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  • Monthly THEME verses to DATE the Word in 2023

    12 THEME Verses to DATE the Word during 2023
    2 Kings 23:3 Then the king stood by a pillar and made a covenant before the LORD, to follow the LORD and to keep His commandments and His testimonies and His statutes, with all his heart and all his soul, to perform the words of this covenant that were written in this book. And all the people took a stand for the covenant.
    For January 1 Corinthians 1:23
    1 Corinthians 1:23 but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness,
    Theme: PREACH CHRIST and Him Crucified regardless of how it might be received! 

    For February Exodus 2:23
    Exodus 2:23 “Now it happened in the process of time that the king of Egypt died. Then the children of Israel groaned because of the bondage, and they cried out; and their cry came up to God because of the bondage.”
    Theme: CAST YOUR CARES & the cares of others on the Lord.  Come to the throne of grace to find help & grace. 

    For March Colossians 3:23
    Colossians 3:23 “And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men.”
    Theme: Autograph your work with passion and excellence, doing it all for the Lord

    For April Proverbs 4:23
    Proverbs 4:23 Guard your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life.
    Theme: Guard your heart and have regular spiritual heart check-ups!

    For May Proverbs 19:23
    Proverbs 19:23 The fear of the LORD leads to life, and he who has it will abide in satisfaction; He will not be visited with evil.
    Theme:  Live fearing the Lord that you might live in satisfaction

    For June  Proverbs 6:23
    Proverbs 6:23 For the commandment is a lamp, And the law a light; Reproofs of instruction are the way of life,
    Theme: Receive God’s Word and rebukes for to have LIFE with your life

    For July  Jeremiah 7:23
    Jeremiah 7:23 “But this is what I commanded them, saying, ‘Obey My voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be My people. And walk in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well with you.’
    Theme: Commit to keeping His commands

    For August  Leviticus 8:23
    Leviticus 8:23 as instructed Moses killed the bull.  He then took some of its blood and put it on the tip of Aaron’s right ear, on the thumb of his right hand, and on the big toe of his right foot.
    Theme:  From head to toe be fully dedicated to the Lord

    For September  Luke 9:23
    Luke 9:23 Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.
    Theme: Commit to dying daily to self to live completely following the Lord, 

    For October  Proverbs 23:23
    Proverbs 23:23 Buy truth, and do not sell it; buy wisdom, instruction, and understanding.
    Theme:  Commit to ACQUIRING and appling wisdom to  your life

    For November  Acts 11:23
    Acts 11:23 “When he came and had seen the grace of God, he was glad, and encouraged them all that with purpose of heart they should continue with the Lord.
    Theme: Recognize where God is working and rejoice about it and give all the encouragement you can for them to continue strong

    For December 1 Samuel 12:23
    1 Samuel 12:23 says, “Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you; but I will teach you the good and the right way.” 
    Theme: Make the COMMITMENT TO BE A PRAYER WARRIOR AND A DISCIPLER!

    The CHAPTER I have chosen for 2023 is 2 Kings 23
    In 2 Kings 23 good King Josiah hears and reads God’s Word and responds to it personally and then challenges others to obey it and in doing so there is REVIVAL.  May we read and hear God’s Word and respond with obedience personally and then call on others to read and hear God’s Word that they too might obey.  Might we have a revival in 2023.  BTW – I define revival as a renewed obedience to the Word of God! 

