Refreshing Our Spirits With Scripture

Day of Year:365 Date: 12.31.14 Favorite Verse: Thought for the day: Jesus Reading (Ten Minutes): Acts 2.43-47 + Rest of New Testament:Revelation 22 +Psalm of the Day: Psalm 60 +Proverb of the Day: Proverbs 31.10-31

Day of Year:364 Date: 12.30.14 Favorite Verse: Thought for the day: Jesus Reading (Ten Minutes): Acts 2.37-42 + Rest of New Testament:Revelation 21 +Psalm of the Day: Psalm 59 +Proverb of the Day: Proverbs 31.1-9

Day of Year:363 Date: 12.29.14 Favorite Verse: Thought for the day: Jesus Reading (Ten Minutes): Acts 2.22-36 + Rest of New Testament:Revelation 20 +Psalm of the Day: Psalm 58 +Proverb of the Day: Proverbs 30.32,33

Guest Post from Anne Lamott, Help, Thanks, Wow, "There's freedom in hitting bottom in seeing that you won't be able to save or rescue your daughter, her spouse, his parents, or your career; relief in admitting you've reached the place of the great unknowing.  This is where restoration can begin, because when you're still in the state of trying to fix the unfixable, everything bad is engaged; the chatter of your mind, the tension of your physiology, all the trunks and wheels-ons you carry from the past.  It's exhausting, crazy making." P. 14

Day of Year:362 Date: 12.28.14 Favorite Verse: Thought for the day: Jesus Reading (Ten Minutes): Acts 2.14-21 + Rest of New Testament:Revelation 18,19 +Psalm of the Day: Psalm 57 +Proverb of the Day: Proverbs 30.29-31

Day of Year:361 Date: 12.27.14 Favorite Verse: Thought for the day: Jesus Reading (Ten Minutes): Acts 2.1-13 + Rest of New Testament:Revelation 16,17 +Psalm of the Day: Psalm 56 +Proverb of the Day: Proverbs 30.24-28

Day of Year:360 Date: 12.2614 Favorite Verse: Thought for the day: Jesus Reading (Ten Minutes): Acts 1.12-26 + Rest of New Testament:Revelation 12-15 +Psalm of the Day: Psalm 55 +Proverb of the Day: Proverbs 30.20-23

Day of Year:359 Date: 12.25.14 Favorite Verse: Thought for the day: Jesus Reading (Ten Minutes): Acts 1.9-11 + Rest of New Testament:Revelation 11 +Psalm of the Day: Psalm 54 +Proverb of the Day: Proverbs 30.17-19

Day of Year:358 Date: 12.24.14 Favorite Verse: Thought for the day: Jesus Reading (Ten Minutes): Acts 1. + Rest of New Testament:Revelation 10 +Psalm of the Day: Psalm 53 +Proverb of the Day: Proverbs 30.11-16

Day of Year:357 Date: 12.23.14 Favorite Verse: Thought for the day: Jesus Reading (Ten Minutes): John 21.24,25 + Rest of New Testament:Revelation 8,9 +Psalm of the Day: Psalm 52 +Proverb of the Day: Proverbs 30.10

Day of Year:356 Date: 12.22.14 Favorite Verse: Thought for the day: Jesus Reading (Ten Minutes): John 21.18-23 + Rest of New Testament:Revelation 7 +Psalm of the Day: Psalm 51 +Proverb of the Day: Proverbs 30.8,9

Day of Year:355 Date: 12.21.14 Favorite Verse: Thought for the day: Jesus Reading (Ten Minutes): John 21.15-17 + Rest of New Testament:Revelation 6 +Psalm of the Day: Psalm 50 +Proverb of the Day: Proverbs 30.7

Day of Year:354 Date: 12.20.14 Favorite Verse: Thought for the day: Jesus Reading (Ten Minutes): John 21.12-14 + Rest of New Testament:Revelation 6 +Psalm of the Day: Psalm 49 +Proverb of the Day: Proverbs 30.6

Day of Year:353 Date: 12.19.14 Favorite Verse: Thought for the day: Jesus Reading (Ten Minutes): John 21.1-11 + Rest of New Testament:Revelation 5.1-10 +Psalm of the Day: Psalm 48 +Proverb of the Day: Proverbs 30.5-10

