Galatians 5:16-17, 22-25 (NLT)

 FROM TODAY’S READING (9/29/2020)...

“There can be no high civility without a deep morality, though it may not always call itself by that name.”

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Galatians‬ ‭5:16-17, 22-25‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions...

But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! 

Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.

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Philippians 2:3-4 (NLT)

 FROM TODAY’S READING (9/28/2020)...

“The whole country wants civility. Why don't we have it? It doesn't cost anything. No federal funding, no legislation is involved. One answer is the unwillingness to restrain oneself. Everybody wants other people to be polite to them, but they want the freedom of not having to be polite to others.

Judith Martin (“Miss Manners”)

Philippians‬ ‭2:3-4‬ ‭(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.

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Romans‬ ‭12:17-21‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable. Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone. Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God...Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good.

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Psalm 49:5-9 (NLT)

 FROM TODAY’S READING (9/25/2020]...

“The redemption of a man’s life is tremendously costly; attempts to stave off the day of death through financial negotiations must be abandoned forever. No one has the means to purchase endless life on earth or to escape the grave.”

Wm. McDonald

Psalm 49:5-9 (NLT) Why should I fear when trouble comes, when enemies surround me? They trust in their wealth and boast of great riches. Yet they cannot redeem themselves from death by paying a ransom to God. Redemption does not come so easily, for no one can ever pay enough to live forever and never see the grave.

1 Peter‬ ‭1:18-21, 23‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And it was not paid with mere gold or silver, which lose their value. It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God. God chose him as your ransom long before the world began, but now in these last days he has been revealed for your sake. Through Christ you have come to trust in God. And you have placed your faith and hope in God because he raised Christ from the dead and gave him great glory...For you have been born again, but not to a life that will quickly end. Your new life will last forever because it comes from the eternal, living word of God.

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Proverbs 15:3 (NLT)

 FROM TODAY’S READING (9/24/2020]...

“Have you ever intentionally done something wrong, then foolishly thought the Lord couldn’t see or wouldn’t care? The truth is, God is watching everywhere. He sees both the evil and the good. The darkness we hide in is as light to Him—we will never escape His loving, caring and correcting presence. Knowing He is present should motivate us to make wise, godly choices. God watches how people live!”

Dawn Wilson

Proverbs‬ ‭15:3‬ ‭(NLT‬‬ The Lord is watching everywhere, keeping his eye on both the evil and the good.

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Hebrews‬ ‭4:13‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, and he is the one to whom we are accountable.

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Psalms‬ ‭33:13-15, 18, 20-22‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) The Lord looks down from heaven and sees the whole human race. From his throne he observes all who live on the earth. He made their hearts, so he understands everything they do...But the Lord watches over those who fear him, those who rely on his unfailing love...We put our hope in the Lord. He is our help and our shield. In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name. Let your unfailing love surround us, Lord, for our hope is in you alone.

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Ecclesiastes 5:1-5, 7 (NLT)

 FROM TODAY’S READING (9/23/2020]...

SIX ETHICS OF LIFE...

Before you pray ~ believe

Before you speak ~ listen

Before you spend ~ earn

Before you write ~ think 

Before you quit ~ try

Before you die ~ live

Author Unknown

Ecclesiastes 5:1-5, 7 (NLT) As you enter the house of God, keep your ears open and your mouth shut. It is evil to make mindless offerings to God. Don’t make rash promises, and don’t be hasty in bringing matters before God. After all, God is in heaven, and you are here on earth. So let your words be few. Too much activity gives you restless dreams; too many words make you a fool. When you make a promise to God, don’t delay in following through, for God takes no pleasure in fools. Keep all the promises you make to him. It is better to say nothing than to make a promise and not keep it...Talk is cheap, like daydreams and other useless activities. Fear God instead.

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1 Peter 2:11-12 (NLT)

 FROM TODAY’S READING (9/22/2020]...

“Watch your thoughts, they become your words; 

watch your words, they become your actions; 

watch your actions, they become your habits; 

watch your habits, they become your character; 

watch your character, it becomes your destiny.”

Ancient Quote

1 Peter‬ ‭2:11-12‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Dear friends, I warn you as “temporary residents and foreigners” to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against your very souls. Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. Then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God when he judges the world.

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Proverbs 14:15-16 (NLT)

 FROM TODAY’S READING (9/21/2020]...

“Don't believe everything you hear, and only half of what you see.”

