No Wishing For More Wishes - May 31, 2010

Daily Reading

1Kings 3-4, 2Chronicles 1, Psalm 72

Daily Verse

When all Israel heard the verdict King Solomon had given,

they held the king in awe, because they saw

that he had wisdom from God to administer justice.

1Kings 3:28

Daily Thought

Aladdin's Genie held up three fingers, "Three wishes, to be exact. And ixnay on the wishing for more wishes."

Not a problem for my 4-year old daughter, Abby. "Then I'd just wish for more genies."

Clever.

God said to Solomon, "Ask for whatever you want me to give you."

"Give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong."

--1Kings 3:9

Wise.

God said, "Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor for the death of your enemies, I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be. Moreover, I will give you what you have not asked for - both riches and honor - so that in your lifetime you will have no equal among kings."

--1Kings 3:10-13

To God's Glory,

Dave Price

Daily Prayer

Righteous God, You are just and good. You give us wisdom if we ask for it, but You warn us not to come with a divided heart. God, may I love You with all my heart, with all my strength, with all my mind. No division. May I seek You and You alone. If I do that, God, it will show up in my love for others.

May I have the heart of Your Son, Jesus, who considered others better than Himself. Better than Himself! He is God. Your Son. Yet He washed the feet of His followers. Father, break into my heart. Teach me the humility of Christ.

Amen

There Are Some Things Money Can't Buy - May 30, 2010

Daily Reading

Psalm 119:1-88

Daily Verse

Turn my eyes away from worthless things;

preserve my life according to your word.

Psalm 119:37

Daily Thought

Sponsor a child: $35

(http://www.worldvision.org)

Kitchen Sink: $100

(Habitat For Humanity)

Dying with the most toys: Worthless

There are some things money can't buy.

Eternity.

"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal."

--Matthew 6:19-20

To God's Glory,

Dave Price

Daily Prayer

Wonderful God, With pleasure I call You Master. You are the Lord of lords. You are the Lord of me. You are the King of kings. I pledge my allegiance to You.

May I be a worthy citizen of the Kingdom of God, an ambassador of Your grace. May I live for eternity by sharing and showing Your love today.

Amen

Three Wise Monkeys - May 29, 2010

Daily Reading

1Kings 1-2, Psalm 37, 71, 94

Daily Verse

His father had never interfered with him by asking,

"Why do you behave as you do?"

1Kings 1:6

Daily Thought

Three monkeys from Japan.

Mizaru: See no evil

Kikazaru: Hear no evil

Iwazaru: Speak no evil

They have a fourth brother,

Shizaru: Do no evil

Do not look at evil,

do not listen to evil,

do not speak evil,

and you will not do evil.

Eat not the bread of him who has an evil eye, neither desire his dainty meats: For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.

--Proverbs 23:6-7

We don't like the fourth brother. We cover our eyes, ears, and mouth not to shut out, but to shut up.

What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas.

Don't ask, don't tell.

Just do it.

Mottos of a modern era.

The problem is, what happens in Vegas gets out.

Blessed is the man you discipline, O LORD,

the man you teach from your law;

you grant him relief from days of trouble.

--Psalm 94:12-13

To God's Glory,

Dave Price

Daily Prayer

Righteous and Loving Father, I know that You are good and You made this world good. When we follow You, we are blessed. Your discipline is good. It comes from Your love, Your desire to see Your children produce a harvest of righteousness and peace.

Father, Your correction is painful, at times, but I am glad for it. It puts me back on the right path. Do not let me become blind and deaf to the consequences of evil, but help me remember the joy of walking with You, so I will always long for it.

Amen

Saving Dave Price - May 28, 2010

Daily Reading

Psalm 111-118

Daily Verse

How can I repay the LORD

for all his goodness to me?

Psalm 116:12

Daily Thought

Saving Private Ryan

Captain John Miller gave his life to save Private James Ryan. Captain Miller whispered his last words to Private Ryan, "Earn this. Earn it."

