SCRIPTURE & FOCUS – Week Of March 21 – March 27, 2021


FOCUS OF THE MONTH

Jesus’ Journey To Calvary


SCRIPTURE OF THE WEEK 

And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me:  nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt. — Matthew 26:39 (KJV)

39 And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” Matthew 26:39 (ESV)


Wednesday Corporate Fasting Scripture – Isaiah 58 (ESV); Isaiah 58 (KJV)

Friday End of Week Scripture – Ephesians 3:20-21 (KJV)


!!!! HAPPY, HAPPY BIRTHDAY !!!!
We do not have any birthdays this week.

Blessed Birthday Song

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This Week’s Overview: 

Sunday –God provided forgiveness through His Son for all who believe on Him. Let us also forgive those who have wronged us.

Monday   It’s imperative that we read the Scriptures daily. In doing so, God will increase our devotion to Him and we will experience that His Word is sweeter than a honeycomb. 

Tuesday –  Knowledge of God’s Word will help us prioritize our workday and rest when necessary. Honor God in all that we do and the Holy Spirit will alleviate anxieties that we may experience, especially when we can’t seem to complete our assignments.

Wednesday As co-laborers with God, we must be cognitive of the presence of the Holy Spirit who is working in us. He is bigger! Our assignments are great! Allow Him to work in and through us to promote the gospel of Jesus Christ in love. 

ThursdaySometimes we may get off course, however, Jesus is our Shepherd and He will guide us. We must continue to grow, know, and love God.  Listen to His voice, trust Him, and follow His lead.

FridayIn our quest to win souls as co-laborers with God, we may have to give out of our poverty. Many of us may have suffered pain, hurt, rejection and oppression, however, God loves a cheerful giver. Trust Him as we give of our time, talent and treasures and see if He will give us beauty for ashes and put a new song in our hearts. Be encouraged everyone! Work while it is yet day!


***The English Standard Version (ESV) stands in the classic mainstream of English Bible translations over the past half-millennium. The fountainhead of that stream was William Tyndale’s New Testament of 1526; marking its course were the King James Version of 1611 (KJV), the English Revised Version of 1885 (RV), the American Standard Version of 1901 (ASV), and the Revised Standard Version of 1952 and 1971 (RSV). In that stream, faithfulness to the text and vigorous pursuit of accuracy were combined with simplicity, beauty, and dignity of expression. Our goal has been to carry forward this legacy for a new century.

To this end each word and phrase in the ESV has been carefully weighed against the original Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek, to ensure the fullest accuracy and clarity and to avoid under-translating or overlooking any nuance of the original text. The words and phrases themselves grow out of the Tyndale-King James legacy, and most recently out of the RSV, with the 1971 RSV text providing the starting point for our work. Archaic language has been brought to current usage and significant corrections have been made in the translation of key texts. But throughout, our goal has been to retain the depth of meaning and enduring language that have made their indelible mark on the English-speaking world and have defined the life and doctrine of the church over the last four centuries.

The ESV is an “essentially literal” translation that seeks as far as possible to capture the precise wording of the original text and the personal style of each Bible writer. It seeks to be transparent to the original text, letting the reader see as directly as possible the structure and meaning of the original. More about the ESV translation philosophy….***


Sunday, March 21, 2021God At WorkMatthew 27:50-54

Our Daily Bread Topic:  Forgiveness of Sin; Racism; Salvation

Reflect & Pray

In what ways have you shared the forgiveness you’ve received from God with others, even those who are different from you? If you haven’t received forgiveness from God through the death of Jesus, what’s keeping you from doing so today?

Father, thank You for loving the world so much that You sent Jesus so I can be forgiven. Help me to demonstrate forgiveness toward others by the way I live. 

God At Work

Monday, March 22, 2021 – Sweeter Than HoneyPsalm 119:97-105
 
Focus: As you purpose to read the Scriptures daily, God will increase your devotion to Him. Taste, the Word is sweeter than honey.
 
