Ezekiel 42:1-43:27 ~ James 5:1-20 ~ Psalm 119:1-16 ~ Proverbs 28:6-7 ~ One Year Bible Blog

Ezekiel 42:1-43:27 ~ James 5:1-20 ~ Psalm 119:1-16 ~ Proverbs 28:6-7
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Old Testament - Ezekiel chapter 42 continues the description of the temple in Ezekiel's vision and the dimensions. In this chapter we learn about the rooms for the priests of the temple. The interesting thing for me, as I was reading this chapter today, is that my mind wandered a bit and wondered if maybe somehow this was / is a heavenly temple that Ezekiel was describing? I'm not sure. I have so much more to learn about the temples. But, it's interesting to think if maybe somehow we might see something like this temple in heaven? An interesting thought at least for me to ponder. However - the tricky thing is that in chapter 43 there are descriptions of sacrifices for the altar in this temple. And of course Christ was the final sacrifice for our sins - so there is no need for the old covenant sacrifices. So, this could certainly dash my imagination of this being a heavenly temple we'll see some day. Though - I did read somewhere that if this is a heavenly temple, the sacrifices described in chapter 43 may be "memorials" or ceremonial - but not required, as they were in the old covenant. I don't know... fascinating stuff to ponder however! Below is an artist's rendition of "Ezekiel's Temple":

Back to how all this might apply to our lives today. Verse 20 in chapter 42 stood out to me: "So the area was 875 feet on each side with a wall all around it to separate the holy places from the common." The last part of that verse stands out - to separate the holy places from the common. I wonder about that in our lives - do we do anything that separates the holy from the common in our own lives? Do we need to? My thought here is that if we don't allow for some "holy places" to appear in our lives, might we just settle for common places throughout our lives? A Holy Place for us might be 5 minutes of prayer. Or 15 minutes of reading the Bible. Or going to a church service. Or listening to worship music. Or not scheduling anything one day a week, so we can take a Sabbath day of rest. What are you doing to create some Holy Places in your life?

Chapter 43 is incredible with God's return to the temple. I love this verse - "And this is the basic law of the Temple: absolute holiness!" Absolute holiness. Okay - so this is not something we are going to see or "achieve" this side of heaven. It's impossible for us to be absolutely holy on this earth. Only Jesus was absolutely holy and sinless. However, I think the call for our eternal lives is absolute holiness. So, know that faith in Jesus will ultimately lead you in this direction - and I do believe we can grow in holiness in this life. God's grace gives ultimate absolute holiness in heaven. Do you want absolute holiness? Are you moving toward absolute holiness in your life today? Do you also realize you won't reach absolute holiness this side of heaven? But, yet, do you still desire absolute holiness someday?

Verse 21 in this chapter is a foreshadowing of Jesus' death on the Cross at Mt. Calvary: "Then take the young bull for the sin offering and burn it at the appointed place outside the Temple area." How does this apply to Jesus' death on a hill outside of Jerusalem's city gates? This is best explained in Hebrews chapter 13 verses 11-13 as follows: "The high priest carries the blood of animals into the Most Holy Place as a sin offering, but the bodies are burned outside the camp. And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate to make the people holy through his own blood. Let us, then, go to him outside the camp, bearing the disgrace he bore." Powerful... Will you walk with Jesus outside the city gates of Jerusalem? Up to Mt. Calvary? Will you follow Jesus all the way up that hill?

New Testament - Today we wrap up the book of James. This has been such a powerful book for me to read these past few days! I am convicted and challenged by this book, which is wonderful. Today in chapter 5, verse 5 stands out: "This treasure you have accumulated will stand as evidence against you on the day of judgment." This reminds me of the scene at the end of the movie "Schindler's List" where Oscar Schindler breaks down crying when the war is over - and after he has saved so many lives - and yet he cries out - "This gold pin - this pin could have saved a life! This car.... could have saved 10 lives!" This scene - and this verse - makes me ask myself if I am using my finances wisely? Am I investing in others? Are my luxuries taking away from other's very lives? Am I accumulating treasure when I could have been serving others? I cannot encourage you enough to watch this scene in Schindler's List again if you haven't seen it in a while. Every time I watch this scene something happens to my heart that only God can explain... it changes me...

Verse 9 stands out: "Don't grumble about each other, my brothers and sisters, or God will judge you." This is such a great reminder of Jesus' call to not judge others! Don't grumble about others. How often do we grumble about others? Are we grumbling about someone currently? Is this a healthy practice? By the way, I have been bad about grumbling about others recently - in fact, I almost got sideswiped on a freeway recently by a guy who was not paying attention to where he was going. In all honestly, I have no idea how we avoided not hitting each other, but for the grace of God. I was so shook up by the near miss I was "grumbling" big time about this guy's carelessness. Interestingly and thankfully I was not cussing at him nor giving him bad gestures, but I was grumbling in my heart about how not smart I thought he was - and I immediately caught myself and asked God to forgive me for this sin. And I believe He did. Let us not grumble in our hearts about others. It is a sin. Let us stay away from grumble corner in our lives! :)

The first half of verse 16 is so true - "Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed." Is there someone in your life you can confess your sins to? Someone you can ask to pray for you? Do you believe this practice will heal you of that sin?

And the last half of verse 16 also is amazing to remember - "The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and wonderful results." Are you praying for others? Earnestly? Do you believe prayer has great power and that God listens and can bring about wonderful results?

Psalms - Today we begin Psalm 119, the longest Psalm and chapter in the Bible! This Psalm is a beautiful meditation on God's Word and how it helps us stay pure and grow in faith. Almost every verse in this Psalm mentions God's Word. I pray that this Psalm is encouraging to you as you read through the One Year Bible!

