2013 Day 112 – Matthew 20-22, Psalm 66

22 Monday Apr 2013

Posted by in Daily Reading

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

I love Jesus’ reply in Matthew 22:37-40 when asked what the greatest command is, 37 Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” It is easy to get caught up in a bunch of rules to make us feel like we are keeping God’s commands. But if we boil it all down, Jesus’ words keep it pretty simple and effective.

2013 Day 111 – Real Beauty

21 Sunday Apr 2013

Posted by in Reflection

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

, , ,

Today, as I was searching for a video to share for our reflection day, I came across this Dove advertisement. It was one of those videos that show up before the one you selected and you have the ability to skip it after a few second. For some reason I decided to watch the whole thing. It was a powerful video about the differences in the way we view ourselves and the way others view us. It immediately made me think about how God views me in comparison to how I view myself, especially in the light of His saving grace. I challenge you to watch this video and think about how God views you. I guarantee He has a more beautiful view of you than you could ever have of yourself. It is even more powerful when you finally accept it even if you don’t fully believe it. I hope you enjoy it.

 

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 110 – Matthew 17-19, Psalm 65

20 Saturday Apr 2013

Posted by in Daily Reading

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

I’m not gonna lie… I hate reading through these passages so quickly. Next year, once we finish this reading plan, we will take a much slower approach. There is so much information in these passages in Matthew. Jesus is having so many discussions and giving so many meaningful parables, it is difficult to digest all Jesus is saying. The main theme that stood out to me was how much Jesus kept pushing everyone, especially the rich young man, to do more. Jesus is not saying we must do more to be saves, He is saying we cannot do enough to be saved. There is nothing we can do, it must come from Him; through His sacrifice and gift of salvation.

2013 Day 109 – Matthew 14-16, Psalm 64

19 Friday Apr 2013

Posted by in Daily Reading

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

I am sorry I’m so late in getting today’s post out. The verse that stood out to me today was Matthew 15:11, What goes into someone’s mouth does not defile them, but what comes out of their mouth, that is what defiles them.” We must always be careful with what comes out of our mouths. We don’t always have control over what is seen by our eyes, but we can certainly control what goes out and how other people perceive us.

2013 Day 108 – Matthew 11-13, Psalm 63

18 Thursday Apr 2013

Posted by in Daily Reading

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, ,

While it is important to clear our lives of the bad things, it is important to fill it with a strong and obedient life with God. In Matthew 12:43-45 Jesus says, 43 “When an impure spirit comes out of a person, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. 44 Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left.’ When it arrives, it finds the house unoccupied, swept clean and put in order. 45 Then it goes and takes with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that person is worse than the first. That is how it will be with this wicked generation.” If we simply remove the bad, we are inviting something to fill the void. We must be deliberate about what we allow to enter into our hearts and minds. Even the smallest of things can become some of the most difficult things to remove from our lives. For this reason, we must guard our lives with the power of the Holy Spirit to lead and guide us in all we do.

2013 Day 107 – Matthew 8-10, Psalm 62

17 Wednesday Apr 2013

Posted by in Daily Reading

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

,

There is so much information to digest in today’s reading. The biggest thing that stood out to me was in Matthew 9:12-13, 12 On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. 13 But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” We as believers are consistently working to make ourselves better for God. We work hard at sanctification and righteousness for God. The problem is what God wants most from us is to be a reflection of His mercy to those who need it most. No amount of righteous living makes up for God’s real desire from us, which is to bring people to the saving knowledge of His grace and Mercy.

2013 Day 106 – Matthew 5-7, Psalm 61

16 Tuesday Apr 2013

Posted by in Daily Reading

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

,

Today’s reading in Matthew covers Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. Every time I read this sermon, it astonishes me at the authority Jesus has over the definition of righteousness. When you really think about it, these are the words of God Himself speaking to each of us. There is nothing hidden behind the rules of the “law”. It is God telling us exactly what He expects from each of us. I think we would be well served if we read through the Sermon on the Mount more often and payed greater attention to Jesus’ word on how to live a purposeful life.

2013 Day 105 – Matthew 1-4, Psalm 60

15 Monday Apr 2013

Posted by in Daily Reading

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, ,

Today we begin the Book of Matthew. This book is one of the four Gospels and it is written by Matthew the tax collector. Matthew is not one of the disciples but he has been changed because of Jesus and is a believer of Jesus as the Messiah. One of the things I love about this book is the way it begins. It shows the precision of God and how God’s perfect plan brought Jesus into being. Matthew 1:17 says, Thus there were fourteen generations in all from Abraham to David, fourteen from David to the exile to Babylon, and fourteen from the exile to the Messiah. with all that history from the time of Abraham, I’m sure no one in that timeline would have guessed they were part of the direct line of the Messiah, yet God knew exactly what He was doing. If God can plan something as immense as the delivery of the Savior to the world, He can certainly plan my life to fulfill my part of His will for His kingdom. My part is simply to be obedient and willing to be used by Him when the Holy Spirit directs me to act.

2013 Day 104 – God Uses Little Things

14 Sunday Apr 2013

Posted by in Reflection

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, ,

For our reflection day, I thought I would share this short video. It is a great reminder that God doesn’t require great sacrifices, but little things in a consistent way. He is God and He can make great things out of the smallest of sacrifices.

 

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 103 – Joshua 22-24, Psalm 59

13 Saturday Apr 2013

Posted by in Daily Reading

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, ,

Today we are finishing up the book of Joshua. This book is the fulfillment of God’s blessing on Israel with the delivery of the promised land. Joshua, Moses’ protege, has lead the Israelites into the land and conquered it. As he is about to end his time on earth he gives the Israelites a final challenge and asks who they will serve. In Joshua 24:14-15 it says, 14 “Now fear the Lord and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your ancestors worshiped beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. 15 But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” I love the way Joshua takes a leadership stance with the statement, “But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” Sometimes we simply need to do what we know is right, regardless of what anyone else is doing.