Day of Year:352 Date: 12.18.14 Favorite Verse: Thought for the day: Jesus Reading (Ten Minutes): John 20.30,31 + Rest of New Testament:Revelation 4 +Psalm of the Day: Psalm 47 +Proverb of the Day: Proverbs 30.1-4

Day of Year:351 Date: 12.17.14 Favorite Verse: Thought for the day: Jesus Reading (Ten Minutes): John 20.24-29 + Rest of New Testament:Revelation 3 +Psalm of the Day: Psalm 46 +Proverb of the Day: Proverbs 29.25-27

Day of Year:350 Date: 12.16.14 Favorite Verse: Thought for the day: Jesus Reading (Ten Minutes): John 20.19-23 + Rest of New Testament:Revelation 2 +Psalm of the Day: Psalm 45 +Proverb of the Day: Proverbs 29.19-24

Day of Year:349 Date: 12.15.14 Favorite Verse: Thought for the day: Jesus Reading (Ten Minutes): John 20.11-18 + Rest of New Testament:Revelation 1 +Psalm of the Day: Psalm 44 +Proverb of the Day: Proverbs 29.12-18

Day of Year:348 Date: 12.14.14 Favorite Verse: Thought for the day: Jesus Reading (Ten Minutes): John 20.1-10 + Rest of New Testament: Jude +Psalm of the Day: Psalm 43 +Proverb of the Day: Proverbs 29.6-11

Day of Year:347 Date: 12.13.14 Favorite Verse: Thought for the day: Jesus Reading (Ten Minutes): John 19.38-42 + Rest of New Testament: 3 John  +Psalm of the Day: Psalm 42. +Proverb of the Day: Proverbs 29.1-5

Day of Year:346 Date: 12.12.14 Favorite Verse: Thought for the day: Jesus Reading (Ten Minutes): John 19.31-37 + Rest of New Testament: 2 John  +Psalm of the Day: Psalm 41. +Proverb of the Day: Proverbs 28.23-28

Day of Year:345 Date: 12.11.14 Favorite Verse: Thought for the day: Jesus Reading (Ten Minutes): John 19.23-30 + Rest of New Testament: 1 John 5 +Psalm of the Day: Psalm 40.13-17 +Proverb of the Day: Proverbs 28.18-22

Day of Year:344 Date: 12.10.14 Favorite Verse: Thought for the day: Jesus Reading (Ten Minutes): John 19.16-22 + Rest of New Testament: 1 John 4 +Psalm of the Day: Psalm 40.9-12 +Proverb of the Day: Proverbs 28.12-17

Day of Year:343 Date: 12.9.14 Favorite Verse: Thought for the day: Jesus Reading (Ten Minutes): John 19.1-15 + Rest of New Testament: 1 John 2,3 +Psalm of the Day: Psalm 40.1-8 +Proverb of the Day: Proverbs 28.6-11

Day of Year:342 Date: 12.8.14 Favorite Verse: Thought for the day: Jesus Reading (Ten Minutes): John 18.33-40 + Rest of New Testament: 1 John 1 +Psalm of the Day: Psalm 39 +Proverb of the Day: Proverbs 28.1-5

Day of Year:341 Date: 12.7.14 Favorite Verse: Thought for the day: Jesus Reading (Ten Minutes): John 18.28-32 + Rest of New Testament: 2 Peter 3 +Psalm of the Day: Psalm 38 +Proverb of the Day: Proverbs 27.23-37

Day of Year:340 Date: 12.6.14 Favorite Verse: Thought for the day: Jesus Reading (Ten Minutes): John 18.25-27 + Rest of New Testament: 2 Peter 2 +Psalm of the Day: Psalm 37 +Proverb of the Day: Proverbs 27.17-22

Day of Year:339 Date: 12.5.14 Favorite Verse: Thought for the day: Jesus Reading (Ten Minutes): John 18.19-24 + Rest of New Testament: 2 Peter 1. +Psalm of the Day: Psalm 36 +Proverb of the Day: Proverbs 27.12-16

