Romans 12:18 (NLT)

FROM TODAY’S READING (2/28/2022)…

The more you sweat in peace, the less you bleed in war.

General Norman Schwarzkoph

Romans‬ ‭12:18‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone.

‭‭

Hebrews‬ ‭12:14-15‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Work at living in peace with everyone, and work at living a holy life, for those who are not holy will not see the Lord. Look after each other so that none of you fails to receive the grace of God. Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many.

‭‭

James‬ ‭4:1-2‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) What is causing the quarrels and fights among you? Don’t they come from the evil desires at war within you? You want what you don’t have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous of what others have, but you can’t get it, so you fight and wage war to take it away from them…

Photo by Matti from Pexels

Romans 5:1-4 (NLT)

FROM TODAY’S READING (2/23/2022)…

“What if my greatest disappointments

Or the aching of this life

Is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can't satisfy

What if trials of this life

The rain, the storms, the hardest nights

Are your mercies in disguise”

Laura Story (“Blessings”)

Romans‬ ‭5:1-4‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory. 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.

Romans‬ ‭12:12‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying.

‭‭

Image: CC (pxhere.com)

Proverbs 14:23 (NLT)

FROM TODAY’S READING (2/22/2022)…

"Young people, hear me. This is so important. The reward of hard work is hard work. You might not accomplish your goal, but the goal of having your character formed will be.”

Derwin Gray

Pastor and former NFL player

Proverbs‬ ‭14:23‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Work brings profit, but mere talk leads to poverty!

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.

Image: "Audubon No Park ng Work Zone Sign" by Infrogmation is licensed under CC BY 2.0

Luke 5:12-13 (NLT)

FROM TODAY’S READING (2/21/2022)…

“Sin controls people through two opposing lies. The first is, we are not sinners—nothing is wrong with us. The second is, we are sinners, but we are so bad that we are beyond help…All of us have offended a perfectly holy God, but none of us is beyond God’s love and Christ’s redemption.”

R. Kent Hughes

Luke, Volume 1

Luke‬ ‭5:12-13‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) In one of the villages, Jesus met a man with an advanced case of leprosy. When the man saw Jesus, he bowed with his face to the ground, begging to be healed. “Lord,” he said, “if you are willing, you can heal me and make me clean.” 

Jesus reached out and touched him. “I am willing,” he said. “Be healed!” And instantly the leprosy disappeared.

1 John‬ ‭1:8-10‬ ‭(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. If we claim we have not sinned, we are calling God a liar and showing that his word has no place in our hearts.

Image: CC ("Jesus Heals" by Gamma Man is licensed under CC BY 2.0)

Matthew 26:41 (NLT)

FROM TODAY’S READING (2/18/2022)…

“You cannot keep birds from flying over your head
but you can keep them from building a nest in your hair”

Martin Luther (1483-1546)

Matthew‬ ‭26:41‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak!

James‬ ‭4:7-8‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world.

‭‭

Image: CC ("A nesty surprise" by shenamt)

Luke 19:10 (NLT)

FROM TODAY’S READING (2/18/2022)…

My wife, Jerral, recently rescued a small dog (Jerral would say puppy-bear) from near disaster. She, the fourteen-year-old puppy-bear, had wandered off from home and eventually into the middle of a very busy road near our home. Jerral was on her way home from work when she and others ground traffic to a halt and saved Lilly…the dog. Additionally, I am happy to report that within a few days and after posting her picture and information on FB, Lilly was successfully returned to her owner.

Rocky

Luke‬ ‭19:10‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.

‭‭

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.

2 Timothy 1:7 (NLT)

FROM TODAY’S READING (2/16/2022)…

“Fear is the enemy of faith, and faith is the remedy to fear.”

Pastor Wayne Bray

First Baptist Simpsonville

‭‭2 Timothy‬ ‭1:7‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.

John‬ ‭14:27‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.

‭‭

Image: CC (unsplash.com)

Proverbs 21:5 (NLT)

FROM TODAY’S READING (2/15/2022)…

“If you cut too many corners, you’ll start going in circles.”

Pastor Duane King (1937-2022)

NOTE: Duane started and oversaw the creation of the first American Sign Language translation of the Bible. 

Proverbs‬ ‭21:5‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Good planning and hard work lead to prosperity, but hasty shortcuts lead to poverty.

‭‭

Image: Unsplash.com

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (NLT)

FROM TODAY’S READING (2/14/2022)…

HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY…

“Saint Valentine served in third-century Rome. Emperor Claudius decided that single men made better soldiers. Therefore, Claudius banned soldiers from being married. One version of the story is that Valentine continued to perform the weddings of young soldiers who were in love, and Claudius had Valentine imprisoned. While imprisoned, Valentine reportedly fell in love with the jailer’s daughter. Valentine sent her a card and signed it, "Love, your Valentine." Another version is that Valentine defied Claudius by helping Christians escape the torture of the Romans.”

gotquestions.org

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.

Proverbs‬ ‭3:3-4‬ ‭(NIV‬‬) Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man.

‭‭

Image: CC (commons.wikimedia.org)

Luke 7:21-22 (NLT)

FROM TODAY’S READING (2/11/2022)…

PROBORTUNITY: “God takes problems and turns them into opportunities.”

