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Showing posts from April, 2023

"True Friends" April 30 Readings: 1 Samuel 19-20, Luke 19:1–27, Psalm 55:1–4, Proverbs 12:1-2

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    Reading the Bible in 2023 Each day this year we will read a selection from the Old Testament, the New Testament, a portion of the Psalms, and part of Proverbs. By the end of the year, you will have read the entire Bible. We read this way to give you a bit of variety. In reading four portions of God's word in a day, one of them is bound to speak to your life! NOTE: if you get behind, do not give up. Read today's readings and try to catch up when you have a chance. The goal is not to "accomplish a task" but to meet God in his word. Read the word. Also, if you are short on time, READ GOD'S WORD and skip my devotional! Bible Readings:   1 Samuel 19-20, Luke 19:1–27, Psalm 55:1–4, Proverbs 12:1-2      Scriptures linked to Bible Gateway in ESV version  Daily Devotional:   True Friends I sometimes wonder how David kept his sanity. He was a man after God's heart, but throughout his life, he had one person after another coming after him for no good reason. Saul, co

"Arm's Length Ministry" April 29 Readings: 1 Samuel 17-18, Luke 18:31–43, Psalm 54, Proverbs 11:29-31

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    Reading the Bible in 2023 Each day this year we will read a selection from the Old Testament, the New Testament, a portion of the Psalms, and part of Proverbs. By the end of the year, you will have read the entire Bible. We read this way to give you a bit of variety. In reading four portions of God's word in a day, one of them is bound to speak to your life! NOTE: if you get behind, do not give up. Read today's readings and try to catch up when you have a chance. The goal is not to "accomplish a task" but to meet God in his word. Read the word. Also, if you are short on time, READ GOD'S WORD and skip my devotional! Bible Readings:   1 Samuel 17-18, Luke 18:31–43, Psalm 54, Proverbs 11:29-31      Scriptures linked to Bible Gateway in ESV version  Daily Devotional:    Arm's Length Ministry Z accheus was a wee little man, and a wee little man was he... It's one of the stories that we church kids heard in Sunday School, about the little guy who climbed the

"Prayer-ables" April 28 Readings: 1 Samuel 15-16, Luke 18:1-30, Psalm 53, Proverbs 11:27-29

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    Reading the Bible in 2023 Each day this year we will read a selection from the Old Testament, the New Testament, a portion of the Psalms, and part of Proverbs. By the end of the year, you will have read the entire Bible. We read this way to give you a bit of variety. In reading four portions of God's word in a day, one of them is bound to speak to your life! NOTE: if you get behind, do not give up. Read today's readings and try to catch up when you have a chance. The goal is not to "accomplish a task" but to meet God in his word. Read the word. Also, if you are short on time, READ GOD'S WORD and skip my devotional! Bible Readings:   1 Samuel 15-16, Luke 18:1-30, Psalm 53, Proverbs 11:27-29      Scriptures linked to Bible Gateway in ESV version  Daily Devotional:    Prayer-ables In Luke 18:1-14 Jesus tells two "prayer-ables." Sorry, is that too corny? Okay, parables about prayer? These stories tell remind us of some important lessons about prayer. The

"No Thought to God" April 27 Readings: 1 Samuel 13-14, Luke 17:20–37, Psalm 52, Proverbs 11:25-26

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    Reading the Bible in 2023 Each day this year we will read a selection from the Old Testament, the New Testament, a portion of the Psalms, and part of Proverbs. By the end of the year, you will have read the entire Bible. We read this way to give you a bit of variety. In reading four portions of God's word in a day, one of them is bound to speak to your life! NOTE: if you get behind, do not give up. Read today's readings and try to catch up when you have a chance. The goal is not to "accomplish a task" but to meet God in his word. Read the word. Also, if you are short on time, READ GOD'S WORD and skip my devotional! Bible Readings:   1 Samuel 13-14, Luke 17:20–37, Psalm 52, Proverbs 11:25-26      Scriptures linked to Bible Gateway in ESV version  Daily Devotional:    No Thought to God In Luke 17:20, the Pharisees asked Jesus when the kingdom of God was going to commence. Of course, they shared the common belief that the kingdom of God was the resurrection and e

