Daily Devotionals--NEW

[la.lady]

Mary, thank you for our Devotion today... Why as humans do we make things so hard, when all we have to believe is that Jesus is God's only Son, died on the Cross, and Rose again, ask forgiveness for our Sins, and accept him as our Lord and Savior???

If we only could comprehend what Jesus actually has done for us, and how wonderful Heaven really is...there would be no one that would turn away from God's Calling.

[la.lady]

My Scripture for today out of The Bread Of Life is:

And all thy Children shall be taught of the Lord: and great shall be the peace of thy children. Isa. 54:13

But since the Saviour I have known
My rules are all reduced to one,
To keep my Lord in faith in view,
Strength supplies and motive, too.

[Pcola Girl]

Patty I don't know why we humans make it so hard to believe in God. Guess its just our nature, I don't know.
God has made it easy for us to accept Him as our saviour, its free and all we need to do is ask Jesus to come into our lives and repent of sins.
Why people do not get it is beyond me.
I know many people who even thinks it silly to belive as we Christians do. I pray for them and hope one day they can accept Christ to.

I think many people have just not read the Bible or have not understood it.

[Star123]

A little devotional:

The first christian martyer was Stephen, who's job was to wait on tables. The Hellenists were complaining against the Hebrews, because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution. So the twelve chose seven men with good reputations, who were filled with the Holy Spirit and wisdom to do the task. Two of them that stood out in the were Stephen and Phillip. Stephen, a man of faith, who was filled with the Holy Spirit, was known for healing the sick and doing signs and wonders (Acts 6:8). Phillip who was so filled with the holy spirit, that a revival followed him wherever he went.

Stephen was used by God to heal the sick, perform miracles and still his opponents brought false accusations against him (Acts 6:13-14). Listen to this, "And all who sat in the council, looking stedfastly on him, saw his face as the face of an angel" (Acts 6: 15). Then, Stephan said,

"You stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, so do you. Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who foretold the coming of the Just One, of whom you now have become the betrayers and murderers, who have received the law by the direction of angels and have not kept it" Acts 7:51-53.

Then these men were, "cut to the heart" , and they gnashed at him with their teeth Acts 7:54. Here Stephen is speaking under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit and these men rose up, "being cut to the heart" moved as one man and slayed him.

And as they were throwing stones at Stephen the scripture says that, "being full of the Holy Spirit, he gazed into the heaven and saw the glory of God." He said, "I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!" Acts 7:56. Jesus, when He left the earth went to sit at the right hand of the Father, and supported Stephen while he was being martyred by standing in his honor testifying of him, who was faithful unto death.

How does this end? by Stephen looking upward into the face of his savior by saying, "Lord, do not charge them with this sin. And when he had said this, he fell asleep" Acts 7:60.

What a testimony!!! Don't we all want to be filled to the fullest with God's presence and the Holy Spirit of God? Most definiately!!! God can and will use us, [His Beloved Children], to accomplish his will. And when all is said and done, He will come and take us home to be with Him in the glorious heavens to live with Him forever, and evermore.

Prayer: Dear Lord, use us to the uttermost so that we will shine for you, and be living testimonies for all to see and know, that you are the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, for there is no other, amen.

God BLess, Tammy

[la.lady]

My scripture out of the Bread Of Life is:

But GROW in grace,and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. 2 Peter 3:18

Still on Thy holy Word
We'd live, and feed, and GROW,
Go on to know the Lord.
And practice what we know.

[Pcola Girl]

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Today our study is on Spiritual growth. When we grow spiritually we become closer to God and our love for Him grows even deeper. When that happens we cannot do enough for God, we want to tell the whole world about Him. And thats what we should do. Witness to everyone we see and meet, you may never know when you have touched someone and may have changed their life and even bring them to know God.
We can choose to grow in our relationship with God or not, its our choice. God does not force us into anything, He wants us to come to Him freely.


Here is our Bible study for today. I hope you are enjoying reading and studying them to.
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1-Spiritual Growth - What is it?

