Category - Devotionals

5/1/02 Genesis 2:18
And the LORD God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a companion who will help him.

I have been married more than thirty years. I can truthfully say that my wife has been a real helpmate. At times she has led and at times she has followed my lead. We have worked together to profit from our mistakes and to enjoy good fortune. My wife has seriously enriched my life. This journey would be difficult without her.

5/2/02 Genesis 24:12
“O LORD, God of my master,” he prayed. “Give me success and show kindness to my master, Abraham. Help me to accomplish the purpose of my journey.

I have tried to consider my employers goals as my goals. I have never worked for someone that I didn’t respect and trust. God has called me to be diligent, resourceful and fair.

5/3/02 Matthew 15:25
But she came and worshiped him and pleaded again, “Lord, help me!”

There have been some days that I wouldn’t have made it without Jesus. The challenges of life are sometimes overwhelming. He has been faithful to me.

5/4/02 Daniel 9:18
“O my God, listen to me and hear my request. Open your eyes and see our wretchedness. See how your city lies in ruins – for everyone knows that it is yours. We do not ask because we deserve help, but because you are so merciful.

Sin is real. I am a sinner. Forgiveness also is real. Forgiveness erases my sin and equips me to fellowship with the Father. Thank you Lord for forgiving me.

5/5/02 Matthew 25:44-45
“Then they will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and not help you?’ And he will answer, ‘I assure you, when you refused to help the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were refusing to help me.’

God loves people most of all. He created every single person in His image. I will either serve those that God loves or I will slave for the demon Satan.

5/6/02 Mark 9:24
The father instantly replied, “I do believe, but help me not to doubt!”

I am a doubting Thomas. Oh I want to believe and I purpose to believe. The truth is only the power of God will equip and enable me to believe. Come Lord Jesus.

5/7/02 Exodus 23:5
If you see the donkey of someone who hates you struggling beneath a heavy load, do not walk by. Instead, stop and offer to help.

What I do counts. People need help. I may be the only help that those I come into contact with will get.

5/8/02 Matthew 7:4
How can you think of saying, ‘Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,’ when you can’t see past the log in your own eye?

I always know how to fix other peoples problems. Lord help me to fix mine and keep my mouth shut.

5/9/02 Matthew 9:36
He felt great pity for the crowds that came, because their problems were so great and they didn’t know where to go for help. They were like sheep without a shepherd.

Problems come. Jesus solves problems. When I get up each day I commit that day to the Lord. I ask for wisdom, mercy and grace. Before the day is over I am claiming that help from the Lord. He has never failed me.

5/10/02 John 5:5-7
One of the men lying there had been sick for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him and knew how long he had been ill, he asked him, “Would you like to get well?” “I can’t, sir,” the sick man said, “for I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred up. While I am trying to get there, someone else always gets in ahead of me.”

Life seeks to make me miss the point. The point is I must go to Jesus for all my needs. If I mess up I need help. I don’t need to worry about fixing the situation. I need to fix me. In real life the problem that I must learn to deal with is me.

5/11/02 Acts 20:35
And I have been a constant example of how you can help the poor by working hard. You should remember the words of the Lord Jesus: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.'”

I can cry about what I don’t have or give what I can. I don’t advocate a give to get philosophy but my experience is that I have always reaped bountifully when I gave. Giving equips me for life and spiritual growth.

5/12/02 Romans 1:11
For I long to visit you so I can share a spiritual blessing with you that will help you grow strong in the Lord.

I need Christian friends. I need to express what God is doing inside of me and in my life. The miracles He shapes are important. The lives He touches through me are a blessing. It is amazing how much the Lord is doing in and through me and you.

5/13/02 Deuteronomy 8:5
So you should realize that just as a parent disciplines a child, the LORD your God disciplines you to help you.

I am self centered and blind. Some days everything I do is wrong. When I get this way I need correcting. The Lord is faithful to correct me, forgive me, and put be back on the right path. Often He does this quickly. If I will go to Him everyday I will seldom go more than a day in the wrong direction.

5/14/02 Ro 5:3
We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they are good for us – they help us learn to endure.

I really don’t like learning experiences while I am going through them. But it is these very same learning experiences that equip me to serve the Lord Jesus. Father, as difficult as they are I am grateful to you. Help me to stand in the hour of learning and to always turn to you.

5/15/02 Deuteronomy 32:38
Where now are those gods, who ate the fat of their sacrifices and drank the wine of their offerings? Let those gods arise and help you! Let them provide you with shelter!

The Lord is the only true God. Test Him. Call upon Him. See if He will be true to you. My own personal experience is that every promise of the Living God is true and He is always faithful.

5/16/02 Romans 12:13
When God’s children are in need, be the one to help them out. And get into the habit of inviting guests home for dinner or, if they need lodging, for the night.

I am charged with helping the people that I come into contact with. It involves my physical involvement. Proxy charity doesn’t relieve me of a call to care for those in need.

5/17/02 Hosea 5:15
Then I will return to my place until they admit their guilt and look to me for help. For as soon as trouble comes, they will search for me.”

I must make sure that my time with the Lord is daily. I cannot build my relationship with the Lord only when the fireworks of life go off. Foxhole religion is alive and well but that kind of faith will not sustain me over the long haul. I need the Lord.

5/18/02 Romans 14:4
Who are you to condemn God’s servants? They are responsible to the Lord, so let him tell them whether they are right or wrong. The Lord’s power will help them do as they should.

Jesus is my model for the Christian lifestyle. I am charged with the responsibility of organizing and ordering my life. Christ is my Lord. If I keep my eyes on Jesus I will be able to love and serve others.

5/19/02 Romans 15:5
May God, who gives this patience and encouragement, help you live in complete harmony with each other – each with the attitude of Christ Jesus toward the other.

I need to take my personal problems to Jesus. He will listen, encourage and correct me. I have discovered that when my life is in order I don’t get out of sorts as quickly with others.

5/20/021Corinthians 14:12
Since you are so eager to have spiritual gifts, ask God for those that will be of real help to the whole church.

God gave my spiritual gifts to me. He has a plan for my life. I am not called to pick and choose the gifts that I want. I am called to exercise the gifts I have. The Lord evaluates me not the person I would like to be.

5/21/02 Deuteronomy 33:26
“There is no one like the God of Israel. He rides across the heavens to help you, across the skies in majestic splendor.

My God loves me. He loves me because He created me. He loves the way I do things. He rejoices when I smile and He hurts when I fail. The Lord is God and there is no other.

5/22/02 Judges 6:6
So Israel was reduced to starvation by the Midianites. Then the Israelites cried out to the LORD for help.

I love the Lord. I love Him because He first loved me. I love Him because He cares for me. I love Him because He helps me. I love Him because He never leaves me alone. I love Him because He makes my life worthwhile. I love Him because I will be with Him from this moment forever and ever and ever.

5/23/02 2Samuel 22:7
But in my distress I cried out to the LORD; yes, I called to my God for help. He heard me from his sanctuary; my cry reached his ears.

I serve a God who cares. He cares for me. He cares for me at my worst. When all else fails Jesus never fails.

5/24/02 2 Corinthians 6:2
For God says, “At just the right time, I heard you. On the day of salvation, I helped you.” Indeed, God is ready to help you right now. Today is the day of salvation.

I live in the now. Everything I do and say and am is now. I will never be what I can be tomorrow. I can only be what I am now. The world has a way of fooling me. It says tomorrow. Life is never tomorrow it is always today.

5/25/02 2 Corinthians 7:10
For God can use sorrow in our lives to help us turn away from sin and seek salvation. We will never regret that kind of sorrow. But sorrow without repentance is the kind that results in death.

I want to change. I want to be like Jesus. I can change if I will spend time with the Lord. I need to read His Word, I need to talk with Him and I need to listen for what He says.

5/26/02 Galatians 2:10
The only thing they suggested was that we remember to help the poor, and I have certainly been eager to do that.

I am among the 20% of the wealthiest people in the world. Chances are very good that you are too. Jesus said that I should care for the poor.

5/27/02 1Samuel 12:21
Don’t go back to worshiping worthless idols that cannot help or rescue you – they really are useless!

Addictions are the curse of our day. I get caught up in self and overwhelmed by the moment and lose sight of the Lord. It is imperative that I spend time with the Lord. I need to spend time in prayer and in reading His Word. If I do not organize my life to spend time with the Lord I will waste time being overwhelmed by the world.

5/28/02 Galatians 6:1
Dear brothers and sisters, if another Christian is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself.

It is hard is to be humble and gentle with someone caught up in sin. Since I am not naturally humble it takes thoughtful preparation for me to be able to respond with humility. I think that Jesus wants me to care for them as if He were there caring for them himself.

5/29/02 Philippians 4:13
For I can do everything with the help of Christ who gives me the strength I need.

I have significant problems with insecurity. My lack of confidence causes me to overcompensate in my dealings with others. This generally ends up with me responding inappropriately. Christ wants me to love others and be loved. If I will faithfully seek His guidance in daily interactions with others He will help me to respond to them properly.

5/30/02 I Thessalonians 5:14
And we exhort you, brothers: warn those who are lazy, comfort the discouraged, help the weak, be patient with everyone.

Life is a community event. If I choose to live like a hermit meeting only my needs and doing only my thing then I am living in total opposition to the teachings of God’s Word. God loves people and He uses me to minister to His children.

5/31/02 Hebrews 2:18
For since He Himself was tested and has suffered, He is able to help those who are tested.

The human experience is difficult and short and the Lord Jesus has walked the same troubled paths that I walk. The Lord knows everything about me. Jesus knows my name and feels my pain.

4/1/02 Matthew Mt 27:64
So we request that you seal the tomb until the third day. This will prevent his disciples from coming and stealing his body and then telling everyone he came back to life! If that happens, we’ll be worse off than we were at first.”

God’s plan is not sidetracked by my unbelief. God’s work will be done. His work will be done in the way that He directs. I can choose to follow the Lord. I can make a commitment to do His work. When I do, God will work with me to accomplish His assigned task.

4/2/02 1 Samuel 16:7
But the LORD said to Samuel, “Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The LORD doesn’t make decisions the way you do! People judge by outward appearance, but the LORD looks at a person’s thoughts and intentions.”

I cannot fool the Lord. My character is not hidden from Him. He knows all about me. His knowledge of me is an encouragement. It means that the harsh things that happen do not surprise Him. I can have confidence as I serve the Lord that He knows my situation and me.

4/3/02 Mark 8:35
If you try to keep your life for yourself, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will find true life.

When I get to age 65 I don’t want to look back on my life and say is that all there is? I want to serve the Lord. I want to hear Him say one day “well done thou good and faithful servant.” If I am going to accomplish that I must be about the master’s business today. Now is the time to prepare for tomorrow.

4/4/02 Mark 10:17
As he was starting out on a trip, a man came running up to Jesus, knelt down, and asked, “Good Teacher, what should I do to get eternal life?”

Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved. Right then and for eternity. Salvation is a grace gift from the Father. It is not something I can work for or become good enough to win. It is a gift from God because He loves me.

4/5/02 Mark 10:29-30
And Jesus replied, “I assure you that everyone who has given up house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or property, for my sake and for the Good News, will receive now in return, a hundred times over, houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and property – with persecutions. And in the world to come they will have eternal life.

I am not a free agent. My relationship with the Lord is that of a servant. The Father has a plan for my life. That plan includes serving others. Real freedom is found in submission.

4/6/02 Mark 10:45
For even I, the Son of Man, came here not to be served but to serve others, and to give my life as a ransom for many.”

God stepped off His throne in glory. He came as the least so that I would know He loved me. I am valuable. I am loved. I can be the right kind of person.

4/7/02 Mark 16:8
The women fled from the tomb, trembling and bewildered, saying nothing to anyone because they were too frightened to talk. Then they reported all these instructions briefly to Peter and his companions. Afterward Jesus himself sent them out from east to west with the sacred and unfailing message of salvation that gives eternal life.

I needed to be rescued from my sinful life. I am not alone. God loves me. His wonderful gift to me is eternal life and friendship with Him.

4/8/02 Luke 4:4
But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say, ‘People need more than bread for their life.’ ”

Life is uncertain. Changes come so quickly. I need to spend time with Jesus reading His Word. I need a quiet time with the Jesus every day. Most days I require several times with Jesus. He is my friend. He is closer than a brother. I need the Lord.

