Sunday May 31, 2015 thought for the day-from jasper

HERE ARE MY THOUGHTS FOR THE DAY

1-You can't straddle the fence, calling Jesus "just a good teacher," because the Bible clearly calls him Lord-

2-Hallelujah means "praise the Lord"-

3-The sum of God's word is truth-

4-Jesus declares himself to be truth-

5-The Holy Spirit is the spirit of truth-

STRANGE THOUGHT-In our culture, lemonade is made from artificial flavors and furniture polish is made from real lemons-

I'VE LEARNED-Obedience always involves sacrifice, but sacrifice is not always obedience-

DID YOU KNOW-The word karate means "empty hand"-

5 THINGS I WANT TO KNOW

1-Does our life really speak louder than our words?

2-Are Christians to willingly submit themselves to all kinds of government? 

3-Is it by Jesus' wounds we are healed or by his death and resurrection?

4-Why does the Bible say that wives are the weaker partner?

5-The Bible says to "set apart Christ as Lord in your heart".  How do we do that?

BIBLE TRIVIA-Who said "Ah, Lord God! Behold, I cannot speak, for I am a child"

Answer     Jeremiah  1:6

SCRIPTURE FOR THE DAY     Luke 4:14-21

¹⁴ Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Holy Spirit, and stories about him spread all through the area. ¹⁵ He began to teach in their synagogues, and everyone praised him.
¹⁶ Jesus traveled to Nazareth, where he had grown up. On the Sabbath day he went to the synagogue, as he always did, and stood up to read. ¹⁷ The book of Isaiah the prophet was given to him. He opened the book and found the place where this is written:

¹⁸ “The Lord has put his Spirit in me,
    Because he appointed me to tell the Good News to the poor.
He has sent me to tell the captives they are free
    And to tell the blind that they can see again. Isaiah 61:1
God sent me to free those who have been treated unfairly Isaiah 58:6¹⁹  and to announce the time when the Lord will show his kindness.” Isaiah 61:2

²⁰ Jesus closed the book, gave it back to the assistant, and sat down. Everyone in the synagogue was watching Jesus closely. ²¹ He began to say to them, “While you heard these words just now, they were coming true!”

PRAYER FOR THE DAY 

Loving Father, some of our readers are grieving the death of a loved one. We pray that You speak peace to these dear folks and nurture their trust, even helping them to grow spiritually in the midst of their grief. May they see You at work even when the answers they seek are not the ones they are given. As believers we trust that You are working for our good, even when we don’t understand, for we know that all things work together for good to those who love You, who are called according to Your purpose. Help us to remember that our sorrows and disappointments have a larger purpose than simply to make us miserable. These often come so others can observe our response, to see if we bear witness to Christ’s abiding presence in our lives, in the hard stuff of life. Remind us that if we want to share in Your glory we must also share in Your sufferings (Romans 8:17). We don’t get to choose what sufferings we must go through, but we do choose our response; whether it glorifies You or glorifies our suffering. Help us we pray. Amen.

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

Saturday May 30, 2015 thought for the day

HERE ARE MY THOUGHTS FOR THE DAY-

1-Respect God's name and give him praise by both your words and your life-

2-God cannot tolerate, ignore or excuse sin-

3-"The Lord is good and his love endures forever, his faithfulness continues through all generations"-

4-Our human weakness should never be used as a justification for sin-

5-The best sacrifice we can offer God is a faithful and obedient life-

 

STRANGE THOUGHT-Experience is that marvelous thing that enables you to recognize a mistake when you make it again-

 

I'VE LEARNED-Children need to learn that their parent's words and actions go together-

 

DID YOU KNOW-The slash character is called a virgule, or solidus.  A URL uses slash characters, not backlash characters-

 

5 THINGS I WANT TO KNOW

1-Does God require us to attain holiness or is it his gift to us?

2-What does the Bible mean saying "live in reverent fear"?

3-What does the Bible mean saying "taste and see that the Lord is good"?

4-What does the Bible mean saying "Jesus is the Living Stone"?

5-What does the Bible mean saying "Jesus is a stone that causes men to stumble and a rock that makes them fall"?

 

BIBLE TRIVIA-Who said "Oh, that my grief were weighed, and my calamity laid in the balances together"?

Answer    Job   6:2

 

SCRIPTURE FOR THE DAY   Luke 4:1-13

Jesus, filled with the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan River. The Spirit led Jesus into the desert ² where the devil tempted Jesus for forty days. Jesus ate nothing during that time, and when those days were ended, he was very hungry.

³ The devil said to Jesus, “If you are the Son of God, tell this rock to become bread.”
⁴ Jesus answered, “It is written in the Scriptures: ‘A person does not live on bread alone.’”^[a]
5 Then the devil took Jesus and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in an instant. ⁶ The devil said to Jesus, “I will give you all these kingdoms and all their power and glory. It has all been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I wish. ⁷ If you worship me, then it will all be yours.”
⁸ Jesus answered, “It is written in the Scriptures: ‘You must worship the Lord your God and serve only him.’”^[b]
9 Then the devil led Jesus to Jerusalem and put him on a high place of the Temple. He said to Jesus, “If you are the Son of God, jump down. ¹⁰ It is written in the Scriptures:

‘He has put his angels in charge of you
    To watch over you.’ Psalm 91:11

¹¹ It is also written:

‘They will catch you in their hands
    So that you will not hit your foot on a rock.’” Psalm 91:12

¹² Jesus answered, “But it also says in the Scriptures: ‘Do not test the Lord your God.’”^[c]

¹³ After the devil had tempted Jesus in every way, he left him to wait until a better time.

