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  • You are here: Blogs Directory / Devotionals / Mel's Weekly Study Welcome Guest
    Mel's Weekly Study
          Just a simple place for me to put a scripture or two. My plan is to have one here a week or so. I was trying to do one a day, but think I need to go slower. Maybe I'll comment, maybe you will...

          Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ. (1 Corinthians 11:1)

          Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true. (Acts 17:11)

          Test everything. Hold on to the good. (1 Thessalonians 5:21)

          Examine what I say, challenge me if I seem wrong, rebuke me if I am way off the mark...

    Sun, Apr 30th - 1:09AM

    Daniel 8:27 (NIV)



    27 I, Daniel, was exhausted and lay ill for several days. Then I got up and went about the king's business. I was appalled by the vision; it was beyond understanding.

    Comment (2)

    Sat, Apr 29th - 12:04AM

    Daniel 6:23 (NIV)



     23 The king was overjoyed and gave orders to lift Daniel out of the den. And when Daniel was lifted from the den, no wound was found on him, because he had trusted in his God.

    Comment (2)

    Fri, Apr 28th - 10:53PM

    My Word is My Bond -- or is it?



    Matthew 5:33-37 (NIV)

     33"Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not break your oath, but keep the oaths you have made to the Lord.' 34But I tell you, Do not swear at all: either by heaven, for it is God's throne; 35or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. 36And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. 37Simply let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No,' 'No'; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.

    Ezekiel 17:11-21 (NIV)

     11 Then the word of the LORD came to me: 12 "Say to this rebellious house, 'Do you not know what these things mean?' Say to them: 'The king of Babylon went to Jerusalem and carried off her king and her nobles, bringing them back with him to Babylon. 13 Then he took a member of the royal family and made a treaty with him, putting him under oath. He also carried away the leading men of the land, 14 so that the kingdom would be brought low, unable to rise again, surviving only by keeping his treaty. 15 But the king rebelled against him by sending his envoys to Egypt to get horses and a large army. Will he succeed? Will he who does such things escape? Will he break the treaty and yet escape?

     16 " 'As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, he shall die in Babylon, in the land of the king who put him on the throne, whose oath he despised and whose treaty he broke. 17 Pharaoh with his mighty army and great horde will be of no help to him in war, when ramps are built and siege works erected to destroy many lives. 18 He despised the oath by breaking the covenant. Because he had given his hand in pledge and yet did all these things, he shall not escape.

     19 " 'Therefore this is what the Sovereign LORD says: As surely as I live, I will bring down on his head my oath that he despised and my covenant that he broke. 20 I will spread my net for him, and he will be caught in my snare. I will bring him to Babylon and execute judgment upon him there because he was unfaithful to me. 21 All his fleeing troops will fall by the sword, and the survivors will be scattered to the winds. Then you will know that I the LORD have spoken.



    Comment (2)

    Fri, Apr 28th - 3:05PM

    Acts, Romans, James (things to ponder in light of recent comments)



    Acts 22:23-29 (NIV)

     23As they were shouting and throwing off their cloaks and flinging dust into the air, 24the commander ordered Paul to be taken into the barracks. He directed that he be flogged and questioned in order to find out why the people were shouting at him like this. 25As they stretched him out to flog him, Paul said to the centurion standing there, "Is it legal for you to flog a Roman citizen who hasn't even been found guilty?"

     26When the centurion heard this, he went to the commander and reported it. "What are you going to do?" he asked. "This man is a Roman citizen."

     27The commander went to Paul and asked, "Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?" "Yes, I am," he answered.

     28Then the commander said, "I had to pay a big price for my citizenship." "But I was born a citizen," Paul replied.

     29Those who were about to question him withdrew immediately. The commander himself was alarmed when he realized that he had put Paul, a Roman citizen, in chains.

