Friendship with God

"Shall I hide from Abraham what I am doing . . . ?" Genesis 18:17

The Delights of His Friendship. Genesis 18 brings out the delight of true friendship with God, as compared with simply feeling His presence occasionally in prayer. This friendship means being so intimately in touch with God that you never even need to ask Him to show you His will. It is evidence of a level of intimacy which confirms that you are nearing the final stage of your discipline in the life of faith. When you have a right-standing relationship with God, you have a life of freedom, liberty, and delight; you are God’s will. And all of your commonsense decisions are actually His will for you, unless you sense a feeling of restraint brought on by a check in your spirit. You are free to make decisions in the light of a perfect and delightful friendship with God, knowing that if your decisions are wrong He will lovingly produce that sense of restraint. Once he does, you must stop immediately.

The Difficulties of His Friendship. Why did Abraham stop praying when he did? He stopped because he still was lacking the level of intimacy in his relationship with God, which would enable him boldly to continue on with the Lord in prayer until his desire was granted. Whenever we stop short of our true desire in prayer and say, "Well, I don’t know, maybe this is not God’s will," then we still have another level to go. It shows that we are not as intimately acquainted with God as Jesus was, and as Jesus would have us to be— ". . . that they may be one just as We are one . . ." ( John 17:22 ). Think of the last thing you prayed about-were you devoted to your desire or to God? Was your determination to get some gift of the Spirit for yourself or to get to God? "For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him" ( Matthew 6:8 ). The reason for asking is so you may get to know God better. "Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart" ( Psalm 37:4 ). We should keep praying to get a perfect understanding of God Himself.

By Oswald Chambers, taken from "My Utmost for His Highest"

Bible Reading Guide:

Beginning to End: I Chron. 1-2
Old and New Testaments Together: 1 Kings 8-9 & Luke 21:1-19
Historical: Isaiah 5-8
Chronological: Psalm 102-104
Blended: Numbers 7-8 & Rev. 17

The Bible reading guides will be taken from Back to the Bible

Never Too Old

"Is anything too hard for the Lord?" Genesis 18:14

The women of Brown Manor had raised their families and retired from their careers. Now they could no longer live on their own, so they came to Brown Manor as a sort of “last stop before heaven.” They enjoyed each other’s company but often struggled with feelings of uselessness. Sometimes they even questioned why God was so slow in taking them to heaven.

One of the women, who had spent years as a pianist, often played hymns on the Manor’s piano. Other women joined her, and together they lifted their voices in praise to God.

One day, a government auditor was conducting a routine inspection during one of their spontaneous worship services. When he heard them sing “What Will You Do With Jesus?” the Spirit of God moved his heart. He recalled the song from his childhood and knew that he had chosen to leave Jesus behind. That day, God spoke to him again and gave him another chance to answer the question differently. And he did.

Like the women of Brown Manor, Sarah thought she was too old to be used by God (Gen. 18:11). But God gave her a child in her old age who was the ancestor of Jesus (21:1-3; Matt. 1:2,17). Like Sarah and the women of Brown Manor, we’re never too old for God to use us. — Julie Ackerman Link

The longer we live, the more that we know,
Old age is the time for wisdom to show;
Who knows how much good some word we might say
Could do for that one who’s wandered away? —Bosch

God can use you at any age—if you are willing.

Taken from "Our Daily Bread"

Bible Reading Guide:

Beginning to End: 2 Kings 23-25
Old and New Testaments Together: I Kings 6-7 & Luke 20:27-47
Historical: Isaiah 1-4
Chronological: I Chron. 7-10
Blended: Numbers 5-6 & Rev. 16

The Bible reading guides will be taken from Back to the Bible

A Letter of Joy

"Rejoice in the Lord always, again I will say, rejoice!" Philippians 4:4

Go with me back in history a couple of thousands of years. Let's go to Rome . . . to a rather drab little room surrounded by high walls . . . Inside we see a man seated on the floor He's an older fellow, shoulders stooped and balding. Chains are on his hands and feet . . .

It is the apostle Paul . . . The apostle who was bound only by the will of God is now in chains - stuck in a dingy house - attached to a Roman officer . . .

He is writing a letter. No doubt it is a list of grievances . . . He has ever reason to be bitter and complain. But he doesn't. Instead, he writes a letter that two thousand years later is still known as the treatise on joy - Philippians . . .

Why don't you spend some time with it?

