Tuesday March 31, 2015 thought for the day

HERE ARE MY THOUGHTS FOR THE DAY

1-The essence of sin is selfishness, the essence of God's way of life is selflessness-

2-Making "spiritual deals" only brings disappointment-

3-God does not want promises for the future but obedience for today-

4-The measure of your trust worthiness is your willingness to take responsibility-

5-A person's greatest failure may be preventing others from achieving greatness-

 

STRANGE THOUGHT-I am who I am, your approval is not needed-

 

I'VE LEARNED-Your beliefs don't make you a better person, your behavior does-

 

DID YOU KNOW-A "prestidigitator" is another word for magician-

 

5 THINGS I WANT TO KNOW

1-What happens to your faith when bad situations don't change?

2-Can God use a forgiven sinner?

3-Under the Law of Moses, was there any place for grace and forgiveness?

4-Why isn't the man who was with the woman caught in adultery mentioned in her story.  Did he not have any responsibility in the act?

5-Whatever happened to the woman caught in adultery who Jesus forgave and told her to go and sin no more?

 

BIBLE TRIVIA-What was the Place-makers Bible?

Answer     The second edition of the Geneva Bible, printed in 1562, which has a printers error in Matthew 5:9, "blessed are the place-makers"

 

SCRIPTURE FOR THE DAY   Mark 13:14-23

¹⁴ “You will see ‘a blasphemous object that brings destruction’ standing where it should not be.” (You who read this should understand what it means.) “At that time, the people in Judea should run away to the mountains. ¹⁵ If people are on the roofs of their houses, they must not go down or go inside to get anything out of their houses. ¹⁶ If people are in the fields, they must not go back to get their coats. ¹⁷ At that time, how terrible it will be for women who are pregnant or have nursing babies! ¹⁸ Pray that these things will not happen in winter, ¹⁹ because those days will be full of trouble. There will be more trouble than there has ever been since the beginning, when God made the world, until now, and nothing as bad will ever happen again. ²⁰ God has decided to make that terrible time short. Otherwise, no one would go on living. But God will make that time short to help the people he has chosen. ²¹ At that time, someone might say to you, ‘Look, there is the Christ!’ Or another person might say, ‘There he is!’ But don’t believe them. ²² False Christs and false prophets will come and perform great wonders and miracles. They will try to fool even the people God has chosen, if that is possible. ²³ So be careful. I have warned you about all this before it happens.

 

PRAYER FOR THE DAY 

Father, I want my heart to be tuned to Your Truth and righteousness, for You are the Way, the Truth and the Life.  I place my complete trust in You and reject the godless trends and vain philosophies promoted by the world.  May Your words be embedded in my heart and mind through the faithful study of Scripture so that I might not sin against You and so that I will recognize truth from error. Since I’m often prone to wander, I ask You, Father God, to mount my soul on Thy redeeming love and tune my heart to all that is good, righteous, and holy so that my attitudes and actions are harmonious with the Scriptures, in the precious name of Jesus I pray. Amen.


I WISH YOU A DAY FILLED WITH LOVE, LAUGHTER, FORGIVENESS AND THANKSGIVING!

Monday March 30, 2015 thought for the day

HERE ARE MY THOUGHTS FOR THE DAY

1-When the Israelites faith in God disintegrated, their unity as a nation also disintegrated-

2-When you leave God out of your life, you may be shocked at what you are capable of doing-

3-Whenever we get away from God and his word, all sorts of evil can follow-

4-Repentance means not only confessing sins and asking God to forgive us, but also abandoning our sinful ways-

5-God often saved his harshest criticism and punishment for those who worshiped idols-

 

STRANGE THOUGHT-My brother has the best brother in the world-

 

I'VE LEARNED-Show respect even to people who don't deserve it, not as a reflection of their character, but as a reflection of yours-

 

DID YOU KNOW-Influenza got its name from the fact that people believed the disease was because of the evil "influence" of stars-

 

5 THINGS I WANT TO KNOW

1-Is casting lots the same as tossing the dice?

2-Is there a cause and effect relationship between what we do and what God will do?

3-How much faith do you need for prayers to be answered?

4-How do you know if you have faith or just hope?

5-Is the word "luck" in the Bible?

 

BIBLE TRIVIA-What was the Unrighteous Bible?

Answer for today      An edition, printed at Cambridge in 1653, contains the printer's error, "Know ye not that the unrighteous shall inherit the kingdom of God?"

                                    1 Corinthians 6:9

 

SCRIPTURE FOR THE DAY   Mark 13:9-13

⁹ “You must be careful. People will arrest you and take you to court and beat you in their synagogues. You will be forced to stand before kings and governors, to tell them about me. This will happen to you because you follow me. ¹⁰ But before these things happen, the Good News must be told to all people. ¹¹ When you are arrested and judged, don’t worry ahead of time about what you should say. Say whatever is given you to say at that time, because it will not really be you speaking; it will be the Holy Spirit.

¹² “Brothers will give their own brothers to be killed, and fathers will give their own children to be killed. Children will fight against their own parents and cause them to be put to death. ¹³ All people will hate you because you follow me, but those people who keep their faith until the end will be saved.