Footnotes:

1. 4:4 ‘A person . . . Alone.’ Quotation from Deuteronomy 8:3.
2. 4:8 ‘You . . . Him.’ Quotation from Deuteronomy 6:13.
3. 4:12 ‘Do . . . God.’ Quotation from Deuteronomy 6:16.

 

PRAYER FOR THE DAY 

Father, though we don’t know the day nor the hour, You already have the blessed event of Christ’s return on Your divinely appointed calendar.  Even as the Son of Man ascended into heaven He will come again, but this time we have the blessed hope of ascending with Him and joining with those of like precious faith. Thank You for loved ones and witnesses of the truth who have repeated this glorious life-transforming message to us over the years preparing our hearts for this major event. May it be the resounding message from our own lips as we anticipate the glorious moment when we will all be changed in the twinkling of an eye. Help us to be faithful and watching eagerly for the blessed hope of Your second coming where those of us on earth will take up eternal residency in heaven.  In Your name, Jesus, we pray to You as we look for Your reappearing.  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 May 29, 2015 thought for the day

HERE ARE MY THOUGHTS FOR THE DAY

1-You can never say "thank you" enough-

2-Holiness will be the oxygen of heaven-

3-God will never do anything that is not morally perfect-

4-The best Christian witnessing happens when our hearts are full of appreciation for what God had done for us-

5-If you love God, you will hate evil-

 

STRANGE THOUGHT-Don't let people drive you crazy, it is within walking distance-

 

I'VE LEARNED-Jealousy is not a good excuse for bad behavior-

 

DID YOU KNOW-The slang word for "crap" comes from T. Crapper, the man who invented the modern toilet-

 

5 THINGS I WANT TO KNOW

1-The book at Acts does not mention Peter after the Jerusalem conference.  Why not?

2-Did Peter and Paul ever meet?

3-Were Peter and Paul acquainted with each other's ministries?

4-The Bible says for us to be "Holy in all that you do".  What does this mean and how is it possible?

5-The bible says "Be ye holy for I am holy".  What does this mean for even at our best we fall short of God's holiness?

 

BIBLE TRIVIA-Who said "I am but a little child; I know not how to go out or come in"?

Answer    Solomon   1 Kings 3:7

 

SCRIPTURE FOR THE DAY    Luke 3:21-22

²¹ When all the people were being baptized by John, Jesus also was baptized. While Jesus was praying, heaven opened ²² and the Holy Spirit came down on him in the form of a dove. Then a voice came from heaven, saying, “You are my Son, whom I love, and I am very pleased with you.”

 

PRAYER FOR THE DAY 

Father we read in Scripture of the importance of keeping our word, that we are not to make a promise we are unwilling to keep. There were dire consequences for the Israelites who made and broke vows, most especially vows made to You, Father. Millions upon millions of lives have been shattered due to broken promises. Help us to count the cost before we commit to a promise. Though circumstances may make it very difficult to keep our promise show us a way that we can follow through. If it is an impossibility grant us guidance in how we handle the matter with integrity, humility, and repentance seeking to keep peace and doing what is within our power to correct the situation. Above all, we thank You that You keep every promise You make. You are like a shield to all who seek Your protection. Amen.


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

Thursday May 28, 2015 thought for the day

HERE ARE MY THOUGHTS FOR THE DAY

1-From our perspective, God sometimes seems slow to intervene on our behalf.  But what might appear slow to us is good timing from God's perspective-

2-Growing strong in God's presence is often preceded by going through difficult times in our lives-

3-No matter how we feel, we can always take our problems to God and express our anguish to him-

4-There is no indication in scripture that one angel is assigned to each believer in God-

5-Thanks should be  in our heart and on our lips every day-

 

STRANGE THOUGHT-If you are pronounced dead when your heart stops beating, why aren't you pronounced alive when your heart starts beating?

 

I'VE LEARNED-Be careful of what you promise in prayer for God may take you at your word-

 

DID YOU KNOW-The Sanskrit word for war means "desire for more cows"-

 

5 THINGS I WANT TO KNOW

1-How do you "come near to God"?

2-How can the double minded "purify their hearts"?

3-How do you "humble yourself before God"?

4-The Bible says we are to "confess our sins to each other".  What does this mean and is it really a good thing to do?

5-Is the Bible name Jude a nickname for Judas?

 

BIBLE TRIVIA-Who said "remember the word which Moses the servant of the Lord commanded you , saying, The Lord your God hath given you rest, and hath given you this land."

Answer     Joshua   1:13

 

SCRIPTURE FOR THE DAY   Luke 3:7-19

⁷ To the crowds of people who came to be baptized by John, he said, “You are all snakes! Who warned you to run away from God’s coming punishment? ⁸ Do the things that show you really have changed your hearts and lives. Don’t begin to say to yourselves, ‘Abraham is our father.’ I tell you that God could make children for Abraham from these rocks. ⁹ The ax is now ready to cut down the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.”^[a]

¹⁰ The people asked John, “Then what should we do?”
¹¹ John answered, “If you have two shirts, share with the person who does not have one. If you have food, share that also.”
¹² Even tax collectors came to John to be baptized. They said to him, “Teacher, what should we do?”
¹³ John said to them, “Don’t take more taxes from people than you have been ordered to take.”
¹⁴ The soldiers asked John, “What about us? What should we do?”
John said to them, “Don’t force people to give you money, and don’t lie about them. Be satisfied with the pay you get.”
¹⁵ Since the people were hoping for the Christ to come, they wondered if John might be the one.

