Rejoice in the Lord always and again I say, rejoice. You warriors prayed me through and now I’m back home safe and sound. Thank you so much! I will let the title and the scripture do the teaching today.
Today’s Prayer
Father, as we observe Flag Day in the U.S.A., let us revere You as our forefathers did, and honor our flag, the symbol of our freedom, for which so many have given their lives. Let us pause to assess our country: we see corruption in high places, and leaders who wink at immorality and thus threaten the very family values that made this nation great. Remind us that we still declare that we are “one nation under God,” and that as a nation we will be strengthened or weakened by the degree of integrity that we demand of ourselves individually! Oh Lord, we sincerely pray that You will raise up righteous leaders for our nation, and that You will give us the wisdom to recognize and support them. Let all that we do be pleasing in Your sight. In the name of Jesus we pray, Amen.
Let’s eat.
John the Baptist Exalts Jesus
John 3:22-36
Then Jesus and his disciples left Jerusalem and went into the Judean countryside. Jesus spent some time with them there, baptizing people. At this time John the Baptist was baptizing at Aenon, near Salim, because there was plenty of water there; and people kept coming to him for baptism. (This was before John was thrown into prison.) A debate broke out between John’s disciples and a certain Jew over ceremonial cleansing. So John’s disciples came to him and said, “Rabbi, the man you met on the other side of the Jordan River, the one you identified as the Messiah, is also baptizing people. And everybody is going to him instead of coming to us.” John replied, “No one can receive anything unless God gives it from heaven. You yourselves know how plainly I told you, ‘I am not the Messiah. I am only here to prepare the way for him.’ It is the bridegroom who marries the bride, and the best man is simply glad to stand with him and hear his vows. Therefore, I am filled with joy at his success. He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less. “He has come from above and is greater than anyone else. We are of the earth, and we speak of earthly things, but he has come from heaven and is greater than anyone else. He testifies about what he has seen and heard, but how few believe what he tells them! Anyone who accepts his testimony can affirm that God is true. For he is sent by God. He speaks God’s words, for God gives him the Spirit without limit. The Father loves his Son and has put everything into his hands. And anyone who believes in God’s Son has eternal life. Anyone who doesn’t obey the Son will never experience eternal life but remains under God’s angry judgment.”
Quote of the Day
If our minds are stayed upon God, His peace will rule the affairs entertained by our minds. If, on the other hand, we allow our minds to dwell on the cares of this world, God’s peace will be far from our thoughts. ~Woodrow Kroll~