Daily Word Dr. James A. Lee

Home | Daily Word: "TRANSITION
I continue to evolve in spiritual understanding.
Change is inevitable. Day becomes night. People and circumstances come and go. As things change, I can choose to accept, to adapt, to appreciate, but most of all, I can choose to learn and grow.

Nature shows us that we die to the old and are reborn in the new. We see leaves turning color each autumn, dropping from tree branches, followed by new growth each springtime. Just as in nature, we must let go of what was in order to grow anew.

I am always in a state of becoming. I embrace change as it allows me to become all I am meant to be. As I move through transitions and evolve in spiritual understanding, I release the past and welcome the fullness of the glorious present, in whatever form it takes.

I die every day! That is as certain, brothers and sisters, as my boasting of you.--1 Corinthians 15:31"

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Our Daily Bread The Joy of Jesus

Our Daily Bread

Serious Business

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September 23, 2011 — by Bill Crowder

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Our Daily Bread Radio is hosted by Les Lamborn

Read: Psalm 96

The Lord reigns; the world also is firmly established, it shall not be moved; He shall judge the peoples righteously. —Psalm 96:10

Bible in a year:
Song of Solomon 1-3; Galatians 2

Recently I was called for jury duty. It meant extraordinary inconvenience and lots of lost time, but it was also serious business. During the first day’s orientation, the judge lectured us on the responsibility at hand and the important nature of the task. We were going to sit in judgment of people who either had disputes (civil court) or were charged with crimes (criminal court). I felt a great sense of inadequacy for the task at hand. Passing judgment on another person, with serious life consequences riding on the decision, is not a simple thing. Because we’re flawed human beings, we may not always make the right judgments.

While the justice systems of our world might struggle and falter because of the inherent failings of the humans that manage them, we can always trust our God to excel in wisdom and fairness. The psalmist sang, “The Lord reigns; the world also is firmly established, it shall not be moved; He shall judge the peoples righteously” (Ps. 96:10). God judges according to righteousness—defined by His own perfect justice and flawless character.

We can trust God now when life seems unfair, knowing that He will one day make all things right in His final court (2 Cor. 5:10).

The best of judges on this earth
Aren’t always right or fair;
But God, the righteous Judge of all,
Wrongs no one in His care. —Egner

One day God will right every wrong.

1 John 1:1-10 "That which was from the beginning, which..." KJV - Online Bible Study

1 John 1:1-10 "That which was from the beginning, which..." KJV - Online Bible Study

That was from the beginning, which we have heard , which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon , and our hands have handled , of the Word of life; ² (For the life was manifested , and we have seen it, and bear witness , and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;) ³ That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. ⁴ And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full . ⁵ This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. ⁶ If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie , and do not the truth: ⁷ But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another , and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. ⁸ If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. ⁹ If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. ¹⁰ If we say that we have not sinned , we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