Footnotes:

1. 3:9 The ax . . . Fire. This means that God is ready to punish his people who do not obey him.

 

PRAYER FOR THE DAY 

Father, I pray that You will help me to sow for myself righteousness, so that I will reap the fruit of Your unfailing love. Break up the unplowed ground of my heart that is stony and hard so that I acknowledge my sins, receive Your forgiveness, and look to You for guidance. I want to seek You so that You shower Your blessings upon me. Protect me against deception. Amen



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

Wednesday May 27, 2015 thought for the day

HERE ARE MY THOUGHTS FOR THE DAY

1-Without wisdom our knowledge is useless-

2-Wealth, honor, power or prestige add nothing to our value in God's eyes, but the faithful works we do for him have eternal value-

3-Prayer is human communication with God-

4-When praying, don't let the absence of an immediate answer cause you to doubt or resent God-

5-Don't take God for granted and treat him as a vending machine-

 

STRANGE THOUGHT-At my favorite bakery, I order a bran muffin every day.  I am one of their regular customers-

 

I'VE LEARNED-God evaluates obedience, not potential-

 

DID YOU KNOW-The phrase "jet lag" was once called boat lag, before airplanes existed-

 

5 THINGS I WANT TO KNOW

1-What does it mean to be considered "righteous"?

2-Can anyone tame their tongue?

3-Why does James say the tongue is a restless evil, full of deadly poison?  The tongue only expresses what is in the heart, mind or thoughts.

4-What does the Bible mean saying "God gives grace to the humble"?

5-How do you "resist the devil and so he will flee from you"?

 

BIBLE TRIVIA-Who said "Who am I that I should go unto Pharaoh'?"

Answer    Moses   Exodus 3:11

 

SCRIPTURE FOR THE DAY    Luke 3:1-6

It was the fifteenth year of the rule of Tiberius Caesar. These men were under Caesar: Pontius Pilate, the ruler of Judea; Herod, the ruler of Galilee; Philip, Herod’s brother, the ruler of Iturea and Traconitis; and Lysanias, the ruler of Abilene. ² Annas and Caiaphas were the high priests. At this time, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the desert. ³ He went all over the area around the Jordan River preaching a baptism of changed hearts and lives for the forgiveness of sins. ⁴ As it is written in the book of Isaiah the prophet:

“This is a voice of one
    Who calls out in the desert:
‘Prepare the way for the Lord.
    Make the road straight for him.
⁵ Every valley should be filled in,
    And every mountain and hill should be made flat.
Roads with turns should be made straight,
    And rough roads should be made smooth.
⁶ And all people will know about the salvation of God!’” Isaiah 40:3–5

PRAYER FOR THE DAY 

Father, each spring as we observe tiny featherless fledglings pressed against their mothers in their nest, we’re reminded of the human love children experience from their parents’ safekeeping. We thank You for the loving care You extend to us through the preordained parents who’ve provided for us from birth to independence. Thank You for their model of love, sacrifice, duty, protection, and other virtuous qualities needed to properly raise a family. It has greatly influenced 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 parent when their own parent behaves as a needy or even defiant child. May Your multiplied mercies sustain these caregivers in their ongoing challenging role so that, above all, You are honored and they find deep peace in the midst of the turmoil. Thank You, Father, for our human family, our spiritual family, and for our heavenly family that awaits our arrival on Your appointed day. In the name of Christ Jesus Your Son we pray, amen

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

Tuesday May 26, 2015 thought for the day

HERE ARE MY THOUGHTS FOR THE DAY

1-Evils acts begin with evil desires-

2-God's greatest joy comes from genuine worship and trust from his people-

3-Most of the psalms are prayers and most prayers include praise to God-

4-Praise expresses admiration, appreciation and thanksgiving-

5-There is a vast difference between "knowledge" (having facts) and "wisdom" (applying the facts to life)-

 

STRANGE THOUGHT-Buckle up!, it makes it harder for aliens to snatch you from your car-

 

I'VE LEARNED-A person's actions reflect their character-

 

DID YOU KNOW-The name for fungal remains found in coal is "sclerotinite"

 

5 THINGS I WANT TO KNOW

1-Why are those who are poor in the eyes of the world often rich in faith?

2-How can we love our neighbor as ourselves?

3-What good is it if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds?

4-Is it correct to say a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone?

5-Why was Rahab, the prostitute, considered righteous for giving lodging to the spies?

 

BIBLE TRIVIA-Who said-"Cursed be Canaan; a servant of servants shall he be unto his brethren'?

