10/22/12 - Matthew 15; Mark 7

S - Matthew 15:10 - And he called the people to him and said to them, "Hear and understand:  11 it is not what goes into  the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person." 12 Then the disciples came and said to him, "Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?"  13 He answered, "Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be rooted up.  14 Let them alone; they are blind guides.  And if the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit."  15 But Peter said to him, "Explain the parable to us." 16 And he said, "Are you also still without understanding?  17 Do you not see that whatever goes into the mouth passes into the stomach and is expelled?  18 But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person.  19 For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander.  20 These are what defile a person.  But to eat with unwashed hands does not defile anyone."

O - My child whom I love, today I want to tell you . . . watch the things that come out of your mouth.  Think before you speak.  The things that you say define who you are.  People will listen to you and repeat the things that they hear.  Yes, you will be misquoted very often.  So don't even say anything close to the things that can get you into trouble.  if you let me guide your speech, you will have no problem.  Just make sure that you do not lose control of your tongue.

A - I must be careful.  I am in a position to be heard by many people and they do not always like me so they are going to interpret the things that I say in the way that they want.  So I must be very careful of the thing that I say at all times.  

P - Heavenly Father, guide my speech.  Help me to look to you for guidance at all times, especially when it comes to the things that I say.  Help me to stop and think before I speak so I do not say things that I should not say.

10/21/12 - John 6

S - John 6:35 - Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.  36 But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe.  37 All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out.  38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me.  39 And his is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day.  40 For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day."

O - My child whom I love, today I want to tell you . . . this is the message you are to be spreading.  I am the savior.  Whoever believes in me will never die.  Whoever believes in me will be saved on the last day, with you.  I will never lose those that come to me.  They may forsake me but I will never forsake them.  Tell as many as you can while you are here.  If they want to spend eternity with me, they have to make that decision now while they still can.  Tell them!

A - I must be about spreading the word of God and bringing people to him.  There is no second chance!  If they do not decide while they are here on earth, it is too late.  I do not want anyone else going to hell because I was afraid to talk to them about my Jesus who saved me and who I will be spending my eternity with.

P - Heavenly Father, forgive me for the times when I have been afraid to talk about you because of what I thought people would say or I was afraid of what they would think.  Help me to be about spreading your gospel here on earth just as you did while you were here.  Help me to not be ashamed of the gospel!

10/20/12 - Matthew 14; Mark 6; Luke 9

S - Matthew 14: 25 And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea.  26 But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, "It is a ghost!" and they cried out in fear.  27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them saying, "Take heart; it is I.  Do not be afraid."  28 And Peter answered him, "Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water."  29 he said, "Come."  So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus.  30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, "Lord, save me."  31 Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?"  32 And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased.  33 And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God."

O - My child whom I love, today I want to tell you . . . get out of your boat!  Have faith in me that you can do the things that you do not believe that you can do.  Trust in me.  Look into my face, have faith and get out of the boat and do miraculous things.

A - I'm not exactly sure what this is referring to but I know that I must rely on Jesus to take care of me.  I know that he has my finances in his hand.  I know that he has my family in his hand.  I know that he controls my job, my relationships, and my health.  If I just trust in him and live my life with my face towards him.  I know that I will be fine.

P - Heavenly Father, forgive me for the times when I doubt you.  Forgive me for the time when I look into the wind and get afraid.  Help me to keep my focus on you.  And give me the faith to rely fully on you for everything in my life, from my health and finances to my job and my family.  Thank you for the promises in your word that you will always take care of me.

10/19/12 - Matthew 10

S - Matthew 10:26 - "So have no fear of them, for nothing is covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known.  27 What I tell you in the dark, say in the light, and what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops.  28 And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul.  Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.  29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny?  And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your father.  30 But even the hairs of your head are all numbered.  31 Fear not, therefore; you are of more value then many sparrows.  32 So everyone who acknowledges me before me, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven,  33 but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.

O - My child whom I love, today I want to tell you . . . do not worry about those things that cannot hurt you physically.  Trust in me to take care of them.  Worry about those things that will damage your soul.  Live your life for me and you will be blessed by the Father who is watching you from heaven.  

