Daily Inspiration & Motivation May 24, 2014

 

 

Matthew 16:26

What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? 

To LISTEN to Matthew 16

 

2 Corinthians 12:9

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.

To LISTEN to 2 Corinthians 12

 

 

James 5:16

Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.

To LISTEN to James 5



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Our Daily Bread ~ An Appropriate Name May 24, 2014

 

An Appropriate Name

By Bill Crowder 

 

Read: Matthew 1:18-25

To LISTEN to Matthew 1

 

You shall call His name Jesus. —Matthew 1:21

 

Bible in a Year:

1 Chronicles 22-24; John 8:28-59

To LISTEN to 1 Chronicles 22

To LISTEN to 1 Chronicles 23

To LISTEN to 1 Chronicles 24 

To LISTEN to John 8

 

The name of the southeastern Asian nation of Indonesia is formed by combining two Greek words which together mean “island.” That name is appropriate because Indonesia is made up of more than 17,500 islands spanning nearly 750,000 square miles. Indonesia—an appropriate name for a nation of islands.

 

In the Bible, we find that people were often given names—sometimes at birth, sometimes later—that made a statement about them or their character. Barnabas, whose name means “son of encouragement,” continually encouraged those he encountered. Jacob, whose name means “schemer,” repeatedly manipulated people and situations for his own selfish ends.

 

And no one has ever been more appropriately named than Jesus. When the angel of the Lord spoke to Joseph about Mary’s soon-to-be-born Son, he told Joseph, “You shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins” (Matt. 1:21).

 

Jesus means “the Lord saves” and defines both who Jesus is and why He came. He was also called Immanuel, which means “God with us” (1:23). His name reveals our eternal hope! 

How sweet the Name of Jesus sounds

In a believer’s ear!

It soothes his sorrow, heals his wounds,

And drives away his fear. —Newton

 The name of Jesus is at the heart of our faith and our hope.

Daily Inspiration & Motivation May 23, 2014

 

 

Romans 3:23

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God

To LISTEN to Romans 3

 

 

2 Timothy 3:16

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness Tweet

To LISTEN to 2 Timothy

 

 

Romans 5:8

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

To LISTEN to Romans 5

 

 

 

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To LISTEN to Our Daily Bread~More Than We Deserve May 23, 2014

 

More Than We Deserve

By Joe Stowell 

 

Read: Psalm 103:6-18

To LISTEN to Psalm 103

 

He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor punished us according to our iniquities. —Psalm 103:10

 

Bible in a Year:

1 Chronicles 19-21; John 8:1-27

To LISTEN to 1 Chronicles 19

To LISTEN to 1 Chronicles 20

To LISTEN to 1 Chronicles 21

 

To LISTEN to John 8

 

Sometimes when people ask how I’m doing, I reply, “Better than I deserve.” I remember a well-meaning person responding, “Oh no, Joe, you deserve a lot,” to which I replied, “Not really.” I was thinking about what I truly deserve—God’s judgment.

We easily forget how sinful we are at the core of our being. Thinking of ourselves more highly than we should diminishes our sense of deep indebtedness to God for His grace. It discounts the price He paid to rescue us.

Time for a reality check! As the psalmist reminds us, God “has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor punished us according to our iniquities” (Ps. 103:10). Considering who we are in light of a holy and just God, the only thing we truly deserve is hell. And heaven is an absolute impossibility—except for the gift of Christ’s sacrifice on the cross. If God never does anything more than redeem us, He has already done far more than we deserve. No wonder the psalmist says, “As the heavens are high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward those who fear Him” (v.11).

Knowing ourselves for what we are, we can’t help but say, “Amazing grace, how sweet the sound!” He gives us so much more than we deserve.

 

Lord, thank You for not dealing with me according

to my sins. I am indebted to You for the love and

grace that You demonstrated on the cross to

purchase my pardon and forgiveness—far beyond what I deserve!

 

If God never does anything more than redeem us, He has already done far more than we deserve.

Daily Inspiration & Motivation May 22, 2014

Colossians 3:23-24

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. 

To LISTEN to Colossians 3 

1 Peter 3:15

But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.

To LISTEN to 1 Peter 3

Psalm 27:13

I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. 

