5: This is one of my favorite stories about Jesus. He is for everyone. He does not just help some of us, he helps all of us. This centurion was a Gentile. He had a simple faith in Christ that was very refreshing. So many try to over-complicate life and fail to see the plain illustrations all around us. Like the blind man in John 9, he understood who Jesus is, and believed accordingly.

Daily Bible Reading: Ezekiel 11:1-13:23

Daily Memory Verse: Jude 1:17 “But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ;“

Daily Tidbit: Today is 12-12-12. This sequence in our date means nothing more than yesterday’s 12-11-12. However, this sequential numbering will not occur again in our lifetime. So, it is a great day to start some new habits and renew our commitments.

Praise Journal: Heavenly Father, thank You for every day that You give to us. Your love for us is astounding. No matter who we are, or where we are, You know all about us and care about us. Your love is truly perfect. It is hard to understand why we can’t seem to accept You more easily. So many live without You, and yet You care for all of us. You are the good and wise God of all. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.

Prayer Journal Highlights: Pray for revival among Christians all over the world.

Personal Journal Entry #12244

4: The interesting phrase in this verse comes at the end. Although Jesus did not want the man to tell the general population, he wanted a testimony brought before the priests. He wanted his miracles seen as what they were, fulfillment of prophecy, not simply amazing wonders. Others might have claimed to heal, but Jesus presents proof.

Daily Bible Reading: Ezekiel 7:1-10:22

Daily Memory Verse: Jude 1:17 “But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ;”

Daily Tidbit: Proverbs 10:28 “The hope of the righteous shall be gladness: but the expectation of the wicked shall perish.”

Praise Journal: Heavenly Father, thank You for those times of refreshing that You give to us. What a mercy they are! May we be constantly mindful of Your generosity. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.

Prayer Journal Highlights: Pray for an older man who is has serious health issues.

Personal Journal Entry #12243

I am going to take a ten-day break from computers. As a result, I will not be posting my notes during this time. The break will extend from tomorrow (the 1st) to Monday (the 10th). I will resume my normal posting on the 11th, unless the Lord comes back first.
During this time I will be reading Jeremiah 31 to Ezekiel 6. I will be reviewing my Jude verses. I will continue with my praise journal, prayer journal, and personal journal. I will be doing a special study, so I will resume in Matthew where I left off when I get back to it.

3: The manner in which Jesus healed people was never a requirement. He could heal without touching someone. He could heal people over great distances. But, in this case, he touched the leper. One cannot help but think that Jesus did this for purely illustrative reasons. Leprosy is an illustration of sin. So, if Jesus could touch the sin-filled person, and yet heal, rather that contract the disease as well, it shows that he has the power to remove sin. Indeed, he took all of our sin upon himself on the cross and got rid of it through the plan of the Father. He can still do this today.

Daily Bible Reading: Jeremiah 28:1-30:24

Daily Memory Verse: Jude 1:17 “But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ;”

Daily Tidbit: We must learn to remember the Words that Almighty God has spoken to us in his love. He warns us of what is to come because he loves us so much.

Praise Journal: Heavenly Father, thank You for Your mercy, grace, and love. You are so good and kind and patient. Help us to remember Your mercies every day at all times. Inspire us with Your great grace. Thank You for removing sin from our hearts. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.

Prayer Journal Highlights: Pray for a man having a doctor’s appointment today. Pray for a family travelling this weekend.

Personal Journal Entry #12232

2: This man, though greatly debilitated by his disease, and marked by it, had great faith. He worshiped the Lord Jesus, so he understood Who He is. Then, we are told that he expressed his belief in Christ’s ability. The only thing he seemed to have doubt about was Jesus’ willingness to help. There was no room for doubt there, for Jesus is always willing to help those who believe in him.

Daily Bible Reading: Jeremiah 25:1-27:22

Daily Memory Verse: Jude 1:17 “But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ;”

Daily Tidbit: Jeremiah 18:2-10 is a very revealing passage. It shows us that our response to the Word of Almighty God is of utmost importance in our lives. God’s warnings are not to go unheeded. Failing to respond to his plans is quite dangerous. We must be proactive when it comes to the Word of God.

Praise Journal: Heavenly Father, thank You for this day. You have blessed us with another opportunity to serve You. Oh Father, thank You for Your love! It is overwhelming to think that the Almighty God of heaven and earth loves us. But, we know that You do. May we stand in awe of Your Word, and always be sensitive to it. You are very merciful to us to give us Your Word. It shows us the way we must take. Your guidance is so comforting and helpful! May we always desire the light of Your Word shining into our hearts. May we never doubt Your care for our souls. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.

Prayer Journal Highlights: Pray for two families who just lost loved ones. Pray for a couple having a baby very soon. Pray for a man with a doctor’s appointment tomorrow. Pray for a man having surgery soon. Pray for a man in Brazil with cancer. Pray for a man looking to get a promotion.

Personal Journal Entry #12231

1: Many followed the Lord Jesus while he was here on earth. Just as now, there would be many of those that would fall away. Few would follow him ‘all the way’ to the cross and beyond.

Daily Bible Reading: Jeremiah 22:1-24:10

Daily Memory Verse: Jude 1:16 “These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own ungodly lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men’s persons in admiration because of advantage.“

Daily Tidbit: Often if our beliefs are not challenged, we will find ourselves at the fringe of a crowd. We will be halfway true to what we say we are following. Jesus seeks more from his followers.

Praise Journal: Heavenly Father, give us a sense of the way of Christ. Help us to see Your plan step by step. Inspire us to be more than fringe followers. We would be in the thick of the battle. May we not settle for the easy road when the road to victory is just before us. Father, give us a sense of Your glory. Show us from Your Word the importance of living vitally genuine lives. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.

