VERSE OF THE DAY Be blessed and be a blessing October 9, Monday Acts 7:55 But being full of the Holy Spirit, he gazed intently into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God; Philippians 3:14 Press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
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VERSE OF THE DAY Be blessed and be a blessing October 8, Sunday Isaiah 54:10 Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,” says the LORD, who has compassion on you.
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VERSE OF THE DAY Be blessed and be a blessing October 7, Saturday 1 Thessalonians 5: 15-28 Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else. 16 Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 19 Do not quench the Spirit. 20 Do not treat prophecies with contempt 21 but test them all; hold on to what is good, 22 reject every kind of evil. 23 May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it. 25 Brothers and sisters, pray for us. 26 Greet all God’s people with a holy kiss. 27 I charge you before the Lord to have this letter read to all the brothers and sisters. 28 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
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VERSE OF THE DAY Be blessed and be a blessing October 5, Thursday Psalm 114:104-105 I gain understanding from your precepts; therefore I hate every wrong path. 105 Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.
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VERSE OF THE DAY Be blessed and be a blessing October 4, Wednesday Psalm 8:3-4 When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have set in place, what is mankind that You are mindful of them, human beings that You care for them? Psalm 24:1 The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.
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VERSE OF THE DAY Be blessed and be a blessing October 3, Tuesday Romans 15:13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. Colossians 1:13 For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son,
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VERSE OF THE DAY Be blessed and be a blessing October 2, Monday Psalm 147:3 He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds
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VERSE OF THE DAY Be blessed and be a blessing October 1, Sunday Isaiah 58:11-12 11 The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail. 12 Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age-old foundations; you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings. John 14:27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.
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THOMPSON’S STATION, Tennessee — Tammy Daniel believes in the power of story. The Christian author, speaker and worship leader is open about the struggles in her life, and has launched a ministry giving women a platform to share their own stories to help and inspire others. A handful of women spoke of their journeys Friday evening at Thompson Station Church, where Daniel’s ministry held a “Women’s Night of Worship.” Around 100 people attended the event to pray, sing praise songs and listen to painful stories of abuse, infertility, health problems and disabilities, relationship challenges and self-destructive choices. A common chord running through all the stories was that God offers hope and redemption. “You are not too broken,” said Ginny Priz. “There is nothing you can do that God can’t redeem.” Priz co-hosts an inspirational TV show called “Bloom Today” that airs on WHTN/CTN, and has written a book called Ditch the Drama. Born without a full right arm, which requires her to wear a prosthetic, Priz has also struggled with coming to terms with her Christian faith. She spoke Friday of reckless and wrong behaviors she engaged in before accepting that following God means walking a path of obedience. Michelle Moore, a…
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VERSE OF THE DAY Be blessed and be a blessing September 30, Saturday Proverbs 14:4-6 Where there are no oxen, the manger is empty, but from the strength of an ox come abundant harvests. 5 An honest witness does not deceive, but a false witness pours out lies. 6 The mocker seeks wisdom and finds none, but knowledge comes easily to the discerning. Proverbs 27:17 As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another 1 Corinthians 15:33 Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.”
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Religious liberty is a fundamental human right, one that even Americans who aren’t religious should value, Ryan Anderson of The Heritage Foundation said at Union University earlier this month. Anderson spoke at the Southern Baptist school in Jackson, Tennessee, Sept. 12 as part of an annual Constitution Day lecture series, according to a school news release. Constitution Day is celebrated Sept. 17 and honors the signing of the U.S. Constitution on Sept. 17, 1787. Religious freedom is guaranteed in the First Amendment. “All of us have a human right to be able to seek out the truth about God on our own, come to conclusions about the truth about God on our own, and then live our lives in conforming with that truth as we understand it,” said Anderson, a senior research fellow at The Heritage Foundation. Anderson said there are limits to the right of religious freedom if it is used to harm others or infringes on their rights. It gets complicated in issues such as same-sex marriage and gender identity. What’s important is to remember that people can disagree without being bigots and that government coercion isn’t the answer, Anderson said. “There is anti-gay bigotry in the United…
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The Birmingham City Council in Alabama this week passed non-discrimination ordinances that include sweeping protections for LGBT people and spell out criminal penalties for violators. The council on Tuesday unanimously passed an ordinance addressing discrimination in housing, employment and public accommodations, and a companion measure addressing discrimination in awarding city contracts. The council will create a human rights commission “to promote principles of diversity, inclusion, and harmony” and to hear complaints. The ordinances also mention other statuses such as race and disability, but the main intent was to offer protections based on sexual orientation and gender identity, which are not covered under Alabama law. The legislation is the first of its kind in the state, though there are more than 200 cities and counties across the country with similar protections. Sexual orientation is defined in the Birmingham legislation as “actual or perceived homosexuality, heterosexuality, or bisexuality.” Gender identity is defined as “actual or perceived gender related identity, expression, appearance, or mannerisms or other gender related characteristics of an individual, regardless of the individual’s designated sex at birth.” Violators found to be discriminatory can be fined up to $500. In 2014, the Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s largest pro-LGBT activist group, launched an…
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VERSE OF THE DAY Be blessed and be a blessing September 28, Thursday Matthew 25:31-34 31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. 34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.
