Morning Scripture Reading - Joshua 3:14-17

oshua 3:14-17 New King James Version (NKJV)

14 So it was, when the people set out from their camp to cross over the Jordan, with the priests bearing the ark of the covenant before the people, 15 and as those who bore the ark came to the Jordan, and the feet of the priests who bore the ark dipped in the edge of the water (for the Jordan overflows all its banks during the whole time of harvest), 16 that the waters which came down from upstream stood still, and rose in a heap very far away [a]at Adam, the city that is beside Zaretan. So the waters that went down into the Sea of the Arabah, the Salt Sea, failed, and were cut off; and the people crossed over opposite Jericho. 17 Then the priests who bore the ark of the covenant of the Lord stood firm on dry ground in the midst of the Jordan; and all Israel crossed over on dry ground, until all the people had crossed completely over the Jordan.

Footnotes:

1. Joshua 3:16 Qr., many mss. and vss. from Adam

Evening Scripture Reading - Ephesians 2:19-22

Ephesians 2:19-22 New King James Version (NKJV)

Christ Our Cornerstone

19 Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, 22 in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.

Psalms Scripture Reading - Psalm 19:5-6

Psalm 19:5-6 New King James Version (NKJV)

5 Which is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber,
And rejoices like a strong man to run its race.
6 Its rising is from one end of heaven,
And its circuit to the other end;
And there is nothing hidden from its heat.

Proverbs Scripture Reading - Proverbs 12:24

Proverbs 12:24 New King James Version (NKJV)

24 The hand of the diligent will rule,
But the lazy man will be put to forced labor.

Morning Scripture Reading - John 3:18-21

John 3:18-21 New King James Version (NKJV)

18 “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. 21 But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.”

Evening Scripture Reading - Ecclesiastes 5:2-3

Ecclesiastes 5:2-3 New King James Version (NKJV)

2 Do not be rash with your mouth,
And let not your heart utter anything hastily before God.
For God is in heaven, and you on earth;
Therefore let your words be few.
3 For a dream comes through much activity,
And a fool’s voice is known by his many words.

Psalms Scripture Reading - Psalm 18:50

Psalm 18:50 New King James Version (NKJV)

50 Great deliverance He gives to His king,
And shows mercy to His anointed,
To David and his [a]descendants forevermore.

Proverbs Scripture Reading - Proverbs 12:23

Proverbs 12:23 New King James Version (NKJV)

23 A prudent man conceals knowledge,
But the heart of fools proclaims foolishness.

Morning Scripture Reading - Isaiah 55:8-13

Isaiah 55:8-13 New King James Version (NKJV)

8 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord.
9 “For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are My ways higher than your ways,
And My thoughts than your thoughts.

10 “For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven,
And do not return there,
But water the earth,
And make it bring forth and bud,
That it may give seed to the sower
And bread to the eater,
11 So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth;
It shall not return to Me [a]void,
But it shall accomplish what I please,
And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.

12 “For you shall go out with joy,
And be led out with peace;
The mountains and the hills
Shall break forth into singing before you,
And all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.
13 Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress tree,
And instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree;
And it shall be to the Lord for a name,
For an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.”

Footnotes:

1. Isaiah 55:11 empty, without fruit

Evening Scripture Reading - 1 John 4:4-6

1 John 4:4-6 New King James Version (NKJV)

4 You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. 5 They are of the world. Therefore they speak as of the world, and the world hears them. 6 We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.

Psalms Scripture Reading - Psalm 18:50

Psalm 18:50 New King James Version (NKJV)

50 Great deliverance He gives to His king,
And shows mercy to His anointed,
To David and his [a]descendants forevermore.

Footnotes:

1. Psalm 18:50 Lit. seed

Proverbs Scripture Reading - Proverbs 12:17-22

Proverbs 12:17-22 New King James Version (NKJV)

17 He who speaks truth declares righteousness,
But a false witness, deceit.
18 There is one who speaks like the piercings of a sword,
But the tongue of the wise promotes health.
19 The truthful lip shall be established forever,
But a lying tongue is but for a moment.
20 Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil,
But counselors of peace have joy.
21 No grave [a]trouble will overtake the righteous,
But the wicked shall be filled with evil.
22 Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord,
But those who deal truthfully are His delight.

Footnotes:

1. Proverbs 12:21 harm

Morning Scripture Reading - 1 Peter 1:17-21

1 Peter 1:17-21 New King James Version (NKJV)

17 And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your [a]stay here in fear; 18 knowing that you were not redeemed with [b]corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. 20 He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was [c]manifest in these last times for you 21 who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.

