My Daily Pause

1. GEORGE WASHINGTON: It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and the Bible…. He is worse than an infidel who does not read his Bible and acknowledge his obligation to God.
2. JOHN ADAMS: The Bible is the best Book in the world.
3. THOMAS JEFFERSON: I have always said and always will say that the studious perusal of the Sacred Volume will make better citizens, better fathers, better husbands…. The Bible makes the best people in the world.
4. JOHN QUINCY ADAMS: My custom is to read four or five chapters of the Bible every morning immediately after rising…. It seems to me the most suitable manner of beginning the day…. It is an invaluable and inexhaustible mine of knowledge and virtue.
5. ABRAHAM LINCOLN: I am profitably engaged in reading the Bible. Take all of this Book upon reason that you can, and the balance by faith and you will live and die a better man.

Armor of God – Ephesians 6:10-18

Fruit of the Spirit – Galatians 5:22-23

15 Exhortations – 1 Thessalonians 5:14-23

What Christians should do – Philippians 4:4-8

Things that Love is – 1 Corinthians 13:4-7

Giving is an important part of our worship and our service to the Lord. Here are six thoughts to meditate upon:

1. We should Give Purposefully: 2 Corinthians 9:7
2. It shows our trust in God: Deut. 8:11-18; Luke 12:18-19; 2:2-4; Mark 10:24
3. We should adjust our giving when we have increases in prosperity: 1 Corinthians 16:2; Leviticus 5:7
4. We should give our contribution every week: 1 Corinthians 16:2
5. Make giving our financial priority: Acts 2:44-45; 4:34-37; Proverbs 3:9
6. It shows God’s worth: 2 Samuel 24:24; Malachi 1:6-8

The Gossips – 1948 – Norman Rockwell

In Matthew 12:33-34 Jesus taught us:

• that we will be known by our fruit
• and the mouth bears the fruit of the heart.

Gossip is a particularly aggressive sin against the commandment to love thy neighbor. We can go out of our way to gossip, or we can do it without giving it a second thought.

How ever we do it, the result is never good.

Scripture leaves little doubt as to how God feels about gossip. Here are five things the New Testament has to say about the aspects gossip:

1. The tongue is a small member that can cause big trouble – James 3:5
2. Corrupt speech is sinful Ephesians 4:29-31
3. Mind your own business 1 Thessalonians 4:11, 2 Thessalonians 3:11-12
4. Babbling is ungodly 2 Timothy 2:16
5. Lay aside the evil thoughts 1 Peter 2:1

• Destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah – Genesis 18:16 to 19:29
• Crossing the Red sea – Exodus 14
• City of Jericho – Joshua 6
• Samson and Delilah – Judges 13-16
• David and Goliath – 1 Samuel 17