Heavenly Father, I would be thankful for the blessings I am inclined to forget. Give me a heart of gratitude, and forbid that I should hold my friends for material gain or selfish ends. May I through the truthfulness of my lips, and the honor of my acts, be a necessary friend. Amen.
Saturday, December 6, 2014
Friday, December 5, 2014
Today Bible Words
- But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.
- At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them.
- The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group
- And said to Jesus, "Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery.
- In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?"
- They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him. But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger.
- When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, "If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her."
- Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.
- At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there.
- Jesus straightened up and asked her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?"
- "No one, sir," she said. "Then neither do I condemn you," Jesus declared. "Go now and leave your life of sin."
- When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."
- The Pharisees challenged him, "Here you are, appearing as your own witness; your testimony is not valid."
- Jesus answered, "Even if I testify on my own behalf, my testimony is valid, for I know where I came from and where I am going.
- But you have no idea where I come from or where I am going.
- You judge by human standards; I pass judgment on no one.
- But if I do judge, my decisions are right, because I am not alone. I stand with the Father, who sent me.
- In your own Law it is written that the testimony of two men is valid.
- I am one who testifies for myself; my other witness is the Father, who sent me."
- Then they asked him, "Where is your father?" "You do not know me or my Father," Jesus replied. "If you knew me, you would know my Father also."
- He spoke these words while teaching in the temple area near the place where the offerings were put. Yet no one seized him, because his time had not yet come.
Daily Prayer: 2014-12-05
My Father, as I pause this day to think of the brave men and women who have given their lives for the sake of others, may I be thankful for them. May I remember that noble deeds and kind words never lost, but that self may block the way to justice. O Father, make war to cease! and lead us to victories that are won through peace. Amen.
Thursday, December 4, 2014
Today Bible Words
- That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched--this we proclaim concerning the Word of life.
- The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us.
- We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.
- We write this to make our joy complete.
- This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.
- If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth.
- But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.
- If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.
- If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
- If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.
Daily Prayer: 2014-12-04
Lord God, may I never feel that I have a right to sell thy joys, nor the privilege of giving away my burdens. Grant that I may not forsake my principles, but may I keep the way clear that memory may find an unruffled rest. Amen.
Tuesday, December 2, 2014
Daily Prayer: 2014-12-03
God of mercy, reveal to me the hallowed life.
May I be reminded that, while I may save and keep the dust from things that perish, my life, though unkept and undeveloped, tells in itself the value and need of the most watchful care. Amen.
Today Bible Words
- Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship.
- Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.
- Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will.
- For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought.
- But rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.
- Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function,
- So in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.
- We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith.
- If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teacHh if it is encouraging, let him encourage.
- If it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership.
- Let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.
- Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.
- Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.
- Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.
- Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.
- Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
- Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.
- Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.
- Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.
- Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody.
- If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.
- Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord.
- On the contrary: "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head."
- Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Daily Prayer: 2014-12-02
Lord God, help me to know my ability, that I may not attempt with weakness that which requires strength to undertake; and make me stable that I may not relax vigilance even though victory seems assured. Amen.
Monday, December 1, 2014
Today Bible Words
- Now the LORD had said to Abram: "Get out of your country, From your family And from your father's house, To a land that I will show you.
- I will make you a great nation; I will bless you And make your name great; And you shall be a blessing.
- I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you; And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed."
- So Abram departed as the LORD had spoken to him, and Lot went with him. And Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran.
- Then Abram took Sarai his wife and Lot his brother's son, and all their possessions that they had gathered, and the people whom they had acquired in Haran, and they departed to go to the land of Canaan. So they came to the land of Canaan.
- Abram passed through the land to the place of Shechem, as far as the terebinth tree of Moreh. And the Canaanites were then in the land.
- Then the LORD appeared to Abram and said, "To your descendants I will give this land." And there he built an altar to the LORD, who had appeared to him.
- And he moved from there to the mountain east of Bethel, and he pitched his tent with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east; there he built an altar to the LORD and called on the name of the LORD.
- So Abram journeyed, going on still toward the South.
- Now there was a famine in the land, and Abram went down to Egypt to dwell there, for the famine was severe in the land.
- And it came to pass, when he was close to entering Egypt, that he said to Sarai his wife, "Indeed I know that you are a woman of beautiful countenance.
- "Therefore it will happen, when the Egyptians see you, that they will say, 'This is his wife'; and they will kill me, but they will let you live.
- "Please say you are my sister, that it may be well with me for your sake, and that I may live because of you."
- So it was, when Abram came into Egypt, that the Egyptians saw the woman, that she was very beautiful.
- The princes of Pharaoh also saw her and commended her to Pharaoh. And the woman was taken to Pharaoh's house.
- He treated Abram well for her sake. He had sheep, oxen, male donkeys, male and female servants, female donkeys, and camels.
- But the LORD plagued Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai, Abram's wife.
- And Pharaoh called Abram and said, "What is this you have done to me? Why did you not tell me that she was your wife?
- "Why did you say, 'She is my sister'? I might have taken her as my wife. Now therefore, here is your wife; take her and go your way."
- So Pharaoh commanded his men concerning him; and they sent him away, with his wife and all that he had.
Sunday, November 30, 2014
Today Bible Words
- But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you.
- For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night.
- For when they say, "Peace and safety!" then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape.
- But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief.
- You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness.
- Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober.
- For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night.
- But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation.
- For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,
- Who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him.
- Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.
- And we urge you, brethren, to recognize those who labour among you, and are over you in the Lord and admonish you,
- And to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. Be at peace among yourselves.
- Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all.
- See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good both for yourselves and for all.
- Rejoice always,
- Pray without ceasing,
- In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
- Do not quench the Spirit.
- Do not despise prophecies.
- Test all things; hold fast what is good.
- Abstain from every form of evil.
- Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
- He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.
- Brethren, pray for us.
- Greet all the brethren with a holy kiss.
- I charge you by the Lord that this epistle be read to all the holy brethren.
- The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.