Monthly Archives: November 2015

Pray! (Matthew 6:5-18), November 20, 2015

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Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – Matthew 6:5-18

Set – Matthew 6-7

Go! – Psalms 87; Matthew 5-7

Matthew 6:5-18
⁵ Likewise, when you pray, do not be as hypocrites who love to pray loudly at synagogue or on street corners—their concern is to be seen by men. They have already earned their reward. ⁶ When you pray, go into a private room, close the door, and pray unseen to your Father who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you. ⁷ And when you pray, do not go on and on, excessively and strangely like the outsiders; they think their verbosity will let them be heard by their deities. ⁸ Do not be like them. Your prayers need not be labored or lengthy or grandiose—for your Father knows what you need before you ever ask Him.
⁹ Your prayers, rather, should be simple, like this:
Our Father in heaven,
let Your name remain holy.
¹⁰ Bring about Your kingdom.
Manifest Your will here on earth,
as it is manifest in heaven.
¹¹ Give us each day that day’s bread—no more, no less—
¹² And forgive us our debts
as we forgive those who owe us something.
¹³ Lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
But let Your kingdom be,
and let it be powerful
and glorious forever. Amen.
¹⁴ If you forgive people when they sin against you, then your Father will forgive you when you sin against Him and when you sin against your neighbor. ¹⁵ But if you do not forgive your neighbors’ sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.
¹⁶ And when you fast, do not look miserable as the actors and hypocrites do when they are fasting—they walk around town putting on airs about their suffering and weakness, complaining about how hungry they are. So everyone will know they are fasting, they don’t wash or anoint themselves with oil, pink their cheeks, or wear comfortable shoes. Those who show off their piety, they have already received their reward. ¹⁷ When you fast, wash your face and beautify yourself with oil, ¹⁸ so no one who looks at you will know about your discipline. Only your Father, who is unseen, will see your fast. And your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you.

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

People make prayer so hard. All I want is a conversation with you. Through the years some have tried to put prayer into flowery 16th century language, thinking I can hear that better. Some think I can even hear Latin better than their native tongue. Some think they can even learn some celestial language so they can talk to Me. None of that really works. Because I want to hear from your heart. You speak from your heart when you talk to your best friend in your every day language. No airs. No pretense. No hiding. Just talking.

I enjoy your conversations. I enjoy hearing about what is going on in your life and the life of those you love. I like to know what you want to ask Me. I want you to tell Me think. I want you to talk to Me like you talk to a friend. I want to answer you questions. I want to hear your inner most thoughts. I want you to tell Me those things you just can’t tell anyone else. I want to know your fears and help quell them. I want to know your failures and turn them into successes.

I want to hear from you all day long. I am with you ready to listen. I want to walk with you along the path you take and help you make the right turns at every fork in the road. I want you to spend time with Me learning about Me like you learn about your closest friends. How do you do that? In coversation. So pray. Talk to Me. And listen for My voice.

Don’t get hung up on the words or the format. Don’t worry about hurting My feelings or saying the right things. Just talk to Me. Tell Me everything. I know what you’re thinking, anyway, but I want to hear your voice focused on Me. I want you to talk to Me. That’s all prayer is. I taught My disciples a simple prayer on the mountainside that day, and all it contained was a simple conversation between a father and son. That’s all.

That’s the kind of relationship I want with you. I’m your God, your Father in heaven. Think about that relationship and talk to Me. You talk to your earthly father and share things with him, so do the same with Me. Share with Me.

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.
In accordance with the requirements for FTC full disclosure, I may have affiliate relationships with some or all of the producers of the items mentioned in this post who may provide a small commission to me when purchased through this site.

Just do your best (Matthew 1:18-25), November 19, 2015

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Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – Matthew 1:18-25

Set – Matthew 1, 4

Go! – Matthew 1-4

Matthew 1:18-25
¹⁸ So here, finally, is the story of the birth of Jesus the Anointed (it is quite a remarkable story):
Mary was engaged to marry Joseph, son of David. They hadn’t married. And yet, some time well before their wedding date, Mary learned that she was pregnant by the Holy Spirit. ¹⁹ Joseph, because he was kind and upstanding and honorable, wanted to spare Mary shame. He did not wish to cause her more embarrassment than necessary.
²⁰ Now when Joseph had decided to act on his instincts, a messenger of the Lord came to him in a dream.
Messenger of the Lord: Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to wed Mary and bring her into your home and family as your wife. She did not sneak off and sleep with someone else—rather, she conceived the baby she now carries through the miraculous wonderworking of the Holy Spirit. ²¹ She will have a son, and you will name Him Jesus, which means “the Lord saves,” because this Jesus is the person who will save all of His people from sin.
²⁴ Joseph woke up from his dream and did exactly what the messenger had told him to do: he married Mary and brought her into his home as his wife ²⁵ (though he did not consummate their marriage until after her son was born). And when the baby was born, Joseph named Him Jesus, Savior.
²² Years and years ago, Isaiah, a prophet of Israel, foretold the story of Mary, Joseph, and Jesus:
²³ A virgin will conceive and bear a Son,
and His name will be Immanuel
(which is a Hebrew name that means “God with us”).

