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"Daily Connection" and "Read the Bible in a year"
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Daily Connection
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And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. James 5:15 NIV
Infant Elisabeth Jernigan was diagnosed with a deadly brain cancer. Elisabeth's parents, Betsy and Leonard, and their whole church prayed for the child. Prior to surgery to install a shunt in her skull to relieve fluid pressure, the family gathered around Elisabeth with a minister who anointed Elisabeth with oil and prayed for her healing. During surgery the doctors could find no evidence of the cancer. Today, Elisabeth is a healthy adult with no sign of disease. (Time, April 10, 1995)
Is there illness in your life? Don't be discouraged. God can heal through prayer. Call on the church for prayer and believe in the Lord. There's always hope when you ask the Great Physician for a second opinion!
Point of Connection: It is at night that faith in light is admirable. (Edmond Rostand)
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Psalms 90-95
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Psalm 90
God is Forever - Man's Short Life
1Lord, You have been the place of comfort for all people of all time.
2Before the mountains were born, before You gave birth to the earth and the world, forever and ever, You are God.
3You change man into dust again, and say, 'Return, O children of men.'
4For a thousand years in Your eyes are like yesterday when it passes by, or like the hours of the night.
5You carry men away as with a flood. They fall asleep. In the morning they are like the new grass that grows.
6It grows well in the morning, but dries up and dies by evening.
7For we are burned up by Your anger. By Your anger we are troubled and afraid.
8You have set our wrongdoing before You, our secret sins in the light of Your face.
9For all our days pass away in Your anger. We finish our years with a quiet cry.
10The days of our life are seventy years, or eighty if we have the strength. Yet the best of them are only hard...[more details]
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Daily Connection
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For the moth will eat them up like a garment; the worm will devour them like wool. But my righteousness will last forever, my salvation through all generations. Isaiah 51:8 NIV
In 1982, orthopedic surgeon John Church treated an accident victim who lay unconscious for three days. When found, the patient had deep wounds infested with maggots. When Dr. Church peeled away the maggots he was astonished to discover that the wounds were so clean they had already begun to heal! The larvae had eaten the dead flesh and their presence actually encouraged the growth of healthy tissues. (Scot Higgins)
Have troubles been eating at you? God can use trials to develop a godly character. Submit yourself in faith to the Lord's special therapy. It's the best treatment available for cleaning up your act!
Point of Connection: Character in a saint means the disposition of Jesus Christ persistently manifested. (Oswald Chambers)
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Psalms 96-102
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Psalm 96
A Call To Worship The Lord
1Sing to the Lord a new song. Let all the earth sing to the Lord.
2Sing to the Lord. Honor His name. Make His saving power known from day to day.
3Tell of His shining-greatness among the nations. Tell of His wonderful works among all the people.
4For the Lord is great and should be given much praise. He is to be honored with fear above all gods.
5For all the gods of the nations are false gods. But the Lord made the heavens.
6Honor and great power are with Him. Strength and beauty are in His holy place.
7Give to the Lord, O families of the nations, give to the Lord the honor and strength that He should have.
8Give to the Lord the honor of His name. Bring a gift and come into His holy place.
9Worship the Lord in holy clothing. May all the earth shake in fear before Him.
10Say among the nations that the Lord rules. The world is built to last. It will not be moved. He will be right when H...[more details]
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Daily Connection
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Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people he chose for his inheritance. Psalm 33:12 NIV
French writer, Alexis de Tocqueville visited America in 1831 to witness the country's amazing growth. After examining many factors, de Tocqueville concluded: "Not until I went into the churches of America and heard her pulpits flame with righteousness did I understand the secret of her genius and power. America is great because America is good, and if America ever ceases to be good, America will cease to be great!"
As you celebrate our nation's birthday this week, hold it up to God in prayer. This country's influence in the world rests upon the grace of God. Ask the Lord to make America both good and great!
Point of Connection: The highest glory of the American Revolution was this: that it connected, in one indissoluble bond, the principles of civil government with the principles of Christianity. (John Quincy Adams)
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Psalms 103-105
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Psalm 103
Praise For God's Love
1Praise the Lord, O my soul. And all that is within me, praise His holy name.
2Praise the Lord, O my soul. And forget none of His acts of kindness.
3He forgives all my sins. He heals all my diseases.
4He saves my life from the grave. He crowns me with loving and pity.
5He fills my years with good things and I am made young again like the eagle.
6The Lord does what is right and fair for all who suffer under a bad power.
7He made His ways known to Moses and His acts to the people of Israel.
8The Lord is full of loving and kindness. He is slow to anger and has much loving.
9He will not always keep after us. And He will not keep His anger back forever.
10He has not punished us enough for all our sins. He has not paid us back for all our wrong.
11For His lovingness for those who fear Him is as great as the heavens are high above the earth.
12He has taken our sins from us as far a...[more details]
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Daily Connection
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Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints. Psalm 116:15 NIV
In the book, The Five People You Meet in Heaven, Eddie meets in heaven the captain of his unit in Viet Nam who died saving Eddie's life. In discussing his heroic action, the Captain claimed: "I didn't die for nothing, either. That night, we might have all driven over that land mine. Then the four of us would have been gone." Eddie shook his head. "But you…," he lowered his voice, "you lost your life." The Captain smacked his tongue on his teeth. "That's the thing. Sometimes when you sacrifice something precious, you're not really losing it. You're just passing it on to someone else." (Mitch Albom)
Our freedom is too often taken for granted in America. Countless thousands have given their lives in the military to secure this wonderful right. Take some time on this holiday to say thanks to those who made the sacrifice for you!
Point of Connection: More than self, their country loved, and mercy mo...[more details]
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Psalms 106-107
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Psalm 106
1Praise the Lord! O give thanks to the Lord for He is good. His lovingkindness lasts forever.
2Who can put into words the great works of the Lord? Who can make known all His praise?
3Happy are those who are faithful in being fair and who always do what is right and good!
4O Lord, remember me when You show favor to Your people. Visit me also when You save them.
5So I may share in the well of Your chosen ones. So I may share in the joy of Your nation, and be proud of Your people.
6We have sinned like our fathers. We have done wrong. We have been sinful in our actions.
