Bible Reading: Psalm 104:43; Acts 17:28

The psalmist in Psalm 104:43 admonishes us to "consider the great love of the Lord." Instead of concentrating on the small percentage of evil that occurs in our world, let us instead consider all the good things that come from God. Most are free of charge: the air we breathe, birdsong, the flower's beauty, a child's laughter, our loved ones, what we wear, what we eat, our homes, our very life. All ultimately come from God and his great love for us. A sign of true wisdom is being able to perceive the true source of all things: God our father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Take a few moments and "consider the great love of the Lord" today!

Prayer: Lord, thank you for your great love that freely provides us with all we need for life, liberty and happiness. AMEN

Thought for the Day: We could not even breathe if it were not for God's loving care.

Bible Reading: II Peter 2:1-3

A song popular in the 60's announced, "This is the dawning of the Age of Aquarius". This new age was supposed to be the beginning of peace, brotherhood and understanding. Instead, we had Vietnam, unrest, demonstrations and near anarchy. Today we have some new wolves in sheep's clothing proclaiming the dawning of a New Age, a network of persons who are on the brink of a new evolutionary step in human development which will bring - you guessed it! peace, brotherhood and understanding. Of course, we must abandon biblical Christianity because it is moldy and antiquated. I wonder what horrors await us if we forsake God again and follow this new heresy?

Prayer: Jesus, open our eyes that we can distinguish between the true and the false, so we will not forsake God for demonic doctrines.

Thought for the Day: New Age thought revives ancient wickedness.

Bible Reading: Luke 5:30

America traditionally has been a "classless" society, a free democracy where all men are created equal. In reality, though, there are invisible class lines that divide us by sex, race, religion, and wealth (or the lack of it). There are also the righteous and the sinful, who normally do not "mix".

It was the same in Jesus' day, and it was bitter to the Pharisees that one claiming to be the Messiah would associate with sinners, the sick and the poor. Are we not guilty of that same attitude today? Are we associating with only our "own kind" or also with those who need our ministry?

Prayer: Lord, help us not to forget the "invisibles" - those poor and needy who need our ministry. Help us seek them out like You did, and truly love them.

Thought for the Day: The poor, handicapped and homes are invisible because we CHOOSE not to see them.

Bible Reading: Exodus 20:25-26

When God told man to begin building altars, He told him not to hew or shape the stones. He also told man not to build steps to the altar because they might defile the altar by walking on them. Why did God command this?

Mankind has a penchant for shaping idols. When his hands touch a natural object; he is never content to leave it in that form, but has to shape it to his own desires. Eventually, he will bow down and worship the work of his own hands, and thus defiles what God has made.

When you bring your life to God, you can not make yourself any more acceptable to God by your own efforts. Come as you are, with a repentant heart, and God will receive you.

Prayer: Lord, help me to understand that I cannot make myself more acceptable to you by my own efforts. I lay aside all pride in what I've done, and repent of my sins. AMEN

Thought for the Day: God is not impressed by any of our accomplishments.

Bible Reading: Numbers 14:6-9

When the twelve spies returned to Moses and Israel after spying out Canaan, only Joshua and Caleb advised obeying the Lord and moving ahead. They declared: "The Lord loves us. He will bring us safely into the land and give it to us." They further advised: "Do not rebel against the Lord, and do not fear the people of the land."

With today's hindsight, we can see how foolish the people were not to trust God. They never entered the Promised Land. How about you? Are you fearful about advancing into the territory God has given you?

Prayer: Father, help us to hear AND obey You. AMEN.

Thought for the Day: Like grasshoppers before the giants of circumstance, we often fail to enter into God's promises.

Bible Reading: Numbers 14:13-14

Before the Exodus of Israel from Egypt, God had shown His might by the 10 plagues He showered on the Egyptians. He capped this magnificent display of power by parting the Red Sea so Israel could pass through on dry land and then by drowning Pharaoh and his army in the same place.