Spiritual growth is a choice and is necessary to deepen our relationship with God, the Lord Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. It is making Jesus the Lord of our lives, submitting to the guiding power and blessings of the Holy Spirit. Growing in our spirituality is the desire to become righteous and more Christ-like in our everyday lives.

Spiritual growth is not the same thing as being religious. Religion comes from regimens of rigid traditions, ceremonies, and mandated deeds. Originating in man-made rules or religious laws, obedience is often guilt-motivated. Godly spirituality does not come from what man has dictated, but from true and earnest desires from the heart.

2-Spiritual Growth - How do we grow?

Spiritual growth begins first and foremost with believing and following Jesus Christ. We do this through faith. Our spirituality grows and matures through:
Prayer (regularly conversing with God).
Becoming students of His word and teachings (being disciples).
Sharing the blessings of our spirituality with others (evangelizing).
Giving God glory and praise through speech, behavior, and songs (worship).
Faith may begin like a tiny seed. When we exercise our faith, it grows. Let’s compare it to planting a seedling. We tend to it, fertilize (nourish) it, and it grows. We need to keep the weeds away from it. Our spirituality is much the same. The Holy Spirit of God prepares our hearts as the seed of faith is planted. That tiny seed of faith is nourished through prayer, studying the Bible, and surrounding ourselves with like-minded Christians. As it grows, we begin to share with others what God has done for us. When we do not give into the temptation to sin, we will spiritually grow and draw closer to the Lord. This will yield the fruit in our lives that He has designed for us. God brings us a joy and peace in life that defies all circumstances.

Our love increases for Him and all He’s done. This creates a deeper, personal relationship with Him and causes us to yearn for all that He has for us. It is a realm that our human minds often cannot understand; it requires trust and faith in God. The Lord God gives us a mental, emotional, and spiritual peace that passes all understanding (Philippians 4:7) He has many more blessings for us that are brought through the Holy Spirit.

3-Spiritual Growth - What are spiritual blessings?

Spiritual growth and reaping its blessings is a work of the Holy Spirit. Paul reminds us there are two kinds of spirituality: the false and the true. In 1 Corinthians chapters 12-15, we are told about true spirituality, and in particular, spiritual gifts. These are things that God desires for each of us and every person has at least one spiritual gift. The purpose of these gifts is to minister to the needs of other believers. We each have a purpose in God’s service. The spiritual gifts are listed in 1 Corinthians 12:7-11.

Not one gift is superior to another and they all come from God for the purpose of building up the church, helping it to function more effectively, and bring us closer to Him. Do you want whatever God has for you? Even when we don’t fully understand, we can remember this verse, “We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true -- even in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life” (1 John 5:20).

[la.lady]

Mary, thank you so much for the Devotion for today. Truly understanding and Worshiping our Lord and do his biding, should be our desire for today and always...

[Pcola Girl]

http://

THE BIBLE LIVES'

GENERARIONS FOLLOW GENERATIONS
yet it lives.

NATIONS RISE AND FALL
yet it lives.

KINGS, DICTATORS, RULERS COME AND GO
yet it lives.

TORN, CONDEMED AND BURNED
yet it lives.

HATRED, DESPISED, CURSED
yet it lives.

DOUBTED, SUSPECTED, CRITIZED
yet it lives.

DAMED BY ATHEISTS
yet it lives.

SCOFFED AT BY SCORNERS
yet it lives.

EXAGGERATED BY FANATICS
yet it lives.

MISCONSTRUED AND MISSTATED
yet it lives.

RANTED AND RAVED ABOUT
yet it lives.

ITS INSPIRATION DENIED
yet it lives.

YET IT LIVES
as a lamp to our feet.

YET IT LIVES
as a light to our paths.

YET IT LIVES – as the gate to Heaven.

YET IT LIVES
as a standard for childhood.

YET IT LIVES
as a guide for youth.

YET IT LIVES
as an inspiration for the matured.

YET IT LIVES
as a comfort for the aged.

YET IT LIVES
as food for the hungry.