 

PRAYER FOR THE DAY

  Father, we’re told to do everything without complaining, so that we shine like stars in the universe. We know that people are drawn to light where brightness is present and warmth is extended. Help our conversation to be full of grace, tenderness, light, and truth so that we will positively affect those around us.  May we be as a sweet aroma to You and those whom we meet on our life’s journey. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

 

May you have enough happiness to make you sweet, enough trials to make you strong, enough sorrow to keep you human, and enough hope to make you happy-

Sunday March 29, 20145 thought for the day

HERE ARE MY THOUGHTS FOR THE DAY

1-Clear your mind of everyone else's perception of what is beautiful-

2-You can't expect a good outcome if you know the right thing to do and don't do it-

3-Don't allow personal success to become a measuring rod of whether or not you are pleasing God-

4-Worshiping images of God is not worshiping God-

5-Godliness cannot be merely a charm.  It must be a reality in our motives and in our actions-

 

STRANGE THOUGHT-I had fun once, it was awful-

 

I'VE LEARNED-Time is like a river.  You cannot step into the same water twice, because the flow that has passed will never pass again.  Enjoy every moment of life-

 

Did you know-The word cop came from the English term "Constable on Patrol."

 

5 THINGS I WANT TO KNOW

1-Why should the brothers have believed Joseph had forgiven them?

2-Is it sin when you blame God?

3-Do we really want what we deserve?

4-Is the world in which we live the world that God created?

5-What is the difference in faith, hope and luck?

 

BIBLE TRIVIA-What was the Treacle Bible?

Answer for the day   The Bishops' Bible, so called because Jeremiah 8:22 reads, Is there no treacle in Gilead?"

 

SCRIPTURE FOR THE DAY   Mark 13:1-8

As Jesus was leaving the Temple, one of his followers said to him, “Look, Teacher! How beautiful the buildings are! How big the stones are!”

² Jesus said, “Do you see all these great buildings? Not one stone will be left on another. Every stone will be thrown down to the ground.”
³ Later, as Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, opposite the Temple, he was alone with Peter, James, John, and Andrew. They asked Jesus, ⁴ “Tell us, when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are going to happen?”
⁵ Jesus began to answer them, “Be careful that no one fools you. ⁶ Many people will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the One,’ and they will fool many people. ⁷ When you hear about wars and stories of wars that are coming, don’t be afraid. These things must happen before the end comes. ⁸ Nations will fight against other nations, and kingdoms against other kingdoms. There will be earthquakes in different places, and there will be times when there is no food for people to eat. These things are like the first pains when something new is about to be born.

 

PRAYER FOR THE DAY 

Lord Jesus, I want to live today in glorious anticipation of Your second coming.  Because You buried my sin into the deepest part of the ocean I do not live in condemnation. Rather I am freely pardoned by Your completely selfless and merciful death upon the cross. It brings unspeakable joy because You have broken the bondage of sin that held me captive for years. I’m also overjoyed in knowing that You, Lord, will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God to take me to be caught up with You in the air. I am greatly encouraged in knowing that I will forever be with You in the presence of Almighty God and the saints who’ve gone ahead of me. Keep me faithful, trusting, and anticipating that great day. Amen.

 

 

 

 

I WISH YOU LOVE IN YOUR HEART.....PEACE IN YOUR SOUL.....AND JOY IN YOUR LIFE.....ALWAYS!!!

Saturday March 28, 2015 thought for the day

HERE ARE MY THOUGHTS FOR THE DAY

1-Don't make you the focus of your life-

2-Learn from past mistakes but move forward-

3-Don't live your life according to the expectations of others-

4-Don't measure yourself by other people-

5-Realize that you are God's unique creation and that he loves you just as you are-

 

STRANGE THOUGHT-If you spin an oriental man in a circle three times, is he then disoriented?

 

I'VE LEARNED-There is something wrong if you are always right-

 

DID YOU KNOW-The word kangaroo means "I don't know" in the language of Australian Aborigines.  When Captain Cook approached natives of the Endeavor River tribe to ask what the strange animal he spotted was, he got "kangaroo" for an answer-

 

5 THINGS I WANT TO KNOW

1-Is an intimate friendship possible between an omnipotent, invisible Holy God and a finite, sinful human being?

2-What can you thank God for today that you already have?

3-What am I grateful for today?

4-Did Joseph's brothers ever ask Joseph for forgiveness?

5-Did Joseph's brothers ever tell their father what they had done to Joseph years before?

 

BIBLE TRIVIA-In 1986, a modern English translation became the first to outsell the King James Version.  What was it?

Answer for today       The New International Version

 

SCRIPTURE FOR THE DAY   Mark 12:41-44

⁴¹ Jesus sat near the Temple money box and watched the people put in their money. Many rich people gave large sums of money. ⁴² Then a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which were only worth a few cents.

⁴³ Calling his followers to him, Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, this poor widow gave more than all those rich people. ⁴⁴ They gave only what they did not need. This woman is very poor, but she gave all she had; she gave all she had to live on.”

 

PRAYER FOR THE DAY 

Father, from the time we awaken to the time we lie down we declare that You are worthy to be praised! Your name is exalted far above the earth, Your worth much greater than any jewels. Help us not to be people who use the same tongue for cursing and praises. Instead we engage our mind, surrender our hearts and employ our tongue to praise You, our Lord and Father. Be glorified in our lives so that we bring praise and glory to You this day and each day.  Amen.


TODAY WILL NEVER COME AGAIN. BE A BLESSING. BE A FRIEND. ENCOURAGE SOMEONE. TAKE TIME TO CARE. LET YOUR WORDS AND ACTIONS HEAL AND NOT WOUND!

Friday March 27, 2015 thought for the day

HERE ARE MY THOUGHTS FOR THE DAY

1-While we must live with the natural consequences of our sin, God's forgiveness of sin is total-

2-Sometimes forgiving a personal hurt shows more strength than lashing out in revenge-

3-Wisdom is both the ability to discuss what is best and also the strength of character to act on that knowledge-

4-We are to love others without inquiring whether or not they are worthy-

5-Focus on the attributes you have rather than on those you lack-

 

STRANGE THOUGHT-Why is there an expiration date on sour cream?