By Max Lucado, taken from "Grace for the Moment"


Bible Reading Guide:

Beginning to End: 2 Kings 20-22
Old and New Testaments Together: I Kings 3-5 & Luke 20:1-26
Historical: 2 Kings 23-25
Chronological: Psalm 81, 88, 92-93
Blended: Numbers 3-4 & Rev. 15

The Bible reading guides will be taken from Back to the Bible

In the Beginning

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God . . And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us." John 1:1, 14a

There is only one place to begin. And that is in the beginning. And let our hearts rejoice that "In the beginning ws the Word" and that Word became flesh . . became a Man, in the person of Jesus Christ.

That is the greatest relief I know.

This is the greatest fact in all history. Tere is no other place to begin except to rest the central confidence of our lives in the fact htat God did reveal HImself in Jesus and that He is alive now. When we begin at any other point, we get lost. More accurately, we realize we are already lost. Only He is a Redeemer. Only He offers a way to make use of suffering.

Only Jesus Christ offers eternal Life, because only He is eternal Life.

We are beginning and there is no other place to begin except with the glorious fact of Jesus Christ, who Himself is the beginning and the end.

I am He that Liveth, and was dead; and . . . am alive for evermore. I am the beginning and the end.

By Eugenia Price, taken from "Share My Pleasant Stones"

Bible Reading Guide:

Beginning to End: 2 Kings 18-19
Old and New Testaments Together: 1 Kings 1-2 & Luke 19:28-48
Historical: 2 Kings 20-22
Chronological: I Chron. 7-10
Blended: Numbers 1-2 & Rev. 14

The Bible reading guides will be taken from Back to the Bible

Weekend Bible Reading

Bible Reading Guide:

Saturday:

Beginning to End: 2 Kings 12-14
Old and New Testaments Together: 2 Samuel 21-22 & Luke 18:24-43
Historical: 2 Kings 15-17
Chronological: I Chron. 3-5
Blended: Eccles. 7-9 & Revelation 12

Sunday:

Beginning to End: 2 Kings 15-17
Old and New Testaments Together: 2 Samuel 23-24 & Luke 19:1-27
Historical: 2 Kings 18-19
Chronological: Psalm 73 & 77-78
Blended: Eccles. 10-12 & Revelation 13

The Bible reading guides will be taken from Back to the Bible

The Danger of Modifying the Good News

"So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness."Colossians 2:6-7

Our constant effort should be to reach as many persons as possible with the Christian message, and for that reason numbers are critically important. But our first responsibility is not to make converts but to uphold the honor of God in a world given over to the glory of fallen man. No matter how many persons we touch with the gospel we have failed unless, along with the message of invitation, we have boldly declared the exceeding sinfulness of man and the transcendent holiness of the Most High God. They who degrade or compromise the truth in order to reach larger numbers, dishonor God and deeply injure the souls of men.

The temptation to modify the teachings of Christ with the hope that larger numbers may "accept" Him is cruelly strong in this day of speed, size, noise and crowds. But if we know what is good for us, we'll resist it with every power at our command. To yield can only result in a weak and ineffective Christianity in this generation, and death and desolation in the next.

Thought: Receiving Christ as Lord and continuing to live in Him is the way to life transformation. To preach Him and receive Him as less than Lord is to seriously modify the Good News.

By A.W. Tozer

Bible Reading Guide:

Beginning to End: 2 Kings 9-11
Old and New Testaments Together: 2 Samuel 19-20 & Luke 18:1-23
Historical: 2 Kings 12-14
Chronological: Psalm 43-45, 49, 84-85 & 87
Blended: Eccles. 4-6 & Revelation 11

The Bible reading guides will be taken from Back to the Bible

"Because He is worthy of our Praise"

"Because He is worthy of praise, Because He is God." Pealm 34:1-2

We should serve God even if there is darkness enveloping our I will praise the Lord at all times; life and even if we don't understand what's happening . . . His praise is always on my lips. Even when the circumstances of our life don't make sense: My whole being praises the Lord.

By Max Lucado, taken from "Walking with the Savior"

Bible Reading Guide:

Beginning to End: 2 Kings 6-8
Old and New Testaments Together: 2 Samuel 16-18 & Luke 17:20-37
Historical: 2 Kings 9-11
Chronological: I Chron. 3-5
Blended: Eccles. 1-3 & Revelation 10

The Bible reading guides will be taken from Back to the Bible

The Lord Saves

"Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save . . . " Isaiah 59:1

In every other religion but Christianity, man is seeking God. Man is trying to earn his salvation. Trying to achieve his oneness with God as he understands Him. We have God's own word for it that we cannot earn our salvation, that we are saved by faith. We also have God's own word for it that His hand is not shortened. That He is the Savior.

Some weeks after my book "Discoveries" was published, a young college professor, who had grown dissatisfied with the cold orthodoxy upon which he had been fed, wrote asking a question which I shall never forget: "What is the important thing to believe?"

