Daily Bread

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RE: Daily Bread

lc335 · Bored

Inside Out wrote:
A Small Sacrifice

February 13, 2013 by Julie Ackerman Link

With God all things are possible. Mark 10:27

As we anticipate the coming celebration of Easter, I begin thinking about the sacrifice Jesus made so that I could be reconciled to God. To help me focus on all that He gave up for me, I make a small sacrifice of my own. When I fast from something I normally enjoy, every craving for that food or drink or pastime reminds me of how much more Jesus gave up for me.

Because I want to be successful, I tend to give up something that isnt a big temptation for me. Yet even then I fail. My inability to be perfect in such a small thing reminds me of why Easter is so important. If we could be perfect, Jesus would not have had to die.

*The rich young man whom Jesus encountered along a Judean road was trying to earn eternal life by being good. But Jesus, knowing the man could never be good enough, said, With men [salvation] is impossible, but not with God (Mark 10:27).

Although giving up something does not make anyone good, it does remind us that no one is good except God (v.18). And thats important to remember, for it is the sacrifice of a good and perfect God that makes our salvation possible.

I gave My life for thee;
My precious blood I shed,
That thou might ransomed be
And quickened from the dead. Havergal

Jesus sacrificed His life for ours.

* Was that the same kid he told to "take what you, and give it to the poor".............."then follow me"???

Inside Out · Bored

lc335 wrote:
Inside Out wrote:
*The rich young man whom Jesus encountered along a Judean road was trying to earn eternal life by being good. But Jesus, knowing the man could never be good enough, said, With men [salvation] is impossible, but not with God (Mark 10:27).

* Was that the same kid he told to "take what you, and give it to the poor".............."then follow me"???

I will have to get back to you on this

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Gifted To Serve

February 17, 2013 by C. P. Hia

Read: Romans 12:3-13
There are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. 1 Corinthians 12:6

It occurred to me one day that my right foot does all the pedal work when Im driving my automatic transmission car. It alone works the accelerator and the brake. The left foot is idle. What happens if I decide that to be equitable, my left foot ought to replace my right foot half the time when I am driving? If you have never done so, please dont try it!

If we dont require such equality of the members of our own body, why is it that we sometimes expect it of people in the church? That seems to be an issue that the first-century church at Rome faced. Some were thinking more highly of themselves than they ought (Rom. 12:3) just because they were doing some things others were not doing. But Paul reminds us that all members do not have the same function (v.4). Weve been gifted according to Gods grace (v.6). He gave us those gifts to serve others, not ourselves (vv.6-13). Our service is to be marked by diligence and fervor, for we are serving the Lord, not man (v.11).

So, lets not look over our shoulders to see what others are doing or not doing. Look at how God may be able to use you in His kingdom today. He has gifted you just as He has pleased (v.3).

Lord, lead me today as You see best. Use the gifts You
have given me to encourage others on their journey.
Help me not to compare myself with others
but to be content with who You have made me to be.

We cant all play the same part in Gods band of service, but we should all play in harmony.

lc335 · Bored

Another good read, with some great advise.

Inside Out · Bored

Jars of Clay

February 21, 2013 by Joe Stowell

We have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. 2 Corinthians 4:7

When you buy a nice piece of jewelry, it is often tucked into a setting of black- or dark-colored velvet. I think its designed that way so that your attention is immediately drawn to the beauty of the jewelry. If the packaging were highly decorated, it would compete with the beauty of the treasure.

It reminds me of Pauls comments about the ministry of Jesus through us, when he said, We have this treasure in jars of clay (2 Cor. 4:7 niv). Its easy to forget that we are the packaging and His work is the treasure. So we adorn our jars of clay, taking credit for the things we do to serve Christ. We seek to bring glory to ourselves when weve forgiven someone, or shown mercy, or given generously. The problem is, when we start seeking affirmation and praise for good deeds, we compete with the brilliance of the treasure of God working through us.

When we do things for Christ, its not about us but about His glory. The less obvious we are, the more brilliant He becomes. Which is why, Paul says, the treasure has been put in jars of clay so that God would be the one to be glorified. Besides, since when are jars of clay significant? Its whats inside that counts!

Help us not to cloud Gods glory
Nor with self His light to dim;
May each thought to Christ be captive,
Emptied to be filled with Him. Anon.

Let the brilliance of the treasure of Christ shine through you as you live for Him.

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Crowned With Glory

February 22, 2013 by Dave Branon

What is man that You are mindful of him? Psalm 8:4

The Voyager 1 spacecraft, which was launched in 1977, is on the outer edge of our solar system more than 10 billion miles away. In February 1990, when Voyager 1 was almost 4 billion miles from us, scientists turned its camera toward Earth and took some pictures that revealed our planet as an almost imperceptible blue dot on a vast sea of empty space.

