Daily Scripture June 30, 2013

2 Corinthians 12:9 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.

Daily Scripture June 29, 2013

Mark 12:28-33 28 One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?” 29 “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ 31 The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” 32 “Well said, teacher,” the man replied. “You are right in saying that God is one and there is no other but him. 33 To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.”

Daily Scripture June 28, 2013

Matthew 28:16-20 16 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Daily Scripture June 27, 2013

Mark 10:41-45 41 When the ten heard about this, they became indignant with James and John. 42 Jesus called them together and said, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. 43 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. 45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Daily Scripture June 26, 2013

Mark 10:35-40 35 Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. “Teacher,” they said, “we want you to do for us whatever we ask.” 36 “What do you want me to do for you?” he asked. 37 They replied, “Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory.” 38 “You don’t know what you are asking,” Jesus said. “Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?” 39 “We can,” they answered. Jesus said to them, “You will drink the cup I drink and be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with, 40 but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared.”

How Do You Keep Your Connections Vital?

by Sheila Alishouse, Traffick Stop traffickstop1@gmail.com After a full morning of preaching on June 23, I attended the Freedom Connect 2013 Conference at BUMC. The first speaker alone gave me much to consider! Kevin Potter, spiritual director for Oasis USA, helps communities become “Traffick-Free.” In his presentation, he explained that “Traffick-Free Communities” are built through deep connections among their residents. The more caring relationships people have, the less likely it is they can be exploited. Traffick-Free Communities are built through warm neighbors, deep friendships, and grassroots networking. When community relationships become strong, a city gets known by traffickers as too “hot” to exploit. Kevin’s observations ring true to me. Most everyone I’ve counseled with serious dilemmas or problems experienced isolation before those issues developed. Playing catch-up by trying to develop a support system after you are struggling is much more difficult than keeping your connections vital when things are going well. At every Impact Class, we encourage our new members to “keep your connections vital.” Make daily time for God, develop strong friendships in the church, join a small group, and work with others in mission. And if you already have a strong support system, reach out to people around you who need a little extra care. So many of you do a great job of nurturing your relationships and connections. I think of Betty and Lloyd Schiel, who have turned their neighbors into dear friends. They have helped many people through times of grief with their kind and loving presence. Because Betty and Lloyd reached out to them, some of their neighbors are now BUMC members engaging in their own ministries of care and connection. I thank all of you who are nurturing friendships with your neighbors and coworkers – it’s a great gift. Loving your neighbor really does change lives. If Kevin Potter is right, relationships are the glue that protect us and make our communities strong enough to resist outside attack. Every week, we pray to God, “Lead us not into temptation, and deliver us from evil.” Keeping our connections vital is how we can cooperate with God in this protective process. Are you interested in helping to make our community “Traffick-Free”? If you are, let’s continue the discussion. This might be a good next step to explore with our Traffick Stop Team. The connections which prevent trafficking will help us all! -- Thomas Cross

Daily Scripture June 25, 2013

Psalm 110:1-4 The Lord says to my lord: “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.” 2 The Lord will extend your mighty scepter from Zion, saying, “Rule in the midst of your enemies!” 3 Your troops will be willing on your day of battle. Arrayed in holy splendor, your young men will come to you like dew from the morning’s womb. 4 The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind: “You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.”

Daily Scripture June 24, 2013

2 Peter 3:8-9 8 But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. 9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

Daily Scripture June 23, 2013

Isaiah 40:3-5 3 A voice of one calling: “In the wilderness prepare the way for the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. 4 Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain. 5 And the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all people will see it together. For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”

Daily Scripture June 22, 2013

Psalm 5:5-8 The arrogant cannot stand in your presence. You hate all who do wrong; 6 you destroy those who tell lies. The bloodthirsty and deceitful you, Lord, detest. 7 But I, by your great love, can come into your house; in reverence I bow down toward your holy temple. 8 Lead me, Lord, in your righteousness because of my enemies— make your way straight before me.

Daily Scripture June 21, 2013

Psalm 5:1-4 Listen to my words, Lord, consider my lament. 2 Hear my cry for help, my King and my God, for to you I pray. 3 In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly. 4 For you are not a God who is pleased with wickedness; with you, evil people are not welcome

Daily Scripture June 20, 2013

Acts 1:6-9 6 Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” 9 After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.

Daily Scripture June 19, 2013

Acts 1:1-5 In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach 2 until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. 3 After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. 4 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5 For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”

Daily Scripture June 18, 2013

Proverbs 3:8-12 This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones. 9 Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; 10 then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine. 11 My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline, and do not resent his rebuke, 12 because the Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in.

Daily Scripture June 17, 2013

Proverbs 3:5-7 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. 7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil.

Daily Scripture June 16, 2013

Proverbs 3:1-4 My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart, 2 for they will prolong your life many years and bring you peace and prosperity. 3 Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. 4 Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man.

Daily Scripture June 15, 2013

John 14:25-27 25 “I have spoken these things to you while I am with you. 26 The Companion, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I told you. 27 “Peace I leave with you. My peace I give you. I give to you not as the world gives. Don’t be troubled or afraid.

Daily Scripture June 14, 2013

Psalm 146:8-10 The Lord: who makes the blind see. The Lord: who straightens up those who are bent low. The Lord: who loves the righteous. 9 The Lord: who protects immigrants, who helps orphans and widows, but who makes the way of the wicked twist and turn! 10 The Lord will rule forever! Zion, your God will rule from one generation to the next! Praise the Lord!

Daily Scripture June 13, 2013

Psalm 146:5-7 The person whose help is the God of Jacob— the person whose hope rests on the Lord their God— is truly happy! 6 God: the maker of heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, God: who is faithful forever, 7 who gives justice to people who are oppressed, who gives bread to people who are starving! The Lord: who frees prisoners.

