Stop It! - December 19, 2010

Daily Reading

Titus 1-3

Daily Verse

It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions,

and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age.

Titus 2:12

Daily Thought

Bob Newhart plays the therapist,
Dr. Switzer.
Katherine plays... Katherine.

DR. SWITZER: "I charge $5 for the first five minutes. And then absolutely nothing after that. How does that sound?"

KATHERINE: "That sounds great. Too good to be true, as a matter of fact."

DR. SWITZER: "I can almost guarantee you that our session won't last the full five minutes."

So, she explained her problems.

DR. SWITZER: "I'm going to say two words to you right now. I want you to listen to them very carefully and then I want you to take them out of the office with you and incorporate them into your life. You ready?"

She nodded.

DR. SWITZER: "Stop It!"

KATHERINE: "Stop It?"

DR. SWITZER: "S. T. O. P. New word. I. T. Stop It!"

KATHERINE: "So, what are you saying?"

DR. SWITZER: "You know, it's funny, I say two simple words and I cannot tell you the amount of people who say exactly the same thing you are saying. This is not Yiddish, Katherine. This is English. Stop It."

KATHERINE: "So, I should just stop it?"

"Then neither do I condemn you," declared Jesus. "Go and sin no more."
~John 8:11

To God's Glory,
Dave Price

(If you'd like to see the skit, click here)

Daily Prayer

Father God, it is so clear what is good and what is evil. Our eyes were open when we ate the fruit in the garden, and we knew that we had done wrong. I need to stop, but I can't. Or won't. I not only sin, but I like my sin. God, change me from the inside out.

Thank You for salvation through the blood of Jesus Christ. I am made righteous. Thank You, as well, for the power of the Holy Spirit who lives in me. May I always keep in step with Your Spirit. May I stop sinning and walk rightly in this world.

Amen

I Hate Spiders - December 5, 2010

Daily Reading

2Corinthians 5-9

Daily Verse

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation;

the old has gone, the new has come!

2Corinthians 5:17

Daily Thought

She came with her mom to the Wednesday night prayer meeting. Every week.

She was twelve, the youngest in the room, but she liked to pray and she liked the prayers of the people who came.

Except one man. He prayed long every week, and every week finished with, "And now, Lord, clean all the cobwebs out of our lives."

At long last, she could take no more. The man, as always, prayed what he always prayed.

But before he said "Amen," she jumped to her feet and shouted, "Don't do it, Lord! Kill the spider!"

Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to the earthly nature.
~Colossians 3:5

To God's Glory,
Dave Price

Daily Prayer

Heavenly Father, You are holy and good. Your Son has taken the penalty of my sin and given me his righteousness. Thank You so much!

May I rid myself of the desires, the thoughts, the habits of old. May I put them to death. Help me kill them. I don't want to think and act the way I used to, but rather, to live the life You created me to live. A life of service and love, of goodness and peace, that gives You glory and pleasure.

Amen

Jesus Knows Love - November 30, 2010

Daily Reading

1Corinthians 5-8

Daily Verse

Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.

1Corinthians 8:1

Daily Thought

"If this man were a prophet, he would know...

It was a small town. Everyone knew!

"...who is touching him and what kind of woman she is - that she is a sinner."
~Luke 7:39

Knowledge puffs up.

Jesus said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? Her many sins...

Jesus knew.

"...have been forgiven - for she loved much."
~Luke 7:44, 47

Love builds up.

God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
~Romans 5:8

To God's Glory,
Dave Price

Daily Prayer

My God, You saved me. Not because I was good. Not because I was worth saving. You saved me, because You loved me. What an amazing love, too, because I did not love You. I was not good, nor was I godly, and yet You went to death for my life. Now I am good because of Your goodness, and I am godly because You are God, my Lord and Savior.

May I also love, because You are love.

Amen

Black And White - October 13, 2010

Daily Reading

Matthew 12:22-50, Luke 11

Daily Verse

Therefore, if your whole body is full of light,

and no part of it dark,

it will be completely lighted,

as when the light of a lamp shines on you.

Luke 11:36

Daily Thought

A display at the high school heath fair.

Two lungs.

One, black as tar, from a 55-year old man who died because he was a bad smoker.

One, healthy and pink, from a 55-year old man who died because he was a bad driver. But never smoked.

