Daily Light "They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world."


July 20
MORNING

"They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world."

He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief.--"In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world."

It was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners.--That you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation.

"Jesus of Nazareth . . . went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him."--So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.

The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.--"You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven."

John 17:16; Isa. 53:3; John 16:33; Heb. 7:26; Phil. 2:15; Acts 10:38; Gal. 6:10; John 1:9; Matt. 5:14, 16

EVENING

The cheerful of heart has a continual feast.

"The joy of the Lord is your strength."--The kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.--Be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with all your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name.

Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation.--As sorrowful, yet always rejoicing.--More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings.

Prov. 15:15; Neh. 8:10; Rom. 14:17; Eph. 5:18-20; Heb. 13:15; Hab. 3:17, 18; 2 Cor. 6:10; Rom. 5:3

"Utmost with the Least Most", In your Presence?~Michael James Stone


DEPENDENT ON GOD'S PRESENCE

They that wait upon the Lord ... shall walk and not
faint.

Isaiah 40:31

There is no thrill in walking; it is the test of all the stable qualities.

To "walk and not faint" is the highest reach possible for strength. The word "walk" is used in the Bible to express the character -

"John looking on Jesus as He walked, said, Behold the Lamb of God!"

There is never any thing abstract in the Bible, it is
always vivid and real.

God does not say - Be spiritual, but - "Walk before Me."


When we are in an unhealthy state physically or emotionally, we always want thrills. In the physical domain this will lead to counterfeiting the Holy Ghost;


in the emotional life it leads to in ordinate affection and the destruction of morality;
and in the spiritual domain if we insist on getting thrills, on mounting up with
wings, it will end in the destruction of spirituality.

The reality of God's presence is not dependent on any place, but only dependent upon the determination to set the Lord always before us.
Our problems come when we refuse to bank on the reality of His presence.

The experience the Psalmist speaks of - "Therefore will we not fear, though . . ." will be ours when once we are based on Reality, not the consciousness of God's presence but the reality of it -


Why, He has been here all the time!


At critical moments it is necessary to ask guidance, but it ought to be unnecessary to be saying always -


"O Lord, direct me here, and there."


Of course He will! If our common-sense decisions are not His order, He will press through them and check;
then we must be quiet and wait for the direction of His presence.
-----------

In your Presence?

I love this song:


In Your presence
That's where I am strong
In Your presence
O Lord my God
In Your presence
That's where I belong
Seeking Your face
Touching Your grace
In the cleft of the Rock
In Your presence O God

I want to go
Where the rivers
Cannot overflow me
Where my feet are
On the rock
I want to hide
Where the blazing
Fire cannot burn me
In Your presence O God

I want to hide
Where the flood of
Evil cannot reach me
Where I'm covered by the blood
I want to be where
The schemes of darkness
Cannot touch me
In Your presence O God

You are my firm foundation
I trust in You all day long
I am Your child
And Your servant
And You are my
Strength and my song
You're my song

Seeking Your face
Touching Your grace
In the cleft of the Rock
In Your presence O God
In Your presence


It is a song, that induces a feeling, that when I am in worship, with my passion, creates a response, and in the presence of other Christians, I am often whisked away to a place I 'feel' like I am in his presence.
Am I?

God is with Me.
God never leaves me.
God is all about about me.
To my rearward or froward, whether above or below
God is there.


So really, I am the one UNAWARE and He is always THERE.


He is Here, He is now, He is with you.


Together we form a magnificent force, but in stillness and trust the real divinity of the power God is becomes real.

Real because when all about there is a constant activity and need to do something or say something; in quietness and confidence and my strength is made obvious.


It is in Him my faith is whole and all I need do is be aware of:


He is Here.
He is Now.

He is with Me.


Learning to trust enough in that makes me aware that as I go;
I can Ask, Seek and Find, Him willing to reveal not only what he would have me to do or say;
but aware of His presence in the midst of where I am.

Being like that doesn't require a Song, a Church, another person or any other stimulus or feeling at all, but just a simple realization of a Fact he keeps saying over and over again:


I am Here.

He is your God,


Are you aware of Him with you Today?


Michael James Stone

TAMMUZ 28, Voice of the Lord


The Voice of the Lord

We thank you, ADONAI, God of heaven's armies, the One who is and was, that you have ...begun to rule (Revelation 11:17).
TAMMUZ
28

Almost two thousand years lie between us and the first Jews who confessed Yeshua as Messiah, but on God's timeline we stand at the same point as they did. The decisive acts of salvation through Yeshua belong to the past, and the return of Yeshua belongs to the future—for them as well as us.

Meanwhile, like first-century Messianic Jews, we have to listen to scoffing words, such as, "Where is this promised 'coming' of his?" (2 Peter 3:4) The response of the first believers was not to give a detailed timetable for the return of Yeshua, but to repeat what they had heard from Messiah himself, "You too, be ready! For the Son of Man will come when you are not expecting him" (Luke 12:40).

The decisive battles of World War II were fought after the allied forces had invaded Normandy in June, 1944. The victory had been won, but peace proper did not come until the spring of 1945.

Yeshua has won the decisive battle over sin, death and the Adversary. Let us walk in spiritual victory and be ever watchful for his peace-bringing return.


...live my life as if Messiah were crucified yesterday, risen today and returning tomorrow.

Leadership: Core Values/Truths Determine a Leader’s Actions~Barry Werner


Core Values/Truths Determine a Leader’s Actions

Spending 18 years working with the film industry taught this important principle – to know the heart of a character in a movie, don’t listen to the words but watch their actions. The members of an audience are extremely perceptive and they determine if a character is telling the truth by watching what they do. Movie writers and directors understand they must send their messages to the audience by allowing the audience to “see the actions” of the film’s characters by placing them in various situations that tell the whole story of who they really are. The members of the audience will determine their film character’s core truths/values by observing their actions all the way from an extreme act of bravery or cowardice to the most subtle eye movement or body language i.e. folding the arms or putting the hands in their pocket.