I've been thinking about the mess our world is in and feel like crying.    Jesus was on the cross and cried out an honest prayer, "My God, My God why have you forsaken me."  This was not original with Him.  He had probably heard Psalm 22 quoted by a Rabbi.  In a book about prayer, Help, Wow and Thanks , Anne Lamott writes, 'Hello, is there anyone out there?  Am I too far gone, or can you help me get out of my isolated self-obsession?"  "I am exhausted and depressed beyond words, and I don't like You at all right now..." Yes, honesty with God is an absolute necessity. In fact, is unavoidable. Larry Wishard

I slept and dreamt that life was joy. I awoke and saw that life was service. I acted and behold, service was joy. Rabindranth Tagore

Day of Year:338 Date: 12.4.14 Favorite Verse: Thought for the day: Jesus Reading (Ten Minutes): John 18.12-18 + Rest of New Testament: 1 Peter5 +Psalm of the Day: Psalm 35 +Proverb of the Day: Proverbs 27.7-11

Day of Year:337 Date: 12.3.14 Favorite Verse: Thought for the day: Jesus Reading (Ten Minutes): John 18.1-11 + Rest of New Testament: 1 Peter4 +Psalm of the Day: Psalm 34 +Proverb of the Day: Proverbs 27-1-6

Day of Year:336 Date: 12.2.14 Favorite Verse: Thought for the day: Jesus Reading (Ten Minutes): John 17.22-26 + Rest of New Testament: 1 Peter 3 +Psalm of the Day: Psalm 33 +Proverb of the Day: Proverbs 26.27-28

Day of Year:335 Date: 12.1.14 Favorite Verse: Thought for the day: Jesus Reading (Ten Minutes): John 17.13-21 + Rest of New Testament: 1 Peter2 +Psalm of the Day: Psalm 32 +Proverb of the Day: Proverbs 26.22-26

Day of Year:334 Date: 11.30.14 Favorite Verse: Thought for the day: Jesus Reading (Ten Minutes): John 17.11-12 + Rest of New Testament: 1 Peter 1 +Psalm of the Day: Psalm 31 +Proverb of the Day: Proverbs 26.16-21 +Rest of Old Testament:  Ezekiel 41,42

Day of Year:333 Date: 11.29.14 Favorite Verse: Thought for the day: Jesus Reading (Ten Minutes): John 17.1-10 + Rest of New Testament: James 5 +Psalm of the Day: Psalm 30 +Proverb of the Day: Proverbs 26.11-15 +Rest of Old Testament:  Ezekiel 39,40

Day of Year:332 Date: 11.28.14 Favorite Verse: Thought for the day: Jesus Reading (Ten Minutes): John 17.23-33 + Rest of New Testament: James 4 +Psalm of the Day: Psalm 29 +Proverb of the Day: Proverbs 26.6-10 +Rest of Old Testament:  Ezekiel 38

This is a picture of my grandson, Jared, coming to believe what I have told him that angels watch over God's kids who hang out at the home of the Dallas Cowboys. Go Cowboys,. Today I am thankful to be a citizen of the USA. Here we have some of the most humble heroes I can imagine.  Doctors and nurses put their lives on the line daily to save others lives.  During the ebola outbreak there were amazing things done to help poor people around the world.  All done without bragging, pride or conceit, but humble teamwork. Here we are taught by our families and our schools to celebrate life.  I can remember Thanksgiving  plays in elementary school, Plenty of food and drink was served to us at our school and it was the same food available regardless whether you came from a rich family or a poor family.  All shared together.  Speaking of humble underpaid heroes ~ what about teachers, coaches, principals and volunteers in our schools? It is very co...

Day of Year:331 Date: 11.27.14 Favorite Verse: Thought for the day: Jesus Reading (Ten Minutes): John 15.18-27 + Rest of New Testament: James 3 +Psalm of the Day: Psalm 28 +Proverb of the Day: Proverbs 26.1-5 +Rest of Old Testament:  Ezekiel 33-37

Day of Year:330 Date: 11.26.14 Favorite Verse: Thought for the day: Jesus Reading (Ten Minutes): John 15.12-17 + Rest of New Testament: James 1,2 +Psalm of the Day: Psalm 27 +Proverb of the Day: Proverbs 25.21-28 +Rest of Old Testament:  Ezekiel31,32