    Acts 23:6-9 (NIV)

     6Then Paul, knowing that some of them were Sadducees and the others Pharisees, called out in the Sanhedrin, "My brothers, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee. I stand on trial because of my hope in the resurrection of the dead." 7When he said this, a dispute broke out between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided. 8(The Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, and that there are neither angels nor spirits, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all.)

     9There was a great uproar, and some of the teachers of the law who were Pharisees stood up and argued vigorously. "We find nothing wrong with this man," they said. "What if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?"

    Romans 13:1-7 (NIV)

     1Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. 2Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. 3For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you. 4For he is God's servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God's servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. 5Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience. 6This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God's servants, who give their full time to governing. 7Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.

    James 2:15-16 (NIV)

     15Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. 16If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?



    Comment (0)

    Fri, Apr 28th - 1:17AM

    Daniel 6:16 (NIV)



    16 So the king gave the order, and they brought Daniel and threw him into the lions' den. The king said to Daniel, "May your God, whom you serve continually, rescue you!"

    Comment (8)

    Thu, Apr 27th - 1:10PM

    Proverbs 27:17 (NIV, Amplified Bible & NKJV)



     17 As iron sharpens iron,
           so one man (person) sharpens another.

    17Iron sharpens iron; so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend [to show rage or worthy purpose].

    17 As iron sharpens iron,
          So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.



    Comment (4)

    Thu, Apr 27th - 1:02PM

    Matthew 6:5-8 (NIV)



     5"And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. 6But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. 7And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. 8Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

    Comment (1)

    Wed, Apr 26th - 10:10PM

    Daniel 6:10 (NIV)



     10 Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before.

    Comment (6)

    Wed, Apr 26th - 1:11AM

    Acts -- Peter with the Gentiles



    Acts 10:44-48 (NIV)

     44While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. 45The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles. 46For they heard them speaking in tongues (or other languages) and praising God.

       Then Peter said, 47"Can anyone keep these people from being baptized with water? They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have." 48So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked Peter to stay with them for a few days.

    Acts 11:11-18 (NIV)

     11"Right then three men who had been sent to me from Caesarea stopped at the house where I was staying. 12The Spirit told me to have no hesitation about going with them. These six brothers also went with me, and we entered the man's house. 13He told us how he had seen an angel appear in his house and say, 'Send to Joppa for Simon who is called Peter. 14He will bring you a message through which you and all your household will be saved.'

     15"As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit came on them as he had come on us at the beginning. 16Then I remembered what the Lord had said: 'John baptized with (or in) water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.' 17So if God gave them the same gift as he gave us, who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to think that I could oppose God?"

     18When they heard this, they had no further objections and praised God, saying, "So then, God has granted even the Gentiles repentance unto life."

    Ezekiel 37:5 (NIV)

    5 This is what the Sovereign LORD says to these bones: I will make breath (or wind or spirit) enter you, and you will come to life.

    Acts 2:1-4 (NIV)

     1When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues (or languages) as the Spirit enabled them.



    Comment (4)

    Tue, Apr 25th - 11:09AM

    John 3:16 (Amplified Bible)



    16For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up His only begotten (unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life.

    Comment (4)

    Mon, Apr 24th - 1:36AM

    Daniel 5:29 (NIV)



     29 Then at Belshazzar's command, Daniel was clothed in purple, a gold chain was placed around his neck, and he was proclaimed the third highest ruler in the kingdom.



    Comment (5)

    Sun, Apr 23rd - 7:46AM

    Daniel 5:17 (NIV)



     17 Then Daniel answered the king, "You may keep your gifts for yourself and give your rewards to someone else. Nevertheless, I will read the writing for the king and tell him what it means.

    Comment (3)

    Sat, Apr 22nd - 3:03PM

    Daniel 4:34-35 (NIV)



     34 At the end of that time, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven, and my sanity was restored. Then I praised the Most High; I honored and glorified him who lives forever.
           His dominion is an eternal dominion;
           his kingdom endures from generation to generation.

