Trail Mix - 6.30.19

June 30, 2019 – “On the average Sunday many millions sing, “Victory in Jesus,” but they often don’t have any real victory in their soul, for they have a joyless rest of the week! This is not the salvation that Jesus died to give us for He declared in John 15:11 “These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.” Filling and fullness of joy are promised to those who receive and believe His words. Do you have what Jesus had to offer?” Vance Havner

My prayer for you today would be to know the joy that Jesus alone can give!

2 Peter 1:10  So then, my friends, try even harder to make God's call and his choice of you a permanent experience; if you do so, you will never abandon your faith. GNB

On The Phone

“Having just moved into his new office, a pompous, new colonel was sitting at his desk when an airman knocked on the door. Conscious of his new position, the colonel quickly picked up the phone, told the airman to enter, and then said into the phone, "Yes, General, I'll be seeing him this afternoon and I'll pass along your message. In the meantime, thank you for your good wishes, sir." "Feeling as though he had sufficiently impressed the young enlisted man, he asked, "What do you want?" "Nothing important, sir," the airman replied, "I'm just here to hook up your telephone."

2019 Bible Reading Schedule for today - Psalms 82-89

Trail Mix - 6.29.19

June 29, 2019 – “The first portion of Proverbs 16:7 speaks of a “…man’s ways pleasing the Lord,” and we wonder how much that we strive each day to please Him? What does please the Lord mean? We know that faith does and obedience is “better than sacrifice,” and surely it must please Him when we “love Him with all our heart!” You and I must see that our ways please the Lord and not men, for it is then that we find peace.” Vance Havner

My prayer for you today is for a heart filled with a desire to be a “God pleaser” and not a “man pleaser.”

Isaiah 55:6 Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:

7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. KJV

“The minister was preoccupied with thoughts of how he was going to ask the congregation to come up with more money than they were expecting for repairs to the church building. Therefore, he was annoyed to find that the regular organist was sick and a substitute had been brought in at the last minute. The substitute wanted to know what to play. "Here's a copy of the service," he said impatiently. "But, you'll have to think of something to play after I make the announcement about the finances." During the service, the minister paused and said, "Brothers and Sisters, we are in great difficulty; the roof repairs cost twice as much as we expected and we need $4,000 more. Any of you who can pledge $100 or more, please stand up." At that moment, the substitute organist played "The Star Spangled Banner." And that is how the substitute became the regular organist!”

2019 Bible Reading Schedule for today - Psalms 78-81

Trail Mix - 6.28.19

June 28, 2019 – “The Bible teaches us that we are not to be “…careful but prayerful!” Philippians 4:6-7 Numerous passages reminds us that we are not to “fret,” over the things that are temporal in this life, what we shall eat or wear, or what we will do tomorrow. God has promised to supply all our needs according to His “riches” by Christ Jesus. His power and resources are unlimited and He never “sleeps or slumbers.” He is ever vigilant on behalf of His children. Our supply comes from His hands to ours and He never fails. When we come to Him in faith He personally obligates Himself to meet all our needs.” S. E. Trail

My prayer for you today is for you to transition from temporal attentiveness to eternal awareness, to begin living in the “world to come.”

Philippians 4:19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. KJV

There is the story of a pastor who got up one Sunday and announced to his congregation: "I have good news and bad news. The good news is, we have enough money to pay for our new building program. The bad news is, it's still out there in your pockets."

            2019 Bible Reading Schedule for today - Psalms 72-77

Trail Mix - 6.27.19

June 27, 2019 – “We must take care of our Vertical relationship before our horizontal relationships can be whole! “Seek ye first…” is the Lord’s declaration and unless we observe that order of priority we doom ourselves to a wasted and wounded life! Wasted because we will never know the joy of being in the center of His will and wounded because our relationships will bare the marks of our missteps and misguided efforts to find satisfaction.” Vance Havner

My prayer today would be for you to have peace with God so that you would know the peace of God that “…passeth understanding”.

Matthew 16:25 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. KJV

"Somebody has said there are only two kinds of people in the world. There are those who wake up in the morning and say, "Good morning, Lord," and there are those who wake up in the morning and say, "Good Lord, its morning." Which one are you?

2019 Bible Reading Schedule for today - Psalms 68-71

Trail Mix - 6.26.19

June 26, 2019 – “When those who were in their homes painted their door posts with blood, they went inside and waited obediently while the death angel moved across the face of Egypt. They could not see the blood once inside but God could! Even when we cannot see, our great comfort and confidence should be not that we see the blood, but that He does. Like the old song says, “When I see the blood, I will pass; I will pass, over you!” S. E. Trail

My prayer for you today is calm assurance that you are “under the blood.”

