I Am The Greatest - August 31, 2010

Daily Reading

Ezekiel 16-17

Daily Verse

All the trees of the field will know that

I the LORD bring down the tall tree and make the low tree grow tall.

I dry up the green tree and make the dry tree flourish.

"'I the LORD have spoken, and I will do it.' "

Ezekiel 17:24

Daily Thought

Rickey Henderson is the best of all time. Just ask him.

May 1, 1991, Rickey Henderson stole base number 939. Standing next to Lou Brock, who only stole 938 bases, Henderson proclaimed, "Lou Brock was the best in his time. But today, I am the best of all time."

The best of all time was headed for the headlines.

Except a pitcher, a quiet man who spoke with his arm, not his mouth, threw a no-hitter that day. Not just any no-hitter. It was #7. Not just any pitcher. It was 44 year old Nolan Ryan.

Headline, May 2, 1991, "Ryan Steals The Thunder."

For a small article about Rickey, look below the fold.

"When someone invites you to a 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, 'Give this man your seat.' Then, humiliated, you will have to take the least important place. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."
--Luke 14:8-9, 11

To God's Glory,
Dave Price

Daily Prayer

My God, may You always receive the glory. In all of creation and in everything I do. Yours is the Name above all names.

What is astounding is I am not only part of Your family, but I am a co-heir with Your Son, Jesus Christ. Not only am I clothed in His righteousness, but I share His eternal treasure. Thank You, Father, because when I make You first, I discover all my dreams and desires are fulfilled. My greatest joy comes in Your glory.

Amen.

A Sinless Society - August 30, 2010

Daily Reading

Ezekiel 13-15

Daily Verse

"Because they lead my people astray,

saying, 'Peace,' when there is no peace,

and because, when a flimsy wall is built,

they cover it with whitewash,

therefore tell those who cover it with whitewash

that it is going to fall."

Ezekiel 13:10-11

Daily Thought

Oxford University Press removed "sin" from its latest edition of the Oxford Junior Dictionary.

"To reflect the fact that Britain is a modern, multicultural, multi-faith society," explained the publisher.

For all except the British have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
--Romans 3:23

To God's Glory,
Dave Price

Daily Prayer

God, I need You. I try (sometimes) to do what is right, but even then, it's just okay. Way too often, I don't even try. I sin, God. I do wrong, and I know it is wrong. No matter how hard I try, I cannot be good enough. Deep down inside, I know what good is. I know You are good, and You made me to be good, but I keep doing things my way instead of Your way. I need a Savior. I need Jesus Christ and His righteousness. I am going to stop trying to be good on my own. You have offered me Your goodness, Your righteousness, through the life, death, and resurrection of Your Son, Jesus Christ, my God and Savior. I put my life, all of my life, in Your hands.

Amen.

Undivided - August 29, 2010

Daily Reading

Ezekiel 9-12

Daily Verse

I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them;

I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh.

Ezekiel 11:19

Daily Thought

Then Peter called to him, "Lord, if it's really you, tell me to come to you, walking on the water."
"Yes, come," Jesus said.
So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus.
--Matthew 14:28-29

"Any occurrence requiring undivided attention will be accompanied by a compelling distraction."
--Hutchinson's Law

But when he saw the strong wind and the waves...
--the next verse

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus,

the author and perfecter of our faith.

Hebrews 12:2

To God's Glory,
Dave Price

Daily Prayer

Lord God, You accomplished salvation, because You were focused on the joy of eternity. You endured the cross because of You loved me. When You call me to love You with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength, You have already shown a love that strong, that complete for me.

God, I desire to live a life completely sacrificed to Your glory. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit, that my heart will always belong to You.

Amen.

Silly Monkey - August 28, 2010

Daily Reading

Ezekiel 5-8

Daily Verse

They were proud of their beautiful jewelry

and used it to make their detestable idols and vile images.

Therefore I will turn these into an unclean thing for them.

Ezekiel 7:20

Daily Thought

To catch a monkey, find a jar with a small opening and put fruit in the jar. The monkey reaches in and grabs the fruit, but a fist clutching fruit will not fit through the opening. He is trapped.

