Psalms Scripture Reading - Psalm 12:8

Psalm 12:8 New King James Version (NKJV)

8 The wicked prowl on every side,
When vileness is exalted among the sons of men.

Afternoon Scripture Reading - James 1:22-24

James 1:22-24 New King James Version (NKJV)

22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; 24 for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was.

Morning Scripture Reading - 2 Corinthians 7:10

2 Corinthians 7:10 New King James Version (NKJV)

10 For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.

Proverbs Scripture Reading - Proverbs 10:30-32

Proverbs 10:30-32 New King James Version (NKJV)

30 The righteous will never be removed,
But the wicked will not inhabit the [a]earth.
31 The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom,
But the perverse tongue will be cut out.
32 The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable,
But the mouth of the wicked what is perverse.

Footnotes:

1. Proverbs 10:30 land

Psalms Scripture Reading - Psalm 12:6-7

Psalm 12:6-7 New King James Version (NKJV)

6 The words of the Lord are pure words,
Like silver tried in a furnace of earth,
Purified seven times.
7 You shall keep them, O Lord,
You shall preserve them from this generation forever.

Afternoon Scripture Reading - Colossians 1:21-23

Colossians 1:21-23 New King James Version (NKJV)

21 And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled 22 in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight— 23 if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister.

Morning Scripture Reading - Amos 5:24

Amos 5:24 New King James Version (NKJV)

24 But let justice run down like water,
And righteousness like a mighty stream.

Proverbs Scripture Reading - Proverbs 10:27-29

Proverbs 10:27-29 New King James Version (NKJV)

27 The fear of the Lord prolongs days,
But the years of the wicked will be shortened.
28 The hope of the righteous will be gladness,
But the expectation of the wicked will perish.
29 The way of the Lord is strength for the upright,
But destruction will come to the workers of iniquity.

Psalms Scripture Reading - Psalm 12:5

Psalm 12:5 New King James Version (NKJV)

5 “For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy,
Now I will arise,” says the Lord;
“I will set him in the safety for which he yearns.”

Afternoon Scripture Reading - Hebrews 10:5-10

Hebrews 10:5-10 New King James Version (NKJV)

Christ’s Death Fulfills God’s Will

5 Therefore, when He came into the world, He said:

“Sacrifice and offering You did not desire,
But a body You have prepared for Me.
6 In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin
You had no pleasure.
7 Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come—
In the volume of the book it is written of Me—
To do Your will, O God.’ ”

8 Previously saying, “Sacrifice and offering, burnt offerings, and offerings for sin You did not desire, nor had pleasure in them” (which are offered according to the law), 9 then He said, “Behold, I have come to do Your will, [a]O God.” He takes away the first that He may establish the second. 10 By that will we have been [b]sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

Footnotes:

1. Hebrews 10:9 NU, M omit O God
2. Hebrews 10:10 set apart

Morning Scripture Reading - Matthew 20:20-28

Matthew 20:20-28 New King James Version (NKJV)

Greatness Is Serving

20 Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons came to Him with her sons, kneeling down and asking something from Him.

21 And He said to her, “What do you wish?”

She said to Him, “Grant that these two sons of mine may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on the left, in Your kingdom.”

22 But Jesus answered and said, “You do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink, [a]and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?”

They said to Him, “We are able.”

23 So He said to them, “You will indeed drink My cup, [b]and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with; but to sit on My right hand and on My left is not Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it is prepared by My Father.”

24 And when the ten heard it, they were greatly displeased with the two brothers. 25 But Jesus called them to Himself and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. 26 Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. 27 And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave— 28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

Footnotes:

1. Matthew 20:22 NU omits and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with
2. Matthew 20:23 NU omits and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with

Proverbs Scripture Reading - Proverbs 10:26

Proverbs 10:26 New King James Version (NKJV)

26 As vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes,
So is the lazy man to those who send him.

Psalms Scripture Reading - Psalm 12:3-4

Psalm 12:3-4 New King James Version (NKJV)

3 May the Lord [a]cut off all flattering lips,
And the tongue that speaks [b]proud things,
4 Who have said,
“With our tongue we will prevail;
Our lips are our own;
Who is lord over us?”

