inspirational words to start your day
God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.
—1 Corinthians 10:13 NIV
Sunday, December 31, 2017
Saturday, December 30, 2017
Be Still December 30, 2017
John 16:33 (NIV)
33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may
have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I
have overcome the world.”
This world is a place of struggle. Yes, we can live above
the struggle for a while. We can find a way to simply ignore or re-label the
struggle for a time. But in the end, the struggle will find us. But in the
midst of struggle, we can remind ourselves that our victory is secure. Jesus
has won! We will share in his great triumph. In case you didn't know, the final
outcome is already determined and Christians "win big" through Jesus.
And this victory is a forever win!
Thought for today:
Can I relax in knowing God’s keeping me?
Friday, December 29, 2017
Presentation and Preparedness December 29, 2017
John 14:1-3 (NIV)
14 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You
believe in God; believe also in me.2 My Father’s house has many
rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to
prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I
will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.
He's coming back! As much as the world likes to remember
Jesus' first coming during the Christmas season, we need to remind them that
his Second Coming will be even greater. We want to be prepared — lives
dedicated to his glory and hearts full of expectation at his coming.
Thought for today:
How do I present to God?
Thursday, December 28, 2017
Surrender December 28, 2017
Matthew 11:28 (NIV)
28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and
burdened, and I will give you rest.
At the end of the year, it sure is nice to be invited to
rest in Jesus. So before we begin a new year, let's pause and place our hopes,
our future, our dreams, and especially our burdens down at his feet and let him
give us rest.
Thought for today: Can I give it all to God and not return to the same struggle?
Wednesday, December 27, 2017
Clothed in Praise December 27, 2017
Psalm 103:1-3 (NIV)
1 Praise the Lord, my soul;
all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
2 Praise the Lord, my soul,
and forget not all his benefits—
3 who forgives all your sins
and heals all your diseases,
all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
2 Praise the Lord, my soul,
and forget not all his benefits—
3 who forgives all your sins
and heals all your diseases,
Praise must not just come from our lips. Praise must emanate
from deep within our soul, recognizing all the great blessings God has given
us. While God is worthy of praise because he his holy and majestic and mighty,
we have even greater reasons to praise him. He has been so very gracious to us!
Thought for today:
What does my praise look like?
Tuesday, December 26, 2017
God’s Gift December 26, 2017
Luke 2:28-32 (NIV)
28 Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:
29 “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised,
you may now dismiss your servant in peace.
30 For my eyes have seen your salvation,
31 which you have prepared in the sight of all nations:
32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and the glory of your people Israel.”
you may now dismiss your servant in peace.
30 For my eyes have seen your salvation,
31 which you have prepared in the sight of all nations:
32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and the glory of your people Israel.”
God's gift to Simeon was truly precious and touching. Yet
Simeon is just the embodiment of all of every nation, race, and culture who are
seeking God's salvation. God's salvation, as Luke loves to remind us again and
again, is for all people! What's more, God's light has dawned. Let's greet that
dawn and share it with others.
Thought for today:
Do I embrace God’s gifts?
Monday, December 25, 2017
Sharing December 25, 2017
Isaiah 9:6 (NIV)
6 For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
While Jesus is God's Son and Mary's son, according to
Isaiah's prophecy, he is also shared with us. Jesus is the child given to the
world so you and I can become God's child. What greater gift can we have than
Jesus, and through Jesus, God as our Father.
Though for today: What gifts do I present to God?
Sunday, December 24, 2017
Behold December 24, 2017
Luke 2:16-20(NIV)
16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and
the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him,
they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and
all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But
Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The
shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they
had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
The shepherds reaction to baby Jesus is exactly what our
reaction will be when we see the returning Jesus: we will glorify and praise
God for all the things we see and hear and will find that they are just as God
has promised them to us. Since God kept his word in the first coming of Jesus,
we can be assured that he will do it with the Second Coming of Jesus!
Thought for today:
How do I respond when I see or feel the things of God?
Saturday, December 23, 2017
Humility December 23, 2017
Luke 2:11-14 (NIV)
11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been
born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a
sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a
manger.”
13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host
appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
The sign to the shepherds was a baby in a feed trough.