    2 Kings 23:1  Then the king sent, and all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem were gathered to him.
    2  And the king went up to the house of the LORD, and with him all the men of Judah and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem and the priests and the prophets, all the people, both small and great. And he read in their hearing all the words of the Book of the Covenant that had been found in the house of the LORD.
    3  And the king stood by the pillar and made a covenant before the LORD, to walk after the LORD and to keep his commandments and his testimonies and his statutes with all his heart and all his soul, to perform the words of this covenant that were written in this book. And all the people joined in the covenant.
    4 ¶  And the king commanded Hilkiah the high priest and the priests of the second order and the keepers of the threshold to bring out of the temple of the LORD all the vessels made for Baal, for Asherah, and for all the host of heaven. He burned them outside Jerusalem in the fields of the Kidron and carried their ashes to Bethel.
    5  And he deposed the priests whom the kings of Judah had ordained to make offerings in the high places at the cities of Judah and around Jerusalem; those also who burned incense to Baal, to the sun and the moon and the constellations and all the host of the heavens.
    6  And he brought out the Asherah from the house of the LORD, outside Jerusalem, to the brook Kidron, and burned it at the brook Kidron and beat it to dust and cast the dust of it upon the graves of the common people.
    7  And he broke down the houses of the male cult prostitutes who were in the house of the LORD, where the women wove hangings for the Asherah.
    8  And he brought all the priests out of the cities of Judah, and defiled the high places where the priests had made offerings, from Geba to Beersheba. And he broke down the high places of the gates that were at the entrance of the gate of Joshua the governor of the city, which were on one’s left at the gate of the city.
    9  However, the priests of the high places did not come up to the altar of the LORD in Jerusalem, but they ate unleavened bread among their brothers.
    10  And he defiled Topheth, which is in the Valley of the Son of Hinnom, that no one might burn his son or his daughter as an offering to Molech.
    11  And he removed the horses that the kings of Judah had dedicated to the sun, at the entrance to the house of the LORD, by the chamber of Nathan-melech the chamberlain, which was in the precincts. And he burned the chariots of the sun with fire.
    12  And the altars on the roof of the upper chamber of Ahaz, which the kings of Judah had made, and the altars that Manasseh had made in the two courts of the house of the LORD, he pulled down and broke in pieces and cast the dust of them into the brook Kidron.
    13  And the king defiled the high places that were east of Jerusalem, to the south of the mount of corruption, which Solomon the king of Israel had built for Ashtoreth the abomination of the Sidonians, and for Chemosh the abomination of Moab, and for Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites.
    14  And he broke in pieces the pillars and cut down the Asherim and filled their places with the bones of men.
    15  Moreover, the altar at Bethel, the high place erected by Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin, that altar with the high place he pulled down and burned, reducing it to dust. He also burned the Asherah.
    16  And as Josiah turned, he saw the tombs there on the mount. And he sent and took the bones out of the tombs and burned them on the altar and defiled it, according to the word of the LORD that the man of God proclaimed, who had predicted these things.
    17  Then he said, “What is that monument that I see?” And the men of the city told him, “It is the tomb of the man of God who came from Judah and predicted these things that you have done against the altar at Bethel.”
    18  And he said, “Let him be; let no man move his bones.” So they let his bones alone, with the bones of the prophet who came out of Samaria.
    19  And Josiah removed all the shrines also of the high places that were in the cities of Samaria, which kings of Israel had made, provoking the LORD to anger. He did to them according to all that he had done at Bethel.
    20  And he sacrificed all the priests of the high places who were there, on the altars, and burned human bones on them. Then he returned to Jerusalem.
    21  And the king commanded all the people, “Keep the Passover to the LORD your God, as it is written in this Book of the Covenant.”
    22  For no such Passover had been kept since the days of the judges who judged Israel, or during all the days of the kings of Israel or of the kings of Judah.
    23  But in the eighteenth year of King Josiah this Passover was kept to the LORD in Jerusalem.
    24  Moreover, Josiah put away the mediums and the necromancers and the household gods and the idols and all the abominations that were seen in the land of Judah and in Jerusalem, that he might establish the words of the law that were written in the book that Hilkiah the priest found in the house of the LORD.
    25 ¶  Before him there was no king like him, who turned to the LORD with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his might, according to all the Law of Moses, nor did any like him arise after him.
    26  Still the LORD did not turn from the burning of his great wrath, by which his anger was kindled against Judah, because of all the provocations with which Manasseh had provoked him.
    27  And the LORD said, “I will remove Judah also out of my sight, as I have removed Israel, and I will cast off this city that I have chosen, Jerusalem, and the house of which I said, My name shall be there.”
    28  Now the rest of the acts of Josiah and all that he did, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah?
    29  In his days Pharaoh Neco king of Egypt went up to the king of Assyria to the river Euphrates. King Josiah went to meet him, and Pharaoh Neco killed him at Megiddo, as soon as he saw him.
    30  And his servants carried him dead in a chariot from Megiddo and brought him to Jerusalem and buried him in his own tomb. And the people of the land took Jehoahaz the son of Josiah, and anointed him, and made him king in his father’s place.
    31 ¶  Jehoahaz was twenty-three years old when he began to reign, and he reigned three months in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Hamutal the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah.
    32  And he did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his fathers had done.
    33  And Pharaoh Neco put him in bonds at Riblah in the land of Hamath, that he might not reign in Jerusalem, and laid on the land a tribute of a hundred talents of silver and a talent of gold.
    34  And Pharaoh Neco made Eliakim the son of Josiah king in the place of Josiah his father, and changed his name to Jehoiakim. But he took Jehoahaz away, and he came to Egypt and died there.
    35  And Jehoiakim gave the silver and the gold to Pharaoh, but he taxed the land to give the money according to the command of Pharaoh. He exacted the silver and the gold of the people of the land, from everyone according to his assessment, to give it to Pharaoh Neco.
    36  Jehoiakim was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Zebidah the daughter of Pedaiah of Rumah.
    37  And he did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his fathers had done.

