Reading through the Word...Day 27

EXODUS 4:1- 5:21
MATTHEW 18:1- 20
PSALM 22:19- 31
PROVERBS 5:15- 21


But Moses protested again, "Look, they won't believe me! They won't do what I tell them. They'll just say, `The LORD never appeared to you." 2 Then the LORD asked him, "What do you have there in your hand?" "A shepherd's staff," Moses replied. 3 "Throw it down on the ground," the LORD told him. So Moses threw it down, and it became a snake! Moses was terrified, so he turned and ran away. 4 Then the LORD told him, "Take hold of its tail." So Moses reached out and grabbed it, and it became a shepherd's staff again. 5 "Perform this sign, and they will believe you," the LORD told him. "Then they will realize that the LORD, the God of their ancestors-- the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob-- really has appeared to you." 6 Then the LORD said to Moses, "Put your hand inside your robe." Moses did so, and when he took it out again, his hand was white as snow with leprosy. 7 "Now put your hand back into your robe again," the LORD said. Moses did, and when he took it out this time, it was as healthy as the rest of his body. 8 "If they do not believe the first miraculous sign, they will believe the second," the LORD said. 9 "And if they do not believe you even after these two signs, then take some water from the Nile River and pour it out on the dry ground. When you do, it will turn into blood." 10 But Moses pleaded with the LORD, "O Lord, I'm just not a good speaker. I never have been, and I'm not now, even after you have spoken to me. I'm clumsy with words." 11 "Who makes mouths?" the LORD asked him. "Who makes people so they can speak or not speak, hear or not hear, see or not see? Is it not I, the LORD? 12 Now go, and do as I have told you. I will help you speak well, and I will tell you what to say." 13 But Moses again pleaded, "Lord, please! Send someone else." 14 Then the LORD became angry with Moses. "All right," he said. "What about your brother, Aaron the Levite? He is a good speaker. And look! He is on his way to meet you now. And when he sees you, he will be very glad. 15 You will talk to him, giving him the words to say. I will help both of you to speak clearly, and I will tell you what to do. 16 Aaron will be your spokesman to the people, and you will be as God to him, telling him what to say. 17 And be sure to take your shepherd's staff along so you can perform the miraculous signs I have shown you." 18 Then Moses went back home and talked it over with Jethro, his father- in- law. "With your permission," Moses said, "I would like to go back to Egypt to visit my family. I don't even know whether they are still alive." "Go with my blessing," Jethro replied. 19 Before Moses left Midian, the LORD said to him, "Do not be afraid to return to Egypt, for all those who wanted to kill you are dead." 20 So Moses took his wife and sons, put them on a donkey, and headed back to the land of Egypt. In his hand he carried the staff of God. 21 Then the LORD reminded him, "When you arrive back in Egypt, go to Pharaoh and perform the miracles I have empowered you to do. But I will make him stubborn so he will not let the people go. 22 Then you will tell him, `This is what the LORD says:Israel is my firstborn son. 23 I commanded you to let him go, so he could worship me. But since you have refused, be warned! I will kill your firstborn son!'" 24 On the journey, when Moses and his family had stopped for the night, the LORD confronted Moses and was about to kill him. 25 But Zipporah, his wife, took a flint knife and circumcised her son. She threw the foreskin at Moses 'feet and said, "What a blood- smeared bridegroom you are to me!" 26 (When she called Moses a "blood- smeared bridegroom," she was referring to the circumcision.) After that, the LORD left him alone. 27 Now the LORD had said to Aaron, "Go out into the wilderness to meet Moses." So Aaron traveled to the mountain of God, where he found Moses and greeted him warmly. 28 Moses then told Aaron everything the LORD had commanded them to do and say. And he told him about the miraculous signs they were to perform. 29 So Moses and Aaron returned to Egypt and called the leaders of Israel to a meeting. 30 Aaron told them everything the LORD had told Moses, and Moses performed the miraculous signs as they watched. 31 The leaders were soon convinced that the LORD had sent Moses and Aaron. And when they realized that the LORD had seen their misery and was deeply concerned for them, they all bowed their heads and worshiped. 5:1 AFTER this presentation to Israel's leaders, Moses and Aaron went to see Pharaoh. They told him, "This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says:`Let my people go, for they must go out into the wilderness to hold a religious festival in my honor.'" 2 "Is that so?" retorted Pharaoh. "And who is the LORD that I should listen to him and let Israel go? I don't know the LORD, and I will not let Israel go." 3 But Aaron and Moses persisted. "The God of the Hebrews has met with us," they declared. "Let us take a three- day trip into the wilderness so we can offer sacrifices to the LORD our God. If we don't, we will surely die by disease or the sword." 4 "Who do you think you are," Pharaoh shouted, "distracting the people from their tasks? Get back to work! 5 Look, there are many people here in Egypt, and you are stopping them from doing their work." 6 That same day Pharaoh sent this order to the slave drivers and foremen he had set over the people of Israel:7 "Do not supply the people with any more straw for making bricks. Let them get it themselves! 8 But don't reduce their production quotas by a single brick. They obviously don't have enough to do. If they did, they wouldn't be talking about going into the wilderness to offer sacrifices to their God. 9 Load them down with more work. Make them sweat! That will teach them to listen to these liars!" 10 So the slave drivers and foremen informed the people:"Pharaoh has ordered us not to provide straw for you. 11 Go and get it yourselves. Find it wherever you can. But you must produce just as many bricks as before!" 12 So the people scattered throughout the land in search of straw. 13 The slave drivers were brutal. "Meet your daily quota of bricks, just as you did before!" they demanded. 14 Then they whipped the Israelite foremen in charge of the work crews. "Why haven't you met your quotas either yesterday or today?" they demanded. 15 So the Israelite foremen went to Pharaoh and pleaded with him. "Please don't treat us like this," they begged. 16 "We are given no straw, but we are still told to make as many bricks as before. We are beaten for something that isn't our fault! It is the fault of your slave drivers for making such unreasonable demands." 17 But Pharaoh replied, "You're just lazy! You obviously don't have enough to do. If you did, you wouldn't be saying, `Let us go, so we can offer sacrifices to the LORD. '18 Now, get back to work! No straw will be given to you, but you must still deliver the regular quota of bricks." 19 Since Pharaoh would not let up on his demands, the Israelite foremen could see that they were in serious trouble. 20 As they left Pharaoh's court, they met Moses and Aaron, who were waiting outside for them. 21 The foremen said to them, "May the LORD judge you for getting us into this terrible situation with Pharaoh and his officials. You have given them an excuse to kill us!"


