datethewordtest

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  • Verse to DATE the Word on August 7 (8/7) is 2 Corinthians 8:7

    “But since you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in
    complete earnestness and in the love we have kindled in you —see that
    you also excel in this grace of giving.” – 2 Corinthians 8:7 (NIV)
    EXCELLING in the GRACE of GIVING.

    Having read a verse about giving it seems logical to start by asking how is your GIVING. Are you a GIVER?  Do you give a portion of your income to a local church?  Do you give to various charities? Would you consider yourself as one who EXCELS at GIVING?  What are your feelings toward GIVING? Does the question about your giving rub you the wrong way? Are you a little sensitive to any talk or questions about your MONEY?  Does on the other hand the thought of giving excite you and you look for opportunities to “invest” in others and into God’s Work?  As you set goals and priorities for your life, have you established a goal to EXCEL AT GIVING?

    The setting for our verse to consider is the Apostle Paul is raising money for needy believers in Jerusalem and the appeal had gone out to Corinth and they made a commitment to give. Having heard through the “grapevine” that the Corinthians have not collected the money and the excitement about giving has waned the Apostle is now reminding them to be ready to give when he comes to pick up the gift!  In our verse to DATE, he commends them for things they are doing well. There are several things that they are excelling in, but generosity is not one of them. So, he challenges them to EXCEL in this ACT of the GRACE of GIVING, of being GENEROUS.
     
    What does EXCELLING in the act of GIVING look like to you?

    As I think of excelling in giving, I think of the Shunammite family for providing a room for the prophet Elisha to stay when he was in their area.  The story is in 2 Kings 4:8-11.  They wanted to make sure he had a nice comfortable room.   They excelled at giving.

    Another of many stories we could reference is when God’s people gave abundantly to repair the House of the Lord.  The story is found in 2 Chronicles.24:8-11 and it tells how God’s people brought financial gifts in the Chest of Joash.  As the appeal went out the people gave in ABUNDANCE. They excelled at giving. 

    The best example ever of giving is none other than Jesus Christ!!  2 Corinthians 8:9 says, “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.”   Jesus lived giving and He excelled at it.   

    What do you need to do differently in order to EXCEL at GIVING?  What is something you need to do right now to EXCEL at GIVING?

    Our verse to DATE the Word on August 7 (8/7) is 2 Corinthians 8:7.  It says, “But since you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have kindled in you —see that you also excel in this grace of giving.”  (NIV)

    Continue Strong excelling at generosity,
    And remember to DATE the Word

  • Verse to DATE the Word on August 6 (8/6) is Deuteronomy 8:6

    “Therefore you shall keep the commandments of the LORD your God, to walk in His ways and to fear Him.” – Deuteronomy 8:6
    The Foundational Pieces 

    As Moses is preparing God’s people to go into the Promise Land he tells them in Deuteronomy 8:1 that “Every commandment which I command you today you must be careful to observe, that you may live and multiply, and go in and possess the land of which the LORD swore to your fathers.”  Our verse to DATE continues this thought of verse 1 by stating clearly that they are to keep the commandments of the LORD your God, to walk in His ways, and to fear Him.”

    Deuteronomy 8:6 gives us three words that will be foundational for living life according to how God desires.  The three words are KEEP, WALK, and FEAR. 

    We are to KEEP or OBEY His commandments.  His commandments are not burdensome (I John 5:3) and we know that we know Him (I John 2:3) “if we keep His commandments.”
    1 John 2:4 says that “He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.”  

    We are to WALK, WALKING IN HIS WAYS.  The idea of the word “walk” in both OT And NT is how one LIVES.  We are to LIVE according to GOD’S WAYS!   God Himself pleads in Psalm 81:13 saying, “Oh, that My people would listen to Me, that Israel would walk in My ways!”  John writes that “He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.” (1 John 2:6) The NLT says it this way:  “Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did.”

    David gives us a great prayer for learning how to walk in His ways.  Psalms 143:8 says, “Cause me to hear Your lovingkindness in the morning, for in You do I trust; Cause me to know the way in which I should walk, for I lift up my soul to You.”  Psalm 143:8 is a prayer of asking God to help me know His WORD so I can know His WAYS so I can know how to WALK, to walk like Jesus!