The Egyptians had spread this news to all the nations around about and they all feared Israel. They knew that God was traveling with Israel and they all would have fled from Israel, even the giants. If Israel had only obeyed God she would have reaped the benefits of the Egyptians' report

Prayer: Lord, let my obedience bring a good report to those around me. AMEN

Thought for the Day: The report of God's blessings in our lives makes others seek Him.

Bible Reading: Numbers 14:40-42

After the Lord rebuked Israel for cowardice in not entering the Promised Land and for despising and rejecting God's commands, the people were up early the next morning; ready to start for the promised land. They said: "Here we are!…Now we are ready to go."

"But Moses said `It's too late' ". How many times has our rebellious and hardened hearts kept us from receiving God's promises? Let us soften our hearts and become eager to obey God before it becomes too late for us!

Prayer: Jesus, soften my heart to receive Your Word. AMEN

Thought for the Day: Procrastination robs us of God's best.

Bible Reading: Deuteronomy 1:19-28

God had worked many miracles for the Israelites in delivering them from Egyptian bondage by Moses. When they came to the Promised Land, Moses instructed them to go and possess it without doubt or fear. But they wanted to "check it out" for themselves. "First;" they said, "Let's send out spies to discover the best route of entry; and to decide which cities We should capture first." The results of this hesitation brought doubt, fear, and death.

When God gives us instructions; do we feel that we must "check it out" ourselves before we obey? Who knows better what we need than God? Don't waste time "checking it out". Trust God and obey him.

Prayer: Lord, help me to realize that I do not have to know in advance how you are going to accomplish your plans for my life, just that You WILL. All I have to do is trust you. AMEN.

Thought for the Day: God sometimes only reveals the second step of His plan for us after we have taken the first step in faith.

Bible Reading: Deuteronomy 1:29-33

Many people feel that they would believe in God if only they could see him do a great miracle. Then all of their doubts would cease and they would serve God with their whole hearts. But miracles in themselves do not create faith. Look at the generation of Israelites who saw God's miracles in Egypt and in the wilderness. Their unbelief caused them to perish in the desert. Faith in God must rest in who He is as revealed in His Word, the Bible, not in any foolish test that we might require of Him.

Prayer: God, help us to place our faith in You and not foolishly look for signs and wonders. Help us to trust You, and have faith in Your love for us, whether or not You perform great miracles in our lives.

Thought for the Day: God's greatest miracles in our life may be our foolish desires that He does NOT give us.

Bible Reading: Deuteronomy 9:4-6

A war is raging in the Middle East right now over the question, "Who is the true possessor of this land?" Claims are made on every side as to who has the most ancient claim. The true possessor, however, is being almost totally ignored: God. The land is His to give as He sees fit.

What are His criteria of stewardship? When He gave the land to the Jews originally; it was not because of their righteousness; but because the original inhabitants of the land were so wicked that he drove them out.

In America we think that we own this land. But God is the true Possessor here as well. If we do not stem the tide of wickedness that is flowing across the country, could He not drive us out as well?

Prayer: Father God, help us to be good stewards of Your possessions. AMEN

Thought for the Day: America's blessings are in direct proportion to the time her citizens spend in prayer to God.

Bible Reading: Deuteronomy 10:8-11

When the Lord parceled out the Promised Land to the children of Israel, the tribe of Levi had no share among them. The Lord had set the tribe of Levi apart to minister before Him in the tabernacle. At first glance this does not seem to be "a good deal". Then Moses proclaimed, "The Lord is your inheritance." Think of it! The Almighty who owns the universe is their inheritance. He owns it all!

Did you know that those who believe in Christ also have an inheritance waiting for them in heaven? Our Father owns it all! And He has given it to us through the Lord Jesus Christ. What a good deal!

Prayer: Jesus, as we minister to You and for You, help us to remember that You will provide for us now and in eternal ages to come. AMEN

Thought for the Day: No one is truly poor who is a joint-heir with the Lord Jesus Christ.

