FEBRUARY 1-28

January 1
February 1 BE CAREFUL

Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall.
1 Corinthians 10:12

Have you ever watched a movie where just as a character thinks he has won and lets down his guard, at the last minute, he is defeated? Joy is turned to stunned disbelief and then horror as they ask themselves, how did this happen? It should serve as a warning to us all. We have an enemy who is waiting to defeat us and is looking for an opening. The moment we relax or ignore him, he will attack. Then we, too, will wonder how did this happen. It all begins when we let down our guard. Remember, the games not over till the final whistle. What areas of your life should you be on your guard?

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Lesson 5
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READING PLAN:
Exodus 13:17-15:18
Matthew 21:23-46
Psalms 26:1-12
Proverbs 6:16-19

PRIORITIES
February 2 THE CREDIT

Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
1 Corinthians 10:31

Many people dream of the moment that they will stand and hear the crowd stand and cheer. I have also noticed at these moments, many people first acknowledge God and then the crowd. Why would they do this? Because of any ability, they have, the health that has been given to them, He deserves the credit for it. Have you had some victories in your life? First, acknowledge God and give Him the credit He deserves. You couldn’t have done it without Him. Who gets the credit in your life?
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Lesson 5
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READING PLAN:
Exodus 15:19-17:7
Matthew 22:1-33
Psalms 27:1-6
Proverbs 6:20-26

DAILY WORKOUT
February 3 Others Focused

Do not merely look out for your own personal interests but also the interests of others. Philippians 2:4

How many times, when faced with decisions, does the thought come to mind, “What about me?” By nature, we always want to put ourselves first. It doesn’t take any extra thought or effort. It’s easy. This type of thinking is destructive. A group works together for the common good, with each filling a specific role. A true “team player” is concerned about the other members of the team more than himself. Have you asked yourself, “Which role am I filling in other’s lives?”
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Lesson 5
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READING PLAN:
Exodus 17:8-19:15
Matthew 22:34-23:12
Psalms 27:7-14
Proverbs 6:27-35

January 1
February 4
A BALANCED LIFE

The Child continued to grow and become strong, increasing in wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him.
Luke 2:40

We know that we need to exercise all of our bodies to create a healthy balance and provide better overall performance. No one wants to fail because they didn’t take care of themselves.
The Bible tells us that Jesus grew physically, emotionally, and spiritually. He is our role model. If we only focus on one part of our lives, we will eventually suffer because of our lack of balance. We all want to perform well for a long time, and a balanced life will help us get there. What part of your life do you need to work on?

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Lesson 6
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READING PLAN:
Exodus 19:16-21:21
Matthew 23:13-39
Psalms 28:1-9
Proverbs 7:1-5

PRIORITIES
February 5 ENCOURAGE-MENT

And let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds.
Hebrews 10:24

In life, it is common to see a friend go over and put his arm around or talk to someone who has just lost a close friend or had a personal tragedy. The purpose is so that the friend knows that he is not alone and to be encouraged so that they can keep moving forward in life.
What a great picture of the Church!
When someone is struggling, we should put our arms around them and let them know they are still part of the team and encourage them to walk in love and do good works. We should all do this because tomorrow we may be the one who needs the encouragement.
Who around you is needing encouragement?
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Lesson 6
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READING PLAN:
Exodus 21:22-23:13
Matthew 24:1-28
Psalms 29:1-11
Proverbs 7:6-23

DAILY WORKOUT
February 6 CAN’T STOP LOVE

Love never fails.
1 Corinthians 13:8

We have all had one of those days when everything goes wrong. Nothing seems to work right, and you can’t wait for the day to be over so you can get home. No matter how bad the day was, you know you have a loving family waiting for you. There is hope for the future. True Christian love is this way. No matter how bad the day, we are still on the same team. We truly have hope for the future because we are on His team. How can you show love to someone around you?
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Lesson 6
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READING PLAN:
Exodus 23:14-25:40
Matthew 24:29-51
Psalms 30:1-12
Proverbs 7:24-27

