12/15/12 - Acts 20 - 23

S - Acts 21:12 - When we heard this, we and the people there urged him not to go up to Jerusalem.  13 Then Paul answered, "What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be imprisoned but even to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus."  14 And since he would not be persuaded, we ceased and said, "Let the will of the Lord be done."

O - My child whom I love, today I want to tell you . . . Paul was ready to be imprisoned and even to die so that my word would get to the people who needed to hear it.  What are you willing to do for me?

A - I must be willing to suffer for my Lord.  In this country, I will probably not be killed but if I were to travel to another country, would I be so brave?  There are many people who are suffering and being killed for Christ.  I must continue to pray for those people.  And I must speak out myself, in my school and anywhere else that I may be.

P - Heavenly Father, give me the courage of Paul.  Help me to remember those of your church who are actually suffering and dying around the world for you.

12/14/12 - Romans 14 - 16

S - Romans 16:17 - I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them.  18 For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive.  19 For your obedience is known to all, so that I rejoice over you, but I want you to be wise as to what is good and innocent as to what is evil.  20 The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet.  The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

O - My child whom I love, today I want to tell you . . . be wise as to what is good and be innocent as to what is evil.  Even though you are a sinner by birth, you can be free of that sin and be a new person without sin in your life.  If you ask me, I will clear your mind of the past sin and clear you conscience so you can move on.  Remember, I said that if you will confess your sins I will remove them from you as far as the east is from the west and I will remember them no more.  So when the evil one brings up your old sin, you can just say, "What sin?  I have been forgiven of all of my old sins and they do not exist any longer!"  

A - So I can be totally free of my old sins.  I can claim a clean heart and a clear conscience.  When Satan wants to bring those things to my mind, I just tell him to get lost, go to my Bible and call on God to help me defeat the temptation to sin some more.  I must consider myself to be innocent of the things that are evil.  If I am wise to the things that are good, that will take place.  And go to God for help at any time.

P - Heavenly Father, forgive me of my sins.  Cleanse my heart and cleanse my conscience.  Help me to understand that you have totally removed those sins from me and I do not have to dwell on them any longer.  Thank you for forgiving my sins.  Continue to strengthen me to defeat temptation.

12/13/12 - Romans 11 - 13

S - Romans 12:14 - Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them.  15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.  16 Live in harmony with one another.  Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly.  never be wise in your own sight.  17 Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all.  18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.  19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, "Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord."  20 To the contrary, "if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head."  21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

O - My child whom I love, today I want to tell you . . . live at peace with everyone!  Do not look for ways to pay back for evil done to you.  That will be taken care of.  Just look for strength to withstand the evil, and pray for the evil doer.  If someone is persecuting you, pray for them and pray blessings on them, not curses.  If someone is doing something to you to irritate or bother you, look the other way and pray for blessing to fall upon them.  I will take care of the people who are persecuting my children.

A - This sort of goes along with, "Be angry but do not sin."  If someone is bothering me or irritating me, it is easy to get mad and do something that I will regret later.  The Lord says to pray for these people and to bless them.  I guess I will have to learn to pray for those people who make me angry.  This includes my students, colleagues, and administrators.

P - Heavenly Father, help me not to get angry when people are bothering me and irritating me.  Help me to learn to pray for those students who really get on my nerves.  And help me to learn to pray for those colleagues and administrators who I do not agree with or who ask me to do things that I do not think are right.

12/12/12 - Romans 8 - 10

S - Romans 8:1 - There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.  2 For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.  3 For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do.  By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh  4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.  5 For those who life according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.  6 For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.  7 For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot.  8 Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.  9 You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you.  Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.  10 But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit i life because of righteousness.  11 If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.

O - My child whom I love, today I want to tell you . . . live in the Spirit.  Walk in the Spirit.  To walk outside of the Spirit is to walk in death.  I love you and I want you to be with me always.  If you will learn to walk in the Spirit, I will walk with you.  When you walk in the flesh, you walk without me.  I cannot go there and you desert me when you do that.  I am always waiting for you to come back from the death to the Spirit.  Remember, there is no condemnation for you if you return to me.  I will forgive your sins and they will be forgotten, as if they never happened.