YET IT LIVES
as water for the thirsty.

YET IT LIVES
as rest for the weary.

YET IT LIVES
as light for the heathen.

YET IT LIVES
as salvation for the sinner.

YET IT LIVES
as grace for the believer.

TO KNOW IT IS TO LOVE IT
TO LOVE IT IS TO ACCEPT IT
TO ACCEPT IT MEANS LIFE ETERNAL

Author Unknown

[SnowWhite]

To my sisters in Christ

I was just surfing the posts and wanted to say "Hello" and I'm happy to see a devotional thread here!!! What wonderful witnesses to God's love!

Love & GOD BLESS YOU ALL from your Catholic friend in Texas - Mel

[Pcola Girl]

Welcome Snow White, I am glad you have joined us here.
Please come in often and post and let us how you are doing.
Feel free to post any devotional or bible study material you want.
See you later. God Bless.

[debkeversole]

Mary!!

[la.lady]

Originally Posted by SnowWhite

To my sisters in Christ

I was just surfing the posts and wanted to say "Hello" and I'm happy to see a devotional thread here!!! What wonderful witnesses to God's love!

Love & GOD BLESS YOU ALL from your Catholic friend in Texas - Mel

Hi Sweetheart. I have seen you on some other threads.
Do come and join us here and share your life and lessons.

[la.lady]

Hi debkeversole Welcome and come and join us. We would love to have you here, too...

We have some wonderful ladies, that Love God with all their Hearts. So come on in!!!!

[debkeversole]

[la.lady]

Scripture for today:

He which testifieth these things saith surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so come, Lord Jesus. Rev. 22:20

Watch today and leave tomorrow,
For tomorrow may not come:
For today thy loving Saviour
May appear to take thee home.

[Pcola Girl]

http://

Good afternoon ladies, sorry to be late posting todays Bible study but have been bsy all day and just got time to rest up some.
Hope everything is going well for you today.
Todays study is on witnessing.
Sometimes some of us may not know how to witness to others about our Lord and Saviour so here is some things that may be of some help to you.
Witnessing is just telling others of christ and His love for them.
Know your Bible so you can answer questions someone may ask of you.
God will give you all sorts of opportunities to witness to others during your lifetime, so use them.
Spread Gods word where-ever you go.
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"How can I be an effective witness for Christ in a lost world?"

A “witness” is someone who attests to a fact, so in order to be an effective witness for Christ, one must have first-hand knowledge of Him. John the Apostle speaks of this in 1 John 1:1-3, when he says, “That . . . which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at, and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of Life.” Today, we who have experienced new life in Christ give an account of His love and forgiveness, both verbally and in the way we live our lives. This is witnessing. To be effective in our witness, we should remember several basic things:

1) the THEME of our witness is Jesus Christ. Paul defined the gospel as the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15:1-4). If we aren’t explaining the sacrifice of Christ, then we’re not really sharing the gospel. (See also 1 Corinthians 2:2 and Romans 10:9-10.) An important part of this theme is the fact that Jesus Christ is the only way to salvation, not just one of many ways. “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6, emphasis added).

2) the POWER of our witness is the Holy Spirit. It is the Spirit who transforms a life (Titus 3:5), and a transformed life is evident to all. As we witness, we should spend much time in prayer, appropriating the Spirit’s power so that we are enabled to let our light shine in such a way that others will recognize the power of God in us (Matthew 5:16).

3) the VALIDITY of our witness will be shown in how we live our lives. Philippians 2:15 sets this goal for us: “that ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world.” The effective Christian witness will live his/her life above reproach in the power of the Holy Spirit, whose fruit we exhibit when we remain in Christ (John 15:1-8; Galatians 5:22-23).

Perhaps most importantly, we must be familiar enough with the Scriptures to be able to accurately and coherently present the gospel to others. “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have” (1 Peter 3:15). Always being prepared means diligent Bible study, memorizing Scripture, and praying for “divine appointments”—God-given opportunities to share with those whose hearts have been prepared by the Lord to hear His message of salvation.