January 1
February 7 Unity

Being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
Ephesians 4:3

It is said of successful organizations that the people have a “bond” or that they “bought-in” to the system of work. We sometimes act as if that is something that is beyond our control. According to God, unity is something that we can control. God would not ask us to have unity if it is something we have no control over.
God’s Word clearly states that whether we have unity or not is up to us. This verse teaches us that we should be working at having and maintaining unity. We won’t accomplish much without it. Are you bringing people together or pushing them apart?
How?
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Lesson 6
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READING PLAN:
Exodus 26:1-27:21
Matthew 25:1-30
Psalms 31:1-8
Proverbs 8:1-11

PRIORITIES
February 8 LISTEN UP

Hear, O sons, the instruction of a father, and give attention that you may gain understanding.
Proverbs 4:1

When employees gather around their boss, they sit in silence and listen. They trust in their boss and expect to hear from him words that will help them succeed in their work. When he finishes, they get up and usually go to do what they were asked to do. Why is it that we are quick to hear from a boss but sometimes don’t pay attention to our parents or our church leaders? I know that my parents and Church leaders care more about me than any boss I ever had. So we need to listen up so we can enthusiastically do what we were asked to do.
Who are you listening to that God has placed in your life?

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Lesson 6
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READING PLAN:
Exodus 28:1-43
Matthew 25:31-26:13
Psalm 31:9-18
Proverbs 8:12-13

DAILY WORKOUT
February 9 GOOD TIMES

Behold, how good and how pleasant it is For brothers to dwell together in unity!
Psalm 133:1

The sounds of laughter and teasing break tension in the air. We all want to be part of a family that likes each other and has a good time together. When a family is united behind one purpose, this is the result. They look forward to spending time together. As Christians, we all have one goal as well.
Knowing that we are all on the same team with one purpose should make being together an enjoyable time. If we don’t enjoy being together, we should ask ourselves, am I focusing on the right purpose for my life? When do you enjoy time with other Christians?

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Lesson 6
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READING PLAN:
Exodus 29:1-30:10
Matthew 26:14-46
Psalms 31:19-24
Proverbs 8:14-26

January 1
February 10 SERVICE

An argument started among them as to which of them might be the greatest.
Luke 9:46

The disciples were a group of guys who had lived together, worked together, faced danger together, seen, and done miracles together. This wasn’t just a bunch of nobodies. Jesus had called them, and their names are immortalized in the Bible. This story is probably one part they would like to have left out of scripture. We are all vulnerable at times to want recognition for what we have done.
Jesus told them the way to recognition with God is by serving others, not by doing great works. Next time you want recognition for what you have done, ask yourself, “Who am I serving?”

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Lesson 6
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Exodus 30:11-31:18
Matthew 26:47-68
Psalm 32:1-11
Proverbs 8:27-32

PRIORITIES
February 11 GOOD COMPANY

He who walks with wise men will be wise,
Proverbs 13:20a

One of the most significant resources in any group is an experienced person who will take the time to teach the younger people what he has learned. His efforts will help these younger ones to perform better and will have wisdom beyond their experience. It is always better to learn from someone else’s mistakes than to make them all yourself. As Christians, we should spend time with more mature Christians so that we can become wise ourselves. With this wisdom, we will then be able to teach those who have just been saved. Who are you spending time with?
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Lesson 7
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READING PLAN:
Exodus 32:1-33:63
Matthew 26:69-27:14
Psalm 33:1-11
Proverbs 8:33-36

DAILY WORKOUT
February 12 BAD COMPANY

But the companion of fools will suffer harm.
Proverbs 13:20b

I have seen people with promising careers choose the wrong kind of friends and end up losing it all. Instead of making lots of money and enjoying the life they love, they end up in jail or even dead. We say what a waste, what a tragedy. Look at your friends and ask yourself, what direction in life are they heading? If they are going in the wrong direction, are they taking you with them? We should make sure we are going in the right direction and taking others with us. Don’t be close friends with someone who will bring you down. Are your friends lifting you up or bringing you down?
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Lesson 7
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READING PLAN:
Exodus 34:1-35:9
Matthew 27:15-31
Psalms 33:12-22
Proverbs 9:1-6

January 1
February 13
A SHARED LIFE

And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common; and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need.
Acts 2:44-45

These verses are a beautiful picture of teamwork. They shared and sacrificed for each other. No one had to make them do this. They enjoyed each other’s company and spent lots of time together. People were willing to share. Others were able to do more and sacrificed what they had so that they could give to others. One right way to check how you feel about your teammates or your fellow Christians would be to ask yourself, “Who am I sharing with and sacrificing for?”

