Category - Devotionals

2/01            Psalm 139:1
O LORD, you have examined my heart and know everything about me.

KNOWLEDGE
The Lord knows more about us than we know ourselves.  He is intimately involved in the details of our life.  When we are facing a challenge the Lord is already there willing to give us the wisdom and strength that we need.  Do not fear, the Lord is with us.

2/02            Psalm 139:2
You know when I sit down or stand up. You know my every thought when far away.

CONFESSION
The Lord knows what is going on with us.  When we sin by commission or omission the confession of that sin is made to the Lord who knows what has happened before we tell Him.  Jesus is seeking to meet our needs and hear our confession at any time.  He is walking through life with us.  Jesus is here.

2/03            Psalm 139:3
You chart the path ahead of me and tell me where to stop and rest. Every moment you know where I am.

GUIDE
The Lord is able and willing to guide our daily walk.  He is waiting for us to ask Him to help us with the direction we are to take today.  He will never forsake us nor will He ignore us.  In your daily quiet time as you begin your day ask Jesus what He would have you do.  Is there someone due an apology?  Is there a verse to be memorized that will help you to stand in the face of the unknown today?  Listen as the Lord speaks to you and obey Him.

2/04            Psalm 139:4-6
You know what I am going to say even before I say it, LORD.  You both precede and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head.  Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too great for me to know!

WONDER
We are special to Jesus.  We are on His agenda every day.  When we woke up He already wanted to help us.  We are beloved of God.  He loves us and seeks to equip us to have an abundant life.

2/05            Psalm 139:7-12
I can never escape from your spirit! I can never get away from your presence!  If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I go down to the place of the dead,  you are there.  If I ride the wings of the morning, if I dwell by the farthest oceans, even there your hand will guide me, and your strength will support me.  I could ask the darkness to hide me and the light around me to become night –but even in darkness I cannot hide from you. To you the night shines as bright as day. Darkness and light are both alike to you.

BELOVED
We are beloved by Jesus.  We belong to Him and our life however out of control it may seem is never beyond His love.  The Lord holds on to us.  He knows where we are.  We belong to Him for eternity.

2/06            Psalm 139:13-14
You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb.  Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous – and how well I know it.

UNIQUE
We are unique and original.  The Lord made us this way.  He knows us from before our beginning and will know us into eternity.  We are special and made especially according to His plan.  When we let Him have control of our life His plan will use us in His special way.

2/07            Psalm 139:15-16
You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb.  You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.

CONTROL
Do not fear.  God is in control.  The world and your life may seem chaotic but the Lord is in control.  He never wastes a hurt.  Our life is never to the point that the Lord cannot use us.
2/08            John 14:1
“Don’t be troubled. You trust God, now trust in me.

LORD
Jesus is Lord.  He is trustworthy.  We can trust Him with our life.  He is worthy of our praise and worship.  All that we have and are belong to Him.  Jesus is Lord.  In fact and faith we can live our lives in accordance with His guidance.  We can fully devote our life to Him.  Jesus is Lord.

2/09            John 14:2
There are many rooms in my Father’s home, and I am going to prepare a place for you. If this were not so, I would tell you plainly.

PLACE
We have a place here and there.  We will never be strangers.  We are not alone.  The Lord is with us now and forever.  Think with me for just a moment-Jesus is here right now.  He is able to deal with what you are facing this moment.  Talk with Him and trust Him with your life.  You will never again be alone.

2/10             John 14:3-4
When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am.  And you know where I am going and how to get there.”

APPOINTMENT
We have an appointment with Jesus.  That appointment can be unto life.  On that day He will meet us and usher us into eternity and into the presence of the Father.  Turn your life over to Christ.  He will never disappoint you.  Jesus will never leave you.

2/11            John 14:5-7
“No, we don’t know, Lord,” Thomas said. “We haven’t any idea where you are going, so how can we know the way?”  Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.  If you had known who I am, then you would have known who my Father is.  From now on you know him and have seen him!”

REVEALS
Jesus reveals the Father to us.  He is Lord.  When we know Him we know the Father.  The Holy Spirit equips us to know Him and grow in Him.  We have everything we need in Jesus.

2/12            John 14:8-9
Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and we will be satisfied.”  Jesus replied, “Philip, don’t you even yet know who I am, even after all the time I have been with you? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father! So why are you asking to see him?

CONFIDENCE
We can have confidence in Jesus.  Our relationship with the Lord is complete in Jesus.  We have access to all of the resources of eternity in Christ.  He is able to save us and give us a life with value and purpose.  He has a plan for our life that perfectly fits our soul.

2/13            John 14:10
Don’t you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words I say are not my own, but my Father who lives in me does his work through me.

POWER
The power of the Lord is in Jesus.  He is our Savior and partner.  He is our Lord and our leader.  We will never outgrow our need for Jesus nor His ability to meet our needs.  Jesus is the One.  He is the Way the Truth and the Life.

2/14            John 14:11
Just believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me. Or at least believe because of what you have seen me do.

ACTIVE
Jesus is active in our world.  He is seeking the lost right now.  He would that no one be lost, that all might be saved.  He will reveal Himself to us.  If we are seeking an answer He will provide it.  He does not hide from us.  He is more interested than we are in the plan he has for our life.  Ask Him.  You will not be disappointed.

2/15            John 14:12-14
“The truth is, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father.  You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, because the work of the Son brings glory to the Father.  Yes, ask anything in my name, and I will do it!

PROMISE
When we are weak He is strong.  Ask Jesus for what you need.  This isn’t a trick.  It isn’t a promise just for certain people.  This is His promise made to you.  Ask Jesus for what you need and He will meet your need.

2/16            John 14:15-17

“If you love me, obey my commandments.  And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor, who will never leave you.  He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world at large cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you do, because he lives with you now and later will be in you.

OBEDIENCE

Jesus says that if we will ask He will save us.  The results of His salvation is an obedient life.  When the Lord lives in us His image will be reflected by the way we live.  The Lord loves obedience more than sacrifice.

2/17            John 14:18-19
No, I will not abandon you as orphans – I will come to you.  In just a little while the world will not see me again, but you will. For I will live again, and you will, too.

JESUS
Jesus is alive.  He lives in us.  His life gives us life.  Eternal life is not something that humans can comprehend but even so we have eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.  Accept Jesus and live.

2/18            John 14:20
When I am raised to life again, you will know that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.

RECOGNITION
His Spirit lives in us and prompts us to know that He is alive.  His Spirit speaks to us and guides us in the way in which we should go.  Remember that you are not alone.  Your life is valuable.  Your journey through life will be in partnership with Jesus.

2/19            John 14:21
Those who obey my commandments are the ones who love me. And because they love me, my Father will love them, and I will love them. And I will reveal myself to each one of them.”

LOVE
Love is an action, a commitment.  Obedience is the evidence of the Lord in you and your submission to Him.  The Christian life is not passive.  It is filled with activity that is devoted to and submissive to the rule of Christ in our life.

2/20            John 14:22-23
Judas (not Judas Iscariot, but the other disciple with that name) said to him, “Lord, why are you going to reveal yourself only to us and not to the world at large?”  Jesus replied, “All those who love me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and live with them.

MASTER
We come to Jesus because we recognize our need for Him.  Our relationship with Jesus is a one on one relationship.  There are no grandchildren in the family of God.  He is seeking us that we might know Him.  When I know Jesus I will know myself and be equipped to live a life of victory in Jesus.

2/21            John 14:24
Anyone who doesn’t love me will not do what I say. And remember, my words are not my own. This message is from the Father who sent me.

LORD
The Lord created all that we see and know.  His understanding of the times is complete and His love for us is total.  His Word to mankind is that we were created in love with a real purpose for our life.  The Lord is worthy of all praise and honor and glory.  He loves us so much that He paid the price for our redemption because we couldn’t pay it ourselves.  Jesus is Lord.

2/22            John 14:25-26
I am telling you these things now while I am still with you.  But when the Father sends the Counselor as my representative – and by the Counselor I mean the Holy Spirit – he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I myself have told you.

WISDOM
The Holy Spirit will give us the wisdom we need to live a life like Jesus.  The Lord resides in us and will not leave us.  He guides us in the way we should go and equips us to face the quandaries of life.  We are not alone.  We do not live our life in a vacuum.  The Lord is with us.

2/23            John 14:27
“I am leaving you with a gift – peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give isn’t like the peace the world gives. So don’t be troubled or afraid.

PRESENCE
When Jesus is in control peace reigns and we will not be overrun by worry or anxiety.  Stop where you are and commit this moment to Jesus.  You will begin to experience the Lord’s peace.  His peace is a gift that we can claim.  Lord give us peace as we live by Your standards each day.

2/24            John 14:28
Remember what I told you: I am going away, but I will come back to you again. If you really love me, you will be very happy for me, because now I can go to the Father, who is greater than I am.

JESUS
He died for me.  He died for you.  He came to pay the price for our sin.  He did it willingly.  He did it perfectly.  Now He offers us freedom from sin and shame as His gift to us so that we might have eternal life.  Jesus is the gift of God’s love for mankind.

2/25            John 14:29
I have told you these things before they happen so that you will believe when they do happen.

LISTEN
The Words Jesus spoke are just as real today as they were then.  He told all what He would do and then He did it.  His prophecy was truth.  His life was without sin and focused on our need and the Father’s assignment for Him.  He came that we might have life.

2/26            John 14:30-31
“I don’t have much more time to talk to you, because the prince of this world approaches. He has no power over me, but I will do what the Father requires of me, so that the world will know that I love the Father. Come, let’s be going.

ACTION
His love was demonstrated by His action.  He cared and He gave.  Love is not a feeling.  Love comes with great responsibility.  Love involves suffering.  Love comes with pain.  He gave the ultimate sacrifice-His life.

2/27            Psalm 139:17
How precious are your thoughts about me, O God! They are innumerable!

FOCUS
The Lord is focused on us.  He is interested that everyone get a chance to be saved.  He would that no one be left behind.  He chooses you and me to represent Him.  Everyone we speak to we speak as His agent.  The questions for each one of us is are we concerned about those around us?  Do we really care about others?  Is my life focused on me?  Or am I willing to serve the Lord?

2/28            Psalm 139:18
I can’t even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand! And when I wake up in the morning, you are still with me!

THOUGHTS
What do you think about?  All of His thoughts are for us.  He is concerned for our well being.  He is committed to us having a victorious life.  He is available for us always.  What do you think about?

2/29            Psalm 139:19-24
O God, if only you would destroy the wicked! Get out of my life, you murderers!  They blaspheme you; your enemies take your name in vain.  O LORD, shouldn’t I hate those who hate you? Shouldn’t I despise those who resist you?  Yes, I hate them with complete hatred, for your enemies are my enemies.  Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my thoughts.  Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.

LIFE
We have a partner in real life-it is Jesus.  We can be ourselves and talk with Him about the things of life that disturb us or bless us.  We can be real with Jesus.  He knows all about us and loves us.  He is the consummate reality person.

Jan 1           Psalm 52:1-9
You call yourself a hero, do you? Why boast about this crime of yours, you who have disgraced God’s people?  All day long you plot destruction. Your tongue cuts like a sharp razor; you’re an expert at telling lies.  You love evil more than good and lies more than truth. You love to say things that harm others, you liar!  But God will strike you down once and for all. He will pull you from your home and drag you from the land of the living.   The righteous will see it and be amazed. They will laugh and say,  “Look what happens to mighty warriors who do not trust in God. They trust their wealth instead and grow more and more bold in their wickedness.”  But I am like an olive tree, thriving in the house of God. I trust in God’s unfailing love forever and ever.  I will praise you forever, O God, for what you have done. I will wait for your mercies in the presence of your people.

CHALLENGE
We are constantly pulled to live and do the way the world does.  Today is the day of opportunity and success: Claim Jesus as Lord and live like it.

Jan 2           II Corinthians 1:1
This letter is from Paul, appointed by God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and from our dear brother Timothy.  We are writing to God’s church in Corinth and to all the Christians throughout Greece.   May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you his grace and peace.  All praise to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. He is the source of every mercy and the God who comforts us.  He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When others are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.

GRACE
Jesus will meet your needs.  When our needs are met we will be quick to help someone else.  As our needs are met and we face a challenge successfully in the Lord He will use us to help someone else that is struggling just like we did.  God is able to help us and He will use us to help others.

Jan 3          1John 2:7
Dear friends, I am not writing a new commandment, for it is an old one you have always had, right from the beginning. This commandment – to love one another – is the same message you heard before.

LOVE
Love is a requirement for those who are members of the Kingdom of God.  Think about this as our new year begins.  Think about this as you pray.  Let Jesus change the way that you interact with others.  Love one another.

Jan 4          2John 1:5
And now I want to urge you, dear lady, that we should love one another. This is not a new commandment, but one we had from the beginning.

LOVE
Too many Christians forget that love is a key element of the Christian life.  Hard feelings towards others, mistreating those who offend us are both the wrong way for us to live.  Pray for those who mistreat you.  Intercede for those who are suffering from hate.  Be sure you put aside hate and love one another.

Jan 5          Romans 8:23
And even we Christians, although we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory, also groan to be released from pain and suffering. We, too, wait anxiously for that day when God will give us our full rights as his children, including the new bodies he has promised us.

NEW DAY
We are looking forward to that day with deep yearning and a hope that overcomes the ravages of this world.  Remember as you look forward to being with Jesus that you grow in your ability to love those you are still with.

Jan 6          2Corinthians 5:2
We grow weary in our present bodies, and we long for the day when we will put on our heavenly bodies like new clothing.

WEARY
We tire from failure, disease and so many other things.  We seek the Lord’s face so that He can comfort us in the midst of our weary lives.  That day of victory will be awesome.  Today we have that victory.  In Jesus we have everything we need especially those things that we need to live and walk in love.  Love one another.

Jan 7           II Corinthians 1:5-9
You can be sure that the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with his comfort through Christ.  So when we are weighed down with troubles, it is for your benefit and salvation! For when God comforts us, it is so that we, in turn, can be an encouragement to you. Then you can patiently endure the same things we suffer.  We are confident that as you share in suffering, you will also share God’s comfort.  I think you ought to know, dear brothers and sisters, about the trouble we went through in the province of Asia. We were crushed and completely overwhelmed, and we thought we would never live through it.  In fact, we expected to die. But as a result, we learned not to rely on ourselves, but on God who can raise the dead.

POWER
The world strives for power.  People think that money is the key catalyst for power.  You and I know the real power and that is Jesus Christ.  He is Lord of all and He loves us.  We can have his power that equips us to love like He loves.  Just ask and He will give you the power to love.

Jan 8           II Corinthians 1:10-14
And he did deliver us from mortal danger. And we are confident that he will continue to deliver us.  He will rescue us because you are helping by praying for us. As a result, many will give thanks to God because so many people’s prayers for our safety have been answered.  We can say with confidence and a clear conscience that we have been honest and sincere in all our dealings. We have depended on God’s grace, not on our own earthly wisdom. That is how we have acted toward everyone, and especially toward you.  My letters have been straightforward, and there is nothing written between the lines and nothing you can’t understand.  I hope someday you will fully understand us, even if you don’t fully understand us now. Then on the day when our Lord Jesus comes back again, you will be proud of us in the same way we are proud of you.

DELIVERANCE
What are you struggling with that you cannot overcome?  Give it to Jesus.  Ask Him to deliver you from this mortal danger that is constantly tripping you up.  Claim His deliverance and He will deliver you.

Jan 9           II Corinthians 1:15-20
Since I was so sure of your understanding and trust, I wanted to give you a double blessing.  I wanted to stop and see you on my way to Macedonia and again on my return trip. Then you could send me on my way to Judea.  You may be asking why I changed my plan. Hadn’t I made up my mind yet? Or am I like people of the world who say yes when they really mean no?  As surely as God is true, I am not that sort of person. My yes means yes because Jesus Christ, the Son of God, never wavers between yes and no. He is the one whom Timothy, Silas, and I preached to you, and he is the divine Yes – God’s affirmation.  For all of God’s promises have been fulfilled in him. That is why we say “Amen” when we give glory to God through Christ.

AFFIRMATION
We are often looking for affirmation from others when we complete a job.  In Christ we find affirmation all the time.  Jesus loves us and cares for us.  He loves us so much that He came into our world and died for us.  Jesus the Lord loves you and me.

Jan 10                  II Corinthians 1:21-24
It is God who gives us, along with you, the ability to stand firm for Christ. He has commissioned us, and he has identified us as his own by placing the Holy Spirit in our hearts as the first installment of everything he will give us.  Now I call upon God as my witness that I am telling the truth. The reason I didn’t return to Corinth was to spare you from a severe rebuke.  But that does not mean we want to tell you exactly how to put your faith into practice. We want to work together with you so you will be full of joy as you stand firm in your faith.

FAITH
Faith in Christ is the activity of living a Christian life.  It is not an empty thought or a thoughtless activity; it is focused on and following Jesus moment by moment.  When we believe in Jesus we live like it.

Jan 11        II Corinthians 2:1
So I said to myself, “No, I won’t do it. I won’t make them unhappy with another painful visit.”  For if I cause you pain and make you sad, who is going to make me glad?  That is why I wrote as I did in my last letter, so that when I do come, I will not be made sad by the very ones who ought to give me the greatest joy. Surely you know that my happiness depends on your happiness.  How painful it was to write that letter! Heartbroken, I cried over it. I didn’t want to hurt you, but I wanted you to know how very much I love you.

GIVING
We give of our self to Christ.  I must willingly bend the knee to Jesus and listen to Him as He gives me wisdom and guidance for living.  When I give of myself to Jesus it becomes normal for me to give to others.  Christ loves each one of us.  We are His partners together in bringing the Good News to the World.

Jan 12        II Corinthians 2:5-11
I am not overstating it when I say that the man who caused all the trouble hurt your entire church more than he hurt me.  He was punished enough when most of you were united in your judgment against him.  Now it is time to forgive him and comfort him. Otherwise he may become so discouraged that he won’t be able to recover. 8 Now show him that you still love him.  I wrote to you as I did to find out how far you would go in obeying me.  When you forgive this man, I forgive him, too. And when I forgive him (for whatever is to be forgiven), I do so with Christ’s authority for your benefit, so that Satan will not outsmart us. For we are very familiar with his evil schemes.

WORLD
Call it what you will, the world is against the cause of Christ.  Satan will do everything in his power to throw you off track.  Today the greatest problem for those in the ministry is discouragement.  We can do two things.  First, when we are discouraged, go to Jesus and ask Him to encourage us and to help us stand in the face of assault.  Second we can make sure that we are encouragers.