7Our fathers in Egypt did not understand Your powerful works. They did not remember how many times You showed Your lovingkindness. But they turned against You by the sea, the Red Sea.
8Yet He saved them because of the honor of His name, and to make His great power known.
9So He spoke sharp words to the Red Sea and it dried up. And He led them through the sea...[more details]
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Daily Connection
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When the wine was gone, Jesus' mother said to him, 'They have no more wine.' 'Dear woman, why do you involve me?' Jesus replied. 'My time has not yet come.' His mother said to the servants, 'Do whatever he tells you.' John 2:3-5 NIV
Carol was coordinating a large conference for religious leaders at a downtown hotel in Indianapolis. The last night of the event featured a large choir that required ten music stands. The afternoon before the event Carol was informed that the stands were not shipped. With just too few hours left, Carol was desperate and silently prayed, "Lord, we have no more wine!" She phoned a musical friend, a nearby Christian school, and a used music store. By the time of the evening performance, Carol had 15 music stands for the evening! (Carol Lytch)
Are you coming out short? Make your need an opportunity for Jesus. The Lord is able to replace your scarcity with His abundance. Don't worry! Invite the One who turns water into wine.
Point of Connection: Som...[more details]
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Psalms 108-114
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Psalm 108
A Song Of Praise
1My heart will not be moved, O God. I will sing. Yes, I will sing praises with my soul.
2Wake up, different kinds of harps. I will wake up the new day.
3I will give thanks to You among the people, O Lord. I will sing praises to You among the nations.
4For Your loving is great above the heavens. And Your truth can touch the sky.
5Be lifted up high above the heavens, O God. Let Your shining-greatness be over all the earth.
6Save us with Your right hand and answer me. Let Your loved ones be set free.
7God has said in His holy place: 'I will be full of joy. I will divide Shechem and the valley of Succoth.
8Gilead is Mine. Manasseh is Mine. Ephraim is the covering for My head. Judah is My law giver.
9Moab is where I wash My hands. I will throw My shoe over Edom. I will call out over Philistia that I have won.'
10Who will bring me into the strong city? Who will lead me into Edom?
11Have You n...[more details]
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Daily Connection
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I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
John 10:10 KJV
Jerry excitedly opened the door and signed for the new computer. Bringing the box into his house, he quickly lifted out his new laptop computer from the packing. On the keyboard, he found a certificate of quality assurance that simply stated, "You can be sure that your computer is in top working order. I performed all needed testing before shipping it to you. Yours truly, Alvin Watham."
Do you want to get the most out of life? Maybe you need to have some quality assurance. Jesus came to earth to
give abundant life to those who follow Him in faith. Take Jesus at His word. He can be trusted. There is no better warranty available!
Point of Connection: Faith expects from God what is beyond expectations. (De Jong)
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Psalms 115-118
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Psalm 115
One True God
1Let honor be given to Your name and not to us, O Lord, not to us. Because You are loving and kind and faithful.
2Why should the nations say, 'Where is their God now?'
3But our God is in the heavens. He does whatever He wants to do.
4Their gods are silver and gold, the work of human hands.
5They have mouths but they cannot speak. They have eyes but they cannot see.
6They have ears but they cannot hear. They have noses but they cannot smell.
7They have hands but they cannot feel. They have feet but they cannot walk. They cannot make a sound come out of their mouths.
8Those who make them and trust them will be like them.
9O Israel, trust in the Lord. He is their help and safe-covering.
10O house of Aaron, trust in the Lord. He is their help and safe-covering.
11You who fear the Lord, trust in the Lord. He is their help and safe-covering.
12The Lord has remembered us and will make good...[more details]
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Daily Connection
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"Lord, if it's you," Peter replied, "tell me to come to you on the water." "Come," he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. Matthew 14:28-29 NIV
There was a very cautious man, who never laughed or played; he never risked, he never tried, he never sang or prayed. And when he one day passed away his insurance was denied. For since he never really lived, they claimed he never died! (Sermonillustrations.com)
Has life become a bore? Stop playing it safe and learn to live a little. Life's greatest adventure comes when you follow Jesus in faith. Step out of the boat and discover the thrill of walking on the waves!
Point of Connection: A calm sea does not produce a skilled sailor. (Anonymous)
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Psalm 119:1-88
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Psalm 119
The Law Of The Lord
1Happy are those whose way is without blame, who walk in the Law of the Lord.
2Happy are PSALM 119 those who keep His Law and look for Him with all their heart.
3They also do not sin, but walk in His ways.
4You have set down Laws that we should always obey.
5O, that my ways may be always in keeping with Your Law!
6Then I will not be put to shame when I respect Your Word.
7I will praise You with a heart that is right when I learn how right You judge.
8I will obey Your Law. Do not leave me all alone.
9How can a young man keep his way pure? By living by Your Word.
10I have looked for You with all my heart. Do not let me turn from Your Law.
11Your Word have I hid in my heart, that I may not sin against You.
12Great and honored are You, O Lord. Teach me Your Law.
13I have told with my lips of all the Laws of Your mouth.
14I have found as much joy in following Your Law...[more details]
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Daily Connection
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Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well. 3 John 2 NIV
A recent medical study by the Dartmouth Medical School examined the effect of prayer on healing when the patients prayed for themselves. The death rate six months after bypass surgery was 9 percent for the general population but 5 percent for those who prayed for their own healing. And none of the deeply religious patients died during the period of the study. (A.P. "Religion in the News")
Want to have a healthier life? Then tend to your soul! A life of prayer and Bible reading can positively influence your body. Who knows? Someday we all might say, "A devotion a day keeps the doctor away!"
Point of Connection: The greatest power that God has given to any individual is the power of prayer. (Kathryn Kuhlman)
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Psalms 119:89-176
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Psalm 119
89Forever, O Lord, Your Word will never change in heaven.
90You are faithful to all people for all time. You have made the earth, and it stands.
91They stand today by Your Law, for all things serve You.
92I would have been lost in my troubles if Your Law had not been my joy.
93I will never forget Your Word for by it You have given me new life.
94I am Yours. Save me, for I have looked to Your Law.
95The sinful wait to destroy me, but I will think about Your Word.
