Ministries (Page 228)

Ministries (Page 228)

Could I Say That?

Could I Say That? July 5, 2017 Read: Genesis 45:1–11 It was not you who sent me here, but God.—Genesis 45:8 “The perception of favoritism is one of the biggest factors in sibling rivalry,” said Dr. Barbara Howard, a developmental behavioral pediatrician (“When Parents Have a Favorite Child” nytimes.com). An example would be the Old Testament character Joseph, who was his father’s favorite son, which made his older brothers furious (Gen. 37:3-4). So they sold Joseph to merchants traveling to Egypt and…

Celebrate Freedom

Celebrate Freedom From Our Daily Bread – July 4, 2017 Read: Romans 6:15–23 The law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.—Romans 8:2 After being kidnapped, held hostage for thirteen days, and released, New Zealand news cameraman Olaf Wiig, with a broad smile on his face, announced, “I feel more alive now than I have in my entire life.” For reasons difficult to understand, being freed is more exhilarating than being free.…

Destroying the Divides

Destroying the Divides From Our Daily Bread – July 3, 2017 Read: Joshua 7:1–12 I will not be with you anymore unless you destroy whatever among you is devoted to destruction.—Joshua 7:12 A writing deadline loomed over me, while the argument I had with my husband earlier that morning swirled through my mind. I stared at the blinking cursor, fingertips resting on the keyboard. He was wrong too, Lord. When the computer screen went black, my reflection scowled. My unacknowledged wrongs were doing…

Verse of the Day – Psalms 5:11-12 KJV

¹¹ But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice:  let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them:  let the also that love thy name be joyful in thee.  ¹² For thou, Lord, wilt bless the righteous; with favor wilt thou compass him as with a shield.

Taking Shortcuts

Taking Shortcuts From Our Daily Bread – July 2, 2017 Read: Luke 9:57–62 Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.—Luke 9:23 Sipping her tea, Nancy gazed out her friend’s window and sighed. Spring rains and sunshine had coaxed a riotous expanse of color from a well-groomed flowerbed of lilies, phlox, irises, and evening primrose. “I want that look,” she said wistfully, “without all the work.” Some shortcuts are fine—even practical. Others short-circuit…

Verse of the Day – 1 John 2:15-16 KJV

Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world.  If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.    For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

Cleaning House

Cleaning House From Our Daily Bread – July 1, 2017 Read: 1 Peter 1:22–2:5 Rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind.—1 Peter 2:1 Recently, I switched rooms in the home I rent. This took longer than expected, because I didn’t want to simply transfer my (extensive) mess to a new room; I wanted a completely fresh and uncluttered start. After hours and hours of cleaning and sorting, bags of stuff sat by the front…

Verse of the Day – Hebrews 13:5-6 KJV

Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have:  for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.    So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.

Time to Flourish

Time to Flourish From Our Daily Bread – June 30, 2017 Read: Luke 13:1–9 “Sir,” the man replied, “leave it alone for one more year, and I’ll dig around it and fertilize it.”—Luke 13:8 Last spring I decided to cut down the rose bush by our back door. In the three years we’d lived in our home, it hadn’t produced many flowers, and its ugly, fruitless branches were now creeping in all directions. But life got busy, and my gardening plan…

Romans 8:6-8 KJV

For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.   Because the carnal mind is enmity against God:  for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.  So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.