All the monkey has to do is let go of the fruit, and he will be free.

"One thing you lack," Jesus said. "Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."
At this the man's face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.
--Mark 10:21-22

Silly monkey.

To God's Glory,
Dave Price

Daily Prayer

My God, Maker of the heavens and the earth, Creator of all things, Owner of cattle on a thousand hills. I've always liked that last one. Not a thousand cows. A thousand hills of cows. I clutch trinkets and miss your treasures.

The greatest of all treasures, my God, is knowing You. May I cast aside all that entangles me, no matter how much it delights, if it stands in the way of knowing You. You, God, are my treasure.

Amen.

He Was A Very Very Very Good Man - August 27, 2010

Daily Reading

Ezekiel 1-4

Daily Verse

The word of the LORD came to me,

"When I say to a wicked man, 'You will surely die,'

and you do not warn him or speak out to dissuade him from his evil ways

in order to save his life, that wicked man will die for his sin,

and I will hold you accountable for his blood."

Ezekiel 3:18

Daily Thought

Penn Jillette does not believe he needs saving. He is an atheist. He believes there is no God. He believes there is no everlasting life.

A man approached Penn Jillette with a gift. "I brought this for you." A Bible. The man believed Penn Jillette needs saving.

I know what Penn Jillette thinks about the Bible. I know what he thinks about God. I know what he thinks about heaven and hell and salvation.

I knew what he would think about this man.

"He was a very very very good man." I was wrong.

"I don't respect people who don't proselytize," reasoned Jillette. "How much do you have to hate somebody to believe that everlasting life is possible and not tell them about it?"

Good question.

To God's Glory,
Dave Price

Daily Prayer

Everlasting God, out of love You created us. You created us in Your image and You created us good. I can only imagine what it was like to know You back then. No sin, no separation, no need of a Savior. I could see You clearly and worship You fully.

No I've sinned, I am separated, and I truly need a Savior. And you delivered. You gave Your Son and brought me back close to You with the hope of eternity in Your presence. You sent Your Son for me, and He came. You now send me to others. I will go.

Amen.

Keeps Going - August 26, 2010

Daily Reading

Lamentations 3:37-5:22

Daily Verse

You, O LORD, reign forever;

your throne endures from generation to generation.

Lamentations 5:19

Daily Thought

President of the United States                           King of Kings

George Washington, 1789-97                             God

John Adams, 1797-1801

Thomas Jefferson, 1801-9

James Madison, 1809-17

James Monroe, 1817-25

John Quincy Adams, 1825-29

Andrew Jackson, 1829-37

Martin Van Buren, 1837-41

William Henry Harrison, 1841

John Tyler, 1841-45

James Knox Polk, 1845-49

Zachary Taylor, 1849-50

Millard Fillmore, 1850-53

Franklin Pierce, 1853-57

James Buchanan, 1857-61

Abraham Lincoln, 1861-65

Andrew Johnson, 1865-69

Ulysses S. Grant, 1869-77

Rutherford B. Hayes, 1877-81

James Garfield, 1881

Chester Arthur, 1881-85

Grover Cleveland, 1885-89

Benjamin Harrison, 1889-93

Grover Cleveland, 1893-97

William McKinley, 1897-1901

Theodore Roosevelt, 1901-9

William Howard Taft, 1909-13

Woodrow Wilson, 1913-21

Warren Harding, 1921-23

Calvin Coolidge, 1923-29

Herbert Hoover, 1929-33

Franklin D. Roosevelt, 1933-45

Harry Truman, 1945-53

Dwight D. Eisenhower, 1953-61

John F. Kennedy, 1961-63

Lyndon B. Johnson, 1963-69

Richard Nixon, 1969-74

Gerald Ford Jr , 1974-77

Jimmy Carter, 1977-81

Ronald Reagan, 1981-89

George H. W. Bush, 1989-1993

Bill Clinton, 1993- 2001

George W. Bush, 2001-2009

Barack Obama, 2009-present

To God's Glory,

Dave Price

Daily Prayer

Mighty God, I return to You each morning and anticipate the day, each evening and give thanks. You are always there, always sovereign, always involved, always in love. We have kings in this world, and You are their King. You preside above and over our presidents. You are Lord, the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. Yet, you never tire, never grow weary.

