Verse of the Day 1/30

 

Psalm 119:105  Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.   English Standard Version (ESV)

As of today our church is about 2 weeks into 9 week the read through the Bible plan and it will be interesting to see what God has been doing in the hearts and minds of those who have been daily, perhaps for the first time, spending time reading His Word.

One of the great theologians in history, Augustine had gone through his early years enjoying listening to Ambrose but it never sunk in, it didn't have an impact on his "loose" lifestyle.  One day, when visiting a friend Augustine heard a little girl say "Take up and read".  Augustine saw in front of him some of Paul's writings and what he picked up and read was from Romans 13.

Romans 13:13-14Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy. ¹⁴ But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.  English Standard Version (ESV)

Augustine was moved by what he read, he was motivated, he recalled, "No further would I read, nor needed I: for instantly at the end of this sentence, by a light as if it were of serenity infused into my heart, all darkness and doubt vanished away."  As mentioned earlier, Augustine would go on to be one of the great theologians in Christian history.  It started when he took up and read.

If you have not been reading your Bible, the call is to you today, "take up and read".  May His Word be "infused into your heart"  today a lamp for your feet and a light for your path.  Perhaps you might start with the Psalms or one of the Gospels, but start somewhere and may you "concentrate on doing what God says" (The Message).

Blessings,
Mike
Follow the verse of the day at www.mikesvotd.blogspot.com

^{Psalm 119:105-112  The Message}By your words I can see where I'm going;
    they throw a beam of light on my dark path.
I've committed myself and I'll never turn back
    from living by your righteous order.
Everything's falling apart on me, God;
    put me together again with your Word.
Festoon me with your finest sayings, God;
    teach me your holy rules.
My life is as close as my own hands,
    but I don't forget what you have revealed.
The wicked do their best to throw me off track,
    but I don't swerve an inch from your course.
I inherited your book on living; it's mine forever—
    what a gift! And how happy it makes me!
I concentrate on doing exactly what you say—
    I always have and always will.

Verse of the Day 1/29

 

Psalm 69:13-14  But as for me, my prayer is to you, O Lord.

At an acceptable time, O God,
    in the abundance of your steadfast love answer me in your saving faithfulness.
¹⁴ Deliver me
    from sinking in the mire;
let me be delivered from my enemies
    and from the deep waters.   English Standard Version (ESV).

I read today's verses as part of my daily reading in the Psalms.  In this chapter David has that sinking feeling, that the world, the waters and the mire are closing in around him (v,1-3) and where does he turn?  He turns to God, who has been faithful to him in the past and whom he trusts will be faithful to him in the current torrent.

We can face any number of challenges and circumstances in life where we don't see a clear way out, where we feel that we're sinking in the mud, in the muck and mire of life.  The key thing is where do we go, to whom do we turn in these situations?  It just may be that we are facing another one of those defining moments, and our actions will then define us.

David's prayer here is for deliverance, but notice the wording.  It is not demanding, it is hopeful, counting on God to answer him in His timing, at the "acceptable time", being watchful for the answer in God's faithfulness and steadfast love.

May we see God's grace, mercy, faithfulness and steadfast love today or whenever we need it most.

Just when I need Him, Jesus is near,
Just when I falter, just when I fear;
Ready to help me, ready to cheer,
Just when I need Him most.

Refrain

Just when I need Him most,
Just when I need Him most,
Jesus is near to comfort and cheer,
Just when I need Him most.

Just when I need Him, Jesus is true,
Never forsaking all the way through;
Giving for burdens pleasures anew,
Just when I need Him most.

Blessings,
Mike
Follow the verse of the day at www.mikesvotd.blogspot.com

Psalm 69:13-16The Message (MSG)

¹³ And me? I pray.
God, it's time for a break!

God, answer in love!
Answer with your sure salvation!

¹⁴ Rescue me from the swamp,
Don't let me go under for good,

Pull me out of the clutch of the enemy;
This whirlpool is sucking me down.

¹⁵ Don't let the swamp be my grave, the Black Hole
Swallow me, its jaws clenched around me.

¹⁶ Now answer me, God, because you love me;
Let me see your great mercy full-face.