About that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Which of us is greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?" 2 Jesus called a small child over to him and put the child among them. 3 Then he said, "I assure you, unless you turn from your sins and become as little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven. 4 Therefore, anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven. 5 And anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf is welcoming me. 6 But if anyone causes one of these little ones who trusts in me to lose faith, it would be better for that person to be thrown into the sea with a large millstone tied around the neck. 7" How terrible it will be for anyone who causes others to sin. Temptation to do wrong is inevitable, but how terrible it will be for the person who does the tempting. 8 So if your hand or foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better to enter heaven crippled or lame than to be thrown into the unquenchable fire with both of your hands and feet. 9 And if your eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better to enter heaven half blind than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell. 10 "Beware that you don't despise a single one of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels are always in the presence of my heavenly Father. 12" If a shepherd has one hundred sheep, and one wanders away and is lost, what will he do? Won't he leave the ninety- nine others and go out into the hills to search for the lost one? 13 And if he finds it, he will surely rejoice over it more than over the ninety- nine that didn't wander away! 14 In the same way, it is not my heavenly Father's will that even one of these little ones should perish. 15 "If another believer *sins against you, go privately and point out the fault. If the other person listens and confesses it, you have won that person back. 16 But if you are unsuccessful, take one or two others with you and go back again, so that everything you say may be confirmed by two or three witnesses. 17 If that person still refuses to listen, take your case to the church. If the church decides you are right, but the other person won't accept it, treat that person as a pagan or a corrupt tax collector. 18 I tell you this:Whatever you prohibit on earth is prohibited in heaven, and whatever you allow on earth is allowed in heaven. 19" I also tell you this:If two of you agree down here on earth concerning anything you ask, my Father in heaven will do it for you. 20 For where two or three gather together because they are mine, I am there among them. "


O LORD, do not stay away!
You are my strength; come quickly to my aid!
20 Rescue me from a violent death;
spare my precious life from these dogs.
21 Snatch me from the lions' jaws,
and from the horns of these wild oxen.
22 Then I will declare the wonder of your name to my brothers and sisters.
I will praise you among all your people.
23 Praise the LORD, all you who fear him!
Honor him, all you descendants of Jacob!
Show him reverence, all you descendants of Israel!
24 For he has not ignored the suffering of the needy.
He has not turned and walked away.
He has listened to their cries for help.
25 I will praise you among all the people;
I will fulfill my vows in the presence of those who worship you.
26 The poor will eat and be satisfied.
All who seek the LORD will praise him.
Their hearts will rejoice with everlasting joy.
27 The whole earth will acknowledge the LORD and return to him.
People from every nation will bow down before him.
28 For the LORD is king!
He rules all the nations.
29 Let the rich of the earth feast and worship.
Let all mortals-- those born to die-- bow down in his presence.
30 Future generations will also serve him.
Our children will hear about the wonders of the Lord.
31 His righteous acts will be told to those yet unborn.
They will hear about everything he has done.


Drink water from your own well-- share your love only with your wife. Why spill the water of your springs in public, having sex with just anyone? You should reserve it for yourselves. Don't share it with strangers. Let your wife be a fountain of blessing for you. Rejoice in the wife of your youth. She is a loving doe, a graceful deer. Let her breasts satisfy you always. May you always be captivated by her love. Why be captivated, my son, with an immoral woman, or embrace the breasts of an adulterous woman? For the LORD sees clearly what a man does, examining every path he takes

Reading through the Word...Day 26

EXODUS 2:11- 3:22
MATTHEW 17:10- 27
PSALM 22:1- 18
PROVERBS 5:7- 14


Many years later, when Moses had grown up, he went out to visit his people, the Israelites, and he saw how hard they were forced to work. During his visit, he saw an Egyptian beating one of the Hebrew slaves. 12 After looking around to make sure no one was watching, Moses killed the Egyptian and buried him in the sand. 13 The next day, as Moses was out visiting his people again, he saw two Hebrew men fighting. "What are you doing, hitting your neighbor like that?" Moses said to the one in the wrong. 14 "Who do you think you are?" the man replied. "Who appointed you to be our prince and judge? Do you plan to kill me as you killed that Egyptian yesterday?" Moses was badly frightened because he realized that everyone knew what he had done. 15 And sure enough, when Pharaoh heard about it, he gave orders to have Moses arrested and killed. But Moses fled from Pharaoh and escaped to the land of Midian. When Moses arrived in Midian, he sat down beside a well. 16 Now it happened that the priest of Midian had seven daughters who came regularly to this well to draw water and fill the water troughs for their father's flocks. 17 But other shepherds would often come and chase the girls and their flocks away. This time, however, Moses came to their aid, rescuing the girls from the shepherds. Then he helped them draw water for their flocks. 18 When the girls returned to Reuel, their father, he asked, "How did you get the flocks watered so quickly today?" 19 "An Egyptian rescued us from the shepherds," they told him. "And then he drew water for us and watered our flocks." 20 "Well, where is he then?" their father asked. "Did you just leave him there? Go and invite him home for a meal!" 21 Moses was happy to accept the invitation, and he settled down to live with them. In time, Reuel gave Moses one of his daughters, Zipporah, to be his wife. 22 Later they had a baby boy, and Moses named him Gershom, for he said, "I have been a stranger in a foreign land." 23 Years passed, and the king of Egypt died. But the Israelites still groaned beneath their burden of slavery. They cried out for help, and their pleas for deliverance rose up to God. 24 God heard their cries and remembered his covenant promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. 25 He looked down on the Israelites and felt deep concern for their welfare. 3:1 ONE day Moses was tending the flock of his father- in- law, Jethro, the priest of Midian, and he went deep into the wilderness near Sinai, the mountain of God. 2 Suddenly, the angel of the LORD appeared to him as a blazing fire in a bush. Moses was amazed because the bush was engulfed in flames, but it didn't burn up. 3 "Amazing!" Moses said to himself. "Why isn't that bush burning up? I must go over to see this." 4 When the LORD saw that he had caught Moses 'attention, God called to him from the bush, "Moses! Moses!" "Here I am!" Moses replied. 5 "Do not come any closer," God told him. "Take off your sandals, for you are standing on holy ground." 6 Then he said, "I am the God of your ancestors-- the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob." When Moses heard this, he hid his face in his hands because he was afraid to look at God. 7 Then the LORD told him, "You can be sure I have seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard their cries for deliverance from their harsh slave drivers. Yes, I am aware of their suffering. 8 So I have come to rescue them from the Egyptians and lead them out of Egypt into their own good and spacious land. It is a land flowing with milk and honey-- the land where the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites live. 9 The cries of the people of Israel have reached me, and I have seen how the Egyptians have oppressed them with heavy tasks. 10 Now go, for I am sending you to Pharaoh. You will lead my people, the Israelites, out of Egypt." 11 "But who am I to appear before Pharaoh?" Moses asked God. "How can you expect me to lead the Israelites out of Egypt?" 12 Then God told him, "I will be with you. And this will serve as proof that I have sent you:When you have brought the Israelites out of Egypt, you will return here to worship God at this very mountain." 13 But Moses protested, "If I go to the people of Israel and tell them, `The God of your ancestors has sent me to you,' they won't believe me. They will ask, `Which god are you talking about? What is his name? 'Then what should I tell them?" 14 God replied, "I AM THE ONE WHO ALWAYS IS. Just tell them, `I AM has sent me to you.'" 15 God also said, "Tell them, `The LORD, the God of your ancestors-- the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob-- has sent me to you. 'This will be my name forever; it has always been my name, and it will be used throughout all generations. 16" Now go and call together all the leaders of Israel. Tell them, `The LORD, the God of your ancestors-- the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob-- appeared to me in a burning bush. He said, "You can be sure that I am watching over you and have seen what is happening to you in Egypt. 17 I promise to rescue you from the oppression of the Egyptians. I will lead you to the land now occupied by the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites-- a land flowing with milk and honey."' 18 "The leaders of the people of Israel will accept your message. Then all of you must go straight to the king of Egypt and tell him, `The LORD, the God of the Hebrews, has met with us. Let us go on a three- day journey into the wilderness to offer sacrifices to the LORD our God. '19" But I know that the king of Egypt will not let you go except under heavy pressure. 20 So I will reach out and strike at the heart of Egypt with all kinds of miracles. Then at last he will let you go. 21 And I will see to it that the Egyptians treat you well. They will load you down with gifts so you will not leave empty- handed. 22 The Israelite women will ask for silver and gold jewelry and fine clothing from their Egyptian neighbors and their neighbors' guests. With this clothing, you will dress your sons and daughters. In this way, you will plunder the Egyptians! "


