Trail Mix - 8.31.19

August 31, 2019 – Vance Havner wrote, “What a difference a conjunction makes! Joseph spoke to his brothers and said, “Ye thought evil against me; but God meant it for good.” What men proposed, God disposed. They thought but HE wrought! We have a potent adversary but we also have an all powerful ALLY! Joseph went from prisoner to prime minister. Despised by his brothers, he was decorated by GOD! Thank GOD for the conjunctions in HIS Word.” Trust in the providence of God my friend; He cannot fail! S. E. Trail  

My prayer for you today is that you will never give up hope for there is always “God!”

Romans 8:37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. KJV

“John was driving home late one night when he picked up a hitchhiker. As they rode along, he began to be suspicious of his passenger. John checked to see if his wallet was safe in the pocket of his coat that was on the seat between them, but it wasn’t there! So he slammed on the brakes, ordered the hitchhiker out, and said, “Hand over the wallet immediately!” The frightened hitchhiker handed over a billfold, and John drove off. When he arrived home, he started to tell his wife about the experience, but she interrupted him, saying, “Before I forget, John, do you know that you left your wallet at home this morning?”

2019 Bible Reading Schedule for today - Ezekiel 16

Trail Mix - 8.30.19

August 30, 2019 – “Vance Havner said, “If you love His appearing you are not in love with this present world.” Have we set our sights higher than this old world? The love of the world and the love of the Father simply cannot coexist in the same heart! Paul wrote about a member of his missions team that left, “…having loved this present world.” It makes a great difference whether we love this age or the one to come. Remember friend, your heart is wherever your treasure is! We must keep a loose grip on this world and its possessions. If God chooses He can pry our hands off the things of this world that we hold dear but it’s gonna hurt if He has to!” S. E. Trail

 My prayer for you today is a heart that longs for it’s true home!

Matthew 6:24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. KJV

“J. Edwin Orr, a professor of Church history has described the great outpouring of the Holy Spirit during the Welsh Revivals of the nineteenth century. As people sought to be filled with the Spirit, they did all they could to confess their wrong doing and to make restitution. But it unexpectedly created serious problems for the shipyards along the coast of Wales. Over the years workers had stolen all kinds of things, from wheelbarrows to hammers. However, as people sought to be right with God they started to return what they had taken, with the result that soon the shipyards of Wales were overwhelmed with returned property. There were such huge piles of returned tools that several of the yards put up signs that read, "If you have been led by God to return what you have stolen, Please know that the management Forgives you and wishes you to keep what you have taken."

2019 Bible Reading Schedule for today - Ezekiel 13-15

Trail Mix - 8.29.19

August 29, 2019 – “John Wesley was the “Knight with a Burning Heart!” After his Aldersgate experience he said he awoke with "Jesus, Master," in his heart and in his mouth. If you really get what Jesus is offering He will be both Savior and Lord to you. The church world is full of professors who are not possessors. The offer of salvation is to those who will believe on the LORD JESUS CHRIST. Each of these titles has significance for those who believe in Him. Count the cost my friend, Jesus would be Lord of all in your life or He is not Lord at all!’ S. E. Trail

My prayer for you is for you to “wave the white flag of surrender” to the Lord of Lords!

Philippians 3:8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, KJV

“At a church meeting a very wealthy man rose to tell the rest of those present about his Christian faith. "I'm a millionaire," he said, "and I attribute it all to the rich blessings of God in my life. I remember that turning point in my faith. I had just earned my first dollar and I went to a church meeting that night. The speaker was a missionary who told about his work. I knew that I only had a dollar bill and had to either give it all to God's work or nothing at all. So at that moment I decided to give my whole dollar to God. I believe that God blessed that decision, and that is why I am a rich man today." He finished and there was an awed silence at his testimony as he moved toward his seat. As he sat down a little old lady sitting in the same pew leaned over and said to him: "I dare you to do it again."

2019 Bible Reading Schedule for today -Ezekiel 9-12

Trail Mix - 8.28.19

August 28, 2019 – “What happens to a people who forget God? Psalms 9:17 says, "The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God." What an awful price to pay to go your own way and do your own thing without God. They used to say God was dead. They don't say that now, they just say He is irrelevant; that the Creator just does not matter. One day men will know how wrong they were. One day He’s coming and it will be too late to change, too late to make a choice, too late to say I’m sorry! An eternity filled with regret and grief because all hope is gone.” S. E. Trail

My prayer is for all of us to never forget that there is One who has created all things and controls all things and one day will come to settle all things.

Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever. KJV

“The story is told of a policeman who stopped a car for failing to come to a complete stop at a stop sign. The man in the car pitched a fit and explained that he had slowed to practically a halt and reasoned that it was practically the same as stopping. Not good enough said the officer and he ticketed the fellow. That afternoon, the officer stopped the fellow a second time and the same scene unfolded. The man pleaded that his habit of slowing down was adequate and just the same as stopping completely. He got another ticket. You guessed it. It happened a third time that night and the fellow yelled at the officer and called him a choice name or two. Finally the officer lost his composure and took action unbecoming an officer of the law. He yanked the fellow half of the way out of the driver’s window and began hitting him with his night stick. The officer yelled, “Ok, do you want me to stop or slow down?” He got the point. Discerning how things really are is important to the believer. What they may seem to be may not be what they are.”- adapted from John Hagee, San Antonio, TX

2019 Bible Reading Schedule for today - Ezekiel 5-8

Trail Mix - 8.27.19

August 27, 2019 – “Most of us go to church with all kinds of things on our minds. We are thinking about what happened last week or that morning prior to the service or even what we might be doing for lunch after the last amen. We need to think about the implications for a real worship experience when we are focused on these distractions and not on the Lord. Worship is not about us, it’s all about HIM! The God who created everything is worthy of all that we have to give, our time, our talents, and our treasure, nothing less!” S. E. Trail  

My prayer for today is that we all might lay aside our wants, worries, and wanderings and keep our hearts and heads focused on the One who is worthy of worship!

Psalms 100:4 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. KJV

“Two boys were walking home from Sunday school after hearing a strong preaching on the devil. One said to the other, 'What do you think about all this Satan stuff?' The other boy replied, 'Well, you know how Santa Claus turned out. It's probably just your Dad.'”

2019 Bible Reading Schedule for today - Ezekiel 1-4

Trail Mix - 8.26.19

August 26, 2019 – Vance Havner writes, "Another day, another dollar," is the philosophy a lot of folks live by and because of that they "pierce themselves through with many sorrows." They will violate the Sabbath for a buck, they will cut corners on their taxes to save a penny, and they will rob their family of both time and testimony for a little "scratch!" Some even dare to "rob God," for the sake of the “all mighty” dollar instead of giving to the Almighty! Remember, you can’t take it with you! I’ve been in ministry over 40 years and I’ve never yet seen a U-Haul following a hearse!” S. E. Trail

My prayer for you today is that you would lay your treasure up in the “bank” of heaven where it pays eternal dividends.

Luke 12:15  And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth. KJV

“Following a great sermon on lifestyle evangelism one family thought they had better do something to witness to Jesus. So they invited their neighbors to dinner the following Friday night. When it came to the meal, the hostess was keen to show their neighbors that they upheld Christian standards in their home. So she asked little 5 year old Johnny to say grace. Little Johnny was a bit shy. "I don't know what to say" There was an awkward pause, followed by a reassuring smile from the boy's mother. "Well darling," she said, “just say what Daddy said at breakfast this morning." Obediently, the boy repeated, "Oh God, we've got those awful people coming to dinner tonight"

2019 Bible Reading Schedule for today - Lamentations3-5

Trail Mix - 8.25.19

August 25, 2019 – Someone said, "It is easier to get forgiveness than it is to get permission." Sometimes we make decisions and then call on God after the fact to get His approval. This type of decision making always ends in a mess. Better to seek His face and His will before we make a decision and have His permission than to risk being out of His will and having to ask for His forgiveness later and deal with the fallout! The big problem for most of us is waiting for God to answer. We are like King Saul when Samuel didn’t show up on time; we take matters into our own hands and are surprised when we cause a “train wreck!” They that “…wait upon the Lord, shall renew their strength…” and they also avoid having to clean up the mess! S. E. Trail  

My prayer for you today would be for a heart that “waits” for His will!

James 5:16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. KJV

“A mother announced to her family, "Tomorrow morning I'm going to make an old-fashioned breakfast with eggs, ham, biscuits and grits." The five-year-old daughter groaned, "But, Mommy, you know I don't like eggs." Mom then reminded her of all the food the little girl liked that contained eggs. The next morning, when the daughter walked into the kitchen, Mom said, "Since you are here first, you can decide for the family. How do you want me to cook the eggs?" The little girl answered, "In chocolate cake, please."

2019 Bible Reading Schedule for today - Lamentations1-2