January 12th Read: Romans 7:15-25; Ephesians 4:17-32; 2 Corinthians 5:17 My friend, Sharon Karle, wrote to me while we were in England with the suggestion for this poem … THE ENEMY HAS AN ALLY IN MY HEART The enemy has an ally in my heart! ‘Tis SELF who speaks up first when troubles start. SELF …
January 11th Read: Lam. 3:21-26; Col. 1:9-12: James 1:26-27: 1 Thess. 5:16-24 I have played musical instruments most of my life–guitar, piano, cello–and often I have been called upon to play or sing in public. Because of that I know the value of practicing to do the job to the best of my ability and …
January 10th Read: Psalm 37:23; Psalm 11:97-105; 1 Corinthians 2:13-16 The bottom line of anyone’s life is the sum total of all the decisions, large or small, for good or for evil, which he makes as time tumbles him through its vortex of moments into the tunnel of eternity. It is when God is eliminated …
January 9th Read: Ephesians 1:18-20 and Ephesians 2:8-10; 1 John 5:4 Most of us are pretty good at launching out on our own initiative before we check in with God. Joshua did it with the Gibeonites (Josh. 9). The disciples went fishing on their own hook (John 21:1-11). Lots of toil and trouble with no …
January 8th Read: Matthew 19:26; 1 Corinthians 3:17; Eccl. 2:11; Phil. 4:6-9: 1 Peter 1:3-4 and Romans 8:35-39 Love is the milieu in which achievement, creativity, and courage thrive. Without it goals are vain and victories hollow. Jesus the Christ is the personification of love. Without Him life is flavorless and powerless. His love in …
January 7th Read: Matthew 6:25-34; 1 Timothy 6:17-19: Ephesians 5:5 Most of us have something of the acquisitive in our nature. Owning something just for the sake of owning it is usually an expression of that part of our nature. Owning only those things that are in some way useful is the next step up …
January 6th Read: Proverbs 11:30; 1 Peter 4:12-19; Revelation 3:14-19 CHRISTIANS ANONYMOUS When we’re safe and secure in our worship and sure That no mocking or suffering we’re called to endure, We praise Christ with song and our faces aglow As we bask in the fellowship brethren may show; But in workplace or school, where …
January 5th Read: Proverbs 4:20-27; Matthew 6:33; Psalms 37:4-7 ONCE-IN-A-WHILE Once-in-a-while I stop in my day To listen to God and what He has to say. Once-in-a-while I seek to find A word from Him that will bless my mind, But life seems tough. Once-in-a-while a Christian friend Will an encouraging message send. Once-in-a-while I …
January 4th Read: Hebrews 10:14; 1 Corinthians 1:2; Philippians 3:12-14; 1 John 3:2,3 Holiness is attainable. Andrew Murray wrote a book, “Holy in Christ”, in which he brings together two thoughts; First that we are to be holy, and Second, that God supplies the means to that end, namely Christ. “Holy–the word which reveals the purpose …
January 3rd Read: Psalm 27 and John 15 In verse 14 of Psalm 27, the word ‘wait’ means in the Hebrew “to bind together, perhaps by twisting.” If we apply this definition to verse 14, we might read it, “Bind yourself together with the LORD; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen thy heart. …