Daily Inspirations

ABOUT DAILY INSPIRATION

Take a few minutes each day to read the chapter or the verses listed after the date. Then look at the verse that is quoted in the newsletter for your “Daily Inspiration.” Also, enjoy the articles.

“BUT I…”

There was a famous pool in Jerusalem where the unknown and desperate waited. John tells us that they waited there believing that when an angel of the Lord stirred the water that whoever entered into the pool first would be healed. Among those that waited was one that had been ill for thirty-eight years. “When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he had already been a long time in that condition, He said to him, ‘Do you wish to get well?’” (John 5:6). “The sick man answered  Him,  ‘Sir,  I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, but while I am coming another steps down before me’”(5:7).

This man had been  waiting for some unknown angel  of  the  Lord  to  move  the  water  that  he might  possibly  have  a  chance to be healed. He was now speaking to the Son of God,  God in the flesh, the divine Word. God was asking him if he wanted  to  be  healed, the  thing  he desired most these thirty-eight years. A  prisoner  in  his  own body was asked if he wanted to be freed. His response was too much about himself. His limited understanding of the situation and with whom he was speaking  only  saw  a bleak and impossible outcome. “Sir, I have  no  man.” That  much he had right. He had no man standing before him. He  had the Son of Man.   It wasn’t in the power of the lame man  to heal himself. Jesus did not ask  if he had faith. Jesus  didn’t  even tell him who  He  was. In that  moment, it wasn’t about what the lame man knew. The question was, would he obey? The command was there, and the lame man had two choices. He could stay where he was; who was this  guy to tell him to pick up his mat and walk? Or, he could  take a chance and try. “Immediately the man became well, and picked up his pallet and began to walk. Now it was the Sabbath on that day” (John 5:9). The Jews confronted him about carrying a pallet on the Sabbath. “Afterward Jesus found him in the temple and said to him, ‘Behold, you have be-

come well; do not sin anymore, so that nothing worse happens to you.’ The man went away and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well” (John 5:14-15). It wasn’t until then that he learned who had healed him. When he did know, he shared that information.

There are people like this lame man in the world. Those that have been struggling with their lives by themselves and things haven’t gotten any better. People of God try to help, but they may say, “Nah, I’m good” or “I’ve got this.” Perhaps  there  has  been  something  in our lives that  we’ve  been  trying  to  handle  on  our own, waiting on magical circumstances to make things better.  All  the  while  Jesus  has  been  standing there  asking, “Are  you  done  yet?”   “Are  you done trying on your own?” Maybe  the  question

is, “Are  you  ready to change?” It is time to get up and walk! 

EDITOR’S  NOTE

This will be the final issue that I will publish as Editor of the “Daily Inspiration.” It has been my joy and privilege to have done this for the past almost 15 years. I pray that you have found the articles to have been encouraging, thought provoking and strengthening your faith. I am retiring and moving to South Carolina. I do not know who the new Editor will be and how soon there may be another issue. (Dane Waggoner)

Foot note:

 We have hired a new minster who will be moving here sometime in August. His name is Matt McDougal and he comes to us 

from Kentucky. More information to follow and also it will be posted on our website at www.asheborocofc.com

WONDERFUL WORDS OF LIFE

Over 140 years ago Philip B. Bliss penned the words to a beautiful hymn which should resonate in our hearts and be perceptible in our daily lives. It is so easy today to become absorbed in our culture, in our media and in the cares of this world hat we just…forget. We forget who we are. We forget how good we have it. We forget our prime objective.

The writer’s last name (Bliss) says it all. This should be our blissful, hopeful, resolute and daily focus: “Sing  them  over again to me, Wonderful words  of  Life; Let me more of their beauty see, Wonderful words of Life. Words  of  life and beauty, Teach me faith and duty; Beautiful words wonderful words, Wonderful words of Life.”

After many of His  disciples had abandoned Him, Jesus asked the twelve, “Do you also want to go away?” Peter answered. “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life” (John 6:66-68). May we today find renewed comfort and determination  in His Wonderful Words of Life!

THE ROAD TO SUCCESS

The road to success is not Straight,

There is a curve called Failure,

A loop called Confusion,

Speed bumps called Friends,

Red lights called Enemies.

You will have flats called Jobs.

But, if you have a spare called

Determination,

An Engine called Perseverance,

Insurance called Faith,

And a drive called Jesus,

You will make it to a place called

Success.

“I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13)

IF WE NEVER MEET AGAIN

Soon we’ll come to the end of life’s journey

And perhaps we’ll never meet anymore.