His [Jesus '] disciples asked," Why do the teachers of religious law insist that Elijah must return before the Messiah comes? "11 Jesus replied," Elijah is indeed coming first to set everything in order. 12 But I tell you, he has already come, but he wasn't recognized, and he was badly mistreated. And soon the Son of Man will also suffer at their hands. "13 Then the disciples realized he had been speaking of John the Baptist. 14 When they arrived at the foot of the mountain, a huge crowd was waiting for them. A man came and knelt before Jesus and said, 15" Lord, have mercy on my son, because he has seizures and suffers terribly. He often falls into the fire or into the water. 16 So I brought him to your disciples, but they couldn't heal him. "17 Jesus replied," You stubborn, faithless people! How long must I be with you until you believe? How long must I put up with you? Bring the boy to me. "18 Then Jesus rebuked the demon in the boy, and it left him. From that moment the boy was well. 19 Afterward the disciples asked Jesus privately," Why couldn't we cast out that demon? "20" You didn't have enough faith, "Jesus told them." I assure you, even if you had faith as small as a mustard seed you could say to this mountain, `Move from here to there,' and it would move. Nothing would be impossible. "22 One day after they had returned to Galilee, Jesus told them," The Son of Man is going to be betrayed. 23 He will be killed, but three days later he will be raised from the dead. "And the disciples 'hearts were filled with grief. 24 On their arrival in Capernaum, the tax collectors for the Temple tax came to Peter and asked him," Doesn't your teacher pay the Temple tax? "25" Of course he does, "Peter replied. Then he went into the house to talk to Jesus about it. But before he had a chance to speak, Jesus asked him," What do you think, Peter? Do kings tax their own people or the foreigners they have conquered? "26" They tax the foreigners, "Peter replied." Well, then, "Jesus said," the citizens are free! 27 However, we don't want to offend them, so go down to the lake and throw in a line. Open the mouth of the first fish you catch, and you will find a coin. Take the coin and pay the tax for both of us. "


For the choir director:A psalm of David, to be sung to the tune" Doe of the Dawn. "
1 My God, my God! Why have you forsaken me?
Why do you remain so distant?
Why do you ignore my cries for help?
2 Every day I call to you, my God, but you do not answer.
Every night you hear my voice, but I find no relief.
3 Yet you are holy.
The praises of Israel surround your throne.
4 Our ancestors trusted in you,
and you rescued them.
5 You heard their cries for help and saved them.
They put their trust in you and were never disappointed.
6 But I am a worm and not a man.
I am scorned and despised by all!
7 Everyone who sees me mocks me.
They sneer and shake their heads, saying,
8" Is this the one who relies on the LORD?
Then let the LORD save him!
If the LORD loves him so much,
let the LORD rescue him! "
9 Yet you brought me safely from my mother's womb
and led me to trust you when I was a nursing infant.
10 I was thrust upon you at my birth.
You have been my God from the moment I was born.
11 Do not stay so far from me,
for trouble is near,
and no one else can help me.
12 My enemies surround me like a herd of bulls;
fierce bulls of Bashan have hemmed me in!
13 Like roaring lions attacking their prey,
they come at me with open mouths.
14 My life is poured out like water,
and all my bones are out of joint.
My heart is like wax,
melting within me.
15 My strength has dried up like sunbaked clay.
My tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth.
You have laid me in the dust and left me for dead.
16 My enemies surround me like a pack of dogs;
an evil gang closes in on me.
They have pierced my hands and feet.
17 I can count every bone in my body.
My enemies stare at me and gloat.
18 They divide my clothes among themselves
and throw dice for my garments.


So now, my sons, listen to me. Never stray from what I am about to say:Run from her! Don't go near the door of her house! If you do, you will lose your honor and hand over to merciless people everything you have achieved in life. Strangers will obtain your wealth, and someone else will enjoy the fruit of your labor. Afterward you will groan in anguish when disease consumes your body, and you will say," How I hated discipline! If only I had not demanded my own way! Oh, why didn't I listen to my teachers? Why didn't I pay attention to those who gave me instruction? I have come to the brink of utter ruin, and now I must face public disgrace