Bible Reading: Deuteronomy 13:1-5

There are many fakes in the occult world today: psychics, mediums, palm readers, crystal gazers, and a few who seen to have genuine power. Did you ever wonder why God permits these things to occur? Moses told Israel that sometimes God will allow a "prophet" to come and perform a miraculous sign, but then this "prophet" would entice then to follow other Gods to worship idols. "The Lord your God is testing you," Moses said, "to find out whether you love Him with all your heart and soul."

We are to test everything by God's Word, so we will pass His testing of us.

Prayer: God, do I pass your test? Am I trusting only You for my salvation?

Thought for the Day: There is no profit in a false prophet, no matter how amazing he or she may be.

Bible Reading: Deuteronomy 18:10-12

Many psychics today who claim to obtain their revelations "from God". It is important to determine which God they are listening to. Often they flaunt crucifixes and seen to be on intimate terms with Jesus Christ. We need to examine their lives closely. If they use any of the devices commonly associated with the occult, such as: crystal balls, tarot cards astrology, palm reading, ouija boards, I Ching, mediumship (talking to the dead), and so forth, we must beware of them.

These are false guides. The Bible declares: "They cannot even save themselves from the power of the flame". What good can they possibly do you?

Prayer: Oh, God, we are so foolish and blind! Reveal to us your truth. Do not let us be mislead by false prophets! AMEN

Thought for the Day: Psychics use common coincidence to bolster their claim to supernatural power.

Bible Reading: I Samual 15:22-23

Why are the sins of witchcraft and divination so terrible? If God is all powerful how can a little dabbling in spells and cavorting with spirits hurt Him? Besides the grave danger in which dabbling in the occult places our eternal souls, there is another reason why it is such an abomination to God.

God has given us His creation to reveal to us His glory, His Word to guide us, and has in these last days spoken to us by His Son. If we deliberately turn from these holy councils to seek "other" hidden knowledge, then we have rebelled against our Lord, and have rejected His word. And then, He will reject us.

Prayer: God, keep our vision clear and our eyes fixed on You. Amen.

Thought for the Day: The promise of delicious secrets has waylaid many a pilgrim in his quest for truth.

Bible Reading: I Samuel 24:1-15; 26:19

David fiad been anointed by samuel to suceed Saul as King but things weren't going so well. David was constantly fleeing for his life from Saul who was determined to kill David. David was driven from his share in the Lord's inheritance, and was told, "go, serve other gods!"

Although forced to flee to the Philistines for aid, David never gave up on the Lord to serve Baal or Dagon, false gods of the heathen nations. He understood a very important principle: when you serve the true God of heaven, the Lord Jesus Christ, things may not always go well. In fact, things may get worse than ever, for a while anyway, because our enemy, the will stubbornly resist our efforts to serve God.

David was not trusting in his feelings or the circumstances, however, but in the living God whose promises are trustworthy and eternal. David eventually triumphed over all his enemies, and we will, too, if we continue to trust Jesus for our deliverance.

Prayer: Lord, we will not look at the circumstances which seem to be against us, but will trust you to deliver us out of the circumstances. AMEN

Thought for the Day: The enemy of our souls tries to manipulate our circumstances to discourage us from claiming God's best for us.

Bible Reading: I Samuel 24:16-20, 26:21

Saul twice reppented of his sin in pursuing David. Once, when he was in the cave where David was hiding, David cut off the corner of his garment. Later, David and Abishai sneaked into Saul's camp and stold his jug and spear. But both times, David went on his way, and Saul went home. Despite his tears and promises, Saul never changed and died by his own sword rejected by the Lord.

It is possible to be sorry that you "got caught", but not to be born again or converted. To be saved, you must be truly sorry for your sins, genuinely repent, and turn away from your sins and begin walKing upon a new path. Being sorry for sin without changing your life is not enough. You must turn from your sin to Jesus, and begin living for Him.

Prayer: Jesus, I repent of all my sins and want to change. Change me inside and help me live for You. IN JESUS NAME, AMEN.

Thought for the Day: Godly sorrow is grief about your guilt and brings about change.