96I have seen that all things have an end, even if they are perfect, but Your Word is without end.
97O, how I love Your Law! It is what I think about all through the day.
98Your Word makes me wiser than those who hate me, for it is always with me.
99I have better understanding than all my teachers because I think about Your Law.
100I have a better understanding than those who are old because I obey Your Word.
101I have kept my feet...[more details]
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Daily Connection
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But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit. Jude 20 NIV
When Josh McDowell's mother died, Josh was uncertain about her relationship with God. In desperation he prayed, "Somehow give me the answer. I've just got to know if Mom's in heaven." Two days later, McDowell met a woman from his hometown fishing on a pier. The lady was a cousin to his mother! "Do you remember anything at all about my mother's spiritual life?" asked Josh. "Why sure-your mom and I were just teenagers-when a tent revival came to town. It was the fourth night-we both went forward to accept Christ." (Daily Bread)
Are you puzzled about the will of God? Don't stay perplexed. Let the Holy Spirit guide you in your prayers. With His help, you'll be amazed at the answers you
will find!
Point of Connection: The fewer the words, the better the prayer. (German proverb)
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Psalms 120-132
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Psalm 120
A Prayer For Help
1I cried to the Lord in my trouble, and He answered me.
2O Lord, save me from lying lips and a false tongue.
3What will be given to you and what more will be done to you, you false tongue?
4He will punish you with sharp arrows of the soldier, and with the hot fire of the broom tree.
5It is bad for me, for I travel in Meshech and live among the tents of Kedar!
6I have lived too long with those who hate peace.
7I am for peace. But when I speak, they are for war.
Psalm 121
The Lord - Our Helper
1I will lift up my eyes to the mountains. Where will my help come from?
2My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth.
3He will not let your feet go out from under you. He Who watches over you will not sleep.
4Listen, He Who watches over Israel will not close his eyes or sleep.
5The Lord watches over you. The Lord is your safe cover at your right hand.
6The sun will n...[more details]
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Daily Connection
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The sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings. And you will go out and leap like calves released from the stall. Malachi 4:2 NIV
During World War II, Agnes Sanford volunteered for the Red Cross caring for wounded soldiers. On Ward 17, she met Frederick, a soldier dying of a severe abdominal wound. Reluctantly the man allowed Sanford to pray for him. When she reached home, she called every prayer group she knew to ask for a miracle. To her amazement, in a few weeks, the dying man rebounded. When he was able to get up, Frederick went to the chaplain's office to get a Bible and ask more about Jesus Christ! (Agnes Sanford)
Has illness cast a shadow on your life? Don't let physical problems keep you in the dark. There is healing in the Lord. Ask Jesus for His divine touch. Hope will begin to shine when the Sun of Righteousness dawns in your heart!
Point of Connection: The simplest soul can touch God and live in the very presence of His power. (John G. Lake)
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Psalms 133-139
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Psalm 133
A Song Of Praise
1See, how good and how pleasing it is for brothers to live together as one!
2It is like oil of great worth poured on the head, flowing down through the hair on the face, even the face of Aaron, and flowing down to his coat.
3It is like the morning water of Hermon coming down upon the hills of Zion. For there the Lord has given the gift of life that lasts forever.
Psalm 134
A Call To Praise
1See, give honor and thanks to the Lord, all who work for the Lord, who stand during the night in the house of the Lord.
2Lift up your hands to the holy place and give thanks to the Lord.
3May the Lord bring good to you from Zion. He is the One Who made heaven and earth.
Psalm 135
A Song Of Praise
1Praise the Lord! Praise the name of the Lord! Praise Him, O servants of the Lord,
2you who stand in the house of the Lord, within the walls of the house of our God.
3Praise the Lord, for the Lord is good. S...[more details]
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Daily Connection
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To comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion. Isaiah 61:2 NIV
Greg Zanis is a carpenter from Illinois, whose father-in-law taught him the trade. In 1996, Greg's father-in-law was the victim of a violent crime and died. To express his deep grief, Greg built an eight-foot wooden cross and planted it where he died. Through his ministry "Crosses for Losses," Greg continued to erect them at the scenes of other fatal crimes or accidents such as Columbine High School. Greg has personally delivered over 800 crosses to date.
(Southern Baptist Convention.net)
Are you struggling with a recent loss? Don't let your sorrow lead you to despair. God can use your pain to bring blessing to others. Ask the Lord to turn your cross into a gain!
Point of Connection: He who plants a tree plants a hope. (Lucy Larcom)
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Psalms 140-145
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Psalm 140
A Prayer For Help
1O Lord, take me away from sinful men. Keep me safe from men who want to hurt others.
2They make sinful plans in their hearts. They always start wars.
3They make their tongues sharp like a snake's. And the poison of a snake is under their lips.
4O Lord, keep me from the hands of the sinful. Keep me safe from men who want to hurt others and have planned to trip my feet.
5The proud have hidden a trap for me. With ropes they have spread a net. They have set traps for me beside the road.
6I said to the Lord, 'You are my God. Listen to the voice of my prayers, O Lord.
7O God the Lord, the strength that saves me, You have covered my head in the day of battle.
8O Lord, do not give the sinful what they want. Do not let their plans work, or they will be honored.
9'As for those who gather around me, may the wrong of their lips come upon their heads.
10May burning coals fall upon them. May they be throw...[more details]
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Daily Connection
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See, I have refined you, though not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction. For my own sake, for my own sake, I do this. Isaiah 48:10 NIV
Jazz trumpeter, Wynton Marsalis, was playing in a New York club. When he began an unaccompanied solo of the 1930's ballad, "I Don't Stand a Ghost of a Chance with You," a cell phone went off and people began to giggle. But Marsalis recaptured the magic of his solo by taking the cell phone melody and improvising for several minutes, weaving glory out of goofiness. Finally, in a masterstroke, he wound down seamlessly to the last few bars of his original solo. (John G. Stackhouse)
Has something spoiled your plans? Don't get depressed. God can use it to deepen your life. Ask the Lord to use the current disappointment for His Kingdom. You'll be playing a new tune when you see the Lord weave glory out of goofiness!
