Matthew 5:13-16 (NLT)

FROM TODAY’S READING (12/31/2020)...

NEW YEAR THOT...

“Be at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let every new year find you a better [person].” 

Benjamin Franklin

Matthew‬ ‭5:13-16‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless. 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.

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Hebrews‬ ‭10:23-24‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works.

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Deuteronomy 31:8 (NLT)

FROM TODAY’S READING (12/30/2020)...

NEW YEAR THOT...

“Here’s the truth: Whether it’s a New Year’s resolution or just life in general, we are going to fail. We’re human. We will screw up. It might seem like others don’t fail (people don’t usually post their failures on Instagram), but they absolutely do. They, and you, will (and probably already have) failed. But what matters more is what happens after we do. What we do next! Where we show our true character isn’t in whether or not we fail, we will. Where we show our true character is what we do after we fail!

Now, this isn’t an excuse to fail or screw up. It’s not a permission slip to do whatever we want, far from it! Instead, it’s just reality: We are going to fail. But this year, instead of letting your failures define you, let them refine you!

Instead of letting a failure define the person that you are, let that failure make you a better person. Let your failures make you more like Jesus.”

Pastor Adam Weber (adamweber.com)

Deuteronomy‬ ‭31:8‬ ‭(NLT‬) Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; he will neither fail you nor abandon you.

Psalms‬ ‭73:25-26‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Whom have I in heaven but you? I desire you more than anything on earth. My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever.

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.

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1 Timothy 2:1-5 (NLT)

FROM TODAY’S READING (12/29/2020)...

NEW YEAR THOT...

“Bad leadership doesn’t matter that much in good times. It matters a lot in bad times, and we’ve really seen that a lot this year.”

Karol Markowicz

New York Post Columnist 

‭‭1 Timothy‬ ‭2:1-5‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity. This is good and pleases God our Savior, who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth. For, There is one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity—the man Christ Jesus.

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Proverbs 3:5-7 (NLT)

 FROM TODAY’S READING (12/28/2020)...

NEW YEAR THOT...

“As we look ahead to the new year...don’t forget to look in the rearview mirror. It’s very often in the rearview mirror that we see God’s action in our life. The year that’s ending...lot of sadness, lot of setback, lot of heartache. But when we look back we’re also going to express gratitude and praise to God that he got us through and that he inspired sacrificial generous people to come through when we needed it most. We’re going to see his hand there. And we’re going to see his hand in 2021.”

Cardinal Timothy Dolan

Proverbs‬ ‭3:5-7‬ ‭(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.

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Proverbs‬ ‭16:8-9‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Better to have little, with godliness, than to be rich and dishonest. We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps.

‭‭Romans‬ ‭8:28‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.

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John 3:16-17 (NLT)

 FROM TODAY’S READING (12/24/2020)...

CHRISTMAS THOT...

“So God throws open the door of this world—and enters as a baby. As the most vulnerable imaginable. Because He wants unimaginable intimacy with you. What religion ever had a god that wanted such intimacy with us that He came with such vulnerability to us? What God ever came so tender we could touch Him? So fragile that we could break Him? So vulnerable that His bare, beating heart could be hurt? Only the One who loves you to death.” 

Ann Voskamp

John‬ ‭3:16-17‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.

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Luke 2:8-12 (NLT)

 FROM TODAY’S READING (12/23/2020)...

CHRISTMAS THOT...

“...And then, just when everything is bearing down on us to such an extent that we can scarcely withstand it, the Christmas message comes to tell us that all our ideas are wrong, and that what we take to be evil and dark is really good and light because it comes from God. Our eyes are at fault, that is all. God is in the manger, wealth in poverty, light in darkness, succor (assistance) in abandonment. No evil can befall us; whatever men may do to us, they cannot but serve the God who is secretly revealed as love and rules the world and our lives.” 

Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906-1945)

Luke‬ ‭2:8-12‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. 

Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.” 

Isaiah‬ ‭9:1-2‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Nevertheless, that time of darkness and despair will not go on forever...The people who walk in darkness will see a great light. For those who live in a land of deep darkness, a light will shine.

James‬ ‭1:16-17‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) So don’t be misled, my dear brothers and sisters. Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow.

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Luke 2:8-14 (NLT)

 FROM TODAY’S READING (12/22/2020)...

CHRISTMAS THOT...

