Topic:Love Without Limits August 1, 2018 Read: Psalm 145:8–21 | Bible in a Year: Psalms 57–59; Romans 4 The Lord is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made. Psalm 145:9 A wise friend advised me to avoid using the words “you always” or “you never” in an argument—especially with my family. How easy it is to …
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Topic:Sinners Like Us July 31, 2018 Read: Luke 15:1–7 | Bible in a Year: Psalms 54–56; Romans 3 This man welcomes sinners and eats with them. Luke 15:2 I have a friend—her name is Edith—who told me about the day she decided to follow Jesus. Edith cared nothing for religion. But one Sunday morning she walked into a church near …
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Topic:Overcoming Challenges July 30, 2018 Read: Nehemiah 6:1–9, 15 | Bible in a Year: Psalms 51–53; Romans 2 So the wall was completed on the twenty-fifth of Elul, in fifty-two days. Nehemiah 6:15 We gathered monthly to hold one another accountable to our individual goals. My friend Mary wanted to reupholster the seats of her dining room chairs before the …
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Topic:Hope in Grief July 29, 2018 Read: Luke 24:13–32 | Bible in a Year: Psalms 49–50; Romans 1 Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. Luke 24:31 When I was nineteen, one of my close friends was killed in a car accident. In the following weeks and months, I walked each day …
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Topic:Bees and Snakes July 28, 2018 Read: Matthew 7:7–11 | Bible in a Year: Psalms 46–48; Acts 28 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! Matthew 7:11 Some problems have Daddy’s name written all over …
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Topic:Lavish Expressions of Love July 27, 2018 Read: 2 Corinthians 9:6–15 | Bible in a Year: Psalms 43–45; Acts 27:27–44 You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion. 2 Corinthians 9:11 On our wedding anniversary, my husband, Alan, gives me a large bouquet of fresh flowers. When he lost his job during …
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Topic:Unselfish Service July 26, 2018 Read: Isaiah 58:6–12 | Bible in a Year: Psalms 40–42; Acts 27:1–26 If you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness. Isaiah 58:10 A small collection of people stood together, dwarfed by the size of the huge tree lying on …
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Topic:Perfect Imperfection July 25, 2018 Read: Ephesians 3:8–19 | Bible in a Year: Psalms 37–39; Acts 26 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being. Ephesians 3:16 A college professor of mine, picking up on my perfectionism-induced procrastination, gave me some wise advice. “Don’t let perfect be …
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Topic:Jesus Knows Why July 24, 2018 Read: Mark 8:22–26 | Bible in a Year: Psalms 35–36; Acts 25 When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching. Matthew 7:28 I have friends who’ve received partial healing but still struggle with painful aspects of their diseases. Other friends have been healed of an addiction but still …
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Topic:Watchful Care July 23, 2018 Read: Jeremiah 23:20–24 | Bible in a Year: Psalms 33–34; Acts 24 “Do not I fill heaven and earth?” declares the Lord. Jeremiah 23:24 Before he raced out the door to school, I asked my son if he had brushed his teeth. Asking again, I reminded him of the importance of telling the truth. Unmoved …
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