A - I must not worry about the cars of this world.  I must live my life, doing the things that I am doing for work, home, family, etc. but making sure that my focus is on the Lord my God.  I must be a living example of a life that has been changed for him.

P - Heavenly Father, help me to fully rely on you every day for the things that I need.  Help me to live my life for you every day and in every circumstance.  Than you for caring for me.

10/18/12 - Mark 4 - 5

S - Mark 4:35 - On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, "Let us go across to the other side."  36 And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was.  And other boats were with him.  37 And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling.  38 But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion.  And they woke him and said to him, "Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?"  39 And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, "Peace! Be still!"  And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.  40 He said to them, "Why are you so afraid?  Have you still no faith?"  41 And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, "Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?"

O - My child whom I love, today I want to tell you . . . when the storms of this life hit you, don't worry.  I am here to help you.  All you have to do is ask.  Have faith in and trust that I can calm the wind and the sea.  You know who I am so it should not amaze or confuse you when I make the wind stop and the seas calm.  But you do have to call on me and ask me to take care of things for me.  I will be resting in the stern, just come get me when things get a little rough.

A - Jesus is always with me.  He is there watching over things, even when it seems that he isn't or that he doesn't care.  He wants to take care of me but he wants me to come to him and ask him to help me.  I must remember to come to him whenever I am feeling like the storms of this life are going to overwhelm me.  

P - Heavenly Father, forgive me for the times when I forget that you are there with me.  Forgive me for trying to calm the storm on my own.  Help me to remember that you are always there with me, just waiting for me to come get you and ask you to take care of things.  Calm the storms of my life right now.  Help me to have the strength to do the things that are asked of me and to be the best teacher that I can be.  Thank you for always being there for me.

10/17/12 - Matthew 13; Luke 8

S - Luke 8:16 - "No one after lighting a lamp covers it with a jar or puts is under a bed, but puts it on a stand, so that those who enter may see the light.  17 For nothing is hidden that will not be made manifest, nor is anything secret that will not be known and come to light.  18 Take care then how you hear, for to the one who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he thinks that he has will be taken away."

O - My child whom I love, today I want to tell you . . . you are the lamp that has been lit.  You are now to shine within your area of influence.  You shall shine on your campus and around your neighborhood.  You are my light in the darkness of the world.  The things that you do make a difference.  People see how you act, they hear what you say, they are paying attention.  So live like you mean it!

A - I must live my life to glorify my Lord at all times.  Remembering that people are watching my every move, I must act in a way that is pleasing to the Lord my God.  I will remember to bow my head and say a prayer before I have my lunch.  I will remember to do the same when I hear of someone who is struggling.  I will act with love towards my fellow teachers.

P - Heavenly Father, forgive me for the times when my life did not reflect you.  Forgive me for the times when I said I would pray for someone and then just went on my way.  Help me to glorify you with my life at all times.

10/16/12 - Luke 11

S - Luke 11:9 - "And I tell you, ask and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock and it will be opened to you.  10 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.  11 What father among you, if his son asks for an fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent;  12 or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion?  13 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"

O - My child whom I love, today I want to tell you . . . ask of me what you will.  I know what you want, but I want more than anything to hear you ask for it.  Just as you, as a father, love it when your children come to you for help or for advice, I love to hear you come and ask for the things that you wand and need.  I want to take care of you but, even more, I want you to want me and to need me.  It means so much when you get down on your knees and cry out to me for help.  And remember, I will always be there for you when you call on me.

A - I must remember that, not only does God want to take care of me, but he wants me to want him.  He wants me to need him.  When I get to the point that I need him so much that I am down on my knees crying out to him, then he will definitely hear me and answer my prayers.  But if I would just call on him continually throughout the day I would probably not get to that point.

P - Heavenly Father, forgive me for the times when I forget to call on you.  Forgive me for the times when I try to go it alone.  Remind me that you want me to call out to you on a regular basis so that you can answer my prayers.   Help me to remember to thank you for those times when you rescued me and to ask for the things that I need, even though I know that you already know what I need.