June 29

 

1 Timothy 6:17

17 Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.

June 28

 

Joshua 24:15

15 But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.”

June 27

 

Isaiah 40:31

31 but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

Thought

 I recently read some teachings and lessons from a small emerging group of Christians that have merged Christian teaching and Buddhist mediative teachings into a religious practice. It is very interesting to read.

The statement that pulled me into reading was the opening line. “In your daily devotion, do not let the monkey lead the elephant, and the elephant lead you.”

Great opening line. What I learned was that the author was using the monkey to represent the distraction in our daily lives and our devotion and prayer life. The elephant represents the dullness and boredom that sets in as the distraction mounts. As the distraction mounts, we tend to start putting off stuff and then give up to a certain point. What the monks in this merged belief call the surrender to outside influence on our soul.

The author recommended that we take five to ten minutes before daily devotional and center ourselves with meditation. Hence, the elephant is behind you, and the monkey is even further behind the elephant, leaving you in the lead. If you are in the lead of your life and the influences, you are better equipped to stay centered and calm during your day.

 While this is a very short version of a long article, I hope you get the jest of it. I like what the author was saying, and I tried it last night before my evening prayers. I felt better and slept better. 

June 24

 

1 Corinthians 16:13

13 Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong.

June 23

 

Joshua 1:9

9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.”

June 21

 

Revelation 3:17

17 You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.

June 18

 Bonus  Posting

Matthew 6:21

21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

June 18

18 “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.

19 See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.

Isaiah 43 (NIV)

June 17

 

Psalms 103:13

13 As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him;

June 15th

 

Malachi 3:10

10 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the LORD Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.

June 14

 

1 Peter 4:14

14 If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.

June 13

 

Psalms 77:11

11 I will remember the deeds of the LORD; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago.

June 12

 

Isaiah 46:9

9 Remember the former things, those of long ago; I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me

Morning Thoughts

The modern Christian Church has slowly become a "Hate, Exclude, Pray, Pay us, and Obey us" mission instead of care, love, and help.  They do not understand why they do not understand why membership and attendance in general are dropping. When a person attends and does not feel welcome or like they fit in or that they have to hide their life from the Church, then the Church is failing them, not them failing the Church.  Just my thoughts and opinions this morning.

June 12

 

1 Chronicles 16:12

12 Remember the wonders he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he pronounced,

June 11

 

John 15:13

13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.

June 8th

 

1 John 3:16

16 This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.

June 7

 Galatians 6:9

9 And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up

D-Day, June 6.

 80 years ago by this time locally my dad's unit had been on the beach and moved inland. He was in the second wave. Without all those that hit the beach first, he would never have had a place to land. This is my dad during WW2

June 6th

 

John 14:6

6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

June 6th

 

Job 19:25

25 I know that my redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand on the earth.

June 5

 

2 Corinthians 4:17

17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.

June 4

 Psalm 13:1–2

[1] How long, O LORD? Will you forget me forever?

How long will you hide your face from me?

[2] How long must I take counsel in my soul

and have sorrow in my heart all the day?

How long shall my enemy be exalted over me? (ESV)

June 3

 

John 12:25

25 Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life.

June 3

 

Revelation 3:5

5 The one who is victorious will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out the name of that person from the book of life, but will acknowledge that name before my Father and his angels.