. Hold fast. Stand firm. Do the right thing. Stand up for Jesus. His Father will not let you come to any permanent harm. And, if some day, your time does come, know that God has everything under control. And God will never, ever, ever stop loving you.

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#fear, #problems, #forgotten, #dread, #control, #GodsHands, #HeavenlyFather, #forever

Scripture for Thursday, July 27 (7/27)

The scripture for today, July 27 (7/27), is Luke 7:27 as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

0-Joseph-Cover-Kindle-Medium“This is the one about whom it is written: ‘I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.’ “

“The way” could also be considered “the path” or “the road”. To prepare “the way” would be to straighten out the curves temporarily leading in the wrong direction, or clear out the stumbling rocks, or fill in the jarring ruts made when it rains.

You can prepare “the way” ahead of crises for your loved ones by example, by being a true friend, by prayer, by sharing the Word of God. Life is hard. Or do you know someone just blossoming with a talent? Prepare the way for better things for them with your encouragement.

Are you preparing “the way” for people you know?

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#encouragement, #prayer, #problems, #talents, #crisis

Scripture for Monday, July 17 (7/17)

The scripture for today, July 17 (7/17), is 1st Corinthians 7:17 as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

0-Mefiboset-KINDLE Medium“Nevertheless, each one should retain the place in life that the Lord assigned to him and to which God has called him.”

In some situations in life, this scripture is hard to accept. Sometimes life gets very, very hard. Sometimes it is hard to keep smiling, even to keep breathing. When will it end? Will it ever end?

But can it be that this is where God wants you? Can it be that the difficulties in your life right now are your assignments from God? God fights Evil from heaven and it is our place to fight Evil from earth. It is an ongoing battle. “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (Ephesians 6:12).

For some reason that cannot be understood right now, you are where God wants you to be. This is your assignment from God. Remember, we are “ambassadors for Christ” (II Corinthians 5:20). We must show the world that “all things work together for good to those who love the Lord” (Romans 8:28).

As a soldier for Christ, be brave. Think with a clear head. Hold fast. Stand firm.  Carry out your assignment.

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#assignment, #responsibility, #governments, #rulers, #dictators, #problems, #difficulties, #fight, #soldier, #warrior, #battle, #Evil, #Satan, #devil

Scripture for Sunday, July 16 (7/16)

The scripture for today, July 16 (7/16), is Genesis 7:16 as found in the Old Testament of the Bible:

0-THEY MET JESUS-Medium-front cover“The animals going in were male and female of every living thing, as God had commanded Noah. Then the Lord shut him in.”

Does your life sometimes feel like a downpour of unending bad events or a flood of tragedies? Whenever that happens, why not just enter an ark of safety and let God shut the door? When God shuts the door on something, try to recognize it and take advantage of its peace and quiet.

Our ark of safety is in our mind, our heart, our soul. Our ark of safety is quietness in Jesus.

“My heart is not proud, O Lord….But I have stilled and quieted my soul” (Psalm 131:1f)

“In quietness and trust is your strength” (Isaiah 30:15b)

 “The fruit of righteousness will be peace; the effect of righteousness will be quietness and confidence forever” (Isaiah 32:17).

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#troubles, #problems, #tragedies, #rest, #safety, #quietness, #stillness, #trust, #peace, #confidence

Scripture for Monday, July 10 (7/10)

The scripture for today, July 10 (7/10), is Psalm 7:10 as found in the Old Testament of the Bible:

00-COVER-KINDLE“My shield is God Most High, who saves the upright in heart.”

We wouldn’t need a shield if everything on earth was good. But God gave us free will to love him or not, to follow him or not. He did not want robots to love and follow him, for that is not true love or true commitment.

Each of us has an assignment in life: To be strong in the Lord when others want to tear us away from him. To be an example. Remember Romans 8:38 ~ we cannot be more than conquerors unless we have something to conquer.

So, when sometimes things get too difficult for us (and they do from time to time), God stands ready to shield us while we rest.

He will never leave us alone.

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#problems, #troubles, #obstacles, #enemies, #conquering, #prayer, #persistence, #loyalty, #blessing, #reward, #success, #rest

Scripture for Wednesday, June 28 (6/28)

The scripture for today, June 28 (6/28), is Luke 6:28f as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

0-BK 7-ShadowOfDeath-Cover-new-Medium“Bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. Do to others as you would have them do to you.” 

There was a book published several years ago entitled, Hurt People Hurt People. There are some people out there who have been hurt and then turn bitter. They lash out at everyone. One method they use is when someone tries to console them over a lost loved one by saying, “I know how you feel.” Then the hurt person lashes out at the other person and says, “You DON’T know how I feel!  How dare you pretend that you do!”

That is a hurt person trying to hurt someone else. It’s as though they are bragging, “My hurt is so amazingly great, any effort on your part to understand is puny and not worthy of the greatness of my hurt.”

How do you react to your pain? Do you run people off? Or do people admire you for your courage? When you feel cursed, do you curse back, or do you bless?

 

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#curse, #bless, #problems, #troubles, #grace, #hurt, #loss

Scripture for Tuesday, June 27 (6/27)

The scripture for today, June 27 (6/27), is Daniel 6:27 as found in the Old Testament of the Bible:

0-Bk3-HeartsAfire-COVER-Kindle.medium-new“He [God] rescues and he saves, he performs signs and wonders in the heavens and on the earth. He has rescued Daniel from the power of the lions.”

This was proclaimed by none other than Darius, Emperor of Persia and Babylon. He normally worshiped idols. What made him respect God? It was Daniel’s example of being true to God no matter what.

Everyone has problems. You can consider them opportunities. People of the world do not see any benefits to Christianity in their everyday life. You can show them the advantage by how you face your own difficulties. They will notice.

A friend of mine was a logger (lumberjack). This big guy got up at 4 AM every day and didn’t get home from work and finish eating dinner until about an hour before bedtime. So, he began reading his Bible out in the forests during his lunch break. The other men made fun of him.

They had to ride a small bus together to get deep into the forest, and the guys would harass him on the bus. One day they harassed and teased him so bad because of his Christianity (he wouldn’t cuss and swear with or at them) and Bible reading, that he asked the bus driver to stop. He got out and walked ten miles toward his home.

Some time later, one of the men who had teased and harassed my friend went to him in private with a problem. He said, “I teased and harassed you with everyone else, but deep down I admired you.” Then he went on to explain his problem to my friend “because you are the only one I know to turn to.”

So today, if you are facing a problem, face it together with God. Face it with courage. Face it with the belief that it is for a reason and that reason may be so you can be an example of godly strength to others. Give it a try.

You can do it!

 

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#Christianity, #example, #troubles, #problems, #tragedy, #threats, #courage, #bravery, #confidence, #persecution, #harrassment, #teasing, #admire, #strength, #weakness