Read: Genesis 45:1-15
Do not therefore be grieved or angry with yourselves because you sold me. --- Genesis 45:5
The Bible In One Year:
Isaiah 11-13
Ephesians 4
It was the last weekend of the 1964 baseball season. Bill Valentine was umpiring a game between the Detroit Tigers and the New York Yankees.
Dave Wickersham was pitching for Detroit, and he had 19 victories for the season. One more would be a sign of stardom. But it wasn't to be.
After a close play, Wickersham tapped the umpire on the shoulder to ask for a time-out. Touching an umpire is against the rules, so Valentine tossed Wickersham from the game --- depriving him of his chance for a 20-win season.
For the next 39 years, Valentine lived with a gnawing regret for booting the pitcher in that split-second decision. But he doesn't carry that regret anymore. Last year, Wickersham wrote the umpire a note, telling him he was right in his decision and that he held no hard feelings. That note lifted a weight from Valentine's shoulders.
In Genesis 45, Joseph lifted a burden of guilt from his brothers, who had sold him into slavery --- something far more serious than a simple misunderstanding. Yet he was willing to forgive them.
Is there someone who needs to hear a forgiving word from you that would lift a burden of regret? --- Dave Branon
Let me forget the hurt and pain
Found along life's way;
Let me remember kindness
Given day by day. --- Berry
GROUND FILLED WITH THE ROOTS OF BITTERNESS NEEDS TO BE PLOWED BY THE GRACE OF GOD.
Friday, September 30, 2005
Thursday, September 29, 2005
Follow The Instructions
Read: Psalm 119:129-136
The entrance of Your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple. --- Psalm 119:130
The Bible In One Year:
Isaiah 9-10
Ephesians 3
After a woman sued a fast-food restaurant for being burned by coffee, companies started changing their manuals and warning labels. Check out these instructions:
On a frozen dinner: DEFROST BEFORE EATING On an iron: CAUTION! DO NOT IRON CLOTHES ON BODY On a peanut butter jar: MAY CONTAIN PEANUTS On a milk bottlecap: AFTER OPENING, KEEP UPRIGHT
If some people need these obvious guidelines on household items, think about how much more we need God's direction. Psalm 119 tells us fo the importance of His instruction manual --- the Bible. On the pages of Scripture we find what God wants us to believe, to be, and to do.
"Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved" [Acts 16:31].
"Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you" [Ephesians 4:32].
"Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature" [Mark 16:15].
Ask the Lord to teach you His statutes and to direct your steps according to His Word [Psalm 119:133,135]. Then read it often and follow the instructions. --- Ann Cetas
Give us, O Lord, a strong desire
To look withing Your Word each day;
Help us to hide it in our heart,
Lest from its truth our feet would stray. --- Branon
SCRIPTURE IS MEANT TO GIVE US PROTECTION, CORRECTION, AND DIRECTION.
The entrance of Your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple. --- Psalm 119:130
The Bible In One Year:
Isaiah 9-10
Ephesians 3
After a woman sued a fast-food restaurant for being burned by coffee, companies started changing their manuals and warning labels. Check out these instructions:
If some people need these obvious guidelines on household items, think about how much more we need God's direction. Psalm 119 tells us fo the importance of His instruction manual --- the Bible. On the pages of Scripture we find what God wants us to believe, to be, and to do.
"Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved" [Acts 16:31].
"Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you" [Ephesians 4:32].
"Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature" [Mark 16:15].
Ask the Lord to teach you His statutes and to direct your steps according to His Word [Psalm 119:133,135]. Then read it often and follow the instructions. --- Ann Cetas
Give us, O Lord, a strong desire
To look withing Your Word each day;
Help us to hide it in our heart,
Lest from its truth our feet would stray. --- Branon
SCRIPTURE IS MEANT TO GIVE US PROTECTION, CORRECTION, AND DIRECTION.