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VERSE OF THE DAY Be blessed and be a blessing September 27, Wednesday Esther 4:14 For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?”
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VERSE OF THE DAY Be blessed and be a blessing September 25, Monday Romans 12:15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.
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VERSE OF THE DAY Be blessed and be a blessing September 24, Sunday Psalm 118:24 This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. Nehemiah 8:10 Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”
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VERSE OF THE DAY Be blessed and be a blessing September 23, Saturday Matthew 5:16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. Revelation 21:23 The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp.
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NASHVILLE, Tennessee — Franklin Graham spoke Thursday evening at a fundraiser for The Bridge Ministry held at Lipscomb University. More than 700 people attended the event at Allen Arena, which included dinner and entertainment by Hillary Scott of Lady Antebellum. The Bridge is a Nashville area Christian nonprofit that serves the poor and homeless and partners with agencies to help the needy with everyday necessities. The group works to educate people and help them get back to work, and to encourage others to help those who are hungry and homeless. “It’s an honor to be here to support a ministry like this,” Graham told the crowd. The son of famed evangelist Billy Graham, who turns 99 on Nov. 7, Franklin Graham is president and CEO of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and the international Christian relief organization Samaritan’s Purse. In May, Franklin Graham spoke in Clarksville as part of his Decision America Tennessee Tour. At Thursday’s event, he encouraged people to give generously to The Bridge, which was founded in 2004. “At The Bridge, people are fed, people are clothed and people are given an opportunity for a better life, for education and training, and to hear the gospel of the…
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VERSE OF THE DAY Be blessed and be a blessing September 22,Friday Ephesians 4:23 and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, 1 Peter 1:3 “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,”
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VERSE OF THE DAY Be blessed and be a blessing September 21, Thursday Ezekiel 18:32 For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign LORD. Repent and live Romans 10:9-11 If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. 11 As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.”
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NASHVILLE, Tennessee — The Grand Ole Opry House was filled Monday evening with the sound of Christians singing hymns old and new. Hymn-writers Keith and Kristyn Getty led a spirit-filled event related to a conference they are leading this week at Brentwood Baptist to promote congregational singing. The husband and wife duo from Northern Ireland divide their time between Northern Ireland and a home in Nashville. Monday’s event at the Grand Ole Opry featured several surprise guests, including Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam, who offered welcoming remarks and read from the Old Testament book of Zephaniah, where the Bible talks about how God “will take great delight” in his followers and “rejoice over you with singing.” Surprise musical guests included country and bluegrass singer Ricky Skaggs and singer-songwriter Buddy Greene, also known as a harmonica stylist. In addition, Gary Haugen, the CEO and founder of the International Justice Mission, was introduced on stage so he could briefly talk about his group’s mission. A faith-based ministry supported and promoted by the Gettys, the IJM works to stop human trafficking. Alistair Begg, a native of Scotland who pastors a nondenominational church in Ohio and hosts a Christian radio show, also spoke briefly. The Gettys…
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Pastors’ spouses say their roles are meaningful and fulfilling, but they also experience pressure and stress, younger spouses especially, according to the results of a new LifeWay Research study. The survey of 720 spouses focused primarily on spouses of senior or solo pastors within a variety of Protestant denominations. The vast majority of spouses surveyed are women. Just over half have children at home, and just over half have been married to a pastor for at least 20 years. Most have responsibilities at their church and some – 19 percent – are on the staff. More than half – 55 percent – work outside the church, a quarter of them for another church, ministry or nonprofit. “Despite their challenges, most pastors’ spouses say they are happy,” said Scott McConnell, executive director of LifeWay Resarch, in an article in Facts & Trends, a LifeWay publication. But pastors’ spouses also report experiencing feelings of isolation and frustration with not knowing who to confide in and trust. They say their families are continually evaluated and that their spouses have met resistance at church. Money is also a big worry. Those in younger age groups have more challenges in building relationships than those in older…
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VERSE OF THE DAY Be blessed and be a blessing September 20, Wednesday Psalm 16:11 You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand. John 16:33 “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” James 1:2-3 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.
