Psalm 7:17 New King James Version (NKJV)
17 I will praise the Lord according to His righteousness,
And will sing praise to the name of the Lord Most High.
And will sing praise to the name of the Lord Most High.
Friday, January 31, 2020
Afternoon Scripture Reading - Philippians 3:20-21
Philippians 3:20-21 New King James Version (NKJV)
20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.
Morning Scripture Reading - Philippians 1:3-8
Philippians 1:3-8 New King James Version (NKJV)
Thankfulness and Prayer
3 I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, 4 always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy, 5 for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now, 6 being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ; 7 just as it is right for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart, inasmuch as both in my chains and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers with me of grace. 8 For God is my witness, how greatly I long for you all with the affection of Jesus Christ.
Proverbs Scripture Reading - Proverbs 6:12-15
Proverbs 6:12-15 New King James Version (NKJV)
The Wicked Man
12 A worthless person, a wicked man,
Walks with a perverse mouth;
13 He winks with his eyes,
He [a]shuffles his feet,
He points with his fingers;
14 Perversity is in his heart,
He devises evil continually,
He sows discord.
15 Therefore his calamity shall come suddenly;
Suddenly he shall be broken without remedy.
Walks with a perverse mouth;
13 He winks with his eyes,
He [a]shuffles his feet,
He points with his fingers;
14 Perversity is in his heart,
He devises evil continually,
He sows discord.
15 Therefore his calamity shall come suddenly;
Suddenly he shall be broken without remedy.
Footnotes:
- Proverbs 6:13 gives signals, lit. scrapes
Thursday, January 30, 2020
Psalms Scripture Reading - Psalm 7:14-16
Psalm 7:14-16 New King James Version (NKJV)
14 Behold, the wicked brings forth iniquity;
Yes, he conceives trouble and brings forth falsehood.
15 He made a pit and dug it out,
And has fallen into the ditch which he made.
16 His trouble shall return upon his own head,
And his violent dealing shall come down on [a]his own crown.
Yes, he conceives trouble and brings forth falsehood.
15 He made a pit and dug it out,
And has fallen into the ditch which he made.
16 His trouble shall return upon his own head,
And his violent dealing shall come down on [a]his own crown.
Footnotes:
- Psalm 7:16 The crown of his own head
Afternoon Scripture Reading - Galatians 5:22-26
Galatians 5:22-26 New King James Version (NKJV)
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 [a]gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. 24 And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.
Footnotes:
- Galatians 5:23 meekness
Morning Scripture Reading - 1 Corinthians 10:12-13
1 Corinthians 10:12-13 New King James Version (NKJV)
12 Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. 13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to [a]bear it.
Footnotes:
- 1 Corinthians 10:13 endure
Proverbs Scripture Reading - Proverbs 6:6-11
Proverbs 6:6-11 New King James Version (NKJV)
The Folly of Indolence
6 Go to the ant, you sluggard!
Consider her ways and be wise,
7 Which, having no [a]captain,
Overseer or ruler,
8 Provides her [b]supplies in the summer,
And gathers her food in the harvest.
9 How long will you [c]slumber, O sluggard?
When will you rise from your sleep?
10 A little sleep, a little slumber,
A little folding of the hands to sleep—
11 So shall your poverty come on you like a prowler,
And your need like an armed man.
Consider her ways and be wise,
7 Which, having no [a]captain,
Overseer or ruler,
8 Provides her [b]supplies in the summer,
And gathers her food in the harvest.
9 How long will you [c]slumber, O sluggard?
When will you rise from your sleep?
10 A little sleep, a little slumber,
A little folding of the hands to sleep—
11 So shall your poverty come on you like a prowler,
And your need like an armed man.
Footnotes:
- Proverbs 6:7 Lit. leader
- Proverbs 6:8 Lit. bread
- Proverbs 6:9 Lit. lie down
Wednesday, January 29, 2020
Psalms Scripture Reading - Psalm 7:11-13
Psalm 7:11-13 New King James Version (NKJV)
11 God is a just judge,
And God is angry with the wicked every day.
12 If he does not turn back,
He will sharpen His sword;
He bends His bow and makes it ready.
13 He also prepares for Himself instruments of death;
He makes His arrows into fiery shafts.
And God is angry with the wicked every day.
12 If he does not turn back,
He will sharpen His sword;
He bends His bow and makes it ready.
13 He also prepares for Himself instruments of death;
He makes His arrows into fiery shafts.
