2 Corinthians 4:16-18 (NLT)

FROM TODAY'S READING...

“We will lie down for such a long time after death that it is worthwhile to keep standing while we are alive. Let us work now; one day we shall rest.”

Agostina Pietrantoni (1864-1894)

NOTE: As a nurse she worked in the Santo Spirito hospital in Rome where she tended to ill victims in a tuberculosis ward before a patient murdered her in 1894.

Galatians‬ ‭6‬:‭9‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.

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 ‭2 Thessalonians‬ ‭3‬:‭13‬ ‭(NLT‬) ...never get tired of doing good.

2 Corinthians‬ ‭4‬:‭16‬-‭18‬ ‭(NLT‬) That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.

1 Corinthians‬ ‭15‬:‭58‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.

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Psalm 37:8 (NLT)

FROM TODAY'S READING...

“Of the seven deadly sins, anger is possibly the most fun. To lick your wounds, to smack your lips over grievances long past, to roll over your tongue the prospect of bitter confrontations still to come, to savor to the last toothsome morsel both the pain you are given and the pain you are giving back; in many ways it is a feast fit for a king. The chief drawback is that what you are wolfing down is yourself. The skeleton at the feast is you.”

Frederick Beuchner (1926-2022)

American author, Presbyterian minister, preacher, and theologian

Psalms‬ ‭37‬:‭8‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Stop being angry! Turn from your rage! Do not lose your temper— it only leads to harm.

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Ecclesiastes‬ ‭7‬:‭8‬-‭9‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Finishing is better than starting. Patience is better than pride. Control your temper, for anger labels you a fool.

Proverbs‬ ‭14‬:‭29‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) People with understanding control their anger; a hot temper shows great foolishness.

James‬ ‭1‬:‭20‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires.

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Proverbs 14:23 (NLT)

FROM TODAY'S READING...

"There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work,  and learning from failure."

Elon Musk

Proverbs‬ ‭14‬:‭23‬ ‭(NIV‬‬) All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty.

Proverbs‬ ‭21‬:‭25‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Despite their desires, the lazy will come to ruin, for their hands refuse to work.

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Psalms‬ ‭128‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) How joyful are those who fear the Lord— all who follow his ways! You will enjoy the fruit of your labor. How joyful and prosperous you will be!

Galatians‬ ‭6‬:‭9‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.

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2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (NLT)

FROM TODAY'S READING...

"I walked a mile with Pleasure

She chatted all the way,

But left me none the wiser

For all she had to say.

I walked a mile with Sorrow

And ne’er a word said she;

But, oh, the things I learned from her

When Sorrow walked with me!"

Robert Browning (1812-1889)

English Poet and Playwright 

2 Corinthians‬ ‭1‬:‭3‬-‭4‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.

Ecclesiastes‬ ‭7‬:‭1‬-‭4‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) A good reputation is more valuable than costly perfume. And the day you die is better than the day you are born. Better to spend your time at funerals than at parties. After all, everyone dies— so the living should take this to heart. Sorrow is better than laughter, for sadness has a refining influence on us. A wise person thinks a lot about death, while a fool thinks only about having a good time.

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Matthew 5:6-9 (NLT)

FROM TODAY'S READING...

Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace.

Where there is hatred let me sow love.

Where there is injury, pardon.

Where there is doubt, faith.

Where there is despair, hope.

Where there is darkness, light; and

Where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;

To be understood as to understand;

To be loved as to love;

For it is in giving that we receive;

It is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and

It is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

St. Francis of Assisi (1181-1226)

Matthew‬ ‭5‬:‭6‬-‭9‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) God blesses those who hunger and thirst for justice, for they will be satisfied. God blesses those who are merciful, for they will be shown mercy. God blesses those whose hearts are pure, for they will see God. God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God.

Romans‬ ‭12‬:‭17‬-‭18‬ ‭(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.

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Proverbs 13:3 (NLT)

FROM TODAY'S READING...

“Be sure to taste your words before you spit them out.”

Oscar Auliq Ice

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

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Proverbs‬ ‭18‬:‭20‬-‭21‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Wise words satisfy like a good meal; the right words bring satisfaction. The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences.