A - I must learn to walk in the Spirit.  I must leave the things of this world and focus on the things of God.  I must learn to seek out the Spirit at all times so I can rely on his strength to guide me and direct me where I am to go.  I must first learn to ignore the flesh when it is crying out to me for attention.  I must leave it alone and let it die.  This is the only way to life for me.

P - Heavenly Father, forgive me for my sinful ways.  Forgive me for walking in the flesh when the Spirit was there waiting for me.  Help me to continue to walk in the Spirit.  Guide me and direct me.  Lead me to where you would have me be.  Give me the strength to ignore the flesh when it cries out to me for attention.  Help me to come to you at those times and focus my attentions on you.

12/11/12 - Romans 4 - 7

S - Romans 7:13 - Did that which is good, then, bring death to me?  By no means!  It was sin, producing death in me through what is good, in order that sin might be shown to be sin, and through the commandment might become sinful beyond measure.  14 For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am of the flesh, sold under sin.  15 For I do not understand my own actions.  For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.  16 Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good.  17 So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.  18 For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh.  For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out.  19 For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing.  20 Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.  21 So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand.  22 For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being,  23 but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members.  24 Wretched man that I am!  Who will deliver me from this body of death?  25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.

O - My child whom I love, today I want to tell you . . . it is the flesh in you that continues to sin.  I have conquered the flesh.  Trust in me and I will help you flee the sin that you keep on doing that you hate.  I have defeated sin and you do not need to be a slave to it any longer.  You can rest in me and I will deliver you from that.

A - "Wretched man that I am!"  That sort of speaks to where I am.  The good that I want to do is not what I do.  But it is the evil that I hate that I do not want to do that I keep on doing.  I must turn the entire thing over to my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  He died so that I would no longer be a slave to sin.  I can be free of it.  I must trust him to delver me.  Then I must continue to meet with him regularly and call on his strength to help me.

P - Heavenly Father, forgive me for continually falling back into sin.  Forgive me for not relying on you more heavily.  Help me to defeat the flesh and rest in you.  Give me your strength when temptation comes and tries to draw me back into the old sinful habits.

12/10/12 - Romans 1 - 3

S - Romans 1:16 - For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.  17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, "The righteous shall live by faith."

28 And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done.  29 They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice.  They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness.  They are gossips, 30 slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, 31 foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless.  32 Though they know God's righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.

O - My child whom I love, today I want to tell you . . . do not be ashamed of the gospel.  Do not be ashamed of me.  Do not be ashamed to tell others of me and to share the gospel with any who need to hear it.  Notice how all of the sins are grouped together?  Envy, murder, gossip, disobedient to parents all got grouped in the same set of verses.  I don't 'classify' sin!  Sin is sin!  And they are all deserving of death.  But I paid the price for you.  If you will accept me and let me cover it for you, you will not have to go through that death.  

A - So, when someone says it is 'just a little white lie' it is still a sin.  When I say that at least I am not a murderer, I am still a sinner, just like the murderer.  Sin is not classified by how great or how small the sin is.  Sin is still sin and I will go to eternal death for even the 'smallest' sin.  Thankfully, I have accepted the redemption that comes through the death of Jesus Christ and now have eternal life.  I suppose I should begin to live like it.  When I sin I am slipping back into the life that I have left by accepting Jesus into my heart.

P - Heavenly Father, help me to remember that, to you, a sin is still a sin, and any sin is enough to separate me from you.  I want to be near you and have total access to you.  Forgive me for my sins.  Help me to come to you regularly and seek you out for strength to avoid sinning.

12/09/12 - 2 Corinthians 10 - 13

S - 2 Corinthians 12:5 - On behalf of this man I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except of my weaknesses - 6 though if I should wish to boast, I would not be a fool, for I would be speaking the truth; but I refrain from it, so that no one may think more of me than he sees in me or hears from me.  7 So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited.  8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me.  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 of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.  10 For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities.  For when I am weak, than I am strong.

O - My child whom I love, today I want to tell you . . . be satisfied with yourself, no matter what you feel like you have wrong with you.  Be satisfied with others, no matter what you may think of them.  I made you and I made everyone else.  If I made you all, then you, and they, must be perfect.  So be happy in who you are.  Celebrate me with your whole being and rejoice in the fact that I love you.

