Daily Bible Readings - June 30,2013

1^ST READING

 

Elisha would have understood the significance of Elijah throwing his cloak or mantle over him as a form of anointing or claiming him to follow in his footsteps as prophet. Later we will hear Elisha request a double portion of Elijah’s spirit indicating a full commitment to the ministry of a prophet, even allowing for the fact that he would have been aware of the difficulties and sufferings it would bring as well.

 

1 Kings 19:16, 19-21

16 The Lord said to Elijah: “You shall anoint Elisha, son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah, as prophet to succeed you.” 19 Elijah set out, and came upon Elisha, son of Shaphat, as he was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen; he was following the twelfth. Elijah went over to him and threw his cloak over him. 20 Elisha left the oxen, ran after Elijah, and said, “Please, let me kiss my father and mother good-bye, and I will follow you.” Elijah answered, “Go back! Have I done anything to you?” 21 Elisha left him and, taking the yoke of oxen, slaughtered them; he used the plowing equipment for fuel to boil their flesh, and gave it to his people to eat. Then he left and followed Elijah as his attendant.

 

P S A L M

 

Psalm 16:1-2, 5, 7-8, 9-10, 11

R: You are my inheritance, O Lord.

1 Keep me, O God, for in you I take refuge; 2 I say to the Lord, “My Lord are you.” 5 O Lord, my allotted portion and my cup, you it is who hold fast my lot. (R) 7 “I bless the Lord who counsels me; even in the night my heart exhorts me.” 8 I set the Lord ever before me; with him at my right hand I shall not be disturbed. (R) 9 Therefore my heart is glad and my soul rejoices, my body, too, abides in confidence; 10because you will not abandon my soul to the nether world, nor will you suffer your faithful one to undergo corruption. (R)  11 You will show me the path to life, fullness of joys in your presence, the delights at your right hand forever. (R)

 

2^ND READING

 

Freedom is a very slippery word and has many conflicting meanings. Americans think they are the guardians of true freedom but I question what they mean by this. It is imperative that we see freedom along the lines of being free to act for what is true and right and not just freedom from any sort of constraint. It is not a true use of our freedom when we choose the path of sin — it is an abuse of freedom.

 

Galatians 5:1, 13-18

1 Brothers and sisters: For freedom Christ set us free; so stand firm and do not submit again to the yoke of slavery. 13 For you were called for freedom, brothers and sisters. But do not use this freedom as anopportunity for the flesh; rather, serve one another through love. 14 For the whole law is fulfilled in one statement, namely, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 15 But if you go on biting and devouring one another, beware that you are not consumed by one another. 16 I say, then: live by the Spirit and you will certainly not gratify the desire of the flesh. 17 For the flesh has desires against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; these are opposed to each other, so that you may not do what you want. 18 But if you are guided by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

 

GOSPEL

 

Jesus is unwavering in His commitment to follow His Father’s will. He will not let anything get in the way of His obedience. Jesus knows that Jerusalem will be a place of suffering and trial — possibly He even knew that it would be the place of His death — but He did not waver from setting His path in that direction. This is the level of commitment that God expects from His followers. We all have to ask ourselves whether or not we are willing to give this much.

 

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

Speak, Lord, your servant is listening; you have the words of everlasting life.

 

Luke 9:51-62

51 When the days for Jesus’ being taken up were fulfilled, he resolutely determined to journey to Jerusalem, 52 and he sent messengers ahead of him. On the way they entered a Samaritan village to prepare for his reception there, 53 but they would not welcome him because the destination of his journey was Jerusalem. 54 When the disciples James and John saw this they asked, “Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven to consume them?” 55 Jesus turned and rebuked them, 56 and they journeyed to another village. 57 As they were proceeding on their journey someone said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” 58 Jesus answered him, “Foxes have dens and birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to rest his head.” 59 And to another he said, “Follow me.” But he replied, “Lord, let me go first and bury my father.” 60 But he answered him, “Let the dead bury their dead. But you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” 61 And another said, “I will follow you, Lord, but first let me say farewell to my family at home.” 62 To him Jesus said, “No one who sets a hand to the plow and looks to what was left behind is fit for the kingdom of God.”

 

think: Choosing the path of sin is an abuse of our freedom.

