Colossians 2:6-8 (NLT)

FROM TODAYS’S READING (10/29/2021)…

“As the end of the age draws near, it will be more and more difficult to live for Christ and serve Him. What should the Christian do? Hold on to the Word of God! Don’t listen to the lies of the devil—the teachings of the cults, the sugar-coated promises of false teachers. Hold to the Word of God! We have in Christ and His Word eternal encouragement and good hope.”

Wm MacDonald

2 Thessalonians‬ ‭2:16-17‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal comfort and a wonderful hope, comfort you and strengthen you in every good thing you do and say.

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Colossians‬ ‭2:6-8‬ ‭(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. Don’t let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers of this world, rather than from Christ.

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Psalm 139:14, 23-24 (NLT)

FROM TODAY’S READING (10/28/2021)…

“The secret of contentment is the realization that life is a gift, not a right.”

Unknown

Psalms‬ ‭139:14, 23-24‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it…Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.

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Proverbs 16:3 (NLT)

FROM TODAY’S READING (10/27/2021)…

“Light tomorrow with today.”

Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Proverbs‬ ‭16:3‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Commit your actions to the Lord, and your plans will succeed.

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Romans‬ ‭15:13‬ (‭NLT‬‬) I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.

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Ephesians 4:1-4 (NLT)

FROM TODAY’S READING (10/26/2021)…

“A Christians practice should weigh as much as his profession.”

Pastor Wayne Bray

Upstate Church

Ephesians‬ ‭4:1-4‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God. Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future.

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1 Thessalonians 4:6-8 (NLT)

FROM TODAY’S READING (10/25/2021)…

“…Christians need not fear the End Times. In fact, for Christians, the End Times is a time of hope, a time of promise. Christ’s second coming is a day we anticipate, long for, and look to.”

Rev. Kyle Norman

1 Thessalonians‬ ‭4:16-18‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the believers who have died will rise from their graves. Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever. So encourage each other with these words.

Image: "End Times" by Thomas Hawk is licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0

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Matthew 11:28-30 (NLT)

FROM TODAY’S READING (10/22/2021)…

“I truly believe the answer to all of our questions is Jesus. When life gets hard, trust Jesus. When you are confused, seek Jesus. When you are tired, lean on Jesus. Changing your mindset changes your attitude, changing your attitude changes your priorities, and changing your priorities will ultimately change your life.”

LaTonya Pratt

Matthew‬ ‭11:28-30‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”

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2 Thessalonians 1:3-5, 11-12 (NLT)

FROM TODAY’S READING (10/21/2021)…

“What should Christians who are in the will of God do when they go through painful testing and trial? They should: (1) thank God for His salvation and that He is with them; (2) surrender to the will of God without complaining; (3) ask God to give wisdom to understand His will; (4) watch for opportunities to witness and glorify God in the situation; (5) wait patiently until God’s purposes have been fulfilled.”

Warren Wiersbe (1929-2019)

Be Ready Commentary

2 Thessalonians‬ ‭1:3-5, 11-12‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Dear brothers and sisters, we can’t help but thank God for you, because your faith is flourishing and your love for one another is growing. We proudly tell God’s other churches about your endurance and faithfulness in all the persecutions and hardships you are suffering. And God will use this persecution to show his justice and to make you worthy of his Kingdom, for which you are suffering…So we keep on praying for you, asking our God to enable you to live a life worthy of his call. May he give you the power to accomplish all the good things your faith prompts you to do. Then the name of our Lord Jesus will be honored because of the way you live, and you will be honored along with him. This is all made possible because of the grace of our God and Lord, Jesus Christ.

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Acts 24:16 (NIV)

FROM TODAY’S READING (10/20/2021)…

“What we are is far more important than anything we ever say. Our unconscious influence speaks more loudly than our conscious influence.”

Wm MacDonald

Psalms‬ ‭25:21‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) May integrity and honesty protect me, for I put my hope in you.

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Hebrews‬ ‭13:18‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Pray for us, for our conscience is clear and we want to live honorably in everything we do.

Acts‬ ‭24:16‬ ‭(NIV‬‬) So I strive always to keep my conscience clear before God and man.

