Jeremiah 12:5 (NIV)...

FROM TODAY'S READING (4/1/2014)...

Jeremiah 12:5 (NIV) “If you have raced with men on foot and they have worn you out, how can you compete with horses? If you stumble in safe country, how will you manage in the thickets by the Jordan? 

Integrity is built by defeating the temptation to be dishonest; humility grows when we refuse to be prideful; and endurance develops every time you reject the temptation to give up.

- Rick Warren

Psalm 9:9-10 (NLT)...

FROM TODAY'S READING (3/28/2014)...

"God didn't promise days without pain, laughter without sorrow, sun without rain. But He did promise strength for the day, comfort for the tears, and light for the way. If God brings you to it, He will bring you through it."

- Unknown

Psalm 9:9-10 (NLT) The lord is a shelter for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. Those who know your name trust in you, for you, O lord, do not abandon those who search for you.

Titus 2:11-14 (NLT)...

FROM TODAY'S READING (3/26/2014)...

“No horse gets anywhere until he is harnessed. No stream or gas ever drives anything until it is confined. No Niagara ever turned light and power until it is tunneled. No life ever grows great until it is focused, dedicated, disciplined.” 

- Harry Emerson Fosdick (1878-1969)

Titus 2:11-14 (NLT) For the grace of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to all people. And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God, while we look forward with hope to that wonderful day when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be revealed. He gave his life to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, and to make us his very own people, totally committed to doing good deeds. 

2 Corinthians 5:8-10 (NLT)...

FROM TODAY'S READING (3/26/2014)...

"If we please God, it does not matter who we displease. If we displease God, it does not matter who we please."

- Daniel Henderson (Defying Gravity)

2 Corinthians 5:8-10 (NLT) Yes, we are fully confident, and we would rather be away from these earthly bodies, for then we will be at home with the Lord. So whether we are here in this body or away from this body, our goal is to please him. For we must all stand before Christ to be judged. We will each receive whatever we deserve for the good or evil we have done in this earthly body.

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

FROM TODAY'S READING (3/25/2014)...

“Imagine for a moment that 10 million children were going to lose their lives next year due to the earth's overheating. A state of emergency would be declared and you would be reading about little else. Well, next year, more than 10 million children's lives will be lost unnecessarily to extreme poverty and you'll hear very little about it. Nearly half will be on the continent of Africa, where HIV/AIDS is killing teachers faster than you can train them and where you can witness entire villages in which chilren are the parents... Will American Christians stand by as an entire country dies?

- Vernon Brewer (Children of Hope)

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!’ 

Matthew 19:27-30 (NLT)...

FROM TODAY'S READING (3/24/2014)...

"Every day I try to live my life in such a way that I accomplish one thing that will outlive me and last for eternity."

- Daniel Henderson (Defying Gravity)

Matthew 19:27-30 (NLT) Then Peter said to him, “We’ve given up everything to follow you. What will we get?” Jesus replied, “I assure you that when the world is made new and the Son of Man sits upon his glorious throne, you who have been my followers will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or property, for my sake, will receive a hundred times as much in return and will inherit eternal life. But many who are the greatest now will be least important then, and those who seem least important now will be the greatest then. 

Philippians 4:13 (NIV)...

FROM TODAY'S READING (3/21/2014)...

NOTE - Twelve particular Bible passages are presently being featured. The significance of these Bible verses lies in their order and origin. Jerral and I were recently blessed by our beloved church in being able to spend a few relaxing and inspirational days at The Cove (Billy Graham Retreat Center) in Asheville, North Carolina. A mountain trail weaves it's way through some spiritually intoxicating Blue Ridge trees, from the Retreat Center to the Chatlos Memorial Chapel. Along the trail are twelve opportunities to pause, sit, pray, and meditate on the Bible verses presented over these past few days. I pray you enjoyed the stroll through God's Word.

The will of God will not take us where the grace of God cannot sustain us.

- Billy Graham

#12: Philippians 4:13 (NIV) I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.

1 John 3:1 (NIV)...

FROM TODAY'S READING (3/20/2014)...

NOTE - Twelve particular Bible passages are presently being featured. Their significance will be revealed in the twelfth devotion in this series.

“God makes three requests of his children: Do the best you can, where you are, with what you have, now”

- African Proverb

#11: 1 John 3:1 (NIV) How great is the love the Father hath lavished on us that we should be called the children of God."

Isaiah 49:13 (NLT)...

FROM TODAY'S READING (3/19/2014)...

NOTE - Twelve particular Bible passages are presently being featured. Their significance will be revealed in the twelfth devotion in this series.

“Comfort experiences the presence of God in the presence of suffering—a presence that empowers me to survive scars and plants the seed of hope that I will yet thrive.”

- Robert W. Kellemen

#10: Isaiah 49:13 (NLT) Sing for joy, O heavens! Rejoice, O earth! Burst into song, O mountains! For the Lord has comforted his people and will have compassion on them in their suffering. 

Psalm 27:1 (KJV)...

FROM TODAY'S READING (3/18/2014)...

NOTE - Twelve particular Bible passages are presently being featured. Their significance will be revealed in the twelfth devotion in this series.

If the Lord be with us, we have no cause of fear. His eye is upon us, His arm over us, His ear open to our prayer - His grace sufficient, His promise unchangeable.

- John Newton

#9: Psalm 27:1 (KJV) The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?

1 Corinthians 3:16 (CEB)...

FROM TODAY'S READING (3/17/2014)...

NOTE - Twelve particular Bible passages are presently being featured. Their significance will be revealed in the twelfth devotion in this series.