In the immense reaches of our universe, Earth is just a minuscule speck. On this seemingly insignificant pebble in the ocean of galactic objects live more than seven billion people.

If this makes you feel insignificant, God has some good news. Tucked into one of Davids psalms is a rhetorical question that can allow you to step out into the night air, look up at the sky, and rejoice. Psalm 8:3-5 tells us that we are superstars in Gods eyes: When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, . . . what is man that You are mindful of him? . . . You have crowned him with glory and honor. Soak that in! Godwho spoke into existence a universe so vast that the Hubble telescope hasnt found the end of itcreated you, and He cares deeply for you. He cared enough to ask Jesus to leave heaven to die for you.

Look up in wonder at Gods creation and praise Him that He crowned you with glory through His Son Jesus.

We praise You, Father, for Your creation which reaches
beyond our imagination, for the spellbinding night
sky with its vast array of lights, and for loving each of
us enough to send Jesus to be our personal Savior.

We see the power of Gods creation; we feel the power of His love.

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Gods Lighthouse

February 24, 2013 by Dennis Fisher

You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Matthew 5:14

The Mission Point Lighthouse was built in 1870 on a peninsula in Northern Michigan to warn ships of sand bars and rocky shores along Lake Michigan. That lighthouse got its name from another kind of lighthouse, a mission church, which was built 31 years earlier.

In 1839, Rev. Peter Dougherty answered the call to become pastor of a church in Old Mission that was made up of Native Americans who lived farther south on the same peninsula. Under his leadership, a thriving community of farmers, teachers, and craftsmen worked side by side to build a better life for the community.

When believers in Christ work together in unity, their fellowship of faith provides spiritual light in the worlds darkness (Phil. 2:15-16). Jesus said, You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. . . . Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven (Matt. 5:14-16).

The Mission Point Lighthouse warned ships of danger, but the original Old Mission Church provided spiritual direction to all who would listen. Believers do the same individually and through our churches. We are Gods lighthouse because Jesus lives in us.

You are called with a holy calling
The light of the world to be;
To lift up the lamp of the Savior
That others His light may see. Anon.

Believers help the lost to find their way home when their life shines brightly.

lc335 · Bored

I like your "Daily Bread" post, I don't always comment, but I always read them.

Wouldn't it be a wonderful world if everyone adhered to the teachings of Jesus.

Inside Out · Bored

Giving Thanks

February 26, 2013 by Julie Ackerman Link

Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. John 11:41

A tragedy left a family with a void that nothing could fill. A toddler chasing a cat wandered into the road and was run over by a delivery truck. A 4-year-old watched in shocked silence as her parents cradled the lifeless body of her little sister. For years, the cold emptiness of that moment encased the family in sadness. Feelings were frozen. The only comfort was numbness. Relief was unimaginable.

Author Ann Voskamp was the 4-year-old, and the sorrow surrounding her sisters death formed her view of life and God. The world she grew up in had little concept of grace. Joy was an idea that had no basis in reality.

As a young mother, Voskamp set out to discover the elusive thing the Bible calls joy. The words for joy and grace come from the Greek word chairo, which she found out is at the center of the Greek word for thanksgiving. Could it be that simple? she wondered. To test her discovery, Voskamp decided to give thanks for 1,000 gifts she already had. She started slowly but soon gratefulness was flowing freely.

Just as Jesus gave thanks before, not after, raising Lazarus from the dead (John 11:41), Voskamp discovered that giving thanks brought to life feelings of joy that had died along with her sister. Joy comes from thanksgiving.

Lord, I thank You that You have the power
to raise the dead. May the feelings of joy
that arise from our thanksgiving be seeds of
grace to those who are afraid to feel.

The joy of living comes from a heart of thanksgiving.

Inside Out · Bored

lc335 wrote:
I like your "Daily Bread" post, I don't always comment, but I always read them.
Wouldn't it be a wonderful world if everyone adhered to the teachings of Jesus.

I do believe so

lc335 · Bored

Ya know IO, for years I wondered about war, and warriors, and cops.....and how God felt about us having to break so many of his commandments......we had to break them in the line of duty, to stay alive.

I was talking with my older brother; a minister; about it, he mentioned King David, and all the things God ordered David to do, all the times David dis-obeyed God, and yet God said that David was a man after his own heart.

I believe God has a special understanding, love, and forgiveness for cops, and warriors. I think he knows how it breaks our hearts to think back on all the times in our lives that we were forced do things that would come back to haunt us in a our last years. When in the line of duty a warrior, or a cop has to take a life they never forget that, and as you age the burden, the memory get's harder to bear.