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

Did you ever think what it would be like to be in Joseph’s shoes? Your parents arrange a marriage with one of the local girls in Nazareth. She’s young, not too bad looking. You’ve known Mary most of your life. She won’t be too bad a catch, but her parents are rich or anything. They are the appropriate exchanges of gifts and doweries to solidify deal and now you wait for the years to pass by so Mary can become your wife.

Then just a few months before the magic day arrives you find out she’s pregnant and you know this baby isn’t yours. You haven’t had a chance to talk with her because the culture doesn’t let you talk privately. So what are you supposed to think. How could she shame you and your family this way. But then you know Mary. You know her character and that of her family. You know she would not go out and do this willingly.

So you believe someone in the little village must have taken advantage of her when she was away from her parents. You’re not sure how it could happen, but that must be the explanation and you want to keep her from any further embarrassment and try to figure out how to move the wedding up to save her any further shame.

Do you understand how Joseph might have felt? He must have really loved Mary, though, because she would deliver before the expected time and the two of them would be labeled as having sex before marriage. Strictly taboo in their culture. Joseph could tell people the child was his and he could save Mary from stoning, but he couldn’t keep her from the snide remarks, the suggestive looks and comments, the isolation at the public well, all the things that went with the shunning that was sure to happen to both of them because of the supposed indiscretion between them.

Joseph would feel the pressure as much as Mary once Jesus was born. Yet until the angel came and explained her situation, he still supported her and wanted to avoid any shame and embarrassment she might endure. And then the angel came.

How could Joseph handle raising My Son? How could he support His education and mentoring as an earthly father? How could Joseph treat Jesus the same as his other children knowing who Jesus was and who his real father was? Did you ever think about how inadequate Joseph felt for the task ahead of him? But Joseph did what I ask any of you to do, your best. That’s all. No more, and no less. Just that and I’m satisfied.

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.
In accordance with the requirements for FTC full disclosure, I may have affiliate relationships with some or all of the producers of the items mentioned in this post who may provide a small commission to me when purchased through this site.

Protection for God’s purpose (Psalm 124), November 18, 2015

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Today’s Podcast

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Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – Psalms 124

Set – Psalms 124; 2 Corinthians 12

Go! – Psalms 124; 2 Corinthians 11-13

Psalms 124
¹ If the Eternal had not been with us—
sing, Israel, sing—
² If He had not been with us
when the villains came for us,
³ When their anger flamed around us,
they would have swallowed us up alive!
⁴ Their hatred was like a flood:
the waters were rising and would have engulfed us;
the streams were rushing past and would have overcome us.
⁵ The furious waters would have broken over us.
Battered and overwhelmed, we surely would have drowned!
⁶ Blessed be the Eternal
who did not leave us
to be torn by their fangs!
⁷ Our souls cry out: “We escaped with our lives like a bird
from the fowler’s snare!
The snare was broken,
and we escaped with our lives!”
⁸ Our help has come in the name of the Eternal,
the Maker of heaven and earth!

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

Have you ever experienced one of those near escapes that David talks about in this psalm? Perhaps you avoided a collision by just inches. Maybe you missed something falling on you by seconds. Maybe you missed a flight that later crashed or a ferry that sank. Maybe you changed your travel plans and found that a tornado or hurricane ripped through the area you would have visited if you had not changed your plans.

Did you ever stop to think about those near misses and wonder how that happened? Have you ever stopped to think that I’m watching over you? Did you ever stop and wonder if there really are guardian angels that look out for you at times?

David understood that many of the escapes he experienced were because of My hand protecting him. He knew only My intervention could keep him safe in some of those narrow misses when he should have been captured or killed at the hands of his enemies. But I often protect My children from the mishaps of life and keep them safe from their enemies.

Do I always intervene? No. Sometimes I let the suffering that is part of being in this world happen because I promised that the world would hate you and that you would have trouble in this world. Sometimes you must identify with Me in the suffering I did as I walked with you in the flesh. It’s not because I like to see you in pain or sorrow, but because I don’t want you to think that this world is the place for you. This is only a testing ground.

The life you live now is only the beginning. It is the place you decide who you will serve for eternity. This life allows you to choose whether you will serve yourself or serve Me. Some of the decisions you make will entail some suffering in this world because the world does not want you to follow Me. It will hate you for it. The world will do everything it can to dissuade you from believing I even exist, much less following in the path I lay before you.

I just show you My creation, give you My love and let you choose. I’m not pushy. I don’t nag. I just let you see Me all around you and then let you make the choice between following Me or following your own way. I always hope you will choose to follow Me, though. I don’t want you to be lost forever with the rest of those who fail to heed My call and do what I ask them to do to complete My plans for this world.