Films give their audience information about their characters by portraying them the way God created human beings. God created humans so that an individual’s actions are ultimately determined by the truths and values they hold at the core of their being. These truths/values are more powerful than the reality of the situation, potential for gain or fear of loss. A leader may be able to put their core truths on hold for a short period of time to please management or to meet a stated goal of an organization but ultimately the truths held at the core of their being are so powerful they will cause a leader to rescind a decision or leave a job so they act according to their core beliefs.

What is a core value/truth?

The word core is defined:

  • The central part …
  • At the very center of or deep within …
  • The heart of …

The word values is defined:

  • Having worth, merit or importance
  • Having principles

The word truth is defined:

  • A statement or fact that corresponds to a proven actual fact or reality
  • A statement or fact that is believed to be true regardless of reality (No matter the facts or reality, what an individual believes to be true will dominate their actions until they accept a different truth.)

Core truths are the essential and enduring tenets for an individual or an organization – the guiding principles that have a profound impact on how you as the leader and everyone in the organization think and acts.

  • Core values (truths) require no external justification.
  • Core values have intrinsic value and are of significant importance to everyone who holds them as a truth.
  • Core values (truths) guide all actions.
  • Core truths are the determining factors in the character of a leader or the organization.
  • Core values are the fundamental beliefs and principles that are purposely selected to guide daily decisions.
  • The core truths define the enduring character of a leader or an organization – a consistent “identity” that transcends product and market life cycles, management fads, technological change, and individual leaders. The leader or the organization may develop new purposes, employ new strategies, re-engineer processes and significantly restructure; however, the identity and ideology remains intact.

How do core values function?

  • The actions of individuals are controlled at a subconscious level by what they hold at the center of their existence to be absolute truth.
  • When a core value becomes an undisputed truth to a leader, every decision that leads to an action, is made through the filter of the truth represented in the core value (truth).

Core values/truths are “king!”

  • If a “philosophy of life” conflicts with a core truth, the philosophy of life will eventually bow its knee to the core truth.
  • If a preferred “life style or leadership style” conflicts with a core truth, the preferred style will eventually bow its knee to the core truth.

How are core truths formed?

  • Truths are not always true. For example, when my father died I grieved and in my grief determined I never wanted to love anyone that much again because I did not want to deal with the pain that came when something happened to that person. I created a truth that I later had to deal with when my children were born. Until I changed the perceived truth I made at an emotional moment after my father’s death, I made subconscious decisions that kept my children at arm’s length. My truth created during an emotional moment was not really truth. It is too important to love your children with all your heart to create a lifetime of love than to keep them at arm’s length because of a potential moment of grief.
  • Beliefs created in a moment of intense emotion get through to the subconscious mind and readily become perceived truths i.e. the above example.
  • Beliefs that are reinforced or repeated help establish truths in the subconscious. For example, people who memorize and meditate on various passages from the Bible accept those items as true. The meditation, comparing this information to other truths, establishes the item as the dominant truth.
  • Beliefs that are reinforced by experience are reinforced in the subconscious mind. For example, I remember seeing a friend grieve at his mother’s funeral and it reinforced my “perceived” truth that I never wanted to love with all my heart so I would not be hurt again.

How are core truths changed?

  • First you need to determine that your core truth was established in error. This isn’t as difficult as it may sound.
    • Pay attention to your actions and evaluate them against Biblical principles you know are true. If you have accepted the Bible as ultimate truth when your actions do not match your Biblical truth you must see your personal truth as being in error.
    • When your actions create an extremely negative or positive emotion ask yourself questions:
      • What caused that extreme emotion? This just isn’t like me so why in this one situation do I want to act differently.
      • Am I generally the only person clinging to this position?
      • Is there a known standard I trust that I can compare my truth to i.e. the Bible?
      • Do I have conflicting truths? Is there one part of my personality that seems to be different than how I see myself in virtually every other situation i.e. why do I push my children away in certain situations when everything in me tells me to pull them close?
  • Once you discover a core truth that doesn’t hold up to God’s standards you must determine to change your core truth and be willing to do whatever it takes to make the change. Some practical ideas are:
    • Find a Bible verse that states the actual truth you know came from God and memorize that Scripture and meditate on it.
    • Reinforce the Biblical truth every time you fail. Different life circumstances may trigger the old truth and control your actions. Never allow your actions to go unchallenged by the new truth.
    • Imagine your mind’s memory banks similar to 2-3 thousand documents you have stored in your computer files. A truth may be stored in hundreds of these “mind documents” and need to be challenged each time your memory takes you to that old situation. Each time an old truth pops up it needs to be eradicated and replaced with the new truth. This is why individuals fail fairly often when they start replacing an old truth with a new truth but after a few months or years it is a rare occurrence to have the old truth control their actions.
  • Never let yourself take the easy way out even one time. When you fail, correct your behavior. Do the hard work of identifying the old truth and reinforcing the change you desire.
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Delayed: Persevere~Baron Eickhoff


Delayed:

Saturday, July 18, 2009

Persevere









Pursue love, pray, and persevere. My wife had a dream last night in which the Lord told her that she and I are to persevere through the storm in which we presently find ourselves. The dictionary defines persevere as, "To persist in or remain constant to a purpose, idea, or task in the face of discouragement or opposition". Funny how it's not really the opposition that undoes us as much as the discouragement which we frequently experience as a result of expected or unexpected hardship.

Moses addressed the Israelites as they approached the promised land and told them not to fear or be discouraged. They asked Moses to let them send scouts ahead to check out the land, and when the report wasn't good, they refused to proceed. Moses told them not to be afraid, and that the Lord would go before them and fight for them, but they wouldn't be disuaded.

