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Good News Daily
Sunday, April 27 Psalm 93 Mightier than the thunder of
the great waters, mightier than the breakers of the sea—the
Lord on high is
mighty. (v.4 NIV)
I reported for my first day
of flight training at Laredo AFB, In Scripture, the sea is often used as an
example of danger whose power must be feared and respected.
So must I view my Creator God—mightier, even, than the sea.
The good news is that God has an unfailing and eternal love
for all of His creation, including me. He guides and
protects me from the pitfalls of my life as I receive Him as
my Lord and Savior and grow in Him. I humbly admit that I
greatly fall short of returning such a love as His, yet I
can rest on His promise to me: “I will never leave you or
forsake you.” (Joshua 1:5) Leviticus 25:1-7; Psalm 96;
James 1:2-8, 16-18; Luke 12:13-21
Monday, April 28 Colossians 1:9-14
We
have not stopped
praying for you and asking God to fill you with the
knowledge of His will through all wisdom and understanding.
(v.9b)
I recall when I was born again in Christ
Jesus; the joy, the love and the excitement of the encounter
was a “heady” experience to say the least! Such was the
realization that God had “qualified” me, as As a new creature in Christ, these tasks
sounded so do-able. But like mountain climbing in the Leviticus 25:35-55; Psalm
80; Matthew 13:1-16 Matthew 13:18-23 The one who receives
the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the
word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of
wealth choke it, making it unfruitful.
(v.22)
I am constantly being distracted by the
cares of my worldly existence. The analogy of the thorn bush
is appropriate. In
C.S. Lewis describes the
reality of evil as derailing the life of the believer or
blinding the eyes of the non-believer to the truth. I find
that the same description can be applied to lesser
distractions as well. But God Himself “in all things works
for good for those who love Him and are called according to
His purpose” (Romans Leviticus 26:1-20; Psalm
78:1-39; 1 Timothy 2:1-6
Wednesday, April 30 Matthew 22:41-46
“What do you think about
the Christ? Whose son is He?” “The son of David,”
they replied. He said to them, “How is it then that
David, speaking by the Spirit, Calls him Lord?”
(vv.42-43a)
I am inspired by David’s constant seeking
of God’s will for his life’s purpose. His hours of solitude
on the hillsides of Even though David’s sin would cause
turmoil in his family, and trouble in the future of his
line, it was God’s good pleasure to forgive David and to
assign him, by the Holy Spirit, to proclaim the coming of
his Lord: the Messiah. I pray that I may receive such
passion for God that He can use me as He did David. Leviticus 26:27-42; Psalm
119:97-120; Ephesians 1:1-10
Thursday, May 1 Hebrews
2:5-18 What is man that you are mindful of him, the son
of man that you care for him?
(v.6b)
I have been a Christian for more than thirty years. Though my desire is to
continually grow in my relationship with Jesus Christ, in
this I often fail miserably. Like God doesn’t exactly answer the question. Instead, He sends His Son Jesus
Christ, to be like us, to name us His brothers and sisters,
and to share in our humanity. By being an example for me of
Godly living, and by becoming a perfect sacrifice for my
sins, Jesus assures me of eternal life with Him. Many times in the Bible God demonstrates His answer to a question rather
than answer it directly (See Job 38-42 and Luke
Daniel 7:9-14; Psalms 8,
47; Matthew 28:16-20
Friday, May 2 Matthew 7:22-27 “But everyone who hears
these words of mine and does not put them into practice is
like a foolish man who builds his house on sand.”
(v.26)
Last Sunday, as I was half-listening to an
evangelist on television while trying to take a nap, I heard
the preacher ask, “Jesus Christ is eager to lead us, but are
we willing to follow?” Sometimes I have a small check in my
spirit when following some rabbit trail leading me in the
wrong direction. I try to deny whose “still small voice” it
is and foolishly (or rebelliously) proceed on my way.
Hopefully a storm won’t destroy my house due to my some
thoughtless act on my part. Scripture is replete with examples of
biblical characters that either neglect, rebel, or become
impatient with God’s intentions. Great Saints such as Moses,
King Saul, Jonah, or Paul of Tarsus (to name a few) have
done so. God the Father, in His love, exhorts me to trust
and obey Him. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, encourages me to
follow Him and choose Him as my guide for “(His) yoke is
easy, and (His) burden is light.” The “still small voices”
in my heart are calling me constantly. Lord, teach me how to
listen! 1 Samuel 2: 1-10; Psalms
85, 86; Ephesians 2:1-10
Saturday, May 3 Matthew 7:28—8:4 Jesus reached out his
hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be
clean!” (v.3a)
“Unclean! Unclean!” “Ssh!”
said a woman, “He is speaking!” No one seemed to notice the
leper. Maybe, in a large crowd, he could pilfer some food.
