Day 1 - (Today’s Bible readings: Isaiah 26:1-21; Psalm 1; John 1:29-42)
THE EIGHTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS
♬ On the eighth day of Christmas
my true love sent to me:
Eight Maids a-Milking
Seven Swans a-Swimming
Six Geese a-Laying
Five Golden Rings
Four Calling Birds
Three French Hens
Two Turtle Doves
and a Partridge in a Pear Tree.
Why maids a-milking on the Eighth Day of Christmas?
On this day we remember the eight Beatitudes found in Matthew 5:3-12.
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:3-10)
This looks like a pretty good list of New Year’s resolutions. May you be blessed as you “work” at these by prayer, meditation on the Word, and by helping others in the name of the Lord.
Dear Holy Spirit, please work in my life in this new year so that I may be blessed by the Lord. Please make my heart pure as I hunger and thirst after Your righteous ways. Above all, remind me of my sin and of my need for Jesus my Savior. Amen.
0 Lord Christ, our Savior dear,
Be Thou ever near us.
Grant us now a glad new year.
Amen, Jesus, hear us! (Lutheran Service Book, CPH #390)
Have a blessed New Year!
Pastor David Paape
“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105 ), is the theme for this three-year journey through the entire Old Testament once (the Psalms - twice yearly), and the New Testament twice. There will be daily readings from the O.T., Psalms and the N.T. Special days on the church calendar will be highlighted with appropriate readings. This calendar has been compiled by representatives of the Lutheran Church of Canada, the North American Lutheran Church and the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod. Please click this link for the daily reading calendar:
https://blogs.lcms.org/2017/lcms-lcc-and-nalc-compile-three-year-schedule-of-daily-bible-readings
Then scroll down to 2020 Bible Reading Calendar and download it if you so wish. The “assigned” daily readings will appear on a daily basis in this blog. May the Lord bless your meditation upon His precious life-giving Word!
Day 365 - (Today’s Bible readings: Isaiah 25:1-12; Psalm 150; John 1:1-28)
THE SONG
♬ On the seventh day of Christmas
my true love sent to me:
Seven Swans a-Swimming
Six Geese a-Laying
Five Golden Rings
Four Calling Birds
Three French Hens
Two Turtle Doves
and a Partridge in a Pear Tree.
Why Seven Swans a-swimming on the 7th Day of Christmas?
Seven Swans a-Swimming represent the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit:
3 For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. 4 For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, 5 so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. 6 Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; 7 if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; 8 the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness. (Romans 12:3-9 ESV)
As you can see in these verses from Romans, we Christians are called upon to fight the naturally human tendency to think more about ourselves than we should. We all have a role to play in God’s plan, a role for which He has provided you with just the right gift(s). We are all in this together. As we look forward to 2020, may we determine to make better use of our God-given gifts for His glory and in His service.
A Prayer for December 31, 2019
1. Across the sky the shades of night
This New Year’s Eve are fleeting,
We deck Your altar, Lord, with light,
In solemn worship meeting;
And as the year’s last hours go by,
We raise to You our earnest cry,
Once more You love entreating.
2. Before the cross subdued we bow,
To You our prayers addressing,
Recounting all Your mercies now,
And all our sins confessing;
Beseeching You this coming year
To keep us in Your faith and fear
And crown us with Your blessing.
3. We gather up in this brief hour
The memory of Your mercies;
Your wondrous goodness, love and power
Our grateful song rehearses;
For You have been our strength and stay
In many a dark and dreary day
Of sorrow and reverses.
5 Then, gracious God, in years to come,
We pray Your hand may guide us,
And, onward through our journey home,
Your mercy walk beside us
Until at last our ransomed life
Is safe from peril, toil, and strife
When heav'n itself shall hide us.