 

 

T O D A Y’S BLESSING LIST

Thank You Lord for: __________________

 

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God’s special verse/thought for me today_

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READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR 1 Chronicles 22-24

                                                                                                           SABBATH PAUSE

My weekly time with God

THANK YOU LIST

Things to be grateful for from the past week

________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

SPECIAL NEEDS

Things to ask God for in the coming week

________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________

HIDDEN TREASURE

Most important word God told me this week

 

________________________________________________________________

                                                          _________________________________________________________________

 

 

 

REVIEW OF THE QUARTER

 

Did I fulfill my last quarter goals?

 

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What were the most important words the Lord gave to me this quarter?

 

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What were my greatest blessings these past three months?

 

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What are my most pressing needs for the next quarter?

 

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NOTES:

 

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Daily Bible Readings - June 28,2013

1^ST READING

 

God causes a miracle and Sarai gives birth and then God changes her name to Sarah. At the same time, Abram’s name is changed to Abraham to literally reflect the promise that God gave him that he would be a blessing to all the nations. Name changes in the Scriptures always reflect a significant change in the status or direction of the person’s life as they reveal the identity of the person who carries them.

 

Genesis 17:1, 9-10, 15-22

1 When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to him and said: “I am God the Almighty. Walk in my presence and be blameless. 9 God also said to Abraham: “On your part, you and your descendants after you must keep my covenant throughout the ages. 10 This is my covenant with you and your descendants after you that you must keep: every male among you shall be circumcised.” 15 God further said to Abraham: “As for your wife Sarai, do not call her Sarai; her name shall be Sarah. 16 I will bless her, and I will give you a son by her. Him also will I bless; he shall give rise to nations, and rulers of peoples shall issue from him.” 17 Abraham prostrated himself and laughed as he said to himself, “Can a child be born to a man who is a hundred years old? Or can Sarah give birth at ninety?” 18 Then Abraham said to God, “Let but Ishmael live on by your favor!” 19 God replied: “Nevertheless, your wife Sarah is to bear you a son, and you shall call him Isaac. I will maintain my covenant with him as an everlasting pact, to be his God and the God of his descendants after him. 20 As for Ishmael, I am heeding you: I hereby bless him. I will make him fertile and will multiply him exceedingly. He shall become the father of twelve chieftains, and I will make of him a great nation. 21 But my covenant I will maintain with Isaac, whom Sarah shall bear to you by this time next year.” 22 When he had finished speaking with him, God departed from Abraham.

 

P S A L M

 

Psalm 128:1-2, 3, 4-5

R: See how the Lord blesses those who fear Him.

1 Blessed are you who fear the Lord, who walk in his ways! 2 For you shall eat the fruit of your handiwork; blessed shall you be, and favored. (R) 3 Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine in the recesses of your home; your children like olive plants around your table. (R) 4 Behold, thus is the man blessed who fears the Lord. 5 The Lord bless you from Zion: may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem all the days of your life. (R)

 

GOSPEL

 

Jesus wants us to give glory to God with our lives. Just because a person is sick does not mean that he cannot do this. Why some get healed and others do not will always be a mystery that we cannot fully understand. Faith demands that we trust God because He knows what He is doing; this does not mean that accepting His will gets any easier. Let us pray that the challenges of life will never overcome us; rather, that we will always overcome them.

 

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

Christ took away our infirmities and bore our diseases.

 

Matthew 8:1-4

1 When Jesus came down from the mountain, great crowds followed him. 2 And then a leper approached, did him homage, and said, “Lord, if you wish, you can make me clean.” 3 He stretched out his hand, touched him, and said, “I will do it. Be made clean.” His leprosy was cleansed immediately. 4 Then Jesus said to him, “See that you tell no one, but go show yourself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses prescribed; that will be proof for them.”

 

think:  Let us pray that the challenges of life will never overcome us; rather, that we will overcome them.

 

T O D A Y’S BLESSING LIST

Thank You Lord for: __________________

 

____________________________________

 

God’s special verse/thought for me today_

_____________________________________

 

READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR 1 Chronicles 16-18

Daily Bible Readings - June 27,2013

1^ST READING

 

Abram has a moment of doubt and gives in to Sarai’s request that he have a child with her maid Hagar. Hagar gives birth to Ishmael. We will all have moments of weakness and allow doubts to overwhelm us. Let us seek to minimize these times as much as we can. In order to do this, let us pray for the grace of a stronger faith that believes and trusts in the promises of God.