I love being part of Your story, God. Thank You for writing me in, for giving me my life and my life's purpose. I also love the end of the story, because the end is a new beginning. Eternity. And You, as always, are on the throne.

Amen.

Do It Again - August 25, 2010

Daily Reading

Lamentations 1:1-3:36

Daily Verse

The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him,

to the one who seeks him;

Lamentations 3:25

Daily Thought

A child kicks his legs rhythmically through excess, not absence, of life. They always say, "Do it again"; and the grown-up person does it again until he is nearly dead. For grown-up people are not strong enough to exult in monotony. But perhaps God is strong enough to exult in monotony.

The faithful love of the Lord never ends!

His mercies never cease.

Great is his faithfulness;

his mercies begin afresh each morning.

Lamentation 3:22-23

It is possible that God says every morning, "Do it again" to the sun; and every evening, "Do it again" to the moon. It may not be automatic necessity that makes all daisies alike; it may be that God makes every daisy separately, but has never got tired of making them. It may be that He has the eternal appetite of infancy; for we have sinned and grown old, and our Father is younger than we.
--G.K. Chesterton, Orthodoxy

To God's Glory,
Dave Price

Daily Prayer

Heavenly Father, You delight in the work of Your creation. With glee, You tossed the stars in the sky, positioned the sun and the moon, and exclaimed, "This is good!"

My God smiles. And He smiles upon me. May I wake each day with joyful anticipation, because this is a day my Lord has made.

Amen.

Baseball Cards And Bicycles - August 24, 2010

Daily Reading

Jeremiah 51-52

Daily Verse

Every man is senseless and without knowledge;

every goldsmith is shamed by his idols.

His images are a fraud;

they have no breath in them.

Jeremiah 51:17

Daily Thought

We were just kids. We didn't know any better.

We liked the clicking sound a baseball card made when you clothes-pinned it to the spokes on your bicycle. Didn't matter what card. Mickey Mantle made the same noise as Yogi Berra.

1909 Honus Wagner, 2B Pittsburgh Pirates
sold for $2,800,000

1914 Babe Ruth, Pitcher Baltimore News
$517,000

1952 Mickey Mantle, OF New York Yankees
$282,000

We weren't smart enough to know the value of a 2"x3" piece of cardboard.

To God's Glory,
Dave Price

Daily Prayer

Most Wonderful God, I worship You. The galaxies, the stars, the moon and sun, planet earth, oceans, animals, and me. You created it all, simply by Your Word. You spoke and it was, and it was good.

There are times, God, when I value things more than the Creator of everything. When creation steals more of my attention than the Creator. Lord, may I never lose sight of You, Your glory, Your wisdom. May I always be foolish enough to disdain the wisdom and the wealth of this world, and find my full value in You.

Amen.

Flip A Coin - August 23, 2010

Daily Reading

Jeremiah 49-50

Daily Verse

My people have been lost sheep;

their shepherds have led them astray

and caused them to roam on the mountains.

They wandered over mountain and hill

and forgot their own resting place.

Jeremiah 50:6

Daily Thought

It was 1976 and gas was cheap (60 cents a gallon). We filled half a tank with a dime to spare. Heads right, tails left, and we kept flipping the dime.

Four hours later we were in the middle of nowhere with no gas and no idea how to get home.

But we had a dime, and phone calls were a dime in 1976. "Hello, Dad, uh... we could use some help."

"Lord, we don't know the way."
Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."
--John 14:5-6

To God's Glory,
Dave Price

Daily Prayer

Lord God, What a wonderful Savior. You have promised to prepare a place for me. A mansion. (Not that I deserve it.) I have put my trust in You, mostly because I found I couldn't trust myself. I discovered You, or better, You found me, and revealed Yourself to me with Your love. It is Your love that draws me to You and invites me home.