I made an appointment to meet him in a city near the college town where he taught, but in the interim I asked one after another of God's older saints whom I met along the way - "What is the important thing?" I received some penetrating answers. And then I received the one I knew was the answer: "The important thing to believe is that Jesus saves!"

No-one else. Only Jesus.

" . . . Thou shalt call His name Jesus: for He shall save His people from their sins."

The important thing is that we can begin with the One who Himself is our salvation. "Thou shalt call His name Jesus . . . " and this same Jesus who saves is not only the Saviour, He is also the Light which points out our sins.

There is no question but that His arm will reach all the way to where we are. There is no question about His power to save. There is no question bout the penetrating power of His light. The only question is will we open our eyes and look?

. . . It is I; be not afraid.

By Eugenia Price, taken from "Share My Pleasant Stones"

Bible Reading Guide:

Beginning to End: 2 Kings 4-5
Old and New Testaments Together: 2 Samuel 14-15 & Luke 17:1-19
Historical: 2 Kings 5-8
Chronological: Psalm 6, 8-10, 14, 16, 19, & 21
Blended: Daniel 11-12 & Revelation 9

The Bible reading guides will be taken from Back to the Bible

Do Not Reach for the Power

"For it is we who are the circumcision, we who worship by the Spirit of God, who glory in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh" (Philippians 3:3).

A few years ago, I was asked by a large organization to meet with them about doing some cooperative projects in the faith at work area. I visited their headquarters and had several initial discussions. We concluded that we would proceed on a joint conference.

During my visit, I stayed overnight at the headquarters of this ministry. I was awakened at 5 A.M. and led to read Exodus 33:15. Moses said he could not go any further if God did not promise that His presence would go with him. I sensed this was to be our theme for the conference.

Later that morning, I shared that I had received this leading from the Lord regarding the theme of the conference with some of the people in the organization. However, when I shared this with the leader of the organization, he did not take it seriously. I was a bit irritated and my pride was hurt, but I decided to follow a principle that I had been walking in for a few years: act like you have the authority, but do not reach for the power. I realized that if God had truly spoken His words into my heart, I would not have to exercise my authority to make it happen. God would orchestrate it.

More discussion was given to the theme, but nothing was resolved. A few hours later, the conference theme came up again. I turned to a friend and read Exodus 33:15 aloud, and he got excited about using that verse as the possible theme of the event. The leader, to my amazement, chimed in as well and said, "Yes, that should be the theme of the conference." It was a big lesson for me.

Act like you have the authority, but do not reach for the power.

By Os Hillman, taken from "Today God Is First"


Bible Reading Guide:

Beginning to End: 2 Kings 1-3
Old and New Testaments Together: 2 Samuel 12-13 & Luke 16
Historical: 2 Kings 1-4
Chronological: 2 Samuel 1-4
Blended: Daniel 8-10 & Revelation 8

The Bible reading guides will be taken from Back to the Bible

Preparing the Heart

"As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us." Psalm 103:12

Confession does for the soul what preparing the land does for the field. Before the farmer sows the seed he works the acreage, removing the rocks and pulling the stumps. He knows that seed grows better if the land is prepared. Confession is the act of inviting God to walk the acreage of our hearts. "There is a rock of greed over here Father, I can't budge it. And that tree of guilt near the fence? Its roots are long and deep. And may I show you some dry soil, too crusty for seed?" God's seed grows better if the soil of the heart is cleared.

And so the Father and the Son walk the field together; digging and pulling, preparing the heart for fruit. Confession invites the Father to work the soil. - In the Grip of Grace

By Max Lucado, taken from "Grace for the Moment"


Bible Reading Guide:

Beginning to End: I Kings 21-22
Old and New Testaments Together: 2 Samuel 9-11 & Luke 15:11-32
Historical: I Kings 21-22
Chronological: Psalm 121, 123-125, & 128-130
Blended: Daniel 5-7 & Revelation 7

The Bible reading guides will be taken from Back to the Bible

Weekend Bible Reading

Bible Reading Guide:

Saturday:

Beginning to End: I Kings 15-17
Old and New Testaments Together: 2 Samuel 3-5 & Luke 14:25-35
Historical: I Kings 15-17
Chronological: Psalm 17, 35, 54, & 63
Blended: Daniel 1-2 & Revelation 5

Sunday:

Beginning to End: I Kings 18-20
Old and New Testaments Together: 2 Samuel 6-8 & Luke 15:1-10
Historical: I Samuel 28-31 & Psalm 18
Chronological: I Samuel 15-17
Blended: Daniel 3-4 & Revelation 6

The Bible reading guides will be taken from Back to the Bible

Divine Provision

"Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, shall He not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?" (Matthew 6:30)

Clothes are expensive, and poor believers may be led into anxiety as to where their next suit will come from. The soles are thin; how shall we get new shoes? See how our thoughtful LORD has provided against this care. Our heavenly Father clothes the grass of the field with a splendor such as Solomon could not equal: will He not clothe His own children? We are sure He will. There may be many a patch and a darn, but raiment we shall have.

