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scripture:
john 3
1Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council. 2He came to Jesus at night and said, "Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him."
3In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again."
4"How can a man be born when he is old?" Nicodemus asked. "Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb to be born!"
5Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. 6Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. 7You should not be surprised at my saying, 'You must be born again.' 8The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit."
9"How can this be?" Nicodemus asked.
10"You are Israel's teacher," said Jesus, "and do you not understand these things? 11I tell you the truth, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. 12I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? 13No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man. 14Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, 15that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.
16"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son. 19This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 20Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. 21But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God."
(john 3 1-21, niv)
questions regarding the scripture:
why did nicodemus visit JESUS at night???
what is required to be "born again"???
which of the old testament righteous inherited the kingdom of heaven???
questions about yesterday's scripture:
just as moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in Him may have eternal life. (john 3:14-15, niv)
what is JESUS referring to when HE says that "the SON of MAN must be lifted up"??? HE is referring to HIS being resurrected from the dead.
is believing that JESUS is the SON of GOD the same as believing in GOD's SON, JESUS??? no, in order to believe in JESUS one must have the gift of the HOLY SPIRIT that HE may be revealed in such a way that a relationship is formed.
memory of the day:
on friday, i enjoyed rick's pizza with katherine and chico:)
on saturday, i enjoyed the basketball tournament with kat and jh:)
on sunday my johnny b. came home from lexington:)
today, i received a sweet note from an old friend:)
saying grace:
FATHER in heaven i'm so grateful to you for allowing
me to be grafted as one of your very own,
for blessing me in EVERY way,
and for ALWAYS being there for me.
i am humbled and grateful!!!
FATHER,
here am i; send me
if it be Your will.
my GOD, in prayer of intercession, i, in all humility, lift up the following...
pat (GOD, YOU are the great healer; if it be Your will i ask that YOU pour your mercy on this dear man and heal him!!!)!!!
the mc family (thank You for sending Your reassuring words of comfort to them:)
ginny (thank you, GOD, that gin's test was good!!!)
john
john (thank YOU for giving my john some time to rest this week before work gets really crazy:)
the nielsons (thank You, GOD, for covering the nielsons with Your healing hands)
the schrijvers
tabitha's family (GOD, please unharden these hearts that forgiveness can be achieved)
ava's family
amanda's family (and her co-worker with tb)
the nall family
the sorenson family (baby elisabeth)
k!!!
the macs (bless them FATHER with peace in the loss of their beautiful, little cora)
the skaggs (all of them)
the gaddises
the pardues
phillip shannon
ann moore (Father, please ease her pain and suffering)
gene thomason
shirley pritchet
as well as all those others who are suffering
with emotional and/or physical pain
those who have lost their loved ones
those who no longer have employment
the leaders around the world
and all others who are crying out to YOU!!!
FATHER, i continue to praise You for answering the prayers above for elisabeth (her mommy said she is doing better than ever!!!) and now for k, who is back to his normal self:))) for ginny that her test came back negative (and for mine),and that pat seems to be doing well through his treatments!!! he and his family even enjoyed a normal day... may they enjoy many more!!! GOd, thank YOU, thank YOU, thank YOU for giving pat the good days to enjoy with his family (YOU, know how much i love them.).
thank YOU again for all YOU are and all YOU do in our lives!!!
in Jesus' name i pray.
amen.
love,
dani
ps. if you have any prayer requests,
please let me know in your comment.
i will add it to my daily prayer list.
i also welcome any/all
praises:D
scripture:
just as moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in Him may have eternal life. (john 3:14-15, niv)
questions regarding the scripture:
what is JESUS referring to when HE says that "the SON of MAN must be lifted up"???
is believing that JESUS is the SON of GOD the same as believing in GOD's SON, JESUS???
questions about yesterday's scripture:
give thanks to the LORD, for He is good;
His love endures forever.
let the redeemed of the LORD say this—
those He redeemed from the hand of the foe!!!