     35 All the peoples of the earth
           are regarded as nothing.
           He does as he pleases
           with the powers of heaven
           and the peoples of the earth.
           No one can hold back his hand
           or say to him: "What have you done?"



    Comment (5)

    Fri, Apr 21st - 4:16PM

    Daniel 3:16-18 (NIV)



     16 Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. 17 If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. 18 But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up."

    Comment (6)

    Thu, Apr 20th - 2:44PM

    Just Plugging away in Daniel (Dreams and Prophets)



    Daniel 2:27-28 (NIV)

     27 Daniel replied, "No wise man, enchanter, magician or diviner can explain to the king the mystery he has asked about, 28 but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries. He has shown King Nebuchadnezzar what will happen in days to come. Your dream and the visions that passed through your mind as you lay on your bed are these:

    Genesis 37:5-10 (NIV)

     5 Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers, they hated him all the more. 6 He said to them, "Listen to this dream I had: 7 We were binding sheaves of grain out in the field when suddenly my sheaf rose and stood upright, while your sheaves gathered around mine and bowed down to it."

     8 His brothers said to him, "Do you intend to reign over us? Will you actually rule us?" And they hated him all the more because of his dream and what he had said.

     9 Then he had another dream, and he told it to his brothers. "Listen," he said, "I had another dream, and this time the sun and moon and eleven stars were bowing down to me."

     10 When he told his father as well as his brothers, his father rebuked him and said, "What is this dream you had? Will your mother and I and your brothers actually come and bow down to the ground before you?"

    Genesis 40:1-15 (NIV)

     1 Some time later, the cupbearer and the baker of the king of Egypt offended their master, the king of Egypt. 2 Pharaoh was angry with his two officials, the chief cupbearer and the chief baker, 3 and put them in custody in the house of the captain of the guard, in the same prison where Joseph was confined. 4 The captain of the guard assigned them to Joseph, and he attended them.
          After they had been in custody for some time, 5 each of the two men—the cupbearer and the baker of the king of Egypt, who were being held in prison—had a dream the same night, and each dream had a meaning of its own.

     6 When Joseph came to them the next morning, he saw that they were dejected. 7 So he asked Pharaoh's officials who were in custody with him in his master's house, "Why are your faces so sad today?"

     8 "We both had dreams," they answered, "but there is no one to interpret them."
          Then Joseph said to them, "Do not interpretations belong to God? Tell me your dreams."

     9 So the chief cupbearer told Joseph his dream. He said to him, "In my dream I saw a vine in front of me, 10 and on the vine were three branches. As soon as it budded, it blossomed, and its clusters ripened into grapes. 11 Pharaoh's cup was in my hand, and I took the grapes, squeezed them into Pharaoh's cup and put the cup in his hand."

     12 "This is what it means," Joseph said to him. "The three branches are three days. 13 Within three days Pharaoh will lift up your head and restore you to your position, and you will put Pharaoh's cup in his hand, just as you used to do when you were his cupbearer. 14 But when all goes well with you, remember me and show me kindness; mention me to Pharaoh and get me out of this prison. 15 For I was forcibly carried off from the land of the Hebrews, and even here I have done nothing to deserve being put in a dungeon."

    Genesis 41:9-16 (NIV) 

     9 Then the chief cupbearer said to Pharaoh, "Today I am reminded of my shortcomings. 10 Pharaoh was once angry with his servants, and he imprisoned me and the chief baker in the house of the captain of the guard. 11 Each of us had a dream the same night, and each dream had a meaning of its own. 12 Now a young Hebrew was there with us, a servant of the captain of the guard. We told him our dreams, and he interpreted them for us, giving each man the interpretation of his dream. 13 And things turned out exactly as he interpreted them to us: I was restored to my position, and the other man was hanged."

     14 So Pharaoh sent for Joseph, and he was quickly brought from the dungeon. When he had shaved and changed his clothes, he came before Pharaoh.