(Across the Sky the Shades of Night, Lutheran Service Book, CPH 2006, LSB #899)
Pastor David Paape
“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105 ), is the theme for this three-year journey through the entire Old Testament once (the Psalms - twice yearly), and the New Testament twice. There will be daily readings from the O.T., Psalms and the N.T. Special days on the church calendar will be highlighted with appropriate readings. This calendar has been compiled by representatives of the Lutheran Church of Canada, the North American Lutheran Church and the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod. Please click this link for the daily reading calendar:
https://blogs.lcms.org/2017/lcms-lcc-and-nalc-compile-three-year-schedule-of-daily-bible-readings
Then scroll down to 2019 Bible Reading Calendar and download it if you so wish. The “assigned” daily readings will appear on a daily basis in this blog. May the Lord bless your meditation upon His precious life-giving Word!
Day 364 - (Today’s Bible readings: Isaiah 23:1-18; Psalm 148; 2 Corinthians 12:11-21)
THE SONG
♬ On the sixth day of Christmas
my true love sent to me:
Six Geese a Laying
Five Golden Rings
Four Calling Birds
Three French Hens
Two Turtle Doves
and a Partridge in a Pear Tree.
Why Six Geese a-laying on the Sixth Day of Christmas?
Six Geese a-Laying represent the six days of creation:
In the very beginning of the Bible we read:
1 In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth... 3 And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. 4 And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day. (Genesis 1:1, 3-5 ESV)
God continued to create during the next 5 days. On day 6 He created the crown of His creation:
26 Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” 27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. (Genesis 1:26-27 ESV)
And how did He do?
And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day. (Genesis 1:31 ESV)
Heavenly Father, help me to take comfort in the fact that You created everything,
including me. May I celebrate and defend Your precious gift of life! In the name of Jesus, the giver of eternal life. Amen.
Pastor David Paape
“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105 ), is the theme for this three-year journey through the entire Old Testament once (the Psalms - twice yearly), and the New Testament twice. There will be daily readings from the O.T., Psalms and the N.T. Special days on the church calendar will be highlighted with appropriate readings. This calendar has been compiled by representatives of the Lutheran Church of Canada, the North American Lutheran Church and the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod. Please click this link for the daily reading calendar:
https://blogs.lcms.org/2017/lcms-lcc-and-nalc-compile-three-year-schedule-of-daily-bible-readings
Then scroll down to 2019 Bible Reading Calendar and download it if you so wish. The “assigned” daily readings will appear on a daily basis in this blog. May the Lord bless your meditation upon His precious life-giving Word!
Day 363 - (Today’s Bible readings: Isaiah 23:1-18; Psalm 148; 2 Corinthians 12:11-21)
♬ On the fifth day of Christmas
my true love sent to me:
Five Golden Rings
Four Calling Birds
Three French Hens
Two Turtle Doves
and a Partridge in a Pear Tree.
Why Five Golden Rings on the Fifth Day of Christmas? Five Golden Rings are symbolic of the Pentateuch, the first five Books of the Old Testament: Genesis, Exodus, Numbers, Leviticus, and Deuteronomy.
What makes these books special is that, while they were written by Moses, they were inspired by the Holy Spirit and, therefore, are the very Word of God, as are the other 34 books of the Old Testament and the 27 books of the New Testament. Jesus Himself often referred to Moses:
“And as for the dead being raised, have you not read in the book of Moses, in the passage about the bush, how God spoke to him, saying, ‘I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob?” (Mark 12:26 ESV)
Heavenly Father, thank You for revealing the history of Your people and Your plan of salvation on the pages of the Pentateuch. Holy Spirit, please guide me and direct my faith as I read the Bible. Grant me the desire and the discipline to read Your Word on a daily basis in 2020. Amen.
Have a blessed Fifth Day of Christmas!
“See” you at the Communion rail this morning!