Reading through the Word...Day 25

GENESIS 50:1-- EXODUS 2:10
MATTHEW 16:13- 17:9
PSALM 21:1- 13
PROVERBS 5:1- 6


Joseph threw himself on his father and wept over him and kissed him. 2 Then Joseph told his morticians to embalm the body. 3 The embalming process took forty days, and there was a period of national mourning for seventy days. 4 When the period of mourning was over, Joseph approached Pharaoh's advisers and asked them to speak to Pharaoh on his behalf. 5 He told them, "Tell Pharaoh that my father made me swear an oath. He said to me, `I am about to die; take my body back to the land of Canaan, and bury me in our family's burial cave. 'Now I need to go and bury my father. After his burial is complete, I will return without delay." 6 Pharaoh agreed to Joseph's request. "Go and bury your father, as you promised," he said. 7 So Joseph went, with a great number of Pharaoh's counselors and advisers-- all the senior officers of Egypt. 8 Joseph also took his brothers and the entire household of Jacob. But they left their little children and flocks and herds in the land of Goshen. 9 So a great number of chariots, cavalry, and people accompanied Joseph. 10 When they arrived at the threshing floor of Atad, near the Jordan River, they held a very great and solemn funeral, with a seven- day period of mourning for Joseph's father. 11 The local residents, the Canaanites, renamed the place Abel- mizraim, for they said, "This is a place of very deep mourning for these Egyptians." 12 So Jacob's sons did as he had commanded them. 13 They carried his body to the land of Canaan and buried it there in the cave of Machpelah. This is the cave that Abraham had bought for a permanent burial place in the field of Ephron the Hittite, near Mamre. 14 Then Joseph returned to Egypt with his brothers and all who had accompanied him to his father's funeral. 15 But now that their father was dead, Joseph's brothers became afraid. "Now Joseph will pay us back for all the evil we did to him," they said. 16 So they sent this message to Joseph:"Before your father died, he instructed us 17 to say to you:`Forgive your brothers for the great evil they did to you.' So we, the servants of the God of your father, beg you to forgive us." When Joseph received the message, he broke down and wept. 18 Then his brothers came and bowed low before him. "We are your slaves," they said. 19 But Joseph told them, "Don't be afraid of me. Am I God, to judge and punish you? 20 As far as I am concerned, God turned into good what you meant for evil. He brought me to the high position I have today so I could save the lives of many people. 21 No, don't be afraid. Indeed, I myself will take care of you and your families." And he spoke very kindly to them, reassuring them. 22 So Joseph and his brothers and their families continued to live in Egypt. Joseph was 110 years old when he died. 23 He lived to see three generations of descendants of his son Ephraim and the children of Manasseh's son Makir, who were treated as if they were his own. 24 "Soon I will die," Joseph told his brothers, "but God will surely come for you, to lead you out of this land of Egypt. He will bring you back to the land he vowed to give to the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob." 25 Then Joseph made the sons of Israel swear an oath, and he said, "When God comes to lead us back to Canaan, you must take my body back with you." 26 So Joseph died at the age of 110. They embalmed him, and his body was placed in a coffin in Egypt. 1:1 THESE are the sons of Jacob who went with their father to Egypt, each with his family:2 Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, 3 Issachar, Zebulun, Benjamin, 4 Dan, Naphtali, Gad, and Asher. 5 Joseph was already down in Egypt. In all, Jacob had seventy direct descendants. 6 In time, Joseph and each of his brothers died, ending that generation. 7 But their descendants had many children and grandchildren. In fact, they multiplied so quickly that they soon filled the land. 8 Then a new king came to the throne of Egypt who knew nothing about Joseph or what he had done. 9 He told his people, "These Israelites are becoming a threat to us because there are so many of them. 10 We must find a way to put an end to this. If we don't and if war breaks out, they will join our enemies and fight against us. Then they will escape from the country." 11 So the Egyptians made the Israelites their slaves and put brutal slave drivers over them, hoping to wear them down under heavy burdens. They forced them to build the cities of Pithom and Rameses as supply centers for the king. 12 But the more the Egyptians oppressed them, the more quickly the Israelites multiplied! The Egyptians soon became alarmed 13 and decided to make their slavery more bitter still. 14 They were ruthless with the Israelites, forcing them to make bricks and mortar and to work long hours in the fields. 15 Then Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, gave this order to the Hebrew midwives, Shiphrah and Puah:16 "When you help the Hebrew women give birth, kill all the boys as soon as they are born. Allow only the baby girls to live." 17 But because the midwives feared God, they refused to obey the king and allowed the boys to live, too. 18 Then the king called for the midwives. "Why have you done this?" he demanded. "Why have you allowed the boys to live?" 19 "Sir," they told him, "the Hebrew women are very strong. They have their babies so quickly that we cannot get there in time! They are not slow in giving birth like Egyptian women." 20 So God blessed the midwives, and the Israelites continued to multiply, growing more and more powerful. 21 And because the midwives feared God, he gave them families of their own. 22 Then Pharaoh gave this order to all his people:"Throw all the newborn Israelite boys into the Nile River. But you may spare the baby girls." 2:1 DURING this time, a man and woman from the tribe of Levi got married. 2 The woman became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She saw what a beautiful baby he was and kept him hidden for three months. 3 But when she could no longer hide him, she got a little basket made of papyrus reeds and waterproofed it with tar and pitch. She put the baby in the basket and laid it among the reeds along the edge of the Nile River. 4 The baby's sister then stood at a distance, watching to see what would happen to him. 5 Soon after this, one of Pharaoh's daughters came down to bathe in the river, and her servant girls walked along the riverbank. When the princess saw the little basket among the reeds, she told one of her servant girls to get it for her. 6 As the princess opened it, she found the baby boy. His helpless cries touched her heart. "He must be one of the Hebrew children," she said. 7 Then the baby's sister approached the princess. "Should I go and find one of the Hebrew women to nurse the baby for you?" she asked. 8 "Yes, do!" the princess replied. So the girl rushed home and called the baby's mother. 9 "Take this child home and nurse him for me," the princess told her. "I will pay you for your help." So the baby's mother took her baby home and nursed him. 10 Later, when he was older, the child's mother brought him back to the princess, who adopted him as her son. The princess named him Moses, for she said, "I drew him out of the water."


When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?" 14 "Well," they replied, "some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, and others say Jeremiah or one of the other prophets." 15 Then he asked them, "Who do you say I am?" 16 Simon Peter answered, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God." 17 Jesus replied, "You are blessed, Simon son of John, because my Father in heaven has revealed this to you. You did not learn this from any human being. 18 Now I say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it. 19 And I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven. Whatever you lock on earth will be locked in heaven, and whatever you open on earth will be opened in heaven." 20 Then he sternly warned them not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah. 21 From then on Jesus began to tell his disciples plainly that he had to go to Jerusalem, and he told them what would happen to him there. He would suffer at the hands of the leaders and the leading priests and the teachers of religious law. He would be killed, and he would be raised on the third day. 22 But Peter took him aside and corrected him. "Heaven forbid, Lord," he said. "This will never happen to you!" 23 Jesus turned to Peter and said, "Get away from me, Satan! You are a dangerous trap to me. You are seeing things merely from a human point of view, and not from God's." 24 Then Jesus said to the disciples, "If any of you wants to be my follower, you must put aside your selfish ambition, shoulder your cross, and follow me. 25 If you try to keep your life for yourself, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for me, you will find true life. 26 And how do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul in the process? Is anything worth more than your soul? 27 For I, the Son of Man, will come in the glory of my Father with his angels and will judge all people according to their deeds. 28 And I assure you that some of you standing here right now will not die before you see me, the Son of Man, coming in my Kingdom." 17:1 SIX days later Jesus took Peter and the two brothers, James and John, and led them up a high mountain. 2 As the men watched, Jesus 'appearance changed so that his face shone like the sun, and his clothing became dazzling white. 3 Suddenly, Moses and Elijah appeared and began talking with Jesus. 4 Peter blurted out, "Lord, this is wonderful! If you want me to, I'll make three shrines, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah." 5 But even as he said it, a bright cloud came over them, and a voice from the cloud said, "This is my beloved Son, and I am fully pleased with him. Listen to him." 6 The disciples were terrified and fell face down on the ground. 7 Jesus came over and touched them. "Get up," he said, "don't be afraid." 8 And when they looked, they saw only Jesus with them. 9 As they descended the mountain, Jesus commanded them, "Don't tell anyone what you have seen until I, the Son of Man, have been raised from the dead."


