Sunday Bible Reading, Romans 12: 10-21

 

Romans 12:10-21 Amplified Version

10 Be devoted to one another
with [authentic] brotherly affection
[as members of one family],
give preference to one another in honor;
11 never lagging behind in diligence;
aglow in the Spirit,
enthusiastically serving the Lord;
12 constantly rejoicing in hope
[because of our confidence in Christ],
steadfast and patient in distress,
devoted to prayer
[continually seeking wisdom, guidance, and strength],
13 contributing to the needs of God’s people,
pursuing [the practice of] hospitality.
14 Bless those who persecute you
[who cause you harm or hardship];
bless and do not curse [them].
15 Rejoice with those who rejoice [sharing others’ joy],
and weep with those who weep [sharing others’ grief].
16 Live in harmony with one another;
do not be haughty [conceited, self-important, exclusive],
but associate with humble people
[those with a realistic self-view].
Do not overestimate yourself.
17 Never repay anyone evil for evil.
Take thought for what is right and gracious and proper
in the sight of everyone.
18 If possible, as far as it depends on you,
live at peace with everyone.
19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves,
but leave the way open for God’s wrath [and His judicial righteousness];
for it is written [in Scripture],
“Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord.
20 But if your enemy is hungry, feed him;
if he is thirsty, give him a drink;
for by doing this you will heap burning coals on his head.”
21 Do not be overcome and conquered by evil,
but overcome evil with good.

Published in: on May 3, 2020 at 7:03 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Sunday Bible Reading Psalm 118

Thanksgiving for the Lord’s Saving Goodness

O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good:
because his mercy endureth for ever.
Let Israel now say,
that his mercy endureth for ever.
Let the house of Aaron now say,
that his mercy endureth for ever.
Let them now that fear the LORD say,
that his mercy endureth for ever.
I called upon the LORD in distress:
the LORD answered me,
and set me in a large place.
The LORD is on my side;
I will not fear: what can man do unto me?
(more…)

Published in: on April 5, 2020 at 4:20 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Sunday Bible Reading Psalm 9:7-10

Autumn Spider Lilies

 

Psalm 9:7-10
But the LORD shall endure for ever:
he hath prepared his throne for judgment.
And he shall judge the world in righteousness,
he shall minister judgment to the people in uprightness.
The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed,
a refuge in times of trouble.
And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee:
for thou, LORD, hast not forsaken them that seek thee.

Published in: on September 9, 2018 at 5:50 am  Leave a Comment  
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Sunday Bible Reading -A Father’s Heart

Proverbs 23:15-19, 22-25
15
My son, if your heart is wise,
My heart will also be glad;
16
Yes, my heart will rejoice
When your lips speak right things.
17
Do not let your heart envy sinners
[who live godless lives and have no hope of salvation],
But [continue to] live in the [reverent, worshipful] fear of the day by day.
18
Surely there is a future [and a reward],
And your hope and expectation will not be cut off.
19
Listen, my son, and be wise,
And direct your heart in the way Lord.

22
Listen to your father, who sired you,
And do not despise your mother when she is old.
23
Buy truth, and do not sell it;
Get wisdom and instruction and understanding.
24
The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice,
And he who sires a wise child will have joy in him.
25
Let your father and your mother be glad,
And let her who gave birth to you rejoice
[in your wise and godly choices].

Published in: on June 17, 2018 at 5:00 am  Leave a Comment  
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Sunday Bible Reading – Philippians 4:4-7

Philippians 4:4-7

Rejoice in the Lord always
[delight, take pleasure in Him];
again I will say, rejoice!
Let your gentle spirit
[your graciousness, unselfishness, mercy,
tolerance, and patience]
be known to all people.
The Lord is near.
Do not be anxious or worried about anything,
but in everything
[every circumstance and situation]
by prayer and petition with thanksgiving,
continue to make your [specific] requests known to God.
And the peace of God
[that peace which reassures the heart,
that peace] which transcends all understanding,
[that peace which] stands guard over your hearts
and your minds in Christ Jesus [is yours].
Amplified Bible.

Published in: on May 6, 2018 at 3:54 am  Leave a Comment  
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Sunday Bible Reading, Malachi 4:2

Malachi 4:2
But unto you that fear my name
shall the Sun of righteousness
arise with healing in his wings;
and ye shall go forth,
and grow up as calves of the stall.

 

Every need supplied,
cleansing,
healing,
sweet peace inside.
Every need supplied.