Look, the LORD your God has set the land before you; go up and possess it, as the LORD God of your fathers has spoken to you; do not fear or be discouraged.' "And every one of you came near to me and said, 'Let us send men before us, and let them search out the land for us, and bring back word to us of the way by which we should go up, and of the cities into which we shall come.' "The plan pleased me well; so I took twelve of your men, one man from each tribe. And they departed and went up into the mountains, and came to the Valley of Eshcol, and spied it out. They also took some of the fruit of the land in their hands and brought it down to us; and they brought back word to us, saying, 'It is a good land which the LORD our God is giving us.' "Nevertheless you would not go up, but rebelled against the command of the LORD your God; and you complained in your tents, and said, 'Because the LORD hates us, He has brought us out of the land of Egypt to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us. Where can we go up? Our brethren have discouraged our hearts, saying, "The people are greater and taller than we; the cities are great and fortified up to heaven; moreover we have seen the sons of the Anakim there." ' "Then I said to you, 'Do not be terrified, or afraid of them. The LORD your God, who goes before you, He will fight for you, according to all He did for you in Egypt before your eyes, and in the wilderness where you saw how the LORD your God carried you, as a man carries his son, in all the way that you went until you came to this place.' Yet, for all that, you did not believe the LORD your God, who went in the way before you to search out a place for you to pitch your tents, to show you the way you should go, in the fire by night and in the cloud by day. "And the LORD heard the sound of your words, and was angry, and took an oath, saying, 'Surely not one of these men of this evil generation shall see that good land of which I swore to give to your fathers, (Deu 1:21-35)

Being discouraged sounds like a perfectly understandable and acceptable response to life when we are disappointed, and isn't it interesting how the Israelites even blamed the spies that brought back the report for discouraging them. We need to be careful because sometimes the root cause of our discouragement can actually be our lack of faith in God, and that is never a good thing.

Be strong and of good courage, and He will strengthen your heart (Psalm 27:14).

Yours in Him,
Pastor B.

Answered Prayer Promised in Jesus' Name~Bob Hoekstra


Answered Prayer Promised in Jesus' Name

"And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it." (John 14:13-14)

We who belong to the Lord have a great invitation to thoroughly express our hearts to Him in humble, dependent prayer. "Trust in Him at all times, you people; Pour out your heart before Him" (Psalm 62:8). We also have a great need to speak to Him. "Without Me you can do nothing" (John 15:5). We also have great promises of answered prayer. "And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do…If you ask anything in My name, I will do it."

When the people of God are prayerless, they do not receive from the Lord all that He wants to give to them. "You do not have because you do not ask" (James 4:2). At times, God's children pray, but they still do not receive from the Lord. "You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures" (James 4:3). Their prayers are anchored in their own wills and interests. True praying is to be anchored in the will of God. "Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him" (1 John 5:14-15).

At this juncture, the Scriptures are vital in our daily prayer life. God's word directs us in praying according to the will of God. "If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you" (John 15:7). As we are abiding in (depending upon) Christ, we will want His word to have full sway in our lives. As we consistently get into His word, the Scriptures shape our thoughts and our desires. Consequently, we ask what the Lord teaches us to desire. In that beautiful biblical setting, He promises to give us whatever we ask.

All of this describes the essence of praying in the name of Jesus. Praying in Jesus' name is not merely a formula of words with which to conclude our prayers. Whether we verbalize that phrase or not, it is about praying as Jesus would pray (always concerned with the will of His Father). It is about praying based on all that the word teaches concerning the person and work of the Lord Jesus on our behalf. Those who pray this way enjoy the certainty of these great promises of answered prayer, and they see much glory brought to God. "And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it."

Lord Jesus, thank You for these great promises of answered prayer. Teach me to pray in Your name. Please shape my praying by all that Your word reveals concerning Your will and Your work on my behalf. In Your precious name, I pray, Amen.

How to win the spiritual battle~Greg Laurie


How to win the spiritual battle

July 20th, 2009 Posted in Pastor's corner, essentials, sermons | No Comments »

Over the last few posts, I have been writing about the spiritual war we are all engaged in.

Before I finish this series of posts, I wanted to let you know that I am speaking tonight at the National Worship Leader Conference in Leawood, Kansas.

I will be joined by artists like Mac Powell of Third Day, David Crowder, and Michael W. Smith, as well as other speakers. I would appreciate your prayers.

For more information on the conference, click here.

The battle never stops

Now, back to the battle.

Like it or not, the moment you commit your life to Jesus Christ you are engaged in a spiritual battle. The believer may be known by his inward warfare as well as by his inward peace.

This battle is not between flesh and blood, but with a very real opponent called the devil.

We have looked at the various pieces of armor we are to wear as we face our opponent, including the utility belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation and, of course, the gospel shoes.

Those are all primarily defensive weapons. In other words, you don’t attack your enemy with your sandal, breastplate, or helmet. You need another weapon for that.

Unsheath your sword!

Paul calls the one piece of offensive weaponry God has given us the sword of the Spirit, or the Word of God (Ephesians 6:17).

Many believers have all their armor in place, but they never use their sword. They leave it in the sheath. They talk about it, and brag about how sharp it is, but they never actually utilize the sword in spiritual battle.

The devil knows all too well the power and authority of the Bible and he will try to keep you from it at all costs.

Keep this in mind: Whether we know the value of our sword or not, Satan does. He will do everything he can to see that we keep our swords sheathed or that we don’t put them on in the first place.

The power of memorization

The enemy will certainly try to keep you from memorizing the Word of God.

Why? Because the Psalmist says, “Thy word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against you” (Psalm 119:11). The devil has felt its sting and authority.

It’s good to carry a Bible in your briefcase or purse, but the best place to carry the Word of God is in your heart.

How sharp is your sword?

I ask you now, what shape is your sword in?

Is it polished from daily use as you study the Scripture on a regular basis, and sharpened on the anvil of experience as you have applied and obeyed it’s truth in your life? Or is it rusty from lack of preparation or dulled by disobedience?

It’s been said “A Bible that is falling apart usually belongs to someone who isn’t.”