He adjusted the cloth hiding his face to see well. A man was
teaching on the hillside above. “Blessed are the poor in spirit,” the Teacher said. “Blessed are those who mourn.” “Amen,” murmured the leper. “Ssh!” the woman said. “Listen!” He became attentive to the man’s words. “Who is He?” asked the leper. “Jesus of Nazareth,” she whispered; “a teacher and healer! Many say he’s the Messiah!” “A healer? The Messiah?” As he listened further, his heart responded. “A teacher!” The leper absorbed Jesus’ words. “A Healer!” He started running forward, his faith growing. People jumped away from the leper as he ran to Jesus. He knelt before Him, and with a knowing beyond faith, he blurted, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean!” He encountered loving eyes, and a smile as broad as Creation itself. Jesus said,
“I am willing!” He touched him and said,
“Be clean!”
And he was! Amen. Numbers
by Tap Holt
Sunday, May 4 Exodus 3:1-12 And the Lord said, I
have surely seen the affliction of My people who are in
The pain started about Psalms 66, 67; Hebrews 12:18-29; Luke 10:17-24 Monday, May 5 Matthew 8:5-17 And Jesus said to him, I will come and restore him. (v.7)
Boy I’m busy! What about you? Is it hard to drop everything at a moment’s notice? You’ll notice I’m not answering the question. Yet, I have been blessed because someone else dropped everything for me. Friends have traveled to other states and cities to visit me in the hospital. I’ve been encouraged through cards, letters, and phone calls from people who stopped what they were doing. And recently, a dear brother in Christ, a busy business owner, took time to bake cookies to help me gain weight after surgery. Our Lord Jesus never told anyone, “I’m too busy.” There has never been anyone who walked on this earth who had a more important mission. He is the Lord who came down from heaven and gave life to the world. He had a lot to accomplish, but He always took time to help, to heal, to touch, and to talk. Thank you, Lord, for Jesus. Thank you, Lord, for people who follow His example and make themselves available. Please help me to be one of those people. Joshua 1:1-9; Psalm 89:1-18; Ephesians 3:1-13 Tuesday, May 6 Ephesians 3:14-21 May Christ through your faith [actually] dwell (settle down, abide, make His permanent home) in your hearts! May you be rooted deep in love and founded securely on love. (v.17)
Several years ago, I started asking the Holy Spirit to guide me to specific scriptures to pray over loved ones. Why, you ask? First is Hebrews 4:12, “For the Word that God speaks is alive and full of power…” Second is Jeremiah 12:1, “…I am alert and active, watching over My Word to perform it.” How’s that for powerful truth? His Word is personal. He wrote it just for you, so take it and personalize it. These verses from Ephesians are things I want for my children. I’ll start—open your Bible and finish, adding the names of your loved ones. Father God, I lift Miles and Kyle to you. Please grant to them, out of Your rich treasury of Glory, to be strong and reinforced by the Holy Spirit in their inner man. Oh Lord Jesus, please make a permanent home in their hearts. Root them deeply and securely in your love… 1 Samuel 16:1-13a; Psalms 97, 99, 100; Matthew 8:18-27 Wednesday, May 7 Psalm 109 …my body is gaunt and has no fatness. (v.24b)
Last month I spent almost 3 of the 4 weeks in the hospital. For most of the time, I was classified as a “nothing by mouth” patient. No food. No drink. So, the above verse perfectly described me at discharge. Two days after leaving the hospital, I ran into an acquaintance. I don’t even remember what he said, because I was so offended by his eyes. They were full of pity. Here I was too weak to stand, too exhausted to laugh, and too drained to talk, but I had no problem mustering up some pride. Yes, that’s what it was. Then pride turned to anger. I was angry with someone who was concerned about me. Ephesians 4 tells us to live with humility, meekness, patience, to bear with one another, and to make allowances for each other. That man didn’t reflect a knowledge of Christ’s healing works in today’s world. And because of pride, I walked away from him without sharing that good news. Please forgive me Lord. Isaiah 4:2-6; Psalm 101; Ephesians 4:1-16; Matthew 8:28-34 Thursday, May 8 Ephesians 4:17-32 But you did not so learn Christ! (v.20)