Fifty years later, James Ryan kneels at the cross above Captain Miller's grave. "Every day I think about what you said to me. I've tried to live my life the best I could. I hope that was enough. I hope that at least in your eyes I've earned what you have done for me."

That's a good movie.

Saving Dave Price

Jesus Christ gave his life to save the world. To save me. I didn't earn it. I haven't earned it. I cannot earn it. Jesus did.

This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe.

--Romans 3:22

Jesus spoke last words to me, to all of us, as well, "Enjoy it."

That's the Good News.

I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.

--John 15:11-13

To God's Glory,

Dave Price

Daily Prayer

My God and Savior, You are good. Your Son even said, "No one is good, but God alone." Certainly not me. Yet, you have given me righteousness. Not mine, but the righteousness of Jesus Christ. What a gift. Thank you God. I don't have to be good enough. I don't have to earn Your salvation. I receive it.

May the Name of Jesus be praised, be honored, be worshiped. My God and Savior. May my life not earn salvation, but point to salvation through Your Son.

Amen

He Is No Fool - May 27, 2010

Daily Reading

1Chronicles 26-29, Psalm 127

Daily Verse

Unless the LORD builds the house,

its builders labor in vain.

Unless the LORD watches over the city,

the watchmen stand guard in vain.

Psalm 127:1

Daily Thought

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy;

"The care of $200 million is enough to kill anyone.

There is no pleasure in it."

--W.H. Vanderbilt

"I have made millions, but they have brought me no happiness."

--John D. Rockefeller

"Millions seldom smile."

--Andrew Carnegie

"I was happier when I was a mechanic."

--Henry Ford

Satan, the thief, steals our life by giving us more and more

I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

--John 10:10

"He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep

to gain that which he cannot lose."

--Jim Elliot

Jesus, the Savior, enlarges our life as we give away more and more.

To God's Glory,

Dave and Debbie Price

Daily Prayer

Our Shepherd, our God, You give us life, keep us, lead us, teach us all things. If only we would listen and learn.

God, when I have done things my way, they have been empty. Even my successes. When I remember that my weakness is where You shine, when I submit to Your guidance, Your lead, when I take all that I have (which You gave me in the first place, by the way) and use it for Your Kingdom, for eternity, I discover the life You intended. Thank You for the joy!

Amen

My Name Is Sam Price - May 26, 2010

Daily Reading

Psalm 131, 138-139, 143-145

Daily Verse

For you created my inmost being;

you knit me together in my mother's womb.

Psalm 139:13

Daily Thought

My name is Sam Price.

When I was 10-months old, I laid on my back and using a spoon, unscrewed the bolts holding the dishwasher together.

At 18 months, all the electricity is off in the house. Two keys are dangling from a wall socket.

When I was two, I wrapped toilet paper around everything in the house. Upstairs and downstairs.

Two and a half, my family was in the living room watching Touched By An Angel. I was in the kitchen pouring Hershey Chocolate Syrup on the floor. Mom always bought the big bottles from Costco.

At three years old, I grabbed a big tube of white cream from mom's vanity, stood in the middle of their bedroom, spun around and squeezed. That stuff goes everywhere!

Later that year, I "borrowed" my sisters paint set and painted a big beautiful rainbow. On the dog.

I praise you, God, because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

Your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

--Psalm 139:14

To God's Glory,

Dave and Debbie Price

Daily Prayer

Heavenly Father, What a fantastic life! You have created the most wonderful world. You made us in Your image, gave us our intellect and emotions and will. You made us creatures who laugh and sing and work and run and play. You gave us the ability to be delighted, and then put a delightful world around us.

But most of all, you put us together. It wasn't good being alone, so you made us male and female. And then little males and females come along, and they grow up slowly and then too fast. What a wonderful life. What a wonderful God.