     15 Pharaoh said to Joseph, "I had a dream, and no one can interpret it. But I have heard it said of you that when you hear a dream you can interpret it."

     16 "I cannot do it," Joseph replied to Pharaoh, "but God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires."

    Numbers 12:5-8 (NIV)

    5 Then the LORD came down in a pillar of cloud; he stood at the entrance to the Tent and summoned Aaron and Miriam. When both of them stepped forward, 6 he said, "Listen to my words:
           "When a prophet of the LORD is among you,
           I reveal myself to him in visions,
           I speak to him in dreams.

     7 But this is not true of my servant Moses;
           he is faithful in all my house.

     8 With him I speak face to face,
           clearly and not in riddles;
           he sees the form of the LORD.
           Why then were you not afraid
           to speak against my servant Moses?
    "

    Jeremiah 23:25-32 (NIV)

     25 "I have heard what the prophets say who prophesy lies in my name. They say, 'I had a dream! I had a dream!' 26 How long will this continue in the hearts of these lying prophets, who prophesy the delusions of their own minds? 27 They think the dreams they tell one another will make my people forget my name, just as their fathers forgot my name through Baal worship. 28 Let the prophet who has a dream tell his dream, but let the one who has my word speak it faithfully. For what has straw to do with grain?" declares the LORD. 29 "Is not my word like fire," declares the LORD, "and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces?

     30 "Therefore," declares the LORD, "I am against the prophets who steal from one another words supposedly from me. 31 Yes," declares the LORD, "I am against the prophets who wag their own tongues and yet declare, 'The LORD declares.' 32 Indeed, I am against those who prophesy false dreams," declares the LORD. "They tell them and lead my people astray with their reckless lies, yet I did not send or appoint them. They do not benefit these people in the least," declares the LORD.

    1 Corinthians 13:2 (NIV)

    2If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.



    Comment (4)

    Wed, Apr 19th - 12:37AM

    Daniel 2:19-23 (NIV)



    19 During the night the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision. Then Daniel praised the God of heaven 20 and said:
           "Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever;
           wisdom and power are his.

     21 He changes times and seasons;
           he sets up kings and deposes them.
           He gives wisdom to the wise
           and knowledge to the discerning.

     22 He reveals deep and hidden things;
           he knows what lies in darkness,
           and light dwells with him.

     23 I thank and praise you, O God of my fathers:
           You have given me wisdom and power,
           you have made known to me what we asked of you,
           you have made known to us the dream of the king."



    Comment (6)

    Tue, Apr 18th - 2:05PM

    1 John 3:1 (NIV)



     1How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.

    Comment (0)

    Mon, Apr 17th - 2:19AM

    Busybodies



    2 Thessalonians 3:10-13 (NIV)

    10For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: "If a man will not work, he shall not eat."

     11We hear that some among you are idle. They are not busy; they are busybodies. 12Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the bread they eat. 13And as for you, brothers, never tire of doing what is right.

    1 Timothy 5:12-14 (NIV)

    12Thus they bring judgment on themselves, because they have broken their first pledge. 13Besides, they get into the habit of being idle and going about from house to house. And not only do they become idlers, but also gossips and busybodies, saying things they ought not to. 14So I counsel younger widows to marry, to have children, to manage their homes and to give the enemy no opportunity for slander.

     



    Comment (2)

    Mon, Apr 17th - 2:11AM

    Daniel 2:10-11 (NIV)



     10 The astrologers answered the king, "There is not a man on earth who can do what the king asks! No king, however great and mighty, has ever asked such a thing of any magician or enchanter or astrologer. 11 What the king asks is too difficult. No one can reveal it to the king except the gods, and they do not live among men."

    Comment (0)

    Sun, Apr 16th - 12:45AM

    And neither Food nor Clothes is the End of the Reach of This...



    Romans 14 (NIV)

     1Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters. 2One man's faith allows him to eat everything, but another man, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables. 3The man who eats everything must not look down on him who does not, and the man who does not eat everything must not condemn the man who does, for God has accepted him. 4Who are you to judge someone else's servant? To his own master he stands or falls. And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.

