Daily Word of God - Luke 11:37-41

Luke 11:37-41 New International Version (NIV)

Woes on the Pharisees and the Experts in the Law

37 When Jesus had finished speaking, a Pharisee invited him to eat with him; so he went in and reclined at the table. 38 But the Pharisee was surprised when he noticed that Jesus did not first wash before the meal.

39 Then the Lord said to him, “Now then, you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness. 40 You foolish people! Did not the one who made the outside make the inside also? 41 But now as for what is inside you—be generous to the poor, and everything will be clean for you.

Daily Word of God - Psalm 41:1-3

Psalm 41:1-3 New International Version (NIV)

Psalm 41[a]

For the director of music. A psalm of David.

1 Blessed are those who have regard for the weak;
    the Lord delivers them in times of trouble.
2 The Lord protects and preserves them—
    they are counted among the blessed in the land—
    he does not give them over to the desire of their foes.
3 The Lord sustains them on their sickbed
    and restores them from their bed of illness.

Footnotes:

1. Psalm 41:1 In Hebrew texts 41:1-13 is numbered 41:2-14.

Daily Word of God - John 6:53-58

John 6:53-58 New International Version (NIV)

53 Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. 54 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day. 55 For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. 56 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in them. 57 Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me. 58 This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your ancestors ate manna and died, but whoever feeds on this bread will live forever.”

Daily Word of God - Colossians 4:2-6

Colossians 4:2-6 New International Version (NIV)

Further Instructions

2 Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. 3 And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. 4 Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. 5 Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. 6 Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.

Daily Word of God - John 4:21-24

John 4:21-24 New International Version (NIV)

21 “Woman,” Jesus replied, “believe me, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. 22 You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. 23 Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. 24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”

Daily Word of God - Proverbs 16:32

Proverbs 16:32 New International Version (NIV)

32 Better a patient person than a warrior,
    one with self-control than one who takes a city.

Daily Word of God - John 15:5-8

John 15:5-8 New International Version (NIV)

5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

We Will Never Forget...

We will never forget...

Daily Word of God - Psalm 139:13-18

Psalm 139:13-18 New International Version (NIV)

13 For you created my inmost being;
    you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
    your works are wonderful,
    I know that full well.
15 My frame was not hidden from you
    when I was made in the secret place,
    when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
16 Your eyes saw my unformed body;
    all the days ordained for me were written in your book
    before one of them came to be.
17 How precious to me are your thoughts,[a] God!
    How vast is the sum of them!
18 Were I to count them,
    they would outnumber the grains of sand—
    when I awake, I am still with you.

Footnotes:

1. Psalm 139:17 Or How amazing are your thoughts concerning me

Mid-Week Message - Choosing Wisely

"So be careful how you live.  Don't live like fools, but like those who are wise.  Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days.  Don't act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do."  Ephesians 5:15-17  (NLT)  

There is a little rhyme about a peanut that I used to say with my daughter.  It goes like this:  "A peanut sat on a railroad track, his heart was all a-flutter.  Along came a train whistling down that track -- toot, toot, peanut butter."  It's just a silly little poem but I found it useful in teaching her about making smart choices.  Those of you with children know that anything that can be used to teach should be taken advantage of.  I believe Jesus used parables in the same way.  He saw an opportunity to teach and took it. 

Even as an adult though, I think that little peanut can teach us something.  Obviously it wouldn't be smart to sit down and rest on a railroad track.  But we are faced with choices that have to made all day, every day.  When we open our eyes in the morning, we are presented with a blank slate and as we move through the day, we have multiple chances to choose wisely.

As people cross our paths we have the option of sharing the love of the Lord with them.  We have chances to invest a bit of time in their lives, showing them they are important and finding out how we can pray for them.  Or we can let those opportunities pass on by as we worry about our own lives, never giving a thought to what difficulties others may be facing or what needs they may have.  We may never know what happens in those lives after that moment.  What if it isn't only us that lets those moments go?  What if no one else reaches out to them even though we assume someone will?  

Whether we spend our days in a workplace, in the public, or at home, the most important thing needs to be representing Christ.  We are to be His reflection.  The way we treat others, the way we do business, the way we act in the grocery store line, the way we parent, the way we speak, the way we conduct ourselves while driving, the way we relate through social media are all chances to exercise wisdom.  The saying, "More of Jesus, less of me" should be our guide.  Each waking moment we have the privilege of walking hand in hand with our Savior.  If we remember He is beside us, maybe that will help us to keep in mind that whatever we choose to do should honor Him.  

I include myself in everything I have said above.  It is sometimes a struggle for me to reach out to those around me.  I have to pray for that reminder and strength.  The enemy is very good at continually whispering to me about the problems in my own life.  He loves for me to focus on myself because when I do I am not being mindful of the power of God's grace and mercy.  Only when my eyes are on Him do I understand the importance of choosing to honoring Him and blessing others.  

Everything we do is a choice of some kind.  What we fill our minds with, how we manage our time, and, most importantly, how we share Jesus with others, are all major selections that we make each and every day.  If we fail to choose wisely it hurts us and possibly others.  As we go through this week, let's exercise the option to choose wisdom in all we do and say.  May God guide and bless us all.  

Daily Word of God - Luke 8:16-18

Luke 8:16-18 New International Version (NIV)

A Lamp on a Stand

16 “No one lights a lamp and hides it in a clay jar or puts it under a bed. Instead, they put it on a stand, so that those who come in can see the light. 17 For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open. 18 Therefore consider carefully how you listen. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what they think they have will be taken from them.”

We Remember...

We will always remember...

Daily Word of God - Colossians 3:12-15

Colossians 3:12-15 New International Version (NIV)

12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.

Daily Word of God - John 7:37-39

John 7:37-39 New International Version (NIV)

37 On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. 38 Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.”[a] 39 By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.

Footnotes:

1. John 7:38 Or me. And let anyone drink 38 who believes in me.” As Scripture has said, “Out of him (or them) will flow rivers of living water.”

Daily Word of God - Romans 12:14-16

Romans 12:14-16 New International Version (NIV)

14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position.[a] Do not be conceited.

Footnotes:

1. Romans 12:16 Or willing to do menial work

Daily Word of God - Matthew 22:37-40

Matthew 22:37-40 New International Version (NIV)

37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’[a] 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[b] 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

Footnotes:

1. Matthew 22:37 Deut. 6:5
2. Matthew 22:39 Lev. 19:18