Day of Year:329 Date: 11.25.14 Favorite Verse: Thought for the day: Jesus Reading (Ten Minutes): John 15.1-11 + Rest of New Testament: Hebrews 13.20-25 +Psalm of the Day: Psalm 26 +Proverb of the Day: Proverbs 25.18-20 +Rest of Old Testament:  Ezekiel29,30

Day of Year:328 Date: 11.24.14 Favorite Verse: Thought for the day: Jesus Reading (Ten Minutes): John 14.16-31 + Rest of New Testament: Hebrews 13.20-25 +Psalm of the Day: Psalm 26 +Proverb of the Day: Proverbs 25.18-20 +Rest of Old Testament:  Ezekiel29,30

Day of Year:324 Date: 11.22.14 Favorite Verse: Thought for the day: Jesus Reading (Ten Minutes): John 14.7-15 + Rest of New Testament: Hebrews 13.18,19 +Psalm of the Day: Psalm 25 +Proverb of the Day: Proverbs 25.14-17 +Rest of Old Testament:  Ezekiel 27,28

Day of Year:323 Date: 11.19.14 Favorite Verse: Thought for the day: Jesus Reading (Ten Minutes): John 14.1-6 + Rest of New Testament: Hebrews 13.15-17 +Psalm of the Day: Psalm 24 +Proverb of the Day: Proverbs 25.11-13 +Rest of Old Testament:  Ezekiel 25,26

Day of Year:322 Date: 11.18.14 Favorite Verse: Thought for the day: Jesus Reading (Ten Minutes): John 13.31-38 + Rest of New Testament: Hebrews 13.9-14 +Psalm of the Day: Psalm 23 +Proverb of the Day: Proverbs 25.6-10 +Rest of Old Testament:  Ezekiel 23,24

Day of Year:321 Date: 11.17.14 Favorite Verse: Thought for the day: Jesus Reading (Ten Minutes): John 13.21-30 + Rest of New Testament: Hebrews 13.1-8 +Psalm of the Day: Psalm 22 +Proverb of the Day: Proverbs 25.3-5 +Rest of Old Testament:  Ezekiel 21,22

Early this morning, 11.16.14,  it was announced that a man had been beheaded.  It made me very sad for his family.  They had begged for his life to be spared since he converted to the Muslim religion.  ISIS/ISIL didn't care what his religion was if it was not their own brand of the Muslim religion. Jesus came into this kind of world. I was reading Luke 3 this morning. This verse jumped out. 19  But when John rebuked Herod the tetrarch because of his marriage to Herodias, his brother’s wife, and all the other evil things he had done, 20  Herod added this to them all: He locked John up in prison. Later John was beheaded because of His commitment to God's ways.  Jesus was on the cross experiencing a cruel death and said, " Father forgive them. "  "It is finished."  The heart of Jesus is for all humans to come to know God's grace. Grace transforms us into givers to meet the needs of the poor.  Someone with two coats can give one...

Day of Year:320 Date: 11.16.14 Favorite Verse: Thought for the day: Jesus Reading (Ten Minutes): John 13.12-20 + Rest of New Testament: Hebrews 12.25-29 +Psalm of the Day: Psalm 21 +Proverb of the Day: Proverbs 25.1,2 +Rest of Old Testament:  Ezekiel 19,20

Day of Year:319 Date: 11.14.14 Favorite Verse: Thought for the day: Jesus Reading (Ten Minutes): John 13.5-11 + Rest of New Testament: Hebrews 12.18-24 +Psalm of the Day: Psalm20 +Proverb of the Day: Proverbs 24.30-34 +Rest of Old Testament:  Ezekiel 17,18

Day of Year:318 Date: 11.13.14 Favorite Verse: Thought for the day: Jesus Reading (Ten Minutes): John 13.1-4 + Rest of New Testament: Hebrews 12.14-7 +Psalm of the Day: Psalm 19 +Proverb of the Day: Proverbs 24.26-29 +Rest of Old Testament:  Ezekiel 15,16

Day of Year:317 Date: 11.12.14 Favorite Verse: Thought for the day: Jesus Reading (Ten Minutes): John 12.27-50 + Rest of New Testament: Hebrews 12.1-13 +Psalm of the Day: Psalm 18 +Proverb of the Day: Proverbs 24.13-25 +Rest of Old Testament:  Ezekiel 13,14