Pretty potent sign isn't it! The Almighty Creator of the universe sleeping
where the sheep and goats have eaten their grain and hay. That God would love
us so much as to reduce himself to such an inauspicious beginning reminds us
why the angels praise him so. He is glorious and yet he chose not to hide or
protect that glory, but instead he shared it so we could find it, too!
Thought for today:
Can I humble myself to share?
Friday, December 22, 2017
Following December 22, 2017
Luke 2:8-11 (NIV)
8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields
nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of
the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and
they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be
afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the
people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to
you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.
Shepherds and the glory of the Lord in the same sentence.
Shepherds enjoyed a great heritage in Israel with Abraham, Moses, and David as
notable shepherds and God being identified through Psalm 23 as a
great shepherd. But by this time in Israelite history, they were not highly
regarded. They smelled like sheep. They spent their time with sheep. They were
not really clean and religious enough to be considered spiritual. So when God
chose to announce the birth of Jesus to shepherds with his contingent of angels
he makes his point clear: Everyone is loved by God, everyone has access to God,
and everyone is desired by God.
Though for today:
Can I be led?
Thursday, December 21, 2017
Seeing Through It December 21, 2017
Luke 2:6-7 (NIV)
6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to
be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped
him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room
available for them.
I've always been amazed at how God chose to place his Son
into our world. He could have done it any way he wanted. But he chose this way
— to enter the world in difficult times under difficult circumstances as a
helpless infant who must be cared for by parents who were vulnerable to so many
frailties. Yet in spite of the challenges that lay ahead and the bewildering
mystery that confronted them, Joseph and Mary — along with everyone around them
— were caught up in the great joy of this new child. Thank God for such new
hope!
Though for today : Can I praise through my circumstances?
Wednesday, December 20, 2017
Willingness December 20, 2017
Luke 2:1(NIV)
2 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree
that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world.
Isn't it amazing at how many inconveniences in our lives the
Lord uses to accomplish his will in us. Can you think of a worse time to have
to go on a cross-country trip with their modes of travel than Joseph and Mary
faced. Yet God turned it into the moment in which the angels found their tune
and Satan met his match.
Thought for today:
Am I willing to extend my all?
Tuesday, December 19, 2017
Saving Grace December 19, 2017
Luke 1:76-78 (NIV)
76 And you, my child, will be called a prophet of
the Most High;
for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him,
77 to give his people the knowledge of salvation
through the forgiveness of their sins,
78 because of the tender mercy of our God,
by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven
for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him,
77 to give his people the knowledge of salvation
through the forgiveness of their sins,
78 because of the tender mercy of our God,
by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven
Where does salvation come from? Does it come from our sense
that something is desperately wrong and we need to change and make it better?
Does it come from casting things in a more positive light so we don't become
discouraged and quit? Does it come from a lucky break? Does it come because we
are scrupulously righteous and deserve it come our way? Does it come from
rigorously obeying everything in the law? No! Salvation and forgiveness come
from one source, "the tender mercy of our God."
Thought for today:
Can I and do I show mercy?
Monday, December 18, 2017
Promises December 18, 2017
Luke 1:68-70 (NIV)
68 “Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel,
because he has come to his people and redeemed them.
69 He has raised up a horn of salvation for us
in the house of his servant David
70 (as he said through his holy prophets of long ago),
because he has come to his people and redeemed them.
69 He has raised up a horn of salvation for us
in the house of his servant David
70 (as he said through his holy prophets of long ago),
What God does in Jesus, is not a surprise. Yes, it was
unexpected, but the "hints" and prophecies of his coming are found
all over the Old Testament. The holy prophets had spoken about it "long
ago." But more than the prophets, Jesus coming is God keeping his word.
Jesus' coming is God's answer to his promises. That's why Paul can say that all
God's promises find their yes in Jesus and it is through Jesus that the
"amen" is spoken (2 Cor. 1). In Jesus, God comes, God ministers, God
cares, God saves, God redeems, and God keeps his promises.
Thought for today:
Do I keep my promises?
Sunday, December 17, 2017
Taking It On December 17, 2017
Matthew 1:20-21 (NIV)
20 But after he had considered this, an angel of
the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not
be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is
from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to
give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
Jesus first had to become the sins of the people before he
could save them (us) from those sins (2 Cor. 5:21; 1 John 4:10). His own
people rejected him before his forgiveness could be received. Jesus' gift of
salvation was incredibly costly to him. It is a reminder of two great truths:
God loves us incredibly and salvation is a precious gift. In Jesus we know and
experience both truths!