To LISTEN to Psalm 27

 

 

 

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To LISTEN to Our Daily Bread ~ LISTENING May 22, 2014

 

 

Listening

By David H. Roper 

Read: Job 2:11-13

To LISTEN to Job 2

 

Oh, that I had one to hear me! —Job 31:35

To LISTEN to Job 31

 

Bible in a Year:

1 Chronicles 16-18; John 7:28-53

To LISTEN to 1 Chronicles 16

To LISTEN to 1 Chronicles 17

To LISTEN to 1 Chronicles 18 

To LISTEN to John 7

 

In her book Listening to Others, Joyce Huggett writes about the importance of learning to listen and respond effectively to those in difficult situations. As she relates some of her own experiences of listening to suffering people, she mentions that they often thank her for all she’s done for them. “On many occasions,” she writes, “I have not ‘done’ anything. I have ‘just listened.’ I quickly came to the conclusion that ‘just listening’ was indeed an effective way of helping others.”

This was the help Job sought from his friends. While it is true that they sat with him for 7 days in silence, “for they saw that his grief was very great” (2:13), they didn’t listen when Job started talking. Instead, they talked and talked but failed to comfort him (16:2). “Oh, that I had one to hear me!” Job cried (31:35).

Listening says, “What matters to you matters to me.” Sometimes people do want advice. But often they just want to be listened to by someone who loves and cares about them.

Listening is hard work, and it takes time. It takes time to listen long enough to hear the other person’s true heart, so that if we do speak, we speak with gentle wisdom.

Oh, Lord, give us a loving heart and a listening ear.

 I cried, and from His holy hill

He bowed a listening ear;

I called my Father, and my God,

And He subdued my fear. —Watts

 When I’m thinking about an answer while others are talking—I’m not listening.

 

 

 

 

 

Daily Inspiration & Motivation May 21, 2014

Ecclesiastes 5:10

Whoever loves money never has money enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income. This too is meaningless.

 To LISTEN to Ecclesiastes 5

 

Galatians 5:22

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness

To LISTEN to Galatians 5

 

Romans 12:21

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. 

To LISTEN to Romans 12

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To LISTEN to Our Daily Bread ~ Anchors In The Storm May 21, 2014

 

Anchors In The Storm 
By Anne Cetas 

 

Read: Joshua 1:1-9

To LISTEN to Joshua 1

 

The Lord your God is with you wherever you go. —Joshua 1:9

Bible in a Year:

1 Chronicles 13-15; John 7:1-27

To LISTEN to 1 Chronicles 13

To LISTEN to 1 Chronicles 14

To LISTEN to 1 Chronicles 15

To LISTEN to John 7

When Matt and Jessica tried to navigate their sailboat into a Florida inlet during Hurricane Sandy, the craft ran aground. As the waves crashed around them, they quickly dropped anchor. It held the sailboat in place until they could be rescued. They said that if they had not put down the anchor, “We would have lost our boat for sure.” Without the anchor, the relentless waves would have smashed the vessel onto the shore.

We need anchors that hold us secure in our spiritual lives as well. When God called Joshua to lead His people after Moses’ death, He gave him anchors of promise he could rely on in troubled times. The Lord said to him, “I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you. . . . The Lord your God is with you wherever you go” (Josh. 1:5,9). God also gave Joshua and His people the “Book of the Law” to study and observe (vv.7-8). That, and God’s presence, were anchors the Israelites could rely on as they faced many challenges.

When we’re in the middle of suffering or when doubts start threatening our faith, what are our anchors? We could start with Joshua 1:5. Although our faith may feel weak, if it’s anchored in God’s promises and presence, He will safely hold us.

 We have an anchor that keeps the soul

Steadfast and sure while the billows roll,

Fastened to the Rock which cannot move,

Grounded firm and deep in the Savior’s love. —Owens

 

 

When we feel the stress of the storm we learn the strength of the anchor.

 

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Daily Inspiration & Motivation May 20, 2014

 

John 14:6

New International Version (NIV)

⁶ Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

 

 

To LISTEN to John 14

 

 

Acts 17:11

New International Version (NIV)

¹¹ Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.

 

 

To LISTEN to Acts 17

 

 

Galatians 6:8

New International Version (NIV)

⁸ Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.