Point of Connection: What a caterpillar calls the end of the world, God calls a butterfly. (Richard Bach)
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Psalms 146-150
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Psalm 146
The Lord - Our Helper
1Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord, O my soul!
2I will praise the Lord as long as I live. I will sing praises to my God as long as I live.
3Do not put your trust in princes, in a son of a man, who cannot save us.
4When his spirit leaves, he returns to the earth. His thoughts end on that day.
5Happy is he whose help is the God of Jacob, and whose hope is in the Lord his God.
6The Lord made heaven and earth, the sea and all that is in them. He is faithful forever.
7He helps those who have a bad power over them. He gives food to the hungry. And He sets those in prison free.
8The Lord opens the eyes of the blind. The Lord raises up those who are brought down. The Lord loves those who are right and good.
9The Lord keeps the strangers safe. He takes care of the children who have no father and the woman whose husband has died. But He destroys the way of the sinful.
10The Lord will rule forever. Y...[more details]
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Daily Connection
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We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. Romans 8:26 NIV
David's sister was diagnosed with a serious neuromuscular disease. Not long after this, her father began weeping in church every Sunday. For several years, his tears flowed and voice cracked when he sang hymns. Somehow during the worship service, the Spirit was praying through the loving father. The young girl began to gradually improve and today she is a wife, mother and special education teacher. (David Hansen)
Are you confused about praying for healing? No need to struggle to get the proper words. Let the Holy Spirit intercede through you. You may not know what the Spirit is saying but the Father will get the right message!
Point of Connection: Those who have the gale of the Holy Spirit go forward, even in sleep. (Brother Lawrence)
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Proverbs 1-3
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Proverbs 1
Wise Sayings For Good Use
1These are the wise sayings of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel:
2They show you how to know wisdom and teaching, to find the words of understanding.
3They help you learn about the ways of wisdom and what is right and fair.
4They give wisdom to the child, and much learning and wisdom to those who are young.
5A wise man will hear and grow in learning. A man of understanding will become able
6to understand a saying and a picture, the words of the wise and what they mean.
7The fear of the Lord is the beginning of much learning. Fools hate wisdom and teaching.
8Hear your father's teaching, my son, and do not turn away from your mother's teaching.
9For they are a glory to your head and a chain of beauty around your neck.
10My son, if sinners try to lead you into sin, do not go with them.
11If they say, 'Come with us. Let us lie in wait to kill someone. Let us set a trap for tho...[more details]
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Daily Connection
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Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.
Proverbs 12:18 NIV
A small Jewish boy asked his father why they were attending Protestant churches in Germany. The father replied, "Son, we must abandon our faith so that people will accept us and support our business adventures!" The boy's faith was crushed. He left Germany to study at the British Museum where he formed his philosophies for life. From those intensive investigations Karl Marx wrote a book that changed the world, "The Communist Manifesto." (Paul Fritz)
Are you shaping future generations to serve the Lord? Children make decisions for life based upon your words and example. You can change the world through your children. Make sure it's a better one!
Point of Connection: The light that shines farthest shines brightest at home. (De Jong)
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Proverbs 4-6
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Proverbs 4
A Father's Teaching
1O sons, hear the teaching of a father. Listen so you may get understanding.
2For I give you good teaching. Do not turn away from it.
3When I was a much loved and only son of my mother and father,
4he taught me, saying, 'Hold my words close to your heart. Keep my teachings and live.
5Get wisdom and understanding. Do not forget or turn away from the words of my mouth.
6Do not leave her alone, and she will keep you safe. Love her, and she will watch over you.
7The beginning of wisdom is: Get wisdom! And with all you have gotten, get understanding.
8Honor her and she will honor you. She will honor you if you hold her to your heart.
9She will put on your head a crown of loving and beauty.'
10Hear, my son, and receive my sayings, and the years of your life will be many.
11I have taught you in the way of wisdom. I have led you on the right paths.
12When you walk, your steps will no...[more details]
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Daily Connection
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Even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy. 1 Peter 1:8 NIV
In the early days of the west, a winter traveler came to the Mississippi and decided to cross the frozen waters. Unsure of the strength of the ice, the traveler cautiously crept on his hands and knees. Halfway across, he heard singing from behind him. Cautiously he turned saw another traveler, driving a four-horse load of coal over the ice, singing as he went! (Unknown)
Has fear taken away the music in your life? Put your weight firmly on God and you'll find your song. He is able to hold up more than you can imagine. Trust Jesus and watch Him put your fears on ice!
Point of Connection: Hope is hearing the music of the future. Faith is dancing to it in the present! (Anonymous)
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Proverbs 7-9
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Proverbs 7
The Talk Of a Sinful Woman
1My son, keep my words, and hold together my teachings within you.
2Keep my words and live. Keep my teachings as you would your own eye.
3Tie them upon your fingers. Write them upon your heart.
4Say to wisdom, 'You are my sister.' Call understanding your special friend.
5They will keep you from the strange woman, from the stranger with her smooth words.
6For I looked out through the wood at the window of my house.
7And I saw among the childlike and among the young people a young man without wisdom and understanding.
8He passed through the street near her corner and took the path to her house,
9in the light of the evening, after it was dark.
10See, a woman comes to meet him. She is dressed like a woman who sells the use of her body, and with a heart that wants to fool and trap someone.
11She is loud and has a strong selfwill. Her feet do not stay at home.
12She is now i...[more details]
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Daily Connection
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I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me faithful, appointing me to his service. 1 Timothy 1:12 NIV
Senator Mark Hatfield visited Mother Teresa in Calcutta, observing her caring for hundreds of dying people. Hatfield was overwhelmed by the sheer magnitude of the suffering the Sisters of Mercy faced daily. "How can you bear the load without being crushed by it?" he asked. Mother Teresa replied, "My dear Senator, I am not called to be successful, I am called to be faithful." (Mark Beals)
Has serving the Lord been wearing you down? Focus on faithfulness rather than results. Meet the needs of others and you'll find new strength. Where God calls, He enables!
Point of Connection: You can usually tell the caliber of a person's faith by how much opposition it takes to discourage him. (Unknown)
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Proverbs 10-12
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Proverbs 10
The Wise Sayings of Solomon
Chapters 10 through 29
1The sayings of Solomon: A wise son makes a father glad, but a foolish son is a sorrow to his mother.