    May you enjoy a BLESSED NEW YEAR!

    Continue Strong observing and obeying God’s Word
    And remember to DATE THE WORD

  • Verse to DATE the Word on December 31 (12/31) is Luke 12:31

    Our verse to DATE the Word on December 31 (12/31) is Luke 12:31
    Luke 12:31 says, “But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you. 
    HAPPY NEW YEAR’S EVE!!!!  

    What are you SEEKING?

    Portions of what we call the Sermon on the Mount that is found in Matthew 5, 6, and 7 are found in Luke 12.  Luke places the teaching on worrying and being consumed with concerns about the present after Jesus has addressed people about being covetous.  Being consumed with the cares and concerns of life chokes out our life.  (See Luke 8:14) Our lives are so much more than food and drink and clothing.  And our lives are not about GETTING and HAVING THE MOST and BEST of everything.  We draw from Luke 12:15 that the best things in life are not things. 

    If life is not about getting things and not even about making sure we survive by focusing all our attention on getting the basics for living, what then is life about?  Luke 12:31 says, “But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you.”  Matthew 6:33 reads, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”

    Luke 12:31 reminds us of what our top priority should be.   I am not sure what you are SEEKING but based on Scripture seeking and doing the will of God should be the preeminent priority of the Christian’s life.   
     
    Consider a few other verses to help solidify that seeking and doing God’s will is to be your top priority;

    Joshua 24:14 “Now, therefore, fear the LORD and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. 15 And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the LORD, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”

    Luke 9:23 Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.

    Psalm 27:8 You have said, “Seek my face.” My heart says to you, “Your face, LORD, do I seek.”

    Finally, notice a comparison of Philippians 1:21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain, and Philippians 2:21 For they all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ.
    Will you be a 1:21 person or a 2:21 person in the new year?

    Our verse to DATE the Word on December 31 (12/31) is Luke 12:31. It says, “But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you.

    Continue Strong with Jesus always being FIRST!!
    And remember to DATE THE WORD

  • Resolve TO RESOLVE on 12/31 for BETTER RESULTS in 2023

    Resolve TO RESOLVE on 12/31
    Daniel 1:8 But Daniel resolved
    During the days of December 30-31 take the challenge to Resolve to RESOLVE for BETTER RESULTS in 2023. 