Today in Psalm 119 verse 11 we read: "I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you." Have you hidden God's word in your heart? So that you might not sin against God? Do you realize that all sin is indeed a sin against God? Are you memorizing Scripture on a regular basis? And, more importantly, reflecting on Scripture? Check out this link for some great free online resources to help you memorize Scripture - http://www.memoryverses.org/

Proverbs - Proverbs 28 verse 6 teaches us today: "It is better to be poor and honest than rich and crooked." I have often paraphrased this proverb in this way - "It is better to be poor and happy than to be rich and miserable." Though, I think the Proverb reads better and has more truth in the way it is actually written in the Bible. "Honest" is better than "Happy"... Actually, the more I think about this, I think that honesty actually will lead to happiness. If you are honest with yourself and others, I do think you'll be happier obviously than if you are dishonest with yourself and others. To take this a step further, and to reflect on the "absolute holiness" verse in Ezekiel today, I might even paraphrase this Proverb to say "It is better to be poor and holy and than rich and un-holy." Not sure if this works? I do want to say that I don't think being rich means you'll be crooked or miserable or un-holy. But, I think there is so much truth to Jesus' teaching in Matthew 16:26 - "For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?" We need to be careful around too much money or too much power or of course too much (any?) pride. Too much can distract us from God... In fact, whether we're rich or poor, I think if we don't always keep in mind that absolutely everything we have comes from and belongs to God then we can indeed become "blinded" by money in one way or another...

YouTube: As I reflect on the ending of Schindler's List in the New Testament blog comments today, here's the beautiful ending of the movie that I refer to:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lPHvLtitxug

Do you need our Saving God? Click here and get to know him!

Please join us in memorizing and meditating on a verse of Scripture this week: "Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says." James 1:22 (NIV)

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

Grace, love, peace, and joy!
Mike

He Calls us... to Himself ~ Daily Light

MORNING

Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.

It shall come to pass, when he crieth unto me, that I will hear; for I am gracious. - I will not cast them away, neither will I abhor them, to destroy them utterly, and to break my covenant with them: for I am the LORD their God. - I will remember my covenant with thee in the days of thy youth, and I will establish unto thee an everlasting covenant.

Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. - Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. - Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.

A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench.

JOHN 6:37. Exo. 22:27. Lev. 26:44. Ezek. 16:60. Isa. 1:18. Isa. 55:7. Luke 23:42,43. Isa. 42:3.

EVENING

His dear Son.

Lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. - Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth. - The only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father.

In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his son to be the propitiation for our sins. And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love.

The glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me. - Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God.

COL. 1:13. Matt. 3:17. Isa. 42:1. John 1:18. I John 4:9,10,16. John 17:22-24. I John 3:1.

The Freedom of Confession ~ Joyce Meyer

I acknowledged my sin to You, and my iniquity I did not hide. I said, I will confess my transgressions to the Lord [continually unfolding the past till all is told]—then You [instantly] forgave me the guilt and iniquity of my sin.
— Psalm 32:5

In 1 John 1:9, the Bible teaches us that if we admit our sins and confess them, He will forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Start by freely admitting all your faults. Hold nothing back. Admit them to God and to people. Don't make excuses or place blame elsewhere.

As you do this, you will experience a new freedom, and your relationship with Jesus and with people will improve greatly. I have found that if I tell people my faults before they find them on their own, neither one of us is as bothered by them.

Be open with people. Most people respect and admire honesty and openness. It is what we try to hide that comes back to haunt us.

Invite Jesus into every area of your life. Don't feel you must hide your faults from Him. He knows all about them anyway. Actually, the Lord knows more about us than we can remember or will ever discover and He loves us anyway.

Give God not only what you are but especially give Him what you are not. It is easy to offer Him our strengths, but we should also offer Him our weaknesses because His strength is made perfect in our weaknesses. Don't hold anything back; give God everything!

The Lord doesn't see only what we are right now, He sees what we can become if He is patient with us.

Mercy and Truth are met together....~ Jon Courson

Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, ... 2 Peter 1:2


The more knowledge you have of Jesus Christ, the greater understanding you’ll have that our God is truly a God of grace.


At the outset of his ministry, Billy Graham was referred to as ‘God’s Machine Gun’. But as he went on in his knowledge of the Lord, he found himself becoming more and more oriented towards grace — so much so that many Christians today scratch their heads and wonder how he can be open to so many. ‘That denomination can’t be Christian,’ they scoff. Or, ‘Surely, those people can’t be saved.’ But Billy has a way of being incredibly embracive without compromising. And in his own writings, he explains that as he grows older in the Lord, he’s more and more amazed by the grace of the Lord.


The older you grow in the Lord, the more grace-oriented you’ll be as you realize the Christian life is all about Jesus and the undeserved, unearned favor He lavishes upon us so freely due to the finished work of Calvary.

The result? Unmistakable, undeniable, unshakable peace — for truly grace and peace walk hand in hand.

Restoring Relationships: Sympathize ~ Rick Warren

“A man's wisdom gives him patience; it is to his glory to overlook an offense” (Prov. 19:11 NIV).

The third biblical step toward restoring a relationship is to sympathize with the other person’s feelings.

Use your ears more than your mouth. Before attempting to solve any disagreement you must first listen to the other’s feelings. Paul advised, "Look out for one another's interests, not just for your own." (Philip. 2:4 TEV) The phrase "look out for" is the Greek word skopos, from which we form our words telescope and microscope. It means pay close attention! Focus on their feelings, not the facts. Begin with sympathy, not solutions.

Don't try to talk people out of how they feel at first. Just listen and let them unload emotionally without being defensive. Nod that you understand even when you don't agree. Feelings are not always true or logical. In fact, resentment makes us act and think in foolish ways. David admitted, "When my thoughts were bitter and my feelings were hurt, I was as stupid as an animal" (Psalm 73:21-22 TEV). We all act beastly when hurt.

In contrast, the Bible says that patience comes from wisdom (Prov. 19:11 NIV), and wisdom comes from hearing the perspective of others.