"Nine? Or One?" April 26 Readings: 1 Samuel 11-12, Luke 17:1–19, Psalm 51:15–19, Proverbs 11:23-24

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    Reading the Bible in 2023 Each day this year we will read a selection from the Old Testament, the New Testament, a portion of the Psalms, and part of Proverbs. By the end of the year, you will have read the entire Bible. We read this way to give you a bit of variety. In reading four portions of God's word in a day, one of them is bound to speak to your life! NOTE: if you get behind, do not give up. Read today's readings and try to catch up when you have a chance. The goal is not to "accomplish a task" but to meet God in his word. Read the word. Also, if you are short on time, READ GOD'S WORD and skip my devotional! Bible Readings:   1 Samuel 11-12, Luke 17:1–19, Psalm 51:15–19, Proverbs 11:23-24      Scriptures linked to Bible Gateway in ESV version  Daily Devotional:    Nine? Or One? In one of the better-known stories of the life of Jesus, one that we tell our children often, Luke 17:11-19 records the story of Jesus healing ten lepers. Each of them returns to

"Anointed Failure" April 25 Readings: 1 Samuel 9-10, Luke 16, Psalm 51:8–14, Proverbs 11:21-22

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    Reading the Bible in 2023 Each day this year we will read a selection from the Old Testament, the New Testament, a portion of the Psalms, and part of Proverbs. By the end of the year, you will have read the entire Bible. We read this way to give you a bit of variety. In reading four portions of God's word in a day, one of them is bound to speak to your life! NOTE: if you get behind, do not give up. Read today's readings and try to catch up when you have a chance. The goal is not to "accomplish a task" but to meet God in his word. Read the word. Also, if you are short on time, READ GOD'S WORD and skip my devotional! Bible Readings:   1 Samuel 9-10, Luke 16, Psalm 51:8–14, Proverbs 11:21-22        Scriptures linked to Bible Gateway in ESV version  Daily Devotional:   Anointed Failure I remember eavesdropping on a conversation between my dad and another pastor in which they were discussing how churches find pastors. Among Baptists, the church chooses its own lead

"Against You Only" April 24 Readings: 1 Samuel 7-8, Luke 15:11–32, Psalm 51:1–7, Proverbs 11:19-20

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    Reading the Bible in 2023 Each day this year we will read a selection from the Old Testament, the New Testament, a portion of the Psalms, and part of Proverbs. By the end of the year, you will have read the entire Bible. We read this way to give you a bit of variety. In reading four portions of God's word in a day, one of them is bound to speak to your life! NOTE: if you get behind, do not give up. Read today's readings and try to catch up when you have a chance. The goal is not to "accomplish a task" but to meet God in his word. Read the word. Also, if you are short on time, READ GOD'S WORD and skip my devotional! Bible Readings:   1 Samuel 7-8, Luke 15:11–32, Psalm 51:1–7, Proverbs 11:19-20      Scriptures linked to Bible Gateway in ESV version  Daily Devotional:    Against You Only "You are the man." That is what Nathan said to David when he confronted him over his adultery with Bathsheba and his arranging of her husband Uriah's death. And fol

"Don't Mess with God" April 23 Readings: 1 Samuel 5-6, Luke 15:1–10, Psalm 50:18–23, Proverbs 11:17-18