    We are to KEEP His commandments and we are to WALK in HIs WAYS, and we are to FEAR HIM!  To fear Him is not to be AFRAID where we cower but rather it is to be in AWE where we adore Him and hold Him in the highest of RESPECT and REVERENCE!   

    Keeping God’s commandments and walking in His ways and fearing Him opens all types of blessings to flow into your life!  Psalm 128:1 says, “Blessed is everyone that fears the LORD; that walks in His ways.“

    Verse to DATE the Word on August 6 (8/6) is Deuteronomy 8:6. It says, “Therefore you shall keep the commandments of the LORD your God, to walk in His ways and to fear Him.”

    KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS!  WALK IN HIS WAYS!! FEAR HIM!!!

    Continue Strong living as He would have you live,
    And remember to DATE the Word
     

  • Verse to DATE the Word on August 5 (8/5) is 2 Corinthians 8:5

    “And not only as we had hoped, but they first gave themselves
    to the Lord, and then to us by the will of God.” – 2 Corinthians 8:5

    JESUS FIRST!   

    The background of 2 Corinthians 8:5 has the Apostle Paul holding up Macedonian believers as examples of generosity to the Corinthians.  2 Corinthians 8 begins, “Moreover, brethren, we make known to you the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia: 2 that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded in the riches of their liberality. 3 For I bear witness that according to their ability, yes, and beyond their ability, they were freely willing, 4  imploring us with much urgency that we would receive the gift and the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.”  

    Having shared about the willingness to give above and beyond what they could really afford to give the Apostle Paul now makes one of the most powerful statements one can make about a person or a group of people as he tells how they made JESUS FIRST, stating that “THEY FIRST GAVE THEMSELVES TO THE LORD.”  Yes, they gave money but FIRST and foremost and more importantly, they GAVE THEMSELVES TO THE LORD.

    What a powerful description!!!  Their first priority was for Jesus to be their FIRST priority!  

    Have you considered all that Jesus did in order to give you life?  He died and then arose that He might give you abundant life now and eternal life later!  Have you in turn given Him your life? Romans 12:1 speaks of presenting ourselves to the Lord. Have you made a present of yourself and presented yourself to Jesus? Has there been a time in your life when you said, “HERE I AM, LORD!!?” Has there been a time when you fully GAVE YOURSELF TO THE LORD?

    Verse to DATE the Word on August 5 (8/5) is 2 Corinthians 8:5.  It says, “And not only as we had hoped, but they first gave themselves to the Lord, and then to us by the will of God.”

    Continue Strong with Jesus FIRST,
    And remember to DATE the Word

  • Verse to DATE the Word on August 4 (8/4) is Judges 8:4

    “When Gideon came to the Jordan, he and the three hundred men who
    were with him crossed over, exhausted but still in pursuit. – Judges 8:4

    EXHAUSTED YET ENDURING!

    God had called Gideon to deliver Israel and after culling the army from 32,000 to 300 the battles have begun.  Judges 7:23 says, ” And the men of Israel gathered together from Naphtali, Asher, and all Manasseh, and pursued the Midianites.”   As chapter 7 wraps up two of the princes of the Midianites, Oreb and Zeeb are captured and executed. But there are more Midianites to battle, specifically Zebah and Zalmunna, kings of Midian.  Our verse to DATE, Judges 8:4, tells us about the start of their pursuit of these two kings.

    In Judges 8:4 I am drawn to the word “EXHAUSTED” and the words “BUT STILL IN PURSUIT.” The word EXHAUSTED and the phrase BUT STILL IN PURSUIT should challenge us as well as teach us about what it takes to truly be successful.  Life is difficult.  Work is hard.  Our days are full, overflowing with demand. The pressure to succeed at work, home, and/or ministry, is at times unbearable.  It is EXHAUSTING.  There are times we end the day EXHAUSTED and then start the next day EXHAUSTED.  Life is tough!  And then there come those moments of wanting to QUIT.   

    Yet we look at Judges 8:4 and we see 300 men who while EXHAUSTED, ENDURED.  That is how I sum up “BUT STILL IN PURSUIT.”  They had the character quality of ENDURANCE!  While being EXHAUSTED, tired and worn out, completely drained they were ENDURING.  Though EXHAUSTED they were men of ENDURANCE.  