4/9/02 Luke 6:9
Then Jesus said to his critics, “I have a question for you. 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?”

I am called to care for others. The Lord will use me if I will let Him. People should be my first priority.

4/10/02 Luke 7:22
Then he told John’s disciples, “Go back to John and tell him what you have seen and heard – the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life, and the Good News is being preached to the poor.

Jesus is God. No question about it. He came to rescue His creation. He has rescued me. How about you?

4/11/02 Luke 8:14
The thorny ground represents those who hear and accept the message, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the cares and riches and pleasures of this life. And so they never grow into maturity.

The Christian lifestyle is not easy. It demands that I live differently than the world. I am called to trust. I am commissioned to serve. Jesus is alive. He is alive in me. His life gives me life.

4/12/02 Luke 8:55
And at that moment her life returned, and she immediately stood up! Then Jesus told them to give her something to eat.

Jesus commanded this woman’s soul to return to her body. She could take up her mortal life again. I want to make sure that I let Jesus have control of my life. He is the life giver.

4/13/02 Luke 9:7
When reports of Jesus’ miracles reached Herod Antipas, he was worried and puzzled because some were saying, “This is John the Baptist come back to life again.”

Jesus is the life giver. His followers experience the cares and worry of a dying world and get life. Jesus brings joy, peace, grace and love to people. He is light and in Him there is no darkness.

4/14/02 Luke 12:25
Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? Of course not!

I was worried about my child at 2 a.m. I got before the Lord and expressed the concerns of my heart. He reminded me that He was also concerned. He hadn’t forgotten my child or me. I could trust Him. Laying aside worry is a hard thing to do. Sometimes I am afraid to lay it aside. Jesus helps me deal with my concern. He is enabling me to grow.

4/15/02 Luke 14:26
“If you want to be my follower you must love me more than your own father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters – yes, more than your own life. Otherwise, you cannot be my disciple.

The Lord places a lot of value on my life. The key for me to unlock this value is a single-minded focus on the things of God. Family is important. I cannot overlook them. God is eternal and I must learn to live life through Him.

4/16/02 Luke 15:22-24
“But his father said to the servants, ‘Quick! Bring the finest robe in the house and put it on him. Get a ring for his finger, and sandals for his feet. And kill the calf we have been fattening in the pen. We must celebrate with a feast, for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found.’ So the party began.

God is in the forgiving business. I must be willing to put aside my pride, agree with God about the way I act and purpose to change. In a daily quiet time I give the Holy Spirit the opportunity to identify my sin. I see it, I understand it, and I agree with God it was wrong. My heart is changed and my actions reflect the change. At the point of confession forgiveness happens.

4/17/02 Luke 15:32
We had to celebrate this happy day. For your brother was dead and has come back to life! He was lost, but now he is found!'”

I am new in Jesus. All of the old things that pull me down are set aside. I asked God to rescue me and I was birthed into the kingdom. Once I was dead in sin and now I am alive in Christ.

4/18/02 Luke 17:33
Whoever clings to this life will lose it, and whoever loses this life will save it.

My reason always gets me into trouble. The reason that reasoning is a problem is my humanity. I have likes and dislikes that have nothing to do with righteousness. As a general rule the thing that I reason in the midst of emotion is usually wrong. But when I get before the Lord and ask Him what to do the result will be His way. God’s way is always the right way.

4/19/02 Luke 18:18
Once a religious leader asked Jesus this question: “Good teacher, what should I do to get eternal life?”

I got eternal life when I asked Christ to forgive me of my sin, save me and then believed that He did indeed save me. Salvation is all of God and comes as a free gift. Acceptance of salvation is by faith in the goodness of God and power of Jesus Christ. He is Lord and has brought me into the family of God.

4/20/02 Luke 18:29-30
“Yes,” Jesus replied, “and I assure you, everyone who has given up house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the Kingdom of God, will be repaid many times over in this life, as well as receiving eternal life in the world to come.”

God’s intention for my life is that I live as His child. There is a demand for me to be exclusive in my interest in the Lord. This exclusiveness is not isolation. I am called to balance my life and in that balance put God first.

4/21/02 Luke 20:36
And they will never die again. In these respects they are like angels. They are children of God raised up to new life.

Heaven will be a great place. One of the many blessings of being in the family of God is that by faith I can enjoy the benefits of heaven right now. I am valuable, my best friend is the most powerful person in existence and He has my best interest at heart. In the ups and downs of life I have an anchor. That anchor is Jesus Christ the Lord. He will not leave me nor leave me at risk. Wow.

4/22/02 Luke 21:34
“Watch out! Don’t let me find you living in careless ease and drunkenness, and filled with the worries of this life. Don’t let that day catch you unaware, like a trap. For it will come on all who live on the face of the whole earth.

Loose and careless living is detrimental to the kingdom. I am called to be watchful. Death comes. I don’t know when it will for anyone. I need to deal honestly and carefully with my life and the way I respond to others. I cannot decide which act will be my last. I can decide that every thing I do will be proper and in order.

4/23/02 John 4:36
The harvesters are paid good wages, and the fruit they harvest is people brought to eternal life. What joy awaits both the planter and the harvester alike!

I want to have joy in my journey of life. This joy is the certainty that I am working together with the Father sharing His good news, freedom from sin and birth of a relationship with Him.

4/24/02 John 5:24
“I assure you, those who listen to my message and believe in God who sent me have eternal life. They will never be condemned for their sins, but they have already passed from death into life.

I am a child of God. It’s not something I aspire to, work for or win, He, the Lord has given me new life. This is one of His 7,000 plus promises in His Word. The Lord is good, all the time.

4/25/02 John 5:26
The Father has life in himself, and he has granted his Son to have life in himself.

It’s all of God. He is the one that came looking for me. The Son died for me and the power of God raised Jesus from the grave. That same power is effective in my life. I too am resurrected from the dead. I was dead in my trespasses and sin and Jesus saved me. He can save you too.

4/26/02 John 5:28-29
Don’t be so surprised! Indeed, the time is coming when all the dead in their graves will hear the voice of God’s Son, and they will rise again. Those who have done good will rise to eternal life, and those who have continued in evil will rise to judgment.

I am lulled into inaction by the humdrum activity of life. Night follows day, bills have to be paid, celebrations come and go and nothing seems to change. One day everything will change. Jesus is coming back and the Bible says that it will be soon.

4/27/02 John 5:39
“You search the Scriptures because you believe they give you eternal life. But the Scriptures point to me!

The Word of God details how I should live. From Genesis to Revelation it consistently points me to Jesus. He is alive.

4/28/02 John 5:40
Yet you refuse to come to me so that I can give you this eternal life.

Jesus is my savior. He forgives me of my sin and takes me into the presence of the Father. He intercedes for me and makes me whole.

4/29/02 John 6:27
But you shouldn’t be so concerned about perishable things like food. Spend your energy seeking the eternal life that I, the Son of Man, can give you. For God the Father has sent me for that very purpose.”

I am concerned about daily matters. I am often overly concerned to the point of anxiety. The Lord calls me to bring that concern and anxiety to Him. He will equip me so that I can live like His child should live.

4/30/02 Mark 7:20
And then he added, “It is the thought-life that defiles you.

What I think governs what I do. If I am focused on what I don’t have I will get depressed and feel bad about myself. If I focus on the opportunities that the Father gives me I can see my life through His eyes. God loves me. Every thought the Father has towards me are thoughts for good.

3/1/02 1 John 2:9
If anyone says, “I am living in the light,” but hates a Christian brother or sister, that person is still living in darkness.

God decides how I should live. The Lord has said that a clear test for me to know how I am living is the way I feel about other Christians. Hate destroys me. Hate separates me. When I hate others I must change. I cannot hate others and walk with the Lord.

3/2/02 Matthew 4:4
But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say, ‘People need more than bread for their life; they must feed on every word of God.’ ”

My actions are a product of my spiritual condition. If I want to act like Jesus I must submit myself to His control. It is important for me to be a serious reader of the Word of God. The Word of God is my tutor. His living Word enables me to grow. His Word corrects, directs and encourages my spiritual condition. The war is raging. I choose whether or not I will survive.

3/3/02 Matthew 6:25
“So I tell you, don’t worry about everyday life – whether you have enough food, drink, and clothes. Doesn’t life consist of more than food and clothing?

I must develop and mature the gifts and skills that the Lord gave me. I do not have to waste a lot of time worrying about the things I cannot change. Worry sidetracks my joy. Worry sets aside my ability to care for and help others. Tomorrow is coming but it always gets here today.

3/4/02 Matthew 6:27
Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? Of course not.

Worry is deceitful. I have discovered that generally the things I worry about are things I cannot change. If I cannot change those things then I will with the Lord’s help not worry about them. Lord help me to receive your joy.

3/5/02 Matthew 7:14
But the gateway to life is small, and the road is narrow, and only a few ever find it.

Jesus is the only way to eternal life. Anyone can receive Jesus. But the only way to have a relationship with the Father is through Christ.

3/6/02 Luke 9:24
If you try to keep your life for yourself, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for me, you will find true life.

I must do the next right thing. I must be about my Father’s business right now. The future is uncertain. I am not promised a second chance to share the Gospel.

3/7/02 Luke 10:25
One day an expert in religious law stood up to test Jesus by asking him this question: “Teacher, what must I do to receive eternal life?”

Eternal life is a gift I receive from God. When I receive this gift it changes the way I see others and myself. As a child of God I am called to be a servant to my fellowman. I am to be a tool that the Lord can use to take care of His children.

3/8/02 Luke 11:36
If you are filled with light, with no dark corners, then your whole life will be radiant, as though a floodlight is shining on you.”

I cannot fool you. If I act like Jesus it simply means I am filled to overflowing with Christ. If I act like the world, I may have the right lingo but the wrong spirit controls me.

3/9/02 Luke 12:15
Then he said, “Beware! Don’t be greedy for what you don’t have. Real life is not measured by how much we own.”

I am a product of my desires. If I desire to be like Jesus I will grow in His likeness. The more I become like Jesus the more freedom I will experience in life. If my desire is focused on me I will always be a slave to what I don’t have.

3/10/02 Luke 12:22
Then turning to his disciples, Jesus said, “So I tell you, don’t worry about everyday life – whether you have enough food to eat or clothes to wear.

I am equipped to live a successful life. My benchmark is not what others have or what others do. I am to be busy developing my gifts and skills. The Lord wants only good for me. If I live for Him I will get the things I need to live a fulfilled life.

3/11/02 Luke 12:23
For life consists of far more than food and clothing.

Life is often very difficult. Jesus strengthens me. Life is destructive. Jesus heals me. Life is evil. Jesus forgives me. Life is done. Jesus gives me eternal life. Jesus can deal with, fix, and overcome anything.

3/12/02 Mark 3:4
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.

Jesus loves people. He died for me that I might live. He died for you too. Choose the Lord.

3/13/02 Mark 4:18-19
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.

I am alive today. I have twenty-four hours. The only time I can read God’s Word is now. The only time I can pray is now. If I do not learn to develop my relationship with the Lord now I’ll always be waiting until tomorrow. I must never put off until tomorrow what I can do for the Lord today.

3/14/02 John 1:4
Life itself was in him, and this life gives light to everyone.

When I asked Jesus to forgive me of my sin and save me He did. He helps me to change. He enables me to be what I have always wanted to be. He puts me in control of my life. No longer am I a runaway train out of control. He equips me to deal with me.

3/15/02 John 3:6
Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives new life from heaven.

Jesus died for my sin. He delivered me from bondage to a Godless life. He sent the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit lives in me. I am a child of God, birthed into His kingdom. I will have live eternally with the Lord.

3/16/02 Luke 6:19
Everyone was trying to touch him, because healing power went out from him, and they were all cured.

The power of the Lord Jesus Christ is available for me. His healing is effective and is always as the Father directs. Jesus gives me restoration in my spirit. He renews my awareness of His presence. He never leaves me alone. He always does what is in my best interest. God is good all the time.

3/17/02 John 3:16
“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.

God’s love reaches out to me. It is always effective to meet the need that I have. It is powerful. It is enabling. I will never be without His power once I come into the His family. His deliverance is more powerful than any other created thing. He is able to save me for eternity.

3/18/02 John 3:36
And all who believe in God’s Son have eternal life. Those who don’t obey the Son will never experience eternal life, but the wrath of God remains upon them.”