 

I'VE LEARNED-Old age is when it takes longer to rest than to get tired-

 

DID YOU KNOW-The word calendar comes from Latin and means "to call out"-

 

5 THINGS I WANT TO KNOW

1-What does it mean to "carry each others burdens?"

2-What does the Bible mean saying "carry each others burdens and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ"?

3-Do many Christians live totally by faith?

4-How do we "receive God's grace in vain"?

5-We say that God is in control of this world yet the Bible says the ruler of this world is satan.  Which is right?

 

BIBLE TRIVIA-What was the first Bible to use italics for explanatory and connective words and phrases?

Answer for today     The Geneva Bible (1560)

 

SCRIPTURE FOR THE DAY     Mark 12:35-37

³⁵ As Jesus was teaching in the Temple, he asked, “Why do the teachers of the law say that the Christ is the son of David? ³⁶ David himself, speaking by the Holy Spirit, said:

‘The Lord said to my Lord,
“Sit by me at my right side,
    Until I put your enemies under your control.”’ Psalm 110:1

³⁷ David himself calls the Christ ‘Lord,’ so how can the Christ be his son?” The large crowd listened to Jesus with pleasure.

 

PRAYER FOR THE DAY

Father, we thank You for those who make known the “unknown God” to the people of a foreign land or right here in our own homeland. More and more we hear of those who pray or look to a “higher power” for help in their day to day struggles. How unfortunate for them if they do not know You personally, Father God, to be the Highest Power available to all creation. From the very beginning You created a hunger within our hearts to serve you, but far too many misfeed that hunger and rather look to “gold or silver or stone—an image made by human design and skill”. Instead we are to feed our spiritual hunger by serving You with all our heart, soul, mind and strength. As we draw near to You, You promise to draw near to us. Thank You for making Yourself known to us in Your Word as we immerse ourselves in Your truths. Amen.

 

 

 

SMILE, LAUGH, FORGIVE, BELIEVE AND LOVE, OVER AND OVER AGAIN!

Thursday March 26, 2015 thought for the day

HERE ARE MY THOUGHTS FOR THE DAY

1-We tend to become what we worship-

2-Unless we worship the true God, we will become slaves to whatever takes his place-

3-David served God well as a king, but as a parent he often failed God and his children-

4-The harvest of consequences is beyond measure-

5-Even in the worst possible situation, God is still able to bring about good when people truly turn to him-

 

STRANGE THOUGHT-Why is it called tourist season when you can't shoot at them?

 

I'VE LEARNED-You are getting older when "getting lucky" means you find your car in the parking lot-

 

DID YOU KNOW-The word accordion comes from the German word akkord, which means "agreement, harmony."

 

5 THINGS I WANT TO KNOW 

1-Did Jesus learn obedience through suffering or suffering through obedience?

2-Should Christians set personal goals?

3-Can the Christian "win" anybody to be a believer in Jesus?

4-Who is considered as the father of the modern day missionary movement?

5-Can our name be added to the list in Hebrews 11?

 

BIBLE TRIVIA-Who translated The Holy Bible in the language of Today: an American Translation (1976)?

Answer for today       William Beck

 

SCRIPTURE FOR THE DAY    Mark 12:28-34

²⁸ One of the teachers of the law came and heard Jesus arguing with the Sadducees. Seeing that Jesus gave good answers to their questions, he asked Jesus, “Which of the commands is most important?”

²⁹ Jesus answered, “The most important command is this: ‘Listen, people of Israel! The Lord our God is the only Lord. ³⁰ Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.’ ³¹ The second command is this: ‘Love your neighbor as you love yourself.’ There are no commands more important than these.”
³² The man answered, “That was a good answer, Teacher. You were right when you said God is the only Lord and there is no other God besides him. ³³ One must love God with all his heart, all his mind, and all his strength. And one must love his neighbor as he loves himself. These commands are more important than all the animals and sacrifices we offer to God.”
³⁴ When Jesus saw that the man answered him wisely, Jesus said to him, “You are close to the kingdom of God.” And after that, no one was brave enough to ask Jesus any more questions.

 

PRAYER FOR THE DAY

  Father, may our lives be marked by faithfulness and integrity. These character traits are not developed over a short period of time, but rather over one’s lifetime. Help us not to become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.  For some of us that harvest will not come until we reach the other side. So help us not to give up, if we don’t see it here, for the great and eternal harvest is yet to come. Remembering that truth helps us to be more committed to remaining faithful to the very end. May it be said of us; He is a faithful man or she is a faithful woman. All glory be to God. Amen.

 

MAY YOU ALWAYS HAVE LOVE TO SHARE, HEALTH TO SPARE AND FRIENDS THAT CARE!

Wednesday March 25, 2015 thought for the day

HERE ARE MY THOUGHTS FOR THE DAY

1-The more you try to cover up a sin, the more insensitive you become to it-

2-The qualities we condemn in others are often our own character flaws-

3-Often we make choices that we condemn others for making-

4-A father's mistakes are often reflected in the lives of his children-

5-God wants to live in our hearts, not just meet us in a sanctuary-

 

STRANGE THOUGHT-If you ate both pasta and antipasto, would you still be hungry?

 

I'VE LEARNED-Discernment is one of God's greatest gifts-

 

DID YOU KNOW-"Corduroy" comes from the French cord du roi or "cloth of the  king"-

 

5 THINGS I WANT TO KNOW

1-Is sanctification accomplished primarily through the Holy Spirit or through God's Word?