As the redeemed of Christ, we do not live under condemnation. But sometimes a wrong choice forever affects the way we live. Many years ago, while recovering from surgery and facing more dire projections from doctors, a friend asked me to call a young woman. Like me, this woman was battling cancer. Like me, she had young children. At the moment, she was at home receiving hospice care and writing letters to her children that they could open at the big occasions of their lives—birthdays, graduations and weddings. Fear paralyzed me. I was face to face with my greatest fear. The similarities between us were too great and I allowed fear to win. I didn’t call. Later, an e-mail informed me she had died. I sat at my computer and sobbed. I wept for her, for her family, for her children, and for me—for my hard heart. I did not so learn Christ! I still make plenty of wrong choices, but I won’t make this one again. Zechariah 4:1-14; Psalm 105:1-22; Matthew 9:1-8 Friday, May 9 Psalm 102 You will arise and have mercy and loving-kindness for Zion, for it is time to have pity and compassion for her; yes, the set time has come [the moment designated]. (v.13)
While I was preparing for a recent surgery, my mother shared with me that early one morning the Lord spoke into her spirit, “And God remembered Amanda.” If it sounds familiar, it’s because that phrase is used in Genesis—“And God [earnestly] remembered Noah” (8:1) and “Then God remembered Rachel” (30:22). It doesn’t mean that He had forgotten them. It means that He was about to do something in their lives—something powerful, wonderful and miraculous. The Sovereign Lord declared that it was the perfect time. Are you waiting? Like me, have you been waiting a long time? Are you discouraged? Are you starting to doubt the promises of God? Hold on. Your day of deliverance, your day of healing, your day of victory has a set time. The promises of God are not hoaxes or pipe dreams. They are promises from a covenant-keeping God, a God of truth, and a faithful God. Don’t give up. Your day is set. Your moment is designated. Keep believing. Stand fast. And one day, at the perfect time…and God remembered…you. Jeremiah 31:27-34; Ephesians 5:1-20; Matthew 9:9-17 Saturday, May 10 Psalm 108 Through and with God we shall do valiantly, for He it is Who shall tread down our adversaries. (v.13) Once I announced at a healing service that I wasn’t going to allow cancer to come back. Can you believe the audacity? Somebody should have handed me one of those bumper stickers that says, “If God is your co-pilot, switch places.” He is the Redeemer. I am the redeemed. He is the Creator. I am the created. He is the Savior. I am the saved. He is the Healer. I am the healed. The reading from Ephesians says that in the face of battle, we are to do three things: put on God’s complete armor, stand firm, and pray constantly. He will do the rest. The battle is the Lord’s. On the surface, this seems difficult. I like to be pro-active. I am independent, stubborn, and strong-willed. I like to do thing myself—my way. But as I come before Him, this truth becomes crystal clear. He is the Lord who is able to do more than I can ask or imagine. I am the recipient of His grace. Our Lord is a warrior (Exodus 15:3). So, I follow His instructions. I’m dressed. I’m praying. I’m digging in my heels. Thank you Lord. Ezekiel 36:22-27; Psalm 107:33-43; Ephesians 6:10-24; Matthew 9:18-26
by Amanda Brown
Sunday, May 11
Deuteronomy 16:9-12 And you shall
remember that you were a slave in
My friend Martha wrote a song she calls “I will not go back
to I
remember when I couldn’t speak face-to-face with another
person. I was not “naturally shy”; I was in bondage.
Regardless of the cause of my problems, the effect was that
I believed I had nothing to offer. I could not break away
from a dysfunctional self-image. Not only was I shy, but I
also could never get anywhere on time. The Lord led me out
of bondage by the fire of His love and the cloud of His
witnesses. I will not go back to
“When in my distress I called to the Lord, his answer was to
set me free” (Psalm 118:5
A
note to mothers: Please do not think that your dysfunctional
children are always a result of your lack of wisdom. There
are many influences that impact a child’s thinking.
