Today's Verse: Therefore, as ye abound in every thing, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also. ~2 Corinthians 8:7 There are three levels of performance. There is what is known as normal performance. This is when we do exactly as we are told and we have achieved what is expected of us. There is sub-par performance when what we do is below expectations and our result is not acceptable. Then, th

Today's Verse: But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: ~Acts 9:15 What comes to your mind when you hear the word "vessel"? In the Bible, the word "vessel" refers to something similar to a vase or utensil. In most cases, it refers to a common household utensil that is capable of holding something poured into it. Paul speaks of our bodies as “earthen vessels” or clay

Today's Verse: And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. ~Matthew 16:18 Hudson Taylor aptly said, “God’s work, done in God’s way, will never lack God’s supply.” As a man of faith, he lived and practiced this the entire time he planted churches, started schools, trained laborers, and advanced the cause of missions across China. The Lord Jesus Christ is the founder and owner of

Today's Verse: And he took his staff in his hand, and chose him five smooth stones out of the brook, and put them in a shepherd's bag which he had, even in a scrip; and his sling was in his hand: and he drew near to the Philistine. ~1 Samuel 17:40 A brook is a small natural stream of fresh water. It might be a runoff from a river. Travelers welcome the sight of a brook as a resource to drink from. Jacob sent his family ahead of him at the brook Jabbok prior to his meeting wi

Today's Verse: To preach the gospel in the regions beyond you, and not to boast in another man's line of things made ready to our hand. ~2 Corinthians 10:16 When the Apostle Paul was saved, God also called him to be His missionary to the Jews and Gentiles. Paul would eventually be God’s servant to help spread the gospel and plant churches in regions beyond Jerusalem. I don’t think Paul fathomed the many places to which he would travel, where the gospel would be preached and

Today's Verse: By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible. ~Hebrews 11:27 In life, we are sometimes faced with the decision of having to part ways with people or things. Someone seeking asylum from a country that represses freedom must part ways with that country and whatever good memories he may have had in the past. When a professional ball player is traded by his team, that player is parting ways with forme

Today's Verse: He poureth contempt upon princes, and causeth them to wander in the wilderness, where there is no way. ~Psalm 107:40 What comes to your mind when you hear the word "wilderness"? For me, I have foreboding thoughts of barrenness, uncharted territory, wild animals, and a place where you can die for lack of supplies and resources. The psalmist described it as a place where there is no way. The wilderness is not a place that you would choose for an adventurous vaca

Today's Verse: But after long abstinence Paul stood forth in the midst of them, and said, Sirs, ye should have hearkened unto me, and not have loosed from Crete, and to have gained this harm and loss. And now I exhort you to be of good cheer: for there shall be no loss of any man's life among you, but of the ship. ~Acts 27:21-22 The eye of the storm is the centermost part of it. It is at this location where there is calm and peace. It can also be the most dangerous part of t

Today's Verse: But not long after there arose against it a tempestuous wind, called Euroclydon. ~Acts 27:14 Maritime travel can be exciting and adventurous. It can also be a harrowing experience if you are in a major storm out on the open seas. The bobbing up and down of the ship, combined with massive waves thrashing against it, will have you on edge and wondering if “this could be it.” Paul was on a ship headed to Italy via the Mediterranean Sea. He encountered an epic sto

Today's Verse: Jotham was twenty and five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. His mother's name also was Jerushah, the daughter of Zadok. And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father Uzziah did: howbeit he entered not into the temple of the LORD. And the people did yet corruptly. ~2 Chronicles 27:1-2 A core principle about leaders and followers is that “people do what people see.” Dr. Lee

Today's Verse: That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; ~Colossians 1:10 I like to observe military parades and processionals, especially when the troops march together. Each branch of the military has a certain way or style that they want each soldier to walk and march. It has a dignity and a respect to it. It identifies them by their country and military branch. As these troops prepa

Today's Verse: Eat, O friends; drink, yea, drink abundantly, O beloved. ~Song of Solomon 5:1b Are you someone who enjoys eating at buffet restaurants? Buffet restaurants have a large variety of food, dessert, and beverages that you can choose from to eat. Basically, you pay one price and eat as much as you want of anything. There is no limit on the amount you can eat. There are some people who have incredibly voracious appetites who get more than their money's worth at a buf

Today's Verse: And Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him, and did let none of his words fall to the ground. ~1 Samuel 3:19 One of our core responsibilities is the raising up of leadership for the future. It is vitally important that we are focusing on mentoring men who will be the next generation of leaders. At the time when Samuel was just a very young lad, there was a void in leadership. The sons of Eli abused their office as priests and discouraged the hearts of the peop

Today's Verse: The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing. ~Zephaniah 3:17 Zephaniah 3:17 is an incredibly encouraging verse of Scripture. It was a word of comfort and promise given to God’s people during a dark moment of affliction and suffering. In our darkest moments, God never fails to come alongside of us when we need Him and give us words of encouragement

Today's Verse: Thou gavest also thy good spirit to instruct them, and withheldest not thy manna from their mouth, and gavest them water for their thirst. ~Nehemiah 9:20 God has given every believer many remarkable gifts that we are not worthy of. James 1:17 tells us that the gifts of God are fail-safe. They are perfect and from above; they are favorable and good; they are fatherly and from God our Father, Who gives us His best. One of the supernatural gifts we overlook is th

Today's Verse: Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. ~Proverbs 30:5 During the hot summer months, most people know that extended time in the sun can put them at risk of developing skin cancer. Sunscreen is a protective lotion that can be applied to the parts of the body that will be exposed to the ultraviolet rays of the sun. The stronger the SPF factor, the greater the protection. Thus, sunscreen serves as a shield from the damagin

Today's Verse: Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread. ~2 Thessalonians 3:12 Do you like to work? What kind of worker are you? Someone said that there are three kinds of workers. For example, when a piano needs to be moved, the first kind gets behind and pushes, the second pulls and guides, and the third grabs the piano stool. The Apostle Paul gave a command to the believers at Thessalonic

Today's Verse: For of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage. ~2 Peter 2:19b Addiction is when something has power over the desires and willpower of an individual. Addiction is controlling, enslaving, and overpowering. When a person realizes he is addicted to a desire or substance, he is under its control. He has been overcome. It is sad to say, but the true reality is that even a Christian can be under a controlling power that has made him its slave.

Today's Verse: And when there arose a great dissension, the chief captain, fearing lest Paul should have been pulled in pieces of them, commanded the soldiers to go down, and to take him by force from among them, and to bring him into the castle. ~Acts 23:10 Do you sometimes feel like you have so many things competing for your attention or time that you almost feel like you are being pulled apart? If you have had this experience, it is a very uncomfortable and stressful feel

Today's Verse: Now therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts; Consider your ways. Ye have sown much, and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; ye clothe you, but there is none warm; and he that earneth wages earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes. ~Haggai 1:5-6 The San Francisco Bay Area is one of the most expensive places in the country to live in. Many people work long hours in their primary employment, and many ot