To listen is to say, "I value your opinion, I care about our relationship, and you matter to me." The cliché is true: People don't care what we know until they know we care.

To restore fellowship "we must bear the 'burden' of being considerate of the doubts and fears of others ... Let's please the other fellow, not ourselves, and do what is for his good" (Rom. 15:2 LB). It is a sacrifice to patiently absorb the anger of others, especially if it's unfounded.

But remember, this is what Jesus did for you. He endured unfounded, malicious anger in order to save you. "Christ did not indulge his own feelings ... as scripture says: The insults of those who insult you fall on me" (Rom. 15:3 NJB).

Give Thanks . . . in Everything ~ Greg Laurie

Sometimes, worship and thanksgiving can be a sacrifice. That may be because we are down or depressed or things aren't going all that well for us. Maybe hardship or tragedy has struck our lives in some way and we don't want to thank God.

Yet the Bible urges us to give thanks to the Lord. Psalm 106:1 says, "Praise the Lord! Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever."

We are told in Colossians 3:17, "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."

And Hebrews 13:15 says, "Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name."

We are not told to give thanks to the Lord because we feel good; we are to give thanks to the Lord because He is good.

As we approach God to ask for new blessings, we should never forget to say thanks for the blessings already given. We should be just as definite in returning thanks as we are in requesting help.

But many times we aren't. We are quick to ask for help, but we are slow in giving thanks.

Sometimes, this can be difficult, because we feel as though we have been dealt a bad hand in life or there are things that have happened to us that we don't understand. But here is something we need to remember: "In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you" (1 Thessalonians 5:18).

This verse doesn't say give thanks in some things or in what you think are the good things. It says to give thanks in everything.

Now it is easy for me to give thanks when something wonderful happens to me. When something bad happens, however, I think, I won't give thanks for that.

But I don't know that we ever will fully know what was good or bad in our lives until much later. I would even suggest that what you think is a bad thing today may turn out to be a good thing tomorrow or down the road. And what you have thought of as a good thing may, in time, turn out to be a bad thing.

As you look back in time, you will be able to say that the Lord knew what He was doing.

For a number of years, I lived with my grandparents, whom I called Mama Stella and Daddy Charles. My grandmother was an amazing cook. She never reheated anything, and I don't think she had ever seen a TV dinner (and wouldn't be interested in one if she had). She made everything from scratch, including the best fried chicken I've ever tasted.

But the crowning achievement of my grandmother's cooking was her biscuits. Once you started eating them, you couldn't stop. Watching my grandmother make them, it appeared to be such a simple process. But no one could quite make it work like her.

The ingredients were simple: vegetable oil, self-rising flour, and of course, some buttermilk. No ingredient she used was appealing to me on its own. But she would blend it all together and then put it into a very hot oven.

And when she took those biscuits out, the results were good. Really good.

In the same way, God will take the events of our lives, the good things and the so-called bad things, and put them in the oven of adversity. When it is all done—sometimes much later—we will realize that it is good. What may seem bad today actually may be good tomorrow.

We need to trust God.

To give thanks, we must recognize that God is in control of all circumstances surrounding our lives. We must realize that God loves us and is always looking out for our eternal benefit, even if what we are presently going through is difficult.

We must remember that God is wiser than we are. He is always dealing with us for our best and eternal good. But sometimes, what is good for us eternally is not easy for us temporarily. God will make that decision and work in our lives.

There is so much to give thanks for. Have you been thanking God?

Don't wait until Thanksgiving Day. For the Christian, every day should be Thanksgiving.

The Difference ~ Chuck Swindoll

Matthew 5:13-16

Ours is a hell-bound, degenerate world, and you know it. Political corruption abounds. International peace, a splendid ideal, continues to blow up in our faces. The crime rate escalates as domestic violence and gang wars and drug traffic and overcrowded jails continue to plague society. Pending legal cases choke the courts of our land with an endless litany of litigation. And even when cases are finally brought to trial, no courtroom or prison cell can remove madness from minds or hatred from hearts.

Satan, our relentless enemy, has a game plan, and it's on the board. Knowing that his days are numbered, knowing that he has an appointed amount of time before the scoreboard counts him out, he holds the world in his lap and gives it directions, implementing his strategy day after day.

If our Christian message is a mirror image of the message of the world, the world yawns and goes on its way saying, "What else is new? I've heard all that since I was born." But if the Christian lifestyle and motivation and answers are different, the world cannot help but sit up and take notice, thinking: How come they live in the same place I live, but they are able to live a different kind of life? Why is their love so deep and lasting and ours so shallow and fickle? How is it that she can forgive and never hold a grudge? Why do these people have so much more compassion, kindness, integrity, and patience than anyone else I know?

Do you get the message? It's the difference that makes the difference!

Think about it: Do people feel more alive when they're around you? Do you create within them a thirst for God? Does anyone ever wonder why you are so unselfish, so thoughtful, so caring? Do the neighborhood children want to be in your home because of the way you treat your children?

What do people see when they look at you? Do they see your good works? Do they hear your courtesy? Do they detect your smile? Do they notice that you stop to thank them? Do they hear you apologize when you are wrong? Do they see every visible manifestation of Christ's life being normally lived out through you? When they see all that, Jesus said, they "will glorify your Father who is in heaven" (Matt. 5:16).

Isn't it a pleasure when someone says to you, "Why are you like that?" And isn't it a natural thing to respond, "I'm glad you asked. Let me tell you what's happened"?

"When the Church is absolutely different from the world, she invariably attracts it. It is then that the world is made to listen to her message, though it may hate it at first" (D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones).

Sin Abounding, Grace Abounding "Much More" ~ Bob Hoekstra

Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more, so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 5:20-21)

Sin can overflow lives until there seems to be no hope. Yet, the Scriptures boldly declare that the grace of God is greater than the most terrible, aggravated sin of man. Yes, even when sin is abounding, grace can eventually abound "much more."