 

Genesis 16:1-12, 15-16

1 Abram’s wife Sarai had borne him no children. She had, however, an Egyptian maidservant named Hagar. 2 Sarai said to Abram: “The Lord has kept me from bearing children. Have intercourse, then, with my maid; perhaps I shall have sons through her.” Abram heeded Sarai’s request. 3 Thus, after Abram had lived ten years in the land of Canaan, his wife Sarai took her maid, Hagar the Egyptian, and gave her to her husband Abram to be his concubine. 4 He had intercourse with her, and she became pregnant. When she became aware of her pregnancy, she looked on her mistress with disdain. 5 So Sarai said to Abram: “You are responsible for this outrage against me. I myself gave my maid to your embrace; but ever since she became aware of her pregnancy, she has been looking on me with disdain. May the Lord decide between you and me!” 6 Abram told Sarai: “Your maid is in your power. Do to her whatever you please.” Sarai then abused her so much that Hagar ran away from her. 7 The Lord’s messenger found her by a spring in the wilderness, the spring on the road to Shur, 8 and he asked, “Hagar maid of Sarai, where have you come from and where are you going?” She answered, “I am running away from my mistress, Sarai.” 9 But the Lord’s messenger told her: “Go back to your mistress and submit to her abusive treatment. 10 I will make your descendants so numerous,” added the Lord’s messenger, “that they will be too many to count. 11 Besides,” the Lord’s messenger said to her: “You are now pregnant and shall bear a son; you shall name him Ishmael, for the Lord has heard you, God has answered you. 12 This one shall be a wild ass of a man, his hand against everyone, and everyone’s hand against him; in opposition to all his kin shall he encamp.” 15 Hagar bore Abram a son, and Abram named the son whom Hagar bore him Ishmael. 16 Abram was eighty-six years old when Hagar bore him Ishmael.

 

P S A L M

 

Psalm 106:1-2, 3-4, 4-5

R: Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good.

1 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his mercy endures forever. 2 Who can tell the mighty deeds of the Lord, or proclaim all his praises? (R) 3 Blessed are they who observe what is right, who do always what is just. 4 Remember us, O Lord, as you favor your people. (R) Visit me with your saving help, 5 that I may see the prosperity of your chosen ones, rejoice in the joy of your people, and glory with your inheritance. (R)

 

 

GOSPEL

 

Not only do we have to build on the foundation of faith that God provides us, but we also have to build with and for Him. If we build for our own glory we will fail and God will not know us on Judgment Day. Our lives are not really about us but about taking the opportunity to give glory and praise to God. This is what any creation does for its Creator. This does not lessen our dignity as we are free to choose whatever we want to do with our lives. We only need to remember that, if we want fulfillment, it will only come if we obey God’s will — that is, follow the Creator’s instruction manual for our lives.

 

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him and we will come to him.

 

Matthew 7:21-29

21 Jesus said to his disciples: “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven, but only the one who does the Will of my Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name? Did we not drive out demons in your name? Did we not do mighty deeds in your name?’ 23 Then I will declare to them solemnly, ‘I never knew you. Depart from me, you evildoers.’ 24 Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. 25 The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. But it did not collapse; it had been set solidly on rock. 26 And everyone who listens to these words of mine but does not act on them will be like a fool who built his house on sand. 27 The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. And it collapsed and was completely ruined.” 28 When Jesus finished these words, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, 29 for he taught them as one having authority, and not as their scribes.

 

think:  Our lives are not really about us but about taking the opportunity to give glory and praise to God.

 

T O D A Y’S BLESSING LIST

Thank You Lord for: __________________

 

____________________________________

 

God’s special verse/thought for me today_

_____________________________________

 

READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR 1 Chronicles 13-15

Daily Bible Readings - June 25,2013

1^ST READING

 

Abram leaves most of his wealth behind in Ur when he chooses to obey God’s call to go to the Promised Land. God, in His generosity, allows him to grow rich again. Abram’s trust in God is very strong as he allows Lot to choose the better land and takes for himself the marginal desert areas. God promises him greater wealth for his trust. This is not to say that those who have faith will become wealthy. Many do not and even choose to live lives of physical and material poverty.

