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!

Friday May 15, 2015 thought for the day

HERE ARE MY THOUGHTS FOR THE DAY

1-God not only wants us to obey his laws, but he wants us to love him with all our being-

2-We can relate to the Psalms because they express our own feelings-

3-True joy is far deeper than happiness for we can feel joy inspite of our deepest troubles-

4-Happiness is temporary because it is based on external circumstances, but joy is lasting because it is based on God's presence with us-

5-We deceive ourselves when we measure our happiness or contentment in life by the amount of wealth we possess-

 

STRANGE THOUGHT-Even if you are on the right track you can still be hit by a train-

 

I'VE LEARNED-Ingratitude will make you a selfish, grumpy, old person and will finally destroy you-

 

DID YOU KNOW-Kemosabe means "soggy shrub" in Navajo

 

5 THINGS I WANT TO KNOW

1-In Christian conversion, do we miraculously become new people with our old ways transformed or overtime does God take these ways and use them for his good?

2-What does it mean "to seek God"?

3-Is God's desire to judge us greater than God's capacity for love, mercy and forgiveness?

4-Is the time of our death preordained and is there anything we can do about it?

5-Does the Bible provide a list of beliefs and conduct Christians must adhere to?

 

BIBLE TRIVIA-Who said "We are all one man's sons; we are true men; your servants are no spies"-

Answer    Joseph's brothers    Genesis 42:11

 

SCRIPTURE FOR THE DAY   Luke 1:21-25

²¹ Outside, the people were still waiting for Zechariah and were surprised that he was staying so long in the Temple. ²² When Zechariah came outside, he could not speak to them, and they knew he had seen a vision in the Temple. He could only make signs to them and remained unable to speak. ²³ When his time of service at the Temple was finished, he went home.

²⁴ Later, Zechariah’s wife, Elizabeth, became pregnant and did not go out of her house for five months. Elizabeth said, ²⁵ “Look what the Lord has done for me! My people were ashamed^[a] of me, but now the Lord has taken away that shame.”

Footnotes:

1. 1:25 ashamed The Jewish people thought it was a disgrace for women not to have children.

 

PRAYER FOR THE DAY 

Father, we do not want to be overcome by evil but we want to overcome evil with good, as determined in Scripture. And the way we do this is to absorb, maintain, and uphold the Scriptural understanding of good and evil. We pray against authorities, personalities, and persuasive rhetoric that tempt us to compromise or water down the truths we learn from Scripture. The contrasts of light vs. Darkness, good vs. Evil, the spiritual nature vs. The sinful nature are abundant in Scripture. May the guiding light by which we live our lives in these evil days be the light of Your Holy Word. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.


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

Thursday May 14, 2015 thought for the day

HERE ARE MY THOUGHTS FOR THE DAY

1-God's work is not done until we care for the needs of the poor-

2-If you give up on God, you give into a life of despair-

3-We become atheists in practice when we rely more on ourselves than on God-

4-To speak in direct defiance of God is to play the part of a fool-

5-No one but God is perfect, all of us stand guilty before him and need his forgiveness-

 

STRANGE THOUGHT-Chocolate comes from cocoa, which is a tree.  That makes it a plant.  Chocolate is a salad?

 

I'VE LEARNED-When God released snakes among the Israelites in the wilderness because of their ingratitude, the symbolism showed shades of the Garden of Eden-

 

 DID YOU KNOW- Karaoke means "empty orchestra" in Japanese-

 

5 THINGS I WANT TO KNOW

1-Are the ministries and programs of the church acts of worship?

2-Does God only watch over and care for Christians?

3-What does the Bible mean when it says "love never ends"?

4-Is it okay to call the Trinity of Father, Son and Holy Spirit the Creator, Redeemer and Sanctifier?

5-Is Christian conversion an act or a process?

 

BIBLE TRIVIA-Who said "I will not let you go, until you bless me."

Answer    Jacob    Genesis 32:26

 

SCRIPTURE FOR THE DAY    Luke 1:18-20

¹⁸ Zechariah said to the angel, “How can I know that what you say is true? I am an old man, and my wife is old, too.” ¹⁹ The angel answered him, “I am Gabriel. I stand before God, who sent me to talk to you and to tell you this good news. ²⁰ Now, listen! You will not be able to speak until the day these things happen, because you did not believe what I told you. But they will really happen.”