     5One man considers one day more sacred than another; another man considers every day alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. 6He who regards one day as special, does so to the Lord. He who eats meat, eats to the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who abstains, does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God. 7For none of us lives to himself alone and none of us dies to himself alone. 8If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.

     9For this very reason, Christ died and returned to life so that he might be the Lord of both the dead and the living. 10You, then, why do you judge your brother? Or why do you look down on your brother? For we will all stand before God's judgment seat. 11It is written:
       " 'As surely as I live,' says the Lord,
       'every knee will bow before me;
          every tongue will confess to God.
    ' " 12So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God.

     13Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother's way. 14As one who is in the Lord Jesus, I am fully convinced that no food (or that nothing) is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for him it is unclean. 15If your brother is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer acting in love. Do not by your eating destroy your brother for whom Christ died. 16Do not allow what you consider good to be spoken of as evil. 17For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, 18because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by men.

     19Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification. 20Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All food is clean, but it is wrong for a man to eat anything that causes someone else to stumble. 21It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother to fall.

     22So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the man who does not condemn himself by what he approves. 23But the man who has doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and everything that does not come from faith is sin.

    Matthew 23:25-26 (NIV)

     25"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. 26Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean.

    Isaiah 45:23 (NAS)

        23"I have sworn by Myself,
             The word has gone forth from My mouth in righteousness
             And will not turn back,
             That to Me every knee will bow, every tongue will swear allegiance.

    James 2:1-8 (NAS)

     1My brethren, do not hold your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ with an attitude of personal favoritism.

     2For if a man comes into your assembly with a gold ring and dressed in fine clothes, and there also comes in a poor man in dirty clothes,

     3and you pay special attention to the one who is wearing the fine clothes, and say, "You sit here in a good place," and you say to the poor man, "You stand over there, or sit down by my footstool,"

     4have you not made distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil motives?

     5Listen, my beloved brethren: did not God choose the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?

     6But you have dishonored the poor man. Is it not the rich who oppress you and personally drag you into court?

     7Do they not blaspheme the fair name by which you have been called?

     8If, however, you are fulfilling the royal law according to the Scripture, "YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF," you are doing well.

    Matthew 4:4 (NIV)

     4Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.' "

    Deuteronomy 8:3 (NIV)

      3He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your fathers had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD.



    Comment (7)

    Sat, Apr 15th - 11:48PM

    Food for Thought



    Daniel 1:8-17 (NIV)

     8 But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way. 9 Now God had caused the official to show favor and sympathy to Daniel, 10 but the official told Daniel, "I am afraid of my lord the king, who has assigned your food and drink. Why should he see you looking worse than the other young men your age? The king would then have my head because of you."

     11 Daniel then said to the guard whom the chief official had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, 12 "Please test your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink. 13 Then compare our appearance with that of the young men who eat the royal food, and treat your servants in accordance with what you see." 14 So he agreed to this and tested them for ten days.

     15 At the end of the ten days they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food. 16 So the guard took away their choice food and the wine they were to drink and gave them vegetables instead.

     17 To these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning. And Daniel could understand visions and dreams of all kinds.

    Romans 14:14 (NIV)

    14As one who is in the Lord Jesus, I am fully convinced that no food (or nothing) is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for him it is unclean.

    Acts 10:9-29 (NIV)

     9About noon the following day as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray. 10He became hungry and wanted something to eat, and while the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance. 11He saw heaven opened and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners. 12It contained all kinds of four-footed animals, as well as reptiles of the earth and birds of the air. 13Then a voice told him, "Get up, Peter. Kill and eat."

     14"Surely not, Lord!" Peter replied. "I have never eaten anything impure or unclean."

     15The voice spoke to him a second time, "Do not call anything impure that God has made clean."

     16This happened three times, and immediately the sheet was taken back to heaven.

