Blog Entries tagged 'daily'

Free Daily Devotional App for the iPad

camthecameraman@hotmail.com — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 00:00:00 +0100

A few days back I wrote a post Daily Devotional for the iPad and since then I have had a few more days to try different techniquies in reading God's Word everyday. I love the YouVersion Bible app, in HD for the iPad, it makes reading different versions a breeze. You may not be aware that everyday we "contribute" to this app by linking directly to the bible text on the YouVersion site. We also we add a contributor link on that site so if people are browsing the Bible and Linda has written a devotion about that text they can see her link in the list with lots of other contributors.

Let us know how you are doing you Daily Devotions of the iPad .

Daily Devotional for the iPad

camthecameraman@hotmail.com — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Linda was generous enough to buy me an iPad for my birthday recently. This has given me the chance to try reading my Daily Devotions on this device.

I have loved the iPad's large screen and it has made my book reading a breeze. I have downloaded a few books, intelectual of course to make me look smart as I show off my new purchase, and have enjoyedreading them on this device.

I have also tried the Daily Devotional App for iPhone that we built and while it is small, like all made for iPhone apps are it is still very usable. Because of the size of the screen on the iPad just reading the normal web page was also very easy, much better than on the iPhone. I also checked out the Daily Devotions Emails in the Mail Appon the iPad, this was also a great way to read a Daily Devotional on the iPad.

In time we may look at updating the iPhone app, I would be interested though in how you are reading your Daily Devotional on the iPad.

Free Christian iPhone Application

camthecameraman@hotmail.com — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 01:00:00 +0100

In the last post I talked about the growth of our free Christian iPhone app , here is a graph of the growth from Feedburner. You can see the growth is steady but has started to tail off over the last few days.

Rice Cooker

linda@dailydevotions.com.au — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Linda Bailey is currently away. Her new devotionals will begin again on the 1st February, 2010. In the meantime, here is a Daily Devotion that has been significant for one of my readers..

Ever since I purchased a rice cooker I have never experienced any RCSD: Rice Cooking Stress Disorder.

Deuteronomy 3:1-29

Reference: v. 24 “O Sovereign Lord, You have begun to show to Your servant Your greatness and Your strong hand. For what god is there in heaven or on earth who can do the deeds and mighty works You do?”

Explore: I don’t know how I ever survived without my rice cooker. Okay, so that’s probably a pretty bold statement, but ever since I purchased a rice cooker I have never experienced any RCSD: Rice Cooking Stress Disorder. You just put a few cups of rice in the bowl, fill the bowl up with water to the specified line and then turn the cooker on. It doesn’t even matter if you forget about the rice; it automatically turns itself to ‘Keep Warm’ mode once it has cooked. I used to be filled with trepidation when cooking a dish that required rice, now I look forward to it! As far as rice goes, I trust that my rice cooker will get it right every single time.

Application: While my rice cooker is amazing with rice, I would never try to roast a leg of lamb in it. And it would be one of my last choices if I was looking for a new machine to wash my clothes. The rice cooker is a very specific appliance that does a wonderful job with cooking rice, could stretch itself to steam some vegetables, but that’s about it.
Sometimes we treat God in the same way. We only trust Him with a specific part of our lives. We are happy to allow Him in to our ‘God time’, which is usually around a Sunday event or a weekly Bible study. However the rest of the time we rely on other gods. During our work time we may rely on our own strength, during our study time we may rely on our teachers knowledge, and when it comes to our relationships we put all our trust in our feelings. However, God is not so specific that He is only there for one use. He is not a specified appliance. God desires to be a part of our whole life and there is no one better or greater for us to rely on.

Prayer: Lord, thank You that You are there for us always. No matter what area of our life we are involved in, You are faithfully there for us. May we look to rely on You at all times. Amen.

What area of your life do you need to rely on God?