 

PRAYER FOR THE DAY 

Father, we’re given the example of sterling young men like Azariah, and his fellow Hebrew friends, who refused the Babylonian king’s orders, to bow down to the golden image. Surely they were weary of enduring the daily testing as they were few in number standing against the godless culture of their day. Was it the teachings their parents presented of Moses who stood time after time before the godless Pharoah as he sought the release of the Jews? Was it the story of God providing a ram just seconds before Abraham was going to slay his only son, Isaac? Was it their parents who reinforced that God always comes through in His perfect timing to provide for their needs or deliver them from trouble? Perhaps they’d witnessed numerous challenges their parents were dealt as they remained steadfast in their faith. In the land of many gods they continued to bow down to only one, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. We ask your blessings upon all who seek to pass on Biblical faith to their children and equip them to stand when the day of evil comes. In our Lord’s mighty Name we pray. Amen

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

Wednesday May 13, 2015 thought for the day

HERE ARE MY THOUGHTS FOR THE DAY

1-Regular communication helps any friendship and is certainly necessary for a strong relationship with God-

2-God cannot condone or excuse even the smallest sin-

3-As God makes us aware of sin, we must be intolerant toward it and and be willing to change-

4-If God treated us with justice alone and not with mercy, we would be wiped out by God's wrath-

5-Our tongue can be our greatest enemy, though small, it can do great damage-

 

STRANGE THOUGHT-"There" is often not where most people think it is.  When they get to the place where they thought "there" was, it is usually not where or what they thought it would be-

 

I'VE LEARNED-With all we have, it is easy for ingratitude to take over-

 

DID YOU KNOW-It is possible to drown and not die.  Technically, the word  drowning  refers to the process of taking water into the lungs, not to death caused by that process-

 

5 THINGS I WANT TO KNOW

1-How old was Joseph (Mary's husband) when he died?

2-How old was Jesus when Joseph died?

3-How old was Mary when Joseph died?

4-Why is there no information of when Jesus stayed with the Samaritans after talking to the Samaritan woman at the well?

5-What is "organized" religion?

 

BIBLE TRIVIA-Who said, "I need to be baptized by you, and you are coming to me to be baptized "?

Answer    John the Baptist   Matthew 3:14

 

SCRIPTURE FOR THE DAY    Luke 1:8-17

⁸ One day Zechariah was serving as a priest before God, because his group was on duty. ⁹ According to the custom of the priests, he was chosen by lot to go into the Temple of the Lord and burn incense. ¹⁰ There were a great many people outside praying at the time the incense was offered. ¹¹ Then an angel of the Lord appeared to Zechariah, standing on the right side of the incense table. ¹² When he saw the angel, Zechariah was startled and frightened. ¹³ But the angel said to him, “Zechariah, don’t be afraid. God has heard your prayer. Your wife, Elizabeth, will give birth to a son, and you will name him John. ¹⁴ He will bring you joy and gladness, and many people will be happy because of his birth. ¹⁵ John will be a great man for the Lord. He will never drink wine or beer, and even from birth, he will be filled with the Holy Spirit. ¹⁶ He will help many people of Israel return to the Lord their God. ¹⁷ He will go before the Lord in spirit and power like Elijah. He will make peace between parents and their children and will bring those who are not obeying God back to the right way of thinking, to make a people ready for the coming of the Lord.”

 

PRAYER FOR THE DAY 

Father, there is no sin too great that Your mercy is not greater.  We were born with a sin problem, but You provided the solution for our sin sick souls through the wondrous sacrifice of Your Son, Jesus Christ.  We could never be good enough, rich enough, famous enough, or smart enough – nothing we offer is enough.  Anything we offer is sin-based because of our human condition and all that Christ offers is sin-less because He is the divine Lamb without spot or blemish. Only Jesus, the sinless Lamb of God, is enough to pay for our sins and begin the wonderful work of transforming us into Your likeness. Thank You for Your gift of eternal life through the sacrifice of Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.


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

Tuesday May 12, 2015 thought for the day

HERE ARE MY THOUGHTS FOR THE DAY

1-True friends should help you draw closer to God, not hinder your relationship with him-

2-God doesn't judge people on the basis of race, sex or national origin.  He judges them on the basis of their faith in him and their response to his revealed will-

3-If you want to follow God closely, you must know what scripture says-

4-Everyone serves somebody or something, whether a human leader , an organization or even one's own selfish desires-

5-Inward joy is steady as long as we trust God.  Happiness is unpredictable.  Inward joy defeats discouragement.  Happiness covers it up.  Inward joy is lasting, happiness is temporary-

 

STRANGE THOUGHT-The hardness of the butter is proportional in reverse to  the softness of the bread-

 

I'VE LEARNED-We need to take thanksgiving (not the holiday) seriously, for God does-

 

DID YOU KNOW-"Hara kiri" is an impolite way of saying the Japanese word seppuku, which means, literally, "belly splitting"-

 

5 THINGS I WANT TO KNOW

1-Where and in what way are we not trusting God?

