Proverbs 2:1-9 (NLT)...

FROM TODAY'S READING (11/1/2013)...

"I used to ask God to help me. Then I asked if I might help Him. I ended up by asking God to do His work though me."

- Hudson Taylor

Proverbs 2:1-9 (NLT) My child, listen to what I say, and treasure my commands. Tune your ears to wisdom, and concentrate on understanding. Cry out for insight, and ask for understanding. Search for them as you would for silver; seek them like hidden treasures. Then you will understand what it means to fear the Lord, and you will gain knowledge of God. For the Lord grants wisdom! From his mouth come knowledge and understanding. He grants a treasure of common sense to the honest. He is a shield to those who walk with integrity. He guards the paths of the just and protects those who are faithful to him. Then you will understand what is right, just, and fair, and you will find the right way to go. 

Philippians 3:10-14

FROM TODAY'S READING (10/31/2013)...

"This is the only time in history when I get to fight for God. This is the only part of my eternal story when I am actually in the battle. Once I die, I'll be in celebration mode in a glorified body in a whole different set of circumstances. But this is my limited window of opportunity, and I'm going to fight the good fight for all I'm worth."

Joni Eareckson Tada

Philippians 3:12-14 (NLT) I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us. 

Proverbs 9:7-9 (NLT)...

FROM TODAY'S READING (10/30/2013)...

"A very wise man once told me that tucked deep inside every critic's attack is usually at least a tiny kernel of truth. And rather than lashing back, he advised, I should spend my energy figuring out what it is."

Bill Hybels

Axiom (pg. 159)

Proverbs 9:7-9 (NLT) Anyone who rebukes a mocker will get an insult in return. Anyone who corrects the wicked will get hurt. So don’t bother correcting mockers; they will only hate you. But correct the wise, and they will love you. Instruct the wise, and they will be even wiser. Teach the righteous, and they will learn even more. 

1 Timothy 6:7-10 (NLT)...

FROM TODAY'S READING (10/29/2013)...

STUFF...Why do we have and/or need so much stuff?!...ponders Tammy Stump, friend of mine. She just got back to the US from a relatively inexpensive world tour...primarily of Third World countries...or at least she traveled like a Third World-er. Having experienced a few Third World short-term mission excursions myself, I could appreciate her having to reacclimate to American culture. 

My dad, born in 1916, grew up part of a farming family in Linneus, Maine. Several times I recall asking him about life on the farm. One of my inquiries involved how the Rockwell farm family was affected by the 1930's Great Depression. He observed that they were hardly aware there was a depression. The vast majority of what was needed to live on was provided by their farm. Very little cash for "stuff" was needed. 

1 Timothy 6:7-10 (NLT) After all, we brought nothing with us when we came into the world, and we can’t take anything with us when we leave it. So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content. But people who long to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows. 

Philippians 1:27 (NLT)...

FROM TODAY'S READING (10/28/2013)...

"Your walk with God does not depend on people, places, things or events."

Dr. Henry Brandt

Philippians 1:27 (NLT) Above all, you must live as citizens of heaven, conducting yourselves in a manner worthy of the Good News about Christ. Then, whether I come and see you again or only hear about you, I will know that you are standing together with one spirit and one purpose, fighting together for the faith, which is the Good News.

Hebrews 10:23-25 (NLT)...

FROM TODAY'S READING (10/25/2013)...

12 Reasons Why a Pastor Quit Attending Sports Events

1. The coach never came to visit me.

2. Every time I went, they asked me for money.

3. The people sitting in my row didn’t seem very friendly.

4. The seats were very hard.

5. The referees made a decision I didn’t agree with.

6. I was sitting with hypocrites—they only came to see what others were wearing!

7. Some games went into overtime and I was late getting home.

8. The band played some songs I had never heard before.

9. The games are scheduled on my only day to sleep in and run errands.

10. My parents took me to too many games when I was growing up.

11. Since I read a book on sports, I feel that I know more than the coaches, anyway.

12. I don’t want to take my children because I want them to choose for themselves what sport they like best.

Hebrews 10:23-25 (NLT) Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near. 

2 Corinthians 3:1-6 (NLT)...

FROM TODAY'S READING (10/24/2013)..,

I'm a little pencil in the hand of a writing God, who is sending a love letter to the world.

- Mother Teresa

2 Corinthians 3:1-6 (NLT) Are we beginning to praise ourselves again? Are we like others, who need to bring you letters of recommendation, or who ask you to write such letters on their behalf? Surely not! The only letter of recommendation we need is you yourselves. Your lives are a letter written in our hearts; everyone can read it and recognize our good work among you. Clearly, you are a letter from Christ showing the result of our ministry among you. This “letter” is written not with pen and ink, but with the Spirit of the living God. It is carved not on tablets of stone, but on human hearts. 

We are confident of all this because of our great trust in God through Christ. It is not that we think we are qualified to do anything on our own. Our qualification comes from God. He has enabled us to be ministers of his new covenant. This is a covenant not of written laws, but of the Spirit. The old written covenant ends in death; but under the new covenant, the Spirit gives life.

Ephesians 2:10; Colossians 3:10 (NLT)...

FROM TODAY'S READING (10/23/2013)...

An egg broken from an outside force...ends a life.

An egg broken from within...begins a life.

Great things always begin from within.

Ephesians 2:10 (NLT) For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

Colossians 3:23 (NLT) Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. 

Matthew 25:34-40 (NLT)...

FROM TODAY'S READING (10/22/2013)...

"It is a poverty to decide that a child must die so that you may live as you wish." 

~ Mother Teresa

Matthew 25:34-40 (NLT) “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’ 

"Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ 

“And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’

Psalm 118:24 (NLT)...

FROM TODAY'S READING (10/21/2013)...