Psalm 118; Acts 4:18-21, 23-33; John 4:19-26
Monday, May 12
1 John 1:1-10 …but if we walk in
the light as He Himself is in the light, we have fellowship
with one another, and the blood of Jesus His son cleanses us
from all sin. (v.7)
When Jesus freed me from the bondages of “late” and “shy” He
led me into “fellowship” and “caring.” He turned my heart
from an inward focus to an outward one. He is still teaching
me in this area. Currently, He is showing me how to live
from my servant heart (for others) instead of my arrogant
heart (for self). I still have an arrogant heart with which
to contend, but I am learning to identify its motives. I am
learning to separate my needs from my wants. I know my needs
will be met in many ways, but always involving others. As my
needs are met, my wants are changing from self-serving to
self-offering. My desire is for a servant heart. I have
discovered there is a life-giving glow in living out of my
servant heart. For me this is walking in the light with
Jesus.
Ezekiel 33:1-11; Psalm 106:1-18; Matthew 9: 27-34
Tuesday, May 13
1 John 2:1-11 The one who loves
his brother abides in the light and there is no cause for
stumbling in him. (v.10)
How many times have you fumbled in the dark for the light
switch? The arrogant heart (writer Jack Frost calls it our
“Orphan Heart”), leaves us fumbling in the dark and
stumbling over all kinds of faulty baggage—self-reliance,
need for approval, the need to be right, competition and
rivalry, spiritual ambition, shame and guilt, and a myriad
of self-bashing thoughts: “It’s all my fault,” “I’ll never
get it right,” “I’m not good enough,” and on and on. When
the light of Christ enters that room in our heart we are
suddenly aware of his love for us and our need to love
others. In God’s light all that baggage is seen for what it
is—an array of false notions and obstacles in our path. We
can place them at the foot of the cross for His disposal or
transformation.
Ezekiel 33:21-33; Psalms 120, 121, 122, 123; Matthew
9:35—10:4
Wednesday, May 14
Matthew 10:5-15 And as
you enter the house, give it your greeting. And if the house
is worthy, let your greeting of peace come upon it: but if
it is not worthy, let your greeting of peace return to you.
(vv.12-13)
I
create what I call “Scripture Paintings.” Several years ago
I began asking the Lord to put His blessing upon each
painting that it might bless those who purchase it. Since my
work is an extension of me, I am entering their house with a
greeting of peace. This I would explain to the buyer.
Finally, it occurred to me that I also needed to ask the
buyer if they will receive the blessing. I really don’t want
my work hanging in a place where the owner rejects God’s
blessing. Most people are delighted with the idea of
receiving God’s blessing. Some even send photos showing
where it is hanging in their home. Others don’t know quite
what to say, but the blessing is free (although the painting
is not) so they accept it.
In a culture that blesses people every time they sneeze,
there should be more teaching on the nature of God’s
blessing in Holy Scripture. How often do we miss God’s
blessing by being unaware?
When Joseph was sold into slavery God blessed everything
that he did in
Ezekiel 34:1-16; Psalm 119:145-176; 1 John 2:12-17
Thursday, May 15
Matthew 10:16-23 “And
brother will deliver
up brother to death, and a father his child; and children
will rise up against parents, and cause them to be put to
death.” (v.21)
My friend, David, has returned from
Ezekiel 37:21b-28; Psalms 131, 132, 133; 1 John 2:18-29
Friday, May 16
Ezekiel 39:21-29 “And
I will not hide My face from them any longer, for I shall
have poured out My spirit on the house of
After my husband died, I knew I needed to put my large house
on the market. I had not the finances, the energy, or the
incentive to maintain a 1925 house with multiple repair
needs. Only God could have orchestrated the series of events
that led to my property today being headquarters for various
ministries. It is home to prayer groups, healing ministries,
worship events, and art workshops. Repair and maintenance
are under control, and I still have “my space” plus the
fellowship of community. God has prepared me and my house
for this new role. He surely can prepare the House of Israel
to receive the outpouring of His Spirit. One of the speakers
at my house this year was a woman who brings the Messiah
Jesus to Orthodox Jews in
Psalms 140, 142; 1 John 3:1-10; Matthew 10:24-33 Saturday, May 17
Matthew 10:34-42 “Do not think
that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to
bring peace, but a sword.” (v.34)
I
do not believe Jesus meant that peace is not desirable, but
rather that we should avoid “peace at any price.” More to be
desired than peace is a heart for God that is willing to
take a stand on behalf of His plan. That presupposes that we
can know His plan or at least follow His guidance. That
means we should read His Word, listen to His voice and see
His action in others. Jesus means to encourage us to stand
in the face of discouragement and doubt. We are to battle
satanic forces that would deceive and destroy.