I want you to understand, like David did, that I will never leave you and help you escape from the clutches of your enemies. I will help you to get through this life with honor and peace and joy. My joy. The kind that survives the troubles of this world. Joy that breaks through the sorrow this world dishes out and still fills the heart with the knowledge that I am with you until the end of time. The joy that makes you sing despite the circumstances of the day and brings peace to your troubled heart.

Know that I am always there to protect you to fulfill your part of My plan and all things work together for good for those who are called according to My purpose. But it’s My purpose, not yours.

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.
In accordance with the requirements for FTC full disclosure, I may have affiliate relationships with some or all of the producers of the items mentioned in this post who may provide a small commission to me when purchased through this site.

Remind yourself and others about giving (2 Corinthians 9), November 17, 2015

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Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – 2 Corinthians 9

Set – 2 Corinthians 9-10

Go! – 2 Corinthians 7-10

2 Corinthians 9
¹ There’s nothing further I could add about your efforts for God’s people in Judea. ² I know you are ready. I bragged on you throughout Macedonia, telling them how the people in Achaia have been prepared since last year; and your passion has been contagious. ³ Still I thought it would be best to send these brothers and sisters ahead to help you finish the final details so all my bragging wouldn’t be for nothing. ⁴ If some of the Macedonians decide to travel with me, all of us would be more than embarrassed if we arrived and you weren’t ready to give after the way we’ve been going on about you. ⁵ So to help you get your previously promised gift ready, it made sense to me to ask the brothers and sisters to go on ahead so you will have all the time you need to put it together as planned and so it doesn’t look thrown together or coerced.
⁶ But I will say this to encourage your generosity: the one who plants little harvests little, and the one who plants plenty harvests plenty. ⁷ Giving grows out of the heart—otherwise, you’ve reluctantly grumbled “yes” because you felt you had to or because you couldn’t say “no,” but this isn’t the way God wants it. For we know that “God loves a cheerful giver.” ⁸ God is ready to overwhelm you with more blessings than you could ever imagine so that you’ll always be taken care of in every way and you’ll have more than enough to share. ⁹ Remember what is written about the One who trusts in the Lord:
He scattered abroad; He gave freely to the poor;
His righteousness endures throughout the ages.
¹⁰ The same One who has put seed into the hands of the sower and brought bread to fill our stomachs will provide and multiply the resources you invest and produce an abundant harvest from your righteous actions. ¹¹ You will be made rich in everything so that your generosity will spill over in every direction. Through us your generosity is at work inspiring praise and thanksgiving to God. ¹² For this mission will do more than bring food and water to fellow believers in need—it will overflow in a cascade of praises and thanksgivings for our God. ¹³ When this mission reaches Jerusalem and meets with the approval of God’s people there, they will give glory to God because your confession of the gospel of the Anointed One led to obedient action and your generous sharing with them and with all exhibited your sincere concern. ¹⁴ Because of the extraordinary grace of God at work in you, they will pray for you and long for you. ¹⁵ Praise God for this incredible, unbelievable, indescribable gift!

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

Don’t you like what Paul does for the Corinthian church? They promised to support the Christians in Jerusalem with an offering and Paul reminds them he is coming to collect it so they won’t be embarrassed should he get there and they not have it ready for him. How embarrassing would that have been had he shown up and they only had the few dollars they had in their pockets after they’d had the opportunity to collect for a year to help the people in Jerusalem.

At least now they had a couple of months to get their act together in case some of them had forgotten. Have you ever been put in that position or put someone else in that position? Let’s talk about you first. Have you ever made a promise to support something I put on your mind and then just sprinkled some change on it because you forgot until the last minute?

Perhaps it would help to put a jar on your dresser and put all your change, ones, or fives in it every day depending on what you pledged. Don’t worry, I bless cheerful givers. Maybe a savings account that a percentage of your paycheck goes into so you never see it so you don’t miss it will take care of an annual pledge to something I want you to support. For you tech-savvy, send yourself a future email each week or each month in advance of the deadline for the offering to make sure you’re on track with your giving.

There are a lot of creative ways to remember to give to others. Use them.

Now suppose you have a cause for which I’ve asked you to ask others to give. Give them some time to collect. As you know, most today live from payday to payday, so give them advanced warning that you will ask for them for a particular cause. Then give them reminders just before you collect so they, like the Corinthians, will not be embarrassed when you arrive to see their generosity.

Paul’s words to the Corinthians saved a lot of people a lot of embarrassment and reminded them that I love generosity toward those of My children who need it. I love to see you giving cheerfully to ministries that do good for others. Don’t be embarrassed about asking or giving money when it is for Me and My causes. Just think about how to do it so you and others can plan so that giving just happens.