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Lesson 7
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READING PLAN:
Exodus 35:10-36:38
Matthew 27:32-66
Psalm 34:1-10
Proverbs 9:7-8

PRIORITIES
February 14 MAKE THE CHANGE

Depart from evil and do good so that you will abide forever.
Psalm 37:27

Everyone can develop bad habits from time to time. When the problem has been identified, they spend time to correct this.
The first step is to stop doing the wrong thing. The second step is to replace it with the right thing. We know that if you don’t replace the wrong thing with the right thing, we will go back. In our Christian lives, we should replace our bad habits with good habits. Many times we time to quit the bad habits without replacing them, and we
go back. The Bible says that when we replace bad habits with good ones, we will be blessed. What habits need to change in your life?
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Lesson 7
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READING PLAN:
Exodus 37:1-38:31
Matthew 28:1-20
Psalms 34:11-12
Proverbs 9:9-10

DAILY WORKOUT
February 15 ARE YOU TEACHABLE?

The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, But a wise man is he who listens to counsel.
Proverbs 12:15

The best teacher or parent in the world can’t help those who won’t listen. It just doesn’t seem to matter what you do; they won’t listen. That person is heading down a road that leads to nowhere, yet they think they know what they are doing. They would argue and tell you that everything will be all right. Eventually, they end up off the right path, and sometimes they still can’t see why. It’s even worse seeing how it affects them and the people who care about them. We should ask ourselves, am I teachable? Am I open to correction? As a follower of Christ, this is an absolute must. The big question is, will you take the teaching and apply it?
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Lesson 7
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READING PLAN:
Exodus 39:1-40:38
Mark 1:1-28
Psalms 35:1-16
Proverbs 9:11-12

January 1
February 16 WHEN TO BE QUIET

He who guards his mouth and his tongue, Guards his soul from troubles.
Proverbs 21:23

These days, it is common to see celebrities trying to apologize and explain why they said what they said. This takes a lot of time and energy, and in the end, people will remember what they said was wrong. Some have learned and are now careful about what they say. One of the wisest things we can do as Christians is to think before we speak. We can save ourselves lots of headaches if we would do this. Also, we need to consider God’s reputation, as well. Knowing when to be quiet can save us all a lot of trouble. How do you stop yourself from speaking without thinking?

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Lesson 7
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READING PLAN:
Leviticus 1:1-3:17
Mark 1:29-2:12
Psalms 35:17-28
Proverbs 9:13-18

PRIORITIES
February 17 The Right Thing

The seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.”
Luke 10:17

We love to celebrate victories. The disciples were returning from seeing demons cast out through the power of Jesus. They were happy. They were joyful. Jesus listened to the good news that they were celebrating. He never told them not to celebrate. He just told them to celebrate the right thing. Jesus said the power was not such a big deal.
Jesus said the thing we should celebrate is that we are going to be in heaven. Are you going to be in heaven? If so rejoice, you have a reason to celebrate. How have you celebrated being a Christian today?

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Lesson 7
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READING PLAN:
Leviticus 4:1-5:19
Mark 2:13-3:6
Psalm 36:1-12
Proverbs 10:1-2These days, it is common to see celebrities trying to apologize and explain why they said what they said. This takes a lot of time and energy, and in the end, people will remember what they said was wrong. Some have learned and are now careful about what they say. One of the wisest things we can do as Christians is to think before we speak. We can save ourselves lots of headaches if we would do this. Also, we need to consider God’s reputation, as well. Knowing when to be quiet can save us all a lot of trouble. Do you think before you speak?The seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.”
Luke 10:17

We love to celebrate victories. The disciples were returning from seeing demons cast out through the power of Jesus. They were happy. They were joyful. Jesus listened to the good news that they were celebrating. He never told them not to celebrate. He just told them to celebrate the right thing. Jesus said the power was not such a big deal.
Jesus said the thing we should celebrate is that we are going to be in heaven. Are you going to be in heaven? If so rejoice, you have a reason to celebrate. Have you celebrated being a Christian today?

