Day 120, April 30 - Acts 6

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2 And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, "It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables.

5 And what they said pleased the whole gathering, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit,

8 And Stephen, full of grace and power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people.

10 But they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking.

Stephen was in a position of service, yet he was full of grace and power and we know that his words pierced the religious leaders to the point that he was stoned. You don't have to be the pastor or a teacher you just need to be full of faith and the Holy Spirit. 

Day 119, April 29 - Acts 5

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17-20 But the high priest rose up, and all who were with him (that is, the party of the Sadducees), and filled with jealousy they arrested the apostles and put them in the public prison. But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said, "Go and stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this Life."

23-25 "We found the prison securely locked and the guards standing at the doors, but when we opened them we found no one inside. "Now when the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these words, they were greatly perplexed about them, wondering what this would come to. And someone came and told them, "Look! The men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people."

29 But Peter and the apostles answered, "We must obey God rather than men.

Day 118, April 28 - Psalm 55

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5 Fear and trembling come upon me, and horror overwhelms me.

6 And I say, "Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be at rest;

7 yes, I would wander far away; I would lodge in the wilderness; Selah

8 I would hurry to find a shelter from the raging wind and tempest."

22 Cast your burden on the LORD, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved.

No words can express what these verses mean to me right now.

Day 117, April 27 - Psalm 53 & 54

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4 Behold, God is my helper; the Lord is the upholder of my life.

6 With a freewill offering I will sacrifice to you; I will give thanks to your name, O LORD, for it is good. 

7 For he has delivered me from every trouble, and my eye has looked in triumph on my enemies.

Friday's Worship Break - Michael W. Smith leading Open the Eyes of My Heart

Day 116, April 26 - Acts 4

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8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them,

31 And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.

What happens when we are filled with the Holy Spirit...

Thursday's Worship Break - Michael W. Smith - Majest

Day 115, April 25 - Acts 3

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3 Seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked to receive alms.

4 And Peter directed his gaze at him, as did John, and said, "Look at us."

5 And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them.

6 But Peter said, "I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!"

7 And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong.

Sometimes God doesn't give us what we want but rather what we need. 

Wednesday Worship Break - Michael W. Smith's Rise

http://youtu.be/PyjpJlx_fQ0



Beautiful pictures in this video!

Day 114, April 24 - Acts 2

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42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.

My Pastor pointed out that the phrase is "to the breaking of bread and the prayers." He encouraged us to keep that in mind when we have others in our home,  that it should be a time of food and prayer.  

Tuesday Worship Break - Michael W. Smith - Grace

Day 113, April 23 - Acts 1

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4 And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, "you heard from me;

5 for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now."

6 So when they had come together, they asked him, "Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?"

7 He said to them, "It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority.

8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."

Even after all Jesus had done the disciples expected Him to set up an earthly kingdom, we think "how dense are these guys?" yet I find myself thinking and asking God, "you're doing to do this now, right God?"  

Jesus focus for them and for me, is to receive the power of the Holy Spirit... and to be a witness in my town, my country and the world. 

Monday's Worship Break - Michael W. Smith The Heart of Worship

I've been posting these the 360 Facebook page, but now that I've got it where I can write it once here and have it post in both places, I'm going to start adding the worship break here.

Day 112, April 22 - Luke 24

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5

And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, "Why do you seek the living among the dead?

6

He is not here, but has risen. 

How often we look for Jesus in things that are dead... (or maybe it's just me)

Day 111, April 21 - Psalm 51 & 52

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From Psalm 51:

12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.

From Psalm 52:

8 But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God. I trust in the steadfast love of God forever and ever. 

9 I will thank you forever, because you have done it. I will wait for your name, for it is good, in the presence of the godly.

Day 110, April 20 - Psalm 50

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14

Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving, and perform your vows to the Most High,

15

and call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me."

Day 109, April 19 - Luke 23

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40

But the other rebuked him, saying, "Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation?

41

And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong."

47

Now when the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God, saying, "Certainly this man was innocent!"

The most unlikely people recognizing Jesus for who He was/is. 

Day 108, April 18 - Luke 22

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14

And when the hour came, he reclined at table, and the apostles with him.

15

And he said to them, "I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer.

16

For I tell you I will not eat ituntil it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God."

17

And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he said, "Take this, and divide it among yourselves.

18

For I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes."

19

And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying,"This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me."

20

And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, "This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.

21

But behold, the hand of him who betrays me is with me on the table.

22

For the Son of Man goes as it has been determined, but woe to that man by whom he is betrayed!"

23

And they began to question one another, which of them it could be who was going to do this.

Won't it be glorious when we celebrate with our Lord.

Day 107,April 17 - Luke 21

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34

"But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap.

After reading all the things that Jesus tells that will happen this is a great reminder... 

Day 106, April 16 - Luke 20

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I like how Jesus dealt with the religious leaders of His time. It was also interesting that they understood His story of the wicked tenants (9-18).

It is also interesting that they didn't do anything to Him here, but only waited a short time later to arrest Him and crucify Him.

Day 105, April 15 - Luke 19

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45 And he entered the temple and began to drive out those who sold,

46 saying to them, "It is written, 'My house shall be a house of prayer,' but you have made it a den of robbers."

