God's Word and selfies

Romans 8:31 (ESV)

 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?

How many selfies do you think you take a day? I read about a young lady that said that she had taken over 100 selfies one night just because she was bored. That’s a lot of selfies! Selfies are a fun way to show all your friends the great hair day you’re having or the awesome place you’re visiting on social media.

When we take a selfie and post it, we let the world know what we’re up to. Whether we’ve just tried the new coffee shop on the corner, or decided to dye our hair red, the selfie shows who we are and what we are doing to the online world. Selfies are a lot like the Bible should be in our lives. The Bible should be showing us who we are and what we are to be doing.

The Bible shows us who we really are. If we need a self-esteem boost, the Bible shows us our great worth to God. (1 Cor 6:20) If we are afraid, the Bible shows us that we are bold. (Proverbs 28:1) If we feel we can’t make it, the Bible shows us we can. (Phil 4:13) Just like a selfie, the Bible shows us who we are. We might not feel like we’re worth much, are bold, or that we can make it, but our feelings don’t matter. What matters is what is true, and the truth is found in God’s word. God’s word shows us who we are.

God’s word also shows us what we are doing. Reading the Bible can open your eyes to habits that you need to get rid of, or things in your life that need to change. We should be constantly striving to be more like God. So when we see a habit or attitude in our life that doesn’t line up with the Bible, we need to change that habit or attitude.

So the next time you snap a selfie or pick up your Bible let it be a reminder of how important the word of God is. God’s word is powerful and can change our thoughts and actions if we let it. Challenge yourself today to go deeper into God’s word and let His words transform you.

Dear Lord, Help us to always remember how important Your Word is. Help us to take the time each day to read it and see what You have to show us. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

God's Word

Joshua 1:8 (ESV)

This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.

One morning in the 1620s, in a little village church, a preacher named John Rogers was preaching on the subject of the Bible in the Christian’s life. He allowed himself some pulpit dramatics. First, he acted the part of God telling the congregation:

“Well, I have trusted you so long with my Bible; you have slighted it; it lies in such and such houses all covered with dust and cobwebs; you care not to listen to it. Do you use my Bible so? Then you shall have my Bible no longer.” And he took the pulpit Bible away.

Then he knelt down and impersonated the people crying to God: “Lord, whatever thou dost to us, take not thy Bible from us; kill our children, burn our houses; destroy our goods but spare us thy Bible.”

Then he acted God again: “Say you so? Well, I will try you a while longer; and here is my Bible for you” (replacing it); “I will see how you will use it, whether you will love it more, observe it more, practice it more, live more according to it.”

At this the whole congregation dissolved in tears. What had happened? Rogers, under God, had touched a nerve, reminding them of their need to pay close attention to the Bible because reverence for God meant reverence for Scripture and serving God meant obeying Scripture.

Do we need to recapture some of the same attitude today? Surely disregarding the Bible is the greatest possible insult to its divine author.

Dear Lord, we pray that we You not neglect Your word. Help us to open it and read it each and every day. Then we pray that we would take what we read and apply it to our life. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

Let your roots grow deep

Psalm 1:2-3 (ESV)

2 but his delight is in the law of the Lord,

    and on his law he meditates day and night.

3 He is like a tree

    planted by streams of water

that yields its fruit in its season,

    and its leaf does not wither.

In all that he does, he prospers.

Today I had lots of time to think.  I was looking at some old pictures of some of our many camping trips we took as a Christian Service Brigade group.  One of the memories that came back to me was the times we camped next to the river and the mighty tree that stood at the edge.  We used to swing off the branches into the cold water.  We also used that same tree to tie off our bottles of soda so they could remain cold for us and refresh us after a long day of playing and work.  

Each of us is a tree and the river is the Word of God. How big and fruitful we become depends on our proximity to the river.

It's encouraging to know that despite the spiritual drought around us -- we don't have to wither! Everything we do can prosper but we must sink our roots deep down at the very edge -- as close as we can get -- to the living river of God's Word.