If we neglect the study of the Scripture, our spiritual life will ultimately unravel because everything we need to know about God is taught in the Bible. And if it can’t be found in the pages of Scripture, you don’t need it.

You can win in this spiritual battle. Not by running away, but rather by putting on the whole armor of God and unsheathing your sword, which is the Word of God, and using it.

I encourage you to do that today.

We often forget what we should remember and remember what we should forget., David McGee


Monday, July 20th 2009
---------------------

Romans 15:15

"Nevertheless, brethren, I have written more boldly to you on some points, as reminding you, because of the grace given to me by God"
NKJV

Life Lesson

We often forget what we should remember and remember what we should forget.

---------------------

Satan loves to remind us of our past sins and failures. He finds great pleasure in bringing up things that God has long forgiven us of. Revelation 12:10 refers to Satan as the "accuser of our brethren." That's what he does, but not because he's really got anything on us. If you have accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior, the Bible tells us that your sins have been separated from you as far as the east is to the west (Psalm 103:12). So, what does it profit the enemy to bring up what you've been forgiven of? He wants to distract you from following Jesus. If he can get you to listen to his accusations, maybe he can shame you into believing that you've crossed some line of forgiveness that doesn't exist. That is his game and he is betting that he can pull you into it. Remember the words of 1 John 1:9...

"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." NKJV

Has Satan distracted you from following Jesus? Don't believe his lies, and friend, in love, you need to quit listening to your enemy. You have got a great future ahead of you. Satan, on the other hand...well...his future is not so good because he will be thrown into the lake of fire. He will be destroyed. He knows it. So, the next time the enemy tries to remind you of your past, remind him of his future.

Dear Jesus,
Thank You for loving me. Thank You for the forgiveness of my sins. I rejoice in knowing the future that lies ahead of me is so much better than the past that is behind me. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Living to tell what He died to say,
Pastor David McGee
Senior Pastor
Calvary Chapel of the Triad
reachthetriad.com
twitter.com/ccot

Iranian Street Scene~Dry Bones

Iranian Street Scene

Iranian Street Scene: Dry Bones cartoon.
It's not that the world is sitting by and watching what's happening on the streets of Iran. No, it's even worse that that. The world seems not to be watching at all. Which lead me to wonder what it would take for either the UN or the current American administration to take notice.

And that, of course, lead me to do today's cartoon

Your thoughts?

This One Is Mine~Harvest:Greg Laurie


Monday // July 20 // 2009
Is this not a brand plucked from the fire?

Do you ever get sick and tired of being ripped off by the devil? Does it seem that in your Christian life, you take one step forward and two steps back? Have you ever felt condemned for your sin and wanted to just give up?

If so, listen up. I have some good news for you. Your life as a Christian does not have to continue on this way.

One tactic the devil uses over and over again is that he first tempts you to sin and then accuses you once you give in to that sin. And having led you into sin, he doesn't just leave you to suffer the consequences. Instead, he wants to make sure that you are doubly defeated. He wants to drive you away from the presence of God.

We see this illustrated in the Book of Zechariah, where the prophet had a vision from the Lord one night:

Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the Angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to oppose him. And the Lord said to Satan, "The Lord rebuke you, Satan! The Lord who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is this not a brand plucked from the fire?" (Zechariah 3:1-2)


Here is Joshua standing condemned, just like us when we sin. The devil was going for the kill—but suddenly he stopped in his tracks. Why? Because God basically said, "Hands off. This is a brand plucked from the fire. This one belongs to me. This one is mine."

Aren't you glad you are His? Don't let the devil drive you away from the presence of God.

The more I love you, the less I be loved~Jon Courson


And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved.

2 Corinthians 12:15
‘Others come and smite you in the face, take your money, pounce on you — and yet you respect them,’ says Paul. ‘Me? I give my all for you, yet the more I give to you, the less I’m loved by you.’

Why is it that the more you give to some people, the less they respect and love you? If someone is haughty and arrogant, sometimes people will be in awe of him. But if someone says, ‘I’m willing to spend all I have on your behalf,’ people think he must not be very special.

Don’t be depressed, surprised, or discouraged when the more you love people, the less they love you — for this provides you a great opportunity to give simply for the sake of giving in true agape love. When you give to someone and he gives back to you, when you’re nice to someone and she’s nice to you — that’s wonderful. But the highest form of giving is when you give and nothing is given back. Your reward will be great in heaven, and your personality will be shaped more closely into the image of Jesus Christ.

Transformed Relationships~Bob Caldwell


Transformed Relationships

3:8-9 Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing.

Peter continues giving logical guidelines on how to live based upon what we have learned about ourselves as new creations of God. Who we are now in Christ will drastically affect our relationships to marriage, our relationships in society, and with those suffering wrongfully.

First of all, marriage should look very differently for those who are born of God and are members of His heavenly Kingdom. A wife can now bring a powerful force for good toward her husband that would have never been possible before. From her new heart birthed by God, she can bring a deep inner beauty, a gentleness, and an attitude that is able to wisely avoid loud, argumentative confrontations. It becomes possible to not only bring a calming influence that humbly yields to her husband's leadership, but also draws him to Christ. Her approach to marriage is redemptive, selfless, and kind—an approach that will leave no question as to the source of this change within her. Likewise, a husband will find within himself the desire to selflessly build a home that genuinely takes into account an understanding of his wife. Her emotional, spiritual, physical, and romantic needs are his true concern (v. 1-7).

Turning to our relationships to all people, we find we now have a truly altered point of reference. We are no longer primarily driven by selfish interest. We are much more interested in bringing blessings to others than trying to receive them ourselves. Yet, in doing so, we will find ourselves more blessed by God than ever before. God will gladly hear and answer our prayers beyond whatever we may have achieved by being self-seeking in our relationships with people.

