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Post by Poet Maybe on Sept 30, 2023 13:01:05 GMT
Day 274 (Luke 12-13)
Chapter 12 holds warnings and encouragements. For me it speaks on faith and trust. Verses 22-23, 25-26 {22 Then Jesus said to his disciples: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. 23 For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. 25 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life? 26 Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?} Sometimes people get caught up in the “what if’s” and then do nothing but worry. “What if” I get sick? “What if” I don’t have enough for me? “What if” it’s a rough winter? “What if” it’s this or that? Sometimes we allow the “what if’s” to keep us from doing what God calls us to do. Here is something to think on; What if Jesus said what if? Verses 29-31 {29 And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. 30 For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. 31 But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.}
Chapter 13 does not disappoint … I’ll leave it to you to find the treasure there.
9/30/23
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Post by Poet Maybe on Oct 2, 2023 14:30:01 GMT
Day 275 (Luke 14-16) Chapter 14:16-18 {16 Jesus replied: “A certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many guests. 17 At the time of the banquet he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’ 18 “But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said, ‘I have just bought a field, and I must go and see it. Please excuse me.’} Heaven’s banquet has been prepared; come, everything is ready. How will we dishonor the Host? Now what excuses will we make? Verse 24 { 24 I tell you, not one of those who were invited will get a taste of my banquet.’”}
Chapter 15 The lost Sheep, The lost coin and the lost son. In each of these we read: ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep, or coin or son. Verse 10 {In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”} Jesus came to call the lost, the sick, the sinner; me. I heard Him calling, calling to repent.
Chapter 16 I leave for you to find the treasures within.
10/01/23
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Post by Poet Maybe on Oct 3, 2023 14:18:16 GMT
Day 276 (Luke 17-18) Chapter 17:12,15,17-15 {12 As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance 15 One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. 17 Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? 18 Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?”} How many times do we get caught up in the blessings that we forget to honor God from whom all blessings flow? We are quick to call on Him in times of trouble. But when He answers do we thank Him?
Chapter 18 gives us an insight on prayer.
Be persistent in prayer as the widow was in her plea for justice. Verses 4-5 {4 “For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or care what people think, 5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually come and attack me!’”} Be honest and humble as the tax collector was. Verse 13 {13 “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’}
More can be found in this chapter.
10/3/23
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Post by Poet Maybe on Oct 4, 2023 18:13:24 GMT
Day 277 (Luke 19-20)
Chapter 19:5-7, 10 {5 When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” 6 So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly. 7 All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.” 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”} How quick we judge others without finding out the full story. Here the people said of Jesus that He was a guest of a sinner. But Jesus came to save the man and not become like him.
Chapter 20:45-47 (45 While all the people were listening, Jesus said to his disciples, 46 “Beware of the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and love to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets. 47 They devour widows’ houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. These men will be punished most severely.”}
10/4/23
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Post by Poet Maybe on Oct 5, 2023 15:49:36 GMT
Day 278 (Luke 21-22)
Chapter 21 starts with an example on giving. { 1 As Jesus looked up, he saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. 2 He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. 3 “Truly I tell you,” he said, “this poor widow has put in more than all the others. 4 All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”}
This scripture has always been special to me. It speaks of a giving heart that trusts in God to provide for the daily needs.
Verses 14-15 Holds a promise for the faithful {14 But make up your mind not to worry beforehand how you will defend yourselves. 15 For I will give you words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict.} If God is for us, who can be against us? Verse 19 {19 Stand firm, and you will win life.}
Chapter 22 in this chapter we see the end drawing near. Verses 56 - 60 {56 A servant girl saw him seated there in the firelight. She looked closely at him and said, “This man was with him.” 57 But he denied it. “Woman, I don’t know him,” he said. 58 A little later someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.” “Man, I am not!” Peter replied. 59 About an hour later another asserted, “Certainly this fellow was with him, for he is a Galilean.” 60 Peter replied, “Man, I don’t know what you’re talking about!” Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed.} Even Peter had trouble in the end. Yet, Peter repented, he turned back and served Christ faithfully.