2- Does the word "sanctification" refer to the process of being made holy or the state of the Christian at the 2nd work of grace?

3-What makes a person Godly?

4-Can you serve God out of any reason other than love for him?

5-Can you be obedient for the wrong reason?

 

BIBLE TRIVIA-What is the alternative title of the Modern Language Bible (1969)

Answer for today     The New Berkeley Version

 

SCRIPTURE FOR THE DAY   Mark 12:18-27

Then some Sadducees came to Jesus and asked him a question. (Sadducees believed that people would not rise from the dead.) ¹⁹ They said, “Teacher, Moses wrote that if a man’s brother dies, leaving a wife but no children, then that man must marry the widow and have children for his brother. ²⁰ Once there were seven brothers. The first brother married and died, leaving no children. ²¹ So the second brother married the widow, but he also died and had no children. The same thing happened with the third brother. ²² All seven brothers married her and died, and none of the brothers had any children. Finally the woman died too. ²³ Since all seven brothers had married her, when people rise from the dead, whose wife will she be?”

²⁴ Jesus answered, “Why don’t you understand? Don’t you know what the Scriptures say, and don’t you know about the power of God? ²⁵ When people rise from the dead, they will not marry, nor will they be given to someone to marry. They will be like the angels in heaven. ²⁶ Surely you have read what God said about people rising from the dead. In the book in which Moses wrote about the burning bush, it says that God told Moses, ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’ ²⁷ God is the God of the living, not the dead. You Sadducees are wrong!”

 

PRAYER FOR THE DAY

  Father, in this depraved generation, darkness is broadly sweeping across the land. At one time morality and virtuous behavior was applauded, but we now live in a time where good is called evil and evil is called good. Those who uphold Biblical truths are seen as archaic, old-fashioned, unenlightened. May we not be confused by where the line crosses Your perfect will for our lives. We know in our hearts that teachings or lifestyles that defy Your holy Word is evil, not good. “Enable us to speak Your Word with great boldness” like Peter on the Day of Pentecost and Stephen prior to his stoning. May we not be intimidated or allow ourselves to be bullied into supporting a position that contradicts that which is revealed in Your Holy Word. We rely on the power of Your Holy Spirit to live out our lives in a way that honors You and shows others the way to heaven. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

 

LIVE SIMPLY! LOVE GENEROUSLY! CARE DEEPLY! SPEAK KINDLY! LEAVE THE REST WITH GOD!!

Tuesday March 24, 2015 thought for the day

HERE ARE MY THOUGHTS FOR THE DAY

1-From evil does come evil deeds-

2-Wisdom is only effective when it is put into action-

3-Godliness does not guarantee an easy and carefree life-

4-Sometimes love is not enough-

5-Accepting God's "no" requires as great a faith as carrying out his "yes"-

 

STRANGE THOUGHT-If one synchronized swimmer drowns, do all the others drown as well?

 

I'VE LEARNED-Someday is not a day of the week-

 

DID YOU KNOW-The word curfew originates from an old French word that means "cover fire"-

 

5 THINGS I WANT TO KNOW

1-Can we be tempted if we have no evil desires?

2-Do Christians today have a cross to carry?  What does it mean to  "carry a cross"?

3-What does it mean to "give up  your life for Jesus"?

4-Does Jesus require Christians to suffer because of being his followers?

5-What does it mean to "lose your life to find it"?

 

BIBLE TRIVIA-When the New King James Version (1982) was repackaged in 1984, what was it called?

Answer for today          The Bible  

 

SCRIPTURE FOR THE DAY   Mark 12:13-17

¹³ Later, the Jewish leaders sent some Pharisees and Herodians^[a] to Jesus to trap him in saying something wrong. ¹⁴ They came to him and said, “Teacher, we know that you are an honest man. You are not afraid of what other people think about you, because you pay no attention to who they are. And you teach the truth about God’s way. Tell us: Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not? ¹⁵ Should we pay them, or not?”

But knowing what these men were really trying to do, Jesus said to them, “Why are you trying to trap me? Bring me a coin to look at.” ¹⁶ They gave Jesus a coin, and he asked, “Whose image and name are on the coin?”
They answered, “Caesar’s.”
¹⁷ Then Jesus said to them, “Give to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and give to God the things that are God’s.” The men were amazed at what Jesus said.

 

PRAYER FOR THE DAY

  Father, keep our hearts open to those who are in need of a compassionate touch, a charitable act, or a kind word. Let it come naturally from our hearts that are in tune with the heart of Jesus. May I view others through the eyes of Christ, walking in His compassion and His benevolent ways. We thank you for the millions of people who have served you in local churches, throughout their community, in their neighborhoods, schools, and families, all through the church age. Amen.

 

I WISH YOU A DAY FILLED WITH LOVE, LAUGHTER, FORGIVENESS AND THANKSGIVING!

Monday March 23, 2015 thought for the day

HERE ARE MY THOUGHTS FOR THE DAY

1-Jealousy may not seem to be a major sin but in reality it is only one stop short of murder and starts with resentment-

2-Loyalty is the most selfless part of love-

3-Loyal people not only stand by their commitments, they are willing to suffer for them-

4-God doesn't promise to protect good people from evil, but he does promise that ultimately all evil will be abolished-

5-An opportunity to do something against God's will can never be from God because God doesn't tempt us-

 

STRANGE THOUGHT-How is it possible to have a civil war?