    Some people struggle with making New Year’s resolutions and I get that.  However, I am a big believer in EVALUATING where one is and MAKING PROPER ADJUSTMENTS!  I have found that the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day is a great week to evaluate the past year and write out dreams (goals) and resolutions for the coming year.  Here are a few evaluating questions: What were the highlights of 2022?  What were the challenging moments of 2022?  What do you wish you could do over?  (It could have answers of both good and bad.)  As you look back what do you wish you would have done?  As you look back what do you wish you would have done differently? 
    As we think of making resolutions let us remember that if we keep doing what we have been doing we will keep having what we have been having. 
    And let us remember that though we cannot go back and make a brand new start we can start today and make a brand new end. 

    As a way to help you make some new resolutions, start with the challenge to RESOLVE TO RESOLVE.  Daniel was DIFFERENT because he RESOLVED in his heart to do some things and not do some things!  

    For 2023 please allow me to challenge you to RESOLVE.

    Resolve to be RESPONSIBLE with your RESPONSIBILITIES
    Proverbs 12:27  The lazy man does not roast what he took in hunting, But diligence (being responsible) is man’s precious possession.

    Resolve to EXERCISE doing spiritual disciplines. 
    1 Timothy 4:7  But reject profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise yourself toward godliness.
    Some of the spiritual exercises include having a daily Quiet Time; Bible reading; Prayer; Fellowship; Witnessing; at times Fasting; Cooperate worship; discipling, etc.
    BTW – the Greek word for exercise here gives us our English word gymnasium.    
    Resolve to going to the spiritual gymnasium and exercising daily! 

    Resolve to SERVE like Christ
    Galatians 5:13    : For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.
    Remember it is not about TITLES! It is about TOWELS. See John 13:1-15 especial 13:4 and 13:12

    Resolve to OBEY the ONE ANOTHERS 
    Over the years of study, I have found at least 56 things the NT teaches that I am to be doing for OTHERS.  For example, we have several things to do for others in Ephesians 4:32.  It says. “And be kind to one another, tenderhearted to one another, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave you.” 
    I did write OBEY the ONE ANOTHERS because while it might be easy to memorize a verse like Ephesians 4:32 in AWANA, the application can be missing when we get home. 
    Learn and put the ONE ANOTHERS INTO ACTION!

    Resolve to LOVE GOD and LOVE PEOPLE
    Mark 12:28  Then one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, perceiving that He had answered them well, asked Him, “Which is the first commandment of all?” 29  Jesus answered him, “The first of all the commandments [is]: ‘Hear, O Israel, the LORD our God, the LORD is one. 30  ‘And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment.  31  “And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”
    As you evaluate the past year is it possible that you lost your first love?  You may have gotten so busy doing the work of the Lord you forgot the Lord of the work.  Is it possible that you see people as a problem rather than seeing people with problems?  Every now and then you need to read 1 Corinthians 13:4-8. 

    Resolve to be VALIANT in the Lord’s Battles.  
    Hebrews 11:32      And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also [of] David and Samuel and the prophets: 33  who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,  34  quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens”
    2 Samuel 23:20  And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was a valiant man of Kabzeel, a doer of great deeds. He struck down two ariels of Moab. He also went down and struck down a lion in a pit on a day when snow had fallen.  21  And he struck down an Egyptian, a handsome man. The Egyptian had a spear in his hand, but Benaiah went down to him with a staff and snatched the spear out of the Egyptian’s hand and killed him with his own spear. 22  These things did Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and won a name beside the three mighty men.

    Remember that we are to be SALT AND LIGHT in the dark world.
    Matthew 5:13  “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. 14  “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15  “Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives lighl to all who are in the house. 16  “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”
    Be VALIANT in being salt and light for Jesus!

    Resolve to do the work of an EVANGELIST.  
    2 Timothy 4;5  But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
    Proverbs 11:30 “The fruit of the righteous [is a] tree of life, And he who wins souls is wise.”
    Go and TELL the good news to the lost in 2023!

    So I challenge you to resolve to RESOLVE for BETTER RESULTS IN 2023!

