John 8:12 (NLT)

FROM TODAY'S READING...

"Hope begins when you stand in the dark looking out at the light.” 

The Christmas Train (movie)

John‬ ‭8‬:‭12‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.”

1 John‬ ‭1‬:‭5‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) This is the message we heard from Jesus and now declare to you: God is light, and there is no darkness in him at all.

Psalms‬ ‭18‬:‭28‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) You light a lamp for me. The Lord, my God, lights up my darkness.

Psalms‬ ‭119‬:‭105‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.

‭‭

Ephesians‬ ‭5‬:‭8‬-‭10‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light! For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true. Carefully determine what pleases the Lord.

‭‭

Image: CC (Unsplash.com)

Psalm 73:25-26 (NLT)

FROM TODAY'S READING...

"Failure is a detour, not a dead-end street."

Zig Ziglar (1926-2012)

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.

‭‭

Philippians‬ ‭4‬:‭13‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.

‭‭

Image: CC (unsplash.com)

Psalm 7:17 (NIV)

FROM TODAY’S READING…

"If I succeed, I will give thanks. If I fail, I will seek His grace."

Max Lucado

Psalms‬ ‭7‬:‭17‬ ‭(NIV‬‬) I will give thanks to the Lord because of his righteousness; I will sing the praises of the name of the Lord Most High.

Psalms‬ ‭28‬:‭7‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) The Lord is my strength and shield. I trust him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving.

Psalms‬ ‭100‬:‭4‬-‭5‬ ‭(NIV‬‬) Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.

‭‭

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

Image: CC (Unsplash.com)

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NLT)

FROM TODAY’S READING…

We would worry less if we praised more. Thanksgiving is the enemy of discontent and dissatisfaction.

Harry Ironside (1876-1951)

1 Thessalonians‬ ‭5‬:‭16‬-‭18‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

Psalms‬ ‭100‬:‭1‬-‭5‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Shout with joy to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness. Come before him, singing with joy. Acknowledge that the Lord is God! He made us, and we are his. We are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving; go into his courts with praise. Give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good. His unfailing love continues forever, and his faithfulness continues to each generation.

Image: Creative Commons

Ephesians 5:20 (NLT)

FROM TODAY’S READING…

"The unthankful heart discovers no mercies; but let the thankful heart sweep through the day and, as the magnet finds the iron, so it will find, in every hour, some heavenly blessings!"

Henry Ward Beecher (1813-1887)

American clergyman, author, anti-slavery activist, and reformer

Ephesians‬ ‭5‬:‭20‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Colossians‬ ‭2‬:‭6‬-‭7‬ ‭(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.

‭‭

Colossians‬ ‭3‬:‭17‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.

Image: ("File:A-1 horseshoe-magnet-red-silver-iron-filings-AHD.jpg" by Oguraclutch is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0)

Romans 5:3-4 (NLT)

FROM TODAY’S READING…

"Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off the goal."

Hannah More (1745-1834)

English religious writer, philanthropist, poet and playwright

Romans‬ ‭5‬:‭3‬-‭4‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) 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.

‭‭

2 Peter‬ ‭1‬:‭5‬-‭7‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) ...Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone.

Image: CC (Unsplash.com)

Genesis 4:6-8 (NLT)

FROM TODAY’S READING…

"So it was with Cain. We see disappointment, anger, jealousy, and finally murder. The hatred in his heart led to murder with his hand. God saw Cain’s faithless heart and fallen countenance and warned him that sin was crouching like a wild beast, waiting to destroy him...Alas, Cain fed the wild beast of temptation, then opened the door and invited him in! Cain invited his brother to talk with him, then killed him in cold blood."

Warren Wiersbe (1929-2019)

Pastor, author and radio speaker

Genesis‬ ‭4‬:‭6‬-‭8‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) "Why are you so angry?” the Lord asked Cain. “Why do you look so dejected? You will be accepted if you do what is right. But if you refuse to do what is right, then watch out! Sin is crouching at the door, eager to control you. But you must subdue it and be its master.” 

One day Cain suggested to his brother, “Let’s go out into the fields.” And while they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother, Abel, and killed him.”

‭‭

James‬ ‭1‬:‭14‬-‭15‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death.

1 John‬ ‭3‬:‭11‬-‭12‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) This is the message you have heard from the beginning: We should love one another. We must not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and killed his brother. And why did he kill him? Because Cain had been doing what was evil, and his brother had been doing what was righteous.

