The Trouble With Heroes | Our Daily Bread

The Trouble With Heroes | Our Daily Bread

The Trouble With Heroes

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September 2, 2011 — by Dave Branon

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Read: Psalm 139:1-14

I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. —Psalm 139:14

Bible in a year:
Psalms 137-139; 1 Corinthians 13

When I was a kid, I had a hero: Pete Maravich, a high-scoring basketball player who handled the ball like a magician.

Problem was, my desire to be like Pistol Pete blocked my satisfaction with who God made me to be. When I realized I could never play like Pete, I grew discouraged. I even quit my college team briefly because I couldn’t measure up to the Maravich standard.

Kids still do that kind of thing. They grow unhappy with who God made them to be because they measure themselves by their “perfect” heroes.

Christian singer Jonny Diaz recognized this and wrote a song called “More Beautiful You.” The song begins: “Little girl fourteen flipping through a magazine; says she wants to look that way.” Some young girls wish they could be like Disney star Selena Gomez or another star the way I wanted to be like Maravich. Diaz sings, “There could never be a more beautiful you; don’t buy the
lies . . . ; you were made to fill a purpose that only you could do.” Diaz is saying what another songwriter said under the inspiration of God thousands of years ago: “[We are] fearfully and wonderfully made” (Ps. 139:14).

God made us the way He wants us to be. Believe it. There could never be a more beautiful you.

Lord, we are Yours, You are our God;

We have been made so wondrously;

This human frame in every part

Your wisdom, power, and love we see. —Anon.

John 9:24-41 "Then again called they the man..." KJV - Online Bible Study

John 9:24-41 "Then again called they the man..." KJV - Online Bible Study Then again called they the man that was blind, and said unto him, Give God the praise: we know that this man is a sinner. ²⁵ He answered and said , Whether he be a sinner or no, I know not: one thing I know , that, whereas I was blind, now I see . ²⁶ Then said they to him again, What did he to thee? how opened he thine eyes? ²⁷ He answered them, I have told you already, and ye did not hear : wherefore would ye hear it again? will ye also be his disciples? ²⁸ Then they reviled him, and said , Thou art his disciple; but we are Moses' disciples. ²⁹ We know that God spake unto Moses: as for this fellow, we know not from whence he is . ³⁰ The man answered and said unto them, Why herein is a marvellous thing, that ye know not from whence he is , and yet he hath opened mine eyes. ³¹ Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth . ³² Since the world began was it not heard that any man opened the eyes of one that was born blind. ³³ If this man were not of God, he could do nothing. ³⁴ They answered and said unto him, Thou wast altogether born in sins, and dost thou teach us? And they cast him out. ³⁵ Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when he had found him, he said unto him, Dost thou believe on the Son of God? ³⁶ He answered and said , Who is he , Lord, that I might believe on him? ³⁷ And Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen him, and it is he that talketh with thee. ³⁸ And he said , Lord, I believe . And he worshipped him. ³⁹ And Jesus said , For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see ; and that they which see might be made blind. ⁴⁰ And some of the Pharisees which were with him heard these words, and said unto him, Are we blind also? ⁴¹ Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say , We see ; therefore your sin remaineth .

2 Chronicles 7:1-22

¹ Now when Solomon had made an end of praying , the fire came down from heaven, and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of the LORD filled the house. ² And the priests could not enter into the house of the LORD, because the glory of the LORD had filled the LORD'S house. ³ And when all the children of Israelsaw how the fire came down , and the glory of the LORD upon the house, they bowed themselves with their faces to the ground upon the pavement, and worshipped , and praised the LORD, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever. ⁴ Then the king and all the people offered sacrifices before the LORD. ⁵ And king Solomon offered a sacrifice of twenty and two thousand oxen, and an hundred and twenty thousand sheep: so the king and all the people dedicated the house of God. ⁶ And the priests waited on their offices: the Levites also with instruments of musick of the LORD, which David the king had made to praise the LORD, because his mercy endureth for ever, when David praised by their ministry; and the priests sounded trumpets before them, and all Israel stood . ⁷ Moreover Solomon hallowed the middle of the court that was before the house of the LORD: for there he offered burnt offerings, and the fat of the peace offerings, because the brasen altar which Solomon had made was not able to receive the burnt offerings, and the meat offerings, and the fat. ⁸ Also at the same time Solomon kept the feast seven days, and all Israel with him, a very great congregation, from the entering in of Hamath unto the river of Egypt. ⁹ And in the eighth day they made a solemn assembly: for they kept the dedication of the altar seven days, and the feast seven days. ¹⁰ And on the three and twentieth day of the seventh month he sent the people away into their tents, glad and merry in heart for the goodness that the LORD had shewed unto David, and to Solomon, and to Israel his people. ¹¹ Thus Solomon finished the house of the LORD, and the king's house: and all that came into Solomon's heart to make in the house of the LORD, and in his own house, he prosperously effected . ¹² And the LORD appeared to Solomon by night, and said unto him, I have heard thy prayer, and have chosen this place to myself for an house of sacrifice. ¹³ If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people; ¹⁴ If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray , and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. ¹⁵ Now mine eyes shall be open , and mine ears attent unto the prayer that is made in this place. ¹⁶ For now have I chosen and sanctified this house, that my name may be there for ever: and mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually. ¹⁷ And as for thee, if thou wilt walk before me, as David thy father walked , and do according to all that I have commanded thee, and shalt observe my statutes and my judgments; ¹⁸ Then will I stablish the throne of thy kingdom, according as I have covenanted with David thy father, saying , There shall not fail thee a man to be ruler in Israel. ¹⁹ But if ye turn away , and forsake my statutes and my commandments, which I have set before you, and shall go and serve other gods, and worship them; ²⁰ Then will I pluck them up by the roots out of my land which I have given them; and this house, which I have sanctified for my name, will I cast out of my sight, and will make it to be a proverb and a byword among all nations. ²¹ And this house, which is high, shall be an astonishment to every one that passeth by it; so that he shall say , Why hath the LORD done thus unto this land, and unto this house? ²² And it shall be answered , Because they forsook the LORD God of their fathers, which brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, and laid hold on other gods, and worshipped them, and served them: therefore hath he brought all this evil upon them.

