Good News Daily Volume XIV October 12-18, 2014 Number 41 Sunday, October 12 Matthew 15:21-28 “Dear woman,” Jesus said to her, “your faith is great. Your request is granted.” And her daughter was instantly healed. (v.28 NLT) “Let’s do it again,” my son yells to me as he jumps on my legs and prepares to somersault in the air over my head while we lay on the ground. When we first started this gymnastics routine, it only took one time and he was hooked. My son has no fear, because he knows I am there to catch him. So many times I let my own fears overtake my mind and my heart, instead of having faith in my Creator that He will take care of me, to catch me if I trust Him. I also need to be more persistent in my faith, like the woman who kept coming to Jesus until he healed her daughter. Many times I give up early instead of continuing to go to the Lord in tough situations, trusting that He will open the door in His perfect timing. Micah 6:1-8; Psalms 146, 147; 1 Corinthians 4:9-16 Monday, October 13 Psalm 1 But they delight in the law of the LORD, meditating on it day and night. They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do. (v.2-3) When I was young, my father often let me help him in the orange groves. A few times during the year, the hot Florida weather and lack of rain would require irrigation of the groves. Back then, we did not have irrigation systems, and the only way to get water to the trees was to dig ditches between the rows of trees, which ultimately ran to a deep water canal. A pump was placed at the edge of the canal to bring water to the intricate maze of ditches. I would go with my father late at night to refuel the pumps and create dams in the ditches to reroute the water where it needed to go. No matter how hard we tried, there were always trees we could not reach with the water, and their leaves would wither, endangering the life of the tree and the crop to come. This is true in my own life when I do not meditate on God’s Word; my life withers without direction and inspiration. His word provides nourishment to my soul. Micah 7:1-7; Psalms 2, 3; Acts 26:1-23; Luke 8:26-39 Tuesday, October 14 Jonah 1:1-17a So the captain went down after him. “How can you sleep at a time like this?” he shouted. “Get up and pray to your god! Maybe he will pay attention to us and spare our lives.” (v.6) Many times I have been awoken in the night by someone in need. The time I remember most vividly happened when I was a young teenager. My Grandmother had suffered a stroke and was in the hospital. My siblings and I took turns staying with my Grandfather while she was in the hospital, as he had a bad heart condition. In the middle of the night, I heard his bell ringing and he called for me. I went to my Grandfather, hoping against hope that he just needed a glass of water, but he said, “Call the doctor; I am having a heart attack.” I immediately went to the den and called my father. After hanging up the phone, I began to feel faint and scared, realizing that my Grandfather could die. Then I comprehended my own selfishness and went to my Grandfather to see if there was anything I could do. He shook his head and I went to the living room to wait in fear for help to arrive. God was with us that night, and Grandpa recovered. Psalms 5, 6; Acts 26:24—27:8; Luke 8:40-56 Wednesday, October 15 Jonah 1:17—2:10 You threw me into the ocean depths, and I sank down to the heart of the sea. The mighty waters engulfed me; I was buried beneath your wild and stormy waves. (v.3) Jonah’s fearful plunge into the ocean depths reminds me of my own fears. In High School I had a small Hobie Cat sailboat that I would frequently take into the Indian River. I was always careful to stay in the protection of the barrier island and never go into the inlet waters leading to the ocean. The swift currents could easily topple the small sailboat of a novice sailor like me. Years later I was afforded the opportunity to sail on a large Hobie Cat with some coworkers in the ocean off Daytona Beach. It was a sunny day as we headed off the beach into the surf, but as we got out to sea a storm quickly engulfed us and the waves became so tall you could no longer see over them. I was terrified I would never see land again and would surely die. Miraculously, we made it back to shore that day. Jesus saves us from danger by pulling us out of the storm, but I must remember He died in the storm for me. Psalm 119:1-24; Acts 27:9-26; Luke 9:1-17 Thursday, October 16 Psalm 18:1-20 The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety. (v.2) One of my favorite experiences of being a Father is putting my son to bed. After eating dinner, taking a bath, and playing, we say goodnight to Mommy and head to his room. We sit in the chair and read a book and then turn out the lights. With the lights out, the ceiling of his room is covered with stars emanating from a light in the middle of the room. I hold him while we sing Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star and Jesus Loves Me. Then, we pray…we pray for our loved ones, we pray for God to watch over us, and we thank Him for His many blessings, for He is our rock and fortress. Jonah 3:1—4:11; Acts 27:27-44; Luke 9:18-27 Friday, October 17 Psalm 17 Guard me as you would guard your own eyes. Hide me in the shadow of your wings. Protect me from wicked people who attack me, from murderous enemies who surround me. (vv.8-9) As a child I always felt loved and safe. My parents made our home a place in which I always felt secure and we prayed every night for God’s blessing and protection. He was the source of our shelter. In a few weeks, my bride and I will be welcoming our second child into this world—a very different world than the one I grew up in—a world of uncertainty and fear. I want to protect my children from all life’s dangers as they grow up, but I know it is not possible. Yesterday as I was walking my two-year-old to his classroom at school he turned to me, let go of my hand, and said to me, “Goodbye Daddy.” I tried to take his hand and continue walking with him and he turned to me again and said sternly, “Goodbye Daddy,” and walked to class by himself. Letting go is hard, and I pray that God will guard my children in the shadow of His wings, always. Song of Solomon 1:2-8; Psalm 16; Acts 28:1-16; Luke 9:28-36 Saturday, October 18 Luke 9:37-50 Then he said to them, “Anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me also welcomes my Father who sent me. Whoever is the least among you is the greatest.” (v.48) I read an interpretation of this passage by a preacher that inspires me: “If you want to be great, be great in humility. If you want to be a leader, be a servant. If you want to have God in your life, reach out to someone who society has abandoned.” Years ago a friend of mine, Susanne, decided to give up everything she owned and move to Africa to become a missionary and teach the lost about Jesus. She lived primitively, sometimes with no water or plumbing, learning the ways of the villagers she lived with while they learned of her love for God. Unfortunately, Susanne had to abandon her missionary work abroad to take up her own battle with cancer, which has spread throughout her body. To this day, she continues to be a witness to Christ in all she does, a true servant of God. Song of Solomon 1:9—2:7; Psalms 20, 21; Acts 28:17-31 by William P. Platts Used with permission from the BIBLE READING FELLOWSHIP PO Box 380, Winter Park, FL 32790 biblereading.org
Posted on: Sun, 12 Oct 2014 00:21:14 +0000
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