“The angels heralded the birth of the Savior, John the Baptist heralded the coming of the Savior, and we herald the gospel of the Savior.”

Katy Kauffman

Luke‬ ‭2:8-14‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. 

Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.” 

Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying, “Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.” 

John‬ ‭1:29-30‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! He is the one I was talking about when I said, ‘A man is coming after me who is far greater than I am, for he existed long before me.’”

Matthew‬ ‭28:18-20‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

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John 16:30-33 (NLT)

FROM TODAY’S READING (12/18/2020)...

CHRISTMAS THOT...

“Jesus didn’t come to tell us the answers to the questions of life, he came to be the answer.” 

Pastor Timothy Keller (Redeemer Presbyterian Church, NYC)

John‬ ‭16:30-33‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) “Now we understand that you know everything, and there’s no need to question you. From this we believe that you came from God.” 

Jesus asked, “Do you finally believe? But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when you will be scattered, each one going his own way, leaving me alone. Yet I am not alone because the Father is with me. 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.”

John‬ ‭18:33-37‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Then Pilate went back into his headquarters and called for Jesus to be brought to him. “Are you the king of the Jews?” he asked him. 

Jesus replied, “Is this your own question, or did others tell you about me?” “Am I a Jew?” 

Pilate retorted. “Your own people and their leading priests brought you to me for trial. Why? What have you done?” 

Jesus answered, “My Kingdom is not an earthly kingdom. If it were, my followers would fight to keep me from being handed over to the Jewish leaders. But my Kingdom is not of this world.” 

Pilate said, “So you are a king?” 

Jesus responded, “You say I am a king. Actually, I was born and came into the world to testify to the truth. All who love the truth recognize that what I say is true.”

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Image: CC ("Jesus is the Reason for the Season" by Thomas Hawk is licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0)

Philippians 3:7-9 (NLT)

 FROM TODAY’S READING (12/17/2020)...

CHRISTMAS THOT...

“The great challenge left to us is to cut through all the glitz and glam of the season that has grown increasingly secular and commercial, and be reminded of the beauty of the One who is Christmas.” 

Bill Crowder

Philippians‬ ‭3:7-9‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ and become one with him...

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Luke 2:8-20 (NLT)

 FROM TODAY’S READING (12/16/2020)...

CHRISTMAS THOT...

"So God throws open the door of this world-and enters as a baby. As the most vulnerable imaginable. Because He wants unimaginable intimacy with you. What religion ever had a god that wanted such intimacy with us that He came with such vulnerability to us? What God ever came so tender we could touch Him? So fragile that we could break Him? So vulnerable that His bare, beating heart could be hurt? Only the One who loves you to death."

Ann Voskamp

Luke 2:8-20 (NLT) That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.” 

Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying, “Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.” 

When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go to Bethlehem! Let’s see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” 

They hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger. After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished, but Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often. The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. It was just as the angel had told them.

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Galatians 4:4-7 (NLT)

FROM TODAY’S READING (12/15/2020)...

CHRISTMAS THOT...

“Whatever you may believe about it, the birth of Jesus was so important that it split history into two parts. Everything that has ever happened on this planet falls into a category of before Christ (BC) or after Christ (AD).”

Philip Yancey

Galatians‬ ‭4:4-7‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law. God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children. And because we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, “Abba, Father.” Now you are no longer a slave but God’s own child. And since you are his child, God has made you his heir.

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John‬ ‭1:14‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.

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Ephesians‬ ‭1:9-10‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) God has now revealed to us his mysterious will regarding Christ—which is to fulfill his own good plan. And this is the plan: At the right time he will bring everything together under the authority of Christ—everything in heaven and on earth.

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Matthew 2:1-2 (ESV)

 FROM TODAY’S READING (12/14/2020)...

CHRISTMAS THOT...

“A thousand times in history a baby has become a king, but only once in history did a King become a baby.”

Derric Johnson

Matthew‬ ‭2:1-2‬ ‭(ESV‬‬) Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”

Isaiah‬ ‭9:6-7‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. His government and its peace will never end. He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David for all eternity. The passionate commitment of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies will make this happen!

1 John‬ ‭4:9-10‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.

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Matthew 1:18-25 (NLT)

 FROM TODAY’S READING (12/11/2020)...

CHRISTMAS THOT...

“Infinite, and an infant. 

Eternal, and yet born of a woman. 

