Psalm19:1-6 (NLT)...

FROM TODAY'S READING (8/31/2016)...

"Atheism turns out to be too simple. If the whole universe has no meaning, we should never have found out that it has no meaning."

- C.S. Lewis

Psalms 19:1-6 (NLT) The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display his craftsmanship. Day after day they continue to speak; night after night they make him known. They speak without a sound or word; their voice is never heard. Yet their message has gone throughout the earth, and their words to all the world. God has made a home in the heavens for the sun. It bursts forth like a radiant bridegroom after his wedding. It rejoices like a great athlete eager to run the race. The sun rises at one end of the heavens and follows its course to the other end. Nothing can hide from its heat.

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2 Timothy 2:23-26 (NLT)...

FROM TODAY'S READING (8/30/2016)...

Arguments drag out because one is too stubborn to forgive and the other is too proud to apologize.

- Unknown

2 Timothy 2:23-26 (NLT) Again I say, don’t get involved in foolish, ignorant arguments that only start fights. A servant of the Lord must not quarrel but must be kind to everyone, be able to teach, and be patient with difficult people. Gently instruct those who oppose the truth. Perhaps God will change those people’s hearts, and they will learn the truth. Then they will come to their senses and escape from the devil’s trap. For they have been held captive by him to do whatever he wants.

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Proverbs 13:20-21 (NLT)...

FROM TODAY'S READING (8/29/2016)...

Tell me who your friends are and I will tell you who you are.

- Unknown

Proverbs 13:20-21 (NLT) Walk with the wise and become wise; associate with fools and get in trouble. Trouble chases sinners, while blessings reward the righteous.

Psalms 26:4-5 (NLT) I do not spend time with liars or go along with hypocrites. I hate the gatherings of those who do evil, and I refuse to join in with the wicked.

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

FROM TODAY'S READING (8/26/2016)...

A smooth sea never made a skilled sailor.

- Unknown

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

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Philippians 4:4-5 (NLT)...

FROM TODAY'S READING (8/25/2016)...

"True humility is not thinking less of yourself; it is thinking of yourself less.”

- C.S. Lewis

Philippians 4:4-5 (NLT) Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon.

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Ephesians 6:10-12 (NLT)...

FROM TODAY'S READING (8/24/2016)...

"My main ambition in life is to be on the devil’s most wanted list."

- Leonard Ravenhill

Ephesians 6:10-12 (NLT) A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.

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.

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MATTHEW 25:14-21 (NLT)...

FROM TODAY'S READING (8/19/2016)...

YOU ARE AT THE TOP WHEN...

You know that "he who would be the greatest among you must become the servant of all."


You recognize, confess, develop and use your God-given physical, mental and spiritual abilities to the glory of God and for the benefit of mankind.


You stand in front of the Creator of the universe and He says to you, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant."

Matthew 25:14-21 (NLT) Again, the Kingdom of Heaven can be illustrated by the story of a man going on a long trip. He called together his servants and entrusted his money to them while he was gone. He gave five bags of silver to one, two bags of silver to another, and one bag of silver to the last—dividing it in proportion to their abilities. He then left on his trip. 

The servant who received the five bags of silver began to invest the money and earned five more. The servant with two bags of silver also went to work and earned two more. But the servant who received the one bag of silver dug a hole in the ground and hid the master’s money. 

After a long time their master returned from his trip and called them to give an account of how they had used his money. The servant to whom he had entrusted the five bags of silver came forward with five more and said, ‘Master, you gave me five bags of silver to invest, and I have earned five more.’ 

The master was full of praise. ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together! ’

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MATTHEW 5:43-47 (NLT)...

FROM TODAY'S READING (8/18/2016)...

YOU ARE AT THE TOP WHEN...

You are pleasant to the grouch, courteous to the rude and generous to the needy.


You love the unlovable, give hope to the hopeless, friendship to the friendless and encouragement to the discouraged.


You can look back in forgiveness, forward in hope, down in compassion and up with gratitude.

- Zig Ziglar

Matthew 5:43-47 (NLT) You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy. But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike. If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much. If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that.

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Philippians 2:3-5 (NLT)...

FROM TODAY'S READING (8/17/2016)...

YOU ARE AT THE TOP WHEN...

You are secure in who you are, so you are at peace with God and in fellowship with man.


You have made friends of your adversaries, and have gained the love and respect of those who know you best.


You understand that others can give you pleasure, but genuine happiness comes when you do things for others.

- Zig Ziglar

Philippians 2:3-5 (NLT) 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. 

You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.

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Philippians 4:8 (NLT)...

FROM TODAY'S READING (8/16/2016)...

YOU ARE AT THE TOP WHEN...

You clearly understand that failure is an event, not a person, that yesterday ended last night, and today is your brand new day.


You have made friends with your past, are focused on the present, and optimistic about your future.


You know that success doesn't make you and failure doesn't break you.

- Zig Ziglar

Philippians 4:8 (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.

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Philippians 2:14-15 (NLT)..;

FROM TODAY'S READING (8/15/2016)...

YOU ARE AT THE TOP WHEN...

You are filled with faith, hope and love; and live without anger, greed, guilt, envy or thoughts of revenge.


You are mature enough to delay gratification and shift your focus from your rights to your responsibilities.


You know that failure to stand for what is morally right is the prelude to being the victim of what is criminally wrong.

- Zig Ziglar

Philippians 2:14-15 (NLT) 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.

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Hebrews 11:32-40 (NLT)...

FROM TODAY'S READING (8/12/2016)...

"A belief is what you argue about; a conviction is what you die for."