2Riches taken by wrong do no good, but doing what is right and good saves from death.
3The Lord will not let those who are right with Him go hungry, but He puts to one side the desire of the sinful.
4He who works with a lazy hand is poor, but the hand of the hard worker brings riches.
5A son who gathers in summer is wise, but a son who sleeps during gathering time brings shame.
6Good things are given to those who are right with God, but the mouth of the sinful hides trouble.
7Those who are right with God are remembered with honor, but the name of the sinful will waste away.
8The wise in heart will receive teaching, but a fast talking fool will become nothing.
9He who is right in his walk is sure in his steps, but he who takes the wrong way will be found out.
...[more details]
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Daily Connection
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For I am already being poured out like a drink offering…I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 2 Timothy 4:6-7 NIV
A stone obelisk was being raised to honor a Roman Emperor. Twenty thousand workers were chosen to hoist the 100-foot monument. Just one error could cause the obelisk to fall, ruining years of work. The Emperor demanded one final act that insured the complete attention and best direction of the chief engineer. He ordered the engineer's own son to be strapped to the apex of the obelisk. (Pulpit Helps)
Has something been missing in your service for the Lord? Maybe you have been holding back your best. Effective ministry requires that you pour out a total commitment. Give the Lord the best of heart and head and hands!
Point of Connection: You must get involved to have an impact. No one is impressed with the won-lost record of the referee. (Unknown)
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Proverbs 13-15
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Proverbs 13
1A wise son listens when his father tells him the right way, but one who laughs at the truth does not listen when strong words are spoken to him.
2The one who is careful what he says will have good come to him, but the one who wants to hurt others will have trouble.
3He who watches over his mouth keeps his life. He who opens his lips wide will be destroyed.
4The soul of the lazy person has strong desires but gets nothing, but the soul of the one who does his best gets more than he needs.
5A man who is right with God hates lies, but the actions of a sinful man are hated and he is put to shame.
6What is right and good watches over the one whose way is without blame, but sin destroys the sinful.
7There is one who pretends to be rich, but has nothing. Another pre tends to be poor, but has many riches.
8A rich man can use his riches to save his life, but the poor man does not hear strong words spoken to him.
9Those who are...[more details]
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Daily Connection
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The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me…to bind up the brokenhearted.
Isaiah 61:1 NIV
Mary Ann Cortes suffered for 17 years as a manic-depressive. When she went to bed at night she feared waking up to another day of terror. One day Mary Ann had an unusual experience with God that gave her the ability to pray in a language she did not know. This gift of praying in tongues began a process of emotional and physical healing. Today she is a new person who lives a balanced life and is no longer afraid of the morning! (Robert DeGrandis)
Do you struggle with emotional issues? God can lift your depression and restore joy to your life. Ask the Lord to fill you with His Holy Spirit. Spend time in His restorative presence. Prayer can bring healing to your soul!
Point of Connection: We can get no deeper into Christ than we allow him to get in us. (Spurgeon)
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Proverbs 16-18
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Proverbs 16
1The plans of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.
2All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the thoughts of the heart.
3Trust your work to the Lord, and your plans will work out well.
4The Lord has made all things for His own plans, even the sinful for the day of trouble.
5Everyone who is proud in heart is a shame to the Lord. For sure, that one will be punished.
6Sin has been paid for by lovingkindness and truth. The fear of the Lord keeps one away from sin.
7When the ways of a man are pleasing to the Lord, He makes even those who hate him to be at peace with him.
8A little earned in a right way is better than much earned in a wrong way.
9The mind of a man plans his way, but the Lord shows him what to do.
10The lips of the king should decide as God would. His mouth should not sin in deciding what is right or wrong.
11What is fair in telling t...[more details]
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Daily Connection
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The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. Revelations 22:3-4 NIV
Missionary to Africa, Vernon Pettinger, was diagnosed with weeping eczema, a very serious skin disease. At this time he was put on an experimental therapy with newly discovered cortisone. The treatment held the condition in check but the side effects of the drug began to destroy Vern's major organ systems. He was brought back to the States facing death. While in a hospital bed, the Holy Spirit flooded Pettinger's mind with a multitude of verses in the Bible about healing. Vernon experienced a deep sense of peace. The next day doctors examined him and discovered that he was completely well!
(Vern Pettinger)
Do you need faith for healing? Turn to the Bible and feed on God's healing promises. Make God's Word one of your prescriptions for health!
Point of Connection: Faith asks no evidence other than the...[more details]
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Proverbs 19-21
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Proverbs 19
1A poor man who walks with honor is better than a fool who is sinful in his speaking.
2It is not good for a person to be without much learning, and he who hurries with his feet rushes into sin.
3The foolish acts of man make his way bad, and his heart is angry toward the Lord.
4Riches add many friends, but a poor man is separated from his friend.
5A man who tells lies about someone will be punished. He who tells lies will not get away.
6Many will ask for the favor of a man who gives much, and every man is a friend to him who gives gifts.
7All the brothers of a poor man hate him. How much more do his friends go far from him! He runs to them with words, but they are gone.
8He who gets wisdom loves his own soul. He who keeps understanding will find good.
9A man who tells lies about someone will be punished. He who tells lies will be lost.
10It is not right for a fool to live in great comfort, and for sure, for a ser...[more details]
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Daily Connection
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But the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love. Psalm 33:18 NIV
John lost his sight, due to an accident. The young man became depressed and reclusive. One day his father entered the room and said, "John, winter's coming and the storm windows need to be up-that's your job. I want those hung by the time I get back this evening or else!" Infuriated by his father's disregard for his safety, the blind youth somehow managed to get the windows up. Afterwards, John discovered that his father watched the whole affair. Never was he more than four or five feet away from his side. (William Frey)
Is the Lord asking you to step out of your comfort zone? Don't be angry with Him. He knows your limits and will be there right beside you. Obey God and trust in His love. He is not blind to your needs!
Point of Connection: Faith accepts guidance; unbelief wants a miracle. (Unknown)
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Proverbs 22-23
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Proverbs 22
1A good name is to be chosen instead of many riches. Favor is better than silver and gold.
