SoyezLESbienvenus!

Verse of the Day for 12/22/10

Posted by Soyez les bienvenus! On Wednesday, December 22, 2010 0 comments

God doesn't discriminate people. Everyone is equal in his sight irregardless of social status, age, gender, nationality, race or religion.

http://www.verseoftheday.com/

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord."

— Luke 2:8-11 (NIV)

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

Shepherds and the glory of the Lord in the same sentence. Shepherds enjoyed a great heritage in Israel with Abraham, Moses, and David as notable shepherds and God being identified through Psalm 23 as a great shepherd. But by this time in Israelite history, they were not highly regarded. They smelled like sheep. They spent their time with sheep. They were not really clean and religious enough to be considered spiritual. So when God chose to announce the birth of Jesus to shepherds with his contingent of angels he makes his point clear: Everyone is loved by God, everyone has access to God, and everyone is desired by God.

My Prayer...

Holy and Almighty God, I confess to you that sometimes the outward appearance and reputation of a person colors the way I treat them. But today, I am convicted of how much you want everyone to know about your grace in Jesus. Give me a heart to love all people and a passion to share your grace with them. In the name of Jesus I pray this. Amen.

Verse of the Day for 12/20/10

Posted by Soyez les bienvenus! On Monday, December 20, 2010 0 comments

Always believe that things will turn out the best if you are with God.

http://www.verseoftheday.com/

In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. ... So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.

— Luke 2:1 and 4-5 (NIV)

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

Isn't it amazing at how many inconveniences in our lives the Lord uses to accomplish his will in us. Can you think of a worse time to have to go on a cross-country trip with their modes of travel than Joseph and Mary faced. Yet God turned it into the moment in which the angels found their tune and Satan met his match.

My Prayer...

Father, I thank you that behind history, and especially behind the part of history where I live, your hand is always working for my redemption and your glory. Give me faith to ride out the difficult times, knowing that YOU will use those difficulties to be the incubator of your next great work in me. In the name of Jesus, the Joy of angels, I pray. Amen.

Verse of the Day for 12/18/10

Posted by Soyez les bienvenus! On Saturday, December 18, 2010 0 comments

http://www.verseoftheday.com/

[Zechariah said,] "Praise be to the Lord, God of Israel, because he has come and has redeemed his people. He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David, as he said through his holy prophets long ago."

— Luke 1:68-70 (NIV)

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

What God does in Jesus is not a surprise. Yes, it was unexpected, but the "hints" and prophecies of his coming are found all over the Old Testament. The holy prophets had spoken about it "long ago." But more than the prophets, Jesus' coming is God keeping his word. Jesus' coming is God's answer to his promises. That's why Paul can say that all God's promises find their yes in Jesus and it is through Jesus that the "amen" is spoken (2 Cor. 1). In Jesus, God comes, God ministers, God cares, God saves, God redeems, and God keeps his promises.

My Prayer...

I thank you, Holy Father, that you keep your promises. I know I don't have to worry that you will keep your word to me; your love, character, and kindness guarantee that you will. So please help me be more faithful to you as I seek to honor my commitments and pledges to you. I know this is important to you not only because I need to learn obedience, but I also need to develop a character more consistent with your own. Thank you for hearing my heart, in Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

Verse of the Day for 12/15/10

Posted by Soyez les bienvenus! On Wednesday, December 15, 2010 0 comments

http://www.verseoftheday.com/

The angel said to [Mary], "Do not be afraid, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever."

— Luke 1:30-33 (NIV)

Thoughts on Today's Verse...
Jesus is identified by many names stated or implied in the four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John). Notice how Jesus is identified in just this one passage: child, son, Jesus, great, Son of the Most High, King, son of David, and leader of Israel (Jacob). Jesus exhausts all descriptions, and yet chose to be limited to imperfect descriptions by becoming human. But this flood of names and descriptions helps us find Jesus as our Savior in every trial and blessing of life. Jesus is Savior for all seasons.
My Prayer...
Holy and Almighty Father, I thank you for all the ways Jesus is described and all the names he is given. They help me see the breadth of his nature and the depth of his character. Please bless me that I may always find a dimension of Jesus' ministry or a name or description of Jesus to help sustain me, when I walk through the shadows of doubt caused by the evil one. Help me, O Father, to see Jesus and not my preoccupations and biases so that when he comes again, I will know him, and he me. Through the glorious name of the Savior I pray. Amen.

Verse of the Day for 12/12/10

Posted by Soyez les bienvenus! On Sunday, December 12, 2010 0 comments

http://www.verseoftheday.com/

But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, ... that we might receive the full rights of sons.

— Galatians 4:4-5 (NIV)

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

God waited till history reached his appointed time and sent Jesus. Just the right time -- Roman rule, Jewish subordination, good roads, freedom, a degree of safety, a common trading language, cruel and barbaric punishment accompanied by religious infighting. In times such as these, he sent his Son to be a woman's son. He emptied his home so he could send a redeemer to our home. He did it so we could be his children -- not pretend children, but real children, with full rights. So he could not only be God, but so he could be Abba.

My Prayer...

Abba Father, even your name is precious to me. I gasp at how much it cost you to let me call you Abba. I don't understand such extravagant love, but I thank you for it. I know I don't deserve to call you Abba, but it sounds so right. Something inside resonates at the sound of Abba -- Holy, Righteous, Almighty, Abba! While I know that I will never be a perfect child, I rest today in the confidence that I am your child and you claim me. Thank you in Jesus' name. Amen.

Verse of the Day for 12/11/10

Posted by Soyez les bienvenus! On Friday, December 10, 2010 0 comments

http://www.verseoftheday.com/

The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like [Moses] from among your own brothers. You must listen to him.

— Deuteronomy 18:15 (NIV)

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

Jesus is that prophet like Moses. He has come and taught us God's truth. He has taught us with his words recorded in the Gospels. He has taught us with his example, through the deeds he has done. He is teaching us through his abiding presence in us and through the Spirit he has given us. But he teaches us most effectively when we put into practice what he has said.

My Prayer...

El Shaddai, who thundered from Mount Sinai and gave your Law to your servant Moses, I believe you are still speaking today through Jesus. Help me not only hear his voice, but listen to his message and life and put it into practice today. Gently correct and lead me in the way of obedience so that I may more perfectly glorify you with the worship of my daily life. Through the mighty name of Jesus I pray. Amen.

Verse of the Day for 12/09/10

Posted by Soyez les bienvenus! On Wednesday, December 8, 2010 0 comments

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

— John 14:6 (NIV)

Source: http://www.verseoftheday.com/

Verse of the Day for 12/22/10

God doesn't discriminate people. Everyone is equal in his sight irregardless of social status, age, gender, nationality, race or religion.

http://www.verseoftheday.com/

— Luke 2:8-11 (NIV)