A - So, I must be happy with the way God made me.  He made me perfect.  He made everyone around me perfect.  I must be happy with myself and with those around me.  He made my wife perfect. He made my children perfect.  And he made my students and colleagues perfect.  I must learn to accept them for who they are.

P - Heavenly Father, forgive me for not being satisfied with who I am.  Help me to learn to be happy with who I am.  Help me to realize that your grace is sufficient for me.  Help me to learn to be happy in my weakness and realize that in that weakness you can be glorified.

12/08/12 - 2 Corinthians 5 - 9

S - 2 Corinthians 9:6 - The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.  7 Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.  8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.  9 As it is written, "He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever."  10 He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness.  11 You will be enriched  in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God.  12 For the ministry of this service is thanksgiving to God.  13 By their approval of this service, they will glorify God because of your submission that comes from your confession of the gospel of Christ, and the generosity of your contributions fro them and for all others, 14 while they long for you and pray for you, because of the surpassing grace of God upon you.  15 Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!

O - My child whom I love, today I want to tell you . . . give out of the goodness of your heart.  Do not give unless you want to give.  I do not want whatever you have to give me if you do not want to give it to me with your whole heart.  I can further the gospel without your money, time, etc.  What I do want is for you to want to give of your money and time.  When you give of yourself, you are the one getting the blessing.  Of course the ones who are the recipient of your giving will also be blessed and that is why you are giving in the first place.  But I want to bless you also by showing you how I can use your gifts to further my kingdom here on earth.  So, give what you want to give, give out of the goodness of your heart, and be happy about giving . . . or don't give at all.

A - I must decide in my heart what I am going to give to further the kingdom of God.  I must agree to give this and give it cheerfully.  If I am giving grudgingly or because I feel pressured to give, then my heart is not right and, while God can still use the gift to his glory, I will not be receiving the blessing that he has in store for me if I give my gift willingly and cheerfully.

P - Heavenly Father, forgive me for the times when I have given gifts half-heartedly or grudgingly.  Forgive me for my attitude of giving when I feel that way.  Help me to have the desire to give sacrificially to your work hear on earth because I want to give.  Help me to have a spirit o giving all year, not just during the Christmas season when it is the thing to do.  Give me a servants heart and a giving heart.

12/07/12 - 2 Corinthians 1 - 4

S - 2 Corinthians 4:8 - We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair;  9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed;  10 always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies,  11 For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus  also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.  12 So death is at work in us, but life in you.

16 So we do not lose heart, Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.  17 For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison,  18 as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen.  For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.

O - My child whom I love, today I want to tell you . . . you may be getting older and you may feel a little sore now and then from aging, but remember that every day that you live draws you one day closer to the day that you will get to be with me forever.  So, endure the human body that I have given you, and remember, it is perfect, because if it wasn't I would not have allowed you to have it.  So, you may get beat up once in a while, you may get ridiculed once in a while, you may even get hurt once in a while.  But none of that is going to destroy you, it will only make you stronger in me.  Remember, I went though a lot more than you can ever even imagine going through and now I am here to help you go through whatever it is that you have to go through.  Keep living on with the prospect of the "unseen," that time that you will be with me forever, in your mind.

A - Every day that I am alive is drawing me one day closer to the day that I will be with my Lord in heaven forever.  Looking at it that way makes every day here that much more precious.  I must live every day as if it is the last one I will spend here on earth.  I must make every day count for my Lord and Savior.  Spend time with him every morning, committing each and every day to him and living out that day with one thing on my mind; Glorify his name.

P - Heavenly Father, forgive me for the days that I have lived for myself.  Help me to live each and every day for you.  Help me to commit each day to you as I meet with you every morning.  Give my eyes to see the 'unseen' and a will to live with that as my ultimate goal in life.

12/06/12 - 1 Corinthians 15 - 16

S - 1 Corinthians 15:58 - Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.

16:13 - Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.  14 Let all that you do be done in love.