For the choir director:A psalm of David.
1 How the king rejoices in your strength, O LORD!
He shouts with joy because of your victory.
2 For you have given him his heart's desire;
you have held back nothing that he requested.
Interlude3 You welcomed him back with success and prosperity.
You placed a crown of finest gold on his head.
4 He asked you to preserve his life,
and you have granted his request.
The days of his life stretch on forever.
5 Your victory brings him great honor,
and you have clothed him with splendor and majesty.
6 You have endowed him with eternal blessings.
You have given him the joy of being in your presence.
7 For the king trusts in the LORD.
The unfailing love of the Most High will keep him from stumbling.
8 You will capture all your enemies.
Your strong right hand will seize all those who hate you.
9 You will destroy them as in a flaming furnace
when you appear.
The LORD will consume them in his anger;
fire will devour them.
10 You will wipe their children from the face of the earth;
they will never have descendants.
11 Although they plot against you,
their evil schemes will never succeed.
12 For they will turn and run
when they see your arrows aimed at them.
13 We praise you, LORD, for all your glorious power.
With music and singing we celebrate your mighty acts.


My son, pay attention to my wisdom; listen carefully to my wise counsel. Then you will learn to be discreet and will store up knowledge. The lips of an immoral woman are as sweet as honey, and her mouth is smoother than oil. But the result is as bitter as poison, sharp as a double- edged sword. Her feet go down to death; her steps lead straight to the grave. For she does not care about the path to life. She staggers down a crooked trail and doesn't even realize where it leads

Reading through the Word...Day 24

GENESIS 48:1- 49:33
MATTHEW 15:29- 16:12
PSALM 20:1- 9
PROVERBS 4:20- 27

One day not long after this, word came to Joseph that his father was failing rapidly. So Joseph went to visit him, and he took with him his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim. 2 When Jacob heard that Joseph had arrived, he gathered his strength and sat up in bed to greet him. 3 Jacob said to Joseph, "God Almighty appeared to me at Luz in the land of Canaan and blessed me. 4 He said to me, `I will make you a multitude of nations, and I will give this land of Canaan to you and your descendants as an everlasting possession. '5 Now I am adopting as my own sons these two boys of yours, Ephraim and Manasseh, who were born here in the land of Egypt before I arrived. They will inherit from me just as Reuben and Simeon will. 6 But the children born to you in the future will be your own. The land they inherit will be within the territories of Ephraim and Manasseh. 7 As I was returning from Paddan, Rachel died in the land of Canaan. We were still on the way, just a short distance from Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem). So with great sorrow I buried her there beside the road to Ephrath." 8 Then Jacob looked over at the two boys. "Are these your sons?" he asked. 9 "Yes," Joseph told him, "these are the sons God has given me here in Egypt." And Jacob said, "Bring them over to me, and I will bless them." 10 Now Jacob was half blind because of his age and could hardly see. So Joseph brought the boys close to him, and Jacob kissed and embraced them. 11 Then Jacob said to Joseph, "I never thought I would see you again, but now God has let me see your children, too." 12 Joseph took the boys from their grandfather's knees, and he bowed low to him. 13 Then he positioned the boys so Ephraim was at Jacob's left hand and Manasseh was at his right hand. 14 But Jacob crossed his arms as he reached out to lay his hands on the boys' heads. So his right hand was on the head of Ephraim, the younger boy, and his left hand was on the head of Manasseh, the older. 15 Then he blessed Joseph and said, "May God, the God before whom my grandfather Abraham and my father, Isaac, walked, the God who has been my shepherd all my life, 16 and the angel who has kept me from all harm-- may he bless these boys. May they preserve my name and the names of my grandfather Abraham and my father, Isaac. And may they become a mighty nation." 17 But Joseph was upset when he saw that his father had laid his right hand on Ephraim's head. So he lifted it to place it on Manasseh's head instead. 18 "No, Father," he said, "this one over here is older. Put your right hand on his head." 19 But his father refused. "I know what I'm doing, my son," he said. "Manasseh, too, will become a great people, but his younger brother will become even greater. His descendants will become a multitude of nations!" 20 So Jacob blessed the boys that day with this blessing:"The people of Israel will use your names to bless each other. They will say, `May God make you as prosperous as Ephraim and Manasseh. '" In this way, Jacob put Ephraim ahead of Manasseh. 21 Then Jacob said to Joseph, "I am about to die, but God will be with you and will bring you again to Canaan, the land of your ancestors. 22 And I give you an extra portion beyond what I have given your brothers-- the portion that I took from the Amorites with my sword and bow." 49:1 THEN Jacob called together all his sons and said, "Gather around me, and I will tell you what is going to happen to you in the days to come. 2" Come and listen, O sons of Jacob;
listen to Israel, your father.
3 "Reuben, you are my oldest son,
the child of my vigorous youth.
You are first on the list in rank and honor.
4 But you are as unruly as the waves of the sea,
and you will be first no longer.
For you slept with one of my wives;
you dishonored me in my own bed.
5" Simeon and Levi are two of a kind--
men of violence.
6 O my soul, stay away from them.
May I never be a party to their wicked plans.
For in their anger they murdered men,
and they crippled oxen just for sport.
7 Cursed be their anger, for it is fierce;
cursed be their wrath, for it is cruel.
Therefore, I will scatter their descendants
throughout the nation of Israel.
8 "Judah, your brothers will praise you.
You will defeat your enemies.
All your relatives will bow before you.
9 Judah is a young lion
that has finished eating its prey.
Like a lion he crouches and lies down;
like a lioness-- who will dare to rouse him?
10 The scepter will not depart from Judah,
nor the ruler's staff from his descendants,
until the coming of the one to whom it belongs,
the one whom all nations will obey.
11 He ties his foal to a grapevine,
the colt of his donkey to a choice vine.
He washes his clothes in wine
because his harvest is so plentiful.
12 His eyes are darker than wine,
and his teeth are whiter than milk.
13" Zebulun will settle on the shores of the sea
and will be a harbor for ships;
his borders will extend to Sidon.
14 "Issachar is a strong beast of burden,
resting among the sheepfolds.
15 When he sees how good the countryside is,
how pleasant the land,
he will bend his shoulder to the task
and submit to forced labor.
16" Dan will govern his people
like any other tribe in Israel.
17 He will be a snake beside the road,
a poisonous viper along the path,
that bites the horse's heels
so the rider is thrown off.
18 I trust in you for salvation, O LORD!
19 "Gad will be plundered by marauding bands,
but he will turn and plunder them.
20" Asher will produce rich foods,
food fit for kings.
21 "Naphtali is a deer let loose,
producing magnificent fawns.
22" Joseph is a fruitful tree,
a fruitful tree beside a fountain.
His branches reach over the wall.
23 He has been attacked by archers,
who shot at him and harassed him.
24 But his bow remained strong,
and his arms were strengthened
by the Mighty One of Jacob,
the Shepherd, the Rock of Israel.
25 May the God of your ancestors help you;
may the Almighty bless you
with the blessings of the heavens above,
blessings of the earth beneath,
and blessings of the breasts and womb.
26 May the blessings of your ancestors
be greater than the blessings of the eternal mountains,
reaching to the utmost bounds of the everlasting hills.
These blessings will fall on the head of Joseph,
who is a prince among his brothers.
27 "Benjamin is a wolf that prowls.
He devours his enemies in the morning,
and in the evening he divides the plunder."
28 These are the twelve tribes of Israel, and these are the blessings with which Jacob blessed his twelve sons. Each received a blessing that was appropriate to him. 29 Then Jacob told them, "Soon I will die. Bury me with my father and grandfather in the cave in Ephron's field. 30 This is the cave in the field of Machpelah, near Mamre in Canaan, which Abraham bought from Ephron the Hittite for a permanent burial place. 31 There Abraham and his wife Sarah are buried. There Isaac and his wife, Rebekah, are buried. And there I buried Leah. 32 It is the cave that my grandfather Abraham bought from the Hittites." 33 Then when Jacob had finished this charge to his sons, he lay back in the bed, breathed his last, and died.


