What we crave might be our undoing. We were made to crave and worship our Creator, not the creation. Bible Reading: Psalms 105-107 Verse of the day: Psalm 106:14, "They craved intensely in the wilderness and tested God in the desert." Word of the day: Craved. It is the Hebrew word: אָוָה (aw-vaw').
Pride is esteemed by our culture, but not by God. God is able to humble all who are prideful. Bible Reading: Obadiah Verse of the day: Obadiah 1:3, “The arrogance of your heart has deceived you, You who live in the clefts of the rock, In the loftiness of your dwelling place, Who say in your heart, ‘Who will bring me down to earth?’ Word of the day: Arrogance. It is the Hebrew word: זָדוֹן (zaw-done').
What legacy are you leaving your children? The best legacy is to live a vibrant faith and to encourage our children to be Whole-hearted and Holy in their worship and service of God. Bible Reading: 1 Chr. 26-29 Verse of the day: 1 Chronicles 28:9, "And you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father and serve him with a whole heart and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches all hearts and understands every plan and thought. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he...
We don’t have to be in a literal wilderness to be in a wilderness in our own mind. When we feel dry and far away from God, sometimes doing the next best right thing can help to pull us out of the wilderness into God’s abundance for us. Bible Reading: Num. 25-28 Verse of the day: Numbers 27:14, "For when the community rebelled at the waters in the Desert of Zin, both of you disobeyed my command to honor me as holy before their eyes . . ." Word of the day: Wilderness. It is the Hebrew word: מִדְבּ...
I grew up hearing that “cleanliness was next to godliness”, as if that phrase was a Scripture. And while being clean is certainly a great goal, it does not represent godliness as much as exhibiting grace under pressure does. Bible Reading: 2 Tim. 3-4 Verse of the day: 2 Timothy 3:5, "Having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people." Word of the day: Godliness. It is the Greek word: εὐσέβεια (yoo-seb'-i-ah)....
Our flesh can make it difficult to walk faithfully with Christ, yet Christ chose to set His love on us, and He prays for us. Bible Reading: John 17-18 Verse of the day: John 17:2, "Since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him." Word of the day: Flesh. It is the Greek word: σάρξ (sarx).
What we do with what we have been given is the proof of our character. Skills do not just happen. They are developed. Bible Reading: Proverbs 22-23 Verse of the day: Proverbs 22:29, "Do you see a person skilled in his work? He will stand before kings; He will not stand before obscure people." Word of the day: Skilled. It is the Hebrew word: מָהִיר (maw-here').
Sometimes we don’t recognize the benefits of belonging to God. But remembering the benefits is a motivation to be faithful. Bible Reading: Psalms 102-104 Verse of the day: Psalm 103:2, "Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget none of His benefits." Word of the day: Benefit. It is the Hebrew word: גְּמוּל (ghem-ool').
Remembering the LORD and Who He is in our daily lives helps us to number our days aright. Bible Reading: Amos 5-9 Verse of the day: Amos 5:8, "It is the LORD who created the stars, the Pleiades and Orion. He turns darkness into morning and day into night. He draws up water from the oceans and pours it down as rain on the land. The LORD is his name!" Word of the day: LORD. It is the Hebrew word: יְהֹוָה (yeh-ho-vaw').
Sin costs. Jesus offered Himself to pay for our sins. So, too, when we sin, we should be mindful of the cost. Bible Reading: 1 Chr. 21-25 Verse of the day: 1 Chronicles 21:24, "But King David replied to Araunah, “No, I insist on paying the full price. I will not take for the LORD what is yours, or sacrifice a burnt offering that costs me nothing.”" Word of the day: Nothing. It is the Hebrew word: חִנָּם (khin-nawm').
We all are under a curse on this earth, but Jesus has reversed the curse for those who have accepted His forgiveness. Bible Reading: Num. 21-24 Verse of the day: Numbers 22:12, God said to Balaam, “You shall not go with them. You shall not curse the people, for they are blessed.” Word of the day: Curse. It is the Hebrew word: אָרַר (aw-rar').
Rationalizing our thoughts or behavior will never give us the clear conscience God’s word requires. And a seared conscience does not even know it does wrong. Bible Reading: 2 Tim. 1-2 Verse of the day: 2 Timothy 1:3, "I thank God whom I serve, as did my ancestors, with a clear conscience, as I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day." Word of the day: Conscience. It is the Greek word: συνείδησις (soon-i'-day-sis).
When I was a little girl, I loved to play Hide and Seek, as long as no one found me. There was a sense of safety of being hidden. But if I did not remain in my spot and peeked outside of my hideout, I was discovered. This is such a picture of those who are hidden in Christ. They are safe as they abide and remain in Christ and in His word. Bible Reading: John 15-16 Verse of the day: John 15:7, "If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you." Wor...
We can tend to want to weigh our character by our good intentions, but an accurate measure reveals our true motivations. Bible Reading: Proverbs 21 Verse of the day: Proverbs 21:2, "A person may think their own ways are right, but the Lord weighs the heart." Word of the day: Weighs. It is the Hebrew word: תָּכַן (taw-kan').
People of worth don’t make worthless decisions. Our worth is shone by our words and deeds. Bible Reading: Psalms 99-101 Verse of the day: Psalm 101:3, "I will not set before my eyes anything that is worthless. I hate the work of those who fall away; it shall not cling to me." Word of the day: Worthless. It is the Hebrew word: בְּלִיַּעַל (bel-e-yah'-al).