 

I'VE LEARNED-You can't stay young forever but you can be immature for the rest of your life-

 

DID YOU KNOW-The word constipation comes from a Latin word that means "to crowd together"

 

5 THINGS I WANT TO KNOW

1-Was heaven different while Jesus was on earth for his 33 years?

2-Now that the Holy Spirit has been sent to the earth, is heaven different with his not being there?

3-Jesus said "I and my father are one".  What did he mean?

4-Jesus said "He who has seen me has seen the father".  How is that so?

5-If Jesus and God are one, how could Jesus subject himself to the will of the father?

 

BIBLE TRIVIA-What was Taverner's Bible?

Answer for today   An independent translation made by Greek scholar Richard Taverner in 1539

 

SCRIPTURE FOR THE DAY   Mark 12:1-11

Jesus began to use stories to teach the people. He said, “A man planted a vineyard. He put a wall around it and dug a hole for a winepress and built a tower. Then he leased the land to some farmers and left for a trip. ² When it was time for the grapes to be picked, he sent a servant to the farmers to get his share of the grapes. ³ But the farmers grabbed the servant and beat him and sent him away empty-handed. ⁴ Then the man sent another servant. They hit him on the head and showed no respect for him. ⁵ So the man sent another servant, whom they killed. The man sent many other servants; the farmers beat some of them and killed others.

⁶ “The man had one person left to send, his son whom he loved. He sent him last of all, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’
⁷ “But the farmers said to each other, ‘This son will inherit the vineyard. If we kill him, it will be ours.’ ⁸ So they took the son, killed him, and threw him out of the vineyard.
⁹ “So what will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and kill those farmers and will give the vineyard to other farmers. ¹⁰ Surely you have read this Scripture:

‘The stone that the builders rejected
    Became the cornerstone.
¹¹ The Lord did this,
    And it is wonderful to us.’” Psalm 118:22–23

 

PRAYER FOR THE DAY

  Father, we see the greatest example of temporal suffering in the person of Jesus Christ. By giving His all to pay the full ransom for our sins He underwent inhumane persecution to the fullest extent of giving His life through death that we might live. What seemed a hopeless cause turned into a victory above all other victories when His resurrected body made it possible for us, as His followers, to join in His eternal glory. But for now we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in His glory. We like the glory, but are repulsed at the idea of suffering, and are mindful of those presently undergoing injustice and persecution, as well as the families undergoing tremendous stress and often grief. Fix in our hearts and minds the needed perspective that it’s just a little while that we suffer, but it’s for eternity that we share in Your glory. May we be found faithful along the way! In Jesus’ name we pray.  Amen.

 

May you have enough happiness to make you sweet, enough trials to make you strong, enough sorrow to keep you human, and enough hope to make you happy-

Sunday March 22, 2015 thought for the day

HERE ARE MY THOUGHTS FOR THE DAY

1-Dishonest people begin to believe the lies they tell-

2-David sinned many times but he was quick to confess his sins, as so we should also-

3-We can experience the joy of forgiveness even when we have to suffer the consequences of our sins-

4-While David sinned greatly, he did not sin repeatedly-

5-Forgiveness is a great thing, but it usually does not remove the consequences of the sin-

 

STRANGE THOUGHT-Does the little mermaid wear an algebra?

 

I'VE LEARNED-Silence in the face of evil is evil itself-

 

DID YOU KNOW-The U in U-boats stands for "underwater."

 

5 THINGS I WANT TO KNOW

1-Did the Apostle John set out to show that Jesus was God?

2-What did the writer of the book of John mean when he referred to Jesus as the "Word"?

3-What did God do before creation?

4-If Jesus was with God before the universe began, what did he do?

5-Did the Holy Spirit exist before creation and if so what did he do?

 

BIBLE TRIVIA-    What was the Complutensian Polyglot?

Answer for today     The massive six volume work, published in Spain in 1513, that contained the Hebrew and Greek texts, the Septuagint, the Vulgate, and the Chaldee paraphrase of the Pentateuch-

 

SCRIPTURE FOR THE DAY    Mark 11:27-33

²⁷ Jesus and his followers went again to Jerusalem. As Jesus was walking in the Temple, the leading priests, the teachers of the law, and the elders came to him. ²⁸ They said to him, “What authority do you have to do these things? Who gave you this authority?”

²⁹ Jesus answered, “I will ask you one question. If you answer me, I will tell you what authority I have to do these things. ³⁰ Tell me: When John baptized people, was that authority from God or just from other people?”
³¹ They argued about Jesus’ question, saying, “If we answer, ‘John’s baptism was from God,’ Jesus will say, ‘Then why didn’t you believe him?’ ³² But if we say, ‘It was from other people,’ the crowd will be against us.” (These leaders were afraid of the people, because all the people believed that John was a prophet.)
³³ So they answered Jesus, “We don’t know.”
Jesus said to them, “Then I won’t tell you what authority I have to do these things.”

 

PRAYER FOR THE DAY

  Father, each spring as we see tiny featherless fledglings pressed tightly against their mothers in the hollow of their family nest, we’re reminded of the human love children experience from their parents’ safekeeping. We thank You for the love and care You extend to us through the preordained parents who sacrificially love and care for us all our days on earth. Thank You for their model of love, sacrifice, duty, protection, and other virtuous qualities seen in their parentage. Their example greatly influences the way we raise our own children.

We also pray for those whose relationship with their parent is a role reversal where they must act as the adult when their own parent behaves like a needy and at times a defiant child. May Your multiplied mercies sustain these caregivers in their ongoing stress-filled role so that, above all, You are honored and they find Your peace in the midst of the seemingly unending demands.  Father, we thank You for our human family and our spiritual family. And we thank You for our heavenly family that awaits our arrival on the other side. In the name of Christ Jesus Your Son we pray. Amen.