10/04/23
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Post by Poet Maybe on Oct 6, 2023 14:43:42 GMT
Day 279 (Luke 23-24) We have come to the end of Luke. I hope everyone has gained some insight from this book. Like the other gospels Luke ends with Jesus’s death, resurrection and ascension. But it’s in a slightly different perspective. Verses 26-31 {26 As the soldiers led him away, they seized Simon from Cyrene, who was on his way in from the country, and put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus. 27 A large number of people followed him, including women who mourned and wailed for him. 28 Jesus turned and said to them, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep for yourselves and for your children. 29 For the time will come when you will say, ‘Blessed are the childless women, the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!’ 30 Then “ they will say to the mountains, “Fall on us!” and to the hills, “Cover us!” ’31 For if people do these things when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?”} Even as Jesus was going to His death He was warning us. He was telling us what was going to happen.
Chapter 24
Verses 44-49 {44 He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.” 45 Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. 46 He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”}
Jesus promises the Holy Spirit will cloth them with “power from on High”. Not only for the disciples but for all believers.
10/06/23
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Post by Poet Maybe on Oct 7, 2023 21:08:26 GMT
Day 280 (Acts 1-2) Acts starts with the end; the end of Jesus’ life on earth. Or maybe we could say it’s a new beginning for believers, of which there is no end. Chapter 1:9-11 {9 After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. 10 They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. 11 “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”} Verse 14 {14 They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.} Notice what they all did… They joined in constant prayer. Verses 23-26 {23 So they nominated two men: Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias. 24 Then they prayed, “Lord, you know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two you have chosen 25 to take over this apostolic ministry, which Judas left to go where he belongs.” 26 Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles.}
Chapter 2:1-4 {1 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.}
This must have been both frightening and enlightening. When God acts things change. As the Holy Spirit moved them they spoke in other tongues. Verses 5-6 {5 Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. 6 When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken.}
When the power of God comes there is no limit as to what it will accomplish.
10/07/23
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Post by Poet Maybe on Oct 9, 2023 14:44:08 GMT
Day 281 (Acts 3-4)
Chapter 3:17-19 {17 “Now, fellow Israelites, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did your leaders. 18 But this is how God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the prophets, saying that his Messiah would suffer. 19 Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, } Sometimes we too sin through our ignorance, but as God reveals our sin to us through the Holy Spirit we can and should repent and turn back to God.
Chapter 4:10-12 {10 then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. 11 Jesus is “‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.’12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”}
This is as plain as it gets. Salvation is found in no one else!
10/07/23
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Post by Poet Maybe on Oct 10, 2023 13:17:18 GMT
Day 283 (Acts 7-8) In chapter 7 Stephen retells the story of the Israelites. From Abraham through the time of Moses he spoke of what God had done and how the people reacted. He turns up the heat in verses 51-53. {51 “You stiff-necked people! Your hearts and ears are still uncircumcised. You are just like your ancestors: You always resist the Holy Spirit! 52 Was there ever a prophet your ancestors did not persecute? They even killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One. And now you have betrayed and murdered him— 53 you who have received the law that was given through angels but have not obeyed it.”}
And so the members of the Sanhedrin decided Stephen had to go. Verses 58-60 {58 dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul. 59 While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 60 Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he fell asleep.} In Chapter 8 we see Saul, later to be Paul, doing what he thought was right. Verses 1-3 {1 And Saul approved of their killing him. On that day a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. 2 Godly men buried Stephen and mourned deeply for him. 3 But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off both men and women and put them in prison.} But the church continued to grow far and wide. As Philip to Samaria He preached the good news and many were healed. The story of Philip and the Ethiopian is one I find uplifting. The Holy Spirit directs Philip to go to the man’s chariot. And just like Philip we need to be open and obedient to the Holy Spirit. 10/10/23
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Post by Poet Maybe on Oct 12, 2023 17:28:10 GMT
Day 284 (Acts 9-10)
Chapter 13-16 Saul’s conversion {13“Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your holy people in Jerusalem. 14 And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.” 15 But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. 16 I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.”}
God can and does use whoever He chooses. Yes, Saul had persecuted Christians, in his heart he thought he was doing good. But… The Lord had other plans for him. So we should never assume someone is too far gone.
Verses 20-22 {20 At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God. 21 All those who heard him were astonished and asked, “Isn’t he the man who raised havoc in Jerusalem among those who call on this name? And hasn’t he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?” 22 Yet Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Messiah.}
Verses 34-36 {34 Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism 35 but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right. 36 You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, announcing the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.}
10/11/23
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Post by Poet Maybe on Oct 12, 2023 17:29:20 GMT
Day 285 (Acts 11-12)
Chapter 11:15-17 {15 “As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit came on them as he had come on us at the beginning. 16 Then I remembered what the Lord had said: ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ 17 So if God gave them the same gift he gave us who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to think that I could stand in God’s way?”}
Sometimes we put down the good others do, just because they don’t do it like we think it should be done. We judge without thinking “does this glorify God?”