Answer    Noah   Genesis 9:25

 

SCRIPTURE FOR THE DAY   Luke 2:41-52

⁴¹ Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Passover Feast. ⁴² When he was twelve years old, they went to the feast as they always did. ⁴³ After the feast days were over, they started home. The boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not know it. ⁴⁴ Thinking that Jesus was with them in the group, they traveled for a whole day. Then they began to look for him among their family and friends. ⁴⁵ When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him there. ⁴⁶ After three days they found Jesus sitting in the Temple with the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. ⁴⁷ All who heard him were amazed at his understanding and answers. ⁴⁸ When Jesus’ parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, “Son, why did you do this to us? Your father and I were very worried about you and have been looking for you.”
⁴⁹ Jesus said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Didn’t you know that I must be in my Father’s house?” ⁵⁰ But they did not understand the meaning of what he said.
⁵¹ Jesus went with them to Nazareth and was obedient to them. But his mother kept in her mind all that had happened. ⁵² Jesus became wiser and grew physically. People liked him, and he pleased God.

 

PRAYER FOR THE DAY

 Father, we come into Your presence with thanksgiving in our hearts and give You praise. We ask you to be merciful to our land because You are a loving, forgiving God. You have called on us, Your children, to be a people of prayer, devotion, and denial of self. We pray for our land to repent of neglect and defiance of Your holy commands. In the name of Jesus we come against the powers of darkness that seek to engulf the light of Your salvation that brings help, hope, and forgiveness to sin sick souls and secures their eternal dwelling in heaven. Help us not to grow weary in our intercession, for we want to be faithful in prayer so that, at a future date, we will witness the harvest of souls. We pray for Your will to be accomplished in the name of Jesus. Amen.

 

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

Monday May 25, 2015 thought for the day-(Memorial Day)

LET'S NEVER FORGET!!

HERE ARE MY THOUGHTS FOR THE DAY

1-Honor God by the quality of your work and the attitude of service you bring to it-

2-You take on the characteristics of whatever you worship-

3-God's love includes kindness, mercy, faithfulness and forgiveness-

4-Our sorrow makes it difficult to imagine singing joyful songs again, but the time does come-

5-Don't be guilty of taking God's provision and answered prayer for granted-

STRANGE THOUGHT-You know you are mature when you'd rather be slapped  with the truth than to be kissed with a lie-

I'VE LEARNED-In any contest, the start is important, but the finish is crucial-

DID YOU KNOW-The Japanese translation of  switch is pronounced "suitchi"-

5 THINGS I WANT TO KNOW

1-How many men named James were there in the early church?

2-Paul refers to someone named James as "The Lord's Brother".  Who was it and what did the term mean?

3-What is the "Crown of Life" that God has promised to those who love him?

4-The book of James says "God cannot be tempted by evil".  But, wasn't Jesus tempted by Satan?

5-When Christians are tempted by sin, how does that affect the Spirit of God living in them?

BIBLE TRIVIA-Who said "Set thine house in order, for thou shalt die and not live"?

Answer     Isaiah   2 Kings20:1

SCRIPTURE FOR THE DAY    Luke 2:39-40

³⁹ When Joseph and Mary had done everything the law of the Lord commanded, they went home to Nazareth, their own town in Galilee. ⁴⁰ The little child grew and became strong. He was filled with wisdom, and God’s goodness was upon him.

PRAYER FOR THE DAY 

Father, I confess to You that my heart can easily become like unplowed ground. Often destructive attitudes that I don’t deal with right away remain in my heart and cause me to be hardened toward You and others that I love. I invite the work of Your Holy Spirit to cleanse, renew and refresh me as I yield my heart to the searchlight of Your Word. As I seek You, Lord, You will come and shower Your righteousness and blessing upon my life as the fruit of Your unfailing love flows out to those around me. I can do all things through Christ who enables me through the power of Your Holy Spirit. 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 May 24, 2015 thought for the day

HERE ARE MY THOUGHTS FOR THE DAY

1-Evil prevails only as long as God allows it-

2-God is able to bring good out of tragedy-

3-Work while trusting God and also rest while trusting God-

4-God doesn't keep a record of our sins for when he forgives, he forgives completely-

5-Pride results from over valuing ourselves and undervaluing others-

 

STRANGE THOUGHT-Praying is planting-

 

I'VE LEARNED-Building a reputation of integrity is built one act at a time-

 

DID YOU KNOW-The infinity character on the keyboard is called a lemniscate-

 

5 THINGS I WANT TO KNOW

1-What does the Bible mean saying "To know Christ and the power of his resurrection"?

2-Did timothy ever rejoin Paul before Paul died?

3-What was the date and circumstances of Paul's death?

4-What was the last letter Paul wrote?

5-Did any of Jesus' brothers believe in him as the messiah?  If so, who did and when did they do so?

 

BIBLE TRIVIA-Who said "Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor"-

Answer   Zacchaeus    Luke 19:8

 

SCRIPTURE FOR THE DAY   Luke 2:36-38

³⁶ There was a prophetess, Anna, from the family of Phanuel in the tribe of Asher. Anna was very old. She had once been married for seven years. ³⁷ Then her husband died, and she was a widow for eighty-four years. Anna never left the Temple but worshiped God, going without food and praying day and night. ³⁸ Standing there at that time, she thanked God and spoke about Jesus to all who were waiting for God to free Jerusalem.

 

PRAYER FOR THE DAY 

Father, it is in the testing of our faith that we prove the worth of our Christian walk. Help us to endure the test and trust You for the outcome, for we know that faith that cannot be tested is faith that cannot be trusted. O for grace to trust You more and more.  In Jesus’ name we pray.