This selflessness in marriage and life in general is rooted in the new life of Christ within us. The fact is, if we do not live with increasing selflessness in this fallen world, we prove how much of Christ within us is suppressed and undeveloped. Make it your aim to be who you really are—the new you in Christ—step by step until you see Him face to face.


1 Peter 3:1-22 Submission to Husbands

1 Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives, 2 when they observe your chaste conduct accompanied by fear. 3 Do not let your adornment be merely outward—arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel— 4 rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God. 5 For in this manner, in former times, the holy women who trusted in God also adorned themselves, being submissive to their own husbands, 6 as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, whose daughters you are if you do good and are not afraid with any terror.

A Word to Husbands

7 Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered.

Called to Blessing

8 Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; 9 not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing. 10 For

"He who would love life
And see good days,
Let him refrain his tongue from evil,
And his lips from speaking deceit.

11 Let him turn away from evil and do good;
Let him seek peace and pursue it.

12 For the eyes of the LORD are on the righteous,
And His ears are open to their prayers;
But the face of the LORD is against those who do evil."

Suffering for Right and Wrong

13 And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good? 14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you are blessed. "And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled." 15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; 16 having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed. 17 For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.

Christ's Suffering and Ours

18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit, 19 by whom also He went and preached to the spirits in prison, 20 who formerly were disobedient, when once the Divine longsuffering waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water. 21 There is also an antitype which now saves us—baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, angels and authorities and powers having been made subject to Him.


1 Peter 3:1-22

v. 1 wivesGune (Gk.) is actually a general term for women, whether virgin or married, of any age. But the context determines that Peter is addressing married women.

likewise – Refers to 1:18-21.

submissive – A voluntary attitude of giving in, cooperating, assuming responsibility, and carrying a burden. Peter is not telling wives to be slaves, but rather be cooperating volunteers as the word helpmate implies (Gen. 2:18).

to your own husbands – Scripture teaches that all women are not required to be submissive to all men or to all husbands, but only to their own.

if some do not obey the Word – Peter is clearly instructing wives here to take a submissive attitude to their husband even if he is not a Christian and doesn't obey God's Word.

without a word – Actions speak louder than words. It is important that a Christian wife live out the Gospel for her husband in such a way that he might observe and experience it rather than just hear about it.

v. 2 chastehagnos (Gk.) Innocent, pure, modest, and reverent. This implies that a Christian wife should be pure in her conduct and attitude.

fear – This fear should not be a terrible dread of her husband but a fear of God, fearing the consequences of living a life of rebellion and defiance.

v. 3 adornment – decoration, beautification, may include makeup, jewelry, and clothing

outward – Referring to observable physical appearance rather than inward spiritual character.

arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel – These are now and always have been practices that work their way into a woman's priority system. They are not evil in themselves, but a Christian woman's adornment (beautification) should not consist only of these things. Peter is warning that the greatest priority of a godly wife should be inner character as indicated in the next verse.

v. 4 the hidden person of the heart – There are really two sides all of us: 1) the person everyone sees, and 2) the person that is hidden deep inside our heart.

the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit – The beauty of outward appearance will only last so long because it is temporary, corruptible beauty. As Paul taught, the outward person is decaying daily (2 Cor. 4:16). The incorruptible beauty Peter is speaking of is a gentle and peaceful spirit that which is separate and distinct from the flesh).

precious in the sight of God – This is descriptive of the gentle and quiet spirit defined above. Two of the things that this text clearly defines as precious in His sight are an easygoing disposition and a humble, yielding attitude.

v. 5 being submissive to their own husbands – A wife's attitude of submission towards her husband is a clear sign of submission to God and His authority structure (1 Cor. 11:3). Never do we find a godly woman in scripture setting an example of rebellion or insubordination .

v. 6 as Sarah obeyed Abraham – You can read about Abraham in Genesis 12-25. God's desire is that each family member knows their role and place in the family structure and happily live out that role to God's glory.

whose daughters you are if – As Abraham is referred to in scripture as the father of our faith (Rom. 4:1,11,12,16), true believers are considered sons of Abraham. In a similar way, Christian wives would naturally desire to be called daughters of Sarah. Peter is indicating that this can only be said if you follow the example given in this text by being submissive to your husband with the attitude of reverence and fear towards God.

not afraid with any terror – Though the fear of God is a godly characteristic (2 Cor. 7:1, Eph 5:21), the scripture instructs the believer not to give in to the fear of man (Prov. 29:25). Fear can cripple a person's life and paralyze us from making any spiritual progress. Peter may likely here be encouraging Christian wives not to be afraid of their unreasonable, non-Christian husbands, but to love them instead (1 John 4:18).

v. 7 husbandsaner (Gk.) A male. This Greek word is a general term used for a man. But the context provides ample cause to translate this word as husbands.

likewisehomoios (Gk.) equally, in the same way. Just as the wife has a divine job description within marriage, so also does the husband. Each member of the family has duties to perform and roles assigned by God.

dwell – A husband is to be present in the home. He is to spend time with his wife and not be an absentee husband. One of the greatest needs of a woman is the need for attention. A husband who lives at home, yet ignores his wife, is also in violation of this command.

understandinggnosis (Gk.) Knowledge signifies in general intelligence, understanding. But in this context, a deeper more perfect and enlarged knowledge. A husband here is instructed to know and understand his wife's needs, likes, and dislikes, and then be considerate as he treats her according to how he knows she needs to be treated.

giving honor to the wife – The Greek root for the word honor here implies a placing of great value upon something. This word can even be translated as precious. When a wife feels that she is precious to her husband, she responds with love and warmth.

weaker vessel – Christians are often referred to as vessels throughout scripture (Rom. 9:21, 1 Thess. 4:4, 2 Tim. 2:21). A vessel is a container. As these bodies we live in contain our soul and spirit, as well as God's Holy Spirit, we can rightfully be referred to as vessels. It is a fact that females are generally weaker both physically and emotionally. Therefore husbands should be tender and treat their wives as delicate and precious containers of God's Spirit. This phrase in no way implies a weakness of intellect, spirit, or personality.