NOTE: In this Bible passage Jesus is responding to religious leaders that wanted to entrap and kill him...John‬ ‭8‬:‭44‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) "For you are the children of your father the devil, and you love to do the evil things he does. He was a murderer from the beginning. He has always hated the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies.”

‭‭

Image: (Unsplash.com)

Romans 13:8 (NKJV)

FROM TODAY’S READING…

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

Harriet Beecher Stowe (1811-1896)

American abolitionist and author

Author of novel "Uncle Tom's Cabin" (1852)

Romans‬ ‭13‬:‭8‬ ‭(NKJV‬‬) Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law.

1 Peter‬ ‭4‬:‭8‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins.

1 John‬ ‭4‬:‭11‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other.

Image: CC (Unsplash.com)

John 3:16 (NLT)

FROM TODAY’S READING…

"Christianity is not just repeating John 3:16...it is yielding the heart and the life to Christ."

Harry Ironside (1876-1951)

Pastor of Moody Church, Chicago (1930-1948)

Preached at funeral of Billy Sunday

John‬ ‭3‬:‭16‬ ‭(NKJV‬‬) For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

Galatians‬ ‭2‬:‭20‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Image: CC (Unsplash.com)

John 15:11-12 (NLT)

FROM TODAY’S READING…

"There are three great truths, 1st, That there is a God; 2nd, That He has spoken to us in the Bible; 3rd, That He means what He says. Oh, the joy of trusting Him!“ 

J. Hudson Taylor (1832-1905)

Founder of China Inland Mission 

John‬ ‭15‬:‭11‬-‭12‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow! This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you.

 Hebrews‬ ‭1‬:‭1‬-‭3‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Long ago God spoke many times and in many ways to our ancestors through the prophets. And now in these final days, he has spoken to us through his Son. God promised everything to the Son as an inheritance, and through the Son he created the universe. The Son radiates God’s own glory and expresses the very character of God, and he sustains everything by the mighty power of his command. When he had cleansed us from our sins, he sat down in the place of honor at the right hand of the majestic God in heaven.

Image: CC (Unsplash.com)

1 Timothy 1:5, 19 (NLT)

FROM TODAY’S READING…

"A bad conscience has a very good memory."

Unknown

1 Timothy‬ ‭1‬:‭5‬, ‭19‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) The purpose of my instruction is that all believers would be filled with love that comes from a pure heart, a clear conscience, and genuine faith...Cling to your faith in Christ, and keep your conscience clear. For some people have deliberately violated their consciences; as a result, their faith has been shipwrecked.      Apostle Paul

Acts 24‬:‭16‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Because of this, I always try to maintain a clear conscience before God and all people.

1 Peter‬ ‭3‬:‭15‬-‭17‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it. But do this in a gentle and respectful way. 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!      Apostle Peter

Image: Creative Commons

Titus 3:1-7 (NIV)

FROM TODAY'S READING...

"The Christian approach is that all governments are ordained of God. A regime might be very unchristian or even anti-christian, but any government is better than no government at all. The absence of government is anarchy, and people cannot survive for long under anarchy. Even if a ruler does not know God personally, he is still “the anointed of the Lord” in his official position, and should be respected as such. Christians should be obedient to rulers and authorities. But if a government leaves its God-ordained sphere and commands a believer to disobey God, then the believer should refuse on the principle of Acts 5:29: “We ought to obey God rather than men.” If he is punished he should bear the punishment meekly as to the Lord. He should never join in rebellion against the government or seek its overthrow by violence."

William MacDonald (1917-2007)

Christian theologian and commentator 

 Titus‬ ‭3‬:‭1‬-‭7‬ ‭(NIV‬‬) Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and always to be gentle toward everyone. At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.

‭‭

Romans‬ ‭13‬:‭1‬, ‭6‬-‭7‬ ‭(NIV‬‬) Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God...This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.

‭‭

Image: CC (Unsplash.com)

Psalm 42:11 (NLT)

FROM TODAY’S READING…

"What do you do when disappointment comes? When it weighs on you like a rock, you can either let it press you down until you become discouraged, even devastated, or you can use it as a stepping-stone to better things."

Joyce Meyer

Psalms‬ ‭42‬:‭11‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again— my Savior and my God!

Proverbs‬ ‭3‬:‭5‬-‭6‬ ‭(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.