Wednesday, September 28, 2005
A Web Of Relationships
Read: John 15:1-14
You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. --- Mark 12:30
The Bible In One Year:
Isaiah 7-8
Ephesians 2
A Harvard Business School professor wrote an open letter to the nation's graduates. He told them that in one sense they needed to forget what they had learned in school. He said that schools tend to put too much emphasis on the idea that success comes as a result of passing tests. The professor pointed out that in the workplace doing well depends largely on learning to succeed in what he called a "web of relationships" --- the ability to cooperate with others and function as an effective team.
This truth also applies to living the Christian life. We often think that spiritual maturity and success result from how much we know about biblical facts and principles.
Jesus showed us, however, that real success comes from something else --- from loving one another in the same way He loved us. He made it clear that we can do this only if we "abide" in Him [John 15:7]. This means that we must stay close to Him through prayer and willingly obey His commands [v.10]. Our web of relationships must extend first to God and then to others.
The secret of spiritual success is not just in acquiring individual knowledge --- it's in combining that knowledge with love in all our relationships. --- Mart De Haan
Lord, help us learn from what You did
When You lived on this earth;
You spread Your love to all You met ---
You gave each one true worth. --- Branon
AS CHRISTIANS DRAW CLOSE TO CHRIST, THEY DRAW CLOSER TO ONE ANOTHER.
You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. --- Mark 12:30
The Bible In One Year:
Isaiah 7-8
Ephesians 2
A Harvard Business School professor wrote an open letter to the nation's graduates. He told them that in one sense they needed to forget what they had learned in school. He said that schools tend to put too much emphasis on the idea that success comes as a result of passing tests. The professor pointed out that in the workplace doing well depends largely on learning to succeed in what he called a "web of relationships" --- the ability to cooperate with others and function as an effective team.
This truth also applies to living the Christian life. We often think that spiritual maturity and success result from how much we know about biblical facts and principles.
Jesus showed us, however, that real success comes from something else --- from loving one another in the same way He loved us. He made it clear that we can do this only if we "abide" in Him [John 15:7]. This means that we must stay close to Him through prayer and willingly obey His commands [v.10]. Our web of relationships must extend first to God and then to others.
The secret of spiritual success is not just in acquiring individual knowledge --- it's in combining that knowledge with love in all our relationships. --- Mart De Haan
Lord, help us learn from what You did
When You lived on this earth;
You spread Your love to all You met ---
You gave each one true worth. --- Branon
AS CHRISTIANS DRAW CLOSE TO CHRIST, THEY DRAW CLOSER TO ONE ANOTHER.
Tuesday, September 27, 2005
Think Together
Read: Philippians 4:4-13
If there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy --- meditate on these things. --- Philippians 4:8
The Bible In One Year:
Isaiah 5-6
Ephesians 1
An executive of the world's largest toymaker said, "We are such a machine in terms of what we deliver on an annual basis that it doesn't allow time to think."
In an effort to stimulate creativity, this company is taking selected employees out of corporate headquarters and encouraging them to think together in new ways. For instance, when asked to devise a method to prevent an egg from breaking if dropped from 14 feet, one group went beyond the conventional approach of trying to cushion its fall and created an egg bungee cord.
What about us? Are our lives so focused on activity and production that we don't take time to think? In Paul's letter to the Philippians, he told them to meditate on things that are true, noble, just, pure, lovely, and of good report [4:8]. What would happen if we began this kind of thinking together in our churches and homes? Might we discover creative, God-given approaches to problems that seem to defy solution? Would our perspective on life undergo a radical change?
"Meditate on these things" is a great command. Obeying it with our families and other believers could open doors of discovery for helping others, serving God, and living for Him. Now that's something to think about! --- David McCasland
Lord, help us to think of the right and the true,
The pure and the noble --- it all points to You;
For if we consider what's worthy of praise,
We'll then want to live for You of our days. --- Fitzhugh
RIGHT THINKING LEADS TO RIGHT LIVING.
If there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy --- meditate on these things. --- Philippians 4:8
The Bible In One Year:
Isaiah 5-6
Ephesians 1
An executive of the world's largest toymaker said, "We are such a machine in terms of what we deliver on an annual basis that it doesn't allow time to think."