Thought for today:
Do I honor God’s sacrifice by offering my confessions?
Saturday, December 16, 2017
Magnification December 16, 2017
Luke 1:46 (NIV)
46 And Mary said:
“My soul glorifies the Lord
While Mary's submission to God's will costs her in ways we
can never imagine, for Jesus to come to life in the hearts of people today our
attitude must be the same as her attitude was on this night of miracle and
mystery. We too, must be willing to be the Lord's servant and offer him the
praise of our lives and of our lips. In Jesus, the Lord has done great things
for us!
Thought for today:
how do I magnify the Lord?
Friday, December 15, 2017
Naming December 15, 2017
Luke 1:30-33 (NIV)
30 But the angel said to her, “Do not be
afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. 31 You will
conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call 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 his father David, 33 and he will reign over
Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”
Jesus is identified by many names stated or implied in the
four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John). Notice how Jesus is identified in
just this one passage: child, son, Jesus, great, Son of the Most High, King,
son of David, and leader of Israel (Jacob). Jesus exhausts all descriptions,
and yet chose to be limited to imperfect descriptions by becoming human. But
this flood of names and descriptions helps us find Jesus as our Savior in every
trial and blessing of life. Jesus is Savior for all seasons.
Thought for today: What is God (name) in my life?
Thursday, December 14, 2017
Birth Announcement December 14, 2017
Luke 1:26-28 (NIV)
26 In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God
sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27 to
a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of
David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 The angel went to her and said,
“Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”
Wow! Such a familiar sentence packed with emotion. An angel
comes to Nazareth to visit and speak with a young woman engaged to be married.
Before the history shattering news is announced, she is given one key reminder
that will be truer than she could imagine, "The Lord is with you."
Thought for today:
Have I heard my birth announcement?
Wednesday, December 13, 2017
Humility December 13, 2017
Matthew 2:4-6(NIV)
4 When he had called together all the people’s chief
priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be
born. 5 “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what
the prophet has written:
6 “‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for out of you will come a ruler
who will shepherd my people Israel.
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for out of you will come a ruler
who will shepherd my people Israel.
"The first will be last and the last will be
first." That's one of Jesus' favorite sayings. Isn't interesting that God
said it long before he was born. Isn't interesting that those who knew the
Scriptures, but didn't know Jesus, said it too! Isn't it interesting that Herod
and Jesus lived it thirty years before Jesus would teach it? Isn't it
interesting that the Jesus gave us the Lord's Supper to remember that while
Jesus died and shed his blood, on the first day of the week, Sunday, he rose. When
it matters most, Jesus and his people will finish first!
Thought for today:
Do I acknowledge my position?
Tuesday, December 12, 2017
Adoption December 12, 2017
Galatians 4:4-5 (NIV)
4 But when the set time had fully come, God sent
his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to
redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to
sonship.
God waited till history reached his appointed time and sent
Jesus. Just the right time — Roman rule, Jewish subordination, good roads,
freedom, a degree of safety, a common trading language, cruel and barbaric
punishment accompanied by religious infighting. In times such as these, he sent
his Son to be a woman's son. He emptied his home so he could send a redeemer to
our home. He did it so we could be his children — not pretend children, but real
children, with full rights. So he could not only be God, but so he could be
Abba.
Thought for today: A I fully “invested” in my adoption?
Monday, December 11, 2017
Called December 11. 2017
Isaiah 7:14 (NIV)
14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a
sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will
call him Immanuel.
God is interested in us personally. So much so, that he
personally gives us this sign. Because of Matthew's explanation of the meaning
of the name Immanuel, we know what that sign was - Jesus coming to live as God
with us. His presence is God's presence. His life is God's sign. The miracle of
his conception is God's mystery and also his statement of grace for us.
Thought for today:
Am I neglecting and blocking the calling of what is birthed in me?
Sunday, December 10, 2017
Elevation December 10, 2017
Deuteronomy 18:15 (NIV)
15 The Lord your God will raise up for you a
prophet like me from among you, from your fellow Israelites. You must
listen to him.