It is plain that Jesus did not intend his remarks to be an
excuse for genocide or for turning family members in to the
Gestapo. He is telling his disciples they have a hard road
ahead of them; so hard that even friends and family may turn
against them. For those expecting a military hero, He is an
unacceptable Messiah. How many times do we miss present-day
prophets because they do not fit our image? I knew a man 40
years ago who prophesied difficult times for the church of
which he was a member. The people refused to listen and
wanted to evict him from the premises, but the rector said
no. The prophecy proved to be true. The church is intact
today, but the congregation went through a hard period. It
is true that we are not to listen to everyone crying in the
wilderness because some are deceivers. But some are not. We
are to seek Gods wisdom in all matters.
Ezekiel 47:1-12; Psalms 137, 144; 1 John 3:11-18
by Ellen M. Smith
Sunday, May 18
Job 38:1-11, 42:1-5 Therefore I
have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful
for me, which I did not know….I had heard of you by the
hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you. (42:3b, 5
NRSV)
In Jesus, we see the Living God! The reading of the New
Testament has become so familiar to us that it seems common.
We miss the amazingness of what has been given to us. In
Jesus, we see the Living God! He walked the earth. He
touched people. He spoke. He ate. For centuries, the people
of
Beloved, have you seen God? You do not need to look any
further than the person of Jesus. Do you ever wonder how God
will respond to your brokenness? See Jesus touch and
straighten the bent woman. Do you ever wonder how God will
respond to your vulnerability? See Jesus embrace the woman
who anoints his feet. Do you ever wonder how Jesus will
respond to your failure? See Jesus restore and send Peter to
be the foundation of the Church. See Jesus and you see God.
Psalms 146, 147; Revelation 19:4-16; John 1:29-34
Monday, May 19
Matthew 11:1-6 When John heard in
prison what the Messiah was doing, he sent word by his
disciples and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come,
or are we to wait for another?” Jesus answered them, “Go and
tell John what you hear and see.” (vv.2-4)
Why does John doubt? Isn’t this the John who proclaimed
Jesus the Lamb of God and baptized him? Why does he now
doubt Jesus’ identity? As I have studied, this passage has
been made clear—Jesus is not behaving as John expected. The
Old Testament depicts a Messiah who judges and condemns the
wicked, who brings righteous order to the world, who finally
frees
If someone were to look at your life, would they know that
you are a Christian? I don’t mean the kind who never sins
and who goes to church regularly. Would they see the Kingdom
actions that we see in Jesus’ life—that the blind see, the
lame are healed, the poor hear the good news. Would they
know that you are about the
Lord, transform us into your reflection. As you came to
earth and showed yourself as God, may people also see you in
us. May they see your Kingdom work in our lives.
Proverbs 3:11-20; Psalms 1, 2, 3; 1 John 3:18—4:6
Tuesday, May 20
1 John 4:7-21 We love because he
first loved us. Those who say, “I love God,” and hate their
brothers or sisters, are liars; for those who do not love a
brother or sister whom they have seen, cannot love God whom
they have not seen. The commandment we have from him is
this: those who love God must love their brothers and
sisters also. (vv.19-21)
At times the teachings of Jesus are hard. The past couple of
weeks, a friend and I have had some conflict. I feel as if I
cannot say anything right, and I have been very angry with
her. I felt justified in my anger because she was being
unreasonable; so I held onto it. And it has grown until
there is a bitterness and, dare I say, a hatred toward her
in my heart. But I hear the commands of Jesus to forgive if
I want to be forgiven, and the verse above that says that
unless I love my sister, I cannot love God. This is a hard
teaching to swallow.
Yesterday, I repented from my unforgiveness and I chose to
forgive. It was a choice. I did not feel like forgiving her.
I did not want to forgive her. I wanted to hang onto my
anger and my bitterness because I felt justified in it. But
Scripture does not say to forgive your sister when you want
to, or when you feel like it. It just says to forgive. And
forgiveness is an act of the will. It is a choice to release
anger, to release bitterness, to release that person from
having to “make it up to you.” Immediately after forgiving
(and asking the Lord to forgive me for my sin against Him in
holding onto unforgiveness), I felt no different. But within
an hour, I felt free. Free from anger. Free from bitterness.
