The Daily Verses

Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God. Matthew 4:4

Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only. Matthew 4:10

Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Matthew 6:10

Not everyone who says Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Matthew 7:21

And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Matthew 10:30

Father, Lord of heaven and earth, you have hidden these things from the wise and learned and revealed them to little children. Matthew 11:25

This was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. Matthew 16:17

The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you. Mark 4:11

Yet not what I will, but what you will. Mark 14:36

Your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. Luke 12:32

I seek not to please myself but him who sent me. John 5:30

You are doing what you have heard from your father. John 8:38

I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6

This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. John 15:8

I have not lost one of those you gave me. John 18:9

The Daily Thought

You have a unique life purpose. You were created for something special. Find that purpose in your relation with God and follow His plan.

Urgent Is Not Relevant

Urgent is a calling for immediate attention, a pressing need to do something and it is an immediate obligation to comply with the terms of something or someone. Urgent, has become normal and you are used to spend your life with this urgent way of life. However, this is a very poor way for you to live, because over time, urgency is left behind and then you wonder about things that were important and you didn't do.

Important is what it takes to achieve your dreams, reach your goals and grow. Therefore, you must give priority to the use of time, not to spend the rest of your life running after urgencies. Obviously, the urgent needs to be addressed, but should not stop you from doing what is important.

Make a stop in your busy life, and wonder: What does this mean that I do? Focusing on the important rather than the urgent, you will achieve your life's purpose. When you reach the end of the road and look back, only the important things matter. God loves you and wants to see you happy. Fulfill His life purpose for you.

The urgency must not become important in your life. The only relevant and important to meet your goals and purpose of God in your life.

The Daily Gospel

Matthew 6:25-34

Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?

Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, you of little faith?

So do not worry, saying, What shall we eat? or What shall we drink? or What shall we wear? For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

The Daily Verses

Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? Matthew 6:27

So do not worry, saying, What shall we eat? or What shall we drink? or What shall we wear? Matthew 6:31

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matthew 6:34

Someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful. Matthew 13:22

You have neglected the more important matters of the law: justice, mercy and faithfulness. Matthew 23:23

The second is this: Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these. Mark 12:31

As they go on their way they are choked by life's worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature. Luke 8:14

Martha, Martha, the Lord answered, you are worried and upset about many things. Luke 10:41

Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest? Luke 12:26

For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. Luke 12:30

The Daily Thought

Urgency must not be relevant in your life. Meeting your goals and fulfilling God's purpose, should be the only relevant thing in your life.

The Apple Of His Eye

God's love for you is a river overflowing and unending, of infinite flow and that never gets dry. His everlasting love is not to be missed and will always fill your needs. God's love is a gift that cannot be won through performance, because He knows your weaknesses. He embraces your setbacks, accepts your flaws, catches you when you fall and accepts you as you are. This is an amazing love, and all you have to do is accept his gift.

God is love and He demonstrates his own love for you in this: Christ died for you, so that you do not spend eternity separated from Him. God wants you to know that His love is unconditional and very different from human love, because is not based on emotions, but on His Word. God's love for you never changes, holds you to be well worth the effort of loving. God cares for you tenderly, because you're the apple of His Eyes.

God's love for you is an everlasting gift that never changes and is eternal. God holds you gently, because you're the apple of His eye.

The Daily Gospel

John 3:16-21

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God's one and only Son. This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.

Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.

The Daily Verses

In a desert land he found him. He shielded him and cared for him; he guarded him as the apple of his eye. Deuteronomy 32:10

Whoever touches you touches the apple of his eye. Zechariah 2:8

Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings. Psalm 17:8

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16

As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. John 15:9

For I am convinced that nothing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38

And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. 1 John 4:16

Or do you think Scripture says without reason that he jealously longs for the spirit he has caused to dwell in us? James 4:5

The Daily Thought

God's love for you is an everlasting gift that never changes and is eternal. God holds you gently, because you're the apple of His eye.