 

 

To LISTEN to Galatians 6

 

 

 

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Our Daily Bread May 20, 2014

For More Insight or to listen to todays lesson go to Our Daily Bread Link ABOVE

 

 

Once Upon A Time 

By Cindy Hess Kasper

Read: Matthew 24:32-44

To LISTEN to Matthew 24

 

The Lord had prepared a great fish to swallow Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights. —Jonah 1:17

To LISTEN to Jonah 1

 

Bible in a Year:

1 Chronicles 10-12; John 6:45-71

To LISTEN to 1 Chronicles 10

To LISTEN to 1 Chronicles 11

To LISTEN to 1 Chronicles 12

To LISTEN to John 6

 

Some people say that the Bible is just a collection of fairy tales. A boy slaying a giant. A man swallowed by a big fish. Noah’s boat-building experience. Even some religious people think that these events are just nice stories with a good moral.

Jesus Himself, however, spoke of Jonah and the giant fish, and Noah and the flood, as actual events: “As the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be” (Matt. 24:37-39). His return will happen when we’re not expecting it.  

Jesus compared Jonah’s 3 days inside the big fish to the 3 days He would experience in the grave before His resurrection (Matt. 12:40). And Peter talked about Noah and the flood when he equated it to a future day when Jesus comes back (2 Peter 2:4-9).

To LISTEN to Matthew 12

 

To LISTEN to 2 Peter 2

God gave us His Word; it’s a book that is filled with truth—not fairy tales. And one day, we will live happily ever after with Him when Jesus comes again and receives His children to Himself.

 

We’re waiting for You, Lord, to come

And take us home to be with You;

Your promise to return for us

Gives hope because we know it’s true. —Sper

We have reason for optimism if we’re looking for Christ’s return.

 

 

 

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NEW FORMAT Daily Inspiration & Motivation ~ ODB added to it as well as you can *NOW* LISTEN to the SCRIPTURES

John 3:16

New International Version (NIV)

¹⁶ For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

To Listen to John 3:16

John 15:13

New International Version (NIV)

¹³ Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.

To Listen to John 15:13

Romans 12:1

New International Version (NIV) 

12 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.

To Listen to Romans 12:1

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Our Daily Bread May 19, 2014

For More Insight or to listen to todays lesson go to Our Daily Bread Link ABOVE

Interruptions

By Poh Fang Chia 

Read: Mark 5:21-34

To LISTEN to Mark 5

The counsel of the Lord stands forever, the plans of His heart to all generations.

Psalm 33:11

To LISTEN to Psalm 33

Bible in a Year:

1 Chronicles 7-9; John 6:22-44

To LISTEN to Chronicles 7

To LISTEN to Chronicles 8

To LISTEN to Chronicles 9 

To LISTEN to John 6

My sister and I were looking forward to our holiday in Taiwan. We had purchased our plane tickets and booked our hotel rooms. But 2 weeks before the trip, my sister learned she had to stay at home in Singapore to handle an emergency. We were disappointed that our plans were interrupted.

Jesus’ disciples were accompanying Him on an urgent mission when their trip was interrupted (Mark 5:21-42). The daughter of Jairus, a ruler of the synagogue, was dying. Time was of the essence, and Jesus was on His way to their home. Then, suddenly, Jesus stopped and said, “Who touched My clothes?” (v.30).

The disciples seemed irritated by this and said, “You see the multitude thronging You, and You say, ‘Who touched Me?’” (v.31). But Jesus saw it as an opportunity to minister to a suffering woman. Her illness had made her ceremonially unclean and unable to participate in community life for 12 years! (see Lev. 15:25-27).

While Jesus was talking to this woman, Jairus’ daughter died. It was too late—or so it seemed. But the delay allowed Jairus to experience an even deeper knowledge of Jesus and His power—even power over death!

Sometimes our disappointment can be God’s appointment.

Disappointment—His appointment

No good thing will He withhold;

From denials oft we gather

Treasures of His love untold. —Young

Look for God’s purpose in your next interruption.

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Inspiration & Motivation

James 1:2

King James Version (KJV)

2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;

1 John 3:21-22

King James Version (KJV)

21 Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.

22 And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.

Ephesians 3:20

King James Version (KJV)

20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,




 

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Downloadable Version Of The King James Bible. Includes Both The Old And New Testament.
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