Fastened Around Your Neck

linda@dailydevotions.com.au — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Placing the cross chain around my neck each morning has become quite a symbolic moment for me to begin my day.

Proverbs 6:1-35

Reference: v.21 Bind them upon your heart forever; fasten them around your neck. (NIV Bible)

Explore: When I was ordained as a Churches of Christ minister my parents gave me a gold cross hanging from a necklace. As we don't have any official religious uniform in Churches of Christ, they thought that I could wear the necklace when I was performing my official duties. While my parents initial thought was for me to wear the cross necklace just for special ceremonies, I have found myself wearing it nearly every day. Placing it around my neck each morning has become quite a symbolic moment for me to begin my day. As the cross sits at the nape of my neck I know that other people will see it, and so it is like I am putting my faith on public display each new day. Now, just because I wear a cross does not make me a good Christian. However the act of fastening the clasp around my neck is a daily reminder of who I am, who I have come from and who I strive to be.

Application: When the author is speaking of fastening something around a neck he is not talking about gold ornamentation. He is talking about the wisdom from parents. This too is something that we should wear each and every new day. Wisdom is not just something you get one day and then that's it for the rest of your life. Wisdom is a life-long journey that we need to constantly be taking initiative and acting upon each and every day. There are some days when it will seem like we have left our wisdom at home and we will act out of emotion or greed rather than considered thought. That does not mean that all is lost. We just need to continue to work at binding wisdom upon our hearts and wearing it anew each day.

Prayer: Lord, You gave Your whole life to bring us closer to You. Sometimes we forget to even give you five minutes in the day. Forgive us Lord. May we strive to know You more and more. Amen.

Do you have something to remind you each day of the importance of your faith?

Gold Cross Necklace

linda@dailydevotions.com.au — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 00:00:00 +0100

As my denomination does not have any particular uniform or official garb, this was a nice gift that my parents thought I could wear when I am carrying out my formal duties.

Genesis 28:1-22

Reference: v.18 Early the next morning Jacob took the stone he had placed under his head and set it up as a pillar and poured oil on top of it. (NIV Bible)

Explore: When I was ordained as a minister my parents gave me a celebration gift. It was a small gold cross that i could hang on a necklace. As my denomination does not have any particular uniform or official garb, this was a nice gift that my parents thought I could wear when I am carrying out my formal duties. A few years down the track I find myself putting on my gold cross necklace every single day. It reminds me of many things: my parents, my ordination, my commitment to ministry but most of all that every day I am carrying out 'formal duties' for God. I do not hang up my cross on particular days but I am always being a representative for Christ in my home, in my work place and in my local shopping centre.

Application: Jacob had a God experience at Bethel and so he set up a pillar with his stone-pillow on top as a reminder of God's promise to him and his promise back to God. While we must never make objects the idol we worship, it is often helpful for us to have visual reminders of our commitment to God and God's commitment to us. It could be a bookmark in your Bible, a small group outline on your fridge, or a special object on your bedside table. And then each and every day you can be reminded of the great love God has for you and be prompted to live for God in the day ahead.

Prayer: Lord, You never forget us. You are with us always. May we not forget to look to You each and every day. Amen.

Do you have a special object that reminds you of your commitment to God and his love for you?

Daily Bible Study - Too hard on a hot day like today?

camthecameraman@hotmail.com — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 01:00:00 +0100

Linda's blog about Daily Bible Study discusses the necessity of a close walk with God, a Daily Bible Study can of course helps this. How do you do your study when it is as hot and energy draining as it is today in Melbourne. 40 Degrees Centigrade!!

Tell us how you do your daily bible study and do Linda's REAP artciles help? Or Daily emails were popular but unfortunately the service we were using to do this shut down. We are trying to get these working again so they can remind you, prompt you, to do a daily bible study.

Prayer In The Moment

linda@dailydevotions.com.au — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 01:00:00 +0100

When you are aware of God's existence in your everyday life then a prayer-in-the-moment becomes more frequent.