    Continue Strong and have a very blessed and fruitful NEW YEAR!!  
    DATE THE WORD

  • Verse to DATE the Word on December 30 (12/30) is Mark 12:30

    Our verse to DATE the Word on December 30 (12/30) is Mark 12:30
    Mark 12:30 says, “And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment.” 
    Jesus is being QUESTIONED, EXAMINED if you will, by the religious leaders at the temple.  In Mark 12:28 a scribe presents one of the questions that is greatly debated among the religious leaders asking Jesus WHAT IS THE GREATEST COMMANDMENT?  This was a pretty good question to ask as there were 613 laws or commandments and within those 613 were the Ten Commandments.  One can imagine the interest at this moment as to what Jesus would say.  

    What was His answer?  Starting at Mark 12:29 He answered, “The first of all the commandments is: ‘Hear, O Israel, the LORD our God, the LORD is one. 30 ‘And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment. 31  “And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”

    What was His answer as we seek to discover truth to apply to our lives?  I don’t mean to oversimplify but I think we can sum up His answer with LOVE GOD! LOVE PEOPLE!

    LOVE GOD!  

    LOVE PEOPLE!

    Love God because He first loved you!

    Love people even if they don’t love you back.  

    LOVE GOD!!  LOVE PEOPLE!!

    As we review the past and look to the future with a new year before us what has been your priorities and what will your priorities be?  Where does your relationship with God fall on your list of priorities?  Where does your relationship with people fall on your list of priorities?  What changes need to be made?

    Verse to DATE the Word on December 30 (12/30) is Mark 12:30. It says, “And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment. (31 “And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”)

    Continue Strong INCREASING in your LOVE FOR GOD and LOVE FOR PEOPLE
    And remember to DATE THE WORD

  • Verse to DATE the Word on December 29 (12/29) is Hebrews 12:29

    Our verse to DATE the Word on December 29 (12/29) is Hebrews 12:29
    Hebrews 12:29  says, “For our God is a consuming fire.” 
    OUR GOD IS… Well, A CONSUMING FIRE

    Throughout our Bibles, we find NUMEROUS descriptions of God.  One can easily rattle off many of these descriptive words such as…..(what is the first to come to mind?)   Finish the sentence The LORD IS….?   I suspect you immediately thought The Lord is my SHEPHERD.  You may have also thought the LORD IS LOVE.  To finish the sentence “God is…” you probably immediately think HOLY! He is also gracious and good and great and merciful and kind and righteous and true, etc.  As we stated at the start we find numerous descriptions of God 

    As we consider descriptions of God, Hebrews 12:29 gives one we probably are not quick to place on our list, especially if we are doing the A to Z method.  Words starting with C to describe God almost always starts with COMPASSIONATE and COMFORTER and COUNSELOR, even CREATOR but I don’t think many of us think CONSUMING fire.   And even if you want to say the real description is FIRE I don’t think many of us think FIRE when we give a list of words beginning with F.  FAITHFUL and FORGIVING come quickly to mind, but not FIRE.  Yet in one short verse, we have a very distinct description of God.  He is a CONSUMING FIRE.

    Three questions come to mind as I look at this distinct description.  First, what does it mean that God is a consuming fire?  Two, why is it mentioned here?  Three, how does God being a consuming fire apply to my life?

    To answer the first question is to first know that this description comes from the OT, from Deuteronomy 4:24 which says, “For the Lord your God is a consuming fire, even a jealous God.”  Understanding God as a CONSUMING FIRE means He does not tolerate sinful disobedience and will deal with it severely.   As sin was abominable to God in the OT it is abominable to Him in the NT.  The believer is being warned here to not think that because of GRACE God takes a lower view of our sins.  The Apostle Paul dealt with this in Romans as he asked should we sin that grace may abound?  He answered himself with GOD FORBID!!! 

