I like this little devotional. Well, some days I'm willing to read it and others, I am too into myself I suppose, doubting God is real. Today's reached out to me because I have been going through something that is hard for me. I know each of us does go through these things. It's easier for me, or it eases the pain some, when I read something like this about God: (feedback welcome) Source
I hadn't thought of Our Daily Bread in years. When I was a kid, our church passed it out with the church bulletin, but I haven't seen one in forty years or more. Thanks.
You're welcome Ken, I read that, as I mentioned, once in awhile. There's a site for these too, odb.org I think it is They'll email them to you each day if you like, denise
I understand what you're saying, Abby. I go to an unusual YMCA. It has a really nice teeny tiny chapel just inside the front doors. Doors to the chapel are always open. I've never seen anyone go in. There's a table with a single bud vase...in it a fresh rose...next to an opened Bible and a flip page book that has a different page for every day, a daily devotion. Each day (or night) when I leave I I spend only about 5 minutes reading the first chapter I see in the opened Bible and also the flip book of daily devotions for that day. They almost always relate to me in a strong way. I'd say 95% of the time. I walk out feeling so cleansed, mind, body, and soul….and feeling so very grateful. A jar on the counter of folded scripture verses, a scripture verse scrolled on the wall, fresh flowers on the tables, joyful people…all of them…smile and treat me like their best friend. I call it the happiest place on earth.
Let me clarify something in my post above…the reason I said "I spend only 5 minutes reading…." is because I was trying to make a point that it doesn't take much time to read a daily devotion but that 5 minutes can make your day or even better, change your life. It's true that I only spend about that much time but it's because, at the time, I'm in a hurry to get my workout in or to get where I'm going next…but never too hurried to stop and take 5 minutes for something relevant to eternal life and purpose on earth.
I hadn't seen your post Lara, thank you for sharing. Yes, I take about 5-10 minutes with my coffee in the a.m.'s to read a devotional. I'm at home, so it's easy to do a little research if I don't quite get a verse which I think research is kind of my fave thing/hobby. This a.m. I get to go to a new, women's bible study. I am anxious because I am going with a gal that also loves to walk like I do. I met her at church, and I am glad to be making offline friends as well. My online friends like yourself though, have often been there for me, and I hope I've been for each of you at times too. Here is today's read, and again, it helped me along with the "sometimes repetitious" life I am living as well http://odb.org/?utm_source=SilverpopMailing&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=ODB 1103 03&utm_content= The main topic is how we can deal with repetitious things in life (everyday humdrum) that tend to make me feel bored or even useless. Sometimes asking, wow Lord, isn't there more than this denise
Our devotional booklet is called the upper room. We usually read it and the scripture for the day after Supper. For the last three years, we've read from the Message Bible, and I can't imagine what our lives would be like if we weren't doing this.
When I was on staff at the Seattle Rescue Mission I was over the New Creation program. One of the ways I got the guys to get used to the idea of reading their Bibles was to start the morning (before breakfast) with "Our Daily Bread" and a chapter of Proverbs. One random student per day would read the Daily Bread devotional, and then each student would read a verse from the chapter of the day that corresponded to it in proverbs. 2nd day of the month, 2nd chapter of Proverbs and so on. Yeah, Proverbs 31 gets left out 6 months out of the year. As a married man, I find chapter 31 one of the most beautiful chapters going. I digress. After all of the reading, the guys would take 10 minutes to discuss what they had read and heard. It's amazing how the men reacted each day to the reading as to how it helped with a problem they were having.
I so needed to read this today. I live in a house full of women, lol, and they "get" to live with me (paybacks ya know ). There is a lot of turmoil to say the least. But I believe God is in control, and this is all going to have a huge part in teaching me how to love and accept others. Maybe even accept my own, or even recognize them. Once I see my faults I can work on them, that's the way God has worked in my life. Thank you Father, for loving me so much You are always teaching me better ways of life http://odb.org/
My wife gave me a Men's Devotional Bible for my birthday a few years ago. The Daily Devotional's that are in it are very interesting/informative. Even though she is more religious than I am, I have no doubt that my readings of these Daily Devotional's and our daily prayers have helped us thru some rough times.
http://odb.org/?utm_source=SilverpopMailing&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=ODB 1111 03&utm_content= Here are the verses that were used in today's devotional. I wanted to add them here to make it easy for anyone interested in reading them: Daniel 6:10-23New King James Version (NKJV) Daniel in the Lions’ Den 10 Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home. And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days. 11 Then these men assembled and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God. 12 And they went before the king, and spoke concerning the king’s decree: “Have you not signed a decree that every man who petitions any god or man within thirty days, except you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions?” The king answered and said, “The thing is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which does not alter.” 13 So they answered and said before the king, “That Daniel, who is one of the captivesa]">[a] from Judah, does not show due regard for you, O king, or for the decree that you have signed, but makes his petition three times a day.” 14 And the king, when he heard these words, was greatly displeased with himself, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him; and he labored till the going down of the sun to deliver him. 15 Then these men approached the king, and said to the king, “Know, O king, that it is the law of the Medes and Persians that no decree or statute which the king establishes may be changed.” 16 So the king gave the command, and they brought Daniel and cast him into the den of lions. But the king spoke, saying to Daniel, “Your God, whom you serve continually, He will deliver you.” 17 Then a stone was brought and laid on the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the signets of his lords, that the purpose concerning Daniel might not be changed. Daniel Saved from the Lions 18 Now the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting; and no musiciansb]">[b] were brought before him. Also his sleep went from him. 19 Then the king arose very early in the morning and went in haste to the den of lions. 20 And when he came to the den, he cried out with a lamenting voice to Daniel. The king spoke, saying to Daniel, “Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from the lions?” 21 Then Daniel said to the king, “O king, live forever! 22 My God sent His angel and shut the lions’ mouths, so that they have not hurt me, because I was found innocent before Him; and also, O king, I have done no wrong before you.” 23 Now the king was exceedingly glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no injury whatever was found on him, because he believed in his God.
http://odb.org/?utm_source=SilverpopMailing&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=ODB 1115 03&utm_content= Psalm 100New King James Version (NKJV) A Song of Praise for the Lord’s Faithfulness to His People A Psalm of Thanksgiving. 100 Make a joyful shout to the Lord, all you lands! 2 Serve the Lord with gladness; Come before His presence with singing. 3 Know that the Lord, He is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves;a]">[a] We are His people and the sheep of His pasture. 4 Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name. 5 For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting, And His truth endures to all generations.
Galatians 1:6-10New King James Version (NKJV) Only One Gospel 6 I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, 7 which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. 9 As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed. 10 For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ. Nothing makes me feel more sick about myself than when I am "people pleasing". Why I do that is beyond me because I don't even like people that much. God says I am to love others, but He never told me I had to like them, LOL!! Some are easy to love though, and He also addresses that in the bible Verse below relates, and I'll post the main link to Daily bread below that (liked this one from The Message) thanks Joe Matthew 5:46-47The Message (MSG) 43-47 “You’re familiar with the old written law, ‘Love your friend,’ and its unwritten companion, ‘Hate your enemy.’ I’m challenging that. I’m telling you to love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer, for then you are working out of your true selves, your God-created selves. This is what God does. He gives his best—the sun to warm and the rain to nourish—to everyone, regardless: the good and bad, the nice and nasty. If all you do is love the lovable, do you expect a bonus? Anybody can do that. If you simply say hello to those who greet you, do you expect a medal? Any run-of-the-mill sinner does that. http://odb.org/?utm_source=SilverpopMailing&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=ODB 1120 03&utm_content=