Romans 12:9-18 (NLT)...

FROM TODAY’S READING (12/31/2015)...

Be always at War with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each New Year find you, a better person. 

- By Benjamin Franklin

Romans 12:9-18 (NLT) Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. 

Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically. Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying. When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality. 

Bless those who persecute you. Don’t curse them; pray that God will bless them. Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep. 

Live in harmony with each other. Don’t be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don’t think you know it all! 

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.

Matthew 5:14-16 (NLT)..,

FROM TODAY’S READING (12/29/2015)...

Old Year has gone. Let the dead past bury its own dead. The New Year has taken possession of the clock of time. All hail the duties and possibilities of the coming twelve months! 

- Edward Payson Powell

Matthew 5:14-16 (NLT) You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.

Ephesians 4:21-32 (NLT)...

FROM TODAY’S READING (12/28/2015)...

Don’t think of the opportunities that you have missed in the last year. The New Year is an unwritten book, so choose your actions and words wisely and fill it up with pages that are worth reading by the end of the year.

- Eazi Abhi

Ephesians 4:21-32 (NLT) 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. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. 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.

Acts 20:32-35 (NLT)...

FROM TODAY’S READING (12/23/2015)...

“Christmas is a necessity. There has to be at least one day of the year to remind us that we’re here for something else besides ourselves.”

– Eric Sevareid, CBS News journalist

Acts 20:32-35 (NLT) And now I entrust you to God and the message of his grace that is able to build you up and give you an inheritance with all those he has set apart for himself. “I have never coveted anyone’s silver or gold or fine clothes. You know that these hands of mine have worked to supply my own needs and even the needs of those who were with me. And I have been a constant example of how you can help those in need by working hard. You should remember the words of the Lord Jesus: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ””

Hebrews 10:24-25 (NLT)...

FROM TODAY’S READING (12/21/2015)...

The world would be better off if people tried to become better. And people would become better if they stopped trying to become better off. For when everybody tries to become better off, nobody becomes better off. But when everybody tries to become better, everybody is better off.

- Paul Maurin

Hebrews 10:24-25 (NLT) 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.

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

FROM TODAY’S READING (12/18/2015)...

 

The Love Chapter (1 Corinthians 13) Christmas Version...

 

If I decorate my house perfectly with plaid bows, strands of twinkling lights and shiny balls, but do not show love to my family, I’m just another decorator.

 

If I slave away in the kitchen, baking dozens of Christmas cookies, preparing gourmet meals and arranging a beautifully adorned table at mealtime, but do not show love to my family, I’m just another cook.

 

If I work at the soup kitchen, carol in the nursing home and give all that I have to charity, but do not show love to my family, it profits me nothing.

 

If I trim the spruce with shimmering angels and crocheted snowflakes, attend a myriad of holiday parties and sing in the choir’s cantata but do not focus on Christ, I have missed the point.

 

Love stops the cooking to hug the child. Love sets aside the decorating to kiss the husband. Love is kind, though harried and tired. Love doesn’t envy another’s home that has coordinated Christmas china and table linens.

 

Love doesn’t yell at the kids to get out of the way, but is thankful they are there to be in the way. Love doesn’t give only to those who are able to give in return but rejoices in giving to those who can’t.

 

Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails. Video games will break, pearl necklaces will be lost, golf clubs will rust, but giving the gift of love will endure.

 

Merry Christmas and lots of love to you and yours!

 

- Unknown Author

 

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. 

Luke 2:36-37 (NLT)...

FROM TODAY'S READING (12/17/2015)...

When Are You Too Old?

When asked how it was that she has lived so long, one 91-year-old woman replied, "I think God is testing the patience of my relatives."

When is "too old"? At what age do we give up? At 100, Grandma Moses was still painting, and Titian painted "Battle of Lepants" when he was 98.

At 93, George Bernard Shaw wrote "Farfetched Fables."

At 91, Eamon de Valera served as president of Ireland.

At 90, Pablo Picasso still drew and engraved.

At 89, Arthur Rubinstein gave one of his greatest recitals in New York's Carnegie Hall, and Pablo Casals, at 88, still performed cello concerts.

At 82, Winston Churchill wrote the four-volume work, "A History of the English-Speaking Peoples," Leo Tolstoy completed "I Cannot Be Silent," and Goethe, at the same age, finished "Faust."

At 81, Benjamin Franklin engineered the diplomacy, which led to the adoption of the U.S. Constitution.

When are you "too old"? Only on the day when you truly have nothing left to give. And the good news is this: that day never has to arrive!

by Steve Goodier

Titus 2:2 (NLT) Teach the older men to exercise self-control, to be worthy of respect, and to live wisely. They must have sound faith and be filled with love and patience.

Luke 2:36-37 (NLT) Anna, a prophet, was also there in the Temple. She was the daughter of Phanuel from the tribe of Asher, and she was very old. Her husband died when they had been married only seven years. Then she lived as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the Temple but stayed there day and night, worshiping God with fasting and prayer.

1 Peter 3:15-18 (NLT)...

FROM TODAY'S READING (12/15/2015)...

The Six C's of Character...

1. Be a person of conscience. Listen to the inner voice that helps you know right from wrong and urges you to do what is good and noble.
 

2. Be courageous. Confront the challenges and choices of your life forthrightly. Make the tough decisions that need to be made and, above all, maintain your integrity by doing what you know to be right even when it costs more than you want to pay.
 

3. Be considerate. Be more deliberative, thoughtful, and attentive as to how your words and actions will affect others, and reflect on your character. Think ahead so you can avoid undesirable and undesired consequences.
 

