Year: 2024

My Father’s Glory

Written by Lori Casto on August 26, 2024. Posted in Daily Scripture.

“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.

John 15:1-8

Praise the Lord!

Written by Lori Casto on August 25, 2024. Posted in Daily Scripture.

Praise the Lord!

Praise God in His sanctuary;
Praise Him in His mighty firmament!

Praise Him for His mighty acts;
Praise Him according to His excellent greatness!

Praise Him with the sound of the trumpet;
Praise Him with the lute and harp!
Praise Him with the timbrel and dance;
Praise Him with stringed instruments and flutes!
Praise Him with loud cymbals;
Praise Him with clashing cymbals!

Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.

Praise the Lord!

Psalm 150

Stay Free

Written by Lori Casto on August 23, 2024. Posted in Devotionals, Uncategorized.

Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage. Galatians 5:1 NKJV

Living in sin means living in darkness. Living in sin means being trapped. Living in sin means living in bondage. The good news? There’s a way out. If we accept Jesus as Lord, we automatically live in light. In fact, if we walk in the light of Jesus, we won’t even be able to find darkness. It’s amazing how we may not even realize we’re living in darkness until we receive His Light. In Jesus, there’s no darkness AT ALL! How powerful is that?

Once we walk in the light as Jesus is in the light, Paul tells us to stay in the light. Don’t get trapped again. Another words, stay free. Sin has a way of wrapping its ugly tentacles around us until we can’t move. Before we know it, we’re being suffocated to death. Paul is telling us not to allow that to happen again. Protect the light you are in and stand guard through the reading of God’s word, fellowship with other believers, and praise and worship.

Run the race and don’t give up. It can only happen one day at a time. How will you devote2day?

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us Hebrews 12:1 NIV

Freedom

Written by Lori Casto on August 23, 2024. Posted in Daily Scripture.

Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage. Galatians 5:1 NKJV

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. Galatians 5:1 NIV

So Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don’t get tied up again in slavery to the law. Galatians 5:1 NLT

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. Hebrews 12:1 NLT

Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, Hebrews 12:1 NKJV

Not Offended

Written by Lori Casto on August 22, 2024. Posted in Daily Scripture.

Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and tell John the things you have seen and heard: that the 1. blind see, 2.the lame walk, 3.the lepers are cleansed, 4.the deaf hear, 5. the dead are raised, 6. the poor have the gospel preached to them. And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.”

Luke 7:22-23

Give

Written by Lori Casto on August 21, 2024. Posted in Daily Scripture, Uncategorized.

Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.” Luke 6:38

Weight

Written by Lori Casto on August 20, 2024. Posted in Daily Scripture.

Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:1-2

Not as I Will

Written by Lori Casto on August 20, 2024. Posted in Devotionals.

Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” Matthew 26:39

I’ve been drawn to this scripture more times than I can count over the past 10 months. This time, I’ve been specifically drawn to … “May this cup be taken from me.”

Wouldn’t it have been great for Jesus if He could die on a cross without having people spit on Him? Things would have been so much easier for Jesus if He didn’t have to endure lashes, a crown of thorns, people mocking Him, or the weight of the cross. Couldn’t He do His Father’s will without having nails strike his flesh?

Jesus knew what He was going to have to endure to complete the will of His Father. In his humanness, He questioned all of it. In the end, though, He says “Nevertheless, not as I will but as you will.”

Lately God has been saying to me, “You said you’re willing to do my will, but are you really willing to handle everything that comes with it?”

I don’t have to endure nails in my hands or wear a crown of thorns. The things in this life are not the same.

Maybe for me if I want to do God’s will, it means being more disciplined and committed. Maybe if I want to do God’s will it means dealing with possible criticism or having my motives questioned. Maybe doing God’s will means being open to vulnerability and hurt.

What does doing God’s will mean for you? Are you still willing to do what He wants no matter what?

If you or I are going to do God’s will, we must be willing to handle everything that comes with it.

Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” Matthew 26:39

Love

Written by Lori Casto on August 17, 2024. Posted in Devotionals.

“As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you. You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you. These things I command you, that you love one another. John 15:9-17

Jesus makes it clear, “Love one another.” I don’t see any conditions in this scripture. Love if, love when… Love isn’t a feeling either. Love is a demonstration. Love is a verb. Jesus even says “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.” Jesus demonstrated His love by laying down His life. God the Father demonstrated His love by giving & allowing His son to die for the sins of the world.

Jesus went on to say that if we love, we have the opportunity to experience the best possible joy. We have the chance to live a joyful life all the time…as long as we love. WOW! This gives me a lot to think about. Love, even when I’ve been hurt. Love, even when I’ve been betrayed. Love, even when I’m tired and under a lot if stress. Love, even when someone is simply unlikeable. Love, even when someone cuts me off at the intersection.

Jesus also talks about bearing fruit and receiving what we ask in His name interwoven in His discussion about love. Does this mean we need to make sure we are walking in love completely if we want to bear fruit as Christians? Does it mean we need to be walking in love to receive what we ask in Jesus’ Name? Maybe showing & walking in love is THAT important.

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. Love never fails. 1 Corinthians 13:4-8

Faith, Not Sight

Written by Lori Casto on August 15, 2024. Posted in Daily Scripture.

For we walk by faith, not by sight

2 Corinthians 5:7

Different Kinds of Gifts

Written by Lori Casto on August 13, 2024. Posted in Daily Scripture.

There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in ALL of them and in EVERYONE it is the same God at work. 1 Corinthians 12: 4-6

There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. NKJV 1 Corinthians 12: 4-6

There are different kinds of gifts. But it is the same Holy Spirit Who gives them. There are different kinds of work to be done for Him. But the work is for the same Lord. There are different ways of doing His work. But it is the same God who uses all these ways in all people. NLV 1 Corinthians 12: 4-6

Great Gain

Written by Lori Casto on August 12, 2024. Posted in Daily Scripture.

Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

1 Timothy 6:6-10

Year: 2024

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