Jan 13        II Corinthians 2:12-14
Well, when I came to the city of Troas to preach the Good News of Christ, the Lord gave me tremendous opportunities.  But I couldn’t rest because my dear brother Titus hadn’t yet arrived with a report from you. So I said good-bye and went on to Macedonia to find him.  But thanks be to God, who made us his captives and leads us along in Christ’s triumphal procession.  Now wherever we go he uses us to tell others about the Lord and to spread the Good News like a sweet perfume.

AROMA
We can be a force for good if we let Jesus lead us.  When we are filled with Jesus everything we do is different.  We talk differently.  Our attitude is different.  Our mind and heart are different.  We respond to the world as a child of Christ.

Jan 14        II Corinthians 2:15-17
Our lives are a fragrance presented by Christ to God. But this fragrance is perceived differently by those being saved and by those perishing.  To those who are perishing we are a fearful smell of death and doom. But to those who are being saved we are a life-giving perfume. And who is adequate for such a task as this?  You see, we are not like those hucksters – and there are many of them – who preach just to make money. We preach God’s message with sincerity and with Christ’s authority. And we know that the God who sent us is watching us.

LIFE
We live our life in the presence of the Lord.  He is the audience.  What we do we do for Him.  This is a critical element in a daily Christian walk.  Not a works salvation but a salvation that equips us and enables us to serve.  Jesus is Lord and if we will surrender ourselves to Him He will be Lord of our life.

Jan 15        II Corinthians 3:1-2
Are we beginning again to tell you how good we are? Some people need to bring letters of recommendation with them or ask you to write letters of recommendation for them.  But the only letter of recommendation we need is you yourselves! Your lives are a letter written in our hearts, and everyone can read it and recognize our good work among you.

LIFE
We do want to do good things and we do want to be recognized as valuable.  We must remember that our life is changed by our focus on Jesus and doing what He says.  Christ changes us.  Others know it and see it.  Jesus is the foundation and facilitator of our Christian life.

Jan 16        II Corinthians 3:3-4
Clearly, you are a letter from Christ prepared by us. It is written not with pen and ink, but with the Spirit of the living God. It is carved not on stone, but on human hearts.  We are confident of all this because of our great trust in God through Christ.

KNOWING
When we know Jesus we know the Father.  We have a new heart and a new life.  Change becomes part of our daily existence.  My life is no longer controlled by me but by Jesus.  I study His Word and let His Word grow in me so that I know Him better.

Jan 17        II Corinthians 3:5
It is not that we think we can do anything of lasting value by ourselves. Our only power and success come from God.

JESUS
The Christian life is all about Jesus.  It isn’t about me and what I can do.  It is about Jesus and what He has done and is doing.  A surrendered life is a life of activity.  This activity is directed by the Lord in an atmosphere of peace and joy.  Jesus is Lord.

Jan 18        II Corinthians 3:6
He is the one who has enabled us to represent his new covenant. This is a covenant, not of written laws, but of the Spirit. The old way ends in death; in the new way, the Holy Spirit gives life.

LIFE
Our new Life in Christ is given freely as a gift by the Father through the Holy Spirit.  We are new creatures in Christ.  The Holy Spirit resides in us equipping us with a spirit filled life.  Jesus is Lord and we can build by His strength a strong daily Christian walk.  Not because of what we do but because of what Jesus did and is now doing in us.

Jan 19        II Corinthians 3:7
That old system of law etched in stone led to death, yet it began with such glory that the people of Israel could not bear to look at Moses’ face. For his face shone with the glory of God, even though the brightness was already fading away.

WORKS
People understand works.  We can select the things we do and deny the things we disdain and still rate ourselves pretty good.  Look what I did is the human cry.  There is nothing in us that commends us to God.  Jesus died on the cross to pay the price for our sin because we couldn’t pay it ourselves.  Salvation is a gift-the free gift of God.  The ground at the cross is level; every one of us comes into the family of God the same way-through Jesus.

Jan 20        II Corinthians 3:8-11
Shouldn’t we expect far greater glory when the Holy Spirit is giving life?  If the old covenant, which brings condemnation, was glorious, how much more glorious is the new covenant, which makes us right with God!  In fact, that first glory was not glorious at all compared with the overwhelming glory of the new covenant.  So if the old covenant, which has been set aside, was full of glory, then the new covenant, which remains forever, has far greater glory.

JESUS
A life in Christ is forever.  It is beyond our ability to comprehend forever but that doesn’t change the fact that Jesus saves us for today, tomorrow and forever.  We can greet every problem with the fact that it will not last but we will.

Jan 21        II Corinthians 3:12-14
Since this new covenant gives us such confidence, we can be very bold.  We are not like Moses, who put a veil over his face so the people of Israel would not see the glory fading away.  But the people’s minds were hardened, and even to this day whenever the old covenant is being read, a veil covers their minds so they cannot understand the truth. And this veil can be removed only by believing in Christ.

JESUS
Jesus gives us wisdom, mercy and grace so that we can live each day with confidence.  Jesus takes away all of our sorrow and comforts us when we are overwhelmed by the world.

Jan 22        II Corinthians 3:15-18
Yes, even today when they read Moses’ writings, their hearts are covered with that veil, and they do not understand.  But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, then the veil is taken away.  Now, the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, he gives freedom.  And all of us have had that veil removed so that we can be mirrors that brightly reflect the glory of the Lord. And as the Spirit of the Lord works within us, we become more and more like him and reflect his glory even more.

JESUS
Jesus is the author and finisher of our faith.  We spend time with Him.  We let Him mold and shape us.  We study the Word to know Jesus better.  The result of spending time with Jesus is that we become like Him.  His likeness will show through us in the way we live and the things we do.

Jan 23        II Corinthians 4:1-2
And so, since God in his mercy has given us this wonderful ministry, we never give up.  We reject all shameful and underhanded methods. We do not try to trick anyone, and we do not distort the word of God. We tell the truth before God, and all who are honest know that.

WORLD
The world uses trickery.  We are called to open, honest and kind.  We don’t use half-truths or subterfuge to bilk others.  We represent Jesus.  When we deal with others we are to treat them as Jesus would treat them.  Jesus loves each one of us as if there were no other and expects us to do the same.

Jan 24        II Corinthians 4:3-4
If the Good News we preach is veiled from anyone, it is a sign that they are perishing.  Satan, the god of this evil world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe, so they are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News that is shining upon them. They don’t understand the message we preach about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God.

TESTIMONY
We represent Jesus.  We represent Jesus to everyone we meet.  Not everyone will understand or listen to us.  We are not to judge, force or criticize others.  We are to be the light of Christ to the world.  This is hard sometimes.  Someone we really love may refuse to acknowledge Jesus as Lord or they may even criticize us.  We are still called to share Christ by word and deed.  Be about the business of the kingdom-sharing Christ with a lost world.

Jan 25        II Corinthians 4:5
We don’t go around preaching about ourselves; we preach Christ Jesus, the Lord. All we say about ourselves is that we are your servants because of what Jesus has done for us.  For God, who said, “Let there be light in the darkness,” has made us understand that this light is the brightness of the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ.

JESUS
We need to speak and live in such a way that we honor and glorify Jesus.  Remember that God is love.  Our love and faithfulness to Jesus will fill us with love for others so that we mirror Christ in all we do.  People count with Jesus and they must count with us.

Jan 26        II Corinthians 4:7
But this precious treasure – this light and power that now shine within us – is held in perishable containers, that is, in our weak bodies. So everyone can see that our glorious power is from God and is not our own.

GOSPEL
Jesus is strong when we are weak.  We focus our life on Christ and live as His servant before a watching world.  It is never do as I say but instead it is always how may I serve you?  We are servants and not overseers.

Jan 27        II Corinthians 4:8-9
We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed and broken. We are perplexed, but we don’t give up and quit.  We are hunted down, but God never abandons us. We get knocked down, but we get up again and keep going.

ETERNAL
We are eternal creatures in Christ.  We are sojourners in this world just passing through.  The world will abuse us but Jesus is always with us.  We may be at the end of our rope but Jesus will be holding on to us.  His power is perfected in our weakness.  Jesus never wastes hurt.  We are never out of His sight or out of His hand.

Jan 28        II Corinthians 4:10-11
Through suffering, these bodies of ours constantly share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies.  Yes, we live under constant danger of death because we serve Jesus, so that the life of Jesus will be obvious in our dying bodies.

OVERCOME
We shall indeed overcome.  Nothing in this world can destroy us.  Jesus will be with us forever.  Our home is in heaven where we have a house not made with hands that is ready for us upon our arrival.  Our day of death will be a day of homecoming with the Lord.  Rejoice, whatever the world means for our harm will be overcome by Jesus.  He is alive and well and lives in those of us that claim Him as Lord and Savior.  He lives.

Jan 29        II Corinthians 4:12-13
So we live in the face of death, but it has resulted in eternal life for you.  But we continue to preach because we have the same kind of faith the psalmist had when he said, “I believed in God, and so I speak.”

FAITH
Faith is a focus on Jesus and a life that exemplifies that focus.  We are not blown about by every wind of life but instead are steadied by the Creator of life.  Jesus is worthy of all of our attention.  Faith isn’t a thought nor is it something we summon up, it is an activity with Jesus as its source.

Jan 30        II Corinthians 4:14-15
We know that the same God who raised our Lord Jesus will also raise us with Jesus and present us to himself along with you.  All of these things are for your benefit. And as God’s grace brings more and more people to Christ, there will be great thanksgiving, and God will receive more and more glory.

FAITH
We believe in the resurrection because of the Spirit within us that testifies to the truth of the Word of God.  We live with faith in Jesus because we know Him.  His presence is a now presence.  We know Him now and His strength is for now.  Do not fear for we live in the presence of the Lord.

Jan 31        II Corinthians 4:16
That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day.  For our present troubles are quite small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us an immeasurably great glory that will last forever!  So we don’t look at the troubles we can see right now; rather, we look forward to what we have not yet seen. For the troubles we see will soon be over, but the joys to come will last forever.

ETERNITY
Day by day we trust Jesus for the moment.  Day by day we face the trials and tribulations of life.  Day by day we can know for sure that Jesus has made   provision for us for eternity because we know Him.  His Word bears testimony of His Lordship and the Spirit bears testimony in our spirit that this is true.  As we get to know Jesus this truth blossoms within our heart and we know Him better.  One day we will be with Jesus for eternity.

12/01          John 12:1-2
Six days before the Passover ceremonies began, Jesus arrived in Bethany, the home of Lazarus the man he had raised from the dead.  A dinner was prepared in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, and Lazarus sat at the table with him.

MIRACLES
Miracles happen and then life goes on.  You and I are called to live our lives daily with the understanding that the Lord is in control and He has a plan for our life.  Sometimes things we cannot understand happen.  This we can know for sure Jesus loves each one of us and is seeking the best for our life.

12/02          John 12:3
Then Mary took a twelve-ounce jar of expensive perfume made from essence of nard, and she anointed Jesus’ feet with it and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with fragrance.

FOCUS
This is real focus.  The best that Mary had was focused on Jesus.  The question for you and me: are we focusing the best we have on Jesus?  Do we give Him our all?  Check the quality and quantity of your experience with Jesus.

12/03          John 12:4-8
But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples the one who would betray him   said,  “That perfume was worth a small fortune.  It should have been sold and the money given to the poor.”  Not that he cared for the poor he was a thief who was in charge of the disciples’ funds, and he often took some for his own use.  Jesus replied, “Leave her alone. She did it in preparation for my burial.  You will always have the poor among you, but I will not be here with you much longer.”

TRUTH

We cannot fool Jesus.  We can fool ourselves.  Why are we doing what we are doing?  Are we following God’s plan or fooling ourselves?  Jesus is Lord.  We are called to give Him our life.  We are called to give Him our service.
12/04          John 12:9-11
When all the people  heard of Jesus’ arrival, they flocked to see him and also to see Lazarus, the man Jesus had raised from the dead.  Then the leading priests decided to kill Lazarus, too, for it was because of him that many of the people had deserted them and believed in Jesus.

MIRACLES

The Lord has worked in all of our lives.  He has worked miracles in our lives whether we are aware of them or not.  One of the things we can do that will help us as we serve Jesus is to keep a written prayer journal.  We can list in our prayer journal specific answers to prayers and anytime the Lord reveals to us a miracle in our life.  Later when times are tough that written record becomes a Lazarus that will impact our life.  God is at work in us even when we don’t realize it.

12/05          John 12:12-13
The next day, the news that Jesus was on the way to Jerusalem swept through the city. A huge crowd of Passover visitors took palm branches and went down the road to meet him. They shouted, “Praise God!  Bless the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Hail to the King of Israel!”

PRAISE
Jesus is worthy of all of our praise.  Jesus is present now and is worthy of all praise and honor and glory.  When you meet Him in your morning devotional remember that you are meeting the Lord of glory and simply begin by praising Him.

12/06          John 12:14-15
Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, fulfilling the prophecy that said: “Don’t be afraid, people of Israel.  Look, your King is coming, sitting on a donkey’s colt.”

PROPHECY
Prophecy is foretelling the future.  This is a promise fulfilled.  Prophecy is also forth telling proclaiming the truth before our eyes.  Jesus is the truth, the way and the life.  He is our guide and our Lord.  Look your King is coming!

12/07          John 12:16
His disciples didn’t realize at the time that this was a fulfillment of prophecy. But after Jesus entered into his glory, they remembered that these Scriptures had come true before their eyes.

TIMES
We are living during one of the most exciting times in history.  Today we can see so many of the ancient Biblical prophecies fulfilled and in some cases begin fulfilled before our very eyes.  Rejoice in the day.  You count, Jesus is alive and we are partners together with Him in His plan for mankind.

12/08          John 12:17-18
Those in the crowd who had seen Jesus call Lazarus back to life were telling others all about it. That was the main reason so many went out to meet him because they had heard about this mighty miracle.

TELL
These folks were telling others about a miracle they had witnessed.  The witness we have for others is not what they should do but what we have done.  Dry and dying churches have removed the power of God from their midst.  Impotent Christian witness is simply a matter of not telling others what Jesus is doing in your life.  Let Him have control and He will use you.

12/09          John 12:19
Then the Pharisees said to each other, “We’ve lost. Look, the whole world has gone after him!”

WORLD
The world and everything that is clinging to this world is dead.  The world will never follow Jesus.  Don’t worry what the world will do.  Focus on what the Lord is doing in your life.  Submit every aspect of your life to Him and let Him give you direction for your life.  You are loved.

12/10          John 12:20-21
Some Greeks who had come to Jerusalem to attend the Passover paid a visit to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee. They said, “Sir, we want to meet Jesus.”

JESUS
We are called to be salt and light.  Our lives and our words should cause the world to want to know what is different about us.  Why do we live a peaceful life that isn’t falling apart like the rest of the world or when our life is falling apart why are we able to recover so quickly?  Jesus is the reason.  He lives in us to strengthen us and to partner with us in sharing the Good News with everyone we meet.

12/11          John 12:22-24
Philip told Andrew about it, and they went together to ask Jesus.  Jesus replied, “The time has come for the Son of Man to enter into his glory.  The truth is, a kernel of wheat must be planted in the soil. Unless it dies it will be alone a single seed. But its death will produce many new kernels a plentiful harvest of new lives.

LIFE
Jesus brings us life.  He enables us to live an abundant life right where we are.  We belong to Him and He belongs to us.  His life in us equips us to truly be ourselves and be glad about it.  We count and Jesus enables us to see that.

12/12          John 12:25
Those who love their life in this world will lose it. Those who despise their life in this world will keep it for eternal life.

SOJOURNERS
Sojourners know they are just passing through.  We have one life and one opportunity to live that life and then we go to be with the Father for eternity.  This world is not our home and the things of this world are not the things that equip us for eternity.  As children of God we are committed to eternal things.  Rejoice, Jesus is alive and lives in us.

12/13          John 12:26
All those who want to be my disciples must come and follow me, because my servants must be where I am. And if they follow me, the Father will honor them.

SURRENDER
When we give our life to Jesus it is for life and into eternity.  Here on earth we spend time with Him to cultivate our spiritual surrender to the Father.  It takes time, lots of time for us to grow into Christ likeness.  It takes time with Jesus for us to deal with our daily life and our deep seated habits that separate us from spending time with the Lord.  Start now and joyously become His disciple.

12/14          John 12:27-28
Now my soul is deeply troubled. Should I pray, ‘Father, save me from what lies ahead’? But that is the very reason why I came!  Father, bring glory to your name.”Then a voice spoke from heaven, saying, “I have already brought it glory, and I will do it again.”

DEVOTION
Jesus was fully devoted to the Father.  His example is worthy of my attention.  I am to be devoted to the will of the Father.  I can only find that will in surrender.  God is not waiting on my okay, He is seeking my surrender.  Help me Lord to bend my knee daily to you and let you have control of me.

12/15          John 12:29-32
When the crowd heard the voice, some thought it was thunder, while others declared an angel had spoken to him.  Then Jesus told them, “The voice was for your benefit, not mine.  The time of judgment for the world has come, when the prince of this world will be cast out.  And when I am lifted up on the cross, I will draw everyone to myself.”

FORTH-TELLING
Jesus tells us the truth.  He is what we need and who we need.  In Jesus my life has meaning and worth.  In Christ we are partners together with Him in telling the world the Good News-God loves you and has a plan for your life.

12/16          John 12:33-34
He said this to indicate how he was going to die.  “Die?” asked the crowd. “We understood from Scripture that the Messiah would live forever. Why are you saying the Son of Man will die? Who is this Son of Man you are talking about?”

TRUTH
The world is invested in things that are perishing.  In Christ we are invested in things that are eternal.  Christ died for you and me and paid the price for our reconciliation with the Father.

12/17          John 12:35
Jesus replied, “My light will shine out for you just a little while longer. Walk in it while you can, so you will not stumble when the darkness falls. If you walk in the darkness, you cannot see where you are going.

SPIRITUAL
This world is not our home but it will gladly blind us.  The wisdom of this world will not get you through the next crisis or opportunity.  Spiritual wisdom comes from Jesus.  If we are interested in spiritual wisdom we will ask Him.  He will give us the wisdom we need to accomplish the plan the Lord has for our life for today.

12/18          John 12:36
Believe in the light while there is still time; then you will become children of the light.” After saying these things, Jesus went away and was hidden from them.

LIGHT
Today is the day of salvation.  Today is the only opportunity we have to proclaim the Good News.  Do not lose the opportunity to serve, rejoice, proclaim and claim Christ as Lord.