4. Be compassionate. Demonstrate a genuine concern for the well-being of others. Be kinder and more charitable. Strive to understand more and judge less.
 

5. Be confident in your capacity to overcome whatever difficulties come your way with integrity and dignity. Don't underestimate your resiliency. Resolve to persist until you prevail.
 

6. Be in control of your emotions, appetites, and urges that tempt you to compromise your principles or sacrifice long-term goals for short-term indulgences.

By Michael Josephson

1 Peter 3:15-18 (NIV) But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. For it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit.”

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

FROM TODAY'S READING (12/14/2015)...

A Winner's Blueprint For Achievement...

Believe while others are doubting.

Plan while others are playing.

Study while others are sleeping.

Decide while others are delaying.

Prepare while others are daydreaming.

Begin while others are procrastinating.

Work while others are wishing.

Save while others are wasting.

Listen while others are talking.

Smile while others are pouting.

Commend while others are criticizing.

Persist while others are quitting.

by William Arthur Ward

Colossians 3:23-24 (NIV) Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.

Philippians 4:13 (NLT)...

FROM TODAY'S READING (12/11/2015)...

Lord, high and holy, meek and lowly, Thou hast brought me to the valley of vision where I live in the heights with Thee and in the depths with me. Hemmed in by the mountains of sin, I yet see Thy glory.

Let me learn by paradox...
that the way down is the way up
that to be lowly is to be high
that the broken heart is the healed heart
that the contrite spirit is the rejoicing spirit
that the repenting soul is the victorious soul
that to have nothing is to possess all
that to bear the cross is to wear the crown 
that to give is to receive
that the valley is the place of clearest vision.

I love the Lord and thank Him for all that he has done and is doing and shall do in my life. He is my source of my existence. He is my LIFE. He keeps me functioning each and every day. Without Him, I will be nothing. Without Him, I am nothing but with Him I can do all things (Philippians 4:13).
- Unknown

Merry Christmas...

FROM TODAY'S READING (12/10/2015)...

Merry Christmas.

The Christ (God) of Christmas...

When I fall, He lifts me up!


When I fail, He forgives!


When I am weak, He is strong!


When I am lost, He is the way!


When I am afraid, He is my courage!


When I stumble, He steadies me!


When I am hurt, He heals me!


When I am broken, He mends me!


When I am blind, He leads me!


When I am hungry, He feeds me!


When I face trials, He is with me!


When I face persecution, He shields me!


When I face problems, He comforts me!


When I face loss, He provides for me!


When I face death, He carries me Home!

He is everything for everybody, everywhere, every time, and every way.


He is God, He is faithful.


I am His, and He is mine!

My Father in heaven can whip the father of this world!

So, if you’re wondering why I feel so secure, know and understand this . . .

God said it and that settles it. God is in control, I am on His side, and that means all is well with my soul.

Everyday is a blessing because God is!

- Author Unknown 

Merry Christmas...

FROM TODAY'S READING (12/8/2015)...

MERRY CHRISTMAS...The Christ of Christmas is gift-wrapped in every book of the Bible...
In Genesis, Jesus Christ is the seed of the woman.
In Exodus, He is the passover lamb.
In Leviticus, He is our high priest.
In Numbers, He is the pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night.
In Deuteronomy, He is the prophet like unto Moses.
In Joshua, He is the captain of our salvation.
In Judges, He is our judge and lawgiver.
In Ruth, He is our kinsman redeemer.
In 1st and 2nd Samuel, He is our trusted prophet.
In Kings and Chronicles, He is our reigning king.
In Ezra, He is the rebuilder of the broken down walls of human life.
In Esther, He is our Mordecai.
In Job, He is our ever-living redeemer.
In Psalms, He is our shepherd.
In Proverbs and Ecclesiastes, He is our wisdom.
In the Song of Solomon, He is the loving bridegroom.
In Isaiah, He is the prince of peace.
In Jeremiah, He is the righteous branch.
In Lamentations, He is our weeping prophet.
In Ezekiel, He is the wonderful four-faced man.
In Daniel, He is the forth man in life’s “fiery furnace.”
In Hosea, He is the faithful husband, forever married to the backslider.
In Joel, He is the baptizer with the Holy Ghost and fire.
In Amos, He is our burden-bearer.
In Obadiah, He is the mighty to save.
In Jonah, He is our great foreign missionary.
In Micah, He is the messenger of beautiful feet.
In Nahum, He is the avenger of God’s elect.
In Habakkuk, he is God’s evangelist, crying, “revive thy work in the midst of the years.”
In Zephaniah, He is our Saviour.
In Haggai, He is the restorer of God’s lost heritage.
In Zechariah, He is the fountain opened up in the house of David for sin and uncleanness.
In Malachi, He is the Sun of Righteousness, rising with healing in His wings.
In Matthew, He is King of the Jews.
In Mark, He is the Servant.
In Luke, He is the Son of Man, feeling what you feel.
In John, He is the Son of God.
In Acts, He is the Savior of the world.
In Romans, He is the righteousness of God.
In 1st Corinthians, He is the Rock that followed Israel.
In 2nd Corinthians, He is the Triumphant One, giving victory.
In Galatians, He is your liberty; He sets you free.
In Ephesians, He is Head of the Church.
In Philippians, He is your joy.
In Colossians, He is your completeness.
In 1st and 2nd Thessalonians, He is your hope.
In 1st Timothy, He is your faith.
In 2nd Timothy, He is your stability.
In Philemon, He is your Benefactor.
In Titus, He is truth.
In Hebrews, He is your perfection.
In James, he is the Power behind your faith.
In 1st Peter, He is your example.
In 2nd Peter, He is your purity.
In 1st John, He is your life.
In 2nd John, He is your pattern.
In 3rd John, He is your motivation.
In Jude, He is the foundation of your faith.
In Revelation, He is your coming King.
- Origin Unknown

Proverbs 17:22 (NLT)...