47 And he was teaching daily in the temple. The chief priests and the scribes and the principal men of the people were seeking to destroy him,

48 but they did not find anything they could do, for all the people were hanging on his words.

Day 104 - April 14, Psalm 49

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No particular verse jumps out at me but the theme of this Psalm, reminds me that riches really doesn't matter in light of eternity.

Day 103, April 13 - Psalm 47, 48

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Psalm 47

1 Clap your hands, all peoples! Shout to God with loud songs of joy! 2 For the LORD, the Most High, is to be feared, a great king over all the earth.

Psalm 48

1 Great is the LORD and greatly to be praised in the city of our God! His holy mountain,

This week one of the Kindle books that was featured by one of my favorite bloggers and it was a book on prayer called Pray the Scriptures Bible Psalms and Proverbs.  It takes a section of the Psalm and rewrites it in more of a prayer.  Here is Psalm 48:

You're great and you deserve the highest praise. You dwell among your people on your holy mountain. Your presence graces your palace. Kings march against you only to flee in fear when they see your dwelling. They tremble like women in labor. I'd only heard of your power, but now I've seen it with my own eyes. As I come near  you I'll reflect on your mercy. Praise for you reaches to the ends of the earth.  I'm glad because of your wise judgments. I'll tell everyone who comes after me that you are God forever and ever. You'll guide us to death and beyond. 

Day 102, April 12 - Luke 18

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1

And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart.

2

He said, "In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man.

3

And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, 'Give me justice against my adversary.'

4

For a while he refused, but afterward he said to himself, 'Though I neither fear God nor respect man,

5

yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming.'"

6

And the Lord said, "Hear what the unrighteous judge says.

7

And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them?

8

I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?"

Don't give up!

Day 101 - April 11 - Luke 17

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5 The apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith!"

6 And the Lord said, "If you had faith like a grain of mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and planted in the sea,' and it would obey you.

Mark 9:23-24

23 And Jesus said to him, "'If you can'! All things are possible for one who believes."

24 Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, "I believe; help my unbelief!

Day 100, April 10 - Luke 16

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This is a tough chapter for me to understand. The story of the rich man and Lazarus is the least confusing. It is a reminder that we really can't look for the dead to come back and warn us. We have God's Word to teach us and guide us.

Day 99, April 9 - Luke 15

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7 Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.

10 Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents."

32 It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.'"

Day 98, April 8 - Luke 14

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12He said also to the man who had invited him, When you give a dinner or a banquet, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, lest they also invite you in return and you be repaid. 13But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, 14and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the just.

I think this means a lot to me because my pastor has been speaking a lot about evangelism and the importance of reaching out to those around us.

Be blessed!

Day 97 - April 7 - Psalm 45 & 46

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Psalm 45:1
My heart is bursting with a new song; lyrics to my King erupt like a spring for my king, to my King my tongue is the pen of a poet ready and willing.

Psalm 46:4-6
A pure stream flows - never to be cut off- bringing joy to the city where God makes His home, the sacred site where the Most High chooses to live. The True God never sleeps and always resides in the city of joy. He makes it unstoppable, unshakeable. When it awakes at dawn, the True God has already been at work.

And where does God choose to live!?!?!  Oh yes!!!

Day 96, April 6 - Psalm 43 & 44

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Psalm 43:

3) O my God, shine Your light and truth to help me see clearly,
To lead me to Your holy mountain, to Your home.
4) Then I will go to God's altar with nothing to hide
I will go to God, my rapture;
I will sing praises to You and play my strings unloading my cares, unleashing my joys to You, God, my God.

Day 95, April 5, Luke 13

And he told this parable:“A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. 7 And he said to the vinedresser, ‘Look, for three years now I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and I find none. Cut it down. Why should it use up the ground? ’ 8 And he answered him, ‘Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and put on manure. Then if it should bear fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down. ’” (ESV)

I like this because it makes me think about second chances. The tree isn't bearing fruit yet the vine dresser says give me one more year let me dig around it and fertilize it and see if it will start bearing fruit. Jesus wants us to bear fruit He wants to help us get there. That's good news!

Day 94, April 4 - Luke 12

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22 And he said to his disciples, "Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on.

25 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?

26 If then you are not able to do as small a thing as that, why are you anxious about the rest?

29 And do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be worried.

30 For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them.

31 Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you.

34 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

Day 93, April 3 - Luke 11

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The Lord's prayer from The Voice

Father [in heaven] may Your name be revered.
May Your kingdom come,
[May Your will be accomplished on earth as it is in heaven.]
Give us the food we need for tomorrow.
And forgive us for our wrongs,
for we forgive those who wrong us.
And lead us away from temptation.
[And save us from the evil one]

Day 92, April 2 - Luke 10

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38 Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house.

39 And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his teaching.

40 But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, "Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me."

41 But the Lord answered her, "Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things,

42 but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her."

Too often I'm a Martha... I need to be more of a Mary somedays...

Day 91, April 1 - Luke 9

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This is such a great chapter, the feeding of the 5,000, Peter confesses that Jesus is the Messiah, Jesus foretells His death and then James, John, and Peter witness the transfiguration.  (and more)

But as I read this at the end of Easter Sunday the passage that gives me hope is:

21 And he strictly charged and commanded them to tell this to no one,

22 saying, "The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised."

He is Risen Indeed!