Proverbs‬ ‭21‬:‭23‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Watch your tongue and keep your mouth shut, and you will stay out of trouble.

‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭3‬:‭9‬-‭11‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) 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.

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Psalm 141:3 (NLT)

FROM TODAY'S READING...

"Lord, keep your arm around my shoulder, and your hand over my mouth."

Unknown

Psalms‬ ‭141‬:‭3‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Take control of what I say, O Lord, and guard my lips.

1 Peter‬ ‭3‬:‭10‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) 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.

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Proverbs 1:7 (NLT)

FROM TODAY'S READING...

"Wise people learn from their mistakes. Wiser people learn from the mistakes of others."

Pastor Bob Russell

Pastor, Teacher, Author, Mentor

Proverbs‬ ‭1‬:‭7‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.

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Proverbs‬ ‭9‬:‭9‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Instruct the wise, and they will be even wiser. Teach the righteous, and they will learn even more.

Proverbs‬ ‭12‬:‭15‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Fools think their own way is right, but the wise listen to others.

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.

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Proverbs‬ ‭18‬:‭15‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Intelligent people are always ready to learn. Their ears are open for knowledge.

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Proverbs‬ ‭22‬:‭3‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) A prudent person foresees danger and takes precautions. The simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences.

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Psalm 19:14 (NKJV)

FROM TODAY'S READING...

“A negative mind will never give you a positive life.”

Lewis Hamilton

Psalms‬ ‭19‬:‭14‬ ‭(NKJV‬‬) Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer.

Proverbs‬ ‭4‬:‭23‬-‭27‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life. Avoid all perverse talk; stay away from corrupt speech. Look straight ahead, and fix your eyes on what lies before you. Mark out a straight path for your feet; stay on the safe path. Don’t get sidetracked; keep your feet from following evil.

Philippians‬ ‭4‬:‭8‬ ‭(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.

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Philippians 2:3-5 (NLT)

FROM TODAY'S READING...

Blowing out someone else's candle won't make your's shine any brighter."

Author unknown

Philippians‬ ‭2‬:‭3‬-‭5‬ ‭(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.

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Matthew‬ ‭5‬:‭16‬ ‭(NKJV‬‬) Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

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Jude 1:24-25 (NLT)

FROM TODAY'S READING...

“Be persuaded, timid soul, that He has loved you too much to cease loving you.”

Francois de la Mothe Fenelon (1651-1715)

Jude‬ ‭1‬:‭24‬-‭25‬ ‭NLT‬‬ Now all glory to God, who is able to keep you from falling away and will bring you with great joy into his glorious presence without a single fault. All glory to him who alone is God, our Savior through Jesus Christ our Lord. All glory, majesty, power, and authority are his before all time, and in the present, and beyond all time! Amen.

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Matthew 5:14-16 (NLT)

FROM TODAY'S READING...

“A holy life will produce the deepest impression. Lighthouses blow no horns; they only shine.”

D.L. Moody (1837-1899)

Founder of Moody Bible Institute 

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.

Ephesians‬ ‭5‬:‭8‬-‭9‬ ‭(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.

Philippians‬ ‭2‬:‭14‬-‭15‬ ‭(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.

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Colossians 1:15-17 (NLT)

FROM TODAY'S READING...

"Christ is our Creator in a twofold sense—we are His as part of the original creation and of the new creation. In either case, we are the objects of His love and care. It is only reasonable that we should entrust ourselves to the One who made our souls and who saved them."

Wm MacDonald (1917-2007)

President of Emmaus Bible College, teacher, and author

Colossians‬ ‭1‬:‭15‬-‭17‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation, for through him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can’t see— such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world. Everything was created through him and for him. He existed before anything else, and he holds all creation together.

Ephesians‬ ‭2‬:‭10‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

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2 Corinthians‬ ‭5‬:‭14‬-‭15‬, ‭17‬, ‭21‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) ...Since we believe that Christ died for all, we also believe that we have all died to our old life. He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them. ..This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!...For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.

Colossians‬ ‭3‬:‭10‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him.

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