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July 03 
Friday, July 3 Poisoned by Bitterness A fool's wrath is known at once, but a prudent man covers shame.
Proverbs 12:16 Recommended Reading
Ephesians 4:25-32 Eric had definite ideas about how the evangelism program at his church should run, and when the church leadership implemented a different program, he grew angry. He told others that his opinions didn't seem to matter. He steamed and stewed. He resented the pastor and staff. He thought of changing churches, but didn't want to give up his friends. Unknown to him, however, most of his friends wondered what was wrong with him. For three years, Eric was in the grip of negative feelings, which, far more than any change of program or procedure, really did hinder his ability to effectively evangelize the lost. It's strange how easily we can become embittered at church—because…. In Acts 8, Peter warned that our personalities can be "poisoned by bitterness" (verse 23). The Book of Hebrews warns against letting any root of bitterness spring up, for it can cause trouble and defile many. We're to be bigger rather than bitter, forgiving others of their sins against us even as the Lord has forgiven us our sins against Him. Is there an insult you can shrug off today? A grudge is like a baby; it has to be nursed if it's going to survive.
John Ortberg Read-Thru-the-Bible
Proverbs 6:1 - 8:36  
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June 17 Wednesday, June 17 Bird Brains Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus…
Philippians 2:5 Recommended Reading
1 Peter 1:1-2 Scientists have succeeded in causing chickens to sound like quail. Researchers took tissue from parts of the quail brain thought to control the bird's call and implanted it in the brains of five chicken embryos. The experiment worked! The hatched chicks sounded like quail rather than chickens. When we accept Christ into our life, God implants His mind into ours and we become new creations (2 Corinthians 5:17). However, unlike the chickens who sound like quail forever, Christians will not sound and act like Christ for the rest of their lives without continually fostering and putting on a mind like His. The Bible instructs us to “…be transformed by the renewing of [our] mind” which implies that we must be proactive in nurturing Christ-like thoughts (Romans 12:2). This can be done through daily Bible reading, listening to praise and worship music or an audio Bible, fellowshipping with other Christians who encourage you in your walk with the Lord, and spending time getting to know Christ Himself through prayer. Though there are a variety of things you can do to renew your Christ-like mind, the key is to do something every day.
To renew your mind is to involve yourself in the process of allowing God to bring to the surface the lies you have mistakenly accepted and replace them with truth.
Charles Stanley Read-Thru-the-Bible
Psalms 78:1 - 79:13 
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June 11
Turning Point
Sent: Thursday, June 11, 2009 7:00 AM
Subject: Today's Turning Point with David Jeremiah
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Thursday, June 11
The Peace of
Christ
How beautiful
are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, who bring glad
tidings of good things!
Romans
10:15b
Many
churches use signs in front of their building that offer a pithy word of
encouragement to passers-by—things like, “You can reach God by
knee-mail,” and, “A family altar can alter a family.” One that appears
often is, “No Christ, no peace. Know Christ, know peace.”
Ever since the
prophet Isaiah referred to the coming Messiah as the “Prince of Peace”
(Isaiah 9:6), Jesus and His Gospel have been associated with peace. The
angels who announced His birth spoke of it in terms of Jesus’ effect on
the world: “And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” (Luke 2:14) Even
though Jesus’ Gospel of peace would have a dividing effect in the world
(Matthew 10:34), its ultimate impact would be to provide a way for men
and women to have peace with God and peace with one another. Therefore,
those who spread the Gospel of peace would become known as peacemakers,
being blessed and called “sons of God” (Matthew 5:9).
One can’t spread
what he doesn’t possess. If you are to be a peacemaker, a channel for
the Gospel of peace, you must have “the peace of God . . . through Jesus
Christ” (Philippians 4:7).
I hear the
words of love, I gaze upon the blood, I see the mighty sacrifice, and I
have peace with God.
Horatius Bonar
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Psalms
46:1 - 50:23  |
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May 20 Wednesday, May 20 The Lost Motorist I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye.
Psalm 32:8 Recommended Reading
Proverbs 3:5-6 A lost motorist asked a farmer for directions.
"Where is the main highway to Quincy?"
"I don't know."
"Well, where is the highway to Hannibal?"
"I don't know."
"Where does this highway go?"
"I don't know."
"You don't know much do you?"
"No, but I ain't lost." Have you ever tried going on a road trip without a map? Trying to plan your life without God is just as ineffective. We can head in the general direction of where we know we should be, but without God as our guide, we'll be just like the lost motorist, asking everyone else for directions. If we consult God in everything, asking Him to lead and guide us on life's journey, the Bible says His footsteps shall be our pathway and His plan will be to give us a future and a hope (Psalm 85:13, Jeremiah 29:11). Without Him, we will wander life's highways, not knowing where they lead. When you find yourself making plans for your life, remember to first find out where God would have you go and then map out your next move according to His will. The beautiful thing about this adventure called faith is that we can count on Him to never lead us astray.
Charles Swindoll Read-Thru-the-Bible
Nehemiah 13:1 - Esther 3:15 
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May 18 Monday, May 18 The Samson Syndrome But (Samson) did not know that the Lord had departed from him.
Judges 16:20 Recommended Reading
Judges 16:28-31 "If Samson were alive today, he'd be a superstar athlete or an action-movie star," wrote Mark Atteberry in his book, The Samson Syndrome. "Or he'd be a Navy SEAL or a world-champion prize fighter. He'd be on the cover of GQ or Sports Illustrated. He'd be surrounded by popping flashbulbs or adoring groupies." Yet for all his strength and charisma, Samson was a puppet of his own desires, and not until the end of his life did he learn the biblical maxim of self-control and personal discipline. He rejected accountability, shrugged off self-denial, thought he was too tough for good advice, didn't establish personal boundaries, and didn't realize until too late that he had become a product of his own lusts. Paul was the opposite. His very name—Paul—meant "small." But he was big for Christ. "I discipline my body," he said in 1 Corinthians 9:27, "and bring it into subjection, lest… I myself should become disqualified." Let's follow the Paul Pattern, not the Samson Syndrome. Discipline is the ability to say "no" to what is sin, "yes" to what is right, and to say "I will" to what ought to be done.
Jerry White Read-Thru-the-Bible
Nehemiah 9:1 - 10:39 
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