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.
In accordance with the requirements for FTC full disclosure, I may have affiliate relationships with some or all of the producers of the items mentioned in this post who may provide a small commission to me when purchased through this site.

Focus your faith (2 Corinthians 5:1-10), November 16, 2015

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Today’s Podcast

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Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – 2 Corinthians 5:1-10

Set – 2 Corinthians 5-6

Go! – 2 Corinthians 3-6

2 Corinthians 5:1-10
¹ We know that if our earthly house—a mere tent that can easily be taken down—is destroyed, we will then live in an eternal home in the heavens, a building crafted by divine—not human—hands. ² Currently, in this tent of a house, we continue to groan and ache with a deep desire to be sheltered in our permanent home ³ because then we will be truly clothed and comfortable, protected by a covering for our current nakedness. ⁴ The fact is that in this tent we anxiously moan, fearing the naked truth of our reality. What we crave above all is to be clothed so that what is temporary and mortal can be wrapped completely in life. ⁵ The One who has worked and tailored us for this is God Himself, who has gifted His Spirit to us as a pledge toward our permanent home.
⁶ In light of this, we live with a daring passion and know that our time spent in this body is also time we are not present with the Lord. ⁷ The path we walk is charted by faith, not by what we see with our eyes. ⁸ There is no doubt that we live with a daring passion, but in the end we prefer to be gone from this body so that we can be at home with the Lord. ⁹ Ultimately it does not matter whether we are here or gone; our purpose stays fixed, and that is to please Him. ¹⁰ In time we will all stand in judgment before the throne of the Anointed, the Liberating King, to receive what is just for our conduct (whether it be good or bad) while we lived in this temporary body.

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

I know sometimes you would like to see Me with your eyes and have your entire future laid out like a road map so you could see everything your path holds. But I don’t work that way. I operate in a different realm. I want you to put the facts you see aside at times and operate with faith. You have it. You have plenty of faith for your salvation. You have enough to follow Me and perform the tasks I have planned for you. You have enough faith to move the mountains that rise in front of you.

Paul recognized faith as an important aspect of our relationship. He also knew everyone has faith, just sometimes focused in the wrong direction. Paul’s faith focused on Me and the path I laid out for him. He knew I would not fail him and so whether he lived or died, Paul was content with the life I chose for him.

You have faith. You exercise it every day. You might not think about it, but you do. You have faith the water will come through the pipes when you turn on the faucet to take a shower in the morning. You have faith the lights will work when you flip the switch on the wall. You have faith your car will start when you turn the ignition. You have faith your boss will pay you on payday. You have faith.

You probably have faith in others also. You probably have faith in your doctors. You probably have faith in your mechanic. You probably have faith in many if not most of your co-workers to do their jobs as you do yours. You probably have faith in many people when you stop to think about it. So you have faith. Faith is faith, it’s a question of what and who you have faith in.

So let’s go back and think about your faith in Me. Why is it so hard for you to exercise faith in God? Why is it so hard to believe I can do all things? Is it easier to believe all of this vast universe just happened or that I created it? You know, it’s the difference in believing a master watchmaker can assemble the parts of a watch or putting all the parts in a bag and shaking it until a watch comes out. The only change is I also made all the pieces…from nothing.

But that’s faith. It’s believing even though you don’t see it. You don’t see electricity, but you believe in it because of the power it holds. You don’t see the wind, but you believe in it because you see the results of it blowing. You don’t see the explosive power of gasoline, but you believe it will power your car. Why else would you pump it into your gas tank when it’s empty? So look around. How could all of this come into being without a Master Designer? Think about the odds that a planet could sustain life in the universe and that you can hear or read these words. Think about the complexity involved in that seemingly simple act. It is a miracle.

Now why is it so hard to have faith in Me? I AM. That’s enough.

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.
In accordance with the requirements for FTC full disclosure, I may have affiliate relationships with some or all of the producers of the items mentioned in this post who may provide a small commission to me when purchased through this site.

Fight the right fight (Psalm 35), November 15, 2015

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Today’s Podcast

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Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – Psalms 35