With healing in his wings –
As the sun,
by the rays of light and heat,
revives, cheers,
and fructifies the whole creation,
giving, through God,
light and life everywhere;
so Jesus Christ,
by the influences of his grace and Spirit,
shall quicken, awaken, enlighten,
warm, invigorate, heal, purify,
and refine every soul that believes in him,
and, by his wings or rays,
diffuse these blessings
from one end of heaven to another;
everywhere invigorating
the seeds of righteousness,
and withering and drying up the seeds of sin.
The rays of this Sun are the truths of his Gospel,
and the influences of his Spirit.
Clark’s Commentary.

Published in: on April 15, 2018 at 4:17 am  Leave a Comment  
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Sunday Bible Reading – John 14:1, 15-18

 

John 14:1, 15-18

“Do not let your heart be troubled (afraid, cowardly).
Believe [confidently] in God and trust in Him,
[have faith, hold on to it, rely on it, keep going and]
believe also in Me.

“If you [really] love Me, you will keep and obey My commandments.

And I will ask the Father,
and He will give you another Helper
(Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor—Counselor, Strengthener, Standby),
to be with you forever—
the Spirit of Truth, whom the world cannot receive
[and take to its heart]
because it does not see Him or know Him,
but you know Him because He (the Holy Spirit)
remains with you continually and will be in you.

“I will not leave you as orphans [comfortless, bereaved, and helpless];
I will come [back] to you.

Precious Promises

Published in: on April 1, 2018 at 4:15 am  Leave a Comment  
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Sunday Bible Reading

Romans 6:20-23
For when ye were the servants of sin,
ye were free from righteousness.
What fruit had ye then in those things
whereof ye are now ashamed?
for the end of those things is death.
But now being made free from sin,
and become servants to God,
ye have your fruit unto holiness,
and the end everlasting life.
For the wages of sin is death;
but the gift of God is eternal life
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

‘A man may Merit hell, but he cannot Merit heaven.
The apostle does not say that
the wages of righteousness is eternal life:
no, but that this eternal life,
even to the righteous,
is The gracious Gift of God.
And even this gracious gift
comes through Jesus Christ our Lord.
He alone has procured it;
and it is given to all those
who find redemption in his blood.
A sinner goes to hell because he deserves it;
a righteous man goes to heaven
because Christ has died for him,
and communicated that grace
by which his sin is pardoned
and his soul made holy.’ Clarke’s Commentary

Published in: on March 25, 2018 at 4:15 am  Leave a Comment  
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What Shall We Say. . . If God Be For Us?

Romans 8:31
What shall we then say to these things?
If God be for us,
who can be against us?

As if he had said:
What comfort may we derive from these doctrines?
God has called us all to holiness, and to love to him,
which is the principle of holiness.
We are persecuted and despised,
it is true, and we may be more so;
but, as God has called us to love him,
and all things work together for good to them that love him;
and, as his covenant with Abraham,
while he was in his Gentile state,
shows his gracious purpose towards us Gentiles,
whom he has foreknown,
who have been objects of his gracious foreknowledge,
as well as the Jews,
and who have now the fullest proof that we were so,
by his sending us the Gospel, and showing us, in it,
that if the Israelites were to be a holy priesthood, a royal nation,
we are no less favored, as he has predestinated,
from the beginning determined,
that we should be conformed to the image of his Son,
who is to be the first-born among many brethren,
the head and chief of all converted Jews and Gentiles,
and, in order to our final salvation,
has called, invited us to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ,
has justified those who do believe,
and has glorified, highly honored,
and adorned them with innumerable gifts and graces,
and, if they continue to possess that faith which worketh by love,
will bring them, both body and soul, to his eternal glory,
their bodies being made like unto his glorious body:
– seeing, therefore, all these things are so,
what comfort in our tribulations shall we derive from them?
– Why this:
If God be for us, who can be against us?
He who is infinitely wise
has undertaken to direct us:
He who is infinitely powerful
has undertaken to protect us:
He who is infinitely good
has undertaken to save us.
What cunning, strength, or malice,
can prevail against his wisdom, power, and goodness?
None.
Therefore we are safe who love God;
and not only shall sustain no essential damage
by the persecutions of ungodly men,
but even these things work together for our good.
Clarke’s Commentary

Published in: on July 9, 2017 at 7:55 am  Leave a Comment  
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My Salvation, My Rock, My Defense

A Psalm of David.
Truly my soul waiteth upon God:
from him cometh my salvation.
He only is my rock and my salvation;
he is my defense;
I shall not be greatly moved.
My soul, wait thou only upon God;
for my expectation is from him.
He only is my rock and my salvation:
he is my defense;
I shall not be moved.
In God is my salvation and my glory:
the rock of my strength,
and my refuge, is in God.
Trust in him at all times; ye people,
pour out your heart before him:
God is a refuge for us. Selah.
Psalms 62:1-2,5-8

Published in: on June 11, 2017 at 4:32 am  Leave a Comment  
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Sunday Bible Reading – For Our Good Always

Deuteronomy 6:4-7
Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:
And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart,
and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.
And these words, which I command thee this day,
shall be in thine heart:
And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children,
and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house,
and when thou walkest by the way,
and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.