Pastor David Paape
“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105 ), is the theme for this three-year journey through the entire Old Testament once (the Psalms - twice yearly), and the New Testament twice. There will be daily readings from the O.T., Psalms and the N.T. Special days on the church calendar will be highlighted with appropriate readings. This calendar has been compiled by representatives of the Lutheran Church of Canada, the North American Lutheran Church and the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod. Please click this link for the daily reading calendar:
https://blogs.lcms.org/2017/lcms-lcc-and-nalc-compile-three-year-schedule-of-daily-bible-readings
Then scroll down to 2019 Bible Reading Calendar and download it if you so wish. The “assigned” daily readings will appear on a daily basis in this blog. May the Lord bless your meditation upon His precious life-giving Word!
Day 362 - (Today’s Bible readings: Isaiah 22:15-25; Psalm 147; 2 Corinthians 12:1-10)
♬ On the fourth day of Christmas
my true love sent to me:
Four Calling Birds
Three French Hens
Two Turtle Doves
and a Partridge in a Pear Tree.
Why four Calling Birds on the Fourth Day of Christmas? Four Calling Birds represent the four Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.
The beginning of John’s Gospel captures the focus of all four Gospels, namely Jesus our Savior.
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. ” (John 1:1-5 ESV)
Lord Jesus, thank You for revealing Yourself to me by means of the first four books of the New Testament. Thank You for shining the light of forgiveness into my life of darkness. Amen.
“See” you in church tomorrow!
Pastor David Paape
“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105 ), is the theme for this three-year journey through the entire Old Testament once (the Psalms - twice yearly), and the New Testament twice. There will be daily readings from the O.T., Psalms and the N.T. Special days on the church calendar will be highlighted with appropriate readings. This calendar has been compiled by representatives of the Lutheran Church of Canada, the North American Lutheran Church and the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod. Please click this link for the daily reading calendar:
https://blogs.lcms.org/2017/lcms-lcc-and-nalc-compile-three-year-schedule-of-daily-bible-readings
Then scroll down to 2019 Bible Reading Calendar and download it if you so wish. The “assigned” daily readings will appear on a daily basis in this blog. May the Lord bless your meditation upon His precious life-giving Word!
Day 361 - (Today’s Bible readings: Isaiah 22:1-14; Psalm 146; 2 Corinthians 11:16-33)
THE SONG
♬ On the third day of Christmas
my true love sent to me:
Three French Hens
Two Turtle Doves
and a Partridge in Pear Tree.
Why Three French Hens on the third day of Christmas? The three hens represent the three theological virtues of Faith, Hope and Charity. These were given by God and poured into our hearts. The three hens are also symbolic of the Holy Trinity: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.
(Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow, Lutheran Service Book #805)
Almighty God, holy blessed Trinity, thank You for being my Creator, Redeemer and Sanctifier. Holy God, I praise Your name. Amen.
Have a blessed Third Day of Christmas!
Pastor David Paape
“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105 ), is the theme for this three-year journey through the entire Old Testament once (the Psalms - twice yearly), and the New Testament twice. There will be daily readings from the O.T., Psalms and the N.T. Special days on the church calendar will be highlighted with appropriate readings. This calendar has been compiled by representatives of the Lutheran Church of Canada, the North American Lutheran Church and the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod. Please click this link for the daily reading calendar:
https://blogs.lcms.org/2017/lcms-lcc-and-nalc-compile-three-year-schedule-of-daily-bible-readings
Then scroll down to 2019 Bible Reading Calendar and download it if you so wish. The “assigned” daily readings will appear on a daily basis in this blog. May the Lord bless your meditation upon His precious life-giving Word!
Day 360 - (Today’s Bible readings: Isaiah 22:1-17; Psalm 145; 2 Corinthians 11:1-15)
“The eyes of all look to you,
and you give them their food in due season.
You open your hand;
you satisfy the desire of every living thing.” (Psalm 145:15-16 ESV)
These verses are often used as part of meal prayers, meant to remind us from Whom all blessings flow. As 2019 counts down, and we prepare to enter 2020, take time to note the blessings that God showers upon you. Martin Luther’s explanation to the Apostles’ Creed is a great place to start:
I believe that God has made me and all creatures; that He has given me my body and soul, eyes, ears, and all my members, my reason and all my senses, and still takes care of them. He also gives me clothing and shoes, food and drink, house and home, wife and children, land, animals, and all I have. He richly and daily provides me with all that I need to support this body and life. He defends me against all danger and guards and protects me from all evil. All this He does only out of fatherly, divine goodness and mercy, without any merit or worthiness in me. For all this it is my duty to thank and praise, serve and obey Him. This is most certainly true.