Malachi 4:1-6

¹ For, behold, the day cometh , that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up , saith the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch. ² But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth , and grow up as calves of the stall. ³ And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith the LORD of hosts. ⁴ Remember ye the law of Moses my servant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel, with the statutes and judgments. ⁵ Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD: ⁶ And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.

Our Teacher, Our Hiding Place

Our Teacher, Our Hiding Place:

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Daily Word

Home | Daily Word: "SPIRITUAL GIFTS
I awaken to and express my spiritual gifts.
I am open to new ideas and alert to divine inspiration. I recognize God as the source of divine ideas as well as the source of my ability to act on these ideas. Many people use their spiritual gifts to contribute toward a higher good on earth. I seek to discern my own gifts, develop them and express them fully.

I am energized as I identify a calling in which to invest my time and talents. I feel the inner peace that comes from being aligned with my purpose.

The presence of God in me inspires me to express my spiritual gifts, and I am grateful. We are all channels through which God's work is done.

Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit, … it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone.--1 Corinthians 12:4, 6"

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John 9:1-23 "And as Jesus passed by , he saw..." KJV - Online Bible Study

John 9:1-23 "And as Jesus passed by , he saw..." KJV - Online Bible Study

¹ And as Jesus passed by , he saw a man which was blind from his birth. ² And his disciples asked him, saying , Master, who did sin , this man, or his parents, that he was born blind? ³ Jesus answered , Neither hath this man sinned , nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him. ⁴ I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh , when no man can work . ⁵ As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world. ⁶ When he had thus spoken , he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay, ⁷ And said unto him, Go , wash in the pool of Siloam, (which is by interpretation , Sent .) He went his way therefore, and washed , and came seeing . ⁸ The neighbours therefore, and they which before had seen him that he was blind, said , Is not this he that sat and begged ? ⁹ Some said , This is he : others said, He is like him: but he said , I am he. ¹⁰ Therefore said they unto him, How were thine eyes opened ? ¹¹ He answered and said , A man that is called Jesus made clay, and anointed mine eyes, and said unto me, Go to the pool of Siloam, and wash : and I went and washed , and I received sight . ¹² Then said they unto him, Where is he? He said , I know not. ¹³ They brought to the Pharisees him that aforetime was blind. ¹⁴ And it was the sabbath day when Jesus made the clay, and opened his eyes. ¹⁵ Then again the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight . He said unto them, He put clay upon mine eyes, and I washed , and do see . ¹⁶ Therefore said some of the Pharisees, This man is not of God, because he keepeth not the sabbath day. Others said , How can a man that is a sinner do such miracles? And there was a division among them. ¹⁷ They say unto the blind man again, What sayest thou of him, that he hath opened thine eyes? He said , He is a prophet. ¹⁸ But the Jews did not believe concerning him, that he had been blind, and received his sight , until they called the parents of him that had received his sight . ¹⁹ And they asked them, saying , Is this your son, who ye say was born blind? how then doth he now see ? ²⁰ His parents answered them and said , We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind: ²¹ But by what means he now seeth , we know not; or who hath opened his eyes, we know not: he is of age; ask him: he shall speak for himself. ²² These words spake his parents, because they feared the Jews: for the Jews had agreed already, that if any man did confess that he was Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue. ²³ Therefore said his parents , He is of age; ask him.