 

Genesis 13:2, 5-18

2 Abram was very rich in livestock, silver, and gold. 5 Lot, who went with Abram, also had flocks and herds and tents, 6 so that the land could not support them if they stayed together; their possessions were so great that they could not dwell together. 7 There were quarrels between the herdsmen of Abram’s livestock and those of Lot’s. (At this time the Canaanites and the Perizzites were occupying the land.) 8 So Abram said to Lot: “Let there be no strife between you and me, or between your herdsmen and mine, for we are kinsmen. 9 Is not the whole land at your disposal? Please separate from me. If you prefer the left, I will go to the right; if you prefer the right, I will go to the left.” 10 Lot looked about and saw how well watered the whole Jordan Plain was as far as Zoar, like the Lord’s own garden, or like Egypt. (This was before the Lord had destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.) 11 Lot, therefore, chose for himself the whole Jordan Plain and set out eastward. Thus they separated from each other; 12 Abram stayed in the land of Canaan, while Lot settled among the cities of the Plain, pitching his tents near Sodom. 13 Now the inhabitants of Sodom were very wicked in the sins they committed against the Lord. 14 After Lot had left, the Lord said to Abram: “Look about you, and from where you are, gaze to the north and south, east and west; 15 all the land that you see I will give to you and your descendants forever. 16 I will make your descendants like the dust of the earth; if anyone could count the dust of the earth, your descendants too might be counted. 17 Set forth and walk about in the land, through its length and breadth, for to you I will give it.” 18 Abram moved his tents and went on to settle near the terebinth of Mamre, which is at Hebron. There he built an altar to the Lord.

 

P S A L M

 

Psalm 15:2-3, 3-4, 5

R: He who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord.

2 He who walks blamelessly and does justice; who thinks the truth in his heart 3 and slanders not with his tongue. (R) Who harms not his fellow man, nor takes up a reproach against his neighbor; 4 by whom the reprobate is despised, while he honors those who fear the Lord. (R) 5 Who lends not his money at usury and accepts no bribe against the innocent. He who does these things shall never be disturbed. (R)

 

GOSPEL

 

We need to be careful that we treat with both gratitude and respect all the graces and gifts God gives us. Jesus makes it quite clear that those who do not respect the blessings of God will have them removed from them. This is quite a reasonable position to take. Let us always use well and generously any blessings that God gives to us.

 

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

I am the light of the world, says the Lord; whoever follows me will have the light of life.

 

Matthew 7:6, 12-14

6 Jesus said to his disciples: “Do not give what is holy to dogs, or throw your pearls before swine, lest they trample them underfoot, and turn and tear you to pieces. 12 Do to others whatever you would have them do to you. This is the Law and the Prophets. 13 Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road broad that leads to destruction, and those who enter through it are many. 14 How narrow the gate and constricted the road that leads to life. And those who find it are few.”

 

think:  Let us always use well and generously any blessings that God gives to us.

 

T O D A Y’S BLESSING LIST

Thank You Lord for: __________________

 

____________________________________

 

God’s special verse/thought for me today_

_____________________________________

 

READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR 1 Chronicles 7-9

 

Daily Bible Readings - June 24,2013

1^ST READING

 

 

God has a plan for everyone and it is up to us discover this. As we celebrate the birth of John the Baptist, we can wonder what it would be like to have Jesus for our first cousin. But it will be far more productive for us to listen to what God has to say about His will for our lives than focus on something that has more to do with someone else.

 

Isaiah 49:1-6

1 Hear me, O coastlands, listen, O distant peoples. The Lord called me from birth, from my mother’s womb he gave me my name. 2 He made of me a sharp-edged sword and concealed me in the shadow of his arm. He made me a polished arrow, in his quiver he hid me. 3 “You are my servant,” he said to me, “Israel, through whom I show my glory.” 4 Though I thought I had toiled in vain, and for nothing, uselessly, spent my strength, yet my reward is with the Lord, my recompense is with my God. 5 For now the Lord has spoken who formed me as his servant from the womb, that Jacob may be brought back to him and Israel gathered to him; and I am made glorious in the sight of the Lord, and my God is now my strength! 6 “It is too little,” he says, “for you to be my servant, to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and restore the survivors of Israel; I will make you a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.”

 

P S A L M

 

Psalm 139:1-3, 13-14, 14-15

R: I praise You, for I am wonderfully made.

1 O Lord, you have probed me, you know me: 2 you know when I sit and when I stand; you understand my thoughts from afar. 3 My journeys and my rest you scrutinize, with all my ways you are familiar. (R) 13 Truly you have formed my inmost being; you knit me in my mother’s womb. 14 I give you thanks that I am fearfully, wonderfully made; wonderful are your works. (R) My soul also you knew full well; 15 nor was my frame unknown to you when I was made in secret, when I was fashioned in the depths of the earth. (R)

 

 

2^ND READING

 

Even though Jesus is his first cousin, John acknowledges His preeminence by saying that he is not worthy to undo Jesus’ sandal. This humility is important to reflect upon as it is the basis of obedience in our lives. Without humility it will not be possible to be a disciple of Jesus. Without humility, we will never be willing to even listen to the will of God for us.