Verse of the Day 1/28

Acts 4:19-20But Peter and John replied, "Which is right in God's eyes: to listen to you, or to him? You be the judges!  20 As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard."  New International Version (NIV)

As I've mentioned before, many from our church are currently participating in reading through the New Testament over a 9 week period.  Today's verses came from yesterday's reading in Acts.

In today's society many people are protesting  against speaking about Jesus and sharing our faith in public.  In this passage the Sanhedrin are requesting that Peter and John stop "telling the story" of what God has been doing.  The response in today's verse reminded me that what Peter and John was saying was that they had a case of what a southern preacher referred to as the "can't help it's".  Whether it was right or wrong in the rulers opinion, they could not help but sharing the good news.

Yesterday we considered those defining moments where God does a work in our lives or in the life of a loved one.  We too should exhibit the can't help its.  If you find yourself in such a position, spread the word, tell the story for His glory.  Some may not want to hear it, but that shouldn't stop you, maybe you can say that you have a case of the "can't help its".

Perhaps you sang this song as a child.  May it describe what you will be doing now as you read and share what the Lord has done for you.

Stop; and let me tell you

 

What the Lord has done for me.

 

Stop; and let me tell you

 

What the Lord has done for me.

 

He forgave my sin

 

And He saved my soul,

 

He cleansed my heart

 

And He made me whole.

 

Stop; and let me tell you

 

What the Lord has done for me.

Go and tell the story

 

Of the Christ of Calvary,

 

Go and tell the story

 

Of the Christ of Calvary:

 

He'll forgive their sins,

 

He will save their souls,

 

He'll cleanse their hearts,

 

He will make them whole.

 

Go and tell the story

 

Of the Christ of Calvary.

Blessings,
Mike
Follow the verse of the day at www.mikesvotd.blogspot.com

Acts 4:19-22The Message (MSG)

^18-20 They called them back and warned them that they were on no account ever again to speak or teach in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John spoke right back, "Whether it's right in God's eyes to listen to you rather than to God, you decide. As for us, there's no question—we can't keep quiet about what we've seen and heard."

^21-22 The religious leaders renewed their threats, but then released them. They couldn't come up with a charge that would stick, that would keep them in jail. The people wouldn't have stood for it—they were all praising God over what had happened. The man who had been miraculously healed was over forty years old.

Verse of the Day 1/27

Verse of the Day 1/27

 

Mark 4:40-41 He said to them, "Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?" ⁴¹ And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, "Who then is this, that eventhe wind and the sea obey him?" English Standard Version (ESV)

We have been considering how Jesus keeps watch over us while we are to be watchful for Him while we ourselves are watching over others.  God has proven Himself in the past in our lives but storms still come up and we are often filled with fear in the midst of these storms.

Sometimes these storms can be defining moments in our lives, more by how we react to them than the storms themselves.  These defining moments themselves don't define us but the way we react to them, the way we persevere and the way we watch over, encourage and challenge others to be overcomers are what ends up defining us.

We can probably look back in our lives and see some of these moments.  I can look back at several.  One was when my son Jason was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor.  We had no idea of what was ahead.  Jason was not defined by that storm but he can be defined by his faith, which enabled him to trust and to persevere to push forward in his life.  He recently received his doctorate and is married with a beautiful wife and daughter and  is teaching others, sharing with his students what God has done for him.  And by the way, there is no longer any evidence of his tumor.  Truly a miracle.

In today's verses Jesus had just calmed the storm and the disciples stood back and were amazed.  This had to be a defining moment from them.  It wasn't the event itself but it was what Jesus had done in there lives.  They would go on and continue in faith.  I thought of these verses when listening and singing along to "Be Still My Soul, In You I Rest"

Be still, my soul; the Lord is on thy side;
Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain;
Leave to thy God to order and provide;
In every change He faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul; thy best, thy heavenly, Friend
Through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.

Be still, my soul; thy God doth undertake
To guide the future as He has the past.
Thy hope, thy confidence, let nothing shake;
All now mysterious shall be bright at last.
Be still, my soul; the waves and winds still know
His voice who ruled them while He dwelt below.

In you I rest, in You I found my hope,

In you I trust, You never let me go.

I place my life within your hands alone.

Be still my soul.

