Disciples (Page 7)

Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:18. If you are in a bad relationship, you may be tempted to run, but you know there must be a better way. There is, and it comes from making the most of what you have, one day at a time. Don’t spoil your future by allowing bitterness to consume your spirit. Don’t destroy yourself with self-pity. Don’t drive your friends…

1 Chronicles 10:1–12:40 1The Philistines attacked Israel, and the men of Israel fled before them. Many were slaughtered on the slopes of Mount Gilboa. 8The next day, when the Philistines went out to strip the dead, they found the bodies of Saul and his sons on Mount Gilboa. 9So they stripped off Saul’s armor and cut off his head. Then they proclaimed the good news of Saul’s death before their idols and to the people throughout the land of Philistia. 10They…

O Lord, I am calling to you. Please hurry! Listen when I cry to you for help! . . . Take control of what I say, O Lord, and keep my lips sealed. Don’t let me lust for evil things; don’t let me participate in acts of wickedness. Don’t let me share in the delicacies of those who do evil.Psalm 141:1-4 In this psalm David not only called on the Lord for protection from the enemies that were hunting him…

Whenever Moses went out to the Tent of Meeting, all the people would get up and stand in their tent entrances. They would all watch Moses until he disappeared inside. As he went into the tent, the pillar of cloud would come down and hover at the entrance while the Lord spoke with Moses.Exodus 33:8-9 The people lingered outside their tents, watching, waiting for the moment when the tent closed around Moses. It was evident that wondrous events were taking…

 He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God? Micah 6:8 KJV In a world 🌎 where personal interest is the driving force of most of our Human interaction, and greed often is the motivation behind our pursuits, how challenging it is or may seem to be, for us to truly live by these principles. We are…

Everyone knows that you are obedient to the Lord. This makes me very happy. I want you to see clearly what is right and to stay innocent of any wrong.Romans 16:19 Imagine driving down a winding mountain road through thick fog without your headlights on. As you inch forward, you strain to see the road through the gloom in hopes of not making a wrong move and careening off the mountain. It’s a frightening picture, isn’t it? Yet we sometimes…

The words of the godly are like sterling silver. The words of the godly encourage many.Proverbs 10:20-21 How do we talk without arguing? It begins with a resolution: I will not condemn your thoughts, but I will try to understand them. When you respond to your loved one, your words can be encouraging or discouraging. For example, compare “That’s an interesting thought. Would you like to explain that further?” with “That’s the most ludicrous thing I have ever heard. How…

Ephesians 4:1–6:24 22Throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. 23Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. 24Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy. 25So stop telling lies. Let us tell our neighbors the truth, for we are all parts of the same body. 26And “don’t sin by letting anger control you.” Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27for anger gives…

Four men arrived carrying a paralyzed man on a mat. They couldn’t bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, so they dug a hole through the roof above his head. Then they lowered the man on his mat, right down in front of Jesus. Mark 2:3-4. If someone asked you to name your number one worry, what would you say? Like many parents, you would have to confess that your top worry and the target of many of your…

You who love the Lord, hate evil! He protects the lives of his godly people and rescues them from the power of the wicked.Psalm 97:10 Reflect On This Story: During a close reelection campaign, a southern Senator visited a small town in the hinterland of his state. The issue demanding most attention in this lackluster election was squirrel hunting. The people were deeply divided over the issue. Some believed they had the right to hunt the little animals; others thought…

Read Genesis 31:1–36:43 1Then Jacob looked up and saw Esau coming with his 400 men. So he divided the children among Leah, Rachel, and his two servant wives. 2He put the servant wives and their children at the front, Leah and her children next, and Rachel and Joseph last. 3Then Jacob went on ahead. As he approached his brother, he bowed to the ground seven times before him. 4Then Esau ran to meet him and embraced him, threw his arms…

Lord, don’t hold back your tender mercies from me. My only hope is in your unfailing love and faithfulness. For troubles surround me—too many to count! They pile up so high I can’t see my way out. They are more numerous than the hairs on my head. I have lost all my courage. Please, Lord, rescue me! Come quickly, Lord, and help me.Psalm 40:11-13 Like the psalmist, each of us encounters seasons when we face not just one problem but…