Bible Reading: Isaiah 34:8; 59:18-19; Romans 12:19

Movies of vengeance are perennially popular. Some evil person kills, rapes, or otherwise mutilates an innocent family, and the surviving family member seeks revenge until he is just as evil as the perpetrator of the original crime.

If we really believe that "vengeance is mine, saith the Lord, I will repay", then these vengeful actions are not only needless, but sinful as well.

The Bible declares that: "God has made the sins of evil men to boomerang upon them [selves]! He will destroy them by their own plans!"

Do not harbor thoughts of vengeance when someone harms you or those you love. Instead, forgive then and stand back and let God take over!

Prayer: Lord Jesus, I forgive all those who have hurt me. Remove all anger and bitterness from my heart. AMEN

Thought for the Day: The creator of a wicked plan is likely to be victim of his own trap.

Bible Reading: I Samuel 25:1-38

At Carmel, when David made a request for supplies at feast time, Nabal very foolishly and rudely refused, contemptuous of David, who was fleeing from King Saul. Nabal was unthankful for the protection David and his men had freely given Nabal's herdsmen. Angry, David is stopped on his way to vengeance by the intercession of Nabal's beautiful and intelligent wife, Abigail. Ten days later, Nabal is dead, being "struck by the Lord". David rejoices in the fact that God avenged the insult and David was kept from bloodshed.

Likewise God wants us to trust in Him when we are bitterly insulted and abused. We are to forgive and leave room for God's vengeance. He always gives the offender a chance to repent and make restitution, before judgement comes. He is able to make even our enemies be at peace with us.

Prayer: Jesus, when I am wronged, let me not return evil for evil, but return evil with good. AMEN

Thought for the Day: God's vengeance takes into consideration the attitudes, motivations, and repentance of everyone involved.

Bible Reading: I Samuel 28:3-20

During the prophet Samuel's lifetime, and under his godly influence, King Saul had expelled all of the mediums and spiritists from the land. He had rejected their dealings as satanic and had caused much fear and trepidation in these practitioners of the black arts.

But when Saul had disobeyed the Lord and was rejected by God as King, he was unable any longer to receive direction from God. In desperation he turned to the very thing he had once despised for guidance. This was his final sin.

Today we are seeing a revival of mediums, and witches are proliferating. People are rejecting God and are consulting satanic sources for wisdom. Beware! There is no wisdom here, only deception, quakery, nnd death.

If you are guilty of this terrible sin, repent today, and turn to the Lord Jesus Christ before it is too late!

Prayer: Jesus forgive us for consulting the enemy of our souls for guidance. Cleanse us from all iniquity and set us free. AMEN

Thought for the Day: The witch-medium of Endor was not expecting to see Samuel, even though that's who she had agreed to "bring up" for Saul.

Bible Reading: I Samuel 30:1-6

David had done his very best to serve God, but now the city the Philistines had given him, Ziklag, was a smoking ruin, destroyed by the Amalekites. And worse still, all of the women and children were gone. David and his men wept until they had no strength left. The men in their bitterness wanted to stone David.

Most of us would give up in despair. Where was the Lord God now? "But David found strength in the Lord his God."

When things are going wrong, don't get bitter, mad enough to kill someone. Don't give up on the Lord your God. Go to God for strength and guidance. The war is not over until the last battle is fought. Don't give in to despair! Find strength in the Lord!

Prayer: Lord, give us Your strength for our weakness. Cleanse us of bitterness and revenge. Fill us with love. AMEN

Thought for the Day: God had told King Saul to completely destroy the Amalekites and he had refused. Now David had to deal with them because of Saul's disobedience. When we disobey God, someone else will probably suffer also.

Bible Reading: Psalm 10; Psalm 94:7-10

Evil has a way of giving its followers arrogance and false confidence. When a person gets by with an evil act; he becomes bolder with the next evil act. And so on until he is truly wicked. Since he's "gotten away with" so much, he concludes that "the Lord is not looking . . . And besides, He does not care".