(psalm 107: 1-2, niv)
who are the "redeemed"??? the redeemed are the children of GOD who walk in HIS light and live a righteous life.
why is it important for the "redeemed" to praise GOD??? it is important for those who KNOW GOD to praise HIM so that others can hear the truth about HIM and desire a personal relationship with HIM, too.
who is "the foe"??? the foe is satan.
memory of the day:
an old friend had a "normal" day;
and another received wonderful news!!!
saying grace:
my GOD you are and awesome GOD!!!
thank YOU, thank YOU, thank YOU
for ALL the blessings you have bestowed upon me;
even though i'm am in no way worthy to be called
one of Your children,
You have allowed me to be regardless:)
i am humbled and grateful!!!
FATHER,
here am i; send me!!!
i want to be sent... i am ready and waiting.
my GOD, in prayer of intercession, i, in all humility, lift up the following...
pat (GOD, YOU are the great healer; if it be Your will i ask that YOU pour your mercy on this dear man and heal him!!!)!!!
ginny (thank you, GOD, that gin's test was good!!!)
john
john (thank YOU for giving my john some time to rest this week before work gets really crazy:)
the nielsons (thank You, GOD, for covering the nielsons with Your healing hands)
the schrijvers
tabitha's family (GOD, please unharden these hearts that forgiveness can be achieved)
ava's family
amanda's family (and her co-worker with tb)
the nall family
the sorenson family (baby elisabeth)
k!!!
the macs (bless them FATHER with peace in the loss of their beautiful, little cora)
the skaggs (all of them)
the gaddises
the pardues
phillip shannon
ann moore (Father, please ease her pain and suffering)
gene thomason
shirley pritchet
the niesons
as well as all those others who are suffering
with emotional and/or physical pain
those who have lost their loved ones
those who no longer have employment
the leaders around the world
and all others who are crying out to YOU!!!
FATHER, i continue to praise You for answering the prayers above for elisabeth (her mommy said she is doing better than ever!!!) and now for k, who is back to his normal self:))) for ginny that her test came back negative (and for mine),and that pat seems to be doing well through his treatments!!! he and his family even enjoyed a normal day... may they enjoy many more!!! GOd, thank YOU, thank YOU, thank YOU for giving pat the good days to enjoy with his family (YOU, know how much i love them.).
thank YOU again for all YOU are and all YOU do in our lives!!!
in Jesus' name i pray.
amen.
love,
dani
ps. if you have any prayer requests,
please let me know in your comment.
i will add it to my daily prayer list.
i also welcome any/all
praises:D
scripture:
give thanks to the LORD, for He is good;
His love endures forever.
let the redeemed of the LORD say this—
those He redeemed from the hand of the foe!!!
(psalm 107: 1-2, niv)
questions regarding the scripture:
who are the "redeemed"???
why is it important for the "redeemed" to praise GOD???
who is "the foe"???
questions about monday/tuesday scripture:
monday: they traveled from mount hor along the route to the red sea, to go around edom. but the people grew impatient on the way; they spoke against God and against moses, and said, "why have you brought us up out of egypt to die in the desert? there is no bread! there is no water! and we detest this miserable food!" (numbers 21:4-5, niv)
monday: isn't it just the human condition to moan and groan as well as be totally impatient when circumstances aren't meeting our expectations!!?!? this is actually a rhetorical question; but the answer is, "yes!!!". it really is our human condition to complain when things don't go our way. i think the key to this is to give our frustrations over to GOD and 'keep on keeping on' with HIM at our sides (respectively)... HE just wants us to relate to HIM and most importantly TRUST IN HIM!!!
tuesday: but because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. (ephesians 2:4-5, niv)
tuesday: even now after Christ has come to save us, can we still be dead due to our transgressions??? how/why???
as i have written on many occasions throughout this lenten season, our transgressions (sins... mainly, i think, the sin of having other worldly gods above GOD) stand between us and the LIFE GOD intends us to have through HIM with the indwelling of the HOLY SPIRIT.
memory of the day:
john and i spent a wonderful evening with long-time friends:) and... enjoyed some yummy bread pudding:b
saying grace:
Father, thank You for the peace you have bestowed on me!!!
thank YOU for wonderful friends!!!
thank YOU for turning my attention away from that which may be lost and pointing it in the direction to that which i have:)
i am humbled and grateful!!!
