Daily Bible Reading

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Old Testament: Genesis 9:18 - 11:9

New Testament Matthew 4:23 - 5:20

Psalms/Proverbs Psalm 4:1-8

Based on NIV Seasons of Reflections

Messages referring to the Bible Reading:

THE NATIONS OF THE EARTH
The Message of Matthew: BEHOLD YOUR KING!
AN OVERVIEW OF THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT
THE SOUL'S SEARCH!

Play Silent Night

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Customer Review: This book provides specific guidance for reading each book of the Bible by providing an introduction and summary of each book. This title also tries to tie together the big picture and how each book fits ... [Buy from Amazon]

Knowing Your Strengths

Some people waste a lot of perfectly good energy wishing they could do things they can't.

They hear someone play the piano and say longingly, "If only I could make such beautiful music!"

They watch an athlete, hear a stirring speech, or read a well-crafted novel and lament, "I wish I could do that!"

My theory is that everybody is good at something and that the key both to achievement and satisfaction is in knowing what that "something" is, developing it to a maximal degree, and using it.

In other words, play to your strengths.

One young family I know has a daughter who is casting about to decide what she wants to do when she grows up.

As with most seven-year-olds, she sees the world as her domain to conquer. She has ruled nothing out as yet. You have to admire that kind of optimism -- and pray that nothing wrings it out of her.

At the same time, her optimism must have a bit of reality mixed with it. So there has been a dilemma. Her current hot options are between being a rock singer and a star tennis player.

The reality factor here is that she occasionally hits the tennis ball; she never hits a note! So her mom and dad have had no great difficulty in deciding between voice lessons and tennis instruction.

With grown-ups, time is more of the essence. We don't have another five or ten years to cast about among unlimited options. So how do you find your strengths?

Begin with four sheets of paper, and use these headings: (1) things that are easy for me, (2) things people tell me I do well, (3) things that make me lose track of time, and (4) things that are fun and fulfilling for me. Now circle the thing(s) that appear on all four lists. You've probably discovered your strength(s).

Conventional wisdom may tell you to find your areas of greatest weakness and shore them up. Does that really make sense? You'll probably never be more than mediocre at something you dislike, try to avoid, and feel frustrated doing. If you're tone deaf, don't waste money on voice lessons. Try tennis!

It seems far wiser to explore your aptitudes, passions, and talents. Focus and develop your energies there. Become really, really good at something you enjoy. You will find tremendous satisfaction in generating excellence in your field. And the great likelihood is that people will reward you for it.

"A man can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in his word. This too, I see, is from the hand of God" (Ecclesiastes 2:24).

by Rubel Shelly

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Precious Memories
by Alan Jackson; Price: $9.76 (49% off)
Customer Review: A few decades ago nearly every country singer had at least one--often more--gospel albums in their catalog. Today, aside from gospel veteran Amy Grant, who balances the sacred and secular, and Randy Travis, that concept has long faded. For Alan Jackson, however, treating the musical past as present has been a way of life, as it is with these 15 tim... [read more]

Categories: daily-thoughts strength perspective attitude living

The Parable of the Book

A young woman married a King
As she entered the King's Chambers on her wedding night
She was given a Book
The Book spoke of the Kingdom and how to please the King
She took the Book and began to read
She read and she read into the early hours of the morn
The King waited patiently - for after all - True Love waits...
She awoke from her sleep and read some more
The King spoke from across the room where He sat waiting...
He spoke of His Love for her but she could not hear for she had opened the window of the Chamber to hear the people beneath
She would stand and gaze for hours at the young men and the fine wrappings and the jewelry abound and remember the freedom she thought she had before
The King would approach her to place His Touch upon her
but she would back away and begin to speak again of all that she wanted
She made lists of things she wanted the King to give her
She would place the list in her Book and each morning
awake to see which of the desires the King had met
She became very lonely and quite bored and she would venture back out on the streets
but she always took the Book with her for she felt obligated
She found others who had the Book and they would meet together and talk of the Kingdom and talk of the King as He sat alone in His Chambers
The years went by and still the King waited...
She had no time to gaze at His Face
She had no time to kiss His Brow or caress His Cheek
She did not take time
He would whisper of His Love for her, but she was too busy now
going here and there reading the Book making lists of her requests and finally she left -- never to return
She joined with the others who read the Book of the King and His Kingdom but never knew the King

Another young woman was brought to the Chambers -
was betrothed to the King, in time
She was given the Book upon entering the Chambers
and she knew the Book had much value so she placed it beside the bed for later review
She looked into the King's eyes - she gazed at His Face
and she approached Him, not sure of His response
He wrapped her in His arms and as she was held
She heard His Heartbeat and she knew at that instant that she would never want anything else
Their hours passed in each other's arms
They would dance and they would sing and they would speak of their Love for each other
Their thoughts became as One
Their desires were the same - to please each other
They were truly in love --- They were truly One
At times, the King would take the Book from beside the bed
and lovingly read out loud to His Bride of the Kingdom
He would teach her as He held her
He would love her and hold her close and all that they did - they did together
She had no desire to leave the Chambers
She had no desire to open the window and look at the world she came from
She had found freedom - true freedom in the arms of the King she loved
Oh that we would love the King!
Oh that we would hear His Heartbeat!
Oh that we would put down all that we think pleases Him
and allow Him to hold us so closely that we know with our whole being what truly pleases Him!
Oh that we would become One with Him - truly One in Him!
Oh that we would love Him as He has loved us!
Oh that we would be His Bride
Flesh of His Flesh
Soul of His Soul
Heart of His Heart
Spirit of His Spirit
One in Him!

Author Unknown

Play Amazing Grace

Precious Memories
by Alan Jackson; Price: $9.76 (49% off)
Customer Review: A few decades ago nearly every country singer had at least one--often more--gospel albums in their catalog. Today, aside from gospel veteran Amy Grant, who balances the sacred and secular, and Randy Travis, that concept has long faded. For Alan Jackson, however, treating the musical past as present has been a way of life, as it is with these 15 tim... [read more]

Categories: daily-thoughts parable perspective attitude christian