Afternoon Scripture Reading - Philippians 2:25-30
Philippians 2:25-30 New King James Version (NKJV)
Epaphroditus Praised
25 Yet I considered it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker, and fellow soldier, but your messenger and the one who ministered to my need; 26 since he was longing for you all, and was distressed because you had heard that he was sick. 27 For indeed he was sick almost unto death; but God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow. 28 Therefore I sent him the more eagerly, that when you see him again you may rejoice, and I may be less sorrowful. 29 Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness, and hold such men in esteem; 30 because for the work of Christ he came close to death, [a]not regarding his life, to supply what was lacking in your service toward me.
Footnotes:
- Philippians 2:30 risking
Mid-Week Message - Hope For the Desperate
"What is the price of five sparrows - two copper coins? Yet God does not forget a single one of them. And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don't be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows." Luke 12:6-7 (NLT)
When my daughter was in the seventh grade, she became the target of a group of girls who had decided they needed someone to look down upon. The bullying continued for some time, becoming worse when one of her close friends became one of the bullies. After Christmas break, as we arrived at the school that morning, she said the words that made me take notice of how desperate she felt. She said, "I would rather die than go to school." Sadly, it took this admission before I realized how deeply she was being wounded. And even more distressing was the fact that this was a Christian school where I thought she would be safe.
According to an article in the Washington Post from October of this past year, "from 2007 to 2017, the number of suicides among people ages 10-24 suddenly increased 56%." Why? If you research it you will find bullying and cyberbullying listed as one of the main catalysts. One of the articles I read told the story of an eight year old boy who was being bullied at school. The pain that he was in led to him hanging himself with a belt from the top bunk of the bunk beds in his room.
Did you experience bullying? I did. I can remember coming home in tears because I felt that there was no place where I could be accepted. I endured such things as being stuck by pins as I walked through the school hallway, being openly laughed at, having cigarette ashes flicked into my eyes, and being called "King Kong" or "Ellie Phant" on the school bus. As horrible as all that was for me, the internet had not been invented so the torture stopped when I arrived home. Children today don't get that reprieve. Social media has created new pathways for bullies to attack 24 hours a day. I can't imagine having to endure that.
The Bible teaches us how valuable we are to our Creator. Today's verse reminds us that He even cares for the tiny sparrows and we are worth far more to Him than the sparrows. Psalm 139 tells us how intimately the Lord has been involved in our lives from even before we were conceived. John tells us He gave His only Son because He loves us so much and desires for us to be with Him forever.
Suicide is the choice of many who do not understand how loved and valuable they truly are. What can we do about that? We have to make a start by loving those around us. Our children need to be taught about Jesus and the sacrifice He made. I'm not talking about religion. I'm talking about a personal relationship, and the best way for them to learn is to have it modeled by the adults in their lives. Personally, we need to check our own relationship with the Savior. Do we live what we say we believe? Do we walk as though He was our constant companion? Do our words and actions toward others reflect the love and compassion we are trying to teach the young people to have?
I don't pretend to have the answer to the problems of the world. But, I know Who does. And I know that if we turn to Him, if we live our lives in such a manner that others are drawn to Him, He will show us the way. There is no situation that is too difficult for God, but we need to be faithful and consistent in living for Him so that He can be seen in us by others. Maybe, just maybe, someone desperate can find hope and peace beside us at the foot of the cross. God bless.
When my daughter was in the seventh grade, she became the target of a group of girls who had decided they needed someone to look down upon. The bullying continued for some time, becoming worse when one of her close friends became one of the bullies. After Christmas break, as we arrived at the school that morning, she said the words that made me take notice of how desperate she felt. She said, "I would rather die than go to school." Sadly, it took this admission before I realized how deeply she was being wounded. And even more distressing was the fact that this was a Christian school where I thought she would be safe.
According to an article in the Washington Post from October of this past year, "from 2007 to 2017, the number of suicides among people ages 10-24 suddenly increased 56%." Why? If you research it you will find bullying and cyberbullying listed as one of the main catalysts. One of the articles I read told the story of an eight year old boy who was being bullied at school. The pain that he was in led to him hanging himself with a belt from the top bunk of the bunk beds in his room.
Did you experience bullying? I did. I can remember coming home in tears because I felt that there was no place where I could be accepted. I endured such things as being stuck by pins as I walked through the school hallway, being openly laughed at, having cigarette ashes flicked into my eyes, and being called "King Kong" or "Ellie Phant" on the school bus. As horrible as all that was for me, the internet had not been invented so the torture stopped when I arrived home. Children today don't get that reprieve. Social media has created new pathways for bullies to attack 24 hours a day. I can't imagine having to endure that.
The Bible teaches us how valuable we are to our Creator. Today's verse reminds us that He even cares for the tiny sparrows and we are worth far more to Him than the sparrows. Psalm 139 tells us how intimately the Lord has been involved in our lives from even before we were conceived. John tells us He gave His only Son because He loves us so much and desires for us to be with Him forever.