The Lord uses His law to teach us of sin and of our need for His grace. "Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound." The law provokes the rebellious hearts of man, revealing the desires of sin within them. "For when we were in the flesh, the passions of sins which were aroused by the law were at work in our members to bear fruit to death…I would not have known sin except through the law. For I would not have known covetousness unless the law had said, 'You shall not covet'" (Romans 7:5, 7). Also, the law of God convinces us of the awful nature of sin: "that sin through the commandment might become exceedingly sinful" (Romans 7:13). Part of the awful impact of sin is the death it produces in lives: "sin reigned in death.""The wages of sin is death" (Romans 6:23). Sin left unattended exhibits increasing evidences of its spiritual deadness: hatred, selfishness, cruelty, emptiness, despair, and the like. It is as though great waves of sin roll over lives, inundating them in bondage and hopelessness. Nevertheless, there is always hope in the grace of God. "But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more." No matter how high the waves of sin have flooded in, the waves of God's grace can roll in higher, if we humbly seek after Him. Sin brings spiritual death.

The grace of God is not only able to forgive sin and cleanse it away, but it can also set up a new reign of godliness in those forgiven lives. "As sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness." Sin once ruled our lives, bringing spiritual deadness, which increased with each day. Now, if grace is embraced to work in our lives, practical righteousness grows day by day bringing love, selflessness, kindness, fullness, hope, and the like. All of this is the qualitative aspect of the everlasting life that comes by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ: "even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."

Dear Lord, what a great encouragement these verses bring to my heart. The waves of past sin in my life, and the lives of others I minister to, can be dealt with by greater waves of Your life-giving grace. Lord, please flood my life with tidal waves of grace, producing righteousness in my life. Also, help me to point others in this direction of abundant hope, through Jesus Christ, Amen.

?We? not ?You? ~ Bob Coy

"Then Jesus lifted up His eyes, and seeing a great multitude coming toward Him, He said to Philip, "Where shall we buy bread, that these may eat?" John 6:5 (NKJV)

Pretend you're Philip for just a moment. The hillsides are overrun with men, women, and children. It's late in the day and you're a good distance from anything that resembles a town or village. The crowd was so compelled to follow Jesus that plans for provision were passed over. But you and every other disciple knows that the basic need to eat will soon set in and change everyone's mood considerably.

Jesus knew it too, and He raised the issue by asking, "Where shall we buy bread, that these may eat?" Now the Bible is very deliberate in telling us that Jesus already knew how He was going to handle the situation, but He asked this question in order to test Philip and the other disciples.

Philip responded as any of us would have. "We can't do that! We don't have enough to feed everyone!" He was half right. Yes, it was an impossible situation for Philip and the rest of the disciples. But notice that Jesus used the word "we," not "you." He included Himself in the equation, and as we know, He is the God of the impossible!

But getting back to the question...Jesus threw it out there so Philip and the others would acknowledge they didn't have the resource or means to feed everyone. It was a way of bringing them face to face with their inability, which then set the stage for Him to demonstrate His capability.

The take-away truth from this incredible event is that we can accomplish the impossible when Christ is involved in what we're doing.

Discuss and share with your group a recent time when you realized your inability and God’s capability. What hope did this give you? How did you see God’s power in this situation?

Dig into John 6:1–14. Why did Jesus test the disciples the way in which He did? How was the lad’s willingness to share a true act of simple faith? What other places in Scripture remind you of God’s ability to meet your need?

Decide to pray for the homeless in your community. Intercede, asking God to care and provide for them as only He can. As a group, be ready and willing to respond as God provides opportunity to minister to these who are in need.

Being Light in a Godless Age ~ Charles Stanley

2 Timothy 3:10-16

According to Scripture, our world is headed for terrible times. Politicians can’t solve the problems. Neither can philosophers or philanthropists. Only God has the remedy—salvation and transformation, one life at a time.

As ungodliness increases, believers will be greatly impacted. Paul warned us to take precautions so we don’t start following the dysfunctional choices of the godless. One way to do this is by being sensitive to God’s work in the lives of His people. Timothy paid attention to the way Paul handled adversity and made decisions. He could see that God delivered the apostle from many tough situations, so the young man chose to emulate him. Like Timothy, we’re wise to observe those who are choosing God’s way.

Another precaution is to notice the spiritual foolishness of those living apart from Christ—and avoid their influence. They may be high achievers, financial successes, or generous givers, but without Jesus, they remain outside God’s family. Their choices reflect man’s priorities, not the Lord’s.

Finally, we must be committed to the Bible as our guide for life. God’s Word was written by ordinary men under His inspiration. He designed the Scriptures to be profitable for teaching, correction, and godly living.

We are commanded to be ready on all occasions to speak the name of Jesus, share what He has done for us, and relate His gospel message to others. When we do, we will be like lights reflecting the truth of our Savior to a world desperately in need of illumination.

Friends ~ Mark Balmer

Based on “Get People to Jesus” by Pastor Mark Balmer; 11/14-15/09,

Message #MB396; Daily Devotional #5 - “Friends”

Preparing the Soil (Introduction): The National Science Foundation reported in its General Social Survey that unprecedented numbers of Americans are lonely. The study featured 1,500 face-to-face interviews, where more than a quarter of the respondents -- one in four -- said that they have no one with whom they can talk about their personal troubles or triumphs.[1] Friends, it seems that in society today true friendship is becoming a rare commodity. Yes, with Facebook and other social networking sites, we can stay in touch with and know what is going on in the lives of friends and acquaintances. Yet when looking at their network page, we will almost never see their real struggles and their true needs. This is where all the networking sites fail. True friendship is about knowing and meeting needs. Everyone has them, even you. Who else knows yours?