1 John 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. KJV

“A young lady visited a computer dating service and requested, "I'm looking for a spouse. Can you please help me to find a suitable one?" The matchmaker said, "What exactly are you looking for?" "Well, let me see. Needs to be good looking, polite, humorous, sporty, knowledgeable, good at singing and dancing, willing to accompany me the whole day at home during my leisure hour if I don't go out. Be able to tell me interesting stories when I need a companion for conversation and be silent when I want to rest." The matchmaker entered the information into the computer and, in a matter of moments, handed the results to the woman. The results read, "Buy a television."

2019 Bible Reading Schedule for today - Psalms 60-67

Trail Mix - 6.25.19

June 25, 2019 – “Attention! We are not called to be successful; we are called to be faithful. Never mind whether the mission will be a success or a failure in men’s eyes; just go and do what God has called you to do. Remember that it is not required in stewards that they be successful but that they be “found faithful” to the One who calls them. Don’t forget that God does not measure things the way we do; for we look on the “outward appearance” while He looks at the heart! A long obedience is better than a “flash in the pan!” S. E.Trail

My prayer for you today is for a lifetime of “faithful” and “fruitful” service for Christ!

2 Timothy 4:8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing. KJV

THE SILENT SERMON

“A member of a certain church, who previously had been attending Services regularly, stopped going. After a few weeks, the preacher decided to visit him. It was a chilly evening. The preacher found the man at home alone, sitting before a blazing fire. Guessing the reason for his preacher’s visit, the man welcomed him, led him to a comfortable chair near the fireplace and waited... The preacher made himself at home, but said nothing. In the grave silence, he contemplated the dance of the flames around the burning logs. And after some minutes, the preacher took the fire tongs, carefully picked up a brightly burning ember and placed it to one side of the hearth all alone then he sat back in his chair, still silent. The host watched all this in quiet contemplation. As the one lone ember’s flame flickered and diminished, there was a momentary glow and then its fire was no more. Soon it was cold and dead. Not a word had been spoken since the initial greeting. The preacher glanced at his watch and realized it was time to leave. He slowly stood up, picked up the cold, dead ember and placed it back in the middle of the fire. Immediately it began to glow, once more with the light and warmth of the burning coals around it. As the preacher reached the door to leave, his host said with a tear running down his cheek, "Thank you so much for your visit and especially for the fiery sermon. I shall be back in church next Sunday."

2019 Bible Reading Schedule for today - Psalms 52-59

Trail Mix - 6.24.19

June 24, 2019 – “Psalm 119 declares, “I rejoice at Thy Word as one that findeth great spoil.” In our day there is a trend to downgrade the importance and place of the Word of God in our culture, community and church life. In Bible days after a long and difficult siege, the conquering army would enter a city and gather the “spoils” of war. The Psalmist rejoices in God’s Word and places a premium on it. It is “great spoil” to those who value it!” S. E. Trail

My prayer for you today is for an appreciation for the Word of God that “abides forever.”

2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. KJV

“It was Saturday morning and Jake, an avid hunter, woke up ready to go bag the first deer of the season. He walks down to the kitchen to get a cup of coffee, and to his surprise he finds his wife, Alice, sitting there, fully dressed in camouflage. Jake asks her, "What are you up to?" Alice smiles, "I'm going hunting with you!" Jake, though he has many reservations, reluctantly decides to take her along. They arrive at the hunting site. Jake sets his wife safely up in the tree stand and tells her: "If you see a deer, take careful aim on it and I'll come running back as soon as I hear the shot." Jake walks away with a smile on his face knowing that Alice couldn't bag an elephant -- much less a deer. But not 10 minutes pass when he is startled as he hears an array of gunshots. Quickly, Jake starts running back. As Jake gets closer to her stand, he hears Alice screaming, "Get away from my deer!" Confused, Jake races faster towards his screaming wife. And again he hears her yell, "Get away from my deer!" followed by another volley of gunfire. Now within sight of where he had left his wife, Jake is surprised to see a cowboy, with his hands high in the air. The cowboy, obviously distraught, says, "Okay, lady, okay! It’s your deer! You can have your deer! I don’t want your deer; just let me get my saddle off it!"

2019 Bible Reading Schedule for today - Psalms 45-51