In an effort to stimulate creativity, this company is taking selected employees out of corporate headquarters and encouraging them to think together in new ways. For instance, when asked to devise a method to prevent an egg from breaking if dropped from 14 feet, one group went beyond the conventional approach of trying to cushion its fall and created an egg bungee cord.
What about us? Are our lives so focused on activity and production that we don't take time to think? In Paul's letter to the Philippians, he told them to meditate on things that are true, noble, just, pure, lovely, and of good report [4:8]. What would happen if we began this kind of thinking together in our churches and homes? Might we discover creative, God-given approaches to problems that seem to defy solution? Would our perspective on life undergo a radical change?
"Meditate on these things" is a great command. Obeying it with our families and other believers could open doors of discovery for helping others, serving God, and living for Him. Now that's something to think about! --- David McCasland
Lord, help us to think of the right and the true,
The pure and the noble --- it all points to You;
For if we consider what's worthy of praise,
We'll then want to live for You of our days. --- Fitzhugh
RIGHT THINKING LEADS TO RIGHT LIVING.
Monday, September 26, 2005
God's Tender Care
Read: Psalm 31:1-14
You have considered my trouble; You have known my soul in adversities. --- Psalm 31:7
The Bible In One Year:
Isaiah 3-4
Galatians 6
During a time of grief, C.S. Lewis observed that his neighbors walked across the street to avoid him when they saw him approaching.
David too knew a time of grief when he said, "I am a reproach among all my enemies, but especially among my neighbors.... I am forgotten like a dead man" [Psalm 31:11-12].
Perhaps you've known times when friends seem to forget you in your sorrow. They fail to call, or write, or promise to pray.
But those are the times when we can sense God's tenderness most deeply. When the days are long and lonely and no one seems to care. He seeks us out and surrounds us with lovingkindness. Our sorrow, far from burdening Him, draws out His tender compassion. He knows the troubles of our soul [v.7]. And He cares. Thus we can commit our spirit into His hand [v.5], as our Lord Jesus did when all forsook Him and fled.
Poet Frank Graeff asks, "Does Jesus care when my heart is pained too deeply for mirth and song; as the burdens press, and the cares distress, and the way grows weary and long?" The answer? Yes! He invites us to give our burdens and cares to Him, because He cares for us [1 Peter 5:7].
Trust God to care for you today. --- David Roper
O yes, He cares --- I know He cares!
His heart is touched with my grief;
When the days are weary, the long nights dreary,
I know my Savior cares! --- Graeff
WE CAN NEVER GET BEYOND THE CIRCLE OF GOD'S CARE.
You have considered my trouble; You have known my soul in adversities. --- Psalm 31:7
The Bible In One Year:
Isaiah 3-4
Galatians 6
During a time of grief, C.S. Lewis observed that his neighbors walked across the street to avoid him when they saw him approaching.
David too knew a time of grief when he said, "I am a reproach among all my enemies, but especially among my neighbors.... I am forgotten like a dead man" [Psalm 31:11-12].
Perhaps you've known times when friends seem to forget you in your sorrow. They fail to call, or write, or promise to pray.
But those are the times when we can sense God's tenderness most deeply. When the days are long and lonely and no one seems to care. He seeks us out and surrounds us with lovingkindness. Our sorrow, far from burdening Him, draws out His tender compassion. He knows the troubles of our soul [v.7]. And He cares. Thus we can commit our spirit into His hand [v.5], as our Lord Jesus did when all forsook Him and fled.
Poet Frank Graeff asks, "Does Jesus care when my heart is pained too deeply for mirth and song; as the burdens press, and the cares distress, and the way grows weary and long?" The answer? Yes! He invites us to give our burdens and cares to Him, because He cares for us [1 Peter 5:7].
Trust God to care for you today. --- David Roper
O yes, He cares --- I know He cares!
His heart is touched with my grief;
When the days are weary, the long nights dreary,
I know my Savior cares! --- Graeff
WE CAN NEVER GET BEYOND THE CIRCLE OF GOD'S CARE.
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