Monday, July 20, 2020

Don't Speak Evil Against Each Other, Dear Brothers And Sisters.


Don't Speak Evil
Against Each Other,
Dear Brothers And Sisters.
Scripture
James 4
11 Don’t speak evil against each other, dear brothers and sisters. If you criticize and judge each other, then you are criticizing and judging God’s law. But your job is to obey the law, not to judge whether it applies to you. 
12 God alone, who gave the law, is the Judge. He alone has the power to save or to destroy. So what right do you have to judge your neighbor?
Observation
A critical and condemning spirit does not come from God … my job is to be obedient to the Lord and live my life humbly before Him. There is always the danger of thinking that I am right and everybody else is wrong. It is called having a critical spirit.
Is it true? Is it kind? Is it necessary?
Colossians 4:6
Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.
Psalm 19:14
14 May the words of my mouth
    and the meditation of my heart
be pleasing to you,
    O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.
Proverbs 12:18
Careless words stab like a sword, but wise words bring healing.
Matthew 7:3-5
3 “And why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own? 
4 How can you think of saying to your friend, ‘Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,’ when you can’t see past the log in your own eye? 
5 Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye.
Application

I will focus on building people up and not tearing people down.

How about you? Is it true? Is it kind? Is it necessary?
1 Thessalonians 5:11
11 So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, help me to focus on ways to help people and encourage them and not find fault with them. I am a sinner just like they are. I am broken just like they are. Help me to point them to Jesus. May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.
Daily Bible Reading: 2 Chronicles 29,30,31; James 4



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Sunday, July 19, 2020

But The Wisdom From Above Is First Of All Pure. It Is Also Peace loving, Gentile At All Times, And Willing To Yield To Others.


But The Wisdom From Above Is First Of All Pure.
It Is Also Peace loving, Gentile At All Times,
And Willing To Yield To Others.
Scripture
James 3
13 If you are wise and understand God’s ways, prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom. 
14 But if you are bitterly jealous and there is selfish ambition in your heart, don’t cover up the truth with boasting and lying. 
15 For jealousy and selfishness are not God’s kind of wisdom. Such things are earthly, unspiritual, and demonic. 
16 For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind.
17 But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and the fruit of good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere. 
18 And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of righteousness.
Observation
Wisdom from above … that is what you and I need more than anything else! 
Here is a description of godly wisdom … “wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and the fruit of good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere.” James 3:17
Are you and I wise and do we understand God’s ways? Okay then let's prove it by living honorable lives, and by doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom.
With everything that is happening in our country and in our world today we desperately need godly wisdom … don't we!
There are so many voices pulling us in all the wrong directions …
James 1:5-6
5 If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. 
6 But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind.
Proverbs 2:6,12
6 For the Lord grants wisdom!
    From his mouth come knowledge and understanding.
12 Wisdom will save you from evil people,
    from those whose words are twisted.
Proverbs 3:5-6
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart;
    do not depend on your own understanding.
6 Seek his will in all you do,
    and he will show you which path to take.


Application
I am asking God for wisdom to help me navigate through these difficult days.
How about you?
Prayer
Heavenly Father, I want the wisdom that James describes in James 3:13-18. Don't let me rely on my own understanding. Don't let me be influenced by ungodly people. I pray for godly leaders who will lead us. Leaders who will seek Your face and who will seek Your direction for our country. Raise up godly men and women who will lead us.
I pray for Josie Baxter and Jose Crespo and the rest of their family in the loss of their Dad. I also pray for Elisha Dasconio and her family as they grieve the loss of her Mother.
Daily Bible Reading: 2 Kings 17; 2 Chronicles 28; Psalms 46; James 3



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Saturday, July 18, 2020

But I say, “How Can You Show Me Your Faith If You Don't Have Good Deeds? I Will Show You My Faith By My Good Deeds.”