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BRENTWOOD, Tennessee – Keith and Kristyn Getty are headlining a sold-out conference at Brentwood Baptist this week designed to bring back the appeal of congregational hymn singing. A husband and wife hymn-writing team from Northern Ireland, the Gettys have become sensations among evangelical Protestants looking for something different from the contemporary worship style that has become commonplace. Once widely popular, hymns fell out of use as churches became “seeker-friendly” and began devising ways to draw in people unaccustomed to, or turned off by, the rhythms of traditional church life. Churches began relying on praise bands and contemporary worship songs. But now many of those songs are panned as both shallow and difficult for average churchgoers to sing, as they were penned as performance pieces. “We need to build deep believers,” Keith Getty told the crowd of 4,500 during the opening worship service Monday afternoon. “It’s time to grow up.” Getty said he believes congregational singing has an important role to play in maturing and strengthening the church at time when secularism is growing and nominal Christianity is destined to become a thing of the past in Western culture. The Gettys and their fellow conference presenters are encouraging pastors, church musicians and others in…
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VERSE OF THE DAY Be blessed and be a blessing September 19, Tuesday Hebrews 12:2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Ephesians 2:8-10 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith -and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
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Lipscomb University President Randy Lowry apologized Friday for cotton stalk centerpieces that offended some African-American students invited to his home Thursday for a dinner to promote diversity on campus. “The content of the centerpieces was offensive, and I could have handled the situation with more sensitivity,” Lowry said in an email to the Lipscomb community that the school shared on Facebook. “I sincerely apologize for the discomfort, anger or disappointment we caused and solicit your forgiveness.” Lipscomb is a private Christian liberal arts school in Nashville affiliated with the conservative Churches of Christ. One student who attended the dinner wrote on Facebook, “We were very offended, and also the meals that were provided resembled many ‘black meals’ they had mac n cheese, collard greens, corn bread etc.” The student’s post included a photo of one of the cotton stalk centerpieces, a type of trendy decor depicted in many varieties on Pinterest. Hobby Lobby is getting slammed by a woman on social media for selling similar decor because “there is nothing decorative about raw cotton” as it represents “a commodity which was gained at the expense of African-American slaves.” In his apology, Lowry said, “I have heard from a number of students who…
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VERSE OF THE DAY Be blessed and be a blessing September 18, Monday Matthew 7:24-27 “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. 26 And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”
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The Daily Caller reports that Christian non-profits do more than any government agency to support victims of disasters like hurricanes Harvey and Irma. The story says that faith-based organizations provide the bulk of relief, even when compared to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, quoting a national media story. The National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (NVOAD) works with FEMA to distribute resources in disaster areas and help victims find the help they need. Seventy-five percent of NVOAD’s membership is comprised of faith-based organizations, The Daily Caller reports. The disaster coordination agency’s membership, includes notables like the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team and Convoy of Hope, plus many denominational response organizations including those for the Adventists, Disciples of Christ and Episcopalians. There are non-Christian and secular groups as well. Such organizations have the experience and logistical infrastructure to effectively respond to disasters and work with devastated communities in the long-term. Jake Raabe, in the Baptist Standard, speaks out against the “second disaster” created when well-intentioned people send useless items like teddy bears that overwhelm meaningful relief operations. Supply planes could not land in Honduras after Hurricane Mitch ravaged that nation in 1998 because Americans had donated so much used clothing that boxes of…
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VERSE OF THE DAY Be blessed and be a blessing September 17, Sunday Isaiah 43:20 “…I will make rivers in the dry wasteland so my chosen people can be refreshed.” Colossians 2:6-7 So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him,7 rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.