heirs together – All true children of God will inherit the Kingdom of God together someday (Matt. 25:34, James 2:5). This makes all Christians heirs (Rom. 8:16-17). Keeping this in mind, Peter is saying a husband should not think himself superior to his wife, as both will inherit the Kingdom one day.

grace of life – This phrase is referring to God's free gift of eternal life given to all believers in Christ.

hinderedekkopto (Gk.) To frustrate or cut off. Peter is actually implying that if a husband does not honor his wife and if he does not dwell with her in an understanding and considerate way, if he does not treat her as delicate and precious, his prayers may be hindered. This could mean that a husband will find trouble praying in faith with a clear conscience if he is not treating his wife properly, or it could also mean that God will actually shut His ears to the husband's prayers who is mistreating his wife (Ps. 66:18).

v. 8 all of you – There are no exceptions allowed here. Every Christian must follow the instructions Peter gives in the following verses.

one mindhomophron (Gk.) Agreeing, harmonious, like-minded. Peter is commanding all Christians to be harmonious in their thinking. The only way this can be possible is that all Christians humbly obey the same Lord and joyfully yield to the same instruction manual for living, the Bible (Phil. 2:1-4).

compassionsumpathes (Gk.) sympathetic concern, kindness, consideration, care, or empathy

love as brothers – These three words are translated from one Greek word (philadelphos) which means loving one like a brother or loving one's fellow countrymen.

tenderheartedeusplagchnos (Gk.) Well compassioned, sympathetic. This attitude would especially apply to our attitude towards those suffering and afflicted around us.

courteousphilophron (Gk.) polite, considerate, friendly, and kind

v. 9 not returning evil for evil – God's way of dealing with being wronged is the opposite of the world's way. This verse makes clear that God is opposed to human retaliation. Vengeance is mine says the Lord (Rom. 12:19).

revilingloidoria (Gk.) abusive railing or insults

blessingeulogia (Gk.) Praise, adoration, or flattering speech. Peter is declaring that the believer's reactions to verbal attack should be the opposite from the unbeliever's reaction. Jesus taught us that we are to bless those who curse us (Luke 6:27-36, Rom. 12:14).

called to this – The Apostle Peter's writings teach us that we as Christians are called to suffer for Christ's sake and in faith and obedience, do right to those who do wrong to us (1 Peter 2:21, 5:10).

inherit a blessing – An inheritance only comes after a death. Some blessings we inherit because of and after Christ's death. Other blessings can only be inherited because of and after our death. The underlining lesson in this text is that we might have to die to ourselves in order to inherit a blessing from God.

v. 10 he who would love life – Verses 10-12 are a quotation of Psalm 34:12-16.

v. 11 turn away from evil and do good – This command is a good definition of repentance. Again, Peter is using OT quotes to support his teaching (Ps. 34:14, 37:27).

peace – There are many forms of peace depending on whether you are referring to a country, a system, or an individual. The peace referred to in this context is a harmony of living with other individuals in love and rest without dissention or rivalry.

v. 12 the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous – A concept repeated often in scripture (2 Chron. 16:9, Ps. 11:4, Prov. 15:3).

righteous – This refers to those who are approved of or acceptable before God.

His ears are open to their prayers – According to scripture, God does not hear the prayers from a wicked heart but He pays close attention to the prayers of the repentant and the righteous (Ps. 66:18; Prov. 15:8, 28:9; Is. 59:2; 1 John 4:6, 5:15).

against those who do evil – There is evil and there is good. Only God has the right and ability to define one from the other. The scriptures teach that God loves what is good and hates what is evil (Prov. 6:16-19, Zech. 8:17).

v. 13 who will harm you – Peter is not stating that no one will harm you if you do good. If you do what is good, you will be in good standing with God and He will certainly not seek your harm. But the next verse makes allowance for one who might still seek your harm even when you are followers of what is good.

v. 14 blessedmakarios (Gk.) happy, fortunate, blessed. Suffering doesn't eradicate the blessings of God from our lives.

troubledtarasso (Gk.) To be perplexed of mind, anxious or distressed. Peter is exhorting believers to not be overcome with fear or have troubled hearts when persecution comes.

v. 15 sanctify the Lord God in your hearts – To sanctify is to set apart for God. In context, Peter is stressing here that more important than being concerned about trouble or persecution our concern should be to honor and reverence God as master of our lives and be set apart unto Him for His purposes and His will.

defenseapologia (Gk.) This word means to give a reasonable argument of defense. Peter is exhorting all believers to be ready to defend the faith with a reasonable answer to anyone who might ask.

reasonlogos (Gk.) a word, uttered by a living voice, embodies a conception or idea

hopeelpis (Gk.) to anticipate, usually with pleasure

a reason for the hope – The Christian's hope is not something derived from imagination or fantasy. We have good reason for our hope. Our faith is based upon the sure, inerrant Word of God and the literal, historical life and resurrection of Jesus Christ (Rom. 1:2-6).

meekness and fear – When we give an answer to others for why we believe what we believe, it should not be in arrogance or cockiness. We must defend our faith with humility, respecting others and fearing God.

v. 16 conscience – Conscience is internal sense of what is right and wrong that governs somebody's thoughts and actions, urging him or her to do right rather than wrong.

defamekatalaleo (Gk.) To slander or speak evil of

ashamedkataischuno (Gk.) disgraced, dishonored

v. 17 for doing good – Our ultimate example for suffering according to the will of God is Jesus Christ (2:21-24, 3:18). We know that it is sometimes within the will of God for us to suffer for doing good. Peter is saying here that it may also be the will of God for us to suffer if we have been doing evil. But one is definitely better than the other.

v. 18 Christ also suffered – Referring to his scourging and crucifixion (Is. 53:4-6, 1 Cor. 15:3, Heb. 9:28).