A poor minister found his clothes nearly threadbare, and so far gone that they would hardly hold together; but as a servant of the LORD he expected his Master to find him his livery. It so happened that the writer on a visit to a friend had the loan of the good man's pulpit, and it came into his mind to make a collection for him, and there was his suit. Many other cases we have seen in which those who had served the LORD have found Him considerate of their wardrobe. He who made man so that when he had sinned he needed garments, also in mercy supplied him with them; and those which the LORD gave to our first parents were far better than those they made for themselves.

By C.H. Spurgeon, taken from "Faith's Checkbook"

Bible Reading Guide:

Beginning to End: I Kings 12-14
Old and New Testaments Together: 2 Samuel 1-2 & Luke 14:1-24
Historical: I Kings 12-14
Chronological: I Samuel 25-27
Blended: Lev. 26-27 & Revelation 4

The Bible reading guides will be taken from Back to the Bible

Separation

"It is written, "Be holy, for I am holy." I Peter 1:16

Do you know you cannot serve God unless you are separated? In the Scripture, that word refers to being set apart for a specific task or purpose.

The Lord said to Moses, "You shall offer up a cake of the first of your ground meal as a heave offering." (Numbers 15:20). God wanted the firstfruits of the land to be set apart to honor Him.

The Lord also said, "I the Lord am holy, and have separated you from the peoples, that you should be mine" (Lev. 20:26). God took the nation of Israel and separated them from all other nations for His glory.

UIn each of these passages in the Septuagint (the Greek version of the Old Testament), the word refers to separation in the fullest sense. The apostle Paul knew that once he was called as an apostle, he would be disconnected from his past. When Paul was the most ardent of Pharisee, he was set apart for - or separated to - the traditions of the Jewish people (Phil. 3:5). Now he could claim to be a Pharisee separated to the gospel of God.

Are you separate from your former life?

By John MacArthur, taken from "Truth for Today"

Bible Reading Guide:

Beginning to End: I Kings 10-11
Old and New Testaments Together: 1 Samuel 30-31 & Luke 13:23-35
Historical: I Kings 10-11
Chronological: Psalm 56, 120, 140-142
Blended: Lev. 25 & Revelation 3

The Bible reading guides will be taken from Back to the Bible

God in Everything

"It is the Lord: let him do what seemeth him good". (1 Sam. 3:18)

See God in everything, and God will calm and color all that thou dost see!" It may be that the circumstances of our sorrows will not be removed, their condition will remain unchanged; but if Christ, as Lord and Master of our life, is brought into our grief and gloom, "HE will compass us about with songs of deliverance." To see HIM, and to be sure that His wisdom cannot err, His power cannot fail, His love can never change; to know that even His direst dealings with us are for our deepest spiritual gain, is to be able to say, in the midst of bereavement, sorrow, pain, and loss, "The Lord gave, and the Lord hath, taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord."

Nothing else but seeing God in everything will make us loving and patient with those who annoy and trouble us. They will be to us then only instruments for accomplishing His tender and wise purposes toward us, and we shall even find ourselves at last inwardly thanking them for the blessings they bring us. Nothing else will completely put an end to all murmuring or rebelling thoughts. - H. W. Smith.

"Give me a new idea," I said,
While musing on a sleepless bed;
"A new idea that'll bring to earth
A balm for souls of priceless worth;
That'll give men thoughts of things above,
And teach them how to serve and love,
That'll banish every selfish thought,
And rid men of the sins they've fought."
The new thought came, just how, I'll tell:
'Twas when on bended knee I fell,
And sought from HIM who knows full well
The way our sorrow to expel.
SEE GOD IN ALL THINGS, great and small,
And give HIM praise whate'er befall,
In life or death, in pain or woe,
See God, and overcome thy foe.

I saw HIM in the morning light,
HE made the day shine clear and bright;
I saw HIM in the noontide hour,
And gained from HIM refreshing shower.
At eventide, when worn and sad,
HE gave me help, and made me glad.
At midnight, when on tossing bed
My weary soul to sleep HE led.
I saw HIM when great losses came,
And found HE loved me just the same.
When heavy loads I had to bear,
I found HE lightened every care.
By sickness, sorrow, sore distress,
HE calmed my mind and gave me rest.
HE'S filled my heart with gladsome praise
Since I gave HIM the upward gaze.

