Quote from Isaiah 61

 

Thoughts on Today's Verse

 "A patient man has great understanding, but a quick-tempered man displays folly." Proverbs 14:29

Thoughts on Today's Verse by Phil Ware

Responding quickly to aggravation, threat, insult, or difficulty suggests strength to many folks today. However, responding hastily out of anger is foolish. A hasty, unfiltered response seldom produces the desired long-term effect.

This kind of response nearly always compounds the problems that need to be addressed. Patiently dealing with frustrating and painful situations shows understanding and is nearly always more fruitful in the long run and can prevent the unnecessary loss of friendships, integrity, and respect.

Prayer Starts with Listening

 “During Darius’ first year as king, I, Daniel, was reading the Scriptures. I saw that the LORD told Jeremiah that Jerusalem would be empty ruins for seventy years."Daniel 9:2 

Prayer doesn’t start with talking. It starts with listening.

For your prayers to be effective, first listen to God by reading his Word, the Bible. You need to let God talk to you so you know how to pray, what to pray, where to pray, and when to pray.

Daniel prayed effectively because he knew God’s Word. He had survived three different administrations in captivity and even gotten promoted within them. He was 85 years old and knew God had promised to bring the Israelites home after 70 years in Babylon. But he also knew that the Israelites had not turned back to God. Seventy years later, they were still as messed up as they ever were.

“During Darius’ first year as king, I, Daniel, was reading the Scriptures. I saw that the LORD told Jeremiah that Jerusalem would be empty ruins for seventy years” (Daniel 9:2).

Because he studied Scripture, Daniel knew what God had promised and what was required of Israel. Because of that, he could make wise decisions.

You will never pray effectively until, like Daniel, you study the Scriptures and learn from God’s Word—every single day. The more you know the Bible, the more prayers you’re going to have answered. You’ve got to read from God’s Word every single day so you can learn and remember the promises that God has made to you.

Don’t go to bed without spending some time, however long it is, listening to God by reading the Bible and then talking to him. Daniel did this three times a day for more than 70 years! It was a daily habit for him.

Do you think your life would be any different if you had a conversation with God three times a day for your whole life? It’s no wonder Daniel avoided problems, became wise, and kept getting promoted.

Developing a habit of daily Bible study and prayer will revolutionize your life. It will make you mentally, emotionally, and spiritually stronger. You will be more confident, less fearful, and less stressed. It will improve every single area of your life.

Make it a point today to start a healthy discipline of Bible study and prayer so that you can listen to God and talk to him.

Rich People in War

MSN.COM

What the world's richest people did during World War II

Whom You Should Fear

 

Who You Should Fear     by Bret Lamsma  Scripture Reading: Luke 12:1-12 “I will show you whom you should fear. . . .”     Luke 12:5 When I was in high school, my dad died of cancer. That was a very frightening and lonely time for me. I had lots of questions about God and death. How could God take away my dad when I was only 14? How could he let someone who was a pastor who loved people and freely shared the gospel suffer and die? I was angry with God and was sure that he didn’t care about me. Those feelings filled me with a lot of hopelessness and fear. As Jesus talks to his disciples, he addresses some of the same questions I had when I was 14. He talks about sparrows—a common and inexpensive bird. Jesus assures his followers that if God cares about them—and, yes, he does!—then of course God cares much more about each one of us. So Jesus reminds his disciples, “Do not be afraid. . . .” Instead of fearing anyone or anything on this earth that might hurt us, he says, the only one we should fear is God himself. After all, God holds every part of our lives in his hands. That might seem frighten­ing, but in the end, when God’s control is paired with his care for us, we don’t need to be afraid that God will forget about us. God’s love for us is greater than we can imagine. No matter what happens, God loves us and calls us to worship and adore him because of that love. Loving God, you care for us more than we could know. No matter what we go through, let us worship and adore you through it all. Amen.

Going Against the Flow

Going Against the Flow

From: Today God Is First by Os Hillman

August 29, 2021

"But the whole assembly talked about stoning them." Numbers 14:10a

Have you ever had to stand up against the majority for a cause that wasn't popular? God brought the Israelites out of Egypt and promised He would lead them into a land of milk and honey.

The process of moving out of Egypt was difficult. They could no longer do things the old way, for the old ways didn't work in the desert. God provided for them during this journey. But there came a point in which the people forgot what God had said. Their discomfort changed their belief about God.

Whenever God is slow to answer our prayers, what we believe about God is revealed. Do we change our plans and move in a different direction when pressure mounts? Or do we continue on the path God has directed for us? Four men believed what God said and were willing to stand; however, the crowd wanted to stone them.

Then Moses and Aaron fell facedown in front of the whole Israelite assembly gathered there. Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had explored the land, tore their clothes and said to the entire Israelite assembly, "The land we passed through and explored is exceedingly good. If the Lord is pleased with us, He will lead us into that land, a land flowing with milk and honey, and will give it to us. Only do not rebel against the Lord. And do not be afraid of the people of the land, because we will swallow them up. Their protection is gone, but the Lord is with us. Do not be afraid of them."

But the whole assembly talked about stoning them. Then the glory of the Lord appeared at the Tent of Meeting to all the Israelites (Numbers 14:5-10).

Notice Joshua and Caleb's response to the situation. They had spied the land. They believed God. They challenged the crowd. They seemed to know that if the Lord was not pleased with them they would not enter into the Promised Land. Those who grumbled did not enter the Promised Land. Only Joshua and Caleb and a new generation saw the fulfillment of God's promise.

Has God called you to stand for a cause bigger than yourself?

You will have opposition to His call; sometimes it even comes from those in your own camp. But if God has called you, then you can be sure He will make a way. He has already opened the way before you. But you must walk in faith, joined with Him to take the land.

"...Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go" (Joshua 1:9).

Those we lost:

 Those we lost:

U.S. Marine, Sgt Johanny Rosario (25)

U.S. Marine, Cpl Hunter Lopez (22)

U.S. Marine, LCpl Kareem Nikoui (22)

U.S. Marine, LCpl Rylee McCollum (20)

U.S. Marine, LCpl Jared Schmitz (20)

U.S. Marine, LCpl David Lee Espinoza (20)

U.S. Navy, Maxton Soviak (20)

U.S. Marine, SSgt Taylor Hoover (31)

U.S. Marine, Cpl Daegan Page (23)

U.S. Army, Ryan Knauss (23)

U.S. Marine, Cpl Humberto Sanchez (22)

U.S. Marine, Sgt Nicole Gee (23)

U.S. Marine, Ricky Thompson (21)

Please lift a prayer for their families and thank God for their sacrifice. Because of those who value their nation more than they value themselves, we are able to remain free.

Note their ages. They were just getting started in life. They had hopes and dreams and families just like the rest of us.

They gave that up protecting others.

That’s what patriotic Americans do. That is who they are.