Nehemiah 2:1-10

Reference: v.4 The king said to me, "What is it you want?" Then I prayed to the God of heaven... (NIV Bible)

Explore: There are many prayers mentioned in the Bible: Daniel got in trouble for praying; the Psalms were prayers in song; Jesus would remove himself from crowds to pray; and even when the Apostle Paul was in prison he prayed. Prayer is so diverse that many people can pray in various ways. It was refreshing for me to read that Nehemiah also prayed like I do at times, he had a prayer-in-the-moment. He didn't remove himself from the king's presense to pray, he would not have made the prayer long and detailed (as he would have looked foolish before the king), he just said a prayer to bring God into a moment when he needed His wisdom and guidance.

Application: When you are aware of God's existence in your everyday life then a prayer-in-the-moment becomes more frequent. As I walk into a meeting I will often ask God for His wisdom; as someone I know comes to mind I'll briefly ask God to make His presence known to them; as I deal with a conflict I'll just think, 'God give me the right words to say.' A prayer-in-the-moment is not lengthy or detailed, it just invites God into your awareness as you go through situations you encounter. It does not replace more detailed prayer, as even Nehemiah had been spending many days in prayer beforehand, but it is a personal way of bringing God into your awareness for that moment.

Prayer: Lord, we know that you are always with us. Often we can get distracted and think we can do all things in our own strength. May we be aware of your presence, even through the smallest moments of the day. Amen.

Have you ever said a prayer-in-the-moment? What style of prayer helps you to connect with God?

Daily Bible Study: Blessing or Burden?

linda@dailydevotions.com.au — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 01:00:00 +0100

For most people a daily Bible study can be more of a burden than a blessing.

Our lives are filled with so many different pressures that our regular God-time often gets pushed to the back. We know that daily Bible study and prayer is essential for a healthy relationship wtih God, but somehow, no matter how good our intentions are to begin with, we struggle to keep any regular routine.

Why is it so hard to keep up with regular daily Bible study? Do we not think that it's worthwhile? Do we not see any benefit in spending time exploring the stories and wisdom from God's Word?

To be honest, there are days when I commit willingly to my daily Bible study at yet I don't get any epiphany and I finish my devotion feeling none the wiser. But we never know when the epiphany may come. A year ago I moved to a suburb in Melbourne called South Morang. My parents had never heard of this suburb before our plan to move. Now they hear it mentioned all the time. They notice it in the paper, they hear it on the news, and a few of their friends have even driven through there recently. South Morang has not become more pronounced since I have moved there, but because my parents now have a point of reference to that place, they recognise it when it is spoken of.
Our daily Bible study can have the same impact on our lives. When we read a passage in the Bible it may not help us in that moment, but when something connected to those words come up in our everyday life then we find a new connection to God.

Doing a daily Bible study can sometimes feel like a burden but the more we know of God and the more we experience Him, the more our lives are truly blessed.

Cool, Calm and Collected

linda@dailydevotions.com.au — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 00:00:00 +0100

God is always present in our world but we are often too busy or preoccupied to notice Him.

Acts 27.27-44

Reference: v. 35 After he said this, he took some bread and gave thanks to God in front of them all. Then he broke it and began to eat. (NIV Bible)

Explore: In a recent podcast I recorded (Foolishly Faithful podcast) we were talking about God in the Everyday. God is always present in our world but we are often too busy or preoccupied to notice Him.
Here is Paul, in the middle of the Sea, having been in storms for the past 14 days, and he brings the crew together. In a cool, calm and collected manor he breaks bread and gives thanks to God. You would think that because of everything he has gone through leading up to this trip he would find it difficult to thank God. However, even after 14 days in a storm and the whole crew fearing for their lives, Paul is able to give thanks to God and state His presence in the situation.
Through Paul's actions the crew were 'encouraged'. This wasn't the result of the food, because let's face it, after 14 days on a ship I don't think the bread would have been fresh from the bakery. And if we follow verse 36 it says they were encouraged first and then they ate food themselves (clearly they needed encouragement to eat 14 day old bread!)

