Psalm 4:4-8 (NLT)

FROM TODAY’S READING (6/2/2020)...

“Christian joy is a mood independent of our immediate circumstances. If it were dependent on our surroundings, then, indeed, it would be as uncertain as an unprotected candle burning on a gusty night. One moment the candle burns clear and steady, the next moment the blaze leaps to the very edge of the wick, and affords little or no light. But Christian joy has no relationship to the transient setting of the life, and therefore it is not the victim of the passing day. At one time my conditions arrange themselves like a sunny day in June; a little later they rearrange themselves like a gloomy day in November. One day I am at the wedding; the next day I stand by an open grave...Yes, the days are as changeable as the weather, and yet the Christian joy can be persistent. Where lies the secret of its glorious persistency?

Here is the secret. "Lo! I am with you all the days." In all the changing days, "He changeth not, neither is weary." He is no fairweather Companion, leaving me when the year grows dark and cold. He does not choose my days of prosperous festival, though not to be found in my days of impoverishment and defeat. He does not show Himself only when I wear a garland, and hide Himself when I wear a crown of thorns. He is with me "all the days"—the prosperous days and the days of adversity; days when the funeral bell is tolling, and days when the wedding bell is ringing. "All the days." The day of life—the day of death—the day of judgment.”

Rev. John Henry Jowett (Day by Day pp. 169-171)

Philippians‬ ‭4:4-8‬ ‭(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. 

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. 

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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Luke 21:25-28 (NLT)

FROM TODAY’S READING (6/1/2020)...

“The outlook may be dark, but the uplook is always bright.”

Pastor/Author Mark Hitchcock 

Luke‬ ‭21:25-28‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) And there will be strange signs in the sun, moon, and stars. And here on earth the nations will be in turmoil, perplexed by the roaring seas and strange tides. People will be terrified at what they see coming upon the earth, for the powers in the heavens will be shaken. Then everyone will see the Son of Man coming on a cloud with power and great glory. So when all these things begin to happen, stand and look up, for your salvation is near!

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FROM TODAY’S READING (5/29/2020)...

“Some Christians are so obsessed with the last days that they are oblivious to these days. Others are just the opposite. They’ll tell you Jesus is coming. But they live like he never will. One is too panicky, the other too patient. Isn’t there a balance?”

Max Lacado

2 Peter‬ ‭3:11-14‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Since everything around us is going to be destroyed like this, what holy and godly lives you should live, looking forward to the day of God and hurrying it along. On that day, he will set the heavens on fire, and the elements will melt away in the flames. But we are looking forward to the new heavens and new earth he has promised, a world filled with God’s righteousness. 

And so, dear friends, while you are waiting for these things to happen, make every effort to be found living peaceful lives that are pure and blameless in his sight.

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James 5:7-8 (NLT)

FROM TODAY’S READING (5/28/2020)...

“We need double vision. We need to be ever watchful, simultaneously looking with one eye toward the end times and the other on the meantime.”

Pastor/Author Mark Hitchcock 

James‬ ‭5:7-8‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Dear brothers and sisters, be patient as you wait for the Lord’s return. Consider the farmers who patiently wait for the rains in the fall and in the spring. They eagerly look for the valuable harvest to ripen. You, too, must be patient. Take courage, for the coming of the Lord is near.

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Luke 21:8-11, 26

FROM TODAY’S READING (5/27/2020)...

“In all this, we need to remember that God told us about the future not to scare us but to prepare us, not to make us anxious but to make us aware.”

Mark Hitchcock (Pastor/Author)

Luke‬ ‭21:8-11, 26‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) He replied, “Don’t let anyone mislead you, for many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and saying, ‘The time has come!’ But don’t believe them. And when you hear of wars and insurrections, don’t panic. Yes, these things must take place first, but the end won’t follow immediately.” Then he added, “Nation will go to war against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be great earthquakes, and there will be famines and plagues in many lands, and there will be terrifying things and great miraculous signs from heaven...People will be terrified at what they see coming upon the earth, for the powers in the heavens will be shaken.”

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Titus‬ ‭2:12-14‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) ...We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God, while we look forward with hope to that wonderful day when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be revealed. He gave his life to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, and to make us his very own people, totally committed to doing good deeds.

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1 Corinthians 16:13 (NLT)

FROM TODAY’S READING (5/26/2020)...

“It’s well known that President Ronald Reagan was extremely nearsighted. Reagan’s eyesight was so bad that it affected his military service in World War II, keeping him from combat duty. For many years he wore glasses and later contact lenses. As he aged, he still needed correction for his nearsightedness but also needed help to see up close. He wore a lens to correct nearsightedness on his right eye and a lens for farsightedness on his left eye. So he would read his speeches with his right eye and look out at the audience with his left eye. President Reagan was a man focused on the near and the far.”

Philip De Courcy, “Take Cover: Finding Peace in God’s Protection” (Washington, DC: Salem Books, 2018), 67.

I Corinthians‬ ‭16:13‬ ‭(NKJV‬) Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong.

Colossians‬ ‭4:2‬ ‭(NIV‬‬) Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.

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1 Peter‬ ‭5:8-9‬ ‭(NLT) Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your family of believers all over the world is going through the same kind of suffering you are.

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James 1:2-4 (NLT)

FROM TODAY’S READING (5/25/2020)...

MEMORIAL DAY 2020

“...and especially during the many challenges that all of us face in life...I think that important lesson is that no matter what we go through, if we look for things that are able to be positive, things we can see as strength...those things can help us get through those challenges. And then we will live rather than just survive through the challenge.”

Sergeant Gary Beikirch

US Army (1967-71)

5th Special Forces Group

Vietnam War veteran

Medal of Honor recipient 

Author of “Blaze of Light”

James‬ ‭1:2-4‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.

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Image: FOX News interview (5/23/2020)