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1 Thessalonians 5:5-8 (NLT)

FROM TODAY’S READING (10/19/2021)…

“But it is time. It is time for all of us as free citizens to wake up. It is time to demand our leaders wake up. It is time to turn to your fellow citizens and ask them: Are you “woke”…or are you wide awake?”

Ben Domenech

1 Thessalonians‬ ‭5:5-8‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) For you are all children of the light and of the day; we don’t belong to darkness and night. So be on your guard, not asleep like the others. Stay alert and be clearheaded. Night is the time when people sleep and drinkers get drunk. But let us who live in the light be clearheaded, protected by the armor of faith and love, and wearing as our helmet the confidence of our salvation.

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1 Thessalonians 5:14-22 (NLT)

FROM TODAY’S READING (10/18/2021)…

Following is a Final Thoughts list drawn from Apostle Paul’s first letter to the church folk at Thessalonica, Greece. Seemed like good reminders for starting a new week.

…Warn/admonish those who refuse to work.

…Encourage those that are fainthearted.

…Help the helpless.

…Be gracious and long-suffering with everyone.

…Do not retaliate when wronged. 

…Be joyful/glad (confident in Christ).

…Maintain continual communion with the Lord.

…Be thankful to God in all situations.

…Do not hinder/quench/stifle God’s Holy Spirit.

…Do not scoff at God’s revealed truths.

…Carefully and wisely embrace what is true.

…Avoid every kind of evil.

1 Thessalonians‬ ‭5:14-22‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Brothers and sisters, we urge you to warn those who are lazy. 

Encourage those who are timid. 

Take tender care of those who are weak. 

Be patient with everyone. 

See that no one pays back evil for evil, but always try to do good to each other and to all people. 

Always be joyful. 

Never stop praying. 

Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. 

Do not stifle the Holy Spirit. 

Do not scoff at prophecies, but test everything that is said. Hold on to what is good. 

Stay away from every kind of evil.

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Ephesians 5:15-20 (NLT)

FROM TODAY’S READING (10/15/2021)…

“Every character has an inward spring; let Christ be that spring.  Every action has a keynote; let Christ be that note, to which your whole life is attuned.”

Henry Drummond

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.

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Mark 4:35-41 (NLT)

FROM TODAY’S READING (10/14/2021)…

“One ship drives east and another drives west

With the self same winds that blow.

‘Tis the set of the sails,

And not the gales,

That tells us the way to go.

Like the winds of the sea are the ways of fate;

As we voyage along through life,

‘Tis the set of a soul

That decides its goal,

And not the calm, or the strife.”

Ella Wheeler Wilcox

Mark 4:35-41 (NLT) As evening came, Jesus said to his disciples, “Let’s cross to the other side of the lake.” So they took Jesus in the boat and started out, leaving the crowds behind (although other boats followed). But soon a fierce storm came up. High waves were breaking into the boat, and it began to fill with water. 

Jesus was sleeping at the back of the boat with his head on a cushion. The disciples woke him up, shouting, “Teacher, don’t you care that we’re going to drown?” 

When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Silence! Be still!” Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was a great calm. Then he asked them, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?” 

The disciples were absolutely terrified. “Who is this man?” they asked each other. “Even the wind and waves obey him!””

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1 Peter 3:8-12 (NLT)

FROM TODAY’S READING (10/13/2021)…

“If there is light in the soul, there will be beauty in the person. If there is beauty in the person, there will be harmony in the house. If there is harmony in the house, there will be order in the nation. If there is order in the nation, there will be peace in the world.”

Chinese Proverb

‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭3:8-12‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Finally, all of you should be of one mind. Sympathize with each other. Love each other as brothers and sisters. Be tenderhearted, and keep a humble attitude. Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God has called you to do, and he will grant you his blessing. For the Scriptures say, “If you want to enjoy life and see many happy days, keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies. Turn away from evil and do good. Search for peace, and work to maintain it. The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right, and his ears are open to their prayers. But the Lord turns his face against those who do evil.”

Psalms‬ ‭34:11-14‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Come, my children, and listen to me, and I will teach you to fear the Lord. Does anyone want to live a life that is long and prosperous? Then keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies! Turn away from evil and do good. Search for peace, and work to maintain it.

