Ephesians 5:4

4 Let there be no filthiness (obscenity, indecency) nor foolish and sinful (silly and corrupt) talk, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting or becoming; but instead voice your thankfulness [to God].

Obscenity and coarse joking are so common that we begin to take them for granted. Paul cautions, however, that improper language should have no place in the Christian’s conversation because it does not reflect God’s gracious presence in us. How can we praise God and remind others of his goodness when we are speaking coarsely?

Heavenly Father,
I thank You Lord for this new day and all that will be in it. Today is the day that You have made, so I will rejoice and be glad in it. I praise You Lord for the incredible week You have provided me and look forward today as I continue the work that You have prepared in advance for me to do. I praise You Lord for the incredible Word of Truth that is available to me and to most people (some in paper and some in electronic forms). Today’s Word is a great reminder of guarding our hearts and minds as we speak with others and can be drawn into speaking in ways that do not glorify You. Lord, help us today , help me today to keep my eyes on You. Help me to guard my heart and mind so that I don’t speak in a way that would dishonor You. Lord help me to encourage others in what I do and say to also speak in a way that is uplifting and encouraging, so that we are able to get to the right decisions and answers and goals while building each other up and producing the most efficient and effective solutions and services. Lord, as I look at today’s Word and see how it is broken out, it calls out four specific ways of speaking to avoid (filthiness, foolish, sinful, course joking). As I step out today help me to be one who models Your way of speaking. Help me to be one who isn’t drawn into filthy, foolish, sinful, or course talking or jesting. Lord search my heart and mind and cleanse them of anything that would cause words that wouldn’t glorify You to come out. Your Word tells us that nothing goes into our mouths causes us to sin, but what comes out of it that does, for out of the heart comes the words. Lord, You are so awesome and speak the right things at the right time. Even when I look to other sites and other readings throughout the day, You bring to light Your truths. So Lord, I start off my day, I look to You and desire that in all I do and all I say today, that You would receive all the praise, the honor, and the glory, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Verse of the Day

16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

1 Corinthians 3:16

Chronological

Today – Day 120

Psalm 102

16 When the Lord builds up Zion, He will appear in His glory;17 He will regard the plea of the destitute and will not despise their prayer.18 Let this be recorded for the generation yet unborn, that a people yet to be created shall praise the Lord.19 For He looked down from the height of His sanctuary, from heaven did the Lord behold the earth,20 To hear the sighing and groaning of the prisoner, to loose those who are appointed to death,21 So that men may declare the name of the Lord in Zion and His praise in Jerusalem

There is but one God, the LORD. He will rescue Jerusalem. Praise the LORD people of God. Humble yourselves and call upon His name. Put all your hope and trust in Him. Bless God’s people today for you don’t want to be cursed for as we read in Genesis 12:1-3, God will bless those who bless Israel and curse those who curse Israel. There are many who are trying to pervert the truth of the Jewish people, God’s plan is that “all people on earth will be blessed through you”, where you was referring to Abram and his descendants. Looking up, “bless those who bless curse those who curse” also pulled up the New Testament command, as Jesus desires us to be better than average in Romans 12:14, “14 Bless those who persecute you [who are cruel in their attitude toward you]; bless and do not curse them.”

24 I said, O my God, take me not away in the midst of my days, You Whose years continue throughout all generations.25 At the beginning You existed and laid the foundations of the earth; the heavens are the work of Your hands.26 They shall perish, but You shall remain and endure; yes, all of them shall wear out and become old like a garment. Like clothing You shall change them, and they shall be changed and pass away.27 But You remain the same, and Your years shall have no end. 28 The children of Your servants shall dwell safely and continue, and their descendants shall be established before You.

God is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. He was there when the heaven and the earth was created and will be there when this time wears out and the new Jerusalem appears from Heaven and when there will be no darkness. When we who believe will get to spend our time with Him in person praising and worshiping His gloriousness. God is the same, yesterday, today, and tomorrow. His Word helps us to learn about His incredible love for us and is a light unto our feet and a lamp unto our path so that we can walk out our lives in the way He has planned.

Psalm 103

BLESS THE LORD, O MY SOUL AND ALL THAT IS WITHIN ME.