They Did The Best They Could

Your parents carried you and held you in their arms. They fed you, groomed you and dressed you up. They taught you to walk, prepared your food, took you to school, bought you what you needed and celebrated your birthdays. They supported you when you needed it, cared for you in your illness and stood by you in your pain. They took you to your activities and vacation. They gave you education and counsel. They hugged you and kissed you.

There is no substitute for them and believe it or not, they  are your best friends. Chances are, your parents have not done all that, because human beings are not perfect. In addition, they might not have the resources to do so, but that was in their hearts, even if they were not able to do it. Have you made time to be with them, to give back to them a little bit of what they did for you?

You should be wise and generous enough to show them proper respect. When they leave this world, you will only keep the memories of their to treasure and it will be too late to honor them. Honor them in life, it's God's commandment!

Love and respect your parents even if they are not perfect and you think different from them. God ordered you to love them without judgment.

The Daily Gospel

Matthew 15:3-9

Jesus replied: And why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition? For God said: Honor your father and mother and anyone who curses their father or mother is to be put to death.

But you say that if anyone declares that what might have been used to help their father or mother is devoted to God, they are not to honor their father or mother with it.

Thus you nullify the word of God for the sake of your tradition. You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you: These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are merely human rules.

The Daily Verses

For God said, Honor your father and mother. Matthew 15:4

Honor your father and mother, and love your neighbor as yourself. Matthew 19:19

For Moses said, Honor your father and mother. Mark 7:10

You shall not murder, shall not commit adultery, shall not steal, shall not give false testimony, honor your father and mother. Mark 10:19

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Ephesians 6:1

Honor your father and mother" which is the first commandment with a promise. Ephesians 6:2

Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. Colossians 3:20

Do not rebuke an older man harshly, but exhort him as if he were your father. Timothy 5:1

Repay your parents and grandparents, for this is pleasing to God. 1 Timothy 5:4

The Daily Thought

Love and respect your parents even if they are not perfect and you think different from them. God ordered you to love them without judgment.

Build Your Character

God commands you to work hard and persevere. He says to you, I'm the one who sends you to work hard and persevere. Do not be afraid or discouraged because I, your Lord and God be with you wherever you go.

The question is: How is the effort and perseverance that God has commanded you to have? How do you achieve such an effort and perseverance? The effort and perseverance that the Lord asks you to have, is seen in the lives of men like Abraham, Joseph, Moses, Joshua, Elijah, Peter, John, Paul, and of course, Jesus Christ.

That effort and perseverance is demonstrated submitting yourself wholeheartedly to the Lord in obedience and removing all obstacles that prevent you from obeying. Turning away from people who do not follow the principles laid down by Him and rejecting any action contrary to His teachings and commands. Facing with courage the consequences resulting from your faithfulness to God and discarding any fear for what might happen to you for following him unconditionally.

Be a brave and obedient son of your Father in heaven, following the example of Jesus Christ and say, Father, not as I will, but as you will.

You need a lot of character to live alongside God´s principles and values and obeying His mandates. Your habits build your character!

The Daily Gospel

Matthew 19:16-30

Just then a man came up to Jesus and asked, Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life? Why do you ask me about what is good? Jesus replied. There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, keep the commandments. Which ones? he inquired. Jesus replied, You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, honor your father and mother, and love your neighbor as yourself.

All these I have kept, the young man said. What do I still lack? Jesus answered, If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me. When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth. Then Jesus said to his disciples, Truly I tell you, it is hard for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.

When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, Who then can be saved? Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible. Peter answered him, We have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us? Jesus said to them, Truly I tell you, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.