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Titus 2:7-8 (NIV)

FROM TODAY’S READING (10/12/2021)…

“You can teach what you know, but you reproduce what you are.”

Wayne Cordeiro

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.

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Titus‬ ‭2:7-8‬ ‭(NIV‬) In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us.

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Proverbs 22:1 (NLT)

FROM TODAY’S READING (10/11/2021)…

“A Christian’s character is the whole capital he has for carrying on his business. In most other callings, a man may go on, no matter what his character is, provided his balance at the bank is on the right side; but a Christian who has lost his character has lost everything.”

James Denny

Proverbs‬ ‭22:1‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Choose a good reputation over great riches; being held in high esteem is better than silver or gold.

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Ecclesiastes 3:11 (NLT)

FROM TODAY’S READING (10/8/2021)…

“There are no secular countries, just as there are no secular people. Everybody believes in something. All of us are born with the need to worship. The question is what?”

Tucker Carlson

Ecclesiastes‬ ‭3:11‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end.

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Romans‬ ‭1:18-23‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) But God shows his anger from heaven against all sinful, wicked people who suppress the truth by their wickedness. They know the truth about God because he has made it obvious to them. For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God. 

Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn’t worship him as God or even give him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. As a result, their minds became dark and confused. Claiming to be wise, they instead became utter fools. And instead of worshiping the glorious, ever-living God, they worshiped idols made to look like mere people and birds and animals and reptiles.

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Psalm 37:1-6 (NLT)

FROM TODAY’S READING (10/7/2021)

“Some people come in our life as blessings. Some come in your life as lessons.”

Mother Teresa

Romans‬ ‭12:17‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable.

Psalms‬ ‭37:1-6‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Don’t worry about the wicked or envy those who do wrong. For like grass, they soon fade away. Like spring flowers, they soon wither. Trust in the Lord and do good. Then you will live safely in the land and prosper. Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart’s desires. Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust him, and he will help you. He will make your innocence radiate like the dawn, and the justice of your cause will shine like the noonday sun.

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Proverbs‬ ‭12:13-20‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) The wicked are trapped by their own words, but the godly escape such trouble. 

Wise words bring many benefits, and hard work brings rewards. 

Fools think their own way is right, but the wise listen to others.

A fool is quick-tempered, but a wise person stays calm when insulted. 

An honest witness tells the truth; a false witness tells lies. 

Some people make cutting remarks, but the words of the wise bring healing. 

Truthful words stand the test of time, but lies are soon exposed. Deceit fills hearts that are plotting evil; joy fills hearts that are planning peace!”

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Numbers 6:24-26 (NLT)

 

FROM TODAY’S READING (10/6/2021)…

“Reflect upon your present blessings — of which every man has many — not on your past misfortunes, of which all men have some.”

Charles Dickens (1812-1870)

Numbers‬ ‭6:24-26‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) May the Lord bless you and protect you. May the Lord smile on you and be gracious to you. May the Lord show you his favor and give you his peace.

3 John‬ ‭1:2-3‬ ‭NLT‬‬a Dear friend, I hope all is well with you and that you are as healthy in body as you are strong in spirit…

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John 1:1-3 (NLT)

 FROM TODAY’S READING (10/5/2021)…

“It has been said that if you take a frog and turn it into a man by adding a kiss, you have a fairy tale. But if you take a frog and turn it into a man by adding millions of years, you have science. It seems that many people think if you add millions of years, the impossible becomes possible. Even the most committed evolutionists admit that our knowledge of how things work makes it hard to explain how life could develop all by itself from nonliving stuff.”

Paul A. Bartz (1948-2013)

“Creation Moments”

John‬ ‭1:1-3‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. He existed in the beginning with God. God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him.

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Hebrews‬ ‭11:3‬ ‭(NLT‬) By faith we understand that the entire universe was formed at God’s command, that what we now see did not come from anything that can be seen.

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Romans‬ ‭1:20‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God.

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Romans 12:2 (NLT)

FROM TODAY’S READING (10/4/2021)…

“And you might not can change everything in a minute, but I believe in one minute everything can begin to change.”

Pastor Louie Giglio

Passion City Church

Romans 12:2 (NLT) Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

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