 

Acts 13:22-26

22 In those days, Paul said: “God raised up David as king; of him God testified, ‘I have found David, son of Jesse, a man after my own heart; he will carry out my every wish.’ 23 From this man’s descendants God, according to his promise, has brought to Israel a savior, Jesus. 24 John heralded his coming by proclaiming a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel; 25 and as John was completing his course, he would say, ‘What do you suppose that I am? I am not he. Behold, one is coming after me; I am not worthy to unfasten the sandals of his feet.’ 26 My brothers, sons of the family of Abraham, and those others among you who are God-fearing, to us this Word of Salvation has been sent.”

 

GOSPEL

 

John matured in the wilderness. He must have had a sense that he had an important role to play in the work of God, and so he set aside time to prepare himself in a place where there would be few distractions. Today’s world is precisely the opposite to this. It is full of distractions. I cannot help thinking that if we are truly to hear the voice of God clearly, we have to be very disciplined in setting aside times when that is our sole focus.

 

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

You, child, will be called prophet of the Most High, for you will gobefore the Lord to prepare his way.

 

Luke 1:57-66, 80

57 When the time arrived for Elizabeth to have her child she gave birth to a son. 58 Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown his great mercy toward her, and they rejoiced with her. 59 When they came on the eighth day to circumcise the child, they were going to call him Zechariah after his father, 60 but his mother said in reply, “No. He will be called John.” 61 But they answered her, “There is no one among your relatives who has this name.” 62 So they made signs, asking his father what he wished him to be called. 63 He asked for a tablet and wrote, “John is his name,” and all were amazed. 64 Immediately his mouth was opened, his tongue freed, and he spoke blessing God. 65 Then fear came upon all their neighbors, and all these matters were discussed throughout the hill country of Judea. 66 All who heard these things took them to heart, saying, “What, then, will this child be?” For surely the hand of the Lord was with him. 80 The child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the desert until the day of his manifestation to Israel.

think:  Without humility it will not be possible to be a disciple of Jesus.

 

T O D A Y’S BLESSING LIST

Thank You Lord for: __________________

 

____________________________________

 

God’s special verse/thought for me today_

_____________________________________

 

READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR 1 Chronicles 4-6

Daily Bible Readings - June 23,2013

1^ST READING

 

Is this a reference to Christ — a prophecy of what will happen in the centuries to come? It is hard for us to be sure of the answers to these questions. Suffice it to say that the Fathers of the Church thought it was and have treated it as one in their writings. It is plausible that from time to time God gave hints to the Jews of what was to come in the future. What is even more important is that we recognize Jesus as the Christ and Messiah and so proclaim Him as our Redeemer.

 

Zechariah 12:10-11; 13:1

10 Thus says the Lord: I will pour out on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and petition; and they shall look on him whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him as one mourns for an only son, and they shall grieve over him as one grieves over a first-born. 11 On that day the mourning in Jerusalem shall be as great as the mourning of Hadadrimmon in the plain of Megiddo. 13: 1 On that day there shall be open to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, a fountain to purify from sin and uncleanness.

 

P S A L M

 

Psalm 63:2, 3-4, 5-6, 8-9

R: My soul is thirsting for you; O Lord my God.

1 [2] O God, you are my God whom I seek; for you my flesh pines and my soul thirsts like the earth, parched, lifeless and without water. (R) 2 [3] Thus have I gazed toward you in the sanctuary to see your power and your glory, 3 [4] for your kindness is a greater good than life; my lips shall glorify you. (R) 4 [5] Thus will I bless you while I live; lifting up my hands, I will call upon your name. 5 [6] As with the riches of a banquet shall my soul be satisfied, and with exultant lips my mouth shall praise you. (R) 7 [8] You are my help, and in the shadow of your wings I shout for joy. 8 [9] My soul clings fast to you; your right hand upholds me. (R)

 

2^ND READING

 

Jesus breaks down all barriers between people. He wants us to see one another as brothers and sisters in Him without reference to color or ethnic origins. There is nothing wrong with one or other race or ethnic origin but it is not important in comparison to our single ownership of the title of human being. We stand as one under the banner of our humanity before we can be differed by race or any other description.