I have redemption in Jesus. There is no other way to the Father. It is a gift from my creator. I can come to Him in Christ or I will not have a relationship with Him. Our sovereign God has spoken in Jesus. Jesus is the Way.

3/19/02 John 4:14
But the water I give them takes away thirst altogether. It becomes a perpetual spring within them, giving them eternal life.”

My soul hungers and thirsts for spiritual food and water. The living Word, Jesus Christ, and the written Word, the Bible, will satisfy my soul. Jesus will never forsake me. Jesus will always help me to deal with my life.

3/20/01 Matthew 9:18
As Jesus was saying this, the leader of a synagogue came and knelt down before him. “My daughter has just died,” he said, “but you can bring her back to life again if you just come and lay your hand upon her.”

I have tried Jesus. He has met my every need. When the day is dark and life is difficult I always turn to Him. He is there. He will help me. I can count on Jesus.

3/21/02 Matthew 10:39
If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give it up for me, you will find it.

I can serve the Lord. He has a plan for my life. I am valuable to Him. God loves people most of all. He wants me to serve those He loves.

3/22/02 Matthew 11:4-5
Jesus told them, “Go back to John and tell him about what you have heard and seen-the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life, and the Good News is being preached to the poor.

God loves me. He loves me without reservation. He knows all about me including every thought I have ever had. He still loves me. He came looking for me and I gave my heart to Him. What a miracle. Our Lord is the only God and there is no other.

3/23/02 Matthew13:22
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 and the lure of wealth, so no crop is produced.

Faith is a stretch. Faith separates believers from non-believers. I choose to believe. The world doesn’t want me to believe. My choice to believe or not to believe will determine the direction of my faith. God is faithful and will never leave me. Tragically too many choose the world and not the Father.

3/24/02 Matthew 14:1-2
When Herod Antipas heard about Jesus, he said to his advisers, “This must be John the Baptist come back to life again! That is why he can do such miracles.”

Antipas wanted power. He didn’t care how he got it. He consistently made the wrong choice. It is important for me to make good choices. I must do the right thing. When I see that I have done the wrong thing I must fix it. Wrong choices result in a wasted life.

3/25/02 Matthew 16:25
If you try to keep your life for yourself, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for me, you will find true life.

I didn’t give up much. I had a troubled life and I was my own best friend. I was always scheming to get ahead. It didn’t matter what I had it was never enough. Morality was usually what was demanded by the situation. Then I surrendered to Jesus. He became my best friend. His friendship changed me. I was no longer alone. I could stop the scheming. I learned that I was able to do the next right thing. What I had became enough and peace became a reality.

3/26/02 Matthew 19:16
Someone came to Jesus with this question: “Teacher, what good things must I do to have eternal life?”

Why do I always count the good things and overlook the bad habits? It seems that it is my human nature to want to do just enough to be classified as good. The truth as Jesus stated is that if I become good on the inside what I do will always be good. The things I do reflect the condition of my heart. Good does good, bad does bad.
God is good all the time.

3/27/02 Matthew 19:17
“Why ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “Only God is good. But to answer your question, you can receive eternal life if you keep the commandments.”

I cannot survive without Jesus. The law shows clearly that I am not able to do good. Sin is always lurking at the door of my heart. But, Jesus redeemed me and made me whole. He is constantly remaking me and forgiving me for my sin. In Christ I have eternal life.

3/28/02 Matthew 19:29
And everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or property, for my sake, will receive a hundred times as much in return and will have eternal life.

My life is too often focused on things. Like the rich young ruler I plead what must I do. Jesus says obedience is the first step. When I am facing the impossible situation Jesus will intervene. He provides peace and guidance. His hand blesses me with the right solution. Can I ignore God and live for the moment? Of course I can. But that kind of life quickly disappears. Eternal life begins now.

3/29/02 Matthew 20:28
For even I, the Son of Man, came here not to be served but to serve others, and to give my life as a ransom for many.”

A Godly life focuses on the interests of the Lord. I will suffer greatly as I follow Jesus because the pull of the world is so persistent. Doing the right thing doesn’t come easily. Self-interest, creature comforts and just plain old evil are always at hand attempting to persuade me to come their way. A Christ like life involves personal commitment, and a willingness to set aside the perks the world offers.

3/30/02 Matthew 21:32
For John the Baptist came and showed you the way to life, and you didn’t believe him, while tax collectors and prostitutes did. And even when you saw this happening, you refused to turn from your sins and believe him.

I am a sinner cleansed by the blood of Christ. His sacrifice paid for my sin and reconciled me with the Father. I don’t deserve, I can’t earn it nor can I decide how I will come to the Father. Salvation is a gift from God that is available only through Jesus. The rich and well placed have a hard time bending the knee to God.

3/31/02 Matthew 25:46
And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous will go into eternal life.”

There is a hell. Those that refuse to accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior will be its occupants. God’s gift of salvation through Jesus Christ requires that I accept Jesus as Lord of my life. When Christ is Lord, heaven is my home.

2/1/02 Psalm 97:11
Light shines on the godly, and joy on those who do right.

There are 18 great religions in the world. Seventeen of them focus on how people improve themselves to earn a relationship with God. Christianity states that God in Christ gives man a relationship with Him. Jesus provides to me as a free gift what all of the world is searching for-a relationship with God.

2/2/02 Psalm 112:1
Praise the LORD! Happy are those who fear the LORD. Yes, happy are those who delight in doing what he commands.

God wants me to be obedient. He calls me to obedience for my own good. The Father knows the future better than I know my past. He requires obedience from me so that I can build an abundant life.

2/3/02 Psalm 119:105
Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light for my path.

I had a tough day. As the hours passed they added to my gloom. I couldn’t relax. There was a feeling that a cloud was over everything going on. Finally out of desperation I sat down with the Lord. I read His Word. It comforted me. Suddenly as if a light had been turned on the gloom of the day disappeared. Jesus is the light of the world.

2/4/02 Isaiah 60:20
The sun will never set; the moon will not go down. For the LORD will be your everlasting light. Your days of mourning will come to an end.

Some days without any warning, I will get a feeling of sadness or depression. A remembered failure may cause it. A thoughtless comment may be the cause. Sometimes I can’t really pin down what causes it. Those are the times I turn to the Lord for His intervention. I read His Word. I talk with Him. I claim His promises and take them to heart. His presence removes the gloom and encourages my heart.

2/5/02 Matthew 4:16
The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light. And for those who lived in the land where death casts its shadow, a light has shined.”

I was lost, dead in my trespasses and sin, and now I am saved. Jesus touched me with His love and forgave my sin. He made me new and put me in the family of God. I am not alone. I belong to Him.

2/6/02 Matthew 5:14
You are the light of the world – like a city on a mountain, glowing in the night for all to see.

Jesus is easy to find. I simply go to where there is peace, joy and comfort and there He is. His light is always shining.

2/7/02 Matthew 5:15
Don’t hide your light under a basket! Instead, put it on a stand and let it shine for all.

I want to be like Jesus. I want to have a good word for the confused. I want to bring healing to the hurting. I am committed to caring for the hopeless. I can only become like Jesus when He has control of me.

2/8/02 Matthew 6:23
But an evil eye shuts out the light and plunges you into darkness. If the light you think you have is really darkness, how deep that darkness will be!

I am a selfish creature. I often decide what I want to do and then plead with the Lord to bless my plans. I am discovering that my loving Father wants me to talk with Him first and plan second. He will give me wisdom that is not clouded by my ego. When I follow His plan it will always result in my best good. Christ died that I might have an abundant life. The Father knows what is best.

2/9/02 Luke 1:78 – 79
Because of God’s tender mercy, the light from heaven is about to break upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, and to guide us to the path of peace.”

Jesus came for me. He broke through the pain and agony that life brings. He helped me to see myself as He sees me, valuable, useful and gifted. He enabled me to see beyond the limitations that time, wealth and the world place on me. God is good and He loves me.

2/10/02 Luke 11:35
Make sure that the light you think you have is not really darkness.

I am a great sinner. I am so easily diverted from serving the Lord. It is critical for me to spend time in God’s Word. His Word measures my actions. The Holy Spirit sees deep within my heart and roots out sin. The Lord uses His living Word to instruct, correct and discipline me. His Word is my light.

2/11/02 John 1:4
Life itself was in him, and this life gives light to everyone.

I cannot survive without Jesus. I need Him. I want to talk with Him every day. I spend time with Him and let Him give me guidance. I take my emotions to Him and let Him calm me down or encourage me. He is closer to me than a brother. Bless the name of the Lord.

2/12/02 John 1:5
The light shines through the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.

I am so grateful that my sin cannot stop Jesus. He is powerful and able. He can minister to me what ever I have done. He is not limited by my foolishness or stupidity. He really is the ONE.

2/13/02 John 8:12
Jesus said to the people, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t be stumbling through the darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.”

Jesus wants me to obey Him. The Word of God gives me simple, specific directions for dealing with my life and overcoming sins control of me. The Lord loves my obedience more than my sacrifice.

2/14/02 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.

I want to be like Jesus. I spend time with Him so that I will know Him. I think about His life and His Words. Jesus is light. He always brightens up my life. He cares for people. I am most like Jesus when I care for others.

2/15/02 Romans 13:12
The night is almost gone; the day of salvation will soon be here. So don’t live in darkness. Get rid of your evil deeds. Shed them like dirty clothes. Clothe yourselves with the armor of right living, as those who live in the light.

My attitude is important. What I think matters. What I think about lays the foundation for what I do. If I want to change my deeds I must change what I think about first.

2/16/02 2Corinthians 4:4
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.

Work is a good thing. I like to work. But as I work I must be careful that it lines up with the work that the Lord has assigned me. Am I doing the work for myself or am I doing it for the Lord. Jesus has a plan for my life and I must be about accomplishing that plan.

2/17/02 2Corinthians 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.

I am amazed that the Lord can use me. I am weak and selfish. Often I am inconsiderate and distant. It seems that my sin is ever near. But God has called me. The power of God within me keeps me on course. When I fail He picks me up. His presence is my strength.

2/18/02 2Corinthians 6:14
Don’t team up with those who are unbelievers. How can goodness be a partner with wickedness? How can light live with darkness?

I am to love the lost. I am to care for them and share with them. But I cannot plan the Lord’s work with the lost. The lost cannot fellowship with the Father. I am praying right now that everyone I know that is lost will come to know Jesus as their Lord and Savior.

2/19/02 Ephesians 1:18
I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the wonderful future he has promised to those he called. I want you to realize what a rich and glorious inheritance he has given to his people.

Jesus talks with me about His care and concern for me. He enables me to be a faithful soldier in my spiritual life. He charges me to be a faithful servant in my daily life.

2/20/02 Ephesians 5:8
For though your hearts were once full of darkness, now you are full of light from the Lord, and your behavior should show it!

I find it hard to be nice to difficult people. I too was once a difficult person, dead in my trespasses and sin. Christ died for me. I can choose to be kind. I can choose to act like Jesus. A person’s action will not determine my response.

2/21/02 Colossians 1:11-12
We also pray that you will be strengthened with his glorious power so that you will have all the patience and endurance you need. May you be filled with joy, always thanking the Father, who has enabled you to share the inheritance that belongs to God’s holy people, who live in the light.

I do not think of myself as a Holy person. I am though. Not because of what I have done but because of what Jesus did. He brings me into the throne room of God. I belong. The Father is concerned about me. His thoughts towards me are good thoughts. I can live my life knowing that I belong to the Lord and live in His light.

2/22/02 1Thessalonians 5:5
For you are all children of the light and of the day; we don’t belong to darkness and night.

Christ has saved me. I am part of the family of God. The Holy Spirit works in me so that what I know will become what I do. My time with the Lord is the most important thing I do every day. I belong to Him.

2/23/02 1Thessalonians 5:8
But let us who live in the light think clearly, protected by the body armor of faith and love, and wearing as our helmet the confidence of our salvation.

I am a child of God. The Father calls me to be a faithful soldier in the spiritual realm. Daily devotionals, prayer for the day, intercession for others are basic requirements to fight the fight of faith. The Father also calls me to live like Jesus. I am to develop my gifts and skills in this world as a servant. I can live this way because I know whose I am.

2/24/02 1Timothy 6:16
He alone can never die, and he lives in light so brilliant that no human can approach him. No one has ever seen him, nor ever will. To him be honor and power forever. Amen.