Prayer Journal Highlights: Pray for a man who has serious health issues. Pray for a family that just lost a loved one. Pray for a woman having trouble with her feet. Pray for a woman with serious health issues. Pray for a young couple having a baby very soon.

Personal Journal Entry #12230

28: The ultimate nature of Jesus’ doctrine is appealing to us. He does not offer empty promises. He tells us exactly how life really is, and gives us the best information we could hope to have. As the disciples put it later, he has the words of eternal life.
29: His teaching had the legitimacy of heaven behind it. The hearers could sense this. It was not empty platitudes and man-made ideas that he was sharing. It was, however, the Truth for life, and it rang true in their hearts.

Daily Bible Reading: Jeremiah 18:1-21:14

Daily Memory Verse: Jude 1:16 “These are Murmurers, complainer, walking after their own ungodly lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men’s persons in admiration because of advantage.”

Daily Tidbit: Legitimacy is an important thing for public speakers. It is crucial for your message that people know the authority behind it. Sharing the Word of God is never the same as just public speaking. The authority behind it takes it to a much higher level. It is a warning straight from Almighty God to man.

Praise Journal: Heavenly Father, thank You for another day to praise You. You are truly worth serving! The Lord Jesus taught so clearly because he has the Truth for life. May we follow his teachings with all of our hearts. Thank You for Him, Father. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.

Prayer Journal Highlights: Pray for a man who need to get back in church, and for one who just recently began going.

Personal Journal Entry #12229

27: Notice that the same troubles befall both the wise and foolish builders. Sometimes we think that the wise will have fewer difficulties, but this is not necessarily the case. Indeed, often it may seem that the foolish will have a better time of it. In the end, however, those who do not build their lives on Christ will come to utter ruin.

Daily Bible Reading: Jeremiah 14:1-17:27

Daily Memory Verse: Jude 1:16 “These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own ungodly lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men’s persons in admiration because of advantage.”

Daily Tidbit: One of our great hymns of the faith, The Solid Rock, was written by a baptist pastor. His name was Edward Mote, and he faithfully ministered at the same church for twenty-six years. Our hope is truly built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.

Praise Journal: Heavenly Father, may our hope rest on nothing other than the blood of Christ. We can never thank You enough for its precious flow. Your wise and wonderful plan of salvation gives us hope for each day. We are awestruck by Your mercy and grace in guiding Your children through the storms of life. Thank You for Your care for us! In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.

Prayer Journal Highlights: Pray for two ladies with serious health issues. Pray for a man who is close to death.

Personal Journal Entry #12228

26: Of course, a poor builder might make such a mistake. However, usually, this kind of thing does not happen. this only serves to highlight the fact that most people go about building their life in the wrong fashion altogether. You can’t make a life out of a house of cards. You need something more than blind chance. You need a sure and lasting foundation. You need materials that are tested and dependable. You need a blueprint that has no margin for error. You need Christ.

Daily Bible Reading: Jeremiah 10:1-13:27

Daily Memory Verse: Jude 1:16 “These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own ungodly lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men’s persons in admiration because of advantage.”

Daily Tidbit: Jeremiah chapter ten has much to say about the worthlessness of idolatry. In verse eight there is an especially interesting phrase. It reads: “The stock is a doctrine of vanities.” A ‘stock’ is a pole of wood, or, as in this case, any wooden idol. This verse literally is pointing out the fact that the wood itself stands as a testimony to the foolishness of idolatry. How can wood carved to look like some supposed god be worshiped when it was Almighty God who made the wood to begin with?

Praise Journal: Heavenly Father, root idolatry out of our hearts. Thank You for giving us Yourself to worship. Worshiping the Almighty Creator of heaven and earth and all that is in them makes us feel like we have some value in this universe of Yours. Worshiping a pole of wood makes us feel like little more than a plague of parasites hoping to avoid the wrath of some diminutive god who has little more power to shape this world than we do. You give us a life worth living. Help us to build our lives by Your plan and purpose. Your Bible blueprint is perfect and complete. We can find all the materials there that we need for an abundant and fruitful life. Thank You for the foundation we find in Christ Jesus. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.

Prayer Journal Highlights: Pray for a lady travelling tomorrow morning. Pray for a young family about to have a baby. Pray for woman who has trouble with her feet. Pray for a woman with serious health issues. Pray for a man who received a bad report from his doctor. Pray for a couple of people who currently have undesirable work schedules.

Personal Journal Entry #12227

25: A life built upon Christ will weather the storms of life far more easily that one founded on our own shaky foundations. He is a source of certainty in an uncertain world. He is an anchor of hope in a sea of hopelessness.

Daily Bible Reading: Jeremiah 7:1-9:26

Daily Memory Verse: Jude 1:16 “These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men’s persons in admiration because of advantage.”

Daily Tidbit: Many are familiar with the idea of ‘weathering the storm’. We use this metaphor many times when speaking about all kinds of things. But, how many of us are really ready for the storms life may bring our way?

Praise Journal: Heavenly Father, thank You for Your strength. Thank You for giving us Your wisdom in Your Word. We need it for our lives. Help us to use it. Oh Father, Your way is perfect! May we be ready for the storms of life by building upon Christ. Your love for us is great. Thank You for caring for our every need. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.

Prayer Journal Highlights: Pray for missionaries all over the world. Pray for our nation and its leaders. Pray for our military personnel and those that minister to them. Pray for a man with heart trouble. Pray for a young couple having a baby soon.

Personal Journal Entry #12226