2 Chronicles 34:1-33

¹ Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign , and he reigned in Jerusalem one and thirty years. ² And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, and walked in the ways of David his father, and declined neither to the right hand, nor to the left. ³ For in the eighth year of his reign , while he was yet young, he began to seek after the God of David his father: and in the twelfth year he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem from the high places, and the groves, and the carved images, and the molten images. ⁴ And they brake down the altars of Baalim in his presence; and the images, that were on high above them, he cut down ; and the groves, and the carved images, and the molten images, he brake in pieces , and made dust of them, and strowed it upon the graves of them that had sacrificed unto them. ⁵ And he burnt the bones of the priests upon their altars, and cleansed Judah and Jerusalem. ⁶ And so did he in the cities of Manasseh, and Ephraim, and Simeon, even unto Naphtali, with their mattocks round about. ⁷ And when he had broken down the altars and the groves, and had beaten the graven images into powder , and cut down all the idols throughout all the land of Israel, he returned to Jerusalem. ⁸ Now in the eighteenth year of his reign , when he had purged the land, and the house, he sent Shaphan the son of Azaliah, and Maaseiah the governor of the city, and Joah the son of Joahaz the recorder , to repair the house of the LORD his God. ⁹ And when they came to Hilkiah the high priest, they delivered the money that was brought into the house of God, which the Levites that kept the doors had gathered of the hand of Manasseh and Ephraim, and of all the remnant of Israel, and of all Judah and Benjamin; and they returned to Jerusalem. ¹⁰ And they put it in the hand of the workmen that had the oversight of the house of the LORD, and they gave it to the workmen that wrought in the house of the LORD, to repair and amend the house: ¹¹ Even to the artificers and builders gave they it, to buy hewn stone, and timber for couplings, and to floor the houses which the kings of Judah had destroyed . ¹² And the men did the work faithfully: and the overseers of them were Jahath and Obadiah, the Levites, of the sons of Merari; and Zechariah and Meshullam, of the sons of the Kohathites, to set it forward ; and other of the Levites, all that could skill of instruments of musick. ¹³ Also they were over the bearers of burdens, and were overseers of all that wrought the work in any manner of service: and of the Levites there were scribes , and officers , and porters. ¹⁴ And when they brought out the money that was brought into the house of the LORD, Hilkiah the priest found a book of the law of the LORD given by Moses. ¹⁵ And Hilkiah answered and said to Shaphan the scribe , I have found the book of the law in the house of the LORD. And Hilkiah delivered the book to Shaphan. ¹⁶ And Shaphan carried the book to the king, and brought the king word back again, saying , All that was committed to thy servants, they do it. ¹⁷ And they have gathered together the money that was found in the house of the LORD, and have delivered it into the hand of the overseers , and to the hand of the workmen . ¹⁸ Then Shaphan the scribe told the king, saying , Hilkiah the priest hath given me a book. And Shaphan read it before the king. ¹⁹ And it came to pass, when the king had heard the words of the law, that he rent his clothes. ²⁰ And the king commanded Hilkiah, and Ahikam the son of Shaphan, and Abdon the son of Micah, and Shaphan the scribe , and Asaiah a servant of the king's, saying , ²¹ Go , enquire of the LORD for me, and for them that are left in Israel and in Judah, concerning the words of the book that is found : for great is the wrath of the LORD that is poured out upon us, because our fathers have not kept the word of the LORD, to do after all that is written in this book. ²² And Hilkiah, and they that the king had appointed, went to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tikvath , the son of Hasrah, keeper of the wardrobe; (now she dwelt in Jerusalem in the college:) and they spake to her to that effect. ²³ And she answered them, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Tell ye the man that sent you to me, ²⁴ Thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will bring evil upon this place, and upon the inhabitants thereof, even all the curses that are written in the book which they have read before the king of Judah: ²⁵ Because they have forsaken me, and have burned incense unto other gods, that they might provoke me to anger with all the works of their hands; therefore my wrath shall be poured out upon this place, and shall not be quenched . ²⁶ And as for the king of Judah, who sent you to enquire of the LORD, so shall ye say unto him, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel concerning the words which thou hast heard ; ²⁷ Because thine heart was tender , and thou didst humble thyself before God, when thou heardest his words against this place, and against the inhabitants thereof, and humbledst thyself before me, and didst rend thy clothes, and weep before me; I have even heard thee also, saith the LORD. ²⁸ Behold, I will gather thee to thy fathers, and thou shalt be gathered to thy grave in peace, neither shall thine eyes see all the evil that I will bring upon this place, and upon the inhabitants of the same. So they brought the king word again . ²⁹ Then the king sent and gathered together all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem. ³⁰ And the king went up into the house of the LORD, and all the men of Judah, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and the priests, and the Levites, and all the people, great and small: and he read in their ears all the words of the book of the covenant that was found in the house of the LORD. ³¹ And the king stood in his place, and made a covenant before the LORD, to walk after the LORD, and to keep his commandments, and his testimonies, and his statutes, with all his heart, and with all his soul, to perform the words of the covenant which are written in this book. ³² And he caused all that were present in Jerusalem and Benjamin to stand to it. And the inhabitants of Jerusalem did according to the covenant of God, the God of their fathers. ³³ And Josiah took away all the abominations out of all the countries that pertained to the children of Israel, and made all that were present in Israel to serve , even to serve the LORD their God. And all his days they departed not from following the LORD, the God of their fathers.