The message: Stop Smoking.

Two souls.

One dark with bitterness and selfishness, foolishness and debauchery.

One bright with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

Come back to your senses as you ought, and stop sinning.
~1Corinthians 15:34

To God's Glory,
Dave Price

Daily Prayer

God, You said, "Let there be light," and there was light, before there were stars and sun and moon. And it was good. You are forever the light of the world.

But people love darkness instead. God, put in our hearts the desire for whatever is true and noble and right and pure and lovely and admirable and excellent and praiseworthy. May we be people who hunger and thirst for righteousness. May we be holy. may our light shine so that You are praised. May people see the light, and love the light rather than the darkness.

Amen.

Bad Company - September 29, 2010

Daily Reading

Nehemiah 11-13, Psalm 126

Daily Verse

Was it not because of marriages like these

that Solomon king of Israel sinned?

Among the many nations there was no king like him.

He was loved by his God, and God made him king over all Israel,

but even he was led into sin by foreign women.

Nehemiah 13:26

Daily Thought

I dropped my ice cream cone upside-down onto the dirt. It ruined my ice cream.

Do not be misled: "Bad company corrupts good character."
~1Corinthians 15:33

Didn't bother the dirt at all.

To God's Glory,
Dave Price

Daily Prayer

Holy God, I love Your Word. Everything in it tells me about life, how it should be lived and Who it should be lived for. It displays Your goodness, Your righteousness, Your holiness. Your grace and mercy. Your love.

God, I commit myself to You. Set me apart from the sin around me. Keep me good, keep me righteous, keep me holy by Your Word. Forgive me when I stray, and lead me back to the right path.

Amen.

You Forgot The Candlesticks - September 1, 2010

Daily Reading

Ezekiel 18-19

Daily Verse

"Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked?"

declares the Sovereign LORD.

"Rather, am I not pleased when they turn from their ways and live?"

Ezekiel 18:23

Daily Thought

Jean Valjean took shelter in the Bishop's home. He also took the silver.

"He claimed that you gave it to him," mocked the Constable.

"Yes, of course I gave him the silverware," replied the Bishop. "Thank you for bringing him back. Release him."

"You forgot the candlesticks, Jean Valjean. They are worth 2,000 francs. Why did you leave them?"
--Victor Hugo's Les Miserables

Do you think lightly of the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God's kindness leads you toward repentance?
--Romans 2:4

The Bishop glared with terrifying love, "Jean Valjean, you no longer belong to evil. With this silver I've bought your soul. I've ransomed you from fear and hatred. Now I give you back to God."

You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.
--1Corinthians 6:19-20

To God's Glory,
Dave Price

Daily Prayer

My Lord, my God, You have shown a love unimaginable. You bought me with Your love, a love that sacrificed what is most precious to You. You made Your Son sin. Not sin of His own doing, but my sin and the world's sin. He bore it all, sin and the just consequence. He died, separated and forsaken by You, because You cannot look upon sin. But sin could not hold Him, and He rose again, the first of more to come, of which I am one.

I am Yours, God, bought fully by the blood of Your Son, my Savior, Jesus Christ. I am, therefore, a living sacrifice to You, showing the world Your good, pleasing and perfect will.

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.

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.

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.

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.

When Nobody Is Around - August 13, 2010

Daily Reading

Jeremiah 23-25

Daily Verse

Can anyone hide in secret places

so that I cannot see him?"

declares the LORD.

"Do not I fill heaven and earth?"

declares the LORD.

Jeremiah 23:24

Daily Thought

O LORD, you have searched me and you know me.
You know when I sit and when I rise;
you perceive my thoughts from afar.
You discern my going out and my lying down;
you are familiar with all my ways.
Before a word is on my tongue
you know it completely, O LORD.
--Psalm 139:1-4

Okay, I admit it. When no one's with me, I sing in the car. You should hear me!

Well, actually, you shouldn't.

When no one's around, I stand in front of a mirror, swinging an imaginary bat. Two outs, bottom of the ninth. You know what happens next. You've done it, too.

When I'm all by myself, I admit, I do some pretty silly things.

But I'm not admitting everything, am I?