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    Reading the Bible in 2023 Each day this year we will read a selection from the Old Testament, the New Testament, a portion of the Psalms, and part of Proverbs. By the end of the year, you will have read the entire Bible. We read this way to give you a bit of variety. In reading four portions of God's word in a day, one of them is bound to speak to your life! NOTE: if you get behind, do not give up. Read today's readings and try to catch up when you have a chance. The goal is not to "accomplish a task" but to meet God in his word. Read the word. Also, if you are short on time, READ GOD'S WORD and skip my devotional! Bible Readings:   1 Samuel 5-6, Luke 15:1–10, Psalm 50:18–23, Proverbs 11:17-18      Scriptures linked to Bible Gateway in ESV version  Daily Devotional:    Don't Mess with God It was a time of tragedy and sadness in Israel, but it is a glorious, even hilarious story - one of those grand moments in Scripture in which Yahweh's superiority is

"Faith, NOT Magic" April 22 Readings: 1 Samuel 3-4, Luke 14:12–35, Psalm 50:11–17, Proverbs 11:15-16

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    Reading the Bible in 2023 Each day this year we will read a selection from the Old Testament, the New Testament, a portion of the Psalms, and part of Proverbs. By the end of the year, you will have read the entire Bible. We read this way to give you a bit of variety. In reading four portions of God's word in a day, one of them is bound to speak to your life! NOTE: if you get behind, do not give up. Read today's readings and try to catch up when you have a chance. The goal is not to "accomplish a task" but to meet God in his word. Read the word. Also, if you are short on time, READ GOD'S WORD and skip my devotional! Bible Readings:   1 Samuel 3-4, Luke 14:12–35, Psalm 50:11–17, Proverbs 11:15-16      Scriptures linked to Bible Gateway in ESV version  Daily Devotional:    Faith, NOT Magic Israel couldn't figure it out. The Philistines had defeated them soundly in battle. Where was God? Why was he not delivering his people and defeating their enemies? Why had

"A Mother's Power" April 21 Readings: 1 Samuel 1-2, Luke 13:22–14:11, Psalm 50:4–10, Proverbs 11:13-14

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    Reading the Bible in 2023 Each day this year we will read a selection from the Old Testament, the New Testament, a portion of the Psalms, and part of Proverbs. By the end of the year, you will have read the entire Bible. We read this way to give you a bit of variety. In reading four portions of God's word in a day, one of them is bound to speak to your life! NOTE: if you get behind, do not give up. Read today's readings and try to catch up when you have a chance. The goal is not to "accomplish a task" but to meet God in his word. Read the word. Also, if you are short on time, READ GOD'S WORD and skip my devotional! Bible Readings:   1 Samuel 1-2, Luke 13:22–14:11, Psalm 50:4–10, Proverbs 11:13-14      Scriptures linked to Bible Gateway in ESV version  Daily Devotional:    A Mother's Power It was one of the true low points in Israel's history, the end of the period of the Judges. Depravity, violence, immorality, and perversion abounded in the land and t

"The Kingdom Way" April 20 Readings: Ruth 3-4, Luke 13:1–21, Psalm 50:1–3, Proverbs 11:11-12

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    Reading the Bible in 2023 Each day this year we will read a selection from the Old Testament, the New Testament, a portion of the Psalms, and part of Proverbs. By the end of the year, you will have read the entire Bible. We read this way to give you a bit of variety. In reading four portions of God's word in a day, one of them is bound to speak to your life! NOTE: if you get behind, do not give up. Read today's readings and try to catch up when you have a chance. The goal is not to "accomplish a task" but to meet God in his word. Read the word. Also, if you are short on time, READ GOD'S WORD and skip my devotional! Bible Readings:   Ruth 3-4, Luke 13:1–21, Psalm 50:1–3, Proverbs 11:11-12      Scriptures linked to Bible Gateway in ESV version  Daily Devotional:    The Kingdom Way "If just one person is reached through our efforts, then it was all worth it!"  Ever heard that chestnut? When churches put on huge, expensive, man-hour intensive Christmas o

"Jesus, the Divider" April 19 Readings: Ruth 1-2, Luke 12:35–59, Psalm 49:11–20, Proverbs 11:9-10