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Lesson 7
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READING PLAN:
Leviticus 4:1-5:19
Mark 2:13-3:6
Psalm 36:1-12
Proverbs 10:1-2

DAILY WORKOUT
February 18 Disqualified

But I discipline my body and make it my slave so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.
1 Corinthians 9:27

We have all heard the sad stories of people who, through hard work, discipline, and ability, have risen to the top of the athletic world, the political world, or any area, only to have it all come crashing down around them as some secret gets out. They go from being famous to being infamous.
From being the first person, everyone wants to talk to, to being excluded from the conversation. When people talk about you, it is no longer about your achievements but your failure. They have risen to the top only to fall back down again. Is there something in your life that would disqualify you?

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Lesson 8
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READING PLAN:
Leviticus 6:1-7:27
Mark 3:7-30
Psalm 37:1-11
Proverbs 10:3-4

January 1
February 19 ARE YOU WISE?

The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, But a wise man is he who listens to counsel.
Proverbs 12:15

Have you ever noticed that the student who cooperates the most with the teacher improves faster than others? Taking the time to listen and improve your performance is the mark of a good student. It is also wise. The Bible tells us this. Notice it doesn’t say he who hears counsel is wise. It’s the one who hears it and then changes his life to match it that is wise. We all need someone knowledgeable like a teacher to speak into our lives. Look for that person and then take their wisdom and improve your life. Then you, too, will be wise. Who’s counsel are you following?

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Lesson 8
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READING PLAN:
Leviticus 7:28-9:6
Mark 3:31-4:25
Psalms 37:12-29
Proverbs 10:5

PRIORITIES
February 20 ROAD TO POVERTY

Poor is he who works with a negligent hand, But the hand of the diligent makes rich.
Proverbs 10:4

Do you know anyone who is really talented at something, like art or music? Sometimes, because of their lack of effort, they don’t ever succeed. Sometimes, others with less talent become a success. It is a waste when someone with enormous talent does nothing with it. Eventually, they end up with little when they could have had so much if they had just worked at it. The Bible teaches us that the surest way to poverty is not to work hard. You can get by for a while without hard work, but eventually, it leads to lack. What areas of your life do you need to work harder at using your God-given gifts?
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Lesson 8
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READING PLAN:
Leviticus 9:7-10:20
Mark 4:26-5:20
Psalms 37:30-40
Proverbs 10:6-7

DAILY WORKOUT
February 21 GODLY CHARACTER

But I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.
1 Corinthians 9:27

Talent can get you to the top, but only character will keep you there. This is true in all fields of life. Knowing this, we should pay as much attention to our character as to developing our athletic abilities. Most people give very little thought to their character. The Bible’s wisdom teaches us to focus on our character because only through this can we achieve lasting success. It requires effort and self-discipline to develop character, but it will benefit us all of our lives even after our talent fades.
How are you working on building a godly character in your life?

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Lesson 8
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READING PLAN:
Leviticus 11:1-12:8
Mark 5:21-43
Psalm 38:1-22
Proverbs 10:8-9

January 1
February 22 PERSISTENCE

Poor is he who works with a negligent hand, But the hand of the diligent makes rich
Proverbs 10:4

I also have seen people who weren’t as talented as others achieve success due to their hard work. It wasn’t just a day, a week, or even months that made all the difference for them. They have spent years working hard, and now they are enjoying their rewards. We all admire their success and credit their work, but how many of us are willing to pay that price? This kind of continual effort pays off in our spiritual life as well. To know God well and enjoy His presence requires a consistent walk with Him.
We will never regret the time we have invested with God. When are you spending regular time with God?