Thank You, God, for seeking and saving the lost. Me.

Amen.

Out Of The Frying Pan, Into The Fire - August 22, 2010

Daily Reading

Jeremiah 46-48

Daily Verse

"On all the roofs in Moab

and in the public squares

there is nothing but mourning,

for I have broken Moab

like a jar that no one wants,"

declares the LORD.

Jeremiah 48:38

Daily Thought

"Those who flee in terror will fall into a trap,

and those who escape the trap will step into a snare.
I will see to it that you do not get away,
for the time of your judgment has come,"
says the Lord.
--Jeremiah 48:44

Don't mess with God.

To God's Glory,
Dave Price

Daily Prayer

Righteous God of Justice, You are holy. Thank You for salvation, because I deserve Your wrath. My righteousness does not measure up - it is as filthy rags. And my unrighteousness, well, I'm good at that. You have covered my sin by the blood of Your Son. There is, therefore, now no condemnation because the righteousness of Your Son is now mine. Praise God.

Amen.

Step Onto The Ledge - August 21, 2010

Daily Reading

Jeremiah 41-45

Daily Verse

Whether it is favorable or unfavorable,

we will obey the LORD our God,

to whom we are sending you,

so that it will go well with us,

for we will obey the LORD our God.

Jeremiah 42:6

Daily Thought

Take the elevator up. Willis Tower, Chicago, 103rd floor. Step onto the Ledge. Look down.

You do not see the glass floor you are standing on. You see Wacker Drive, 1,353 feet below. Straight down.

Fear. Falling and splatting.

Facts. Each glass panel is an inch and a half thick, weighs 1,500 lbs, and will support 5 tons. You can safely park 3 cars in the box.

Faith. Being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.
--Hebrews 11:1

Do not be afraid of the king of Babylon, whom you now fear. Do not be afraid of him, declares the LORD, for I am with you and will save you and deliver you from his hands.
--Jeremiah 42:11

To God's Glory,
Dave Price

Daily Prayer

Almighty God, You are forever faithful and true. I place my trust in You because You are the Rock, the Solid Foundation on which to build my life.

Sometimes God I am tempted to trust in things I can hold. I would rather trust in He who holds me. You are my God. I will place my faith in the One who is always faithful.

Amen.

Fight On For Ol' SC - August 20, 2010

Daily Reading

Habakkuk 1-3

Daily Verse

Woe to him who builds his realm by unjust gain

to set his nest on high,

to escape the clutches of ruin!

You have plotted the ruin of many peoples,

shaming your own house and forfeiting your life.

The stones of the wall will cry out,

and the beams of the woodwork will echo it.

Habakkuk 2:9-11

Daily Thought

A coach and a running back. They were together at the University of Southern California.

They won 34 consecutive games, two National Championships, and a Heisman Trophy.

But that is not their legacy. They cheated.

On June 10, 2010, the NCAA announced major sanctions against the Trojans.

Stripped of all victories in games featuring the running back, including a national championship. All titles won must be vacated. And take down the banners and trophies.

This is their legacy.

"Woe to him who builds his realm by unjust gain

to set his nest on high,

to escape the clutches of ruin!"

Habakkuk 2:9

To God's Glory,
Dave Price

Daily Prayer

My God, Yours is the Name above all names. There is authority in Your Name, and in Your Name I find life. Your Name is holy and good, righteous and powerful.

May I never take Your Name in vain, make light of it, or empty it of its glory. I wear the Name of Your Son, Jesus Christ, and in all I do, may He receive the glory and the praise.

Amen.

Who's In Charge? - August 19, 2010

Daily Reading

2Kings 24-25, 2Chronicles 36

Daily Verse

So Judah went into captivity, away from her land.

2Kings 25:21

Daily Thought

"I'm the King of the World."
--Jack Dawson, Titanic

At 20, he was partying. "I can handle my liquor." I am the King of my world!

At 40, Step 1 of 12, "I admit I am powerless over my addiction - that my life has become unmanageable."

You are not king. Jack Dawson wasn't either. The Titanic sunk.

