Stillness of the Morning

Moving Day!

2010-02-19T21:00:00.000-08:00

The Stillness blog has moved to a new location. Everything will stay that same but the address. Click here to check out the new Stillness Blog.

Krista Jones

Is Your Ability to See God Blinded?

2010-02-19T00:00:00.000-08:00

"Lift up your eyes on high, and see who has created these things . . ." Isaiah 40:26

The people of God in Isaiah’s time had blinded their minds’ ability to see God by looking on the face of idols. But Isaiah made them look up at the heavens; that is, he made them begin to use their power to think and to visualize correctly. If we are children of God, we have a tremendous treasure in nature and will realize that it is holy and sacred. We will see God reaching out to us in every wind that blows, every sunrise and sunset, every cloud in the sky, every flower that blooms, and every leaf that fades, if we will only begin to use our blinded thinking to visualize it.

The real test of spiritual focus is being able to bring your mind and thoughts under control. Is your mind focused on the face of an idol? Is the idol yourself? Is it your work? Is it your idea of what a servant should be, or maybe your experience of salvation and sanctification? If so, then your ability to see God is blinded. You will be powerless when faced with difficulties and will be forced to endure in darkness. If your power to see has been blinded, don’t look back on your own experiences, but look to God. It is God you need. Go beyond yourself and away from the faces of your idols and away from everything else that has been blinding your thinking. Wake up and accept the ridicule that Isaiah gave to his people, and deliberately turn your thoughts and your eyes to God.

One of the reasons for our sense of futility in prayer is that we have lost our power to visualize. We can no longer even imagine putting ourselves deliberately before God. It is actually more important to be broken bread and poured-out wine in the area of intercession than in our personal contact with others. The power of visualization is what God gives a saint so that he can go beyond himself and be firmly placed into relationships he never before experienced.

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

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

Rich Toward God

2010-02-18T00:00:00.000-08:00

"Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Luke 12:34

I watch the fluctuations of the stock market and reflect on the effects of fear and greed. A character in a 1980s movie had this philosophy: “Greed, for lack of a better word, is good. Greed is right! Greed works! . . . Greed [will] save . . . the USA!” What foolish thinking!

I think of that occasion when a man asked Jesus to serve as an arbiter and make his brother share their inheritance. Jesus refused the request but went on to do the man a greater kindness. He pointed out the motive behind the man’s request and its consequences: “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses” (Luke 12:15).

Then Jesus told a parable about a man who harvested a bumper crop and began to make plans to increase and enjoy his riches. He concluded: “God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?’ So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God” (vv.20-21).

The trouble with greed is that ultimately our goods go. But worse—we go. Better to store up treasure in heaven, invest in spiritual riches, and become “rich toward God.” — David H. Roper

The treasures of earth do not last,
But God has prepared us a place
Where someday with Him we will dwell,
Enjoying the riches of grace. —Branon

Our real wealth is what we invest for eternity.

Taken from "Our Daily Bread"

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

Out of a Stump

2010-02-17T00:00:00.000-08:00

"A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit." Isaiah 11:1

Some of my midlife suffering came from tensions within my marriage. While (my husband) Sandy and I were away for a weekend at a lakeside cabin, the internal wrestling became intense. The pull to autonomy verses the pull to intimacy. Growth verses fallowness. Old wounds verses new healing. Freedom verses commitment. Choosing verses settling for. Leveling verses starting over. Hope verses despair. They were all there.

Early one morning we took a walk, moving through the shadows and listening to the crunch of pine cones beneath our shoes. The path wound uphill, getting steeper. I couldn't help but think how appropriate that was Marriage has its own steep hills.

On the pinnacle of the hill, I paused to catch my breath. Sandy wondered ahead, "Look!" he called. Standing twenty yards ahead he was pointing to a scarred tree stump. "Come closer."

I came closer. And there, growing in the center of the stump, was the green shoot of a new oak tree.

I don't know how long we stood side by side gazing at the new tree "hatching" from the old stump. All I know is that it seemed to me God was speaking eloquently once again and rebirth . . . a simple message about how life comes out of death and healing comes out of scars and wounds. The message said that rebuilding can happen after leaving. It said that hope is bigger than despair.

I looked at Sandy. Could we heal the wounds?

As we continued on the trail in the woods, I reached a "combustion point." I felt a firming inside me of the truth, as if the knowing had begun to congeal in my soul. And not just the knowing but the desire to unfold it, the strength to follow it. A little act of creation happened right then. A little birth. An "eastering."

I slipped my hand into Sandy's. "I love you," I whispered. It was the firs time in so long that I had said the words.

I felt his fingers tighten around mine. "I know. I love you too," he said.

By Sue Monk Kidd, taken from "Women's Devotional Bible 1"

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

Going Higher

2010-02-16T00:00:00.000-08:00

"For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo. O Lord, thou knowest in altogether. Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it." Psalm 139:4-6

Sometime ago I had the unique experience of conducting a Deeper Life Conference with teenagers at Mound Keswick in Minnesota. Each young person was already a believer in Jesus Christ. We were all there to go deeper. Or higher, as my dear friend, Dr. Walter Wilson, once corrected me.

In going "higher" we went deeply into the fact that only God, through the Holy Spirit, can re-form our unconscious depths. We spoke of the shadows and darkness and filth lurking there. And one young lady stopped listening at that point and came to me later trembling with fear at what might be in her subconscious!

She had shut her ears just when the glory part came.

Without the indwelling Holy Spirit at work in our depths, there is reason for panic. Psychiatry can bring up the twisted ugliness and just bringing it up "for air" relieves some tension and lessons the immediate danger. But the best psychiatry can do is to leave the complexes and neuroses there squirming on the table. Only the blood of Jesus Christ redeems. And there are no depths too dark nor too far down for His blood to cleanse.

These depths are unfathomable to the human mind. But not to God. He is there right now working in the depths of you and here working in the depths of me.

What a glorious relief! I can just go on. By faith.

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

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

Good Habits

2010-02-15T00:00:00.000-08:00

"So let us go on to grown-up teaching. Let us not go back over the beginning lessons we learned about Christ." Hebrews 6:1

I like the story of the little boy who fell out of bed. When his Mom asked him what happened, he answered, "I don't know, I guess I stayed too close to where I got in."

Easy to do the same with our faith. It's tempting just to stay where we got in and never move.

Pick a time in the not-too-distant past. A year or two ago. Now ask yourself a few questions. How does your prayer life today compare with then? How about your giving? Have both the amount and the joy increased? What about your church loyalty? Can you tell you've grown? And Bible study? Are you learning to learn? . . .
Don't make the mistake of the little boy. Don't stay too close to where you go tin. It's risky resting on the edge.

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

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

People in Community

2010-02-14T00:00:00.000-08:00

"How wonderful, how beautiful, when brothers and sisters get along!" Psalm 133:1 - The Message

The psalm puts into song what is said and demonstrated throughout Scripture and church: community is essential. Scripture knows nothing of the solitary Christian. People of faith are always members of a community. Creation itself was not complete until there was community, Adam needing Eve before humanity was whole. God never works with individuals in isolation, but always with people in community.

By Eugene Peterson, taken from "God's Message For Each Day."

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

The God-Approved Man

2010-02-13T00:00:00.000-08:00

"Regarding his Son, who as to his human nature was a descendant of David, and who through the Spirit of holiness was declared with power to be the Son of God by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord." Romans 1:3-4

The argument of the apostles is that the man Jesus has been made higher than angels, higher than Moses and Aaron, higher than any creature in earth or heaven. And this exalted position He attained as a man. As God He already stood infinitely above all other beings. No argument was needed to prove the transcendence of the Godhead. The apostles were not declaring the preeminence of God, which would have been superfluous, but of a man, which was necessary.

Those first Christians believed that Jesus of Nazareth, a man they knew, had been raised to a position of Lordship over the universe. He was still their friend, still one of them, but had left them for a while to appear in the presence of God on their behalf. And the proof of this was the presence of the Holy Spirit among them.

One cause of our moral weakness today is an inadequate Christology. We think of Christ as God but fail to conceive of Him as a man glorified. To recapture the power of the Early Church we must believe what they believed. And they believed they had a God-approved man representing them in heaven.

Thought: The Risen Christ has not thrown aside His humanity. He is now the God Man and so intercedes for us. Our intercessor was tempted in every way just as we are, yet without sin (Hebrews 4:15). He fully understand our weakness.

By A.W. Tozer taken from "The Warfare of the Spirit"

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

Becoming the "Filth of the World"

2010-02-12T00:00:00.000-08:00

"We have been made as the filth of the world . . ." 1 Corinthians 4:13

These words are not an exaggeration. The only reason they may not be true of us who call ourselves ministers of the gospel is not that Paul forgot or misunderstood the exact truth of them, but that we are too cautious and concerned about our own desires to allow ourselves to become the refuse or "filth of the world." "Fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ . . ." ( Colossians 1:24 ) is not the result of the holiness of sanctification, but the evidence of consecration-being "separated to the gospel of God . . ." ( Romans 1:1 ).

"Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you . . ." (1 Peter 4:12). If we do think the things we encounter are strange, it is because we are fearful and cowardly. We pay such close attention to our own interests and desires that we stay out of the mire and say, "I won’t submit; I won’t bow or bend." And you don’t have to— you can be saved by the "skin of your teeth" if you like. You can refuse to let God count you as one who is "separated to the gospel . . . ." Or you can say, "I don’t care if I am treated like ’the filth of the world’ as long as the gospel is proclaimed." A true servant of Jesus Christ is one who is willing to experience martyrdom for the reality of the gospel of God. When a moral person is confronted with contempt, immorality, disloyalty, or dishonesty, he is so repulsed by the offense that he turns away and in despair closes his heart to the offender. But the miracle of the redemptive reality of God is that the worst and the vilest offender can never exhaust the depths of His love. Paul did not say that God separated him to show what a wonderful man He could make of him, but "to reveal His Son in me. . ." (Galatians 1:16 ).

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

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

What Will I Do?

2010-02-11T00:00:00.000-08:00

"Be doers of the Word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves." James 1:22

A man who has been my mentor and friend for many years often says that his goal in studying the Bible is always personal application. I appreciate his emphasis on putting learning into practice, because it’s too easy for those of us who study, discuss, teach, and write about the Bible to take a merely intellectual approach to the Word.

Oswald Chambers said: “There is a danger with the children of God of getting too familiar with sublime things. We talk so much about these wonderful realities, and forget that we have to exhibit them in our lives. It is perilously possible to mistake the exposition of the truth for the truth; to run away with the idea that because we are able to expound these things, we are living them too.”

James reminds us that the person “who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does” (1:25). The key issue is not what is preached or written, but what is done.

When I study God’s Word, my first question should not be, “What am I going to say about this?” but “What am I going to do about this?” — David C. McCasland

We take delight to teach God’s Word,
We say, “Amen, it’s true!”
But it’s of little use to us
Unless His will we do. —D. De Haan

One step forward in obedience is worth years of study about it. —Chambers

Taken from "Our Daily Bread"

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

Think Heaven

2010-02-10T00:00:00.000-08:00

"Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth." Colossians 3:2

When I lose my cell phone, I will get another phone and dial my number in an attempt to find it, hoping it is not on mute. Then when I hear it ringing somewhere, I will go on a search to find it. It is a single-minded, active, and diligent investigation. That is what the apostle Paul was speaking of when he wrote, "Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth" (Colossians 3:2). That is how we should be looking at heaven.

Another way to translate this verse is, "Think heaven." In the original language, the verb is in the present tense, which could be translated, "Keep seeking heaven." So to put it all together, the apostle Paul was saying, "Constantly keep seeking and thinking about heaven."

So how can we be thinking about heaven? What is our point of reference? The problem is that we have a caricatured version of heaven in mind. We are not going to sit around on fluffy, white clouds, spending eternity in boredom. The Bible has a lot to specifically say about heaven.

That is why, when people write books about their alleged experiences of dying and going to heaven and returning to earth, it takes me to the pages of Scripture. It is not true if it contradicts Scripture. I know that I need a better source, a more authoritative source on heaven. I turn to Scripture so that I can know how to think when I think about heaven.

Even though our feet must be on earth, our minds should be in heaven. Yet many of us will go through a day, even a week, without a single thought of heaven. As Warren Wiersbe said, "For the Christian, heaven isn't a simply a destination; it's a motivation."

By Greg Laurie, taken from "Harvest Daily Devotional"

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

He Freely Gives

2010-02-09T00:00:00.000-08:00

"He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?" (Romans 8:32).

If this is not a promise in form, it is in fact. Indeed, it is more than one promise, it is a conglomerate of promises. It is a mass of rubies, and emeralds, and diamonds, with a nugget of gold for their setting. It is a question which can never be answered so as to cause us any anxiety of heart. What can the LORD deny us after giving us Jesus? If we need all things in heaven and earth, He will grant them to us: for if there had been a limit anywhere, He would have kept back His own Son.

What do I want today? I have only to ask for it. I may seek earnestly, but not as if I had to use pressure and extort an unwilling gift from the LORD's hand; for He will give freely. Of His own He gave us His own Son. Certainly no one would have proposed such a gift to Him. No one would have ventured to ask for it. It would have been too presumptuous. He freely gave His Only-begotten, and, O my soul, canst thou not trust thy heavenly Father to give thee anything, to give thee everything? Thy poor prayer would have no force with Omnipotence if force were needed; but His love, like a spring, rises of itself and overflows for the supply of all thy needs.

By Charles Spurgeon, taken from "Faith's Checkbook"

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

Being Chosen

2010-02-08T00:00:00.000-08:00

"'Come, follow me,' Jesus said, 'and I will make you fishers of men.'" At once they left their nets and followed him (Matt 4:19-20).

Do you recall how good it felt when you were chosen to be on a team? It makes one feel special to be preferred over another.

During the time of Jesus rabbis' were well known in their community. Each rabbi had a following of students. Jesus was developing as a "superstar" rabbi. He was unlike the others. He did things differently. He often confronted the accepted thinking of other rabbis and Pharisees. The younger men had great respect for Jesus, the rabbi. To be selected by Jesus would be a great honor because most rabbis would usually select only the cream of the crop in the community as their disciples. By these standards, Peter and the other disciples would not have qualified. But Jesus had a purpose in mind for Peter and the disciples.

God is the one who calls people into relationship with Himself and to their calling in life. It is for His purposes, not ours. Jesus chose each of his disciples from the workplace instead of the rabbinical schools. They did not choose Jesus, Jesus chose them and it was deemed a great honor in their culture to be chosen by such a rabbi (Jn 15:16).