Seeking counsel leads to victory and there is no greater counsel than the counsel of God. Bible Reading: Amos 1-4 Verse of the day: Amos 3:7, "Surely the Lord God does nothing unless He reveals His secret counsel to His servants the prophets." Word of the day: Counsel. It is the Hebrew word: סוֹד (sode).
Seeking God is never done. When it is a part of our daily lives, we find strength for this life and His sweet presence to encourage us on. Continue to continue in your passionate pursuit of God. Bible Reading: 1 Chr. 16-20 Verse of the day: 1 Chronicles 16:11, "Seek the LORD and his strength; seek his presence continually!" Word of the day: Continually. It is the Hebrew word: תָּמִיד (taw-meed').
Being devoted involves our whole self. God gave His all and so will we. Bible Reading: Num. 17-20 Verse of the day: Numbers 18:14, "Everything in Israel that is devoted to the LORD is yours." Word of the day: Devoted. It is the Hebrew word: חֵרֶם (khay'-rem).
Neglect is not just important from a physical standpoint. We can neglect ourselves spiritually and neglect the gift of God and miss the most significant calling of our lives. Bible Reading: 1 Tim. 4-6 Verse of the day: 1 Timothy 4:14, "Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through prophecy when the body of elders laid their hands on you." Word of the day: Neglect. It is the Greek word: ἀμελέω (am-el-eh'-o).
We can’t receive if we don’t believe. And when we receive Christ as our Savior, we also receive a relationship with God. Bible Reading: John 13-14 Verse of the day: John 13:20, "Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever receives the one I send receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.” Word of the day: Receives. It is the Greek word: λαμβάνω (lam-ban'-o).
Integrity is not found in the words we speak, but in the life we live when no one else is around. Bible Reading: Proverbs 19-20 Verse of the day: Proverbs 19:1, "Better is a poor person who walks in his integrity Than a person who is perverse in speech and is a fool." Word of the day: Integrity. It is the Hebrew word: תֹּם (tome).
God made us to worship Him and that often involves music, though worship is more than just music. Singing has a way of evoking passion within us that merely uttering words cannot. Bible Reading: Psalms 96-98 Verse of the day: Psalm 98:1, "Sing a new song to the LORD, for he has done wonderful deeds. His right hand has won a mighty victory; his holy arm has shown his saving power!" Word of the day: Sing. It is the Hebrew word: שִׁיר (sheer)....
The Day of the LORD is both near and far. We don’t know the day or hour, but as we live in the already but not yet, living as if the Day of the LORD could be any moment helps us to live well. Bible Reading: Joel Verse of the day: Joel 1:15, "The day of the LORD is near, the day when destruction comes from the Almighty. How terrible that day will be!" Word of the day: Near. It is the Hebrew word: קָרוֹב (kaw-robe').
Man strives to be great in his and other’s eyes, but it is when we become less that God can make more of us for His purposes. Bible Reading: 1 Chr. 11-15 Verse of the day: 1 Chronicles 11:9, "And David became greater and greater, for the LORD of hosts was with him." Word of the day: Greater. It is the Hebrew word: גָּדוֹל (gaw-dole').
Every parent knows the angst and discontent that grumbling can produce. But grumblers offend God more than the people who represent God. Bible Reading: Num. 13-16 Verse of the day: Numbers 16:41, "The next day the whole Israelite community grumbled against Moses and Aaron. “You have killed the LORD’s people,” they said." Word of the day: Grumbled. It is the Hebrew word: לוּן (loon).
There are a lot of personal goals we make every year, some short-term, others long-term. But there is no greater goal than to be saved and to live and love others like Jesus. Bible Reading: 1 Tim. 1-3 Verse of the day: 1 Timothy 1:5, "But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from a sincere faith." Word of the day: Goal. It is the Greek word: τέλος (tel'-os).
Believing Jesus is the Christ is more than just believing in a historical figure. Jesus Christ is risen, anointed and appointed as the Savior of the world! Bible Reading: John 11-12 Verse of the day: John 11:27, "She said to him, ‘Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.’" Word of the day: Christ. It is the Greek word: Χριστός (khris-tos'). It means anointed one, chosen one, Messiah, Son of God....
No one likes to be humbled. The power of shame is strong. Yet there is a beauty in humility that releases pride and extinguishes shame. We aren’t “all that”. It’s ok to admit that, and oh so freeing. Bible Reading: Proverbs 17-18 Verse of the day: Proverbs 18:12, "Before destruction a man’s heart is haughty, but humility comes before honor." Word of the day: Humility. It is the Hebrew word: עֲנָוָה (an-aw-vaw')
Let’s face it. We have a 100% chance of facing anxiety in this world. The question is how will we deal with it when we do face it? Anxiety does not get the final word when we put God’s word above our own thoughts. Bible Reading: Psalms 93-95 Verse of the day: Psalm 94:19, "When my anxious thoughts multiply within me, Your comfort delights my soul." Word of the day: Anxious. It is the Hebrew word: שַׂרְעַפִּים (sar-af').
Turning away from God leads to suffering and separation from God, but God invites us to turn back to Him through repentance. Bible Reading: Hosea 8-14 Verse of the day: Hosea 11:7, "My people are bent on turning away from me, and though they call out to the Most High, he shall not raise them up at all." Word of the day: Turning. It is the Hebrew word: מְשׁוּבָה (mesh-oo-baw').
