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Friday, September 30, 2016

Revelation 5:1-12 (NLT)...

FROM TODAY'S READING (9/30/2016)...

"We don't need more Americans bowing to the Democrat donkey or the Republican elephant. We need more Americans bowing down to the Lion of Judah."
- Todd Starnes, Godless America, pg. 4)

Revelation 5:1-12 (NLT) Then I saw a scroll in the right hand of the one who was sitting on the throne. There was writing on the inside and the outside of the scroll, and it was sealed with seven seals. And I saw a strong angel, who shouted with a loud voice: “Who is worthy to break the seals on this scroll and open it?” But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll and read it.

Then I began to weep bitterly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll and read it. But one of the twenty-four elders said to me, “Stop weeping! Look, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the heir to David’s throne, has won the victory. He is worthy to open the scroll and its seven seals.”

Then I saw a Lamb that looked as if it had been slaughtered, but it was now standing between the throne and the four living beings and among the twenty-four elders. He had seven horns and seven eyes, which represent the sevenfold Spirit of God that is sent out into every part of the earth. He stepped forward and took the scroll from the right hand of the one sitting on the throne. And when he took the scroll, the four living beings and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp, and they held gold bowls filled with incense, which are the prayers of God’s people. And they sang a new song with these words: “You are worthy to take the scroll and break its seals and open it. For you were slaughtered, and your blood has ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. And you have caused them to become a Kingdom of priests for our God. And they will reign on the earth.”

Then I looked again, and I heard the voices of thousands and millions of angels around the throne and of the living beings and the elders. And they sang in a mighty chorus: “Worthy is the Lamb who was slaughtered— to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing.”

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Thursday, September 29, 2016

1 Peter 3:13-17 (NLT)...

FROM TODAY'S READING (9/29/2016)...

"You may not be able to keep people from speaking evil against you, but you can at least stop supplying them with ammunition. As long as you do what is right, their accusations will be empty and only embarrass them. Keep your conduct above criticism!"
- Life Application Bible (LAB) note (1 Peter 3:16)

1 Peter 3:13-17 (NLT) Now, who will want to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you suffer for doing what is right, God will reward you for it. So don’t worry or be afraid of their threats. Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it. But do this in a gentle and respectful way. Keep your conscience clear. Then if people speak against you, they will be ashamed when they see what a good life you live because you belong to Christ. Remember, it is better to suffer for doing good, if that is what God wants, than to suffer for doing wrong!

Image: Creative Commons (wikimedia)


Tuesday, September 27, 2016

Mark 2:15-17 (NLT)...

FROM TODAY'S READING (9/28/2016)...

"Don't tell me what you ate, tell me who you ate with."
- Greek lady (Anthony Bourdain, Parts Unknown)

Mark 2:15-17 (NLT) Later, Levi invited Jesus and his disciples to his home as dinner guests, along with many tax collectors and other disreputable sinners. (There were many people of this kind among Jesus’ followers.) But when the teachers of religious law who were Pharisees saw him eating with tax collectors and other sinners, they asked his disciples, “Why does he eat with such scum? ” 
When Jesus heard this, he told them, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do. I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.”

Hebrews 13:1-3 (NLT) Keep on loving each other as brothers and sisters. Don’t forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it! Remember those in prison, as if you were there yourself. Remember also those being mistreated, as if you felt their pain in your own bodies.

Image: Creative Commons (wikihistoria.wikispaces.org)







Proverbs 22:1 (NLT)...

FROM TODAY'S READING (9/27/2016)...

"I just got the news at about 8:45 that Arnold had passed. I was shocked to hear that we lost a great friend—and that golf lost a great friend.
At this point I don’t know what happened, and I suppose it is not important what happened. What is important is that we just lost one of the incredible people in the game of golf and in all of sports. My friend—many people’s friend—just wore out. I know he was in Pittsburgh trying to find out how to make himself better. That’s what Arnold has always tried to do. He has always been a fighter and he never gave up on anything. He didn’t give up even now. Maybe his body did, but I know Arnold’s will and spirit did not."
- Jack Nicklaus (regarding his friend Arnold Palmer)

Proverbs 22:1 (NLT) Choose a good reputation over great riches; being held in high esteem is better than silver or gold.