Blessings,
Mike
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Mark 4:35-41The Message (MSG)

The Wind Ran Out of Breath

^35-38 Late that day he said to them, "Let's go across to the other side." They took him in the boat as he was. Other boats came along. A huge storm came up. Waves poured into the boat, threatening to sink it. And Jesus was in the stern, head on a pillow, sleeping! They roused him, saying, "Teacher, is it nothing to you that we're going down?"

^39-40 Awake now, he told the wind to pipe down and said to the sea, "Quiet! Settle down!" The wind ran out of breath; the sea became smooth as glass. Jesus reprimanded the disciples: "Why are you such cowards? Don't you have any faith at all?"

⁴¹ They were in absolute awe, staggered. "Who is this, anyway?" they asked. "Wind and sea at his beck and call!"

Verse of the Day 1/25

 

1 Corinthians 13:6-7 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. ⁷ It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. New International Version (NIV)

 

For the past few days we've been considering "keeping watch", first how God is continually keeping watch over us, secondly how we as His children keep watch to see, to be aware of what He is doing around us and in our lives.

 

In our small group last night we were talking about how the marriage relationship has changed us us.  One of the areas, a big one, is how we look out for each other, how we think of each others needs and desires, literally "keeping watch" over each other in love.  In the same way we trust that God is keeping watch, looking out for us in love we are to do so for others, especially our spouses and family.

 

Today's verse comes from 1 Corinthians 13, the love chapter, some of Paul's best known and loved writings.  Today I'd like you to read the passage with the thought of "keeping watch" over your spouse and your loved ones - always protecting, always hoping, always persevering , always trusting, while putting up with anything, always looking for what is best.. and that this "keeps on going to the end" (The Message).

 

May we be thankful that we truly have "someone to watch over me".

 

In Christ,
Mike

 

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Eph 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace  NIV

 

1 Corinthians 13:6The Message (MSG)

^3-7 If I give everything I own to the poor and even go to the stake to be burned as a martyr, but I don't love, I've gotten nowhere. So, no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I'm bankrupt without love.

Love never gives up.
Love cares more for others than for self.
Love doesn't want what it doesn't have.
Love doesn't strut,
Doesn't have a swelled head,
Doesn't force itself on others,
Isn't always "me first,"
Doesn't fly off the handle,
Doesn't keep score of the sins of others,
Doesn't revel when others grovel,
Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,
Puts up with anything,
Trusts God always,
Always looks for the best,
Never looks back,
But keeps going to the end.

Verse of the Day 1/23

Verse of the Day 1/23

Proverbs 8:34-35  Happy the one who listens to me,

   attending daily at my gates,
    keeping watch at my doorposts;

³⁵ 

For whoever finds me finds life,
    and wins favor from the Lord; New American Bible (Revised Edition) (NABRE)

Yesterday we considered how God is keeping watch over us and that it is an active roll, not a passive one.  Today's verse from Proverbs is a reminder that it is a two way street.  God keeping watch over us while we take an active roll in looking to see what He is doing.

I've shared recently how Henry Blackaby in "Experiencing God" encouraged his readers when questioning what their spiritual gift was, to instead see, in effect "keep watch" what God is doing around you and to join in

.

The waiting at His gates, at wisdom's gates, involves waiting on the Lord looking from direction from Him and the best place to get this is daily looking into God's Word, reading and thinking about what we've read in the Bible and applying it in our daily life.

Don't we all want "God's favor" in our lives?  Why not try joining Him in what He is doing in a ministry or area of service.

There is a refrain from an old hymn that came to mind is goes, "Lord bless me and keep me, Thine forever more.  I wish I could remember the name of the hymn, perhaps one of you can help me.  But that line, for me sums up the thoughts of the last couple of days.  It is realizing that it is the Lord who keeps watch over us and the song writer is in the act of waiting at His gates, in His Word every day.  May it be so with us.

Blessings,
Mike
Follow the verse of the day at www/mikesvotd.blogspot.com

Proverbs 8:32-36The Message (MSG)

^32-36 "So, my dear friends, listen carefully;
    those who embrace these my ways are most blessed.
Mark a life of discipline and live wisely;
    don't squander your precious life.
Blessed the man, blessed the woman, who listens to me,
    awake and ready for me each morning,
    alert and responsive as I start my day's work.
When you find me, you find life, real life,
    to say nothing of God's good pleasure.
But if you wrong me, you damage your very soul;
    when you reject me, you're flirting with death."