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A Nashville radio show on caregiving will be syndicated starting Sunday. Peter Rosenberger’s “Caregivers with Hope” will become the first syndicated radio show for America’s 65 million family caregivers, according to a news release. Rosenberger has hosted the show for more than four years on NewsRadio 1510 (iHeartMedia). Rosenberger speaks from personal experience as a caregiver. As a result of a car accident decades ago, his wife, Gracie, has had 78 operations and multiple amputations. The family has also had to deal with more than $10 million in medical bills. The show, which blends advice and humor to inspire people facing unique life challenges, will be syndicated via the Truth Network, a group of Christian radio stations, and presented by Medi-Share, a health care sharing ministry that offers an alternative to insurance. “Caregivers with Hope” will be carried live every Sunday at 3 p.m. Central Time on the network. It will air across 13 markets, including Charlotte, Salt Lake City, Des Moines and Richmond. In addition, more than 240 stations will air Rosenberger’s “Today’s Caregiver Minute” featuring daily tips Monday through Friday. “Peter uses his expertise to address the needs of caregivers as no one else can, with the tact of someone who has…
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VERSE OF THE DAY Be blessed and be a blessing September 16, Saturday Psalm 34:4 I sought the LORD, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears Psalm 94:19 When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy. Romans 8:38-39 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers,39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
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VERSE OF THE DAY Be blessed and be a blessing September 15, Friday Isaiah 9:10 “The bricks have fallen, but we will build with dressed stones; the sycamores have been cut down, but we will put cedars in their place.” Matthew 6:26 “Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?”
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The Family Action Council of Tennessee (FACT) has joined 32 other family policy councils nationwide in filing a friend-of-the-court brief on behalf of a Colorado baker accused of discrimination for declining to bake a cake for a same-sex wedding. This fall, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear the major, closely-watched case involving Jack Phillips and his family business, Masterpiece Cakeshop. The Colorado Court of Appeals ruled that a state law could force Phillips to create a custom cake that conveys a message contrary to what he believes as a Christian. Phillips and his attorneys petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court to take up the case. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NMn3WycWJsg The amicus brief was drafted by David French, an attorney and senior writer for National Review who lives in Columbia, about 45 miles south of Nashville. In a letter to supporters, David Fowler, the president of FACT, said joining the amicus brief is in keeping with “our mission to defend free speech and religious liberty.” The Supreme Court has received at least 45 friend-of-the-court briefs in support of the baker. The support comes from 479 creative professionals, 20 states including Tennessee, and 86 members of Congress, all Republicans. A variety of legal experts, civil rights advocates and…
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VERSE OF THE DAY Be blessed and be a blessing September 14, Thursday Jude 1:18-25 “In the last days there will be people who don’t take these things seriously anymore. They’ll treat them like a joke, and make a religion of their own whims and lusts.” 19 These are the ones who split churches, thinking only of themselves. There’s nothing to them, no sign of the Spirit! 20 But you, dear friends, carefully build yourselves up in this most holy faith by praying in the Holy Spirit, 21 staying right at the center of God’s love, keeping your arms open and outstretched, ready for the mercy of our Master, Jesus Christ. This is the unending life, the real life! 22 Go easy on those who hesitate in the faith. 23 Go after those who take the wrong way. Be tender with sinners, but not soft on sin. The sin itself stinks to high heaven. 24 And now to him who can keep you on your feet, standing tall in his bright presence, fresh and celebrating – 25 to our one God, our only Savior, through Jesus Christ, our Master, be glory, majesty, strength, and rule before all time, and…
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Faith-based groups – Christian nonprofits, specifically – have been busy bees of late, providing more aid to hurricane victims than even FEMA, the federal agency that’s supposed to swoop to the scenes of natural disasters, assess the situation and speed the recovery and rebuilding process. Just goes to show: Where charity exists, government is not needed.…
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VERSE OF THE DAY Be blessed and be a blessing September 13, Wednesday Genesis 39:21-23 the Lord was with him; he showed him kindness and granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden. 22 So the warden put Joseph in charge of all those held in the prison, and he was made responsible for all that was done there. 23 The warden paid no attention to anything under Joseph’s care, because the Lord was with Joseph and gave him success in whatever he did 2 Corinthians 3:17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.
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VERSE OF THE DAY Be blessed and be a blessing September 12, Tuesday Psalm 128:2 You will eat the fruit of your labor; blessings and prosperity will be yours. Proverbs 11:25 A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed. Proverbs 5:22 The evil deeds of the wicked ensnare them; the cords of their sins hold them fast.
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VERSE OF THE DAY Be blessed and be a blessing September 11, Monday Psalm 37:1-6 Do not fret because of those who are evil or be envious of those who do wrong; 2 for like the grass they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die away. 3 Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. 4 Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart. 5 Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this: 6 He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn, your vindication like the noonday sun.