God is real. When I accept His witness and believe His testimony the Lord becomes real in my life. He gives me a chance to choose. Praise the Lord from whom all blessings flow.

2/25/02 1Peter 2:9
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.

I am not alone. My life belongs to God. He walks with me and gives me guidance so that I can serve Him. Jesus is Lord.

2/26/02 2Peter 1:19
Because of that, we have even greater confidence in the message proclaimed by the prophets. Pay close attention to what they wrote, for their words are like a light shining in a dark place – until the day Christ appears and his brilliant light shines in your hearts.

Jesus is coming back. I can believe this fact because the Father said so in His Word. Until Jesus returns I can live my life based on His Word. Jesus is alive and He lives in me.

2/27/02 1John 1:5
This is the message he has given us to announce to you: God is light and there is no darkness in him at all.

God is perfect. Only the Lord can give me the wisdom and guidance that I need to live each day. That is the reason that I diligently search His Word and claim His promises. He knows everything. I know so little. I am grateful that I can depend on the Lord.

2/28/02 1John 1:7
But if we are living in the light of God’s presence, just as Christ is, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from every sin.

The Word of God says that I am to love my brother. The people I live among are important to God. They must be important to me.

1/1/02 Genesis 1:27
So God created people in his own image; God patterned them after himself; male and female he created them.

I am made in the image of God. The Lord made me to have fellowship with Him and to be His representative. He knows everything about me. His love is focused on me.

1/2/02 Genesis 2:23-24
“At last!” Adam exclaimed. “She is part of my own flesh and bone! She will be called ‘woman,’ because she was taken out of a man.” This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.

I have been married more than thirty years. My wife and I complete each other. She is strong where I am weak. The Lord created both man and woman. We do not compete, we compliment.

1/3/02 Proverbs 10:12
Hatred stirs up quarrels, but love covers all offenses.

I have learned that my attitude causes a lot of my problems. People are important. When I make others important it enables me to deal with them in a Christian manner. It also helps me to see things from their viewpoint. I am wiser and happier when I deal with others kindly.

1/4/02 Proverbs 17:9
Disregarding another person’s faults preserves love; telling about them separates close friends.

I once thought that giving others a piece of my mind was smart. It isn’t, it is actually stupid. Prejudice and bias are best when forgotten. The golden rule applies here. I am to be forgiving and understanding. I never have to apologize for what I don’t say.

1/5/02 John 13:14-15
“And since I, the Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you.”

I am called to be a servant. I am equipped to serve others. Sin will always stand in the way. I will see myself as too important or too busy. The truth is that what I really need is to serve. Serving is my business. My joy and peace are nurtured by service.

1/6/02 John 13: 34-35
“I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”

Jesus Christ has delivered me from the power of evil. The presence of darkness lurks near my heart. The biggest stumbling block in my life will always be a hard heart and a hateful spirit. Only Jesus can give me a loving spirit. A loving spirit can only rule in a conquered heart. Jesus is Lord.

1/7/02 John 15: 12-13
I command you to love each other in the same way I love you. And here is how to measure it— the greatest love is shown when people lay down their lives for their friends.

Jesus died for me. He gave His life that I might have life. His death, burial and resurrection enabled me to come into the family of God. I accepted His free gift of life. Now I must die to self. When I look at others I know their need, a savior, Jesus Christ the Lord. I will spend my life on earth learning to die for my friends.

1/8/02 Romans 12:9-10
Don’t just pretend that you love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Stand on the side of the good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other.

People count. All people count. I am to watch and pray. I am called to do what I can for people. I am responsible for how I live.

1/9/02 Romans 13: 8-9
Pay all your debts, except for the debt of love for others. You can never finish paying that! If you love your neighbor, you will fulfill all the requirements of God’s law. For the commandments against adultery and murder and stealing and coveting—and any other commandment—are all summed up in this one commandment, “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

I am a child of God. The Lord loves me. I am His. In Jesus I am victorious. He has a plan for my life and it is an important, vital plan. What I do has eternal consequences.

1/10/02 I Corinthians 13: 1-3
If I could speak with any language in heaven or earth, but didn’t love others, I would only be making meaningless noises like a loud gong or a clanging symbol. If I had the gift of prophecy, and I knew all the mysteries, but didn’t love others, what good would I be? And if I had the gift of faith so that I could speak to a mountain and cause it to move, without love I would be no good to anybody. If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would be of no value whatsoever.

Love is an action. I am responsible for the way I act towards the most helpless and the least powerful. Love makes me useful. Love enables me to be a good servant. If I do not love others everything I do is mechanical and without eternal benefit.

1/11/02 I Corinthians 13:4
Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude.

If I love others I will not always be trying to get my way. If I am acting out of love I will not focus on the things I like to do but instead focus on the things that others need done. I will change from the way I normally act to the way God’s servant would act.

1/12/02 1 Corinthians 13:5-6
Love does not demand its own way. Love is not irritable and it keeps no record of when it has been wronged. It is never glad about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out.

My life finds meaning when I am committed to serving others. Their need speaks deeply to my soul. My sacrifice equips me to grow in grace. My surrender is an absolute declaration of His victory and my peace. There is joy in the journey when I am on my knees before the King.

1/13/02 I Corinthians 13:7
Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.

The world is constantly seeking to influence us. I can be an influence for good, an encouragement for peace when I love people. Love knocks down barricades and builds bridges across vast differences between people. I can love others. The question is am I willing to love?

1/14/02 Ephesians 5:21, 24-26
And further, you will submit to one another out of reverence for Christ…As the church submits to Christ, so you wives must submit to your husbands in everything. And you husbands must love your wives with the same love Christ showed the church. He gave up his life for her to make her holy and clean, washed by baptism and God’s word.

I have everything I need for the Christian journey in Jesus. The key is my submission. Will I do what Jesus has called me to do? Will I care for people? Am I committed to service? I must die to self and live for the Lord Jesus Christ.

1/15/02 Galatians 5:13
For you, dear friends, have been called to live in freedom—not freedom to satisfy your sinful nature, but freedom to serve one another in love.

When I surrendered my life to Jesus, He set me free. It was a gift that could not be earned but must be accepted. Real freedom, and lasting victory are found in surrender to the Lord Jesus Christ.

1/16/02 Psalm 27:5-6
For in the day of trouble He will conceal me in His tabernacle; In the secret place of His tent He will hide me; He will lift me up on a rock. And now my head will be lifted up above my enemies around me, And I will offer in His tent sacrifices with shouts of joy; I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the LORD.

There is power in the presence of Jesus. Satan wants me to lead an unproductive, frustrated life. When I do things by myself, frustration, fear and foolishness reign. When I go to Jesus and spend time with Him seeking His control of my life; joy, peace and victory are the result. Praise ye the Lord.

1/17/02 Psalm 27:7-9
Hear, O LORD, when I cry with my voice, And be gracious to me and answer me. When You said, “Seek My face,” my heart said to You, “Your face, O LORD, I shall seek.” Do not hide Your face from me, Do not turn Your servant away in anger; You have been my help; Do not abandon me nor forsake me, O God of my salvation!

I am always on the road to the throne of God. Jesus forged the pathway for me. I can call out to my Father. He will listen. He will always respond.

1/18/02 Genesis 1:3
Then God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.

Light is basic to everything we do. God provided light for His creation. His light calls us to recognition of His care and concern. God is light and in Him there is no darkness.

1/19/02 Genesis 1:4
And God saw that it was good. Then he separated the light from the darkness.

Light and dark never mix. When light enters darkness leaves. When I am struggling with issues, I only have to sit down with Jesus to get the right slant. Darkness extols hate, mean spiritedness and self. Light teaches forgiveness, care and love. It is easy to tell the difference.

1/20/02 Amos 5:18
How terrible it will be for you who say, “If only the day of the LORD were here! For then the LORD would rescue us from all our enemies.” But you have no idea what you are wishing for. That day will not bring light and prosperity, but darkness and disaster.

I must be careful as I express my faith. It is easy for me to get caught up with self. Sin is so deceptive that it can easily fool me. Lord help me to evaluate my actions by your Word and not my feelings.

1/21/02 2 Samuel 22:29
O LORD, you are my light; yes, LORD, you light up my darkness.

Pain and heartache arrive un-requested. Life happens and disappointment dogs my steps. The Lord’s solution is to come to Him. I can live with heartache and survive pain if I will let Jesus have control of my heart. Life isn’t hard. Sin makes it hard.

1/22/02 Romans 6:17
Thank God! Once you were slaves of sin, but now you have obeyed with all your heart the new teaching God has given you.

I grew up without a Christian background. I have learned that I must always square my passions with the Word of God. Things that I feel are right may just be self asserting its control. I’ve never had to say I was sorry for acting the way that God’s Word directs.

1/23/02 Hebrews 9:15
That is why he is the one who mediates the new covenant between God and people, so that all who are invited can receive the eternal inheritance God has promised them. For Christ died to set them free from the penalty of the sins they had committed under that first covenant.

Christ is God’s everything. I may worry about many things but I never have to worry about my position with the Lord. I am a child of God. Grafted in by the work of the Lord Jesus Christ. He saved me and He holds me for eternity.

1/24/02 Psalm 13:3
Turn and answer me, O LORD my God! Restore the light to my eyes, or I will die.

The activity of daily life will often overwhelm me. I stand there overrun. What do I do Lord? Then the Holy Spirit will give me the direction I need. Jesus enables me to do the right thing.

1/25/02 Psalm 18:28
LORD, you have brought light to my life; my God, you light up my darkness.

I am limited by time and space. I am always operating in the now. God knows all things. He can guide me in the now so that I will arrive at His plan in the future on time. God my Father loves me and is interested in my best good.

1/26/02 Psalm 27:1
The LORD is my light and my salvation – so why should I be afraid? The LORD protects me from danger – so why should I tremble?

Fear is an evil enemy. All of us at one time or another experience fear. It may be fear of rejection, misunderstanding, uncertainty, sickness, or death. Whatever fear we face Jesus will go through it with us and bring us to a point of freedom from our fear.

1/27/02 Matthew 23: 8-12
Don’t ever let anyone call you ‘Rabbi,’ for you have only one teacher, and all of you are on the same level as brothers and sisters. And don’t address anyone here on earth as ‘Father,’ for only God in heaven is your spiritual Father. And don’t let anyone call you ‘Master,’ for there is only one master, the Messiah. The greatest among you must be a servant. But those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.

I am restricted by my human condition. Even under the best of situations I must bring my reasons for what I do under the scrutiny of Jesus. I must make sure that my service is not self-service. I must surrender my ego at the altar of the Lord. If I don’t I will find myself on a private journey ignoring the Lord and serving self.

1/28/02 Psalm 84:11
For the LORD God is our light and protector. He gives us grace and glory. No good thing will the LORD withhold from those who do what is right.

I am limited in the way that I can think about the Lord. He has graced me with His own explanation about Himself in Jesus. God loves me.

1/29/02 Psalm 36:9
For you are the fountain of life, the light by which we see.

Everything I say and do can be measured by Jesus. He is life. He is the life giver. My life finds value and worth in Him.

1/30/02 1 John 2:10
Anyone who loves other Christians is living in the light and does not cause anyone to stumble.

My actions always give me away. When I am doing wrong I can know it. When I am forging my own path I can know it. All I have to do is look at how I am dealing with others. People count most of all.

1/31/02 Psalm 32:1-2
Oh, what joy for those whose rebellion is forgiven, whose sin is put out of sight! Yes, what joy for those whose record the LORD has cleared of sin, whose lives are lived in complete honesty!

I am a great sinner. You are too. Jesus forgives my sin. He puts me back in a position of fellowship. I don’t earn forgiveness, Jesus freely gives it to me when I ask.

12/01/01 Matthew 12:20
He will not crush those who are weak, or quench the smallest hope, until he brings full justice with his final victory.

The ground at the cross is level. Jesus paid for my sin. My relationship with the Father is based on the work Jesus did not the work that I do.

12/02/01 Matthew 12:21
And his name will be the hope of all the world.”

Every single person can be saved. Their salvation potential is based on the work that Jesus did. Christ paid for the sin of each one of us. He loves us as if there were no other. If you are praying for a lost person don’t stop. There is hope in the name of Jesus Christ the Lord.