Chapter 12:1-4 {1 It was about this time that King Herod arrested some who belonged to the church, intending to persecute them. 2 He had James, the brother of John, put to death with the sword. 3 When he saw that this met with approval among the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also. This happened during the Festival of Unleavened Bread. 4 After arresting him, he put him in prison, handing him over to be guarded by four squads of four soldiers each. Herod intended to bring him out for public trial after the Passover.}
Herod was not a nice fellow; he liked attention and praise. And persecuting the church brought him both. But God was protecting Peter. Verse 7 {Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up. “Quick, get up!” he said, and the chains fell off Peter’s wrists.} God can do what He wants when He wants.
10/12/23
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Post by Poet Maybe on Oct 13, 2023 14:45:06 GMT
Day 286 (Acts 13-14)
Chapter 13:38-41 {38 “Therefore, my friends, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. 39 Through him everyone who believes is set free from every sin, a justification you were not able to obtain under the law of Moses. 40 Take care that what the prophets have said does not happen to you: 41“ ‘Look, you scoffers, wonder and perish, for I am going to do something in your days that you would never believe, even if someone told you.’}
It doesn’t get much plainer than that.
10/13/23
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Post by Poet Maybe on Oct 15, 2023 19:11:34 GMT
Day 287 (Acts 15-16) Chapter 15:5,10-11 {5 Then some of the believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees stood up and said, “The Gentiles must be circumcised and required to keep the law of Moses.”10 Now then, why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of Gentiles a yoke that neither we nor our ancestors have been able to bear? 11 No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are.”}
A question asked and answered long ago. One is the circumcision of the body, the other is the circumcision of the heart.
Verses 19-21 {19 “It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God. 20 Instead we should write to them, telling them to abstain from food polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from the meat of strangled animals and from blood. 21 For the law of Moses has been preached in every city from the earliest times and is read in the synagogues on every Sabbath.”}
Chapter 16 Has more interesting stories. The joining of Timothy, Lydia’s conversion, Paul & Silas in prison… and more.
10/14/23
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Post by Poet Maybe on Oct 15, 2023 19:34:35 GMT
Day 288 (Acts 17-18)
Chapter 17.. we see Paul and his companions go to Thessalonica where trouble arose; then on to Berea where some from Thessalonica came to start more trouble. So Paul went on to Athens.
Chapter 18:4 (in Corinth) {4 Every Sabbath he reasoned in the synagogue, trying to persuade Jews and Greeks.} Verses 5-6 {5 When Silas and Timothy came from Macedonia, Paul devoted himself exclusively to preaching, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Messiah. 6 But when they opposed Paul and became abusive, he shook out his clothes in protest and said to them, “Your blood be on your own heads! I am innocent of it. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.”}
Verse 9-11 {9 One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: “Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. 10 For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city.” 11 So Paul stayed in Corinth for a year and a half, teaching them the word of God.}
10/15/23
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Post by Poet Maybe on Oct 16, 2023 13:42:48 GMT
Day 289 (Acts 19-20) In chapter 19 we read of Paul’s adventures in Ephesus. One section that has always caught my eye is verses 13-16 {13 Some Jews who went around driving out evil spirits tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who were demon-possessed. They would say, “In the name of the Jesus whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out.” 14 Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this. 15 One day the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know about, but who are you?” 16 Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all. He gave them such a beating that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding.}
Notice how they said, “ In the name of the Jesus whom Paul preaches.” They were not followers and believers. To me they were trying to gain glory for themselves.
Now Paul’s preaching starts to affect the profit of some of the merchants in Ephesus. Verses 23-26 {23 About that time there arose a great disturbance about the Way. 24 A silversmith named Demetrius, who made silver shrines of Artemis, brought in a lot of business for the craftsmen there. 25 He called them together, along with the workers in related trades, and said: “You know, my friends, that we receive a good income from this business. 26 And you see and hear how this fellow Paul has convinced and led astray large numbers of people here in Ephesus and in practically the whole province of Asia. He says that gods made by human hands are no gods at all.}
Chapter 20 I invite you all to continue to read of Paul’s adventures. Much is to be learned from them.
10/16/23
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