FROM TODAY'S READING (12/7/2015)...

A little humor to start the week (emphasis on "little")...

Top 10 signs you are in a he wrong church:

10. The church bus has gun racks.

9. The church staff consists of senior pastor, associate pastor and sociopastor.

8. The Bible they use is the Dr. Seuss version.

7. There is an ATM in the lobby.

6. The praise choir wears leather skinny jeans.

5. The worship services are B.Y.O.S. (bring your own snake).

4. Communion is a two-drink minimum.

3. The pastor regularly attends meetings in Las Vegas.

2. The ushers ask, "Smoking or non-smoking?"

1. The Women's Quartet are all married to the pastor.

Proverbs 17:22 (NLT) A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person’s strength.

Proverbs 15:13 (NLT) A glad heart makes a happy face; a broken heart crushes the spirit.

Ecclesiastes 3:4 (NLT) A time to cry and a time to laugh. A time to grieve and a time to dance.

Philippians 2:1-4, 14-16 (NLT)...

FROM TODAY'S READING (12/4/2015)...

The mistakes to avoid...

Remorse over yesterday's failures.

Anxiety over today's problems.

Worry over tomorrow's uncertainty.

Waste of the moment's opportunity.

Procrastination with one's present duty.

Resentment of another's success.

Criticism of a neighbor's imperfection.

Impatience with youth's immaturity.

Skepticism of our nation's future.

Unbelief in God's providence.

  by William Arthur Ward

Philippians 2:1-4, 14-16 (NLT) Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate? Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose. Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too...

Do everything without complaining and arguing, so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people. Hold firmly to the word of life; then, on the day of Christ’s return, I will be proud that I did not run the race in vain and that my work was not useless.

Matthew 5:14-16 (NLT)...

FROM TODAY'S READING (12/3/2015)...

Truths For Living...

The more generous we are, the more joyous we become.

The more cooperative we are, the more valuable we become.

The more enthusiastic we are, the more productive we become.

The more serving we are, the more prosperous we become.

The more outgoing we are, the more helpful we become.

The more curious we are, the more creative we become.

The more patient we are, the more understanding we become.

The more persistent we are, the more successful we become.

- by William Arthur Ward

 Matthew 5:14-16 (NLT) You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out fbor all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.

Proverbs 3:13-18 (NLT)...

FROM TODAY'S READING (12/2/2015)...

SEVEN CARDINAL RULES OF LIFE...

1. Make Peace with Your Past so it does not spoil your present...Your past does not define your future – you actions and beliefs do.

2. What others think of you is none of your business...It is how much you value yourself and how important you think you are.

3. Time heals almost everything give time, time...Pain will be less hurting. Scars make us who we are, they explain our life and who we are, they challenge us and force us to be strong.

4. No one is the reason for your own happiness, except you yourself...Waste no time and effort searching for peace and contentment and joy in the world outside.

5. Don’t compare your life with others’...you have no idea what their journey is about. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else’s, we would grab ours back as fast as we could.

6. Stop thinking too much...it’s all right not to know all the answers. Sometimes there is no answer, not going to be any answer, never has been an answer. That’s the answer! Just accept it, move on. Next!

7. Smile...you don’t own all the problems in the world. A smile can brighten the darkest day and make life more beautiful. It is a potential curve to turn a life around and set everything straight.

- by Stephen Covey

Proverbs 3:13-18 (NLT) Joyful is the person who finds wisdom, the one who gains understanding. For wisdom is more profitable than silver, and her wages are better than gold. Wisdom is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her. She offers you long life in her right hand, and riches and honor in her left. She will guide you down delightful paths; all her ways are satisfying. Wisdom is a tree of life to those who embrace her; happy are those who hold her tightly.

Matthew 2:1-2 (NLT)...

FROM TODAY'S READING (11/30/2015)...

You do know what would have happened if it had been three wise WOMEN instead of men, don't you? They would have asked for directions, arrived on time, helped deliver the baby, cleaned the stable, made a casserole, and brought disposable diapers as gifts!

Matthew 2:1-2 (NLT) Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the reign of King Herod. About that time some wise men from eastern lands arrived in Jerusalem, asking, “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star as it rose, and we have come to worship him."

1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NLT)..,

FROM TODAY'S READING (11/25/2015)...

While on a short-term mission trip, Pastor Jack Hinton was leading worship at a leper colony on the island of Tobago. A woman who had been facing away from the pulpit turned around. 

 

"It was the most hideous face I had ever seen," Hinton said. "The woman's nose and ears were entirely gone. She lifted a fingerless hand in the air and asked, ‘Can we sing Count Your Many Blessings?'" 

 

Overcome with emotion, Hinton left the service. He was followed by a team member who said, "I guess you'll never be able to sing that song again." "Yes I will," he replied, "but I'll never sing it the same way."

1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NLT) Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

Colossians 2:6-7 (NLT)...

FROM TODAY'S READING (11/24/2015)...

In her book “The Hiding Place” Corrie ten Boom relates an incident that taught her always to be thankful. She and her sister Betsy had just been transferred to the worst German prison camp they had seen yet, called Ravensbruck. The barracks were extremely overcrowded and horribly flea-infested.