Amen

I Plant, You Water - May 25, 2010

Daily Reading

1Chronicles 23-25

Daily Verse

When David was old and full of years,

he made his son Solomon king over Israel.

1Chronicles 23:1

Daily Thought

"Now, my son, the LORD be with you, and may you have success and build the house of the LORD your God, as he said you would.

--1Chronicles 22:11

Who is more important: the one who builds the house, or the one who raises up and trains the builders?

Dawson Trotman founded The Navigators.
Richard Halverson was chaplain of the United States Senate
Bill Bright founded Campus Crusade for Christ, wrote The Four Spiritual Laws, and produced The Jesus Film.
Billy Graham, well, you know who he is!

They all went to Sunday School at First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood, California.

Henrietta Mears ran the Sunday School.

What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe-as the Lord has assigned to each his task. I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.
--1Corinthians 3:5-7

To God's Glory,
Dave

Daily Prayer

Heavenly Father, You came into my life and changed me forever. I have been born again, born anew, alive in Jesus Christ. Thank You for the miracle of salvation.

Thank You, as well, for the servants who shared Your good news. For the Backyard Bible Club leader who spent a week each summer on my block. For my Sunday School teachers, for my mentors, for my parents. They brought the news with which You changed my heart. May I be one, as well, who brings the news.

Amen

I Love Ice Cream - May 24, 2010

Daily Reading

Psalm 108-110

Daily Verse

For great is your love, higher than the heavens;

your faithfulness reaches to the skies.

Psalm 108:4

Daily Thought

I love ice cream. It gives me pleasure. I love things that give me pleasure. I don't love spumoni ice cream. My love is conditional. I love ice cream, but only the kind I like.

That's one kind of love. There's another kind.

David said it reaches to the skies. God's love. No conditions.

For example, God hates sin. We sin. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

--Romans 5:8

Fortunately for us, God's love reaches to the earth, too.

To God's Glory,

Dave

Daily Prayer

Amazing God, You deserve the worship of all creation. Yet, so often, I forget. And others choose not to. And still, You love us, die for us, and offer us salvation. We reject Eden and You invite us into Paradise. Truly, You are love.

I am able to love, God, because You first loved me. I pray that my love for the world always and fully reflects Your love for the world.

Amen

Count On God - May 23, 2010

Daily Reading

2Samuel 24, 1Chronicles 21-22, Psalm 30

Daily Verse

O LORD, when you favored me,

you made my mountain stand firm

Psalm 30:7

Daily Thought

David counted his soldiers. He wanted to know how strong he was.

One million one hundred thousand men who could handle a sword. When I felt secure, I said, "I will never be shaken."

--Psalm 30:6

Minus one God. ...but when you hid your face, I was dismayed.

--Psalm 30:7

He was shaken.

If God is for us, who can be against us?

--Romans 8:31

You can count on God, or you can count your soldiers.

To God's Glory,

Dave

Daily Prayer

Almighty God, You are my strength. With you, we are more than conquerors. God, keep me from the temptation to act from my own strength. It makes my head get big. Or I fail. I forget that when I am weak, then I am strong. In my weakness display Your glory.

Amen

Dogs Don't Pray - May 22, 2010

Daily Reading

Psalm 95, 97-99

Daily Verse

Come, let us bow down in worship,

let us kneel before the LORD our Maker.

Psalm 95:6

Daily Thought

The family sits down to dinner. We hold hands, bow, and give thanks.

Lucy, our basset hound, goes to her bowl of food. No pause, no prayer, she dives right in.

I mean, why not, she doesn't know any better.

While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples.

--Matthew 26:26

To God's Glory,

Dave

Daily Prayer

Oh Lord my God, You created everything. I mean everything. Some things I don't understand (mosquitoes), some things I cannot even begin to comprehend (Quantum Physics). The heavens and the earth. They are in Your hand. You made them and you keep them going.

God, it amazes me that You hold this huge universe together, and at the same time, no the details of my life. How dare I not keep You in my thoughts, since You, my Creator, keep me in Your thoughts.

