S – Proverbs 12:25 “Worry weighs a person down; an encouraging word cheers a person up.”

Proverbs 12:25 – Cheering People Up

O – Worry brings down.  Encouragement lifts up.

A – 1. I want to be conscious of what I am allowing myself to worry about.  I need to cast all of my cares on Him.  2. I want to look for opportunities to cheer others up today through encouraging words.

P – Lord, thank You for giving me an exciting task today.  Help me to be an encourager today.

Are you weighing people down or cheering people up?

2013 Bible Reading Challenge: The Bible is the Word of God and the power of God is released in our life when we apply it. Join us as we follow the One Year Bible plan. Links to read digitally can be found online at www.pcbc.org/bible.

S – Deuteronomy 32:39 “Look now; I myself am He! There is no other god but Me! I am the one who kills and gives life; I am the one who wounds and heals; no one can be rescued from My powerful hand!”

Romans 1:20 – God’s invisible qualities are clearly seen in creation.

O – God invites us to look at Him.  When we see Him, we will worship Him.  Worship is my response to God for Who He is (God… powerful) and what He has done (kills and gives life, wounds and heals).

A – I want to “look now” at God.  I want to stop myself throughout the day and intentionally look for Him.

P – Lord, show me Your glory.  There is no other god but You!

Have you seen the glory of God?  Are you looking for Him?

2013 Bible Reading Challenge: The Bible is the Word of God and the power of God is released in our life when we apply it. Join us as we follow the One Year Bible plan. Links to read digitally can be found online at www.pcbc.org/bible.

S – Luke 10:39-40 “Her sister, Mary, sat at the Lord’s feet, listening to what He taught. But Martha was distracted by the big dinner she was preparing.

O – The story continues: “She came to Jesus and said, ‘Lord, doesn’t it seem unfair to You that my sister just sits here while I do all the work? Tell her to come and help me.’ But the Lord said to her, ‘My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.’”

A – I default towards Martha’s personality.  I must make time today to sit at the feet of Jesus.  I must prevent myself from being “worried and upset over all these details.”  He is the only thing worth being concerned about.

P – Lord, help me keep the main thing (You) the main thing in my life.

What is distracting you today?  Have you made time to sit at Jesus’ feet?

2013 Bible Reading Challenge: The Bible is the Word of God and the power of God is released in our life when we apply it. Join us as we follow the One Year Bible plan. Links to read digitally can be found online at www.pcbc.org/bible.

S – Luke 8:54-55 “Then Jesus took her by the hand and said in a loud voice, ‘My child, get up!’ And at that moment her life returned, and she immediately stood up! Then Jesus told them to give her something to eat.”

On Sunday, the tomb was empty.

O – At that moment… immediately: Jesus has the power to resurrect (literally “her spirit returned”) in an instant.

A – As we celebrate Easter tomorrow, I want to remember that God is able do more than heal.  He can resurrect the dead.

P – Lord, resurrect the dead spiritually as we remember how you resurrected from the dead physically.  Increase my faith in your power.

Do you believe in resurrection – physically and spiritually?

2013 Bible Reading Challenge: The Bible is the Word of God and the power of God is released in our life when we apply it. Join us as we follow the One Year Bible plan. Links to read digitally can be found online at www.pcbc.org/bible.

S – Deuteronomy 9:6 “You must recognize that the Lord your God is not giving you this good land because you are good, for you are not—you are a stubborn people.”

O – God does not bless me because I am good.  I am not good.  I am stubborn.

A – Over the next few days, as I remember the death and resurrection of Jesus, I must remember who I am by nature and what God has done for me by grace.

P – Lord, I am not good!  Thank you for taking the punishment I deserve on the cross.  Thank you for giving me a “good land” by uniting me with Christ in His resurrection – by grace through faith.

Do you think your blessings are result of your goodness?  You are not good.

2013 Bible Reading Challenge: The Bible is the Word of God and the power of God is released in our life when we apply it. Join us as we follow the One Year Bible plan. Links to read digitally can be found online at www.pcbc.org/bible.

S – Luke 6:40 “A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher.”

O – A disciple is not greater than his teacher (rabbi).  A disciple (when fully trained) will be like his teacher.  Our teacher (rabbi) is Jesus.  A disciple of Christ is someone who lives like Jesus.