Pastor Duane King (1937-2022)

NOTE: Duane started and oversaw the creation of the first American Sign Language translation of the Bible. 

Luke‬ ‭7:21-22‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) At that very time, Jesus cured many people of their diseases, illnesses, and evil spirits, and he restored sight to many who were blind. Then he told John’s disciples, “Go back to John and tell him what you have seen and heard—the blind see, the lame walk, those with leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life, and the Good News is being preached to the poor.”

Image: Google search

1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 (NLT)

FROM TODAY’S READING (2/10/2022)…

“Work hard in silence, let your success be your noise.”

Unknown Author

Proverbs‬ ‭14:23‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Work brings profit, but mere talk leads to poverty!

1 Thessalonians‬ ‭4:11-12‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Make it your goal to live a quiet life, minding your own business and working with your hands, just as we instructed you before. Then people who are not believers will respect the way you live, and you will not need to depend on others.

Image: CC ("Our mantra: Work hard… stay humble" by Aaron Gustafson)

1 Peter 5:7 (NLT)

FROM TODAY’S READING (2/9/2022)…

“You will find a joy in overcoming obstacles.”

Helen Keller (1880-1968)

American author and educator who was blind and deaf

1 Peter‬ ‭5:7‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.

Philippians‬ ‭4:12-13‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.

Image: CC ("Helen Keller in India" by U.S. Embassy New Delhi)

Psalm 37:4-5 (NLT)

FROM TODAY’S READING (2/8/2022)…

NOTE: An encouraging reminder…

“I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something; and because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do something that I can do.”

Helen Keller (1880-1968)

American author and educator who was blind and deaf

Psalms‬ ‭20:4‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) May he grant your heart’s desires and make all your plans succeed.

Psalms‬ ‭37:4-5‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) 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.

‭‭

Proverbs‬ ‭16:1-3‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) We can make our own plans, but the Lord gives the right answer. People may be pure in their own eyes, but the Lord examines their motives. Commit your actions to the Lord, and your plans will succeed.

Image: CC (commons.wikimedia.org)

John 14:27 (NLT)

FROM TODAY’S READING (2/7/2022)…

“Christ's life outwardly was one of the most troubled lives that was ever lived: tempest and tumult, tumult and tempest, the waves breaking over it all the time. But the inner life was a sea of glass. The great calm was always there.”

Henry Drummond (1851-1897)

Scottish evangelist, writer and lecturer

John‬ ‭14:27‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.

‭‭

Image: CC (Photo by Pixabay from Pexels)

Ephesians 4:29 (NLT)

FROM TODAY’S READING (2/4/2022)…

“If lips and life do not agree, the testimony will not amount to much.”

Harry Ironside (1876-1951)

American Bible theologian and pastor

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.

‭‭

Psalms‬ ‭19:12-14‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) How can I know all the sins lurking in my heart? Cleanse me from these hidden faults. Keep your servant from deliberate sins! Don’t let them control me. Then I will be free of guilt and innocent of great sin. May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.

Image: CC (Ekaterina Belinskaya from Pexels‭‭)

Romans 14:7-8 (NLT)

FROM TODAY’S READING (2/3/2022)…

“The bitterest tears shed over graves are for words left unsaid and deeds left undone.”

Harriet Beecher Stowe (1811-1896)

American abolitionist and author

Romans‬ ‭14:7-8‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) For we don’t live for ourselves or die for ourselves. If we live, it’s to honor the Lord. And if we die, it’s to honor the Lord. So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.

1 Corinthians‬ ‭10:33‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) I, too, try to please everyone in everything I do. I don’t just do what is best for me; I do what is best for others so that many may be saved.

Image: CC (pixhere.com)

Luke8:22-25 (NLT)

FROM TODAY’S READING (2/2/2022)…

“Fear exposes the state of our faith.”

Pastor Dustin Dozier

Upstate Church, Five Forks, SC

Luke‬ ‭8:22-25‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) One day Jesus said to his disciples, “Let’s cross to the other side of the lake.” So they got into a boat and started out. As they sailed across, Jesus settled down for a nap. But soon a fierce storm came down on the lake. The boat was filling with water, and they were in real danger. 

The disciples went and woke him up, shouting, “Master, Master, we’re going to drown!” 

When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and the raging waves. Suddenly the storm stopped and all was calm. Then he asked them, “Where is your faith?” 

The disciples were terrified and amazed. “Who is this man?” they asked each other. “When he gives a command, even the wind and waves obey him!”

Image: CC (https://www.flickr.com/photos/gandalfsgallery/39006427295)

‭‭

2 Timothy 3:14-17 (NLT)

FROM TODAY’S READING (2/1/2022)…

“We live in a post-truth world, which means the Word of God is more important than it has ever been,…Post-truth means it used to be truth, but it’s not truth now to us. Post-truth is a word that describes our culture today.”

Pastor David Jeremiah

2 Timothy‬ ‭3:14-17‬ (‭NLT‬‬) But you must remain faithful to the things you have been taught. You know they are true, for you know you can trust those who taught you. You have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.

Photo by Kelly L from Pexels