    From Hebrews 12:28 we are to serve God with profound reverence and unwavering fidelity.  Returning to the sinful lifestyle that we were saved out of is a betrayal to the SAVIOR.  We are called to live holy lives.  And in case we forget OUR GOD IS A CONSUMING FIRE.  While it is correct to think of the fire of God as judgment, I do believe we need to be thinking of God’s fire here as for purifying.   

    As we get closer to a new year it might be a good prayer to pray to ask God to purify your soul.  Let us serve Him with a profound reverence that He is due and an unwavering devotion!

    Verse to DATE the Word on December 29 (12/29) is Hebrews 12:29. It says, “For our God is a consuming fire.”

    Continue Strong with a reverence for God
    And remember to DATE THE WORD

  • Verse to DATE the Word on December 28 (12/28) is Deuteronomy 12:28

    Our verse to DATE the Word on December 28 (12/28) is Deuteronomy 12:28
    Deuteronomy 12:28 says, “Observe and obey all these words which I command you, that it may go well with you and your children after you forever, when you do what is good and right in the sight of the LORD your God.
    The RIGHT decision is always to do what is RIGHT in the SIGHT of God

    Breaking down our verse we discover the command to Observe and OBEY God’s commands. We discover the bountiful blessings that come to those who obey.  These blessings are not just to the one obeying. but to their children and future generations.  We discover that in obeying God’s commands we are obeying (DOING) what HE has determined is GOOD (as opposed to what is BAD) and RIGHT (as opposed to what is WRONG).  And what is right is based on what is right in GOD’s SIGHT!

    As believers, we have to make decisions about what actions to take.  Even before deciding to make the decision, we have to decide what will guide our decision-making.  In Judges 21:25 we read that “every man did that which was right in his own eyes.”  On the other hand, Jesus said in John 14:15 “If you love Me, keep My commandments.”   Is your decision-making guided by what is right in your sight or what is right in God’s sight?  Does SELF guide or does the SAVIOR guide your decision-making? 

    In case you are more prone to allowing SELF to guide your decision-making Proverbs 14:12 and Proverbs 16:25 gives the following warning saying, “There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.”  You need to be very careful about doing what is RIGHT in your SIGHT!

    Another warning I would place before you is to be CAREFUL in CHANGING what is RIGHT in the SIGHT OF GOD to being wrong and making what God says is WRONG to now be RIGHT.  Isaiah 5 addresses this WRONG thinking and behavior  Read carefully because this is very much woven into the culture we live in today.  Isaiah 5:20 says, “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter! 21  Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, and shrewd in their own sight!”  

    Friends we are not smarter than God.  He knows WHAT IS BEST! He knows what is GOOD and what is GOOD for us!  He knows what is RIGHT!  

    So I suggest that we LEARN the Word and LIVE in OBEDIENCE to the Word!  I suggest we ACQUIRE wisdom (His guidance on living) and APPLY the wisdom we acquire! I suggest that we are to be more than a hearer but a DOER of the Word!! Choose to do GOOD as opposed to doing bad! Choose to do what is RIGHT rather than what is WRONG! Blessings follow obedience! Blessings come your way and not just to you but to your children! Your actions today impact far more than you! Remember Proverbs 20:7 as it says, “The righteous man walks in his integrity; His children are blessed after him.”  

    Verse to DATE the Word on December 28 (12/28) is Deuteronomy 12:28. It says, “Observe and obey all these words which I command you, that it may go well with you and your children after you forever, when you do what is good and right in the sight of the LORD your God.  

    Trust and obey for there is no other way!