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

Saturday May 23, 2015 thought for the day

HERE ARE MY THOUGHTS FOR THE DAY

1-Worship is a thankful response, not a repayment for what God has done-

2-The Bible is like medicine, it goes to work only when we apply its to the affected area-

3-Your attitude toward God will determine your view of worship-

4-To find peace of mind and peace with others you must find peace with God-

5-Human sinfulness often ruins God's ideal on earth, but that doesn't mean God has lost control-

 

STRANGE THOUGHT-If you want more ice cream, use a smaller spoon-

 

I'VE LEARNED-As you go about your daily tasks, God is working in your life in ways you may not even notice-

 

DID YOU KNOW-The French term bourrage de crane for wartime propaganda means "brain stuffing"-

 

5 THINGS I WANT TO KNOW

1-What does the Bible mean saying "when the day of evil comes"?

2-What does the Bible mean saying "pray in the spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayer and requests"?

3-What is "the fruit of righteousness"?

4-What does the Bible mean saying "continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling?

5-How do you "rejoice in the Lord"?

 

BIBLE TRIVIA-Who said "Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious"-

Answer    Paul    Acts 17:22

 

SCRIPTURE FOR THE DAY   Luke 2:25-35

²⁵ In Jerusalem lived a man named Simeon who was a good man and godly. He was waiting for the time when God would take away Israel’s sorrow, and the Holy Spirit was in him. ²⁶ Simeon had been told by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he saw the Christ promised by the Lord. ²⁷ The Spirit led Simeon to the Temple. When Mary and Joseph brought the baby Jesus to the Temple to do what the law said they must do, ²⁸ Simeon took the baby in his arms and thanked God:

²⁹ “Now, Lord, you can let me, your servant,
    Die in peace as you said.
³⁰ With my own eyes I have seen your salvation,
³¹ which you prepared before all people.
³² It is a light for the non-Jewish people to see
    And an honor for your people, the Israelites.”

³³ Jesus’ father and mother were amazed at what Simeon had said about him. ³⁴ Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, “God has chosen this child to cause the fall and rise of many in Israel. He will be a sign from God that many people will not accept ³⁵ so that the thoughts of many will be made known. And the things that will happen will make your heart sad, too.”

 

PRAYER FOR THE DAY 

Father, our faith rests in the finished work of Jesus at Calvary. Because of His tremendous sacrifice our sins are forgiven and a place is reserved for us in heaven. We also find rest from our unending troubles in this life as we respond to Jesus’ invitation: “Come to Me all who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest.” Help us to look to You for needed strength and an overcoming spirit as we daily encounter challenges and ongoing burdens. Our burdens are lifted at Calvary for that is where Jesus bore not only our sins but also our sorrows. Praise be to You, our Father in heaven, who daily bears our burdens.  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 May 22, 2015 thought for the day

HERE ARE MY THOUGHTS FOR THE DAY

1-God doesn't punish us because he enjoys inflicting pain but because he is deeply concerned about our development-

2-It is difficult to know when God has been disciplining us until we look back on the situation later-

3-Be as eager to do good as you are to have good done to you-

4-To fear God means to respect and revere him as the almighty God-

5-In God's eyes, a person's value has no relationship to their wealth or position on the social ladder-

 

STRANGE THOUGHT-You need to come to expect the unexpected because God's predictably unpredictable-

 

I'VE LEARNED-Today is a new opportunity for experiencing God's grace-

 

DID YOU KNOW-The abbreviation for pound, "lb" comes from the astrological sign Libra, meaning "balance"-

 

5 THINGS I WANT TO KNOW

1-What did Paul mean saying "You were dead in your transgressions"?

2-Did Jesus' death abolish the Mosaic Law and all it's regulations?

3-What does the Bible mean saying "Jesus is the chief cornerstone"?

4-Why does Paul use the term "A prisoner for the Lord"?

5-What are the "spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms"?

 

BIBLE TRIVIA-Who said "Let there be fair young virgins sought for the king"?

Answer   Ahasuerus's servants    Esther 2:2

 

SCRIPTURE FOR THE DAY    Luke 1:76-80

⁷⁶ “Now you, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High God.
    You will go before the Lord to prepare his way.
⁷⁷ You will make his people know that they will be saved
    By having their sins forgiven.
⁷⁸ With the loving mercy of our God,
    a new day from heaven will dawn upon us.
⁷⁹ It will shine on those who live in darkness,
    In the shadow of death.
It will guide us into the path of peace.”

⁸⁰ And so the child grew up and became strong in spirit. John lived in the desert until the time when he came out to preach to Israel.

PRAYER FOR THE DAY 

Father, as the state of the family declines year by year it also brings down our country. Many politicians, community leaders and individuals cry out, “Pour more money into education and community programs.” Others wring their hands and wonder what can be done to improve our neighborhood, city and country. Though the answers are found in Your Holy Word these same people ridicule and reject that which is of spiritual origin so the troubles continue and even escalate during times of crisis. Father, we need a heaven sent revival that will reveal who You are to those who know You not and revive those of us who do. Help those who are childrearing not to become discouraged but to persevere in bringing their children up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. It’s in Jesus’ name that we pray. Amen.


