Proverbs 8:12-16 (NLT)...

FROM TODAY'S READING (9/30/2013)...

"It is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to emplore His protection and favor."

George Washington

Proverbs 8:12-16 (NLT) “I, Wisdom, live together with good judgment. I know where to discover knowledge and discernment. All who fear the Lord will hate evil. Therefore, I hate pride and arrogance, corruption and perverse speech. Common sense and success belong to me. Insight and strength are mine. Because of me, kings reign, and rulers make just decrees. Rulers lead with my help, and nobles make righteous judgments. “I love all who love me. Those who search will surely find me. 

Luke 6:46-49 (NLT)...

FROM TODAY'S READING (9/27/2013)...

Love to Christ is proved by doing
the things which He commands,
and not merely saying, "Lord, Lord."
C. H. Mackintosh (1820-1896)

Luke 6:46-49 (NLT) “So why do you keep calling me ‘Lord, Lord!’ when you don’t do what I say? I will show you what it’s like when someone comes to me, listens to my teaching, and then follows it. It is like a person building a house who digs deep and lays the foundation on solid rock. When the floodwaters rise and break against that house, it stands firm because it is well built. But anyone who hears and doesn’t obey is like a person who builds a house without a foundation. When the floods sweep down against that house, it will collapse into a heap of ruins.”

1 Corinthians 3:10-15 (NLT)...

FROM TODAY'S READING (9/26/2013)...

When I get to heaven, I shall see three wonders there. The first wonder will be to see many there whom I did not expect to see; the second wonder will be to miss many people who I did expect to see; and the third and greatest of all will be to find myself there.

John Newton (1725-1807)

1 Corinthians 3:10-15 (NLT) Because of God’s grace to me, I have laid the foundation like an expert builder. Now others are building on it. But whoever is building on this foundation must be very careful. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one we already have—Jesus Christ. Anyone who builds on that foundation may use a variety of materials—gold, silver, jewels, wood, hay, or straw. But on the judgment day, fire will reveal what kind of work each builder has done. The fire will show if a person’s work has any value. If the work survives, that builder will receive a reward. But if the work is burned up, the builder will suffer great loss. The builder will be saved, but like someone barely escaping through a wall of flames. 

1 John 3:1-3 (NLT)...

FROM TODAY's READING (9/25/2013)...

Some day the silver cord will break,

And I no more as now shall sing.

But, O, the joy when I shall wake

Within the palace of the King!

And I shall see Him face to face,

And tell the story — saved by grace.

Some day my earthly house will fall,

I cannot tell how soon ‘twill be,

But this I know — my All in All

Has now in heaven a place for me,

And I shall see Him face to face,

And tell the story — saved by grace.

By Fanny Crosby (blind)

1 John 3:1-3 (NLT) See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are! But the people who belong to this world don’t recognize that we are God’s children because they don’t know him. Dear friends, we are already God’s children, but he has not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is. And all who have this eager expectation will keep themselves pure, just as he is pure. 

Ephesians 3:14-18 (NLT)...

FROM TODAY'S READING (9/24/2013)...

“Sometimes when I'm faced with an atheist, I am tempted to invite him to the greatest gourmet dinner that one could ever serve, and when we have finished eating that magnificent dinner, to ask him if he believes there's a cook.”

Ronald Reagan

Ephesians 3:14-19 (NLT) When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. 

James 1:2-4 (NLT)...

FROM TODAY'S READING (9/23/2013)...

Oh, what a happy soul I am,

Although I cannot see,

I am resolved that in this world

Contented I will be.

How many blessings I enjoy

That other people don't

To weep and sigh because I'm blind

I cannot nor I won't.

by Fanny Crosby

James 1:2-4 (NLT) Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing. 

Psalm 33:4-22 (NLT)...

FROM TODAY'S READING (9/19/2013)...

"If we ever forget that we are one nation under God, then we will be a nation gone under."

Ronald Reagan

Psalm 33:4-22 (NLT) For the word of the Lord holds true, and we can trust everything he does. 