Jesus called you into relationship with Himself because His desire is for you to be a faithful priest in your work life, family, and city. "I will raise up for myself a faithful priest, who will do according to what is in my heart and mind." (1 Samuel 2:35). He desires that you be a willing participant in his agenda. He has not called you for your purposes, but His.

Sometimes we think it's all about us. It has to be all about Him in order for us to fulfill what is in His heart and mind for His overall plan for His Kingdom. He doesn't need us, but He has chosen to use us.

God has an agenda for planet earth. He has chosen you and me as the primary instrument for accomplishing His plan. Are you willing to be his faithful priest and king to do what is in His heart and mind? Why not say "yes" to His agenda.

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

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

Quiet Time With God

2010-02-07T00:00:00.000-08:00

"He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters." Psalm 23:2

The word connected captures our contemporary experience of life. Many people rarely go anywhere without a cell phone, iPod, laptop, or pager. We have become accessible 24 hours a day. Some psychologists see this craving to stay connected as an addiction. Yet a growing number of people are deliberately limiting their use of technology. Being a “tech-no” is their way of preserving times of quiet, while limiting the flow of information into their lives.

Many followers of Christ find that a daily time of Bible reading and prayer is essential in their walk of faith. This “quiet time” is a disconnection from external distractions in order to connect with God. The “green pastures” and “still waters” of Psalm 23:2 are more than an idyllic country scene. They speak of our communion with God whereby He restores our souls and leads us in His paths (v.3).

All of us can make time to meet with God, but do we? In Robert Foster’s booklet “7 Minutes With God,” he suggests a way to begin: Start with a brief prayer for guidance, then read the Bible for a few minutes, and close with a short time of prayer that includes adoration, confession, thanksgiving, and supplication for others. It’s vital to take time today to connect with the Lord, who is our life. — David C. McCasland

We need to set aside the time
To read God’s Word and pray,
And listen for the Spirit’s voice
To guide us in His way. —Sper

Time spent with God is time well spent.

Taken from "Our Daily Bread"

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

Limiting Christ's Lordship

2010-02-06T00:00:00.000-08:00

"Why do you call me 'Lord, Lord,' and do not what I say?" Luke 6:46

One of the most incredible phenomena in the world today is the immense and universal popularity of Jesus Christ.

Yet the teachings of Christ are wholly contrary to the beliefs of the modern world. The spiritual philosophy underlying the kingdom of God is radically opposed to that of civilized society. In short, the Christ of the New Testament and the world of mankind are so sharply opposed to each other as to amount to downright hostility. To achieve a compromise is impossible.

We can only conclude that Jesus is universally popular today because He is universally misunderstood.

Everyone admires Jesus, but almost no one takes Him seriously. He is considered a kindly idealist who loved babies and underprivileged persons. He is pictured as a gentle dreamer who was naïve enough to believe in human goodness and brave enough to die for His belief. The world thinks of Him as meek, selfless and loving, and values Him because He was what we all are at heart, or would be if things were not so tough and we had more time to cultivate our virtues. Or He is a sweet, holy symbol of something too fine, too beautiful, to be real, but something which we would not lose nevertheless from our treasure house of precious things.

Because the human mind has two compartments, the practical and the ideal, people are able to live comfortably with their dreamy, romantic conception of Jesus while paying no attention whatsoever to His words. It is this neat division between the fanciful and the real that enables countless thousands of persons to say "Lord, Lord" in all sincerity while living every moment in flat defiance of His authority.

Thought: Christ is only our Lord as we submit to His lordship. That means making Christ Lord of all areas of our life. Are we attempting to limit His lordship in our lives?

By A.W. Tozer, taken from "The Warfare of the Spirit"

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

Lessons from Daniel

2010-02-05T00:00:00.000-08:00

I love Daniel. He was a man who followed God no matter what it cost him. We know that Daniel was born into a family of Judean nobility during Josiah's reign. We know that he and his friends were among the first young Jewish hostages taken into Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar. We know that three years of his youth he was trained in the wisdom of the Chaldeans and was given a new name, Belteshazzar.

Interesting facts: Daniel's name means, "God is (my) Judge." Belteschaar (a pagan deity) means, "Protect his life!" Now if I were Daniel I would a) not be happy to be taken away from my home and family and be forced to live under a pagan lifestyle. A lifestyle that forced me to learn things that really were worthless; and b) I would also balk at having my name changed to a pagan god's name. But, of course, I'm far from being a Daniel as he took things in stride understanding that God was with him. Daniel chose to make the best of his situation, go with the flow and trust that God would provide for his every need. Even the pagan god's name that was given to him indicates that God was protecting him as it means, "Protect his life!".

In Chapter 1 we read the account of Daniel and his friends being taken into Babylon and start their training. "Then the king ordered Ashpenaz, the chief of his officials, to bring in some of the sons of Israel, including some of the royal family and of the nobles, youths in whom was no defect, who were good-looking, showing intelligence in every branch of wisdom, endowed with understanding and discerning knowledge, and who had ability for serving in the king's court; and he ordered him to teach them the literature and language of the Chaldeans." (Daniel 1:3-4)

From the get-go we see that Daniel is very concerned about his faith and keeping God's commandments. He saw that choice food that was being served to them was contaminated because the first portion of it was offered to idols, the wine poured out on a pagan alter and ceremonially unclean animals were used not being properly prepared and slaughtered according to the law. "But Daniel made up his mind that he would not defile himself with the king's choice food or with the wine which he drank; so he sought permission from the commander of the officials that he might not defile himself." (Daniel 1:8)

He took a chance and made a proposition to the commander and asked if he and his friends could only have water and vegetables to eat instead of the choice food. Gutsy! And yet, because he was obeying God's commandments God protected him and caused him to find favor in the commander's eyes. And by the end of the chapter we know that Daniel and his friends were far more healthier, stronger and wiser then those who feasted on the choice food and wine. Because of this they were elevated into the king's service. "Then at the end of the days which the king had specified for presenting them, the commander of the officials presented them before Nebuchadnezzar. The king talked with them, and out of them all not one was found like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah; so they entered into the king's personal service. As for every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king consulted them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and conjurers who were in all his realm." (Daniel 1:18-20)

In Chapter 2 we see that the king has an undisclosed disturbing dream that no one can interpret. And because of this the king orders that if they could not help him that he would destroy them and their families. Again, we see that God continues to protect Daniel and his friends because they are lumped in with the others. Here, unlike Daniel, I would get my panties in a bunch and be annoyed that I was being lumped in with people I was nothing like. But thankfully, again, Daniel is far from who I am and he kept his cool trusting that God would continue to protect him. As he comes before the king he knows that he alone cannot interpret the dream but only through God's guidance can he do so. What does he do? Goes directly to God in prayer, "Then Daniel went to his house and informed his friends, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, about the matter, so that they might request compassion from the God of heaven concerning this mystery, so that Daniel and his friends would not be destroyed with the rest of the wise men of Babylon." (Daniel 2:17-18).

I love the next few verses, "Daniel said, 'Let the name of God be blessed forever and ever, for wisdom and power belong to Him. It is He who changes the times and the epochs; He removes kings and establishes kings; He gives wisdom to wise men and knowledge to men of understanding. It is He who reveals the profound and hidden things; He knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells with Him. To you, O God of my fathers, I give you thanks and praise, for You have given me wisdom and power; even now You have made known to me what we requested of you, for You have made known to us the king's matter.'" (Daniel 2:20-23). Here Daniel is giving glory where glory is due. He takes nothing on himself but give all to God and makes it known to the king where the interpretation of the dream is really coming from - God and not he.

Lessons from Daniel - Always keep God in the front of you no matter what the circumstances. When difficulties arise run directly to God and submit all to Him in prayer. This requires lots of patience, understanding, trust and faith.

Krista Jones
9.15.08

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

Opposing God's Leadership

2010-02-04T00:00:00.000-08:00

"The anger of the LORD burned against them, and he left them" (Num 12:9)

Beware of trying to depose a leader that God has raised in your midst. Leaders are placed by God in business, government, churches - almost every place where leaders are required. When God places a person in position of authority, it is a grievous sin to go against that leadership. God Himself opposes those who come against His leadership.

God's leaders are not perfect. They make mistakes. That is why following a leader can require a faith that goes beyond faith in the leader. Our faith lies in the God who elevated the leader to his or her position.

Miriam and Aaron, the older brother and sister of Moses, had a family dispute about Moses' wife, who was an Ethiopian and Cushite. She most likely was a black woman. We do not know the nature of the dispute, but it was a typical family conflict.

However, the family conflict began to impact God's agenda for a nation. They were now meddling in God's business. And He did not like that in the least. God literally brought Aaron and Miriam into the switching house. He judged both Miriam and Aaron for their rebellion against His ordained leader. "Why then were you not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?" (Num 12:8).

Miriam was stricken with leprosy and had it not been for Moses' appeal on her behalf, she would have been cast out for good. God gave her a second chance but it required being cast away from the camp for seven days. Miriam and Aaron repented for their rebellion.
If you struggle with a leader that God has over you, pray for that leader. If God wants to remove that leader, He can do it. Think twice about conspiring to remove a leader whom God has not chosen to remove yet.

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

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

We Are Becoming

2010-02-03T00:00:00.000-08:00

"When the Complete arrives, our incompletes will be canceled." I Cornithians 13:10 (The Message)

Not one of us, at this moment, is complete. In another hour, another day, we will have changed. We are in process of becoming either less or more. There are a million chemical and electrical interchanges going on in each of us this very moment. There are intricate moral decisions and spiritual transactions taking place. What are we becoming. Less or more?

By Eugene H. Peterson, taken from "God's Message for Each Day"

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

He knows our thoughts

2010-02-02T00:00:00.000-08:00

"You know when I sit down and when I get up. You know my thoughts before I think them. You know where I go and where I lie down. You know thoroughly everything I do." Psalm 139:3

Perhaps the reason that God doesn't always give us the answer to the whys of our existence is that He knows we haven't got the capacity to understand the answer. In learning to depend on God, we must accept that we may not know all the answers, but we know who knows the answers.

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

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

February's Memory Verse

2010-02-01T00:00:00.000-08:00

Romans 8:28

"And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose."

Romans 8:28 (New American Standard Bible)

Last Month's Memory Verse:

John 3:16

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

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

Redirected

2010-01-31T00:00:00.000-08:00

"The Lord was with Joseph." Genesis 39:2

At the age of 16, pianist Leon Fleisher made his formal debut at Carnegie Hall with the New York Philharmonic. He went on to win prestigious international competitions and played in the world’s finest concert halls. But at the age of 37, Fleisher was struck with dystonia, a neurological condition that crippled his right hand. After a period of despondency and withdrawal, he turned to teaching and conducting, because, as he said, he loved music more than he loved the piano.

When our dreams are shattered, how do we react? After Joseph, the favored son of Jacob, was sold as a slave by his brothers (Gen. 37:12-36), he could have given in to self-pity and self-indulgence. Instead, Joseph remained true to the Lord. Four times in Genesis 39, we read that “the Lord was with” Joseph (vv.2-3,21,23), and his actions revealed his own faithfulness to God. By his exemplary life, those he served in Egypt recognized God’s presence with him.

Do we love God more than our own dreams? Although Joseph must have grieved the loss of his past and what his life could have been, the Lord led him to a calling he had never imagined. Today, the Lord longs to lead us. Are we willing to be redirected by Him? — David C. McCasland

My cherished plans may go astray,
My hopes may fade away;
But still I’ll trust my Lord to lead,
For He doth know the way. —Overton

A man’s heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps. —Proverbs 16:9

Taken from "Our Daily Bread"

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

His Work, His Way

2010-01-30T00:00:00.000-08:00

"So I have caused you to be despised and humiliated before all the people, because you have not followed my ways but have shown partiality in matters of the law" (Mal 2:9).

My work, My way - When you and I live in this world without Christ we live a life just as Esau lived his life. Esau despised his birthright and failed to enter into a relationship with God that allowed him to fulfill his destiny. In essence, Esau fulfilled his work, his way. His life represented the carnal life of the flesh.

His work, my way - When you and I become born-again by the Spirit of God, we begin to focus our attention on living for Christ. We realize it is His work we are doing but it takes time before we learn what it means to do His work, His way.

My work, His way - As the Holy Spirit does His work in us, we learn to walk with God. We learn what it means to see our work as His work and we desire to do it His way. The Israelites were guilty of not knowing His ways and were unable to move into the Promised Land because of not understanding how to do Their work, His ways.

His work, His way - When we begin to walk with God we begin to realize that all that we do is His work and He calls us to do it His way. When we begin to walk with God in this manner we begin to see the Kingdom of God manifested in our working lives. We begin to experience His power and learn what it means to do His work, His way.

In order to experience God in this way, each of us must give our working lives to the Lord and ask him to teach us His way. Moses asked God: "If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you" (Ex 33:12). Moses realized He needed God to teach him His ways in order for him to prosper in His relationship with God.

What best describes your life today? Your work, your way; Your work, His way; His work, your way; or His work, His way? Pray that you learn to do His work, His way.

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

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

The Overcomer

2010-01-29T00:00:00.000-08:00

"To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the Tree Of Life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God" (Revelation 2:7).

No man may turn his back in the day of battle or refuse to go to the holy war. We must fight if we would reign, and we must carry on the warfare till we overcome every enemy, or else this promise is not for us, since it is only for "him that overcometh." We are to overcome the false prophets who have come into the world and all the evils which accompany their teaching. We are to overcome our own faintness of heart and tendency to decline from our first love. Read the whole of the Spirit's word to the church at Ephesus.

If by grace we win the day, as we shall if we truly follow our conquering Leader, then we shall be admitted to the very center of the paradise of God and shall be permitted to pass by the cherub and his flaming sword and come to that guarded tree, whereof if a man eat, he shall live forever. We shall thus escape that endless death which is the doom of sin and gain that everlasting life which is the seal of innocence, the outgrowth of immortal principles of Godlike holiness. Come, my heart, pluck up courage! To flee the conflict will be to lose the joys of the new and better Eden; to fight unto victory is to walk with God in paradise.

By Charles Spurgeon, taken from "Faith's Checkbook"

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

The Power of a Word

2010-01-28T00:00:00.000-08:00

Proverbs 12:18 gives us some valuable advice,

"There is one who speaks like the piercings of a sword, but the tongue of the wise promotes health."

Did you ever know someone who is good at making cutting remarks? They spoke like the piercings of a sword?

