12/29/12 - 1 John 1 - 5

S - 1 John 2:1 - My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin.  But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.  2 He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.  3 And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commands.  4 Whoever says, "I know him" but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him,  5 but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected.  By this may we know that we are in him:  6 whoever says he abides in him out to walk in the same way in he walked.

O - My child whom I love, today I want to tell you . . . yes, I have paid for your sins.  They are washed away.  But as the saying goes, "Go and sin no more!"  That is the key to this whole thing.  I want you to sin no more.  If you follow my commands I will be in you and you will be walking as I did.  If you continue to sin and say that you love me, I am not in you and you are not following me.

A - So, I just have to walk like Jesus walked, sinless throughout life?  No problem!?  Well, even if I do try to do that, and I would like to try, I am going to screw it up once in a while, okay, sometimes more than once in a while.  That is why he came to be the propitiation for my sins.  He has covered them.  But it is my responsibility to attempt to follow in his footsteps and be sinless, then I am following his commands.

P - Heavenly Father, thank you for sending your son to die for my sins.  Forgive me for the sins in my life.  Help me to strive to walk according to the way that Jesus walked.  I want to follow his commands, give me strength.

12/28/12 - 2 Peter; Jude

S - 2 Peter 1:3 - His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence,  4 by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.  5 For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, your virtue with knowledge, 6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness,  7 and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love.  8 For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of your Lord Jesus Christ.  9 For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins.  10 Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall.  11 For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

O - My child whom I love, today I want to tell you . . . have these qualities about you at all times.  Not only when people are watching you, but when you are alone in your house, in your classroom, outside walking down the street.  Remember, when no one is there to see you, I am.  And I want to see you portraying these qualities in your life at all times.  If I am to use you, you need to be full of all of these.

A - I must continue to strive for excellence of character, remembering that the Lord is watching me at all times.  I must behave when I am by myself, as I would if there were many people watching over me, because the Lord is there with me at all times. 

P - Heavenly Father, forgive me for the times when I portray a character that is less than becoming to you.  Help me to be worthy of the name that you have place on me, son.  Help me to live my life to serve you, whether I ma in from of my class, with my family, or just at home by myself.

12/27/12 - 2 Timothy

S - 2 Timothy 3:1 - But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty.  2 For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy,  3 heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, 4 treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,  5 having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power.  Avoid such people.

O - My child whom I love, today I want to tell you . . . do not be one of these people.  Do not associate with such people. They are trying to bring you down.  They are trying to get you to fall to their level.  Do not fall for it.  Stay right with me at all times.  And when you stumble, ask for forgiveness and carry on.  I will always love you.

A - I must stay on the straight and narrow path.  These are the end times.  People are falling into all of the traps that are listed above and it is very easy to fall into them as well.  I must continue to meet with my Father and talk things out daily.  I must continue to listen to him and follow his commands.

P - Heavenly Father, forgive me for the times when I fall to the temptations that bombard me on a daily basis.  Help me stay strong for you.  Help me to continue to meet with you regularly and listen to your words.

12/26/12 - Hebrews 11 - 13

S - Hebrews 12:1 - Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,  2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

O - My child whom I love, today I want to tell you . . . run your race, with endurance.  Stick to it.  I know that you have had some setbacks and have gotten a little discouraged from time to time.  But, just remember, I am with you always.  So when you get frustrated, just look to me and ask for a little strength and help.  I will always be there for you.

A - I must continue on continuing on.  I must be diligent about my life and live in such a way that I am honoring God in all that I do.

P - Heavenly Father, thank you for sticking in there with me.  Help me to continue on strong.  Give me the strength to continue to live for you, even when I don't feel like it.  Give me the assurance that you are with me, even when I don't feel you by my side.

12/25/12 - Hebrews 7 - 11

S - Hebrews 10:19 - Therefore, brothers, since we have a confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus,  20 by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh,  21 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from and evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.  23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.  24 and let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works,  25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one anther, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

26 For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,  27 but a fearful expectation of judgement, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries.  28 Anyone who has set aside the law of Moses dies without mercy on the evidence of two or three witnesses.  29 How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has outraged the Spirit of grace?  30 For we know him who said, "Vengeance is mine; I will repay."  and again, "The Lord will judge his people."  31 it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of a living God.

O - My child whom I love, today I want to tell you . . . do not go on sinning deliberately.  My son paid for your sins so that you could live a good and righteous life.  If you go on sinning deliberately, you are spitting in the face of the one who died for you.  Live a life that is worthy of approaching me, the King of the Universe.  Have faith that I will give you the strength to live the kind of life that you want to live.  Come to me regularly and we will become good friends.  Then you can talk to me about anything and everything.  I will help you with all of your struggles.

A - Meeting regularly with God is the only way to a godly life.  I must continue to see him daily!

P - Heavenly Father, help me to live a life that is worthy of calling you my Father.  Give me strength to defeat temptation.

12/24/12 - Hebrews 1 - 6

S - Hebrews 2:14 - Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil,  15 and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.  16 For surely it is not angels that he helps, but he helps the offspring of Abraham.  17 Therefore he had to be made like he brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.  18 For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.

O - My child whom I love, today I want to tell you . . . I can help you defeat temptation.  I have been through it my self.  I defeated the devil numerous times, the last time when I rose from the dead when he thought he had killed me.  I know his weakness.  I know your strengths and can help you emphasize them in winning when you are tempted.  You also have my strength on your side.  I am just waiting for you to call on me for help.  I love you and want to do all I can for you.  Just call on me when you are tempted and I will be there to help you.  And when you are in my word, he is not happy.  He will leave you if you are reading my word and quoting my words to him.

A - When being tempted, I must grab a Bible and begin to read the word of God. If I still feel the temptation nagging at me, I will read the words of Jesus out loud so the devil and his minions can hear it.  At that point I will have won.

P - Heavenly Father, forgive me for the times when I have given in to temptation.  Forgive me for my sins.  Help me to be able to defeat the temptation when it comes up.  Give me the strength to read your words out loud to the tempter when he comes on me.

12/23/12 - 1 Peter

S - 1 Peter 2:1 - So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander.  2 Like new born infants, long for the pure spiritual mild, that by it you may grow up into salvation -- 3 if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.  4 As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of god chosen and precious,  5 you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

13 Be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme,  14 or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good.  15 For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people.  16 Live is people who are free, not using our freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. 17 Honor everyone.  Love the brotherhood.  Fear God.  Honor the emperor.

O - My child whom I love, today I want to tell you . . . put away all sin!  Malice, deceit, and envy and slander are not for you.  You should be acting like you are one of the children of the King, since you are.  Do not envy, do not ridicule, do not slander, do not judge.  These are sins against me and I can not be in the presence of sin so I cannot be in your presence when you are participation in these types of things.  Honor all forms of government that are over you, from the president to your boss.  It is my will that those people are over you.  You might not ever know why they were put there but, trust me, there is a reason for everything.  It might not have anything to do with you at all, or with them.  It might be that you are there to serve someone else.  If you are living for me then my purpose will be served by your following my commands where you are.

A - I must be satisfied in the position that I am in.  I know that God has placed me in this position for a reason.  If I am living in his will, then his purpose will be served.  

P - Heavenly Father, thank you for putting me in the position that I am in.  Help me to live my life as a child of yours.  Help me to listen to your calling and do the things that you want me to do.  Help me to serve out your purpose where I am.  Whatever it is that I am here for, may your will be done.  Help me to speak the things that you want me to speak, to do the things that you want me to do.