Tuesday, January 31, 2012

And Jesus stopped and called them, saying,
"What do you want Me to do for you?"

Matthew 20.32

(how would you respond?)

Monday, January 30, 2012

And whoever gives to one of these little ones,
even a cup of cold water
because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you,
he shall not lose his reward.

Matthew 10.42

(the ministry of small things.
Nothing is insignificant in God's eyes)

Sunday, January 29, 2012

Then Moses turned again to the LORD and said,
"Why did You ever send me?"

Exodus 5.22

(Moses asked this right before the deliverance.
Sometimes we will see the reason why,
sometimes we will only find out in heaven.
But there is ALWAYS a reason).

Saturday, January 28, 2012

The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want;
He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside the waters of rest;
He restores my life.
He leads me in right paths
for His name's sake.
Even though
I walk through the valley of deep darkness,
I fear no evil;
for You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil,
my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life;
and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD
for ever.

Psalm 23. 1-6

(Read slowly these familiar words.
Take them with you into your day.
And let God's Word heal and encourage you).

Friday, January 27, 2012

But Moses said to God,
"Who am I that I should go to Pharoah,
and bring the sons of Israel out of Egypt?"
He said,
"But I will be with you..."

Exodus 3. 11-12

(Be aware of His presence
in all you are called to do.
The LORD is your strength).

Thursday, January 26, 2012

Be not far from me,
for trouble is near
and there is none to help.

Psalm 22.11

(There has not be a moment
that God has not cared for you.)

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

As for you, you meant evil against me,
but God meant it for good,
to bring it about
that many people should be kept alive,
as they are today.

Genesis 50.20

(God can redeem anything
for tremendous good).

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

...by the God of your father Who will help you,
by God Almighty Who will bless you
with blessings of heaven above,
blessings of the deep that couches beneath...

Genesis 49.25

(blessings which we cannot even
comprehend and of which
we are surrounded)

Monday, January 23, 2012

The heavens are telling the glory of God,
and the firmament proclaims His handiwork.
Day to day pours forth speech,
and night to night declares knowledge.
There is no speech, nor are there words;
their voice is not heard,
yet their voice goes out through all the earth,
and their words to the end of the world.

Psalm 19. 1-4

(the evidence of creation is just one of
the ways God has revealed Himself,
maker of heaven and earth)

Sunday, January 22, 2012

And He did not do many mighty works there,
because of their unbelief.

Matthew 13.58

(not just in what God can do,
but in Who God is)

Saturday, January 21, 2012

For who is God, but the LORD?
And who is a rock, except our God?
-- the God who girded me with strength,
and made my way safe.
He made my feet like hinds' feet,
and set me secure on the heights.
...You gave a wide place
for my steps under me,
and my feet did not slip.

Psalm 18. 31-33,36

(His provision, His protection,
His Presence, in the scary places of life,
one step at a time)

Friday, January 20, 2012

I love you, O LORD, my strength.
The LORD is my rock,
and my fortress and my deliverer,
my God, my rock,
in Whom I take refuge,
my shield, and the horn of my salvation,
my stronghold.
I call upon the LORD,
Who is worthy to be praised,
and I am saved from my enemies.
Psalm 18. 1-3

(On what do you rely?
The only true God is loving, mighty and
intimately personal. He loves you).

Thursday, January 19, 2012

Joseph answered Pharoah,
"It is not in me,
but God..."

Genesis 41.16

(in all your ways
acknowledge Him)

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Do not withhold good
from those to whom it is due,
when it is in your power to do it.

Proverbs 3.27

(Seize every opportunity.
God changes your heart)

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Do not be afraid of sudden panic,
or of the storm of the wicked,
when it comes,
for the LORD will be your confidence
and will keep your foot from being caught.

Proverbs 3.25-26

(for when your heart is invaded
by warriors - we all know that
feeling of being overwhelmed.
Repeat this promise, early and often).