FATHER,
here am i; send me!!!
i really want to be sent; i want you to use me for your good that YOU and YOU alone can be glorified...
my GOD, in prayer of intercession, i, in all humility, lift up the following...
pat (GOD, YOU are the great healer; if it be Your will i ask that YOU pour your mercy on this dear man and heal him!!!)!!!
ginny (thank you, GOD, that gin's test was good!!!)
john
john (thank YOU for giving my john some time to rest this week before work gets really crazy:)
the nielsons (thank You, GOD, for covering the nielsons with Your healing hands)
the schrijvers
tabitha's family (GOD, please unharden these hearts that forgiveness can be achieved)
ava's family
amanda's family (and her co-worker with tb)
the nall family
the sorenson family (baby elisabeth)
k!!!
the macs
the skaggs (all of them)
the gaddises
the pardues
phillip shannon
ann moore (Father, please ease her pain and suffering)
gene thomason
shirley pritchet
as well as all those others who are suffering
with emotional and/or physical pain
those who have lost their loved ones
those who no longer have employment
the leaders around the world
and all others who are crying out to YOU!!!
FATHER, i continue to praise You for answering the prayers above for elisabeth (her mommy said she is doing better than ever!!!) and now for k, who is back to his normal self:))) for ginny that her test came back negative (and for mine),and that pat seems to be doing well through his treatments!!! GOd, thank YOU, thank YOU, thank YOU for giving pat the good days to enjoy with his family (YOU, know how much i love them.).
thank YOU again for all YOU are and all YOU do in our lives!!!
in Jesus' name i pray.
amen.
love,
dani
ps. if you have any prayer requests,
please let me know in your comment.
i will add it to my daily prayer list.
i also welcome any/all
praises:D
scripture:
monday: they traveled from mount hor along the route to the red sea, to go around edom. but the people grew impatient on the way; they spoke against God and against moses, and said, "why have you brought us up out of egypt to die in the desert? there is no bread! there is no water! and we detest this miserable food!" (numbers 21:4-5, niv)
tuesday: but because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. (ephesians 2:4-5, niv)
questions regarding the scripture:
monday: isn't it just the human condition to moan and groan as well as be totally impatient when circumstances aren't meeting our expectations!!?!?
tuesday: even now after Christ has come to save us, can we still be dead due to our transgressions??? how/why???
my thoughts about yesterday's scripture:
for the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength. (1 corinthians 1:25, niv)
i know what paul is trying to convey: HE is far greater in HIS weakness (HUH???) than the strongest of us:? but, i find it odd that paul used these particular words in conveying this message... as i believe GOD to be neither foolish nor weak in any way, shape, or form!!!
memory of the day:
9 years ago, today, john and i renewed our wedding vows:)
saying grace:
Father, thank You for the peace you have bestowed on me!!!
here am i; send me!!!
my GOD, in prayer of intercession, i in all humility lift up the following...
pat (GOD, YOU and YOU alone are the great healer; if it be Your will i ask that YOU pour your mercy on this dear man...)
ginny (thank you, GOD, that gin's test was good!!!)
john
john
the nielsons (thank You, GOD, for covering the nielsons with Your healing hands)
the schrijvers
tabitha's family
ava's family
amanda's family (and her co-worker with tb)
the nall family
the sorenson family (baby elisabeth)
k!!!
the macs
the skaggs (all of them)
the gaddises
the pardues
phillip shannon
ann moore (Father, please ease her pain and suffering)
gene thomason
shirley pritchet
as well as all those others who are suffering
with emotional and/or physical pain
those who have lost their loved ones
those who no longer have employment
the leaders around the world
and all others who are crying out to YOU!!!