Footnotes:

1. 1 Peter 1:17 sojourning, dwelling as resident aliens
2. 1 Peter 1:18 perishable
3. 1 Peter 1:20 revealed

Evening Scripture Reading - 2 Timothy 2:1-7

2 Timothy 2:1-7 New King James Version (NKJV)

Be Strong in Grace

2 You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. 3 You therefore must endure[a] hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. 4 No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier. 5 And also if anyone competes in athletics, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. 6 The hardworking farmer must be first to partake of the crops. 7 Consider what I say, and [b]may the Lord give you understanding in all things.

Footnotes:

1. 2 Timothy 2:3 NU You must share
2. 2 Timothy 2:7 NU the Lord will give you

Psalms Scripture Reading - Psalm 18:46-49

Psalm 18:46-49 New King James Version (NKJV)

46 The Lord lives!
Blessed be my Rock!
Let the God of my salvation be exalted.
47 It is God who avenges me,
And subdues the peoples under me;
48 He delivers me from my enemies.
You also lift me up above those who rise against me;
You have delivered me from the violent man.
49 Therefore I will give thanks to You, O Lord, among the [a]Gentiles,
And sing praises to Your name.

Footnotes:

1. Psalm 18:49 nations

Mid-Week Message - Start Preparing Praise

"You have changed sadness into a joyful dance; you have taken away my sorrow and surrounded me with joy.  So I will not be silent; I will sing praise to you.  Lord, you are my God; I will give thanks to you forever!"  Psalm 30:11-12  (GNT)  

Most of us are sitting in our homes throughout the day, doing our part to help stem the spread of the COVID-19 virus that threatens our nation and, indeed, the world.  Thousands have died and tens of thousands have been infected.  Our best chance of protecting ourselves is staying away from others who may have it.  So we work from home, school our children from home and keep ourselves as busy as possible so we don't get so bored that we are tempted to leave our place of surety and venture out into danger.  

This is a new experience for most of us and I doubt than any of us are enjoying it as much as we enjoy being able to do whatever we want or need to do any time we desire to.  Though we know it has been deemed necessary, we may be tempted to test the boundaries and take chances that we might regret later.  Then we turn on the television and are quickly reminded of the consequences.  Twenty-four hours a day cable news channels regale us with the ever growing frightening numbers of those who are fighting this foe and warning us that either we or those we love could die from it.  

How are you faring today?  Are you bored, tired or anxious?  Are you wondering when things will return to normal?  Will there be a time in the foreseeable future when can return to our jobs and churches and not be afraid of being less than six feet away from our friends and loved ones?  These are difficult questions made harder because everything changed in what seemed like such a short time. 

I want to comfort those who are grieving right now.  I am so sorry for your loss.  If I had a magic wand and could change things for you, or for those who have lost their jobs, believe me, I would wave it as quickly as possible.  However, when God created me He didn't give me that gift, but He did give me, and you, the greatest gift of all, Jesus, whose death and resurrection broke the bonds of sin and death and enables us direct access to the One who can turn our sorrow into joy.  

I have been sad that all of the attention is on what is happening in the world rather than the celebration of Easter that is rapidly nearing.  What a time for the world to be faced with the threat of death!  Because Jesus loved us enough to die on a cross for our sins and then rose from the dead just as He said He would, death has been defeated!  We have the assurance of eternal life in Heaven, free from illness, sadness and death when our time on this earth is over.  When we receive Christ as our Savior we become co-heirs with Him, children of the Most High God.  

Oh, how this thrills my heart!  I am not worried about this microscopic virus because it is not greater than the One I serve.  But, whether I live or die past this time, I win.  If my earthly life continues then I have more time to share His love with you and to offer encouragement wherever it might be needed.  If my Father calls me home, then I get to live with Him and sing His praises everyday for eternity. 

There is a saying that is often used on Good Friday.  "Today is Friday (meaning the day our Savior died) but Sunday's coming (the day He rose from the grave)!"  Because He died and was resurrected, we have so much to sing about.  And yes, as the verse today references,  our sadness is changed into a joyful dance as we see how He conquers evil, pain and death.  

Trust Him.  He has all of this in hand.  Spend time with Him in prayer and allow Him to comfort your heart.  Then start preparing your praise because one day soon the sun will rise on a new day and we will have a song of joy to dance to!  God bless!  

Proverbs Scripture Reading - Proverbs 12:15-16

Proverbs 12:15-16 New King James Version (NKJV)

15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes,
But he who heeds counsel is wise.
16 A fool’s wrath is known at once,
But a prudent man covers shame.

Morning Scripture Reading - 1 Peter 1:3-9

1 Peter 1:3-9 New King James Version (NKJV)

A Heavenly Inheritance

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance [a]incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been [b]grieved by various trials, 7 that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, 8 whom having not [c]seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, 9 receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls.

Footnotes:

1. 1 Peter 1:4 imperishable
2. 1 Peter 1:6 distressed
3. 1 Peter 1:8 M known