The Daily Verses

The one who stands firm to the end will be saved. Matthew 24:13

Levi got up, left everything and followed him. Luke 5:28

And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. Luke 14:27

I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life. John 8:12

If you want to enter life, keep the commandments. Matthew 19:17

Teach them to obey everything I have commanded you. Matthew 28:20

Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it. Luke 11:28

If you love me, keep my commands. John 14:15

Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. John 14:23

You are my friends if you do what I command. John 15:14

The Daily Thought

You need a lot of character to live alongside God´s principles and values and obeying His mandates. Your habits build your character!

Try Hard And Persevere

Glenn Cunningham was famous long ago, with the nickname "Iron Man". In the 1930´s he was a member of the United States Olympic Team. He won silver medal in 1,500 meters in the Olympics and then, he broke the world record in the 800 meters and the mile. He graduated from the University with Honors and then earned a Masters Degree. He retired from competition in 1940 and that year earned a PhD in Physical Education. Then he set up a ranch to help disadvantaged children. He died in 1988.

As a child, Glenn and his brother Floyd were burned in a fire at their school. Floyd died and the Doctors thought that Glenn would die, but Glenn survived. The Doctors prepared to amputate his legs, damaged by the fire. Glenn recovered, without losing his legs, but was disabled. Despite that, Glenn began hold himself to stand up. Then, he walked stumbling. When he could, he walked to school. Later on, he began running to school, where at age twelve was the athletics champion.

The child must have died, survived. Should have never walk, but ran like a champion athlete. He was famous. He left his mark and help many. However, his legs had circulation problems all his life and he had to overcome his disadvantage with strength and determination.

God will help you to overcome obstacles and succeed in life, if you try hard and persevere. You will accomplish what God called you to do.

The Daily Gospel

Luke 8:4-18

While a large crowd was gathering and people were coming to Jesus from town after town, he told this parable: A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds ate it up. Some fell on rocky ground, and when it came up, the plants withered because they had no moisture. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up with it and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up and yielded a crop, a hundred times more than was sown. When he said this, he called out, Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.

His disciples asked him what this parable meant. He said, The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to others I speak in parables, so that, though seeing, they may not see; though hearing, they may not understand.

This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God. Those along the path are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. Those on the rocky ground are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away. The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life's worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature. But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.

No one lights a lamp and hides it in a clay jar or puts it under a bed. Instead, they put it on a stand, so that those who come in can see the light. For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open. Therefore consider carefully how you listen. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what they think they have will be taken from them.

The Daily Verses

But since they have no root, they last only a short time. Matthew 13:21

The one who stands firm to the end will be saved. Matthew 24:13

By persevering produce a crop. Luke 8:15

Stand firm, and you will win life. Luke 21:19

I have given you authority to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. Luke 10:19

In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. John 16:33

A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out, till he has brought justice through to victory. Matthew 12:20

If you have faith, nothing will be impossible for you. Matthew 17:20

Jesus looked at them and said, With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible. Matthew 19:26

If you can? said Jesus. Everything is possible for one who believes. Mark 9:23

For no word from God will ever fail. Luke 1:37

Jesus replied, What is impossible with man is possible with God. Luke 18:27

The Daily Thought

God will help you to overcome obstacles and succeed in life, if you try hard and persevere. You will accomplish what God called you to do.

Fill yourself!

You have the capacity of turning on the light with words, reducing stress with support, breaking the solitude with a smile, cheering up with attitude, sowing peace with advise, touching souls with kindness, lightening burdens with patience, creating bonds with loyalty, teaching with humility, providing hope with a vision, defeating hatred with love and setting goals based on your dreams.

It may be hard to believe, but you are awesome. What you have to do is to get the Holy Spirit of God into your heart and begin to live a fruitful life full of Him, to be the light that you are meant to be.

If you do not know how to get the Holy Spirit of God into your heart, please read further on to find out what to do. Just ask your heavenly Father, in Jesus' name and He will give it to you. I invite you to do it and see how your life will change.

If you want to live a fruitful life, fulfilling God's purpose, ask the Lord to come into your heart and fill you with His Spirit.