Free to love!
Proverbs 4:1-27; Psalms 5, 6; Matthew 11:7-15
Wednesday, May 21
Psalm 119:1-24 With my whole heart
I seek you; do not let me stray from your commandments. I
treasure your word in my heart, so that I may not sin
against you. Blessed are you, O Lord,
teach me your statutes. (vv.10-12)
One of my good friends was telling me the other day that she
is trying to grow her hair out because her husband really
likes it when her hair is longer. To her, it is an act of
love to satisfy the desires of her husband’s heart. He is
not dictating how she should wear her hair; he is not
demanding that she grow it out. He told her what was
pleasing to him and she wants to please him.
God’s Word, and more specifically God’s Laws in His Word,
are His way of telling us what pleases Him. Very often, we
treat God’s Laws like they are rules to live our lives by,
and we try to do so; but more often, our hearts are
rebellious and bitter even if our actions are right. What I
love about our readings for today is that obeying God’s Laws
is not seeking God’s approval, but it is an expression of
love toward God, our Lover. He has laid out for us what
pleases Him, and when we are in right relationship with Him,
we long to please Him. So we keep His laws, not to earn His
approval, but to seek His pleasure. And, in that, there is
great joy! Beloved, why do you keep God’s Laws? Are you
trying to earn His approval or are you expressing love
toward the Lover of your soul?
Proverbs 6:1-19; 1 John 5:1-12; Matthew 11:16-24
Thursday, May 22
Psalm 18:1-20 The cords of death
encompassed me; the torrents of perdition assailed me; the
cords of Sheol entangled me; the snares of death confronted
me. In my distress, I called upon the Lord;
to my God I cried for help….He reached down from on high, he
took me; he drew me out of mighty waters. (vv.4-6a, 16)
The proverb for today tells a story of a young man who is
seduced by a “loose woman.” She meets him on the street as
he is walking by, potentially too close to where she does
business, and entices him. She kisses him and tells him of
her fragrantly perfumed bed. She says that her husband will
never know, that there will not be any consequences to her
actions. “With much seductive speech she persuades him”
(v.21) and he follows her, “not knowing that it will cost
him his life” (v.23). I think that this proverb is speaking
literally about the attractions of adultery, but I think
that it also has lessons for us in a figurative sense. The
book of Hosea presents an allegory where the Lord
is played by Hosea and where his prostitute wife represents
Whatever it may be, know that you are not beyond reach. As
the Psalmist says, cry out to the Lord when these snares of death entangle you and He will reach
down and draw you out of mighty waters!
Proverbs 7:1-27; 1 John 5:13-21; Matthew 11:25-30
Friday, May 23
Matthew 12:1-14 “But if you had
known what this means, ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice,’
you would not have condemned the guiltless. For the Son of
Man is lord of the Sabbath.” (vv.7-8)
In this Matthew passage, and throughout most of the Gospels,
Jesus is at odds with the Pharisees because he is calling
forth a deeper righteousness. The Pharisees are a group
seeking to bring the Messiah by becoming more pious and
eliminating those who are not. Jesus, however, calls forth a
righteousness that is not about outward acts of piety but an
inward righteousness, which comes from complete submission
to the Father. In these passages, Jesus’ acts of goodness to
feed the disciples and to heal the man with the withered
hand more completely fulfill the intentions of the law, not
just the behaviors of the law.
Beloved, are there ways that you are more concerned with
outward actions of piety than with the inward motivations of
your heart? It is so easy in our world to get swept up in
what others think of us, particularly here in the Church. We
wrongly believe that God will like us better if we are more
“pious” in our actions and that God will like us less if we
“sin” or are not good enough. Beloved, God is more concerned
with the state of your heart than he is with your actions.
Good, righteous acts are important to God; but as with
Jesus, from a surrendered heart that trusts God and is
seeking to know Him, righteous actions will flow.