12/03/01 Acts 2:26
No wonder my heart is filled with joy, and my mouth shouts his praises! My body rests in hope.

I can face my failures and survive my victories in Christ. My future hope is in Jesus. He is Lord and savior of my life. He loves me.

12/04/01 Acts 23:6
Paul realized that some members of the high council were Sadducees and some were Pharisees, so he shouted, “Brothers, I am a Pharisee, as were all my ancestors! And I am on trial because my hope is in the resurrection of the dead!”

I must never forget the simple basic fact that I have no hope for the future but Jesus Christ. He is my creator, sustainer and savior. He is Lord.

12/05/01 Acts 24:15
I have hope in God, just as these men do, that he will raise both the righteous and the ungodly.

I will never understand the plans that the Lord has. God’s ways are not my ways. Jesus saved me from my sin and that is the one thing that I know for sure. I am at peace with God. Christ has birthed me into the Lord’s family.
.
12/06/01 Romans 15:4
Such things were written in the Scriptures long ago to teach us. They give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for God’s promises.

There are more than 7,000 promises in the Word of God. They were written to me to equip me to live my life. Jesus is Lord. He will provide for me.

12/07/01 Romans 15:13
So I pray that God, who gives you hope, will keep you happy and full of peace as you believe in him. May you overflow with hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.

God is at work in my life. He is seeking my best good. He is not persecuting me. He knows me and has a plan for my life. His plan works for me. He wants me to walk with Him so that I will survive.

12/08/01 Mt. 5:9
God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God.

I have discovered something important about peace. If discord and chaos creep in I need to stop and get before the Lord. Lack of peace in my heart means that I have walked away from the Lord. The presence of Jesus creates peace.

12/09/01 Luke 24:36
And just as they were telling about it, Jesus himself was suddenly standing there among them. He said, “Peace be with you.”

Jesus always brings peace. He is the Lord of all things. The universe is in subjection to Him. If I want peace in my life I simply need to get close to Jesus.

12/10/01 John 16:33
I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”

Jesus tells me I am in good hands. He has overcome every evil trial and trouble that I will ever face. He is able to stand with me and make me more than a conqueror. Jesus equips me for life. He has outfitted me for eternity.

12/11/01 Acts 10:36
I’m sure you have heard about the Good News for the people of Israel – that there is peace with God through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.

I am not at war with God. Jesus paid the price for my peace. Whatever else is going on in my life, I am at peace with God.

12/12/01 Romans 8:6
If your sinful nature controls your mind, there is death. But if the Holy Spirit controls your mind, there is life and peace.

Holy Spirit control of my life does not happen by default. Satan is at work seeking to destroy me. I claim God’s promises and the presence of the Holy Spirit through Jesus. Lord Jesus take control of my life right now.

12/13/01 Romans 12:18
Do your part to live in peace with everyone, as much as possible.

Life degenerates into chaos if I am not careful. Walking with the Lord Jesus and letting Him have control of my life is my duty. I spend time with Him by reading His Word. I get to know Him by thinking about Him and letting Him have control of my heart.

12/14/01 Romans 15:33
And now may God, who gives us his peace, be with you all. Amen.

I pray for you. It is not a passive activity. I am genuinely concerned about your growth, your family, your work and your usability. The Lord Jesus Christ wants to use you. You may be the only Christian that a non-believer knows. They will know you by your love. Peace be with you.

12/15/02 Matthew 2:10
When they saw the star, they were filled with joy!

Balaam said a star was coming. The wise men saw it. Others could have too but they weren’t looking for it. I want to make sure that I don’t miss anything in my relationship with Jesus. I am looking for him everyday.

12/16/01 Matthew 28:8
The women ran quickly from the tomb. They were very frightened but also filled with great joy, and they rushed to find the disciples to give them the angel’s message.

When trouble strikes I have often felt helpless. I didn’t know what to do. Jesus reminds me that when I experience powerlessness His grace and power are most effective. In my weakness He is strong.

12/17/01 Luke 2:17
Then the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child.

This statement blesses me. It reminds me that I am included. God wants me to do His ministry. Jesus has accepted me as an agent of His grace. Jesus is Lord and I belong to Him.

12/18/01 Luke 24:52
They worshiped him and then returned to Jerusalem filled with great joy.

Praise God for sending Jesus. He connects with me. He communicates His love. He shows me His concern. He has experienced my pain. The Savior is alive and provides for me. I have seen the Lord. He died for me and the power of God raised Him from the grave.

12/19/01 Luke 2:34
Then Simeon blessed them, and he said to Mary, “This child will be rejected by many in Israel, and it will be their undoing. But he will be the greatest joy to many others.

What joy Jesus brings to my life. Without Him I would lead a dismal existence. He gives me encouragement when I am down. When I fail He shares His success with me. In Christ I am whole.

12/20/01 Luke 15:10
In the same way, there is joy in the presence of God’s angels when even one sinner repents.”

The Lord knows my name. He is intimately aware of everything that is going on in my life. Nothing I do escapes His attention. He is there every time I need Him. I am important to Him.

12/21/01 Luke 19:6
Zacchaeus quickly climbed down and took Jesus to his house in great excitement and joy.

Every time I go to Jesus I am blessed. My heart bubbles over with joy. I have a friend that is closer than a brother. He knows all about me and still loves me. Jesus is the reason I have joy.

12/22/01 Luke 24:41-45
Still they stood there doubting, filled with joy and wonder. Then he asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he ate it as they watched. Then he said, “When I was with you before, I told you that everything written about me by Moses and the prophets and in the Psalms must all come true.” Then he opened their minds to understand these many Scriptures.

I spend time with Jesus everyday. I ask Him to guide me. He gives me direction for my daily life. As I study His Word He shows me how to make it effective in my life. Every time I respond in obedience Jesus draws me closer.

12/23/01 Luke 2:4-6
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. He took with him Mary, his fiancé, who was obviously pregnant by this time. And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born.

Joseph and Mary were ordinary people with extraordinary faith. They were used of God because they believed what God said. If I believe the Lord I will do what He says.

12/24/01 Luke 2:7
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.

The Son of God came for me. He willingly accepted poverty and difficulty. His life conquered sin. His death and resurrection destroyed the hold of sin on me. He saved me from my past, empowered me now and equipped me for eternity. I am free.

12/25/01 Luke 2:9-11
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!

I do not have to be afraid anymore. Jesus is alive. He forgives me. He cares for me. I have a relationship with the Father. Christ is King.

12/26/01 Luke 2:12-14
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.

God loves me. He cares about what I am doing and where I am going. He knows all about me. He hurts with me when I hurt. The Lord favors me. I am His child and He is my Father.

12/27/01 Luke 2:15-16
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.

I want to see Jesus. His Word tells me that will happen one day. Right now I see Him by faith but one day I will stand before Him and see Him face to face. The Lord Jesus cares for me.

12/28/01 Luke 2:17
Then the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child.

When you come to Jesus you immediately want to tell everyone what has happened. When you are saved the joy of the Lord wells up and the story must be told. Jesus saved me. He is in my heart. I am a child of God.

12/29/01 Luke 2:18
All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished,

I must confess that the first time I heard about Jesus I was overwhelmed. I was ready to claim my relationship with Him. The most amazing thing though is that when I asked Him into my heart I was astonished. He saved me. Wow.

12/30/01 Luke 2:20
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.

When I came to Jesus my life changed. Things were exactly as He said. I was no longer alone. I didn’t have to make things work. Christ in me enabled me to live my life. He outfits me to survive and flourish. Jesus is Lord.

12/31/01 Luke 4:1-2
Then Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan River. He was led by the Spirit to go out into the wilderness, where the Devil tempted him for forty days. He ate nothing all that time and was very hungry.

Satan is real. He is alive and well on planet earth. He knows where I am and how to turn me upside down. But the power of the Holy Spirit is available to empower me. In Jesus I am able to stand in the hour of temptation. And when I have resisted Satan he will flee from me. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Blessed be the name of the Lord.

11/01/01 Jonah 1:3
But Jonah got up and went in the opposite direction in order to get away from the LORD. He went down to the seacoast, to the port of Joppa, where he found a ship leaving for Tarshish. He bought a ticket and went on board, hoping that by going away to the west he could escape from the LORD.

I am the world’s worst at thinking that I can make the right things happen. The truth is that my intelligence is so limited it is astounding how big a mess I can make of things when I do them on my own. Only the Lord knows the end from the beginning and His ways are always right.

11/02/01 Jonah 2:1
Then Jonah prayed to the LORD his God from inside the fish.

Most of my earnest prayer is from inside the hurricanes of life. I’ve made another mess and now only the Lord’s intervention can save me. Thank you Lord for your faithfulness.

11/03/01 Micah 1:2
Attention! Let all the people of the world listen! The Sovereign LORD has made accusations against you; the Lord speaks from his holy Temple.

I must guard my heart against letting my faith become ritualistic. I cannot practice a growing faith by proxy. Faith in the Lord requires careful attention to my relationship with Jesus. My Bible reading needs to focus on what it is saying to me about the way I live. My prayer life should include dealing with sin in my life. I must practice my faith as the Lord directs. The way I believe is the way I should live.

11/04/01 Micah 2:1
How terrible it will be for you who lie awake at night, thinking up evil plans. You rise at dawn and hurry to carry out any of the wicked schemes you have power to accomplish.

Evil thoughts lead to evil deeds. I am responsible for what I think. When my thoughts become evil I must immediately get before the Lord and ask Him to change my thoughts. Jesus is the only one who has victory over sin.

11/05/01 Nahum 1:3
The LORD is slow to get angry, but his power is great, and he never lets the guilty go unpunished. He displays his power in the whirlwind and the storm. The billowing clouds are the dust beneath his feet.

I talk with people who avoid God because of the hypocrites at the church. Others I talk with are angry with God because of evil in the world. The truth is hypocrisy and evil always turn up where people are. We need the Lord to help us change and not be a hypocrite or practice evil.

11/06/01 Nahum 1:7
The LORD is good. When trouble comes, he is a strong refuge. And he knows everyone who trusts in him.

God’s mercy is a refuge in time of trouble. I am learning that I need the Lord most when my world has been shaken or is falling apart. He is a powerful ally in times of turmoil. His presence safeguards us when all else fails.

11/07/01 1 Samuel 15:23
Rebellion is as bad as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as bad as worshiping idols. So because you have rejected the word of the LORD, he has rejected you from being king.”

King Saul’s life was fast and loose. He always presumed on God. Salvation is not a fire insurance policy. God is not honored when we live our way and only use God as we pass through life.

11/08/01 Habakkuk 2:4
“Look at the proud! They trust in themselves, and their lives are crooked; but the righteous will live by their faith.

Wealth is deceitful. It will take us where we shouldn’t go and leave us where we do not want to be. It also makes us think we are something when we in fact are just poor sinners. Trust the Lord. Use your resources to honor and glorify Him. Then you will be truly wealthy.

11/09/01 Zephaniah 1:12
“I will search with lanterns in Jerusalem’s darkest corners to find and punish those who sit contented in their sins, indifferent to the LORD, thinking he will do nothing at all to them.

Studying God’s Word is something a lot of people are diligent in doing. I am charged with the responsibility of living God’s Word. My goal is to change the way I live and change the way I act. The Lord sees what I am doing.

11/10/01 Zephaniah 2:3
Beg the LORD to save you – all you who are humble, all you who uphold justice. Walk humbly and do what is right. Perhaps even yet the LORD will protect you from his anger on that day of destruction.

Judgment of others does not relieve me of guilt. Judgment begins with me. I am responsible for the way I act. I am guilty for my sin. Christ provides the forgiveness I need. I am free because of Jesus.

11/11/01 Haggai 1:7
“This is what the LORD Almighty says: Consider how things are going for you!

By grace I am saved and that is a joyous fact. My joy or sadness is not based on my wealth or good luck. I can live my life because Jesus lives. I can make good choices because the Holy Spirit gives me the spiritual discernment that I need to live a Godly life.

11/12/01 Zechariah 1:3
Therefore, say to the people, ‘This is what the LORD Almighty says: Return to me, and I will return to you, says the LORD Almighty.’

Salvation requires my request, Lord forgive me of my sin; come into my heart and save me. Forgiveness requires my request, Lord I have sinned, please forgive me. When I find myself with my heart dejected and worn down I have but to ask, Lord help me. I take the first step. The Lord handles the rest.