once for sins – Two very important facts can be found in these three words. 1) Jesus died once. That means: After His resurrection He remained alive forever; He didn't go to other planets to die for other civilizations. He doesn't need to die over and over again for people's sins when they keep sinning; 2) Jesus died for sins. Jesus' death served a purpose, which was to take the punishment for our sins.

sinshamartia (Gk.) failure, offense, to miss the mark. To sin is to fall short of God's perfect requirements (Rom. 3:23).

justdikaios (Gk.) correct, righteous, innocent

unjustadikos (Gk.) descriptive of one who violates or has violated justice

that He might bring us to God –The primary objective of Jesus' mission of suffering was to bring us to God. In context, Peter is making the argument that suffering according to the will of God is very beneficial and always redemptive.

in the flesh – Jesus came in the flesh as promised according to the scriptures (Is. 7:14, 9:6; Rom. 1:3).

v. 19 by whom – Referring to the Holy Spirit (John 16:7-15).

spirits in prison – There is a spiritual prison where spirits can be held to await judgment (Rev. 20:7). According to this verse, Jesus went to this prison to preach to the spirits who were being held there. By the context, this seems to have taken place after His death and before His resurrection. Some believe that this preaching was an evangelistic message offering salvation to those who formerly were disobedient in Noah's time. Others believe this was strictly a message of condemnation and judgment pronounced upon the disobedient. Keep in mind that the context informs us that these spirits were once disobedient and are now in prison. Peter does not clarify whether these spirits are angels, demons, or deceased humans. We do know that the scriptures never give hint of a second chance after death (Heb. 9:27).

v. 20 disobedient – These spirits in prison were apparently there because of their disobedience to God.

divine longsuffering waited – Or, God waited patiently.

in the days of Noah – This phrase clarifies the time period these spirits Peter writes about were from.

eight souls were saved through water – We know from Genesis 7:23 that after the floodwaters rose in the days of Noah, only Noah and his family were saved, a total of eight people. No other humans survived and remained alive on the earth after the flood.

v. 21 an antitype, which now saves us—baptism – If not understood properly it might be easy to jump to the false conclusion that a person is saved by being baptized. But notice in context Peter is comparing what happened to the eight souls on Noah's ark to baptism as an antitype. Baptism is not a removal of dirt from your body; it is an appeal to God from a clean conscience. The flood symbolizes baptism. Baptism is a symbol of salvation in that it depicts Christ's death, burial and resurrection and our identification with Him in these experiences (Rom. 6:4).

antitypeantitupos (Gk.) A similar pattern or type. In Bible language, this word does not mean "opposite" as it does in English.

which now saves us – Believers are saved by what baptism symbolizes—Christ's death and resurrection. The effectiveness of the act of baptism is what is happening in the heart and conscience of the one being baptized the answer of a good conscience toward God. Baptism is an outward sign of an inward happening.

through the resurrection of Jesus Christ – Peter has already established this truth in the beginning of this letter (1 Peter 1:3). In the final analysis, people are saved not by any act or ritual of man, but by the supernatural power of the resurrection. If He would have merely died for us, we may have forgiveness of sins but no eternal life. The resurrection assures us eternal life (Rom. 6:5; 1 Cor. 15:21; Phil. 3:10, 11). The resurrection also proves that Jesus is the Son of God (Rom. 1:4).

v. 22 who has gone into heaven – Jesus did not only raise from the dead. He ascended into heaven back to the place from which He came (Mark 16:19). And the guarantee of His promise to return again is evidenced by his ascension (Acts 1:11).

at the right hand of God – To sit at the right hand of a ruler is to sit in the highest place of honor and authority. Jesus now sits at the place of supreme power and rule as He is sitting at the very right hand of God the Father (Eph. 1:20-23).

angelsaggelos (Gk.) A messenger of God. However this word is almost always referring to the spiritual beings that visit earth and reside as angels in heaven.

authoritiesexousia (Gk.) Referring to the power and privilege to act. This word refers to any and all power of rule, whether it be in heaven, on earth, or under the earth (Phil. 2:10, Rev. 5:13). For more insight into this word, see 1 Corinthians 15:24, Ephesians 1:21, and 6:12.

powersdunamis (Gk.) Refers to all strengths, whether it is the strength to survive, fight, or dominate.

made subject – To be made subject means to be put under authority of. This means that all of the various powers mentioned above, which covers any and all possible powers that may exist, are under the authority and rule of Jesus Christ. We know that God is a jealous God and will share His glory with no one (Ex. 20:5, 34:14; Is. 45:21). Yet the scriptures also declare that God the Father freely shares His glory, authority and power with the Son. This is another of the many hints of the Deity of Christ found in the scriptures.


Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing. –1 Peter 3:8-9

Your ways, Jesus, are not the ways of this world. We see this clearly in Your words today. Loving one another, showing courtesy, and returning evil with blessing is our calling in You, Lord. Where we are selfish, show us. Where we are hard hearted, show us. Where we return evil for evil, show us. We pray to seek to inherit the blessing, Jesus, that we know waits for us in Heaven.


Keepers of the Home

Many changes are being implemented in my home since coming to Keepers of the Home! I'm actually doing laundry once per day and we all have lots of clean clothes in our drawers. What I appreciated the most out of everything you've shared is that you can't expect overnight changes. My time with the Lord is happening and the laundry and general pick up are happening. If I had someone drop in at our house, I wouldn't be embarassed. Little steps toward doing better around here and I am so thankful!

Prayer Points
  • That we would look to the Lord for the small changes He would have us to make in our daily lives, one little step at a time by His grace.
  • That we would not quit or grow weary in well doing, but would instead allow the Lord to establish in our lives new disciplines that will reap much fruit through Christ.

2 Chronicles 1:1-3:17 ~ Romans 6:1-23 ~ Psalm 16:1-11 ~ Proverbs 19:20-21


2 Chronicles 1:1-3:17 ~ Romans 6:1-23 ~ Psalm 16:1-11 ~ Proverbs 19:20-21
~ Click here to read today's Scripture on BibleGateway.com ~
~ Listen to today's Scripture on DailyAudioBible.com (podcast) or OneYearAudioBible.org ~

Old Testament - Today we begin the book of Second Chronicles! Are you ready to read about the reign of King Solomon? Let's go!