'Twas new to me, yet old to some,
This thought that to me has become
A revelation of the way
We all should live throughout the day;
For as each day unfolds its light,
We'll walk by faith and not by sight.
Life will, indeed, a blessing bring,
If we SEE GOD IN EVERYTHING."

--A. E. Finn

Compiled by Mrs. Charles Cowman, taken from "Streams in the Desert"

Bible Reading Guide:

Beginning to End: I Kings 8-9
Old and New Testaments Together: 1 Samuel 27-28 & Luke 13:1-22
Historical: I Kings 8-9
Chronological: Psalm 7, 27, 31, 34, 52
Blended: Lev. 23-24 & Revelation 2

The Bible reading guides will be taken from Back to the Bible

The Coming Messiah

Isaiah is an action packed book. Last week we looked at passages about the coming Messiah (Jesus). This morning week we will look at a few passages talking about His return.

"The Lord of hosts will prepare a lavish banquet for all peoples on this mountain; A banquet of aged wine, choice pieces of marrow, and refined, aged wine. And on this mountain He will swallow up the covering which is over all peoples, even the veil which is stretched over all nations. He will swallow up death for all time, and the Lord God will wipe tears away from all face, and He will remove the reproach of His people from all the earth; for the Lord has spoken. And it will be said in that day, "Behold, this is our God for whom we have waited that He might save us. This is the Lord for whom we have waited; Let us rejoice and be glad in His salvation." Isaiah 25:6-9

From this verse I am led to I Cor. 15:51-54, "Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality. But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, "Death is swallowed up in victory."

God not only sent his Son in human form to be like us in every way so that we could understand Him and all that He was going to do for us. God sent Him not only to be like us in human form but unlike us be sinless. To be sinless so that He could be the ultimate sacrifice for our sins because He was perfect in every way. We know from the O.T. that only perfect animals without blemishes were acceptable sacrifices. Therefore, Jesus was our perfect sacrifice. And yet, unlike the animals, He understood us because He experienced what we have to go through. How amazing is that?!

Now, centuries later we wait for His return. And when that day arrives we will hear that trumpet blast and will be caught up in the air to be changed forever! "Death is swallowed up in victory!" Because of this we are here on this earth to point others to Jesus.

I like what the last few verses of I Cor. 15 have to say, "But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord."

What are you waiting for? Is it the next best thing that will only satisfy you for a short time? Or do you want something that will satisfy you for a lifetime? Jesus is the way, truth and life! He is the only way we can fill ourselves up and be satisfied.

Krista Jones
4.2.08


Bible Reading Guide:

Beginning to End: I Kings 6-7
Old and New Testaments Together: 1 Samuel 25-26 & Luke 12:32-59
Historical: I Kings 6-7
Chronological: 1 Samuel 21-24
Blended: Lev. 21-22 & Revelation 1

The Bible reading guides will be taken from Back to the Bible

Our Why Questions

"So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch." Matthew 27:66

They carefully selected a huge boulder. Rolled it against the open tomb, sealed it, and placed a hand-picked guard of soldiers to watch the grave of Jesus. They "made the sepulchre sure." They made sure, to their own satisfaction, that the body of Jesus would never be seen again. Jesus had said He would rise again and the chief priests and Pharisees urged Pilate to take all possible precautions to see that His disciples didn't steal His body and then spread the story that He had risen. So, they "made the sepulchre sure." Completely sure, they thought.

But, glory to God in the very highest, the only thing that was really sure was that Jesus was going to get up under the power of God and walk out of that sealed tomb! He didn't roll the stone away in order to get out. He didn't need to. The stone was not even rolled away until " . . . the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week . . ." The guards were still there, the stone was still in place, but Jesus was gone. The stone was merely rolled back so that when His disciples came they could see inside and know that He had told them the truth.

They "made the sepulchre sure" against themselves only. Jesus Christ Himself could not have been "sealed in" by a mere stone, because He Himself is Eternal Life.

I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore . . . .

By Eugeina Price, taken from "Share My Pleasant Stones"


Bible Reading Guide:

Beginning to End: I Kings 3-5
Old and New Testaments Together: 1 Samuel 22-24 & Luke 12:1-31
Historical: I Kings 3-5
Chronological: 1 Samuel 18-20 & Psalm 11, & Psalm 59
Blended: Lev. 19-20 & Hebrews 13

The Bible reading guides will be taken from Back to the Bible

Weekend Bible Reading

Bible Reading Guide:

Saturday:

Beginning to End: 2 Samuel 22-24
Old and New Testaments Together: I Samuel 17-18 & Luke 11:1-28
Historical: 2 Samuel 22-24
Chronological: I Samuel 13-14
Blended: Lev. 15-16 & Hebrews 11:20-40

Sunday:

Beginning to End: I Kings 1-2
Old and New Testaments Together: I Samuel 19-21 & Luke 11:29-54
Historical: I Kings 1-2
Chronological: I Samuel 15-17
Blended: Lev. 17-18 & Hebrews 12

The Bible reading guides will be taken from Back to the Bible

When will you Believe?