Day of Year:316 Date: 11.11.14 Favorite Verse: Thought for the day: Jesus Reading (Ten Minutes): John 12.20-26 + Rest of New Testament: Hebrews 11.17-32-40 +Psalm of the Day: Psalm 17 +Proverb of the Day: Proverbs 24.19-22 +Rest of Old Testament:  Ezekiel11,12

Day of Year:314 Date: 11.10.14 Favorite Verse: Thought for the day: Jesus Reading (Ten Minutes): John 12.1-11 + Rest of New Testament: Hebrews 11.13-16 +Psalm of the Day: Psalm 15 +Proverb of the Day: Proverbs 24.15-16 +Rest of Old Testament:  Ezekiel 7,8

Edmund Burke, 1729-1797,  was a great orator, author and leader of Great Britain during the time of the Revolutionary War.  His statement written 1.9.1795, in a letter to William Smith is well known: "All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing." Thousands prayed and others did all they could to work for their release.  We are so thankful for the good news of Jeffrey Fowle, Matthew Miller and Kenneth Bae's release from a prison in North Korea.   Fowle was accused of leaving a Bible there.  I am reminded of other true words of Edmund Burke, "The blood of man should never be shed but to redeem blood of man. It is well shed for our family, for our friends, for our God, for our country, for our kind.  The rest is vanity; the rest is crime."  Letters on a Regicide Peace "What is liberty without wisdom and without virtue?  It is the greatest of all possible evils; for it is folly, vice, and madnes...

Day of Year:313 Date: 11.9.14 Favorite Verse: Thought for the day: Jesus Reading (Ten Minutes): John 11.54-57 + Rest of New Testament: Hebrews 11.1-12 +Psalm of the Day: Psalm 14 +Proverb of the Day: Proverbs 24.13-14 +Rest of Old Testament:  Ezekiel 5,6

Day of Year:312 Date: 11.8.14 Favorite Verse: Thought for the day: Jesus Reading (Ten Minutes): John 11.47-53 + Rest of New Testament: Hebrews 10.26-39 +Psalm of the Day: Psalm 13 +Proverb of the Day: Proverbs 24.11-12 +Rest of Old Testament:  Ezekiel 3,4

Day of Year:311 Date: 11.7.14 Favorite Verse: Thought for the day: Jesus Reading (Ten Minutes): John 11.1-46 + Rest of New Testament: Hebrews10.19-25 +Psalm of the Day: Psalm 12 +Proverb of the Day: Proverbs 24.8-10 +Rest of Old Testament:  Ezekiel 1,2

Day of Year:310 Date: 11.6.14 Favorite Verse: Thought for the day: Jesus Reading (Ten Minutes): John 10.22-42 + Rest of New Testament: Hebrews10.1-18 +Psalm of the Day: Psalm 11 +Proverb of the Day: Proverbs 24.5-7 +Rest of Old Testament:  Lamentations 4,5

Day of Year:309 Date: 11.5.14 Favorite Verse: Thought for the day: Jesus Reading (Ten Minutes): John 10.19-21 + Rest of New Testament: Hebrews 9.23-28 +Psalm of the Day: Psalm 10 +Proverb of the Day: Proverbs 24.1-4 +Rest of Old Testament:  Lamentations 2,3

Day of Year:308 Date: 11.4.14 Favorite Verse: Thought for the day: Jesus Reading (Ten Minutes): John 10.1-18 + Rest of New Testament: Hebrews 9.11-22 +Psalm of the Day: Psalm 9 +Proverb of the Day: Proverbs 23.29-35 +Rest of Old Testament: Jeremiah 52, Lamentations 1

Day of Year:307 Date: 11.3.14 Favorite Verse: Thought for the day: Jesus Reading (Ten Minutes): John 9.35-51 + Rest of New Testament: Hebrews 8.7-13 +Psalm of the Day: Psalm 9 +Proverb of the Day: Proverbs 23.29-35 +Rest of Old Testament: Jeremiah 52, Lamentations 1

Day of Year:306 Date: 11.2.14 Favorite Verse: Thought for the day: Jesus Reading (Ten Minutes): John 9.13-34 + Rest of New Testament: Hebrews 8.7-13 +Psalm of the Day: Psalm 8 +Proverb of the Day: Proverbs 23.26-28 +Rest of Old Testament: Jeremiah 50,51

