country: reserved

I knew the picture looked different zoomed out. "But she BROKE it!!!" A crime had been committed and, clearly, justice must be served. Yesterday, and even an hour ago, I might have dived right into the altercation — after all, it was my necklace that was now in several pieces. But...

[Jesus said,] "David himself, speaking by the Holy Spirit, declared: 'The Lord said to my Lord: "Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies under your feet."'" —Mark 12:36 NIV Key Thought Jesus tells us that David's great Psalm 110 is Spirit-inspired. And that Psalm speaks to the greatness...

Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. —John 17:20-21 (KJV) Thoughts on Today's...

The Spirit then compelled Jesus to go into the wilderness, where he was tempted by Satan for forty days. He was out among the wild animals, and angels took care of him. —Mark 1:12-13 NLT Key Thought Jesus' time in the wilderness was not an accident. It was not an afterthought. Jesus was...

As thou [God] hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world. —John 17:18 (KJV) Thoughts on Today's Verse... We are not here by accident! God has a purpose and plan for us. Jesus has sent us into the world to touch it with his redemption and make a positive impact...

The moment [Jesus] came out of the water, he saw the sky split open and God's Spirit, looking like a dove, come down on him. —Mark 1:10 MESSAGE Key Thought Winning the Super Bowl, winning the World Cup, winning Wimbledon, winning the British Open, winning the Daytona 500, and winning the...

Say not thou, I will recompense; but wait on the LORD, and he shall save thee. —Proverbs 20:22 (KJV) Thoughts on Today's Verse... Vengeance is an awful and painful way to respond to those whom we feel have wronged us. The LORD is our assurance of just rewards. Leave it to him. Escalating...

[John the Baptizer:] "I baptize you with water, but [Jesus] will baptize you with the Holy Spirit." —Mark 1:8 NIV Key Thought Jesus was and is directly involved in sending the Holy Spirit to his followers. He did it when initiating the dawn of the church with the coming of the Spirit that...

A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked. For the arms of the wicked shall be broken: but the LORD upholdeth the righteous. —Psalm 37:16-17 (KJV) Thoughts on Today's Verse... What is your most important capital; your money or your character? I can assure...

Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. —Psalm 51:11 NIV Key Thought This desperate cry for God's forgiveness is from King David to God in David's deep sorrow for his sin with Bathsheba. The king before David, Saul, had blatantly disobeyed God and sought to...

I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil one. —John 17:15 (KJV) Thoughts on Today's Verse... Jesus, in showing his love and care for his disciples in prayer before God, is our great example that we must, we should, and we can...

"Where is the one who led [the Israelites] through the bottom of the sea? They were like fine stallions racing through the desert, never stumbling. As with cattle going down into a peaceful valley, the Spirit of the Lord gave them rest. You led your people, Lord, and gained a magnificent...

Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. —Matthew 7:13-14 (KJV) Thoughts on Today's...

Then [the LORD's people] remembered the old days, the days of Moses, God's servant: "Where is he who brought the shepherds of his flock up and out of the sea? And what happened to the One who set his Holy Spirit within them?" —Isaiah 63:11 MESSAGE Key Thought In their rebellion against God...

He that handleth a matter wisely shall find good: and whoso trusteth in the LORD, happy is he. —Proverbs 16:20 (KJV) Thoughts on Today's Verse... Those who seek the instruction of God's wisdom and who trust in God for their life's blessings and values will find joyful prosperity. While this...

[God] said, "Without question these are my people, children who would never betray me." So he became their Savior. In all their troubles, he was troubled, too. He didn't send someone else to help them. He did it himself, in person. Out of his own love and pity he redeemed them. He rescued them...

Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. —Philippians 4:11 (KJV) Thoughts on Today's Verse... Paul tells Timothy that one of life's greatest treasures is to find contentment in godliness (1 Tim. 6:6). With this treasure, our...

The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners. —Isaiah 61:1 NIV Key Thought God's servants in every...

Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies. —Proverbs 31:10 (KJV) Thoughts on Today's Verse... What would happen if we valued our spouses? What would happen if we publicly valued a faithful wife more than a voluptuous starlet? What would happen if character was valued...

"As for me," God says, "this is my covenant with [the Israelites]: My Spirit that I've placed upon you and the words that I've given you to speak, they're not going to leave your mouths nor the mouths of your children nor the mouths of your grandchildren. You will keep repeating these words and...