Over twenty years ago I was at the house of some friends. We were all just kind of hanging out and I made a comment to one of the brothers in the family. It was a clever little comment and was basically meant to take a jab at him.

A couple of the family members heard it and snickered and said, "Oh, way to go, Bayless! You got him!" But as soon as I said it, his countenance fell, and my heart just sank. While I looked for an opportunity to apologize to him that night, I didn't do it because he ended up leaving early.

I've regretted that comment ever since. I repented, and the blood of Jesus Christ cleansed me from that sin. But you know what? Those words were out, and I couldn't get them back.

Shortly after that night, he went feet first into a very destructive lifestyle involving his sexuality. I have to think that quite possibly my words pushed him away from God. It may have been that little jab of the sword that pushed him off the edge.

The New Testament says in Ephesians 4:29, Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth but only that which is good for edification or for building up that it may minister grace to the hearers.

Are your words ministering grace to those who hear them? Are they building up? Or are they tearing down?

By Bayless Conley, tkaen from "Answers for Each Day"

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

Have you found new life?

2010-01-27T00:00:00.000-08:00

"So Jesus said to the Twelve, "Do you want to go away as well?" Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life…." John 6:67-68

Did you know that there are more conversations recorded between Jesus and Simon Peter than any other two people in Scripture? It's true, and I want to bring your attention to one such conversation. Jesus is saying something so important to you and me through it.

Jesus had been teaching to a crowd of people and he started calling them to a commitment… to the demands of a daring faith. And as he called them, some people began to walk away from him. You see, many who followed Jesus were only attracted to the miracles that he performed. They didn't want to hear about the cost of discipleship.

And so as these others departed, Jesus turned to his disciples and said, "Do you want to go away as well?" And Simon Peter responded, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life…."

Simon Peter got it! This commoner… this uneducated fisherman… was committed. He would follow Jesus anywhere, because in Christ Jesus he found new hope and a purpose for living!

You see, when you meet the Savior of the world, he changes your life and nothing else can ever satisfy.

Don't walk away from Jesus. Commit your life to him, follow him, and receive new life!

WHEN YOU MEET THE SAVIOR OF THE WORLD…
NOTHING ELSE CAN EVER SATISFY.

By Jack Graham, taken from "Powerpoint Daily Devotional"

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

What I Believe

2010-01-26T00:00:00.000-08:00

"How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?"Romans 10:14

Sometimes people ask me why I do what I do. I have a very simple answer to that question, which is that I really do believe the things that we read in the Bible are true.

For example, I really believe what the Bible says about our lives being "a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away" (James 4:14). I really believe there is an eternity, there is an afterlife, there is a heaven, and there is a hell. I really believe that only those who have put their faith in Jesus Christ will go to heaven. And I also believe that I need to share this message with as many people as possible.

I received the following letter from someone who came to Christ at one of our Harvest Crusades some years ago:

My younger brother went to sleep one night and never woke up. He was 23 years old, and he had just graduated from college. He moved to Philadelphia after he graduated... I found out the Harvest Crusade was coming to Philadelphia, so I took my younger brother with me to hear the gospel. He was not yet a believer. He went forward at the invitation and gave his life to Christ, and God called him home... one month after his commitment to Christ. My brother lives today because of your ministry... he is in the arms of Jesus, and that's where I will meet him again.

That is why I do what I do. That is why I want to get the gospel out. And that is why we were placed on this earth: to come into a relationship with God, to know Him, and to glorify Him with our lives.

By Greg Laurie, taken from "Harvest Daily Devotional"

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

Sin's Sinfulness

2010-01-25T00:00:00.000-08:00

"There is a sin that leads to death. . . . All wrongdoing is sin, and there is sin that does not lead to death." First John 5:16;150;17

A great preacher, now deceased, to whom I used often to listen with profit and delight, would sometimes shout dramatically, "God never classifies sin."

His words were intended as a protest against a careless attitude toward certain forms of sin, and in their context I agree with them. Nevertheless God does classify sin and so does the law of the land, and so does the conscience of every man.

As various serpents differ from each other in their power to kill, so various sins carry different kinds of venom, all bad, but not all equally bad, their power to injure depending upon the high or low concentration of iniquity they carry in them.

Within the precincts of religion are sometimes found certain sins which I want here to mention. These may be classified under three heads: Sins committed out of weakness, respectable sins more or less allowed by everyone, and sins that have been woven into the religious fabric until they have become a necessary part of it.

No sin is to be excused. Every sin carries its own penalty. But the sin committed on impulse or the sin committed out of weakness over the protests of the heart surely does not carry the same deadly charge as those done with brazen deliberation. From such a sin there is complete deliverance by the power of Christ; and from such there is more likely to be, since it is a grief to those who commit it.

Thought: John points out that all wrongdoing is sin. He goes on to say that there is sin that leads to death and there is sin that does not. That some sin is more damaging than other sin seems obvious. There is sin that not only seriously affects the sinner but has deadly effects on other people as well.

By A.W. Tozer, taken from "The Warfare of the Spirit"

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

Credibility

2010-01-24T00:00:00.000-08:00

"[Have] your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that . . . they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God." 1 Peter 2:12

The recent global financial crisis caused people to pay closer attention to their credit report. When credit was easy to get, some people became careless about how they used it. They didn’t bother to save for what they wanted; they just borrowed. Being in debt was no big deal. But in a crisis, that is no longer the case. Having good credit is suddenly very important.

After an advertisement for a credit repair service, a local newscaster said, “Credit repair isn’t something you can buy; it’s something you have to work for.”

The same principle applies to the credibility of our lives. We can’t buy it; it’s something we have to work for. We may be able to “borrow” credibility for a while by associating ourselves with credible people, but sooner or later we will need our own.

Credibility has to do with the ability to elicit belief. The reason it’s essential for Christians is that our lives affect God’s reputation (1 Peter 2:12). When we call ourselves by Christ’s name, His reputation is tied to ours. If people have reason not to believe us, they may not believe God.

The way to earn credibility is to live honorably. Then others will believe and glorify God. — Julie Ackerman Link

Taken from "Our Daily Bread"

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

Grace From The King

2010-01-23T00:00:00.000-08:00

"Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus." Romans 3:24

Every believer receives the grace of God as a result of responding to the good news. And the good news is that salvation is by grace.

The apostle Paul said, "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, least anyone should boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9). The grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all people It is offered totally apart from anything we could ever do to receive God's favor. It is the unmerited favor of God, who in His mercy and loving-kindness grants us salvation as a gift. All we have to do is simply respond by believing in His Son.

We enter the kingdom of God only by the grace of God. There is no place or self-congratulations or human achievement. Remember to thank God for granting you such a gracious salvation.

By John MacArthur, taken from "Truth for Today"

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

Living Well

2010-01-22T00:00:00.000-08:00

"Help me understand these things inside and out so I can ponder your miracle-wonders." Psalm 119:27

What do Bible stories tell us about living this human life well, living it totally? Primarily and mostly they tell us that it means dealing with God. It means dealign with a lot of other things as well: danger and parents and enemies and friends and lovers and children and wives and pride and humiliation and . . . sickness and death and sexuality . . . and fear and peace - to say nothing of diapers . . . and breakfast and traffic jams and clogged drainpipes and bounced checks. But always, at the forefront and in the background of circumstances, events, and people, it's God.

By Eugene H. Peterson, taken from "God's Message For Each Day"

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

Asking Questions

2010-01-21T00:00:00.000-08:00

"But I will call t God for help, and the Lord will save me. Morning, noon, and night. I am troubled and upset, but He will listen to me." Psalm 55:16-17

It's not a sin to doubt. Disbelief is sin, but questioning - sincerely seeking - is acceptable to God because in the presence of God you may ask any question you want.

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

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

Breath of Life

2010-01-20T00:00:00.000-08:00

This morning I came across a well known children's Sunday School story. It's the story of Ezekiel having a vision of the Valley of Dry Bone (Ezekiel 37:1-14).

I can remember being a little scared when we heard this story. Bones coming together and forming flesh over them to eventually being a living breathing army was a bit yucky in my little mind. But now, this time around, I see that God is using this vision as an example of restoration. Throughout the whole book of Ezekiel I've read nothing but judgement, death and destruction. And yet, here is one of the first messages of hope.

Here God has taken dry bone that have long been dead. Bones that there seems to be no hope in every coming to life again. He first brings the bones together. Then He causes flesh to appear on them. But even though that forms the body it doesn't make them alive. They're still dead. "And I looked, and behold, sinews were on them, and flesh grew and skin covered them; but there was no breath in them." (Verse 8).

They needed the breath of life from God to be blown into them to make them truly alive. "Then He said to me, "Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, 'thus says the Lord God, 'Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, and they will come to life.' So I prophesied as He commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they came to life and stood on their feet, an exceedingly great army." (verses 9-10).

I find it interesting that the act of breathing not only removes carbon dioxide waste but also results in loss of water from the body. "Exhaled air has a relative humidity of 100% because of water diffusing across the moist surface of breathing passages and alveoli." Humm . . . . so this bring to mind that God is the Living Water, "Jesus answered and said to her (women at the well), 'If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, 'Give Me a drink,' you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water . . . . .' Everyone who drinks of this water will thirst again; but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life." John 4:10, 13-14.

When God was breathing life into these bodies, He was not only filling them with air but living water. Our bodies are mostly made up of water so this makes sense.

I continue to pray for restoration in our lives, marriages and peace from anxiety. If God can call dry dead bones to life, He can bring to life what has been lost. I pray again like I did yesterday that He would give me a deep thirst for Him!

Jesus, Love of my soul
Let me to thy bosom fly,
While the nearer waters roll,
While the tempest still is high:

Hide me, O my Saviour, hide,
Till the storm of life be past;
Safe into the haven guide,
O receive my soul at last!

Other refuge here I none,
Hangs my helpless soul on thee;
Leave, ah! leave me not alone,
Still support and comfort me.

- Charles Wesley

Krista Jones
9.11.08

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

Freedom to Live as Servants of God

2010-01-19T00:00:00.000-08:00

"Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God." First Peter 2:16

Every man in a free society must decide whether he will exploit his liberty or curtail it for intelligent and moral ends. He may take upon him the responsibility of a business and a family and thus be useful to the race, or he may shun all obligations and end on skid row. The tramp is freer than president or king, but his freedom is his undoing. While he lives he remains socially sterile and when he dies he leaves behind him nothing to make the world glad he lived.

The Christian cannot escape the peril of too much liberty. He is indeed free, but his very freedom may prove a source of real temptation to him. He is free from the chains of sin, free from the moral consequences of evil acts now forgiven, free from the curse of the law and the displeasure of God. Grace has opened the prison door for him, and like Barabbas of old he walks at liberty because Another died in his stead.

All this the instructed Christian knows and he refuses to let false teachers and misguided religionists rivet a yoke of bondage upon his neck. But now what shall he do with his freedom? Two possibilities offer themselves. He may accept his blood-won freedom as a cloak for the flesh, as the New Testament declares that some have done, or he may kneel like the camel to receive his voluntary burden. And what is this burden? The woes of his fellowmen which he must do what he can to assuage; the debt which he along with Paul owes to the lost world; the sound of hungry children crying in the night; the church in Babylonian captivity; the swift onrush of evil doctrines and the success of false prophets; the slow decay of the moral foundations of the so-called Christian nations and whatever else demands self-sacrifice, cross-carrying, long prayer vigils and courageous witness to alleviate and correct.

Thought: The limited freedom that is ours we may exercise as a cloak for evil or to serve God. Beneath the cloak sin chains form again. Serving God results in growing assurance of faith in Christ (1 Timothy 3:13). How are you using your freedom?

By A.W. Tozer, taken from "The Warfare of the Spirit"

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

"Loved unto the End"

2010-01-18T00:00:00.000-08:00

"For the LORD will not cast off for ever." Lamentations 3:31

He may cast away for a season but not forever. A woman may leave off her ornaments for a few days, but she will not forget them or throw them upon the dunghill. It is not like the LORD to cast off those whom He loves, for "having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end." Some talk of our being in grace and out of it, as if we were like rabbits that run in and out of their burrows; but, indeed, it is not so. The LORD's love is a far more serious and abiding matter than this.

He chose us from eternity, and He will love us throughout eternity. He loved us so as to die for us, and we may therefore be sure that His love will never die. His honor is so wrapped up in the salvation of the believer that He can no more cast him of than He can cast off His own robes of office as King of glory. No, no! The LORD Jesus, as a Head, never casts off His members; as a Husband, He never casts off His bride. Did you think you were cast off? Why did you think so evil of the LORD who has betrothed you to Himself? Cast off such thoughts, and never let them lodge in your soul again. "The LORD hath not cast away his people which he foreknew" (Romans 11:2). "He hateth putting away" (Malachi 2:16).

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

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

Discovering Your Purpose

2010-01-17T00:00:00.000-08:00

"You know me inside and out, you know every bone in my body; You know exactly how I was made, bit by bit, how I was sculpted from nothing into something" (Psalm 139: 15). (Msg)

If you are going to discover how God wants to use your life and work, you must know why you were created. If you start trying to determine your purpose in life before understanding why you were created, you will inevitably get hung up on the things you do as the basis for fulfillment in your life, which will only lead to frustration and disappointment.

First and foremost, God created you to know Him and to have an intimate relationship with Him. In fact, God says that if a man is going to boast about anything in life, "boast about this: that he understands and knows me" (Jer. 9:24). Mankind's relationship with God was lost in the Garden when Adam and Eve sinned. Jesus' death on the cross, however, allows us to restore this relationship with God and to have an intimate fellowship with Him. The apostle Paul came to understand this when he said, "I gave up all that inferior stuff so I could know Christ personally, experience his resurrection power, be a partner in his suffering, and go all the way with him to death itself" (Phil. 3:10, THE MESSAGE).

Establishing this relationship with God is vital to understanding your purpose. If you don't have this relationship with God, you will seek to fulfill your purpose out of wrong motives; such as fear, insecurity, pride, money, relationships, guilt, or unresolved anger. God's desire is for you to be motivated out of love for Him and to desire to worship Him in all that you do. As you develop your relationship with God, He will begin to reveal His purpose for your life. "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord" (Jer. 29:11).

Today, ask God to help you discover your unique purpose.

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

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

A Mysterious Union

2010-01-16T00:00:00.000-08:00

"Taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men." Philippians 2:7

The humanity and deity of Christ is a mysterious union we can never fully understand. But the Bible emphasizes both.

Luke 23:39-43 provides a good example. At the cross, ". . . one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying, 'If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us.' But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, 'Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we received the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong.' Then he said to Jesus, 'Lord, remember me when you come into Your Kingdom.' And Jesus said to him, 'Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.'"