Dear Lord, help us let our roots grow deep into Your river so that we may prosper in all that we do for You. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

Taking your vitamins

Psalm 119:103  (ESV)

How sweet are your words to my taste,

    sweeter than honey to my mouth!

Why do we take vitamins?  We take them for long-term benefit to our physical health.  Taking a vitamin pill will not produce a sudden burst of adrenaline or bolt of energy, but over time, taken regularly, vitamins will strengthen our immune system and improve our general health and well-being!

By taking your daily dose of God's Word you will find that the long term effects of regularly digesting scripture will promote your spiritual health and well-being. Though it may not be like a bolt of lightning every time you sit down --you can be certain it will boost your immunity to the fiery darts of doubt, disbelief, and deception!  As the scripture says, "faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God!"  So by all means, take your "vitamins" today.

Dear Lord, we pray that we would stay in Your Word each and every day so that we would be able to stand against the schemes of the Devil. In the Name of Jesus.  

Things to Remember When Life Doesn't Seem Fair

Psalm 28:7 (NIV)

The Lord is my strength and my shield;

    my heart trusts in him, and he helps me.

My heart leaps for joy,

    and with my song I praise him.

We've all had days (and maybe even years) when life just doesn't seem to be going our way! We have all felt like nothing was working and everything was out of whack. We have had frustrating days where we just can’t seem to get anything accomplished.

In the grand scheme of things, a stressful morning doesn't impact life or eternity all that much, but in those longer seasons of joblessness, sickness, financial stress, marriage strain and other ongoing life events, the stress and frustration can seem overwhelming. Over the years as I have dealt with my bad back and the other problems it has brought I have learned a few things that have helped me and I pray they help you as well!

1. Remember that your Character should always be stronger than your Circumstances.

We can’t always control what happens to us, but we can always control how we choose to respond. In those moments when I choose to stop complaining and instead give thanks to God for the good in my life, the parts that seem bad start to seem much less significant. Choose to keep a positive attitude and thankful heart regardless of what you’re going through.

“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

2. Remember that your Struggles always lead to Strength.

Every difficulty in your life, whether big or small, is something God will use to produce more strength, faith and perseverance in you if you let Him! All your pain has a purpose.

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28

3. Remember that God’s timing is always perfect.

God’s plans are almost always different from our plans, but His plans are always perfect! Have the patience to wait on His timing instead of forcing your own.

“For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord; plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11

4. Remember that God will never leave your side.

You may feel like you’re going through this struggle all alone, but from the moment you ask Jesus to bring you into God’s family, He will be by your side to the end so never lose hope!

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” Deuteronomy 31:6

Dear Lord, we thank You that You are always there for us. We thank You for Your world that we can go to and gain strength from it. Help us continue to stay in Your world that we may be prepared to handle whatever life hands to us. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. 

Staying True to the Target and God's Word

Hebrews 10:23 (New American Standard Bible)

Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful;

American Sarah Scherer sat in the crowd during the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, cheering on her brother Stephen in the air rifle competition. She was thrilled to see him reap the fruits of countless hours of training and practice.

Shooting had been a bonding activity for the Scherer siblings for eight years at that point. When Stephen picked up the sport, his little 9-year-old sister Sarah wanted to join him. They were practically inseparable, both inside and outside of the shooting range. Such was life for the Scherers as they grew up in a single-parent home, with their mother Sue doing the best she could to provide for her family.

This year, 21-year-old Sarah will be the one grabbing the air rifle to compete in London. She'll suit up in the heavy leather outfit that helps support her physically as she aims and fires at 40 quarter-sized targets from 10 meters away. She'll make every effort to control, relax and steady her body -- even her beating heart.

The roles will not be reversed from 2008, when she watched her brother compete. Stephen will be noticeably absent. Two years after his 2008 Olympic competition, he died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

The heart that Sarah Scherer will try so hard to still during her Olympic competition -- the heart whose untimely beat can be the difference between pinpoint precision and catastrophic error in her sport -- was practically torn from her body when her brother died. She contemplated giving up shooting entirely. Too many haunting reminders.

