Mark 11:25 (NLT)

FROM TODAY’S READING (11/30/2021)…

“Everyone says forgiveness is a lovely idea, until they have something to forgive.”

C. S. Lewis

Mark‬ ‭11:25‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too.

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Colossians‬ ‭3:12-13‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.

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Psalm 92:12-15 (NLT)

FROM TODAY’S READING (11/29/2021)…

"Her Majesty believes you are as old as you feel, as such The Queen does not believe she meets the relevant criteria to be able to accept, and hopes you will find a more worthy recipient."

Tom Laing-Baker

Private secretary to 95-year-old Queen Elizabeth.

Quote is response to British magazine wanting to name her "Oldie of the Year."

Job‬ ‭12:12-13‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Wisdom belongs to the aged, and understanding to the old. But true wisdom and power are found in God; counsel and understanding are his.

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Psalms‬ ‭92:12-15‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) But the godly will flourish like palm trees and grow strong like the cedars of Lebanon. For they are transplanted to the Lord’s own house. They flourish in the courts of our God. Even in old age they will still produce fruit; they will remain vital and green. They will declare, “The Lord is just! He is my rock! There is no evil in him!”

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Proverbs‬ ‭16:31‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is gained by living a godly life.

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Psalm 136:1-9 (NLT)

FROM TODAY’S READING (11/25/2021)…

HAPPY THANKSGIVING THOT

“God wants to see prayers that are filled with genuine praise and thanksgiving for what He has done in the past. He wants our hearts to be filled with awe and gratitude for His blessings. He wants us to set up memorials in our hearts testifying to the provisions He has given us.”

Michael Youssef

Pastor

Psalms‬ ‭136:1-9‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever. 

Give thanks to the God of gods. His faithful love endures forever. 

Give thanks to the Lord of Lords. His faithful love endures forever. 

Give thanks to him who alone does mighty miracles. His faithful love endures forever. 

Give thanks to him who made the heavens so skillfully. His faithful love endures forever. 

Give thanks to him who placed the earth among the waters. His faithful love endures forever. 

Give thanks to him who made the heavenly lights— His faithful love endures forever. the sun to rule the day, His faithful love endures forever. and the moon and stars to rule the night. His faithful love endures forever.

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1 Peter 1:6-7 (NLT)

FROM TODAY’S READING (11/24/2021)…

HAPPY THANKSGIVING THOT

“The thankful heart sees the best part of every situation. It sees problems and weaknesses as opportunities, struggles as refining tools, and sinners as saints in progress.”

Francis Frangipane

Pastor and author

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.

‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭1:6-7‬ ‭(NLT‬‬)

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Psalm 9:1-2 (NLT)

FROM TODAY’S READING (11/23/2021)…

HAPPY THANKSGIVING THOT

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

Harry Ironside (1876-1951)

American Theologian

Psalms‬ ‭9:1-2‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) I will praise you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all the marvelous things you have done. I will be filled with joy because of you. I will sing praises to your name, O Most High.

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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.

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Proverbs 15:22 (NLT)

FROM TODAY’S READING (11/22/2021)…

HAPPY THANKSGIVING THOT

I humbly (embarrassingly) confess to having learned a basic life-lesson from my wife recently. Our last pricy toaster ended up at Twin Chimneys Landfill. Grrrrrr! The heating elements stopped engaging. Several (many…many) attempts at engaging them via rapid-fire lever usage proved fruitless, or toastless/bagelless. 

A new pricier toaster was purchased. One year and many toasts/bagels later, same result. Heating elements would not engage properly. 

Solution? Violent rapid-fire lever engagement attempts. No luck! And yes, of course I tried pinching the heating elements together with my fingers while aggressively holding down the lever. I’m not an idiot. 😎 

Recently my wife (Jerral) reported she had figured out the solution to our pricy malfunctioning bread-burner. Simply gently hold down the lever and it will engage…every single time. Yeah, right. Oh, wait…yes, (gulp/red face) you are right. Good grief!!  

Thanksgiving. A good time to pause, relax, reflect, and refocus before reengaging. Happy Thanksgiving.

Rocky

Proverbs‬ ‭15:22‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Plans go wrong for lack of advice; many advisers bring success.

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Philippians‬ ‭4:6-7‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) 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.

Matthew 5:13-16 (NLT)

FROM TODAY’S READING (11/19/2021)…

“We should not ask, ‘What is wrong with the world?’ for that diagnosis has already been given. Rather, we should ask, ‘What has happened to the salt and light?’”

John Stott (1921-2011)

Theologian

Matthew‬ ‭5:13-16‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless. 

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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Ephesians‬ ‭5:8-14‬ ‭(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. Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; instead, expose them. It is shameful even to talk about the things that ungodly people do in secret. But their evil intentions will be exposed when the light shines on them, for the light makes everything visible. This is why it is said, “Awake, O sleeper, rise up from the dead, and Christ will give you light.”

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