Psalm 89:19-52

¹⁹ Then thou spakest in vision to thy holy one, and saidst , I have laid help upon one that is mighty; I have exalted one chosen out of the people. ²⁰ I have found David my servant; with my holy oil have I anointed him: ²¹ With whom my hand shall be established : mine arm also shall strengthen him. ²² The enemy shall not exact upon him; nor the son of wickedness afflict him. ²³ And I will beat down his foes before his face, and plague them that hate him. ²⁴ But my faithfulness and my mercy shall be with him: and in my name shall his horn be exalted . ²⁵ I will set his hand also in the sea, and his right hand in the rivers. ²⁶ He shall cry unto me, Thou art my father, my God, and the rock of my salvation. ²⁷ Also I will make him my firstborn, higher than the kings of the earth. ²⁸ My mercy will I keep for him for evermore, and my covenant shall stand fast with him. ²⁹ His seed also will I make to endure for ever, and his throne as the days of heaven. ³⁰ If his children forsake my law, and walk not in my judgments; ³¹ If they break my statutes, and keep not my commandments; ³² Then will I visit their transgression with the rod, and their iniquity with stripes. ³³ Nevertheless my lovingkindness will I not utterly take from him, nor suffer my faithfulness to fail . ³⁴ My covenant will I not break , nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips. ³⁵ Once have I sworn by my holiness that I will not lie unto David. ³⁶ His seed shall endure for ever, and his throne as the sun before me. ³⁷ It shall be established for ever as the moon, and as a faithful witness in heaven. Selah. ³⁸ But thou hast cast off and abhorred , thou hast been wroth with thine anointed. ³⁹ Thou hast made void the covenant of thy servant: thou hast profaned his crown by casting it to the ground. ⁴⁰ Thou hast broken down all his hedges; thou hast brought his strong holds to ruin. ⁴¹ All that pass by the way spoil him: he is a reproach to his neighbours. ⁴² Thou hast set up the right hand of his adversaries; thou hast made all his enemies to rejoice . ⁴³ Thou hast also turned the edge of his sword, and hast not made him to stand in the battle. ⁴⁴ Thou hast made his glory to cease , and cast his throne down to the ground. ⁴⁵ The days of his youth hast thou shortened : thou hast covered him with shame. Selah. ⁴⁶ How long, LORD? wilt thou hide thyself for ever? shall thy wrath burn like fire? ⁴⁷ Remember how short my time is: wherefore hast thou made all men in vain? ⁴⁸ What man is he that liveth , and shall not see death? shall he deliver his soul from the hand of the grave? Selah. ⁴⁹ Lord, where are thy former lovingkindnesses, which thou swarest unto David in thy truth? ⁵⁰ Remember , Lord, the reproach of thy servants; how I do bear in my bosom the reproach of all the mighty people; ⁵¹ Wherewith thine enemies have reproached , O LORD; wherewith they have reproached the footsteps of thine anointed. ⁵² Blessed be the LORD for evermore. Amen, and Amen.

Grace to You John The Bible

Grace to You

Daily Word Dr. James A. Lee

Home | Daily Word: "ENOUGH
This moment I awaken and know … I am whole and free!
As I check the clock throughout the day, I may feel hurried or inadequate as time seems to slip away. And yet, in a single moment, I can pause and remember that I am created in God's image and likeness. In that moment, I feel the unconditional love of God and am spared from tension and self-judgment.

Why would I wait one moment longer to free my mind of error thoughts and beliefs? Thoughts of lack or inadequacy are merely figments of my imagination. I awaken now and acknowledge this truth: I have enough and I am enough. I am inspired and ready to do that which God within has called me to do. Moment by moment, I awaken to the truth that I am whole and free!