FATHER, i continue to praise You for answering the prayers above for elisabeth (her mommy said she is doing better than ever!!!) and now for k, who is back to his normal self:))) for ginny that her test came back negative (and for mine),and that pat seems to be doing well through his treatments!!!
thank YOU again for all YOU are and all YOU do in our lives!!!
in Jesus' name i pray.
amen.
love,
dani
ps. if you have any prayer requests,
please let me know in your comment.
i will add it to my daily prayer list.
i also welcome any/all
praises:D
scripture:
for the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength. (1 corinthians 1:25, niv)
a thought regarding the scripture:
i know what paul is trying to convey... but, i find it odd as i believe GOD to be neither foolish nor weak at ALL!!! do you???
my answers to yesterday's question:
"I AM the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. you shall have no other gods before me." (exodus 20:2-3, niv)
what did GOD mean by "other gods"??? other gods are all people or things that are more important to you than GOD is. (family, friends, wisdom, power, wealth, etc...)
do you have other gods in your life??? i did at one time but not anymore:)
memory of the day:
i went to the grocery and took kat, hannah, and jacob. they stayed in the car. i was in there for so long that jacob came looking for me. (i guess you had to be there). it was pretty funny:))))
saying grace:
Father, thank You for the peace you have bestowed on me:)
here am i; send me!!!
my GOD, in prayer of intercession, i in all humility lift up the following...
pat (GOD, YOU and YOU alone are the great healer; if it be Your will i ask that YOU pour your mercy on this dear man...)
ginny (thank you, GOD, that gin's test was good!!!)
john
john
the nielsons (thank You, GOD, for covering the nielsons with Your healing hands)
the schrijvers
tabitha's family
ava's family
amanda's family (and her co-worker with tb)
the nall family
the sorenson family (baby elisabeth)
k!!!
the macs
the skaggs (all of them)
the gaddises
the pardues
phillip shannon
ann moore (Father, please ease her pain and suffering)
gene thomason
shirley pritchet
as well as all those others who are suffering
with emotional and/or physical pain
those who have lost their loved ones
those who no longer have employment
the leaders around the world
and all others who are crying out to YOU!!!
FATHER, i continue to praise You for answering the prayers above for elisabeth (her mommy said she is doing better than ever!!!) and now for k, who is back to his normal self:))) for ginny that her test came back negative (and for mine), and that pat was able to have some comfort last night during the prayer vigil... and for puting love and feeling back into my heart... even though it is breaking.
thank YOU again for all YOU are and all YOU do in our lives!!!
in Jesus' name i pray.
amen.
love,
dani
ps. if you have any prayer requests,
please let me know in your comment.
i will add it to my daily prayer list.
i also welcome any/all
praises:D
i had a very good reason for not posting yesterday...
i was curled up reading a book;)
i know... that doesn't sound like a very good reason:
but, it was a book about a father, THE FATHER, THE SON, and
THE HOLY SPIRIT;)))
no, it was not the bible but a book entitled,
the shack.
i picked this book up for the first time on valentines day...
as i was looking for a book to get for my valentine.
my attention was quickly drawn to a book, the associate, which was sitting right right next to it on the shelf in the book store.
john loves john grisham.
john grisham wrote the associate.
john is my favorite associate (tee-hee, "corny" i know).
so, i bought him the associate!!!
anyway, since that day, the shack has been calling out to me.
no one said to me that it was good, that i should read it...
no, no it was nothing like that.
yet, i felt like i was supposed to read it.
on tuesday afternoon, i left home a little early en route to pick katherine up from school. since i had a few minutes to spare, i stopped by the bookstore to purchase this book.
it was the last one on the shelf;
and it was mine:D
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
now, i am not going to go into much detail about the book today. however, i will say, that it is a good book. i read about 1/3 of the book on wednesday.
after doing so, i was neither so sure...
a.) i had actually heard it calling MY name
nor...
b.) that i had made a good choice in purchasing it.
for, i found it to be...
1.) very wordy.
2.) a little "campy" (if you will).
3.) slow.
4.) "out there".