O - My child whom I love, today I want to tell you. . . work as though you are working for me, even if you are just working around your house.  Anything that you do should be done as if it was being done for me.  Since you are living in my home, I would generally expect you to keep it in good shape and take care of it.  Since you are driving my cars, I would hope that you would take care of them as though they did not really belong to you.  When you take pride in your work and do it the best that you can, it makes me happy.  When you work around the house and "enjoy" the work that you are doing, you bring glory to my name.  And when it is done in love, you bring even more glory to my name and you make those around you happy as well.

A - Wow, I never really thought about the work around the house as being done for the Lord.  I guess I should start taking better care of "his" house and "his" cars.  I will look at household chores as being done for my Lord and do them in love and not grumble about doing them while I take care of the things that have only been "loaned" to me for my use.

P - Heavenly Father, forgive me for my poor attitude about house work.  Help me to remember that everything that I do around the house and to my cars I am doing for you.  Help me to have a good attitude about housework and car care and to bring glory to your name in all that I do.

12/05/12 - 1 Corinthians 12 - 14

S - 1 Corinthians 13:4 - Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant  5 or rude.  It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;  6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.  7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.  8 Love never ends.  As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away.  9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part,  10 but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away.  11 When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child.  When I became a man, I gave up childish ways.  12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face.  Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.

O - My child whom I love, today I want to tell you. . . love!  Love my other children.  Love those around you.  Love your students.  Love your colleagues.  Whatever you do, do it with my love in your heart.  Love with my love.  Love like I taught you in my word.  Love the way Jesus loved when he was on earth.  If you love people, then you will not have quarrels because you will always want them to be happy so you will give in to their desires and not push your own agenda on them.  But you will be happy because of love.

A - I must learn to love people the way Jesus did when he was here on earth.  I must learn to give in the desires of others more and not push my own desires on them.  I must learn to be happy because other people are happy and not just because I get my own way.

P - Heavenly Father, forgive me for my selfishness.  Forgive me for not loving your children.  Help me to learn to love people the way that you do.

12/04/12 - 1 Corinthians 9 - 11

S - 1 Corinthians 10:6 - Now these things took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as they did.  7 Do not be idolaters as some of them were/ as it is written, "The people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play."  8 We must not indulge in sexual immorality as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in a single day.  9 We must not put Christ to the test, as some of them did and were destroyed by serpents,  10 nor grumble, as some of them did and were destroyed by the Destroyer.  11 Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come.  12 Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall.  13 no temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man.  God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

O - My child whom I love, today I want to tell you . . . learn from the example of my children who wandered the desert for forty years.  They disobeyed me and payed the penalty for it.  I have given you many examples of people who sinned and were caught up in their sin to the point where they lost their lives for it.  I have also given you many examples of people who served me faithfully and won my favor.  They lived long and fruitful lives and have received their reward for their diligence.  Which of those do you want to emulate.  Would you serve me, even if you ended up in jail like Paul?  Would you serve me even if it ended up getting you shot as some in recent history have done?  Would you serve me if it took you to some strange part of Africa where you had to face all sorts of strange animals and people?  Would you continue to serve you if you ended up getting very wealthy and did not have to work any longer?  Are you totally sold out for me?  Would you give up everything for me?  How committed are you to serving me for the rest of your life?

A - Well, those are all good questions!  How committed am I to serving God for the rest of my life.  It is so easy to say I want to serve him, as long as it means that I serve him where I am right now.  I will serve him in my present location and position.  But will I serve him if it means that I have to move somewhere else?  Will I serve him if it means that I have to move to another country?  Would I serve him if it meant losing everything that I now have?  How committed am I really?  Yes, I want to serve my Lord!  Yes I am willing to give up things to serve him!  Yes I am willing to move if that is what he asks me to do!  I truly do what to serve him for the rest of my life.

P - Heavenly Father, thank you for the examples that you have shown us in your word.  Thank you for the call that you have placed on my life.  Show me what I am going to have to do to serve you.  I am willing to serve you right where I am now.  I am willing to go somewhere else to serve you if that is what you want me to do.  I love you and want to serve you for the rest of my life, no matter what that means.