Jesus returned to the Sea of Galilee and climbed a hill and sat down. 30 A vast crowd brought him the lame, blind, crippled, mute, and many others with physical difficulties, and they laid them before Jesus. And he healed them all. 31 The crowd was amazed! Those who hadn't been able to speak were talking, the crippled were made well, the lame were walking around, and those who had been blind could see again! And they praised the God of Israel. 32 Then Jesus called his disciples to him and said, "I feel sorry for these people. They have been here with me for three days, and they have nothing left to eat. I don't want to send them away hungry, or they will faint along the road." 33 The disciples replied, "And where would we get enough food out here in the wilderness for all of them to eat?" 34 Jesus asked, "How many loaves of bread do you have?" They replied, "Seven, and a few small fish." 35 So Jesus told all the people to sit down on the ground. 36 Then he took the seven loaves and the fish, thanked God for them, broke them into pieces, and gave them to the disciples, who distributed the food to the crowd. 37 They all ate until they were full, and when the scraps were picked up, there were seven large baskets of food left over! 38 There were four thousand men who were fed that day, in addition to all the women and children. 39 Then Jesus sent the people home, and he got into a boat and crossed over to the region of Magadan. 16:1 ONE day the Pharisees and Sadducees came to test Jesus' claims by asking him to show them a miraculous sign from heaven. 2 He replied, "You know the saying, `Red sky at night means fair weather tomorrow, 3 red sky in the morning means foul weather all day. 'You are good at reading the weather signs in the sky, but you can't read the obvious signs of the times! 4 Only an evil, faithless generation would ask for a miraculous sign, but the only sign I will give them is the sign of the prophet Jonah." Then Jesus left them and went away. 5 Later, after they crossed to the other side of the lake, the disciples discovered they had forgotten to bring any food. 6 "Watch out!" Jesus warned them. "Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees." 7 They decided he was saying this because they hadn't brought any bread. 8 Jesus knew what they were thinking, so he said, "You have so little faith! Why are you worried about having no food? 9 Won't you ever understand? Don't you remember the five thousand I fed with five loaves, and the baskets of food that were left over? 10 Don't you remember the four thousand I fed with seven loaves, with baskets of food left over? 11 How could you even think I was talking about food? So again I say, `Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.'" 12 Then at last they understood that he wasn't speaking about yeast or bread but about the false teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.


For the choir director:A psalm of David.
1 In times of trouble, may the LORD respond to your cry.
May the God of Israel keep you safe from all harm.
2 May he send you help from his sanctuary
and strengthen you from Jerusalem.
3 May he remember all your gifts
and look favorably on your burnt offerings.
Interlude4 May he grant your heart's desire
and fulfill all your plans.
5 May we shout for joy when we hear of your victory,
flying banners to honor our God.
May the LORD answer all your prayers.
6 Now I know that the LORD saves his anointed king.
He will answer him from his holy heaven
and rescue him by his great power.
7 Some nations boast of their armies and weapons,
but we boast in the LORD our God.
8 Those nations will fall down and collapse,
but we will rise up and stand firm.
9 Give victory to our king, O LORD!
Respond to our cry for help.


Pay attention, my child, to what I say. Listen carefully. Don't lose sight of my words. Let them penetrate deep within your heart, for they bring life and radiant health to anyone who discovers their meaning. Above all else, guard your heart, for it affects everything you do. Avoid all perverse talk; stay far from corrupt speech. Look straight ahead, and fix your eyes on what lies before you. Mark out a straight path for your feet; then stick to the path and stay safe. Don't get sidetracked; keep your feet from following evil