In His humanness, Jesus was a victim, mercilessly hammered to a cross after being spat upon, mocked, and humiliated. But in His deity, He promised the thief on the cross eternal life, as only God can.

By John MacArthur, taken from "Truth for Today"

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

A Wonderful Guarantee

2010-01-15T00:00:00.000-08:00

"I will strengthen thee" (Isaiah 41:10).

When called to serve or to suffer, we take stock of our strength, and we find it to be less than we thought and less than we need. But let not our heart sink within us while we have such a word as this to fall back upon, for it guarantees us all that we can possibly need. God has strength omnipotent; that strength He can communicate to us; and His promise is that He will do so. He will be the food of our souls and the health of our hearts; and thus He will give us strength. There is no telling how much power God can put into a man. When divine strength comes, human weakness is no more a hindrance.

Do we not remember seasons of labor and trial in which we received such special strength that we wondered at ourselves? In the midst of danger we were calm, under bereavement we were resigned, in slander we were self-contained, and in sickness we were patient. The fact is that God gives unexpected strength when unusual trials come upon us, We rise out of our feeble selves. Cowards play the man, foolish ones have wisdom given them, and the silent receive in the self-same hour what they shall speak, My own weakness makes me shrink, but God's promise makes me brave. LORD, strengthen me "according to thy word."

By Charles Spurgeon, taken from "Faith's Checkbook"

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

Shepherding

2010-01-14T00:00:00.000-08:00

This morning I came across Ezekiel 34 and within it I learned a little bit about Shepherding.

Ezekiel 34:1-10 talk about how the shepherds of Israel, the kings and their officials, prophets and priests, had failed in keeping God's commandments. They not only didn't keep His commandments, but partook in the sinning of the nations around them which lead Israel down the wrong path and into destruction. Because of this, their sheep were scattered and they were punished.

Ezekiel 34:11-31 talk about the restoration of Israel. He starts out by saying in verses 11-12, "For thus says the Lord God, Behold, I Myself will search for My sheep and seek them out. As a shepherd cares for his herd in the day when he is among his scattered sheep, so I will care for My sheep and will deliver them from all the places to which they were scattered on a cloudy and gloomy day." Here God is saying that He will take control of the flock from the faithless shepherds and save the flock from the nations they have been scattered into.

Verses 14-15 says, "I will feed them in a good pasture, and their grazing ground will be on the mountain heights of Israel. There they will lie down on good grazing ground and feed in rich pasture on the mountains of Israel. I will feed My flock and I will lead them to rest," declares the Lord God." I like these verses because it reminds me of how faithful God is to us. Although we get lost and/or have been lost, He found us and brought us back to Himself. And by doing so we dwell with Him, are feed wonderful spiritual food and become spiritually rich.

Verses 24-29 says, "I will make a covenant of peace with them and eliminate harmful beasts from the land so that they may live securely in the wilderness and sleep in the woods. I will make them and the places around My hill a blessing. And I will cause showers to come down in their season; they will be showers of blessing. Also the tree of the field will yield it's fruit and the earth will yield its increase, and they will be secure on their land. Then they will know that I am the Lord, when I have broken the bars of their yoke and have delivered them from the hand of those who enslaved them. They will no longer be prey to the nations and the beasts of the earth will not devour them; but they will live securely, and no one will make them afraid. I will establish for them a renowned planting place, and they will not again be victims of famine in the land, and they will not endure the insults of the nations anymore."

I like the last verse of the chapter, verse 31, "As for you, My sheep, the sheep of My pasture, you are men, and I am your God," declares the Lord God.

It is so wonderful that we have a God who is like our shepherd. Shepherds protected their flocks with their lives. If one went missing they'd go in search of it. When they found the lost sheep they'd bring it back to the flock and care for it. When we obey God's commandments and stay close to Him, we are blessed, secure, fed and protected. We no longer are slaves to sin as He has freed us from it through His Son, Jesus. John 10:11 says, "I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep."

Thank you God for being my Shepherd. For constantly finding me when I wonder off in what looks like better pastures. Thank you for sending your Son, Jesus, to die for me so that I might be free!

Krista Jones
9.10.08

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

The Life of Power to Follow

2010-01-13T00:00:00.000-08:00

"Jesus answered him, ’Where I am going you cannot follow Me now, but you shall follow Me afterward.’"John 13:36

"And when He had spoken this, He said to him, ’Follow Me’ " (John 21:19). Three years earlier Jesus had said, "Follow Me" (Matthew 4:19), and Peter followed with no hesitation. The irresistible attraction of Jesus was upon him and he did not need the Holy Spirit to help him do it. Later he came to the place where he denied Jesus, and his heart broke. Then he received the Holy Spirit and Jesus said again, "Follow Me" (John 21:19). Now no one is in front of Peter except the Lord Jesus Christ. The first "Follow Me" was nothing mysterious; it was an external following. Jesus is now asking for an internal sacrifice and yielding (see John 21:18 ).

Between these two times Peter denied Jesus with oaths and curses (see Matthew 26:69-75). But then he came completely to the end of himself and all of his self-sufficiency. There was no part of himself he would ever rely on again. In his state of destitution, he was finally ready to receive all that the risen Lord had for him. ". . . He breathed on them, and said to them, ’Receive the Holy Spirit’ " (John 20:22 ). No matter what changes God has performed in you, never rely on them. Build only on a Person, the Lord Jesus Christ, and on the Spirit He gives.

All our promises and resolutions end in denial because we have no power to accomplish them. When we come to the end of ourselves, not just mentally but completely, we are able to "receive the Holy Spirit." "Receive the Holy Spirit "— the idea is that of invasion. There is now only One who directs the course of your life, the Lord Jesus Christ.

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

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

Pieces of Life

2010-01-12T00:00:00.000-08:00

"Then give Caesar what is his, and give God what is is." Matthew 22:21

Our citizenship is in heaven," say those who pray, and they are ardent in pursing the prizes of that place. But this passion for the unseen in no way detracts from their involvement in daily affairs; working well and playing fair, signing petitions and paying taxes, rebuking the wicked and encouraging the righteous, getting wet in the rain and smelling the flowers. Theirs is a tremendous, kaleidoscopic assemblage of bits and pieces of touched, smelled, seen and tasted reality that is received and offered in acts of prayer.

By Eugene H. Peterson, taken from "God's Message for Each Day"

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

Why?

2010-01-11T00:00:00.000-08:00

"No one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God." I Corinthians 2:11

A misconception people have in dealing with life's troubles is that it's wrong to ask why - that a Christian simply accepts and never questions. Abraham, Moses, and David all interceded and struggled to understand God. but the lives of these men model for us a total reliance on God, even in the midst of questioning.

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

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

Locked In

2010-01-10T00:00:00.000-08:00

"I suffer trouble . . . even to the point of chains; but the Word of God is not chained." 2 Timothy 2:9

Jean-Dominique Bauby’s memoir, The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, describes his life after a massive stroke left him with a condition called “Locked-In Syndrome.” Although he was almost completely paralyzed, Bauby was able to write his book by blinking his left eyelid. An aide would recite a coded alphabet, until Bauby blinked to choose the letter of a word he was dictating. The book required about 200,000 blinks to write. Bauby used the only physical ability left him to communicate with others.

In 2 Timothy we read of Paul experiencing a different kind of “locked-in syndrome.” Under house arrest, the apostle learned that his execution might be imminent. With this in view, he told Timothy: “I suffer trouble . . . even to the point of chains; but the Word of God is not chained” (2 Tim. 2:9). In spite of his isolation, Paul welcomed visitors, wrote letters of encouragement, and rejoiced at the spread of God’s Word.

For some of us, circumstances may have isolated us from others. Lying in a hospital bed, serving time in a prison, or being a shut-in can make us feel that we are experiencing our own “locked-in syndrome.” If this is true for you, why not prayerfully reflect on some ways you can still reach out to others. — Dennis Fisher

Give me to serve in humble sphere,
I ask not aught beside!
Content to fill a little place,
If God be glorified. —Anon.

No deed is too small when done for Christ.

Taken from "Our Daily Bread"

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

Living with Christ

2010-01-09T00:00:00.000-08:00

"Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him." Romans 6:8

Another reason that our religion must interfere with our private lives is that we live in the world, the Bible name for human society. The regenerated man has been inwardly separated from society as Israel was separated from Egypt at the crossing of the Red Sea. The Christian is a man of heaven temporarily living on earth. Though in spirit divided from the race of fallen men he must yet in the flesh live among them. In many things he is like them, but in others he differs so radically from them that they cannot but see and resent it. From the days of Cain and Abel the man of earth has punished the man of heaven for being different. The long history of persecution and martyrdom confirms this.

But we must not get the impression that the Christian life is one continuous conflict, one unbroken irritating struggle against the world, the flesh and the devil. A thousand times no. A heart that learns to die with Christ soon knows the blessed experience of rising with Him, and all the world’s persecutions cannot still the high note of holy joy that springs up in the soul that has become the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit.

Thought: There is that conflict between our sinful nature and the Spirit. But as we submit to the Spirit's control, there is also the peace of Christ (John 14:27) and His joy (John 15:11) to calm and brighten our way, because having died with Christ we may also live with Him.

By A.W. Tozer taken from "The Warfare of the Spirit"

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

The Cross

2010-01-08T00:00:00.000-08:00

The cross. Before Christ the cross was known at the "accursed tree". It was an instrument of torture. It was a place where hardened and wicked criminals were punished. It was a mark of deep shame and disgrace.

That all changed when Christ died on the cross for us. I like what my devotional had to say about it. "It is not an accident or a tragedy, but the universal sign of God's love for sinful man. The cross is the only adequate explanation of John 3:16. Our Father was not compelled to permit the cross; His love for us constrained Him. Willingly Christ gave His life because He loved us and desired us to live with Him in His eternal kingdom." - Streams in the Desert, Vol. 2 (Sept. 6).

I like what Romans 8:31-39 has to say about this.

"What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? Who will bring any charge against God's elect? God is the one who justifies; who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us. Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Just as it is written, "For Your sake we are being put to death all day long; we were considered as sheep to be slaughtered." But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, no life, no angels, nor principalities, no things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created things, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

My study notes say of these verses that no one can condemn us because, 1) Christ died for us; 2) He is alive and seated at the right hand of God, the position of power; and 3) He is interceding for us.

These verses also say that our suffering doesn't separate us from Christ. But what it does do is carry us towards our ultimate goal.

These verses also say that it is impossible to go beyond the reach of God's love.

Love is something that I sometimes can not define. I know when I feel loved and I know when I feel love towards others. Receiving or giving has the same affect upon me. I feel safe, warm, joyful, giddy, protective/protected, longing and secure. But in order to love and be loved you have to know how to trust. When you love someone and know they love you, you are putting your trust in their hands. Love costs and if we're willing to pay the price we know the wonderful joy it brings into our lives.

Jesus went to the cross loving us so much that He was willing to give His life up for us. He loved His Father so much that He was willing to obey Him at all cost, even the cost of His life. We look back at what He did for us on the cross and feel the love that radiates from it for us. We feel the safe, warm, joyful, giddy, protected and secure feeling from the One who saved us through pain, torture, shame and disgrace. Jesus knew the price love would cost Him and yet, He gave us His all.

Under and Eastern sky
Amid the rabble cry,
A man went forth to die
For me!

Thorn-crowned His blessed head,
Blood-stained His every tread,
To Calvary He was Led
For me!

The cross. At one time it was the "accursed tree" full of pain, torture, shame and disgrace. Now, it is a sign of love, forgiveness and eternal life. Love lead Christ to Calvary.

Krista Jones
9.6.08

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

The Lord Has Need of Him

2010-01-07T00:00:00.000-08:00

They said, the Lord hath need of him - Luke 19:34

Oh, could I hear Thee say as much of me, my blessed Lord! Here, where two ways meet, I have been standing long, waiting for a purpose worthy to fill my soul, and task the powers that are, as yet, only in the first burst of young life.

Thou needest much and many in Thy great redemptive work. The boat to cross the lake; the line to catch the fish; the bread and fish to feed the crowds; the baskets to gather up the fragments; the chalice to hold the wine; the dish to hold the sop; the little child to be the text for Thy sermon; the clay for the blind man's eyes; the tender women to minister of their substance; the apostles to preach Thy Gospel. Canst Thou not find a nitch for me also?

Thou requirest undivided loyalty. - Born of the Virgin's womb, laid in death where man's dust had never come, Thou must have a colt on which none had ever sat. I cannot give Thee a heart which has never known another; but I profess to Thee that there is no rival now. Thou mayest have all. Thine is the Kingdom.

Thou requirest patience and humility. - But these, also, Thou hast taught. I have waited patiently till this glad hour, and am quieted and humbled like a weaned child. No longer do I seek great things for myself. It is enough for me to be and do anything, if only Thou shalt be glorified.

Thou requirest, perhaps, but one brief service. - To serve Thee always with increasing fervor would be my choice; but if Thou needest only one brief, glad hour of ministry, like that the good Ananias did to Thy Church when he ministered to Saul, then be it so. To prepare for it, and revert to it, would be my satisfaction in having lived.

By F.B. Meyer, taken from "Our Daily Homily"

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

Forgiving Those Who Judge You

2010-01-06T00:00:00.000-08:00

"After Job had prayed for his friends, the LORD made him prosperous again and gave him twice as much as he had before" (Job 42:10).

Have you ever been wrongly judged? Have you ever had people assume there was sin in your life because of the troubles you may have experienced? Or perhaps they judged your motives as wrong. What if the people judging you were your closest friends?

This was exactly what happened in the life of Job. His friends did not understand how a godly person could ever go through his degree of adversity his unless God was judging him for his sin. However, his friends were wrong and God intervened. "I am angry with you and your two friends, because you have not spoken of me what is right, as my servant Job has," said God to Job's three friends.

Nothing has really changed after thousands of years. I recall going through a seven year "Job" experience. Friends in the marketplace could not understand why I would experience such calamity unless I had made poor choices. Those in the Church often wrongly equated trouble with sin. Sometimes this can be true, but often trouble is simply a consequence of a call on one's life such as Joseph and the apostle Paul experienced.
Joseph was required to forgive his brothers. Jesus was required to forgive Judas and the disciples for betrayal. You and I are required to forgive those who wrongfully judge us.

This forgiveness is often THE most important step in gaining restoration in our own lives. The scripture above reveals that it was not until Job prayed for his friends that he was restored in the things he had lost.