Proverbs 22
1The rich and the poor meet together. The Lord is the maker of them all.
2A wise man sees sin and hides himself, but the foolish go on, and are punished for it.
4The pay for not having pride and having the fear of the Lord is riches, honor and life.
5Thorns and traps are in the way of the sinful. He who watches himself will stay far from them.
6Bring up a child by teaching him the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn away from it.
7The rich rules over the poor. The man who uses something that belongs to someone else is ruled by the one who let him use it.
8He who plants sin will gather trouble, and the heavy stick of his anger will break.
9He who gives much will be honored, for he gives some of his food to the poor.
10Send away the man who laughs at the truth, and arguing, fighting and shame...[more details]
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Daily Connection
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Our dear friend Luke, the doctor, sends greetings.
Colossians 4:14 NIV
Dr. Paul Meier visited a Jewish-Christian congregation in Israel. Listening to a translator, Meier heard the rabbi make the following appeal, "We have many believers in Yeshua [Hebrew for Jesus]," the rabbi explained, "but we need counselors. Today let's pray that God will send us a psychiatrist, who can teach us about helping people with psychological problems." As the group prayed, Meier stepped forward. "I'm a psychiatrist," he said. "When do you want me to come?" The following year, he returned and trained lay counselors from all over Israel. (Paul Meier)
Are you suffering with a health problem? Maybe you need a second opinion? God uses doctors to heal. He can bring people to you who have the healing gifts you need. Ask the Lord in prayer to connect you with the right professionals. His referral network is better than you think!
Point of Connection: Ask and you shall receive, knock and the door...[more details]
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Proverbs 24-26
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Proverbs 24
1Do not be jealous of sinful men. Do not want to be with them.
2For their hearts make plans to hurt others and their lips talk about trouble.
3A house is built by wisdom. It is made strong by understanding,
4and by much learning the rooms are filled with all riches that are pleasing and of great worth.
5A wise man is strong. A man of much learning adds to his strength.
6For by wise leading you will make war, and the fight is won when there are many wise men to help you make the plans.
7Wisdom is too hard for a fool to understand. He does not open his mouth in the gate.
8He who plans to do wrong will be called a trouble maker.
9Planning to do foolish things is sin, and the man who laughs at the truth is hated by men.
10If you are weak in the day of trouble, your strength is small.
11Save those who are being taken away to death. Keep them from being killed.
12If you say, 'See, we did not know this,'...[more details]
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Daily Connection
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Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses…let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Hebrews 12:1 NIV
In the Iditarod race, dog mushers from around the world annually competed over 1,100 miles of harsh Alaskan terrain in this grueling test of endurance. On March 13, 2003, Norwegian, Robert Sorley, was the first to finish. Two hours later, Ramey Brooks crossed the finish line. To Brook's amazement, Sorley was there in the near zero temperatures to greet him. Over the next several hours, all finishers waited to hail those still coming in. (Greg Asimakoupoulos)
Are you facing a long race ahead? Don't give up. You are not running alone. There is a heavenly audience cheering you on at the finish line. Make it your goal to finish the race and encourage others still on the journey!
Point of Connection: Faith is the daring of the soul to go farther than it can see.
(William Clarke)
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Proverbs 27-29
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Proverbs 27
1Do not talk much about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day will bring.
2Let another man praise you, and not your own mouth. Let a stranger, and not your own lips.
3A stone is heavy, and sand is heavy, but to be made angry by a fool weighs more than both of them.
4Anger causes trouble and a bad temper is like a flood, but who can stand when there is jealousy?
5Sharp words spoken in the open are better than love that is hidden.
6The pains given by a friend are faithful, but the kisses of one who hates you are false.
7He who is full hates honey, but any bitter thing is sweet to a hungry man.
8Like a bird that goes away from her nest, so is a man who goes away from his home.
9Oil and perfume make the heart glad, so are a man's words sweet to his friend.
10Do not leave your own friend or your father's friend alone, and do not go to your brother's house in the day of your trouble. A neighbor who is near is bette...[more details]
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Daily Connection
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I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you. Matthew 17:20 NIV
During the Billy Graham Crusade at Shea Stadium in New York, jets landing at nearby LaGuardia created a distracting roar. Before speaking Billy Graham prayed, "Lord, we ask you to shift the wind and send these planes in another direction." Dramatically the winds changed direction and the airplanes over Shea Stadium were re-routed. At the conclusion of the crusade, the winds reverted to their normal flow, and the airplanes returned to their normal flight patterns. (Bobby Beverly)
Are obstacles frustrating your ministry for the Lord? Don't let anything get in the way of God's work. Pray in faith and believe. Watch the mountain fly away!
Point of Connection: Millions of angels are at God's command. (Billy Graham)
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Proverbs 30-31
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Proverbs 30
The Wisdom Of Agur
1The words of Agur the son of Jakeh of Massa. The man says to Ithiel and Ucal:
2For sure, I am more foolish than any man, and I do not have the understanding of a man.
3I have not learned wisdom, and I do not know much about the Holy One.
4Who has gone up into heaven and come down? Who has gathered the wind in His hands? Who has gathered the waters in His coat? Who has put in place all the ends of the earth? What is His name, and what is His Son's name? For sure you know!
5Every word of God has been proven true. He is a safe to those who trust in Him.
6Do not add to His words, or He will speak strong words to you and prove you to be a liar.
7Two things I have asked of You. Do not keep me from having them before I die:
8Take lies and what is false far from me. Do not let me be poor or rich. Feed me with the food that I need.
9Then I will not be afraid that I will be full and turn my back against Y...[more details]
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Daily Connection
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See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.
Revelations 3:8 NIV
Missionary Hudson Taylor was to speak at a meeting during a blizzard. His hostess assured him that nobody would attend on such a stormy night but Taylor insisted on going. "I must go even if there is no one but the doorkeeper." Less than a dozen people showed up but the Holy Spirit was also there. Half of those present became missionaries and the rest became faithful supporters of Taylor's China Inland Mission for years to come. (Warren Wiesbe)
Is your ministry discouraging? Don't let the lack of numbers or results keep you from giving it your all. God will honor your commitment although you don't see the blessing now. Stay faithful and be ready to walk through the open door!