Yes, all that you are and have are precious gifts from God! The greatest gift is the fact that you are a child of God because the Babe of Bethlehem went on to be the Christ of Calvary and your personal Savior from sin.
Heavenly Father, thank You for all the blessings of body and soul that You so graciously shower upon me every day. Above all, I thank You for Jesus, my Savior. Please accept my response of thanks, praise, service and obedience. In Jesus’ saving name. Amen.
Pastor David Paape
“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105 ), is the theme for this three-year journey through the entire Old Testament once (the Psalms - twice yearly), and the New Testament twice. There will be daily readings from the O.T., Psalms and the N.T. Special days on the church calendar will be highlighted with appropriate readings. This calendar has been compiled by representatives of the Lutheran Church of Canada, the North American Lutheran Church and the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod. Please click this link for the daily reading calendar:
https://blogs.lcms.org/2017/lcms-lcc-and-nalc-compile-three-year-schedule-of-daily-bible-readings
Then scroll down to 2019 Bible Reading Calendar and download it if you so wish. The “assigned” daily readings will appear on a daily basis in this blog. May the Lord bless your meditation upon His precious life-giving Word!
Day 359 (Today’s Bible readings: Isaiah 52:7-10; Psalm 2; Hebrews 1:1-6; John 1:1-18)
“For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:11 KJV)
MERRY CHRISTMAS! What a glorious day this is.
Christ your Savior is born. And this changes everything!
♬ Peace on earth and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled!
♬ No more let sins and sorrows grow nor thorns infest the ground;
He comes to make His blessings flow far as the curse is found.
♬ Come to Bethlehem and see Him whose birth the angels sing;
Come, adore on bended knee Christ the Lord, the newborn King.
Gloria in excelsis Deo; Gloria in excelsis Deo.
♬ Mild He leaves His throne on high, born that man no more may die;
Born to raise the sons of earth; born to give them second birth.
Hark! the herald angels sing, "Glory to the newborn King!"
♬ God's Son for a gift has been sent you this night.
To be your Redeemer, your Joy and Delight.
Be near me, Lord Jesus! I ask Thee to stay Close by me forever and love me, I pray. Bless all the dear children in Thy tender care, And take us to heaven to live with Thee there. Amen.
“See” you in church this morning (9:00 am at St. Paul’s-Brown Deer).
Pastor David Paape
“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105 ), is the theme for this three-year journey through the entire Old Testament once (the Psals - twice yearly), and the New Testament twice. There will be daily readings from the O.T., Psalms and the N.T. Special days on the church calendar will be highlighted with appropriate readings. This calendar has been compiled by representatives of the Lutheran Church of Canada, the North American Lutheran Church and the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod. Please click this link for the daily reading calendar:
https://blogs.lcms.org/2017/lcms-lcc-and-nalc-compile-three-year-schedule-of-daily-bible-readings
Then scroll down to 2019 Bible Reading Calendar and download it if you so wish. The “assigned” daily readings will appear on a daily basis in this blog. May the Lord bless your meditation upon His precious life-giving Word!
Day 358 - (Today’s Bible readings: Isaiah 7:10-14; Psalm 110:1-4; 1 John 4:7-16; Matthew 1:18-25)
Isaiah 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel (which means, God with us).
Tonight we will once again experience that silent and holy night when a son was born to a virgin named Mary. What made that night so special is that His name prophesied hundreds of years earlier is fulfilled. On that holy night God came to be with us. This is the point of Christmas. And because Jesus came to be with us, to live a holy life without even one sin, and then to die innocently in our place, we who believe in Him, are forgiven and guaranteed heaven.