Is there someone in your life you need to forgive? It may be the missing piece of your puzzle for restoration.

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

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

Nothing Old

2010-01-05T00:00:00.000-08:00

"And He that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new" (Revelation 21:5).

Glory be to His name! All things need making new, for they are sadly battered and worn by sin. It is time that the old vesture was rolled up and laid aside, and that creation put on her Sunday suit. But no one else can make all things new except the LORD who made them at the first; for it needs as much power to make out of evil as to make out of nothing. Our LORD Jesus has undertaken the task, and He is fully competent for the performance of it. Already he has commenced His labor, and for centuries He has persevered in making new the hearts of men and the order of society. By and by He will make new the whole constitution of human government, and human nature shall be changed by His grace; and there shall come a day when the body shall be made new and raised like unto His glorious body. What a joy to belong to a kingdom in which everything is being made new by the power of its King! We are not dying out: we are hastening on to a more glorious life. Despite the opposition of the powers of evil, our glorious LORD Jesus is accomplishing His purpose and making us, and all things about us, "new" and as full of beauty as when they first came from the hand of the LORD.

By Charles Spurgeon, taken from "Faith's Checkbook"

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

The Great Life

2010-01-04T00:00:00.000-08:00

"Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled . . . " John 14:27

Whenever we experience something difficult in our personal life, we are tempted to blame God. But we are the ones in the wrong, not God. Blaming God is evidence that we are refusing to let go of some disobedience somewhere in our lives. But as soon as we let go, everything becomes as clear as daylight to us. As long as we try to serve two masters, ourselves and God, there will be difficulties combined with doubt and confusion. Our attitude must be one of complete reliance on God. Once we get to that point, there is nothing easier than living the life of a saint. We encounter difficulties when we try to usurp the authority of the Holy Spirit for our own purposes.

God’s mark of approval, whenever you obey Him, is peace. He sends an immeasurable, deep peace; not a natural peace, "as the world gives," but the peace of Jesus. Whenever peace does not come, wait until it does, or seek to find out why it is not coming. If you are acting on your own impulse, or out of a sense of the heroic, to be seen by others, the peace of Jesus will not exhibit itself. This shows no unity with God or confidence in Him. The spirit of simplicity, clarity, and unity is born through the Holy Spirit, not through your decisions. God counters our self-willed decisions with an appeal for simplicity and unity.

My questions arise whenever I cease to obey. When I do obey God, problems come, not between me and God, but as a means to keep my mind examining with amazement the revealed truth of God. But any problem that comes between God and myself is the result of disobedience. Any problem that comes while I obey God (and there will be many), increases my overjoyed delight, because I know that my Father knows and cares, and I can watch and anticipate how He will unravel my problems.

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

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

Weekend Bible Reading

2010-01-02T00:00:00.000-08:00

Live It!

"You are to them as a very lovely song . . . they hear your words, but they do not do them." Ezekiel 33:32

Each year, one of my goals is to read the entire Bible. While listing it among my New Year’s resolutions, I noticed a bookmark on my desk. On one side was a brief appeal for people to take in foster children. On the other side were these words referring to that appeal: “Don’t read it. Live it. Real children. Real stories. Real life.” The people who produced the bookmark knew how easily we absorb information without acting on it. They wanted people to respond.

Regular intake of God’s Word is a worthy practice, but it’s not an end in itself. The prophet Ezekiel spoke to an audience who loved to listen but refused to act. The Lord said to Ezekiel: “Indeed you are to them as a very lovely song of one who has a pleasant voice and can play well on an instrument; for they hear your words, but they do not do them” (33:32).

Jesus said: “Whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock” (Matt. 7:24).

How will each of us read the Bible this year? Will we read it quickly to achieve the goal of getting through it? Or will we read it with the aim of doing what it says?

Don’t just read it. Live it! — David C. McCasland

The Bible gives us all we need
To live our lives for God each day;
But it won’t help if we don’t read
Then follow what its pages say. —Sper

The value of the Bible consists not only in knowing it but obeying it.

Take from "Our Daily Bread"

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

January's Memory Verse

2010-01-01T00:00:00.000-08:00

John 1:12

"But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name."

John 1:12 (NASB - New American Standard Bible)

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

If you'd like to see a list of past verses click on the "Memory Verse" label below.

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

New Changes

2009-12-31T00:00:00.000-08:00

Starting today you will see the Stillness in the Morning blog look a bit different. The layout will be updated but you'll still be able to get daily devotionals by my favorite authors as well as a few of my own thoughts on my devotional time. You will also be able to get monthly memory verses like before.

What will change is the Bible Reading Guide. I will no longer be posting them like I have but will give you the Back to the Bible website link so you can go there yourself and choose which method you want to use.

Thank you for taking the time to visit the Stillness blog. I hope the Lord has blessed you through it.

Krista Jones

Bible Reading Guide:

Beginning to End: Rev. 20-22
Old and New Testaments Together: Malachi & Rev. 22
Historical: Rev. 19-22
Chronological: Rev. 19-22
Blended: Malachi & Luke 24:36-53

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

God's Promises - Prayer

2009-12-30T00:00:00.000-08:00

"Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you." Jeremiah 29:12

One of the things I love about God is that no matter what I know that I can call upon Him and He will listen to me. When is the last time you called upon the Lord in prayer? If it's been a while I strong encourage you to take some time and communicate with the Lord through prayer.

Krista Jones

Bible Reading Guide:

Beginning to End: Rev. 17-19
Old and New Testaments Together: Zech. 13-14 & Rev. 21
Historical: Rev. 12-18
Chronological: Rev. 12-18
Blended: Zach. 13-14 & Luke 24:1-35

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

God's Promises - Trust

2009-12-29T00:00:00.000-08:00

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge HIm, and He will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6

There are so many times when I chose not to trust in the Lord and trust in my own understanding. And I can say that each time I did this things didn't turn out for the best. Sometimes they still turned out OK but I know that had I trusted in the Lord that they may have turned out a lot different. Who are you trusting in?

Krista Jones

Bible Reading Guide:

Beginning to End: Rev. 13-16
Old and New Testaments Together: Zech. 9-12 & Rev. 20
Historical: Rev. 6-11
Chronological: Rev. 6-11
Blended: Zach. 9-12 & Luke 23:26-56

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

God's Promises - Protection

2009-12-28T00:00:00.000-08:00

"The Lord will protect you from al evil; He will keep your soul, the Lord will guard your going out and your coming in from this time froth and forever." Psalm 121:7-8

It is so wonderful that God cares so much for us that he constantly protects our going out and coming in. Think about the many times the Lord has been there for you in a time when you needed His protection the most. Now thank Him and praise Him for all that He's done for you.

Krista Jones

Bible Reading Guide:

Beginning to End: Rev. 9-12
Old and New Testaments Together: Zech. 5-8 & Rev. 19
Historical: Rev. 1-5
Chronological: Rev. 1-5
Blended: Zach. 5-8 & Luke 23:1-25

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

Weekend Bible Reading

2009-12-26T00:00:00.000-08:00

Bible Reading Guide:

Saturday:

Beginning to End: Rev. 1-3
Old and New Testaments Together: Haggai & Rev. 17
Historical: I John
Chronological: I John
Blended: Micah 6-7 & Luke 22:21-46

Sunday:

Beginning to End: Rev. 4-8
Old and New Testaments Together: Zach. 1-4 & Rev. 18
Historical: 2 John & 3 John
Chronological:2 John & 3 John
Blended: Zech. 1-4 & Luke 22:47-71

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

The Christmas Story

2009-12-25T00:00:00.000-08:00

Luke 2 - Jesus' Birth in Bethlehem

1 Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth.

2 This was the first census taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria.

3 And everyone was on his way to register for the census, each to his own city.

4 Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David,

5 in order to register along with Mary, who was engaged to him, and was with child.

6 While they were there, the days were completed for her to give birth.

7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

8 In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night.

9 And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened.

10 But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people;

11 for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

12 "This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."

13 And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

14 "Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased."

15 When the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, "Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us."

16 So they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the manger.

17 When they had seen this, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child.

18 And all who heard it wondered at the things which were told them by the shepherds.

19 But Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart.

20 The shepherds went back, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as had been told them.

Bible Reading Guide:

Beginning to End: 2 John & Jude
Old and New Testaments Together: Zephaniah & Rev. 16
Historical: John 19-21
Chronological: 2 Peter & Jude
Blended: Micah 4-5 & Luke 22:1-20

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

Emmanuel

2009-12-24T00:00:00.000-08:00

"Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign: Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel." Isaiah 7:14

Emmanuel, "God with us."

These days it's fashionable to speak of the "wonder" or the "magic" of Christmas, as though the holiday were simply a time to celebrate human kindness and the enduring strength of old and treasured relationships. For the Christian, this is especially frustrating. At times we are tempted, like Charlie Brown in the old "Peanuts" special, to shout, "Isn't there anybody who knows what Christmas is all about?"

As believers, we alone can share the real meaning of Christmas. It is contained in that lovely name Emmanuel, "God with us." Christmas is Jesus leaving His Glory in Heaven and humbling Himself to become one of us. The wonder of Christmas is that God should not only have good will towards us but demonstrate it in the most personal and costly way imaginable, all out of love for a ruined creation, and broken men and women.

As believers we have known and experienced God with us. He has left us the task of helping others to experience Him as Emmanuel, too.

Lord Jesus, let us be faithful to Your final command, to go into all the world and make disciples of all nations. While men's hearts and thoughts are turning to you in this season, help us to make the most of every opportunity to share Your light and your love!

By Nick, taken from The Harvest Blog

Bible Reading Guide:

Beginning to End: I John
Old and New Testaments Together: Habakkuk & Rev. 15
Historical: John 16-18
Chronological: 2 Timothy
Blended: Micah 1-3 & Luke 21:20-38

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

God's Promises - Eternal Comfort and Hope

2009-12-23T00:00:00.000-08:00

"Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who has loved us and given us eternal comfort and good hope by Grace." 2 Thessalonians 2:16

What a joy it is to be loved by God who gives us comfort and hope in all times of our lives. I have personally felt His comfort during the difficult journeys I have been on and can honestly say there is no such comfort as the comfort of our Lord!

Krista Jones

Bible Reading Guide:

Beginning to End: 2 Peter
Old and New Testaments Together: Nahum & Rev. 14
Historical: John 13-15
Chronological: Hebrews 11-13
Blended: Neh. 12-13 & Luke 21:1-19

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

God's Promises - His Peace

2009-12-22T00:00:00.000-08:00

"And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:7

God gives us peace that goes beyond a state of mind. It goes to a inner tranquility that is based upon from God alone. Like this verse says, His peace, "will guard your hearts and your minds."

Krista Jones

Bible Reading Guide:

Beginning to End: I Peter
Old and New Testaments Together: Micah 6-7 & Rev. 13
Historical: John 11-12
Chronological: Hebrews 7-10
Blended: Neh. 10-11 & Luke 20:27-47

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

God's Promises - His Mercy

2009-12-21T00:00:00.000-08:00

"Just as a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion those who fear Him." Psalm 103:13

I can honestly say that my life lacks a certain amount of compassion. Compassion for the lost, the needy, those who are hurting and in need of God's love. But God is not like me. He loves us and has compassion on us. How wonderful is that!?

Krista Jones

Bible Reading Guide:

Beginning to End: James
Old and New Testaments Together: Micah 4-5 & Rev. 12
Historical: John 9-10
Chronological: Hebrews 1-6
Blended: Neh. 7-9 & Luke 20:1-26

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

Weekend Bible Reading

2009-12-19T00:00:00.000-08:00

Bible Reading Guide:

Saturday:

Beginning to End: Hebrews 7-10
Old and New Testaments Together: Jonah & Rev. 10
Historical: John 5-6
Chronological: Titus
Blended: Neh. 1-3 & Luke 19:1-27

Sunday:

Beginning to End: Hebrews 11-13
Old and New Testaments Together: Micah 1-3 & Rev. 11
Historical: John 7-8
Chronological: I Peter
Blended: Neh. 4-6 & Luke 19:28-48

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

God's Promises - His Love

2009-12-18T00:00:00.000-08:00

"The Lord appeared to him from afar, saying, 'I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have drawn you with lovingkindness." Jeremiah 31:3

God has loved us with everlasting love which means His love is not conditional. So often our love for each other is more conditional. It's based upon what is or isn't done. But no matter what God loves us and that love can not be taken away from us.

Krista Jones

Bible Reading Guide:

Beginning to End: Hebrews 1-6
Old and New Testaments Together: Obadiah & Rev. 9
Historical: John 3-4
Chronological: I Timothy
Blended: Joshua 22-24 & Luke 18:24-43

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

God's Promises - Complete Joy

2009-12-17T00:00:00.000-08:00

"These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full." John 15:11

Joy is sometimes hard to come by. Most often we mistake happiness for joy but happiness can come and go with our circumstances. Complete joy is something that comes from God and what He places into your life. Joy that does not change with circumstances.

Krista Jones

Bible Reading Guide:

Beginning to End: Titus & Philemon
Old and New Testaments Together: Amos 7-9 & Rev. 8
Historical: John 1-2
Chronological: Philippians
Blended: Joshua 19-21 & Luke 18:1-23

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

God's Promises - His Faithfulness

2009-12-16T00:00:00.000-08:00

"For the mountains may be removed and the hills may shake, but My lovingkindness will not be removed from you, and My convenient of peace will not be shaken,' say the Lord who has compassion on you." Isaiah 54:10

God is faithful even when times are shaky. His love can never been removed from us because of His promises.

Krista Jones

Bible Reading Guide:

Beginning to End: 2 Timothy
Old and New Testaments Together: Amos 4-6 & Rev. 7
Historical: 2 Peter & Jude
Chronological: Ephesians
Blended: Joshua 16-18 & Luke 17:20-37

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

God's Promises - Eternal Life

2009-12-15T00:00:00.000-08:00

"Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes has eternal life." John 6:47

One thing that no other god can do is give eternal life like God can. Eternal life is freely offered if only you will turn your life over to Him. He's just a prayer away.

Krista Jones

Bible Reading Guide:

Beginning to End: I Timothy
Old and New Testaments Together: Amos 1-3 & Rev. 6
Historical: 2 Timothy
Chronological: Colossians & Philemon
Blended: Joshua 13-15 & Luke 17:1-19

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

God's Promises - He gives us Courage

2009-12-14T00:00:00.000-08:00

"He gives strength to the weary, and to Him who lacks might He increases power." Isaiah 40:29

How often do you feel weary and discouraged? Did you know you can cry out to God and He will give you strength? If you are experiencing weariness try turning to God and draw upon His strength.

