Weekly Bible Readings - August 24 - August 30
| 24 | Job 12:1-15:35 1 Corinthians 15:29-58 Psalm 39:1-13 Proverbs 21:30-31 |
|||
| 25 | Job 16:1-19:29 1 Corinthians 16:1-24 Psalm 40:1-10 Proverbs 22:1 |
26 | Job 20:1-22:30 2 Corinthians 1:1-11 Psalm 40:11-17 Proverbs 22:2-4 |
|
| 27 | Job 23:1-27:23 2 Corinthians 1:12-2:11 Psalm 41:1-13 Proverbs 22:5-6 |
28 | Job 28:1-30:31 2 Corinthians 2:12-17 Psalm 42:1-11 Proverbs 22:7 |
|
| 29 | Job 31:1-33:33 2 Corinthians 3:1-18 Psalm 43:1-5 Proverbs 22:8-9 |
30 | Job 34:1-36:33 2 Corinthians 4:1-12 Psalm 44:1-8 Proverbs 22:10-12 |
Prayer for today
God, help me to honor everyone around me as your unique and cherished creature. Grant that my thoughts, words and actions may ever reflect your love. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Weekly Bible Readings - August 17-23
| 17 | Nehemiah 12:27-13:31 1 Corinthians 11:1-16 Psalm 35:1-16 Proverbs 21:17-18 |
18 | Esther 1:1-3:15 1 Corinthians 11:17-34 Psalm 35:17-28 Proverbs 21:19-20 |
|
| 19 | Esther 4:1-7:10 1 Corinthians 12:1-26 Psalm 36:1-12 Proverbs 21:21-22 |
20 | Esther 8:1-10:3 1 Corinthians 12:27-13:13 Psalm 37:1-11 Proverbs 21:23-24 |
|
| 21 | Job 1:1-3:26 1 Corinthians 14:1-17 Psalm 37:12-29 Proverbs 21:25-26 |
22 | Job 4:1-7:21 1 Corinthians 14:18-40 Psalm 37:30-40 Proverbs 21:27 |
|
| 23 | Job 8:1-11:20 1 Corinthians 15:1-28 Psalm 38:1-22 Proverbs 21:28-29 |
Are you too busy for God?
Are you like me, juggling so many balls, wearing too many hats, carrying more overflowing plates than what you can really handle? And when a friend or family member calls us, we can squeeze them into our busy schedule, but when it comes time for church, we can find excuse after excuse not to go? Or, we rationalize it by saying God knows how busy I am, He understands I’m trying to provide for my family, etc. Am I on the street where you live? I’m knocking hard at my own door!!! Most every Sunday morning I’m in church, but I sleep in and miss Bible study. Sunday evening finds me at home napping or cleaning or some other task that can wait an hour, instead of giving God more of the time He blessed me with in the first place. On Wednesday nights, I’ll pass right by my church on my way home, and when I get home, I can’t gather the energy to go back out. I will make some Wednesday night services, but only if I have a committee meeting there prior to the start of church, like tonight. That is sad!
What if God were too busy for us and treated us like we treat Him? What if He never made time for us? We think things are bad now, imagine how much worse they would be if God didn’t love us unconditionally? No matter how bad we treat God, He still blesses us each morning with more blessings than we can even count, things we take for granted.
Let’s all make a more concerted effort to give God more of our time. I guarantee the rewards will be more than you ever anticipated.
Weekly Bible Readings - August 10-16
| 10 | Ezra 10:1-44 1 Corinthians 6:1-20 Psalm 31:9-18 Proverbs 21:3 |
|||
| 11 | Nehemiah 1:1-3:14 1 Corinthians 7:1-24 Psalm 31:19-24 Proverbs 21:4 |
12 | Nehemiah 3:15-5:13 1 Corinthians 7:25-40 Psalm 32:1-11 Proverbs 21:5-7 |
|
| 13 | Nehemiah 5:14-7:73 1 Corinthians 8:1-13 Psalm 33:1-11 Proverbs 21:8-10 |
14 | Nehemiah 7:73-9:21 1 Corinthians 9:1-18 Psalm 33:12-22 Proverbs 21:11-12 |
|
| 15 | Nehemiah 9:22-10:39 1 Corinthians 9:19-10:13 Psalm 34:1-10 Proverbs 21;13 |
16 | Nehemiah 11:1-12:26 1 Corinthians 10:14-33 Psalm 34:11-22 Proverbs 21;14-16 |
Seventy times seven
As humans, when someone hurts us, sometimes we are slow in forgiving that person, if we forgive them at all. We’d rather cut them out of our lives completely rather than run the risk of being hurt again. I want to give you something to think about. What if God never forgave us when we do wrong? We hurt God every day by the choices we make, the actions that we take, that are not in line with His will. He sent His Son to earth to die a cruel death, a death we take in vain, for the forgiveness of our sins.
In Matthew 18:21-22, we are given instructions about forgiveness:
21Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?”
22Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.
Trust me, I know it’s hard sometimes to forgive people, especially if they hurt us time and time again, but forgive we must. We want to be forgiven, so we must forgive.
Tryin’ to do right
I’ve been subconsciously fighting God for a long time, not living according to HIs word or believing that He would “make even my enemies be at peace with me”, or any of the other promises He makes for those that love and serve Him. But after reading two very powerful Christian fiction novels, my heart was pricked and I decided that no matter what anyone else says or thinks, I’m going to live my life strictly by the Bible.
Well wouldn’t you know, as soon as I made that choice, my feet have been put to the fire several times and sadly, I’ve failed miserably in my quest. I’ve been angry, had malice in my heart and wanted to exact revenge on those who hurt me.
I tell ya, this journey is not easy! And it’s not that God’s commandments are grievous and a heavy load to bear, it’s my human weaknesses and outside worldly interferences that make it so hard. I’m committed, though, because on that last and final day when I stand before the judgement seat of Christ, I want to be able to hear Him say, “well done good and faithful servant”, and I want to be given that crown of life and live with Him eternally.
Thank God I don’t have to do this alone. He’s with me every step of the way, and when I stumble and fall, He’s there to pick me up, dust me off, and send me back on my way.