    Continue Strong DOING RIGHT IN HIS SIGHT
    And remember to DATE THE WORD

  • Verse to DATE the Word on December 27 (12/27)
    is Proverbs 12:27

    Our verse to DATE the Word on December 27 (12/27) is Proverbs 12:27
    Proverbs 12:27 says, “The lazy man does not roast what he took in hunting, But diligence is man’s precious possession.”
    RESPONSIBLE

    Of the many contrasts found in Proverbs, the contrast between the LAZY man and the DILIGENT or RESPONSIBLE man brings some of the strongest CONDEMNATION (of the lazy) and COMMENDATION (of the diligent/responsible).  There is no question that throughout Proverbs the reader is admonished to avoid the characterization of being known as LAZY.  Time and again one reads the negatives of being lazy.  Here we get a pathetic action or really the pathetic inaction of the lazy man who does not follow through and does not finish. Though he has gone hunting and has killed something he lets it ROT rather than ROASTING it. WHAT A WASTE!   Instead of enjoying a nice meal for himself and maybe for his family his inaction to take the last steps of cooking leaves him and most likely others hungry.   His inaction is not just sad it is despicable. 

    On the other hand, there is the diligent or the RESPONSIBLE. In contrast to laziness, which is irresponsible, we have a person who finishes what is started. This person is DEPENDABLE and RELIABLE and TRUSTWORTHY.   Whether it is at home or at work, with a team, or on a committee, this person is someone OTHERS CAN COUNT ON!  Their character trait is to be admired.  Wisdom says to be known as one who is diligent and responsible is a precious possession to have.  

    As you THINK on the teaching of Proverbs 12:27 I trust there is a stirring to have a reputation of being RESPONSIBLE.  Any recommendation that is made on your behalf should find the recommender gladly writing or saying the word RESPONSIBLE.  The last thing you want is for them to say you are irresponsible and that you are LAZY.

    It is possible that with the verse for the date you have discovered a weakness in your character. You don’t have to stay the way you are.  What changes need to be made?  

    MAKE THEM and become more RESPONSIBLE WITH RESPONSIBILITIES!

    Verse to DATE the Word on December 27 (12/27) is Proverbs 12:27.  Proverbs 12:27 says, “The lazy man does not roast what he took in hunting, But diligence is man’s precious possession.”

    Continue Strong being RESPONSIBLE
    And remember to DATE THE WORD

    PS – Fathers reading this – demand diligence, especially with your sons! Raise them to be RESPONSIBLE. Be responsible when they are irresponsible and correct this character flaw.

  • Verse to DATE the Word on December 26 (12/26) is Proverbs 12:26

    Our verse to DATE the Word on December 26 (12/26) is Proverbs 12:26
    Proverbs 12:26  says, “The righteous should choose his friends carefully, for the way of the wicked leads them astray.” 
    Oh BE CAREFUL WHO YOUR FRIENDS ARE

    One of the most addressed topics in the Book of Proverbs is friendship. In Proverbs we learn about how to be a friend (a friend loves at all times, Prov 17:17).  We learn a friend helps their friend(s) to be better (Prov. 27:6 and 27:17)  Here in Proverbs 12:26 we are reminded to be CAREFUL of who we have as friends. 

    Why the CAUTION?     Because as friendships develop the friend’s influence increases.  With teenagers, a friend’s influence can easily and quickly become more important to us than parental influence.  Proverbs 13:20 provides some very valuable insight as it states, “He who walks with wise men will be wise, but a companion of fools will be destroyed.” 

    A quote I have used about the influence of friends is “friends are like buttons in an elevator. They can take you up or take you down.”

    No matter the age of a person one must be careful with who they associate.  A great guide for who your friends should be is found in Psalms 119:63. It says, “I am a friend to all who fear You, to those who keep Your precepts.”  In other words, be a friend to those who love the Savior, love the Scriptures, and love the saints.  

    Oh, be careful who your friends are!

    Verse for the date of December 26 (12/26) is Proverbs 12:26. It says, “The righteous should choose his friends carefully, For the way of the wicked leads them astray.”

    Continue Strong being and having friends,
    And remember to DATE THE WORD

  • Verse to DATE the Word on December 25 (12/25)
    is 1 Corinthians 12:25

    Our verse to DATE the Word on December 25  (12/25) is 1 Corinthians 12:25
    1 Corinthians 12:25 says, “That there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another.
    Take care to CARE for one another.

