2005 December | Our Daily Bread

You Can Do It!

By Richard De Haan on December 31, 2005

A young boy was at the barbershop for a haircut. The room was filled with cigar smoke. The lad pinched his nose and exclaimed, “Who’s been smoking in here!” The barber sheepishly confessed, “I have.” The boy responded, “Don’t you know it’s not good for you?” “I know,” the barber replied. “I’ve tried to quit a thousand times but I just can’t.” The boy commented, “I understand. I’ve tried to stop sucking my thumb, but I can’t quit either!”

Getting In Shape

By Dennis J. De Haan on December 30, 2005

A woman went to a diet center to lose weight. The director took her to a full-length mirror. On it he outlined a figure and told her, “This is what I want you to look like at the end of the program.”

Three Needs

By Anne Cetas on December 29, 2005

I’ve heard it said that there are three things a person needs to be happy:

Something to do-meaningful work or helping others.
Someone to love-someone to whom we can give of ourselves, such as a spouse, a child, or a friend.
Something to look forward to-a vacation, a visit from a loved one, improved health, the realization of a dream.

Digging For Treasure

By Haddon W. Robinson on December 28, 2005

Profitable Bible study involves more than just opening to a chapter and reading what’s there. Here are seven guidelines to help you make the most of your study of the Bible.

Set aside a regular time. Unless you schedule it, you’ll neglect it.
Before you start reading, ask God for help and understanding.
Carefully think about what you are reading. Not all of the Bible’s treasures lie like pebbles on the surface. To mine the gold, you have to dig.
Seek to understand what the author was saying to the first people who read the book or letter before you decide how to apply it today.
Write down at least one truth or principle you can put into practice.
Try different translations of the Bible. If you find yourself skimming over familiar words, a new translation may focus your mind on the passage in a new way.
Don’t get discouraged. Some parts of the Bible are more interesting than others, and some you may not understand at all. But there’s enough that you can understand, and it will revolutionize your life if you apply it.

Unopened Tomorrows

By Joanie Yoder on December 27, 2005

We often wish we could see what lies around the corner in life. Then we could prepare for it, control it, or avoid it.

Love Needs Expression

By Haddon W. Robinson on December 26, 2005

Somehow the command to love doesn’t get through to us. We may confess that we lack a strong faith, but seldom do we admit that we are deficient in love. Perhaps we feel we’re as loving as the next person, and maybe a little bit more.

First Breath

By David C. McCasland on December 25, 2005

Russell Nagy’s moving choral anthem “The Promise” contains these words:

Silently by night,
    in mortal flesh enshrouded,
He who framed the mountains
   draws first breath.
Far from human sight,
   the Promise ne’er forgotten
Is in love begotten
  to conquer death.
© 1993 by High Street Music

The Call Of The Present

By David H. Roper on December 24, 2005

The life of the mother of Jesus was simple and plain. She did the tasks that others did at her age, learning how to be a good homemaker for her future husband. There was nothing out of the ordinary about her external life-at least not revealed in Scripture.

Knowing God Personally

By Joanie Yoder on December 23, 2005

Most Christians would prefer to see God perform mighty miracles rather than to have fellowship with Him and learn His ways.

What To Give God

By Haddon W. Robinson on December 22, 2005

In Romans 12:1, the apostle Paul applied the truths of what he had already written to the followers of Jesus in Rome. He said, “Present your bodies a living sacrifice.” He also urged us to keep our bodies from sinning and to avoid the world’s corruption by renewing our minds (v.2).

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