12/03/12 - 1 Corinthians 5 - 8

S - 1 Corinthians 6:1 - When one of you has a grievance against another, does he dare to go to law before the unrighteous instead of the saints?  2 Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world?  And if the world is to be judged by you, are you incompetent to try trivial cases?  3 Do you not know that we are to judge angels?  How much more, then, batters pertaining to this life!  4 So if you have such cases, why do you lay them before  those who have no standing  in the church?  5 I say this to your shame.  Can it be that there is no one among you wise enough to settle a dispute between the brothers,  6 but brother goes to law against brother, and that before unbelievers?  7 To have lawsuits at all with one another is already a defeat for you. Why not rather suffer wrong?  Why not rather be defrauded?  8 But you yourselves wrong and defraud - even your own brothers!

9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God?  Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality,  10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.  11 And such were some of you.  But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

O - My child whom I love, today I want to tell you . . . you were also one of those.  You were a sinner and would not inherit the kingdom of God.  But you have also been sanctified, you have been justified through our Lord Jesus Christ's death on the cross.  So don't go to law against your own brother.  Is it not better to suffer for the Lord's sake and be a good witness.  Is it not better to suffer loss and win a new convert to the Lord through your actions.  So, turn the other cheek as often as you can.

A - I must learn to turn the other cheek.  I must learn to give God glory in the wake of my own loss or my own suffering.  And in so doing I will try to bring others into the knowledge of Jesus Christ and his saving grace.

P - Heavenly Father, forgive my for my attitude of retribution.  Give me strength to turn the other cheek as you did.  Give me the strength to forgive and forget in the midst of my won suffering.  

12/02/12 - 1 Corinthians 1 - 4

S - 1 Corinthians 1:20 - Where is the one who is wise?  Where is the scribe?  Where is the debater of this age?  Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?  21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe.  22 For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom,  23 but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles,  24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.  25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.  26 For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many of you were powerful, not many were of noble birth.  27 But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong;  28 God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, 29 so hat no human being might boast in the presence of God.  30 And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption,  31 so that as it is written, "Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord."

O - My child whom I love, today I want to tell you . . . boast in me.  I did not choose you because you are wise.  I did not choose you because you are rich.  I did not choose yo because of your station in life. I did not choose you because of anything that you are.  I choose you because of who you will become in me.  Continue to dwell in me and allow me to dwell in you and you will go places.  It probably won't be places that you would think of going on your own, but trust me, it will be exciting.  Just hang on and let me lead.

A - If I put my trust in Jesus and continue to dwell in him and allow him to guide me, who knows where I will end up.  I want to b used by him so I will continue to meet with him on a regular basis and listen to him for instruction and just follow him where ever he leads me.

P - Heavenly Father, for give me for when I do not trust you.  Forgive me for the times when I put my trust in my own strength, or my own riches, or intelligence.  Help me to trust in you completely.  Lead me where you want me to go.  I want to follow you where ever you lead.  I love you and want to serve you.

12/1/12 - Acts 18 - 19

S - Acts 18:9 - And the Lord said to Paul one night in a vision, "Do not be afraid, but go on speaking and do not be silent,  10 for I am with you, and no one will attack you to harm you, for I have many in this city who are my people."  11 And he stayed a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.

O - My child whom I love, today I want to tell you . . . do not be afraid to speak on your campus.  Go on speaking out boldly.  I have many children there who will support and encourage you.  No one will attack you for any purpose.  I an always with you.  If you need me, all you have to do is call on my name.

A - I know that the Lord who spoke to Paul and encouraged him is also speaking to me and encouraging me to continue to speak on my campus.  There are many here who are believers and who need someone to step up and lead the way for them to be bold and courageous on this campus.  I can do that with God's guidance and support.

P - Heavenly Father, thank you for showing me that there are many others here on this campus that love you.  Forgive me for not speaking up earlier.  Help me to continue with the prayer group that has begun here on the campus.  I want to glorify your name in all that I do.  May I be found worthy to serve you.

11/30/12 - 1 Thessalonians 1 - 5; 2 Thessalonians 1 - 3

S - 1 Thessalonians 5:1 - Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you.  2 For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.  3 While people are saying, "There is peace and security," then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.  4 But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief.  5 For you are all children of light, children of the day.  We are not of the night or of the darkness.  6 So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober.  7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night.  8 But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation.  9 For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,  10 who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him.  11 Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.