"He saved others; Himself He cannot save. If He be King of Israel, let Him now come down from the cross, and we will believe Him." Matthew 27:42

Himself He cannot save . . . " Himself He could not afford to save! If He had saved Himself, He could not have saved us. If His prayer that the cup might pass from Him had been answered in the affirmative, our prayers could never be answered at all!

All His earthly life, Jesus had walked long, weary miles, pouring His humanity out to those who needed a shepherd. Healing, teaching, admonishing, showing His love. Now, some of the same lost sheep whom He had been giving of His strength and love were there beneath the Cross jeering at Him! In His deep love and concern for their eternal lives, "Jesus (had) stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink." Now, those to whom He cried, jeered at Him, " . . . let Him come down from the cross, and (then) we will believe him."

Does this sound familiar to you? "If God will jsut do this thing which I want so much, then I'll believe Him."

He did not die to give us what we want. He died to give us eternal life. An exchange of lives. His for ours. An exchange of cries . . . his cry for ours! We cry for Him to do this and that and then we will begin to "believe." We will "condescend" to believe in the Son of God on our terms. This blessed Son of God, now alive forever, knew that sin prompts a cry like ours. And so when He died, He cried in response to our cry; "It is finished!" It is finished.

And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain . . . and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; and the graves were opened . . and they that were with him, watching Jesus, . . . feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God.

By Eugenia Price, taken from "Share My Precious Stones"


Bible Reading Guide:

Beginning to End: 2 Samuel 19-21
Old and New Testaments Together: 1 Samuel 15-16 & Luke 10:25-42
Historical: 2 Samuel 19-21
Chronological: 1 Samuel 9-12
Blended: Lev. 14 & Hebrews 11:1-19

The Bible reading guides will be taken from Back to the Bible

As Jesus looked at Them

"And sitting down they watched Him there." Matthew 27:36

It is almost inconceivable to think that people like us sat down around the foot of the Cross of Jesus Christ and just "watched Him there." But that's what some of them did.

How must they have looked to Jesus as He watched their ugly, amused, fiendish, upturned faces - watched them through the blood running down into His own eyes. What must He have scene in their eyes?

I carry around in my purse a picture of myself taken when I was only twenty-six years old and successful and "happy." It is a causal snapshot and it is a smiling picture, but cover up the mouth and the look in the eyes will forces your attention to the foot of the Cross of Christ and those other eyes which "watched Him there." The look in my eyes holds nothing of a smile in it. It is utterly selfish. It is utterly sinful.

It couldn't have been any other way because I was one of the sinners Jesus came to call. And when the picture was taken I hadn't even heard His voice. This verse reminds me that the worse they treated HIm that day as they sat there and watched Him die, the more love He poured down upon them. Why? Because He could tell by the look in their eyes how much they needed His love. He knew htey didn't know what they were doing. That they were in the prison of sin. Jesus knew this. And He also knew He had been anointed "to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound . . " That's why He could say as He poured down His love on those who watched Him there:

Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.

By Eugenia Price, taken from "Share My Pleasant Stones"


Bible Reading Guide:

Beginning to End: 2 Samuel 16-18
Old and New Testaments Together: 1 Samuel 13-14 & Luke 10:1-24
Historical: 2 Samuel 16-18
Chronological: 1 Samuel 4-8
Blended: Lev. 13 & Hebrews 10:19-39

The Bible reading guides will be taken from Back to the Bible

Being exposed to the Light

"He then having received the sop when immediately out: and it was night." John 13:30

Judas had been exposed to the heart of God. He had lived and talked and eaten with Jesus. He had watched Him heal. He had never seen Him lose His patience. He knew His compassion had no end. Judas had experienced the love of the One he was about to betray with a mocking symbol of "love."

Judas had been exposed to the Lord's love. He had been affected by it as is anyone who is ever exposed to it. He would not have killed himself for what he did, if he had been utterly untouched by the love of Christ. And since Judas had been exposed to His love, he had also been exposed to His light. Because Jesus is "the light of the world."