After their scripture reading in 1st Thessalonians that morning, where the Lord reminded them to rejoice always, pray constantly, and give thanks in all circumstances,

Betsy suggested they stop and thank the Lord for every detail of their new living quarters. At first, Corrie was appalled by the idea. She flatly refused to give thanks for that smelly, dirty, flea-ridden place. But Betsy persisted -- and Corrie finally succumbed to her pleadings.

It was by a miracle of God that Corrie and Betsy were able to smuggle their Bible into the camp. If the guards found out that the women were holding nightly Bible studies in their barracks, they surely would have been punished harshly, maybe even killed. During the months they spent at that camp, however, no guard ever said one word.

It was not until several months later that they learned the reason why the guards would hardly ever come into their barracks. They wouldn't enter the barracks because of the fleas!!

Colossians 2:6-7 (NLT) And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him. Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NLT)...

FROM TODAY'S READING (11/23/2015)...

An evergreen is always green despite the changes in weather around it (stormy, fair, rainy, or calm). it is green in the heat of summer , as well as the cold of winter (snow, ice, or sleet). So also, our lives are to be characterized by an enduring thankfulness that is unaffected by the changes or people around us. When the blazing heat of a pressured week or the deadly cold of pain strikes us, we should stand "evergreen...ever grateful", regardless of that which surrounds us.

- Unknown

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NLT) Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.”

Galatians 1:1, 3-5 (NLT)...

FROM TODAY'S READING (11/20/2015)...

Galatians 1:1, 3-5 (NLT) This letter is from Paul, an apostle. I was not appointed by any group of people or any human authority, but by Jesus Christ himself and by God the Father, who raised Jesus from the dead...

May God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace. Jesus gave his life for our sins, just as God our Father planned, in order to rescue us from this evil world in which we live. All glory to God forever and ever! Amen.

Being rescued "from this evil world" doesn't mean that we are taken out of it but that we are no longer enslaved to it. You were saved to live for God. Does your life reflect your gratitude for being rescued? Have you transferred your loyalty from this world to Christ?

- NLT Study Note

Philippines 4:6-8 (NLT)...

FROM TODAY'S READING (11/19/2015)...

"Why do ideas matter? Because the thoughts we entertain - especially those we seriously entertain - tend to influence our choices. Belief leads to behavior. Ideas lead to actions. History is replete with examples, both good and bad."

- Norman L. Geisler (Chosen To Be Free)

NOTE: Apostle Paul wrote this a From a Roman prison...

Philippians 4:6-8 (NLT) "Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. 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.”

Luke 14:25-35 (NLT)...

FROM TODAY'S READING (11/18/2015)...

"There are no victories at discount prices."

- General Dwight Eisenhower

Luke 14:25-35 (NLT) A large crowd was following Jesus. He turned around and said to them, “If you want to be my disciple, you must hate everyone else by comparison—your father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even your own life. Otherwise, you cannot be my disciple. And if you do not carry your own cross and follow me, you cannot be my disciple.

"But don’t begin until you count the cost. For who would begin construction of a building without first calculating the cost to see if there is enough money to finish it? Otherwise, you might complete only the foundation before running out of money, and then everyone would laugh at you. They would say, ‘There’s the person who started that building and couldn’t afford to finish it!’ 

"Or what king would go to war against another king without first sitting down with his counselors to discuss whether his army of 10,000 could defeat the 20,000 soldiers marching against him? And if he can’t, he will send a delegation to discuss terms of peace while the enemy is still far away. So you cannot become my disciple without giving up everything you own. 

"Salt is good for seasoning. But if it loses its flavor, how do you make it salty again? Flavorless salt is good neither for the soil nor for the manure pile. It is thrown away. Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand!””

John 19:17-20 (NLT)...

FROM TODAY'S READING (11/6/2015)...

The Cross Was His Own 

They borrowed a bed to lay His head when Christ the Lord came down; They borrowed the colt in the mountain pass for Him to ride to town; But the crown that he wore And the cross that he bore were His own - The cross was His own.

He borrowed the bread when the crowd he fed on the grassy mountainside, He borrowed the dish of broken fish with which he satisfied. But the crown that he wore and the cross that he bore were His own - The cross was His own.

He borrowed the ship in which to sit to teach the multitude; He borrowed the nest in which to rest He had never a home so crude; 

But the crown that he wore and the cross that he bore were His own - The cross was His own.

He borrowed a room on the way to the tomb the Passover lamb to eat; They borrowed a cave for him a grave, they borrowed a winding sheet. But the crown that he wore and the cross that he bore were His own - The cross was His own. 

John 19:17-20 (NLT) Carrying the cross by himself, he went to the place called Place of the Skull (in Hebrew, Golgotha ). There they nailed him to the cross. Two others were crucified with him, one on either side, with Jesus between them. And Pilate posted a sign on the cross that read, “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.” The place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and the sign was written in Hebrew, Latin, and Greek, so that many people could read it.

Romans 13:11-14 (NLT)...

FROM TODAY'S READING (11/5/2015)...

On August 11, 1978, Double Eagle II, a large helium balloon, and her crew of three, eased into an almost windless sky above the potato fields of Maine. Their destination was Paris, France. The aerodynamics of ballooning are somewhat complex, but one thing is certain. In order for the balloon to stay aloft as the journey progresses, ballast (that which is used to add weight) has to be expelled.

As they approached continental Europe six days later, one of the crew wrote, “We have been expending ballast wisely, but as we neared land, not cheaply . . . over went such gear as tape recorders, radios, film, magazines, sleeping bags, lawn chairs, most of our water, food, and the cooler it was in.” 