12/19          John 12:37-40
But despite all the miraculous signs he had done, most of the people did not believe in him.  This is exactly what Isaiah the prophet had predicted: “Lord, who has believed our message? To whom will the Lord reveal his saving power?”  But the people couldn’t believe, for as Isaiah also said,  “The Lord has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts so their eyes cannot see, and their hearts cannot understand, and they cannot turn to me and let me heal them.”

LIGHT
Jesus is the light and He brings light to us.  Spiritual wisdom is critical for us to follow the Lord.  His light will bring spiritual wisdom to us if we will ask Him and believe that He will give us what we need.

12/20          John 12:41
Isaiah was referring to Jesus when he made this prediction, because he was given a vision of the Messiah’s glory.

FULFILLED
Jesus fulfilled all of the prophecies about the Messiah in the Bible.  He is here and lives in each one of us that have asked Him to save us.  We live our lives with confidence because we know the Eternal One and He has given eternal life to us.  Rejoice and do not fear.  We are part of the family of God.

12/21          Luke 2:1-4
At that time the Roman emperor, Augustus, decreed that a census should be taken throughout the Roman Empire.  (This was the first census taken when Quirinius was governor of Syria.)  All returned to their own towns to register for this census.  And because Joseph was a descendant of King David, he had to go to Bethlehem in Judea, David’s ancient home. He traveled there from the village of Nazareth in Galilee.

CHRISTMAS
Christmas is a celebration of the worth and value that the Lord gives us.  He came to us in the flesh.  He came for us because we could not solve our sin problem.  The Romans were in charge of the world but the Lord is in charge of all things.  He is Lord.

12/22          Luke 2:5
He took with him Mary, his fiancé, who was obviously pregnant by this time.

FACTS
This is a fact.  It is not a negative fact, just a fact.  But this fact is also a divine fact because it was prophesied in the Old Testament and fulfilled by the will of God.  He is not at the mercy of the world.  The Father is in control, has a plan for our life and will use us if we will let Him.

12/23          Luke 2:6-7
And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born.  She gave birth to her first child, a son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the village inn.

BIRTH
The birth of Jesus was not a condemnation of the people of Bethlehem.  It is in fact a celebration of the coming of God to man in a way that we can understand.  Any one of us could have experienced this kind of birth.  Any one of us could be at what appears to be the mercy of the world.  The difference is that when we have Jesus we have everything we need.

12/24          Luke 2:8-14
That night some shepherds were in the fields outside the village, guarding their flocks of sheep.  Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terribly frightened, but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news of great joy for everyone!  The Savior yes, the Messiah, the Lord has been born tonight in Bethlehem, the city of David!  And this is how you will recognize him: You will find a baby lying in a manger, wrapped snugly in strips of cloth!”  Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others the armies of heaven praising God:  “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to all whom God favors.”

FAVOR
We have favor with the Lord.  He is waiting to hear from us.  When you stop and pray you can have confidence that the Lord is listening.  Remember whenever it gets tough you have favor with God.

12/25          Luke 2:15-20
When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Come on, let’s go to Bethlehem! Let’s see this wonderful thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”  They ran to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger.  Then the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child.  All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished, but Mary quietly treasured these things in her heart and thought about them often.  The shepherds went back to their fields and flocks, glorifying and praising God for what the angels had told them, and because they had seen the child, just as the angel had said.

JESUS
Jesus came for each one of us.  This is our story-THE LORD HAS COME.

12/26          John 12:42-43
Many people, including some of the Jewish leaders, believed in him. But they wouldn’t admit it to anyone because of their fear that the Pharisees would expel them from the synagogue.  For they loved human praise more than the praise of God.

COURAGE
Do not fear.  Jesus has changed everything.  He has brought us favor with the Lord and He brings us light and life for living.  We believe in Jesus and we do not fear men.

12/27          John 12:44
Jesus shouted to the crowds, “If you trust me, you are really trusting God who sent me.

TRUST
Trust is a choice.  It is a choice that we make in the moment.  I can trust Jesus and every time I trust Him it is easier the next time to trust Him.  It is important that we know that trust is a like a staircase, we must start at the beginning to get to the top.  Trust Jesus in everything and you will succeed as you seek to live a life of trust.

12/28          John12:45
For when you see me, you are seeing the one who sent me.

GOD
Jesus is God.  He is God come to man so that we can understand His great love for us and that He is in this together with us.  We are not alone.  We belong to Jesus and He is here with us.

12/29          John 12:46
I have come as a light to shine in this dark world, so that all who put their trust in me will no longer remain in the darkness.

WALK
Walk in the light.  When you walk in the light of Jesus each day will be a day of discovery and growth.  The choices we make each moment and each day make the difference in the kind of life that we will live.  Claim Christ and serve Him.

12/30          John 12:47-48
If anyone hears me and doesn’t obey me, I am not his judge for I have come to save the world and not to judge it.  But all who reject me and my message will be judged at the Day of Judgment by the truth I have spoken.

JUDGMENT
Judgment is coming and it will come upon the ungodly.  Do not worry about those who are evil.  Do not worry about those that refuse to accept Christ.  All we must do is tell them and remember them.  Each person has to make up their own mind about Jesus.

12/31          John 12:49-50
I don’t speak on my own authority. The Father who sent me gave me his own instructions as to what I should say.  And I know his instructions lead to eternal life; so I say whatever the Father tells me to say!”

TRUST
We go to the Lord and He hears us.  This is significant as we pray and fellowship with Jesus.  Our confidence grows day by day because we know He listens to us.  This is also true, if I ask Him for wisdom, mercy, grace and understanding He will give it to me.  Time with Jesus equips me to act like Jesus and to know how to respond like Jesus would respond.

11/01          John 11:1-4
A man named Lazarus was sick. He lived in Bethany with his sisters, Mary and Martha.  This is the Mary who poured the expensive perfume on the Lord’s feet and wiped them with her hair.  Her brother, Lazarus, was sick.  So the two sisters sent a message to Jesus telling him, “Lord, the one you love is very sick.”  But when Jesus heard about it he said, “Lazarus’s sickness will not end in death. No, it is for the glory of God. I, the Son of God, will receive glory from this.”

GLORY
God’s glory is beautiful.  It is worthy of our commitment and is a significant part of our worship.  Jesus presents the consummate act of a loving God-life.  Jesus loves this family dearly.  Jesus has their best interest at heart and is wholly committed to serving the Father.  Jesus loves you and even when it looks otherwise to the human mind He always has our best interests at heart.

11/02          John 11:5-6
Although Jesus loved Martha, Mary, and Lazarus, he stayed where he was for the next two days and did not go to them.

TIME
God is always on time.  His love and protection of us is always timely.  Do not fear, your life is dear to Jesus.  Do not feel left out, the Lord has you on His heart this very moment.

11/03          John 11:7-10
Finally after two days, he said to his disciples, “Let’s go to Judea again.”  But his disciples objected. “Teacher,” they said, “only a few days ago the Jewish leaders in Judea were trying to kill you. Are you going there again?”  Jesus replied, “There are twelve hours of daylight every day. As long as it is light, people can walk safely. They can see because they have the light of this world.  Only at night is there danger of stumbling because there is no light.”

LIGHT
Jesus is the light of the world.  He brings to us the ability to see clearly where we are going and what we should do.  Jesus is Lord and He is Lord of life.  Give Him your life and He will give you back real life and light for living.

11/04          John 11:11-15
Then he said, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but now I will go and wake him up.”  The disciples said, “Lord, if he is sleeping, that means he is getting better!”  They thought Jesus meant Lazarus was having a good night’s rest, but Jesus meant Lazarus had died.  Then he told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead.  And for your sake, I am glad I wasn’t there, because this will give you another opportunity to believe in me. Come, let’s go see him.”

LIFE
Think about your life.  What was it like before Jesus?  How many times I’ve praised the Lord for the life He has given me and tremendous change He has made in the way I see life now.  Before Jesus was in our heart we were dead in our trespasses.  When Jesus came into our heart we had real life in Christ.

11/05          John 11:16
Thomas, nicknamed the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, “Let’s go, too and die with Jesus.”

DEATH
Thomas was a disciple with a weak faith but even Thomas was ready to die with Jesus.  They thought that because of the extreme hatred for Jesus that surely they would stone Jesus and the disciples should go with Him and die with Him.  Yes, many of us would readily die for Christ, but few are willing to live for Him.  The great commandment, love the Lord with all your heart has a corollary that is love your neighbor as yourself.  If we are to live for Jesus we must learn to love one another.  Think about the person who is the most troubling in your life.  Love that person.

11/06          John 11:17-22
When Jesus arrived at Bethany, he was told that Lazarus had already been in his grave for four days.  Bethany was only a few miles down the road from Jerusalem, and many of the people had come to pay their respects and console Martha and Mary on their loss. When Martha got word that Jesus was coming, she went to meet him. But Mary stayed at home.  Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.  But even now I know that God will give you whatever you ask.”

KNOWLEDGE
I do not have full knowledge.  Neither do you.  What happens in our lives is often a surprise.  Jesus is never surprised.  Jesus is preparing us each day to face the challenges and opportunities of that day.  Spend time with Jesus with the complete confidence that He is preparing you for the day.

11/07          John 11:23
Jesus told her, “Your brother will rise again.”

ETERNITY
We do not comprehend eternity.  It is impossible for the finite to understand the infinite.  It was beyond Martha’s ability to conceive of what Jesus was preparing to do but she did trust Jesus.  We don’t know what the future will bring but we do know that Jesus will be there with us.

11/08          John 11:24-25
“Yes,” Martha said, “when everyone else rises, on resurrection day.” Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life.  Those who believe in me, even though they die like everyone else, will live again.

SOLUTION
Jesus is the solution to the obstacles you face this very moment.  Jesus is the abundant life.  He is the answer to life’s puzzle.  He is meaning and success.  We turn to Christ to deal with who we are and what we must do.  Our value and worth is in Him.

11/09           John 11:26-27
They are given eternal life for believing in me and will never perish. Do you believe this, Martha?”  “Yes, Lord,” she told him. “I have always believed you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one who has come into the world from God.”

BELIEF
For a Christian, belief is not a noun.  Belief is an action, it is the way I live my life.  In Christ I can come to grips with any obstacle that I face.  Jesus is the answer to life’s problems and He is the solution.  I need a solution to the impossibilities I face.  Jesus is that solution.

11/10          John 11:28-29
Then she left him and returned to Mary. She called Mary aside from the mourners and told her, “The Teacher is here and wants to see you.”  So Mary immediately went to him.

TROUBLE
When trouble comes my way I must turn to the Savior.  Jesus is the comforter.  He takes me by the hand and leads me from where I am to victory.  Jesus is the light and the life.  Know Him and spend time with Him and you will change.

11/11          John 11:30-31
Now Jesus had stayed outside the village, at the place where Martha met him.  When the people who were at the house trying to console Mary saw her leave so hastily, they assumed she was going to Lazarus’s grave to weep. So they followed her there.

SOLUTIONS
The crowd never brings a solution and they are always onlookers.  They have opinions but never the truth.  Jesus has the truth.  When we go to Him we are going to the only one who can reveal the truth to us.

11/12          John 11:32
When Mary arrived and saw Jesus, she fell down at his feet and said, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”

PAIN
Jesus loves you and me.  He would that we not be overwhelmed with pain and when we come to Him, believing in Him, we discover that He will deal with our pain.  Jesus holds us up and holds on to us.  Come to Him and He will lead you.

11/13          John 11:33
When Jesus saw her weeping and saw the other people wailing with her, he was moved with indignation and was deeply troubled.

LIGHT
The people did not believe in Jesus and it broke His heart at their hard hearts.  Darkness cannot bring light in fact it does not know the light.  Jesus is the light and in Him there is no darkness at all.  He knows the truth and wants us to know Him because He is the truth.  Their weeping and moaning was an indication of their inability to see the opportunity that Jesus offered.  To them He was just another teacher.  We know the truth and that truth is Jesus.  We are sojourners enroute to eternity.  Jesus equips us for that journey.

11/14          John 11:34-35
“Where have you put him?” he asked them. They told him, “Lord, come and see.”  Then Jesus wept.

DEATH
Death is a disgusting reality.  All of us face that reality.  All of us participate in that reality as it claims our family and friends.  Jesus mourned with them but He also mourned for them.  They saw no reality but death when life itself was with them.  We are valuable to Jesus and He brings life to each one of us.  Claim life in Christ.

11/15          John 11:36-38
The people who were standing nearby said, “See how much he loved him.”  But some said, “This man healed a blind man. Why couldn’t he keep Lazarus from dying?”  And again Jesus was deeply troubled. Then they came to the grave. It was a cave with a stone rolled across its entrance.

UNBELIEF
What have you done for me lately is the cry of the world.  The world doesn’t believe and writhes in pain and agony all of its days.  We believe and bend the knee to Jesus knowing that He has our best interests at heart and will do what is best for us.  We writhe in pain and the balm of life that Jesus brings to each believer provides healing.
11/16          John 11:39
“Roll the stone aside,” Jesus told them. But Martha, the dead man’s sister, said, “Lord, by now the smell will be terrible because he has been dead for four days.”

WISDOM
We just do not know what the future holds.  The idea that a person could rise from the dead, even though Jesus had already done this miracle before was foreign to Martha’s thinking.  Jesus is able to take the worst tragedy of our life and make it a blessing.  Do you believe that?  It is true and Jesus will do that for you.

11/17          John 11:40
Jesus responded, “Didn’t I tell you that you will see God’s glory if you believe?”

GLORY
Have you ever seen God’s glory?  His goodness is His glory.  Look at your life, at the impossible situations, at your need and when those were met you literally saw God’s glory at work in your life.  His glory is His work in our undeserving lives.  He loves us and it is His joy to shower His goodness upon us.

11/18          John 11:41-42
So they rolled the stone aside. Then Jesus looked up to heaven and said, “Father, thank you for hearing me.  You always hear me, but I said it out loud for the sake of all these people standing here, so they will believe you sent me.”

MIRACLES
Miracles are misunderstood, ill-defined and generally don’t change peoples’ minds.  You and I understand a miracle as the work of God interacting in our otherwise normal lives.  The Lord is constantly at work in our lives so from that perspective we are a constant miracle.  But the world ignores God and for it a miracle is something big and booming grabbing the attention of the world, like raising the dead.  Jesus knew this and also knew that believers would get the significance of raising Lazarus from the dead.  Jesus also knew that it was a work that the Lord could and would do.  So He did it.

11/19          John 11:43-44
Then Jesus shouted, “Lazarus, come out!”  And Lazarus came out, bound in graveclothes, his face wrapped in a headcloth. Jesus told them, “Unwrap him and let him go!”

ARISE
One early scholar said that if Jesus hadn’t used Lazarus’ name everyone in the area that had been buried would have risen.  He did use Lazarus’ name and Lazarus did rise from the dead.  This is no less of a miracle than the miracle of salvation.  God’s gift to you is a free gift of life in Christ.  Arise and serve.

11/20          John 11:45
Many of the people who were with Mary believed in Jesus when they saw this happen.

BELIEF
You can believe if you choose to believe.  We have a choice.  The world is trying to take that choice away from us but we still can choose to believe.  Do not let the whisper of the world, you are too bad, too poor, too rich, or any other too rob you of the opportunity to claim life in Christ or the victorious Christian life.  Our life is not made up of things it is composed entirely of Jesus.  He is life.

11/21          John 11:46
But some went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done.

CHOICES
We choose the kind of life we live.  It’s the little choices we make each day that make up where we wind up.  We can choose to lose by living like the world or we can choose to change and become more like Jesus.  Do the next right thing and you will choose to grow.

11/22          John 11:47-48
Then the leading priests and Pharisees called the high council together to discuss the situation. “What are we going to do?” they asked each other. “This man certainly performs many miraculous signs.  If we leave him alone, the whole nation will follow him, and then the Roman army will come and destroy both our Temple and our nation.”

KNOWLEDGE
Jesus didn’t live His life in a vacuum.  He adequately certified that He was the Son of God and the promised Messiah.  The people for whatever reason, greed, selfishness, arrogance and many other emotions, chose not to accept Him.  Instead they crucified Him on a cross.  His life and death was for me and you.  Today He has risen and is alive.  He is willing to accept us as part of His family.

11/23          John 11:49-52
And one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said, “How can you be so stupid?  Why should the whole nation be destroyed? Let this one man die for the people.”  This prophecy that Jesus should die for the entire nation came from Caiaphas in his position as high priest. He didn’t think of it himself; he was inspired to say it.  It was a prediction that Jesus’ death would be not for Israel only, but for the gathering together of all the children of God scattered around the world.

SALVATION
Salvation is God’s free gift to mankind.  Jesus willingly came and paid the price that we could not pay dying for our sin.  His death for our sin paid the price of our reconciliation with God, the Father.  This wondrous and miraculous gift is offered to you this very moment.  If you haven’t ever asked Jesus to forgive you of your sin ask Him now.  He will.  This is a great gift from God to mankind.

11/24          John 11:53-54
So from that time on the Jewish leaders began to plot Jesus’ death.  As a result, Jesus stopped his public ministry among the people and left Jerusalem. He went to a place near the wilderness, to the village of Ephraim, and stayed there with his disciples.

KNEW
Jesus knew He was going to die.  Jesus knew that it would be a horrible death that would deplete Him of everything and yet would give us all things.  Jesus knew the pain He would face and He willingly faced it for you and me.

11/25          John 11:55-56
It was now almost time for the celebration of Passover, and many people from the country arrived in Jerusalem several days early so they could go through the cleansing ceremony before the Passover began.  They wanted to see Jesus, and as they talked in the Temple, they asked each other, “What do you think? Will he come for the Passover?”

SAVIOR
No one saw what was about to happen.  Mankind is so lost, so blind in its trespasses and sin that we can never know what the Lord is about.  The world is not our home, our citizenship is in heaven.  We can trust the Lord and we can follow Him.  He knows what He is going to do and when He will do it.

11/26          John 11:57
Meanwhile, the leading priests and Pharisees had publicly announced that anyone seeing Jesus must report him immediately so they could arrest him.

SIN
The world is always seeking to destroy Christ.  Nothing has changed.  Sin is still sin.  We believe in Jesus and we follow Him.  The world only wants to destroy Him because it is always doing the work of its father, Satan.  Destruction is the world’s goal.  Evil is its foundation.

11/27          Psalm 23:1
The LORD is my shepherd; I have everything I need.