But I say, “How Can You Show Me Your Faith
If You Don't Have Good Deeds?
I Will Show You My Faith By My Good Deeds.”
Scripture
James 2
18 Now someone may argue, “Some people have faith; others have good deeds.” But I say, “How can you show me your faith if you don’t have good deeds? I will show you my faith by my good deeds.”
19 You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God. Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror. 
20 How foolish! Can’t you see that faith without good deeds is useless?
Observation
“You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God. Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror.”
I don't know about you, but I run in to people who will say to me, “Yes, sure I believe in God.” In fact, very few people will say that they flat out don't believe in God.
What James chapter 2 says to me is this, “Eddy, if you have faith in God like you say that you do then your life needs to show it. There needs to be evidence that you are who you say you are. It should be reflected in the way you live.”
Application
I know that “good deeds” don't save me, but they must be part of my life if I am a true believer in the Lord Jesus Christ. So I will look for ways to express my faith by doing random acts of kindness for people as God puts them on my heart.
How about you? What “good deed” has God placed on your heart?
Prayer
Heavenly Father, help me to be a doer of Your Word and not a hearer only. Show me who needs to be encouraged today. Show me how Ican help someone today. Don't let me live this day for myself. Thank You for blessing me so much. Help me to be a blessing to someone else.
Daily Bible Reading: Isaiah 32,33,34,35; James 2



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Friday, July 17, 2020

Dear Brothers And Sisters, When Troubles Of Any Kind Come Your Way, Consider It An Opportunity For Great Joy.


Dear Brothers And Sisters,
When Troubles Of Any Kind Come Your Way,
Consider It An Opportunity For Great Joy.
Scripture
James 1
2 Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy.
3 For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. 
4 So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.
Observation
Trouble, Trouble, And More Trouble … consider it an opportunity for great joy! James 1:2-4 speaks to us today right where we are at. You and I are definitely having our faith tested as we deal with both the Covid 19 virus and social unrest all at the same time.
James, the half brother of Jesus, says to us, “Consider it an opportunity for great joy.”
When our faith is tested, it gives me and it gives you a chance to grow!
So let it grow!
More than ever we need to be in God's Word every day where we can read and hear the actual Truth. The News Media, the Internet, even Social Media are all full of half truths and lies these days … intentional and unintentional. There is a danger, a real danger, of being caught up in believing a bunch of lies.
Satan is the father of lies.
Philippians 4:8
8 And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.
Application
I will look at this time of adversity and hardship as an opportunity to grow spiritually. I will check and filter both what I read and what I hear with the Word of God and see if it lines up to what God's Word clearly says.
How about you?
Prayer
Heavenly Father, help me see things from Your perspective. Don't let me lose sight of the fact that You are in control. When things in my life and things in the lives around me seem out of control, when all I see is trouble, help me to consider it an opportunity for great joy! I know that You never waste a hurt. You will use this difficult time and turn it around for my good. I know You will because You have promised me that You will in Your Word.
Romans 8:28
28 And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.
Daily Bible Reading: Isaiah 29,30,31; James 1



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Thursday, July 16, 2020

You Will Keep In Perfect Peace All Who Trust In You, All Whose Thoughts Are Fixed On You!


You Will Keep In Perfect Peace
All Who Trust In You,
All Whose Thoughts Are Fixed On You!
Scripture
Isaiah 26
3 You will keep in perfect peace
    all who trust in you,
    all whose thoughts are fixed on you!
4 Trust in the Lord always,
    for the Lord God is the eternal Rock.
Observation
I don't remember when I memorized it and I don't know why I memorized it, but this verse, Isaiah 26:3 pops into my head often, especially in the middle of the night when I am not able to sleep because I am worried about something. I am so glad that I have that verse guarded away in my heart.
I memorized it in the King James version years ago, “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.”
So what are you worried about? Is anything keeping you up at night? Do you wake up in the middle of the night and start thinking about something (worrying) and are not able to go back to sleep? Maybe you ought to memorize Isaiah 26:3!
Here are some other great verses that almost always come to my mind too when I am thinking (worrying) about something. Maybe they can help you too!
Philippians 4:6-7
6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 
7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
1 Peter 5:7
7 Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.
Psalm 55:22
22 Give your burdens to the Lord,
    and he will take care of you.
    He will not permit the godly to slip and fall.
Psalm 3:5
5 I lay down and slept,
    yet I woke up in safety,
    for the Lord was watching over me.
Psalm 4:8
8 In peace I will lie down and sleep,
    for you alone, O Lord, will keep me safe.
Hebrews 13:6
6 So we can say with confidence,
“The Lord is my helper,
    so I will have no fear.
    What can mere people do to me?
Psalm 56:3
3 But when I am afraid,
    I will put my trust in you.
Application
When I am afraid, when I am worried, I will put my trust in God.
How about you?
Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank You for giving me such great promises from Your Word. I will hold on to all of them when I am afraid.
My prayer for anyone who might read this blog today is found in Hebrews 13:20-21:
“Now may the God of peace—who brought up from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great Shepherd of the sheep, and ratified an eternal covenant with his blood—may he equip you with all you need for doing his will. May he produce in you, through the power of Jesus Christ, every good thing that is pleasing to him. All glory to him forever and ever! Amen.”
Daily Bible Reading: Isaiah 25,26,27,28; Hebrews 13