But through God's grace and the love and support of family and friends, Sarah has found the strength to continue her own shooting career. She does it with a heart full of hope and confidence that she and her brother will one day be reunited.

"Knowing that my brother had a faith in Christ and lived for Him, that's the biggest thing for me," Scherer said. "Because of that decision and that choice my brother made, and that trust that I have, I'm 100 percent sure of where my brother is. I know that he's in a much better place, and that I'll see him again in heaven. That's the number one comfort that I've really experienced coming from my brother's faith."

In the months that followed Stephen's death, Sarah found encouragement from Scripture. Her church family at Southcliff Baptist Church in Fort Worth, Texas, surrounded her and her mother with prayers. Sarah's collegiate small group was especially helpful as she grieved her brother's loss and wrestled with the difficult questions. Why, God?

"Sarah's small group was kind of an anchor that continually brought her back to what she knew to be true from God's Word, even when she was at her lowest points," said Spencer Plumlee, one of Southcliff's pastors who was the college minister at the time.

Friends emailed or texted her with encouragement, often at just the time Sarah needed it the most. Her small group leader talked with her and listened to Sarah's questions. Through all these things, Sarah saw the hand of God upholding her. She heard the voice of God telling her, "I'm here for you. Yes, this is a tough time, but I have a plan, and I'm in control."

"Leaning on Christ through this time has been the only way that I've gotten through it," she said.

Scherer continued to practice and develop her shooting skills on the Texas Christian University shooting team. The times she felt like quitting, she got confirmation from God that He still had work for her to do among that community.

So she kept at it, and her diligence paid off. As she prepares to compete in London, Scherer knows the Olympics may resurrect painful memories of her brother. This was their dream, not just hers, and now he's no longer there to share it with her.

But she's also fully aware of the work God has done in her life, bringing her through trials and tragedy and preparing her for the biggest athletic event of her life. Whatever the outcome, Scherer continues to cling to her Lord.

"My performance in the athletic world doesn't define who I am," she said. "My definition is from Christ."

Are you letting Christ define your life?

Dear Lord as we go through this day we pray that we wouldn’t let the things around us define who we are but that we would let You define us. Help us to always put Your ways first. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

God's Word Our GPS

Matt 7:13-14 (New International Version)

"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it."

It would be very hard for anyone to lose his way home in today's society. GPS, maps, tourist information booths… These are all geared to help us find our way around. Even if someone woke up with complete amnesia, his identity could be traced through his fingerprints and he could still find his way home. In spite of this, some people still manage to get lost, some even ending up in Timbuktu, wherever that is.

Amazingly, although nature does not have any of these navigational aids, none of nature's creatures ever get lost.

Take for example the Chinook salmon. It lives the first two years of its life in the fresh water of the Yukon River. It then migrates to the Bering Sea where it lives for the next four or five years. It is now approaching the end of its life, but it has one last trek to make. It must return to its place of birth, and to do so, it sometimes has to travel more than 2,000 miles up the Yukon River. And all of this without the help of GPS or the AAA!

But this is no ordinary trip back into nostalgia. The salmon has a specific purpose for returning home. It is returning to spawn, and then to die.

And to make things more interesting, the Chinook Salmon won't eat during the three months it takes to make the arduous trip from the ocean to Whitehorse. Instead, it relies on stores of fat alone for its energy. (Hopefully it is fat enough!)

A similar story can be told for the salmon found in Alaska, in British Columbia, or anywhere in the world, for that matter. The salmon will always return to its birthplace to spawn.

Talk about faithfulness!

Sometimes human structures (dams, for example) interfere with the salmon's migratory trek. To remedy this, fish ladders, such as the Whitehorse Rapids Fish way, are built, thus permitting the fish to reach its destination. It is interesting to note that barely 3% of the salmon spawned ever makes it back home. The others succumb to predators or disease.