Jesus is that prophet like Moses. He has come and taught us
God's truth. He has taught us with his words recorded in the Gospels. He has
taught us with his example, through the deeds he has done. He is teaching us
through his abiding presence in us and through the Spirit he has given us. But
he teaches us most effectively when we put into practice what he has said.
Though for today:
Are my works a result of my faith?
Saturday, December 9, 2017
Bearing Fruit December 9, 2017
John 15:5 (NIV)
5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain
in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do
nothing.
We take on Jesus' character (bear fruit) by remaining
intimately connected to him. The distance between heaven and earth is not so
great when heaven lives within us. In John 14, Jesus reminded us that if
we will obey him, he will come and live in us and will reveal himself to us. So
as we obey him, we know him better. His life becomes real in us.
Thought for today:
Am I mature enough to bear fruit?
Friday, December 8, 2017
The Way December 8, 2017
John 14:6 (NIV)
6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the
truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
I don't want to be any more exclusive than Jesus. But I do
want to hear his voice. He calls me to find the way to the Father through him.
I must also know that others must know him to find their way to the Father,
too. How can we not be more passionate about those around us who do not really
know Jesus as their Savior, Redeemer, Brother, and Lord? How can the first four
books of our New Testament lie unread?
Thought for today:
Do I seek “the way” when I’m feeling lost?
Thursday, December 7, 2017
Paid In Full December 7, 2017
John 11:25 (NIV)
25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection
and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they
die;
This is the most important question you will ever answer. Do
you really believe this? Do you believe that when you died with Christ in
baptism through faith, that you died the most significant death and that your
physical death will not separate you from Jesus? All of life, even all of
eternity for you, hangs on this one question.
Thought for today:
Do I believe He paid it all?
Wednesday, December 6, 2017
Hearing December 6, 2017
John 10:14-15 (NIV)
14 “I am the good shepherd; I know my
sheep and my sheep know me—15 just as the Father knows me and I know
the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep.
The goal of our walk with Jesus is to come to know him as
our shepherd just as intimately as he knows the Father. A key thing for us to
remember: In a world where so many people want to attract our attention and are
willing to give us advice, we can refuse their voice. We listen to Jesus
because he has shown his love for us by laying down his life for us. He is not
a hireling, he is the Good Shepherd.
Thought for today:
Can I hear God’s voice in the world’s noise?
Tuesday, December 5, 2017
Fullness December 5, 2017
John 10:7 (NIV)
7 Therefore Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell
you, I am the gate for the sheep.
John 10:9-10 (NIV)
9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be
saved. They will come in and go out, and find
pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I
have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
Jesus came to the world to give us life. He didn't come to
bring us rules, or judgement, or fear, or work. Jesus came to give us life in
its fullest form. While we know that this is promised to us when we go to be
with him for all eternity, John wants us to clearly hear that Jesus' promise to
give us life begins right now! Not JUST life later, but also life NOW!
Thought for today:
Am I living my life to its fullest?
Monday, December 4, 2017
The Light December 4, 2017
John 8:12 (NIV)
12 When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I
am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in
darkness, but will have the light of life.”
Darkness is more than a symbol, it is a pervasive way of
living and viewing the world. Darkness is the place of deception, evil, crime,
predators, sin, and death. To follow Jesus means to bring him our heart and let
him cast from the darkness that plagues us on the inside so we don't have to be
afraid of the darkness on the outside. In this way, Jesus gives us light, but
it is a light that does more than fill a dark room with light. This is a light
that illumines the heart.
Thought for today:
Do I seek to be in the light?
Sunday, December 3, 2017
The Hunger December 3, 2017
John 6:35 (NIV)
35 Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of
life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever
believes in me will never be thirsty.
We crave food at regular intervals during the day. During
this holiday season food occupies our thoughts and fills up our activities. But
deep in our soul is a hunger, a soul hunger. This hunger cannot be filled by
food, drink, or chemicals. This hunger was the desire built into us by our
Creator, placed there when he knit us together in our mother's womb. This
hunger can only be satiated by Jesus.
Thought for today:
Are my cravings godly?
Saturday, December 2, 2017
Interpreter December 2, 2017
Hebrews 1:1-2 (NIV)
1 In the past God spoke to our ancestors through
the prophets at many times and in various ways, 2 but in these
last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed
heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe.
God is a speaking God. He loves us and has chosen to get his
message to us in words. First there were the patriarchs and great prophets.