Till we gather in heaven’s bright city

Far away on that beautiful shore.

O so often we’re parted with sorrow,

Benedictions often quicken our pain,

But we never shall  sorrow in heaven

God be with you till we meet again.

O they say we shall meet by the river,

Where no storm clouds ever darken the sky,

And they say we’ll be happy in heaven

In the wonderful sweet by and by.

If we never meet again this side of heaven 

As we struggle thru this world and its strife,

There’s another meeting place somewhere in heaven

By the side of the river of life;

Where the charming roses bloom forever and ever,

And where separations come never more

If we never meet again this side of heaven

I will meet you on that beautiful shore.

-Albert E. Brumley-

Daily Devotionals

August 1 Psalm 40:1-17 Many, O Lord  my God,  are thy wonderful works which thou hast done. (Psalm 40:5)

August 2 Psalm 41:1-13 I said, Lord, be merciful unto me: heal my soul; for I have sinned 

against Thee. (Psalm 41:4)

August 3 Psalm 42:1-11 As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after Thee, O God. (Psalm 42:1)

August 4 Psalm 43:1-5 Judge me, O God, and plead my cause against an ungodly nation: O deliver me from the deceitful and unjust man. (Psa. 43:1)

August 5 Psalm 44:1-26 In God we boast all the day long, and praise Thy name forever. (Psa. 44:8)

August 6 Psalm 45:1-17  Thy Throne, O God, is forever and ever: the scepter of Thy kingdom is a right scepter. (Psalm 45:6)

August 7 Psalm  46:1-11 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. (Psa. 46: 1)

August 8 Psalm 47:1-9 God reigneth over the heathen: God sitteth upon the throne of His holiness. (Psalm 47:8)

August 9 Psalm 48:1-14 For this God is our God forever and ever: He will be our guide even unto death. (Psalm 48:14)

August 10 Psalm 49:1-19 My mouth shall speak of wisdom; and the meditation of my heart shall be of understanding. (Psalm 49:3)

August 11 Psalm 50:1-23 Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the most high. (Psalm 50:14)

August 12 Psalm 51:1-9 Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. (Psalm 51:2)

August 13 Psalm 51:10-19 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. (Psalm 51:10)

August 14 Psalm 52:1-9 I will praise Thee forever, because Thou hast done it: and I will wait

on Thy name; for it is good before Thy saints. (Psalm 52:9)

August 15 Psalm 53:1-6 The fool has said in his heart, There is no God. (Psalm 53:1)

August 16 Psalm 54:1-7 Hear my prayer, O God; give ear to the words of my mouth. (Psalm 54:2)

August 17 Psalm 55:1-23 Evening, and morning and at noon, will I pray and cry aloud: and He shall hear my voice. (Psalm 55:17)

August 18 Psalm 56:1-13 In God have I put my trust: I will not be afraid what men can do unto me. (Psalm 56:11)

August 19 Psalm 57:1-11 Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens; let Thy glory be above all the earth. (Psalm 57:5, 11)

August 20 Psalm 58:1-11 Verily there is a reward for the righteous: verily He is a God that

judgeth in the earth. (Psalm 58:11)

August 21 Psalm 59:1-17 Deliver me from mine enemies, O my  God: defend me from them that rise up against me. (Psalm 59:1)

August 22 Psalm 60:1-12 Give us help from trouble: for vain is the help of man. (Psa. 69:11)

August 23 Psalm 61:1-8 Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer. (Psalm 61:1)

August 24 Psalm 62:1-12 He is my rock and my salvation: He is my defense; I shall not be

moved. (Psalm 62:6)

August 25 Psalm 63:1-11 O God, thou art my God; early will I seek Thee: my soul thirsteth for Thee. (Psalm 63:1)

August 26 Psalm 64:1-10 The righteous shall be glad in the Lord, and shall trust in Him. (Psalm 64:10)

August 27 Psalm 65:1-13 Iniquities prevail against me: as for our transgressions thou shalt purge them away. (Psalm 65:3)

August 28 Psalm  66:1-9 Make a joyful noise unto God, all ye lands. (Psalm 66:1)

August 29 Psalm 66:10-20 Blessed be God, which hath not turned away my prayer, nor His mercy from me. (Psalm 66:20)

August 30 Psalm 67:1-7 God be merciful unto us, and bless us; and cause His face to shine upon us. (Psalm 67:1)

August 31 Psalm 68:1-35 Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. (Psalm 68:19)

July 31 Galatians 6:1-18 Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. (Gal. 6:2)