The Bible has a label for such a person: FOOL!  "Is God deaf and blind -Hhe who makes ears and eyes? He punishes the nations - won't He also punish you? He knows everything - doesn't He also know what you are doing?" (Psalm 94:7-10, Living).

There will come a day of reckoning and the bubble of evil's confidence will burst. God only withholds judgement now in His love for you, to allow you to repent. If you are in rebellion against God, repent of your wickedness today, before it is too late

Prayer: Lord, I repent of all my wickedness. Help me to remember that You always see all I do. AMEN

Thought for the Day: The poverty of the righteous is more desirable thatn the prosperity of the wicked.

Bible Reading: I Corinthians 1:19-25; Psalm 94:11-13, 19

The other day my cousin was reading a book on esthetics that had such a difficult vocabulary that she had to have a dictionary handy to decipher it. Some of the words used in the book weren't even in her dictionary! She wanted to '"improve her mind" which is a laudable goal. But often what we think is intelligent and worthwhile is only commonality dressed up in fancy garb.

The Bible declares that: "The Lord is fully aware of how limited and futile the thoughts of mankind are". He knows that these thoughts often cause doubts to fill our minds and put our hearts in turmoil. When this happens. We can pray: "Quiet me Lord, and give me renewed hope and cheer". God's thoughts are not limited and futile, but are infinite and productive!

Prayer: Quiet me Lord, and give me renewed hope and cheer. AMEN

Thought for the Day: God's "foolishness" is greater than the totality of man's wisdom.

Bible Reading: John 3:16-21

Most people believe in God. There are few "true" atheists. But most believe in God in the abstract: some spirit-like being way out somewhere who exists but does not have much to do with our everyday lives. They have at best a very vague concept of God, and that is why their prayers are also vague and remain unanswered.

God's character is clearly revealed in the Bible. A subject that takes 66 books to explain cannot be covered in a few sentences. God is not a vague abstract being out there somewhere, but Love Himself as shown in the life of Jesus Christ who very specifically gave that life for our sins. Read the Bible and experience God s love for you.

Prayer: God, I receive Your love. Come into my heart today. Teach me all about Your love. AMEN

Thought for the Day: The living God will never be explained by man's philosophy.

Bible Reading: Luke 12:6-9

Did you ever stop to think that your concept of God determines how you behave? If you believe He is really much too busy to be concerned about you; then you will probably not care that much whether what you do pleases Him or not. Did you know that the Bible tells us that God cares about you so intensely that He knows the number of hairs on your head? Who on earth cares that much about you that they keep a running inventory on your hair count?

He is also personally concerned with everything that touches your life, particularly how you behave. He is ready and willing to help you and forgive you when you fail, if you repent. But if you do not acknowledge His presence and concern, you will not experience His great love in every facet of your life.

Prayer: God, I do believe that You care for me. Help me to serve You. AMEN

Thought for the Day: Nothing that concerns you escapes God's attention.

Bible Reading: Isaiah 53:4-5; James 5:14-16

God's healing power flows to us from many directions: our own natural body processes, doctors, and prayer. We can trust in His promises that we can be healed if we believe in Him.

Our duty is to look to Him as our source of healing but it is not up to us to demand how or when. This is God's prerogative. Healing may come instantly or slowly through prayer or doctors. Perhaps if we knew God better and trusted Him more, we could receive healing more easily. Nevertheless, we can be sure of this one thing: God is our healer through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Prayer: Jesus, we look to You for our healing, and trust You to take care of us the way You see as best. AMEN

Thought for the Day: Jesus died that we might live; He was whipped so that we might be healed.

Bible Reading: Psalm 65; John 14:27

There is a constant clamor about us from the world: the noise of automobiles, industry, sirens, phones ringing, TVs blaring, radios blasting. And that clamor will invade the peace of our hearts if we will allow it to.

What can quiet the clamor of the world? God can! David in Psalm 65 declares: "He quiets the raging oceans and all the world's clamor " (Living). Although the world threatens to engulf us as a mighty ocean wave, we can turn to Jesus who quieted the angry waves of Galilee and He will bring us peace and calm.