Unknown 

Proverbs‬ ‭14:15-16‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Only simpletons believe everything they’re told! The prudent carefully consider their steps. The wise are cautious and avoid danger; fools plunge ahead with reckless confidence.

1 John‬ ‭4:1‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Dear friends, do not believe everyone who claims to speak by the Spirit. You must test them to see if the spirit they have comes from God. For there are many false prophets in the world.

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Proverbs 16:28 (NLT)

 FROM TODAY’S READING (9/18/2020]...

“A gossip is one who talks to you about others; a bore is one who talks to you about himself; and a brilliant conversationalist is one who talks to you about yourself.”

Lisa Kirk

Proverbs‬ ‭16:28‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) A troublemaker plants seeds of strife; gossip separates the best of friends.

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 Proverbs‬ ‭20:19‬ ‭(NLT) A gossip goes around telling secrets, so don’t hang around with chatterers.

Ephesians‬ ‭4:29‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) 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.

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Galatians 5:14-15 (NLT)

 FROM TODAY’S READING (9/17/2020]...

“We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools.”

Martin Luther King, Jr.

Galatians‬ ‭3:28‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus.

Galatians‬ ‭5:14-15‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) 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.

James‬ ‭2:8-9‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Yes indeed, it is good when you obey the royal law as found in the Scriptures: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you favor some people over others, you are committing a sin. You are guilty of breaking the law.

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Psalm 8:3-9 (NLT)

 FROM TODAY’S READING (9/16/2020]...

“That's one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind.”

Commander Neil A. Armstrong (first words as he stepped on the moon 7/20/1969)

“To those of you who have advocated looking high we owe our sincere gratitude, for you have granted us the opportunity to see some of the grandest views of the Creator.”

Commander Neil A. Armstrong (joint session of Congress 9/16/1969)

Psalms‬ ‭8:3-9‬ ‭(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? Yet you made them only a little lower than God and crowned them with glory and honor. You gave them charge of everything you made, putting all things under their authority— the flocks and the herds and all the wild animals, the birds in the sky, the fish in the sea, and everything that swims the ocean currents. 

O Lord, our Lord, your majestic name fills the earth!

Image: "Neil A. Armstrong - Astronaut Edwin Eugene 'Buzz' Aldrin, Jr. on Moon (1969)" by luvi is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

Proverbs 22:7 (NLT)

 FROM TODAY’S READING (9/15/2020]...

“A bank is a place that will lend you money if you can prove that you don’t need it.”

Bob Hope

Proverbs‬ ‭22:7‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Just as the rich rule the poor, so the borrower is servant to the lender.

Proverbs‬ ‭22:26-27‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Don’t agree to guarantee another person’s debt or put up security for someone else. If you can’t pay it, even your bed will be snatched from under you.

Romans‬ ‭13:8‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Owe nothing to anyone—except for your obligation to love one another. If you love your neighbor, you will fulfill the requirements of God’s law.

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Joshua 24:14-15 (NLT)

 FROM TODAY’S READING (9/14/2020]...

“You’ve only got three choices in life: Give up, give in, or give it all you’ve got.”

Zig Ziglar

Joshua‬ ‭24:14-15‬ ‭(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.

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Psalm 25:1-3 (NLT)

 FROM TODAY’S READING (9/11/2020]...

“One of the worst days in America’s history saw some of the bravest acts in Americans’ history. We’ll always honor the heroes of 9/11. And here at this hallowed place, we pledge that we will never forget their sacrifice.”

President George W. Bush at the Pentagon in 2008

Psalms‬ ‭25:1-3‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) O Lord, I give my life to you. I trust in you, my God! Do not let me be disgraced, or let my enemies rejoice in my defeat. No one who trusts in you will ever be disgraced, but disgrace comes to those who try to deceive others.

Lamentations‬ ‭3:20-24‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) I will never forget this awful time, as I grieve over my loss. Yet I still dare to hope when I remember this: The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning. I say to myself, “The Lord is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in him!”

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2 Corinthians 12:8-10 (NLT)

 FROM TODAY’S READING (9/10/2020)...

“You don’t know how strong you are until you know how weak you are.”

Charles Stanley

2 Corinthians‬ ‭12:8-10‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) 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.

Apostle Paul 

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.

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Psalm 31:22-24 (NLT)

 FROM TODAY’S READING (9/9/2020)...