I WISH YOU LOVE IN YOUR HEART.....PEACE IN YOUR SOUL.....AND JOY IN YOUR LIFE.....ALWAYS!!!

Saturday March 21, 2015 thought for the day

HERE ARE MY THOUGHTS FOR THE DAY

1-Prayer is not a magical formula or a musical chant-

2-We access the throne room of God by virtue of the name of Jesus-

3-There is no such thing as abstract evil-

4-You cannot educate people into the kingdom of God-

5-Selective obedience is just another form of disobedience-

 

STRANGE THOUGHT-One nice thing about an egoist is they don't talk about other people-

 

I'VE LEARNED-The best labor saving device of today is called tomorrow-

 

DID YOU KNOW-The old English word for sneeze is fneosam-

 

5 THINGS I WANT TO KNOW

1-What would we do if we knew we would not fail?

2-Is it God's desire for us to receive healing and a body that has no sickness in it?

3-Did Jesus give to every believer the power to heal as Jesus did?

4-Did the disciples ever receive a physical healing from Jesus?

5-What is the most important question to answer about Christianity?

 

BIBLE TRIVIA-What Bible version was the basis for the King James Version of the Bible?

Answer for today     The Bishops' Bible  1568

 

SCRIPTURE FOR THE DAY     Mark 11:20-26

²⁰ The next morning as Jesus was passing by with his followers, they saw the fig tree dry and dead, even to the roots. ²¹ Peter remembered the tree and said to Jesus, “Teacher, look! The fig tree you cursed is dry and dead!”²² Jesus answered, “Have faith in God. ²³ I tell you the truth, you can say to this mountain, ‘Go, fall into the sea.’ And if you have no doubts in your mind and believe that what you say will happen, God will do it for you. ²⁴ So I tell you to believe that you have received the things you ask for in prayer, and God will give them to you. ²⁵ When you are praying, if you are angry with someone, forgive him so that your Father in heaven will also forgive your sins. ²⁶ But if you don’t forgive other people, then your Father in heaven will not forgive your sins.”

 

PRAYER FOR THE DAY 

Father, the light and power of Your glory now shines within our perishable containers, that is, in our weak and aging bodies. You plan it this way so that all can see that any glorious power seen in us is not our own but from You. In the midst of our ups and downs, we pray that our bodies constantly share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in us. That is why we never give up.  Though our mortal bodies may be perishing, our spirits can be renewed daily. Though we suffer unending discomfort and troubles the time is short when compared to the time of eternity, and on the up-side they produce for us an immeasurably great glory that will last forever! As we grow older we seek to be stalwarts of the faith in our homes, churches and communities. In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen.


TODAY WILL NEVER COME AGAIN. BE A BLESSING. BE A FRIEND. ENCOURAGE SOMEONE. TAKE TIME TO CARE. LET YOUR WORDS AND ACTIONS HEAL AND NOT WOUND!

Friday March 20, 2015 thought for the day

 

 

HERE ARE MY THOUGHTS FOR THE DAY

1-Jesus said "all authority in heaven and earth has been given to me".  Jesus is the command center of the universe-

2-Jesus turned a basket of food for one into a banquet for thousands-

3-Prayers offered in the name of Jesus have divine powers to diminish strongholds-

4-Prayer takes problems out of the domain of Satan and into the presence of God-

5-Prayer changes us, or things, because prayer appeals to the top power of the universe-

 

STRANGE THOUGHT-Why do they put braille on the drive through bank machines-

 

I'VE LEARNED-Sometimes all that we want is opposite from all we need-

 

DID YOU KNOW-The words assassination and bump were invented by Shakespeare-

 

5 THINGS I WANT TO KNOW

1-What is the greatest hindrance to God's spirit working in our lives?

2-In what kind of circumstances is it difficult to see  "all things as working together for the good of those who love him"?

3-Why do people speculate on and try to predict when Jesus will return?

4-Besides Jesus, who will we most want to see in heaven?

5-Why do we read one thing about healing in the Bible but experience another?

 

BIBLE TRIVIA-What modern day community of Protestant monks in France produced a famous "picture Bible"?

Answer for the day   Taize

 

SCRIPTURE FOR THE DAY      Mark 11:15-19

¹⁵ When Jesus returned to Jerusalem, he went into the Temple and began to throw out those who were buying and selling there. He turned over the tables of those who were exchanging different kinds of money, and he upset the benches of those who were selling doves. ¹⁶ Jesus refused to allow anyone to carry goods through the Temple courts. ¹⁷ Then he taught the people, saying, “It is written in the Scriptures, ‘My Temple will be called a house for prayer for people from all nations.’ But you are changing God’s house into a ‘hideout for robbers.’”
¹⁸ The leading priests and the teachers of the law heard all this and began trying to find a way to kill Jesus. They were afraid of him, because all the people were amazed at his teaching. ¹⁹ That evening, Jesus and his followers left the city.

 

PRAYER FOR THE DAY

  Father, we pray for those of us who are in a marriage relationship, that You would strengthen our marital bond and increase our love and commitment year by year. Help us to be quick to forgive, willing to say, “I’m sorry” and look not only to our own interests but also to the interests of our partner. Help us to practice forbearance and persevere daily as we build healthy relationships with our spouses. In this world of instability with frequent divorces and broken families may our children and those who look on see us keeping our vows in the good times as well as the bad. We can do this in the power and strength of the Holy Spirit through our Lord Jesus Christ in whose name we pray. Amen.