Footnotes:

1. Psalm 12:3 destroy
2. Psalm 12:3 great

Afternoon Scripture Reading - Revelation 21:9-14

Revelation 21:9-14 New King James Version (NKJV)

The New Jerusalem

9 Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls filled with the seven last plagues came [a]to me and talked with me, saying, “Come, I will show you the [b]bride, the Lamb’s wife.” 10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the [c]great city, the [d]holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, 11 having the glory of God. Her light was like a most precious stone, like a jasper stone, clear as crystal. 12 Also she had a great and high wall with twelve gates, and twelve angels at the gates, and names written on them, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel: 13 three gates on the east, three gates on the north, three gates on the south, and three gates on the west.

14 Now the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the [e]names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

Footnotes:

1. Revelation 21:9 NU, M omit to me
2. Revelation 21:9 M woman, the Lamb’s bride
3. Revelation 21:10 NU, M omit great
4. Revelation 21:10 NU, M holy city, Jerusalem
5. Revelation 21:14 NU, M twelve names

Mid-Week Message - Feeling Alone

"Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."  Isaiah 41:10 (ESV)  

There are times that I wish I could revert to childhood for just awhile.  Whenever I needed anything, or was afraid of something, I called my father.  In the middle of the night, if I was leery of getting up in the dark, I would yell, "Daddy!" and he would get out of bed to help me with whatever I needed.  He never fussed at me.  He never tried to make me feel bad about waking him up.  He just was there for his little girl.  

I started this week off with some kind of virus that made me run a high fever, have chills and a terrible headache.  It was early in the morning.  My husband had already left for work and I knew because of his schedule, he would not be able to come back home.  I felt very alone.  Here I was, a 62 year old woman who found herself wishing she could yell for her Daddy and hear him coming down the hall to help.  Eventually, I texted my daughter and she very graciously gave up needed sleep to come and help me until she had to go to work.  I will forever be beyond grateful for that.  

It is never pleasant to feel alone.  We all want to know that there are those who care that we can call on in times of need.  Whether during times of illness, grief, depression or simply not being well acquainted in a new place, it is unsettling to wonder if there would be anyone around should they be needed.  We were created to need others and there are many times in every life when we need to reach out for help or assurance.  

It is so important to understand that there is never a time that we are alone.  Our heavenly Father assures us over and over again in scripture that He is with us at all times.  Feeling alone does not mean that we are alone.  Somehow He is able to be with each of us as if we were His only child.  He is there to talk to.  He is there to hold onto.  And He will lead us through whatever situation we may find ourselves in.  We may not see Him with our eyes, but we can know with our spirits that He is present and acting on our behalf.  

I hope that you are not feeling alone today.  If you do, please know that I love you and care deeply about you.  But, much more importantly, our Lord adores you.  He has promised to cause all things to work together for our good.  He is always available, always present and always loving.  Call on Him.  He will show you the way.  God bless!  

Morning Scripture Reading - James 1:5

James 1:5 New King James Version (NKJV)

5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.

Proverbs Scripture Reading - Proverbs 10:23-25

Proverbs 10:23-25 New King James Version (NKJV)

23 To do evil is like sport to a fool,
But a man of understanding has wisdom.
24 The fear of the wicked will come upon him,
And the desire of the righteous will be granted.
25 When the whirlwind passes by, the wicked is no more,
But the righteous has an everlasting foundation.

Psalms Scripture Reading - Psalm 12:1-2

Psalm 12:1-2 New King James Version (NKJV)

Man’s Treachery and God’s Constancy

To the Chief Musician. On [a]an eight-stringed harp. A Psalm of David.

 Help,[b] Lord, for the godly man ceases!
For the faithful disappear from among the sons of men.
2 They speak idly everyone with his neighbor;
With flattering lips and [c]a double heart they speak.

Footnotes:

1. Psalm 12:1 Heb. sheminith
2. Psalm 12:1 Save
3. Psalm 12:2 An inconsistent mind

Afternoon Scripture Reading - Matthew 5:17-20

Matthew 5:17-20 New King James Version (NKJV)

Christ Fulfills the Law

17 “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. 18 For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one [a]jot or one [b]tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. 19 Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.

Footnotes:

1. Matthew 5:18 Gr. iota, Heb. yod, the smallest letter
2. Matthew 5:18 The smallest stroke in a Heb. letter