Deuteronomy 6:20-25
And when thy son asketh thee in time to come, saying,
What mean the testimonies,
and the statutes,
and the judgments,
which the LORD our God hath commanded you?
Then thou shalt say unto thy son,
We were Pharaoh’s bondmen in Egypt ;
and the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand:
And the LORD shewed signs and wonders, great and sore,
upon Egypt, upon Pharaoh, and upon all his household,
before our eyes:
And he brought us out from thence,
that he might bring us in,
to give us the land which he sware unto our fathers.
And the LORD commanded us to do all these statutes,
to fear the LORD our God,

for our good always,

that he might preserve us alive,
as it is at this day.
And it shall be our righteousness,
if we observe to do all these commandments
before the LORD our God, as he hath commanded us.

Published in: on May 21, 2017 at 3:20 am  Leave a Comment  
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Sunday Bible Reading


Colossians 4:2-6

Continue in prayer,
and watch in the same with thanksgiving;
Withal praying also for us,
that God would open unto us a door of utterance,
to speak the mystery of Christ,
for which I am also in bonds:
That I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.
Walk in wisdom toward them that are without,
redeeming the time.
Let your speech be alway with grace,
seasoned with salt,
that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.

Colossians 4:2,5-6

2 Be earnest
and unwearied
and steadfast in your prayer [life],
being [both] alert and intent
in [your praying] with thanksgiving.

5 Behave yourselves wisely
[living prudently and with discretion]
in your relations with those of the outside world
(the non-Christians),
making the very most of the time
and seizing (buying up) the opportunity.

6 Let your speech at all times be gracious
(pleasant and winsome),
seasoned [as it were] with salt,
[so that you may never be at a loss]
to know how you ought to answer anyone
[who puts a question to you].

Amplified Bible, Standard Edition

Published in: on April 23, 2017 at 4:02 am  Leave a Comment  
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Sunday Bible Reading – A Little While

John 16:16-22
Jesus says
A little while, and ye shall not see me:
and again, a little while, and ye shall see me,
because I go to the Father.

Then said some of his disciples among themselves,
What is this that he saith unto us,
A little while, and ye shall not see me:
and again, a little while,
and ye shall see me: and,
Because I go to the Father?
What is this that he saith,
A little while?
we cannot tell what he saith.

Now Jesus knew that they were desirous to ask him,
and said unto them,
Do ye enquire among yourselves of that I said,
A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again,
a little while, and ye shall see me?
Verily, verily, I say unto you,
That ye shall weep and lament,
but the world shall rejoice:
and ye shall be sorrowful,
but your sorrow shall be turned into joy.
A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow,
because her hour is come:
but as soon as she is delivered of the child,
she remembereth no more the anguish,
for joy that a man is born into the world.
And ye now therefore have sorrow:
but I will see you again,
and your heart shall rejoice,
and your joy no man taketh from you.

from Clarke’s Commentary
Your joy no man taketh from you – Or, shall take away.
. . .Our Lord’s meaning appears to have been this:
that his resurrection should be so completely demonstrated
to them, that they should never have a doubt concerning it;
and consequently that their joy should be great and permanent,
knowing that the atonement was made,
the victory gained,
and the kingdom of heaven opened to all believers.

Published in: on April 16, 2017 at 4:43 am  Leave a Comment  
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Sunday Bible Reading

Isaiah 41:8-10

But thou, Israel, art my servant,
Jacob whom I have chosen,
the seed of Abraham my friend.
Thou whom I have taken from the ends of the earth,
and called thee from the chief men thereof,
and said unto thee,
Thou art my servant;
I have chosen thee,
and not cast thee away.
Fear thou not;
for I am with thee:
be not dismayed;
for I am thy God:
I will strengthen thee; yea,
I will help thee; yea,
I will uphold thee
with the right hand of my righteousness.

Published in: on April 9, 2017 at 4:15 am  Leave a Comment  
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Sunday Bible Reading

 

Lilacs and Ground Orchids

Act 17:24-28a

God who made the world and everything in it,
since He is Lord of heaven and earth,
does not dwell in temples made with hands.
Nor is He worshiped with men’ hands,
as though he needed any thing,
And He gives to all life, breath, and all things.
And He has made from one blood every nation of men
to dwell on all the face of the earth,
and has determined their preappointed times
and the boundaries of their dwellings,
so that they should seek the Lord
in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him,
though He is not far from each one of us:
for in Him we live and move and have our being,,,

Published in: on April 2, 2017 at 4:03 am  Leave a Comment  
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