  • Our verse to DATE the Word on August 3 (8/3) is Nehemiah 8:3

    “Then Ezra  read from it (the law) in the open square that was in front of
    the Water Gate from morning until midday, before the men and women
    and those who could understand; and the ears of all the people were
    attentive to the Book of the Law.” – Nehemiah 8:3

    Being ATTENTIVE to the WORD of God

    As the WORD of GOD was being read by EZRA we get a description that the people of God were responding with ATTENTIVENESS.  What a descriptive statement.   The EARS of all the people were ATTENTIVE.  The dictionary tells us that if one is ATTENTIVE, one is paying CLOSE attention.  To pay close attention is to be paying SERIOUS attention!   As the Word of God was proclaimed by the man of God the people of God were actively involved, paying close attention to what was being said so they might learn and then apply it.

    Just curious, how are you responding to their response?  Did it get your attention?  

    ATTENTIVE.  Is that a word that describes you?  Are you attentive to details?  Are you attentive to what is going on around you?  Are you being attentive to what is being said?  Are you an attentive person?

    Opposite of attentive could have a person being described as someone not having a clue.  They are absentminded.  They are easily distracted.  They are unfocused. 

    In going a little deeper with the word “ATTENTIVE” we find it not only in Nehemiah but also once in the New Testament.  ATTENTIVE was used to describe a group of people listening to Jesus.  In Luke 19:48 we find, “all the people were very attentive to hear Him.”  I think it is helpful sometimes to see how other versions may read.  For instance, you can find Luke 19:48 in the ESV saying, “all the people were hanging on His words.”  Or “all the people were captivated by what they heard.” HCSB. Or “all the people were hanging on to every word He said.”  NASB

    ATTENTIVE – hanging on every word Jesus is saying!  CAPTIVATED!!

    When it comes to listening to and learning the Bible are you ATTENTIVE?  Are you paying attention as the sermon is being delivered?  Are you paying close attention to what is being said?   Are you paying serious attention to what God may be saying to you?  Are you hanging onto every word?  Does God’s Word CAPTIVATE you?

    Verse to DATE the Word on August 3 (8/3) is Nehemiah 8:3. It says, “Then he read from it in the open square that was in front of the Water Gate from morning until midday, before the men and women and those who could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law.”

    May we be known as ATTENTIVE people toward God and God’s Word!

    Continue Strong being attentive to the Word,
    And remember to DATE the Word

  • Verse to DATE the Word on August 2 (8/2) is Mark 8:2

    Jesus said to them “I have compassion on the multitude because they have
    now continued with Me three days and have nothing to eat.” – Mark 8:2
    The COMPASSIONATE CHRIST

    When considering how one might describe Jesus Christ the word COMPASSIONATE has to be one of the words used. Nine different times the gospels tell us He had COMPASSION.  He would SEE the people, yes, SEE a PERSON, HEAR A PLEA for HELP and He would FEEL the pain and the various NEEDS that they had.  Moved with COMPASSION, He would TAKE ACTION to relieve the pain or provide for the need.   Here in Mark 8:2, He has seen the multitude and discerned what they are missing.  Knowing they are hungry and not having any way to relieve their hunger, He, moved with COMPASSION, is going to work to relieve the distress

    Following the example of Jesus, we are to be compassionate.  I Peter 3:8 says, “Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous;”

    What does “having compassion for one another” look like to you?

    Putting the Christ-like character of compassion into actions means:
    1. We SEE a person, not just people.  To SEE a person, not just people, one needs to WALK SLOWLY THROUGH THE CROWD.   Jesus saw a crippled man in John 5.  In the midst of people, He saw a person. 
    2. We HEAR the person as they speak.  One of the duties, if you will, of love, of compassion is to LISTEN.  A leper will ask Jesus for healing.  Jesus, moved with compassion, stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, “I am willing; be cleansed.” (Mark 1.41) Two blind men cried out to Jesus for healing.  Jesus had compassion and touched their eyes. and immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed Him.  (Matthew 20:34)
    3. We FEEL the PAIN.  As Jesus sees and hears what is happening with people it says in Matthew 14:14 that when Jesus went out He saw a great multitude, and He was moved with compassion for them and healed their sick.
    4. We ACT to ALLEVIATE for compassion is far more than knowing the condition of a person and/or feeling sorry about the condition.  Compassion goes to WORK to alleviate to the best of one’s ability the pain and to provide relief for that which is missing. 