Search me, O God, and know my heart;
test me and know my thoughts.
See if there is any wicked way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting.
--Psalm 139:23-24

To God's Glory,
Dave Price

Daily Prayer

Saving God, You know everything there is to know about me. You know what I do before I do it because You know what I'm thinking before it enters my mind. You know me that well. When I think about what You know, and then picture the cross with Your Son hanging on it because of all those things You know about me, I am silent and I am so thankful. Even while I, and everyone else, sin, when we all do what is wicked, You continue to love me, to love us, and to humbly sacrifice Yourself for our sake.

And there are some who dare to call You an unloving God! You died for that sin, as well.

My God, you are love.

Amen.

Just A Flesh Wound - August 8, 2010

Daily Reading

Jeremiah 4-6

Daily Verse

They dress the wound of my people

as though it were not serious.

'Peace, peace,' they say,

when there is no peace.

Jeremiah 6:14

Daily Thought

"'Tis but a scratch," said the Black Knight.
"A scratch? Your arms off," exclaimed King Arthur.
"No it isn't," replied the Black Knight.
"Well, what's that then?" pointing at a detached arm.
"I've had worse."
"You lie!"
"C'mon you pansy."
"You've got no arms left."
"Just a flesh wound."
--Monty Python and the Holy Grail

When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and 'sinners'?" On hearing this, Jesus said, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick."
--Matthew 9:11-12

To God's Glory,
Dave Price

Daily Prayer

My Savior, my God, You were pierced for my transgressions, crushed for my iniquities. My sins were mortal, but Your grace and Your righteousness became mine. You took the punishment I deserved and brought me peace. By your wounds, my wounds were healed.

Thank You, Lord. I needed a Savior.

Amen.

Forbid It and I Will Want It More - July 8, 2010

Daily Reading

2Kings 15, 2Chronicles 26

Daily Verse

But after Uzziah became powerful,

his pride led to his downfall.

He was unfaithful to the LORD his God,

and entered the temple of the LORD

to burn incense on the altar of incense.

2Chronicles 26:16

Daily Thought

Kings come from any tribe, except the tribe of Levi.

Priests only come from the tribe of Levi. Levites cannot be kings.

Therefore, no one can be a king and also be a priest.

Uzziah was sixteen years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem fifty-two years. As long as he sought the LORD, God gave him success.
2Chronicles 26:3, 5

Lots of success.

His fame spread far and wide, because he had become very powerful.
--2Chronicles 26:15

There was nothing Uzziah could not do. Well, almost nothing.

But after Uzziah became powerful, he entered the temple of the LORD to burn incense on the altar of incense.
--2Chronicles 26:16

Only priests get to do that. Not kings.

The forbidden fruit. God said, "You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil
Genesis 2:16-17

A surefire way to get me to do something is to forbid it.

To God's Glory,
Dave Price

Daily Prayer

My God, You have created such an incredible world. It displays Your handiwork, Your wisdom, Your majesty. And You placed us in this world and told us to take charge of it. You are the giver of all good things. And yet, because of pride, because of my love of my self, I delight in doing things myself, apart from You.

God, protect me from my pride. My desire leads to my destruction. Pursuing Your delights leads to an abundant life, overflowing with goodness. May I always find satisfaction in what is good.

Amen

Except For Adultery And Murder - June 26, 2010

Daily Reading

1Kings 15:25-16:34, 2Chronicles 17

Daily Verse

The LORD was with Jehoshaphat because in his early years

he walked in the ways his father David had followed.

2Chronicles 17:3

Daily Thought

For David had done what was right in the eyes of the LORD
...except in the case of Uriah the Hittite.
--1Kings 15:5

I remember Uriah. David had sex with Uriah's wife, then David murdered Uriah.

For David had done what was right in the eyes of the LORD
...except for that time he committed adultery and murder.

What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?
--Romans 7:24

Too big to be covered up by murder,
David's sin could only be covered by grace.

Amazing grace
How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me.
--John Newton (former slave-ship captain)

David's sin was big. God's grace is bigger. You can't sin too big for God's grace.

To God's Glory,
Dave Price

P.S., Don't try.

Daily Prayer

My God, Blessed is he

whose transgressions are forgiven,
whose sins are covered.
Blessed is the one
whose sin the LORD does not count against him
and in whose spirit is no deceit.

Thank You, God, for Your grace.

Amen