Point of Connection: All I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by. (John Masefield)
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Ecclesiastes 1-4
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Ecclesiastes 1
Life Is Of No Worth
1These are the words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.
2'It is of no use,' says the Preacher. 'It is of no use! All is for nothing.'
3What does a man get for all his work which he does under the sun?
4People die and people are born, but the earth stays forever.
5The sun rises and the sun sets, and travels in a hurry to the place where it rises.
6The wind blows to the south and goes around to the north. It goes around and around, and returns again on its way.
7All the rivers flow into the sea, yet the sea is not full. And they return again to the place from which the rivers flow.
8All things are tiring. Man is not able to tell about them. The eye never has enough to see, and the ear is never filled with what it hears.
9What has been is what will be. And what has been done is what will be done. So there is nothing new under the sun.
10Is there anything of which one mi...[more details]
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Daily Connection
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Jesus said, 'Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.' Luke 22:31-32 NIV
During the first years in Calcutta, Mother Teresa often felt abandoned by God. Teresa wrote in her diary, "I wandered the streets the whole day. My feet are aching and I have not been able to find a home. And I also get the Tempter telling me, 'Leave all this, go back to the convent from which you came.'" Teresa resisted the temptation to return home and the rest is history. The religious order she founded, the Missionaries of Charity, annually feeds 500,000 families, treats 90,000 leprosy patients and educates 20,000 children. (Kevin Miller)
Has the devil been getting in your face? Don't let the enemy discourage you. God will bless your efforts. When Satan gives you trash talk, remind him that Jesus is getting ready to take out the garbage!
Point of Connection: Courage and...[more details]
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Ecclesiastes 5-8
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Ecclesiastes 5
Do What You Promise
1Watch your steps as you go to the house of God. Go near and listen but do not give the gift of fools. For they do not know they are sinning.
2Do not hurry to speak or be in a hurry as you think what to tell God. For God is in heaven and you are on the earth. So let your words be few.
3For a dream comes with much work, and the voice of a fool comes with many words.
4When you make a promise to God, do not be late in paying it, for He is not pleased with fools. Pay what you promise to pay!
5It is better not to make a promise, than to make a promise and not pay it.
6Do not let your mouth cause you to sin. And do not say to the one sent from God that it was a mistake. Why should God be angry because of what you said, and destroy the work of your hands?
7For when there are many dreams, there are many empty words. Instead of this, honor God with fear.
Money And Honor Are Of Little Worth
8In one pa...[more details]
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Daily Connection
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Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus. Acts 4:30 NIV
Steve's young son, Ben, was diagnosed with a rare condition that destroyed the boy's blood platelets. As a result, Ben's blood would not clot properly. Monthly tests indicated a gradual improvement but the doctor warned that unless the child's platelet count returned to normal within a year, it would be a chronic condition. Blood tests during the 11th month were still poor. Steve and his wife prepared for the worse. The night before Ben's annual appointment, Steve was at a prayer meeting. As they prayed, Steve felt a strong sense of faith that God didn't want Ben to remain ill. The father prayed out with conviction for his son's healing. The next day, doctors and parents were amazed. Ben's blood counts were perfectly normal! (Steve Klipowicz)
Are you struggling with an illness? Don't give up your faith in God. The Lord desires the health of his people...[more details]
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Ecclesiastes 9-12
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Ecclesiastes 9
1For I have thought of all this, how good and wise men and their works are in the hand of God. Man does not know if love or hate is waiting for them.
2It is the same for all. The same thing will happen to both the man who is good and the man who is sinful. The same thing will happen to the clean and the unclean, and to the man who gives a gift on the altar and to the man who does not. As the good man is, so is the sinner. As the man who swears is, so is the one who is afraid to swear.
3This is a bad thing in all that is done under the sun, that the same thing happens to all men. Also the hearts of men are sinful and crazy all their lives. Then they join the dead.
4But there is hope for the one who is among the living. For sure a live dog is better off than a dead lion.
5For the living know they will die. But the dead know nothing, and they will receive nothing further, for they are forgotten.
6Their love and hate and desire have already...[more details]
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Daily Connection
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Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress. He brought them out of darkness and the deepest gloom and broke away their chains.
Psalm 107:13-14 NIV
Noel Kenny was a young heroin addict in Dublin, Ireland. In 1989, Mick, the youth who introduced Kenny to drugs, came to him with a Bible in his hand saying "Jesus Christ can change your life." Kenny invited him up to his flat to smoke some dope. Instead of doing drugs, Mick talked about the love of God. Noel kept asking Mick, "What do I have to give him? Do I have to give God my drugs? My money?" Mick simply said, "No, he loves you just the way you are. But he also loves you enough to change you from the way you are." Eventually, Noel committed his life to Christ and escaped his addiction.
(Power to Change)
Are you chained to a habit? No need to stay a prisoner. Call on the Lord and ask Jesus to set you free. He is able to bring you out of bondage. He loves you too much to leave you like yo...[more details]
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Song of Solomon
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Song of Solomon 1
1The Song of Songs, the most beautiful of them all, which is Solomon's.
The First Song
The Woman
2'May he kiss me with the kisses of his mouth! For your love is better than wine.
3Your oils have a pleasing smell. Your name is like oil poured out. So the young women love you.
4Take me away with you, and let us run together. The king has brought me into his room.
5'I am dark but beautiful, O people of Jerusalem, like the tents of Kedar, like the curtains of Solomon.
6Do not look hard at me because I am dark, for the sun has burned me. My mother's sons were angry with me, and made me take care of the grape-fields. But I have not taken care of my own grape-field.
7Tell me, O you whom my soul loves. In what field do you feed your flock? Where do your sheep lie down at noon? Why should I need to look for you beside the flocks of your friends?'