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Wednesday, July 15, 2020

So Take A New Grip With Your Tired Hands And Strengthen Your Weak Knees


So Take A New Grip
With Your Tired Hands
And Strengthen Your Weak Knees
Scripture
Hebrews 12
1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.
2 We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.
3 Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up.
4 After all, you have not yet given your lives in your struggle against sin.
12 So take a new grip with your tired hands and strengthen your weak knees.
13 Mark out a straight path for your feet so that those who are weak and lame will not fall but become strong.
Observation
Tired hands and weak knees … pretty much describes me these days … I seem to wake up tired and go to bed tired … but … I am very grateful to wake up to yet another day!
Even when I think about our present situation with Covid 19 running rampede throughout our country and pretty much throughout the entire world I still don't think we are experiencing what it was like for those listed in Hebrews 11 and what they had to face and endure.
We might be on our way for really bad times if things keep heading south, but not right now!
Application
So I will take a new grip with my tired hands and I will strengthen my weak knees and I will mark out a straight path for my feet! And I will keep my eyes on Jesus!
How about you?
John 16:33
33 I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”
Prayer
Heavenly Father, when I can't see Your hand in what is happening around me I will trust Your heart. I will hold on to the thousands of promises that You have given to me in Your Word. I will keep my eyes focused on Jesus. He is my Champion. Your Holy Spirit, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in me.
I pray for any person reading this blog that may feel defeated, that may feel weighed down by problems or circumstances, give them strength Lord. Give them Your perspective. Encourage them. Bring people into their life who will encourage them. Give them a promise from Your Word to hold onto.
Romans 8:11, 35-39
11 The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you.
35 Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? 
36 (As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.”) 
37 No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.
38 And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. 
39 No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Daily Bible Reading: Isaiah 22,23,24; Hebrews 12



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Tuesday, July 14, 2020

And It Is Impossible To Please God Without Faith


And
It Is Impossible
To Please God Without Faith
Scripture
Hebrews 11
1 Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see. 
2 Through their faith, the people in days of old earned a good reputation.
3 By faith we understand that the entire universe was formed at God’s command, that what we now see did not come from anything that can be seen.
6 And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.
Observation
Every day you and I have the opportunity to exercise our faith … during these trying, difficult, and tumultuous days we must keep our eyes focused on the One who is invisible ... just like Moses did.
Hebrews 11:27 “It was by faith that Moses left the land of Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger. He kept right on going because he kept his eyes on the one who is invisible.”
It takes faith to keep our eyes on the One who is invisible!
Need to be encouraged … take a few minutes and read Hebrews 11!
We need to keep our eyes on Jesus and not on our circumstances!
This is from tomorrow's daily Bible reading and maybe I will write about it tomorrow … we will have to wait and see:
Hebrews 12:1-2
1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. 

2 We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. 

3 Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up.

Application
I will keep my eyes on the One who is invisible and not on my circumstances.
How about you?
Prayer
Heavenly Father, help me to be a man of faith. Help me to see things from Your perspective. This world is not my home. I am just passing through and I am heading to a much better place. Help me to run this race with endurance. Don't let me become weary and don't let me give up.
Daily Bible Reading: Isaiah 19,20,21; Hebrews 11



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Monday, July 13, 2020

Let Us Think Of Ways To Motivate One Another To Acts Of Love And Good Works.


Let Us Think Of Ways
To Motivate One Another
To Acts Of Love And Good Works.
Scripture
Hebrews 10
23 Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. 
24 Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. 
25 And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.
Observation
Today is Monday! We have all week to put Hebrews 10:24 into practice! This verse tells us that we must think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works … We HAVE TO BE INTENTIONAL!
Random acts of kindness don't just happen … they are intentional!
You and I, as followers of Jesus, must always be thinking of ways to motivate each other to acts of love and good works!
Application
I will look for ways to show random acts of kindness to the people that God places in my path this week.
How about you?
Prayer
Heavenly Father, the people around me certainly need to be encouraged. Help me to think of ways that I can put Hebrews 10:24 into practice this week. Give me ideas of ways to motivate others … “to acts of love and good works”.
Daily Bible Reading: Isaiah 15,16,17,18; Hebrews 10



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Sunday, July 12, 2020

And Just As Each Person Is Destined To Die Once And After That Comes Judgment.