Have you ever had a day that started wrong and continued a downward spiral until evening? Maybe you haven’t started with your focus in the right place. Many times you’re thinking about schedules and trying to work through the day before it starts. Your day can take off much stronger and end with peace in your heart when you begin with God’s word.

You wake up and don’t really want to start your day. It happens to the best of us—yet this is your day in the Lord, you might not get another one…don’t miss it!

- Crystal McDowell

Psalm 118:24 “This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it”

Luke 12:6-7 (NLT)..,

FROM TODAY'S READING (10/18/2013)...

"We ourselves feel that what we are doing is just a drop in the ocean. But the ocean would be less because of that missing drop." 

~ Mother Teresa

Luke 12:6-7 (NLT) What is the price of five sparrows—two copper coins? Yet God does not forget a single one of them. And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows. 

Mark 6:30-32 (NLT)...

FROM TODAY'S READING (10/17/2013)...

If your phone does not Sabbath, your soul cannot Sabbath.

- Sasha Lane

Mark 6:30-32 (NLT) 30 The apostles returned to Jesus from their ministry tour and told him all they had done and taught. 31 Then Jesus said, “Let’s go off by ourselves to a quiet place and rest awhile.” He said this because there were so many people coming and going that Jesus and his apostles didn't even have time to eat. 32 So they left by boat for a quiet place, where they could be alone.

Jeremiah 29:11-13 (NLT)...

FROM TODAY'S READING (10/16/2013)...

I would rather walk with God in the dark than go alone in the light." 

~ Mary Gardiner Brainard

Jeremiah 29:11-13 (NLT) For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me. 

Luke 16:19-31 (NLT)...

FROM TODAY'S READING (10/15/2013)...

Hell is truth seen too late.

Luke 16:19-31 (NLT) Jesus said, “There was a certain rich man who was splendidly clothed in purple and fine linen and who lived each day in luxury. At his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus who was covered with sores. As Lazarus lay there longing for scraps from the rich man’s table, the dogs would come and lick his open sores.

"Finally, the poor man died and was carried by the angels to be with Abraham. 

The rich man also died and was buried, and his soul went to the place of the dead. There, in torment, he saw Abraham in the far distance with Lazarus at his side. 

"The rich man shouted, ‘Father Abraham, have some pity! Send Lazarus over here to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue. I am in anguish in these flames.’ 

"But Abraham said to him, ‘Son, remember that during your lifetime you had everything you wanted, and Lazarus had nothing. So now he is here being comforted, and you are in anguish. And besides, there is a great chasm separating us. No one can cross over to you from here, and no one can cross over to us from there.’ 

“Then the rich man said, ‘Please, Father Abraham, at least send him to my father’s home. For I have five brothers, and I want him to warn them so they don’t end up in this place of torment.’ 

“But Abraham said, ‘Moses and the prophets have warned them. Your brothers can read what they wrote.’ 

"The rich man replied, ‘No, Father Abraham! But if someone is sent to them from the dead, then they will repent of their sins and turn to God.’ 

“But Abraham said, ‘If they won’t listen to Moses and the prophets, they won’t listen even if someone rises from the dead.’”

Matthew 25:31-36 (NLT)...

FROM TODAY'S READING (10/14/2013)...

"...human beings, when given the most basic kinds of love and attention, find significant transformation and discover their humanity, dignity, and at least momentary happiness."

Mother Teresa, No Greater Love

Becky Benenate and Joseph Durepos

Matthew 25:31-36 (NLT) But when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit upon his glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered in his presence, and he will separate the people as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will place the sheep at his right hand and the goats at his left. Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’

Philippians 4:8-9 (NLT)...

FROM TODAY'S READING (10/11/2013)...

"There is no greatness where there is no simplicity, goodness and truth." 

- Leo Tolstoy

Philippians 4:8-9 (NLT) And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you. 

1 Corinthians 13:1-7 (NLT)...

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

"There is more hunger for love and appreciation in this world than for bread." Mother Teresa

1 Corinthians 13:1-7 (NLT) If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing. If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing. Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. 

1 Corinthians 9:24-27 (NLT)...

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

"I count him braver who overcomes his desires than him who conquers his enemies; for the hardest victory is over self." 

- Aristotle

1 Corinthians 9:24-27 (NLT) Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing. I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified. 

1 Peter. 5:6-9 (NLT)...

FROM TODAY'S READING (10/8/2013)...

“O Lord, give me a backbone as big as a sawlog and ribs like sleepers under the church floor; put iron shoes on me and galvanized breeches and hang a wagon load of determination in the gable-end of my soul, and help me to sign the contract to fight the devil as long as I have a vision and bite him as long as I have a tooth, and then gum him till I die. Amen.”

Reuben (Uncle Bud) Robinson (1860-1942)

1 Peter 5:6-9 (NLT) So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor. Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you. Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your Christian brothers and sisters all over the world are going through the same kind of suffering you are. 

Ephesians 4:17-32 (NLT)...

FROM TODAY'S READING (10/7/2013)...

God's power to restore is stronger than Satan's power to destroy.

Julie Ackerman Link

Ephesians 4:17-32 (NLT) With the Lord’s authority I say this: Live no longer as the Gentiles do, for they are hopelessly confused. Their minds are full of darkness; they wander far from the life God gives because they have closed their minds and hardened their hearts against him. They have no sense of shame. They live for lustful pleasure and eagerly practice every kind of impurity. 

But that isn’t what you learned about Christ. Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy. 

So stop telling lies. Let us tell our neighbors the truth, for we are all parts of the same body. And “don’t sin by letting anger control you.” Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, for anger gives a foothold to the devil. 

If you are a thief, quit stealing. Instead, use your hands for good hard work, and then give generously to others in need. Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them. 

And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption. 

Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.