“The faithful; those who put their trust in him; those who do not give up in despondency and despair in time of danger and trouble; those who do not forsake him even though for a time he SEEMS to forsake them. What God looks for mainly in his people is confidence; faithfulness; trust; fidelity.”

Albert Barnes (Barnes’ Notes on the Old Testament)

Psalms‬ ‭31:22-24‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) In panic I cried out, “I am cut off from the Lord!” But you heard my cry for mercy and answered my call for help. Love the Lord, all you godly ones! For the Lord protects those who are loyal to him, but he harshly punishes the arrogant. So be strong and courageous, all you who put your hope in the Lord!

Hebrews‬ ‭13:5-6‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Don’t love money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.” So we can say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me?”

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Mark 6:47-51 (NLT)

 FROM TODAY’S READING (9/8/2020)...

"A boat in the water is by design. But water in the boat is a disaster."

Pastor Wayne Bray

Mark‬ ‭6:47-51‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Late that night, the disciples were in their boat in the middle of the lake, and Jesus was alone on land. He saw that they were in serious trouble, rowing hard and struggling against the wind and waves. About three o’clock in the morning Jesus came toward them, walking on the water. He intended to go past them, but when they saw him walking on the water, they cried out in terror, thinking he was a ghost. They were all terrified when they saw him. But Jesus spoke to them at once. “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “Take courage! I am here! ” Then he climbed into the boat, and the wind stopped. They were totally amazed,...

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1 Timothy 5:18 (NLT)

 FROM TODAY’S READING (9/7/2020)...

HAPPY LABOR DAY 2020

Labor Day is a national holiday in the United States always observed on the first Monday in each September.

Labor Day is observed to celebrate the contributions of organized labor and workers to the prosperity of the U.S. economy.

The first Labor Day celebration was held on Tuesday, September 5, 1882, in New York City, while Oregon was the first state to actually adopt a Labor Day law on February 2l, l887.

The United States Congress declared Labor Day a federal holiday on June 28, 1894.

By thoughtcom.com

1 Timothy‬ ‭5:18‬ ‭(NLT) For the Scripture says, “You must not muzzle an ox to keep it from eating as it treads out the grain.” And in another place, “Those who work deserve their pay!”

Deuteronomy‬ ‭25:4‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) You must not muzzle an ox to keep it from eating as it treads out the grain.

James‬ ‭5:4‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) For listen! Hear the cries of the field workers whom you have cheated of their pay. The cries of those who harvest your fields have reached the ears of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.

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Psalm 30:4-5 (NLT)

 FROM TODAY’S READING (9/4/2020)

“Like a shot given by a doctor, the discomfort of God's anger lasts only a moment, but the good effects go on for a long time. Let God's anger be a sharp pain that warns you to turn from sin.”

LAB Study Notes 

Psalms‬ ‭30:4-5‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Sing to the Lord, all you godly ones! Praise his holy name. For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime! Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning.

Psalms‬ ‭107:1‬ ‭NLT‬‬ Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever.

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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.

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Colossians 3:23 (NLT)

 FROM TODAY’S READING (9/3/2020)

“Life is about making choices. Wherever you are, good or bad, don’t blame anyone else. Go get an education. Get to work. You can overcome any obstacle. And always remember, in this great country of ours, anyone can amount to something special.”

Coach Lou Holts

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

Apostle Paul

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Proverbs‬ ‭18:9‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) A lazy person is as bad as someone who destroys things.

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

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Ephesians 5:15-17 (NLT)

 FROM TODAY’S READING (9/2/2020)

“I like to think that one day you’ll be an old man like me talking a young man’s ear off explaining how you took the sourest lemon that life has to offer and turned it into something resembling lemonade.”

Gerald McRaney (as Dr. Nathan Katowsky on “This Is Us”)

Ephesians‬ ‭5:15-17‬ ‭(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.

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James 1:22-25 (NLT)

 FROM TODAY’S READING (9/1/2020)

“Anyone who hears the word but does not change his behavior is like a man who takes a fleeting glance in the mirror each morning, then completely forgets what he saw. He derives no benefit from the mirror or from looking into it. Of course, there are some things about our appearance that cannot be changed. But at least we should be humbled by the sight! And when the mirror says "Wash" or "Shave" or "Comb" or "Brush," we should at least do as we are told. Otherwise the mirror is of no practical benefit to us.”

Wm MacDonald (Believer’s Bible Commentary)

James‬ ‭1:22-25‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) 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.

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