O - My child whom I love, today I want to tell you . . . continue to encourage one another and build each other up.  You have been doing that and I would like to see you continue to do that.  By encouraging your colleagues, you are making a spot for my kingdom on your campus.  You do not know when I am going to return and you definitely want to be ready and you want all those that are with you to also be ready for my coming.  Keep spreading the word and encouraging those around you.  

A - I must be diligent about sharing the Love of Jesus Christ on my campus, with my colleagues and with my students as well.  I want to be ready when my Lord comes to take me home with him.  Whether it be his returning to claim his bride or by my death, when I see him, I want to hear him say, "Well done, good and faithful servant!"

P - Heavenly Father, forgive me for taking you for granted sometimes.  Forgive you for overlooking you during the school day from time to time.  Help me continue to be diligent about spreading your word on my campus.  Help me to be an encourager to others on this campus.  I want to be seen as one who lives for you in spite of what ever else is going on.

11/29/12 - Acts 17

S - Acts 17:16 - Now while Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him as he saw that the city was full of idols.  17 So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the devout persons, and in the marketplace every day with those who happened to be there.  18 Some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers also conversed with him.  And some said, "What does this babbler wish to say?"  Others said, "he seems to be a preacher of foreign divinities" - because he was preaching Jesus and the resurrection.

O - My child whom I love, today I want to tell you . . . there are still many idols, even in your land.  As I look around you I see people who worship everything from their job, to money, to their vacation time, to their house, to their toys, and many other things that have become more important than me.  Do your best to tell people that those things that they worship will have no lasting value to them when they die or even if they lose them, like their job or their money.  Show them the way to true happiness and everlasting life by worshiping me publicly and exhibiting a life void of idols that have no life in them.

A - I must make sure that I do not make anything an idol in my life.  I must see that nothing becomes more important than Jesus my Lord to me.  Nothing must come in the way of spending time with God in the morning and trusting Him throughout the day.

P - Heavenly Father, forgive me for putting other things before you.  Help me to not let any of those things become idols to me.  Help me keep my focus on you at all times.  Thank you for watching over me and taking care of me.  Guide my life and direct my path as I attempt to live my life for you.

11/28/12 - Galatians 4 - 6

S - Galatians 5:16 - But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.  17 For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.  18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.  19 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality,  20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions,  21 envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these.  I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.  22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,  23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.  24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.  25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.  26 let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

O - My child whom I love, today I want to tell you . . . live by the Spirit.  Walk in the Spirit.  Trust in the Spirit.  Flee from the things of the flesh.  Do not be drawn in by the lure of the temptation of the flesh.  If you will strife to walk in the fruit of the Spirit and dwell on them daily, you will be strong enough to fight off the evil one's temptations.  

A - I will continue to dwell on the fruit of the Spirit and make them my daily desire.  If I am living my life to glorify my Lord then I want those things to be the outward, and inward results of my life.

P - Heavenly Father, forgive me for the times when I exhibit the works of the flesh.  Forgive me for not constantly dwelling on the fruits of the Spirit.  Help me to make those things the fruits of my life.

11/27/12 - Galatians 1 - 3

S - Galatians 2:15 We ourselves are Jews by birth and not Gentile sinners;  16 yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.  17 But if, in our endeavor to be justified in Christ, we too were found to be sinners, is Christ then a servant of sin?  Certainly not!  18 For if I rebuild what I tore down, I prove myself to be a transgressor.  19 For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God. 20 I have been crucified with Christ.  It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.  And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who love me and gave himself for me.  21 I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose.

O - My child whom I love, today I want to tell you . . . I died to bring you salvation without having to follow the law.  With the law, you would be guilty of sin and sentenced to die for your sin.  But I died for you so that you would not have to.  I loved you enough to go through what I went through, just for you.  Now you must tell others about that love.  And you must love others the what that I have loved you.

A - I must remember that Christ died for my sins.  I must be willing to share him with others.  I have been saved by grace and not by works.  I do not have to do anything for it.  But because of it, I should be willing to tell others about him and bring them into the family.

P - Heavenly Father, thank you for saving me.  Thank you for granting me salvation when I don't deserve it.  Give me the courage to tell others about it.

11/26/12 - Acts 15 - 16

S - Acts 15:28 - For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay on you no greater burden than these requirements:  29 That you abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what has been strangled, and from sexual immorality.  If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well.  Farewell."