The salmon's faithfulness in returning to its birthplace is a wonderful reminder to us. In our trek through life, we are also going to our Heavenly home. It is easy to get off track, however, for there are many dangers (trials, temptations, addictions, etc.) that can prove fatal to our eternal souls. We need to continuously check and make sure we are on the right path, that we haven't somehow managed to swim down the wrong river!

How do we do this? By checking regularly with our "original source" manual and its author: The Word of God and His Holy Spirit. Only the Word of God and His Holy Spirit can point us in the right direction all of the time. Only these guides can prevent us from becoming easy prey.

Do you have a fishing rod? Good. Instead of using it to catch migrating Salmon, why not use it to become a fisher of men? Many are lost and in dire need of direction.

"Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men." (Matt 4:19 NIV)

Dear Lord we pray today that we would faithfully follow You in all that we do. Help us use the Word that You gave us as our guide. Help us to study it and use what we learn to be fishers of men. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Would You Deny Your Love for Jesus?

2 Timothy 3:16-17 (New International Version)

16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

The Communist soldiers had discovered their illegal Bible study.

As the pastor was reading from the Bible, men with guns suddenly broke into the home, terrorizing the believers who had gathered there to worship. The Communists shouted insults and threatened to kill the Christians. The leading officer painted his gun at the pastor's head. "Hand me your Bible," he demanded.

Reluctantly, the pastor handed over his Bible, his prized possession. With a sneer on his face, the guard threw the Word of God on the floor at his feet.

He glared at the small congregation: "We will let you go," he growled, "but first, you must spit on this book of lies. Anyone who refuses will be shot." The believers had no choice but to obey the officer's order.

A soldier pointed his gun at one of the men. "You first." The man slowly got up and knelt down by the Bible. Reluctantly, he spit on it, praying, "Father, please forgive me." He stood up and walked to the door. The soldiers stood back and allowed him to leave.

"Okay, you!" the soldier said, nudging a woman forward. In tears, she could barely do what the soldier demanded. She spat only a little, but it was enough. She too was allowed to leave.

Quietly, a young girl came forward. Overcome with love for her Lord, she knelt down and picked up the Bible. She wiped off the spit with her dress. "What have they done to Your Word? Please forgive them," she prayed.

The Communist soldier put his pistol to her head. Then he pulled the trigger.

Most of those facing persecution today could have escaped if they had denied their faith. The question is not whether we are persecuted, but whether we are willing to lay down our life for our faith in Jesus Christ.

Dear Lord we pray that our faith in You would be strong enough and real enough that we would never deny our faith in You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Are you Letting the Word go Through You?

A gentlemanly old pastor was walking down the street one day when one of his church members came strutting up to him with a self-satisfied smile. The pastor knew this young man had been quite proud of his own Scriptural accomplishments, and pride was beginning to be a danger in his life.

The teen boasted, "Say, Pastor, did you know that I have now read the Bible all the way through three times this year!"


To which the kind pastor quietly replied, "Todd, the important thing is not how many times you have been through the Bible, but whether the Bible has been through you."


The young man stood and pondered this a moment, thanked the pastor, and went on his way, promising himself to live the Bible he was learning.




17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— 19 to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
- Ephesians 3:17-19 (New King James Version)






Dear Lord we pray that we would let Your word move through us so that it changes us. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Reading God's Word

A Christian teen girl was frustrated in her attempts to memorize Scriptures from the Bible. Tearfully, she told her grandfather, "I get so upset, because no matter how much I read, I always forget what I have just read." The wise grandfather gently replied "You're still doing a valuable thing, honey. Remember, when you pour water over a sieve, no matter how much you pour, you don't collect much, but at least you end up with a clean sieve."


Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.


-2 Timothy 2:15 (King James Version)






Dear Lord we thank you for Your word. We pray that we will daily read our Bible and let it be a part of our daily life. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Listen to Advice and Accept Instruction

John W. Gardner, founding chairman of Common Cause, said it's a rare and high privilege to help people understand the difference they can make -- not only in their own lives, but also in the lives of others, simply by giving of themselves.



