7/1/02 John 2:11
This miraculous sign at Cana in Galilee was Jesus’ first display of his glory. And his disciples believed in him.
Everyday looks like the other. Hard times seem to stay forever. When I go to Jesus He changes me. Life is fresh and I am free.
7/2/02 John 4:50
Then Jesus told him, “Go back home. Your son will live!” And the man believed Jesus’ word and started home.
The impossible always looms large. I cannot do this or cannot accomplish that. Then out of my need the Lord answers. As I mature one of the significant benefits of aging is a growing awareness of our Father’s presence, meticulous attention to my life and His love for me.
7/3/02 Mark 1:25-26
Jesus cut him short. “Be silent! Come out of the man.” At that, the evil spirit screamed and threw the man into a convulsion, but then he left him.
Satan can and does affect my life. I will never be able to stand up against him. Jesus is the ruler over all things. When I turn my focus to Jesus victory is mine.
7/4/02 Mark 1:30-31
Simon’s mother-in-law was sick in bed with a high fever. They told Jesus about her right away. He went to her bedside, and as he took her by the hand and helped her to sit up, the fever suddenly left, and she got up and prepared a meal for them.
Religious activity is at an all time high in America. The only problem is that the religious are worshipping man and not Jesus. Jesus cares for the unclean and hurting masses. Christ died that I might have life. When I make it more complex than that I am following man’s ideas. I cannot understand or control Jesus I can only worship Him.
7/5/02 Luke 5:4
When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Now go out where it is deeper and let down your nets, and you will catch many fish.”
Christ is my friend. He is interested in the minute detail of my life. I will never have a better friend. My life is important. God loves me.
7/6/02 Mark 1:41-42
Moved with pity, Jesus touched him. “I want to,” he said. “Be healed!” Instantly the leprosy disappeared – the man was healed.
How many times have you ached because of a failure? How often have you looked at your life and felt useless? That is a ploy of the evil one. We are not failures. Each one of us has an important part to play in the grand design of God’s creation. Our value is inside not outside. Christ in me is my hope of glory.
7/7/02 Mark 2:5
Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, “My son, your sins are forgiven.”
Jesus forgives my sin and enables me to have fellowship with God. The world I live in is always changing. God never changes. I need time with the Lord to equip me to live in this changing world.
7/8/02 John 5:8
Jesus told him, “Stand up, pick up your sleeping mat, and walk!”
I can develop a close relationship with the Lord. Not because of what I do but because of what Jesus did. He died for me to set me free to be in intimate fellowship with the Father.
7/9/02 Luke 6:10-11
He looked around at them one by one and then said to the man, “Reach out your hand.” The man reached out his hand, and it became normal again! At this, the enemies of Jesus were wild with rage and began to discuss what to do with him.
People save whales and kill babies. They are focused on perverted values. The world is always against God. It cannot have life and it doesn’t want me to have life. In Jesus I have life.
7/10/02 Luke 7:9-10
When Jesus heard this, he was amazed. Turning to the crowd, he said, “I tell you, I haven’t seen faith like this in all the land of Israel!” And when the officer’s friends returned to his house, they found the slave completely healed.
I believe the Lord. I don’t trust in what I see instead I trust in the one who sees me. I belong to the Lord and He is committed to me.
7/11/02 Luke 7:13-14
When the Lord saw her, his heart overflowed with compassion. “Don’t cry!” he said. Then he walked over to the coffin and touched it, and the bearers stopped. “Young man,” he said, “get up.”
God created the world with rules that benefit us. Jesus is not limited by rules or interpretations. He died for you and me so that we might have life here and now. He loves people most of all.
7/12/02 Luke 11:14-15
One day Jesus cast a demon out of a man who couldn’t speak, and the man’s voice returned to him. The crowd was amazed, but some said, “No wonder he can cast out demons. He gets his power from Satan, the prince of demons!”
Sin is accusatory, destructive and evil. It is always seeking to hurt us. It will not stop unless we are destroyed. Jesus forgives my sin and reclaims my relationship with the Father.
7/13/02 Mark 4:39
When he woke up, he rebuked the wind and said to the water, “Quiet down!” Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was a great calm.
We are not at the mercy of the world. I can live my life with the full knowledge that the Lord cares for me. Jesus will help me to walk through whatever mess I make or problem that life greets me with. Jesus will not forsake me nor will He desert me. I can count on the Lord.
7/14/02 Mark 5:6
When Jesus was still some distance away, the man saw him. He ran to meet Jesus and fell down before him.
Satan is alive and well on planet earth. He is my adversary and is seeking to devour me. Jesus says that I can put my sin problem in His hands. He will fight for me and defeat my foe. He will give me the power to stand before the enemy and not fail. Jesus is in control.
7/15/02 Mark 5:34
And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace. You have been healed.”
My humanity betrays me. My body is wearing out. Christ will see me through. I may deal with sickness and poor health but in Christ I am whole. My physical shortcomings do not rob my spiritual vitality. I am God’s property.
7/16/02 Mark 5:41-42
Holding her hand, he said to her, “Get up, little girl!” And the girl, who was twelve years old, immediately stood up and walked around! Her parents were absolutely overwhelmed.