Romans 13:11-14 (NLT) This is all the more urgent, for you know how late it is; time is running out. Wake up, for our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is almost gone; the day of salvation will soon be here. So remove your dark deeds like dirty clothes, and put on the shining armor of right living. Because we belong to the day, we must live decent lives for all to see. Don’t participate in the darkness of wild parties and drunkenness, or in sexual promiscuity and immoral living, or in quarreling and jealousy. Instead, clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. And don’t let yourself think about ways to indulge your evil desires.

1 Corinthians 9:9-10 (NLT)...

FROM TODAY'S READING (11/4/2015)...

For some time, an old farmer had been plowing with an ox and a mule teamed together; working them pretty hard.  The young ox said to the mule, “Let’s play sick today and rest a little while.” But the old mule said, “No, we need to get the work done, for the growing season is short.”

But the ox played sick, and the farmer brought it fresh hay and corn and made the ox comfortable.  When the mule came in from plowing, the ox asked how it went in the fields.  “We didn’t get as much done,” answered the mule, “but we did a fair stretch.”  Then the ox asked, “What did the old man say about me?”  “Nothing,” said the mule.

The next day, the ox, thinking it had a good thing going, played sick again.  And when the mule returned from the field very tired, the ox asked, “How did it go today?”  “All right, I guess,” the mule replied, “but we didn’t get much done.”  Then the young ox asked, “What did the old man say about me?” “Nothing to me,” the mule answered, “but he did stop and have a long talk with the butcher.”

- Unknown

1 Corinthians 9:9-10 (NLT) For the law of Moses says, “You must not muzzle an ox to keep it from eating as it treads out the grain.” Was God thinking only about oxen when he said this? Wasn’t he actually speaking to us? Yes, it was written for us, so that the one who plows and the one who threshes the grain might both expect a share of the harvest.

Proverbs 6:6-11 (NLT) Take a lesson from the ants, you lazybones. Learn from their ways and become wise! Though they have no prince or governor or ruler to make them work, they labor hard all summer, gathering food for the winter. But you, lazybones, how long will you sleep? When will you wake up? A little extra sleep, a little more slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest— then poverty will pounce on you like a bandit; scarcity will attack you like an armed robber.

Isaiah 40:31 (NLT)...

FROM TODAY'S READING (11/3/2015)...

“In the presence of trouble, some people grow wings; others buy crutches.”

- Harold W. Roupp

Isaiah 40:31 (NLT) But those who trust in the LORD will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.

Psalm 46:1 (NLT)...

FROM TODAY'S READING (11/2/2015)...

“When something bad happens you have three choices. You can either let it define you, let it destroy you, or you can let it strengthen you.” 

- Unknown

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

Psalms 145:14 (NLT) The LORD helps the fallen and lifts those bent beneath their loads.

1 Corinthians 10:12-13 (NLT)...

FROM TODAY'S READING (10/30/2015)...

Failure is seldom a blowout; it is usually a slow leak.

- Unknown

1 Corinthians 10:12-13 (NLT) "If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall. The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.”

1 Peter 14-16 ( NLT)...

FROM TODAY'S READING (10/29/2015)...

A small boy sat in church with his mother and listened to a sermon entitled "What is a Christian?" Every time the minister asked the question, he banged his fist on the pulpit for emphasis.

The tension produced by the sermon built up in the boy and he finally whispered to his mother, "Mama, do you know? Do you know what a Christian is?"

"Yes, dear," she replied. "Now sit still and be quiet."

Finally, as the minister was winding up in the sermon, he again thundered, "What is a Christian?" and banged especially hard on the pulpit. This time it was too much or the little boy, so he jumped up and cried out, "Tell him, Mama, tell him!"

1 Peter 4:14-16 (NLT) If you are insulted because you bear the name of Christ, you will be blessed, for the glorious Spirit of God rests upon you. If you suffer, however, it must not be for murder, stealing, making trouble, or prying into other people’s affairs. But it is no shame to suffer for being a Christian [Christ-follower]. Praise God for the privilege of being called by his name!

Proverbs 24:28-29 (NLT)...

FROM TODAY'S READING (10/27/2015)..,

"To triumph fully, evil needs two victories, not one. The first victory happens when an evil deed is perpetrated; the second victory, when evil is returned. After the first victory, evil would die if the second victory did not infuse it with new life."

- Miroslav Volf (Croatian theologian)

Proverbs 24:28-29 (NLT) Don’t testify "against your neighbors without cause; don’t lie about them. And don’t say, “Now I can pay them back for what they’ve done to me! I’ll get even with them!”"

1 Thessalonians 5:15 (NLT) "See that no one pays back evil for evil, but always try to do good to each other and to all people.”

Romans 13:12-14 (NLT)...

FROM TODAY'S READING (10/26/2015)...

"The Chinese Communist Party has banned golf, gluttony, excessive drinking, and adultery. Hey, if you guys don’t want American tourists just say so."

- Conan O'brian (TNT late night comedian)

Romans 13:12-14 (NLT) The night is almost gone; the day of salvation will soon be here. So remove your dark deeds like dirty clothes, and put on the shining armor of right living. Because we belong to the day, we must live decent lives for all to see. Don’t participate in the darkness of wild parties and drunkenness, or in sexual promiscuity and immoral living, or in quarreling and jealousy. Instead, clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. And don’t let yourself think about ways to indulge your evil desires.

Joshua 1:8 (NLT)...

FROM TODAY'S READING (10/23/2015)...