Set – Psalms 35; 2 Corinthians 1

Go! – Psalms 35; 2 Corinthians 1-2

Psalms 35
¹ Make a case against those who struggle with me, Eternal One.
Battle against those who battle against me.
² Be my shield and protection;
stand with me and rescue me!
³ Draw the spear and javelin
to meet my pursuers.
Reassure my soul and say,
“I will deliver you.”
⁴ Shame and dishonor those ruthless enemies
who wish to end my life.
Turn back those who conspire against me,
defeated and humiliated!
⁵ Let them be separated from the righteous as chaff is separated from the grain,
blown by the wind,
driven far, far away by the Eternal’s messenger.
⁶ Make their way unsure and dangerously dark,
a gauntlet of gloom
chased through the darkness by the Eternal’s messenger.
⁷ For no reason at all, they set a trap for me—a net, a snare—
then, without cause, they disguised a pit to capture my soul—another cowardly snare.
⁸ May they be surprised by their own destruction.
May they become tangled in their own net
and fall into the pit which they, themselves, dug.
⁹ When that day comes, my soul will celebrate the Eternal
and be glad in His salvation.
¹⁰ Every fiber of my being will shout,
“Eternal One, there is none like You!
You save the poor
from those who try to overpower them
and rescue the weak and the needy from those who steal from them.”
¹¹ False witnesses step forward;
they ask me strange questions for which I have no answers.
¹² When I do good to them, they do evil to me,
bringing misery to my soul.
13 When they were sick,
I mourned for them and wore sackcloth;
I chose to humble myself by fasting.
But my prayers came back unanswered.
¹⁴ So I mourned more deeply as if I grieved for my brother or friend;
I went around bowed down by sorrow, dressed in black,
as if I were weeping for my mother.
¹⁵ But when I stumbled, they gathered together
and celebrated my fall with joy;
People attacked me when I wasn’t expecting it;
they slandered me with no end.
¹⁶ Like godless mockers at a festival,
their words tore at me.
¹⁷ Lord, how long will You do nothing but watch?
Save me from their evil assaults, plots, and plunder;
rescue my life from these hungry beasts, these ruthless lions!
¹⁸ Then I will praise You and thank You at the great gathering,
in the company of the entire congregation.
¹⁹ Do not allow my enemies to boast at my expense,
for they despise me without any cause—
yet they wink at me—malicious, taunting winks.
²⁰ Their words have no ring of peace.
They plan evil rumors and incriminations
against those who live peacefully in the land.
²¹ They speak lying accusations against me;
they say, “Aha! Aha! We know what you’ve been up to.
We’ve seen it with our own eyes!”
²² You have seen what’s happening, Eternal One; don’t remain silent!
Lord, do not stay far away from me!
²³ Wake up; come to my defense!
Fight for me, my Lord and my God!
²⁴ Pass Your judgment, Eternal One, my True God;
do it by the standards of Your righteousness.
Do not allow my enemies to boast over me.
²⁵ Do not allow them to gloat over me,
“Aha, we have won! We got what we wanted!”
Do not allow them to brag,
“We chewed him up and spit him out.”
²⁶ Shame and confuse those who celebrate my suffering;
may those who exalt themselves above me be covered with shame—
wrapped in a cloak of dishonor!
²⁷ As for those who desire my vindication,
may they be joyful and glad.
May they forever say,
“The Eternal is indeed great!
He takes pleasure when good things happen to His servant!”
²⁸ That’s why I will speak of Your righteousness
and sing praises to You all day long.

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

How do you fight your battles? David learned a secret to coming through his battles as the victor. He knew how to fight. He didn’t fight against men, but rather brought the battles to Me. When he did, he won. When he failed to do so, he lost. Read the psalm again. David had enemies coming at him, abusing him, discrediting him, slandering him. But instead of fighting them, he brought his cause to Me. He remembered that vengeance belongs to Me.

David brought his request for justice to Me and let Me deal with his enemies. It’s a tactic you should employ with your enemies. Fight the right fight. When you pray for those that seem to be against you, you’ll find that engaging My help is the right choice. I never lose. I’ve already been victorious over sin, evil, and the world. It’s an easy matter for Me to take care of your enemies as well. Only I might not take care of them the way you expect. I might just transform them and make them your friend. I might make them your brother or sister. I might want you to help them, care for them, love them the way I love you. You can do it…with My help.

Just give your problems to Me. Give your eneemies to Me. Fight the right fight in the right place in the right position…on your knees. Remember, I always win. Always. It’s who I am.

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.
In accordance with the requirements for FTC full disclosure, I may have affiliate relationships with some or all of the producers of the items mentioned in this post who may provide a small commission to me when purchased through this site.

Erupt in praise (Psalm 149), November 14, 2015

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Today’s Podcast

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Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – Psalms 149

Set – Psalms 149; 1 Corinthians 15

Go! – Psalms 149; 1 Corinthians 15-16

Psalms 149
¹ Praise the Eternal!
Write new songs; sing them to Him with all your might!
Gather with His faithful followers in joyful praise;
² Let all of Israel celebrate their Maker, their God, their friend;
let the children of Zion find great joy in their true King.
³ So let the music begin; praise His name—dance and sing
to the rhythm of the tambourine, and to the tune of the harp.
⁴ For the Eternal is listening, and nothing pleases Him more than His people;
He raises up the poor and endows them with His salvation.
⁵ Let His faithful followers erupt in praise,
singing triumphantly wherever they are, even as they lie down for sleep in the evening.
⁶ With the name of God and praise in their mouths,
with a two-edged sword in their hands,
⁷ Let them take revenge on all nations who deny God.
Let them punish the peoples.
⁸ Kings and nobles will be locked up,
and their freedom will be bound in iron shackles.
⁹ This judgment against them, decreed by a holy God, will be carried out.
It’s an honor for all His faithful followers to serve Him.
Praise the Eternal!