     17While Peter was wondering about the meaning of the vision, the men sent by Cornelius found out where Simon's house was and stopped at the gate. 18They called out, asking if Simon who was known as Peter was staying there.

     19While Peter was still thinking about the vision, the Spirit said to him, "Simon, three men are looking for you. 20So get up and go downstairs. Do not hesitate to go with them, for I have sent them."

     21Peter went down and said to the men, "I'm the one you're looking for. Why have you come?"

     22The men replied, "We have come from Cornelius the centurion. He is a righteous and God-fearing man, who is respected by all the Jewish people. A holy angel told him to have you come to his house so that he could hear what you have to say." 23Then Peter invited the men into the house to be his guests.

        The next day Peter started out with them, and some of the brothers from Joppa went along. 24The following day he arrived in Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends. 25As Peter entered the house, Cornelius met him and fell at his feet in reverence. 26But Peter made him get up. "Stand up," he said, "I am only a man myself."

     27Talking with him, Peter went inside and found a large gathering of people. 28He said to them: "You are well aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with a Gentile or visit him. But God has shown me that I should not call any man impure or unclean. 29So when I was sent for, I came without raising any objection. May I ask why you sent for me?"

    Mark 7:14-23 (NIV)

     14Again Jesus called the crowd to him and said, "Listen to me, everyone, and understand this. 15Nothing outside a man can make him 'unclean' by going into him. Rather, it is what comes out of a man that makes him 'unclean.' 16 If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear."

     17After he had left the crowd and entered the house, his disciples asked him about this parable. 18"Are you so dull?" he asked. "Don't you see that nothing that enters a man from the outside can make him 'unclean'? 19For it doesn't go into his heart but into his stomach, and then out of his body." (In saying this, Jesus declared all foods "clean.")

     20He went on: "What comes out of a man is what makes him 'unclean.' 21For from within, out of men's hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, 22greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. 23All these evils come from inside and make a man 'unclean.' "



    Comment (1)

    Fri, Apr 14th - 12:14PM

    A couple of Extra ones for Kelly, Lee and Marsha



    1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NIV)

     16Be joyful always; 17pray continually; 18give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

    1 Timothy 2:8-10 (NIV)

     8I want men everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer, without anger or disputing.

     9I also want women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, 10but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God.



    Comment (3)

    Fri, Apr 14th - 2:17AM

    James 5:13 (NIV)



     13Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise.



    Comment (3)

    Thu, Apr 13th - 2:20PM

    James 5:19-20 (NIV)



    19My brothers, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring him back, 20remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins.

    Comment (1)

    Wed, Apr 12th - 4:53AM

    James 5:7-9 (NIV)



     7Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord's coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains. 8You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord's coming is near. 9Don't grumble against each other, brothers, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door!

    Comment (4)

    Tue, Apr 11th - 12:36AM

    Psalm 31:7 (NIV)



     7 I will be glad and rejoice in your love,
           for you saw my affliction
           and knew the anguish of my soul.

    Comment (3)

    Mon, Apr 10th - 2:00AM

    James 4:15 (NIV)



    15Instead, you ought to say, "If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that."

    Comment (2)

    Sun, Apr 9th - 12:22AM

    James 4:3 (NIV)



    3When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.

    Comment (2)

    Sat, Apr 8th - 2:45AM

    What is 'Wisdom' and how is it manifested?



    James 3:17-18 (NIV)

     17But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. 18Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.

    James 1:2-6 (NIV)

     2Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. 6But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.

    Luke 17:4-6 (NIV)

    4If he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times comes back to you and says, 'I repent,' forgive him."

     5The apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith!"

     6He replied, "If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and planted in the sea,' and it will obey you.

    Mark 9:20-24 (NIV)

     20So they brought him. When the spirit saw Jesus, it immediately threw the boy into a convulsion. He fell to the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth.

     21Jesus asked the boy's father, "How long has he been like this?"