 

SMILE, LAUGH, FORGIVE, BELIEVE AND LOVE, OVER AND OVER AGAIN!

Thursday March 19, 2015 thought for the day

HERE ARE MY THOUGHTS FOR THE DAY

1-Jesus was genuinely thankful-

2-If you look for love you will find it-

3-Nothing silences grumpiness like gratitude-

4-No mist of ingratitude is so thick that the sunlight of appreciation can not burn it away-

5-To die with gratitude we must live with it-

 

STRANGE THOUGHT-If the police arrest a mute, is he told he has a right to remain silent?

 

I'VE LEARNED-Life is better when you are happy, but life is best when other people are happy because of you-

 

DID YOU KNOW-German is considered the sister language of English-

 

5 THINGS I WANT TO KNOW

1-Can you be a Christian and not believe in Jesus resurrection?

2-Can you be a Christian and not believe in the trinity?

3-Did Jesus' death or resurrection bring salvation?

4-Why did Thomas stay with the rest of the disciples when he doubted Jesus' resurrection?

5-When are Christians most susceptible to doubting?

 

BIBLE TRIVIA-What brilliant Dutch scholar produced the textus receptus , an edition of the Greek New Testament that was used for centuries as the basis for Bible translating?

Answer for today      Erasmus

 

SCRIPTURE FOR THE DAY   Mark 11:11-14

¹¹ Jesus entered Jerusalem and went into the Temple. After he had looked at everything, since it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the twelve apostles.

¹² The next day as Jesus was leaving Bethany, he became hungry. ¹³ Seeing a fig tree in leaf from far away, he went to see if it had any figs on it. But he found no figs, only leaves, because it was not the right season for figs. ¹⁴ So Jesus said to the tree, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And Jesus’ followers heard him say this.

 

PR AYER FOR THE DAY

Father, we seek to honor You in our lives.  We don’t want our lasting legacy to go down in the history books like that of King Manasseh and his son Amon, who forsook You, the God of his father, King Hezekiah. Though he repented late in his reign so many he had already influenced for evil, went on to influence their children and their children’s children. Instead we want our lives to reflect that of King Hezekiah who trusted in You, the God of Israel. There was no one like him among all the kings of Judah, either before him or after him. He held fast to Your ways and did not stop following You; he kept the commands You had given Moses. Thank You, Father, for letting us make choices for ourselves, but we dare not trust our own wisdom in making these choices. We rely on the wisdom of the Holy Spirit to establish the desirable pattern for right living here and now for that will also determine our future for all of eternity. Amen.

 

 

MAY YOU ALWAYS HAVE LOVE TO SHARE, HEALTH TO SPARE AND FRIENDS THAT CARE!

Wednesday March 18, 2015 thought for the day

HERE ARE MY THOUGHTS FOR THE DAY

1-When we pray we should come to God with empty hands and high hopes-

2-You are never more like Jesus than when you pray for others-

3-Pray for those you love, pray for those you don't-

4-The best way to put out the fire of anger is with a bucket of prayer-

5-Rather than cataloging burdens, itemize blessings-

 

STRANGE THOUGHT-Is a fly without wings called a walk?

 

I'VE LEARNED-Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can-

 

DID YOU KNOW-Crack gets its name because it crackles when it is smoked-

 

5 THINGS I WANT TO KNOW

1-How can we secretly bless someone?

2-How did Jesus feel forsaken by God?

3-Did Jesus claim to be God or the son of God?

4-Can you be a Christian and never "feel" God's presence?

5-Can you be a Christian and never be baptized?

 

BIBLE TRIVIA-What translation, often called the "Chicago Bible," was completed in 1931 by E J Goodspeed, J M Powis Smith, and others?

Answer for today     The Bible: An American Translation

 

SCRIPTURE FOR THE DAY      Mark 11:1-10

As Jesus and his followers were coming closer to Jerusalem, they came to the towns of Bethphage and Bethany near the Mount of Olives. From there Jesus sent two of his followers ² and said to them, “Go to the town you can see there. When you enter it, you will quickly find a colt tied, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here to me. ³ If anyone asks you why you are doing this, tell him its Master needs the colt, and he will send it at once.”

⁴ The followers went into the town, found a colt tied in the street near the door of a house, and untied it. ⁵ Some people were standing there and asked, “What are you doing? Why are you untying that colt?” ⁶ The followers answered the way Jesus told them to answer, and the people let them take the colt.
⁷ They brought the colt to Jesus and put their coats on it, and Jesus sat on it. ⁸ Many people spread their coats on the road. Others cut branches in the fields and spread them on the road. ⁹ The people were walking ahead of Jesus and behind him, shouting,

“Praise God!
God bless the One who comes in the name of the Lord! Psalm 118:26
¹⁰ God bless the kingdom of our father David!
    That kingdom is coming!
Praise^[a] to God in heaven!”

Footnotes:

1. 11:10 Praise Literally, “Hosanna,” a Hebrew word used at first in praying to God for help, but at this time it was probably a shout of joy used in praising God or his Messiah.

 

PRAYER FOR THE DAY

  Father, I ask myself, “Am I living in a manner worthy of Your name? Do I seek to please You rather than myself? Does the fruit of my labor reflect the Spirit of Christ living within my heart? Do I have a zeal for the things of Christ and a desire to know Him better, to reflect His character every day in my life? Am I steady or do I sputter in my Christian influence?” Father, in all these things I want to be more like Christ, consistent in the ways that bring glory to Your name and growth in my spiritual nature. I want my spiritual walk to be the most important pursuit of my life as I journey here below so that I may influence as many as possible to live for Jesus. It is in His name that I pray. Amen.