~Second Chronicles~
Author: Unknown
Date: Fifth century B.C.
Content: Second Chronicles contains the history of Judah that was begun in First Chronicles. It deals with the glory of Solomon's reign, with a special emphasis being placed upon the glory of the temple. This emphasis is made because a priest point of view pervades the book. The remaining kings of Judah are discussed, with a stress upon how the religious affairs of the nation were going. Hezekiah is given mention because during his reign an extended revival took place. The destruction of Jerusalem and the exile of the people to Babylon are described, and the book ends with the Persian king's decree to let the people return home.
Theme: Judah's history is described from a religious point of view in this book. The righteous kings are commented on and the evil kings are named so that all can see who is responsible for the rise and fall of the nation. The religious leaders and their ultimate failure to remain true to God added to the sin of Judah - until God allowed his own chosen people to plunge themselves into ruin, as an example for all time that God will not tolerate sin. (Above commentary is from Tyndale Publishers "The One Year Bible Companion" pp. 7-8) More commentary on Second Chronicles is
at this link.

Solomons_prayer

Today in 2 Chronicles chapter 1 we read about King Solomon asking for wisdom and knowledge from God. In verse 7 we read these words from God to Solomon - "Ask for whatever you want me to give you." In verse 10 we will read this amazing response from Solomon to God: "Give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may lead this people, for who is able to govern this great people of yours?" Solomon could have asked God for anything - more wealth, more power, more strength, more whatever, but he simply asked for wisdom and knowledge. Why? Because he wanted to lead God's people well and distinguish between right and wrong. Amazing. How would you or I answer this question today? What if God came to you today and said the same thing to you from verse 5 - "Ask for whatever you want me to give you." What would you ask for? Would you ask for Wisdom? Would you ask for Knowledge? If so, God offers these to you and me right now. Where? I believe wisdom and knowledge is offered to us through study of the Bible and by living in a loving and right relationship with God. We can receive the gift of God's wisdom today! If we would answer this question from God differently - maybe wanting more money, or power, or fame, or whatever - do you think we might forfeit gaining wisdom? So, again, what if God were to say to you right now this same statement he said to Solomon? "Ask for whatever you want me to give you." What do you ask for? Below is a portrait by artist Guy Rowe of Solomon praying to God for wisdom:

New Testament - Today in Romans chapter 6 verses 17 & 18 we read: "But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching to which you were entrusted. You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness." Do you believe that you were ever a slave to sin? Is it possible that you are still a slave to sin now? How can you be freed from being a slave to sin? Or, better yet, Who do you think can free you from being a slave to sin? Are you wholeheartedly obeying the teaching to which you have been entrusted? Where can you consistently find the teaching to which you have been entrusted? Do you consider yourself a slave to righteousness? Do you like the idea of being a slave to righteousness?

Table_righteousness

Today we read Romans 6:23! I pray that this is a verse of Scripture that you have truly memorized, meditated upon, and fully understand and agree with:

Bible.org's fantastic commentaries on today's Romans readings titled "An End to the Reign of Death" is at this link and "The Stupidity of Sin" is at this link.

Psalms - Today we read Psalm 16, which I absolutely love! I could probably share with you some thoughts on just about every verse in this Psalm. Verse 1 tells us: "Keep me safe, O God, for I have come to you for refuge." Do you believe that God will keep you safe if you come to Him for refuge? And verse 2 is so true: "I said to the LORD, "You are my Master! All the good things I have are from you."" Everything good thing in our life - absolutely everything good thing in our life - comes from God. Do you believe this? Verse 3 reminds me to rejoice for and pray for our pastors and spiritual mentors: "The godly people in the land are my true heroes! I take pleasure in them!" Do you appreciate your pastors / ministers / priests and spiritual mentors? And do you appreciate other godly people you know too? Are they true heroes? Do you pray for these folks regularly? If not, will you?

Manpraying

And verse 11 is a powerful closing to this Psalm 16 and perhaps a prayer for us to pray fervently: "You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever." Do you want to be shown the way of life from God? Do you want to be granted the joy of God's presence? Do you want the pleasure of living with God forever? Have you prayed to God and Jesus and the Holy Spirit to give you these things in your life? Will you pray this prayer?

Proverbs - Proverbs 19 verse 21 is so true : "You can make many plans, but the LORD's purpose will prevail." I am so amazed by how God's purpose continues to steer the course of my life - tossing to the side my frivolous plans that were not part of His purpose. I think we do well to realize that God absolutely has a purpose for our lives - and that we very likely do not know what it is. :) Well, that's not always true. I do think many of us have a good indication of what God's purpose is for our lives. But I think perhaps more of us do not. And that's okay. I believe that if we stay close to God in a loving relationship and seek to live godly lives, God's purpose can't help but take over the course of our life. Without our even realizing it at times. There was that movie several years back called Mr. Holland's Opus, where the lead character realized that "Life is what happens while you are busy making other plans." I submit that "God's purpose is what happens if you are seeking after Him with all your heart, soul, mind and strength." Let us pray that God is the Master Planner in our life today! And let us also pray that God will reveal to us if we are ignoring His plans for us in any way and if we are perhaps in danger of planning to build a "tower of Babel" in our life in the place of God...

Babel

YouTube: Psalm 16 verse 11 (shown above) reminds me of Mercy Me's amazing song "I Can Only Imagine." Enjoy!

Can you imagine God? Click here to open up your imagination!

Please join us in memorizing and meditating on a verse of Scripture this week: "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28 (NIV)

Comments from You & Questions of the Day: What verses or insights stand out to you in today's readings? Please post up by clicking on the "Comments" link below!

God bless,
Mike


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