King Solomon
8'If you do not know, most beautiful among women,...[more details]
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Daily Connection
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Neither do men pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the skins will burst, the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. Matthew 9:17 NIV
In 1903, the Russian czar noticed a sentry posted for no apparent reason in the midst of the Kremlin grounds. When he inquired of the captain of the guard, the czar was informed that in 1776 Catherine the Great found the first flower of spring blooming in that spot. "Post a sentry here," she commanded. "See to it that no one tramples that flower under foot!" A sentry continued to be posted in that spot for the next 127 years. (Appleseeds)
Have you been spiritually thirsty lately? Maybe you are missing the new wine God wants to pour out! Get out of your rut and prepare some new wineskins! Blessings will flow when God knows you won't leak!
Point of Connection: A man who sticks to his plans will become what he wants to be.
(James Richardson)
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Isaiah 1-4
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Isaiah 1
The Sinful Nation Of Judah
1This is the special dream of Isaiah the son of Amoz, about Judah and Jerusalem, which he saw during the rule of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.
2Listen, O heavens, and hear, O earth, for the Lord has spoken: 'I have brought up and have taken care of sons, but they have turned against Me.
3An ox knows its owner. A donkey knows where to find the food its owner gives it. But Israel does not know. My people do not understand.'
4O sinful nation, people weighed down with sin, children of those who do wrong, sons who act in a sinful way! They have left the Lord. They have hated the Holy One of Israel. They have turned away from Him.
5Where will you be punished again, since you still fight against the Lord? Your whole head is sick, and your whole heart is weak.
6From the bottom of the foot even to the head, there is no good part. There are only sores from beatings and open sores. They are not taken...[more details]
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Daily Connection
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From the ends of the earth I call to you, I call as my heart grows faint; lead me to the rock that is higher than I, for you have been my refuge. Psalm 61:2-3 NIV
Tom Murphy, a pigeon trainer in Pittsburgh, sold his birds to a man in Texas. Two of them escaped from their new owner within a few weeks. They flew their coops and separately made the turbulent, 1,500 mile flight back to Murphy's Pittsburgh home. "Obviously, they had been blown about by storms," Murphy said of his thin, battered birds. "By the grace of God, these birds made it, but I don't know how." (Ron Newhouse)
Are you trying to get back to God? Don't let the storms of life discourage you. Call out to the Lord and keep flying. His grace will lead you home!
Point of Connection: Life is a voyage that's homeward bound. (Herman Melville)
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Isaiah 5-8
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Isaiah 5
The Song Of The Grape-field
1Let me sing for my loved one a love song about His grape-field: My loved one had a grape-field on a hill that grows much fruit.
2He dug all around it and took away its stones, and planted it with the best vine. He built a tower in the center of it, and cut out a place in it for crushing grapes . Then He expected it to give good grapes, but it gave only wild grapes.
3'And now, O people living in Jerusalem and men of Judah, judge between Me and My grape-field.
4What more was there to do for My grape-field that I have not done for it? When I expected it to give good grapes, why did it give wild grapes?
5Now I will tell you what I am going to do to My grape-field. I will take away its fence and it will be destroyed. I will break down its wall and it will be crushed under foot.
6I will make it a waste. It will not be taken care of, and thistles and thorns will come up. I will also tell the clouds not to rain on it....[more details]
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Daily Connection
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His name is the LORD and rejoice before him. A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling. Psalm 68:4-5 NIV
Emma's father abandoned her family when she was an infant. As a young adult, Emma accepted Christ as her Savior but her fears of abandonment kept her from trusting God the Father. One day Emma learned her father had died. While visiting her father's grave, Emma dissolved in tears for the man she will never meet. At that point she heard a voice say, "I am your Father." She turned around but no one was there, yet she was surrounded by an intense sense of God's love. Her heavenly Father's presence healed Emma's pain of abandonment. (Robert DeGrandis)
Do you ache for a father's love? God calls you to be his child through Jesus. He can fill the hole in your heart. Turn to Brother Jesus and let Him bring you to the Father's arms!
Point of Connection: You sum up the whole of New Testament religion if you describe it as the knowledge of God as...[more details]
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Isaiah 9-12
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Isaiah 9
Birth And Rule Of The Prince Of Peace
1But there will be no more heavy hearts for those who were suffering. In the past God allowed the lands of Zebulun and Naphtali to be put to shame. In the future He will honor Galilee where those who are not Jews live and where the road to the sea is. It is on the other side of the Jordan.
2The people who walk in darkness will see a great light. The light will shine on those living in the land of dark shadows.
3You will make the nation great. You will give them great joy. They will be glad before You, as with the joy of gathering time, and as men have joy when they divide the riches taken after a battle.
4For You will break the heavy load from their neck and shoulders. You will break the power of those who made it hard for them, as at the battle of Midian.
5For every shoe of the soldiers in the battle, and every coat rolled in blood, will be burned in the fire.
6For to us a Child will be born. To us a...[more details]
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Daily Connection
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Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever. Psalm 23:6 NIV
Missionary, Allen Gardiner, experienced many physical difficulties and hardships serving Christ. In 1851, he died of disease and starvation while serving on Picton Island at the southern tip of South America. When his body was found, his diary lay nearby. It bore a sad record of hunger, thirst, wounds and loneliness. The last entry in his little book simply stated, "I am overwhelmed with a sense of the goodness of God." (HigherPraise.com)
Has your journey been difficult lately? Don't let the hard facts blind you to the goodness in your path. God is following you every step of the way. Open your heart in faith and get ready to be overwhelmed!
Point of Connection: The world is full of wonders and miracles but man takes his little hand and covers his eyes and sees nothing. (Israel Baal Shem)
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Isaiah 13-17
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Isaiah 13
Babylon Will Be Punished
1The special word about Babylon which Isaiah the son of Amoz saw:
2Lift up a flag on the hill without trees. Call out to the people. Wave the hand for them to go into the gates of the princes.
3I have told My holy ones, and My powerful soldiers who take pride in their strength, to carry out My anger.
4Listen to the noise on the mountains, like that of many people! Listen to the loud sound of the many people, of nations gathered together! The Lord of All is gathering an army for battle.
5They are coming from a far country, from the end of the heavens. The Lord and all He is using to show His anger are coming to destroy the whole land.
6Cry out in sorrow, for the day of the Lord is near! It will come as a destroying power from the All.
7So all hands will become weak, and every man's heart will melt.
8They will be filled with fear. Pain and suffering will take hold of them. They will suffer like a woma...[more details]
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