The Daily Gospel

John 15:1-8

I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches.

If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

The Daily Verses

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:21

These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Matthew 15:8

Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy. John 16:22

Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit. Matthew 12:33

Someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful. Matthew 13:22

Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. John 15:4

If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. John 15:5

How much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him! Luke 11:13

Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit[a] gives birth to spirit. John 3:6

And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever. John 14:16

The Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of all I have said to you. John 14:26

And with that he breathed on them and said: Receive the Holy Spirit. John 20:22

Happy Day of Love and Friendship

Celebrate the day of love and friendship makes no sense unless you really offer true love and true friendship. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.

1 Corinthians 13

If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Get Off The Train!

A culture is like traveling by train, where passengers have the same destination and eat the same foods, watch the same movies, talk about the same topics, participate in the same games, sing the same songs and rest at the same times. Cultures are trains that take us all together.

You often accept the contents of television, Internet, newspapers, magazines, movies, theater, music and all the general trends. Is it possible to react and do something to change the culture?

You can not change the culture, but you can change yourself. If you change, you can influence your family and those close to you.Your example could start a chain of changes which could influence communities, your country and finally, with the help of God, the world. But if you do not change, there will be no opportunity to start any changes.

God does not ask for group changes, but for personal changes. The Lord asks you to change and follow Him, breaking with the world´s ideas and culture. Instead of copying the fashions, you must give priority to the pursuit of the truth.

The Lord´s teachings refer to personal change. Do not look for others to change. Change yourself and follow Jesus rather than the world.

The Daily Gospel

Matthew 21:28-32

What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, Son, go and work today in the vineyard. I will not, he answered, but later he changed his mind and went. Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, 'I will, sir,' but he did not go. Which of the two did what his father wanted?

The first, they answered. Jesus said to them, Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you. For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him.

The Daily Verses

So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets. Matthew 7:12

And he said: Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 18:3

I will not, he answered, but later he changed his mind and went. Matthew 21:29

The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him. John 8:29

I am telling you what I have seen in the Father's presence, and you are doing what you have heard from your father. John 8:38

I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. John 13:15

Jesus replied, Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. John 14:23

The Daily Thought

The Lord's teachings refer to personal change. Do not look for others to change. Change yourself and follow Jesus rather than the world.

Power for Living

What does it mean to pray continually? It does not mean to spend all day repeating long sentences, disconnected from the reality around you. To pray continually means: Being in constant communication with God, thinking about Him permanently. Asking the Holy Spirit of God, for help and wisdom, before starting any work and in everything you do. Asking the Lord to guide you in all your ways, consulting Him every problem and decision.

That is the constant prayer that gives you the power to live, that God has promised you. That way, you avoid the temptation to make decisions without consulting God and get the power that strengthens, encourages, protects you from the enemy and allows you to stand before the Lord in victory, because he fights alongside you in all your battles.

To pray continually gives you the power to live in victory, because it fills you with the Holy Spirit of God and thus fills you with His love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

If you want to have the power to live the Lord has promised, you need to learn to consult everything with Him. His power is in your obedience.

The Daily Gospel

Luke 24:36-49

While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them: Peace be with you. They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. He said to them: Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have. When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet. And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them: Do you have anything here to eat? They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate it in their presence.

He said to them: This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms. Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. He told them: This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.

The Daily Verses

Freely you have received; freely give. Matthew 10:8

Jesus replied, You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God. Matthew 22:29

At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, Who touched my clothes? Mark 5:30

What words these are! With authority and power he gives orders to impure spirits and they come out! Luke 4:36

The power of the Lord was with Jesus to heal the sick. Luke 5:17

The people all tried to touch him, because power was coming from him and healing them all. Luke 6:19

When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases. Luke 9:1

I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. Luke 10:19

I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high. Luke 24:49

This was to fulfill the word of Isaiah the prophet: Lord, who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? John 12:38

Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one. John 17:11

Jesus replied, Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.