Image: CC (Unsplash.com)

1 Timothy 2:1-4 (NLT)

FROM TODAY’S READING…

"Without God, there is no virtue because there's no prompting of the conscience. And without God, democracy will not and cannot long endure. If we ever forget that we're one nation under God, then we will be a nation gone under."

Ronald Wilson Reagan (1911-2004)

40th President of the United States (1981-1989)

33rd Governor of California (1967-1975)

1 Timothy‬ ‭2‬:‭1‬-‭2‬, ‭4‬ ‭(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. who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth.

Daniel‬ ‭2‬:‭20‬-‭21‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) ...Praise the name of God forever and ever, for he has all wisdom and power. He controls the course of world events; he removes kings and sets up other kings. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the scholars.

Image: ("Prayer for USA" by hpebley3 is licensed under CC BY 2.0.)

John 16:33 (NLT)

FROM TODAY’S READING…

"Christianity helps us face the music even when we don't like the tune."

Phillips Brooks (1835-1893)

Pastor of Trinity Church in Boston, Mass.

Author of "O Little Town of Bethlehem"

John‬ ‭16‬:‭33‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) "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.”   Jesus

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.

"O Little Town of Bethlehem" by Steve Bowbrick is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0.

Romans 8:18-21 (NLT)

FROM TODAY’S READING…

"He had learned that for him, only one life was possible—just that blessed life of resting and rejoicing in the Lord under all circumstances, while He dealt with the difficulties, inward and outward, great and small."

Dr. F. Howard Taylor (1862-1946)

NOTE: Today's quote by Dr. Taylor was in reference to his father J. Hudson Taylor (1832-1905), founder of China Inland Mission.

Romans‬ ‭8‬:‭18‬-‭21‬ ‭(NLT‬‬)Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later. For all creation is waiting eagerly for that future day when God will reveal who his children really are. Against its will, all creation was subjected to God’s curse. But with eager hope, the creation looks forward to the day when it will join God’s children in glorious freedom from death and decay.

Romans‬ ‭12‬:‭11‬-‭12‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically. Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying.

1 Peter‬ ‭4‬:‭12‬-‭13‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you. Instead, be very glad—for these trials make you partners with Christ in his suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing his glory when it is revealed to all the world.

‭‭

Image: CC (Unsplash.com)

Genesis 3:8-13 (NIV)

FROM TODAY'S READING...

“To err is human, to blame it on the other guy is even more human.”

Unknown

Genesis‬ ‭3‬:‭8‬-‭13‬ ‭(NIV‬‬) Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. But the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?” 

He answered, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.” 

And he said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?”

The man said, “The woman you put here with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it.” 

Then the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?” 

The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”

‭

James‬ ‭1‬:‭12‬-‭15‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. And remember, when you are being tempted, do not say, “God is tempting me.” God is never tempted to do wrong, and he never tempts anyone else. Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death.

‭‭

Image: CC (pexels.com)

Psalm 90:10-12 (NLT)

FROM TODAY’S READING…

"We all have two lives. The second begins when you realize you only have one."

Tom Hiddleston

British actor, film producer, and musician

Psalms‬ ‭90‬:‭10‬, ‭12‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Seventy years are given to us! Some even live to eighty. But even the best years are filled with pain and trouble; soon they disappear, and we fly away....Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom.

Proverbs‬ ‭27‬:‭1‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Don’t brag about tomorrow, since you don’t know what the day will bring.

James‬ ‭4‬:‭13‬-‭16‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Look here, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we are going to a certain town and will stay there a year. We will do business there and make a profit.” How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone. What you ought to say is, “If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that.” Otherwise you are boasting about your own pretentious plans, and all such boasting is evil.

Image: CC (Unsplash.com)

Proverbs 13:3 (NLT)

FROM TODAY’S READING…

"You can't win the Kentucky Derby by shouting at the ponies."

Unknown 

Proverbs‬ ‭13‬:‭3‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Those who control their tongue will have a long life; opening your mouth can ruin everything.

Proverbs‬ ‭15‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) A gentle answer deflects anger, but harsh words make tempers flare. The tongue of the wise makes knowledge appealing, but the mouth of a fool belches out foolishness.

‭‭

Proverbs‬ ‭16‬:‭24‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Kind words are like honey— sweet to the soul and healthy for the body.

‭‭

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.

‭‭

Image: CC (Unsplash.com)