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

Thursday May 21, 2015 thought for the day

HERE ARE MY THOUGHTS FOR THE DAY

1-Sin, even when attractive, is deadly-

2-Wisdom is not a separate being, it is the mind of Christ revealed-

3-Pride is thinking more highly of our own wisdom and desires than of God's-

4-Discretion is the ability to tell right from wrong-

5-Our lives reveal whether we are truly loving and faithful-

 

STRANGE THOUGHT-You can't never always sometimes tell-

 

I'VE LEARNED-If you have never received grace yourself, it is very hard to extend it to other people-

 

DID YOU KNOW-The abbreviation "e.g." stands for "exempli gratia," or "for example".

 

5 THINGS I WANT TO KNOW

1-What does the Bible mean when it says "In Christ are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge"?

2-How are you buried with Jesus in baptism?

3-Is anyone in the New Testament named Jesus besides Mary's son Jesus?

4-Why does Paul use the phrase "The God of our Lord Jesus Christ"?

5-Why did Paul say about Jesus "God placed all things under his feet"?

 

BIBLE TRIVIA-Who said "I saw a dream which made me afraid, and the thoughts upon my bed and the visions of my head troubled me".

Answer   Nebuchadnezzar     Daniel 4:5

 

SCRIPTURE FOR THE DAY    Luke 1:67-75

⁶⁷ Then Zechariah, John’s father, was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied:⁶⁸ “Let us praise the Lord, the God of Israel,
    Because he has come to help his people and has given them freedom.
⁶⁹ He has given us a powerful Savior
    From the family of God’s servant David.
⁷⁰ He said that he would do this
    Through his holy prophets who lived long ago:
⁷¹ He promised he would save us from our enemies
    And from the power of all those who hate us.
⁷² He said he would give mercy to our ancestors
    And that he would remember his holy promise.
⁷³ God promised Abraham, our father,
⁷⁴ that he would save us from the power of our enemies
    So we could serve him without fear,
⁷⁵ being holy and good before God as long as we live.

 

PRAYER FOR THE DAY

Father, the Word directs us not to get drunk on wine, but to be filled instead with the Spirit, speaking to ourselves in songs, and hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in our hearts toward You. You use these songs to teach us about Your truths, remind us of Your promises, comfort us in our grief, and refresh us in our spirit. No voice that is weak, hoarse, off-tempo, or out of pitch is rejected by You when we offer what we have with glad and sincere hearts. Help us not to be intimidated by those who have musical giftings, for our “joyful noise” can be a glorious symphony of praise when blended with thankful hearts to You through our musical worship. Amen.

 

 

 

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

Wednesday May 20, 2015 thought for the day

HERE ARE MY THOUGHTS FOR THE DAY

1-How we talk reveals what we really are-

2-God views success as having a good reputation, moral character and the spiritual devotion to obey him-

3-A successful relationship with God counts for eternity, everything else is perishable-

4-The most annoying type of person is a know it all, one who has a dogmatic opinion about everything, is closed to anything new, resents discipline and refuses to learn-

5-Wisdom is far more than simply knowing a lot-

 

STRANGE THOUGHT-The weather is here, wish you were beautiful-

 

I'VE LEARNED-When we ignore sin, we experience greater pain than if we deal with it immediately-

 

DID YOU KNOW-The third year of marriage is the leather anniversary-

 

5 THINGS  I WANT TO KNOW

1-Ananias told Paul "Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name."  Does baptism still wash away sins?

2-What was Paul's sister's name?

3-Did Paul's wife and children ever accept his new faith in Jesus as the Messiah?

4-Who was the first person in the Bible resurrected from the dead?

5-What is the "mystery of God"?

 

BIBLE TRIVIA-Who said "Hath the Lord indeed spoken only by Moses?  Hath he not spoken also by us?

Answer   Miriam and Aaron  Numbers 12:2

 

SCRIPTURE FOR THE DAY    Luke 1:57-66

⁵⁷ When it was time for Elizabeth to give birth, she had a boy. ⁵⁸ Her neighbors and relatives heard how good the Lord was to her, and they rejoiced with her.

⁵⁹ When the baby was eight days old, they came to circumcise him. They wanted to name him Zechariah because this was his father’s name, ⁶⁰ but his mother said, “No! He will be named John.”
⁶¹ The people said to Elizabeth, “But no one in your family has this name.” ⁶² Then they made signs to his father to find out what he would like to name him.
⁶³ Zechariah asked for a writing tablet and wrote, “His name is John,” and everyone was surprised. ⁶⁴ Immediately Zechariah could talk again, and he began praising God. ⁶⁵ All their neighbors became alarmed, and in all the mountains of Judea people continued talking about all these things. ⁶⁶ The people who heard about them wondered, saying, “What will this child be?” because the Lord was with him.

 

PRAYER FOR THE DAY 

Father, as we confess our sins we thank You that You are faithful and just to forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Help us to be honest enough to admit our sin, welcome Your cleansing, and invite the Holy Spirit to help us courageously deal with personal consequences from our sinful defiance. You are a gracious Father who does not cast us down in our failures, but You uphold us with Your gracious and loving hand. Amen.


