Friday, June 30, 2006 

God is great

Today's word: Psalm 8:3-9

3 When I consider your heavens,
the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars,
which you have set in place,

4 what is man that you are mindful of him,
the son of man that you care for him?

5 You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings [a]
and crowned him with glory and honor.

6 You made him ruler over the works of your hands;
you put everything under his feet:

7 all flocks and herds,
and the beasts of the field,

8 the birds of the air,
and the fish of the sea,
all that swim the paths of the seas.

9 O LORD, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!

How about you?
When you think about the greatness of the universe, does it make you feel small and unimportant? Does it make you realise the vast difference between God and mere human beings? You can never fully comprehend His greatness or all the things He has done. All you can do is worship Him with praise and thanksgiving.

To memorize: Psalm 19:1
The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of his hands

11:08 AM | |

Thursday, June 29, 2006 

Accept new situations

Today's word: Lamentations 3:18-26

18 So I say, "My splendor is gone
and all that I had hoped from the LORD."

19 I remember my affliction and my wandering,
the bitterness and the gall.

20 I well remember them,
and my soul is downcast within me.

21 Yet this I call to mind
and therefore I have hope:

22 Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail.

23 They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.

24 I say to myself, "The LORD is my portion;
therefore I will wait for him."

25 The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him,
to the one who seeks him;

26 it is good to wait quietly
for the salvation of the LORD.

How about you?
How do you face new situation? Do you accept them as a challene to learn and grow? Or do you look at them with discouragement and refuse to try again? Perhaps a loved one has died, a friend has moved away, and things seem so uncertain for you. Ask God for strength to accept your new situation. Then look for ways you can reach out and be friendly to those around you.

To memorize: Lamentations 3:22-23
Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail
They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.

12:17 PM | |

Wednesday, June 28, 2006 

Trust God's plan

Today's word: Isaiah 55:8-9

8 "For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways,"
declares the LORD.

9 "As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.

How about you?
Is there a circumstance in your life that is so hard you feel you'll never get over it? God doesn't let you see into the future, but He sees what's there. You must live by faith, trusting Him to see even the hard things to work for good in your life.

To memorize: 2 Corinthians 5:7
We live by faith, not by sight

1:08 PM | |

Tuesday, June 27, 2006 

Learn to love others

Today's word: Mark 12:28-33

28One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, "Of all the commandments, which is the most important?"

29"The most important one," answered Jesus, "is this: 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one.[a] 30Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.'[b] 31The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'[c]There is no commandment greater than these."

32"Well said, teacher," the man replied. "You are right in saying that God is one and there is no other but him. 33To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices."

How about you?
Do you ever just pretend to like someone? Why not ask God right now to teach you to love somebody you find it difficult to like. He loves that person. Ask Him to fill your heart with His love.

To memorize: John 15:12
My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.

11:05 AM | |

Monday, June 26, 2006 

Don't be a snob

Today's word: Matthew 7:1-5

1"Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

3"Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.

How about you?
Do you give people a chance to show you what they're like? Do you consider yourself superior to those who have learning problems or those whose clothes are not as nice as yours? God looks on the heart. Ask Him to help you see them through His eyes.

To memorize: John 7:24
Stop judging by mere appearances, and make a right judgment

12:52 PM | |

Saturday, June 24, 2006 

Control your tongue

Today's word: James 3:2-8

2We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check.

3When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. 4Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. 5Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. 6The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.

7All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man, 8but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

How about you?
When someone makes you angry, do you give him or her "a piece of your mind" before thinking about the damage you might be doing? Like a tornado, your tongue can do a lot of damage in a few seconds, but it might take years to repair the situation.

To memorize: Psalm 141:3
et a guard over my mouth, O LORD;
keep watch over the door of my lips.


12:35 PM | |

Friday, June 23, 2006 

Read your Bible

Today's word: Psalm 119:97-105

97 Oh, how I love your law!
I meditate on it all day long.

98 Your commands make me wiser than my enemies,
for they are ever with me.

99 I have more insight than all my teachers,
for I meditate on your statutes.

100 I have more understanding than the elders,
for I obey your precepts.

101 I have kept my feet from every evil path
so that I might obey your word.

102 I have not departed from your laws,
for you yourself have taught me.

103 How sweet are your words to my taste,
sweeter than honey to my mouth!

104 I gain understanding from your precepts;
therefore I hate every wrong path.

105 Your word is a lamp to my feet
and a light for my path.

How about you?
It's foolish to stumble along and not use the light that's available, isn't it? Only the light of God's word will keep you from stumbling into sin. Are you using it?