Reading through the Word...Day 23

GENESIS 46:1- 47:31
MATTHEW 15:1- 28
PSALM 19:1- 14
PROVERBS 4:14- 19


So Jacob set out for Egypt with all his possessions. And when he came to Beersheba, he offered sacrifices to the God of his father, Isaac. 2 During the night God spoke to him in a vision. "Jacob! Jacob!" he called. "Here I am," Jacob replied. 3 "I am God," the voice said, "the God of your father. Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for I will see to it that you become a great nation there. 4 I will go with you down to Egypt, and I will bring your descendants back again. But you will die in Egypt with Joseph at your side." 5 So Jacob left Beersheba, and his sons brought him to Egypt. They carried their little ones and wives in the wagons Pharaoh had provided for them. 6 They brought their livestock, too, and all the belongings they had acquired in the land of Canaan. Jacob and his entire family arrived in Egypt-- 7 sons and daughters, grandsons and granddaughters-- all his descendants. 8 These are the names of the Israelites, the descendants of Jacob, who went with him to Egypt: Reuben was Jacob's oldest son. 9 The sons of Reuben were Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi. 10 The sons of Simeon were Jemuel, Jamin, Ohad, Jakin, Zohar, and Shaul. (Shaul's mother was a Canaanite woman.) 11 The sons of Levi were Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. 12 The sons of Judah were Er, Onan, Shelah, Perez, and Zerah. (But Er and Onan had died in the land of Canaan.) The sons of Perez were Hezron and Hamul. 13 The sons of Issachar were Tola, Puah, Jashub, and Shimron. 14 The sons of Zebulun were Sered, Elon, and Jahleel. 15 These are the sons of Jacob who were born to Leah in Paddan- aram, along with their sister, Dinah. In all, Jacob's descendants through Leah numbered thirty- three. 16 The sons of Gad were Zephon, Haggi, Shuni, Ezbon, Eri, Arodi, and Areli. 17 The sons of Asher were Imnah, Ishvah, Ishvi, and Beriah. Their sister was named Serah. Beriah's sons were Heber and Malkiel. 18 These sixteen were descendants of Jacob through Zilpah, the servant given to Leah by her father, Laban. 19 The sons of Jacob's wife Rachel were Joseph and Benjamin. 20 Joseph's sons, born in the land of Egypt, were Manasseh and Ephraim. Their mother was Asenath, daughter of Potiphera, priest of Heliopolis. 21 Benjamin's sons were Bela, Beker, Ashbel, Gera, Naaman, Ehi, Rosh, Muppim, Huppim, and Ard. 22 These fourteen were the descendants of Jacob and his wife Rachel. 23 The son of Dan was Hushim. 24 The sons of Naphtali were Jahzeel, Guni, Jezer, and Shillem. 25 These seven were the descendants of Jacob through Bilhah, the servant given to Rachel by her father, Laban. 26 So the total number of Jacob's direct descendants who went with him to Egypt, not counting his sons 'wives, was sixty- six. 27 Joseph also had two sons who had been born in Egypt. So altogether, there were seventy members of Jacob's family in the land of Egypt. 28 Jacob sent Judah on ahead to meet Joseph and get directions to the land of Goshen. And when they all arrived there, 29 Joseph prepared his chariot and traveled to Goshen to meet his father. As soon as Joseph arrived, he embraced his father and wept on his shoulder for a long time. 30 Then Jacob said to Joseph, "Now let me die, for I have seen you with my own eyes and know you are still alive." 31 And Joseph said to his brothers and to all their households, "I'll go and tell Pharaoh that you have all come from the land of Canaan to join me. 32 And I will tell him, `These men are shepherds and livestock breeders. They have brought with them their flocks and herds and everything they own.' 33 So when Pharaoh calls for you and asks you about your occupation, 34 tell him, `We have been livestock breeders from our youth, as our ancestors have been for many generations. 'When you tell him this, he will let you live here in the land of Goshen, for shepherds are despised in the land of Egypt." 47:1 SO Joseph went to see Pharaoh and said, "My father and my brothers are here from Canaan. They came with all their flocks and herds and possessions, and they are now in the land of Goshen." 2 Joseph took five of his brothers with him and presented them to Pharaoh. 3 Pharaoh asked them, "What is your occupation?" And they replied, "We are shepherds like our ancestors. 4 We have come to live here in Egypt, for there is no pasture for our flocks in Canaan. The famine is very severe there. We request permission to live in the land of Goshen." 5 And Pharaoh said to Joseph, "Now that your family has joined you here, 6 choose any place you like for them to live. Give them the best land of Egypt-- the land of Goshen will be fine. And if any of them have special skills, put them in charge of my livestock, too." 7 Then Joseph brought his father, Jacob, and presented him to Pharaoh, and Jacob blessed Pharaoh. 8 "How old are you?" Pharaoh asked him. 9 Jacob replied, "I have lived for 130 hard years, but I am still not nearly as old as many of my ancestors." 10 Then Jacob blessed Pharaoh again before he left. 11 So Joseph assigned the best land of Egypt-- the land of Rameses-- to his father and brothers, just as Pharaoh had commanded. 12 And Joseph furnished food to his father and brothers in amounts appropriate to the number of their dependents. 13 Meanwhile, the famine became worse and worse, and the crops continued to fail throughout Egypt and Canaan. 14 Joseph collected all the money in Egypt and Canaan in exchange for grain, and he brought the money to Pharaoh's treasure- house. 15 When the people of Egypt and Canaan ran out of money, they came to Joseph crying again for food. "Our money is gone," they said, "but give us bread. Why should we die?" 16 "Well, then," Joseph replied, "since your money is gone, give me your livestock. I will give you food in exchange." 17 So they gave their livestock to Joseph in exchange for food. Soon all the horses, flocks, herds, and donkeys of Egypt were in Pharaoh's possession. But at least they were able to purchase food for that year. 18 The next year they came again and said, "Our money is gone, and our livestock are yours. We have nothing left but our bodies and land. 19 Why should we die before your very eyes? Buy us and our land in exchange for food; we will then become servants to Pharaoh. Just give us grain so that our lives may be saved and so the land will not become empty and desolate." 20 So Joseph bought all the land of Egypt for Pharaoh. All the Egyptians sold him their fields because the famine was so severe, and their land then belonged to Pharaoh. 21 Thus, all the people of Egypt became servants to Pharaoh. 22 The only land he didn't buy was that belonging to the priests, for they were assigned food from Pharaoh and didn't need to sell their land. 23 Then Joseph said to the people, "See, I have bought you and your land for Pharaoh. I will provide you with seed, so you can plant the fields. 24 Then when you harvest it, a fifth of your crop will belong to Pharaoh. Keep four- fifths for yourselves, and use it to plant the next year's crop and to feed yourselves, your households, and your little ones." 25 "You have saved our lives!" they exclaimed. "May it please you, sir, to let us be Pharaoh's servants." 26 Joseph then made it a law throughout the land of Egypt-- and it is still the law-- that Pharaoh should receive one- fifth of all the crops grown on his land. But since Pharaoh had not taken over the priests' land, they were exempt from this payment. 27 So the people of Israel settled in the land of Goshen in Egypt. And before long, they began to prosper there, and their population grew rapidly. 28 Jacob lived for seventeen years after his arrival in Egypt, so he was 147 years old when he died. 29 As the time of his death drew near, he called for his son Joseph and said to him, "If you are pleased with me, swear most solemnly that you will honor this, my last request:Do not bury me in Egypt. 30 When I am dead, take me out of Egypt and bury me beside my ancestors." So Joseph promised that he would. 31 "Swear that you will do it," Jacob insisted. So Joseph gave his oath, and Jacob bowed in worship as he leaned on his staff.