Proverbs 8:1-21; Psalms 16, 17; 2 John 1-13
Saturday, May 24
Matthew 12:15-21 “Here is my
servant, whom I have chosen, my beloved with whom my soul is
well pleased. I will put my Spirit upon him, and he will
proclaim justice to the Gentiles….And in his name the
Gentiles will hope” (vv.18, 21)
Praise the Lord that He succeeds in His plans, even when we
do not cooperate. It was always God’s intention in choosing
the people of
Proverbs 8:22-36; Psalms 20, 21; 3 John 1-15
by Kim Koi
Sunday, May 25
Acts
Sin always takes you further than you wanted to go, lasts
longer than you want it to last, and costs you more than you
were willing to pay. Serving God, in any ministry, requires
us to remain open channels for a constant filling by the
Holy Spirit. Daily confession is our way to uninterrupted
communion with our Heavenly Father. The fullness of God is
available to you today.
Proverbs 9:1-12; Psalms 148, 149, 150; Luke 10:25-28, 38-42
Monday, May 26
Psalm 25 Who, then, is the man
that fears the Lord?
He will instruct him in the way chosen for him. He will
spend his days in prosperity, and his descendants will
inherit the land. (vv.12-13)
If you are having trouble holding on to your money, check
God’s principals on money. The Bible tells us that “the fear
of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” (Proverbs 1:7a).
Without wisdom, God’s way of living, it is impossible to
accumulate wealth and to keep what is accumulated. God tells
us that tithing protects what we accumulate and what we
give, over and above our tithe, increases our prosperity.
The secret to financial prosperity is found in God’s Word.
Proverbs 10:1-12; 1 Timothy 1:1-17; Matthew 12:22-32 Tuesday, May 27
Matthew 12:33-42 “But I tell you
that men will have to give account on the day of judgment
for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words
you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be
condemned.” (vv.36-37)
It is so easy to speak negatively about someone or
something. A year or two ago my wife, Kitty, and I made a
promise that we would stop inviting negativity into our
lives. If one of us slips and says something negative or
doubtful, we renounce all spoken words that are not positive
and uplifting. As a result, our life together has become
more positive, full of peace and joy and optimism.
Proverbs 15:16-33; Psalms 26, 28; 1 Timothy 1:18—2:8
Wednesday, May 28
Matthew 12:43-50 “When an evil spirit comes out of a man, it goes through arid places
seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, ‘I will
return to the house I left.’ When it arrives, it finds the
house unoccupied, swept clean and put in order.”
(vv.43-44)
When we pray, through the power of Christ, to remove a
negative spirit (things like doubt, abandonment, judgment,
etc.), it is imperative that we replace that negative spirit
with something positive. I have found God’s Holy Word to be
an excellent replacement. Also, positive actions like
helping others works well and creates peace and joy in your
life.
Proverbs 17:1-20; Psalm 38; 1 Timothy 3:1-16
Thursday, May 29
Psalm 37:1-18 Delight yourself in the Lord
and He will give you the desires of your heart. (v.4)
Have you ever prayed and it appeared that God did not answer
your prayer? Chances were that you were either praying for
something for yourself or you just did not recognize God’s
answer to your petition. When you pray for someone other
than yourself, a prayer for uplifting, a prayer based on the
welfare and growth of someone, you can be assured that it is
a result of delighting yourself in the Lord.
Proverb 21:30—22:6; 1 Timothy 4:1-16; Matthew 13:24-30
Friday, May 30
Proverbs 23:19-21, 29—24:2
Do not join those who
drink too much wine or gorge themselves on meat, for
drunkards and gluttons become poor, and drowsiness clothes
them in rags. (vv.20-21)
I
have an addictive personality. It runs in my family of
origin. I addressed my addiction to alcohol nineteen years
ago, resulting in complete abstinence since then. I could
easily have the same problem with food if I would let myself
go. Today, my addiction is with sugar. I have become a
candyholic.
Psalm 31; 1 Timothy 5:17-25; Matthew 13:31-35
Saturday, May 31 1
Timothy 6:6-21 Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced
themselves with many griefs. (v.10b)
I
committed my life to Christ in 1975. My first year as a
Christian was a great growth year for me. However, in the
fall of 1976 I went to work as Area Representative for one
of the fastest growing companies, NIKE. Slowly, I “wandered
from the faith and pierced myself with many griefs.”
Fortunately God is always faithful, even if I am not. I
rededicated by life to God in 1988 and have walked and grown
in Him since.
Proverb 25:15-28; Psalms 30, 32; Matthew 13:36-43
by Michael O’Grody
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The Episcopal Church of the Holy Comforter, a parish of The Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina
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Copyright ©2007 The Episcopal Church of the Holy Comforter. All rights reserved.
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