Image: Creative Commons (Google/AP)




Friday, September 9, 2016

Philippians 4:13 (NLT)...

FROM TODAY'S READING (9/9/2016)...

   "I believe in Jesus Christ, and I believe He gave me the passion and determination to continue surfing. You fall off the horse, and you get back on. I had to go for it."
- Bethany Hamilton (Soul Surfer)

1 Timothy 6:12 (NLT) Fight the good fight for the true faith. Hold tightly to the eternal life to which God has called you, which you have declared so well before many witnesses.

Philippians 4:13 (NLT) For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.

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Thursday, September 8, 2016

Mark 4:38141 (NLT)...


FROM TODAY'S READING (9/8/2016)...

"Sometimes God calms the storm.  Sometimes He lets the storm rage and calms His child."
- Leslie Gould, The Amish Nanny

Mark 4:38-41 (NLT) Jesus was sleeping at the back of the boat with his head on a cushion. The disciples woke him up, shouting, “Teacher, don’t you care that we’re going to drown?” 
When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Silence! Be still!” Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was a great calm. Then he asked them, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?” 
The disciples were absolutely terrified. “Who is this man?” they asked each other. “Even the wind and waves obey him!”

Psalms 94:18-19 (NLT) I cried out, “I am slipping!” but your unfailing love, O LORD, supported me. When doubts filled my mind, your comfort gave me renewed hope and cheer.

Matthew 11:28-30 (NLT) Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”

Image: Creative Commons (Wikipedia/public domain)


Wednesday, September 7, 2016

James 1:22-25 (NLT)...

FROM TODAY'S READING (9/7/2016)...

"Integrity is doing the right thing, even when no one is watching."
- C.S. Lewis

"Knowing what’s right doesn’t mean much unless you do what’s right." 
- Theodore Roosevelt

But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it.
James 1:22-25 (NLT)

Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it.
James 4:17 (NLT)

Image: Creative Commons (Flickr:Joost J. Bakker)


Tuesday, September 6, 2016

1 Peter 1:6-7 (NLT)...

FROM TODAY'S READING (9/6/2016)...

"Every challenge you encounter in life is a fork in the road. You have the choice to choose which way to go – backward, forward, breakdown or breakthrough.” 
- Ifeanyi Enoch Onuoha

1 Peter 1:6-7 (NLT) So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while. These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.

Image: Creative Commons (Google Images)



Monday, September 5, 2016

MATTHEW 7:17-20 (NLT)...

FROM TODAY'S READING (9/5/2016)...

“If you're afraid of getting a rotten apple, don't go to the barrel. Get it off the tree.”
- Cop to Elliot Ness (Movie, The Untouchables)

Matthew 7:17-20 (NLT) A good tree produces good fruit, and a bad tree produces bad fruit. A good tree can’t produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit. So every tree that does not produce good fruit is chopped down and thrown into the fire. Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions.
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Friday, September 2, 2016

Romans 12:17-21 (NLT)...

FROM TODAY'S READING (9/2/2016)...

"Never cut what you can untie."
- Joseph Joubert (1754-1824)

Romans 12:17-21 (NLT) Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable. Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone. 
Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say, “I will take revenge; I will pay them back,” says the LORD. Instead, “If your enemies are hungry, feed them. If they are thirsty, give them something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals of shame on their heads.” Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good.

Image: Creative Commons (Wikipedia/Cobanyastigi)


Thursday, September 1, 2016

Matthew 6:33-34 (NLT)...

FROM TODAY'S READING (9/1/2016)...

"Don't count the days. Make the days count."
- Muhammad Ali

Romans 8:38-39 (NLT) And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Matthew 6:33-34 (NLT) Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.
Image: Creative Commons (Dafne Cholet)