2-Why is trusting God so hard for even Christians to do?

3-Did Jesus ever get into an argument?

4-What is God's supreme purpose for the Christian's life?

5-Would Jesus have attended his father Joseph's funeral?  Why isn't that event recorded in scripture?

 

BIBLE TRIVIA-What is the proper name for "not loved"?

Answer   Lo-ruhamah      Hosea 1:6

 

SCRIPTURE FOR THE DAY    Luke 1:5-7

⁵ During the time Herod ruled Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah who belonged to Abijah’s group. Zechariah’s wife, Elizabeth, came from the family of Aaron. ⁶ Zechariah and Elizabeth truly did what God said was good. They did everything the Lord commanded and were without fault in keeping his law. ⁷ But they had no children, because Elizabeth could not have a baby, and both of them were very old.

 

PRAYER FOR THE DAY 

Father, as I live out my time here on this earth, I’m so glad that I belong to You. You hold my right hand and guide me with Your counsel which is leading me to a glorious destiny, though the journey may be long, arduous, and at times downright frightening. Though my health may fail and my spirit grows weak, You, Father, remain the strength of my heart and my portion forever. You are my Refuge, my Fortress and my Deliverer. Help me to be courageous and reliant on You so that I will dutifully tell those who will listen of Your mighty works, most especially Your redeeming power and and saving grace through Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.
We pray for those who are presently experiencing persecution, many to the point of violent death. Grant them an assurance of Your steadfast love and grace and divine anesthetic.

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

HERE ARE MY THOUGHTS FOR THE DAY

1-True friends should help you draw closer to God, not hinder your relationship with him-

2-God doesn't judge people on the basis of race, sex or national origin.  He judges them on the basis of their faith in him and their response to his revealed will-

3-If you want to follow God closely, you must know what scripture says-

4-Everyone serves somebody or something, whether a human leader , an organization or even one's own selfish desires-

5-Inward joy is steady as long as we trust God.  Happiness is unpredictable.  Inward joy defeats discouragement.  Happiness covers it up.  Inward joy is lasting, happiness is temporary-

 

STRANGE THOUGHT-The hardness of the butter is proportional in reverse to  the softness of the bread-

 

I'VE LEARNED-We need to take thanksgiving (not the holiday) seriously, for God does-

 

DID YOU KNOW-"Hara kiri" is an impolite way of saying the Japanese word seppuku, which means, literally, "belly splitting"-

 

5 THINGS I WANT TO KNOW

1-Where and in what way are we not trusting God?

2-Why is trusting God so hard for even Christians to do?

3-Did Jesus ever get into an argument?

4-What is God's supreme purpose for the Christian's life?

5-Would Jesus have attended his father Joseph's funeral?  Why isn't that event recorded in scripture?

 

BIBLE TRIVIA-What is the proper name for "not loved"?

Answer   Lo-ruhamah      Hosea 1:6

 

SCRIPTURE FOR THE DAY    Luke 1:5-7

⁵ During the time Herod ruled Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah who belonged to Abijah’s group. Zechariah’s wife, Elizabeth, came from the family of Aaron. ⁶ Zechariah and Elizabeth truly did what God said was good. They did everything the Lord commanded and were without fault in keeping his law. ⁷ But they had no children, because Elizabeth could not have a baby, and both of them were very old.

 

PRAYER FOR THE DAY 

Father, as I live out my time here on this earth, I’m so glad that I belong to You. You hold my right hand and guide me with Your counsel which is leading me to a glorious destiny, though the journey may be long, arduous, and at times downright frightening. Though my health may fail and my spirit grows weak, You, Father, remain the strength of my heart and my portion forever. You are my Refuge, my Fortress and my Deliverer. Help me to be courageous and reliant on You so that I will dutifully tell those who will listen of Your mighty works, most especially Your redeeming power and and saving grace through Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.
We pray for those who are presently experiencing persecution, many to the point of violent death. Grant them an assurance of Your steadfast love and grace and divine anesthetic.

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

Monday May 11, 2015 thought for the day

HERE ARE MY THOUGHTS FOR THE DAY

1-Focusing our thoughts on God moves us to praise him-

2-If you can trust God in pain, confusion and loneliness, you will overcome them and eliminate doubt, one of satan's greatest foot holds in your life-

3-Only when honest feelings and emotions are shared can real people be known, loved and helped-

4-In scripture, praise is recognizing, appreciating and expressing God's greatness-

5-God moves us to praise him-

 

STRANGE THOUGHT-A gossip is a person with a strange sense of rumor-

 

I'VE LEARNED-Just saying the words "thank you" lifts our spirits-

 

DID YOU KNOW-Groaking is to watch people eating in the hope that they will offer you some-

 

5 THINGS I WANT TO KNOW

1-Does the term "Son of God" apply only to Jesus?