When times are good your friends find out who you are. When times are bad you find out who you are. Rob Campos

Day of Year:305 Date: 11.1.14 Favorite Verse: Thought for the day: Jesus Reading (Ten Minutes): John 9.1-12 + Rest of New Testament: Hebrews 8.1-6 +Psalm of the Day: Psalm 7. +Proverb of the Day: Proverbs 23.22-25 +Rest of Old Testament: Jeremiah 48,49

Day of Year:304 Date: 10.31.14 Favorite Verse: Thought for the day: Jesus Reading (Ten Minutes): John 8.48-59 + Rest of New Testament: Hebrews 7.26-28 +Psalm of the Day: Psalm 6. +Proverb of the Day: Proverbs 23.17-21 +Rest of Old Testament: Jeremiah 44,47

Day of Year:303 Date: 10.30.14 Favorite Verse: Thought for the day: Jesus Reading (Ten Minutes): John 8.31-47 + Rest of New Testament: Hebrews 7.11-25 +Psalm of the Day: Psalm 5. +Proverb of the Day: Proverbs 23.12-16 +Rest of Old Testament: Jeremiah 44,45

Day of Year:302 Date: 10.29.14 Favorite Verse: Thought for the day: Jesus Reading (Ten Minutes): John 8.12-30 + Rest of New Testament: Hebrews 7.4-10 +Psalm of the Day: Psalm 4. +Proverb of the Day: Proverbs 23.9-11 +Rest of Old Testament: Jeremiah 42,43

Day of Year:301 Date: 10.28.14 Favorite Verse: Thought for the day: Jesus Reading (Ten Minutes): John 8.1-11 + Rest of New Testament: Hebrews 7.1-3 +Psalm of the Day: Psalm 3. +Proverb of the Day: Proverbs 23.6--8 +Rest of Old Testament: Jeremiah 40,41

Day of Year:300 Date: 10.27.14 Favorite Verse: Thought for the day: Jesus Reading (Ten Minutes): John7.40-53 + Rest of New Testament: Hebrews 6.9-20 +Psalm of the Day: Psalm 2 +Proverb of the Day: Proverbs 23.4-5 +Rest of Old Testament: Jeremiah 38,39

Day of Year: 299 Date: 10.26.14 Favorite Verse: Thought for the day: Jesus Reading (Ten Minutes): John7.10-39 + Rest of New Testament: Hebrews 6.1-8 +Psalm of the Day: Psalm 1 +Proverb of the Day: Proverbs 23.1-3 +Rest of Old Testament: Jeremiah 36,37

Day of Year: 297 Date: 10.24.14 Favorite Verse: Thought for the day: Jesus Reading (Ten Minutes): John 6.66-71 + Rest of New Testament: Hebrews 5.11-14 +Psalm of the Day: Psalm150 +Proverb of the Day: Proverbs 22.26-29 +Rest of Old Testament: Jeremiah 34,35

Day of Year: 296 Date: 10.23.14 Favorite Verse: Thought for the day: Jesus Reading (Ten Minutes): John 6.59-65 + Rest of New Testament: Hebrews 4.14-5.10 +Psalm of the Day: Psalm149.6-9 +Proverb of the Day: Proverbs 22.24,25 +Rest of Old Testament: Jeremiah32,33

Prayer . Is there anything in the world less glamorous and more important? In his new book,  Prayer: Experiencing Awe and Intimacy with God   (Dutton), Tim Keller distills decades of experience and biblical wisdom into a theologically informed, practically shaped guide for life on our knees. Blending sociological, theological, devotional, and methodological insights, he has produced a gift for anyone desiring to “gaze upon the beauty of the LORD” ( Ps. 27:4 ), petition him with humble boldness, and watch him respond with infinitely wise love. A vibrant prayer life is often grueling and rarely convenient. It’s hard-won. And it’s absolutely worth it. Nothing compares to the experience of knowing and revering and enjoying and receiving from the King of the universe—all of which, Keller demonstrates, is available to you through prayer. I asked the pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City about mysticism, the problem with quiet times, ...