A story is told of a devout father whose son was studying for the ministry. The son decided to go to Europe for an advanced degree, and the father worried that his simple faith would be spoiled by sophisticated, unbelieving professors. “Don’t let them take Jonah away from you,” he admonished, figuring the swallowed-by-a-great-fish story might be the first part of the Bible to go.

Two years later when the son returned, the father asked, “Do you still have Jonah in your Bible?”

The son laughed. “Jonah! That story isn’t even in your Bible!”

The father replied, “It certainly is! What do you mean?”

Again the son laughed and insisted, “It’s not in your Bible. Go ahead, show it to me.”

The old man fumbled through his Bible, looking for the Book of Jonah, but he couldn’t find it. At last he checked the table of contents for the proper page. When he turned there, he discovered the three pages comprising Jonah had been carefully cut from his Bible.

“I did it before I went away,” said the son. “What’s the difference whether I lose the Book of Jonah through studying under non-believers or you lose it through neglect?” 

- Michael P. Green

Joshua 1:8 (NLT)  Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do.

Psalms 119:11 (NLT) I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.

John 10:11-16 (NLT)...

FROM TODAY'S READING (10/22/2015)...

"You can tell the sheep are in trouble when the shepherd starts speaking kindly of the wolf."

- Unknown

John 10:11-16 (NLT) "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd sacrifices his life for the sheep. A hired hand will run when he sees a wolf coming. He will abandon the sheep because they don’t belong to him and he isn’t their shepherd. And so the wolf attacks them and scatters the flock. The hired hand runs away because he’s working only for the money and doesn’t really care about the sheep. 

I am the good shepherd; I know my own sheep, and they know me, just as my Father knows me and I know the Father. So I sacrifice my life for the sheep. I have other sheep, too, that are not in this sheepfold. I must bring them also. They will listen to my voice, and there will be one flock with one shepherd.”

Marrhew 16:24-26 (NLT).,,

FROM TODAY'S READING (10/20/2015)...

"I had everything, but I had nothing."

- Darryl Strawberry (CNN 10/16/15)

Matthew 16:24-26 (NLT)Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul?

Psalm 90:10 (NLT)..,

FROM TODAY'S READING (10/19/2015)...

"The only time machine we are born into is the one we are in, and it only moves forward."

- Code Black 

Psalms 90:12 (NLT) Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom.

Psalms 39:4-5 (NLT) LORD, remind me how brief my time on earth will be. Remind me that my days are numbered— how fleeting my life is. You have made my life no longer than the width of my hand. My entire lifetime is just a moment to you; at best, each of us is but a breath.

1 Peter 4:10-11 (NLT)...

FROM TODAY'S READING (10/16/2015)...

When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left and could say, I used everything you gave me.

- Erma Bombeck

1 Peter 4:10-11 (NLT) God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another. Do you have the gift of speaking? Then speak as though God himself were speaking through you. Do you have the gift of helping others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ. All glory and power to him forever and ever! Amen.

Genesis 1:14-18 (NLT)...

FROM TODAY'S READING (10/15/2015)...

Whoever it was who searched the heavens with a telescope and found no God would not have found the human mind if he had searched the brain with a microscope. 

- George Santayana 

Genesis 1:14-16, 18 (NLT) Then God said, “Let lights appear in the sky to separate the day from the night. Let them be signs to mark the seasons, days, and years. Let these lights in the sky shine down on the earth.” And that is what happened. God made two great lights—the larger one to govern the day, and the smaller one to govern the night. He also made the stars to govern the day and night, and to separate the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good.

Psalms 8:3-4 (NLT) When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers— the moon and the stars you set in place— what are mere mortals that you should think about them, human beings that you should care for them?

Amos 5:8 (NLT) It is the LORD who created the stars, the Pleiades and Orion. He turns darkness into morning and day into night. He draws up water from the oceans and pours it down as rain on the land. The LORD is his name!

Hebrews 12:1-4 (NLT)...

FROM TODAY'S READING (10/14/2015)...

When you hear about someone who has failed, you are also hearing about someone who has tried. You can never fail unless you try. There is no disgrace in failing. There is only disgrace in never having tried. 

- Judy Zerafa

Hebrews 12:1-4 (NLT) Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up. After all, you have not yet given your lives in your struggle against sin.

Proverbs 6:16-19 (NLT)...

FROM TODAY'S READING (10/13/2015)...

"Top 10 Liars' Lies"

10. We'll stay only five minutes. 

9. This will be a short meeting. 

8. I'll respect you in the morning. 

7. The check is in the mail. 

6. I'm from the government, and I'm here to help you. 

5. This hurts me more than it hurts you. 

4. Your money will be cheerfully refunded. 

3. We service what we sell. 

2. Your table will be ready in just a minute. 

1. I'll start exercising (dieting, forgiving, ...) tomorrow.

- Leonard Sweet (Soul Cafe newsletter)

Proverbs 6:16-19 (NLT) There are six things the LORD hates— no, seven things he detests: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that kill the innocent, a heart that plots evil, feet that race to do wrong, a false witness who pours out lies, a person who sows discord in a family.

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

FROM TODAY'S READING (10/12/2015)...

"We have staked the whole of all our political institutions upon the capacity of mankind for self-government, upon the capacity of each and all of us to govern ourselves, to control ourselves, to sustain ourselves according to the Ten Commandments of God." 

- James Madison (4th US President/Father of Our Constitution")

1 John 2:3-6 (NLT)  And we can be sure that we know him if we obey his commandments. If someone claims, “I know God,” but doesn’t obey God’s commandments, that person is a liar and is not living in the truth. But those who obey God’s word truly show how completely they love him. That is how we know we are living in him. Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did.