You know what time it is, how it is now the moment for you to wake from sleep.--Romans 13:11"

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Our Daily Bread The Joy of Jesus

Our Daily Bread

Beyond The Status Quo

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September 22, 2011 — by David C. McCasland

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Read: John 5:35-47

But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life. —John 5:40

Bible in a year:
Ecclesiastes 10-12; Galatians 1

Dr. Jack Mezirow, professor emeritus at Columbia Teachers College, believes that an essential element in adult learning is to challenge our own ingrained perceptions and examine our insights critically. Dr. Mezirow says that adults learn best when faced with what he calls a “disorienting dilemma”—something that “helps you critically reflect on the assumptions you’ve acquired” (Barbara Strauch, The New York Times). This is the opposite of saying, “My mind is made up—don’t confuse me with the facts.”

When Jesus healed on the Sabbath, He challenged the deeply held beliefs of many religious leaders, and they sought to silence Him (John 5:16-18). Jesus said to them: “You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life” (vv.39-40).

Oswald Chambers observed, “God has a way of bringing in facts which upset a man’s doctrines if these stand in the way of God getting at his soul.”

Unsettling experiences that cause us to question our assumptions about the Lord can also lead us to a deeper understanding and trust in Him—if we’re willing to think it through and come to Him.

My mind cries its questions,
My longing heart, joining.
O Father, please hear me!
O Spirit, keep teaching! —Verway

John 21:1-25 "After these things Jesus shewed himself..." KJV - Online Bible Study

John 21:1-25 "After these things Jesus shewed himself..." KJV - Online Bible Study After these things Jesus shewed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias; and on this wise shewed he himself. ² There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two other of his disciples. ³ Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing . They say unto him, We also go with thee. They went forth , and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing. ⁴ But when the morning was now come , Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus. ⁵ Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They answered him, No. ⁶ And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find . They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes. ⁷ Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his fisher's coat unto him, (for he was naked,) and did cast himself into the sea. ⁸ And the other disciples came in a little ship; (for they were not far from land, but as it were two hundred cubits,) dragging the net with fishes. ⁹ As soon then as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon , and bread. ¹⁰ Jesus saith unto them, Bring of the fish which ye have now caught . ¹¹ Simon Peter went up , and drew the net to land full of great fishes, an hundred and fifty and three: and for all there were so many, yet was not the net broken . ¹² Jesus saith unto them, Come and dine . And none of the disciples durst ask him, Who art thou? knowing that it was the Lord. ¹³ Jesus then cometh , and taketh bread, and giveth them, and fish likewise. ¹⁴ This is now the third time that Jesus shewed himself to his disciples, after that he was risen from the dead. ¹⁵ So when they had dined , Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. ¹⁶ He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. ¹⁷ He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep. ¹⁸ Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest : but when thou shalt be old , thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not. ¹⁹ This spake he , signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me. ²⁰ Then Peter, turning about , seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following ; which also leaned on his breast at supper, and said , Lord, which is he that betrayeth thee? ²¹ Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do? ²² Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come , what is that to thee? follow thou me. ²³ Then went this saying abroad among the brethren, that that disciple should not die : yet Jesus said not unto him , He shall not die ; but, If I will that he tarry till I come , what is that to thee? ²⁴ This is the disciple which testifieth of these things, and wrote these things: and we know that his testimony is true. ²⁵ And there are also many other things which Jesus did , the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written . Amen.

