Contemplative Bible Reading

Jeremiah 10:5 Like a scarecrow in a melon patch, their idols cannot speak; they must be carried because they cannot walk. Do not fear them; they can do no harm nor can they do any good.” I love this phrase, “Like a scarecrow in a melon patch” Who would worship a scarecrow? Isn’t that silly? […]

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Proverbs 1:1 and 1:4 (New International Version) 1 The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel:…4 for giving prudence to the simple, I love the phrase giving prudence to the simple. I had to study the word prudence. From http://dictionary.com, prudence, noun, caution with regard to practical matters; discretion. Prudence, calculation, foresight, forethought […]

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Deuteronomy 8:10-14 (New International Version) 10 When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the LORD your God for the good land he has given you. 11 Be careful that you do not forget the LORD your God, failing to observe his commands, his laws and his decrees that I am giving you this day. […]

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2 Corinthians 13:10 (second half) (NIV) This is why I write these things when I am absent, that when I come I may not have to be harsh in my use of authority — the authority the Lord gave me for building you up, not for tearing you down. I had read something several years […]

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Nehemiah was cup bearer to King Artaxerxes. He was troubled by the news that came from Jerusalem. Nehemiah wanted to ask the king for a favor – actually a huge favor; the kind of favor that you don’t ask often; the kind of favor that if answered with a “no” comes with an execution for […]

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2 Timothy 3:12 (New International Version) 12 In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, I have been persecuted a lot in my life. It must be because of the godly life I have lived in Christ Jesus. Really? Probably not. I have met many mean people […]

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Romans 12:21 (New International Version) Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Something I have heard in the past few years is that I should not worry so much about removing bad things from my life. Instead, I should concentrate on putting good things into my life. The theory is that […]

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1 John 2:15-17 (New International Version) 15 Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For everything in the world — the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has […]

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Romans 8:1 (New International Version) Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, I was reading something yesterday. The author was concerned about failing in the endeavor that God had called her to do. She was failing God. She sounded awful guilty. That isn’t a good way to write. The […]

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1 John 4:18 (New International Version) There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. Over the years I have read and written about fear and the workplace. “Drive out fear” is one phrase that […]

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