Gardner tells of a cheerful old man who asked the same question of just about every new acquaintance he fell into conversation with: "What have you done that you believe in and you are proud of?"


He never asked conventional questions such as "What do you do for a living?" It was always, "What have you done that you believe in and are proud of?"


It was an unsettling question for people who had built their self-esteem on their wealth or their family name or their exalted job title.


Not that the old man was a fierce interrogator. He was delighted by a woman who answered, "I'm doing a good job raising three children;" and by a cabinetmaker who said, "I believe in good workmanship and practice it;" and by a woman who said, "I started a bookstore and it's the best bookstore for miles around."


"I don't really care how they answer," said the old man. "I just want to put the thought into their minds.


"They should live their lives in such a way that they can have a good answer. Not a good answer for me, but for themselves. That's what’s important."



God wants us to be pleasing to Him. What better way then to listen to the instructions He give to us in His word.



Listen to advice and accept instruction, and in the end you will be wise. Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails"
-Proverbs 19:20-21






Dear Lord we pray that we would first of all take the time to read your word and then apply what we learn to our life that we would what You want us to be. In Jesus’s name, Amen.

Are You Spending Enough Time in God's Word?

Q. What kind of man was Boaz before he married?

A. Ruthless.

Q. What do they call pastors in Germany?

A. German Shepherds.

Q. Who was the greatest financier in the Bible?

A. Noah. He was floating his stock while everyone else was in liquidation.

Q. What was the greatest female financier in the Bible?

A. Pharaoh's daughter. She went down to the bank of the Nile and drew out a little prophet.

Q. What kind of motor vehicles are in the Bible?

A. Jehovah drove Adam and Eve out of the Garden in a Fury. David's Triumph was heard throughout the land. Also, probably a Honda, because the apostles were all in one Accord.

Q. Who was the greatest comedian in the Bible?

A. Samson. He brought the house down.

Q. What excuse did Adam give to his children as to why he no longer lived in Eden?

A. Your mother ate us out of house and home.

Q. Which servant of God was the most flagrant lawbreaker in the Bible?

A. Moses. He broke all 10 commandments at once.

Q. Which area of Palestine was especially wealthy?

A. The area around Jordan. The banks were always overflowing.

Q. Who is the greatest baby sitter mentioned in the Bible?

A. David. He rocked Goliath to a very deep sleep.

Q. Which Bible character had no parents?

A. Joshua, son of Nun.

Something we used in our 5^th grade Sunday School class was Bible trivia which proved to be fun and educational. How many of the questions could you answer? Are you spending enough time in God’s word?

Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.

-2 Timothy 2:15 (New American Standard Bible)

Dear Lord, Be Thou within me, to strengthen me; Without me, to keep me;

Above me, to protect me; Beneath me, to uphold me; Before me, to direct me; Behind me, to keep me from straying; Round about me, to defend me. In Jesus' Name, Amen

God's Holy Word

God’s Word is an amazing book. The Holy Bible contains 66 books 39 in the Old Testament and 27 in the New Testament written by 40 different authors over approximately 1,500 years. The King James Bible contains 1,189 chapters, 31,101 verses, 783,137 words, and 3,566,480 letters. The Bible was the first book printed by Johannes Gutenburg, the inventor of the modern printing press in 1455-57. The Old Testament was divided into verses in 1448 and the New Testament was divided into verses in 1551.

The longest book in the Bible is Psalms. The shortest book is 3 John. The longest chapter in the Bible is Psalm 119 and the shortest chapter in the Bible is Psalm 117. The Bible is the best selling book in the world, with the total number of Bibles sold or given away each day estimated at 168,000 (Wycliffe International). A recent survey by Barna Research Group revealed that nearly 92% of American households own at least one Bible.

Lets make an effort to spend time in God’s word and make it apart of our life.

Only be strong and very courageous; be careful to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may have success wherever you go.

This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success.

