Tag: faith

Morning Reading: Luke 13:22-30 NLT – it ain’t easy

Reading: Luke 13:22-30 NLT

Jesus went through the towns and villages, teaching as he went, always pressing on toward Jerusalem. Someone asked him, “Lord, will only a few be saved?”

"The Narrow Door" This photo was taken at the first parish church in Plymoth, MA. It is the site of the original "pilgrim's church" which migrated from Leiden, Holland to the new world.
“The Narrow Door”
This photo was taken at the first parish church in Plymoth, MA. It is the site of the original “pilgrim’s church” which migrated from Leiden, Holland to the new world.

He replied, “Work hard to enter the narrow door to God’s Kingdom, for many will try to enter but will fail. When the master of the house has locked the door, it will be too late. You will stand outside knocking and pleading, ‘Lord, open the door for us!’ But he will reply, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from.’ Then you will say, ‘But we ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.’ And he will reply, ‘I tell you, I don’t know you or where you come from. Get away from me, all you who do evil.’

“There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, for you will see Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the prophets in the Kingdom of God, but you will be thrown out. And people will come from all over the world—from east and west, north and south—to take their places in the Kingdom of God.

“And note this: Some who seem least important now will be the greatest then, and some who are the greatest now will be least important then.”

Prayer: Lord Jesus – Give me the courage and fortitude to do hard things for you. Give me eyes to see, ears to hear and a heart to percieve your Kingdom purposes in the world around me. And make me a doer of your Word and not a hearer only. To you be the glory. Amen.

Hymn: “Take My Life and Let It Be” – Frances R. Havergal (1874)

Morning Reading: Luke 13:18-21 NLT – Kingdom illustrations

Reading: Luke 13:18-21 NLT

MustardSeedThen Jesus said, “What is the Kingdom of God like? How can I illustrate it? It is like a tiny mustard seed that a man planted in a garden; it grows and becomes a tree, and the birds make nests in its branches.”

He also asked, “What else is the Kingdom of God like? It is like the yeast a woman used in making bread. Even though she put only a little yeast in three measures of flour, it permeated every part of the dough.”

Prayer: Lord Jesus – Help me to grow and bear good fruit right here where you’ve planted me. And may your Life and Love and Grace permeate everything that I do and say. Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done… in me… as it is in heaven. Amen.

Spiritual Song: “God of This City” – Chris Tomlin

Morning Reading: Luke 13.10-17 (NLT) – wonderful things

Reading: Luke 13.10-17 (NLT)

Jesus_crippled_womanOne Sabbath day as Jesus was teaching in a synagogue, he saw a woman who had been crippled by an evil spirit. She had been bent double for eighteen years and was unable to stand up straight. When Jesus saw her, he called her over and said, “Dear woman, you are healed of your sickness!” Then he touched her, and instantly she could stand straight. How she praised God!

But the leader in charge of the synagogue was indignant that Jesus had healed her on the Sabbath day. “There are six days of the week for working,” he said to the crowd. “Come on those days to be healed, not on the Sabbath.”

But the Lord replied, “You hypocrites! Each of you works on the Sabbath day! Don’t you untie your ox or your donkey from its stall on the Sabbath and lead it out for water? This dear woman, a daughter of Abraham, has been held in bondage by Satan for eighteen years. Isn’t it right that she be released, even on the Sabbath?”

This shamed his enemies, but all the people rejoiced at the wonderful things he did.

Prayer: Psalm 103.1-5, 1 (NLT)

Let all that I am praise the Lord; with my whole heart, I will praise his holy name. Let all that I am praise the Lord; may I never forget the good things he does for me. He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases. He redeems me from death and crowns me with love and tender mercies. He fills my life with good things. My youth is renewed like the eagle’s!

Let all that I am praise the Lord; with my whole heart, I will praise his holy name.

Hymn: “To God Be the Glory” – Fanny Crosby (1875)

5th Sunday of Lent: Philippians 3.8-14 (NLT) – press on

Morning Reading: Philippians 3.8-14 NLT

patrick21Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ and become one with him. I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ. For God’s way of making us right with himself depends on faith.

I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death, so that one way or another I will experience the resurrection from the dead!

I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.

Prayer: “St Patrick’s Breastplate” (ca. 389-461 AD.)

I bind unto myself today to the power of God to hold and lead, His eye to watch, His might to stay, His ear to hearken to my need: the wisdom of my God to teach, His hand to guide, His shield to ward; the Word of God to give me speech, His heavenly host to be my guard.

Christ be with me, Christ within me, Christ behind me,
Christ before me, Christ beside me, Christ about me,
Christ to comfort me and restore me, Christ beneath me,
Christ above me, Christ in the hearts of all that love me,
Christ in the mouth of friend and stranger.

I bind unto myself to the Name, the strong Name of the Trinity, by invocation of the same, the Three in One, and One in Three, the Creator of the universe; Eternal Father, Spirit, Word: praise to the Lord of my salvation, salvation is of Christ the Lord. Amen.

Hymn: “Be Thou My Vision”

Morning Reading: Luke 13:6-9 NLT – last chance

Reading: Luke 13:6-9 NLT

Then Jesus told this story: “A man planted a fig tree in his garden and came again and again to see if there was any fruit on it, but he was always disappointed.

When it's all been said and done“Finally, he said to his gardener, ‘I’ve waited three years, and there hasn’t been a single fig! Cut it down. It’s just taking up space in the garden.’

“The gardener answered, ‘Sir, give it one more chance. Leave it another year, and I’ll give it special attention and plenty of fertilizer. If we get figs next year, fine. If not, then you can cut it down.’”

Prayer: Heavenly Father – you commanded us at creation “be fruitful and multiply.” And you have entrusted us with gifts… and abilities… and opportunties… to do just that in all aspects of our lives. Lord Jesus – you commanded us to “make disciples of all nations” and you empowered us with your Spirit to do that close at home… out and about… and around the world. Holy Spirit – help us to bear good fruit wherever you put us… wherever you send us. May we give it our best effort… and may we reach many more for Jesus. I ask it for his name’s sake. Amen.

Spiritual Song: “When it’s all been said and done” – Robin Mark (YouTube)