I hope God forgives me for all those things that I was forced to do in the line of of duty.

............well that, and wanting to smack the ever loving "do-do" outta Entre sometimes for being so hard headed, and stupid. hmm

Inside Out · Bored

lc335 wrote:
Ya know IO, for years I wondered about war, and warriors, and cops.....and how God felt about us having to break so many of his commandments......we had to break them in the line of duty, to stay alive.
I was talking with my older brother; a minister; about it, he mentioned King David, and all the things God ordered David to do, all the times David dis-obeyed God, and yet God said that David was a man after his own heart.
I believe God has a special understanding, love, and forgiveness for cops, and warriors. I think he knows how it breaks our hearts to think back on all the times in our lives that we were forced do things that would come back to haunt us in a our last years. When in the line of duty a warrior, or a cop has to take a life they never forget that, and as you age the burden, the memory get's harder to bear.
I hope God forgives me for all those things that I was forced to do in the line of of duty.

............well that, and wanting to smack the ever loving "do-do" outta Entre sometimes for being so hard headed, and stupid.

It is my belief that God knows that we are Human and that ... well ... that being human is what he made us and that if we try to follow his commandments and the golden rule ... even if we break it ... from time to time ... that as a human ... it is just going to happen ... but as long as we strive to follow his words and his guidelines ... and believe in him ... Romans 10:9&10 ... kinda that just as we understand our own children make mistakes ... just because they are young and do not understand the whole big world yet ... we forgive them ... and love them just the same.

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Grandpa Snucked Out

February 27, 2013 by Anne Cetas

My heart is glad, and my glory rejoices; my flesh also will rest in hope. Psalm 16:9

My cousin Ken fought a courageous 4-year battle with cancer. In his final days, his wife, three children, and several grandchildren were in and out of his room, spending time with him and sharing special goodbyes. When everyone was out of the room for a moment, he slipped into eternity. After the family realized that he was gone, one young granddaughter sweetly remarked, Grandpa snucked out. One moment the Lord was with Ken here on earth; the next moment Kens spirit was with the Lord in heaven.

Psalm 16 was a favorite psalm of Kens that he had requested to be read at his memorial service. He agreed with the psalmist David who said that there was no treasure more valuable than a personal relationship with God (vv.2,5). With the Lord as his refuge, David also knew that the grave does not rob believers of life. He said, You will not leave my soul in Sheol [the grave] (v.10). Neither Ken nor anyone else who knows Jesus as Savior will be abandoned in death.

Because of Jesus own death and resurrection, we too will rise one day (Acts 2:25-28; 1 Cor. 15:20-22). And we will find that at [Gods] right hand are pleasures forevermore (Ps. 16:11).

In the Beloved accepted am I,
Risen, ascended, and seated on high;
Saved from all sin through His infinite grace,
I am accorded in heaven a place.
Civilla Martin. © Renewal 1958. Hope Publishing.

God is our treasure now, and being with Him in heaven will bring pleasures forever.

Inside Out · Bored

Pack Up Your Sorrows

February 28, 2013 by David C. McCasland

Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows. Isaiah 53:4

During the turbulent years of the 1960s, popular music in America was a strange mixture of protest and patriotism. Some songs lashed out against war, greed, and injustice in society, while others affirmed duty to country and traditional values. But Pack Up Your Sorrows, written by Richard Farina and Pauline Baez Marden, seemed to fit all of the categories with its focus on the quest for personal peace. The refrain said the following:

Well, if somehow you could pack up your sorrows,
And give them all to me
You would lose them, I know how to use them,
Give them all to me.

Perhaps everyone hoped that someone really could bring them peace.

The good news is that there is Someone who can! Isaiah 53 is a prophetic picture of Israels promised Messiah. Christians see its fulfillment in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows . . . . He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed (vv.4-5).

Jesus took our sins and sorrows on Himself so that we could be forgiven and have peace with God. Will you give Him your sorrows today?

Never a burden that He does not carry;
Never a sorrow that He does not share;
Whether the days may be sunny or dreary,
Jesus is always there.
Bertha Lillenas. ©1934 Homer A. Rodeheaver.

No sorrow is too heavy for our Savior to bear.

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Theyre Watching

March 4, 2013 by Dave Branon

Speak evil of no one, . . . be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men. Titus 3:2

Its been several decades since a high school event devastated me. Playing sports was hugely important to me. I zeroed in on basketball and spent hundreds of hours practicing my game. So when I didnt make the varsity team in my last year after being on the team since junior high, I was crushed.