- Joshua 1:7-8 (New American Standard Bible)

Dear Lord and Heavenly Father We pray that we will take the time to read Your word and study it so that it becomes part of our daily life and those around us we see You in our life. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

God's Word

Today I had the priviledge to go with the Students from chruch to Lock Haven Scripture Press and help in the assembling of Bibles. What a great experience to be part of the process of spreading God’s word around the word. Below is the purpose and plan from the ministry’s website.

God has given us a burden to print His Holy Word that salvation, free to all through the Lord Jesus Christ, may be made known to ALL peoples. It is estimated that one half the world's population (nearly three (3) billion souls) have never heard the name of the Lord Jesus Christ! Printing the Scriptures in the nine (9) languages now produced in our shop we can reach over one hundred countries with the gospel. We have the opportunity!

Won't you join us in this task of laboring-together to tell a lost world about the living Savior? Join us in sowing the "…good seed…" of the Word of God so that we may rejoice together in the harvest!

Their plan is to share God's Word and assist in establishing indigenous New Testament churches around the world is our plan. Further it is to place God's Word into every nation for the obedience of faith (Romans 16:26), so that ALL people may have the opportunity to hear the Gospel and be saved (Romans 10:17). By publishing fifty "trade languages", this placement of Scripture into ALL nations can be accomplished.

Do you not say, 'Four months more and then the harvest'? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest.

- John 4:35 (New International Version)

Dear Lord and Heavenly Father, We thank You for Your word. We pray for the many around the world that don’t have a copy of it. We pray for ministires like Loch Haven Scripture Press that works so hard to help every man here your word. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

God's Word

God loves us so much that God doesn't want to punish us, instead God offers us grace, love, and forgiveness. I challenge each one of us to read the Bible from cover to cover. One of the greatest benefits of reading the Bible from cover to cover is knowing the whole story of God. The Bible story is about a God who loves us and will do anything to maintain a relationship with us. God even came to us in the form of Jesus Christ who died for us, so that we would not have to die to sin.

In the morning I have the honor of going and helping put together some Bibles in a foreign language. So others my have the privilidge of reading God’s word something we take for granted.

God has offered us love and grace so that we can have an eternal relationship with God. Take the time to read His word so you can know the whole story.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

- John 3:16 (King James Version)

Dear Lord and Heavenly Father, as you touch us with your special love, may wetake the time to read your word and allow it to flow through us that we may KNOW You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

What's In your Sponge?

There are 5 sponges laying on your kitchen counter top. Each member of your family has been cleaning up different areas of your home, but all the sponges look the same. You are curious as to what was cleaned in your home, but you can't tell by looking...they all look the same....so what do you do?

You squeeze each sponge to see what comes out. As you squeeze the first sponge, you see that cola comes out, and so you decide that someone cleaned the kitchen with that one. Upon squeezing the second sponge, you find tub and tile cleaner - that one was used to clean the bathroom.

Next, in the third sponge, you find motor oil -- hubby was cleaning the garage!

In the fourth sponge, baby powder puffs out when it is squeezed -- yep, the baby's nursery was done with that one!

And finally, in the last one, is floor wax -- that was the one you used on the hall floor!

As you lay the last one down, you look again at their similarity - and they all look the same until they're squeezed.

Christians are the same way. As life squeezes us, different things come out - anger from one, a need for revenge from another, tears from one, remorse from yet another - also greed, untruth, lust - and finally, from one saint, pours forth the love of Christ.

Just like the sponge, we can only squeeze out what is put in - stay in the Word daily, and be in continuous prayer, so that when life puts the squeeze on you (and it WILL), Jesus, and Jesus ALONE will shine forth from you!

⁹ How can a young man keep his way pure?
By living according to your word.

¹⁰ I seek you with all my heart;
do not let me stray from your commands.

¹¹ I have hidden your word in my heart
that I might not sin against you.