Planting and Watering the Seed (Growth): Man's greatest need is forgiveness. You bring a friend to church, and they go forward to accept Christ. You may say, “My job is done, they are going to heaven.” However, if you are a true friend, your job is just beginning. Jesus said, “Go and make disciples,” not, “Go and invite someone to church, so they can have a onetime experience with Me,” (Matthew 28:19-20). Satan will tell you that you are not equipped to make disciples. But that’s not what Jesus said. Before Jesus told us to make disciples, He said all authority and power was His (Matthew 28:18). After He told us to make disciples, He said, “Surely I am with you always.” Discipleship is not as hard as you would think. Paul said it best, “For what I have received I passed on to you...” (1 Corinthians 15:3) and “you ought to follow our example” (2 Thessalonians 3:7). Discipleship is passing along what we have learned; what Christ has revealed to us. Are we perfect? No. Neither are the people God will place in our lives to disciple. This gives us the opportunity to show them how to seek God and find restoration when they make mistakes, just as you and I need to. Discipleship is not about being perfect, but about being real. As a true friend, we need to come alongside the believer and pass along what has been revealed to us. There is no need to worry about whether you have the ability or not, because Jesus is there.

Harvesting the Crop (Action/Response): Does anyone know your struggles or needs? Christianity is not a solitary practice. Community is where we as Christ followers grow the most. When Jesus sent out His disciples, He sent them out in pairs. He knew the importance of relationships. Let God teach you and others how to do life with Him through true friendships. Look for opportunities to connect with others in meaningful ways. If you are not already a part of one, join a home group, a small group, or attend the New Beginnings 101-201 classes. Start building relationships. In these we will most often not be a disciple, but a co-disciple as we disciple and are discipled by one another.

Cultivating (Additional Reading): Colossians 3:16; Ephesians 4:2; 1 Corinthians 12:25; James 5:16; Hebrews 10:24

Acts of commission ~ David McGee

John 4:35-36

35 Do you not say, 'There are still four months and then comes the harvest'? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest!
36 And he who reaps receives wages, and gathers fruit for eternal life, that both he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together.
NKJV

Life Lesson

Be committed to God's work.

We talk about the importance of people hearing the gospel, but it is not enough to just talk about it. No, it must be our desire to see people get saved and become Talmudim (disciples). Here, we do a lot of things in order to reach the lost. Our Cross the Bridge Outreaches, our Show and Tell the World gatherings, the support we give to missionaries - these are just a few of the many ways we are reaching the lost. In order to do this, the whole church chips in and, quite frankly, I am amazed at the tremendous giving nature of Calvary Chapel of the Triad and our Bridge Builders (Cross the Bridge Partners).

Because of your generosity and desire to see the lost reached, we are able to take the resources that God has provided through you and use them prayerfully and wisely to speak the gospel into millions of ears. The wise use of these resources advance the kingdom of God. I want to encourage you in joining with us to reach the world. Be committed to this work that God is doing. This ministry is reaping an incredible harvest that is clearly of God. As you sow into this ministry and this ministry reaps the harvest, we have formed a partnership that is providing eternal rewards. Let's reach the world for Jesus and not stop until the whole world hears. May God bless you for your faithfulness.

Dear Father,
Thank You for those who give so generously to see others blessed by the life-giving gospel of Jesus Christ. I ask You to bless these precious providers even as they selflessly bless others. I ask that You continue to open doors of opportunity for Cross the Bridge Outreach Ministries and Calvary Chapel of the Triad and our supporters because we want the whole world to hear. I pray this in Jesus' name. Amen.

Do loyalty and recognition flow “to and from” your team? (96-4) ~ Barry Werner

Do loyalty and recognition flow “to and from” your team? (96-4)

November 19th, 2009 in 2 Samuel, Loyalty, Old Testament, Personal Development, Recognition, Relationships, Team Building | leave a response

All of us have met or served with leaders who read one too many of their own press clippings and started to believe what they were reading. They forgot that they did not achieve any victory alone. Effective leaders understand the value of their team and are fiercely loyal to them. Read 2 Samuel 23:8-35.

David led one of the most famous teams written about in the Bible. Some of the battle feats are so phenomenal that if we saw them reenacted in a movie we would immediately assume the story was fictional. Josheb-Basshebeth “raised his spear against eight hundred men, whom he killed in one encounter” (v. 8). Another one of David’s Mighty Men was Eleazar who, when all the rest of the army retreated “…stood his ground and struck down the Philistines till his hand grew tired and froze to the sword….The troops returned to Eleazar, but only to strip the dead” (v. 10). Eleazar single-handedly defeated the troops that put the rest of the army to flight. This team was so important to David that he named them individually in chapter 23.

This team had such a great relationship that when David made a casual remark concerning his desire for a cool sip of water from a certain well they were all familiar with in a territory held by the Philistine army near Bethlehem, “…three mighty men broke through the Philistine lines, drew water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem and carried it back to David” (v. 16). When the water was brought to David, he demonstrated why his team loved him; “…he refused to drink it; instead, he poured it out before the Lord. ‘Far be it from me, O Lord, to do this!’ He said. ‘Is it not the blood of men who went at the risk of their lives?’ And David would not drink it” (vv. 16-17).

Do loyalty and recognition flow “to and from” your team or does it seem the vast majority of the credit for achievement stops with you? Is your team so valuable to you that you would write about their exploits and name each one so everyone knows their names and the mighty acts they accomplished?

Extreme loyalty doesn’t come from having succinct job descriptions. It doesn’t develop because you schedule a leader for a promotion. It doesn’t appear on demand. Loyalty, like that displayed by David’s team, comes through a leader’s action to model loyalty. Effective leaders set the example and model loyalty to their team. They give credit for victories and identify the exploits of their team without “robbing” any of the glory and without expectation of return. Leaders who understand teams know they receive loyalty because they first modeled loyalty.