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    Reading the Bible in 2023 Each day this year we will read a selection from the Old Testament, the New Testament, a portion of the Psalms, and part of Proverbs. By the end of the year, you will have read the entire Bible. We read this way to give you a bit of variety. In reading four portions of God's word in a day, one of them is bound to speak to your life! NOTE: if you get behind, do not give up. Read today's readings and try to catch up when you have a chance. The goal is not to "accomplish a task" but to meet God in his word. Read the word. Also, if you are short on time, READ GOD'S WORD and skip my devotional! Bible Readings:   Ruth 1-2, Luke 12:35–59, Psalm 49:11–20, Proverbs 11:9-10      Scriptures linked to Bible Gateway in ESV version  Daily Devotional:    Jesus, the Divider If you listen to the popular wisdom of the day, Jesus came to earth to gather everyone into one big, giant group hug. He (to borrow a political term) a "uniter, not a divider

"Wasteful Worrying" April 18 Readings: Judges 19-21, Luke 12:22–34, Psalm 49:1–10, Proverbs 11:7-8

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    Reading the Bible in 2023 Each day this year we will read a selection from the Old Testament, the New Testament, a portion of the Psalms, and part of Proverbs. By the end of the year, you will have read the entire Bible. We read this way to give you a bit of variety. In reading four portions of God's word in a day, one of them is bound to speak to your life! NOTE: if you get behind, do not give up. Read today's readings and try to catch up when you have a chance. The goal is not to "accomplish a task" but to meet God in his word. Read the word. Also, if you are short on time, READ GOD'S WORD and skip my devotional! Bible Readings:   Judges 19-21, Luke 12:22–34, Psalm 49:1–10, Proverbs 11:7-8      Scriptures linked to Bible Gateway in ESV version  Daily Devotional:    Wasteful Worrying There are few commandments of Scripture that I violate more regularly than Luke 12:22. Therefore I tell you, don't worry about your life. Jesus is talking specifically here a

"Rich and Foolish" April 17 Readings: Judges 17-18, Luke 12:1–21, Psalm 48:11–14, Proverbs 11:5-6

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  Reading the Bible in 2023 Each day this year we will read a selection from the Old Testament, the New Testament, a portion of the Psalms, and part of Proverbs. By the end of the year, you will have read the entire Bible. We read this way to give you a bit of variety. In reading four portions of God's word in a day, one of them is bound to speak to your life! NOTE: if you get behind, do not give up. Read today's readings and try to catch up when you have a chance. The goal is not to "accomplish a task" but to meet God in his word. Read the word. Also, if you are short on time, READ GOD'S WORD and skip my devotional! Bible Readings:   Judges 17-18, Luke 12:1–21, Psalm 48:11–14, Proverbs 11:5-6      Scriptures linked to Bible Gateway in ESV version  Daily Devotional:    Rich and Foolish Jesus, in Luke 12:15, issued a warning that is perhaps more needed today than it was at the moment he gave it. “Watch out and be on guard against all greed because one’s life is not

"Jesus the (Not) Peacemaker" April 16 Readings: Judges 15-16, Luke 11:29–54, Psalm 48:4–10, Proverbs 11:3-4

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    Reading the Bible in 2023 Each day this year we will read a selection from the Old Testament, the New Testament, a portion of the Psalms, and part of Proverbs. By the end of the year, you will have read the entire Bible. We read this way to give you a bit of variety. In reading four portions of God's word in a day, one of them is bound to speak to your life! NOTE: if you get behind, do not give up. Read today's readings and try to catch up when you have a chance. The goal is not to "accomplish a task" but to meet God in his word. Read the word. Also, if you are short on time, READ GOD'S WORD and skip my devotional! Bible Readings:   Judges 15-16, Luke 11:29–54, Psalm 48:4–10, Proverbs 11:3-4      Scriptures linked to Bible Gateway in ESV version  Daily Devotional:    Jesus the (Not) Peacemaker To be honest, I would not have had those fights. I'd have smoothed them over, worked them out. In Luke 11, Jesus was beginning to lower the boom a little, teaching s