 

Galatians 3:26-29

26 Brothers and sisters: Through faith you are all children of God in Christ Jesus. 27 For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free person, there is not male and female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendant, heirs according to the promise.

 

GOSPEL

 

The irony and mystery implicit in Jesus’ prediction of His passion is strong. It has the potential to upset a person’s faith if they lose sight of the fact that all Jesus does is done in obedience to His Father’s will. It is crucial that we keep this focus as well, particularly when we struggle to accept the trials that confront us when we follow Jesus’ will for our lives. It is the example of Jesus’ suffering that should inspire us to overcome all temptations here.

 

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

My sheep hear my voice, says the Lord; I know them, and they follow me.

 

Luke 9:18-24

18 Once when Jesus was praying in solitude, and the disciples were with him, he asked them, “Who do the crowds say that I am?” 19 They said in reply, “John the Baptist; others, Elijah; still others, ‘One of the ancient prophets has arisen.’ ” 20 Then he said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter said in reply, “The Christ of God.” 21 He rebuked them and directed them not to tell this to anyone. 22 He said, “The Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed and on the third day be raised.” 23 Then he said to all, “If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. 24 For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.”

think:  Jesus breaks down all barriers between people.

 

T O D A Y’S BLESSING LIST

Thank You Lord for: __________________

 

____________________________________

 

God’s special verse/thought for me today_

_____________________________________

 

READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR 1 Chronicles 1-3

 

                                                                                                        SABBATH PAUSE

My weekly time with God

THANK YOU LIST

Things to be grateful for from the past week

________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

SPECIAL NEEDS

Things to ask God for in the coming week

________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________

HIDDEN TREASURE

Most important word God told me this week

 

________________________________________________________________

 

LIST

Daily Bible Readings - June 21, 2013

1^ST READING

 

Paul never hesitates to outline his pedigree in seeking to affirm his authority when it is challenged. We should never be afraid to speak with the authority that is appropriate to our standing in the Church but let us always do so with humility. It will give greater range and power to our witness. We should also be careful not to overstate our authority — that is, pretend to be authorities on issues we know little or nothing about.

 

2 Corinthians 11:18, 21-30

18 Brothers and sisters: Since many boast according to the flesh, I too will boast. 21 To my shame I say that we were too weak! But what anyone dares to boast of (I am speaking in foolishness) I also dare. 22 Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they children of Israel? So am I. Are they descendants of Abraham? So am I. 23 Are they ministers of Christ? (I am talking like an insane person.) I am still more, with far greater labors, far more imprisonments, far worse beatings, and numerous brushes with death. 24 Five times at the hands of the Jews I received forty lashes minus one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I passed a night and a day on the deep; 26 on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my own race, dangers from Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers at sea, dangers among false brothers; 27 in toil and hardship, through many sleepless nights, through hunger and thirst, through frequent fasting, through cold and exposure. 28 And apart from these things, there is the daily pressure upon me of my anxiety for all the churches. 29 Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is led to sin, and I am not indignant? 30 If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness.

 

P S A L M

 

Psalm 34:2-3, 4-5, 6-7

R: From all their distress God rescues the just.

1 [2] I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall be ever in my mouth. 2 [3] Let my soul glory in the Lord; the lowly will hear me and be glad. (R) 3 [4] Glorify the Lord with me, let us together extol his name. 4 [5] I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears. (R) 5 [6] Look to him that you may be radiant with joy, and your faces may not blush with shame. 6 [7] When the poor one called out, the Lord heard, and from all his distress he saved him. (R)

 

GOSPEL

 

Jesus reminds us that all the wealth in the world means nothing when it comes to seeking eternal life. We can spend our time and effort seeking to get

richer and richer in this life, but it will not bring us fulfillment. It may bring us ease of life and all sorts of pleasure, but we will discover these have little or no relevance when it comes to eternal life. What is more important to you — a century here on earth or eternity in heaven?

 

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

Blessed are the poor in spirit; for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.

 

Matthew 6:19-23

19 Jesus said to his disciples: “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and decay destroy, and thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor decay destroys, nor thieves break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be. 22 The lamp of the body is the eye. If your eye is sound, your whole body will be filled with light; 23 but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be in darkness. And if the light in you is darkness, how great will the darkness be.”

think:  What is more important to you — a century here on earth or eternity in heaven?

 

T O D A Y’S BLESSING LIST

Thank You Lord for: __________________

 

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God’s special verse/thought for me today_

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READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR 2 Kings 19-22