Verse of the Day

  • December 24, 2012


    Isaiah 9:6

    Great shall be His government, and of His peace there is no end. His peace shall be upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order and establish it with righteousness and judgment, from that time forward and unto ages of ages. The zeal of the Lord of hosts shall perform this.

    Encouraging Words…

    This day is upon us one and all. When Jesus cam to earth to be born a lowly child, to live the live as a common human being, and then to be crucified, buried and resurrected He established His kingdom forevermore and made it possible for a sinner such as me to enter into His eternal presence. I do not have to wait for some glorious age because it is here today. Happy birthday Jesus.

  • December 21, 2012


    Mark 10:27

    But Jesus looked at them and said, With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible.

    Encouraging Words…

    This verse immediately follows the fate of the rich young man and his love for his wealth. I am sure the disciples were concerned that no one would be able to make it into heaven. And Jesus gently reminds them and us that God is in control and He can do even the imposible things. Glory be to God!

  • December 20, 2012


    Mark 10:24-25

    And the disciples were astonished at His words. But Jesus answered again and said to them, Children, how hard it is for those who trust in riches to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.

    Personal Challenge…

    I must ask myself after reading this story of the rich young man and seing Jesus’ admonition to His disciples on riches, “What riches in my life do I put my trust in over God?” Is it my job? Is it my savings or 401K or retirement plan? Is it the stuff that I have accumulated? How about the stuff that I want? All of these things are but tools that God has given me, better yet blessed me with, to build His kingdom, to tell His story. I must be careful not to make them my gods, my idols, and hold on to them lightly. Lord, have mercy!

  • December 19, 2012


    2 Timothy 3:12

    Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.

    Personal Challenge…

    I have always understood that if I try to live a godly life in an ungodly world there will be persecution. As the saying goes, “Been there, done that!”. If we, ungodly mankind, persecuted and crucified Christ won’t the same be done to His followers? What I don’t get, what I don’t understand, is why do those who try to live godly lives for the King get persecuted within the church? Is it that the church has become too much like the World? Is it that there is competition in the church? This is so hard to comprehend and so painful to endure. And yet, we are told that if we desire to live godly in Christ Jesus we will be persecuted. So be it, more of an opportunity to lean on Him.

  • December 18, 2012


    Titus 3:9-11

    But avoid foolish disputes, genealogies, contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and useless. Reject a divisive man after the first and second admonition, knowing that such a person is warped and sinning, being self- condemned.

    Personal Challenge…

    Sometimes I do not know what grieves me more…the loss of precious lives like what recently occurred in Newtown, CT or all of the senseless chatter that has followed in the name of Christ. Now is not the time to step up on our soap box for or against gun control. It is not the time to pound our drum for or against abortion. Now is not the time to expound on that item on our agenda the we want others to hold as dear as we do. Now is the time to pour out the love of God to a grieving community and nation. My political party affiliation, or my stand on different societal issues does not make be a better or worse Christian.


    I am reminded of what Jesus did when He stood before the grave of Lazarus…He wept. If we truly desire to follow in the footsteps of our Lord shouldn’t we stop politicizing everything and start weeping for those whom are dead, dead to His calling and His eternal grace and love?

  • December 17, 2012


    Mark 9:49-50

    For everyone will be seasoned with fire, and every sacrifice will be seasoned with salt. Salt is good, but if the salt loses its flavor, how will you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace with one another.

    Personal Challenge…

    Throughout our lives we will go through trials and tribulations. These events will either refine us and make us stronger or cause us to run away. How it turns is partly controlled by our choices. We are also told that these events season us like salt. But once again we have a choice to choose whether or not the salt stays good or looses its flavor. As for me, I choose to live in a way that gives peace to others.

  • December 16, 2012


    Colossians 3:4-11

    When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.


    Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them.

    But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all.

    Personal Challenge…

    In the Orthodox Church this passage and Luke 14:16-24 are read every year on the second Sunday before Christmas as we remember the Holy Ancestors of Christ. This has been a tradition for over 1,000 years.


    These verses teach us about true asceticism: As baptized Christians, we are becoming in practice what we are already in spirit. As we died with Christ, so we must will to experience death daily by killing old sinful and disintegrating passions (vv. 5–9). As we were raised with Christ, so we must will to experience life daily by the virtuous and unifying desires of the new man we all are in the body of Christ (vv. 10–14). (taken from The Orthodox Study Bible)

    In light of the tragic events this past week: 26 shooting victims in Connecticut, 20 stabbing victims in China, bombings and killings in Afganistan and Pakistan, and many other events in OUR world, I have been prompted to search my heart, mind, and soul for my response to this.

    As a Christian I (we all are) am commanded, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matthew 22:37-39) My response is to love my neighbor. To love them before during, and after these events. This love does not include politicizing, evangelizing, proselytizing condemning, retaliating, etc. but loving like God loves…enough to let His Son die.

    Maybe it is time to stop looking at the world through my eyes, my desires, my biases and look at it through God’s. Isn’t that what “willing” to live like Christ is all about?

  • December 15, 2012


    Titus 2:6-8

    Likewise, exhort the young men to be sober- minded, in all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility, sound speech that cannot be condemned, that one who is an opponent may be ashamed, having nothing evil to say of you.

    Personal Challenge…

    As I get ready to enter into my “senior” years of life this passage speaks to me a very sobering message. Am I living my life in a way that I am exhorting the younger men around me? Am I being a patter of good works? Is the living out of my faith, my doctrine, showing integrity, reverence incorruptibility and sound speech Can I go into any situation and not be condemned? This is a tall order, but isn’t this what God has called me to do in my later years? Isn’t this stage of life what God has been equipping me to be ready for? Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner.

  • December 13, 2012


    Psalm 46:11 (45:12 LXX)

    The Lord of hosts is with us,
    The God of Jacob is our protector.

    Encouraging Words…

    In this day and age when there are so many occurrences and issues of abandonment it is refreshing to know that the Lord of Hosts, the Creator of all, is always with us, always our protector.

  • December 12, 2012


    2 Timothy 4:7-8

    I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.

    Encouraging Words…

    Isn’t this the definition of sainthood…to be able to look back on your life in your final days and be able to claim that you have fought the good fight, finished the race, and kept the faith. I desire to follow my Lord in such a way tat not only will I be able to say this in the end, but those whom I leave behind would be able to say this about me as well.