Some Pharisees and teachers of religious law now arrived from Jerusalem to interview Jesus. 2 "Why do your disciples disobey our age- old traditions?" they demanded. "They ignore our tradition of ceremonial hand washing before they eat." 3 Jesus replied, "And why do you, by your traditions, violate the direct commandments of God? 4 For instance, God says, `Honor your father and mother, 'and `Anyone who speaks evil of father or mother must be put to death.' 5 But you say, `You don't need to honor your parents by caring for their needs if you give the money to God instead. '6 And so, by your own tradition, you nullify the direct commandment of God. 7 You hypocrites! Isaiah was prophesying about you when he said,8 `These people honor me with their lips,
but their hearts are far away.
9 Their worship is a farce,
for they replace God's commands with their own man- made teachings.'"
10 Then Jesus called to the crowds and said, "Listen to what I say and try to understand. 11 You are not defiled by what you eat; you are defiled by what you say and do." 12 Then the disciples came to him and asked, "Do you realize you offended the Pharisees by what you just said?" 13 Jesus replied, "Every plant not planted by my heavenly Father will be rooted up, 14 so ignore them. They are blind guides leading the blind, and if one blind person guides another, they will both fall into a ditch." 15 Then Peter asked Jesus, "Explain what you meant when you said people aren't defiled by what they eat." 16 "Don't you understand?" Jesus asked him. 17 "Anything you eat passes through the stomach and then goes out of the body. 18 But evil words come from an evil heart and defile the person who says them. 19 For from the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, all other sexual immorality, theft, lying, and slander. 20 These are what defile you. Eating with unwashed hands could never defile you and make you unacceptable to God!" 21 Jesus then left Galilee and went north to the region of Tyre and Sidon. 22 A Gentile woman who lived there came to him, pleading, "Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! For my daughter has a demon in her, and it is severely tormenting her." 23 But Jesus gave her no reply-- not even a word. Then his disciples urged him to send her away. "Tell her to leave," they said. "She is bothering us with all her begging." 24 Then he said to the woman, "I was sent only to help the people of Israel-- God's lost sheep-- not the Gentiles." 25 But she came and worshiped him and pleaded again, "Lord, help me!" 26 "It isn't right to take food from the children and throw it to the dogs," he said. 27 "Yes, Lord," she replied, "but even dogs are permitted to eat crumbs that fall beneath their master's table." 28 "Woman," Jesus said to her, "your faith is great. Your request is granted." And her daughter was instantly healed.


For the choir director:A psalm of David.
1 The heavens tell of the glory of God.
The skies display his marvelous craftsmanship.
2 Day after day they continue to speak;
night after night they make him known.
3 They speak without a sound or a word;
their voice is silent in the skies;
4 yet their message has gone out to all the earth,
and their words to all the world.
The sun lives in the heavens
where God placed it.
5 It bursts forth like a radiant bridegroom
after his wedding.
It rejoices like a great athlete
eager to run the race.
6 The sun rises at one end of the heavens
and follows its course to the other end.
Nothing can hide from its heat.
7 The law of the LORD is perfect,
reviving the soul.
The decrees of the LORD are trustworthy,
making wise the simple.
8 The commandments of the LORD are right,
bringing joy to the heart.
The commands of the LORD are clear,
giving insight to life.
9 Reverence for the LORD is pure,
lasting forever.
The laws of the LORD are true;
each one is fair.
10 They are more desirable than gold,
even the finest gold.
They are sweeter than honey,
even honey dripping from the comb.
11 They are a warning to those who hear them;
there is great reward for those who obey them.
12 How can I know all the sins lurking in my heart?
Cleanse me from these hidden faults.
13 Keep me from deliberate sins!
Don't let them control me.
Then I will be free of guilt
and innocent of great sin.
14 May the words of my mouth and the thoughts of my heart
be pleasing to you,
O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.


Do not do as the wicked do or follow the path of evildoers. Avoid their haunts. Turn away and go somewhere else, for evil people cannot sleep until they have done their evil deed for the day. They cannot rest unless they have caused someone to stumble. They eat wickedness and drink violence! The way of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, which shines ever brighter until the full light of day. But the way of the wicked is like complete darkness. Those who follow it have no idea what they are stumbling over

Coming Soon

Coming soon I will be placing on my blog a daily reading so that we can read through the Bible in a year. It is God's Word in us that will give us the wisdom, insight, and strength to trust and follow Him

What the Bible says about you....Day 38

You are chosen, holy, and blameless

Ephesians 1:4

"just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love"

How often do you feel worthy, holy, or truly loved of God. If you are like most people, you read the words above but the idea of really believing those words is few and far between.

As we are studying about the Holy Spirit we understand that every word of scripture has been "breathed" by God and is straight from His lips so we know it is true.

Because of God's great love for us, we have been chosen...

Because of God's great love for us, we have been made holy....

Because of God's great love for us, we are found without blame....that is God breathed

It doesn't matter... how you feel, what anyone says, or even what you believe, God's Word says you are chosen by Him, you are holy and blameless.

What an amazing gift we have been given. Let's choose to live it today.

What the Bible says about you...Day 36

God has a specific plan for you

Jeremiah 29:11

"For I know the plans that I have for you, says the Lord, plans of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope"

Lots of people have plans for us, the enemy has a plan for us, and we set our own plans for our future. Some times we reach a certain amount of success on our own but as Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 13, we can do all kinds of things but if we do not do them in love they are worthless.

It is the leap of faith that God calls us to. Trusting that God's plans will fulfill us, will encourage us, and will cause us to have the greatest impact.

God knows us completely and He created us for an amazing purpose. If you are frustrated by what you are doing, if you are not seeing fruitfulness in what you are doing, if you seem like you are going nowhere fast, perhaps it is time to stop, look and see what God's plan is for you.

His plans are to be a blessing in your life and to fulfill you and not place burdens on you. If that is the life you want choose to trust Him with your future today

What the Bible says about you....Day 35

You will always have peace


Philippians 4:7

"and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."

There is plenty to worry about. The news is replete with one horrible story after another, each one can create more worry than the last.  The economy is up and down. The threats to our lives because of terrorist, disease, relationship failure and so many other things.

In the middle of it all God promises peace. How can he do that?

Despite the craziness of the world and all of the trouble we face on a daily basis, God is in control. At least He wants to be! When we don't trust the Lord with the struggles, fears, and concerns of our daily lives, we will never have peace. However, when we by faith, choose to trust the Lord with all of our struggles we can have peace.

Think about what you are worried about, what keeps you up at night, what gives you heartburn then by faith, ask the Lord to show you how to release it into His hands. He wants to take it trust Him with it. Trust Him to care for your problems and struggles. 

He will give you peace. 

What the Bible says about you....Day 34

You have the same promises as Abraham

Galatians 3:29

"And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise."

Abraham was promised a land which means to us that we are promised a future, blessings and the supply of all that we need. God will not fail us and just as He promised Abraham a land He will meet all of your needs.

He promised Abraham that he would be a great nation. God will bless you with family and friends that will stand with you. He has called us to be part of a massive family called the church. As we learn to trust the Lord we become a great nation dedicated to advance the Lord's kingdom changing hearts and lives for eternity.

The third promise God gave Abraham was that through him all the nations would be blessed. Every gift, skill, talent and our personalities are created in us to make us the head and not the tail. We have been created to impact the world, to be fulfilled by peace that surpasses all understanding and joy unspeakable. As you follow the Lord this promise is for you to be blessed in all you do so that all might see God in you.

Sounds like great promises for us today.