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I just finished day 1 of the @YouVersion plan ‘Everything I Need’. Check it out here: http://bible.com/r/5wZ
The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. John 10:10-11 KJV https://bible.com/bible/1/jhn.10.10-11.KJV
The LORD is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup: Thou maintainest my lot. The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; Yea, I have a goodly heritage. I will bless the LORD, who hath given me counsel: My reins also instruct me in the night seasons. I have set the LORD always before me: Because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: My flesh also shall rest in hope. Psalm 16:5-9 KJV https://bible.com/bible/1/psa.16.5-9.KJV
My flesh and my heart faileth: But God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever. Psalm 73:26 KJV https://bible.com/bible/1/psa.73.26.KJV
Everything I Need • Devotional https://bible.com/reading-plans/22851/day/1?segment=
Verse: Psalm 16:5- The LORD is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup: thou maintainest my lot.
Psalm 16:5-Maintaininest My Lot: God defends my cause or my appointed lot in life.
Everything I Need: My Portion “Why should I feel discouraged, why should the shadows come, Why should my heart be lonely, and long for heav’n and home; When Jesus is my portion, My constant Friend is He. His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me. I sing because I’m happy, and I sing because I’m free. His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He cares for me.” -Civilla D. Martin, 1905 I don’t know about you, but the word portion has forever been ruined for me by the variety of Weight Watcher commercials that have cycled throughout the decades. Portion = food. Portion = diet. Portion points me to a life of tiny bites, of deprivation. It means restriction, denying myself the enjoyment of that blessed bowl of moose tracks ice cream, or having to stop prematurely after indulging in one bite of insanely good, ooey-gooey chocolate lava cake. Portion means having a much smaller amount of something I desire. It means that I have to stop short of what I really want, and ultimately that I won’t be satisfied. If I say “portion,” you say… Control! I wonder if that’s how Civilla Martin thought about the word portion when she penned those beautiful song lyrics about a Christian couple whom, while both riddled with life limiting bodily afflictions, lived happy lives overflowing with faith? (Look up the song story for some interesting background!) I’m pretty sure she wasn’t thinking about restriction, like we think about restricting sugar or carbs nowadays. The fad diets and portion control mindset is really only a fairly recent trend in our culture of excess and indulgence. At the turn of the twentieth century, Cheetos and Cinnabon weren’t around. Food wasn’t fast, and cooking an apple pie was significantly more laborious than the ease in which I rip open a box of Pillsbury pie crust, roll out the premade crust, and cut cute little shapes in the perfectly flattened and round crust to delicately place on top. In my mind’s eye, a homemade apple pie made in 1905 was certainly much more of a valued prize that was savored with family and friends in community together at a table than how we think about eating an apple pie today. After all, we can just run down to the local grocery store chain and pick one up in less than 30 minutes! The word portion does indeed mean a measure. A perfect measure, not a lacking measure. A measure that is uniquely ours… and not anyone else’s. It is the exact amount of something that we need. A common definition of portion (as a noun) is “an individual’s part or share of something: such as a share received by a gift or inheritance.” A gift, an inheritance – something that we couldn’t earn, but an honor we receive just by being adopted into the family of God as a son and daughter. Jesus is our portion. Our share of good. Our family inheritance with all the privileges and titles of a son or daughter. Psalm 16:5 [AMP] says, “The Lord is my chosen and assigned portion, my cup; You hold and maintain my lot. The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; yes, I have a good heritage.” We have a good heritage because God is good. We have a portion, a perfect measure assigned to us that keeps us safe, that upholds us, that enables us to fly above the storm and fight battles on His consistent faithfulness and strength. His portion and measure for us is a perfect gift that we need so desperately in this life. Reflection: When you think of the word portion, do you think of having enough of something, or having a lack of something? Do you feel full right now? Why or why not? (You know that I’m not talking about food at this point!) Have you ever asked God what your unique and measured portion is at this moment? If not, take a few moments to ask Him. Ask Him to reveal anything that is getting in the way of that portion. Be encouraged. God is faithful!
Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; And lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, And he shall direct thy paths. Proverbs 3:5-6 KJV https://bible.com/bible/1/pro.3.5-6.KJV
God will guide us down the path of life when we do not know which way to go. We just have to learn to completely trust Him. Have a blessed day. ©2022
Everything I Need http://bible.com/r/5wZ
Click on the link above if you would like to check out this reading plan. God bless you. ©2022
And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity. 1 Corinthians 13:13 KJV https://bible.com/bible/1/1co.13.13.KJV
What is our life? We are a mist, a vapor in the wind that appears for a short time and then vanishes as the days pass.
We are not our own, but we live because His Spirit lives in us. Where would we be if it were not for His Spirit? Living and unliving stones are we, but still a vapor and a mist in the wind.
Molecules walking, living temples, living sacrifices, not knowing if tomorrow we’ll be here.
Living stones facing destruction from the elements, and the enemy who comes to steal, kill, destroy, and devour.
Dead stones without the Spirit walking alone in darkness even though light shines from the sun and the Son of the Highest God!
What is our life? What does it consist of? What is the meaning of it? Why do we even exist if we are just going to die, be remembered no more, like a vapor in the wind, a mist on a leaf, as the dew on the ground?
Living seeds to one day be planted never to grow again. Life is a beautiful thing, but it will come to an end; nothing lasts forever, not even a flower that gives off a sweet fragrance. Just as a blade of grass is here one minute and cut down the next, and so are we.
So, what is your life? What is our life? How does God see our life? He sees it as a vapor in the wind.
Before Him, we are but dust and ashes. Have we just really thought about that?
This is why it is said,” Earth to earth, ashes to ashes, and dust to dust.” We go back into what we were created from. So, what is our life? It’s not ours, we are not ours. We are not our own!
We are His and His alone, because our life is intertwined with His. He gives it and takes it away, and there is nothing that can be done about it.
We are only vapors in the wind. ©2022
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You are more than welcome to click on the link above to read the verse of today. May God bless and keep you safe. Have a beautiful day in Jesus.
When Jesus was hanging on the cross, one dying thief demonstrated how someone can be on the brink of death and still call Christ Lord. No matter where you are in life, there’s always time to recognize Jesus’ lordship in your own life. Read the below notes from the MacArthur Bible Commentary. Luke 23:32, 39-43 “Two others, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him.” “One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying ‘Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!’ But the other rebuked him, saying, ‘Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.’ And he said, ‘Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.’ And he said to him, ‘Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.’” Verse-by-Verse Notes 23:32 | two others, criminals. This word denotes a rebel and brigand who plunders as he steals. These were probably cohorts of Barabbas in the rebellion, since robbery itself was not a capital offense under Roman law. 23:39 | one of the criminals. Matthew 27:44 and Mark 15:32 report that both criminals were mocking Christ along with the crowd. As the hours wore on, however, this criminal’s conscience was smitten, and he repented. When the impenitent thief resumed his mocking (v. 39), this thief rebuked him and refused to participate again. 23:41 | this Man has done nothing wrong. Even the thief testified of Jesus’ innocence. 23:42 | Lord, remember me. The penitent thief ’s prayer reflected his belief that the soul lives on after death, that Christ had a right to rule over a kingdom of the souls of men, and that He would soon enter that kingdom despite His impending death. His request to be remembered was a plea for mercy, which also reveals that the thief understood he had no hope but divine grace, and that the dispensing of that grace lay in Jesus’ power. All of this demonstrates true faith on the part of the dying thief, and Christ graciously affirmed the man’s salvation (v. 43). Key Word: Paradise 23:43 | Paradise—lit. “garden” or “park.” The Septuagint uses this word literally in Ecclesiastes 2:5 and Song of Solomon 4:13, although the term also refers to the Garden of Eden (see Gen. 2:8). Later, Paradise was described as the place of the righteous dead in Sheol (Luke 16:19–31). When Jesus spoke to the thief on the cross, He assured him that he would that day reside with Him in Paradise (23:42). This seems to indicate that this word refers to a pleasant place for the righteous among the dead. Revelation 2:7 speaks of Paradise as the restitution of an Edenic paradise, an everlasting home for believers (cf. Gen. 2 and Rev. 22). Keep Reading! This one-volume commentary is full of helpful notes and articles. Get your copy of the MacArthur Bible Commentary today and keep diving deeper into the Word! Go get it here!
I am sharing this message from the Olive Tree. Bible App. I thought it would be something you would enjoy reading. God bless you, stay safe, and have a wonderful day.
Food for the Soul 