PrayerBits for Wednesday

PrayerBits

A bite sized devotional program
produced by the West Side Presbyterian Church

Wednesday

Scripture lesson: Luke 8:5-15 The Parable of the Sower

Time to reflect: Actually this parable should be called the “Parable of the seed” since it is the seed that is the focus of attention. Since Jesus explains the parable, I don't need to.

Moving through the day: If you are the seed planted by God, where in your life do you see yourself falling on hard packed ground, among rocks, among brambles, in good soil?

 

Scripture:

Once, having been asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, "The kingdom of God does not come with your careful observation, nor will people say, 'Here it is,' or 'There it is,' because the kingdom of God is within you."

PrayerBits for Tuesday

PrayerBits

A bite sized devotional program
produced by the West Side Presbyterian Church

Tuesday

Scripture lesson: Luke 17:20-21 The Kingdom of God

Time to reflect: The Kingdom (Realm) of God is sometimes confusing and different people like picking those passages that suggest that this is a process that is going on on earth or picking those passages that suggest it is a place we go to after death.. This passage is used to support the first option. But in reading the whole Bible it is clear that it is a both/and not an either/or. The Realm of God is whenever, wherever God is in charge. Whenever we are acknowledging God as ruler, we are “ushering in the Kingdom of God.” The Realm of God reaches it completion and fulfillment at the end of time.

Moving through the day: Meditate on when and how you can “usher in the Kingdom of God” today.

 Once, having been asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, "The kingdom of God does not come with your careful observation, nor will people say, 'Here it is,' or 'There it is,' because the kingdom of God is within you."

PrayerBits for Monday

PrayerBits

A bite sized devotional program
produced by the West Side Presbyterian Church

Monday

Scripture lesson: Psalm 90:10-12

Time to reflect: I just saw a t-shirt on one of our young adults that says “Eat well, get exercise, die anyway.” Psalm 90. We do die, no matter what. The issue is how we live before them. One saying I heard once is “What are you doing with your dash?” The “dash” is the dash between your birthday and death day on your tombstone.

Moving Through The Day: Right the obituary you would like to have written when you die. Now go out and live your dash to the fullest.

 The length of our days is seventy years—
       or eighty, if we have the strength;
       yet their span is but trouble and sorrow,
       for they quickly pass, and we fly away.

 Who knows the power of your anger?
       For your wrath is as great as the fear that is due you.

Teach us to number our days aright,
       that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

PrayerBits for Sunday

PrayerBits

A bite sized devotional program
produced by the West Side Presbyterian Church

Sunday

Scripture lesson:        Matthew 25:1-13 Judgement Day

Time to reflect: This passage epitomizes the dichotomy of our life as Christians. We have to live every day as if it is the last – we need to be ready to meet God, each day. While, at the same time we need to view each day as one of millions more. And we won't know which kind of day it is until it is over.

Moving through the day: How would it affect your life if you knew that this was your last day? How would it affect your life if you knew it was one of millions more? Pray about keeping both of these eventualities firmly in your head.

Scripture:

"At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five were wise. The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. The wise, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.

 "At midnight the cry rang out: 'Here's the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!'

 "Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. 8The foolish ones said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.'

 " 'No,' they replied, 'there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.'

 "But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut.

 "Later the others also came. 'Sir! Sir!' they said. 'Open the door for us!'

 "But he replied, 'I tell you the truth, I don't know you.'

 "Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.

PrayerBits for Saturday

PrayerBits

A bite sized devotional program
produced by the West Side Presbyterian Church

Saturday

Scripture lesson: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 The Resurrection

Time to reflect: This passage gives us confidence in the resurrection for ourselves and for our loved ones. Paul didn't know the details or the mechanics of the resurrection any more than we do but the core belief is essential to our failt.

Moving through the day: Boil this passage down to a simple sentence or two that you can use thank God for the resurrection.

Scripture:

Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. According to the Lord's own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage each other with these words.

PrayerBits for Friday

PrayerBits

A bite sized devotional program
produced by the West Side Presbyterian Church

Friday

Scripture lesson: Psalm 78:1-7 Each generation could be the last Christian generation

Time to reflect: It is up to all current Christians to pass on the faith to the new generations.  If we get too busy, too passive, too politically correct, too indulgent, we fail them and God.  We all need to take these verses to heart.

Moving Throughout the day: Pray about when and where you should be teaching others about your beliefs.

 

Scripture:

O my people, hear my teaching;
       listen to the words of my mouth.

 I will open my mouth in parables,
       I will utter hidden things, things from of old-

  what we have heard and known,
       what our fathers have told us.

 We will not hide them from their children;
       we will tell the next generation
       the praiseworthy deeds of the LORD,
       his power, and the wonders he has done.

  He decreed statutes for Jacob
       and established the law in Israel,
       which he commanded our forefathers
       to teach their children,

  so the next generation would know them,
       even the children yet to be born,
       and they in turn would tell their children.

  Then they would put their trust in God
       and would not forget his deeds
       but would keep his commands.

PrayerBits for Thursday

PrayerBits

A bite sized devotional program
produced by the West Side Presbyterian Church

Thursday

Scripture lesson: Joshua 24:14-18 “As for me...”

Time to reflect: Two classic lines that say it all are in this passage: “Choose this day whom you will serve” and “...as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”

 

Moving through the day: Each day we should challenge ourselves with, “Choose this day whom you will serve” -- and then set out to face the day with “as for me.. I will serve the Lord.”

 

Scripture:

"Now fear the LORD and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your forefathers worshiped beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD."

  Then the people answered, "Far be it from us to forsake the LORD to serve other gods! It was the LORD our God himself who brought us and our fathers up out of Egypt, from that land of slavery, and performed those great signs before our eyes. He protected us on our entire journey and among all the nations through which we traveled. And the LORD drove out before us all the nations, including the Amorites, who lived in the land. We too will serve the LORD, because he is our God."