LISTEN
Jesus loves you.  You are the apple of His eye.  He gave His life for you and will live His life with you.  You and I need guidance and strength.  Jesus will give that to us and He will lead us through the darkness of life.  Jesus is our shepherd as we live our life moment by moment.

11/28          Psalm 23:2-3
He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams. He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name.

LIFE
Jesus equips me and each one of His family members for life.  He equips us to live our life abundantly.  He will nurture us and heal us from the failures and foibles of life.  He seeks fellowship with us and would that we walk in His way and with Him.  When we seek to follow Him He leads and guides us.  He is the path of life and the light on the path of life.

11/29          Psalm 23:4
Even when I walk through the dark valley of death,  I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me.

TODAY
Life can be scary.  Evil will be persistent.  Whatever we face Jesus is with us.  Death in this life has no hold on us for we are His children and the Lord will protect and keep us.  Death and destruction can destroy the body but not the soul.  Jesus is Lord and He is alive in you and me.

11/30          Psalm 23:5-6
You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies. You welcome me as a guest, anointing my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings.  Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the LORD forever.

ABUNDANCE
Jesus is all we need.  He hung the curtains of eternity and He created you and me.  He is life and light and there is no darkness in Him.  His Imperial Majesty, the Lord Jesus Christ is our protector, sustainer, enabler and friend and He gives us everything we need for life.  He has saved us unto eternity and He will not leave us.  He belongs to us and we belong to Him.

10/01          John 10:1
“I assure you, anyone who sneaks over the wall of a sheepfold, rather than going through the gate, must surely be a thief and a robber!

MY WAY
The struggle for you and for me is to do “it” God’s way.  The Lord has defined in the clearest way possible that Jesus is the only way to salvation.  His way is our way.  Today if you are struggling with your salvation, ask Jesus to save you.  He will and He promises us that if we will ask Him He will save us.  The world around us is always telling us that the way to the Father is through their way.  Jesus is the only way.

10/02          John 10:2
For a shepherd enters through the gate.

WICKEDNESS
Evil and wickedness are always working overtime seeking to fool those who are saved.  In addition the world is seeking to lead any and all astray as to how they can have a relationship with the Lord.  Asking a group of people on the street in a random survey you will always hear folks saying they hope, they don’t know or surely they will make it to heaven.  Jesus is the way and the only way.  Ask Him to save you and He will.  Surrender your life to Jesus.

10/03          John 10:3
The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep hear his voice and come to him. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.

JESUS
When you know Jesus you are not fooled by the world.  He is the real deal.  He lives in our heart and guides us in the way we should go.  Jesus will never leave us.  The more we know Him the more we love Him.  The more we love Him the better equipped we are to face the opportunities presented by the challenges we face each day.  Jesus is Lord.

10/04          John 10:4
After he has gathered his own flock, he walks ahead of them, and they follow him because they recognize his voice.

JESUS
Jesus said that we are to know Him.  We grow by spending time with Jesus and by reading God’s Word the Bible.  The more we know Him the quicker we are to come to grips with the challenges of our life.  We don’t look to others to define what the normal Christian life is.  We look to Jesus.  We have been marked by God and we belong to Him and He belongs to us.

10/05          John 10:5
They won’t follow a stranger; they will run from him because they don’t recognize his voice.”

ALERT
Satan is always seeking whom he might devour.  You and I are called to be on the alert to the schemes of the evil one.  Our spiritual leaders are to teach the Word and speak the truth.  Claim the promise of the Lord in being with us and spend time with Him.  He Holy Spirit will lead you in the paths of righteousness.

10/06          John 10:6-9
Those who heard Jesus use this illustration didn’t understand what he meant, so he explained it to them. “I assure you, I am the gate for the sheep,” he said.  “All others who came before me were thieves and robbers. But the true sheep did not listen to them.

GATE
Jesus is the gate to life.  We come to Him and live in Him all of the days of our life and when we pass over from this life to the next we will stand before Him.  Know the Lord.  Know His love and watchcare.  Know Him for He is worthy of all of our devotion.  Listen only to Him for there is no other way.

10/07          John 10:9-10
Yes, I am the gate. Those who come in through me will be saved. Wherever they go, they will find green pastures.  The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give life in all its fullness.

PURPOSE
What is your purpose in life?  Jesus is succinct and direct.  His purpose is to bring fullness to our life.  Jesus is God’s everything.  When we have Jesus we have what we need for life.  Take your troubles, cares and woes to Jesus and He will give you wisdom, mercy, grace and strength.

10/08          John 10:11
“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.

SHEEP
I act like a sheep.  So often I think I am doing so good and it is usually just before I plow off into a ditch.  Jesus gives us life and equips us to live a Holy life.  Focus your life on Him and give Him your all.  He will give back to you everything you need for an abundant life.

10/09          John 10:12-13
A hired hand will run when he sees a wolf coming. He will leave the sheep because they aren’t his and he isn’t their shepherd. And so the wolf attacks them and scatters the flock.  The hired hand runs away because he is merely hired and has no real concern for the sheep.

FEAR
Fear dominates the life of many people but we can live without fear.  Jesus has sacrificed himself for us and lives in us to give us the strength to stand in the face of fear.  We may not know that someone we are dealing with doesn’t have our best interest at heart.  We do know Jesus.  Jesus always loves and cares for us.  We can trust Him.

10/10          John 10:14-16
“I am the good shepherd; I know my own sheep, and they know me, just as my Father knows me and I know the Father. And I lay down my life for the sheep.  I have other sheep, too, that are not in this sheepfold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice; and there will be one flock with one shepherd.

ONE
There are no superstars in the family of God.  All of us come to the Lord the same we-through Jesus Christ.  My life counts.  I am valuable.  The plan the Lord has for my life is a good plan.  Joy comes from the Lord and He makes that joy available for me.

10/11          John 10:17
“The Father loves me because I lay down my life that I may have it back again.

JESUS
Jesus accepted the suffering and ignominy of the cross that we might have life.  He gave His life for me.  He knew my sin.  He knew my inclination to sin.  He knew my stiff-necked attitude to the spiritual life and still He gave Himself for me.  He did that for you too.  He had faith.  He lived a life of service to the Father so that you and me could become a member of the family of God.

10/12          John 10:18
No one can take my life from me. I lay down my life voluntarily. For I have the right to lay it down when I want to and also the power to take it again. For my Father has given me this command.”

JESUS
Jesus was a volunteer.  He was a part of the plan from before the beginning of anything that He would come and provide life for His creation-us.  God’s love is so amazing.  Christ came to show us the love of the Father in the flesh.  He walked among us to show us how to live.  He came to us to show us that He cares and that we are not at the mercy of the universe.  Jesus loves you and me.

10/13          John 10:19-21
When he said these things, the people were again divided in their opinions about him.   Some of them said, “He has a demon, or he’s crazy. Why listen to a man like that?”  Others said, “This doesn’t sound like a man possessed by a demon! Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?”

OPINION
God has an opinion of us.  He knows we are poor weak and blind yet He loves us.  Jesus knows that we cannot make it without Him yet He seeks us.  The Lord is here and is willing to accept the responsibility of guiding us every moment of every day.  Jesus is the only way.  Ask Jesus to lead, guide and direct your life today.

10/14          John 10:22-25
It was now winter, and Jesus was in Jerusalem at the time of Hanukkah. He was at the Temple, walking through the section known as Solomon’s Colonnade.  The Jewish leaders surrounded him and asked, “How long are you going to keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.”  Jesus replied, “I have already told you, and you don’t believe me. The proof is what I do in the name of my Father.

MESSIAH
Jesus is the Messiah and He has come.  He has come to us.  He has come to bring us into the family of God.  He is here.  He is available for you.  He will fix the problems that you are facing right now.

10/15          John 10:26-29
But you don’t believe me because you are not part of my flock.  My sheep recognize my voice; I know them, and they follow me.  I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them away from me, for my Father has given them to me, and he is more powerful than anyone else. So no one can take them from me.

ETERNAL
We are eternal creatures.  When we come into the family of God, Jesus holds on to us and He will not let us go.  Whatever you are struggling with, Jesus is struggling with it too.  He knows your need and wants to meet it.  Spend time with Him and let Him have all of you.  Spending time with Jesus takes time.  Read the Word of God.  Talk with the Lord.  Apply what you read and what the Lord says to you to your life.  Let Him lead you to live a Holy life.

10/16          John 10:30
The Father and I are one.”

JESUS
Jesus is Lord.  He is alive and powerful.  He resides in our heart.  Tragically too many people think they have been dealt a sub par life.  He gives us His power to deal with the life we have.  He equips us to be where we are.  Know the Lord.  Let Him have your heart and your focus and you will have what you need to live your abundant life.

10/17          John 10:31-33
Once again the Jewish leaders picked up stones to kill him.  Jesus said, “At my Father’s direction I have done many things to help the people. For which one of these good deeds are you killing me?”  They replied, “Not for any good work, but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, have made yourself God.”

UNBELIEF
It is easy not to believe Jesus.  We can’t see Him.  The world claims to know what to do and how to do it but the world is passing away.  Life is very short.  Life in this world is unfair.  But Jesus gives us the opportunity to claim a life that is extraordinary.  Life in Christ is life indeed.  In Christ we have a friend that is closer than a brother or sister.  He knows all about us and still loves us.  Surrender you life to Jesus and let Him give you real life in Christ.

10/18          John 10:34-36
Jesus replied, “It is written in your own law that God said to certain leaders of the people, ‘I say, you are gods!’   And you know that the Scriptures cannot be altered. So if those people, who received God’s message, were called ‘gods,’ why do you call it blasphemy when the Holy One who was sent into the world by the Father says, ‘I am the Son of God’?

WORD
The Word of God speaks to us.  It is alive and able to reveal the Lord Jesus to us.  When we have Jesus we have God.  The Lord is with us and He is seeking to give us life in the Father.  Claim the promises of God in His Word.  His promises come to us in Jesus.  More than 7,000 promises for the Lord to us in His Word and they are written to you and me so that we might know the Lord and how we should live.

10/19          John 10:37-42
Don’t believe me unless I carry out my Father’s work.  But if I do his work, believe in what I have done, even if you don’t believe me. Then you will realize that the Father is in me, and I am in the Father.”

Once again they tried to arrest him, but he got away and left them.  He went beyond the Jordan River to stay near the place where John was first baptizing.  And many followed him. “John didn’t do miracles,” they remarked to one another, “but all his predictions about this man have come true.”  And many believed in him there.

JESUS
Everything that the Word of God says about Jesus is true.  He loves us and is willing to save us.  Ask Him to give you life.  Ask Him to prepare you to live a Holy life.  The Lord is alive and He is able to give you and me life.

10/20          Psalm 125:1
Those who trust in the LORD are as secure as Mount Zion; they will not be defeated but will endure forever.

ETERNAL
The Lord speaks truth to us.  His truth is eternal.  His tells us that He has come to give us eternal life.  This is truth.  No longer are we in chains and bondage to this world we belong to Jesus.  We are secure and we live a victorious life.  If you have Jesus you have victory.  Claim your victory right now.  Jesus is Lord.

10/21          Psalm 125:2
Just as the mountains surround and protect Jerusalem, so the LORD surrounds and protects his people, both now and forever.

PROTECTION
Do not live in fear.  Take any fear and every fear that you have to the Lord.  Ask Him to deliver you from that fear.  He will heal you.  Today you will live in victory.  The world cannot punish you because Jesus is Lord.  He is alive and victorious.

10/22          Psalm 125:3
The wicked will not rule the godly, for then the godly might be forced to do wrong.

WICKED
The wicked look like they have everything in life.  Be careful and do not envy the wicked.  The Lord is in control and the fate of the wicked is in His hands.  Our fate is in His hands.  We are bought with a price and are precious to the Lord.

We belong to Him and He will never leave us.

10/23          Psalm 125:4-5
O LORD, do good to those who are good, whose hearts are in tune with you.  But banish those who turn to crooked ways, O LORD. Take them away with those who do evil. And let Israel have quietness and peace.

PEACE
Peace is a gift from the Lord.  We value peace and can have peace.  Ask the Lord for peace and He will give it to you.  His peace equips us to live in victory.  His peace enables us to see victory.  His peace is an integral part of an abundant life.

10/24          Psalm 126:1-2
When the LORD restored his exiles to Jerusalem, it was like a dream!  We were filled with laughter, and we sang for joy. And the other nations said, “What amazing things the LORD has done for them.”

VICTORY
Victory is available for each one of us.  We can have victory over the things that trip us up.  We can have victory over our messy life.  Victory is a promise that we can claim.  The Lord is here.  Life in Christ is victory.  You are not alone.  You are valuable and a valuable member of the family.  We are simply passing through this world and we can pass through in victory.  Give Jesus your life.  Give Jesus your obedience.  Jesus will give you His victory.

10/25          Psalm 126:3
Yes, the LORD has done amazing things for us! What joy!

LIFE
We are blessed.  We know Jesus the creator of life.  We are part of the family of God.  The Lord is intimately aware of every single problem we face.  Thank you Lord for your many actions of grace in my life and thank you for your intervention in correcting the foolish things I do.

10/26          Psalm 126:4-6
Restore our fortunes, LORD, as streams renew the desert.  Those who plant in tears will harvest with shouts of joy.  They weep as they go to plant their seed, but they sing as they return with the harvest.

LIFE
Maturity is a sought after quality.  The problem is that many people do not realize that maturity is developed by the testing of our character.  When we are put under pressure by various difficulties, we experience the activity of the Lord in our life as He changes this present difficulty to an outcome for good in our life.  As we bear up under pressure His intervention creates in us maturity of faith which in turn results in our lives being renewed and blessed.  Blessed be the Lord.

10/27          Psalm 127:1-2
Unless the LORD builds a house, the work of the builders is useless. Unless the LORD protects a city, guarding it with sentries will do no good.  It is useless for you to work so hard from early morning until late at night, anxiously working for food to eat; for God gives rest to his loved ones.

LIFE
Our life is not our own.  We have a mission and ministry fashioned by the hand of God.  We are called to live for Him and as Him in this world.  He is our example and He is our resolution.  Spend time with Jesus not worry.  Spend time appropriating God’s resources and not bemoaning your lack.  We have everything we need in Jesus.

10/28          Psalm 127:3-5
Children are a gift from the LORD; they are a reward from him.  Children born to a young man are like sharp arrows in a warrior’s hands.  How happy is the man whose quiver is full of them! He will not be put to shame when he confronts his accusers at the city gates.

GIFT
You may or may not have children.  Your Father, God, is a gift giver.  It makes the Lord happy to give gifts.  The Lord is seeking to give you gifts this very moment.  It may be the gift of life in Christ if you have never accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior.  It may be a gift of joy, or peace, or comfort or any one of a multitude of gifts that the Lord gives us so that we can live an abundant life.  What gift does the Father have for your today?

10/29          Psalm 128:1
How happy are those who fear the LORD all who follow his ways!

FEAR
In this particular instance, fear of the Lord literally means to respect, recognize, be aware of and to treat with seriousness.  If we take the Lord seriously we will follow His ways.  If we indeed fear Him we will serve Him.  The result of a close relationship is that we will appropriate an abundant life.  Fearing God will give us the strength that will enable us stand firm in the face of catastrophe and to not fear mankind.

10/30          Psalm 128:2-3
You will enjoy the fruit of your labor. How happy you will be! How rich your life! Your wife will be like a fruitful vine, flourishing within your home. And look at all those children! There they sit around your table as vigorous and healthy as young olive trees.

REJOICE
Our fear of God, service as His child, will create in us a joy and peace that is beyond our ability to produce.  We will recognize our value.  We will appropriate His strength.  Our hope will be renewed and life will be exciting and profitable.  We will be able to help others and encourage them.

10/31          Psalm 128:4-6
That is the LORD’s reward for those who fear him.  May the LORD continually bless you from Zion. May you see Jerusalem prosper as long as you live.  May you live to enjoy your grandchildren. And may Israel have quietness and peace.

ABUNDANCE
Abundance is never created by money.  Abundance is created by a close relationship with the Lord.  Abundance equips us to function as His children and stand in the face of any and all adversity.  When we walk with the Lord we are able to walk through the valley of the shadow of death without fear or failure.

09/01          Psalm 64:1-6
O God, listen to my complaint. Do not let my enemies’ threats overwhelm me.  Protect me from the plots of the wicked, from the scheming of those who do evil.  Sharp tongues are the swords they wield; bitter words are the arrows they aim.  They shoot from ambush at the innocent, attacking suddenly and fearlessly.  They encourage each other to do evil and plan how to set their traps. “Who will ever notice?” they ask.  As they plot their crimes, they say, “We have devised the perfect plan!” Yes, the human heart and mind are cunning.

EVIL
We live in a world overrun with evil and wickedness.  God is not surprised nor is He at a loss for how to handle evil and wickedness.  Be encouraged for the Lord has you on His heart this very moment.

09/02          Psalm 64:7-10
But God himself will shoot them down. Suddenly, his arrows will pierce them.  Their own words will be turned against them, destroying them. All who see it happening will shake their heads in scorn.  Then everyone will stand in awe, proclaiming the mighty acts of God, realizing all the amazing things he does.  The godly will rejoice in the LORD and find shelter in him. And those who do what is right will praise him.

JUSTICE
We do not have to worry about the world.  Our job is to magnify Jesus.  He is Lord and we live under His Lordship.  This momentary suffering will soon pass and we will be standing before the Lord and see Him face to face.  Eternity will eclipse any suffering or difficulty we have faced.  Hope in the Lord for He is able.

09/03 Mark 4:26-29
Jesus also said, “Here is another illustration of what the Kingdom of God is like: A farmer planted seeds in a field, and then he went on with his other activities. As the days went by, the seeds sprouted and grew without the farmer’s help, because the earth produces crops on its own. First a leaf blade pushes through, then the heads of wheat are formed, and finally the grain ripens. And as soon as the grain is ready, the farmer comes and harvests it with a sickle.”

PARTNERS
We are partners with Jesus. He is the Creator and Lord. We are share with others what He has done for us. Some listen and hear and there is new life. Others ignore our message. We are only the message bearers. It is the Holy Spirit that gives life. Share your message today.
09/04 Mark 4:30-32
Jesus asked, “How can I describe the Kingdom of God? What story should I use to illustrate it? It is like a tiny mustard seed. Though this is one of the smallest of seeds, it grows to become one of the largest of plants, with long branches where birds can come and find shelter.”