I shudder when I attempt to imagine the violent turmoil in the heart of Judas as those gentle fingers handed him the bite of bread at their last supper. Even in letting him know He knew the evil intention of Judas' heart, the Lord handed him something to eat. He didn't point His finger at Judas. He gave him bread. Not knowing what else to do, Judas apparently ate the little piece of bread. and the, driven by the fury of fear and guilt and evil which raged within him, he ran from the room.

"And it was night."

It was dark out there without Jesus. It is always darker to those who consciously betray Him; who have been touched by His love and who have seen by His light. We are more aware of the darkness once we have known light. Turn off a bright light and you see nothing. The contrast is so great and the darkness so sudden, panic can come. But the Heart of love will follow you and He, HImself, will be waiting for you to "return." It is night out there away from Jesus.

. . . Return unto me, for I have redeemed thee . . . I am the light of the world . . .

By Eugeina Price, taken from "Share My Pleasant Stones"

Bible Reading Guide:

Beginning to End: 2 Samuel 13-15
Old and New Testaments Together: 1 Samuel 10-12 & Luke 9:37-62
Historical: 2 Samuel 14-15
Chronological: 1 Samuel 1-3
Blended: Lev. 11-12 & Hebrews 10:1-18

The Bible reading guides will be taken from Back to the Bible

Whose feed did Jesus wash?

"After that He poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples' feet . . . " John 13:5a

Whose feet did Jesus wash? He washed the feet of His disciples. His twelve disciples.

Because this took place before Judas ran outside to do what he did to his Master. Judas was there too. Jesus, the sinless Son of God, stooped down and lovingly washed the dirt from the feet of the man who had already sold Him for a few dollars! This didn't bother Jesus at all. At least, not in the way it would bother us. "He loved them unto the end." Judas too. Even though He knew, all the time He was on His knees before Judas, all that was in Judas' heart! What must Jesus have thought as He knelt there doing this lowly thing for His disciple who would betray Him with a kiss in just a few hours from that moment? What would we think? My opinion is that we wouldn't be there washing the feet of someone whom we knew had sold us for a few pieces of money. we might if we didn't know about what was going to happen, but Jesus knew. Things don't happen only in sequence for Him as they do for us. He knew. And still He knelt before Judas and with the same hands which Judas' treachery had condemned to be nailed to the Cross, He lovingly and carefully "washed the disciples' feet." You see, Jesus not only knew what Judas had done and would do a little later on that evening, He also knew that it was not Judas alone who condemned Him to His Cross. It was sin in Judas and in us. It was our need that condemned Him to die. And to the Cross, He could show the same love to the disciple who had sold Him for thirty pieces of silver. We can "sell" Him right now, but He has already paid a much bigger price than we will get.

God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

By Eugenia Price, taken from "Share my Precious Stones"

Bible Reading Guide:

Beginning to End: 2 Samuel 8-12
Old and New Testaments Together: 1 Samuel 7-9 & Luke 9:18-36
Historical: 2 Samuel 11-13
Chronological: Ruth
Blended: Lev. 8-10 & Hebrews 9

The Bible reading guides will be taken from Back to the Bible

Jesus took the Towel

"Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He was come from God, and went to God; He riseth from supper, and laid aside His garments; and took a towel, and girdeth Himself." John 13:3-4

It is not by a psychological trick, but by "knowing" as Jesus knew the night He "took a towel and girded Himself" and began to wash His disciples' feet.

He did it all to the glory of His Father.

If we wash dishes and iron clothes and type letters and repair automobiles and sell merchandise all to the glory of God, our daily drudgery is "deified" and we are surrounded with glory, simply as a result of our making a sacrament of the dreariest thing. But we can't do this unless we do know.

And what is it that we must know?

Just what Jesus knew when He took the towel. We must know who He is. "Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He was come from God, and went to God . . "Jesus knew He had come from God and was going to God. That was enough. He was freed from the usual humiliation of menial tasks. How could He have an inferiority complex knowing that He is the Son of God? What does that have to do with us? Just this: If we know who He is, and that He lives in us and that we are His own, we are also free. The Son Himself has made us free. Because of who He is. We must simply know it. We must be conscious of it at all times. Dr. Verkuyl in his excellent Berkeley translation of this passage uses the word, "conscious." " . . . Jesus, conscious that the Father placed everything into His hands and that He came from God and was going to God, rose from the table, put away His robe and, taking a towel, girded Himself." We must develop the consciousness of who it is who has come to live within us.

I myself will come to you.