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

Tuesday May 19, 2015 thought for the day

HERE ARE MY THOUGHTS FOR THE DAY

1-Grace flows in, gratitude fills up, generosity flows out-

2-Gratitude is more than being polite-

3-A proverb is a short concise sentence that conveys moral truth-

4-The purpose of a proverb  is to apply divine wisdom to daily life and to provide moral instruction-

5-Don't just read the book of Proverbs, act on it-

 

STRANGE THOUGHT-A tire is only flat on one side-

 

I'VE LEARNED-Humans have a large capacity to lie to themselves-

 

DID YOU KNOW-The  "You are here" arrow on a map is called the IDEO locator-

 

5 THINGS I WANT TO KNOW

1-How do you live a life that reflects God's heart in a culture that condemns and criticizes?

2-Does God ever give up on you and stops loving you?

3-If God didn't want us to be selfish, why did he make us that way?

4-What does it mean to "serve God"?

5-Can we ever get to the place of mastering agape love?

 

BIBLE TRIVIA-
Who said "Speak for thy servant heareth"?

Answer   Samuel  1 Samuel 3:10

 

SCRIPTURE FOR THE DAY  LUKE 1:50-56

⁵⁰ God will show his mercy forever and ever
    To those who worship and serve him.
⁵¹ He has done mighty deeds by his power.
    He has scattered the people who are proud
    And think great things about themselves.
⁵² He has brought down rulers from their thrones
    And raised up the humble.
⁵³ He has filled the hungry with good things
    And sent the rich away with nothing.
⁵⁴ He has helped his servant, the people of Israel,
    Remembering to show them mercy
⁵⁵ as he promised to our ancestors,
    To Abraham and to his children forever.”

⁵⁶ Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home.

 

PRAYER FOR THE DAY 

Father, we consider the great honor granted Uzziah when he was crowned king at a young age. Due to the influence of Zechariah, he was taught in the ways of the Lord. You blessed, prospered, and honored him as he implemented godly principles and followed the commands of Scripture. But, much to his demise and that of the people he served, he took his eyes off Your truths and pride led to his downfall. Indulging pride entered his heart and its tentacles spread to his head giving him an inflated sense of self-importance which began the downward spiral. We’ve seen it many times when Christian leaders take their eyes off the Master they are serving and begin to think more highly of themselves than they ought. When pride creeps into our thoughts, help us to recognize it. Perhaps it will be a Scripture, a messenger sent from God, or a consequence resulting from our pride that will get our attention and get us back on track to recognize that all gifts, skills, knowledge and abilities come from You, not within ourselves. Keep us submitted to Your will and walking in Your ways all the days of our lives, in the name of Jesus we pray. Amen.

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

Monday May 18, 2015 thought for the day

 

HERE ARE MY THOUGHTS FOR THE DAY

1-When thankfulness fills your life, it comes our of your mouth-

2-Look for ways to be grateful for your spouse, your family and your friends-

3-Live in the present moment, not your memory moment-

4-There is a direct link between your ability to love and the depth of your gratitude-

5-There is a direct link between the depth of your gratitude and your understanding of the word grace-

 

STRANGE THOUGHT-The severity of the itch is in reverse proportion to the reach-

 

I'VE LEARNED-Feelings are not reliable guides for determining right and wrong-

 

DID YOU KNOW-Spain literally means "the land of rabbits"-

 

5 THINGS I WANT TO KNOW

1-Is God still God on the days when love just doesn't feel like enough?

2-Is there such a thing as coincidence?

3-Why doesn't scripture tell us to celebrate the birth of Jesus?

4-Did the Gospel writers not expect or want Christians to celebrate Jesus' birth?

5-Can we really pray if we aren't being honest?

 

BIBLE TRIVIA-Who said "I go the way of all the earth; be thou strong therefore and show thyself a man"?

Answer    David    1 Kings 2:2

 

SCRIPTURE FOR THE DAY    Luke 1:46-49

⁴⁶ Then Mary said,“My soul praises the Lord;
⁴⁷ my heart rejoices in God my Savior,
⁴⁸ because he has shown his concern for his humble servant girl.
From now on, all people will say that I am blessed,
⁴⁹ because the Powerful One has done great things for me.
    His name is holy.

PRAYER FOR THE DAY 

Father, when we consider the saints throughout history and the marvelous saving power portrayed in their lives we’re encouraged by their bold example and their consistent enduring walk with You.  We recognize these “greats” of the past and those in our own generation who are faithful and powerful examples. They do not build their own kingdom or take credit for their accomplishments. Instead they recognize that it is God alone who deserves our truest praise, no matter our own personal sacrifice. We gratefully declare to ourselves and to others, “This God is our God!  He will be forever and ever!  He will be our guide even unto death.”


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 May 17, 2015 thought for the day

HERE ARE MY THOUGHTS FOR THE DAY

1-Nothing hurts more than a wound from a friend-

2-"Let your lives overflow with joy and thanksgiving for all that God has done"-

3-If you are going to understand the word gratitude, you've got to understand the word grace-

4-When grace flows, gratitude is a natural response-

5-Perspective is not dependant on circumstances-

 

STRANGE THOUGHT-The problem with the gene pool is there is no life guards-

 

I'VE LEARNED-You fall the way you lean-

 

DID YOU KNOW-Lead poisoning is known as "plumbism"-

 

5 THINGS I WANT TO KNOW

1-If something you own can be taken away from you without your consent, do you really own anything at all?

2-Do the ends ever justify the means?

3-Is there such a thing as a good sinful person?