Suicide is the choice of many who do not understand how loved and valuable they truly are. What can we do about that? We have to make a start by loving those around us. Our children need to be taught about Jesus and the sacrifice He made. I'm not talking about religion. I'm talking about a personal relationship, and the best way for them to learn is to have it modeled by the adults in their lives. Personally, we need to check our own relationship with the Savior. Do we live what we say we believe? Do we walk as though He was our constant companion? Do our words and actions toward others reflect the love and compassion we are trying to teach the young people to have?
I don't pretend to have the answer to the problems of the world. But, I know Who does. And I know that if we turn to Him, if we live our lives in such a manner that others are drawn to Him, He will show us the way. There is no situation that is too difficult for God, but we need to be faithful and consistent in living for Him so that He can be seen in us by others. Maybe, just maybe, someone desperate can find hope and peace beside us at the foot of the cross. God bless.
Morning Scripture Reading - Colossians 3:12-17
Colossians 3:12-17 New King James Version (NKJV)
Character of the New Man
12 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. 14 But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. 15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. 17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
Proverbs Scripture Reading - Proverbs 6:1-4
Proverbs 6:1-4 New King James Version (NKJV)
Dangerous Promises
My son, if you become [a]surety for your friend,
If you have [b]shaken hands in pledge for a stranger,
2 You are snared by the words of your mouth;
You are taken by the words of your mouth.
3 So do this, my son, and deliver yourself;
For you have come into the hand of your friend:
Go and humble yourself;
Plead with your friend.
4 Give no sleep to your eyes,
Nor slumber to your eyelids.
If you have [b]shaken hands in pledge for a stranger,
2 You are snared by the words of your mouth;
You are taken by the words of your mouth.
3 So do this, my son, and deliver yourself;
For you have come into the hand of your friend:
Go and humble yourself;
Plead with your friend.
4 Give no sleep to your eyes,
Nor slumber to your eyelids.
Footnotes:
- Proverbs 6:1 guaranty or collateral
- Proverbs 6:1 Lit. struck
Tuesday, January 28, 2020
Psalms Scripture Reading - Psalm 7:9-10
Psalm 7:9-10 New King James Version (NKJV)
Footnotes:
- Psalm 7:9 Lit. kidneys, the most secret part of man
- Psalm 7:10 Lit. My shield is upon God
Afternoon Scripture Reading - Galatians 3:21-22
Galatians 3:21-22 New King James Version (NKJV)
21 Is the law then against the promises of God? Certainly not! For if there had been a law given which could have given life, truly righteousness would have been by the law. 22 But the Scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.
Morning Scripture Reading - Acts 16:29-34
Acts 16:29-34 New King James Version (NKJV)
29 Then he called for a light, ran in, and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. 30 And he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
31 So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.” 32 Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. 33 And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes. And immediately he and all his family were baptized. 34 Now when he had brought them into his house, he set food before them; and he rejoiced, having believed in God with all his household.
Proverbs Scripture Reading - Proverbs 5:21-23
Proverbs 5:21-23 New King James Version (NKJV)
21 For the ways of man are before the eyes of the Lord,
And He [a]ponders all his paths.
22 His own iniquities entrap the wicked man,
And he is caught in the cords of his sin.
23 He shall die for lack of instruction,
And in the greatness of his folly he shall go astray.
And He [a]ponders all his paths.
22 His own iniquities entrap the wicked man,
And he is caught in the cords of his sin.
23 He shall die for lack of instruction,
And in the greatness of his folly he shall go astray.
Footnotes:
- Proverbs 5:21 observes, lit. weighs
Monday, January 27, 2020
Psalms Scripture Reading - Psalm 7:6-8
Psalm 7:6-8 New King James Version (NKJV)
6 Arise, O Lord, in Your anger;
Lift Yourself up because of the rage of my enemies;
Rise up [a]for me to the judgment You have commanded!
7 So the congregation of the peoples shall surround You;
For their sakes, therefore, return on high.
8 The Lord shall judge the peoples;
Judge me, O Lord, according to my righteousness,
And according to my integrity within me.
Lift Yourself up because of the rage of my enemies;
Rise up [a]for me to the judgment You have commanded!
7 So the congregation of the peoples shall surround You;
For their sakes, therefore, return on high.
8 The Lord shall judge the peoples;
Judge me, O Lord, according to my righteousness,
And according to my integrity within me.
Footnotes:
- Psalm 7:6 So with MT, Tg., Vg.; LXX O Lord my God
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