A – I was once talking with a Jew that believed in this historic Jesus.  However, he said Jesus was not the Messiah because he had never met anyone that lived like Jesus.  If Jesus was a true rabbi, he said, His disciples would live like Him.  Today, I want to watch my life.  Am I living like Jesus?

P – Lord, I want to live like Jesus.  Help me be and make disciples.

Are you a disciple of Christ?

2013 Bible Reading Challenge: The Bible is the Word of God and the power of God is released in our life when we apply it. Join us as we follow the One Year Bible plan. Links to read digitally can be found online at www.pcbc.org/bible.

S – Psalm 57:2 “I cry out to God Most High, to God who will fulfill His purpose for me.”

God has not given me a spirit of fear…

O – I cry out to God – Prayer.  God will fulfill His purpose for me – Promise.  Later we read: “My heart is confident in you, O God; my heart is confident. No wonder I can sing Your praises” (v. 7)!

A – I need to trust God to fulfill his purpose for my life today.  I want to live with a conscious confidence found in Him.

P – Lord, I cry out to You, asking for and believing in Your work in and through my life.

Do you believe God will fulfill His purpose for you?  Why or why not?

2013 Bible Reading Challenge: The Bible is the Word of God and the power of God is released in our life when we apply it. Join us as we follow the One Year Bible plan. Links to read digitally can be found online at www.pcbc.org/bible.

S – Numbers 20:12 – “But the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, ‘Because you did not trust Me enough to demonstrate My holiness to the people of Israel, you will not lead them into the land I am giving them!’”

Spring in the Wilderness of Zin.

O – God had instructed Moses and Aaron to speak to the rock and they struck the rock with the staff (what they had seen work before).  They disobeyed and it is described as not trusting God enough to demonstrate His holiness.  As a result, they are not allowed to lead Israel into the Promise Land.

A – I want to spend time today looking at my life and seeking areas I may be disobeying or prone to disobedience.  I will pray as I drive to my breakfast meeting and take notes after.

P – Lord, I want to trust you enough to demonstrate Your holiness.  Show me the areas of my life that I need to adjust and protect so that I can walk in obedience.

Are you living in complete obedience, trusting God enough to demonstrate His holiness?

2013 Bible Reading Challenge: The Bible is the Word of God and the power of God is released in our life when we apply it. Join us as we follow the One Year Bible plan. Links to read digitally can be found online at www.pcbc.org/bible.

S – Proverbs 11:6 “The righteousness of the upright delivers them, but the treacherous are taken captive by their lust.”

The Cross in the Roman Colosseum

O – Living rightly rescues (delivers, saves) you.  Living treacherously (deceitfully, unfaithfully) traps you.

A – I want to make an effort to live the way God has called me to and to help others do the same.  Grace is not opposed to effort, it is opposed to earning (Dallas Willard).

P – Lord, thank You for living perfectly (Jesus) and taking the penalty I deserve for my treacherous and lustful life.  Help me to live rightly today to avoid the consequences for sin in this life.

Would your life be better described as upright or treacherous?

2013 Bible Reading Challenge: The Bible is the Word of God and the power of God is released in our life when we apply it. Join us as we follow the One Year Bible plan. Links to read digitally can be found online at www.pcbc.org/bible.

S – Mark 14:61-62 “But Jesus was silent and made no reply. Then the high priest asked him, ‘Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?’ Jesus said, ‘I Am. And you will see the Son of Man seated in the place of power at God’s right hand and coming on the clouds of heaven.’”

O – Jesus knew He was the Messiah.  One day everyone will see him “seated in the place of power at God’s right hand and coming on the clouds of heaven.”

A – I want to live today in light of that day.  I want my actions now to prepare me for the day I see Him coming on the clouds of heaven.

P – Lord, I want to live for The Day.  Help me to see today what I am spending time on that doesn’t matter.

Are you ready to see Jesus coming on the clouds of heaven?  If you knew He was coming today, would you change anything about how you are living?

2013 Bible Reading Challenge: The Bible is the Word of God and the power of God is released in our life when we apply it. Join us as we follow the One Year Bible plan. Links to read digitally can be found online at www.pcbc.org/bible.