11/13/01 Zechariah 4:6
Then he said to me, “This is what the LORD says to Zerubbabel: It is not by force nor by strength, but by my Spirit, says the LORD Almighty.

Try as I might I can never do spiritual things on my own. The Lord must be in it. The Holy Spirit directs my path. I spend time with Jesus. The Spirit gives me direction.

11/14/01 Luke 4:3-4
Then the Devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, change this stone into a loaf of bread.” But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say, ‘People need more than bread for their life.’

Most of my adult life has been focused on things. Acquiring things, having things and planning for things. Jesus loves people most of all. His focus is on me. Not the me that I want to create but the me that He created. He wants me to accomplish His plan for my life. He wants me to know that He is there and that I am not alone. He loves me.

11/15/01 Luke 4:8
Jesus replied, “The Scriptures say, ‘You must worship the Lord your God; serve only him.’

Jesus is worthy of worship. When all else fails I can worship the Lord. He and He alone is the eternal Lord.

11/16/01 Luke 4:13
When the Devil had finished tempting Jesus, he left him until the next opportunity came.

I will never get beyond having to deal with sin this side of the grave. Sin is all around me. It wells up inside of me at the most surprising times. My humanity betrays me. Only Jesus can deal with my sin.

11/17/01 Luke 4:14
Then Jesus returned to Galilee, filled with the Holy Spirit’s power. Soon he became well known throughout the surrounding country. He taught in their synagogues and was praised by everyone.

Praise from the world is not what Jesus was seeking. He wanted me to know the Lord and serve Him. Sometimes doing what Jesus says will put me at odds with the world.

11/18/01 Luke 4:18-19
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he has appointed me to preach Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the downtrodden will be freed from their oppressors, and that the time of the Lord’s favor has come.

Time is in God’s hands. He has called me to serve Him. I am not called to figure out how much time I have. My charge is to tell everyone I meet about Jesus. Today is all the time I have.

11/19/01 Luke 4:20-21
He rolled up the scroll, handed it back to the attendant, and sat down. Everyone in the synagogue stared at him intently. Then he said, “This Scripture has come true today before your very eyes!”

Jesus is Lord. I don’t make Him Lord or by my belief establish His control. He is Lord and He is in control. What I am charged with the responsibility of doing is to give Him control of me. I change from self-control to spirit-control.

11/20/01 Luke 4:22-23
All who were there spoke well of him and were amazed by the gracious words that fell from his lips. “How can this be?” they asked. “Isn’t this Joseph’s son?” Then he said, “Probably you will quote me that proverb, ‘Physician, heal yourself’ – meaning, ‘Why don’t you do miracles here in your hometown like those you did in Capernaum?’

Jesus will not force His way into my life. He is willing to help me. He is able to help me. Until I ask Him in He will wait upon my decision.

11/21/01 Luke 4:24-26
But the truth is, no prophet is accepted in his own hometown. “Certainly there were many widows in Israel who needed help in Elijah’s time, when there was no rain for three and a half years and hunger stalked the land. Yet Elijah was not sent to any of them. He was sent instead to a widow of Zarephath – a foreigner in the land of Sidon.

I am a church member. I am an active Christian. Neither of these things in and of themselves will put me in good standing with the Lord. My relationship with Jesus is the key. Do I spend time with Jesus? Am I getting to know Him? Do I obey Him? I must never forget that salvation is by grace through faith.

11/22/01 Luke 4:27-30
Or think of the prophet Elisha, who healed Naaman, a Syrian, rather than the many lepers in Israel who needed help.” When they heard this, the people in the synagogue were furious. Jumping up, they mobbed him and took him to the edge of the hill on which the city was built. They intended to push him over the cliff, but he slipped away through the crowd and left them.

God is no respecter of persons. If you are hurting right now, Jesus will help you. If you are poor and in need Jesus will help you. If your world has closed in and there is no way out Jesus will make a way. He is Lord and He loves you.

11/23/01 Luke 4:31-32
Then Jesus went to Capernaum, a town in Galilee, and taught there in the synagogue every Sabbath day. There, too, the people were amazed at the things he said, because he spoke with authority.

I can count on Jesus. He will meet my needs. He will heal my hurts. He is the author and finisher of my faith, the bright morning star that shines into the messes that I make. When all else fails Jesus will never fail.

11/24/01 Luke 4:33-34
Once when he was in the synagogue, a man possessed by a demon began shouting at Jesus, “Go away! 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.”

I hear the testimony. Even Satan cannot deny that Jesus is Lord. I must take the evidence to heart. He is concerned for me. Jesus is Lord.

11/25/01 Luke 4:38-39
After leaving the synagogue that day, Jesus went to Simon’s home, where he found Simon’s mother-in-law very sick with a high fever. “Please heal her,” everyone begged. Standing at her bedside, he spoke to the fever, rebuking it, and immediately her temperature returned to normal. She got up at once and prepared a meal for them.

Jesus is never surprised by my problems. He is a problem solver. He doesn’t wring His hands or condemn me. He helps me. He is my savior.

11/26/01 Luke 4:40
As the sun went down that evening, people throughout the village brought sick family members to Jesus. No matter what their diseases were, the touch of his hand healed every one.

Change is always painful. I must change if I want to grow in Christ. He is the healer for man’s pain. Whether I am physically ill or seeking spiritual growth Jesus can heal me.

11/27/01 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.

I can place my trust in Jesus. There is no other way to deal with the difficulty, depression, disappointment and heartache that life brings. Jesus Christ is Lord.

11/28/01 Gen 1:3
Then God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.

God created the light. We cannot survive without it. I can find the light that I need for living in Jesus. Jesus is the light that I need to guide me through life.

11/29/01 Matthew 4:16
the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light. And for those who lived in the land where death casts its shadow, a light has shined.”

The way I lived before I knew Jesus was a tragic existence. I thought I could see. I thought I could plan. I believed I was right. I thought I knew it all and all I really knew was death. I was ignorant about the ways of the Lord. I was lost. Then Jesus came into my life and now I am saved.

11/30/01 Matthew 5:14
You are the light of the world – like a city on a mountain, glowing in the night for all to see.

I represent the Lord. If I am to represent Him properly He must be in control of my life. I begin each day bending my knee to Him. Jesus is Lord of my life. My time, my heart belongs to Him.

10/01/01 2 Thessalonians 3:3
But the Lord is faithful; he will make you strong and guard you from the evil one.

Life is a risk. The world is a difficult and dangerous place. I don’t know the future. Each one of us lives by faith. When problems come if my faith is placed in the wrong person the end result will be failure. The Lord is faithful and promises to never forsake me or leave me out on a limb. I am victorious in Jesus.

10/02/01 2 Thessalonians 3:5
May the Lord bring you into an ever-deeper understanding of the love of God and the endurance that comes from Christ.

I don’t have all the answers. I have experienced failure frequently. The Lord is always with me. He never leaves me. I can trust Him completely. His love for me encourages me and enables me to stand fast in the face of difficulty and failure.

10/03/01 1 Timothy 1:15
This is a true saying, and everyone should believe it: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners – and I was the worst of them all.

I am broken hearted over how often I have failed the Lord. It seems that no sooner do I begin a new campaign of faithful living that I find a new way to sin. Word and deed sins go hand in hand. Hateful thoughts are foundation stones to both. Lord help me to sort out my self-centered lifestyle and serve you.

10/04/01 1 Timothy 1:17
Glory and honor to God forever and ever. He is the eternal King, the unseen one who never dies; he alone is God. Amen.

I am so overwhelmed and moved by God’s love. Praise the Lord. Thank you for your love. Bless the name of the Lord from whom all mercy and blessings flow.

10/05/01 1 Timothy 2:1
I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. As you make your requests, plead for God’s mercy upon them, and give thanks.

I can pray for you. Out of my devotion to Jesus I can develop a habit of praying for friends and foes. There is power in prayer and a great benefit for others when I pray for them.

10/06/01 Amos 7:8
And the LORD said to me, “Amos, what do you see?”I answered, “A plumb line.”And the Lord replied, “I will test my people with this plumb line. I will no longer ignore all their sins.

I am responsible for my sin. No one can stop my sinning but me. When I give Jesus the authority to take control of my life, He gives me power to deal with my life.

10/07/01 Psalm 141:3
Take control of what I say, O LORD, and keep my lips sealed.

Nobody needs a piece of my mind. They need my prayers, my help and my love. Jesus does not say go into to the world and tell them off. He says go into the world and tell them the Good News. Jesus is alive. He loves me. He has reunited me with the Father.

10/08/01 1 Tim 2:5
For there is only one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and people. He is the man Christ Jesus.

Jesus can help me. No one else can deal with eternal matters. Only Jesus can bring me into a relationship with the Father. In Christ I am a valued child of God. In Christ I can be what the Father created me to be.

10/09/01 Ezekiel 33:3
When the watchman sees the enemy coming, he blows the alarm to warn the people.

God’s Word calls me to tell you about Jesus. Without Jesus we are dead in trespasses and sin. Without Jesus we are at war with God and will not be with the Lord in eternity. Jesus is the way the truth and the life. There is no other way to the Father. You have been warned.

10/10/01 1 Tim 2:6
He gave his life to purchase freedom for everyone. This is the message that God gave to the world at the proper time.

Jesus died for me. His death gives me the privilege of coming into the Family of God. His sacrifice paid my debt. I am free in Jesus.

10/11/01 Daniel 3:16-18
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your power, Your Majesty. But even if he doesn’t, Your Majesty can be sure that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up.”

I believe in God. Jesus forgave my sin. He is Lord. Jesus is Lord of my life. Nothing that can happen in this world will change that.

10/12/01 1 Tim 2:8
So wherever you assemble, I want men to pray with holy hands lifted up to God, free from anger and controversy.

Prayer is powerful. I can intercede for family, friends, the sick, the lost and any one else. The catch is that I must pray. I must pray daily, and regularly. I want to know the Lord first hand. I want to develop an attitude of prayer and a habit of prayer. Both will stand me in good stead in the hour of trial.

10/13/01 Daniel 6:26-27
“I decree that everyone throughout my kingdom should tremble with fear before the God of Daniel. For he is the living God, and he will endure forever. His kingdom will never be destroyed, and his rule will never end. He rescues and saves his people; he performs miraculous signs and wonders in the heavens and on earth. He has rescued Daniel from the power of the lions.”

The world operates under the authority of the Lord. God is in control. We are not always in the know but the Lord is never caught by surprise.

10/14/01 Psalm 120:1
I took my troubles to the LORD; I cried out to him, and he answered my prayer.

I always have troubles and fears. My need for the Lord’s guidance and strength is immeasurable. Thank you Father for the wisdom, mercy, grace and peace that you give me day by day.

10/15/01 Hosea 14:1-2
Return, O Israel, to the LORD your God, for your sins have brought you down. Bring your petitions, and return to the LORD. Say to him, “Forgive all our sins and graciously receive us, so that we may offer you the sacrifice of praise.

I am in need of forgiveness. My humanity is always showing. So often I am not thinking about the things I need to and am busily weaving a life of forgetfulness and carelessness. The Lord is faithful to watch my path and encourage me in the right way.

10/16/01 1 Tim 3:16
Without question, this is the great mystery of our faith: Christ appeared in the flesh and was shown to be righteous by the Spirit. He was seen by angels and was announced to the nations. He was believed on in the world and was taken up into heaven.

Jesus is Lord. He is Lord of all. He revealed Himself to all of creation. I can choose Him. I can also refuse Him. I will reap the reward of my choice.

10/17/01 1 Tim 4:1
Now the Holy Spirit tells us clearly that in the last times some will turn away from what we believe; they will follow lying spirits and teachings that come from demons.

The world is always in turmoil. The Lord is always at peace. I can survive with the Lord in control of my life.

10/18/01 Joel 2:13
Don’t tear your clothing in your grief; instead, tear your hearts.” Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and merciful. He is not easily angered. He is filled with kindness and is eager not to punish you.

Religious ritual means nothing to the Lord. He does not need me to approve what He does. He wants my heart devotion. He encourages my love for Him. He expects my obedience. He is faithful.

10/19/01 1 Tim 4:7
Do not waste time arguing over godless ideas and old wives’ tales. Spend your time and energy in training yourself for spiritual fitness.

I need to tell others about Jesus. The world is full of rumors and evil. My focus needs to be on Jesus. He cares for me.