[la.lady]

Good Morning Ladies... My Scripture for today is:

The Lord has heard my supplication; the Lord will receive my prayer. Psalm 6:9

Prayer is the simplest form of speech
That infant lips can try;
And the sublimest strains that reach
The Majesty on high.

[Pcola Girl]

http://Here is something interesting I came across. I remember a long time ago we discussed this once in a Bible study I was in but I never heard much else about it. Have you all heard of it or ever done a Bible study on it,( About the sun standing still? )
I want to do some more study on this subject when I can get time.

God Belss You Today.

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"The Longest Day"


"On the day The Lord gave the Amorites over to Israel, Joshua said to The Lord in the presence of Israel: "O sun, stand still over Gibeon, O moon, over the Valley of Aijalon." So the sun stood still, and the moon stopped, till the nation avenged itself on its enemies ... The sun stopped in the middle of the sky and delayed going down about a full day.
There has never been a day like it before or since, a day when The Lord listened to a man.
Surely The Lord was fighting for Israel!" (Joshua 10:12-14)
"Joshua's long day" at Gibeon has stirred much controversy for centuries.

Many have been concerned that it somehow affected The Bible Calendar that was instituted at The Seven Days Of Creation, or that suddenly stopping the earth's rotation to make the sun appear to stand still in the sky would have caused great tidal waves in the seas, or some other great natural disasters. And how did God do it anyway?

There were no great natural disasters. How can we be sure? The Israelites and Amorites continued their warfare without interruption. Nothing would stop a battle more quickly than a huge tidal wave or massive earthquake - but those things obviously did not happen.

Did the long day mess up the days of the week? No. Biblical days were reckoned from sunset to sunset, not by hours as determined by mechanical or electronic devices such as we use today. Although it lasted a longer time period than usual, until the sun set, which it still did only once that day, it was still the same day.

But just how did God do it, anyway?

Well, how did God create the universe from nothing, when we aren't able to do something like that? How does God raise the dead, if we can't?
How is it that God has infinite power, while we don't?
Because God is God.
The Almighty is capable of doing anything that He wants to do - things that we are not able to do or understand - yet.

The Bible does not explain how "Joshua's long day" was done. There have been a number of theories, the most likely possibility being that God simply stopped time for everything, except the people and events on that battlefield.
Even human scientists are well aware the time is relative (e.g. according to Einstein, time seems to stop for things traveling at the speed of light), so the idea may have some merit.

Fact Finder: Does God experience time the same as we do?
2 Peter 3:8

[la.lady]

God's time is not our time. One day for him can be 1000 days for us.

Thanks for the Devotion today...

[Pcola Girl]

Hope you are having a Blessed day and a great week-end.
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ROMANS 8:38-39

38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,

39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

[la.lady]

Mary One of my most favorite passages... Just think!!!! Nothing can seperate us from the love of God... Do we really understand this or do we take it for granted? Something, to think about...

[Pcola Girl]

http://

Our Bible Study For today
__________________________________________________ __________ Luke 11: 9-13

9 And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.

10 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

11 If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent?

12 Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion?

13 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children; how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?




Matthew 7:7-14


7 ¶ Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:

8 for every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

9 Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone?

10 Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?

11 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?

12 Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: Lk. 6.31 for this is the law and the prophets.



13 ¶ Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:

14 because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.



Ephesians 3:20-21
20 ¶ Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,

21 unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.


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The term Christian perfection may be translated as "Christian Maturity." It is the process of "Growing Up" in the love of God and neighbor. It is "Holiness of the heart and life." It is "having the same mind in that was in Christ jesus". (Philippians 2:5). Christian perfection is the goal of Salvation; It is the outcome of a life lived with and for God in jesus Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit..

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Thought For Today: Lord, give us confidence and courage to attempt what you ask even when the gates appear locked.

[la.lady]

Mary thank you for the Bible Study today. These scriptures are in line with what I have been going through lately. God will see me through and I Praise his Holy name.

[Pcola Girl]

http://