LISTEN
All around us is the message of the Jesus. Without Him nothing would exist. In Him all things exist. Do not fret over your life but instead get busy and make your life a monument to Him. Glory to God, Jesus is Lord.
09/05 Mark 4:33-34
He used many such stories and illustrations to teach the people as much as they were able to understand. In fact, in his public teaching he taught only with parables, but afterward when he was alone with his disciples, he explained the meaning to them.

GROWTH
You want to grow? Spend time with Jesus. He is the only one who can give us the spiritual nourishment we need for the normal Christian life. Have a question? Ask Jesus. Need help? Ask Jesus. He is our personal tutor for living.
09/06 Mark 4:35-38
As evening came, Jesus said to his disciples, “Let’s cross to the other side of the lake.” He was already in the boat, so they started out, leaving the crowds behind (although other boats followed). But soon a fierce storm arose. High waves began to break into the boat until it was nearly full of water. Jesus was sleeping at the back of the boat with his head on a cushion. Frantically they woke him up, shouting, “Teacher, don’t you even care that we are going to drown?”

SPIRITUALITY
Learning the facts of spiritual growth takes real life experiences. Pay attention to your daily opportunities for growth. What lesson is Jesus trying to teach you? Prayer, faith, forgiveness or is something you are asking Him to equip you to do? Pay attention because the storm you are in may have a significant truth for you to learn.

09/07          Mark 4:39
When he woke up, he rebuked the wind and said to the water, “Quiet down!” Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was a great calm.

MASTER
Jesus is the master of creation yet mankind can refuse to acknowledge His Lordship.  Today confess His Lordship over you.  Bend your knee and give Jesus control of your life and commit to serving Him.  Our death to sin brings resurrection to life.  Claim real life.

09/08          Mark 4:40-41
And he asked them, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still not have faith in me?”  And they were filled with awe and said among themselves, “Who is this man, that even the wind and waves obey him?”

FEAR
All around us are things to fear.  The future looms fearfully ahead.  Claim Jesus as your Lord and give Him your fear.  He will give you confidence, peace and joy.  Life is to be lived.  Jesus will give you real life and a real life to live.

09/09          Mark 5:1-6
So they arrived at the other side of the lake, in the land of the Gerasenes.  Just as Jesus was climbing from the boat, a man possessed by an evil spirit ran out from a cemetery to meet him.  This man lived among the tombs and could not be restrained, even with a chain.  Whenever he was put into chains and shackles as he often was he snapped the chains from his wrists and smashed the shackles. No one was strong enough to control him.  All day long and throughout the night, he would wander among the tombs and in the hills, screaming and hitting himself with stones.  When Jesus was still some distance away, the man saw him. He ran to meet Jesus and fell down before him.

WISDOM
Even demons were required to bow down and worship Jesus.  Mankind in his foolishness ignores Christ but these demons cannot.  Bend your knee and worship Jesus.  Get to know Him for He is Lord and Lord of all.

09/10          Mark 5:7
He gave a terrible scream, shrieking, “Why are you bothering me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? For God’s sake, don’t torture me!”

STRENGTH
The demons had no power before Jesus.  The demons seek to steal, kill and destroy.  Jesus came to heal and give life.  We are seeking life with abundance and joy.  When we submit to Jesus moment by moment, day by day we acquire the strength to claim life in all of its fullness.  Darkness has no hold over us for we are held by Jesus.

09/11          Mark 5:8
For Jesus had already said to the spirit, “Come out of the man, you evil spirit.”

HOLY SPIRIT
When the demons come out the Holy Spirit comes in.  When we give our life to Jesus the Holy Spirit resides in us.  We are called saints and we are because the Lord has cleansed us and the Holy Spirit resides in us.  You are strong in Jesus.

09/12          Mark 5:9
Then Jesus asked, “What is your name?” And the spirit replied, “Legion, because there are many of us here inside this man.”

CONTROL
The Lord is in control of all things.  The demons were in His control.  Jesus called them out and they had to go.  We can surrender control of our life to Jesus.  When we do He gives us a new heart and life.  The Holy Spirit lives in us and gives us the ability to have an eternal relationship with Jesus.  In Christ we know God.  Jesus gives us access to the Father.  No longer do we just read or hear about Jesus we know Him.

09/13          Mark 5:10-13
Then the spirits begged him again and again not to send them to some distant place.   There happened to be a large herd of pigs feeding on the hillside nearby.  “Send us into those pigs,” the evil spirits begged.  Jesus gave them permission. So the evil spirits came out of the man and entered the pigs, and the entire herd of two thousand pigs plunged down the steep hillside into the lake, where they drowned.

FRENZY
When we are left to our own designs without Jesus the same thing can happen to us.  People without Christ do terrible things.  Stop the frenzy in your life.  Claim Jesus as Lord and begin today to grow in Jesus.  Growth takes time in prayer and application of what we learn to what we do.  Begin your journey now.

09/14          Mark 5:14
The herdsmen fled to the nearby city and the surrounding countryside, spreading the news as they ran. Everyone rushed out to see for themselves.

RESPONSE
A miraculous work will astound the multitudes.  They did not come to see Jesus but instead came to see the miracle.  People are too often curious about the miraculous but cling to their self centeredness and refuse to acknowledge their need.  A miracle doesn’t save a person, only Jesus can save.  We must know Jesus as Lord to have salvation.  When we ask Christ to forgive our sin and save us that is Biblical Salvation.

09/15          Mark 5:15
A crowd soon gathered around Jesus, but they were frightened when they saw the man who had been demon possessed, for he was sitting there fully clothed and perfectly sane.

FEAR
People fear what they do not understand.  These people did not understand how the one who was so evil and bad could be in his right mind.  They did no worship Jesus.  They did not look beyond the man.  They just could not believe what had been for the demoniac.  We will never understand God’s love for us.  His love is something we accept.  God is thinking about you this very moment.  Let His love have control of you.

09/16          Mark 5:16-17
Those who had seen what happened to the man and to the pigs told everyone about it, and the crowd began pleading with Jesus to go away and leave them alone.

REALITY
The reality is that people love the world more than they love Jesus.  They can see and feel things.  People want to be in control and yet the very demand for control is the thing that creates the unease and fear that people live with all their lives.  Give up your demand for control and give control of your life to Jesus.  He will give you His confidence and direction for every moment of your life.

09/17          Mark 5:18-19
When Jesus got back into the boat, the man who had been demon possessed begged to go, too.  But Jesus said, “No, go home to your friends, and tell them what wonderful things the Lord has done for you and how merciful he has been.”

PROCLAMATION
We are to tell everyone about what Jesus has done for us.  Jesus is Lord and we are to proclaim it everywhere we go.  Our life is to reflect His Lordship.  Our minds and our hearts are to be focused on Him.  When we are under the control of Jesus we will act like Him.

09/18          Mark 5:20
So the man started off to visit the Ten Towns of that region and began to tell everyone about the great things Jesus had done for him; and everyone was amazed at what he told them.

PROCLAMATION
When we tell others what Jesus has done for us it will amaze them.  Some will believe what we say and be saved.  Many will not accept what we say and not believe.  We do not have to make them believe we only have to tell them.  Our life is the proof.

09/19          Mark 5:21-23
When Jesus went back across to the other side of the lake, a large crowd gathered around him on the shore.  A leader of the local synagogue, whose name was Jairus, came and fell down before him, pleading with him to heal his little daughter. “She is about to die,” he said in desperation. “Please come and place your hands on her; heal her so she can live.”

HUMILITY
A leader came to Jesus and in all humility bowed down to Jesus and begged Him to come and heal His daughter.  How do we claim a miracle?  We claim a miracle by approaching Christ directly, desperately and with determination.  Jesus today I need your work in my life.  I remove the distractions of life from my life and focus on Jesus.

09/20          Mark 5:24-26
Jesus went with him, and the crowd thronged behind.  And there was a woman in the crowd who had had a hemorrhage for twelve years.  She had suffered a great deal from many doctors through the years and had spent everything she had to pay them, but she had gotten no better. In fact, she was worse.

DETERMINATION
This woman was determined that Jesus could heal her problem.  She knew that if she could just get Jesus she could find what she had been searching for all these years.  We know what we are looking for and need to take it to Jesus.  Jesus will listen to our great need and will meet us where we are to take us to where we need to go.

09/21          Mark 5:27-28
She had heard about Jesus, so she came up behind him through the crowd and touched the fringe of his robe.  For she thought to herself, “If I can just touch his clothing, I will be healed.”

FAITH
The woman claimed Jesus.  What are you struggling with today?  What great problem have you carried in your heart all of your life?  Jesus is alive and He is able to deal with the real difficulties and problems that we face in life.   Take that problem to Jesus and He will heal you.

09/22          Mark 5:29-30
Immediately the bleeding stopped, and she could feel that she had been healed!  Jesus realized at once that healing power had gone out from him, so he turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who touched my clothes?”

QUESTION
This miraculous healing by Jesus was a joy for Him and issued forth from His fullness.  He was desirous of knowing who had claimed this miracle so that they might fully know Him.  We never deplete the resources of Jesus.  We may come a thousand times to Him and yet His power is as effective the thousandth time as it was the first time.  You can reach out and touch Christ in prayer and Bible study and through obedience.  Claim His control of your life.

09/23          Mark 5:31-34
His disciples said to him, “All this crowd is pressing around you. How can you ask, ‘Who touched me?'”  But he kept on looking around to see who had done it.  Then the frightened woman, trembling at the realization of what had happened to her, came and fell at his feet and told him what she had done.  And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace. You have been healed.”

DECLARATION
Jesus came to save people.  He came that you and I might have life.  His declaration as we claim Him is love.  Jesus loves us.  Jesus is seeking our best good.  He has a plan for our life and that plan is good.  Claim your peace and joy this moment.  God loves you.

09/24          Mark 5:35
While he was still speaking to her, messengers arrived from Jairus’s home with the message, “Your daughter is dead. There’s no use troubling the Teacher now.”

WORLD
The world is always destructive.  The world only believes what it can control.  The world cannot control the spirit.  As much as it seeks to it just cannot control the spiritual realm.  Even when Jesus was performing miracles before their eyes they still didn’t believe.  You and I are a miracle.  Jesus has given us new life.  We have life in Christ.  This is the greatest miracle, His love for us.  I thank you Jesus for saving us and giving us new life.

09/25          Mark 5:36-37
But Jesus ignored their comments and said to Jairus, “Don’t be afraid. Just trust me.”  Then Jesus stopped the crowd and wouldn’t let anyone go with him except Peter and James and John.

EXPERTS
Jesus is the only “expert” on your life.  We are urged to read the Bible and spend time with Jesus because that is the only thing that will let us know what the Lord wants us to do.  Jesus is thinking about you this moment.  His concern is that you have an abundant life.  It takes faith, surrender and obedience for us to appropriate the abundant life that Jesus has for us.

09/26           Mark 5:38-39
When they came to the home of the synagogue leader, Jesus saw the commotion and the weeping and wailing.  He went inside and spoke to the people. “Why all this weeping and commotion?” he asked. “The child isn’t dead; she is only asleep.”

MIRACLES
I not an expert on miracles but I do know that Jesus can do anything and He is committed to us.  His life, death, burial, and resurrection bear testimony to the Lord Jesus.  He is totally committed to you and me and will do whatever it takes for us to accomplish the plan He has for our life.

09/27          Mark 5:40-43
The crowd laughed at him, but he told them all to go outside. Then he took the girl’s father and mother and his three disciples into the room where the girl was lying.  Holding her hand, he said to her, “Get up, little girl!”  And the girl, who was twelve years old, immediately stood up and walked around! Her parents were absolutely overwhelmed.  Jesus commanded them not to tell anyone what had happened, and he told them to give her something to eat.

MIRACLES
Miracles happen and they happen a lot more than we realize.  The intervention of the Lord in the world offering us eternal life in Christ is the greatest of all miracles.  I am often puzzled at “why me” when good things happen.  The answer is because Jesus loves us.  He would that each one of us know Him and be equipped to live the life that the Father created us to live.

09/28          1 Chronicles 4:10
He was the one who prayed to the God of Israel, “Oh, that you would bless me and extend my lands! Please be with me in all that I do, and keep me from all trouble and pain!” And God granted him his request.

PRAY
We are to pray.  We are to pray about our life as to what the Lord would have us do.  We are to pray as the Lord leads and with boldness as we seek His face.  Opportunity is all around us and we are to seize the moment and pray.

09/29          Psalm 25:18
Feel my pain and see my trouble. Forgive all my sins.

SIN
Sin is a serious subject.  It separates us from the Lord.  It causes us to do foolish and harmful things.  Ask the Lord to reveal your sin to you.  Ask forgiveness and strength to change.  Live life to the fullest and sin not.

09/30          Psalm 69:29
I am suffering and in pain. Rescue me, O God, by your saving power.

PAIN
Pain comes in physical and mental forms.  We need deliverance from both.  Be bold in praying for His way with you.  Be bold in declaring your need.  Remember those around you that need help but never forget that the Father loves you.  He will help you to deal with the pain in your life.  One reminder, sometimes pain is our friend because it causes us to change.  Take your pain to Jesus.

08/01                    Psalm 51:1
Have mercy on me, O God, because of your unfailing love. Because of your great compassion, blot out the stain of my sins.

SIN
Sin stains our hearts and our soul.  Jesus cleanses us where it counts.  He returns us into the presence of the Father.  We are called to bend the knee in obedience and live our daily life changed.  Lord thank you for forgiving my sin.

08/02                    Psalm 51:2-3
Wash me clean from my guilt. Purify me from my sin.  For I recognize my shameful deeds they haunt me day and night.

PEACE
Peace comes from Jesus.  His forgiveness of our sin gives us peace with God.  Our sin can no longer haunt us for grace has changed us.  Today is your day.  Rejoice in His grace.

08/03                    Psalm 51:4-5
Against you, and you alone, have I sinned; I have done what is evil in your sight. You will be proved right in what you say, and your judgment against me is just.  For I was born a sinner yes, from the moment my mother conceived me.

REPENTANCE
We need to make sure that we recognize our sin and that we are quick to confess our sin.  Lord make me sensitive to my sin and faithful and quick to confess my sin and change.  Give me strength to change.

08/04                    Psalm 51:6
But you desire honesty from the heart, so you can teach me to be wise in my inmost being.

WISDOM
Knowing that the Lord has my best interest at heart and is always right is wisdom.  I know my sin because the Lord is faithful to point out what is separating me from Him.  Lord teach us to be wise and live in wisdom.

08/05                    Psalm 51:7-9
Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. Oh, give me back my joy again; you have broken me now let me rejoice.  Don’t keep looking at my sins. Remove the stain of my guilt.

NEED
We need Jesus.  We need Him every moment of our life.  We need Him to cleanse us for on our own we become so independent and unclean.  Sin is so pervasive and deceitful and we need Jesus to show us our sin.  Sin is relentless and we need Jesus to give us strength to stand in the hour of testing.  We need Jesus.

08/06                    Psalm 51:10-11
Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a right spirit within me.  Do not banish me from your presence, and don’t take your Holy Spirit from me.

NEW
When we come to Jesus we are recreated afresh and anew.  We still have that memory of sin and we still fail but we are fresh and new.  We have a new heart, a new mind and a new power that we did not have before Jesus came into our life.  We are new creatures in Christ therefore we can proclaim thank you Lord for putting your Spirit in me.

08/07                    Psalm 51:12-13
Restore to me again the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you.  Then I will teach your ways to sinners, and they will return to you.

JOY
We want joy and need it.  Joy is a gift from the Lord.  Joy is a gift that we can seek each day.  Remember as you are praying for others and for yourself ask the Lord give you His joy.  His joy will equip you to face the world’s acrimony.

08/08                    Mark 2:1-5
Several days later Jesus returned to Capernaum, and the news of his arrival spread quickly through the town.  Soon the house where he was staying was so packed with visitors that there wasn’t room for one more person, not even outside the door. And he preached the word to them.  Four men arrived carrying a paralyzed man on a mat.  They couldn’t get to Jesus through the crowd, so they dug through the clay roof above his head. Then they lowered the sick man on his mat, right down in front of Jesus.  Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, “My son, your sins are forgiven.”

REAL
Jesus is real.  He deals with the things in us that separate us from fellowship with the Father.  Too often we see a physical problem as the greatest handicap when in fact our spiritual problem is the greatest problem.  Jesus heals spiritual problems right now.  Ask Him.

08/09                    Mark 2:6-9
But some of the teachers of religious law who were sitting there said to themselves,  “What? This is blasphemy! Who but God can forgive sins!”  Jesus knew what they were discussing among themselves, so he said to them, “Why do you think this is blasphemy?  Is it easier to say to the paralyzed man, ‘Your sins are forgiven’ or ‘Get up, pick up your mat, and walk’?

GOD
Jesus is God.  This idea is so difficult for us to understand.  I don’t understand electricity but that doesn’t change the fact that when I turn on a light electricity makes the light work.  Jesus is God.  He is able to deal with us, His creation.  He knows everything about us and knows what we need.  Let Jesus have your mind, body and spirit.  He is God.

08/10                    Mark 2:10-12
I will prove that I, the Son of Man, have the authority on earth to forgive sins.” Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said,  “Stand up, take your mat, and go on home, because you are healed!”  The man jumped up, took the mat, and pushed his way through the stunned onlookers. Then they all praised God. “We’ve never seen anything like this before!” they exclaimed.

HEALING
Jesus will heal us physically.  His healing is permanent healing.  Don’t be afraid to ask Jesus to heal you physically.  Ask Jesus to deal with your physical needs.  Once we ask and believe He will answer, He will.  He has a plan for your life.  Surrender your life to His plan and He will deal with your needs.

08/11                    Mark 2:13-14
Then Jesus went out to the lakeshore again and taught the crowds that gathered around him.  As he walked along, he saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at his tax-collection booth. “Come, be my disciple,” Jesus said to him. So Levi got up and followed him.

DISCIPLESHIP
Discipleship is a change.  When we become a disciple of Jesus we begin that moment to live in obedience to Him.  Following Jesus requires surrender.  Following Jesus requires faith.  Being a disciple is not for the faint of heart.  Discipleship is the process of giving up what I do and do what Jesus says.

08/12                    Mark 2:15-17
That night Levi invited Jesus and his disciples to be his dinner guests, along with his fellow tax collectors and many other notorious sinners. (There were many people of this kind among the crowds that followed Jesus.)  But when some of the teachers of religious law who were Pharisees  saw him eating with people like that, they said to his disciples, “Why does he eat with such scum?”  When Jesus heard this, he told them, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor sick people do. I have come to call sinners, not those who think they are already good enough.”