Christ, by highest heav'n adored, Christ, the everlasting Lord.
Late in time behold Him come, Offspring of a virgin's womb.
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see, Hail the incarnate Deity!
Please as Man with man to dwell; Jesus, our Immanuel!
Hark! the herald angels sing, "Glory to the newborn King!"
Heavenly Father, thank You for sending Jesus that first Christmas Eve. Bless my worship of Him tonight. Help me to never forget that Christ, my Savior, is born. Amen.
"See" you in church tonight (6 pm Candlelight Service at St. Paul's-Brown Deer)
Pastor David Paape
“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105 ), is the theme for this three-year journey through the entire Old Testament once (the Psalms - twice yearly), and the New Testament twice. There will be daily readings from the O.T., Psalms and the N.T. Special days on the church calendar will be highlighted with appropriate readings. This calendar has been compiled by representatives of the Lutheran Church of Canada, the North American Lutheran Church and the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod. Please click this link for the daily reading calendar:
https://blogs.lcms.org/2017/lcms-lcc-and-nalc-compile-three-year-schedule-of-daily-bible-readings
Then scroll down to 2018 Bible Reading Calendar and download it if you so wish. The “assigned” daily readings will appear on a daily basis in this blog. May the Lord bless your meditation upon His precious life-giving Word!
Day 357 - (Today’s Bible readings: Isaiah 19:16-20; Psalm 144; 2 Corinthians 10:7-18)
“Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” (2 Corinthians 10:17 ESV)
Boasting is very common human expression. It is done in order to impress one person’s importance to another person. It is based on human pride.
Paul encourages us to not boast about ourselves. “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”
Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast
Save in the death of Christ, my God;
All the vain thinks that charm me most,
I sacrifice them to His blood.
(When I Survey the Wondrous Cross, Lutheran Service Book, CPH 2006, #425 stanza 2)
Lord Jesus Christ, help me to boast about You, that is, to share Your soul-saving love with everyone I can. Keep me focused on Your cross and Your command to share Your love with others. Amen.
Pastor David Paape
“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105 ), is the theme for this three-year journey through the entire Old Testament once (the Psalms - twice yearly), and the New Testament twice. There will be daily readings from the O.T., Psalms and the N.T. Special days on the church calendar will be highlighted with appropriate readings. This calendar has been compiled by representatives of the Lutheran Church of Canada, the North American Lutheran Church and the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod. Please click this link for the daily reading calendar:
https://blogs.lcms.org/2017/lcms-lcc-and-nalc-compile-three-year-schedule-of-daily-bible-readings
Then scroll down to 2019 Bible Reading Calendar and download it if you so wish. The “assigned” daily readings will appear on a daily basis in this blog. May the Lord bless your meditation upon His precious life-giving Word!
Day 356 - (Today’s Bible readings: Isaiah 19:1-15; Psalm 143; 2 Corinthians 10:1-6)
“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” (John 1:5 ESV)
In the selected verse for today, John points us to Jesus, and in effect says BEHOLD THE LIGHT. Jesus stands out in stark contrast to the rest of this sin-darkened world. The reason for “Joy to the World” is because the Babe of Bethlehem is the light sent from God the Father to overcome the darkness in your life.
As you finish your preparations for Christmas, please remember what it is all about. Jesus came to brighten your life with His forgiveness, His comfort and His promise of heaven.
Dearest Lord Jesus, please shine Your joy and peace into my heart and life so that I may BEHOLD YOUR LIGHT anew this year. And then, please shine through me to others. Amen.
“See” you at the Communion rail this morning!