2 Chronicles 6:1-42

¹ Then said Solomon, The LORD hath said that he would dwell in the thick darkness. ² But I have built an house of habitation for thee, and a place for thy dwelling for ever. ³ And the king turned his face, and blessed the whole congregation of Israel: and all the congregation of Israel stood . ⁴ And he said , Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, who hath with his hands fulfilled that which he spake with his mouth to my father David, saying , ⁵ Since the day that I brought forth my people out of the land of Egypt I chose no city among all the tribes of Israel to build an house in, that my name might be there; neither chose I any man to be a ruler over my people Israel: ⁶ But I have chosenJerusalem, that my name might be there; and have chosen David to be over my people Israel. ⁷ Now it was in the heart of David my father to build an house for the name of the LORD God of Israel. ⁸ But the LORD said to David my father, Forasmuch as it was in thine heart to build an house for my name, thou didst well in that it was in thine heart: ⁹ Notwithstanding thou shalt not build the house; but thy son which shall come forth out of thy loins, he shall build the house for my name. ¹⁰ The LORD therefore hath performed his word that he hath spoken : for I am risen up in the room of David my father, and am set on the throne of Israel, as the LORD promised , and have built the house for the name of the LORD God of Israel. ¹¹ And in it have I put the ark, wherein is the covenant of the LORD, that he made with the children of Israel. ¹² And he stood before the altar of the LORD in the presence of all the congregation of Israel, and spread forth his hands: ¹³ For Solomon had made a brasen scaffold, of five cubits long, and five cubits broad, and three cubits high, and had set it in the midst of the court: and upon it he stood , and kneeled down upon his knees before all the congregation of Israel, and spread forth his hands toward heaven, ¹⁴ And said , O LORD God of Israel, there is no God like thee in the heaven, nor in the earth; which keepest covenant, and shewest mercy unto thy servants, that walk before thee with all their hearts: ¹⁵ Thou which hast kept with thy servant David my father that which thou hast promised him; and spakest with thy mouth, and hast fulfilled it with thine hand, as it is this day. ¹⁶ Now therefore, O LORD God of Israel, keep with thy servant David my father that which thou hast promised him, saying , There shall not fail thee a man in my sight to sit upon the throne of Israel; yet so that thy children take heed to their way to walk in my law, as thou hast walked before me. ¹⁷ Now then, O LORD God of Israel, let thy word be verified , which thou hast spoken unto thy servant David. ¹⁸ But will God in very deed dwell with men on the earth? behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house which I have built ! ¹⁹ Have respect therefore to the prayer of thy servant, and to his supplication, O LORD my God, to hearken unto the cry and the prayer which thy servant prayeth before thee: ²⁰ That thine eyes may be open upon this house day and night, upon the place whereof thou hast said that thou wouldest put thy name there; to hearken unto the prayer which thy servant prayeth toward this place. ²¹ Hearken therefore unto the supplications of thy servant, and of thy people Israel, which they shall make toward this place: hear thou from thy dwelling place, even from heaven; and when thou hearest , forgive . ²² If a man sin against his neighbour, and an oath be laid upon him to make him swear , and the oath come before thine altar in this house; ²³ Then hear thou from heaven, and do , and judge thy servants, by requiting the wicked, by recompensing his way upon his own head; and by justifying the righteous, by giving him according to his righteousness. ²⁴ And if thy people Israel be put to the worse before the enemy , because they have sinned against thee; and shall return and confess thy name, and pray and make supplication before thee in this house; ²⁵ Then hear thou from the heavens, and forgive the sin of thy people Israel, and bring them again unto the land which thou gavest to them and to their fathers. ²⁶ When the heaven is shut up , and there is no rain, because they have sinned against thee; yet if they pray toward this place, and confess thy name, and turn from their sin, when thou dost afflict them; ²⁷ Then hear thou from heaven, and forgive the sin of thy servants, and of thy people Israel, when thou hast taught them the good way, wherein they should walk ; and send rain upon thy land, which thou hast given unto thy people for an inheritance. ²⁸ If there be dearth in the land, if there be pestilence, if there be blasting, or mildew, locusts, or caterpillers; if their enemies besiege them in the cities of their land; whatsoever sore or whatsoever sickness there be: ²⁹ Then what prayer or what supplication soever shall be made of any man, or of all thy people Israel, when every one shall know his own sore and his own grief, and shall spread forth his hands in this house: ³⁰ Then hear thou from heaven thy dwelling place, and forgive , and render unto every man according unto all his ways, whose heart thou knowest ; (for thou only knowest the hearts of the children of men:) ³¹ That they may fear thee, to walk in thy ways, so long as they live in the land which thou gavest unto our fathers. ³² Moreover concerning the stranger, which is not of thy people Israel, but is come from a far country for thy great name's sake, and thy mighty hand, and thy stretched out arm; if they come and pray in this house; ³³ Then hear thou from the heavens, even from thy dwelling place, and do according to all that the stranger calleth to thee for; that all people of the earth may know thy name, and fear thee, as doth thy people Israel, and may know that this house which I have built is called by thy name. ³⁴ If thy people go out to war against their enemies by the way that thou shalt send them, and they pray unto thee toward this city which thou hast chosen , and the house which I have built for thy name; ³⁵ Then hear thou from the heavens their prayer and their supplication, and maintain their cause. ³⁶ If they sin against thee, (for there is no man which sinneth not,) and thou be angry with them, and deliver them over before their enemies , and they carry them away captives unto a land far off or near; ³⁷ Yet if they bethink themselves in the land whither they are carried captive , and turn and pray unto thee in the land of their captivity, saying , We have sinned , we have done amiss , and have dealt wickedly ; ³⁸ If they return to thee with all their heart and with all their soul in the land of their captivity, whither they have carried them captives , and pray toward their land, which thou gavest unto their fathers, and toward the city which thou hast chosen , and toward the house which I have built for thy name: ³⁹ Then hear thou from the heavens, even from thy dwelling place, their prayer and their supplications, and maintain their cause, and forgive thy people which have sinned against thee. ⁴⁰ Now, my God, let, I beseech thee, thine eyes be open , and let thine ears be attent unto the prayer that is made in this place. ⁴¹ Now therefore arise , O LORD God, into thy resting place, thou, and the ark of thy strength: let thy priests, O LORD God, be clothed with salvation, and let thy saints rejoice in goodness. ⁴² O LORD God, turn not away the face of thine anointed: remember the mercies of David thy servant.