SIN
Sin blinds us to our “out of fellowship” condition.  We need forgiveness.  We need it every day.  Ask Jesus to make you sensitive to your sin so that you can confess your sin and regain your spiritual sight.

08/13                    Mark 2:18-22
John’s disciples and the Pharisees sometimes fasted. One day some people came to Jesus and asked, “Why do John’s disciples and the Pharisees fast, but your disciples don’t fast?”  Jesus replied, “Do wedding guests fast while celebrating with the groom? Of course not. They can’t fast while they are with the groom.  But someday he will be taken away from them, and then they will fast.  And who would patch an old garment with unshrunk cloth? For the new patch shrinks and pulls away from the old cloth, leaving an even bigger hole than before.  And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. The wine would burst the wineskins, spilling the wine and ruining the skins. New wine needs new wineskins.”

WORLD
We are often tempted to try to live in the world and serve Jesus.  That old deceiver tells us our sin is just a minor infraction then later the deceiver reminds us of what a real sinner we are.  All the while the deceiver is seeking to put us in a position of hopelessness.  We repeat to ourselves that Jesus can’t use us.  He can use us right now but we have to stop playing games and change.  Obedience is essential.  Do what Jesus says.

08/14                    Mark 2:23-24
One Sabbath day as Jesus was walking through some grain fields, his disciples began breaking off heads of wheat.  But the Pharisees said to Jesus, “They shouldn’t be doing that! It’s against the law to work by harvesting grain on the Sabbath.”

TRADITION
We love tradition.  It gives us a sense of belonging and orderliness.  We have a hard time feeling spiritual and our spiritual traditions give us a way to codify our spirituality.  See I’m spiritual because I went to church or said this or did this on this day.  Christianity is based on the living Lord Jesus.  We are spiritual because Jesus cleansed us from our sin and gave us righteousness.  We are part of His family.  We are challenged to see our life and ourselves as part of God’s family.  We count.  God has an important plan for our life.  Surrender to His plan for your life and claim your relationship with Him moment by moment.

08/15                    Mark 2:25-28
But Jesus replied, “Haven’t you ever read in the Scriptures what King David did when he and his companions were hungry?  He went into the house of God (during the days when Abiathar was high priest), ate the special bread reserved for the priests alone, and then gave some to his companions. That was breaking the law, too.”   Then he said to them, “The Sabbath was made to benefit people, and not people to benefit the Sabbath.  And I, the Son of Man, am master even of the Sabbath!”

WHO DO YOU LOVE?
Do you love Jesus?  Tell Him you do and obey Him.  People count with Jesus.  We are a part of His family.  It is our responsibility as job one to make people count.  Today I will take my eyes off of my problems and focus on the needs of those around me.  Who can I encourage and help today Lord?

08/16                    Mark 3:1-3
Jesus went into the synagogue again and noticed a man with a deformed hand.  Since it was the Sabbath, Jesus’ enemies watched him closely. Would he heal the man’s hand on the Sabbath? If he did, they planned to condemn him.  Jesus said to the man, “Come and stand in front of everyone.”

WATCH
Look at your situation.  Are you in need of healing?  Ask Jesus.  Look at those around you.  Who is hurting?  Do they need help?  Give it to them.  Do what you can and what your situation permits you to do.  Forget about your qualifications and skills.  Each one of us can be a helper.  Get help for yourself first then go and help someone.

08/17                    Mark 3:4-5
Then he turned to his critics and asked, “Is it legal to do good deeds on the Sabbath, or is it a day for doing harm? Is this a day to save life or to destroy it?” But they wouldn’t answer him.  He looked around at them angrily, because he was deeply disturbed by their hard hearts. Then he said to the man, “Reach out your hand.” The man reached out his hand, and it became normal again!

RELIGION
Religion seeks to function to the hurt of others.  Its formality or lack of formality and its demand for tradition often does so without dealing with the pain or hurt it can do.  People count.  We are to pray, serve and give.  We are to encourage others and to be inclusive and not exclusive.  Make sure that your traditions are not pushing the needy away.  Deal with others in the same gentle way that Jesus deals with your.  Be quick to forgive and forget and let the Lord deal with judgment.

08/18                    Mark 3:6
At once the Pharisees went away and met with the supporters of Herod to discuss plans for killing Jesus.

RIGHTEOUSNESS
There is a righteousness that the world cultivates.  It abuses the helpless and lifts up the wealthy.  Be careful as your live your life to cultivate a real value and appreciation for those around you.  Jesus died for the lost.  Can we do any less?

08/19                    Mark 3:7-9
Jesus and his disciples went out to the lake, followed by a huge crowd from all over Galilee, Judea,  Jerusalem, Idumea, from east of the Jordan River, and even from as far away as Tyre and Sidon. The news about his miracles had spread far and wide, and vast numbers of people came to see him for themselves.  Jesus instructed his disciples to bring around a boat and to have it ready in case he was crowded off the beach.

MIRACLES
Jesus used miracles to display the activity of God among men and to reveal God’s work in Him.  Miracles are still available for us.  As we live our lives magnifying Jesus we will often see God at work equipping us to serve others in a miraculous way.  Some of the things the Lord will do we might call miracles but the truth is it is just our Father at work using us as His servant to minister to the needs of dead and dying world.

08/20                    Mark 3:10-12
There had been many healings that day. As a result, many sick people were crowding around him, trying to touch him.  And whenever those possessed by evil spirits caught sight of him, they would fall down in front of him shrieking, “You are the Son of God!”  But Jesus strictly warned them not to say who he was.

PEARLS
People must know that we care before they care about us.  Our actions will verify our obedience to the Lord.  Once people accept us as one who cares they are much more open to accept the one we serve—Jesus Christ.  Ask the Holy Spirit to help you magnify Jesus today by bending your heart in service to each person that you meet.

08/21                    Mark 3:13-19
Afterward Jesus went up on a mountain and called the ones he wanted to go with him. And they came to him.  Then he selected twelve of them to be his regular companions, calling them apostles.   He sent them out to preach, and he gave them authority to cast out demons.  These are the names of the twelve he chose: Simon (he renamed him Peter),  James and John (the sons of Zebedee, but Jesus nicknamed them “Sons of Thunder”), Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James (son of Alphaeus), Thaddaeus, Simon (the Zealot), Judas Iscariot (who later betrayed him).

CHOSEN
Jesus chose twelve apostles as partners in His earthly ministry.  He has chosen me and you as partners in His ministry on this side of the cross.  “Whosoever will may come” was His declaration.  When we come to Jesus we become a partner together with Him in our service to mankind.

08/22                    Mark 3:20-21
When Jesus returned to the house where he was staying, the crowds began to gather again, and soon he and his disciples couldn’t even find time to eat.  When his family heard what was happening, they tried to take him home with them. “He’s out of his mind,” they said.

TIRELESS
Jesus worked tirelessly for us.  He was walking to the cross to save us and He knew that His time was short.  Magnifying Jesus is a full-time job.  We don’t know how much time we have.  We don’t know how much time those we come into contact with have.  Say and do those things that Jesus would do.  We represent Him so let’s get busy.

08/23                    Mark 3:22-27
But the teachers of religious law who had arrived from Jerusalem said, “He’s possessed by Satan, the prince of demons. That’s where he gets the power to cast out demons.”  Jesus called them over and said to them by way of illustration, “How can Satan cast out Satan?  A kingdom at war with itself will collapse.  A home divided against itself is doomed.  And if Satan is fighting against himself, how can he stand? He would never survive.  Let me illustrate this. You can’t enter a strong man’s house and rob him without first tying him up. Only then can his house be robbed!

STRENGTH
Our strength and power is in Jesus.  We are to cultivate our relationship with Him by spending time with Jesus each day—all day.  The focus of our heart, our body and our spirit is Jesus Christ.  We live in Him.  We serve in Him.  Our victory comes from Him.  Remember when you are feeling low or defeated, that is the exact time to get back to Jesus and let Him have you.  Don’t focus on the good fight, focus on Jesus.

08/24                    Mark 3:28-30
“I assure you that any sin can be forgiven, including blasphemy; but anyone who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven. It is an eternal sin.”  He told them this because they were saying he had an evil spirit.

HOLY SPIRIT
We live by Holy Spirit power.  The Holy Spirit is the enabling strength in our growth in Jesus.  Holy Spirit please minister to us and through us.  Magnify Jesus in me and through me.  Today I will live Holy Spirit empowered.  Jesus will not forsake us.  Claim His promise of power today.

08/25                    Mark 3:31-35
Jesus’ mother and brothers arrived at the house where he was teaching. They stood outside and sent word for him to come out and talk with them.  There was a crowd around Jesus, and someone said, “Your mother and your brothers and sisters are outside, asking for you.”  Jesus replied, “Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?”  Then he looked at those around him and said, “These are my mother and brothers.  Anyone who does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.”

WHO
Who do you love?  Choose this day who you love.  Look at your life.  What do you spend time doing?  That’s what you love.  Lord help us to spend time with You.  Help us Lord to choose You for our relationship, fellowship and joy.  I love Jesus and my life reflects His love.

08/26          Mark 4:1
Once again Jesus began teaching by the lakeshore. There was such a large crowd along the shore that he got into a boat and sat down and spoke from there.

JESUS
Do you need help?  Ask Jesus.  Do you want to grow?  Ask Jesus.  He will come to you and will teach you everything you need to know.  He is no respecter of person.  Your circumstances are not an indictment of your value.  You are valuable to Jesus.  Lord Jesus help each one of us to know You better this day.

08/27          Mark 4:2-9
He began to teach the people by telling many stories such as this one:  “Listen! A farmer went out to plant some seed.  As he scattered it across his field, some seed fell on a footpath, and the birds came and ate it.  Other seed fell on shallow soil with underlying rock. The plant sprang up quickly, but it soon wilted beneath the hot sun and died because the roots had no nourishment in the shallow soil.  Other seed fell among thorns that shot up and choked out the tender blades so that it produced no grain.  Still other seed fell on fertile soil and produced a crop that was thirty, sixty, and even a hundred times as much as had been planted.” Then he said, “Anyone who is willing to hear should listen and understand!”

LISTEN
Listening to Jesus begins in the heart.  When we come into the Family of God we are given a new heart.  Listen to Jesus and ask Him to give you wisdom, mercy, grace and understanding.  Claim His promise and believe and you will know.

08/28          Mark 4:10-12
Later, when Jesus was alone with the twelve disciples and with the others who were gathered around, they asked him, “What do your stories mean?”  He replied, “You are permitted to understand the secret about the Kingdom of God. But I am using these stories to conceal everything about it from outsiders, so that the Scriptures might be fulfilled: ‘They see what I do, but they don’t perceive its meaning. They hear my words, but they don’t understand. So they will not turn from their sins and be forgiven.’

INSIDER
Disciples are insiders in the kingdom.  The requirements to be a disciple include surrender to Jesus, time with Jesus, obedience to Jesus and letting Jesus have control of our life.  A discipleship is not a part time vocation.  Do you want to understand Scripture?  Become a disciple of Jesus.

08/29          Mark 4:13-20
“But if you can’t understand this story, how will you understand all the others I am going to tell?  The farmer I talked about is the one who brings God’s message to others.  The seed that fell on the hard path represents those who hear the message, but then Satan comes at once and takes it away from them.  The rocky soil represents those who hear the message and receive it with joy.  But like young plants in such soil, their roots don’t go very deep. At first they get along fine, but they wilt as soon as they have problems or are persecuted because they believe the word.  The thorny ground represents those who hear and accept the Good News, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the cares of this life, the lure of wealth, and the desire for nice things, so no crop is produced.  But the good soil represents those who hear and accept God’s message and produce a huge harvest thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted.”

SUFFERING
Growth in Christ may involve significant suffering.  The deeper our roots the greater the suffering we can endure.  I don’t like suffering but I do want to be deeply rooted in my relationship with Jesus.  It takes time, sacrifice and obedience for us to become deeply rooted in the Lord.

08/30          Mark 4:21-24
Then Jesus asked them, “Would anyone light a lamp and then put it under a basket or under a bed to shut out the light? Of course not! A lamp is placed on a stand, where its light will shine.  “Everything that is now hidden or secret will eventually be brought to light.  Anyone who is willing to hear should listen and understand!  And be sure to pay attention to what you hear. The more you do this, the more you will understand and even more, besides.

EIGHTEEN INCHES
The distance from our mind to our heart is about eighteen inches.  The difference between a faith of form and a faith of substance is that difference.  Our faith of substance is not based on what we know it is based on what we know and how it changes us.  Is our faith in our heart?  Does our faith guide us?  If it does we will be a lamp that reflects the love of Jesus in the heart at all times.

08/31          Mark 4:25
To those who are open to my teaching, more understanding will be given. But to those who are not listening, even what they have will be taken away from them.”

CULTURAL
There is no such thing as cultural Christianity.  Try as people might they cannot claim Christ in a flippant, passing way.  Jesus is Lord.  Either He is Lord of our life or we are Lord of our life.  The choice is ours.

July 1         Psalm 118:1-4
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever.  Let the congregation of Israel repeat: “His faithful love endures forever.”  Let Aaron’s descendants, the priests, repeat: “His faithful love endures forever.”  Let all who fear the LORD repeat: “His faithful love endures forever.”

GRATITUDE
Gratitude is a key element in our relationship with the Lord.  I can do nothing.  Jesus is Lord and in Him I have all things.  The trouble in our journey begins when we begin to think we can do it.

July 2         Psalm 118:5
In my distress I prayed to the LORD, and the LORD answered me and rescued me.

RESCUE
Satan is our adversary.  The enemy is seeking whom he might devour.  When we face problems we have a savior.  We cannot stand against the wiles of Satan and we need rescuing.  Jesus is able.

July 3         Psalm 118:6-7
The LORD is for me, so I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?  Yes, the LORD is for me; he will help me. I will look in triumph at those who hate me.

FEAR
Fear destroys us.  It grabs our sanity and causes us to do foolish things.  In Jesus we do not have to fear.  In Jesus we have what we need for living courageously.  When Jesus reigns in our heart fear is kicked out.

July 4         Psalm 118:8-13
It is better to trust the LORD than to put confidence in people.  It is better to trust the LORD than to put confidence in princes.  Though hostile nations surrounded me, I destroyed them all in the name of the LORD.  Yes, they surrounded and attacked me, but I destroyed them all in the name of the LORD.  They swarmed around me like bees; they blazed against me like a roaring flame. But I destroyed them all in the name of the LORD.  You did your best to kill me, O my enemy, but the LORD helped me.

HELP
Call upon Jesus to help you and He will meet your need.  When troubles come call upon Jesus.  We grow in Christ by giving Him every aspect of our lives.  Trust in the Lord and you will never be disappointed.

July 5         Psalm 118:14-18
The LORD is my strength and my song; he has become my victory.  Songs of joy and victory are sung in the camp of the godly. The strong right arm of the LORD has done glorious things!  The strong right arm of the LORD is raised in triumph. The strong right arm of the LORD has done glorious things!  I will not die, but I will live to tell what the LORD has done.  The LORD has punished me severely, but he has not handed me over to death.

VICTORY
Victory is a fact that we can live with every day.  We are not pleading or scrambling to live a victorious life.  Living in Christ is the victorious life.  Victory is mine because I belong to the one who is the victory-Jesus Christ.

July 6         Psalm 118:19-20
Open for me the gates where the righteous enter and I will go in and thank the LORD.  Those gates lead to the presence of the LORD, and the godly enter there.

ENTRY
We who are in Christ have the privilege of entry into the presence of the Lord.  We are given this right by Jesus.  Great problem then talk with the Lord.  Small problem then take it to the Father.  We have a relationship with the Lord and as a result of this relationship we have friendship with God.

July 7         Psalm 118:21-23
I thank you for answering my prayer and saving me!  The stone rejected by the builders has now become the cornerstone.  This is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous to see.

ANSWERS
Jesus answers our prayers.  The problem is not the answer the problem is our knowledge.  Now we know only a little but one day we will have full knowledge.  Dealing with life is a dynamic, interactive event.  We can pray with the confidence that the Lord is answering our prayers.

July 8         Psalm 118:24
This is the day the LORD has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it.

TODAY
We are now creatures.  Now is the time for prayer.  Now is the time for victory.  Now is the time that the Lord will help us.  Pray for joy and peace and live with the awareness that you have it.

July 9         Psalm 118:25-29
Please, LORD, please save us. Please, LORD, please give us success.  Bless the one who comes in the name of the LORD. We bless you from the house of the LORD.  The LORD is God, shining upon us. Bring forward the sacrifice and put it on the altar.  You are my God, and I will praise you! You are my God, and I will exalt you!  Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever.

SAVE
The Lord is for us.  He will save us as we face the challenges of life.  He has saved us in the past, He will save us in the future and He is busy at work to save us right now.  Now is the time that we live.  Now is the time we find the Lord.  Ask Him to guide you on a successful path.  Praise the Lord.

July 10       Mark 1:1-4
Here begins the Good News about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God.  In the book of the prophet Isaiah, God said, “Look, I am sending my messenger before you, and he will prepare your way.    He is a voice shouting in the wilderness: ‘Prepare a pathway for the Lord’s coming! Make a straight road for him!’   “This messenger was John the Baptist. He lived in the wilderness and was preaching that people should be baptized to show that they had turned from their sins and turned to God to be forgiven.

FORGIVEN
When we come to Jesus we are forgiven.  This forgiveness is complete and perfect.  It is not based on my works or my standing.  It is a gift from God.  His forgiveness equips us to be spiritually alive and partners with Him in proclaiming Jesus.

July 11       Mark 1:5
People from Jerusalem and from all over Judea traveled out into the wilderness to see and hear John. And when they confessed their sins, he baptized them in the Jordan River.

CONFESSION
The key element in our confession of our sin is change.  I was following sin and now I am following the Lord.  When we confess our sin He forgives us.  When you are struggling to grow remember that change is critical in our spiritual growth.

July 12       Mark 1:6-8
His clothes were woven from camel hair, and he wore a leather belt; his food was locusts and wild honey.  He announced: “Someone is coming soon who is far greater than I am so much greater that I am not even worthy to be his slave.    I baptize you with   water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit!”

PROPHESY
The Holy Spirit is now here.  He is able to lead, guide and direct your path.  Spend time with Jesus.  Let the Holy Spirit change you.  You will find that His change is an equipping change that will enable you to have an abundant life.  Claim your spirit filled life by asking the Lord Jesus to lead you.

July 13       Mark 1:9
One day Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee, and he was baptized by John in the Jordan River.