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« Who do you depend on most, God or self? (96-3)

Are your projects and pressures more real to you than Jesus? (96-5)»

Good And Bad Figs ~ Kay Arthur

Jeremiah, Part 1 (Return To Me)

Program 45 – Good And Bad Figs

Question: do you think that the majority of those who call themselves Christians are really living like Christians? Do you think that they’re righteous? And do you look at them and in a sense, do you think “Oh, that’s holiness, that’s the way I’m supposed to live?” Do you hear people from the pulpit, people on television calling us to holiness and calling us to righteousness? If not, why not? If sin is the tenor of a culture, if the atmosphere is iniquity, if it’s adultery, and immorality, and stealing, and lying, and cheating, and the breaking up of relationships what is the duty of the church? What is the duty of those that have been called as God’s spokesmen to the culture? What is their duty to God and to the culture? It is to speak the Word of God. It is to turn people from their sins to a holy God. You say, “But why? It will only make them unpopular.” Yes, guarantee it will make them unpopular. But you do it because if you don’t those people are going to experience the judgment of God. God said it in Numbers; it has never changed. ―‗…Be [ye] sure your sin[s] will find you out.‘‖ (Numbers 32:23) He says that [judgment must begin at the house of God, and if it begins there what is the world going to do?] (PARAPHRASE, 1 Peter 4:17)

As we wrap up Jeremiah chapter 23 today and move into Jeremiah chapter 24, I want you to see what God says about Himself. Verse 23 of chapter 23, ―‗Am I a God who is near…and not a God [who is] far off? Can a man hide himself in hiding places so [that] I [don’t] see him? …Do I not fill the heavens and the earth?‘ declares the LORD.‖ (Jeremiah 23:23-24)

You think you can hide your sin from God? You think that God’s not going to notice it? You think that you’re going to get away from it? Oh no! He says, ―‗I have heard what the prophets have said who prophesy falsely in My name, saying, ―I had a dream, I had a dream!‘ How long? Is there anything in the hearts of the prophets who prophesy falsehood, even those prophets of the deception of their own heart, who intend to make My people forget My name by their dreams which they relate to one another, just their fathers forgot [Me] because of Baal?‘‖ (Jeremiah 23:25-27)

Go back to Jeremiah chapter 23. He says, ―‗…[If they were going to prophesy,] if they had stood in My council…they would have announced My words…[they] would have turned [people] back from their evil way… [but they’re not doing that.]‘‖ (Jeremiah 23:22) They’re not announcing His words. Rather they’re sharing their dreams. Instead of prophesying what God says, they are talking about their dreams.

And you know what just makes me sick? People are fascinated by it. They are drawn to it like a magnet. Why? Because it’s something that is extra-biblical, it is something that is new. It is something that is novel, and it is something that is destructive. Listen to what He says. ―‗The prophet who has a dream may relate his dream….‘‖ (Jeremiah 23:28) You say, “See, it’s all right, Kay.” And it says, ―‗…But let him who has My word speak My word in truth. What does straw have in common with grain…?‘‖ (Jeremiah 23:28)

We’re talking about a dream that I have that I am going to share with others as if it is equal with the Word of God, or that I am going to share with others and not share the Word of God. He calls those kinds of dreams “straw,” no nourishment in them at all. His Word is grain.

So in this passage He’s not saying that people don’t have legitimate dreams. Daniel dreamed and in those dreams, in those visions God showed him what was going to happen. But it was God. These are dreams that are not from God, but these are dreams that people want to hear. And then God makes a statement when He says, ―‗[If you’re gonna speak] …speak My word in truth. What does straw [these dreams] have in common with grain? ...Is not My word like [a] fire?‘ declares the LORD, ‗and like a hammer that shatters a rock?‘‖ (Jeremiah 23:28-29) He says, “Here’s this hard, hard, hard rock,” and He says, “You bring My Word down on it, and it shatters the rock just like a hammer.” ―‗Therefore…,‘‖ listen to what God says, ―‗…I am against the prophets…who steal My words from each other.‘‖ (Jeremiah 23:30) I’m against those men that take away My word and take it away from the hearts of others. He says, ―‗…I am against [those] prophets,‘ declares the LORD, ‗who use their tongues and declare, ―The Lord declares.‖ [The Lord said; I have a word from the Lord.]‘‖ (Jeremiah 23:31)

You know the Bible tells us in Hebrews chapter 1, and I think it might be good for you to go there, Hebrews chapter 1. It’s a fabulous, fabulous book, and it’s written to people that are suffering. And he says, ―God, after He spoke…to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom…He made the world. And He is the radiance of His glory and [He is] the exact representation of His nature….‖ (Hebrews 1:1-3) He says God has spoken to us in His Son. So you have the Old Testament when God spoke in many and diverse ways. He spoke through dreams. He spoke through visions. He spoke through a donkey to Balaam. (See Numbers 22:28-30) I mean, He spoke in different ways.

But now in these last days He has spoken to us in His Son. And he says, and I want you to listen to him. Then you come to the end of the Bible to the book of Revelation, and God’s revelation is completed. Everything that is necessary for you and I to live properly is recorded in this book. And then this is what he says. ―I testify…,‖ verse 18 of Revelation 22, the last chapter. ―[I testify] to [anyone] who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues which are written in this book; and if anyone take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his part from tree of life and…the holy city…written in [the] book.‖ (Revelation 22:18-19)

In other words, hey, you ain’t going to heaven. That’s what he’s saying. So it’s very, very dangerous to speak and not have it be God’s Word. He says in verse 32, ―‗Behold, I am against those who have prophesied false dreams…,‘‖ (Jeremiah 23:32) and you want to mark “dreams” in this segment, ―…declares the LORD, ‗And related them…,‘‖ them what? Them dreams. ―‗…And led My people astray by their falsehoods and reckless boasting….‘‖ (Jeremiah 23:32)