1 BLESS (AFFECTIONATELY, gratefully praise) the Lord, O my soul; and all that is [deepest] within me, bless His holy name!2 Bless (affectionately, gratefully praise) the Lord, O my soul, and forget not [one of] all His benefits–

DON’T FORGET HIS BENEFITS

He forgives
He heals
He redeems
He beautifies
He dignifies
He crowns with loving-kindness and tender mercy
He satisfies
He executes righteousness
He executes justice
He made His ways known
He is merciful
He is gracious

8 The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and plenteous in mercy and loving-kindness. 9 He will not always chide or be contending, neither will He keep His anger forever or hold a grudge.10 He has not dealt with us after our sins nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.11 For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great are His mercy and loving-kindness toward those who reverently and worshipfully fear Him.12 As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.13 As a father loves and pities his children, so the Lord loves and pities those who fear Him [with reverence, worship, and awe].14 For He knows our frame, He [earnestly] remembers and imprints [on His heart] that we are dust.15 As for man, his days are as grass; as a flower of the field, so he flourishes.16 For the wind passes over it and it is gone, and its place shall know it no more.17 But the mercy and loving-kindness of the Lord are from everlasting to everlasting upon those who reverently and worshipfully fear Him, and His righteousness is to children’s children–18 To such as keep His covenant [hearing, receiving, loving, and obeying it] and to those who [earnestly] remember His commandments to do them [imprinting them on their hearts].19 The Lord has established His throne in the heavens, and His kingdom rules over all.20 Bless (affectionately, gratefully praise) the Lord, you His angels, you mighty ones who do His commandments, hearkening to the voice of His word.21 Bless (affectionately, gratefully praise) the Lord, all you His hosts, you His ministers who do His pleasure.22 Bless the Lord, all His works in all places of His dominion; bless (affectionately, gratefully praise) the Lord, O my soul!

Psalm 104

1 BLESS (AFFECTIONATELY, gratefully praise) the Lord, O my soul! O Lord my God, You are very great! You are clothed with honor and majesty–2 [You are the One] Who covers Yourself with light as with a garment, Who stretches out the heavens like a curtain or a tent,3 Who lays the beams of the upper room of His abode in the waters [above the firmament], Who makes the clouds His chariot, Who walks on the wings of the wind,4 Who makes winds His messengers, flames of fire His ministers. 5 You laid the foundations of the earth, that it should not be moved forever. 6 You covered it with the deep as with a garment; the waters stood above the mountains. 7 At Your rebuke they fled; at the voice of Your thunder they hastened away.8 The mountains rose, the valleys sank down to the place which You appointed for them.9 You have set a boundary [for the waters] which they may not pass over, that they turn not again to deluge the earth.10 He sends forth springs into the valleys; their waters run among the mountains.11 They give drink to every [wild] beast of the field; the wild asses quench their thirst there.12 Beside them the birds of the heavens have their nests; they sing among the branches. 13 He waters the mountains from His upper rooms; the earth is satisfied and abounds with the fruit of His works.14 He causes vegetation to grow for the cattle, and all that the earth produces for man to cultivate, that he may bring forth food out of the earth–15 And wine that gladdens the heart of man, to make his face shine more than oil, and bread to support, refresh, and strengthen man’s heart.16 The trees of the Lord are watered abundantly and are filled with sap, the cedars of Lebanon which He has planted,17 Where the birds make their nests; as for the stork, the fir trees are her house.18 The high mountains are for the wild goats; the rocks are a refuge for the conies and badgers.19 [The Lord] appointed the moon for the seasons; the sun knows [the exact time of] its setting.20 You [O Lord] make darkness and it becomes night, in which creeps forth every wild beast of the forest.21 The young lions roar after their prey and seek their food from God.22 When the sun arises, they withdraw themselves and lie down in their dens.23 Man goes forth to his work and remains at his task until evening.24 O Lord, how many and varied are Your works! In wisdom have You made them all; the earth is full of Your riches and Your creatures.25 Yonder is the sea, great and wide, in which are swarms of innumerable creeping things, creatures both small and great.26 There go the ships of the sea, and Leviathan (the sea monster), which You have formed to sport in it.27 These all wait and are dependent upon You, that You may give them their food in due season.28 When You give it to them, they gather it up; You open Your hand, and they are filled with good things.29 When You hide Your face, they are troubled and dismayed; when You take away their breath, they die and return to their dust.30 When You send forth Your Spirit and give them breath, they are created, and You replenish the face of the ground.31 May the glory of the Lord endure forever; may the Lord rejoice in His works–32 Who looks on the earth, and it quakes and trembles, Who touches the mountains, and they smoke!33 I will sing to the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have any being.34 May my meditation be sweet to Him; as for me, I will rejoice in the Lord.35 Let sinners be consumed from the earth, and let the wicked be no more. Bless (affectionately, gratefully praise) the Lord, O my soul! Praise the Lord! (Hallelujah!)