    A tremendous guide for being compassionate toward people is to visualize three words written across their chest.   The three words are HANDLE WITH CARE!

    Our verse to DATE the Word on August 2 (8/2) is Mark 8:2. It says, “Jesus said to them “I have compassion on the multitude because they have now continued with Me three days and have nothing to eat.”

    Let us be like the COMPASSIONATE CHRIST!!

    Continue Strong with a compassionate heart for others,
    And remember to DATE The Word

  • Verse to DATE the Word on August 1 (8/1) is Proverbs 8:1

    “Does not wisdom cry out, and understanding lift up her voice?” – Proverbs 8:1
    WISDOM IS CALLING

    From the start of the Book of Proverbs, WISDOM will APPEAL to ALL, anyone and everyone, anywhere and everywhere to ACQUIRE and ATTAIN her as, listen, she is readily AVAILABLE!  For instance, Proverbs 1:20-21 says, “Wisdom calls aloud outside; She raises her voice in the open squares.  She cries out in the chief concourses, at the openings of the gates in the city.”  Wherever people are WISDOM IS CALLING.

    WISDOM is so convinced we need her that she states without any reservation that we should make getting (ATTAINING) wisdom our top priority.  Proverbs 4:7 say, “Wisdom is the principal thing; Therefore, get wisdom and in all your getting, get understanding.”  WISDOM IS CALLING!

    Why is getting WISDOM so essential? What does it provide?  As wisdom makes its numerous APPEALS it also tells of the ADVANTAGES one will have in living a life.  Wisdom can be defined as having a SKILL.  The wisdom that is found in Proverbs is described as Heaven’s instructions to give us the skills needed for earthly living. When heaven’s instructions are applied one has the various skills, the various abilities needed to live life the way God intended life to be lived. 

    Twice in Proverbs, we have very scary verses as both Proverbs 14:12 and 16:25 says “There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.”  Wisdom is going to show us the RIGHT way that leads to life rather than death.  Pay close attention to how Proverbs 8 concludes. Proverbs 8:35 says, “For whoever finds me (WISDOM) finds life, And obtains favor from the LORD; 36  But he who sins against me wrongs his own soul; All those who hate me love death.”

    Are you hearing the call from wisdom?  Are you hearing the cry of wisdom?  Wisdom, heavenly instructions for earthly living, is AVAILABLE to YOU!  I appeal to you to answer wisdom’s call and acquire and apply wisdom to your life!

    PRACTICAL APPLICATION: A way to answer the call of wisdom is by reading and studying the book of Proverbs. A way to do this is by reading one chapter a day.  I like to suggest reading the chapter that matches the day of the month.  With today being August 1 read Proverbs 1.  Then on August 2 read Proverbs 2.  Do this for each day of August!  BTW – Early in my walk with the Lord I received this great advice and I wholeheartedly believe it to be some of the greatest advice I could ever give you. I hope it will become a spiritual habit in your life!

    The wisest decision you will make is to GET WISDOM!  

    Verse to DATE the Word on August 1 (8/1) is Proverbs 8:1. It says, “Does not wisdom cry out, And understanding lift up her voice?”

    Wisdom is calling to you.  Will you answer her call?

    Continue strong making it a priority to get the principal thing,
    And remember to DATE the Word