OBEDIENCE
Who do you love?  Do you love Jesus?  Do what He says.  Doing what He says requires that we know Him and that we spend time with Him.  Read the Word.  Pray to the Lord.  Do what He says.

July 14       Mark 1:10-11
And when Jesus came up out of the water, he saw the heavens split open and the Holy Spirit descending like a dove on him.  And a voice came from heaven saying, “You are my beloved Son, and I am fully pleased with you.”

OBEDIENCE
The Father loves obedience more than sacrifice.  We are seeking to please Him with our lives and with our relationship.  We do this when we are obedient.  Think for a moment, what has He told you to do?  Please, go and do it.  In the act of obedience you will experience His “well done.”

July 15       Mark 1:12-13
Immediately the Holy Spirit compelled Jesus to go into the wilderness.  He was there for forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was out among the wild animals, and angels took care of him.

OBEDIENCE
Obedience is always costly.  We give up worldly ways and momentary sensation to accomplish eternal goals.  Living with eternity in mind will enable us to deal with the perishable things the world offers.  It will cost us but it is an eternal investment.

July 16       Mark 1:14-15
Later on, after John was arrested by Herod Antipas, Jesus went to Galilee to preach God’s Good News.  “At last the time has come!” he announced. “The Kingdom of God is near! Turn from your sins and believe this Good News!”

GOOD NEWS
We can have forgiveness and peace with God.  The Good News is that Jesus saves us from our sin and gives us new life.  This life is right now and throughout eternity.  Jesus gives us a life that counts with a relationship that equips us to have friendship with God.

July 17       Mark 1:16-17
One day as Jesus was walking along the shores of the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother, Andrew, fishing with a net, for they were commercial fishermen.  Jesus called out to them, “Come, be my disciples, and I will show you how to fish for people!”

DISCIPLESHIP
Jesus is calling you.  He is calling you to change.  Christ is calling you to accept His as the focus of your life.  You choose the way that you will live.  You will succeed or fail based on your choices.  When we choose Jesus as our focus we succeed.  When we choose anything other than Jesus we fail.

July 18       Mark 1:18-20
And they left their nets at once and went with him.  A little farther up the shore Jesus saw Zebedee’s sons, James and John, in a boat mending their nets.  He called them, too, and immediately they left their father, Zebedee, in the boat with the hired men and went with him.

CHOICE
The right choice for life is to choose Jesus.  He will reside in our hearts.  He will build a relationship, be our friend and equip us to fellowship with Him.  We each have inestimable value.  Choose Jesus and claim your position in eternity now.

July 19       Mark 1:21-22
Jesus and his companions went to the town of Capernaum, and every Sabbath day he went into the synagogue and taught the people.  They were amazed at his teaching, for he taught as one who had real authority quite unlike the teachers of religious law.

AUTHORITY
We have authority in Christ.  We do not belong to ourselves but instead put ourselves into His hands and claim authority as His representative.  He gives us the authority to choose.  We have the authority to lay down our life for others.  We can serve and willingly die to self.  No man can claim authority over us because we have died to self and are hidden in Christ with God.

July 20       Mark 1:23-24
A man possessed by an evil spirit was in the synagogue, and he began shouting, “Why are you bothering us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are the Holy One sent from God!”

EVIL
The world is busy explaining away evil.  It wants to make excuses for murderers, liars, cheats and truly evil people.  The truth is that evil really exists and we are confronted by it everyday.  Evil is seeking to destroy us and pops up at the time when we are weak.  We cannot fight evil but Jesus can.  When you find yourself facing evil turn from it and ask Jesus what to do.  He will not forsake you.

July 21       Mark 1:25-27
Jesus cut him short. “Be silent! Come out of the man.”  At that, the evil spirit screamed and threw the man into a convulsion, but then he left him.  Amazement gripped the audience, and they began to discuss what had happened. “What sort of new teaching is this?” they asked excitedly. “It has such authority! Even evil spirits obey his orders!”

GLORY
Jesus gives all glory to the Father who in turn magnifies Him.  With a simple word the Lord deals with evil.  Imagine the kind of things that Jesus could do in your life.  Think of the difficulties, those that are evil and those that are simply difficult, that you face each day.  What power we have been given to have Jesus alive in us.  Ask Him to use you to magnify Him.

July 22       Mark 1:28-31
The news of what he had done spread quickly through that entire area of Galilee.
After Jesus and his disciples left the synagogue, they went over to Simon and Andrew’s home, and James and John were with them.  Simon’s mother-in-law was sick in bed with a high fever. They told Jesus about her right away.  He went to her bedside, and as he took her by the hand and helped her to sit up, the fever suddenly left, and she got up and prepared a meal for them.

HEALING
Jesus is the great healer.  We can go to Him with our infirmities.  Our goal is to glorify Jesus and He will enable us to do that.  We present ourselves to Christ with absolute confidence of His love and His commitment to us and we go forth to be the person we were created to be.  As we do this we glorify Him.  His glory equips us to be and to do in the midst of the ordinariness of our lives.

July 23       Mark 1:32-33
That evening at sunset, many sick and demon-possessed people were brought to Jesus.  And a huge crowd of people from all over Capernaum gathered outside the door to watch.

HOPE
Hope is a powerful tool in the Christian life.  Once we see His love for us and know that Jesus is on our side what can defeat us?  We have hope in Him.  We are able to move forward in Jesus because of His present love and our eternal relationship.

July 24       Mark 1:34
So Jesus healed great numbers of sick people who had many different kinds of diseases, and he ordered many demons to come out of their victims. But because they knew who he was, he refused to allow the demons to speak.

HOPE
What has you down?  What evil is telling you that you are not worthy of the attention of the Creator of all?  Be of good cheer, hope in Christ.  Take a moment where you are and in the condition you find yourself in to tell yourself that Jesus is Lord.  He is Lord of your life and He loves you.  Every thought that Jesus has towards you is a thought for good.  Jesus the Great Healer will heal you.

July 25       Mark 1:35
The next morning Jesus awoke long before daybreak and went out alone into the wilderness to pray.

PRAY
Time with Jesus is time well spent.  We are called to pray.  Jesus shows us the need for prayer.  Our hearts cry out to spend time with Jesus.  Organize your day so that everyday you spend time with Jesus.  Discipline yourself for this joy.  Life filled with Jesus is a life of abundance and joy.

July 26       Mark 1:36-38
Later Simon and the others went out to find him.  They said, “Everyone is asking for you.”  But he replied, “We must go on to other towns as well, and I will preach to them, too, because that is why I came.”

PROCLAMATION
Jesus has come and this is Good News.  Jesus is here and available is wonderful news.  When we ask Christ into our heart and permit Him to have Lordship of our daily life we will naturally share with others what Jesus is doing in us.

July 27       Mark 1:39
So he traveled throughout the region of Galilee, preaching in the synagogues and expelling demons from many people.

VICTORY
There is victory in our life when Jesus is in control of our life.  The things that trouble us and overwhelm us will be dealt with by the Lord.  He will give us the wisdom, mercy, grace and understanding we need to stand in the hour of difficulty.

July 28       Mark 1:40-41
A man with leprosy came and knelt in front of Jesus, begging to be healed. “If you want to, you can make me well again,” he said.  Moved with pity,  Jesus touched him. “I want to,” he said. “Be healed!”

HEALING
Jesus offers healing for our life.  Go to Him with your needs and you will come away with His resources.  Jesus will never fail you nor will He overlook you.  Spend time with Him and He will shepherd your life.

July 29       Mark 1:42
Instantly the leprosy disappeared the man was healed.

HEALING
Healing is an act of God.  It is His choice as to how He will heal us and it is done His way.  The Lord will heal us.  Jesus loves us.  Every thought He has towards you is a thought for good.  Discipline yourself to build a relationship with Jesus and He will spend time with you.

July 30       Mark 1:43-44
Then Jesus sent him on his way and told him sternly,  “Go right over to the priest and let him examine you. Don’t talk to anyone along the way. Take along the offering required in the law of Moses for those who have been healed of leprosy, so everyone will have proof of your healing.”

MIRACLES
Miracles or what we call miracles are to magnify the Lord.  Every day of our life is a miracle.  We are called to glorify Jesus.  Identify His activity in your life.  Thank Him for it.  An attitude of gratitude will enable us to see the activity of the Lord in our life every day.

July 31       Mark 1:45
But as the man went on his way, he spread the news, telling everyone what had happened to him. As a result, such crowds soon surrounded Jesus that he couldn’t enter a town anywhere publicly. He had to stay out in the secluded places, and people from everywhere came to him there.

LOVE
Jesus loves you.  His love is so great that He loves you in spite of your disdain for Him.  Today spend time thinking about His love.  Think of the wonderful blessings He has bestowed upon you.  Think of your gratitude for answered prayer and the way that prayers were answered.  Thank Him from your heart and let that gratitude fill your soul.  Thank you Lord for your love for us.

June 1        1 Peter 1:1-2
This letter is from Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ.  I am writing to God’s chosen people who are living as foreigners in the lands of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, the province of Asia, and Bithynia.  God the Father chose you long ago, and the Spirit has made you holy. As a result, you have obeyed Jesus Christ and are cleansed by his blood.  May you have more and more of God’s special favor and wonderful peace.

CHOSEN
Jesus said that whosoever call upon His name shall be saved.  If you have called upon the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and accepted Him as your Lord and Savior He has accepted you.  He has forgiven your sin and made you a part of the family of God forever.

June 2        1 Peter 1:3
All honor to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, for it is by his boundless mercy that God has given us the privilege of being born again. Now we live with a wonderful expectation because Jesus Christ rose again from the dead.

JOY
Suffering?  Experiencing failure?  Life not the way you would like?  Stop for a moment and count your real blessings.  You are a child of God.  You have an eternal relationship with the Father through Jesus Christ who gave you the gift of eternal life by His death on the cross.  Jesus is alive and He will talk with you right now.  Tell Him how you feel and claim your joy.

June 3        1 Peter 1:4
For God has reserved a priceless inheritance for his children. It is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay.

WEALTH
A Texas wildcatter who had been extremely wealthy and extremely generous lost everything.  He lived in the YMCA for many years unable to afford anything else.  A reporter interviewing him asked “do you regret having given away so much money?”  The man said “no I don’t, because the only thing that can’t be taken away from me is what I gave away.”
Your wealth is hidden in Christ for eternity and it will never disappear.  Store up riches in heaven where moth and rust cannot destroy nor can anyone ever take it away from you.

June 4        1 Peter 1:5
And God, in his mighty power, will protect you until you receive this salvation, because you are trusting him. It will be revealed on the last day for all to see.

SALVATION
Salvation is a gift.  Salvation is God’s realm.  When I submit and from my heart ask for salvation the Father is a gracious giver and protector of me.  “Whosoever will may come!”

June 5        1 Peter 1:6
So be truly glad!  There is wonderful joy ahead, even though it is necessary for you to endure many trials for a while.

JOY
Joy has nothing to do with this world.  Joy is a spiritual gift given by Jesus to His followers.  We can claim joy in the midst of chaos.  All around us the outlook may be dim and yet in our hearts and souls we have joy.  Jesus is alive.  He is coming back.

June 6        1 Peter 1:7
These trials are only to test your faith, to show that it is strong and pure. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold and your faith is far more precious to God than mere gold. So if your faith remains strong after being tried by fiery trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.

ETERNITY
Each one of us will see eternity sooner than we think.  Tomorrow seems to stretch endlessly.  One day there will be no more tomorrows for we will stand face to face with Jesus.  My prayer for you and for me is that in that day we will hear “well done my good and faithful servant.”  Serve Jesus now.  Change now.

June 7        1 Peter 1:8
You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him, you trust him; and even now you are happy with a glorious, inexpressible joy.

SEEING
Seeing is believing so the world says.  Believing is seeing so our spiritual self says.  We trust Jesus because He loved us.  Love those you are with.  You will find as your love grows your trust of Jesus will grow.  The Lord is with you.

June 8        1 Peter 1:9-10
Your reward for trusting him will be the salvation of your souls.  This salvation was something the prophets wanted to know more about. They prophesied about this gracious salvation prepared for you, even though they had many questions as to what it all could mean.

TRUST
When we trust we change.  We live in the face of insurmountable odds that are literally overcome by our faith.  We begin to live by eternal principles.  The constant swirls of negative opinions and worldliness no longer have us in their grip.  God has a plan from our life and is using us.

June 9        1 Peter 1:11
They wondered what the Spirit of Christ within them was talking about when he told them in advance about Christ’s suffering and his great glory afterward. They wondered when and to whom all this would happen.

ACTIVE
The Lord is active in our life.  He is seeking to guide us.  We need to stop and listen.  We should refocus our hearts so that as the Lord speaks we hear.  Read the Bible as though our service depends upon it because it does.  Jesus will lead, guide and direct us but we need to be willing servants.

June 10      1 Peter 1:12
They were told that these things would not happen during their lifetime, but many years later, during yours. And now this Good News has been announced by those who preached to you in the power of the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. It is all so wonderful that even the angels are eagerly watching these things happen.

WATCHING
Angels are watching as your life unfolds.  You are important to the Lord and where you are is the most important place in the world.  Each one of us is unique.  You and I count.  The people we know and interact with each day are the people we will have an impact upon for Jesus.  Be calm.  Claim joy and peace.  Jesus is Lord.

June 11      1 Peter 1:13
So think clearly and exercise self-control. Look forward to the special blessings that will come to you at the return of Jesus Christ.

SELF-CONTROL
As difficult as it may seem right now your life is not out of control.  We can exercise self-control by giving ourselves to Jesus.  Use His strength.  Use His joy and peace.  You are very worth in Jesus.  Praise the Lord.

June 12      1 Peter 1:14
Obey God because you are his children. Don’t slip back into your old ways of doing evil; you didn’t know any better then.

OBEY
Do what the Lord says.  When you fail stop at the moment you realize your failure, confess it, and change by doing what Jesus says.  Obedience is important.  Obedience is one of the key elements in our growing relationship with Jesus.  Obey the Lord and you will enjoy real freedom.

June 13      1 Peter 1:15-16
But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you to be his children is holy.  For he himself has said, “You must be holy because I am holy.”

HOLY
We are holy when we act like Jesus.  Jesus loves people.  To be holy we must develop a strong and compassionate love for others.  If we love people we will act like Jesus.

June 14      1 Peter 1:17
And remember that the heavenly Father to whom you pray has no favorites when he judges. He will judge or reward you according to what you do. So you must live in reverent fear of him during your time as foreigners here on earth.

FOREIGNER
Our only claim on eternity is through Jesus.  We don’t belong here for we are but dust soon to be gone.  We are to live as a foreigner where ever we are on earth because this world does not belong to us.  Our claim in Christ lies in heaven.  Now we see as thru a glass darkly but one day face to face we will see what we have dreamed and prayed about all of our life.

June 15      1 Peter 1:18-19
For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And the ransom he paid was not mere gold or silver.  He paid for you with the precious lifeblood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God.

PRECIOUS
You are precious to the Lord.  He knew all about you and still died for you.  He forgives your sin when you claim Him as Lord and Savior.  Think about Jesus for He is always thinking about you.

June 16      1 Peter 1:20
God chose him for this purpose long before the world began, but now in these final days, he was sent to the earth for all to see. And he did this for you.

SPECIAL
You are special to Jesus.  We live best in community and we live best knowing that we are special.  Being special does not preclude someone else being special.  Life in Jesus is not a win/lose event but instead a win/win proposition.  Rejoice because you and your life are special to Jesus.

June 17      1 Peter 1:21
Through Christ you have come to trust in God. And because God raised Christ from the dead and gave him great glory, your faith and hope can be placed confidently in God.

POWER
We serve a great God with limitless power.  His power is directed towards you so that you may live a life of service that results in great honor to the Lord and eternal joy and peace for you.  Our service to the Father is a reflection of our partnership and trust in Him.

June 18      1 Peter 1:22
Now you can have sincere love for each other as brothers and sisters because you were cleansed from your sins when you accepted the truth of the Good News. So see to it that you really do love each other intensely with all your hearts.

EQUALITY
Jesus breaks down the barrier walls that sin and evil create.  The Lord is our Savior and strength.  We are beloved and victorious in Jesus.  Because of His love for us we can love one another.

June 19      Psalm 136:1
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever.

LOVE
Do you love me?  So many people ask this question or think it everyday.  One may feel they are unworthy, especially if the object of our questions doesn’t know what we have done.  Amazingly our conscience will accuse us, “if you knew.”  Jesus knows everything we think and do.  He still loves us.  HE KNOWS and HE LOVES YOU.

June 20      1 Peter 1:23-25
For you have been born again. Your new life did not come from your earthly parents because the life they gave you will end in death. But this new life will last forever because it comes from the eternal, living word of God.  As the prophet says, “People are like grass that dies away; their beauty fades as quickly as the beauty of wildflowers. The grass withers, and the flowers fall away.  But the word of the Lord will last forever.”  And that word is the Good News that was preached to you.

LIFE
Jesus gives us life.  This life begins now and lasts forever.  Our life is real life.  Whoever we are wherever we might be we know that we are loved and valuable.

June 21      1 Peter 2:1-2
So get rid of all malicious behavior and deceit. Don’t just pretend to be good! Be done with hypocrisy and jealousy and backstabbing.  You must crave pure spiritual milk so that you can grow into the fullness of your salvation. Cry out for this nourishment as a baby cries for milk, now that you have had a taste of the Lord’s kindness.

ACTIONS
Our actions represent who we are.  We should think about what we do and how we do it before we act.  We are not alone and we do not just represent ourselves.  As a result of our new life in Christ we have become ambassadors of the Lord.  Our thoughts should be am I doing things the way Jesus would do them?

June 22      1 Peter 2:4-5
Come to Christ, who is the living cornerstone of God’s temple. He was rejected by the people, but he is precious to God who chose him.  And now God is building you, as living stones, into his spiritual temple. What’s more, you are God’s holy priests, who offer the spiritual sacrifices that please him because of Jesus Christ.

GROW
We will grow in Christ because the Lord is active in our life.  We can become more like Jesus because the Lord is shaping us.  Change is afoot.  Jesus will not leave us adrift nor will He abandon us as we seek to serve Him.

June 23      1 Peter 2:6-8
As the Scriptures express it, “I am placing a stone in Jerusalem, a chosen cornerstone, and anyone who believes in him will never be disappointed.  “Yes, he is very precious to you who believe. But for those who reject him, “The stone that was rejected by the builders has now become the cornerstone.”  And the Scriptures also say, “He is the stone that makes people stumble, the rock that will make them fall.”  They stumble because they do not listen to God’s word or obey it, and so they meet the fate that has been planned for them.