Matthew 6:14-15 (NLT)..,

FROM TODAY'S READING (10/9/2015)...

The other day, a sister called to tell me that one of the young men (in a mid-1990's newly opened home for AIDS patients in New York) was dying but, strange to say, he couldn't die. So she asked him, "What is wrong?" And he said, "Sister, I cannot die until I ask my father to forgive me." So the sister found out where the father was, and she called him. And something extraordinary happened, like a living page from the gospel: The father embraced his son and cried, "My son, my beloved son!" And the son begged the father, "Forgive me! Forgive me!" And the two of them clung to each other tenderly. Hours later, the young man died.

When we realize we are all sinners needing forgiveness, it will be easy for us to forgive others. We have to be forgiven in order to forgive. If I do not understand this, it will be very hard for me to say " I forgive you" to anyone who comes to me.

- Mother Teresa ("No Greater Love")

Matthew 6:14-15 (NLT) If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.

Colossians 3:13 (NLT) Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.

Ephesians 4:31-32 (NLT)  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.

James 3:13-18 (NLT)...

FROM TODAY'S READING (10/8/2015)...

If the grass looks greener on the other side of the fence, it may mean they take better care of their grass.

- unknown

James 3:13-18 (NLT) If you are wise and understand God’s ways, prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you are bitterly jealous and there is selfish ambition in your heart, don’t cover up the truth with boasting and lying. For jealousy and selfishness are not God’s kind of wisdom. Such things are earthly, unspiritual, and demonic. For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind. 

But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and the fruit of good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere. And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of righteousness.

Acts 10:38 (NLT)...

FROM TODAY'S READING (10/6/2015)...

"He was pleased when he could take up a straw from the ground for the love of God, seeking Him only and nothing else, not even His gifts”

“We should act with God in the greatest simplicity, speaking to Him frankly and plainly, and imploring His assistance in our affairs when and in the manner they take place.”

- Brother Lawrence (The Practice of the Presence of God)

Acts 10:38 (NLT) And you know that God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. Then Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.

Ephesians 5:1-11 (NLT) Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God. 

Let there be no sexual immorality, impurity, or greed among you. Such sins have no place among God’s people. Obscene stories, foolish talk, and coarse jokes—these are not for you. Instead, let there be thankfulness to God. You can be sure that no immoral, impure, or greedy person will inherit the Kingdom of Christ and of God. For a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world. 

Don’t be fooled by those who try to excuse these sins, for the anger of God will fall on all who disobey him. Don’t participate in the things these people do. For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light! For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true. 

Carefully determine what pleases the Lord. Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; instead, expose them.

1 Corinthians 15:51-57 (NLT)...

FROM TODAY'S READING (10/5/2015)...

No matter how devastating our struggles, disappointments, and troubles are, they are only temporary. No matter what happens to you, no matter the depth of tragedy or pain you face, no matter how death stalks you and your loved ones, the Resurrection promises you a future of immeasurable good.

- Josh McDowell

1 Corinthians 15:51-57 (NLT)  "But let me reveal to you a wonderful secret. We will not all die, but we will all be transformed! It will happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. 

For when the trumpet sounds, those who have died will be raised to live forever. And we who are living will also be transformed. For our dying bodies must be transformed into bodies that will never die; our mortal bodies must be transformed into immortal bodies. 

Then, when our dying bodies have been transformed into bodies that will never die, this Scripture will be fulfilled: “Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting? ” 

For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power. But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Colossians 3:12-15 (NLT)...

FROM TODAY'S READING (10/2/2015)...

"People will forget what you said. People will forget what you did. But people will never forget how you made them feel."

- Maya Angelou

Colossians 3:12-15 (NLT) Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.

Psalm 145:14 (NLT)...

"I haven't failed. I just found 10,000 ways that won't work."

- Thomas Edison

Psalms 145:14 (NLT) "The LORD helps the fallen and lifts those bent beneath their loads.”

Psalms 37:23-24 (NLT) "The LORD directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives. Though they stumble, they will never fall, for the LORD holds them by the hand.”

Proverbs 24:16 (NLT) "The godly may trip seven times, but they will get up again. But one disaster is enough to overthrow the wicked.”

Joshua 24:14-18 (NLT)...

FROM TODAY'S READING (9/29/2015)...

"It is never to late to be what you might have been."

- George Eliot

Joshua 24:14-18 (NLT) ""So fear the LORD and serve him wholeheartedly. Put away forever the idols your ancestors worshiped when they lived beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt. Serve the LORD alone. But if you refuse to serve the LORD, then choose today whom you will serve. Would you prefer the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates? Or will it be the gods of the Amorites in whose land you now live? But as for me and my family, we will serve the LORD.” 

The people replied, “We would never abandon the LORD and serve other gods. For the LORD our God is the one who rescued us and our ancestors from slavery in the land of Egypt. He performed mighty miracles before our very eyes. As we traveled through the wilderness among our enemies, he preserved us. It was the LORD who drove out the Amorites and the other nations living here in the land. So we, too, will serve the LORD, for he alone is our God.””

John 14:1-7 (NLT)...

FROM TODAY'S READING (9/28/2015)...

"If you don't know where you're going, you might not get there."

- Yogi Berra

John 14:1-7 (NLT) ""Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. And you know the way to where I am going.” 

"No, we don’t know, Lord,” Thomas said. “We have no idea where you are going, so how can we know the way?” 

Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. If you had really known me, you would know who my Father is. From now on, you do know him and have seen him!””