O - My child whom I love, today I want to tell you . . . abstain from sexual immorality!  If you keep yourself from this you will do well.

A - I must watch my self and not cave into temptation.  The devil is trying every trick he can think of to tempt me.  I must just remember to call on the Lord my God to help me when I am being tempted.

P - Heavenly Father, forgive me for the times when I give in to the temptations of the evil one.  Give me strength to defeat Satan and call on you when I feel the temptations coming on.

11/25/12 - James 1 - 5

S - James 1:12 - Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.  13 Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am being tempted by God," for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one.  14 But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire.  15 Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.

O - My child whom I love, today I want to tell you . . . when you are tempted, you are being invited by the devil to join him in his ugly lies and sinful acts.  Do not give in to this.  Do not sink to the level of Satan and go the way of the sinners.  Take heart, I can save you from this.  I can help you defeat him and his lies.  All you need to do is call on my name when you feel the pull of the world on you.  Come visit me for a little while and you will feel so much better about yourself.

A - When I am tempted, it is Satan calling out to me and telling me lies about how great something in the world is and how much better I will feel if I partake of that particular sin.  If I go to my Lord and Savior when I hear those callings, I can avoid falling into sin and death.

P - Heavenly Father, forgive me for yielding to the temptations of the evil one.  For give my sins and put me back on the road to eternal life and take me from the road that leads to death.  Help me remember to call on your name when I feel myself being tempted.

11/24/12 - Acts 13 - 14

S - Acts 13:48 - And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed.  49 And the word of the Lord was spreading throughout the whole region.  50 But the Jews incited the devout women of high standing and the leading men of the city, stirred up the persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and drove them out of their district.  51 But they shook off the dust from their feet against them and went to Iconium,  52 And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.

14:24 - Then they passes through Pisidia and come to Pamphylia.  25 And when they had spoken the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia,  26 and from there they sailed to Antioch, where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work that they had fulfilled.  27 And when the arrived and gathered the church together, they declared all that God had done with them, and how he had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles.  28 And they remained no little time with the disciples

O - My child whom I love, today I want to tell you . . . Paul and Barnabas preached everywhere they went.  If they were ridiculed, they just shook the dust off their feet and moved on.   You also are to preach wherever you go.  Just open your mouth and I will put words in it for you.

A - i must tell people, wherever I go, about the good news of Jesus Christ.  I must spread the word of God to all people.

P - Heavenly Father, give me the strength and the courage to speak your name wherever I go.  Help me to tell people about your saving grace.

11/23/12 - Acts 11 - 12

S - Acts 12:20 - Now Herod was angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon, and they came to him with one accord, and having persuaded Blastus, the king's chamberlain, they asked for peace, because their country depended on the kings's country for food.  21 On an appointed day Herod put on his royal robes, and took his seat upon the throne, and delivered an oration to them.  22 And the people were shouting, "The voice of a god, and not of a man!"  23 Immediately an angel of the Lord struck him down, because he did not give God the glory, and he was eaten by worms and breathed his last.

24 But the word of God increased and multiplied.

O - My child whom I love, today I want to tell you . . . my word will increase and multiply, in spite of the people around you.  When glory comes your way, and it will, give the glory where it belongs.  Do not accept the accolades of man as for yourself.  Remember, everything you do, everything you are, and everything that you will become is because of who I am and what I want to do for you.  I will make you what you will become and if you do not give glory to me then I may strike you down as I did Herod.  

A - I must remember that everything that I am is because of the grace of God.  When accolades come my way, I must remember to pass them on to God, to whom they belong.  I can do nothing without his help.  

P - Heavenly Father, thank you for what you have made me.  Thank you for the blessing that you provide on a daily basis.  Help me to remember that all that I am and all that I have is because of you.

11/22/12 - Acts 9 - 10

S - Acts 10:44 - While Peter was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word.  45 And the believers from among the circumcised who had come with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out even on the Gentiles.  46 For they were hearing them speak in tongues and extolling God.  Then Peter declared,  47 "Can anyone withhold water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?"  48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.  Then they asked him to remain for some days.

