Author: Gospel Folio Press

 

DAILY?READINGS: Deut. 13-14:21; Song of Sol. 3:6-5:1; Luke 10:1-24

 

Search me, O God, and know my heart…  Psalm 139:23

My eyes fill with tears as I look at my face in the mirror. After a round of chemo-therapy and also radiation, I have no hair, no eyebrows or eye lashes and my skin is gray. I look so ugly. Then I think of a song. It says “God wants to hear me sing when the world is crashing down and despair is all around.” So I sing, but not very loud and not very well. Then I rejoice that God doesn’t care if I’m pretty outside, only that I’m clean inside. —Debbie Douglas

Sing praise to God who reigns above, the God of all creation,
The God of power, the God of love, the God of our salvation.
With healing balm my soul is filled and every painful murmur stilled:
To God all praise and glory.
—Jo­hann J. Schütz

 

DAILY?READINGS: Deut. 12; Song of Sol. 2:8 to 3:5; Luke 9:37-62

 

When I am afraid, I will trust in thee.  Psalm 56:3

It’s easy to fear. We fear the future. We fear when life suddenly takes a turn we weren’t prepared for. We fear when we sense things are swirling out of our control. How should we deal with moments or seasons of fear? Trust our God. Often we don’t understand or can’t see the benefit of what is happening. He does and we know that He will never leave us or forsake us! We know that “whoso putteth his trust in the Lord shall be safe” (Prov 29:25). —L. Fraser

What tho’ fierce and long the strife is raging,
God is on your side, the foe engaging;
Every wound He heals, the pain assuaging;
Fear not! Oh, fear not!
—V. B. Hall

 

DAILY?READINGS: Deut. 10:12-11:32; Song of Sol. 1-2:7; Luke 9:18-36

 

But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us.  Ephesians 2:4

God does not love like we love. We love those that we like and they are generally those who love us in return. God’s love elevates so much higher. It flows from the riches of His mercy. It should not appear amazing to us that it is called “His great love”. His mercy and love were so great that He gave His Son to die for us when we were far from Him. What a wonderful God and Saviour we have. May our worship and remembrance of Him be sweet today. —Harold G. Smith

The love of God is greater far than tongue can ever tell; 
It goes beyond the highest star, and reaches to the lowest hell.
—Fred Lehman

 

DAILY?READINGS: Deut. 9 to 10:11; Eccl. 11-12; Luke 9:1-17

 

No man taketh [my life] from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.  John 10:18

This is the climax of the Shepherd’s ministry. It signals the indivisible union of Father and Shepherd Son in this mighty work. He laid down His life for us and defeated Satan, wrestling from his grasp all who were held captive. God grant that we, His children, saved and enjoying His resurrection life, never speak in a matter-of-fact way of this mighty act of selfless love. —Drew Craig

Love found a way to redeem my soul,
Love found a way that could make me whole; 
Love sent my Lord to the cross of shame,
Love found a way O, praise His holy name!
—Constance B. Reid

 

DAILY?READINGS: Deut. 7:12 to 8:20; Eccl. 9:11 to 10:20; Luke 8:40-56

 

I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last.  Revelation 1:11

The Lord Jesus is the beginning and the ending, the first and the last. Alpha and Omega are His glorious titles. He is also described as having “the keys of hell and of death” (v. 18). It follows that He is greater than all our circumstances. It also follows that we can completely trust Him in all of our circumstances. Are we casting all our cares on Him today? —Mark Fenn

Of the Father’s love begotten, ere the worlds began to be,
He is Alpha and Omega, He the Source, the Ending He,
Of the things that are, that have been, 
And that future years shall see, evermore and evermore!
—Aurelius C. Prudentius

 

DAILY?READINGS: Deut. 6 to 7:11; Eccl. 8 to 9:10; Luke 8:22-39

 

Then Jesus said unto them, My time is not yet come…  John 7:6 
But no man laid hands on him, because his hour was not yet come. John 7:30

These phrases regarding times and hours, are repeated on numerous occasions in John’s Gospel. The Lord Jesus knew that events, and their timing in His life were all in accord with “the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God” (Acts 2:23). We should also be aware that events and their timing in our lives are not the outworking of random fate, but the unfolding of the loving plan that the Father in His wisdom has determined for us. This knowledge will give us peace and assurance in difficult times. —W. H. Burnett

Our times are in Thy hand; Father, we wish them there;
Our life, our souls, our all we leave, entirely to Thy care.
—W. F. Lloyd

 

DAILY?READINGS: Deuteronomy 5; Ecclesiastes 7; Luke 8:1-21

 

Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.  Philippians 4:6

Are you worried today? Maybe your job situation is uncertain. Perhaps you have family problems. Maybe your health is poor. Pray! Do you remember how as a little child when hurt or afraid you ran to your mother or father for comfort. Embraced in their arms and surrounded by their love, you felt safe and happy. So we should run to our heavenly Father in prayer and be embraced by His almighty arms. And be thankful! As you dwell upon all of your blessings your perspective will change. Do not worry. Pray. —Donald L. Norbie

God has given you His promise. That He hears and answers prayer. 
He will heed your supplication. If you cast on Him your care.
—Ma­ry Bern­stech­er

 

DAILY?READINGS: Deuteronomy 4; Ecclesiastes 5-6; Luke 7:30-50

 

…When we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son… Romans 5:10

To reconcile is to resolve a difference. When it is between two earthly parties it is usually done by each party giving in to some degree. In the spiritual realm it is different. When we become reconciled to God, we are the ones who must do all the changing. But we can’t do it ourselves. The Son was the only one who could do it, but to do it He had to die in our place. We rejoice He was willing. We rejoice He did the work. Now we who were hopelessly lost can be  reconciled to a holy God. —Ken Gross

What can wash away my sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
What can make me whole again? Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
—Robert Lowery