Almighty, and yet hanging on a woman’s breast. 

Supporting a universe, and yet needing to be carried in a mother’s arms. 

King of angels, and yet the reputed son of Joseph. 

Heir of all things, and yet the carpenter’s despised son.”

Charles H. Spurgeon (1834-1892)

Matthew‬ ‭1:18-25‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) This is how Jesus the Messiah was born. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. But before the marriage took place, while she was still a virgin, she became pregnant through the power of the Holy Spirit. Joseph, to whom she was engaged, was a righteous man and did not want to disgrace her publicly, so he decided to break the engagement quietly. 

As he considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. “Joseph, son of David,” the angel said, “do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit. And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” 

All of this occurred to fulfill the Lord’s message through his prophet (Isaiah 7:14): “Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means ‘God is with us.’” 

When Joseph woke up, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded and took Mary as his wife. But he did not have sexual relations with her until her son was born. And Joseph named him Jesus.

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Luke 2:8-15 (NLT)

 FROM TODAY’S READING (12/10/2020)...

CHRISTMAS THOT...

“The hope of Christmas lay in a manger, went to the cross, and now sits on the throne. May the King of kings bless you and keep you.”

Author Unknown

Luke‬ ‭2:8-15‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.” 

Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying, “Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.” 

When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go to Bethlehem! Let’s see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

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Philippians 4:4-5 (NLT)

 FROM TODAY’S READING (12/9/2020)...

CHRISTMAS THOT...

“May your walls know joy, may every room hold laughter, and every window open to great possibility.”

Mary Anne Radmacher

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.

Proverbs‬ ‭17:22‬ ‭(ESV‬‬) A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.

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Galatians 5:22-23 (NLT)

 FROM TODAY’S READING (12/8/2020)...

CHRISTMAS THOT...

“The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart. Wishing you happiness.” 

Helen Keller (1880-1968)

Galatians‬ ‭5:22-23‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) 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!

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Matthew 5:16 (NLT)

 FROM TODAY’S READING (12/7/2020)...

CHRISTMAS THOT...

“Strange, isn't it? Each man's life touches so many other lives. When he isn't around he leaves an awful hole, doesn't he?”

Clarence the angel (It’s A Wonderful Life)

Matthew‬ ‭5:16‬ ‭(NIV‬‬) In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

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1 Peter‬ ‭2:12‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) 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.

Image: "It's A Wonderful Life (1946)" by twm1340 is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0

Philippians 2:3-4 (NLT)

 FROM TODAY’S READING (12/3/2020)...

“Men (people) wrapped up In themselves make small packages.” 

Skip Heitzig

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.

Proverbs 27:2 (NLT) Let someone else praise you, not your own mouth— a stranger, not your own lips.

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Philippians 2:14-18 (NLT)

 FROM TODAY’S READING (12/2/2020)...

“Paul lived in a crooked and perverse generation. Yet, he did not use that as an excuse to gripe. In my efforts to stop grumbling I realized something: it’s not enough to try to stop complaining. Nature abhors a vacuum. We must replace complaining with its opposite — praise and thanksgiving.”

Debbie W. Wilson

Philippians‬ ‭2:14-18‬ ‭(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. 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. But I will rejoice even if I lose my life, pouring it out like a liquid offering to God, just like your faithful service is an offering to God. And I want all of you to share that joy. Yes, you should rejoice, and I will share your joy.

Apostle Paul 

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James 2:8-9 (NLT)

 FROM TODAY’S READING (12/1/2020)...

“The closer the people of all races get to Christ and His cross, the closer they will get to one another.” 

Billy Graham

“Racism isn’t a bad habit. It isn’t a mistake. It is sin. The answer is not sociology, it’s theology.” 

Tony Evans

‭‭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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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.

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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. You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.

Image: "Rosa Parks defies segregation on Alabama bus" by Chris Green is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

2 Timothy 1:6-7 (NLT)

 FROM TODAY’S READING (7/30/2020)...

“Go within every day and find the inner strength so that the world will not blow your candle out.”

Katherine Dunham

2 Timothy‬ ‭1:6-7‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) This is why I remind you to fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you when I laid my hands on you. For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.

‭‭Apostle Paul

Colossians‬ ‭1:11-14‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) We also pray that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need. May you be filled with joy, always thanking the Father. He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to his people, who live in the light. For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins.

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