Monday, January 16, 2012

Come to Me,
all who labor and are heavy laden,
and I will give you rest.
Take My yoke upon you,
and learn from Me,
for I am gentle and lowly in heart,
and you will find rest for your souls.
For My yoke is easy,
and My burden is light.

Matthew 11. 28-30

(We were never intended to carry life alone.
We are like so many two year olds saying,
"Me do it."
Read this slowly and let it soak in).

Sunday, January 15, 2012

But I have trusted in Your steadfast love,
my heart shall rejoice in Your salvation.
I will sing to the LORD,
because He has dealt bountifully with me.

Psalm 13. 5-6

(Even in the things that we cannot understand,
He is good.
Even in silence, "follow Me deeper.")

Saturday, January 14, 2012

Happy is the man who finds wisdom,
and the man who gets understanding,
for the gain from it is better than gain from silver
and its profit better than gold.
She is more precious than jewels
and nothing you desire can compare with her.

Proverbs 3. 13-15

(in what do you invest,
in what do you pursue)

Friday, January 13, 2012

Surely the LORD is in this place,
and I did not know it.

Genesis 28.16

(He has strategically placed you)

Thursday, January 12, 2012

But the centurion answered Him,
"Lord, I am not worthy to have You
come under my roof,
but only say the word,
and my servant will be healed..."
...And to the centurion,
Jesus said,
"Go,
be it done for you
as you have believed."

Matthew 8. 8, 13

(how little we believe, how even smaller we ask.
do we even realize what God can do?)

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

The LORD, before whom I walk,
will send His angel with you
and prosper your way.

Genesis 24.40

(you are not alone)

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

Trust in the LORD with all your heart,
and do not rely on your own insight.
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
and He will make straight your paths.

Proverbs 3. 5-6

(no matter the circumstances,
no matter how things appear)

Monday, January 9, 2012

Therefore I tell you,
do not be anxious about your life,
what you shall eat
or what you shall drink,
not about your body,
what you shall put on.
Is not life more than food,
and the body more than clothing?
...But seek first His kingdom
and His righteousness,
and all these things shall be
yours as well.
Matthew 6. 25,33

(on what do I focus?)

Sunday, January 8, 2012

O LORD, our Lord,
how majestic is Your name in all the earth!
You whose glory above the heavens is chanted
by the mouth of babes and infants...

Psalm 8.1

(and you thought they were just babbling :)

Saturday, January 7, 2012

Give us this day
our daily bread.

Matthew 6.11

Give me neither poverty nor riches;
feed me with the food that is
needful for me,
lest I be full and deny You,
and say, "Who is the LORD?"

Proverbs 30.8-9

Friday, January 6, 2012

And let us not grow weary in well-doing,
for in due season we shall reap,
if we do not lose heart.

Galatians 6.9

(goodness, kindness, and love
always bear fruit,
not random acts at all
but intentional and enduring)

Thursday, January 5, 2012

Lead me, O LORD, in Your righteousness
because of my enemies;
make Your way straight before me.

Psalm 5.8

(In the Psalms, "enemies" or "foes"
refer to fears, both real and imagined)

Wednesday, January 4, 2012

For I will satisfy the weary soul,
and every languishing soul I will replenish.

Jeremiah 31.25

(God provides along the way
to encourage you in whatever you face.
You are not alone).

Tuesday, January 3, 2012

...to lead a life worthy of the LORD,
fully pleasing to Him,
bearing fruit in every good work,
and increasing in the knowledge of God.

Colossians 1.10

new year resolutions that will change your life

Monday, January 2, 2012

But You, O LORD, are a shield about me,
my glory,
and the lifter of my head.

Psalm 3.3

"Fear not, I am your shield.
Fear not, I am with you."
NOT "Come on, you can do it,
believe in yourself."
This is the difference
between positive thinking
and the reality of the
presence of God.

Sunday, January 1, 2012

Our help is in the name of the LORD,
Who made heaven and earth.

Psalm 124.8