Pastor David Paape
“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105 ), is the theme for this three-year journey through the entire Old Testament once (the Psalms - twice yearly), and the New Testament twice. There will be daily readings from the O.T., Psalms and the N.T. Special days on the church calendar will be highlighted with appropriate readings. This calendar has been compiled by representatives of the Lutheran Church of Canada, the North American Lutheran Church and the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod. Please click this link for the daily reading calendar:
https://blogs.lcms.org/2017/lcms-lcc-and-nalc-compile-three-year-schedule-of-daily-bible-readings
Then scroll down to 2019 Bible Reading Calendar and download it if you so wish. The “assigned” daily readings will appear on a daily basis in this blog. May the Lord bless your meditation upon His precious life-giving Word!
Day 355 - (Today’s Bible readings: Isaiah 18:1-7; Psalm 142; 2 Corinthians 9:6-15)
“The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” (1 Corinthians 9:6-7 ESV)
Paul is giving us a partial description of cheerful Christian living. We who have been given everything by means of the death and resurrection of Christ, now get to respond in cheerful thanksgiving. He who gave us His best, now expects us to return our best to Him, and to do it joyfully. And what is it that He expects us to give? The best of our time, talent, treasure and testimony.
Lord of Glory, You have bought us
With Your life-blood as the price,
Never grudging for the lost ones
That tremendous sacrifice;
And with that have freely given
Blessings countless as the sand
To th' unthankful and the evil
With Your own unsparing hand.
Grant us hearts, dear Lord, to give You
Gladly, freely, of Your own.
With the sunshine of Your goodness
Melt our thankless hearts of stone
Till our cold and selfish natures,
Warmed by You, at length believe
That more happy and more blessed
'Tis to give than to receive.
(Lord of Glory, You Have Bought Us, Lutheran Service Book, CPH 2006, #851 stanzas 1&2)
Lord Jesus Christ, thank You for giving Your best to me. Please help me to thankfully give my best back, and to do it cheerfully. Amen.
“See” you in church tomorrow!
Pastor David Paape
“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105 ), is the theme for this three-year journey through the entire Old Testament once (the Psalms - twice yearly), and the New Testament twice. There will be daily readings from the O.T., Psalms and the N.T. Special days on the church calendar will be highlighted with appropriate readings. This calendar has been compiled by representatives of the Lutheran Church of Canada, the North American Lutheran Church and the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod. Please click this link for the daily reading calendar:
https://blogs.lcms.org/2017/lcms-lcc-and-nalc-compile-three-year-schedule-of-daily-bible-readings
Then scroll down to 2019 Bible Reading Calendar and download it if you so wish. The “assigned” daily readings will appear on a daily basis in this blog. May the Lord bless your meditation upon His precious life-giving Word!
Day 354 - (Today’s Bible readings: Isaiah 17:1-14; Psalm 141; 2 Corinthians 8:16-9:5)
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him.” (Ephesians 1:3-4 ESV)
It is a great comfort to us poor, miserable sinners to know that God has chosen us to be His children. Because of the faith He has worked in our hearts, we believe that Jesus died and rose as our Savior from sin, and that He is the way to eternal life.
Our comfort is magnified by the fact that God chose us before the foundation/creation of the world. Just think of it, you were on God’s mind before time even began. WOW! That must mean that you are very special to God. And you are. You belong to the family of God! You belong to God!
What comfort this gives us as we face the daunting challenges of daily life. The Creator of the universe loves you so much that He sent His only Son, Jesus, to be your substitute and to make you His!
Thank You, Heavenly Father, for choosing me to be Your child from before the creation of the world. May I live this day with the comfort of what You done for me motivating my every thought and action. In Jesus’ saving name. Amen.
Pastor David Paape
“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105 ), is the theme for this three-year journey through the entire Old Testament once (the Psalms - twice yearly), and the New Testament twice. There will be daily readings from the O.T., Psalms and the N.T. Special days on the church calendar will be highlighted with appropriate readings. This calendar has been compiled by representatives of the Lutheran Church of Canada, the North American Lutheran Church and the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod. Please click this link for the daily reading calendar:
https://blogs.lcms.org/2017/lcms-lcc-and-nalc-compile-three-year-schedule-of-daily-bible-readings
Then scroll down to 2019 Bible Reading Calendar and download it if you so wish. The “assigned” daily readings will appear on a daily basis in this blog. May the Lord bless your meditation upon His precious life-giving Word!