Krista Jones

Bible Reading Guide:

Beginning to End: 2 Thessalonians
Old and New Testaments Together: Joel & Rev. 5
Historical: Hebrews 11-13
Chronological: Acts 27-28
Blended: Joshua 10-12 & Luke 16

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

Weekend Bible Reading

2009-12-12T00:00:00.000-08:00

Bible Reading Guide:

Saturday:

Beginning to End: Colossians
Old and New Testaments Together: Hos. 9-11 & Rev. 3
Historical: Hebrews 1-6
Chronological: Acts 20:4-23:35
Blended: Joshua 4-6 & Luke 15:1-10

Sunday:

Beginning to End: I Thessalonians
Old and New Testaments Together: Hos. 12-14 & Rev. 4
Historical: Hebrews -10
Chronological: Acts 24-26
Blended: Joshua 7-9 & Luke 15:11-32

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

God's Promises - Gives Us Strength

2009-12-11T00:00:00.000-08:00

"I can do all things through Him who strengthens me." Philippians 4:13

This is often called the 10 finger prayer. Whenever you need strength just lift up your hands in prayer and pray Phil. 4:13!

Krista Jones

Bible Reading Guide:

Beginning to End: Philippians
Old and New Testaments Together: Hos. 5-8 & Rev. 2
Historical: I Peter
Chronological: Romans 14-16
Blended: Joshua 1-3 & Luke 14:25-35

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

God's Promises - Plans of Hope

2009-12-10T00:00:00.000-08:00

"For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope."
Jeremiah 29:11

When I was diagnosed with cancer I remember turning to God during the darkest time of that journey. And like His other promise He gave us that we've read about, when I called upon Him He heard me and answered me. This is the verse He lead me to and one I clung to throughout my treatment. I feel blessed to serve a God who I not only turn to but who will answer me.

Krista Jones

Bible Reading Guide:

Beginning to End: Eph. 4-6
Old and New Testaments Together: Hos. 1-4 & Rev. 1
Historical: Titus
Chronological: Romans 11-13
Blended: Haggai & Luke 14:1-24

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

God's Promises - Does more then we can ask

2009-12-09T00:00:00.000-08:00

"Now to Him who is able to do for more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us." Ephesians 3:20

What an awesome God that we serve who is able to do "far more abundantly beyond all we ask or think." I love the fact that I can always go to Him with my needs but to also know that He anticipates our needs. Do you currently have a great need? Grasp this promise and go to Him with it. Then wait upon Him in faith and see what He can do for you and through you.

Krista Jones

Bible Reading Guide:

Beginning to End: Eph. 1-3
Old and New Testaments Together: Daniel 11-12 & Jude
Historical: I Timothy
Chronological: Romans 8-10
Blended: Esther 9-10 & Luke 13:23-25

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

God's Promises - To Forgives

2009-12-08T00:00:00.000-08:00

"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." I John 1:9

We all sin because we are human. And it's one reason why we need a Savior and why Jesus came to us and saved us so that we can go to Him when we've sinned. He promises to forgive us and helps to restore whatever communion we had with God that was interrupted by our sin. No other god is like our Savior who not only forgives us but cleanses os from "all unrighteousness."

Krista Jones

Bible Reading Guide:

Beginning to End: Gal. 4-6
Old and New Testaments Together: Daniel 8-10 & 3 John
Historical: Acts 26-28
Chronological: Romans 4-7
Blended: Esther 6-8 & Luke 13:1-22

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

God's Promises - Salvation

2009-12-07T00:00:00.000-08:00

"Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them." Hebrews 7:25

It is wonderful that Jesus is able to completely save us for all time. I am blessed to have a personal God who allows me to draw near to Him.

Krista Jones

Bible Reading Guide:

Beginning to End: Gal. 1-3
Old and New Testaments Together: Daniel 5-7 & 2 John
Historical: Acts 23-25
Chronological: Acts 20:1-3 & Romans 1-3
Blended: Esther 3-5 & Luke 12:32-59

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

Weekend Bible Reading

2009-12-05T00:00:00.000-08:00

Bible Reading Guide:

Saturday:

Beginning to End: 2 Cor. 5-9
Old and New Testaments Together: Daniel 1-2 & I John 4
Historical: Acts 17-19
Chronological: 2 Cor. 5-9
Blended: 2 Chron. 34-36 & Luke 11:29-54

Sunday:

Beginning to End: 2 Cor. 10-13
Old and New Testaments Together: Daniel 3-4 & I John 5
Historical: Acts 20-22
Chronological: 2 Cor. 10-13
Blended: Esther 1-2 & Luke 12:1-31

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

God's Promises - Cast Anxiety on Him

2009-12-04T00:00:00.001-08:00

"Casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you." I Peter 5:7

I tend to lean towards being a worrier. It's not healthy and does no good but somewhere inside of me, I can't seem to stop the worries rising to the surface. But I am so thankful that I have a loving God who takes all my anxiety and worries upon Himself. When I worry I know that I can lift the burden of worry into His arms. God cares for you! He cares so much for you that He not only sent His Son, Jesus, to you as well as the Holy Spirit to guide us. He also takes upon Himself our worries and fills us with peace.

Krista Jones

Bible Reading Guide:

Beginning to End: 2 Cor. 1-4
Old and New Testaments Together: Ezek. 47-48 & I John 3
Historical: Acts 14-16
Chronological: 2 Cor. 1-4
Blended: 2 Chron. 32-33 & Luke 11:1-28

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

God's Promises - Led by the Spirit

2009-12-03T00:00:00.000-08:00

"For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God." Romans 8:14

Once we invite Jesus into our lives and become His children we are filled with the Holy Spirit. When Jesus died on the cross and rose again He ascended up into heaven to be at the right hand of the Father (God). But He did not leave us alone. Not only did God send His Son Jesus to Save us He gave us the Holy Spirit so that we would always be aware of His presence in our lives, "I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever." John 14:16

Krista Jones

Bible Reading Guide:

Beginning to End: I Cor. 15-16
Old and New Testaments Together: Ezek. 45-46 & I John 2
Historical: Acts 11-13
Chronological: I Cor. 15-16
Blended: 2 Chron. 30-31 & Luke 10:25-42

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

God's Promises

2009-12-02T00:00:00.000-08:00

This month we are going to remember God's promises He has freely given us. Promises that are ours to grasp and believe in. Each day we will read a verse on God's promises to us. It'll be a bit different from what we've been doing as it'll be short and sweet so you can concentrate on what God is saying to you in each verse.

"Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I fell from Your presence? If I ascend to heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in Shoel, behold, You are there. If I take the wings of the dawn, If I dwell in the remotest part of the sea, even there Your hand will lead me, and Your right hand will lay hold of me." Psalm 139:7-10

When you come to know Jesus, you will begin to sense His presence. He is always with you no matter what your circumstances are or where you go. I always find it comforting to know that through difficult times I am never alone. But that God is still standing by my side guiding me through it. I feel blessed to have a loving God who cares enough to be an everlasting presence in my life.

Krista Jones

Bible Reading Guide:

Beginning to End: I Cor. 12-14
Old and New Testaments Together: Ezek. 42-44 & I John 1
Historical: Acts 9-10
Chronological: I Cor. 12-14
Blended: 2 Chron. 28-29 & Luke 10:1-24

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

December's Memory Verse

2009-12-01T00:00:00.000-08:00

John 3:16

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life."

John 3:16 (NASB - New American Standard Bible)

November's Memory Verse: Galatians 6:9-10
October's Memory Verse: Matthew 11:28-30
September's Memory Verse: Isaiah 41:10
August's Memory Verse: Ephesians 4:31
July's Memory Verse: I John 5:13
June's Memory Verse: Ephesians 4:25
May's Memory Verse: James 1:2-4
April's Memory Verse: Jeremiah 30:17
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 Cor. 9-11
Old and New Testaments Together: Ezek. 40-41 & 2 Peter 3
Historical: Acts 7-8
Chronological: I Cor. 9-11
Blended: 2 Chron. 25-27 & Luke 9:37-62

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

Jehovah Jireh

2009-11-30T00:00:00.000-08:00

"But I think it is necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger, whom you sent to take care of my needs" (Phil 2:25-26).

I got onto the bus with the other delegates attending a workplace conference in South Africa. It was a season in my life in which I had experienced many losses both financially and relationally. God was stripping away the old wineskin and creating a new one. One of the things He was teaching me was that He - not my skills, not my work - was my provider of financial needs during this season of training.

God provided me the means to attend the conference. One day before the registration deadline, a man came to my office and gave me $2500 and told me I was to go. Now, a man had just placed an envelope into my hand. "Here, God says I'm to give this to you. Inside are 10 crisp American $100 bills - $1000!" The man was from Kuwait.

Every believer needs to come to know Christ as their provider. Jehovah Jireh means God is my provider. When God called the Israelites from their place of slavery they had to walk through the desert. There is no way to earn a living in the desert. So God provided manna each day for them. Sometimes He even brought water from rocks. They had to experience a new way of gaining provision that was not rooted in sweat and toil. God had to demonstrate His faithfulness as Jehovah Jireh to His people.

There were times when Paul's tent making business was not the way God would provide for him. God often uses others as His instrument of provision. So, God sent Epaphroditus to take care of Paul's needs.

Do you know God as your provider? Do you have a need? Place your need before the Lord today and ask Him to demonstrate His faithfulness as Jehovah Jireh.

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

Bible Reading Guide:

Beginning to End: I Cor. 5-8
Old and New Testaments Together: Ezek. 37-39 & 2 Peter 2
Historical: Acts 4-6
Chronological: I Cor. 5-8
Blended: 2 Chron. 23-24 & Luke 9:18-36

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

Weekend Bible Reading

2009-11-28T00:00:00.000-08:00

Bible Reading Guide:

Saturday:

Beginning to End: Romans 14-15
Old and New Testaments Together: Ezek. 33-34 & I Peter 5
Historical: Philippians
Chronological: Acts 18:19-19:41
Blended: 2 Chron. 19-20 & Luke 8:26-56

Sunday:

Beginning to End: I Cor. 1-4
Old and New Testaments Together: Ezek. 35-36 & 2 Peter 1
Historical: Acts 1-3
Chronological: I Cor. 1-4
Blended: 2 Chron. 21-22 & Luke 9:1-17

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

Tears, Then Joyful Harvest

2009-11-27T00:00:00.000-08:00

"They that sow in tears shall reap in joy" (Psalm 126:5).

Weeping times are suitable for sowing: we do not want the ground to be too dry. Seed steeped in the tears of earnest anxiety will come up all the sooner. The salt of prayerful tears will give the good seed a flavor which will preserve it from the worm: truth spoken in awful earnestness has a double life about it. Instead of stopping our sowing because of our weeping, let us redouble our efforts because the season is so propitious. Our heavenly seed could not fitly be sown laughing. Deep sorrow and concern for the souls of others are a far more fit accompaniment of godly teaching than anything like levity. We have heard of men who went to war with a light heart, but they were beaten; and it is mostly so with those who sow in the same style. Come, then, my heart, sow on in thy weeping, for thou has the promise of a joyful harvest. Thou shalt reap. Thou, thyself, shalt see some results of thy labor. This shall come to thee in so large a measure as to give thee joy, which a poor, withered, and scanty harvest would not do. When thine eyes are dim with silver tears, think of the golden corn. Bear cheerfully the present toil and disappointment; for the harvest day will fully recompense thee.

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

Bible Reading Guide:

Beginning to End: Romans 11-13
Old and New Testaments Together: Ezek. 30-34 & I Peter 4
Historical: Colossians & Philemon
Chronological: I Thessalonians 1-5 & 2 Thessalonians 1-3
Blended: 2 Chron. 17-18 & Luke 8:1-25

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

Thanksgiving: The Forgotten Holiday

2009-11-26T00:00:00.000-08:00

"Do not cease giving thanks . . . " Ephesians 1:16 a

Sandwiched somewhere between Halloween and Christmas is a Thursday holiday that is slowly becoming more miniscule in the minds of millions of Americans – Thanksgiving. If you search hard, you might find one small section of Thanksgiving cards, autumn decorations, and a turkey platter amid the aisles and miles of Halloween costumes, Christmas decorations, and toys.

For some, Thanksgiving is a day to get a list together prior to a day of marathon Christmas shopping. Somehow our perception of Thanksgiving Day has gone askew. We've forgotten the reason for celebration that first Thanksgiving. Gratitude for survival!

Historically we think of Thanksgiving as a time of feasting for the Pilgrims and Indians. In the fall of 1621, the Pilgrims had been in America less than a year. During those months, over half their original population died from disease or starvation. The Pilgrims hosted the first feast not to try out their latest recipes, but to celebrate life with their Indian friends and give thanks to God for His provision in difficult circumstances.

Perhaps you'd like to redirect your family toward gratitude this year. Just as many enlist the help of an advent wreath to prepare for the celebration of Jesus' birth in December, focus on thanks-giving this November by doing the following:

• Write Bible verses that name the attributes of God on fruit-shaped cut-outs. Place them in a basket or cornucopia. During a time of family devotions or at a meal, have each family member select a fruit from the basket and read the verse aloud. Then discuss ways your family has experienced each of God's qualities.

• Think about reasons for ingratitude. Most of us are incredibly blessed, yet we find reasons to complain. This week, any time family members complain about something, have them place money in a jar. Your family can decide the amount. Then at the end of the week, donate the money to the soup kitchen or mobile meals to help with Thanksgiving meals.

• Think of someone you love and appreciate, but rarely see. Make plans to call, send a card, or visit that person. Find out if there is a special need, pray with the person, and provide materially or with an act of service.

• Focus on praising God. Let each family member select a praise chorus or hymn. Sing a different one at each meal instead of saying a blessing. Thank God for material provision, physical health, spiritual blessings, our country, our church, and family.

These are just a few ideas to help you get started. Use your creativity to come up with others and enjoy making Thanksgiving a holiday to remember.

By Candy Arrington, taken from CBN.com

Bible Reading Guide:

Beginning to End: Romans 8-10
Old and New Testaments Together: Ezek. 27-29 & I Peter 3
Historical: Eph. 4-6
Chronological: Acts 17-18:18
Blended: 2 Chron. 15-16 & Luke 7:31-50

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

A Fresh Vision

2009-11-25T00:00:00.000-08:00

"In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple." Isaiah 6:1

At the time of today's Scripture, King Uzziah had died. Changes in leadership often bring uncertainty, concern and confusion. Isaiah felt the king's death keenly, for not only was Uzziah his king, he was a dear friend.