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Lesson 8
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READING PLAN:
Leviticus 13:1-59
Mark 6:1-29
Psalms 39:1-13
Proverbs 10:10

PRIORITIES
February 23 Good Conduct

Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I will hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;
Philippians 1:27

Have you ever traveled with a group, whether it be a sports team, school team, or a church team? The expectation is that your behavior will speak well of the group and the city or organization it represents. It only takes a few minutes of poor behavior to ruin a reputation. As Christians, we have an even more important obligation because we represent the King of Kings. People will form their opinions about Him based on what they see from us.
Knowing this, we should always be aware that it would only take a few minutes of selfishness for people to think poorly of our God. What is your life saying?

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Lesson 8
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READING PLAN:
Leviticus 14:1-57
Mark 6:30-56
Psalms 40:1-10
Proverbs 10:11-12

DAILY WORKOUT
February 24 CHARACTER FIRST

But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.
1 Samuel 16:7

So many times, we are quick to judge a person by their appearance. We have often been disappointed using this process because what we saw on the outside wasn’t what we saw when we met them in person. The truth is, it’s more important what is going on on the inside that truly counts. We need to focus on developing our character because that is what will make us successful or cause us to fail. God looks at our character, not our appearance. So let’s focus on developing what is on the inside. Do you spend as much time on your character as you do on your appearance?
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Lesson 8
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READING PLAN:
Leviticus 15:1-16:28
Mark 7:1-23
Psalm 40:11-17
Proverbs 10:13-14

January 1
February 25 ROAD TO BLESSING

Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own?
1 Corinthians 6:19

We are all expected to take care of our physical bodies because it is the only one we have. For example, professional athletes even have contracts with specific rules about things they can and cannot do. They accept these restrictions in order to reap the rewards of being on that team.
As Christians, we are now on God’s team. There are tremendous rewards for being on His side. He also has restrictions on what we can and cannot do based on His knowledge of what would be best for us. He never limits us to keep us from anything good. He only seeks to free us up to enjoy the best. What needs to change so that you life is pleasing to God?

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Lesson 9
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READING PLAN:
Leviticus 16:29-18:30
Mark 7:24-9:10
Psalms 41:1-13
Proverbs 10:15-16

PRIORITIES
February 26 KNOWING THE RULEBOOK

Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.
2 Timothy 2:15

One of the expectations of getting a driver’s license is to learn the rules of the road. To be an effective driver, one must know what is acceptable and what is not.
The more prominent rules are easier, but it takes time and effort to learn all of the things you need to know to drive well.
As a Christian, if I am going to live well, I need to learn how to live. It’s not just things not to do; it’s also things we should do. To live an approved life will require time and effort, but it also comes with many rewards. How much time are you spending learning the Bible?

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Lesson 9
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READING PLAN:
Leviticus 19:1-20:21
Mark 8:11-38
Psalms 42:1-11
Proverbs 10:17

DAILY WORKOUT
February 27 NO COMPROMISE

A good name is to be more desired than great wealth. Favor is better than silver and gold.
Proverbs 22:1

Throughout history, from time to time, people have been caught cheating. There were willing to take shortcuts to win a trophy or a prize or get money. Now they don’t have the reward, and they also are known as cheaters.
Now that their reputation is ruined, that doesn’t seem like such a good idea. As Christians, we should value a good reputation over having great wealth.
Avoid questionable methods that can harm our reputations and also that of the God we claim to serve. The value of a good reputation will bless our families and us for a long time. What in your life brings honor to God?

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Lesson 9
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READING PLAN:
Leviticus 20:22-22:16
Mark 9:1-29
Psalms 43:1-5
Proverbs 10:18

January 1
February 28 DON’T BE A COMPLAINER

Do all things without grumbling or disputing;
Philippians 2:14

One way to tell how well a family is getting along is by listening to them talk. When you hear a lot of complaining, the family is headed downhill. The reason for this is the person complaining is saying that he knows better than anyone else what is best. That disrupts all the chemistry that a family has. This is also true in life. When a person complains, they are saying that they know better than God what is best for their lives. When you believe this, you will continue to make choices that will hurt you. When you open your mouth, is it to praise or complain?
Give an example.
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Lesson 9
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READING PLAN:
Leviticus 22:17-23:44
Mark 9:30-10:12
Psalm 44:1-8
Proverbs 10:19

PRIORITIES

DAILY WORKOUT