CHANGE
Do you want to change?  Surrender yourself moment by moment to the activity of the Lord Jesus in your heart and life.  Change is a choice.  Lord I want to change.  His activity in you will change you.  Don’t worry or fret because His change in you will guide you closer to Him.

June 24      1 Peter 2:9-10
But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are a kingdom of priests, God’s holy nation, his very own possession. This is so you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.  “Once you were not a people; now you are the people of God. Once you received none of God’s mercy; now you have received his mercy.”

USABLE
God is at work in you.  He will make you useable and useful.  As you do your daily Bible reading let the Holy Spirit enlighten your heart.  As you pray be confident that the Lord is listening and that He will answer you.  Therefore you can live with the confidence that the power for living a Godly life is available for you.

June 25      1 Peter 2:11-12
Dear brothers and sisters, you are foreigners and aliens here. So I warn you to keep away from evil desires because they fight against your very souls.  Be careful how you live among your unbelieving neighbors. Even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will believe and give honor to God when he comes to judge the world.

ACTIONS
Our actions and words communicate to others what we believe.  Tragically what we believe is often much different than the way we act.  We are responsible for the way we act.  What we do impacts those with whom we have daily contact.  Pay attention to what you say and do.  Make sure that you are surrendered to the Holy Spirit and He is controlling you.

June 26      1 Peter 2:13-16
For the Lord’s sake, accept all authority the king as head of state,  and the officials he has appointed. For the king has sent them to punish all who do wrong and to honor those who do right.  It is God’s will that your good lives should silence those who make foolish accusations against you.  You are not slaves; you are free. But your freedom is not an excuse to do evil. You are free to live as God’s slaves.

FREEDOM
Spiritual freedom comes through personal surrender.  Pride must be relinquished and we must die to self.  We are called to evaluate the life we are living.  Ask the Lord Jesus to change you so that you can be useful and usable in His service.

June 27      1 Peter 2:17-18
Show respect for everyone. Love your Christian brothers and sisters.  Fear God. Show respect for the king.  You who are slaves must accept the authority of your masters. Do whatever they tell you not only if they are kind and reasonable, but even if they are harsh.

SURRENDER
We are called to surrender.  We are to surrender our pride and selfishness.  The old saying “if it doesn’t matter who gets credit, there is no limit to the good we can do” is still in effect.  We are most effective as a kingdom leader when we are on our knees before Jesus.  We are to pray, prepare and perform.  Recognition is not our goal in kingdom service.  We do what we do for Jesus.

June 28      1 Peter 2:19-20
For God is pleased with you when, for the sake of your conscience, you patiently endure unfair treatment.  Of course, you get no credit for being patient if you are beaten for doing wrong. But if you suffer for doing right and are patient beneath the blows, God is pleased with you.

WELL DONE
Do the next right thing.  Serve Jesus with a joyful heart.  Our lives are hidden in Christ with God and we are called to see the world through spiritual glasses.  Give your anger, pain and failure to Jesus and He will enable you to keep on.

June 29      1 Peter 2:21-23
This suffering is all part of what God has called you to. Christ, who suffered for you, is your example. Follow in his steps.  He never sinned, and he never deceived anyone.  He did not retaliate when he was insulted. When he suffered, he did not threaten to get even. He left his case in the hands of God, who always judges fairly.

JUDGMENT
Judgment begins with us.  I do not fool Christ.  I can take my case to Him and He will carry me through the suffering in this world.  I can also remember that time here is just an interim to eternity.  Nothing lasts long.  Everything we do for Jesus lasts for eternity.  Learn from your pain and call on Jesus name to give you the power to survive.

June 30      1 Peter 2:24-25
He personally carried away our sins in his own body on the cross so we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. You have been healed by his wounds!  Once you were wandering like lost sheep. But now you have turned to your Shepherd, the Guardian of your souls.

LIFE
Joy and peace are available for us from Jesus.  We ask Him and He will give it to us.  He also gives us power to do the next right thing.  We are no longer dead in our trespasses nor are we enslaved to sin.  In Jesus we have the wisdom to follow the right path straight to Him and into eternity.

May 1         I Thessalonians 1:1
This letter is from Paul, Silas, and Timothy. It is written to the church in Thessalonica, you who belong to God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.  May his grace and peace be yours.

GRACE
We have favor with God.  He cares for us.  He is focused on each one of us individually.  It is critical for us to understand that grace is a gift from God and is a significant part of our relationship with God.  His grace is a part of our uniqueness.  We are individually made for a relationship with God and His grace is a key enabler for us to have that moment by moment walk with Him.  Jesus gives us access to the Father, He died for us and paid the price for our sin.  God’s grace is always offering us a growing closeness with the Father.  May God’s grace be with you this moment.

May 2         I Thessalonians 1:2
We always thank God for all of you and pray for you constantly.

VALUE
We are valuable and useful.  All of us are important in the Lord’s eyes and it is important that we begin to see others as Jesus sees them.  That person you have a hard time getting along with is worthy in Christ.  The person that wronged you is worthy in Christ.  Your enemy is worthy in Christ.  Each one of us in Christ deserves recognition for our value therefore you and I are charged with the responsibility to treat others as we would treat ourselves.

May 3         I Thessalonians 1:3
As we talk to our God and Father about you, we think of your faithful work, your loving deeds, and your continual anticipation of the return of our Lord Jesus Christ.

RETURN
Jesus is coming back.  The predominant idea in early Christianity was the realization that Jesus was coming back.  Time is irrelevant to the Lord.  His charge to you and me is that we be ready.  Christianity is always a now activity.  Spend time with Jesus now so that you will grow in Christ likeness now.

May 4         I Thessalonians 1:4
We know that God loves you, dear brothers and sisters, and that he chose you to be his own people.

CHOICE
We each have a choice.  We can choose to accept Jesus as Lord and Savior or we can deny Him.  Do not ever believe anyone that says you cannot choose Jesus.  He died that all might be saved.  Every one of us can choose.  Choose Jesus today and He will not turn you away.

May 5         I Thessalonians 1:5
For when we brought you the Good News, it was not only with words but also with power, for the Holy Spirit gave you full assurance that what we said was true. And you know that the way we lived among you was further proof of the truth of our message.

REAL
The world is a tough place.  Things often seem unfair and in fact they are.  Jesus makes our life different.  He gives us eternal life and friendship with God.  Jesus takes the difficulties and hardships that we face and enables us to survive and thrive.  The wisdom, mercy, power and grace that we need to survive equip us to turn those difficulties and hardships into opportunities for growth, strength, service and an abundant life.  Real Christianity is based upon our relationship with Jesus.  Life is a gift and Jesus is the gift giver.

May 6         I Thessalonians 1:6
So you received the message with joy from the Holy Spirit in spite of the severe suffering it brought you. In this way, you imitated both us and the Lord.

JOY
Joy in the Lord is a gift that we accept.  His joy is eternal, unilateral and totally beyond the things of this world.  When His joy is accepted by us it becomes our joy.  Ask Jesus to give you His joy in everything you do.

May 7         I Thessalonians 1:7
As a result, you yourselves became an example to all the Christians in Greece.

EXAMPLE
Jesus is our example and we live as He lived before a watching world.  Our testimony is what we say and what we do.  Love is what differentiates us.  When we love others like Jesus loves us everything in our life will change.

May 8         I Thessalonians 1:8-9
And now the word of the Lord is ringing out from you to people everywhere, even beyond Greece, for wherever we go we find people telling us about your faith in God. We don’t need to tell them about it, for they themselves keep talking about the wonderful welcome you gave us and how you turned away from idols to serve the true and living God.

SERVICE
Jesus loves you and me.  He calls us to lead a Godly life.  We talk about what Jesus is doing in our life and do for others as Jesus Himself would do.  Talk the talk, walk the walk and you will be a world changer where ever you are.

May 9         I Thessalonians 1:10
And they speak of how you are looking forward to the coming of God’s Son from heaven Jesus, whom God raised from the dead. He is the one who has rescued us from the terrors of the coming judgment.

LIFE
We don’t think much about judgment.  The world totally ignores the implications of eternity.  New life in Christ begins now and takes us into eternity.  When we believe in Jesus we have accepted God’s way of dealing with our sin.

May 10       I Thessalonians 2:1-2
You yourselves know, dear brothers and sisters, that our visit to you was not a failure.  You know how badly we had been treated at Philippi just before we came to you and how much we suffered there. Yet our God gave us the courage to declare his Good News to you boldly, even though we were surrounded by many who opposed us.

COURAGE
Living a Christian life takes courage.  It takes courage to do the next right thing.  It takes courage to live openly as a committed Christian.  Sometimes we look at the stories of great Christian leaders past and present and wish that we could be that way.  If you believe in Jesus and live a committed Christian life you are that way!  Jesus is Lord.

May 11       I Thessalonians 2:3
So you can see that we were not preaching with any deceit or impure purposes or trickery.

TRICKERY
Today we can think of several big name ministers that were using trickery to build their kingdom.  Paul calls us to be plain spoken and to live a pure life.  When we follow Jesus and submit ourselves to Him we will never fall into the group that uses trickery to proclaim Jesus.  Today the Lord has you on His mind.  Strive to make sure He is on your mind.

May 12       I Thessalonians 2:4
For we speak as messengers who have been approved by God to be entrusted with the Good News. Our purpose is to please God, not people. He is the one who examines the motives of our hearts.

MOTIVES
Sometimes people will accuse you of being deceitful.  Make sure that as you live your life in Christ that you are proclaiming the Gospel.  If you will listen to Jesus and do what He says you will never go wrong.

May 13       I Thessalonians 2:5
Never once did we try to win you with flattery, as you very well know. And God is our witness that we were not just pretending to be your friends so you would give us money!

FOCUS
Our life must be focused on Jesus.  If we are living with one foot in the spiritual realm and one foot in the world we will ultimately fail.  Worry will draw us off course.  Greed will upend our ministry.  Ego will bring us down.  Daily we need to get with Jesus and tell him our problems and trust Him with the solution.  Jesus will never fail.

May 14       I Thessalonians 2:6
As for praise, we have never asked for it from you or anyone else.

PRAISE
Praise is detrimental to spiritual growth.  Praise if not given to Jesus will cause us to do things that are not right for a follower of the Lord Jesus to do.  We are to praise Him.  We are His servants.  We give Him all praise, honor, and glory.

May 15       I Thessalonians 2:7
As apostles of Christ we certainly had a right to make some demands of you, but we were as gentle among you as a mother feeding and caring for her own children.

LIFESTYLE
Jesus calls us to be His servants.  We do not claim our rights because we have lain them aside to serve.  We trust Jesus for everything.  We follow Him in all things.  We begin each day with Him so that we will let Him have first place in our hearts.  I serve you Lord and never myself.  Today I claim my right to serve and willingly bend my knee before the Father and those He has sent me to serve.

May 16       I Thessalonians 2:8
We loved you so much that we gave you not only God’s Good News but our own lives, too.

GIFT
My life is valuable and I willingly give it to the Lord Jesus.  My life is ever changing because I am surrendered to the Lord.  I will become closer to the Lord as I serve and out of my service I will develop an understanding of the value of those around me.  People count with Jesus and with me.

May 17       I Thessalonians 2:9
Don’t you remember, dear brothers and sisters, how hard we worked among you? Night and day we toiled to earn a living so that our expenses would not be a burden to anyone there as we preached God’s Good News among you.

WEALTH
My service to others is a way that I can learn about wealth.  Anything I have that I cannot give away controls me.  When I toil for the Gospel I am toiling for the Lord.  When I sacrifice for the Gospel I am sacrificing for others.  Getting out the Good News is part of my acceptable service.

May 18       I Thessalonians 2:10
You yourselves are our witnesses and so is God that we were pure and honest and faultless toward all of you believers.

REVERENCE
We are to deal with life with reverence.  The course of our life is so important and valuable.  So many need to hear what we have to say.  Our life and our actions are always on trial.  A watching world needs to have no accusation of our purity and honesty.  We are living before the Lord and a lost world.  Be attentive to what you say and do.

May 19       I Thessalonians 2:11-12
And you know that we treated each of you as a father treats his own children.  We pleaded with you, encouraged you, and urged you to live your lives in a way that God would consider worthy.  For he called you into his Kingdom to share his glory.

LIFE
When we come into the Family of God we are given eternal life.  It begins right now and lasts forever.  We are on mission for Christ in this world and we will only be able to accomplish that mission in this life.  Every moment of every day we are to be about the Lord’s work.

May 20       I Thessalonians 2:13
And we will never stop thanking God that when we preached his message to you, you didn’t think of the words we spoke as being just our own. You accepted what we said as the very word of God which, of course, it was. And this word continues to work in you who believe.

PRAISE
All honor and glory and praise are due the Lord Jesus.  He is partnering with us in this life.  Claim his strength and do all that you do for His honor and glory and praise.

May 21       I Thessalonians 2:14
And then, dear brothers and sisters, you suffered persecution from your own countrymen. In this way, you imitated the believers in God’s churches in Judea who, because of their belief in Christ Jesus, suffered from their own people, the Jews.

SUFFERING
Suffering is a part of the normal Christian life.  We suffer for living and proclaiming Jesus as Lord.  Denying self is a part of our suffering.  Bending the knee in service is another part of our suffering.  The world proclaims our rights we willingly give up our rights.  Do not fear Jesus is always here.  As you live today live a life of commitment and surrender to the Lord Jesus Christ.  He will encourage you and heal you.

May 22       I Thessalonians 2:15-16
For some of the Jews had killed their own prophets, and some even killed the Lord Jesus.  Now they have persecuted us and driven us out. They displease God and oppose everyone by trying to keep us from preaching the Good News to the Gentiles, for fear some might be saved. By doing this, they continue to pile up their sins. But the anger of God has caught up with them at last.

PROCLAMATION
Do people know that you are a Christian?  They should.  Are you bringing honor and praise and glory to God by the way you live?  You should.  When we are not living for the Lord we are living for the Evil One.

May 23       I Thessalonians 2:17-20
Dear brothers and sisters, after we were separated from you for a little while (though our hearts never left you), we tried very hard to come back because of our intense longing to see you again.  We wanted very much to come, and I, Paul, tried again and again, but Satan prevented us.  After all, what gives us hope and joy, and what is our proud reward and crown? It is you! Yes, you will bring us much joy as we stand together before our Lord Jesus when he comes back again.  For you are our pride and joy.

STRUGGLE
Each one of us will face difficult struggles as we seek to serve the Lord.  Struggle is also a part of the normal Christian life.  A Christian life will be a life of joy.  Joy in knowing the Lord.  Joy in service to the Lord.  Joy in experiencing the growth and development of fellow believers.  Joy is a gift from the Father and we can have it in any situation.

May 24       I Thessalonians 3:1-3
Finally, when we could stand it no longer, we decided that I should stay alone in Athens, and we sent Timothy to visit you. He is our co-worker for God and our brother in proclaiming the Good News of Christ. We sent him to strengthen you, to encourage you in your faith, and to keep you from becoming disturbed by the troubles you were going through. But, of course, you know that such troubles are going to happen to us Christians.

TROUBLES
Trouble will come.  You will need strengthening.  Teach your heart to recognize trouble and when it comes go immediately to God’s Word.  His Word will give you the wisdom you will need to face that trouble and the strength to get whatever help you need.

May 25       I Thessalonians 3:4-5
Even while we were with you, we warned you that troubles would soon come and they did, as you well know.  That is why, when I could bear it no longer, I sent Timothy to find out whether your faith was still strong. I was afraid that the Tempter had gotten the best of you and that all our work had been useless.

FAITH
Our faith is fashioned in the fires of difficulty and trouble.  When overwhelmed, rejoice for the Lord’s victory in your particular situation is going to strengthen you.  When you work through that fire you will discover that you will be equipped to help someone else go through a fire similar to yours.  Faith is shaped on the spiritual battlefield.

May 26       I Thessalonians 3:6
Now Timothy has just returned, bringing the good news that your faith and love are as strong as ever. He reports that you remember our visit with joy and that you want to see us just as much as we want to see you.

REJOICE
We can rejoice with others when they have experienced a time of trial.  We can rejoice as we go through trials.  As long as Jesus is the focus of our life we will survive and thrive.  And one day we will rejoice together with Him in Heaven.

May 27       I Thessalonians 3:7
So we have been greatly comforted, dear brothers and sisters, in all of our own crushing troubles and suffering, because you have remained strong in your faith.

STRENGTH
We are encouraged by others as they work out their faith with fear and trembling.  It encourages us because we may have experienced the same thing and know what the outcome will be.  It may encourage us because we haven’t gotten there yet and know that when we do we will come through victorious as friends have.  The common experience of all Christians is the intervention of the Lord Jesus in the impossible situations of our life so that we will experience victory.  Jesus is Lord.

May 28       I Thessalonians 3:8
It gives us new life, knowing you remain strong in the Lord.

ISOLATION
Isolation is a tool used by the deceiver.  Be in church.  Be with other Christians.  Share your faith and experiences.  Listen as others share their faith and experiences.  But for the grace of God there goes each one of us.  Claim His grace and mercy, build strong friendships and serve others.  Relationships encourage our growth and strength.

May 29       I Thessalonians 3:9
How we thank God for you! Because of you we have great joy in the presence of God.

ENCOURAGEMENT
Share a kind word with everyone you meet.  Recognize the value of each person you meet and you will be amazed at how valuable you become.  We never know the importance of a kind word.  Sometimes those we encourage are on their last leg.  We also do not realize the boost that encouraging others gives to us.  Together we stand.  Divided we are an easy target.  Serve Jesus by caring for the saints.

May 30       I Thessalonians 3:10
Night and day we pray earnestly for you, asking God to let us see you again to fill up anything that may still be missing in your faith.

ENCOURAGEMENT
People need people.  We need to pray for one another.  We need to work together with others.  We need to learn patience and kindness.  Be gentle.  Be confident in failure and humble in victory.  Jesus is Lord.

May 31       I Thessalonians 3:11-13
May God himself, our Father, and our Lord Jesus make it possible for us to come to you very soon.  And may the Lord make your love grow and overflow to each other and to everyone else, just as our love overflows toward you.  As a result, Christ will make your hearts strong, blameless, and holy when you stand before God our Father on that day when our Lord Jesus comes with all those who belong to him.

RETURN
Jesus will return.  He is coming back.  Do not fear.  Ask for joy and peace.  Pray for the saints and serve with confidence.  The victory is won.  We belong to Jesus.