Monthly Archives: December 2013

2013 Day 346 – Zechariah 10-12, Isaiah 52

12 Thursday Dec 2013

Posted by in Daily Reading

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

,

What better task is there than to share good news with other people, especially when it’s the good news of salvation. Isaiah 52:7 talks about how “beautiful” are the feet of those who bring good news, How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, “Your God reigns!” Our lives have purpose. God has us here to live a full life in relationship with Him and to share his good news with others. We should count it a privilege to be used by God in this way.

2013 Day 345 – Zechariah 7-9, Isaiah 51

11 Wednesday Dec 2013

Posted by in Daily Reading

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

,

Sometimes we feel alone when we do what is right. We never need to feel alone because God stands with us. Isaiah 51:7 says, “Hear me, you who know what is right, you people who have taken my instruction to heart: Do not fear the reproach of mere mortals or be terrified by their insults. We must never fear the insults of others for our faith. We need not water down our beliefs. We must always show our faith in love and be a reflection of Christ, but fear should never enter into the picture.

2013 Day 344 – Zechariah 4-6, Isaiah 50

10 Tuesday Dec 2013

Posted by in Daily Reading

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, ,

This world tells us we must be tough, strong, powerful and harsh in order to survive in it. But God has a different plan in Zechariah 4:6 So he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty. The key word here is Spirit because the only things of lasting value come from God’s Spirit leading us. As we make the decision to live our lives for God, we must trust less in our own strength and abilities by trusting God and the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

2013 Day 343 – Zechariah 1-3, Isaiah 49

09 Monday Dec 2013

Posted by in Daily Reading

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

,

Today we begin another one of the minor prophets, Zechariah. This book is written to the Jews in Jerusalem to give them hope by revealing God’s future deliverance through the Messiah. It was written between 520-480 BC when the Jews returned to Jerusalem from their captivity in Babylon to rebuild the temple. Zechariah and Haggai confronted the people and encouraged them to complete it. God, through Zechariah, gave the people all they needed to complete the rebuilding of the temple if they were simply obedient. Zechariah 3:7 says, This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘If you will walk in obedience to me and keep my requirements, then you will govern my house and have charge of my courts, and I will give you a place among these standing here.’ God gives us everything we need to be a part of His perfect plan if we simply trust and obey Him.

2013 Day 342 – Haggai 1-2, Isaiah 48

08 Sunday Dec 2013

Posted by in Daily Reading

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

I did not get a lot out of today’s reading, but the last verse caught my eye. Isaiah 48:22 says, “There is no peace,” says the Lord, “for the wicked.” True peace comes from repentance.

2013 Day 341 – Christopher Maloney’s X-Factor

07 Saturday Dec 2013

Posted by in Reflection

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

,

I don’t typically watch shows like the X-Factor, but I happened to see this clip and it made me think about the power of positive encouragement. I think too many people are quick to criticize and find fault in others. We all need encouragement at some point in our lives. We should all work towards helping to push others along rather than tear them down. I hope you see the implications of this video the same way I did.

 

If you ever come across anything you’d like me to post on this blog, please feel free to contact me at dino.evangelista@gmail.com.

2013 Day 340 – Jude 1, Isaiah 47

06 Friday Dec 2013

Posted by in Daily Reading

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Today we are in the very short book of Jude, which was actually a letter to Jewish Christians and believers everywhere to reveal the full identity of Christ and to give hope to people everywhere. I found it interesting how Jude, the brother of James and Jesus, ended the letter in verse 25 to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen. The hardest people to convince who we really are, are the people who are closest to us. Based on this last statement in his doxology, Jude knew exactly who Jesus was.

2013 Day 339 – Zephaniah 1-3, Isaiah 46

05 Thursday Dec 2013

Posted by in Daily Reading

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Today we read another book by one of the minor prophets. Zephaniah was written to shake Judah out of their complacency and to urge them to return to God. The key verse in this book speaks to turning away from sin and seeking God. Zephaniah 2:3 says, Seek the Lord, all you humble of the land, you who do what he commands. Seek righteousness, seek humility; perhaps you will be sheltered on the day of the Lord’s anger.

2013 Day 338 – Habakkuk 1-3, Isaiah 45

04 Wednesday Dec 2013

Posted by in Daily Reading

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

,

Today we read another one of the minor prophets, Habakkuk. This book was written to show that God is still in control of the world despite the apparent triumph of evil. One of the prettiest verses in this book comes from Habakkuk’s prayer in 3:2 Lord, I have heard of your fame; I stand in awe of your deeds, Lord. Repeat them in our day, in our time make them known; in wrath remember mercy. Habakkuk accepted God’s will. He knew God’s power and control over Judah and the discipline they would face through captivity from the Babylonian Empire. He also knew God would ultimately deliver them from this captivity. We don’t always need to know or understand God’s will, but we must accept His control and His perfect plan.

2013 Day 337 – 2 Peter 1-3, Isaiah 44

03 Tuesday Dec 2013

Posted by in Daily Reading

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

,

Today we read the relatively short book of 2 Peter as a letter to the church at large and believers everywhere. The verses that stood out to me are 2 Peter 2:5-7, 5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. Faith must be more than belief in certain facts. It must be accompanied by action and obedience in God’s will for our lives. God empowers us and enables us to act on our faith, but He also gives us the responsibility to learn and grow. We should never be surprised or resentful of the process.