Daily Scripture June 12, 2013

Psalm 146:1-4 Praise the Lord! Let my whole being praise the Lord! 2 I will praise the Lord with all my life; I will sing praises to my God as long as I live. 3 Don’t trust leaders; don’t trust any human beings— there’s no saving help with them! 4 Their breath leaves them, then they go back to the ground. On that very same day, their plans die too.

Daily Scripture June 11, 2013

1 Kings 17:14-16 14 This is what Israel’s God, the Lord, says: The jar of flour won’t decrease and the bottle of oil won’t run out until the day the Lord sends rain on the earth.” 15 The widow went and did what Elijah said. So the widow, Elijah, and the widow’s household ate for many days. 16 The jar of flour didn’t decrease nor did the bottle of oil run out, just as the Lord spoke through Elijah.

Daily Scripture June 10, 2013

1 Kings 17:12-13 12 “As surely as the Lord your God lives,” she replied, “I don’t have any food; only a handful of flour in a jar and a bit of oil in a bottle. Look at me. I’m collecting two sticks so that I can make some food for myself and my son. We’ll eat the last of the food and then die.” 13 Elijah said to her, “Don’t be afraid! Go and do what you said. Only make a little loaf of bread for me first. Then bring it to me. You can make something for yourself and your son after that.

Daily Scripture June 9, 2013

1 Kings 17:8-11 8 The Lord’s word came to Elijah: 9 Get up and go to Zarephath near Sidon and stay there. I have ordered a widow there to take care of you. 10 Elijah left and went to Zarephath. As he came to the town gate, he saw a widow collecting sticks. He called out to her, “Please get a little water for me in this cup so I can drink.” 11 She went to get some water. He then said to her, “Please get me a piece of bread.”

Daily Scipture June 8, 2013

Psalm 96:9-12 Bow down to the Lord in his holy splendor! Tremble before him, all the earth! 10 Tell the nations, “The Lord rules! Yes, he set the world firmly in place;[a] it won’t be shaken. He will judge all people fairly.” 11 Let heaven celebrate! Let the earth rejoice! Let the sea and everything in it roar! 12 Let the countryside and everything in it celebrate! Then all the trees of the forest too will shout out joyfully

Daily Scripture June 7, 2013

Psalm 96:6-8 Greatness and grandeur are in front of him; strength and beauty are in his sanctuary. 7 Give to the Lord, all families of the nations— give to the Lord glory and power! 8 Give to the Lord the glory due his name! Bring gifts! Enter his courtyards!

Daily Scripture June 6, 2013

Psalm 96:1-5 Sing to the Lord a new song! Sing to the Lord, all the earth! 2 Sing to the Lord! Bless his name! Share the news of his saving work every single day! 3 Declare God’s glory among the nations; declare his wondrous works among all people 4 because the Lord is great and so worthy of praise. He is awesome beyond all other gods 5 because all the gods of the nations are just idols, but it is the Lord who created heaven!

Daily Scripture June 5, 2013

Galatians 1:8-12 8 However, even if we ourselves or a heavenly angel should ever preach anything different from what we preached to you, they should be under a curse. 9 I’m repeating what we’ve said before: if anyone preaches something different from what you received, they should be under a curse! 10 Am I trying to win over human beings or God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I wouldn’t be Christ’s slave. 11 Brothers and sisters, I want you to know that the gospel I preached isn’t human in origin. 12 I didn’t receive it or learn it from a human. It came through a revelation from Jesus Christ.

Daily Scripture June 4, 2013

Galatians 1:1-7 From Paul, an apostle who is not sent from human authority or commissioned through human agency, but sent through Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised him from the dead; 2 and from all the brothers and sisters with me. 3 Grace and peace to you from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 4 He gave himself for our sins, so he could deliver us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father. 5 To God be the glory forever and always! Amen. 6 I’m amazed that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ to follow another gospel. 7 It’s not really another gospel, but certain people are confusing you and they want to change the gospel of Christ.

Daily Scripture June 3, 2013

Luke 7:6-10 6 Jesus went with them. He had almost reached the house when the centurion sent friends to say to Jesus, “Lord, don’t be bothered. I don’t deserve to have you come under my roof. 7 In fact, I didn’t even consider myself worthy to come to you. Just say the word and my servant will be healed. 8 I’m also a man appointed under authority, with soldiers under me. I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and the servant does it.” 9 When Jesus heard these words, he was impressed with the centurion. He turned to the crowd following him and said, “I tell you, even in Israel I haven’t found faith like this.” 10 When the centurion’s friends returned to his house, they found the servant restored to health.

Daily Scripture June 2, 2013

Luke 7:1-5 After Jesus finished presenting all his words among the people, he entered Capernaum. 2 A centurion had a servant who was very important to him, but the servant was ill and about to die. 3 When the centurion heard about Jesus, he sent some Jewish elders to Jesus to ask him to come and heal his servant. 4 When they came to Jesus, they earnestly pleaded with Jesus. “He deserves to have you do this for him,” they said. 5 “He loves our people and he built our synagogue for us.”

Daily Scripture June 1, 2013

Psalm 8 Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name throughout the earth! You made your glory higher than heaven! 2 From the mouths of nursing babies you have laid a strong foundation because of your foes, in order to stop vengeful enemies. 3 When I look up at your skies, at what your fingers made— the moon and the stars that you set firmly in place— 4 what are human beings that you think about them; what are human beings that you pay attention to them? 5 You’ve made them only slightly less than divine, crowning them with glory and grandeur. 6 You’ve let them rule over your handiwork, putting everything under their feet— 7 all sheep and all cattle, the wild animals too, 8 the birds in the sky, the fish of the ocean, everything that travels the pathways of the sea. 9 Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name throughout the earth!