To memorize: Proverbs 6:23
For these commands are a lamp,
this teaching is a light,
and the corrections of discipline
are the way to life,


12:03 PM | |

Thursday, June 22, 2006 

Be attached to Jesus

Today's word: John 15:1-8

1"I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes[a] so that it will be even more fruitful. 3You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

5"I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. 8This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

How about you?
Are you attached to Jesus, the Vine? Or are you attached to your church membership, your baptism, or your good works? There is only one way to get to heaven, and that is to trust Jesus to forgive your sins. If you do that, you'll be like a fruitful branch attached to the vine. If you've never asked Jesus to be your savior, do it now. Don't be cast away like an unfruitful branch.

To memorize: John 15:6
If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned

12:23 PM | |

Wednesday, June 21, 2006 

Be friendly to others

Today's word: Exodus 16:1-6

1 The whole Israelite community set out from Elim and came to the Desert of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after they had come out of Egypt. 2 In the desert the whole community grumbled against Moses and Aaron. 3 The Israelites said to them, "If only we had died by the LORD's hand in Egypt! There we sat around pots of meat and ate all the food we wanted, but you have brought us out into this desert to starve this entire assembly to death."

4 Then the LORD said to Moses, "I will rain down bread from heaven for you. The people are to go out each day and gather enough for that day. In this way I will test them and see whether they will follow my instructions. 5 On the sixth day they are to prepare what they bring in, and that is to be twice as much as they gather on the other days."

6 So Moses and Aaron said to all the Israelites, "In the evening you will know that it was the LORD who brought you out of Egypt,

How about you?
When you're in a new situation, do you wait for others to be friendly to you, or do you make an effort to talk to those around you? Do you pout and complian that you aren't having fun, or do you enter into the activities and do your best to be an asset to your team? Over and over in the Bible, we read that we are to love others, be friendly, and get along with those around us.

To memorize: Proverbs 18:24
A man of many companions may come to ruin,
but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother

11:13 AM | |

Monday, June 19, 2006 

Show love with actions

Today's word: 1 John 4:7-12

7Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son[a] into the world that we might live through him. 10This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for[b] our sins. 11Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.

How about you?
Does someone in your family need a "special love"? As you remember all that God did to show His great love for you, will you, in turn, go out of your way to show love to that downhearted person? Maybe you can plan a party, do more that your share of the shores, or help in some special way. You'll surprised to find how much it will lift everyone's spirit.

To memorize: 1 John 4:11
Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another

1:03 PM | |

Friday, June 16, 2006 

Look for God's working

Today's word: Philippians 4:6-9

6Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

8Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

How about you?
Are there problems in your life that seem to be more than you can handle? Perhaps trouble at school, divorce in your family, illness, or even death? Look through the problem and try to see God working all things out for good. God promises peace if we keep our minds on Him.

To memorize: Isaiah 26:3
You will keep in perfect peace
him whose mind is steadfast,
because he trusts in you.

12:58 PM | |

Thursday, June 15, 2006 

Give God your all

Today's word: Luke 10: 25-28

25On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. "Teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?"

26"What is written in the Law?" he replied. "How do you read it?"

27He answered: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'[a]; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'[b]"

28"You have answered correctly," Jesus replied. "Do this and you will live."

How about you?
Are you giving your all to God or are you holding back because someone might tease you? Don't be afraid to speak up for Jesus. Ask for God's guidance and help. Then rejoice in the bountiful harvest of blessings that will surely result when you make a total commitment to the Lord.

To memorize: Luke 10:27
" 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'[a]; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'[b]"

11:33 AM | |

Wednesday, June 14, 2006 

Let God guide you

Today's word: Psalm 31:1-5

1 In you, O LORD, I have taken refuge;
let me never be put to shame;
deliver me in your righteousness.

2 Turn your ear to me,
come quickly to my rescue;
be my rock of refuge,
a strong fortress to save me.

3 Since you are my rock and my fortress,
for the sake of your name lead and guide me.

4 Free me from the trap that is set for me,
for you are my refuge.

5 Into your hands I commit my spirit;
redeem me, O LORD, the God of truth.

How about you?
When things seem to be going well, do you forget that you need God? Do you think you can handle that math test alone? That you don't need help with your paper route? When you try to get along without God's help, sooner or later you'll run into trouble. God wants to help you. Let Him.

To memorize: Psalm 31:3
Since you are my rock and my fortress,
for the sake of your name lead and guide me


10:12 AM | |