10/20/01 1 Tim 4:10
We work hard and suffer much in order that people will believe the truth, for our hope is in the living God, who is the Savior of all people, and particularly of those who believe.

Jesus is alive. He is able to deal with my pain and heartache and failure. He will never leave me. His evaluation of me includes a love so deep that He died for me before I called Him Lord.

10/21/01 1 Tim 4:11-12
Teach these things and insist that everyone learn them. Don’t let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you teach, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity.

What I do daily in my life is important. It is important because it is evidence of the Lord’s control of my heart.

10/22/01 1 Tim 6:6-7
Yet true religion with contentment is great wealth. After all, we didn’t bring anything with us when we came into the world, and we certainly cannot carry anything with us when we die.

Anything I cannot give away controls me. Jesus sets me free. If I don’t tithe I am cheating God. If I don’t care for the poor and helpless I am denying my responsibility. I am an agent of the Lord. I am to be totally under His control.

10/23/01 1 Tim 6:10
For the love of money is at the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.

I am not a slave. Money is not my goal. I am free in Christ.

10/24/01 1 Tim 6:12
Fight the good fight for what we believe. Hold tightly to the eternal life that God has given you, which you have confessed so well before many witnesses.

I am at war with the enemies of God. When I chose Christ the war began. When I die the war will cease and I will be face to face in the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ for eternity.

10/25/01 2 Timothy 1:7
For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.

I have discovered that people will always say something when you are serving the Lord. Persecution and public disdain will not be far away when the Gospel is publicly proclaimed. The Gospel message is that Jesus is alive, He is in my life and He can be in yours when you choose Him.

10/26/01 2 Timothy 1:8
So you must never be ashamed to tell others about our Lord. And don’t be ashamed of me, either, even though I’m in prison for Christ. With the strength God gives you, be ready to suffer with me for the proclamation of the Good News.

Around the world thousands are being put to death for telling the Gospel story. Have you ever shared Christ with someone? It’s easy. Simply tell them what Jesus has done in your life. Tell them about His love for you; about the way He has changed you and how He has helped you develop a relationship with the Father. Jesus is Lord. Tell of His Lordship over your life.

10/27/01 2 Timothy 1:9
It is God who saved us and chose us to live a holy life. He did this not because we deserved it, but because that was his plan long before the world began – to show his love and kindness to us through Christ Jesus.

God loves us, chose us and sent Jesus to die for us. Jesus broke the power that death had to condemn us to an eternal hell. He is alive and will save us if we ask Him into our hearts.

10/28/01 2 Timothy 1:14
With the help of the Holy Spirit who lives within us, carefully guard what has been entrusted to you.

I have everything I need in Jesus. Whatever I am facing, however bad things get, Jesus is able to help me. I am complete in Christ.

10/29/01 2 Timothy 2:3
Endure suffering along with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.

I will always struggle with the powers and principalities of the air. I will never have a day when I can face things by myself. As a Christian I must constantly stay in close contact with Jesus. This requires time and commitment on my part. I have a choice, spend time with Jesus or spend time struggling to survive.

10/30/01 2 Timothy 2:4
And as Christ’s soldier, do not let yourself become tied up in the affairs of this life, for then you cannot satisfy the one who has enlisted you in his army.

I will face trials and difficulties every day. I must learn to get with the Lord Jesus and get His direction to deal with life. He will give me the guidance, direction, encouragement and strength that I need. He will carry my load. Everything else may fail but Jesus never fails.

10/31/01 2 Timothy 2:5
Follow the Lord’s rules for doing his work, just as an athlete either follows the rules or is disqualified and wins no prize.

I will not survive doing things my way. I must spend time with Jesus. I must let Him have control of my life. Obedience is the road to victory.

09/01/01    Colossians 3:25
But if you do what is wrong, you will be paid back for the wrong you have done. For God has no favorites who can get away with evil.

I will reap what I sow. I must never forget that God loves me and Christ forgives me but the activity of my life creates a planted field. I will reap the rewards of the things that I have done. A life that continues with hate, ingratitude, self-centeredness, and stinginess will all bear fruit that will break my heart. It will also break the heart of those that love me.

09/02/01     John 2:5
But his mother told the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”

I read God’s Word regularly. I have a tendency to overlook those commands that I don’t like. When I find myself up the proverbial creek I always can trace it to my not obeying God’s Word. I do well when I do exactly what the Lord says.

09/03/01      James 4:17
Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it.

I must stop letting myself off light when I sin. I have a habit of making excuses for my sin. I like to call it a weakness. The truth is that when I sin it is a sin. It’s a matter of the heart. Am I going to obey God or am I going to continue in sin?

09/04/01     Lamentations 3:22-23
The unfailing love of the LORD never ends! By his mercies we have been kept from complete destruction. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each day.

I hear people talk about not bothering the Lord for the little things in their lives. I have learned that the more I talk with Him about the little things and experience His faithfulness day by day the better able I am to trust Him for the big things I need as I face tomorrow. Great is His faithfulness.

09/05/01     Ezekiel 12:1-2
Again a message came to me from the LORD: “Son of man, you live among rebels who could see the truth if they wanted to, but they don’t want to. They could hear me if they would listen, but they won’t listen because they are rebellious.

I cannot live my life based on what other people say. The Lord is my shepherd and He tells me in His Word how I should live. Ignore the world. Follow God.

09/06/01     Colossians 4:2
Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart.

I need prayer and I need to pray. Life happens whether I am ready or not. When I pray for others I am intervening for the trouble and tribulation they will face. When others pray for me they are praying for my strength to stand in the hour of testing. Life is always willing to trip us up. I pray to the Father that life will not trip you up.

09/07/01     Colossians 4:5
Live wisely among those who are not Christians, and make the most of every opportunity.

I meet lost people every day. When I see them the Lord reminds me of how much He loves them. The problem is they are dead in their trespasses and sin. Unless I can share the Gospel with them they will never know God loves them.

09/08/01     Colossians 4:6
Let your conversation be gracious and effective so that you will have the right answer for everyone.

I have a temper. It is a strength when the situation is impossible but most of the time it is a weakness. My worst embarrassments have been when I didn’t control my temper. Kindness and gentleness are strengths when I am witnessing to a lost person. When I let Christ have control of my emotions a lost person often is interested in how I am able to maintain control. They are never interested in Jesus when I try to control them.

09/09/01     1 Thessalonians 1:2-3
We always thank God for all of you and pray for you constantly. 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.

I am rejoicing with you in your relationship with the Lord. Thank you for your faithfulness to the Father. Thank you for your encouragement of me. Thank you for the joy that your life is bringing to Jesus.

09/10/01     1 Thessalonians 1:4
We know that God loves you, dear brothers and sisters, and that he chose you to be his own people.

Jesus loves me. He knows all about me and still loves me. I am grateful for being included in His family. I look forward to spending eternity with you.

09/11/01     1 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.

I am an agent for God. He has put a message of salvation in my heart. His call is for me to share with others what He has done in me. The key is I must let Him do a work in me.

09/12/01     1 Thessalonians 3:8
It gives us new life, knowing you remain strong in the Lord.

Christianity grows stronger in groups. It spreads like wildfire amidst persecution. When I share my weaknesses and God’s solution it helps others see the activity of the Lord in their lives. The end result is that we encourage one another by sharing our lives.

09/13/01     2 Thessalonians 1:2
May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace.

I like peace. Life is so chaotic and surprising that peace is a real blessing. I go to the Father with all my problems and he gives me peace. Thank you Lord for your blessed peace.

09/14/01     2 Thessalonians 1:3
Dear brothers and sisters, we always thank God for you, as is right, for we are thankful that your faith is flourishing and you are all growing in love for each other.

When I have a problem with a person I take it to the Lord. The older I get the more quickly I realize that my problems with others is an opportunity to grow closer to the Lord. The outcome is that the Lord usually helps me to see them the way He sees them.

09/15/01     2 Thessalonians 1:11
And so we keep on praying for you, that our God will make you worthy of the life to which he called you. And we pray that God, by his power, will fulfill all your good intentions and faithful deeds.

I like to think of myself as kind. I am what I do. Unless I treat people in a kind manner I am not kind. Good intentions do not accomplish the work of the kingdom.

09/16/01     2 Thessalonians 2:1
And now, brothers and sisters let us tell you about the coming again of our Lord Jesus Christ and how we will be gathered together to meet him.

Jesus is coming back. Make no mistake about it the Lord has a plan for the world. He is working His plan. I need to be ready.

09/17/01     2 Thessalonians 2:16-17
May our Lord Jesus Christ and God our Father, who loved us and in his special favor gave us everlasting comfort and good hope, comfort your hearts and give you strength in every good thing you do and say.

I am learning to go to the Father immediately when things get tough. Instead of going to Jesus as a last resort I am developing a habit of going to Jesus first. He really is concerned about my life.

09/18/01     2 Thessalonians 3:1
Finally, dear brothers and sisters, I ask you to pray for us. Pray first that the Lord’s message will spread rapidly and be honored wherever it goes, just as when it came to you.

Prayer puts me on the front lines of kingdom building. The work of the kingdom must begin and end with prayer. I am the most useful in kingdom work when the immensity of the task has driven me to my knees before the Father.

09/19/01     2 Thessalonians 3:2
Pray, too, that we will be saved from wicked and evil people, for not everyone believes in the Lord.

Nonbelievers hate Jesus. They do everything in their power to stop the work of the kingdom. They bitterly criticize Christians and Christianity. Pray for others. The enemy is trying to destroy our work.

09/20/01 Psalm 77:1-3
I cry out to God without holding back. Oh, that God would listen to me! When I was in deep trouble, I searched for the Lord. All night long I pray, with hands lifted toward heaven, pleading. There can be no joy for me until he acts. I think of God, and I moan, overwhelmed with longing for his help.

Desperate and hurting I cry out to the Lord. These times when the pain and grief are more than I can bear I cast it on Jesus. Just as he carries my sin, He carries my heavy heart. Peace is a gift from the Father.

09/21/01 Psalm 73:25
Whom have I in heaven but you? I desire you more than anything on earth.

Jesus, I desire to be with you so much that I organize my life to spend time with you. My Bible reading is a priority and I do it everyday. My quiet time is always a welcome relief from the hustle and bustle of life. I want to be with you Lord.

09/22/01 Psalm 75:1-3
We thank you, O God! We give thanks because you are near. People everywhere tell of your mighty miracles. God says, “At the time I have planned, I will bring justice against the wicked. When the earth quakes and its people live in turmoil, I am the one who keeps its foundations firm.

In pain and failure I always turn to the Lord. He heals my pain. He fixes my failure. His miraculous intervention in my life is noted and remembered.

09/23/01 Psalm 75:9
But as for me, I will always proclaim what God has done; I will sing praises to the God of Israel.

I must remember what God has done. I must share with my children, wife and friends what the Lord does. Telling what Jesus has done in my life helps me to remember His work so that I can sing His praises. Telling about His work in my life enables me to encourage fellow strugglers.

09/24/01 Psalm 76:10
Human opposition only enhances your glory, for you use it as a sword of judgment.

I am safe in the hands of God. My life may be in danger, my existence threatened but the Lord is faithful. Bless the name of the Lord for it is a strong tower.

09/25/01 Psalm 77:13
O God, your ways are holy. Is there any god as mighty as you?

I rejoice in the strength of God. Jesus is my friend. With Jesus I can face any foe and survive any failure. The Lord is able and willing to save me from all of life’s difficulties.

09/26/01 Psalm 78:1-4
O my people, listen to my teaching. Open your ears to what I am saying, for I will speak to you in a parable. I will teach you hidden lessons from our past – stories we have heard and know, stories our ancestors handed down to us. We will not hide these truths from our children but will tell the next generation about the glorious deeds of the LORD. We will tell of his power and the mighty miracles he did.

I cannot tell what I do not know. My relationship with the Lord must be personal. I must read His Word. I will need to claim His promises. Our God is not a 2nd hand acquaintance.

09/27/01 Psalm 79:8-9
Oh, do not hold us guilty for our former sins! Let your tenderhearted mercies quickly meet our needs, for we are brought low to the dust. Help us, O God of our salvation! Help us for the honor of your name. Oh, save us and forgive our sins for the sake of your name.

Lord thank you for forgiving my sin. I mess up so much and so often. Thank you for repairing my life. You have intervened and made me whole again for the thousandth time. Thank you Lord.

