The Upper Room Daily Devotional from Nashville, Tennessee, United States “SPECIAL EVERY DAY” for Wednesday, 20 July 2016 with Scripture: Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

The Upper Room Daily Devotional from Nashville, Tennessee, United States “SPECIAL EVERY DAY” for Wednesday, 20 July 2016 with Scripture: Ecclesiastes 3:1 For everything there is a season,
a right time for every intention under heaven —
2 a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
3 a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
4 a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
5 a time to throw stones and a time to gather stones,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain,
6 a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to discard,
7 a time to tear and a time to sew,
a time to keep silent and a time to speak,
8 a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.
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The psalmist wrote, “You changed my mourning into dancing. You took off my funeral clothes and dressed me up in joy.”[Psalm 30:11 (CEB)]
Several years ago, when I replaced my worn, tattered Bible with a new one, I decided to try something new. Every day that I read a passage in The Upper Room, I marked the passage and wrote the date in the margin of my Bible. When the passage was especially meaningful or helpful to me, I also picked a single verse and underlined it.
Five years later, I see by the dates that I have read the same passages several times. When I do my daily reading, I also think about the events that happened on those dates. Some dates fell before the birth of my son. Others were during a health crisis, while on maternity leave, or during times of worry or stress.
I love reflecting on the highs and lows of my daily life and knowing that God’s word has sustained me through them all. The phases of my life and my daily concerns have changed and affected what I have appreciated most from each reading. No matter what I was experiencing at the time, I could find meaning and draw strength from the scripture. I am grateful to have God’s word available to bless me in all the phases of my life.
Whether we are happy, sad, grateful, worried, sick, or at peace, God speaks to us.
See an image of Marney's Bible, here."Link2Life for July 20, 2016"

Marney's Bible pages.

The Author: Marney White (Connecticut, USA)
Thought for the Day: Reflecting on the past gives me hope for God’s blessings in the future.
Prayer: Thank you, God, for speaking to us through scripture. Give us wisdom to appreciate your guidance in our lives. Amen.
Prayer focus: SOMEONE STARTING A NEW DISCIPLINE OF BIBLE STUDY

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