"You are a king, then!" said Pilate.
Jesus answered, "You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me."
--John 18:37

To God's Glory,
Dave Price

Daily Prayer

Sovereign God, You are King. I have discovered that all sin leads to slavery. When I lie, I may get a step ahead, but I can never go back. I'm enslaved to the lie. When I cheat, I'm a slave, as well. When I envy and chase after other people's dreams, I end up with debts I cannot cover and bills I cannot pay. All sin leads to slavery.

I would rather call You Master, because Your righteousness leads to life. Sin just kills me. You are my King, my God, my Savior, my Lord.

Amen.

In God We Trust - August 18, 2010

Daily Reading

Jeremiah 38-40, Psalm 74, 79

Daily Verse

They burned your sanctuary to the ground;

they defiled the dwelling place of your Name.

Psalm 74:7

Daily Thought

They said in their hearts, "We will crush them completely!" They burned every place where God was worshiped in the land.
--Psalm 74:8

They wanted to remove God from the land of His people.

Jesus declared, "A time is coming and has now come when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. True worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth."
--John 4:21-23

It didn't work, because God doesn't live in the land of His people.

He lives in the heart of His people.

To God's Glory,
Dave Price

Daily Prayer

My Savior, You stand at the door of Your church, knocking. Waiting. Waiting to be invited in. To be welcomed. To be placed on the throne of our lives. How can we possibly keep You waiting. God, please enter our lives, our hearts, our world, and take over. Take command. Be my Lord and my Savior. I will follow You.

God, I am a citizen of Your Kingdom. I am Your ambassador of grace, taking Your Good News to a world deeply in need of good news. May my words and my life loudly proclaim the Name of Jesus Christ.

Amen.

Auto Repair For Dummies - August 17, 2010

Daily Reading

Jeremiah 35-37

Daily Verse

"Therefore, this is what the LORD God Almighty,

the God of Israel, says:

'Listen! I am going to bring on Judah

and on everyone living in Jerusalem

every disaster I pronounced against them.

I spoke to them, but they did not listen;

I called to them, but they did not answer.'"

Jeremiah 35:17

Daily Thought

There was a loud knock in his engine.

His wife said, "You should do something about that sound."

He nodded, "You're right," and turned up the radio.

For this people's heart has become calloused;
they hardly hear with their ears,
and they have closed their eyes.
Otherwise they might see with their eyes,
hear with their ears,
understand with their hearts
and turn, and I would heal them.'
--Matthew 13:15

To God's Glory,
Dave Price

Daily Prayer

Heavenly Father, Your Word is life itself. It lights the path in front of me and leads me in the way everlasting. It is good, and it is good for me. I will read it and hear it, listen to it and follow it. I will put it in my heart and meditate on it.

There are other words, other advisers, calling out to me, distracting me from Your Word and Your way. What they offer sounds fun and free, worldly and wonderful. May I choose what is heavenly and good, what comes from faith and gives hope. May I choose Your joy and Your love. May I choose You.

Amen.

Wookiees and Tall Blue People - August 16, 2010

Daily Reading

Jeremiah 32-34

Daily Verse

"I am the LORD, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?"

Jeremiah 32:27

Daily Thought

Creating a new world.

Star Wars, took 28 years, spent $400 million, and we were introduced to R2-D2, C-3PO, Yoda, and Wookiees.

Avatar, 15 years, $300 million, and we got tall blue people.

And God said, "Let there be...," and there was...
--Genesis 1:3

"Ah, Sovereign LORD, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you."
--Jeremiah 32:17

To God's Glory,
Dave Price

Daily Prayer

My God, Creator of all, Creator of me, You and You alone are worthy of my worship and devotion. Everything I see is awesome. I know I use that word a lot, but it truly applies to Your handiwork. I am awe-struck at the majesty, the intricacy, the wisdom, the beauty.

I have concerns, needs, issues, problems in my life. We all do. No wonder we pray to You. You have created a grand universe, and paid attention to the tiniest details. I can trust you with anything, big or small.

Amen.