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VERSE OF THE DAY Be blessed and be a blessing September 10, Sunday Psalm 78:32 In spite of all this they still sinned And did not believe in His wonderful works. Luke 22:67 “If You are the Christ, tell us.” But He said to them, “If I tell you, you will not believe; Romans 10:14-15 How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher? How will they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news.”
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VERSE OF THE DAY Be blessed and be a blessing September 10, Sunday Psalm 78:32 In spite of all this they still sinned And did not believe in His wonderful works. Luke 22:67 “If You are the Christ, tell us.” But He said to them, “If I tell you, you will not believe; Romans 10:14-15 How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher? How will they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news.”
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VERSE OF THE DAY Be blessed and be a blessing September 9, Saturday Psalm 127:1 Unless the LORD builds the house, the builders labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain.
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VERSE OF THE DAY Be blessed and be a blessing September 7, Thursday Luke 21:10-19 Then he said to them: “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom 11 There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven. 12 “But before all this, they will seize you and persecute you. They will hand you over to synagogues and put you in prison, and you will be brought before kings and governors, and all on account of my name. 13 And so you will bear testimony to me.14 But make up your mind not to worry beforehand how you will defend yourselves. 15 For I will give you words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict. 16 You will be betrayed even by parents, brothers and sisters, relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death. 17 Everyone will hate you because of me 18 “Yet not a hair of your head will perish. 19 “By your endurance you will gain your lives”
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VERSE OF THE DAY Be blessed and be a blessing September 6, Wednesday Revelation 7:17 For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; ‘he will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’
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VERSE OF THE DAY Be blessed and be a blessing September 5, Tuesday Matthew 6:26-27 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? Philippians 4:6-7 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
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VERSE OF THE DAY Be blessed and be a blessing September 3, Sunday Isaiah 43:2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. 2 Corinthians 4:8-9 We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.
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VERSE OF THE DAY Be blessed and be a blessing September 2, Saturday Genesis 50:20 You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
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VERSE OF THE DAY Be blessed and be a blessing September 1, Friday Psalm 57:1 Have mercy on me, my God, have mercy on me, for in you I take refuge. I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed. Lamentations 3:22-23 Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
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VERSE OF THE DAY Be blessed and be a blessing August 31, Thursday Matthew 7:5-8 You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. 6 Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces 7 Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
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A conservative Presbyterian seminary in St. Louis will host a conference on leadership and race this weekend organized mostly by African Americans who are asking white attendees to recognize that their participation “means hearing, repenting and listening more than you speak.” Whites are also being asked to devote one seminar hour to “intensive training in anti-racism,” according to guidance for whites on the conference website. The website features a letter from Joel Littlepage, a white North Carolina pastor, to his “white brothers and sisters” in which he explains, “For whites, our position as majority-culture citizens of America grants us privilege and safety that people of color are not afforded. It is good and wise that we have time together, as white people, to have honest discussion and explore the ways that we can expose our own biases and be effective in the fight for racial justice.” The conference will be held at Covenant Seminary, which is affiliated with the conservative Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) and which recently started offering courses in Nashville. PCA churches in the Nashville area include Christ Presbyterian in Nashville, Covenant Presbyterian in Green Hills and Christ Community in Franklin. Called LDR Weekend, the fairly new annual gathering is “designed…
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Vanderbilt University was criticized in a recent report that analyzed the extent to which conservative views are welcomed on university campuses. The Heterodox Academy (HxA) in June released its second Guide to Colleges, which ranks the top 150 U.S. universities based on their acceptance of viewpoint diversity. The HxA is a group of scholars that advocates for “a more intellectually diverse and heterodox academy.” The HxA gave Vanderbilt a score of 43 on a 100 point scale. The higher the score, the more likely you are to find intellectual diversity and dissent, according to the study. The study draws from publicly available sources of information. Vanderbilt earned praise for endorsing the Chicago Principles on free expression this spring when updating the faculty manual, reports Vanderbilt Hustler, the student newspaper. But the school took a big hit because it is considered an “unsafe zone” for conservative students by the Intercollegiate Studies Institute (ISI) guide to Choosing the Right College 2014-2015. That came as a result of a 2011 policy that required campus religious organization to not only accept members regardless of their beliefs, but also to open up leadership positions to those members, limiting the groups’ ability to consistently uphold their values. Vanderbilt also lost points because of…
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