One man I remember, he said that he died and he went to heaven. And he said, “I got to heaven,” and he was telling this to another believer. And he says, “I just pulled up a chair, and I reared back to have a good ’ol talk with God.” And that other Christian looked at him and said, “I want to tell you something, God’s gonna kill you.” And you know what? God killed him. He was making money off of this. He was distorting the truth. He was disgracing the character of God. You don’t sit back in a chair; you fall flat on your face. And then this is what He says, ―‗Behold, I‘m against those who have prophesied false dreams…and related them and led My people astray by their falsehoods….‘‖ He says, ―‗…reckless boasting; yet I did not send them or command them, nor do they furnish this people the slightest benefit….‘‖ (Jeremiah 23:32)

If you’re a teacher, what is the benefit from your teaching in people’s lives? It should be an increased hunger and thirst for righteousness. It should be obedience. It should be conviction of sin. He says, ―‗Now when this people or the prophet or a priests asks…saying, ―What is the oracle of the LORD…?‖‘‖ (Jeremiah 23:33) What’s the oracle of the LORD? What’s this word, this revelation we’re getting from God? ―‗…then you shall say to them, ―What oracle?‖ The LORD declares, ―I will abandon you.‖ Then as for the prophet or the priest or the people who say, ―The oracle of the LORD [the oracle of the LORD]‖ I will bring punishment on [this] man and his household. Thus will each of you say to his neighbor and to his brother, ―What has the LORD answered?‖ or, ―What has the LORD spoken?‖‘‖ (Jeremiah 23:33-35) In other words they’re going for false information. He says, ―‗For you will no longer remember the oracle of the LORD, because every man‘s own word will become the oracle….‘‖ (Jeremiah 23:36)

In other words if you don’t know the Word of God you can’t separate it from the words of men. He says, ―‗…And you have perverted the words of the living God, the LORD of hosts, our God. Thus you will say to [the] prophet[s], ―What has the LORD answered you‖ and, ―What has the LORD spoken?‖ For if you say, ―The oracle of the LORD!‖ surely thus says the LORD, ―Because you said this word ‗The oracle of the LORD!‘ I have also sent to you saying, ‗You shall not say, ―The oracle of the LORD!‖‘ Therefore behold, I will surely forget you and cast you away from My presence, along with the city which I gave you and your fathers.‘‖ (Jeremiah 23:36-39) In other words, I’m going to destroy you and I’m gonna destroy Jerusalem. ―‗I will put an everlasting reproach on you and an everlasting humiliation which will not be forgotten.‘‖ (Jeremiah 23:40) On whom? On those that say ―‗―…The oracle of the LORD…!‖‘‖ (Jeremiah 23:38) This is what God said when God didn’t say it.

It’s dangerous to stand there in the place of God and say this is what God says when it’s not in the Bible. We’ll be back in just a minute. Well Beloved, we’ve come to Jeremiah 24. And I bet you thought, “She’s not gonna make it.” It’s ten verses long, and it’s all about good figs and bad figs, and what’s gonna happen to the good and what’s going to happen to the bad. So just remember Jeremiah chapter 24. It’s a fruity passage.

Let’s see what it says ―After Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had carried away captive Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, and the officials of Judah with the craftsmen and [the] smiths from Jerusalem and had brought [me] to Babylon, the LORD showed me [a basket of good figs and bad figs.]‖ (Jeremiah 24:1) Now what does verse 1 do? It puts us into historical context. And it says, “After the Lord had led away Jehoiachin. He is called Jeconiah, Jehoiachin and Coniah. After He had led him away he tells us that he is the son of Jehoiakim.

And he tells how He led away him and the officials and the craftsmen and the smiths from Jerusalem and brought them to Babylon. So in your Bible what you want to write is 597 B.C. It is the second siege of Jerusalem. And it’s during that second siege of Jerusalem, and Jehoiachin, Coniah, Jeconiah only rules for three months, and then he is taken into captivity along with the queen mother. Now when we finish this you can go on your own to the last two chapters of 2 Kings, and you can read about this, and you can put yourself into historical context. (See 2 Kings 24:8-14) But he says after that happened, so he is giving a timeframe. By the way when Jeconiah was led into captivity ten thousand others went with him. This was a major deportation. Who went into Babylon? He’s gonna tell you: good figs went into Babylon. Let’s read it.

He says, ―…[He] showed me…two baskets of figs set before the temple of the LORD! One basket had very good figs…[the] first-ripe figs, and the other basket had very bad figs which could not be eaten due to rottenness.‖ (Jeremiah 24:1-2) Now what you do is when you look at this you put down everything you learn about the good figs and everything you learn about the bad figs. The bad figs were rotten. ―Then the LORD said to me, ‗What do you see, Jeremiah?‘ And I said, ‗Figs, the good figs [are] very good; and…bad figs, very bad, which cannot be eaten…,‘‖ oooh, gross, ―‗…due to rottenness.‘‖ (Jeremiah 24:3) He says, ―Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying, ‗Thus says the…God of Israel, ―Like these good figs, so I will regard as good the captives of Judah, [which] I have sent out of this place into the land of the Chaldeans.‖‘‖ (Jeremiah 24:4-5) Those that went with Jehoiachin, Jeconiah, Coniah, those that went with him they’re like the good figs. And watch what he says. You say, “But they went into captivity.” Oh, but the others got it worse. Listen to what it says, and we’re gonna see more as we go along.

He says, ―‗―For I will set My eyes on them for good….‖‘‖ (Jeremiah 24:6) Hey, it’s to their benefit that they were taken captive. ―‗―…I will bring them again to this land….‖‘‖ I’m going to bring them back. ―‗―…I will build them up and [I will] not overthrow them….‖‘‖ (Jeremiah 24:6) Now when is this going to happen?