2 Chronicles 33:1-25

¹ Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign , and he reigned fifty and five years in Jerusalem: ² But did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, like unto the abominations of the heathen, whom the LORD had cast out before the children ofIsrael. ³ For he built again the high places which Hezekiah his father had broken down , and he reared up altars for Baalim, and made groves, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them. ⁴ Also he built altars in the house of the LORD, whereof the LORD had said , In Jerusalem shall my name be for ever. ⁵ And he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the LORD. ⁶ And he caused his children to pass through the fire in the valley of the son of Hinnom: also he observed times , and used enchantments , and used witchcraft , and dealt with a familiar spirit, and with wizards: he wrought much evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger . ⁷ And he set a carved image, the idol which he had made , in the house of God, of which God had said to David and to Solomon his son, In this house, and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen before all the tribes of Israel, will I put my name for ever: ⁸ Neither will I any more remove the foot of Israel from out of the land which I have appointed for your fathers; so that they will take heed to do all that I have commanded them, according to the whole law and the statutes and the ordinances by the hand of Moses. ⁹ So Manasseh made Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to err , and to do worse than the heathen, whom the LORD had destroyed before the children of Israel. ¹⁰ And the LORD spake to Manasseh, and to his people: but they would not hearken . ¹¹ Wherefore the LORD brought upon them the captains of the host of the king of Assyria, which took Manasseh among the thorns, and bound him with fetters, and carried him to Babylon. ¹² And when he was in affliction , he besought the LORD his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers, ¹³ And prayed unto him: and he was intreated of him, and heard his supplication, and brought him again to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the LORD he was God. ¹⁴ Now after this he built a wall without the city of David, on the west side of Gihon, in the valley, even to the entering in at the fish gate, and compassed about Ophel, and raised it up a very great height, and put captains of war in all the fenced cities of Judah. ¹⁵ And he took away the strange gods, and the idol out of the house of the LORD, and all the altars that he had built in the mount of the house of the LORD, and in Jerusalem, and cast them out of the city. ¹⁶ And he repaired the altar of the LORD, and sacrificed thereon peace offerings and thank offerings, and commanded Judah to serve the LORD God of Israel. ¹⁷ Nevertheless the people did sacrifice still in the high places, yet unto the LORD their God only. ¹⁸ Now the rest of the acts of Manasseh, and his prayer unto his God, and the words of the seers that spake to him in the name of the LORD God of Israel, behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Israel. ¹⁹ His prayer also, and how God was intreated of him, and all his sin, and his trespass, and the places wherein he built high places, and set up groves and graven images, before he was humbled : behold, they are written among the sayings of the seers . ²⁰ So Manasseh slept with his fathers, and they buried him in his own house: and Amon his son reigned in his stead. ²¹ Amon was two and twenty years old when he began to reign , and reigned two years in Jerusalem. ²² But he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, as did Manasseh his father: for Amon sacrificed unto all the carved images which Manasseh his father had made , and served them; ²³ And humbled not himself before the LORD, as Manasseh his father had humbled himself; but Amon trespassed more and more . ²⁴ And his servants conspired against him, and slew him in his own house. ²⁵ But the people of the land slew all them that had conspired against king Amon; and the people of the land made Josiah his son king in his stead.

Psalm 89:1-18

¹ I will sing of the mercies of the LORD for ever: with my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to all generations. ² For I have said , Mercy shall be built up for ever: thy faithfulness shalt thou establish in the very heavens. ³ I have made a covenant with my chosen, I have sworn unto David my servant, ⁴ Thy seed will I establish for ever, and build up thy throne to all generations. Selah. ⁵ And the heavens shall praise thy wonders, O LORD: thy faithfulness also in the congregation of the saints. ⁶ For who in the heaven can be compared unto the LORD? who among the sons of the mighty can be likened unto the LORD? ⁷ God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, and to be had in reverence of all them that are about him. ⁸ O LORD God of hosts, who is a strong LORD like unto thee? or to thy faithfulness round about thee? ⁹ Thou rulest the raging of the sea: when the waves thereof arise , thou stillest them. ¹⁰ Thou hast broken Rahab in pieces , as one that is slain; thou hast scattered thine enemies with thy strong arm. ¹¹ The heavens are thine, the earth also is thine: as for the world and the fulness thereof, thou hast founded them. ¹² The north and the south thou hast created them: Tabor and Hermon shall rejoice in thy name. ¹³ Thou hast a mighty arm: strong is thy hand, and high is thy right hand. ¹⁴ Justice and judgment are the habitation of thy throne: mercy and truth shall go before thy face. ¹⁵ Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: they shall walk , O LORD, in the light of thy countenance. ¹⁶ In thy name shall they rejoice all the day: and in thy righteousness shall they be exalted . ¹⁷ For thou art the glory of their strength: and in thy favour our horn shall be exalted . ¹⁸ For the LORD is our defence; and the Holy One of Israel is our king.