Disappointed and confused, I carried on. I became a stats guy for the team, going to games and keeping track of my friends rebounds and shots as they got within one game of the state championship without me. To be honest, I never thought of how they were viewing my response. I just muddled through. Thats why I was surprised recently to hear that several of my classmates told my brother that they saw in my response a lesson in Christianitya picture of Christ. My point is not to tell you to do as I did, because Im not sure what I did. My point is this: Whether we know it or not, people are watching us.

In Titus 3:1-8, Paul explains the life God enables us to livea life of respect, obedience, and kindness that results from being reborn through Jesus and renewed by the Holy Spirit who has been poured out on us.

As we live a Spirit-guided life, God will show the reality of His presence to others through us.

Dear Father, You know how inadequate I am.
Please equip me through the Spirit to show love
and respect in my life so that others will see
through me and see You.

A Christian is a living sermon whether or not he preaches a word.

Inside Out · Bored

Forced Leisure

March 5, 2013 by David C. McCasland

The Lord your God in your midst, the Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing. Zephaniah 3:17

Just before Christmas one year, a friend was diagnosed with leukemia and was told she must begin chemotherapy immediately. Just a few weeks earlier, Kim had told friends how blessed and content she felt with a loving family, a comfortable home, and a new grandson. As she entered the hospital, Kim asked Jesus to make His presence known to her and to stay close.

The next 7 months of treatments followed by recovery in partial isolation became a season she calls forced leisure. She says she learned how to slow down, reflect quietly, and rest in Gods goodness, love, and perfect planregardless of whether or not she would be healed.

One of Gods promises to His people Israel became personal to Kim: The Lord your God . . . will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing (Zeph. 3:17).

Kim is in remission after a journey she says changed her life for the better. Now back in her busy routine, she often pauses to recapture the lessons of forced leisure.

How important that wein good times or times of challengedraw near to Gods loving heart to hear His voice and place our lives in His hands.

A troubled heart, a wearied mind
Are burdens hard to bear;
A lack of peace, a heavy load
Are lifted by Gods care. Fitzhugh

People are at the heart of Gods heart.

lc335 · Bored

Good reading, all of them.

Inside Out · Bored

Praying Friends

March 9, 2013 by Anne Cetas

I met my friend Angie for lunch after having not seen her for several months. At the end of our time together, she pulled out a piece of paper with notes from our previous get-together. It was a list of my prayer requests she had been praying for since then. She went through each one and asked if God had answered yet or if there were any updates. And then we talked about her prayer requests. How encouraging to have a praying friend!

The apostle Paul had a praying relationship with the churches he served, including the one at Thessalonica. He thanked God for the faith, love, and hope of the people (1 Thess. 1:2-3). He longed to see them, and asked God night and day that he might be able to visit them again (3:10-11). He requested that the Lord would help them increase and abound in love to one another and to all (v.12). He also prayed that their hearts would be blameless before God (v.13). They must have been encouraged as they read about Pauls concern and prayers for them. Paul knew too his own need for Gods presence and power and pleaded, Brethren, pray for us (5:25).

Loving Father, thank You for wanting us to talk with You. Teach us all to be praying friends.

I need the prayers of those I love
While traveling on lifes rugged way,
That I may true and faithful be,
And live for Jesus every day. Vaughn

The best kind of friend is a praying friend.

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Riches Of The Soul

March 12, 2013 by David C. McCasland

Give me neither poverty nor richesfeed me with the food allotted to me. Proverbs 30:8

With the hope of winning a record jackpot of $640 million, Americans spent an estimated $1.5 billion on tickets in a multistate lottery in early 2012. The odds of winning were a staggering 1 in 176 million, but people stood in lines at grocery stores, gas stations, and cafes to buy a chance to become rich. Something inside us makes us think more money will solve our problems and improve our lives.

A man identified in the Bible as Agur had a different perspective on riches when he asked God to grant him two requests before he died.

First, he said, Remove falsehood and lies far from me (Prov. 30:8). Integrity is a key to living without anxiety. When we have nothing to hide, we have nothing to fear. Deceit enslaves; honesty liberates. Second, he said, Give me neither poverty nor richesfeed me with the food allotted to me (v.8). Contentment springs from trusting God as our supplier and gratefully accepting what He provides. Agur said of the Creator that He established all the ends of the earth. . . . He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him (vv.4-5).

Integrity and contentment are riches of the soul that are available to all. Our Lord is pleased to give these treasures to everyone who asks.

Contentment does not come from wealth
Its not something you can buy;
Contentment comes to give you peace
When you depend on Gods supply. Branon

Discontentment makes us poor while contentment makes us rich!