Quotes and Readings of the Day

2 Samuel 7:1-17

Now when the king dwelt in his house, and the LORD had given him rest from all his enemies round about, the king said to Nathan the prophet, "See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells in a tent." And Nathan said to the king, "Go, do all that is in your heart; for the LORD is with you."

But that same night the word of the LORD came to Nathan, "Go and tell my servant David, `Thus says the LORD: Would you build me a house to dwell in? I have not dwelt in a house since the day I brought up the people of Israel from Egypt to this day, but I have been moving about in a tent for my dwelling. In all places where I have moved with all the people of Israel, did I speak a word with any of the judges of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, saying, "Why have you not built me a house of cedar?"' Now therefore thus you shall say to my servant David, `Thus says the LORD of hosts, I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, that you should be prince over my people Israel; and I have been with you wherever you went, and have cut off all your enemies from before you; and I will make for you a great name, like the name of the great ones of the earth. And I will appoint a place for my people Israel, and will plant them, that they may dwell in their own place, and be disturbed no more; and violent men shall afflict them no more, as formerly, from the time that I appointed judges over my people Israel; and I will give you rest from all your enemies. Moreover the LORD declares to you that the LORD will make you a house. When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come forth from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom for ever. I will be his father, and he shall be my son. When he commits iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, with the stripes of the sons of men; but I will not take my steadfast love from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away from before you. And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure for ever before me; your throne shall be established for ever.'"

In accordance with all these words, and in accordance with all this vision, Nathan spoke to David.

Note: Today's Gospel reading is Luke 1:39-56. Find a Bible translation.

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

TAGS: Bible, Bible Reading, Christian, 2 Samuel

Genesis 45:8-45:18

So, it was not you who sent me here, but God; and He has made me a father to Pharaoh, lord of all his household, and ruler over the whole land of Egypt.

"Now, hurry back to my father and say to him: Thus says your son Joseph, 'God has made me lord of all Egypt; come down to me without delay. You will dwell in the region of Goshen, where You will be near me--you and your children and your grandchildren, your flocks and herds, and all that is yours. There I will provide for you--for there are yet five years of famine to come--that you and your household and all that is yours may not suffer want.' You can see for yourselves, and my brother Benjamin for himself, that it is indeed I who am speaking to You. And you must tell my father everything about my high station in Egypt and all that you have seen; and bring my father here with all speed."

With that he embraced his brother Benjamin around the neck and wept, and Benjamin wept on his neck. He kissed all his brothers and wept upon them; only then were his brothers able to talk to him.

The news reached Pharaoh's palace: "Joseph's brothers have come." Pharaoh and his courtiers were pleased. And Pharaoh said to Joseph, "Say to your brothers, 'Do as follows: load up your beasts and go at once to the land of Canaan. Take your father and your households and come to me; I will give you the best of the land of Egypt and you shall live off the fat of the land.'

From Parshat VaYigash. 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, Genesis

He spake well who said that graves are the footprints of angels.

-Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

TAGS: Angel Quote, Angels, Graves, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

By realizing that all forms are self-awareness, I have beheld my consort's face-the true Mind Within.

-Hundred Thousand Songs of Milarepa

From "365 Buddha: Daily Meditations," edited by Jeff Schmidt. Reprinted by arrangement with Tarcher/Putnam, a division of Penguin Putnam Inc.

TAGS: 365 Buddha, Buddhist Quote, Buddhism, Buddha, Consorts Face The, Forms, Face The

I'll ask myself, "How did I get here?", "Why am I here God?" but it's just that my steps are ordered. I don't know where I'm going to be next year but I know I'll be in the center of His will because that's my prayer.

-CeCe Winans

TAGS: Entertainment Quote, Celebrities, Music, Spiritual, God, Celebrity Spirituality, Entertainment, Faith

Joy is the wine that God is ever pouring into the hearts of those who strive with Him, Lighting their eye to vision and airing, Strengthening their arms to warfare glad and grim.

-G.A. Studdert Kennedy

TAGS: Evangelical, Evangelical Quote, Christianity

Install your refrigerator away from all heat sources, which will cause it to work harder and use more energy.

TAGS: Eco Tips

You miss 100% of the shots you never take.

-Wayne Gretzky

TAGS: Sports Quote, Motivational Quote, Inspirational Quote, Inspiration Quote, Celebrities, Entertainment, Hockey, Coach, Motivation

Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports. It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and the Bible.

-George Washington

TAGS: Evangelical, Evangelical Quote, Christianity

Life's unfairness is not irrevocable; we can help balance the scales for others, if not always for ourselves.

-Hubert Humphrey

TAGS: Emotional Health Quote, Health Quote

It is not those who lack energy or refrain from action, but those who work without expectation of reward who attain the goal of meditation. Theirs is true renunciation. Therefore, Arjuna, you should understand that renunciation and the performance of selfless service are the same. Those who cannot renounce attachment to the results of their work are far from the path.

Bhagavad Gita 6:1-2

Excerpted from The Bhagavad Gita, translated by Eknath Easwaran, copyright 1985. Reprinted with permission from Nilgiri Press, www.nilgiri.org. To order the book, please call 1-800-475-2369.

TAGS: Hindu Quote, Bhagavad Gita, Hinduism

To hold, you must first open your hand. Let go.

-Tao Te Ching

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

Each day we make deposits in the memory banks of our children.

-Charles Swindoll

TAGS: Inspiration Quote, Memory, Memory Banks, Deposits, Banks, Charles Swindoll, Example, Responsibility

If you sanctify yourself a little, you are sanctified much.

-Talmud: Yoma, 39a

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

TAGS: Judaism, Jewish Quote

Those who maintain kinship with the detached, who continue to provide for those who let them down and willingly forgive their oppressors, shall indeed excel both in this world and the next.

-Hadith The Prophet Muhammad (SAW), as reported by 'Uqbah bin Amir

The Prophet Muhammad (SAW), as reported by 'Uqbah bin Amir

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

TAGS: Hadith, Islam Hadith, Muslim Quote, Muslim

Remembering God is the cure for the heart.

-Muhammad

TAGS: Relationship Quotes, Relationships, Heart