    Bonus – PROVERBS 1
    1  The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel:
    2  To know wisdom and instruction, To perceive the words of understanding,
    3  To receive the instruction of wisdom, Justice, judgment, and equity;
    4  To give prudence to the simple, To the young man knowledge and discretion—
    5  A wise [man] will hear and increase learning, And a man of understanding will attain wise counsel,
    6  To understand a proverb and an enigma, The words of the wise and their riddles.
    7  The fear of the LORD [is] the beginning of knowledge, [But] fools despise wisdom and instruction.
    8  My son, hear the instruction of your father, And do not forsake the law of your mother;
    9  For they [will be] a graceful ornament on your head, And chains about your neck.
    10 My son, if sinners entice you, Do not consent.
    11  If they say, “Come with us, Let us lie in wait to [shed] blood; Let us lurk secretly for the innocent without cause;
    12  Let us swallow them alive like Sheol, And whole, like those who go down to the Pit;
    13  We shall find all [kinds] of precious possessions, We shall fill our houses with spoil;
    14  Cast in your lot among us, Let us all have one purse” —
    15  My son, do not walk in the way with them, Keep your foot from their path;
    16  For their feet run to evil, And they make haste to shed blood.
    17  Surely, in vain the net is spread In the sight of any bird;
    18  But they lie in wait for their own blood, They lurk secretly for their own lives.
    19  So are the ways of everyone who is greedy for gain; It takes away the life of its owners.
    20  Wisdom calls aloud outside; She raises her voice in the open squares.
    21  She cries out in the chief concourses, At the openings of the gates in the city She speaks her words:
    22  “How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity? For scorners delight in their scorning, And fools hate knowledge.
    23  Turn at my rebuke; Surely I will pour out my spirit on you; I will make my words known to you.
    24  Because I have called and you refused, I have stretched out my hand and no one regarded,
    25  Because you disdained all my counsel, And would have none of my rebuke,
    26  I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your terror comes,
    27  When your terror comes like a storm, And your destruction comes like a whirlwind, When distress and anguish come upon you.
    28  “Then they will call on me, but I will not answer; They will seek me diligently, but they will not find me.
    29  Because they hated knowledge And did not choose the fear of the LORD,
    30  They would have none of my counsel [And] despised my every rebuke.
    31  Therefore they shall eat the fruit of their own way, And be filled to the full with their own fancies.
    32  For the turning away of the simple will slay them, And the complacency of fools will destroy them;
    33  But whoever listens to me will dwell safely, And will be secure, without fear of evil.”

  • Verse to DATE the Word on July 31 (7/31) is Acts 7:31

    “When Moses saw it, (the burning bush) he was amazed at the sight. As he went to
    take a closer look, the voice of the LORD called out to him,” – Acts 7:31
    Pausing to TURN ASIDE AND SEE and HEAR what GOD is up to.

    Acts 7 is the recounting of the history of Israel by Stephen, and one cannot talk about the history of Israel without talking about Moses.  A reading of the life and times of Moses easily reveals that he had many unusual moments with God.  Acts 7:31 tells of his encounter with God at the burning bush.   As a refresher of the story let’s look back at it in Exodus.  

    Starting with Exodus 2 and verse 1 we find “Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian. And he led the flock to the back of the desert and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. 2  And the Angel of the LORD appeared to him in a flame of fire from the midst of a bush. So he looked, and behold, the bush was burning with fire, but the bush was not consumed. 3 Then Moses said, “I will now turn aside and see this great sight, why the bush does not burn.”

    Stephen says that as Moses saw the burning bush, he WENT TO TAKE A CLOSER LOOK.  Exodus 3:3 says MOSES said he would TURN ASIDE AND SEE this great sight.  

    While you and I do not have literal burning bushes I do believe believers will have what is called “burning bush moments.”  These will be times when God will be stirring your heart about doing some work for Him.  The question is what will we do when that stirring begins?  The challenge for us who are part of “the rushed generation” is whether we can PAUSE to TURN ASIDE and SEE and HEAR what God is doing.  My personal fear is that I have already set my agenda of “tending the flock” so firmly that I may pass by the burning bush moment and thus miss what God has next.  Maybe you can relate.  

    As you DATE Acts 7:31 and ponder on HE WENT TO TAKE A CLOSER LOOK I trust you will be challenged to not rush by the burning bush moment.  Pause.  Turn aside.  See.  Listen. 

    Verse to DATE the Word on July 31 (7/31) is Acts 7:31. It says, “When Moses saw it, (the burning bush) he was amazed at the sight. As he went to take a closer look, the voice of the LORD called out to him,”

    On our spiritual journey, there will be for us what I call “God moments.” They will come to us in unusual ways. They invite us to TURN ASIDE from what we are doing and SEE and HEAR WHAT GOD is doing and what He then will want us to do.