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

Sing a new song to the Lord. Let My faithful followers erupt in praise wherever they are… . I like that. I’m listening for that kind of response to My grace and mercy on your behalf. Do you ever stop to think about what I’ve done for you in the middle of the day or when you go to bed at night? Does it make you want to erupt in praise?

I love to the hear the praises of those who acknowledg Me as their Lord. I love to hear the music they make in their heart. I love to see them lift their eyes and their hands to heaven and sound the uncontained joy they feel as they remember the blessings I give them each day, the rescue from the penalty of sin, the new life they have because of the life I gave for them. I love to hear their praise.

So many times, though, the people I died for just go about their lives doing the things they’ve always done. They just live and die without acknowledging the blessings they receive. They never give thanks for the miracles I perform in their lives. They never stop to think about the life I give them each day, the food I provide, the air I give them, the water they drink that comes from Me. They just muddle through each day without thought of the God of creation.

David wasn’t special in any particular way except he worshiped Me. And so I honored him for it. Paul wasn’t special in any particular way except he often erupted in praise. So I honored him for it. Job didn’t have any special traits except he praised Me often and I reciprocated. Those you call heroes in My word didn’t have exceptional traits. They didn’t stand out in the crowd.

The thing all of those Bible heroes had in common, though, they erupted in praise…often. They lifted their hearts to Me in praise. They sang new songs to Me rejoicing in the freedom they enjoyed in their life with Me. They honored Me with their voice.

Don’t be afraid to lift your voice to Me. Don’t be afraid to erupt in praise. Don’t worry about what others might think about you. Don’t worry about the world’s thoughts. Just erupt in praise to Me because of what I’ve done for you. I like it…a lot. I’ll honor you for doing so.

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.
In accordance with the requirements for FTC full disclosure, I may have affiliate relationships with some or all of the producers of the items mentioned in this post who may provide a small commission to me when purchased through this site.

Learn from Job’s experience (Job 42), November 13, 2015

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Today’s Podcast

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Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – Job 42

Set – Job 42; 1 Corinthians 14

Go! – Job 42; 1 Corinthians 13-14

Job 42
¹ Job answered the Eternal One.
² Job: I know You can do everything;
nothing You do can be foiled or frustrated.
³ You asked,
“Who is this that conceals counsel with empty words void of knowledge?”
And now I see that I spoke of—but did not comprehend—
great wonders that are beyond me. I didn’t know.
⁴ You said, “Hear Me now, and I will speak.
I’ll be asking the questions, and you will supply the answers.”
⁵ Before I knew only what I had heard of You,
but now I have seen You.
⁶ Therefore I realize the truth:
I disavow and mourn all I have said
and repent in dust and ash.
⁷ After the Eternal had spoken these words to Job, He turned and spoke to Eliphaz from Teman.
Eternal One: My anger is burning against you and your two friends because you have not spoken rightly of Me, as My servant Job has. ⁸ So now, gather your friends and bring seven bulls and seven rams. Then go to My servant Job, make a burnt offering for yourselves, and he will pray for you. I will accept his prayer. Despite the fact that you have not spoken rightly of Me, as My servant Job did, I will not deal with you according to your foolish ways.
⁹ So Eliphaz from Teman, Bildad from Shuhah, and Zophar from Naamath went and did as the Eternal commanded, and He accepted Job’s prayer for them.
¹⁰ The Eternal restored the fortunes of Job after he prayed for his friends; He even doubled the wealth he had before. ¹¹ All of his brothers and sisters, along with those he had known earlier, came and shared meals with him at his house. They sympathized with him and consoled him regarding the great distress the Eternal had brought on him. Each guest gave him a sum of money and each, a golden ring. ¹² The Eternal One blessed the last part of Job’s life even more than the first part. He went on to possess 14,000 sheep, 6,000 camels, 1,000 teams of oxen, and 1,000 female donkeys. ¹³ He also fathered 7 more sons and 3 more daughters. ¹⁴ He named his first daughter Jemimah, his second Keziah, and his third Keren-happuch. ¹⁵ Nowhere in all the land could one find women as captivatingly beautiful as Job’s daughters, or as independently wealthy: their father gave them each a share of the family inheritance along with their brothers. ¹⁶ After all this, Job lived 140 years. He lived to see his children and their children and so on, to the fourth generation. ¹⁷ Then Job died, old, and satisfied with his days.

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

When Job came to know Me instead of knowing about Me, he fell with his face in the dust in repentance. He Mourned all the things he had said about Me, but I understood all the things he had said. I understood his misunderstandings and his feelings. I understood what he was thinking and why he felt abandoned by Me. He didn’t need forgiveness from Me. He did nothing wrong. I knew his heart and he still stood righteous before Me.