4-How far does just one sin take us away from a Holy God?

5-If God is love and love is a gift are the giver and the gift then one?

 

BIBLE TRIVIA-Who said "Let the day perish wherein I was born, and the night in which it was said, "there is a man child conceived""?

Answer    Job (3:3)

 

SCRIPTURE FOR THE DAY   Luke 1:39-45

³⁹ Mary got up and went quickly to a town in the hills of Judea. ⁴⁰ She came to Zechariah’s house and greeted Elizabeth. ⁴¹ When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the unborn baby inside her jumped, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. ⁴² She cried out in a loud voice, “God has blessed you more than any other woman, and he has blessed the baby to which you will give birth. ⁴³ Why has this good thing happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me? ⁴⁴ When I heard your voice, the baby inside me jumped with joy. ⁴⁵ You are blessed because you believed that what the Lord said to you would really happen.”

 

PRAYER FOR THE DAY 

Father, often times I am apprehensive when You speak to my heart like you did Esther, through Mordecai Your messenger. When I’m to do or say something that’s not within my comfort zone, my heart feels like it could explode and I become an emotional cripple because fear overtakes me.  It prevents me from stepping out in faith and following through with an obedient heart.  Would You remind me that there is great blessing when I follow Your leading. Help me not to fear the outcome, for that is not my responsibility. I need to leave that in Your hands. Thank You for Your enlisting me to be a part of your grand purpose in sharing the good news of salvation with the lost, strengthening the weak, and encouraging those whose hope has faded. I can’t do it within my own abilities but I can trust the Holy Spirit to equip me to be an uncompromising believer and bold witness for You through Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.

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

Saturday May 16, 2015 thought for the day

HERE ARE MY THOUGHTS FOR THE DAY

1-In God's care you are never helpless-

2-God doesn't promise to eliminate challenges, instead he promises to give us strength to meet the challenges-

3-While nature points to the existence of God, the Bible tells us about salvation-

4-God's laws are guidelines and lights for our path, rather than chains on our hands and feet-

5-The reason people reject God has nothing to do with God's existence and everything to do with people's sinfulness.  In our desire to do wrong,

   we treat God as if he doesn't exist-

 

STRANGE THOUGHT-The only time the world bets a path to your door is if you are in the bath room-

 

I'VE LEARNED-Life is a journey, not a guided tour-

 

DID YOU KNOW-Koala is Aboriginal for "no drink"-

 

5 THINGS I WANT TO KNOW

1-Will people be judged by God on what they believe or on how they have loved?

2-The Bible says if you say "you fool," you will be liable to the hell of fire.  Why is this so strong?

3-Is it a sin to call someone a fool?  Is it worse than any other sin?

4-Is there any qualifications for our being judgemental of others?

5-Is prayer a doing or a being?

 

BIBLE TRIVIA-Who said "Why, what evil hath he done?  I have found no cause of death in him: I will therefore chastise him and let him go"-

Answer      Pilate    Luke 23:22

 

SCRIPTURE FOR THE DAY    Luke 1:26-38

²⁶ During Elizabeth’s sixth month of pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, ²⁷ to a virgin. She was engaged to marry a man named Joseph from the family of David. Her name was Mary. ²⁸ The angel came to her and said, “Greetings! The Lord has blessed you and is with you.”

²⁹ But Mary was very startled by what the angel said and wondered what this greeting might mean.
³⁰ The angel said to her, “Don’t be afraid, Mary; God has shown you his grace. ³¹ Listen! You will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. ³² He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of King David, his ancestor. ³³ He will rule over the people of Jacob forever, and his kingdom will never end.”
³⁴ Mary said to the angel, “How will this happen since I am a virgin?”
³⁵ The angel said to Mary, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will cover you. For this reason the baby will be holy and will be called the Son of God. ³⁶ Now Elizabeth, your relative, is also pregnant with a son though she is very old. Everyone thought she could not have a baby, but she has been pregnant for six months. ³⁷ God can do anything!”
³⁸ Mary said, “I am the servant of the Lord. Let this happen to me as you say!” Then the angel went away.

 

PRAYER FOR THE DAY 

Father, we recognize that our life is a gift from You and the life we live is our gift back to You. You give us guidance in how to live our lives through the Scriptures and the Holy Spirit gives us power to overcome the evil one and courage to stand for righteousness in the very face of evil. Even as we are witnessing evil acts of terror all over the world we are also hearing the names and seeing the faces of those whose faith in Christ has made them the target of these evildoers. We admire and respect their bravery and refusal to renounce their faith so their lives can be spared. Instead they look beyond their horrible ordeal, the loved ones they will leave behind, and they must surely fix their hearts on their eternal resting place. In this age when many church leaders are presenting watered down sermons and teachings, softening the commands of Scripture to make them palatable to those whose loyalties are torn between living for Christ and living for the world, bring to our minds people like Mathew Ayairga. A man, drawn by the Holy Spirit, who came to Christ because he esteemed the uncompromising faith of the Coptic Christians of Libya who were willing to lay down their lives for the cause. Because he too laid down his life Mathew’s Christian life was short on this side, but throughout the eons of time, we who believe and practice what we believe will have fellowship with our brother, Mathew. Help us to be strong and ever hopeful as we fix our gaze on that which lies beyond the grave, as we seek to glorify You whether in life or in death. Through Christ 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!