09/28/01 Psalm 84:10-11
A single day in your courts is better than a thousand anywhere else! I would rather be a gatekeeper in the house of my God than live the good life in the homes of the wicked. For the LORD God is our light and protector. He gives us grace and glory. No good thing will the LORD withhold from those who do what is right.

Oh Lord there is peace with you. Life has meaning when you get involved. No longer is life an endless treadmill it has joy and excitement. My life counts. You make life valuable.

09/29/01 Psalm 117:1-2
Praise the LORD, all you nations. Praise him, all you people of the earth. For he loves us with unfailing love; the faithfulness of the LORD endures forever. Praise the LORD!

Lord you never stop. I am glad you don’t. You see beyond the tears and fears of daily life. You see what I was made to do and guide me in that direction. Thank you Lord for loving me. Help me to care for others.

09/30/01 Psalm 73:28
But as for me, how good it is to be near God! I have made the Sovereign LORD my shelter, and I will tell everyone about the wonderful things you do.

The Lord is good and worthy to be praised. I can tell you first hand that He is a blessing in my life. He wants to be a blessing in your life too. Bless the Lord and praise His Holy name.

08/01/01            Col. 1:1-2
This letter is from Paul, chosen by God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and from our brother Timothy.  It is written to God’s holy people in the city of Colosse, who are faithful brothers and sisters in Christ.

I believe in Jesus.  That makes me part of God’s holy people.  I am not qualified by my bank account, my skills, my lineage, my luck or my stature.  What qualifies me in the sight of God is the Lord Jesus Christ.

08/02/01 Isaiah 29:15
Destruction is certain for those who try to hide their plans from the LORD, who try to keep him in the dark concerning what they do! “The LORD can’t see us,” you say to yourselves. “He doesn’t know what is going on!”

If I say that I love the Lord do I treat others with care and concern or am I constantly criticizing those that are different than me? The Lord saved me and made me a member of His family. As a family member of the Lord Jesus Christ, I represent Him here on earth. When my actions are on display whose child do I act like?

08/03/01 Isaiah 32:18
My people will live in safety, quietly at home. They will be at rest.

When you are young, a good nights sleep is taken for granted. As I age I am reminded of how valuable a good nights sleep is. The Lord provides the opportunity for us to develop the kind of relationship that will enable us to live joyful, peaceful lives. His presence brings the safety that mankind yearns for.

08/04/01 Isaiah 38:1
About that time Hezekiah became deathly ill, and the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz went to visit him. He gave the king this message: “This is what the LORD says: Set your affairs in order, for you are going to die. You will not recover from this illness.”

Death is a distasteful subject. One out of one of us will die. None of us will escape death. Death brings tears of remorse and regret, so many unfinished projects, so many things unsaid. I am turning my attention to today. I will strive to remember that today is all I am promised.

08/05/01 Isaiah 43:1
But now, O Israel, the Lord who created you says: “Do not be afraid, I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine.

God knows my name. I am bought with a price. He has fully paid for me. I belong to him.

08/06/01 Isaiah 47:4
Our Redeemer, whose name is the Lord Almighty, is the Holy One of Israel.

God is able. I am confident that He is. He is able to meet every need of my life. He meets the needs of my life not because I am good and certainly not because I am worthy. He meets the needs of my life because He loves me.

08/07/01 Isaiah 53:6
All of us have strayed away like sheep. We have left God’s paths to follow our own. Yet the LORD laid on him the guilt and sins of us all.

I am a sinner. Unless I am willing to face my sinfulness I will continue to stumble and fall. When I deal honestly with my sin by admitting it to the Lord and walking away with Him from it I will never be free. If I control my life I will be a salve to my sin. If I let Jesus Christ control my life I will be free.

08/08/01 Isaiah 58:2
Yet they act so pious! They come to the Temple every day and seem delighted to hear my laws. You would almost think this was a righteous nation that would never abandon its God. They love to make a show of coming to me and asking me to take action on their behalf.

I listen to folks talk about how things should be. They discuss fairness and equity and goodness. Interesting that these same people seldom use God’s Word except to support their specific view. God’s Word begins in Genesis 1:1 and ends in Revelation 22:21. It is complete, total and authoritative. It is not negotiable. It is a divine revelation.

08/09/01 Col. 1:9
So we have continued praying for you ever since we first heard about you. We ask God to give you a complete understanding of what he wants to do in your lives, and we ask him to make you wise with spiritual wisdom.

I believe that the Lord wants me to pray for others. He wants me to pray that His will be done. He is pleased when I trust those that I am praying for to Him. My prayer for you is that the Lord blesses you and that His good purpose be accomplished in your life.

08/10/01 Col. 1:15
Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before God made anything at all and is supreme over all creation.

Jesus is never surprised by my failure. When I am sitting on the sidelines moaning over a defeat, He reminds me of how excited He is about my life. The plan he laid out for me before the foundation of the world was an exciting plan. My life is valuable and worthwhile. Jesus is Lord.

08/11/01 Col. 1:28
So everywhere we go, we tell everyone about Christ. We warn them and teach them with all the wisdom God has given us, for we want to present them to God, perfect in their relationship to Christ.

The Christian life is not a spectator event. I am charged with the responsibility of knowing God. To know the Lord I must spend time with Him, in His Word and in conversation. When I tell others about Jesus, I am simply telling what the Father has told me. It would be scary if I had nothing to tell.

08/12/01 Col 2:1-3
I want you to know how much I have agonized for you and the church at Laodicea, and for many other friends who have never known me personally. My goal is that they will be encouraged and knit together by strong ties of love. I want them to have full confidence because they have complete understanding of God’s secret plan, which is Christ himself. In him lie hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

I am to pray for others. I need to pray for their physical well being. More importantly I need to pray for their spiritual development. Spiritual warfare is real. It is a tough battle. It is waged on a battlefield that I can only access through prayer.

08/13/01 Isaiah 64:6
We are all infected and impure with sin. When we proudly display our righteous deeds, we find they are but filthy rags. Like autumn leaves, we wither and fall. And our sins, like the wind, sweep us away.

I must never take my focus off of Jesus. Jesus deals with my sin. Jesus takes me to the Father. Without Jesus giving me guidance and direction every day I will flounder and fall.

08/14/01 Isaiah 65:17
“Look! I am creating new heavens and a new earth-so wonderful that no on will even think about the old ones anymore.”

Heaven will be a great place. When this life ends I will go to spend eternity with the Father. I must never forget that life will only improve. The dark tunnel that I often find myself in has an opening; it is Jesus Christ the Lord. He is God’s everything. Jesus brings me through this life into eternity with the Father.

08/15/01 Jeremiah 1:4
The Lord gave me a message. He said, “I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my spokesman to the world.”

God has a plan for my life. When I accepted Christ as my Lord and Savior that pre-existent plan for me came alive. God counted me successful, worthy and lovable. By His grace and my faith I accepted Jesus and got every good thing the Lord has for me.

08/16/01 Jeremiah 1:11-12
Then the Lord said to me, “Look Jeremiah! What do you see?” And I replied, “I see a branch from an almond tree.” And the Lord said, “That’s right, and it means that I am watching, and I will surely carry out my threats of punishment.”

I believe in the judgment of God. People who do not read the Old Testament forget that God’s Word begins in Genesis and ends in Revelation. The wisdom of the world will become foolishness before the Word of God.

08/17/01 Jeremiah 10:1-3
Hear the word of the LORD, O Israel! This is what the LORD says: “Do not act like other nations who try to read their future in the stars. Do not be afraid of their predictions, even though other nations are terrified by them. Their ways are futile and foolish. They cut down a tree and carve an idol.

Jesus has promised that He will guide me. He knows my future. He will walk with me every step of the way. He wants me to grow in my relationship with Him and to serve Him. He will take care of the future.

08/18/01 Jeremiah 16:19
LORD, you are my strength and fortress, my refuge in the day of trouble! Nations from around the world will come to you and say, “Our ancestors were foolish, for they worshiped worthless idols.”

I am going through a time when I feel particularly weak. The experience has been very good. I have had to rely totally on the Lord’s power. He has consistently met each one of my requests with renewed provision. He has calmed my anxiety, encouraged my soul and provided for my needs every time I have asked. This particular passage speaks from experience and the Lord has verified that experience in my heart.

08/19/01 Colossians 2:8
Don’t let anyone lead you astray with empty philosophy and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the evil powers of this world, and not from Christ.

People are interesting. Some folks are extremely successful at a particular skill or have a phenomenal gift. It is hard for them to believe that they can’t reason their way to God. God’s Word clearly states that our relationship with the Father is based upon our belief in the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus is God’s only resource for a lost world.

08/20/01 Colossians 2:9-10
For in Christ the fullness of God lives in a human body, and you are complete through your union with Christ. He is the Lord over every ruler and authority in the universe.

When we come to Jesus we have come to the Father. Jesus is God’s everything, he alone holds the meaning to life because He is life.

08/21/01 Colossians 2:13-14
You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ. He forgave all our sins. He canceled the record that contained the charges against us. He took it and destroyed it by nailing it to Christ’s cross.

It’s hard to read this with a dry eye. Jesus took my sin. I think about some of the things I do that so deeply hurt the Father, and me. Jesus reached out and accepted the pain and agony of my sin and died for me.

08/22/01 Colossians 2:20-21
You have died with Christ, and he has set you free from the evil powers of this world. So why do you keep on following rules of the world, such as, “Don’t handle, don’t eat, don’t touch.”

I grew up without training in the things of God. When I committed my life to Christ, being a Christian seemed like an impossible dream. But, as I let the Holy Spirit have control of the everyday things in my life my habits began to change. Jesus ministered to me. He changed me from the inside out.

08/23/01 Colossians 3:1-2
Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits at God’s right hand in the place of honor and power. Let heaven fill your thoughts. Do not think only about things down here on earth.

Today is always so real. I struggle with the surprises and disappointments. Often I get overwhelmed and forget that this is not the way it will always be. Eternity will be spent with Jesus. If I can trust Him with my eternal salvation surely I can trust him with my brief life.

08/24/01 Colossians 3:5
So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual sin, impurity, lust, and shameful desires. Don’t be greedy for the good things of this life, for that is idolatry.

I am called to stop the sinful things I do. The first step is my responsibility. The power to keep walking is from the Lord.

08/25/01 Colossians 3:11
In this new life, it doesn’t matter if you are a Jew or a Gentile, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbaric, uncivilized, slave, or free. Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us.

I have no excuse. Jesus loves me. He loves me because He created me. My value is not based on worldly things, like skill or wealth or intellect, my value is based on the Lord’s love for me. I am His and He is mine.

08/26/01 Colossians 3:12
Since God chose you to be the holy people whom he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.

I am the one that must change. When I survey the lives of those around me and notice all of their weaknesses and shortcomings, I am called to change. The only way that I can help others to grow is for them to see Jesus in me.

08/27/01 Colossians 3:13
You must make allowance for each other’s faults and forgive the person who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.

I am the one that can forgive you. You may be wrong, I may be right but the bottom line is that whatever the situation is I can forgive you. Why you might ask? I can forgive you of whatever you have done to me because Jesus has already forgiven me.

08/28/01 Colossians 3:14
And the most important piece of clothing you must wear is love. Love is what binds us all together in perfect harmony.

When I am down and out and feeling unloved I turn to God’s Word. As I read and pray I am reminded that love is a gift. If I will give love I will get love. Amazingly with that change of focus the emotion of feeling unloved disappears. There is real healing in the activity of caring for others.

08/29/01 Colossians 3:15
And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are all called to live in peace. And always be thankful.

God is the author of peace. When I turn my life to Him one of the first benefits I receive is peace of mind and heart. As I accept His peace, my gratitude for His peace will increase the peace I have.

08/30/01 Colossians 3:16
Let the words of Christ, in all their richness, live in your hearts and make you wise. Use his words to teach and counsel each other. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts.

I thought I was smart. Christ has taught me wisdom. He has enabled me to take my knowledge and translate it into His language of the heart. My gifts and skills were given to me by Christ to minister to His children.

08/31/01 Colossians 3:17
And whatever you do or say, let it be as a representative of the Lord Jesus, all the while giving thanks through him to God the Father.

I am under orders. My opportunities for preaching and teaching are divine appointments. I think the Lord may want you to hear this. You are His child and agent. Be about His work.