Then there was the written record in the Scriptures. But God's greatest
message, his most powerful words, were not really words at all, but a person
named Jesus of Nazareth, who is Christ and Lord of all. For us, his Church, to
be what he wants us to be, we must not just look at Scripture, we must also
look at him. He is the key to understanding what Scripture means and how it is
to be lived.
Thought for today:
Do I allow God to speak to my spirit?
Friday, December 1, 2017
It’s Real December 1, 2017
John 1:1-2 (NIV)
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was
with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the
beginning.
John 1:14 (NIV)
14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling
among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who
came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
All true ministry is "incarnational" - it involves
people to people contact, human touch, and genuine physical care. While there
is Internet ministry, it will never live in cyberspace. It must be carried into
the daily life of believers who are committed to share the grace of Jesus with
their FRANs (Friends, Relatives, Acquaintances, Neighbors). Just as God purposely
sent Jesus at the right time to the right place, he did so with us. We are here
to bless others, "not just in word, but in deed and truth!"
Thought for today:
Is my faith living and breathing?
Thursday, November 30, 2017
Reverence and Respect November 30, 2017
2 Peter 3:10-11(NIV)
10 But the day of the Lord will come like a
thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be
destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid
bare.
11 Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what
kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives
Holiness is that forgotten character virtue that is the
Christian's reflection of God, his or her holy and righteous Father. In a day
when grace is so easily cheapened, when anything goes just as long as we want
to be buddies with Jesus, Peter's words should shock us into reverence — the
holy commitment to set our lives apart from the evil and satanic sludge that
defiles our world and to offer our bodies, hearts, and minds to do his will and
reflect his character.
Thought for today: Do I hold God in reverence?
Wednesday, November 29, 2017
Vast Love November 29, 2017
Psalm 136:1 (NIV)
1 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.
His love endures forever.
His love endures forever.
26 Give thanks to the God of heaven.
His love endures forever.
His love endures forever.
Our thanks arises from the nature of God and his glory and
goodness. The steadfast reason we give thanks is because God is good and his
love is inexhaustible, beyond decay, and never ending.
Thought for today:
Do I consider the enormity of His love?
Tuesday, November 28, 2017
Gratitude November 28, 2017
1 Chronicles 16:8 (NIV)
8 Give praise to the Lord, proclaim his name;
make known among the nations what he has done.
make known among the nations what he has done.
Giving thanks is more than being thankful to God, it is
letting others know of his gracious works so they too can come to know him as
Father, Redeemer, and Victorious Lord. Then others can join their voices with
our own in a chorus of thanksgiving from the hearts those God's love has
redeemed.
Thought for today:
Is my gratitude contagious?
Monday, November 27, 2017
Heart’s Son November 27, 2017
Colossians 3:16 (NIV)
16 Let the message of Christ dwell among you
richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through
psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in
your hearts.
We sing when we are happy. We sing when we are heartbroken.
Today we sing out of gratitude. God is not only worthy of all of our praise, he
is worthy of all of our thankfulness. But the basis of all our songs is Jesus,
and the proclamation of the good news that brings life to us through him. As
that message, that word of Christ fills our hearts, we are tuned to be thankful
children of the Most High.
Thought for today:
Do I enjoy my heart’s song?
Sunday, November 26, 2017
True Worship November 26, 2017
Hebrews 12:28 (NIV)
28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that
cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with
reverence and awe,
We are receiving the triumphant and glorious victory of God
in his Kingdom. We will join with the angels and the saints of old and live
with the Father forever in victorious and never-ending joy. But this Kingdom
doesn't just begin when Jesus returns. This Kingdom has started now in his
Church, his people, those in whom God's will is cherished and obeyed. So our
worship should be filled with awe that the holy God of Israel is also the lowly
God in Jesus who has redeemed us and made us to be a holy people unto himself.
What else can we do but worship with heartfelt thanksgiving and wonder struck
awe.
Thought for today:
Do I worship without restraint?
Saturday, November 25, 2017
Righteousness November 25, 2017
Colossians 3:17 (NIV)
17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed,
do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father
through him.