2-Are all Christians siblings?

3-What is the difference in sin and mistake?

4-What does the term"in Christ" mean?

5-What does it mean to "live a Christ like life"?

 

BIBLE TRIVIA-What is the proper name for the term "not my people"?

Answer   Lo-ammi       Hosea 1:9

 

SCRIPTURE FOR THE DAY    Luke 1:1-4

1 Many have tried to report on the things that happened among us. ² They have written the same things that we learned from others—the people who saw those things from the beginning and served God by telling people his message. ³ Since I myself have studied everything carefully from the beginning, most excellent^[a] Theophilus, it seemed good for me to write it out for you. I arranged it in order, ⁴ to help you know that what you have been taught is true.

Footnotes:

1. 1:3 excellent This word was used to show respect to an important person like a king or ruler.

 

PRAYER FOR THE DAY 

Father, at one time we were alienated and excluded from heavenly citizenship. We were foreigners destined to perish. But You, in Your great mercy, redeemed us through Your precious blood and thereby we receive our heavenly citizenship. We also consider the privilege of being citizens of the country from which we were born or choose to live in. There are many benefits as well as responsibilities placed upon us – much that we appreciate and understand and all the while we struggle with the corruption and defiance of many in power who no longer heed the Judeo Christian heritage of our great country’s founding. We want to do our part to turn it around not only for ourselves but for our children and our children’s children. But above all, we fix our attention on our heavenly citizenship in the midst of our disappointments on earth so that we do not lose heart. As our focus is heavenward we are filled with renewed hope and an enduring spirit until You call us to our home in heaven. Keep us obedient, faithful, and hopeful till that glorious day. 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-

Friday May 1, 2015 thought for the day

HERE ARE MY THOUGHTS FOR THE DAY

1-Our greatest test may be that we must trust God's goodness even though we don't understand why our lives are going a certain way-

2-Too often we presume to speak for God, to put words in his mouth, to take him for granted, or to interpret his silence to mean he is absent or unconcerned-

3-God's Actions do not depend on ours.  He will do what he knows best regardless of what we think-

4-We must trust God with our unanswered questions-

5-It is difficult to forgive someone who has incorrectly accused us of wrong doing-

 

STRANGE THOUGHT-The gene pool could use a little chlorine-

 

I'VE LEARNED-Gratitude is a dialysis of sorts for it flushes the self pity out of our system-

 

DID YOU KNOW-EMI stands for electrical and musical instrument-

 

5 THINGS I WANT TO KNOW

1-Is God a jealous God.  If so, what does that mean?

2-How are we to "fear the Lord"

 3-How do we identify who our God is?

4-What if anything should make Christians angry?

5-Is jealousy ever okay?

 

BIBLE TRIVIA-What is the proper name for "Burning"?

Today's answer    Taberah    Numbers 11:3

 

SCRIPTURE FOR THE DAY   Mark 16:14-19

¹⁴ Later Jesus showed himself to the eleven apostles while they were eating, and he criticized them because they had no faith. They were stubborn and refused to believe those who had seen him after he had risen from the dead.
¹⁵ Jesus said to his followers, “Go everywhere in the world, and tell the Good News to everyone. ¹⁶ Anyone who believes and is baptized will be saved, but anyone who does not believe will be punished. ¹⁷ And those who believe will be able to do these things as proof: They will use my name to force out demons. They will speak in new languages. ¹⁸ They will pick up snakes and drink poison without being hurt. They will touch the sick, and the sick will be healed.”
¹⁹ After the Lord Jesus said these things to his followers, he was carried up into heaven, and he sat at the right side of God.

PRAYER FOR THE DAY 

Father, it seems the longer we live the more likely it is that we grow weary, lose interest, or become frustrated by others who might not help carry the work load, whether it’s in the family, work, or church setting. But if we carry out that which You’ve laid upon our hearts and faithfully serve, even in the mundane chores that others are not attracted to, we do that which pleases You and make an essential contribution to the overall function of the home, workplace, church, community and world. Even that which is mundane to others can be appealing to those whose hearts are zealous, filled with spiritual fervor, because they are “doing their work heartily as unto the Lord”, which is even more important than doing it for others. Keep us joyfully on track and focused heavenward as we faithfully serve You in the mundane chores of life. Amen.

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