Psalm 26:2 (NLT)...

FROM TODAY'S READING (9/24/2015)...

“God never measures the mind…He always put His tape measure in the HEART”

- Corrie ten Boom

Psalms 26:2 (NLT) Put me on trial, LORD, and cross-examine me. Test my motives and my heart.

John 14:15 (NLT)..;

FROM TODAY'S READING (9/23/2015)...

“Don’t bother to give God instructions; just report for duty.”
- Corrie ten Boom

  John 14:15 (NLT) “If you love me, obey my commandments.”

John 15:14 (NLT) “You are my friends if you do what I command.”

Ecclesiastes 8:9-13 (NLT)...

FROM TODAY'S READING (9/22/2015)...

"Sometimes the actions of God's government may appear to move slowly, but sooner or later they are sure. Often-times this is overlooked. [People] take too short a view...It is in sequel that God is vindicated. History in fragments denies God, but history as a whole is seen to be His story."

- Arthur Pink (Gleanings In Genesis)

Ecclesiastes 8:9-13 (NLT) “I have thought deeply about all that goes on here under the sun, where people have the power to hurt each other. I have seen wicked people buried with honor. Yet they were the very ones who frequented the Temple and are now praised in the same city where they committed their crimes! This, too, is meaningless. When a crime is not punished quickly, people feel it is safe to do wrong. But even though a person sins a hundred times and still lives a long time, I know that those who fear God will be better off. The wicked will not prosper, for they do not fear God. Their days will never grow long like the evening shadows.”

2 Corinthians 5:10 (NLT) "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.”

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (NLT)...

FROM TODAY'S READING (9/21/2015)...

Love gives.

Lust takes.

Love waits.

Lust won't.

Love is patient.

Lust is pressure.

Lust says now.

Love says no.

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (NLT) 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.

Romans 8:38-39 (NLT)...

FROM TODAY'S READING (9/18/2015)...

“Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could. Some blunders and absurdities no doubt crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day. You shall begin it serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense.”

- Ralph Waldo Emerson

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.”

James 1:12-15 (NLT)...

FROM TODAY'S READING (9/17/2015)...

“I generally avoid temptation unless I can't resist it.”

- Mae West

James 1:12-15 (NLT) God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. And remember, when you are being tempted, do not say, “God is tempting me.” God is never tempted to do wrong, and he never tempts anyone else. Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death.

Ephesians 3:20 (NLT)...

FROM TODAY'S READING (9/16/2015)...

“I'd rather be a 'could-be' if I cannot be an 'are' because a 'could-be' is a 'maybe' who is reaching for a star. I'd rather be a 'has-been' than a 'might-have-been' by far; for a 'might-have-been' has never been, but a 'has' was once an 'are.”

- Milton Berle

Ephesians 3:20 (NLT) "Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.”

Romans 5:3-4 (NLT)...

FROM TODAY'S READING (9/15/2015)...

“If you have made mistakes, even serious mistakes, you may have a fresh start any moment you choose, for this thing we call "failure" is not the falling down, but the staying down."

- Mary Pickford (Actress and co-founder of United Artists)

Romans 5:3-4 (NLT) We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation.

Galatians 5:13-15 (NLT)...

FROM TODAY'S READING (9/14/2015)...

"The vulture that was eating his vitals was raised in his own nest."

- R. Kent Hughes (Genesis, Beginning and Blessing)

Galatians 5:13-15 (NLT) "For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love. For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you are always biting and devouring one another, watch out! Beware of destroying one another.”

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

FROM TODAY'S READING (9/9/2015)...

I've got all the money I'll ever need, if I die by four o'clock.

- Henny Youngman

1 Timothy 6:6-10 (NLT) “Yet true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth. 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.”

James 4:13-15 (NLT)...

FROM TODAY'S READING (9/8/2015)...

I knew I was going to take the wrong train, so I left early.

- Yogi Berra

James 4:13-15 (NLT) Look here, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we are going to a certain town and will stay there a year. We will do business there and make a profit.” How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone. What you ought to say is, “If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that.””

Romans 12:6-11 (NLT)...

FROM TODAY'S READING (9/7/2015)...

Life is like a ten-speed bicycle. Most of us have gears we never use.

- Charles Schulz

Romans 12:6-11 (NLT) In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly. 

Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically.

Ephesians 5:15-20 (NLT)...

FROM TODAY'S READING (9/4/2015)...

"Our greatest fear should not be of failure, but of succeeding at things in life that don't really matter."

- Francis Chan

Ephesians 5:15-20 (NLT) "So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do. Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts. And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

2 Corinthians 12:7-10 (NLT)...

FROM TODAY'S READING (9/3/2015)...

"We are all faced with a series of great opportunities brilliantly disguised as impossible situations."

- Chuck Swindoll

2 Corinthians 12:7-10 (NLT) ...So to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud. Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

John 16:33 (NLT)...

FROM TODAY'S READING (9/1/2015)...

An obstacle is often a stepping stone.

- William Prescott

John 16:33 (NLT) I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.

1 John 5:4 (NLT) “For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith.”

Proverbs 16:18 (NLT)...

FROM TODAY'S READING (8/28/2015)...

In general, pride is at the bottom of all great mistakes.

- John Ruskin

Proverbs 11:2 (NLT) Pride leads to disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.

Proverbs 16:18 (NLT) Pride goes before destruction, and haughtiness before a fall.

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

FROM TODAY'S READING (8/27/2015)...

“No one can make you feel inferior without your permission.” 

- Eleanor Roosevelt

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.”