- Professor Howard Hendricks

Hebrews 11:32-40 (NLT) How much more do I need to say? It would take too long to recount the stories of the faith of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and all the prophets. By faith these people overthrew kingdoms, ruled with justice, and received what God had promised them. They shut the mouths of lions, quenched the flames of fire, and escaped death by the edge of the sword. Their weakness was turned to strength. They became strong in battle and put whole armies to flight. Women received their loved ones back again from death. 

But others were tortured, refusing to turn from God in order to be set free. They placed their hope in a better life after the resurrection. Some were jeered at, and their backs were cut open with whips. Others were chained in prisons. Some died by stoning, some were sawed in half, and others were killed with the sword. Some went about wearing skins of sheep and goats, destitute and oppressed and mistreated. They were too good for this world, wandering over deserts and mountains, hiding in caves and holes in the ground. 

All these people earned a good reputation because of their faith, yet none of them received all that God had promised. For God had something better in mind for us, so that they would not reach perfection without us.

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Titus 2:7-8 (NLT)...

FROM TODAY'S READING (8/11/2016)...

"You can impress from a distance, but you can only impact up close."

- Professor Howard Hendricks

1 Timothy 4:12 (NLT) ...Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity.

Titus 2:7-8 (NLT) And you yourself must be an example to them by doing good works of every kind. Let everything you do reflect the integrity and seriousness of your teaching. Teach the truth so that your teaching can’t be criticized. Then those who oppose us will be ashamed and have nothing bad to say about us.

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2 Corinthians 12:5-10 (NLT)...

FROM TODAY'S READING (8/10/2016)...

"Your strengths develop your confidence; your weaknesses develop your faith."

- Professor Howard Hendricks

2 Corinthians 12:5-10 (NLT) That experience is worth boasting about, but I’m not going to do it. I will boast only about my weaknesses. If I wanted to boast, I would be no fool in doing so, because I would be telling the truth. But I won’t do it, because I don’t want anyone to give me credit beyond what they can see in my life or hear in my message, even though I have received such wonderful revelations from God. 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.

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1 Peter 3:16-18 (NLT)...

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

When life isn't a bed of roses, remember who wore the thorns.

- Unknown

1 Peter 3:16-18 (NLT) ...Keep your conscience clear. Then if people speak against you, they will be ashamed when they see what a good life you live because you belong to Christ. Remember, it is better to suffer for doing good, if that is what God wants, than to suffer for doing wrong! 

Christ suffered for our sins once for all time. He never sinned, but he died for sinners to bring you safely home to God. He suffered physical death, but he was raised to life in the Spirit.

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

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

"There are many things in life you “can do” for God. And the more success you have, the more opportunities will come. (You will know more people, you will have more resources, etc.) But most opportunities are distractions in disguise. Therefore find the one thing you “must do” for God. You focus on the depth of your relationship [with God]; let Him determine the scope of your ministry A good leader has a compass in their head and a magnet in their heart. Spend the rest of your life doing what God prepared you to do. The secret to concentration is elimination."

- Professor Howard Hendricks

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."

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2 Corinthians 7:10-11 (NLT)...

FROM TODAY'S READING (8/5/2016)...

"Ya can't do things over. You can just regret the mistakes ya made."

- Bob Harte (The Last Alaskans/TV show on Animal Planet)

1 John 1:8-9 (NLT) If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.

2 Corinthians 7:10-11 (NLT) For the kind of sorrow God wants us to experience leads us away from sin and results in salvation. There’s no regret for that kind of sorrow. But worldly sorrow, which lacks repentance, results in spiritual death. Just see what this godly sorrow produced in you! Such earnestness, such concern to clear yourselves, such indignation, such alarm, such longing to see me, such zeal, and such a readiness to punish wrong. You showed that you have done everything necessary to make things right.

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Ephesians 6:8-13 (NLT)...

FROM TODAY'S READING (8/4/2016)...

"God does not promise you victory in every task you devise, but He does promise that you will be successful whenever you follow His will."

- Henry T. Blackaby (Experiencing God Day by Day)

Deuteronomy 5:33 (NLT) Stay on the path that the LORD your God has commanded you to follow. Then you will live long and prosperous lives in the land you are about to enter and occupy.

Psalms 119:133 (NLT) Guide my steps by your word, so I will not be overcome by evil.

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Psalm 19:14 (NLT)...

FROM TODAY'S READING (8/3/2016)...

"It is not for me to rise up and go in rebellion against His wishes. If He be a father, let me note His commands, and let me reverentially obey. If He has said "Do this," let me do it, not because I dread Him, but because I love Him. And if He forbids me to do anything, let me avoid it." 

- Charles Spurgeon

Psalms 19:14 (NLT) May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.

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Psalm 126:5-6...

FROM TODAY'S READING (8/2/2016)...

"Why should I tremble at the plough of my Lord, that maketh deep furrows on my soul? I know He is no idle husbandman, He purposeth a crop." 

- Samuel Rutherford

Psalms 126:5-6 (NLT) Those who plant in tears will harvest with shouts of joy. They weep as they go to plant their seed, but they sing as they return with the harvest.

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Proverbs 3:5-8 (NLT)...

FROM TODAY'S READING (8/1/2016)...

Five Short Chapters on Change...


Chapter 1. I walk down a street and there's a deep hole in the sidewalk. I fall in. It takes forever to get out. It's my fault. 

Chapter 2. I walk down the same street. I fall in the hole again. It still takes a long time to get out. It's not my fault. 

Chapter 3.  I walk down the same street. I fall in the hole again. It's becoming a habit. It is my fault. I get out immediately. 

Chapter 4. I walk down the same street and see the deep hole in the sidewalk. I walk around it. 

Chapter 5. I walk down a different street.

- Author Unknown 

Proverbs 3:5-8 (NLT) Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. Don’t be impressed with your own wisdom. Instead, fear the LORD and turn away from evil. Then you will have healing for your body and strength for your bones.

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