    As believers, we are members of the church which can be described as a building, a bride and/or a body.  The Apostle Paul will use all three images.  Here in 1 Corinthians, he focuses on the church being like a body.  A body has many parts and while some are more seen than others we are reminded that those not seen are incredibly valuable.  As a person takes care of all the parts of their body so is the body of Christ, the church, to take care of each other.  We are to CARE for one another.

    What does CARING for one another look like?    While a full sermon, even a series of sermons. may not sufficiently answer the question please consider just a couple of thoughts.  

    To care for another calls for SEEING their needs.  James 1:27 says Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress…  The Greek word that is translated as “caring” includes the work SKOPOS which we translate to English as SCOPE.  A scope helps you to see things better, to bring it up closer.  A microscope brings what is invisible into view.  A telescope brings something a long way off up closer for better examination.  One uses to scope on a gun to bring the target into better view.  Thus to care for a person is to SEE UP CLOSE.  It is to look intently for things that may be missing with the intent of then providing for what is missing.   

    To care for another is to take appropriate ACTIONS.  It may be a word of encouragement.  Another verse for 12/25 is Proverbs 12:25.  It says, “Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad.”  Worry weighs a heart down but a GOOD WORD – a word of encouragement refreshes and restores one to keep running the race of life!  

    To care for another may call for the sharing of advice.  Just a reminder here.  People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.  Speak the truth with LOVE.  

    As stated we can easily have a sermon series on how to care for one another.  My prayer is that you will consider the call to care for one another and be your brother and sister’s helper!  LOOK and SEE beyond the surface for the real needs of others.  Be proactive in speaking words of encouragement!   

    Our verse to DATE the Word on December 25  (12/25) is 1 Corinthians 12:25. It says, “That there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another.”

    Continue Strong and Merry Christmas!!!!!!!
    And remember to DATE THE WORD

  • Verse to DATE the Word on December 24 (12/24) is John 12:24

    Our verse to DATE the Word on December 24 (12/24) is John 12:24
    John 12:24 says, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain.”
    Death to self brings life and produces fruit for the Savior

    As a master teacher Jesus gives illustrations to bring truth to life and in John 12:24 He gives an agricultural illustration for what it is going to take to be fruitful. Since being fruitful is a major objective of the Christian life (From John 15 we have been appointed to bear much fruit and the Father is glorified as we bear fruit; The apostle Paul prayed that the Colossians would be fruitful in every good work) we need to LEARN how to be fruitful.   

    From John 12:24 we learn one of the most incredible concepts about being fruitful.  Pay close attention. For there to be fruit there has to be death.  

    FOR THERE TO BE FRUIT THERE HAS TO BE DEATH.

    My background is in farming.  I grew up on a farm in Virginia and at a very young age was very involved with my father and grandfather in growing a variety of crops.  Because of helping plant corn, PLANTING A SEED of corn in the ground I easily understood what Jesus taught in John 12:24.  Each year there were bags of SEED corn.  These SEEDS had one purpose and that purpose was to PRODUCE more grain or kernels.  Did you know that one seed of corn will, on average, produce two ears of corn with each ear having about 800 kernels?  1 seed produces 1600 kernels. 

    For us to get 1600 kernels the SEED corn had to DIE.  (The next time you eat corn on the cob look at all those kernels and remember John 12:24 and that one seed – ONE SEED – produced that and another ear of corn.  

    What are we learning about being fruitful for the Savior?  Just as a seed of corn is planted and it dies you then find the dead seed sprouts and begins to live and produce, it produces much or more grain. One dead grain, a dead seed, now produces many grains!! 

    In Luke 9:23 we are called to DIE DAILY!  We are called to die to self!   In doing so we can become producers and bring forth fruit, much fruit, fruit that will remain. 

    We are called to die to self like that seed of corn and when we do we begin to truly live and be fruitful!  

    Verse to DATE the Word on December 24 (12/24) is John 12:24. It says, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain.”

    Continue Strong by dying to self
    And remember to DATE THE WORD