Well, at the beginning of this week we looked at Cyrus, and we saw that Cyrus was God’s shepherd, the head of the Medes and the Persians. And he’s the one that does this. You read this, and you can also read this in the beginning of the book of Ezra. (See Ezra 1:1-4) He says, ―‗―…I will build them up and not overthrow them….‖‘‖ (Jeremiah 24:6)

Now remember Jeremiah was to build and to plant, to uproot, to toss away. So He says ―‗―…I will plant them and not pluck them up. I will give them a heart to know Me, for I am the LORD; and they will be My people, and I will be their God, for they will return to Me with their whole heart.‖‘‖ (Jeremiah 24:6-7)

And so what you find is 70 years after the captivity, beginning in 605 B.C., and we’re going to study it in the second part of Jeremiah, you find them coming back to the land. They rebuild their temple. And they have a heart for God. And many of them understand the awfulness of their idolatry. And then he says, ―‗―But like the bad figs which cannot be eaten due to rottenness—indeed, thus says the LORD—so I will abandon Zedekiah king of Judah and his officials, and the remnant of Jerusalem who remain in this land and the ones who dwell in the land of Egypt.‘‘‖ (Jeremiah 24:8)

Now he has just made a prophecy. And that prophecy is that those that stay under Zedekiah, those that stay in the land, God’s going to abandon them. He’s going to give them over to sword and plague and famine as He has said previously. Some of them are not going to be killed and destroyed. They will stay in the land, and then eventually they’ll end up down, some of them, in Egypt. Why? Because they disobeyed God, because they still wouldn’t listen, these are the bad figs. This is the rottenness of it all. You’re gonna see it as we continue in our study in Jeremiah.

He says, ―‗―I will make them…,‖‘‖ the ones that stay in the land, ―‗―…a terror and an evil for the kingdoms of [this] earth, as a reproach and [as] a proverb, a taunt and a curse in all [the] places [that] I will scatter them. I will send the sword, [and] famine and…pestilence upon them until they are destroyed from the land which I gave to them and their forefathers.‘‘‖ (Jeremiah 24:9-10)

Amazing, isn’t it? Remember Jeremiah is telling these people, “When you get into Babylon I want you to settle down there. I want you to build houses. I want you to pray for the prosperity of Babylon because you’re going to be living there.” But then He promises that He is going to bring them back to the land. This is the future of the good figs. The future of the bad figs is death. They are going to perish in that land, or they’re going to perish in Egypt. Do you know why? Because they had ungodly shepherds, ungodly rulers, because all these guys, Jehoahaz, Jehoiakim, Jehoiachin and Zedekiah were ungodly. And Zedekiah had a chance. And Zedekiah was on the side of the fence going back and forth. But he ended up on the wrong side of the fence, and we’re going to see what his fate was as a result of that. He was a ruler that was evil, and God judged Him. Just remember this, evil rulers will not get away with their rebellion towards the pure Word of God.

The second thing that I want you to remember is you go after the Word of God. You learn it. You know it so well that when you hear someone saying, “I had a dream,” or “Hear the Word of the Lord,” you can tell whether it’s the Word of God or not because you know God’s Word for yourself. You’ve discovered truth for yourself

Justification By Faith Explained and Illustrated ~ WOW the Bible in 7 minutes a day

Justification By Faith Explained and Illustrated

Romans 3:21-4:25; Psalm 125:1-3; Proverbs 23:17-18

But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? Of works? No, but by the law of faith. Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law. Or is He the God of the Jews only? Is He not also the God of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also, since there is one God who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith. Do we then make void the law through faith? Certainly not! On the contrary, we establish the law.

What then shall we say that Abraham our father has found according to the flesh? For if Abraham was justifiedby works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. For what does the Scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness." Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt.

But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness, just as David also describes the blessedness of the man to whom God imputes righteousness apart from works:

"Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven,
And whose sins are covered;

Blessed is the man to whom the LORD shall not impute sin."

Does this blessedness then come upon the circumcised only, or upon the uncircumcised also? For we say that faith was accounted to Abraham for righteousness. How then was it accounted? While he was circumcised, or uncircumcised? Not while circumcised, but while uncircumcised. And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while still uncircumcised, that he might be the father of all those who believe, though they are uncircumcised, that righteousness might be imputed to them also, and the father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who also walk in the steps of the faith which our father Abraham had while still uncircumcised.

For the promise that he would be the heir of the world was not to Abraham or to his seed through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. For if those who are of the law are heirs, faith is made void and the promise made of no effect, because the law brings about wrath; for where there is no law there is no transgression.

Therefore it is of faith that it might be according to grace, so that the promise might be sure to all the seed, not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all (as it is written, "I have made you a father of many nations") in the presence of Him whom he believed-God, who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did; who, contrary to hope, in hope believed, so that he became the father of many nations, according to what was spoken, "So shall your descendants be." And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah's womb. He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform. And therefore "it was accounted to him for righteousness."

Now it was not written for his sake alone that it was imputed to him, but also for us. It shall be imputed to us who believe in Him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead, who was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised because of our justification.

Romans 3:21-4:25

WORSHIP

Those who trust in the LORD
Are like Mount Zion,
Which cannot be moved, but abides forever.
As the mountains surround Jerusalem,
So the LORD surrounds His people
>From this time forth and forever.
For the scepter of wickedness shall not rest
On the land allotted to the righteous,
Lest the righteous reach out their hands to iniquity.
Psalm 125:1-3

WISDOM

Do not let your heart envy sinners,
But be zealous for the fear of the LORD all the day;
For surely there is a hereafter,
And your hope will not be cut off.
Proverbs 23:17-18

Building Endurance ~ Raul Ries

“But he who endures to the end will be saved.”

Matthew 10:22

The Christian walk requires endurance. God will use trials and tribulations to build our faith. The famous runner Jim Ryun, who set a mile record when he was eighteen years old, talked about his training:

“I would run until I felt I couldn’t take another step; then I would run until I felt my lungs were going to burst. When I came to that state, then I would run until I thought I was going to pass out. When I did this, I was making progress.”

Thought for the Day:

“Faith that fizzles before the finish had a fatal flaw from the first.”

--R.K. Kendall