Almighty and Most Holy God, I want all of my life to be
lived out to your glory, a living testament of thanks to you for the grace you
have given me in Jesus. While I do not always do this as well as I would like,
I lovingly offer you my words, my actions, my heart and my mind to bring you
glory by doing your will. Please, use your Spirit to remove the areas of
self-deception from my life so that weakness and hypocrisy will not rob my
discipleship of its intended worship of your majesty. In the name of Jesus, my
gracious Lord, I pray. Amen.
Thought for today:
Can I recognize when I am out of line?
Friday, November 24, 2017
Roots November 24, 2017
Colossians 2:6-7 (NIV)
6 So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as
Lord, continue to live your lives in him, 7 rooted and
built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing
with thankfulness.
Some things you don't change, swap, or update. In an age
when computer processors make major leaps every few months and software
companies release new upgrades every year, we get programmed into looking for
the new and improved version of everything. The simple but profound truth is
that Jesus is Lord. No update needed. No rival worthy. No change necessary. In
fact, if we stray from this as the basis of our life, we put all we hold dear
at risk. But if we continue, if we grow, if we root ourselves in this truth and
make it the undergirding reality of our lives, then our future is secure and
our victory assured!
Thought for today:
Does my faith have strength and roots?
Thursday, November 23, 2017
Presentation November 23, 2017
Psalm 100:4-5 (NIV)
4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving
and his courts with praise;
give thanks to him and praise his name.
5 For the Lord is good and his love endures forever;
his faithfulness continues through all generations.
and his courts with praise;
give thanks to him and praise his name.
5 For the Lord is good and his love endures forever;
his faithfulness continues through all generations.
Worship is always about entering - entering into grace,
entering with thanksgiving, entering to share with others, but most of all,
entering into the Lord's presence in a special way. But our entering is not the
basis of worship. Instead, worship is about the Lord's faithfulness, goodness,
and enduring grace. We come to God like so many before us, with God waiting for
us. We come to praise him for all he has been, all he is, and all he will be.
We come to enter and worship. We can do this simply because God is faithful,
through all the generations, to wait for us to come.
Thought for today:
Do I continuously present myself to God?
Wednesday, November 22, 2017
Peace November 22, 2017
Colossians 3:15 (NIV)
15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts,
since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be
thankful.
Peace - that elusive state of grace that incorporates all of
life's well-being. Because of Jesus, we have true shalom - wellness in body,
soul, and spirit. His relationships with others, his victory over sin, death
and the grave insures that we can have peace, too! So as we receive the Spirit
of Christ into our hearts, we can live with our brothers and sisters, no matter
how flawed in a state of peace. Besides, as Paul changes metaphors on us, we
are the Body of Christ and of course a body does not want to be at war with
itself. So live in peace with others, and do so with thanksgiving.
Thought for today:
Do I have peace in my life?
Tuesday, November 21, 2017
Thanksgiving November 21, 2017
1 Corinthians 1:4-5 (NIV)
4 I always thank my God for you because of his
grace given you in Christ Jesus.5 For in him you have been enriched in
every way—with all kinds of speech and with all knowledge—
The apostle Paul was amazing. He is writing one of the most
problematic churches and yet finds reasons to give thanks for them. First, he
is thankful for them because Jesus died for them. When God extends his grace to
others, how can we not do the same? Second, he recognizes the areas of their
abuse are also a reason to give thanks - they may have distorted it, but when
reigned in to honor God, these gifts could bless their church. Even though he
has tough words to follow, Paul's example reminds us that a child of God is
something to be cherished, even if that child has problems.
Thought for today:
Am I thankful for my tests?
Monday, November 20, 2017
Joy November 20, 2017
Psalm 95:1-2 (NIV)
1 Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord;
let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.
2 Let us come before him with thanksgiving
and extol him with music and song.
let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.
2 Let us come before him with thanksgiving
and extol him with music and song.
Joy knows no better explanation than laughter and song. We
sing to the Lord because we are joyful! Our music is not inhibited or held
back, but exuberant and as full of sound as it is of heart. Thanksgiving brings
us into the Father's presence and it is our joy at being saved that leads us to
sing.
Thought for today:
Do I find joy in my life?
Sunday, November 19, 2017
Heart’s Delight November 19, 2017
Psalm 1:1-2 (NIV)
1 Blessed is the one
who does not walk in step with the wicked
or stand in the way that sinners take
or sit in the company of mockers,
2 but whose delight is in the law of the Lord,
and who meditates on his Law Day and night.
who does not walk in step with the wicked
or stand in the way that sinners take
or sit in the company of mockers,
2 but whose delight is in the law of the Lord,
and who meditates on his Law Day and night.