"What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us."

- Ralph Waldo Emerson

#8: 1 Corinthians 3:16 (CEB) Don’t you know that you are God’s temple and God’s Spirit lives in you? 

Isaiah 28:3 (KJV)...

FROM TODAY'S READING (3/14/2014)...

NOTE - Twelve particular Bible passages are presently being featured. Their significance will be revealed in the twelfth devotion in this series.

Man is not at peace with his fellow man because he is not at peace with himself; he is not at peace with himself, because he is not at peace with God. 

- Thomas Merton

#7: Isaiah 28:3 (KJV) Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee.

2 Thessalonians 3:3 (NIV)...

FROM TODAY'S READING (3/13/2014)...

NOTE - Twelve particular Bible passages are presently being featured. Their significance will be revealed in the twelfth devotion in this series.

The devil has a plan for your life: 

- Doubt...To make you question God’s word and His goodness; 

- Discouragement...To make you look at your problems rather than at God; 

- Diversion...To make the wrong things seems attractive so that you will want them more than the right things; 

- Defeat...To make you feel like a failure so that you don’t even try; 

- Delay...To make you put off doing something so that it never gets done.

#13: 2 Thessalonians 3:3 (NIV) But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one. 

James 4:8 (NLT)...

FROM TODAY'S READING (3/12/2014)...

NOTE - Twelve particular Bible passages are presently being featured. Their significance will be revealed in the twelfth devotion in this series.

"The man who tries to walk two roads will split his pants."

- A West African proverb

#5: James 4:8 (NLT) Come close to God, and God will come close to you...

1 John 3:2 (NLT)...

FROM TODAY'S READING (3/11/2014)...

NOTE - Twelve particular Bible passages are presently being featured. Their significance will be revealed in the twelfth devotion in this series.

Suppose God took you on a crystal ball trip into your future and you saw with indubitable certainty that despite everything—your sin, your smallness, your stupidity—you could have free for the asking your whole crazy heart's deepest desire: heaven, eternal joy. Would you not return fearless and singing? What can earth do to you, if you are guaranteed heaven? To fear the worst earthly loss would be like a millionaire fearing the loss of a penny—less, a scratch on a penny.

- Tullian Tchividjian, Glorious Ruin (David C. Cook, 2012), page 175

#4: 1 John 3:2 (NLT) 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. 

Psalm 46:1 (NLT)...

FROM TODAY'S READING (3/10/2014)...

NOTE - Twelve particular Bible passages are presently being featured. Their significance will be revealed in the twelfth devotion in this series.

An atheist professor stood before his class and said, "If anyone can tell me where God is, I will give that person a hundred dollars." One student said, "Sir, I will give you a hundred dollars if you can tell me where God is not."

- Pastor Mark Roper

#3: Psalm 46:1 (NLT) God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble. 

Ephesians 5:19-20 (NIV)...

FROM TODAY'S READING (3/7/2014)...

NOTE - Twelve particular Bible passages are presently being featured. Their significance will be revealed in the twelfth devotion in this series.

The unthankful heart discovers no mercies; but let the thankful heart sweep through the day and as the magnet finds the iron, so it will find, in every hour, some heavenly blessings!

– Henry Ward Beecher

#2: Ephesians 5:19-20 (NIV) ...Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

Romans 8:1 (ESV)...

FROM TODAY'S READING (3/6/2014)...

NOTE - Twelve particular Bible passages are presently being featured. Their significance will be revealed in the twelfth devotion in this series.

A little boy and his father visited the country store. Upon leaving the store the owner of the store offered the little boy some free candy. "Get a handful of candy", the merchant said to the boy. The boy just stood there looking up at his father. The owner repeated himself, "Son, get a handful of candy; it’s free." Again the boy did not move, continuing to look up in the face of his father. Finally, the father reached into the candy jar and got a handful of candy and gave it to his son. As they walked back home, the father stopped and asked his son why he did not grab a handful of the free candy. The boy, with a big smile on his face, looked into the face of his father and said, "Because I know that your hand is bigger than mine." 

- unknown

#1: Romans 8:1 (ESV) There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 

Proverbs 4:20-27 (NLT)...

FROM TODAY'S READING (3/5/2014)...

It was character that got us out of bed, commitment that moved us into action, and discipline that enabled us to follow through.

- Zig Ziglar

Proverbs 4:20-27 (NLT) My child, pay attention to what I say. Listen carefully to my words. Don’t lose sight of them. Let them penetrate deep into your heart, for they bring life to those who find them, and healing to their whole body. Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life. Avoid all perverse talk; stay away from corrupt speech. Look straight ahead, and fix your eyes on what lies before you. Mark out a straight path for your feet; stay on the safe path. Don’t get sidetracked; keep your feet from following evil. (Proverbs 4:20-27 NLT)

Psalm 121:1-8 (NLT)...

FROM TODAY'S READING (3/4/2014)...

Sometimes the journey is longer than we have anticipated, but in the end we realize it was worth the travel and the distance travelled was actually very short.

- unknown 

Psalm 121:1-8 (NLT) I look up to the mountains— does my help come from there? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth! He will not let you stumble; the one who watches over you will not slumber. Indeed, he who watches over Israel never slumbers or sleeps. The Lord himself watches over you! The Lord stands beside you as your protective shade. The sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon at night. The Lord keeps you from all harm and watches over your life. The Lord keeps watch over you as you come and go, both now and forever.

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

FROM TODAY'S READING (3/4/2014)...

"Disobeying God rarely benefits in the short-term and will never benefit us in the long-term."

- Kevin A. Thompson

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)