Monthly ArchivesDecember 2020

Proverbs 1:4   4 for giving prudence to those who are simple, knowledge and discretion to the young—   One thought: The most in need of wisdom is the one who thinks they are not simple   Three questions: What does it mean to grow in discretion?   Repent of times when you have shown a lack of discretion or prudence.   In what area of life might you need more wisdom?   Prayer: Praise God that He is the wise God who is without error and is generous with knowledge. Give thanks that in Jesus Christ, God has revealed to us all that we need to know for salvation and eternal life. Ask God for you + someone else, ...

Psalm 42 For the director of music. A maskil of the Sons of Korah. 1 As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God. 2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God? 3 My tears have been my food day and night, while people say to me all day long, “Where is your God?” 4 These things I remember as I pour out my soul: how I used to go to the house of God under the protection of the Mighty One with shouts of joy and praise among the festive throng. 5 Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within ...

Proverbs 1:3 3 for receiving instruction in prudent behaviour, doing what is right and just and fair;   One thought: Sinners need God to show them what good behaviour looks like, for it cannot come from within ourselves.     Three questions: What does God value?   Do you value justice, fairness and right/wrong?   Pray that God’s people would exhibit the behaviour that God loves.   Prayer: Praise God that He is good, just and fair. Give thanks that in Christ, we see an example of how we should live. Ask God to help you + someone else think & feel more like He does.

Psalm 41 For the director of music. A psalm of David. 1 Blessed are those who have regard for the weak; the Lord delivers them in times of trouble. 2 The Lord protects and preserves them— they are counted among the blessed in the land— he does not give them over to the desire of their foes. 3 The Lord sustains them on their sickbed and restores them from their bed of illness. 4 I said, “Have mercy on me, Lord; heal me, for I have sinned against you.” 5 My enemies say of me in malice, “When will he die and his name perish?” 6 When one of them comes to see me, he speaks falsely, while his heart ...

Proverbs 1:1-2 1 The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel: 2 for gaining wisdom and instruction; for understanding words of insight;     One thought: To grow in wisdom is to be more like Jesus     Three questions: How might Proverbs (the book of the Bible) help God’s people become wiser?   Do you desire wisdom?   Have a look at James 1:5   Prayer: Praise God that He know all things and in Him all wisdom resides. Give thanks for the Proverbs that help us grow in wisdom and for Jesus who shows us how to live wisely. Ask God to help you +someone else grow in wisdom.

Psalm 40 For the director of music. Of David. A psalm. 1 I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. 2 He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. 3 He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the Lord and put their trust in him. 4 Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, who does not look to the proud, to those who turn aside to false gods. 5 Many, Lord my God, are the wonders you have ...

Matthew 1:18-25 18 This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. 19 Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. 20 But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to ...

Luke 1:39-56   39 At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, 40 where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. 41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42 In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! 43 But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. 45 Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his ...

Luke 1:26-28 26 In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” One thought: The conception of Jesus is the great reminder that God is still active amidst the ordinariness of life     Three questions: What is significant about Mary & Joseph?   Do you believe that God is active in ordinary life?   Prayer is a powerful reminder of God at work in our world. Pray today.   ...

Matthew 1:11-17 11 and Josiah the father of Jeconiah and his brothers at the time of the exile to Babylon. 12 After the exile to Babylon: Jeconiah was the father of Shealtiel, Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel, 13 Zerubbabel the father of Abihud, Abihud the father of Eliakim, Eliakim the father of Azor, 14 Azor the father of Zadok, Zadok the father of Akim, Akim the father of Elihud, 15 Elihud the father of Eleazar, Eleazar the father of Matthan, Matthan the father of Jacob, 16 and Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, and Mary was the mother of Jesus who is called the Messiah. 17 Thus there were fourteen generations in all from Abraham to David, ...