5. He loves whatever is just and good; the unfailing love of the Lord fills the earth. 

6. The Lord merely spoke, and the heavens were created. He breathed the word, and all the stars were born. 

7. He assigned the sea its boundaries and locked the oceans in vast reservoirs. 

8. Let the whole world fear the Lord, and let everyone stand in awe of him. 

9. For when he spoke, the world began! It appeared at his command. 

10. The Lord frustrates the plans of the nations and thwarts all their schemes. 

11. But the Lord ’s plans stand firm forever; his intentions can never be shaken. 

12. What joy for the nation whose God is the Lord, whose people he has chosen as his inheritance. 

13. The Lord looks down from heaven and sees the whole human race. 

14. From his throne he observes all who live on the earth. 

15. He made their hearts, so he understands everything they do. 

16. The best-equipped army cannot save a king, nor is great strength enough to save a warrior. 

17. Don’t count on your warhorse to give you victory— for all its strength, it cannot save you. 

18. But the Lord watches over those who fear him, those who rely on his unfailing love. 

19. He rescues them from death and keeps them alive in times of famine. 

20. We put our hope in the Lord. He is our help and our shield. 

21. In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name. 

22. Let your unfailing love surround us, Lord, for our hope is in you alone. 

Philippians 4:10-14 (NLT)...

FROM TODAY'S READING (9/18/2013)...

"We are never defeated unless we give up on God."

Ronald Reagan

Philippians 4:10-14 (NLT) How I praise the Lord that you are concerned about me again. I know you have always been concerned for me, but you didn’t have the chance to help me. Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. Even so, you have done well to share with me in my present difficulty.

Exodus 20:3-17 (NLT)

FROM TODAY'S READING (9/17/2013)...

"I have wondered at times what the Ten Commandments would have looked like if Moses had run them through the U. S. Congress."

Ronald Reagan

Exodus 20:3-7, 9-17 (NLT)

1. You must not have any other god but me. 

2. You must not make for yourself an idol of any kind or an image of anything in the heavens or on the earth or in the sea. You must not bow down to them or worship them, for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God who will not tolerate your affection for any other gods. I lay the sins of the parents upon their children; the entire family is affected—even children in the third and fourth generations of those who reject me. But I lavish unfailing love for a thousand generations on those who love me and obey my commands. 

3. You must not misuse the name of the Lord your God. The Lord will not let you go unpunished if you misuse his name. 

4. You have six days each week for your ordinary work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath day of rest dedicated to the Lord your God. On that day no one in your household may do any work. This includes you, your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, your livestock, and any foreigners living among you. For in six days the Lord made the heavens, the earth, the sea, and everything in them; but on the seventh day he rested. That is why the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and set it apart as holy. 

5. Honor your father and mother. Then you will live a long, full life in the land the Lord your God is giving you. 

6. You must not murder. 

7. You must not commit adultery. 

8. You must not steal. 

9. You must not testify falsely against your neighbor. 

10. You must not covet your neighbor’s house. You must not covet your neighbor’s wife, male or female servant, ox or donkey, or anything else that belongs to your neighbor.

Matthew 14:23 (NLT)...

FROM TODAY'S READING (9/13/2013)...

Jesus and prayer...

Matthew 14:23 (NLT) Immediately after this, Jesus insisted that his disciples get back into the boat and cross to the other side of the lake, while he sent the people home. After sending them home, he went up into the hills by himself to pray. Night fell while he was there alone. 

“The one concern of the devil is to keep Christians from praying. He fears nothing from prayerless studies, prayerless work and prayerless religion. He laughs at our toil, mocks at our wisdom, but he trembles when we pray.” - Samuel Chadwick

Matthew 6:9-13 (NLT)...

FROM TODAY'S READING (9/12/2013)...

Matthew 6:9-13 (NLT) “When you pray, don’t babble on and on as people of other religions do. They think their prayers are answered merely by repeating their words again and again. Don’t be like them, for your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask him! Pray like this: Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy. May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us today the food we need, and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us. And don’t let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one. 

You cannot pray the Lord's Prayer and even once say "I."

You cannot pray the Lord's Prayer and even once say "My."

Nor can you pray the Lord's Prayer and not pray for one another.

And when you ask for daily bread, you must include your brother.