 
Our Daily Bread Topic:  Bible, authority; Bible, inspiration; God’s love and care

Reflect & Pray

In what ways does your life change when you read the Bible regularly? How could you ensure you don’t lose this practice in the busyness of your daily life?

Gracious God, You’ve given me the gift of Scripture. Help me to read it and digest it, that I might serve You faithfully.

Sweeter Than Honey

Tuesday, March 23, 2021 – The Reason To RestEcclesiastes 2:17-26
 
Focus: Invite God in your workplace and honor Him. Don’t be anxious about incomplete tasks. Instead, listen to God’s voice when He says rest.
 
 
Our Daily Bread Topic:  Rest

Reflect & Pray

How can you invite God into your labors? How might you allow Him to be your satisfaction even when your work isn’t “finished”?

God, You bring meaning and purpose to all my labors.

The Reason To Rest

Wednesday, March 24, 2021 – Something Much Bigger1 Corinthians 3:5-9
 
Focus: As co-laborers with God, allow the Spirit to use your gifts to promote the gospel of Jesus’ love. This work is bigger than you.
 
 
Our Daily Bread Topic:   Evangelism; Serving

Reflect & Pray

Do you see yourself as a part of God’s plan or as someone who works alone in your service for Him? How does this affect the way in which you serve Him and others?

Dear God, thank You for including me in Your plan to tell everyone about Your love. Help me to represent You well with my words and actions.

Something Much Bigger

Thursday, March 25, 2021 – Know His VoiceJohn 10:1-10
 
Focus: As you grow to know and love God, you, His sheep will trust Him. Jesus is your Shepherd; you know His voice and follow Him.
 
 
Our Daily Bread Topic: Christ, Savior/Messiah; False teachers
 
 
Reflect & Pray

What’s one thing you’ve learned about God’s character through reading Scripture? How did that impact you? What will help you to discern God’s voice?

Heavenly Father, thank You for being my loving Shepherd. Help me to recognize and follow Your voice only.

Know His Voice

Friday, March 26, 2021 – Slum SongsIsaiah 35
 
Focus: Beauty can emerge from poverty, oppression and hurt. Allow God to heal you and give you a new song.
 
 
Our Daily Bread Topic:  Christ, return; Eternal life

Reflect & Pray

How have you seen God turn the “garbage” of your life into something beautiful? How might He wish to bring “music” out of your pain?

Holy Spirit, turn the poverty in my life into something beautiful.  

Slum Songs

Saturday, March 27, 2021 –  Hosting Royalty – Galatians 3:26-29

Our Daily Bread Topic:  Christ, life and teaching; Serving

Reflect & Pray

What does it mean to you to be an heir of Abraham? How could you invite others to become part of the family?

King of kings and Lord of lords, You are mighty and glorious. Thank You for stooping down to love me and for welcoming me as Your child.

Hosting Royalty


Inspirational Thoughts from Sister Clovia Thompson  

BEAUTY FOR ASHES
 
Many people seem to have it all together outwardly, but inside they are a wreck.  Their past has broken and wounded them inwardly.  They can be healed.  God has a plan.  At Isaiah 61:3, He gives beauty for ashes, strength for fear, gladness for mourning, and peace for despair.  Broken things can become blessed things if you let God do the mending. 
 
God’s promise of beauty for ashes is the very life of His breath.  He speaks in Isaiah 61 to assure us that no destructive force in our lives is greater than His plan to redeem it all.
 
Beauty for ashes represents God’s redemptive power from the very beginning.  In His story for all humanity, many trials come and fall away, dust returns to dust and people in the Bible were known to put ashes on their heads as a sign of grief. 
 
Beauty for ashes defines our hope.  Because of Jesus, we no longer sit in the ashes of our own sins or the sins committed against us.  He saves, He gives, He loves, He renews. 
 
Only God can turn…
A mess into a message.
A test into a testimony.
A trial into a triumph.
A victim into a victory.
 
PRAISE GOD!

“My friends, make time for God every day because He always has time for you.” — Sister Clovia


***The Daily Devotionals are taken from Our Daily Bread Ministries and the Scriptures are from the BibleGateway.***

Lookup a word or passage in the Bible


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