Today's Verse - Proverbs 4:23-27

(NIV) Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life. Put away perversity from your mouth; keep corrupt talk far from your lips. Let your eyes look straight ahead,  fix your gaze directly before you. Make level paths for your feet and take only ways that are firm. Do not swerve to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil.

(CEV) Carefully guard your thoughts because they are the source of true life. Never tell lies or be deceitful in what you say. Keep looking straight ahead, without turning aside. Know where you are headed, and you will stay on solid ground. Don't make a mistake by turning to the right or the left.

I love Proverbs.

Today's Verse - John 6:68 NIV

Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.

I'm with Peter on this. The Father has provided for me, guided me through the fires of life I have gone through, opened my eyes to things unseen, disciplined me, given me wonderful gifts, lead me to adventure and success. I owe my life to him and looked forward to the day I die and can be fully one with the Lord.

The words contained in the Bible are a manual to life, a guide to freedom and salvation. Read them, study them and grow in wisdom.

Today's Verse - Psalm 112:4-8 NIV

Even in darkness light dawns for the upright,
   for the gracious and compassionate and righteous man.
Good will come to him who is generous and lends freely,
   who conducts his affairs with justice.
Surely he will never be shaken;
   a righteous man will be remembered forever.
He will have no fear of bad news;
   his heart is steadfast, trusting in the LORD.
His heart is secure, he will have no fear;
   in the end he will look in triumph on his foes.

 Trust the Father, no matter how dark it becomes he will provide the light and see you through and in the end you will be with him, made perfect. Amen.

Today's Verse - Jonah 2:8

(NIV) Those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs.

(NLT) Those who worship false gods turn their backs on all God’s mercies.

(CSB) Those who cling to worthless idols forsake faithful love.

Today's Verse - Hebrews 2:14-15

(NIV) Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil— and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. 

(CEV) We are people of flesh and blood. That is why Jesus became one of us. He died to destroy the devil, who had power over death. But he also died to rescue all of us who live each day in fear of dying.

As Christians we should have no fear of dying. Death means we go home, to heaven, back to the Father, away from pain and suffering. I for one welcome death when it comes and will do my best to live my life with out fear.

Today's Verse - 1 Corinthians 13:4-7

(NIV) Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

(AB) Love endures long and is patient and kind; love never is envious nor boils over with jealousy, is not boastful or vainglorious, does not display itself haughtily.
    It is not conceited (arrogant and inflated with pride); it is not rude (unmannerly) and does not act unbecomingly. Love (God's love in us) does not insist on its own rights or its own way, for it is not self-seeking; it is not touchy or fretful or resentful; it takes no account of the evil done to it [it pays no attention to a suffered wrong].
    It does not rejoice at injustice and unrighteousness, but rejoices when right and truth prevail.
    Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances, and it endures everything [without weakening].

Practice makes perfect. Practice love.

Today's Verse - Galatians 6:9

(NIV) Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

(CEV) Don't get tired of helping others. You will be rewarded when the time is right, if you don't give up.

(NKJV) And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.

It is easy to get discouraged and feel like giving up when all you get for your good work is negative remarks or even insults, but Christ promised we would receive such things for being his servant. It hurts the most when it comes from "Christians". I have had to deal with what feels like more than my share of this here in the Northwest. The lack spiritualism, Bible knowledge and Christians behavior in the church is astounding at times and I wonder why God sent me to such a dry place. It has forced me to rely on Him more and remind myself not to give up, but to press on and continue to do good, not for the people but out of my love for God the Father.

Today's Verse - Luke 16:13 (NIV)

“No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.”


This scripture does not mean only money, it means anything you rely on other than God. I have tried to server two masters and it does not work well at all. It may seem to for awhile but soon either your relationship with God is taking a beaten and we're not spending the time with God we need or the other master is neglected and starts to act up and puts up a fight, particularly if it is a negative/sinful action, because Satan wants you to stay away from God, to feel helpless, powerless and unworthy. Thirdly we get frozen and sit in the middle spinning our wheels doing nothing and neither growing nor maturing, stuck in an infinite loop that will eventually break taking us with it. 

Focus on God and the light. Draw it in, visualize drawing it in, charging it, growing it bigger, like Goku from DragonBall Z :), building our strength and consuming all darkness in the process. Blessed be the child of light. Amen.

Today's Verse - 1 Timothy 4:12

(NIV) Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.

(NLT) Don’t let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity.

(NCV) Do not let anyone treat you as if you are unimportant because you are young. Instead, be an example to the believers with your words, your actions, your love, your faith, and your pure life.

Today's Verse - Romans 2:6-11 (NLT)

He will judge everyone according to what they have done. He will give eternal life to those who keep on doing good, seeking after the glory and honor and immortality that God offers. But he will pour out his anger and wrath on those who live for themselves, who refuse to obey the truth and instead live lives of wickedness. There will be trouble and calamity for everyone who keeps on doing what is evil—for the Jew first and also for the Gentile. But there will be glory and honor and peace from God for all who do good—for the Jew first and also for the Gentile. For God does not show favoritism.

Today's Verse - Mathew 10:22

(NIV) You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.
(CEV) Everyone will hate you because of me. But if you remain faithful until the end, you will be saved.
(CSB) You will be hated by everyone because of My name. But the one who endures to the end will be delivered.

Christ never promised following him would be easy and in fact he promised the world would hate us, curse us and be out to destroy us. Which makes perfect sense when you realize Satan is the prince of the world, so he is going to do everything possible to harm, prevent and destroy Christ's influence in this world. Christ will never allow more than we can bare but what we can bare is usually more than we think we can bare so pray, meditate and read your Bible. Christ will comfort and bring peace.

