Quotes and Readings of the Day

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Psalm 61

Assurance of God's Protection
To the leader: with stringed instruments. Of David.
Hear my cry, O God;
listen to my prayer.
From the end of the earth I call to you,
when my heart is faint.

Lead me to the rock
that is higher than I;
for you are my refuge,
a strong tower against the enemy.

Let me abide in your tent forever,
find refuge under the shelter of your wings. Selah
For you, O God, have heard my vows;
you have given me the heritage of those who fear your name.

Prolong the life of the king;
may his years endure to all generations!
May he be enthroned forever before God;
appoint steadfast love and faithfulness to watch over him!
So I will always sing praises to your name,
as I pay my vows day after day.

Note: Today's Gospel reading is Mark 6:30-46

From the New Revised Standard Version. Reprinted with permission from HarperBibles.

TAGS: Bible, Bible Reading, Christian, Psalm

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Numbers 8:15-8:26

Thereafter the Levites shall be qualified for the service of the Tent of Meeting, once you have cleansed them and designated them as an elevation offering. For they are formally assigned to Me from among the Israelites: I have taken them for Myself in place of all the first issue of the womb, of all the first-born of the Israelites. For every first-born among the Israelites, man as well as beast, is Mine; I consecrated them to Myself at the time that I smote every first-born in the land of Egypt. Now I take the Levites instead of every first-born of the Israelites; and from among the Israelites I formally assign the Levites to Aaron and his sons, to perform the service for the Israelites in the Tent of Meeting and to make expiation for the Israelites, so that no plague may afflict the Israelites for coming too near the sanctuary.

Moses, Aaron, and the whole Israelite community did with the Levites accordingly; just as the Lord had commanded Moses in regard to the Levites, so the Israelites did with them. The Levites purified themselves and washed their clothes; and Aaron designated them as an elevation offering before the Lord, and Aaron made expiation for them to cleanse them. Thereafter the Levites were qualified to perform their service in the Tent of Meeting, under Aaron and his sons. As the Lord had commanded Moses in regard to the Levites, so they did to them.

The Lord spoke to Moses, saying: This is the rule for the Levites. From twenty-five years of age up they shall participate in the work force in the service of the Tent of Meeting; but at the age of fifty they shall retire from the work force and shall serve no more. They may assist their brother Levites at the Tent of Meeting by standing guard, but they shall perform no labor. Thus you shall deal with the Levites in regard to their duties.

From Parshat Beh'alotekha. From THE TANAKH: The New JPS Translation According to the Traditional Hebrew Text. Copyright 1985 by the Jewish Publication Society. Used by permission.

TAGS: Torah, Torah Reading, Judaism, Numbers

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The angels encourage all of us to share how they help us, for it is in the sharing the angels become more and more real in our lives.

-Barbara Mark and Trudy Griswold,
'The Angelspeake Storybook'

From "Angels Around Us." Compiled by Karen Maguire. Reprinted by arrangement with Andrews McMeel Publishing.

TAGS: Angel Quote, Angels, Sharing, Barbara Mark and Trudy GriswoldbrThe Angelspeake Storybook

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Few cross over the river. Most are stranded on this side. On the riverbank they run up and down. But the wise person, following the way, Crosses over, beyond the reach of death. Free from desire, Free from possessions, Free from attachment and appetite, Following the seven lights of awakening, And rejoicing greatly in his freedom, In this world the wise person Becomes themselves a light, Pure, shining, free.

-from the Dhammapada

From "Teachings of the Buddha," edited by Jack Kornfield, 1993. Reprinted by arrangement with Shambhala Publications, Boston, www.shambhala.com.

TAGS: Dhammapada, Dhammapada Quotes, Buddhist Quote, Buddhism, Light, Person, Wise, River, Appetite, Possessions, Attachment, Shining

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Giving is living. If you stop wanting to give, there's nothing more to live for.

-Audrey Hepburn

TAGS: Entertainment Quote, Celebrities, Celebrity Quotes, Spiritual, Celebrity Spirituality, Entertainment

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The best gifts to give: To your friend, loyalty; To your enemy, forgiveness; To your boss, service; To a child, a good example; To your parents, gratitude and devotion; To your mate, love and faithfulness; To all men and women, charity.

-Oren Arnold

TAGS: Bible, Christian Quote, Christianity

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Buy a drying machine with a moisture sensor to make sure that you don't over dry your clothes, wasting time spent on laundry and energy.

TAGS: Eco Tips

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Everything works out in the end. If it hasn't worked out, it's not the end.

-Unknown

TAGS: Inspiration Quote, Hasnt, Hasnt Work

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It is easy to criticize and find fault with the conduct of kings, and write furious articles against them in newspapers, or make violent speeches about them on platforms. Any fool can rip and rend a costly garment, but not every man can cut out and make one. To expect perfection in kings, prime ministers, or rulers of any king, is senseless and unreasonable. We would exhibit more wisdom if we prayed for them more, and criticized less.

-J.C. Ryle

TAGS: Evangelical, Evangelical Quote, Christianity

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Good humor is a tonic for mind and body. It is the best antidote for anxiety and depression. It is a business asset. It attracts and keeps friends. It lightens human burdens. It is the direct route to serenity and contentment.

-Grenville Kleisser

TAGS: Emotional Health Quote, Health Quote

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Light illumines the Sun, But the Sun itself creates that light. The glorious Sun and its light are one and the same.

Jnaneshwar (also known as Jnanadeva)

From "Teachings of the Hindu Mystics," © 2001 by Andrew Harvey. Reprinted by arrangement with Shambhala Publications, Boston, www.shambhala.com.

TAGS: Hinduism, Hindu Quote

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Life can only be understood backwards, but it must be lived forewards.

-Soren Kierkegaard

TAGS: Glow, Holistic Living Quote, Spirituality, Holistic Living

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We ourselves feel that what we are doing is just a drop in the ocean. But the ocean would be less because of that missing drop.

-Mother Teresa

TAGS: Inspiration Quote, Ocean, Missing Drop, Drop, Missing, Perspective, Service, Responsibility, Mother Teresa

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It is in the deed that God reveals himself in life.

-Leo Baeck, "Essence of Judaism"

Reprinted from 'A Treasury of Jewish Quotations,' edited by Joseph L. Baron, Jason Aronson Inc.

TAGS: Judaism, Jewish Quote

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Seek what you wish from God, not from men. Be satisfied in joy; there is honor therein. On friends and relatives be not a burden. Rich is he who hopes from God, not from men.

-Al-Ghazzali, "Ihya Ulum Id-Din"

From "The Bounty of Allah," translated by Aneela Khalid Arshed. Copyright 1999. All rights reserved. Used with permission of The Crossroad Publishing Company, New York.

TAGS: Islam, Muslim Quote, Muslim

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I may have all knowledge and understand all secrets; I may have all the faith needed to move mountains--but if I have no love, I am nothing.

-I Corinthians 13 2

TAGS: Relationship Quotes, Relationships, Faith