Day 353 - (Today’s Bible readings: Isaiah 16:1-14; Psalm 140; 2 Corinthians 8:1-15)
Shout for joy to God, all the earth;
sing the glory of his name;
give to him glorious praise
Say to God, “How awesome are your deeds
So great is your power that your enemies come cringing to you.” (Psalm 66:1-3 ESV)
The Psalmist encourages his readers to “shout for joy to God.” The reason for this joy are the awesome deeds of God.
Many people are looking for joy, peace and happiness without Jesus. But Jesus is the only One whose awesome deeds involve the forgiveness of your sins and the promise of eternal life. And this gives you real, true, deep down joy.
Do not confuse Christian joy with mere happiness. Joy is far deeper and can be present even in the darkest of hours. Paul reflects this truth with these words first given to the Christians in Philippi: “Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.” (Philippians 8:3 ESV)
1. Joy to the world, the Lord is come! Let earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare Him room, and heaven and nature sing,
And heaven and nature sing, And heaven and heaven and nature sing.
2. Joy to the world, the Savior reigns! Let men their songs employ,
While fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains, repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat the sounding joy, repeat, repeat the sounding joy.
3. No more let sins and sorrows grow nor thorns infest the ground;
He comes to make His blessings flow far as the curse is found,
Far as the curse is found, far as, far as the curse is found.
4. He rules the world with truth and grace and makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness and wonders of His love,
And wonders of His love, and wonders, wonders of His love.
Lord God, thank You for the joy of knowing Your mercy, forgiveness and promise of heaven Please use me today to share the joy of Jesus with others today. In Jesus’ saving name. Amen.
Pastor David Paape
“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105 ), is the theme for this three-year journey through the entire Old Testament once (the Psalms - twice yearly), and the New Testament twice. There will be daily readings from the O.T., Psalms and the N.T. Special days on the church calendar will be highlighted with appropriate readings. This calendar has been compiled by representatives of the Lutheran Church of Canada, the North American Lutheran Church and the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod. Please click this link for the daily reading calendar:
https://blogs.lcms.org/2017/lcms-lcc-and-nalc-compile-three-year-schedule-of-daily-bible-readings
Then scroll down to 2019 Bible Reading Calendar and download it if you so wish. The “assigned” daily readings will appear on a daily basis in this blog. May the Lord bless your meditation upon His precious life-giving Word!
Day 352 - (Today’s Bible readings: Isaiah 14:24-15:9; Psalm 139; 2 Corinthians 7:2-16)
“For you formed my inward parts;
you knitted me together in my mother's womb.
I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Wonderful are your works;
my soul knows it very well.
My frame was not hidden from you,
when I was being made in secret,
intricately woven in the depths of the earth.
Your eyes saw my unformed substance;
in your book were written, every one of them,
the days that were formed for me,
when as yet there was none of them.” (Psalm 139:13-16 ESV)
Life, what a precious gift from God!
EVERY life, what a precious gift from God!
How precious? So precious that God the Father, the One who created life, sent His only begotten Son to redeem all who repent of their sins and believe their Savior.
God loves me dearly, Grants me salvation,
God loves me dearly, Loves even me.
Therefore I’ll say again: God loves me dearly,
God loves me dearly, Loves even me.
(“God Loves Me Dearly,” Lutheran Service Book, CPH 2009, #392)
Heavenly Father, thank You loving me and for giving me life. Please continue to bless me, body and soul. And use me to defend the lives of others, including the unborn. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Pastor David Paape
“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105 ), is the theme for this three-year journey through the entire Old Testament once (the Psalms - twice yearly), and the New Testament twice. There will be daily readings from the O.T., Psalms and the N.T. Special days on the church calendar will be highlighted with appropriate readings. This calendar has been compiled by representatives of the Lutheran Church of Canada, the North American Lutheran Church and the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod. Please click this link for the daily reading calendar:
https://blogs.lcms.org/2017/lcms-lcc-and-nalc-compile-three-year-schedule-of-daily-bible-readings
Then scroll down to 2019 Bible Reading Calendar and download it if you so wish. The “assigned” daily readings will appear on a daily basis in this blog. May the Lord bless your meditation upon His precious life-giving Word!