Psalm 119:9-11

Dear Lord we pray that we would always remember to take the time to read your word and apply its lessons to our life. We thank you for the words you have given to us that lead and guide us to be the people you would have us to be. In Jesus name, Amen

Take time to read God's word

'''The Wicker Basket'''


The story is told of an old man who lived on a farm in the mountains of
eastern Kentucky with his young grandson. Each morning, Grandpa was up early
sitting at the kitchen table reading from his old worn-out Bible. His
grandson who wanted to be just like him tried to imitate him in any way he
could.

One day the grandson asked, 'Papa, I try to read the Bible just like you
but I don't understand it, and what I do understand I forget as soon as I
close the book. What good does reading the Bible do?' The Grandfather
quietly turned from putting coal in the stove and said, 'Take this old
wicker coal basket down to the river and bring back a basket of water.'

The boy did as he was told, even though all the water leaked out be fore he
could get back to the house. The grandfather laughed and said, 'You will
have to move a little faster next time,' and sent him back to the river with
the basket to try again. This time the boy ran faster, but again the old
wicker basket was empty before he returned home. out of breath, he told his
grandfather that it was 'impossible to carry water in a basket,' and he went
to get a bucket instead. The old man said, 'I don't want a bucket of water;
I want a basket of water. You can do this. You're just not trying hard
enough,' and he went out the door to watch the boy try again.

At this point, the boy knew it was impossible, but he wanted to show his
grandfather that even if he ran as fast as he could, the water would leak
out before he got far at all. The boy scooped the water and ran hard, but
when he reached his grandfather the basket was again empty. Out of breath,
he said, 'See Papa, it's useless!'

'So you think it is useless?' The old man said, 'Look at the basket.'

The boy looked at the basket and for the first time he realized that the
basket looked different. Instead of a dirty old wicker coal basket, it was
clean.

'Son, that's what happens when you read the Bible. You might not
understand or remember everything, but when you read it, it will change you
from the inside out.'

Moral of the wicker basket story: Take time to read a portion of God's
word each day; it will affect you for good even if you don't retain a word.

For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

- Heb 4:12

Dear Lord I pray that we would take the time no matter how short each day to read your word. As we read it Lord I pray that we will gain the things you would have for us to learn. In Jesus Name, Amen

God's word is a light - Special prayer request

God's word is a light to our dark path in a morally uncertain world. It must be our standard for right and wrong, righteousness and evil. As God's will and Word have sway in our life, we are delivered from all sorts of destructive practices that can ruin our lives.

Direct my footsteps according to your word; let no sin rule over me.
— Psalm 119:133

Dear Lord who raises the dead and restores the fallen, make my heart delight in your truth and our life more perfectly conformed to your will. Lead us in your way and guide our footsteps in righteousness. Help us to break the bondage that Satan might use to control us and ruin our godly influence. We pray for the many that have been affected by the Tropical storm in the Philippines. We pray for the families that lost loved ones and those that lost everything they had, reach down and comfort them. In Jesus' Amen.

God's Word, God's tool for the heart

As I looked into this verse it made me think about my dad, almost 10 years ago his time on Earth was over only to beign an eternity with his Lord and Savior. When my dad passed away I had many questions. Why couldn’t dad’s heart be healed? With all the great tools man has to repair the heart... by-pass surgery? ... angioplasty? ... artificial heart? ... transplant? I am thankful that my dad allowed the Word of God, God’s tool for the heart to reach into his soul and to inturn become a blessing to those around him. How much of your heart are you offering to God and his powerful heart-healing tool to touch? As you open God's Scripture, as you hear the message of God preached, why not ask for the Holy Spirit's help to help you understand, apply, and put into practice what is being taught? Let's offer our hearts to the Great Physician to do his work in us!

For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
— Hebrews 4:12

Dear Lord, I thank you for my dad and the lesson we can learn form his life. I ask that as we open your Scriptures and hear your Word preached and taught, that the Holy Spirit penetrate our heart and convict us of sin, discomfort us in areas where we need growth, and stir us in areas where we need motivation to be more like Jesus, and that we can be a blessing to those that our in our life. In Jesus name, Amen.