       "From childhood," he answered. 22"It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us."

     23" 'If you can'?" said Jesus. "Everything is possible for him who believes."

     24Immediately the boy's father exclaimed, "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!"

    Matthew 8:13 (NIV)

     13Then Jesus said to the centurion, "Go! It will be done just as you believed it would." And his servant was healed at that very hour.

    Matthew 21:22 (NIV)

    22If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer."

    Proverbs 2:6 (NIV)

     6 For the LORD gives wisdom,
           and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.

    Proverbs 3:11-14 (NIV)

     11 My son, do not despise the LORD's discipline
           and do not resent his rebuke,

     12 because the LORD disciplines those he loves,
           as a father the son he delights in.

     13 Blessed is the man who finds wisdom,
           the man who gains understanding,

     14 for she is more profitable than silver
           and yields better returns than gold.

    Psalm 111:10 (NIV)

     10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom;
           all who follow his precepts have good understanding.
           To him belongs eternal praise.

    Luke 15:13-21 (NIV)

     13"Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. 14After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.

     17"When he came to his senses, he said, 'How many of my father's hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.' 20So he got up and went to his father.
          "But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.

     21"The son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.'

    Proverbs 15:17 (NIV)

     17 Better a meal of vegetables where there is love
           than a fattened calf with hatred.



    Comment (3)

    Fri, Apr 7th - 10:29AM

    James' Tongue Soup



    James 3:5 (NIV)

    5Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark.

    James 1:19-20 (NIV)

     19My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires.

    James 3:1-2 (NIV)

     1Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. 2We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check.

    Acts 12:22-23 (NIV)

    22They shouted, "This is the voice of a god, not of a man." 23Immediately, because Herod did not give praise to God, an angel of the Lord struck him down, and he was eaten by worms and died.

     

    So let me clearly say:  PRAISE GOD!



    Comment (2)

    Thu, Apr 6th - 7:29PM

    James 2:24 (NIV)



    24You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone.

    Comment (7)

    Wed, Apr 5th - 2:36PM

    2 Timothy 2:4 (NIV)



    4No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs—he wants to please his commanding officer.

    Comment (7)

    Tue, Apr 4th - 8:27PM

    Psalm 23:4 (NIV)



     4 Even though I walk
           through the valley of the shadow of death, 
           I will fear no evil,
           for you are with me;
           your rod and your staff,
           they comfort me.

    Comment (2)

    Mon, Apr 3rd - 8:38PM

    And the next one is...



    James, again!

    James 2:19 (NIV)

     19You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.

    Matthew 7:21 (NIV)

     21"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.

    2 Timothy 2:19 (NIV)

    19Nevertheless, God's solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: "The Lord knows those who are his," and, "Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness."



    Comment (5)

    Sun, Apr 2nd - 12:08AM

    In James a little farther...



    James 2:6 (NIV)

    6But you have insulted the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court?

    Proverbs 18:23 (NIV)

     23 A poor man pleads for mercy,
           but a rich man answers harshly.

    James 2:12-13 (NIV)

     12Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, 13because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!

    Micah 7:18 (NIV)

     18 Who is a God like you,
           who pardons sin and forgives the transgression
           of the remnant of his inheritance?
           You do not stay angry forever
           but delight to show mercy.

    1 Chronicles 21:13 (NIV) (the context is important here!)

     13 David said to Gad, "I am in deep distress. Let me fall into the hands of the LORD, for his mercy is very great; but do not let me fall into the hands of men."



    Comment (4)

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    About Me

    Name: Mel Miller
    ChristiansUnite ID: lylemelford
    Member Since: 2005-08-26
    Location: Aurora, Colorado, United States
    Denomination: Christian
    About Me: I've been a christian for some time, but squandered my time and talents 'in a foreign land' I have been in the military (active and reserves) for just a couple of years shy of 30. I have two lovely daughters, and life seems to often be strange to me... more

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