Isaiah went to the temple, and there he was transformed! God knew that what Isaiah needed at this time of crisis was a new focus, a fresh vision of the Lord. There is the temple Isaiah saw the lOrd in all His glory, perhaps a manifestation of the pre-incarnate Christ.

As he gazed in rapt worship, the glory of God was revealed to him. He saw the Lord on His throne, reigning in all His majesty and power. There was no need to fear the future, for God was still on His throne. He was in control. The occupant of the earthy throne had changed; but God's throne is eternal, occupied by the one who said, "I the Lord do not change" (Malachi 3:6). Earthly events do not change God.

After Isaiah's perspective changed, he was never the same again. Our need, too, may be to shift our focus from people, possessions, and problems to a fresh vision of the Lord.

By Millie Stamm, taken from "Women's Devotional Bible"

Bible Reading Guide:

Beginning to End: Romans 4-7
Old and New Testaments Together: Ezek. 24-26 & I Peter 2
Historical: Eph. 1-3
Chronological: Gal. 4-6
Blended: 2 Chron. 13-14 & Luke 7:1-30

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

God Cares About You

2009-11-24T00:00:00.000-08:00

"Look at the birds in the air. They don't plant or harvest or store food in barns, but your heavenly Father feeds them." Matthew 6:26

Consider the earth! Our globe's weight has been estimated at six sextillion tons (a six with twenty-one zeros). Yet is is precisely tilted at twenty-three degrees; and more or any less and our seasons would be lost in a melted polar flood. Though our globe revolves at the rate of one-thousand miles per hour or twenty-five thousands miles per day or nine million miles per year, none of us tumbles into orbit . . . .

As you stand . . . observing God's workmanship, let me pose a few questions. If He is able to pace the stars in their sockets and suspend the sky like a curtain, do you think it is remotely possible that god is able to guide your life? If your God is mighty enough to ignite the sun, could it be that He is mighty enough to light your path? If He cares enough about the planet Saturn to give it rings or Venus to make it sparkle, is there an outside chance that He cares enough about you to meet your needs? - The Great House of God

By Max Lucado, taken from "Grace For The Moment"

Bible Reading Guide:

Beginning to End: Romans 1-3
Old and New Testaments Together: Ezek. 22-23 & I Peter 1
Historical: Luke 23-24
Chronological: Gal. 1-3
Blended: 2 Chron. 10-12 & Luke 6:27-49

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

"For the Sake of My Name

2009-11-23T00:00:00.000-08:00

In Ezekiel chapter 20 I came across a reoccurring theme. In 4 verses God says, "For the sake of My name."

20:9, "But I acted for the sake of My name, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations among whom they lived, in whose sight I made Myself known to them by bringing them out of the land of Egypt."

20:14, "But I acted for the sake of My name, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations, before whose sight I had brought them out."

20:22, "But I withdrew My hand and acted for the sake of My name, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations in whose sight I had brought them out."

20:44, "Then you will know that I am the Lord when I have dealt with you for My name's sake, not according to your evil ways or according to your corrupt deeds, O house of Israel," declares the Lord God."

My study notes say of verse 9, "Name and person are closely connected in the bible. God's name is His identity and reputation - that by which He is known. The phrase used here is equivalent to "for My own sake". God's acts of deliverance - past and future - identify Him, revealing His true nature."

I think about how as Believers we have God's name stamped within our being. We are therefore reflecting who He is and what we do impacts that reflection.

In the Ezekiel passage we read that God is passing judgement upon Israel for their sin. Sin committed by following other gods, and worshiping idols from the nations they live near. Those nations know that God's hand was upon the Israelites by what He did for them when they left Egypt. They knew the nation was a Godly nation. And yet, God's name and reputation were being tarnished by how the Israelites were acting. They were not showing God in a good light. We see that God is bring punishment down upon them to save His name from further ruin. Yet, in all this, because of His name, He does want to keep some of the nation alive.

When we act in a way that reflects more sin then God, we have a problem on our hands. We are tarnishing God's name and not being a good example to those who don't know Him. God's command to us is, "I am the Lord your God; walk in My statutes and keep My ordinances and observe them. Sanctify My Sabbaths; and they shall be a sign between Me and you that you may know that I am the Lord your God." Ezekiel 20:19-20. We do all those things so that others may know God by what they seen in us.

I think about my devotional thought this morning about how God's hand can reach down from heaven to touch a life. But in most cases He uses the touch of human hands for His purpose. "He uses those who are the nearest by to lend a helping hand, to comfort, to lift from despair, to stroke the fevered brow of discontent. For how can that discouraged and fretful soul experience the Love of God except through the love of one who is beside Him ready to love. How can that disheartened and downcast should feel the touch of encouragement and peace except by the touch of the closet hand reaching out in a tender concern. It may be a friend or a stranger, but God uses hands which are consecrated to Him for touching lives. You may say that it is only another human being. But what is meant by God if it is not Love?" - Streams in the Desert Vol. 2

In linking my Bible reading to my devotional thought I see that it's vital that if God is living within us that we do our best to reflect Him in the best light. We do that through our actions, speech and reactions. When we observe all that God calls us to observe and maintain a close relationship with Him, then He is able to use us to touch the lives of those in need.

What are you doing for His name?

Krista Jones
9.5.08

Bible Reading Guide:

Beginning to End: Acts 27-28
Old and New Testaments Together: Ezek. 20-21 & James 5
Historical: Luke 21-22
Chronological: Acts 15-16
Blended: 2 Chron. 7-9 & Luke 6:1-26

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

Weekend Bible Reading

2009-11-21T00:00:00.000-08:00

Bible Reading Guide:

Saturday:

Beginning to End: Acts 21-23
Old and New Testaments Together: Ezek. 16-17 & James 3
Historical: Luke 17-18
Chronological: Acts 13-14
Blended: 2 Chron. 1-3 & Luke 5:1-16

Sunday:

Beginning to End: Acts 24-26
Old and New Testaments Together: Ezek. 18-19 & James 4
Historical: Luke 19-20
Chronological: James 1-5
Blended: 2 Chron. 4-6 & Luke 5:17-39

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

God Listens

2009-11-20T00:00:00.000-08:00

"Open up before God, keep nothing back; He'll do whatever needs to be done." Psalm 37:5 - The Message

We live in a noisy world. We are yelled at, promoted, called. Everyone has an urgent message for us. we are surrounded with noise; telephone, radio, television, stereo. Messages re amplified deafeningly. The world is a mob in which everyone is talking at once and no one is willing or able to listen. But God listens. He not only speaks to us, He listens to us. His listening to us is an even greater marvel than His speaking to us. It is rare to find anyone who listens carefully and thoroughly . . .

WHen it happens we know that what we say and feel are immensely important. We acquire dignity. We never know how well we think or speak until we find someone who listens. - Reversed Thunder

By Eugene H. Peterson, taken from "God's Message for Each Day"

Bible Reading Guide:

Beginning to End: Acts 18-20
Old and New Testaments Together: Ezek. 14-15 & James 2
Historical: Luke 14-16
Chronological: Acts 11-12
Blended: I Chron. 28-29 & Luke 4:31-44

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

How To Help Those Who Hurt

2009-11-19T00:00:00.000-08:00

"Now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love." 1 Corinthians 13:13

When I have asked suffering people, “Who helped you?” not one person has mentioned a PhD from a prestigious seminary or a famous philosopher. All of us have the same capacity to help those who hurt.

No one can package or bottle the “appropriate” response to suffering. If you go to the sufferers themselves, some will recall a friend who cheerily helped distract them from their illness. Others think such an approach insulting. Some want honest, straightforward talk; others find such discussion unbearably depressing.

There is no magic cure for a person in pain. Mainly, such a person needs love, for love instinctively detects what is needed. Jean Vanier, who founded the L’Arche movement for the developmentally disabled, says: “Wounded people who have been broken by suffering and sickness ask for only one thing: a heart that loves and commits itself to them, a heart full of hope for them.”

Such a love may be painful for us. But real love, the apostle Paul reminds us, “Bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things” (1 Cor. 13:7).

As is so often His pattern, God uses very ordinary people to bring about His healing. Those who suffer don’t need our knowledge and wisdom, they need our love. — Philip Yancey

O brother man, fold to thy heart thy brother!
Where pity dwells, the peace of God is there;
To worship rightly is to love each other,
Each smile a hymn, each kindly deed a prayer. —Whittier

They do not truly love who do not show their love. —Shakespeare

Taken from "Our Daily Bread"

Bible Reading Guide:

Beginning to End: Acts 16-17
Old and New Testaments Together: Ezek. 11-13 & James 1
Historical: Luke 12-13
Chronological: Acts 9-10
Blended: I Chron. 25-27 & Luke 4:1-30

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

Coming Signs of Persecution

2009-11-18T00:00:00.000-08:00

"Come," they say, "let us destroy them as a nation, that the name of Israel be remembered no more" (Ps 83:4).

God calls us to know the signs of the times. The final end time conflict will arise when nations of the world will come against Israel. The Bible is clear that Jesus will return to the physical place of Jerusalem to collect His bride, represented as all those who believe and trust in Jesus, the Messiah. "Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready" (Rev 19:7). "I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband" (Rev 21:2).

Israel will always be a place of conflict in the world because Satan knows that this is the place Jesus must come back to in order to collect His bride. And when Jesus does that, it will be the end of Satan's influence on the earth through anti-Christ nations. But until Jesus returns, the land of Jerusalem will be in a tug of war among the nations.

There is a growing intolerance in the world for anyone who has a belief system in absolutes. Christians will be viewed as rigid, inflexible and intolerant of other faiths. There will be a season of political moderate philosophy among many nations and individuals. This moderate philosophy will even happen among Christians, Muslims, and political groups. This will open the door to the influence of the antichrist to come against any group believing in absolutes.

A growing trend of anti-Semitism and persecution will emerge against Jews and committed Christians. Christians will be called to stand with our brothers and sisters in Israel. When this happens it will be one of the reasons Jews will believe in the Messiah.

There has been a season of peace for followers of Christ in the western, European and Asian world. But know that a season of persecution is to come. "However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name" (1 Peter 4:16-17).

Pray that you will be faithful.

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

Bible Reading Guide:

Beginning to End: Acts 14-15
Old and New Testaments Together: Ezek. 8-10 & Hebrews 13
Historical: Luke 10-11
Chronological: Acts 7-8
Blended: I Chron. 22-245 & Luke 3

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

Commitment in Adversity

2009-11-17T00:00:00.000-08:00

"But Ruth replied, 'Don't urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord deal with me, be it ever so severely, if anything but death separates you and me.'" Ruth 1:16-17

When I made a commitment to marry a preacher, it was with joy, excitement and the dream of serving God with all my heart. Up to that point, I had experienced good health, success, achievement, praise and gratitude. I had ever reason to expect that a life of ministry would mean more of the same - plus greater joy and usefulness. I was not prepared for serious and debilitating illness, the miscarriage of a baby, the trauma of financially troubled church and personal attacks from the family of faith.

Within one of my husband's sermons, I found a nugget of hope: "Our adversities are God's universities." The adversities drove me to God, and God had what I needed to endure and fulfill the commitment I had made.

In Ruth 1:16-17 the innocent young widow Ruth expressed her passionate and devoted love for her old and bitter mother-in-law. It was not Naomi's beauty, wealth or even joyfulness that drew Ruth to her, for all of these had long since fallen away. Rather it was Naomi's faith in the living God, her spiritual wisdom and her consistent piety that bound the young pagan widow to her. Ruth made a commitment to travel, live and pursue life with Naomi, to accept her God and even to die and be buried in Naomi's homeland. Her commitment was not just with loving words and well-meaning feelings, as her sister-in-law Orpah (Ruth 1:14), but with purposeful love and devoted deeds.

Commitment must be fueled not merely by head knowledge but also by heart determination. Ruth had nothing to offer to Naomi or to God but herself, and that she have willingly and eagerly. Every woman, whatever her circumstances or position, has at least that to give the Savior, and it is enough!

By Dorothy Patterson, taken from "Women's Devotional Bible 2"

Bible Reading Guide:

Beginning to End: Acts 11-13
Old and New Testaments Together: Ezek. 5-7 & Hebrews 12
Historical: Luke 8-9
Chronological: Acts 4-6
Blended: I Chron. 19-21 & Luke 2:25-52

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

Lessons on Love

2009-11-16T00:00:00.000-08:00

Ezekiel 15 is all about Jerusalem being like a useless vine. I instantly think of John 15 when I think of vines. Jerusalem was a useless vine that produced bad fruit. We are told in John 15 that we are to abide in the Lord because if we don't we really are nothing. Just like Jerusalem was in Ezekiel's time. He said because they were useless that He would cast them into the fire to be burned up. John 15:6 says, "If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire and they are burned."

The rest of the John 15 talks about abiding the the Lord and His love. John 15:12 says, "This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you."

This verse ties into my morning devotional about love. I like what the 1st sentence says, "The great business of a true Christian life is to learn to love." WOW. As God's vine we know that if we abide in Him we know that we are to love one another. And honestly, I haven't done that these past few years. Sure, I love most people but those who rub me wrong get conditional love. I am really judgemental in giving my love away. If someone annoys me or hurts me I recoil my love.

I've spent the past few weeks praying about myself and what God wants to change in me. I know the first lesson He has taught/continues to teach me is that I need to diligently seek Him and His approval alone. I'm getting the feeling that learning to love is another lesson. It ties in with forgiving and letting go.

I will let my devotional speak for me:

"Life with all its experiences is just our chance of learning love. The lesson is set for us - 'Thou shalt love;' 'As I have loved you, that ye also love one another.' Our one thing is to master this lesson. We are not in this world to get rich, to gain power, to become learned in the arts and sciences, to build up a great business, or to do large things in any line. We are not here to get along in our daily work, in our shops, or schools, or homes, or on our farms. we are not here to preach the gospel, to comfort sorrow, to visit the sick and to perform deeds of charity. All of these, or any of these, may be among our duties, and they may fill our hands; but in all our occupations the real business of life, that which we are always to strive to do, the work which must go on in all our experiences, if we grasp life's true meaning at all, is to learn to love, and to grow loving in disposition and character.