O - My child whom I love, today I want to tell you . . . if I can change the heart of the Gentiles in that day, and the heart of Peter, for that matter, I can change anyones heart.  Continue on in what you do.  Continue to live a life worthy of me.  Continue to give me credit where it is due me.  Continue to gather for prayer, and publicize that so the people know what you are doing and who you are meeting in that room.  People will hear about you and will know what you are doing for me.  Don't worry, the word will get out.

A - I must never stop believing that God can change the heat of anyone that he wishes.  I must just do my part and tell the whole world that I believe in the risen savior.  I must continue to live my life as if he has actually made a difference in it.  

P - Heavenly Father, forgive me for not living my life to glorify you.  Help me to live in such a way that people recognize you in me.

11/21/12 - Acts 7 - 8

S - Acts 7:54 now when they heard these things they were enraged, and they ground their teeth at him. 55 But he, full of he Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.  56 And he said, "Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God."  57 But they cried out with a loud voice and stopped their ears and rushed together at him.  58 Then they cast him out of the city and stoned him.  And the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul.  59 And as they wee stoning Stephen, he called out, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit."  60 And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them."  And when he has said this, he fell asleep.

O - My child whom I love, today I want to tell you . . . Stephen loved me more than he loved life itself. Do you?  Are you willing to lay your life down for me?  Are you willing to take ridicule for my sake?  Are you willing to do what ever it takes, and risk being called names just to bring one more person into my family?  What are you willing to do?

A - I must be willing to do whatever it takes to spread the word of God throughout the land.  I must speak boldly and not back down.  I must be willing to lose friends, be called names, and be ridiculed for the name of Jesus.

P - Heavenly Father, for give me for the times when I have not been bold in carrying your name out.  Give me the boldness and courage of Stephen to be willing even to lay down my life for your name.

11/20/12 - Acts 4 - 6

S - Acts 5:38 "So in the present case I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or this undertaking is of man, it will fail;  39 but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them.  You might even be found opposing God!"  So they took his advice,  40 and when they had called in the apostles, they beat them and charged then not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.  41 Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name.  42 And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching that the Christ is Jesus.

O - My child whom I love, today I want to tell you . . . these men were true disciples of mine.  They were beaten for speaking of me in the public square.  Are you willing to take physical abuse for my name.  Or are you afraid that someone will ridicule you if you speak of me.  How do you feel about telling people that you are one of my children and you will be praying to me when ever you can.

A - I must not be ashamed to speak of my relationship with Jesus Christ in public.  These men were not only beaten for spreading the name of Jesus, but they rejoiced in the fact that they were counted worthy of suffering for the name of Jesus.  I must have the same spirit about me when I am out in the streets and people hear me speaking of Jesus.

P - Heavenly Father, forgive me for the times when I am ashamed to speak your name, or of bowing my head in prayer.  Give me the courage of the disciple in the Bible so that I might celebrate when I am found worthy of suffering for the name of Jesus.

11/19/12 - Acts 1 - 3

S - Acts 2:14 - But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them: "Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words.  15 For these people are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day.

37 Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?"  38 And Peter said to them, "Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.  39 For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself."  40 And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying "Save yourselves from this crooked generation."  41 So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.

O - My child whom I love, today I want to tell you . . . Peter denied me three times when I was at my lowest point ever.  Peter, who had walked with me for three years, said he did not even know me.  I forgave him and encouraged him.  Then he comes back and preaches a sermon that causes three thousand people to give their lives to me.  Peter was not anything special, but he allowed me to rule in his life.  He accepted my forgiveness and went on with his life.  He allowed me to work in him and spoke the words that I gave him.  Can you do the same thing?  Of course, if you will but trust me!

A - I want to make a difference with me life, like Peter did.  I want to trust God to control me and speak through me and change lives because of me.  I want God to be glorified through me.  I must continue to meet with him on a regular basis and listen to his words, obey his commandments and speak the words that he gives me.

P - Heavenly Father, work in my life the way you worked in Peter's life.  Change me like you changed Peter.  Allow your Holy Spirit to come into my life and work miracles in my life like you did in Peter's life.  Let your name be glorified in all that I do.  Help me to speak with words that you give me so people will know that I am your child and that I speak for you.  I want to be your disciple, totally devoted to serving you with my entire life.