For others are included ... in each and every plea,

From the beginning to the end of it, it doesn't once say "Me."

Christian Reader (Vol. 32, No. 3)

Psalm 37:12-15 (NLT)...9/11 Remembrance

FROM TODAY'S READING (9/11/2013)...Remembering...

(September 11, 2001) Ladies and gentlemen, this is a difficult moment for America. I unfortunately will be going back to Washington after my remarks. Secretary Rod Paige and the lieutenant governor will take the podium and discuss education.

I do want to thank the folks here at the Booker Elementary School for their hospitality.

Today, we've had a national tragedy. Two airplanes have crashed into the World Trade Center in an apparent terrorist attack on our country. I have spoken to the vice president, to the governor of New York, to the director of the FBI, and I've ordered that the full resources of the federal government go to help the victims and their families and to conduct a full-scale investigation to hunt down and to find those folks who committed this act.

Terrorism against our nation will not stand.

And now if you join me in a moment of silence.

May God bless the victims, their families and America. Thank you very much.

President George W. Bush

“The attacks of September 11th were intended to break our spirit. Instead we have emerged stronger and more unified. We feel renewed devotion to the principles of political, economic, and religious freedom, the rule of law and respect for human life. We are more determined than ever to live our lives in freedom.” 

Rudolph Giuliani, former mayor of New York City

Psalm 37:12-15 (NLT) The wicked plot against the godly; they snarl at them in defiance. But the Lord just laughs, for he sees their day of judgment coming. The wicked draw their swords and string their bows to kill the poor and the oppressed, to slaughter those who do right. But their swords will stab their own hearts, and their bows will be broken.

Mark 1:35 (NLT)...

FROM TODAY'S READING (9/10/2013)...

Jesus and prayer...

(Mark 1:35 NLT) Before daybreak the next morning, Jesus got up and went out to an isolated place to pray. 

Jesus prioritized a time and solitary place where He could spend quality time in prayer. Regardless of time or place, the sincere Christ-follower would do well to daily follow Jesus' example. It is also good to note that He paid a price for such valued time with His Heavenly Father. Quality effective prayer requires sacrifice and discipline. Anything of value comes at such a price. The true prayer warrior that regularly awakens to answered prayer is no sleeping.

2 Peter 1:5-11 (NLT)...

FROM TODAY'S READING (9/9/2013)...

"What we truly believe about God is demonstrated by how we act, regardless of what we say." 

Ravi Zacharias

2 Peter 1:5-11 (NLT) ...Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone. The more you grow like this, the more productive and useful you will be in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But those who fail to develop in this way are shortsighted or blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their old sins. So, dear brothers and sisters, work hard to prove that you really are among those God has called and chosen. Do these things, and you will never fall away. Then God will give you a grand entrance into the eternal Kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 

Matthew 5:43-48 (NLT)...

FROM TODAY'S READING (9/7/2013)...

"To return good for good is human; to return evil for evil is brutal; to return evil for good is diabolical; but to return good for evil is Divine."

Royard 

NOW THE EASY PART...

(Matthew 5:43-48 NLT) You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy. But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike. If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much. If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that. But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect. 

(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. 

Colossians 3:23-24 (NLT)...

FROM TODAY'S READING (9/5/2013)...

Thank God every morning when you get up that you have something to do which must be done, whether you like it or not. Being forced to work, and forced to do your best, will breed in you temperance, self-control, diligence, strength of will, content, and a hundred other virtues which the idle never know.

Charles Kingsley

Colossians 3:23-24 (NLT) Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, and that the Master you are serving is Christ.

2 Thessalonians 3:10-13 (NLT)...

HAPPY LABOR DAY

FROM TODAY'S READING (9/2/2013)...

My grandfather told me there were two kinds of people: those who do the work and those who take the credit. He told me to try to be in the first group; there was much less competition.

Unknown

(2 Thessalonians 3:10-13 NLT) Even while we were with you, we gave you this command: “Those unwilling to work will not get to eat.” Yet we hear that some of you are living idle lives, refusing to work and meddling in other people’s business. We command such people and urge them in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and work to earn their own living. As for the rest of you, dear brothers and sisters, never get tired of doing good.