We may learn the finest arts of life - music, painting, sculpture, poetry, or many master the noblest sciences, or by means of reading, study, travel, and converse with refined people, may attain the best culture; but if in all this we do not learn to love, and become more gentle in spirit and act, we have missed the prize of living. If in the midst of all our duties, cares, trials, joys, sorrows, we are not day by day growing in sweetness, in gentleness, in unselfishness, in thoughtfulness, and in all the branches of love, we are not learning the great lesson set for us by our Master in this school of life." - J. R. Miller, taken from Streams in the Desert Vol. 2

Hard for me to grasp and understand that what I thought I've been doing isn't what I have been doing. So continues the lessons I am to learn . . . . Abiding in the Lord and learning to love.

Krista Jones
9.2.08

Bible Reading Guide:

Beginning to End: Acts 9-10
Old and New Testaments Together: Ezek. 3-4 & Hebrews 11:20-40
Historical: Luke 6-7
Chronological: Acts 1-3
Blended: I Chron. 16-18 & Luke 2:1-24

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

Weekend Bible Reading

2009-11-14T00:00:00.000-08:00

Bible Reading Guide:

Saturday:

Beginning to End: Acts 4-6
Old and New Testaments Together: Lam. 1-2 & Hebrews 10:19-39
Historical: Luke 2-3
Chronological: Matthew 28 & Mark 16
Blended: I Chron. 10-12 & Luke 1:39-56

Sunday:

Beginning to End: Acts 7-8
Old and New Testaments Together: Ezek. 1-2 & Hebrews 11:1-19
Historical: Luke 4-5
Chronological: Luke 24 & John 20-21
Blended: I Chron. 13-15 & Luke 1:57-80

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

God's Multiplication Table

2009-11-13T00:00:00.000-08:00

"A little one shall become a thousand, and a small one a strong nation: I the LORD will hasten it in his time" (Isaiah 60:22).

Works for the LORD often begin on a small scale, and they are none the worse for this. Feebleness educates faith, brings God near, and wins glory for His name. Prize promises of increase! Mustard seed is the smallest among seeds, and yet it becomes a treelike plant, with branches which lodge the birds of heaven. We may begin with one, and that "a little one," and yet it will "become a thousand." The LORD is great at the multiplication table. How often did He say to His lone servant, "I will multiply thee!" Trust in the LORD, ye ones and twos; for He will be in the midst of you if you are gathered in His name. "A small one." What can be more despicable in the eyes of those who count heads and weigh forces! Yet this is the nucleus of a great nation. Only one star shines out at first in the evening, but soon the sky is crowded with countless lights. Nor need we think the prospect of increase to be remote, for the promise is, "I Jehovah will hasten it in his time." There will be no premature haste, like that which we see at excited meetings; it will be all in due time, but yet there will be no delay. When the LORD hastens, His speed is glorious.

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

Bible Reading Guide:

Beginning to End: Acts 1-3
Old and New Testaments Together: Lam. 1-2 & Hebrews 10:1-18
Historical: Luke 1
Chronological: Luke 23 & John 18-19
Blended: I Chron. 7-9 & Luke 1:21-38

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

Fix Your Eyes on Jesus!

2009-11-12T00:00:00.000-08:00

"Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith." Hebrews 12:2

Every man has some contribution to make to your life if you know how to receive it; certain men will astonish you with their ability to answer your unexpressed question and tell you what is in your heart. But never attach yourself to any man as a parasite. Adopt no man as a guru. Apart from the inspired writers of Holy Scriptures no man is worthy of such confidence. The sweetest saint can be mistaken.

I repeat, never let any man become necessary to you. Christ alone is necessary. Apart from Him we are completely wretched; without Him we cannot live and dare not die. Our need of Him is real and vital and will outlast time and go on into eternity. That deep and desperate need is met by Christ so completely that when we have Him we need no one else. We may receive help from our fellow Christians as they from us, but our need for them is relative and fleeting. Let anyone become spiritually indispensable to us and we have deserted the Rock to build on shifting sand.

It requires deep consecration, I admit, and complete detachment from earthly interests to reach such a place of independence. And it is only after we become completely dependent upon God that we can walk without leaning on men. It takes much prayer and quiet contemplation to maintain the nice balance that will permit us to receive help from our fellow Christians and at the same time be sweetly independent of them. But we should not despair; it is not beyond the possibilities of grace. Not even for such weak Christians as we are.

Thought: God ministers to us through other believers whom He has gifted. We can be aided by others who are more mature than are we. But it is on Christ our eyes are to be fixed. He is the author and perfecter of our faith, as well as our perfect example.

By A.W. Tozer, taken from "The Warfare of the Spirit"

Bible Reading Guide:

Beginning to End: John 19-21
Old and New Testaments Together: Jer. 51-52 & Hebrews 9
Historical: Mark 15-16
Chronological: Matthew 27 & Mark 15
Blended: I Chron. 4-6 & LUke 1:1-20

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

Raised Through the Spirit

2009-11-11T00:00:00.000-08:00

"God does not give the Spirit by measure. The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into His hand." John 3:34-35

Jesus took on the role required voluntary submission, and He did the will of the Father through the power of the Spirit. That is an amazing act of love and humility from One who is fully God and always will be throughout eternity

It is important to recognize the Spirit's work in the ministry and resurrection of Jesus because it indicates that the entire Trinity was involved in the redemption of mankind. The greatest affirmation that Jesus is who He claimed to be is that the Father raised the Son through the agency of the Holy Spirit.

By John MacArthur, taken from "Truth for Today"

Bible Reading Guide:

Beginning to End: John 16-18
Old and New Testaments Together: Jer. 50 & Hebrews 8
Historical: Mark 14
Chronological: John 14-17
Blended: I Chron. 1-3 & Jude

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

Impulsiveness or Discipleship?

2009-11-10T00:00:00.000-08:00

"But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith . . ." Jude 20

There was nothing of the nature of impulsive or thoughtless action about our Lord, but only a calm strength that never got into a panic. Most of us develop our Christianity along the lines of our own nature, not along the lines of God’s nature. Impulsiveness is a trait of the natural life, and our Lord always ignores it, because it hinders the development of the life of a disciple. Watch how the Spirit of God gives a sense of restraint to impulsiveness, suddenly bringing us a feeling of self-conscious foolishness, which makes us instantly want to vindicate ourselves. Impulsiveness is all right in a child, but is disastrous in a man or woman—an impulsive adult is always a spoiled person. Impulsiveness needs to be trained into intuition through discipline.

Discipleship is built entirely on the supernatural grace of God. Walking on water is easy to someone with impulsive boldness, but walking on dry land as a disciple of Jesus Christ is something altogether different. Peter walked on the water to go to Jesus, but he "followed Him at a distance" on dry land ( Mark 14:54 ). We do not need the grace of God to withstand crises—human nature and pride are sufficient for us to face the stress and strain magnificently. But it does require the supernatural grace of God to live twenty-four hours of every day as a saint, going through drudgery, and living an ordinary, unnoticed, and ignored existence as a disciple of Jesus. It is ingrained in us that we have to do exceptional things for God—but we do not. We have to be exceptional in the ordinary things of life, and holy on the ordinary streets, among ordinary people—and this is not learned in five minutes.

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

Bible Reading Guide:

Beginning to End: John 13-15
Old and New Testaments Together: Jer. 48-49 & Hebrews 7
Historical: Mark 12-13
Chronological: Luke 22 & John 13
Blended: Ezra 9-10 & 2 Tim. 4

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

“Leadership Lessons from Geese”

2009-11-09T00:00:00.000-08:00

"Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more, as you see the day drawing near." Hebrews 10:23-25

While I reading my devotional this morning I heard geese honking as they flew over my house. That reminded me about the unique nature of geese in how they support one another. I found this article that says it all.

“Leadership Lessons from Geese”

To show the importance of teamwork, we can take examples from the lives of geese:

Fact: As each goose flaps its wings, it creates an uplift for the birds that follow. By flying in a “V” formation, the whole flock gains 71% greater flying range than if each bird flew alone.

Lesson 1: People who share a common direction and sense of community can get where they are going quicker and easier because they are traveling on the thrust of one another.

Fact: When a goose falls out of formation, it suddenly feels the drag and resistance of flying alone. It quickly moves back into formation to take advantage of the lifting power of the bird immediately in front of it.

Lesson 2: If we have as much sense as a goose we stay in formation with those headed where we want to go. We are willing to accept their help and give our help to others.

Fact: When the lead goose tires, it rotates back into the formation and another goose flies to the point position.

Lesson 3: It pays to take turns doing the hard tasks and sharing leadership. As with geese, people are interdependent on each other’s skill, capabilities, and unique arrangements of gifts, talents, and resources.

Fact: The geese flying in formation honk to encourage those up in front to keep up their speed.

Lesson 4: We need to make sure that our honking is encouraging. In groups where there is encouragement, the production is much greater. The power of encouragement (to stand by one’s core values, and to encourage the core values of others) is the quality of honking we seek.

Fact: When a goose gets sick, wounded or shot, two geese drop out of formation and follow it down to help and protect it. They stay with it until it dies or is able to fly again. Then, they launch out with another formation or catch up with the flock.

Lesson 5: If we have as much sense as geese, we will stand by each other in difficult times as well as when we are strong.

"Honk Honk - Leadership Lessons from Geese"

Too often in today's society we are not taught to support one another. We are taught to think only of ourselves, how far we can advance in whatever we're doing to be #1 and to use people to get you to that goal. Look at Hollywood for example. They love celebrities as long as they do, act and look like they want them to. Even when they behave badly they glorify them. And yet, as you see many young lives get eaten up by Hollywood you don't see Hollywood supporting them unless they make the news through tragedy, rehab or succeeding in making them money. It's a sad day when I look around and see so many people in need of love and hurting but feel all alone.

Next time you hear geese honking look up and watch them. It's not often that you see one struggling all alone behind the flock. Normally they are all flying in a V formation together as one. If one falls behind because of illness or injury others will fly with it to encourage and help it until it is well enough to join the flock once more. No one is left behind. No one is alone. Even the leaders are support by the honking you hear. The honks help encourage the leader to press forward. If he tires he falls back and allows others to lead the way for a while.

How is your honking lately? Are you just sitting there silently allowing those beside you to fall out of formation and be left behind? Are you willing to be the one that honks others on? Or the one who falls out of formation to come along side the one in need?

Have you honked lately? If not, start honking!

Krista Jones
8.31.08

Bible Reading Guide:

Beginning to End: John 11-12
Old and New Testaments Together: Jer. 46-47 & Hebrews 6
Historical: Mark 10-11
Chronological: Matthew 26 & Mark 14
Blended: Ezra 6-8 & 2 Tim. 3

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

Weekend Bible Reading

2009-11-07T00:00:00.000-08:00

Bible Reading Guide:

Saturday:

Beginning to End: John 7-8
Old and New Testaments Together: Jer. 40-42 & Hebrews 4
Historical: Mark 6-7
Chronological: Matthew 24
Blended: Ezra 1-2 & 2 Tim. 1

Sunday:

Beginning to End: John 9-10
Old and New Testaments Together: Jer. 43-45 & Hebrews 5
Historical: Mark 8-9
Chronological: Matthew 25
Blended: Ezra 3-5 & 2 Tim. 2

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

Who Goes There?

2009-11-06T00:00:00.000-08:00

"When he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him." John 10:4

Last fall my wife, Carolyn, and I were driving up a winding mountain road near our home in Idaho when we came across a large flock of sheep moving down the road toward us. A lone shepherd with his dogs was in the vanguard, leading his flock out of summer pasture into the lowlands and winter quarters.

We pulled to the side of the road and waited while the flock swirled around us. We watched them until they were out of sight, then I wondered: Do sheep fear change, movement, new places?

Like most older folks, I like the “fold”—the old, familiar places. But all is shifting and changing these days; I’m being led out, away from familiar surroundings and into a vast unknown. What new limits will overtake me in the coming days? What nameless fears will awaken? Jesus’ words from John 10 come to mind: “When he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them” (v.4).

We may well be dismayed at what life has for us this year and next, but our Shepherd knows the way we’re taking. And He goes before. He will not lead us down paths too dangerous or too arduous where He cannot help us. He knows our limits. He knows the way to green pasture and good water; all we have to do is follow. — David H. Roper

Child of My love, fear not the unknown morrow,
Dread not the new demand life makes of thee;
Thy ignorance doth hold no cause for sorrow
Since what thou knowest not is known to Me. —Exley

Our unknown future is secure in the hands of our all-knowing God.

Taken from "Our Daily Bread"

Bible Reading Guide:

Beginning to End: John 5-6
Old and New Testaments Together: Jer. 37-39 & Hebrews 3
Historical: Mark 4-5
Chronological: Mark 13
Blended: Zephaniah & Col. 4

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

No One is Useless to God

2009-11-05T00:00:00.000-08:00

"God does not see the same way people see. People look at the outside of a person, but the Lord looks at the heart." I Samuel 16:7

No one is useless to God. No one, at any point in his life, is useless to God - not a little child, not the unattractive, not the clumsy, not the tired, not the discouraged. God uses his children.

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

Bible Reading Guide:

Beginning to End: John 3-4
Old and New Testaments Together: Jer. 34-36 & Hebrews 2
Historical: Mark 1-3
Chronological: Matthew 23 & Luke 20-21
Blended: Habakkuk & Col. 3

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

God Knows Me

2009-11-04T00:00:00.000-08:00

"O Lord, thou hast searched me, and known me. Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off. Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways." Psalm 139:1-3

Read all of Psalm 139. And then read it again. And again. It is a study in depth psychology. It is a frightening study until we grasp the tremendous fact that God knows all of the unfathomable depths of our beings.

Our subconscious minds are like baskets. Into them has dropped everything we have ever heard, spoken or thought. And we cannot control them. But God knows all about subconscious minds as well as conscious minds. He created them in the first place. They are not too much for Him at all.

He knows.

That has come to be daily a greater relief to me.

He is "Acquainted with all my ways" and still He loves me.

Each time something frightening floats to the surface of my subconscious mind and registers its ugly self on my consciousness, I deliberately remind myself that God is not shocked by the things I am just now seeing about me. "While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." He is unshockable and unshakable, and He is, in the Person of the blessed Holy Spirit, constantly at work in the shadowy depths of our subconscious minds. This is His domain if we are Christians. Here we have no control and even when consciously we feel out of touch with God, we can absolutely rest on the fact that He is not out of touch with us. He is there in the depths right now working.

We have His own word for the fact that He is there:

. . . If any man . . . open the door, I will come in . . . I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

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

Bible Reading Guide:

Beginning to End: John 1-2
Old and New Testaments Together: Jer. 32-33 & Hebrews 1
Historical: Matthew 27-28
Chronological: Matthew 22 & Mark 12
Blended: Nahum & Col. 2

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