His testing ended and was ready to restore his health and his fortune. First, I needed to deal with his misguided “friends”. They thought they knew better than Job and tried their best to get him to confess to things he never did. They tried to get him to tell them of some hidden sin Job never committed. But Job held on to his integrity and maintained his innocence even under such extraordinary pressure. So I refused to even listen to his friends prayers. I would not accept their sacrifices. I didn’t want to hear their excuses or their confessions. I couldn’t stand to hear their voices.

I came to their informal leader, Eliphaz, and told him to gather his friends and have Job pray for them. Only then would I consider bringing them back into favor with Me. Consider the humility with which the three of them approached Job after coming to him for months looking for him to repent. Now the tables were turned and they heard My voice from heaven commanding them to plead for Job to intercede for them. Image their state of mind at that point. The three of them came to Job with their pious reasoning, their sure stand on religious principles, and now they grovel before him asking for his forgiveness so they can receive Mine.

Imagine Job’s feelings. Many would love to refuse them. To let them wallow in their misery. Many would let them continue to live in their guilt and refuse to forgive them for the pain they caused through their months of questioning and their refusal to believe in his innocence, their pious words, their cutting accusations. But Job does what he has done for a lifetime – Job forgives. He makes a special sacrifice for his three friends so they may find My grace and mercy.

I knew Job would act on their behalf because I knew Job’s character. He had suffered enough. I restored his family and doubled his wealth. Not because I had to and not because Job expected it. But because I wanted to reward his faithfulness. Learn from Job’s faithfulness. It’s not just a good story.

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.
In accordance with the requirements for FTC full disclosure, I may have affiliate relationships with some or all of the producers of the items mentioned in this post who may provide a small commission to me when purchased through this site.

Your talents are important (1 Corinthians 12:1-11), November 12, 2015

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Today’s Podcast

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Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – 1 Corinthians 12:1-11

Set – Job 40; 1 Corinthians 12

Go! – Job 40-41; 1 Corinthians 12

1 Corinthians 12:1-11
¹ Now let me turn to some issues about spiritual gifts, brothers and sisters. There’s much you need to learn.
² Remember the way you used to live when you were pagans apart from God? You were engrossed—enchanted with voiceless idols, led astray by mere images carved by human hands. ³ With that in mind, I want you to understand that no one saying “Jesus is cursed” is operating under God’s Spirit, and no one confessing “Jesus is Lord” can do so without the Holy Spirit’s inspiration.
⁴ Now there are many kinds of grace gifts, but they are all from the same Spirit. ⁵ There are many different ways to serve, but they’re all directed by the same Lord. ⁶ There are many amazing working gifts in the church, but it is the same God who energizes them all in all who have the gifts.⁷ Each believer has received a gift that manifests the Spirit’s power and presence. That gift is given for the good of the whole community. ⁸ The Spirit gives one person a word of wisdom, but to the next person the same Spirit gives a word of knowledge. ⁹ Another will receive the gift of faith by the same Spirit, and still another gifts of healing—all from the one Spirit. ¹⁰ One person is enabled by the Spirit to perform miracles, another to prophesy, while another is enabled to distinguish those prophetic spirits. The next one speaks in various kinds of unknown languages, while another is able to interpret those languages. ¹¹ One Spirit works all these things in each of them individually as He sees fit.

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

So many people confuse the gifts I give you to carry out the tasks I have for you. Why would I give everyone the same gift? What purpose would that serve in the world? I have given a multitude of gifts to a multitude of people. I find you also envy the gifts I give to some and not to others. You wonder why you do not have particular gifts. You wonder why I give some gifts to one person and not to others or to you.

Don’t you think I know what I’m doing when I distribute My gifts among you? I have a purpose and a plan for each person and I give you the gifts and talents you need to carry out that plan. I don’t expect you to complete anyone else’s task so you don’t need the gifts meant for someone else. Does that make sense to you? If not, let Me explain it another way.

When your house was built an entire team of builders with different skills came together to make it happen. First, an architect drew the plans for the building. An engineer used his skills to mark the property and give heavy equipment operators the exact spots to dig the space for the house, pour the concrete footings, and lay in the foundation upon which others would build. Plumbers and electricians made sure pipes and conduit went into the foundation at just the right places as it was poured so everything below ground was ready.

Framers quickly erected the outer structure of the house, the skeleton on which everything else rests. Roofers covered the top and put on the shingles to keep out the rain and the framers put the sheeting on the outside. Masons came into the picture next worked on the outside putting up the bring or stone to make it begin to look like a house as plumbers connected pipes to all the places water would run throughout the house. Electricians ran wire and cables throughout the house and insulation went into the interior walls. Heat and air experts put in the vents throughout the house.