Malachi 2:17-17

¹⁷ Ye have wearied the LORD with your words. Yet ye say , Wherein have we wearied him? When ye say , Every one that doeth evil is good in the sight of the LORD, and he delighteth in them; or, Where is the God of judgment?

Malachi 3:1-18

¹ Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek , shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come , saith the LORD of hosts. ² But who may abide the day of his coming ? and who shall stand when he appeareth ? for he is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers ' soap: ³ And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness. ⁴ Then shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto the LORD, as in the days of old, and as in former years. ⁵ And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers , and against the adulterers , and against false swearers , and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger from his right, and fear not me, saith the LORD of hosts. ⁶ For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed . ⁷ Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from mine ordinances, and have not kept them. Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the LORD of hosts. But ye said , Wherein shall we return ? ⁸ Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say , Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. ⁹ Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation. ¹⁰ Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. ¹¹ And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the LORD of hosts. ¹² And all nations shall call you blessed : for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the LORD of hosts. ¹³ Your words have been stout against me, saith the LORD. Yet ye say , What have we spoken so much against thee? ¹⁴ Ye have said , It is vain to serve God: and what profit is it that we have kept his ordinance, and that we have walked mournfully before the LORD of hosts? ¹⁵ And now we call the proud happy ; yea, they that work wickedness are set up ; yea, they that tempt God are even delivered . ¹⁶ Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened , and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name. ¹⁷ And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him. ¹⁸ Then shall ye return , and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not.

The King James Version is in the public domain.

The Joy of Jesus (Church Online): E-NEWS The Joy of Jesus: Find The Book | Our Daily Bread

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Find The Book

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September 1, 2011 — by Marvin Williams

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Our Daily Bread Radio is hosted by Les Lamborn

Read: 2 Kings 22:8–23:3

I have found the Book of the Law in the house of the Lord. —2 Kings 22:8

Bible in a year:
Psalms 135-136; 1 Corinthians 12

One Sunday at the church where I pastor, I invited three children to find several scrolls with Bible verses written on them that I had hidden in our worship center. I told them that once they found them and read the words aloud, I would give them a prize. You should have seen those kids! They ran, moved chairs, and looked under plants and in purses (with permission). Their search for the scrolls was intense, but exciting. Their diligent search and subsequent discovery of the scrolls led to joy in the children, affirmation from our congregation, and a renewed sense of the importance of God’s Word.

In 2 Kings 22–23, we read how King Josiah and the people of Judah rediscovered the joy and importance of God’s Word. During the repairing of the temple, Hilkiah the high priest found the Book of the Law. It must have been lost or hidden during the reign of Manasseh. Then when the scroll was read to King Josiah, he listened and responded to it (vv.10-11). He sought further understanding of it (vv.12-20), and he led the people to renew their commitment to its importance in their lives (23:1-4).

Many today have unprecedented access to God’s Word. Let’s renew our commitment to “find” it every day and by our lives show its prominence.

O Book divine, supreme, sublime

Entire, eternal, holy, true;

Sufficient for all men and time—

We pledge our faith to thee anew. —Anon.

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