5.) and not written well for any level of believer.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
HOWEVER, a friend of mine called yesterday morning. while we were talking, i mentioned that i was reading the shack. she said she was too. i told her my thoughts about the book. since she was a little ahead of me in her reading, i asked her opinion. she said she thought it to be a pretty good book.
maybe i was being a little too critical???
so, when i got off the phone, i opened my copy back up to the page where i'd stopped reading on wednesday and commenced...
when i did??? i felt as though GOD was talking directly to me!!!
through william young's words,
HE answered questions i had recently been asking HIM,
and HE even answered a prayer or two!!!
it was as if, GOD told william young to write this book to me and for me and, furthermore, to bring it "special delivery" to my doorstep with instructions for me to read EVERY word!!!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
i don't know if this book would "speak" to every one in the same way.
but, with the knowledge that it could,
i would be remiss in not touting the book.
if the shack is calling YOUR name,
buy it, read it...
ALL!!!
then come back and tell me about your experience:)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
prayer list:
pat (GOD, YOU and YOU alone are the great healer; if it be Your will i ask that YOU pour your mercy on this dear man and take away his cancer...)
ginny (thank you, GOD, again, that gin's test was good!!!)
john
john
the nielsons (thank You, GOD, for covering the nielsons with Your healing hands)
the schrijvers
tabitha's family
ava's family
amanda's family (and her co-worker with tb)
the nall family
the sorenson family (baby elisabeth)
k!!!
the macs
the skaggs (all of them)
the gaddises
the pardues
phillip shannon
ann moore (Father, please ease her pain and suffering)
gene thomason (thank YOU)
as well as all those others who are suffering
with emotional and/or physical pain
those who have lost their loved ones
those who no longer have employment
the leaders around the world
and all others who are crying out to YOU!!!
FATHER, i continue to praise You for answering the prayers above for elisabeth (her mommy said she is doing better than ever!!!) and now for k, who is back to his normal self:))) for ginny that her test came back negative (and for mine:), and that pat was able to start his chemo treatments yesterday... and for puting love and feeling back into my heart... even though it is breaking.
thank YOU again for all YOU are and all YOU do in our lives!!!
in Jesus' name i pray.
amen.
scripture:
"I AM the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. you shall have no other gods before me." (exodus 20:2-3, niv)
questions about the scripture:
what did GOD mean by "other gods"???
do you have other gods in your life???
my answers to yesterday's question:
to those whom God has called, both jews and greeks, Christ [is] the power of God and the wisdom of God.
(1 corinthians 1:24, niv)
why did paul call upon the greeks as well as the jews in this letter to the church at corinth??? the non-jews in corinth were greeks (aka gentiles), hence paul was calling upon everyone as was his mission to share the good news showing no favoritism.
memory of the day:
it's been an emotional day for me today... i know things have happened the way they have for a reason. i just pray that something bigger could happen to bring a situation full circle. in the past i have had to be pruned of "other gods". it hurt then but not as much as it is hurting now.
saying grace:
GOD, please???????
here am i; send me!!!
my GOD, in prayer of intercession, i in all humility lift up the following...
pat (GOD, YOU and YOU alone are the great healer; if it be Your will i ask that YOU pour your mercy on this dear man...)
ginny (thank you, GOD, that gin's test was good!!!)
john
john
the nielsons (thank You, GOD, for covering the nielsons with Your healing hands)
the schrijvers
tabitha's family
ava's family
amanda's family (and her co-worker with tb)
the nall family
the sorenson family (baby elisabeth)
k!!!
the macs
the skaggs (all of them)
the gaddises
the pardues
phillip shannon
ann moore (Father, please ease her pain and suffering)
gene thomason
as well as all those others who are suffering
with emotional and/or physical pain
those who have lost their loved ones
those who no longer have employment
the leaders around the world
and all others who are crying out to YOU!!!
FATHER, i continue to praise You for answering the prayers above for elisabeth (her mommy said she is doing better than ever!!!) and now for k, who is back to his normal self:))) for ginny that her test came back negative (and for mine), and that pat was able to have some comfort last night during the prayer vigil... and for puting love and feeling back into my heart... even though it is breaking.
thank YOU again for all YOU are and all YOU do in our lives!!!
in Jesus' name i pray.
amen.
love,
dani
ps. if you have any prayer requests,
please let me know in your comment.
i will add it to my daily prayer list.
i also welcome any/all
praises:D