Now the sheetrock crew comes in. The interior walls go in and these experts begin to finish the walls by sealing and sanding all the seams and corners. Finish carpenters start all the door frames, cabinets, molding, and staircases. Painters cover all the walls and ceilings. Carpet layers and experts with flooring lay tile or wood in appropriate areas. Electricians finish their work connecting all the switches and plugs, putting in the stove, oven, any other appliances and light fixtures. Plumbers install sinks, showers, and tubs.

Finally the general contractor finishes his inspections and turns the house over to the realtor to sell the house to you. Dozens of people with the right skills put your house together to make it liveable for you. Each had different skills. Not one of them could have made your house like it is. None of them are skilled in all the areas needed to build your house. It took the whole team with all of their separate gifts to make the home you inhabit.

So it is with the work I have for you. You don’t know the final plan I have for the world I created. You get glimpses by the words I left with you, but you only see the part of the plan I have for you just as the electrician only sees the pages of the blueprint he needs to build your house. He doesn’t get the whole set. He doesn’t need the whole set. Neither do you need to see the whole picture of what I plan for the work I have in store for My people. Just be content with the gifts I’ve given you and understand that your part is necessary. Then do your tasks well. Use the gifts I’ve given you, knowing that the tasks I’ve given you are an essential part of My plan.

Just like every talent that went into the building of your house is important, so the gifts I give to every person are important in the execution of the plans I have for this world and the next. Work diligently for Me so that at the end of time, I can say to you, “Enter in, good and faithful servant.”

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.
In accordance with the requirements for FTC full disclosure, I may have affiliate relationships with some or all of the producers of the items mentioned in this post who may provide a small commission to me when purchased through this site.

Start your journey with God (Psalm 122), November 11, 2015

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Today’s Podcast

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Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – Psalms 122

Set – Psalms 122; 1 Corinthians 10

Go! – Psalms 122; 1 Corinthians 9-11

Psalms 122
¹ I was so happy when my fellow pilgrims said,
“Let’s go to the house of the Eternal!”
² We have made the journey, and now we are standing
within your gates, O Jerusalem.
³ Jerusalem! What a magnificent city!
Buildings so close together, so compact.
⁴ God’s people belong here. Every tribe of the Eternal
makes its way to Jerusalem—
Just as God decreed for Israel
to come together and give thanks to the Eternal.
⁵In Jerusalem, justice is the order of the day because there sit the judges
and kings, the descendants of David.
⁶ Ask heaven to grant peace to Jerusalem:
“May those who love you prosper.
⁷ O Jerusalem, may His peace fill this entire city!
May this citadel be quiet and at ease!”
⁸ It’s because of people—my family, friends, and acquaintances—
that I say, “May peace permeate you.”
⁹And because the house of Eternal One, our God, is here, know this:
I will always seek your good!

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

Do you get excited the way David does when you go to church? David wrote this psalm for those who journeyed to Jerusalem to worship Me. He remembered the excitement of approaching the city and seeing the buildings gleaming in the sun as he turned the bend in the road and saw the city on the side of the mountain. David thrilled with the thought of coming to My city to worship Me. Every time he Jerusalem to do battle or to take care of some part of the kingdom, he longed for the thrill of coming home to see the beautiful city of Zion set on the hill for My glory.

You hear it in his song. He gave this song to the people of Israel to sing on their way to the city when they came to worship Me. When they joined together to lift their voices in praise, they began to think about worship well before they entered the city, well before they came to the tabernacle. They came to the city expectantly. As they gathered along the roads on the journey, families would meet each other and take up the song.

Enthusiasm would build the closer the people came to the city. They waved palm branches in the air, they sang songs of joy. They lifted My name as they came through the gates and approached the tabernacle to bring their sacrifices to Me. Joy filled their hearts well before they came to the tabernacle because they began to worship well before they came to the tabernacle. They sang and praised and prayed and lifted their voices to Me all along their journey to Jerusalem. They worshiped together long before their feet hit the city streets. They worshiped together and prepared their hearts all along the way.

When the people finally reached the tabernacle brought to Jerusalem, the people already had their hearts and minds set on Me. They already prepared themselves well in advance of their arrival and getting to the tabernacle just continued their celebration. They were ready to see Me and experience My glory because they prepared for it all the time they traveled from their home to get to the tabernacle.

So how about you? Do you prepare to meet with Me when you come to worship? Do you sing and praise and pray on your journey from your home to the place you will gather with others to worship Me? Do you come enthusiastically to the place where you will experience My glory and present yourself to Me as a living sacrifice so I may bless you and your family as you worship with those of like mind with Me? Is your journey a chore? A bore? Or an enthusiastic joy knowing you have an opportunity to meet with Me again?

You might try what the early Israelites did on your next trip to church. Sing and praise Me on the way. Get prepared to meet Me before you come. Worship Me along the way. You’ll be surprised what it does to the rest of your day when you start your journey with Me.

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.
In accordance with the requirements for FTC full disclosure, I may have affiliate relationships with some or all of the producers of the items mentioned in this post who may provide a small commission to me when purchased through this site.