Amen

Steals The Thunder - May 21, 2010

Daily Reading

2Samuel 22-23; Psalm 57

Daily Verse

You save the humble,

but your eyes are on the haughty to bring them low.

2Samuel 22:46

Daily Thought

Nolan Ryan was an incredible pitcher. He let his action speak for itself.

Rickey Henderson was an outstanding base-stealer. Alas, for Rickey, his talent never spoke loudly enough.

On May 1, 1991, Henderson stole his 939th base to pass Lou Brock and become the sport's all-time stolen base leader. After the game, standing beside his friend and mentor Lou Brock, Rickey announced, "Lou Brock was the best base-stealer in his time. But today, I'm the greatest of all time."

Ouch.

On May 1, 1991, at age 44, Nolan Ryan threw his 7th no-hitter. After the game, Nolan Ryan showered and went home.

Rickey was on page 1 of the sports section the next day. Below the fold.

Above the fold, the headline read, "Nolan Ryan Steals The Thunder."

"When someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honor, for a person more distinguished than you may have been invited. If so, the host will say to you, 'Give this man your seat.' Then, humiliated, you will have to take the least important place. But, take the lowest place, so that your host will say to you, 'Friend, move up to a better place.' Then you will be honored in the presence of all your fellow guests. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."

--Luke 14:8-11

To God's Glory,

Dave

Daily Prayer

Almighty God, You are the most holy. You are King of kings and Lord of lords. To You belongs all glory. The sin of the evil one was the attempt to share in Your wonder, Your majesty.

What is amazing, God, is that we do not need to steal Your glory. You have made us co-heirs with Your Son. We have no merit of our own, but because of Your grace, we are children of God. Amazing. And thank You.

Amen

I'm Thirsty - May 20, 2010

Daily Reading

Psalm 5, 38, 41-41

Daily Verse

As the deer pants for streams of water,

so my soul pants for you, O God.

Psalm 42:1

Daily Thought

Jesus lived 40 days in a desert without eating.

At the end of them he was hungry.

--Luke 4:1

The devil offered him bread. Jesus said, "No, if I have to choose, I choose God." Jesus didn't want the devil bringing him bread.

The rich man didn't want God. He had everything he wanted.

He wore purple and fine linen and lived in luxury everyday.

--Luke 16:19

Until he died. Now he's hot.

So he called to Father Abraham, "Have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue."

--Luke 16:24

He still doesn't want God. He wants God to bring him water.

To God's Glory,

Dave

Daily Prayer

My God, You spoke and created all things. You breathed and gave life. Every day is a gift, every breath grace.

In the morning, I rise and give thanks to You and anticipate the day. As the day opens up before me, I will walk with You and You will be my constant companion. Dare I ever live a day without You. You are the air I breathe. That is the longing of my soul. May I make it the reality of my life.

Amen

John 3:16 - May 19, 2010

Daily Reading

2Samuel 19-21

Daily Verse

You have made it clear today

that the commanders and their men

mean nothing to you.

I see that you would be pleased if Absalom

were alive today and all of us were dead.

2Samuel 19:6

Daily Thought

The king covered his face and cried aloud, "O my son Absalom! O Absalom, my son, my son!"

--2Samuel 19:4

David mourns the life and death of his rebellious, disobedient son, scorning the faithful who follow him.

"And a voice came from heaven: "You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased."

--Luke 3:22

God celebrates the life and death of his righteous, obedient Son, saving sinners who crucified Him.

"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."

--John 3:16

To God's Glory,

Dave

Daily Prayer

God, Your salvation is amazing. We are sinners, not even looking to be saved. We are self-seeking people who long to be self-satisfied. But it doesn't work, and we need a Savior.

Your Son did not consider His own position something to cling to, but left His place by Your side and became one of us. To show us who You are. To seek us. To save us.

Thank You.

Amen