    Continue Strong turning aside and drawing near to hear God,
    And remember to DATE the Word

  • Verse to DATE the Word on July 30 (7/30) is Luke 7:30

    “But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the will of God for themselves,
    not having been baptized by him.” – Luke 7:30
    They “REJECTED THE WILL OF GOD.” 

    I am thinking that those who read this devotional would never want the words you “REJECTED THE WILL OF GOD” spoken about you. I would certainly hope not. I know I do not.  What a terrible description to have spoken about you.  

    As believers, our desire should be to know and obey the will of God.   We are taught by the Apostle Peter in 1 Peter 4:2 “that we no longer should live the rest of our time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.”  The Apostle Paul writes to the Ephesians in Ephesians 5:17 to “not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.”  To the Colossians, Paul wrote that he was praying for them “that they may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding.”

    My discipler, Bill Crawford, told me as I began my Christian journey that the best place in life was to be right smack in the middle of God’s will.  He said I was to find God’s will for my life and do God’s will.

    Where does KNOWING and DOING the will of God presently fit into your life? 
    Is there first and foremost a desire to KNOW His will? 
    Is there secondly a desire to DO His will? 
    Thirdly, are you presently DOING His will? 

    In wrapping up this devotional please pause to consider a different description of one’s life and actions. As opposed to Luke 7:30 where the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the will of God consider Acts 13:36 where we read about King David.  Acts 13:36 says, “For after David had done the will of God in his own generation, he died and was buried with his ancestors….” 

    The Pharisees and lawyers rejected the will of God.  King David did the will of God.  

    May Acts 13:36 be spoken at your funeral that you did the will of God during your time on this earth!  May it never be said of us that you REJECTED the will of God!

    Verse to DATE the Word on July 30 (7/30) is Luke 7:30. It says, “But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the will of God for themselves, not having been baptized by him.”

    Continue Strong KNOWING and DOING God’s Will,
    And remember to DATE the Word
     

  • Verse to DATE the Word on July 29 (7/29) is 2 Samuel 7:29

    “Now, therefore, let it please You to bless the house of Your servant, that it may
    continue forever before You; for You, O Lord GOD, have spoken it, and with Your
    blessing let the house of Your servant be blessed forever.” – 2 Samuel 7:29
    Asking God to Bless you and your Family

    As one reads of David’s desire for God’s blessings David is wanting to have God’s supernatural favor. While asking God for His blessings could come across as arrogant or prideful the real truth is the one asking for the blessing has realized how insufficient they are. They humbly bow with the understanding that they NEED, desperately NEED God to work.  

    As far as asking for God’s blessing, I am reminded of two other passages regarding blessings. 

    The first is the Priest blessing of Numbers 6:23-27.  In Numbers 6 starting at verse 23 God tells Moses to tell Aaron and his sons to ask God to bless the people of Israel and to tell them WHAT that blessing should include.  Notice Numbers 6:23-27 as it says, “Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, Thus you shall bless the people of Israel: you shall say to them, 24 The LORD BLESS you and keep you; 25 the LORD make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; 26 the LORD lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace. 27 “So shall they put my name upon the people of Israel, and I will BLESS them.”

    Do you ask God for His blessings for others?  I trust you do.  

    The second comes from the prayer of Jabez in I Chronicles 4:10. It says, “Jabez called upon the God of Israel, saying, “Oh that You would BLESS me and enlarge my border, and that Your hand might be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain!” And God granted what he asked.”

    Do you ask God for His blessings on your life and on your family and on your work? I trust you do!! 

    And remember we are not asking God for His blessings for our own benefit but through His blessings we are able to be a blessing. 

    Our verse to DATE the Word on July 29 (7/29) is 2 Samuel 7:29. It says, “Now, therefore, let it please You to bless the house of Your servant, that it may continue forever before You; for You, O Lord GOD, have spoken it, and with Your blessing let the house of Your servant be blessed forever.”

    May the Lord BLESS you today!

    Continue Strong from receiving God’s Blessings,
    And remember to DATE the Word

    Bonus – to the fathers reading this please recall how Jacob was blessed by his father Isaac and then how he blessed his children and his grandchildren.  You can read about these blessings in Genesis 28 and Genesis 48.