And Just
As Each Person Is Destined To Die Once
And After That Comes Judgment.
Scripture
Hebrews 9
27 And just as each person is destined to die once and after that comes judgment, 
28 so also Christ was offered once for all time as a sacrifice to take away the sins of many people. He will come again, not to deal with our sins, but to bring salvation to all who are eagerly waiting for him.
Observation

This week at the hospital ...
She was crying when she told me, “I just don't want to die.” The patient had Stage 4 colon cancer. She was tired of dealing with a colostomy bag, tired of looking at it when she was in the shower, tired of cleaning it, tired of being sick from the chemo, and even though she had just told me that she didn't want to die, a few minutes later told me that she had tried to take her own life the day before. I think I understood what she meant when she said, “I don't want to die.” I don't think that she wanted to go through the suffering that she felt was ahead of her.
So what would you say to her?
I pulled up a chair and we talked about life. While we were talking she told me that she had lots of support. She said that her Mom was still living and she had kids that loved her.
So I said to her, “Look, you and I are both going to die. You might outlive me. We don't know. I have a badly damaged heart. Everyday that I wake up I am just glad that I have another day to be with my family. But one day I am going to die. And when I do I will be with Jesus!”
I shared with her much God loved her. How precious life is! God didn't cause her sickness, but He has allowed it. I shared with her that God would walk through this difficult time with her if she allowed Him to.
When I left that room I was hurting for her, but I think she was encouraged and I think that she realized that she did have something to live for.
It is definitely a terrible time to be in the hospital. No visitors allowed. Isolated from the people that love you. It is way too easy for someone like her, in her condition, to feel overwhelmed and totally hopeless and helpless and want to end it all.
Oh, how I love my job!
Application
I will continue to share the Good News of the Bible every chance I get. I will be Jesus' hands and feet!
How about you?
Prayer
Heavenly Father, I pray for this patient right now. I pray for healing. Fill her life with hope. Help her to enjoy her family while she has time. Don't let her waste a minute. I pray for others who are sick and have no hope. Help them to see that Jesus is all that they need. I pray for the caregivers at our hospitals. Give them strength. Keep them safe.
Daily Bible Reading: Isaiah 11,12,13,14; Hebrews 9



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Saturday, July 11, 2020

And He Will Be Called: Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince Of Peace.


And He Will Be Called:
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince Of Peace.
Scripture
Isaiah 9
6 For a child is born to us,
    a son is given to us.
The government will rest on his shoulders.
    And he will be called:
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 His government and its peace
    will never end.
He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David
    for all eternity.
The passionate commitment of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies
    will make this happen!
Observation
Christmas in July! This passage comes at a great time in my daily Bible reading. We sure need all that Christmas brings – all of the joy – all of the hope.
Last night a nurse asked me to call a Covid 19 patient. The nurse shared with me that the patient just found out that her husband had died. Both had the virus and both were in the hospital. They were not that old, a lot younger than I am!
In all of this mess I am so glad that I have a Savior – And He is called “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
“His government and its peace will never end. He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David for all eternity.The passionate commitment of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies will make this happen!”
Come, Lord Jesus! Come!
Application
Today I will celebrate and worship – the Christ of Christmas!
How about you? Will you celebrate and worship?
Prayer
Heavenly Father, Isaiah 9:6-7 is a reminder to me that I have a Savior and His name is Jesus. He is ultimately in control even when things seem like they are completely out of control. I know that He is watching out for me. So today I will celebrate and worship the Christ of Christmas. Thank You for sending us a Savior!
Luke 1
30 “Don’t be afraid, Mary,” the angel told her, “for you have found favor with God! 

31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. 

32 He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. 

33 And he will reign over Israel[f] forever; his Kingdom will never end!”

34 Mary asked the angel, “But how can this happen? I am a virgin.”
35 The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the baby to be born will be holy, and he will be called the Son of God.
Luke 2
8 That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. 
9 Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, 
10 but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. 
11 The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! 
12 And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.”
13 Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in highest heaven,
    and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.”
Daily Bible Reading: Isaiah 8,9,10; Hebrews 8



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