Day 351 - (Today’s Bible readings: Isaiah 14:12-23; Psalm 138; 2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1)
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. (Romans 8:18 ESV)
Life can really be rough sometimes. What we need to remember at those times is simply that our problems and struggles are only temporary. Paul is reminding us that nothing we experience now can compare with the glories of heaven.
“What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him.” (1 Corinthians 2:9 ESV)
Heavenly Father, remind me when things are rough, that this life is only temporary and that the best is yet to come. In Jesus’ saving name, amen.
Pastor David Paape
“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105 ), is the theme for this three-year journey through the entire Old Testament once (the Psalms - twice yearly), and the New Testament twice. There will be daily readings from the O.T., Psalms and the N.T. Special days on the church calendar will be highlighted with appropriate readings. This calendar has been compiled by representatives of the Lutheran Church of Canada, the North American Lutheran Church and the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod. Please click this link for the daily reading calendar:
https://blogs.lcms.org/2017/lcms-lcc-and-nalc-compile-three-year-schedule-of-daily-bible-readings Then scroll down to 2019 Bible Reading Calendar and download it if you so wish. The “assigned” daily readings will appear on a daily basis in this blog. May the Lord bless your meditation upon His precious life-giving Word!
Day 350 - (Today’s Bible readings: Isaiah 14:1-11; Psalm 137; 2 Corinthians 5:6-13)
“Working together with him, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain. For he says,
‘In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you.’
Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” (2 Corinthians 6:1-2 ESV)
What time is it? When some of us were kids, we sang along with that black and white TV show. It’s Howdy Doody time... But it sure isn’t Howdy Doody time any more! That show has been off the air for decades.
Paul is encouraging his hearers to realize what time it is. It is time to trust in Jesus.
“Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.”
He is encouraging you to take seriously God’s call to repent and trust in Jesus’ death as payment for your sins. It is an urgent call. Since none of us knows if we will see tomorrow, today is the day to listen, believe, repent and be saved!
This hymn is calling us to remember what time it is:
Delay not, delay not, O sinner, draw near.
The waters of life are now flowing for you.
No price is demanded, the Savior is here,
Redemption is purchased, God’s promise is true.
Delay not, delay not, O sinner, to come;
For mercy still lingers and calls you today.
Its voice is not heard in the vale of the tomb;
Its message, unheeded, will soon pass away.
Delay not, delay not! Why longer abuse
The love and compassion of Jesus, your God?
A fountain is opened; how can you refuse
To wash and be cleansed in his pardoning blood?
(Delay Not, Delay Not, o Sinner, Draw Near, Lutheran Worship, CPH, 1982 #349 stanzas 1,2,5)
Heavenly Father, thank You for warning me to repent today and trust in Jesus before it is too late. Please use me to share this message with others. Amen.
Pastor David Paape
“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105 ), is the theme for this three-year journey through the entire Old Testament once (the Psalms - twice yearly), and the New Testament twice. There will be daily readings from the O.T., Psalms and the N.T. Special days on the church calendar will be highlighted with appropriate readings. This calendar has been compiled by representatives of the Lutheran Church of Canada, the North American Lutheran Church and the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod. Please click this link for the daily reading calendar:
https://blogs.lcms.org/2017/lcms-lcc-and-nalc-compile-three-year-schedule-of-daily-bible-readings
Then scroll down to 2019 Bible Reading Calendar and download it if you so wish. The “assigned” daily readings will appear on a daily basis in this blog. May the Lord bless your meditation upon His precious life-giving Word!
