Daily Thoughts

Uplifting Daily Christian Thoughts

Thursday, January 19

Daily Bible Reading

Double click on the verses to read the verses online. In the new window, click on the speaker icon to listen to the verses.

Old Testament: Genesis 36:1 - 37:36

New Testament Matthew 13:18 - 13:35

Psalms/Proverbs Psalm 10:12-18

Based on NIV Seasons of Reflections

Messages referring to the Bible Reading:

LEARNING TO LEAD
BEAUTIFUL DREAMER
THE CASE OF THE LAVISH FARMER
The growth and worth of the kingdom
GOD SEES ALL


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Daddy is Driving

A speaker (Dr. Wan) has once shared his experience:

While his family and he were in Europe, there was one time they need to drive 3 days continuously, day and night, to get to Germany. So, they all got into the car -- he, his wife, and his 3 years old daughter.

His little daughter has never traveled at night before. She was scared the first night in the car, with deep darkness outside.

"Where are we going, Daddy?" "To your uncle's house, in Germany."

"Have you been to his house before?" "No."

"Then, do you know the way?" "Maybe, we can read the map."

Short pause. "Do you know how to read the map?" "Yes, we will get there safely."

Another pause.

"Where are we going to eat if we get hungry before arriving?"

"We can stop by restuarants if we are hungry."

"Do you know if there are restaurants on the way?" "Yes, there are."

"Do you know where?" "No, but we will be able to find some."

The same dialogue repeated a few times within the first night, and also the second night.

But on the third night, his daughter was quiet. He thought that she might have fallen asleep, but when he looked into the mirror, he saw that she was awake and was just looking around calmly.

He couldn't help wondering why she was not asking the questions anymore --

"Dear, do you know where we are going?" "Germany, Uncle's house."

"Do you know how we are getting there?" "No."

"Then why aren't you asking anymore?" "Because Daddy is driving."

Because Daddy is driving.

This answer from a 3 years' old girl has then become the strength and help for this speaker for the many years follow whenever he has questions and fears on his journey with the Lord.

Yes, our Father is driving.

We may know the destination (and sometimes we may just know it like the little girl "Germany", without understanding where or what it really is).

We do not know the way, we do not know how to read the map,

we do not know if we can find restaurants along the way.

But the little girl knew the most important thing -- Daddy is driving -- and so she is safe and secure.

She knows that her Daddy will provide all that she needs.

Do you know your Daddy, the Great Shepherd, is driving today?

What are your behavior and response as a passenger, His child?

You may have asked many questions before, but can you like the little girl, starts to realize the most important focus should be "Daddy is driving?"

Author Unknown


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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]



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The Power of Choice

A number of years ago I heard a powerful story about motivation. I don't remember where I heard it or even if it is a true story or not, but it perfectly exemplifies the human ability to transcend circumstances.

My memory of it is fuzzy, so here's my version ... with a twist.

A reporter decided to follow up on an incredible human interest story after hearing of two brothers, one a vicious, dangerous criminal to be locked up for the next ten years for his latest crime, and the other a highly respected university professor.

After the arrest of brother number one, he told the police about his brother, his closest living relative.

After the police discovered who brother number two was, a reporter was given the tip that this could be an interesting story.

Upon interviewing both men at length, the reporter learned that their father was a brutal man. He was a hard drinker. And his brand of teaching his boys "right from wrong" involved terrible verbal abuse no matter where they happened to be. When they "got out of line," he hit them with belts, his fists, sticks--whatever was handy.

They both told almost identical stories of extreme cruelty. Neither one was exempt from the old man's anger and drunken rage.

While the boys were 19 and 20 respectively, their father died of a massive heart attack. Shortly afterwards, the brothers had a falling out and never saw each other again - brother number one moved out of state and sort of fell off the face of the earth ... living his life between jail terms.

Brother number two graduated from college and followed a designed path to living a rewarding life of service to his community, his church and his family.

The thing that practically knocked the reporter over was both brothers' identical answer to the same question.

After getting the background on both individuals, the question was, "How did you get here to this point in your life?"

The two answered the question with this same response:
"With a father like mine, how could I be any different."

One used his father as an excuse, while the other used him as motivation - as training on what not to do.

You see, it's not what happens to you in life that dictates where you'll go and who you'll be. It's what you do with it.

From Mike Brescia, Laser Life Lessons, http://www.thinkrightnow.com

Source: Weekend Encounter, by Dick Innes, Copyright 2003, http://www.actsweb.org/subscribe.htm

From http://www.witsandwisdom.org
Used with permission


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Precious Memories
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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]



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