BibleGateway Resources for You

We need to get in the habit of reading for ourselves what the Holy Bible actually says, rather than relying on others as to what it supposedly says. I’ve used BibleGateway.com for years. I recommend it.

I use www.BibleGateway.com a lot. Mainly because it's accessible. But also because it has dozens of Bible versions -- and dozens of languages -- to choose from. All at my fingertips, for FREE.

The Title bar at the site says it best: “A searchable online bible in over 100 versions and 50 languages.”

50 languages? I mean, c’mon, that’s wonderful!

"Go and Make Disciples of All Nations"

Scripture says we are to take His word and be witnesses for Him to the 4 corners of the earth (Acts 1:8, Acts 13:47).

Additionally, in what we often refer to as, “The Great Commission” -- in Matthew 28:18-20 -- it says:


“Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.’"


To ‘make disciples of all nations’ we are helped when we have the word in a translation that those cultures can understand. BibleGateway.com says it has 50 languages to choose from.

How much easier can that make it for missionaries traveling to far off places, to find a regional location to power-up and log-on -- and perhaps be able to print out at least parts of scripture directly to bring to the local culture? We have 50 languages to choose from already. Not a bad start.

For those of us who are so blessed to have easy access to the Internet and to His word, there are 23 English versions of the Holy Bible available. From Darby’s, Holman’s, Wycliffe’s, & Young’s to the newer ‘NIV 2011.’

For your studying, you can choose up to 5 versions at a time, to get search results from.

Meaning I can choose to read, say, chapter 11 of the Book of Hebrews (known as the 'faith' chapter), and read it in the NIV, ESV, NAS, MSG, & KJV if desired -- all on the same page.

BibleGateway Newsletters

• You can sign-up for HTML or Text e-mail
• You can sign-up for a few different daily and weekly devotionals
• You can get the BibleGateway Verse of the Day sent to your inbox each day
• You can get the Verse of the Day sent to you in 3 different Bible versions
• You can get the Verse of the Day sent to you in Spanish
• You can learn specifically about the men of the Bible, or
• You can learn details about 52 women of the Bible

Sign-up for BibleGateway’s newsletters or devotionals here:
www.biblegateway.com/newsletters/


There are lots of great, free Bible resources out there on the Internet for us. So many that we take them for granted, and ignore them.

As we do with Jesus, too, many times.

Jesus is so available to each of us that we often accept what we hear about Him, rather than investigating the truth for ourselves. It’s the trick of the world, and it works well.

Many of us blow off Christ due to our listening to the supposedly ‘cool’ folks mocking Him, mocking the Holy Bible.

But sometimes there’s a good reason why cool rhymes with fool.

Don’t be fooled. Learn for yourself what the truth is. Learn what scripture actually says to you, not what others tell you it says. You can start today, by going to BibleGateway.com and reading some of it for yourself.

My Prayer for You, and for Each of Us

Father, please, in the name of your son, Jesus Christ, please bless us now. With your Godly wisdom, with your enlightenment, with a true understanding of You, and a strengthening of faith in You, Lord.

Please, Jesus, lead us with the Holy Spirit now. Lead us to Your Word, to your truth, and onto Your narrow path so that we may spend an eternity blessed by your almighty power and amazing love.

Thank You, Father -- and thank You, Jesus. Amen.

Encouragement for Today -- and Denial

Today, the BibleGateway Verse of the day is from the Old Testament, Book of Psalms. It says:


“For the word of the LORD is right and true;
he is faithful in all he does.
The LORD loves righteousness and justice;
the earth is full of his unfailing love.”
(Psalm 33:4-5)


To me this is encouraging. A great, uplifting reminder. Thank You, Jesus.

Also, it aligns with another group of verses I love -- from the New Testament, Book of Romans:


"Since what may be known about God is plain to them,
because God has made it plain to them.
For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities--
His eternal power and divine nature--has been clearly seen,
being understood from what has been made,
so that men are without excuse.
For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God
nor gave thanks to him,
but their thinking became futile
and their foolish hearts were darkened.
Although they claimed to be wise,
they became fools."
(Romans 1:19-22)

The Bible: Old & Irrelevant Today?

Tell me that's not relevant to the mocking foolishness of our own culture today, and I'll have to lump you in with those whom God talks about right there in the verses above.

God's creation, His beauty and majesty, is able to be seen in so many ways. To deny it is nothing more than pride, arrogance -- and foolishness, truly.

But to each their own, right?

Me, I don't claim to be that smart. I am not a god. I'm happy to let a real, true God lead the way, blessing me and growing me as He sees fit.

Pray With Me?

Thank you, Father -- and thank You, Lord Jesus. Please, continue leading me -- every day and in every way -- with the Holy Spirit.

Bless each of us with Your Godly wisdom. Strengthen our faith in You. Enlighten the eyes of our hearts, Lord.

Put us each on your narrow path, please. Grab hold of us now.

Father, give every one of us reading this, into Jesus' hands. I know that those You give to Him, He does not give up.

Thank You for your Love, Father. Thank You, for Jesus. Amen.

The Good Shepherd?

"I am the good shepherd; I know My sheep and my sheep know me--
just as the Father knows Me and I know the Father--
and I lay down My life for the sheep.”
(John 10:14-15 -- NIV)

“I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own.
As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father;
and I lay down My life for the sheep.”
(John 10:14-15 -- NKJV)


With this verse, Jesus calls himself, “The good shepherd.”

It occurred to me this morning upon reading it that if there's a 'good' shepherd, there's probably a BAD shepherd, too.

We know this to be true, of course. I just don't know if it ever hit me like it did this morning.

We need to ask ourselves every morning -- and every time we take action or react, truly:

Which shepherd am I following right now?

While instant transformation may be the case for some, God shows clearly in scripture that this is NOT how He works on every one of us.

The Spirit is in us at the point of salvation, yes. But He chips away at us over a lifetime, it shows again and again throughout the Old and New Testaments.

“Choose This Day…”

It is our ‘daily’ battle as to which shepherd we choose to follow.

God says in the Book of Joshua:

“But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve.”
(Joshua 24:15)


It's not a once-a-week battle. It's not a day-to-day battle. It is a moment-to-moment, action-to-reaction struggle.

Do you let your circumstances dictate your actions and reactions? Do you let your emotions rule over you?

Most of us do, day after day.

Each day will, Will, WILL have its own set of 'circumstances' which will delude you, trick you -- and take your attention away from what truly matters -- if you continue letting them.

A Prayer for You Today

Lord Jesus, you are our good, great, and Almighty shepherd. We choose You, Lord. Thank You for choosing us first.

Please help us today to be bright lights for you. Like your cities on a hillside for all the people to see and come to for refuge, for comfort, for strengthening. Use us today, Jesus, please.

Love others through us today, Lord. Help us be better than we could be on our own. Help us share Your Truth today, Father. Please bless us with your Godly wisdom. Bless us with a strengthening of faith. Bless us with and through your Word.

Most of all, Your will be done, not ours. Here on earth, as it is in heaven. In Jesus' name we pray to you, Father, and we praise You. Thank You for loving us. Amen.