Our God deals with the realities that we face. My need is my reality. Are you afraid? Is their anything that has you blocked in serving Jesus? Take that fear to the Lord and He will give you the courage you need.
7/17/02 Matthew 9:29
Then he touched their eyes and said, “Because of your faith, it will happen.”
I am blessed by God’s mercy. I deserve justice and I get love. I deserve punishment and I get kindness. Jesus loves. I belong to Him.
7/18/02 Matthew 9:32-33
When they left, some people brought to him a man who couldn’t speak because he was possessed by a demon. So Jesus cast out the demon, and instantly the man could talk. The crowds marveled. “Nothing like this has ever happened in Israel!” they exclaimed.
I can choose to win or lose. I am not condemned by my family’s history nor am I at the mercy of some bad choices I have made in life. When I choose Jesus I am a winner. He will help me to come to grips with my life. The abundant life is taking what I have and doing well with it. I can you know. I am a child of the king.
7/19/02 John 6:11
Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks to God, and passed them out to the people. Afterward he did the same with the fish. And they all ate until they were full.
I will never give up. I will lose and I will fail but I will never give up. I can say this with absolute confidence because my redeemer lives. In Him I have eternal life. I will never give up.
7/20/02 Matthew 14:31
Instantly Jesus reached out his hand and grabbed him. “You don’t have much faith,” Jesus said. “Why did you doubt me?”
Even when I fail a test of faith in life the Lord is with me. My relationship with Jesus is based on Jesus and not on me.
7/21/02 Matthew 15:28
”Woman,” Jesus said to her, “your faith is great. Your request is granted.” And her daughter was instantly healed.
I believe in you. I believe in you because you belong to Jesus. He will never, never leave you. Be blessed, the Lord is with us.
7/22/02 Mark 7:34-35
And looking up to heaven, he sighed and commanded, “Be opened!” Instantly the man could hear perfectly and speak plainly!
Jesus does everything well. When I pray and fellowship with Him it is perfect. Not because of how I feel or how well I pray or pay attention. My relationship is perfect because Jesus is perfect.
7/23/02 Mark 8:9
There were about four thousand people in the crowd that day, and he sent them home after they had eaten.
Jesus has power. His power is exactly enough to fit my need. He is never low on power when I need help. Jesus is God’s everything.
7/24/02 Mark 8:25
Then Jesus placed his hands over the man’s eyes again. As the man stared intently, his sight was completely restored, and he could see everything clearly.
Jesus is the source for my relationship with the Father. I need to remember that I can turn to Jesus for everything and anything. He is Lord.
7/25/02 Mark 9:23-24
“What do you mean, ‘If I can’?” Jesus asked. “Anything is possible if a person believes.” The father instantly replied, “I do believe, but help me not to doubt!”
The spirit world is real. I cannot see into it but am impacted by it everyday. Jesus can see what is going on and is in control of all things. I need to be in constant contact with the Lord Jesus Christ.
7/26/02 Matthew 17:26-27
“They tax the foreigners,” Peter replied. “Well, then,” Jesus said, “the citizens are free! However, we don’t want to offend them, so go down to the lake and throw in a line. Open the mouth of the first fish you catch, and you will find a coin. Take the coin and pay the tax for both of us.”
I need to let Jesus be Lord of me. My thoughts must be submitted to Him. My actions must come under His control. When I do this I change and become like Christ. His power is available when He is in control. When I am in control tragedy reigns.
7/27/02 John 9:35-37
When Jesus heard what had happened, he found the man and said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” The man answered, “Who is he, sir, because I would like to.” “You have seen him,” Jesus said, “and he is speaking to you!”
Jesus is the light. When all else fails in life and I cannot see a way out Jesus provides the way. He is God’s everything. He will not forget me.
7/28/02 Luke 13:10-12
One Sabbath day as Jesus was teaching in a synagogue, he saw a woman who had been crippled by an evil spirit. She had been bent double for eighteen years and was unable to stand up straight. When Jesus saw her, he called her over and said, “Woman, you are healed of your sickness!”
You and I need to be faithful in praying that lost people might be saved. When they are saved we can trust Jesus to straighten out their lives. I can rejoice in the work that Jesus has done and not seek to load up new Christians with my list of dos and don’ts.
7/29/02 Luke 14:3-4
Jesus asked the Pharisees and experts in religious law, “Well, is it permitted in the law to heal people on the Sabbath day, or not?” When they refused to answer, Jesus touched the sick man and healed him and sent him away.
I can do all things through Christ. Fear cannot control my life.
7/30/02 John 11:43-44
Then Jesus shouted, “Lazarus, come out!” And Lazarus came out, bound in grave clothes, his face wrapped in a head cloth. Jesus told them, “Unwrap him and let him go!”
God understands my life. His timing is perfect. I can count on Him for the right advice and accurate directions. Jesus is the real one.
7/31/02 Luke 17:12-14
As he entered a village there, ten lepers stood at a distance, crying out, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” He looked at them and said, “Go show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, their leprosy disappeared.
God made me for good. I am valuable and my life has real meaning. I am required to take what I have and do what I can. I am not required to be you or to do your job.
