Daily Scripture Verse – 1 Timothy 6:11-16
October 1st, 20071 Timonthy 6:11-16 - 11But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. 12Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 13In the sight of God, who gives life to everything, and of Christ Jesus, who while testifying before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you 14to keep this command without spot or blame until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15which God will bring about in his own time—God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, 16who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honor and might forever. Amen.
Your Word is sufficient for me…
Prayer
- Our Father, who art in Heaven,
- Hallowed be Thy Name.
- Thy Kingdom come.
- Thy will be done,
- on earth as it is in Heaven.
- Give us this day our daily bread.
- And forgive us our trespasses,
- As we forgive those who trespass against us.
- And lead us not into temptation;
- But deliver us from evil.
- For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory,
- For ever and ever.
- Amen
Daily Scripture Verse – 1 Peter 2:9
September 27th, 2007
1 Peter 2:9 - 9But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
You have been chosen. You have been called by God to belong to Him….’a people belonging to God’. He chose you for His own.
The word ‘Belong‘ is a powerful word. Everyone, from the time they are born, searches for a sense of ‘belonging’, or another way to put it, ‘a place to call home’. I think one of the biggest struggles that a young adult faces is this. If it isn’t found at home, it will be sought out elsewhere. This scripture is a comfort to all seeking that place to just be and be at peace. For me, it’s usually not until I go back to the farm place that I grew up on, do I truly feel at home. It doesn’t matter how long I’ve been away. Whenever I’m there…I just feel more like me. The other place that I feel like this is at my church. The thing I’ve decided though is that it’s not about the building…it’s about the people that are there. People that I love and care about and that love and care about me.
Do you have a place to ‘belong‘ to? If not, know that God has chosen you and you belong to Him. If you still have other desires to ‘belong to a family’, ‘belong to a church’, or ‘belong to a significant other’, realize that God knows these desires. He placed them within you. He intends to fulfill them in His time.
Prayer
Father,
I belong to You. Praise be to Your blessed name. Thank You for choosing me to be Your child. My identity as belonging to You is the best thing that could ever happen to me. Remind me during the times where I struggle to find a ‘sense of belonging,’ that Your will for me is perfect, that Your love for me is immeasurable, and that Your Son Jesus bought me with the sacrifice of His life.
In Jesus Name,
Amen.
Book of Genesis – Genesis Chapter 3 Summary
September 26th, 2007Quick Chapter Summary
The Fall of Man
- The serpent comes to Eve and tempts her to eat from the forbidden tree.
- The woman listens to the serpent and eats from it. She also brings some to Adam and he eats as well.
- Knowing they’ve sinned, they hide in the garden until God comes.
- Adam blames Eve. Eve blames the serpent.
- God curses the serpent and promises a savior to come and crush the serpent’s head.
- Women must now endure much pain during childbirth. They will also be ruled over by their husbands.
- Men must now tool and work to produce food.
- All people will now have to die.
- God clothes them and forces them out of the garden.
- An angel with a flaming sword is placed at the garden gate to prevent anyone from returning and eating of the Tree of Life.
Full Chapter Summary
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Full Text Genesis Chapter 3
Book of Matthew – Matthew Chapter 6 Summary
September 26th, 2007Quick Chapter Summary
Context: Continuation of the Sermon on the Mount
- Jesus tells the disciples to be humble in discrete in several areas of their lives versus being boastful. These things are about giving glory to God and not yourself. Also, doing these in secret will result in rewards from the Father in secret.
- Give to the needy so that your ‘left hand does not know what your right is doing.’
- Pray in your home with the door closed and don’t babble on about what you need…God already knows your needs. Jesus introduces the Lord’s Prayer here.
- When fasting, don’t make it obvious to everyone. Go on normally.
- Jesus goes on to talk about the failing, fading, temporary things of the earth:
- Earthly treasures will pass away. Store up treasures in heaven by keeping your heart on things of God.
- What you look at with your eyes affects the entire body.
- No one can serve two masters…specifically God and Money.
- Don’t worry about food or clothing. God feeds the birds and clothes the flowers which are fairly insignificant things and pass away quickly. God provides for these, so He’ll also provide for us.
Full Chapter Summary
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Full Text Matthew Chapter 6
Daily Scripture Verse – 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
September 26th, 20071 Thessalonians 5:16-18 - 16Be joyful always; 17pray continually; 18give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
What a challenge Paul poses to the Thessalonians in the closing of his first letter to them! ‘Be joyful always‘…that’s a tough proposition for anyone…but should it really be for a true Christian? We have had the ultimate sacrifice paid for us while we were still sinners! We were facing eternal damnation in the lake of fire…and were rescued. Isn’t that reason enough to awake each morning in joyful celebration?!?
Pray continually. I have good days and bad days in this department. I might be the opposite of some people, but I find my self feeling closer to God during the positive in my life and having a strong relationship during those times. During stressful and busy times, I basically can’t find ‘time’ for God, and my prayer life suffers. Really, it should be the opposite.
Give thanks in all circumstances. All circumstances?…Surely he can’t mean this. I mean there are times when you shouldn’t give thanks, right? Like if somebody dies. Why would I thank God for that? This is where we need to take a lesson from Job. ‘The Lord gives and the Lord taketh away…Blessed be the name of the Lord’. In all things we can find a reason to be thankful. When someone leaves us…it’s not permanent. We’ll see them again. Also, we were privileged with being able to know and love that person. We can thank God for all the amazing memories we were able to make. No matter the circumstance, there is something to be thankful for.
Prayer
Father,
I come to you today, joyful in the life You have given me, the blessings You shine on me everyday, and the numerous opportunities I’m given each day to serve Your purpose. I am thankful for all the challenges and joys that each of these brings me. I thank you for the breath I am taking right now. Use each of them to Your glory.
In Jesus Name,
Amen.