 

LIVE SIMPLY! LOVE GENEROUSLY! CARE DEEPLY! SPEAK KINDLY! LEAVE THE REST WITH GOD!!

Tuesday March 17, 2015 thought for the day

HERE ARE MY THOUGHTS FOR THE DAY

1-God's grace is a gift.  We don't earn it but we can lose it-

2-Guilt can stir up repentance and renewal.. So in  the right dosage, it is a blessing-

3-Guilt, most often, is an unbearable burden-

4-God's final word on your life is grace-

5-We don't change God's intentions, but we can influence his actions by our prayers-

 

STRANGE THOUGHT-What do you do when you see an endangered animal eating an endangered plant?

 

I'VE LEARNED-Patience is not the ability to wait, it is how you behave while you wait-

 

DID YOU KNOW-The expression "What in tarnation?"  comes from the original phrase "What in eternal damnation?"

 

5 THINGS I WANT TO KNOW

1-The Bible says that when Christ appears "we shall be like him.  What does that mean"?

2-What is our "spirit"?

3-Why does our "flesh battle our spirit?

4-What does it mean to be "clothed in righteousness"?

5-Will we remember the day we die?

 

SCRIPTURE FOR THE DAY     Mark 10:46-52

⁴⁶ Then they came to the town of Jericho. As Jesus was leaving there with his followers and a great many people, a blind beggar named Bartimaeus son of Timaeus was sitting by the road. ⁴⁷ When he heard that Jesus from Nazareth was walking by, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”

⁴⁸ Many people warned the blind man to be quiet, but he shouted even more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”
⁴⁹ Jesus stopped and said, “Tell the man to come here.”
So they called the blind man, saying, “Cheer up! Get to your feet. Jesus is calling you.” ⁵⁰ The blind man jumped up, left his coat there, and went to Jesus.
⁵¹ Jesus asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?”
The blind man answered, “Teacher, I want to see.”
⁵² Jesus said, “Go, you are healed because you believed.” At once the man could see, and he followed Jesus on the road.
PRAYER FOR THE DAY
Father, we as followers of Christ must be careful to follow the Bible’s pattern of sound teaching. At times we find ourselves arguing with Your truths and teaching from Scripture, our thoughts being at odds with Bible teaching that doesn’t fit in with the views and lifestyles we’ve chosen which are patterned after the world’s thinking. Yet You are the Author of truth, You know that which will bring us good and that which will bring us harm. Help us not to read and interpret Scripture so that it aligns with our view point, instead we want to align our view point in accordance with the Scriptures. We want to love You with all our heart so that we will follow the pattern of sound doctrine and walk in accordance with the Scripture. Amen.

I WISH YOU A DAY FILLED WITH LOVE, LAUGHTER, FORGIVENESS AND THANKSGIVING!

Monday March 16, 2015 thought for the day

HERE ARE MY THOUGHTS FOR THE DAY

1-The name satan means adversary.  He is the adversary of God and every one of God's children-

2-The name devil means slanderer-"accuser of the brethren"-

3-God will heal you instantly, gradually or ultimately-

4-God will turn our tomb into a womb out of which we will be born with a perfect body into a perfect world-

5-God can sometimes use our suffering as a sermon to change others or to change us-

 

STRANGE THOUGHT-Where do forest rangers go to "get away from it all"?

 

I'VE LEARNED-We can not become what we need to be by remaining what we are-

 

DID YOU KNOW-The expletive "Holy Toledo" refers to Toledo, Spain, which became an outstanding Christian cultural center in 1085-

 

5 THINGS I WANT TO KNOW

1-What and where is "Paradise"? 

2-Do all souls go to Paradise at death until the "great judgement"?

3-When will the Christian first see the face of God?

4-The Bible records Jesus sighing.  What did it mean?

5-Is death the ultimate healing for the suffering Christian?

 

BIBLE TRIVIA-What Bible was the one most likely used by Shakespeare, the Pilgrims, and Oliver Cromwell's soldiers?

Answer for today       The Geneva Bible

 

SCRIPTURE FOR THE DAY

⁴² Jesus called them together and said, “The other nations have rulers. You know that those rulers love to show their power over the people, and their important leaders love to use all their authority. ⁴³ But it should not be that way among you. Whoever wants to become great among you must serve the rest of you like a servant. ⁴⁴ Whoever wants to become the first among you must serve all of you like a slave. ⁴⁵ In the same way, the Son of Man did not come to be served. He came to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many people.”

 

PRAYER FOR THE DAY

  Father, we invite the work of Your Holy Spirit to descend upon our heart, to wean it from ungodly attitudes, destructive habits, and worldly passions. In love and compassion You stooped to our weakness, mighty as You are, in the person of Jesus Christ who lived a life of holiness, and willingly laid down His life that we might be forgiven, that our hearts and minds might break conformity from this world and be transformed into the pattern of holy living. As we surrender our heart, soul, and mind to You we see the cross of Jesus, and as we cling to His cross we deny ourselves, take up our own cross, and follow in His footsteps wholeheartedly. We thank You for the wooing of Your Holy Spirit that assists and encourages us as we withdraw our allegiance from the affections of this world. It’s through the power of Christ that we are able to make this mighty, eternal transformation. Amen.

 

May you have enough happiness to make you sweet, enough trials to make you strong, enough sorrow to keep you human, and enough hope to make you happy-