Today's Verse - 1 Corinthians 15:33

(NIV) Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.”
(CSB) Do not be deceived: "Bad company corrupts good morals."
(CEV) Don't fool yourselves. Bad friends will destroy you.
(AB) Do not be so deceived and misled! Evil companionship (communion, associations) corrupt and deprave good manners and morals and character.

When spending time with our friends we need to make sure they are not influencing us away from God and into bad situations. We need to be influencing them towards God with our actions and decisions. If they don't have respect for your Christian life are they a real friend? Guard your hearts and minds, draw a line and don't allow your friends to push you across it. If they insist then its time to find some new friends. Be careful and wary of negative, poisonous friends and people.

Today's Verse - Ephesians 2:8-10

(NIV) For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.


(CEV) You were saved by faith in God, who treats us much better than we deserve. This is God's gift to you, and not anything you have done on your own. It isn't something you have earned, so there is nothing you can brag about. God planned for us to do good things and to live as he has always wanted us to live. That's why he sent Christ to make us what we are.

(NLT) God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

Is a Christian who grew up in the church better than the junkie who was saved yesterday? NO. We have all sinned and are the same. God had to send his son to die so we could be saved and have a relationship with him. Your past doesn't matter for when you become a Christian you become a new creation. Holy and washed clean of our sin by blood, blood of the creator's son. All because God desires, wants and seeks a relationship with his creation, which he gave free will to reject him, despise him and say he doesn't exist. Yet he still stands at the door of our heart and knocks saying, "Let me in, I love you."

I pray that God gives us the capacity to love as he does.

Today's Verse - Joel 2:28-31 (CEV)

I will give my Spirit
   to everyone.
   Your sons and daughters
   will prophesy.
   Your old men
   will have dreams,
   and your young men
   will see visions.

In those days I will even give
   my Spirit to my servants,
   both men and women.

I will work wonders
   in the sky above
   and on the earth below.
   There will be blood and fire
   and clouds of smoke.

The sun will turn dark,
   and the moon
   will be as red as blood
   before that great
   and terrible day
   when I appear.

I so very much look forward to this day and going home.

Today's Verse - Galatians 5:22-26

(Amplified Bible)
But the fruit of the [Holy] Spirit [the work which His presence within accomplishes] is love, joy (gladness), peace, patience (an even temper, forbearance), kindness, goodness (benevolence), faithfulness, Gentleness (meekness, humility), self-control (self-restraint, continence). Against such things there is no law [that can bring a charge]. And those who belong to Christ Jesus (the Messiah) have crucified the flesh (the godless human nature) with its passions and appetites and desires. If we live by the [Holy] Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. [If by the Holy Spirit we have our life in God, let us go forward walking in line, our conduct controlled by the Spirit.] Let us not become vainglorious and self-conceited, competitive and challenging and provoking and irritating to one another, envying and being jealous of one another.

(NIV) the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.

(CEV) God's Spirit makes us loving, happy, peaceful, patient, kind, good, faithful, gentle, and self-controlled. There is no law against behaving in any of these ways. And because we belong to Christ Jesus, we have killed our selfish feelings and desires. God's Spirit has given us life, and so we should follow the Spirit. But don't be conceited or make others jealous by claiming to be better than they are.

Today's Verse - 3 John 1:11

(NIV) Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil but what is good. Anyone who does what is good is from God. Anyone who does what is evil has not seen God.

(NLT) Dear friend, don’t let this bad example influence you. Follow only what is good. Remember that those who do good prove that they are God’s children, and those who do evil prove that they do not know God.

Actions speak louder then words. I enjoy watching people, its my favorite thing to do at the airport while waiting, observing what they do and discerning their true character. If we claim to be Christian and yet our actions, attitudes and deeds don't match up with what is set forth in scripture are we Christian? Bible says nope.
We must do our best to imitate God by following the few commands he has giving us. If we make no effort then how can you claim to be a Christian. Word and deed must be aligned.

Today's Verse - Proverbs 19:20

(NIV) Listen to advice and accept instruction, and in the end you will be wise.

(CSB) Listen to counsel and receive instruction so that you may be wise in later life.

Today's Verse - Galatians 1:10

(NIV) Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.

(CEV) I am not trying to please people. I want to please God. Do you think I am trying to please people? If I were doing that, I would not be a servant of Christ.

(ASV) For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? or am I striving to please men? if I were still pleasing men, I should not be a servant of Christ.

Don't worry so much about what people think about you or their opinion of how you should behave as a Christian as long as you are following God and his commands. Following Christ will make people upset with you even other Christians and trying to please them is just a waste of time and energy. Keep God as our focus and do not worry about offending people. If someone is offended then talk about it and all can grow. Stay focused on Christ.

Today's Verse - Mathew 5:37

(CSB) But let your word 'yes' be 'yes,' and your 'no' be 'no.' Anything more than this is from the evil one.
(CEV) When you make a promise, say only "Yes" or "No." Anything else comes from the devil.
(NLT)  Just say a simple, ‘Yes, I will,’ or ‘No, I won’t.’ Anything beyond this is from the evil one.

This is one of my favorite verses. Simple and to the point. When asked to do something a simple yes or no should be sufficient. I have had people look surprised when they have asked me something and I have just said no, no excuses or explanation, just no. They weren't sure what to do with it. As Christians it should be this simple, we should be people of integrity and honor. When we make a promise or give are word it should be a simple yes or no. Don't make excuses, be honest and truthful. Keep your promises and if you aren't going to then just say no and don't make them in the first place. 

Honor and integrity must practiced and strived for.