By Eugenia Price, taken from "Share My Pleasant Stones"


Bible Reading Guide:

Beginning to End: 2 Samuel 4-7
Old and New Testaments Together: 1 Samuel 4-5 & Luke 9:1-17
Historical: 2 Samuel 7-10
Chronological: Judges 19-21
Blended: Lev. 6-7 & Hebrews 8

The Bible reading guides will be taken from Back to the Bible

Weekend Bible Reading

Bible Reading Guide:

Saturday:

Beginning to End: I Samuel 28-31
Old and New Testaments Together: Ruth 1-4 & Luke 8:1-25
Historical: 2 Samuel 1-3
Chronological: Judges 13-14
Blended: Lev. 1-3 & Hebrews 6

Sunday:

Beginning to End: 2 Samuel 1-3
Old and New Testaments Together: I Samuel 1-3 & Luke 8:26-56
Historical: 2 Samuel 4-6
Chronological: Judges 16-18
Blended: Lev. 4-5 & Hebrews 7

The Bible reading guides will be taken from Back to the Bible

Jesus Waited

"Now . . . when Jesus knew that His hour was come that He should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved His own which were in the world, He loved them unto the end. And supper being ended . . . " John 13:1-2

Jesus waited until after supper.

Because being God, He understands us fully. He told them things when He was here on earth, only as they could receive them. He had the poise and the strength to wait. He never blurted out more than the wondering disciples could cope with. Even on the day when He "Knew that His hour was come," He still waited until after supper. He is not only merciful, He is all mercy.

And He is all love.

" . . . having loved His own which were in the world, He loved them unto the end." He loves us exactly the same way. And He still knows just how much we can take. Long before I became a follower of Jesus Christ, I would sit Sunday night after Sunday night listening to a marvelous African American choir, and my heart longed most intently when they sang, "He Know Just How Much We Can Bear!" I was "bearing" it all alone in those days. And I was being broken by it. And I longed to be "simple enough" to believe that someone else knew about me. My life was so much too much for me most of the time that it seemed as though it would be "just like heaven" if someone else really understood about it.

Now I know that He knew all along and was just waiting for me to be ready to give my burden to Him. Now, I also know that "having loved His own," He will love me to the end. He will love you to the end. And He Himself is the end.

Let it o, whatever it is that is "too much" for you right now. Let it go over onto the shoulders of the Son of God, who will never rush you into any action you cannot bear. He knows all about you. No matter what is up ahead, He ill wait for you, "until after supper."

Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.

By Eugenia Price, taken from "Share My Precious Stones"


Bible Reading Guide:

Beginning to End: I Samuel 25-27
Old and New Testaments Together: Judges 19-21 & Luke 7:31-50
Historical: I Samuel 28-31
Chronological: Judges 10-12
Blended: Proverbs 30-31 & Hebrews 5

The Bible reading guides will be taken from Back to the Biblegg

No More Bad News

"Separated to the gospel of God." Romans 1:1

Thousands of babies are born every day into a world filled with bad news. The term bad news has become a colloquialism to describe our era.

Why is there so much bad news? It's simple. The bad news that occurs on a larger scale is only the multiplication of what is occurring on an individual level. The power that makes for bad news is sin.

With so much bad news, can there really be any good news? Yes! The good news is that sin can be dealt with. You don't have to be selfish. Guilt and anxiety can be alleviated. There is meaning to life and hope of life after death. The apostle Paul says in Romans 1:1 that the good news is the gospel. It is the good news that man's sin can be forgive, guilt can be removed, life can have meaning, and a hopeful future can be a reality.

By John MacArthur taken from "Truth for Today"


Bible Reading Guide:

Beginning to End: I Samuel 21-24
Old and New Testaments Together: Judges 16-18 & Luke 7:1-30
Historical: I Samuel 25-27
Chronological: Judges 8-9
Blended: Proverbs 27-29 & Hebrews 4

The Bible reading guides will be taken from Back to the Bible

April's Memory Verse

Jeremiah 30:17

"For I will restore you to health and I will heal you of your wounds: declares the Lord."

Jeremiah 30:17

(NASB - New American Standard Bible)

March's Memory Verse: James 1:5

February's Memory Verse: John 15:5

January's Memory Verse: Ephesians 3:20-21

December's Memory Verse: Lamentations 3:22-23

November's Memory Verse: 2 Timothy 2:15

October's Memory Verse: Proverbs 16:1-3

September's Memory Verse: Proverbs 17:9

January's Memory Verse: Ephesians 3:20-21

Remember the key is to review review review. Always review the verses you've already memorized along with learning this month's verse.


Bible Reading Guide:

Beginning to End: I Samuel 18-20
Old and New Testaments Together: Judges 13-15 & Luke 6:27-49
Historical: I Samuel 21-24
Chronological: Judges 6-7
Blended: Proverbs 25-26 & Hebrews 3

The Bible reading guides will be taken from Back to the Bible