I get to choose which sources of information I feed my mind.
But this privilege and freedom is also a responsibility. God longs to bless me,
but that blessing remains dormant until my heart delights in knowing and doing
his will.
Thought for today: What is my source?
Saturday, November 18, 2017
Unfailing Promises November 18, 2017
John 17:17 (NIV)
17 Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.
God's promises, God's Scripture, and God's clearest message
of all, his Son, are truth. But only the last of these is truth, grace,
deliverer, friend, Lord, Savior, brother, Redeemer...
Thought for today:
Does God has a role in my life?
Friday, November 17, 2017
It’s Lit November 17, 2017
Psalm 119:105 (NIV)
105 Your word is a lamp for my feet,
a light on my path.
a light on my path.
God's promises, God's Scripture, helps us find our way in a
pluralistic world of competing voices and lights our path in time so given to
cynicism and despair. What such great grace we have to know God's will in our
own words! Now if we will only walk in the light!
Thought for today:
Do I allow God to speak to my life?
Thursday, November 16, 2017
Eyes On the World November 16, 2017
Psalm 119:18 (NIV)
18 Open my eyes that I may see
wonderful things in your law.
wonderful things in your law.
From our perspective of grace and having been liberated from
law-keeping as a means of justification and righteousness, this is a very
fitting prayer. We can look around our world and see the anarchy and brutality
when there is no principle of law undergirding the soul of a society. God's law
provided so many wonderful blessings, and can still bless us today if we will
let it. But the greatest blessing of the O.T. Law is Jesus, in whom all of
God's promises find their fulfillment.
Thought for today :
Who or what are my eyes on?
Wednesday, November 15, 2017
Steadfastness November 15, 2017
Psalm 119:143 (NIV)
143 Trouble and distress have come upon me,
but your commands give me delight.
but your commands give me delight.
This verse is hard for me, because I know I am so blessed.
Trouble and distress do not seem to be a part of my vocabulary right now. But I
know in many places in the world this statement is true of Christians who are
under attack and live under the threat of persecution and possibly even death.
But their love for God and their commitment to obedience is greater than
Satan's threats because God's will is their delight.
Thought for today:
Can I stand firm and fast in my faith?
Tuesday, November 14, 2017
Life After November 14, 2017
1 Peter 3:18 (NIV)
18 For Christ also suffered once for
sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was
put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit.
Having stood over the open graves of friends, family, and
strangers, I know the appearance and feel of death's finality and our human
frailty. But Christ's death is that great reminder that death is a matter of
perspective and faith. I believe God raised Jesus from the dead and that Jesus
is the first fruits of those of us who believe in him. He is alive, not just in
Spirit, but in bodily form. Because Jesus lives, so will we!
Thought for today:
Do I truly trust in and believe in an afterlife ?
Monday, November 13, 2017
Service November 13, 2017
1 Peter 2:15-16 (NIV)
15 For it is God’s will that by doing good you
should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people. 16 Live as free
people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as
God’s slaves.
What does the world most need to hear from me today? A life
tuned to the melody of grace that I claim I believe. Doing good, being like
Christ, is Peter's answer to opposition, cynicism, and even persecution. We are
free in Jesus, but being free means that we don't have to pretentiously prove
we are free. Instead, we can live for him who died to conquer death and
renounced absolute heavenly freedom so we could find it. We are free to serve
others, and most of all to serve God.
Thought for today:
Do I serve others?
Sunday, November 12, 2017
Power Of Prayer November 12, 2017
Colossians 1:9(NIV)
9 For this reason, since the day we heard about
you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to
fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and
understanding that the Spirit gives,
In a world where we can feel so isolated and alone at times,
it is so important for us to know that someone is praying for us and for our
spiritual needs. As I think of the thousands who are a part of the Today's
Verse ministry, I cannot help but pray that each of them, that you, are blessed
by knowing that you share a spiritual journey with people all over the world,
and that today, we will pray for each other. And of course, there can be no
better prayer than the one that Paul prayed for the Colossian friends he had
never met — "I ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through
all spiritual wisdom and understanding." Let's pray that for each other
today.
Thought for today :
Do I pray for others?