Application: I would love to say that when I am struggling and in my own 'storm' that I am as cool, calm and collected as Paul. However, that is rarely the case. Usually I am whinging and whining to God, I am frustrated and take it out on the people around me and the 'storm' sends my whole life into a bit of a whirl. And yet God is with us through the calm seas but also through the storm. We may not always notice him and we may be so busy trying to solve everything ourselves that we forget to stop, even in the middle of the storm, and give thanks to God and invite Him back into our situation.
It's not always easy and it doesn't mean everything is going to be smooth sailing after that, but we can be encouraged in those moments by reminding ourselves that God is always present.

Prayer: Lord, its so easy to worship you when we're gathered together with other Christians and we're all doing the same thing. But in the storms of everyday life I can often forget to rely on you. I take this moment now to invite You into my life again today... Amen.

God in the Everyday

linda@dailydevotions.com.au — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 15:41:51 +0100

Often we have moments of profound spiritual beauty in our everyday lives however we let them pass by unnoticed or we are too focused on rushing on to our next task.

Acts 21.1-16

Reference: v.5 But when our time was up, we left and continued on our way. All the disciples and their wives and children accompanied us out of the city, and there on the beach we knelt to pray. (NIV Bible)

Explore: In the most recent recording of our 'Foolishly Faithful' podcast we were talking about 'God in the Everyday'. There are often moments throughout the day that when you look back and see that there was a greater power at work in the situation. I think that often there are sacred moments that mean more than just the words being spoken: A conversation that keeps you thinking hours afterwards; a piece of creation that makes you catch your breath; an email that arrives with remarkably good timing. These are the sacred moments throughout the day that help us to be aware of God's presense in our everyday.
As Paul was leaving Tyre the disciples and their families went down to the beach to wave Paul off. I wonder how many other people were around. Crew would have been setting up the boat Paul was set to sail but maybe along this dock there were many other boats, quite a bit of trade and others milling around. Regardless of what was happening around them, the disciples and their families gather around Paul and pray for him, right there on the beach. What a beautiful and profound moment as Paul continues his difficult journey.

Application: Often we have moments of profound spiritual beauty in our everyday lives however we let them pass by unnoticed or we are too focused on rushing on to our next task. We need to slow down to allow a sacred moment to refresh our souls and learn what God is doing in our lives. God can connect with us in our everyday, He doesn't need a structured worship service to draw close to us. He is always close by, it's just a matter of when we will finally stop and notice Him right by our side.

Prayer: Lord, you promise to be with us always and yet we are often too busy to notice you there. Thank you for being the whispered voice in my everyday. Amen.

Vanity vs Wisdom

linda@dailydevotions.com.au — Thu, 27 Dec 2007 16:12:47 +0100

While we are not to forget how we look in the mirror, it does help to be appropriate for the day ahead.

James 1.19-27

Reference: v. 25 But the person who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it - he will be blessed in what he does.

Explore: I am not completely vain but I do want to present as respectable, so a mirror is a part of my regular morning ritual. It's not that I have forgotten what I looked like the previous morning, it's just that after the night's sleep there is often work to be done! The writer of James, while warning us against forgetfulness, does use the words 'continues to do this'.

Application: When we apply this repetition to the Word of God we find that we can learn so much more about how to live and our purpose in life. Just like I look at myself in the mirror on a daily basis, I act according to how I currently look and what my actions that day will be - make up or not, hair up or down etc. Likewise, if we read God's word daily we are able to apply it to our actions throughout the day. Not just a one off event but a daily part of our daily preparation.

Prayer: Lord, Your Word is a lamp to our feet, needed daily to guide our steps. Thank you for your constant wisdom. Amen.