Prayer: Father, let your peace rule in my heart by Christ Jesus my Lord. AMEN

Thought for the Day: As the stormy waters of the sea submitted to the command of their Creator, so will the tempests in our life, if we turn to Jesus for help.

Bible Reading: I Timothy 4:7-8; 2 Peter 3:14

People are becoming more and more concerned about physical fitness today. Spas, aerobics classes, and health clubs are proliferating.

The Bible agrees that "Physical training is of some value" but that "Godliness has value for all things holding promise for both the present life and the life to come". Therefore we are to train ourselves to be godly, making "every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with Him".

True fitness goes beyond the physical. Godliness makes us fit, not only for this world, but also for the world to come.

Prayer: Lord, teach us to take care of our bodies, for they are Your temples, but even more, teach us to be godly. AMEN

Thought for the Day: As important as good health is, we should be even more concerned with spiritual fitness.

Bible Reading: Matthew 6:19-34

In America, we have a great respect, almost a reverence, for intellectual ability. We believe as a nation, that education and technology are responsible for all our progress, and will some how make us achieve the "American Dream".

Likewise, we feel that we must have great insight and must acquire deep esoteric truths to receive anything from God. Yet over and over Jesus taught the truths of the Kingdom of God using the most mundane and familiar objects and experiences possible: seeds, weeds, and needs.

If we first seek wisdom from God, He will use the everyday things in our lives to teach us how to obtain wisdom to receive what we need from Him spiritually. No seed is too small, no weed too noxious, no need too difficult - all can contain lessons from God.

Prayer: God teach with every day wisdom how You plan to meet my needs. AMEN

Thought for the Day: The Gospel is practical.

Bible Reading: Revelation 2:7, 11, 17, 26-29; 3:5-6, 11-13, 21-22

How many times have you heard someone say, "Sounds good to me"? We need to beware of what merely sounds good: It is so easy to be coerced, enticed and waylaid by a sweetly selected string of sounds. All day long we are enveloped in someone else's words and ideas: on the radio, on TV, at work, or at school.

We must be selective in what we listen to. We must carefully weigh what is said and perceive what is not said.

What simply sounds good is not always true. It will often be necessary for us to reduce the volume and quantity of what we listen to, or we will be lulled into a dull, acceptive complacency. Beware, beware of "It sounds good to me"!

Prayer: Lord, give me an ear to hear Your Word. AMEN

Thought for the Day: The "target audience" is thoroughly studied before a commercial is made. Commercials are engineered to sell products by creating a need for otherwise unneeded items.

Bible Reading: Deuteronomy 18:14-22; Isaiah 44:24-26

There are two tests in the Bible for determining if a "prophet", soothsayer, psychic, mystic, medium or what have you, is from God. The first is very simple: If he or she prophesies anything that does not come to pass, he/she is not from God. If God is truly speaking through that person, 100% of their prophecies will come true.

The second is this: even though the prophecies may come true, if that so-called "prophet" tries to entice you to follow "other gods", then that person is also a false prophet.

We must test everything by God's Word!

Prayer: Father, test our hearts and reveal to us any falseness within ourselves. And then remove it by Your grace and power. Replace it with a truth about You. AMEN

Thought for the Day: True prophets sent by God do not charge for their services.

Bible Reading: Psalm 107:1, 20-22, 31-32, 41-43

True faith is evidenced by a heart of gratitude that overflows with praise to God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ. Praise is also an evidence of true righteousness because only those who walk uprightly before God can truly praise him, for they have trained themselves to see his hand in all they receive. Psalm 107:42 says "the upright see and rejoice, but the wicked shut their mouths".

Wicked people refuse to see God's goodness and they stubbornly shut their mouths against praising him because they don't want to admit their need of him. Are you praising God today?

Prayer: Lord, I praise You for Your countless blessings, for Your wonderful love, and Your precious peace. AMEN