Quotes and Readings of the Day

Revelation 13:11-18

Then I saw another beast which rose out of the earth; it had two horns like a lamb and it spoke like a dragon. It exercises all the authority of the first beast in its presence, and makes the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast, whose mortal wound was healed. It works great signs, even making fire come down from heaven to earth in the sight of men; and by the signs which it is allowed to work in the presence of the beast, it deceives those who dwell on earth, bidding them make an image for the beast which was wounded by the sword and yet lived; and it was allowed to give breath to the image of the beast so that the image of the beast should even speak, and to cause those who would not worship the image of the beast to be slain. Also it causes all, both small and great, both rich and poor, both free and slave, to be marked on the right hand or the forehead, so that no one can buy or sell unless he has the mark, that is, the name of the beast or the number of its name. This calls for wisdom: let him who has understanding reckon the number of the beast, for it is a human number, its number is six hundred and sixty-six.

Note: Today's Gospel reading is Matthew 13:53-58. Find a Bible translation.

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Genesis 24:53-24:67

The servant brought out objects of silver and gold, and garments, and gave them to Rebekah; and he gave presents to her brother and her mother. Then he and the men with him ate and drank, and they spent the night. When they arose next morning, he said, "Give me leave to go to my master." But her brother and her mother said, "Let the maiden remain with us some ten days; then you may go." He said to them, "Do not delay me, now that the Lord has made my errand successful. Give me leave that I may go to my master." And they said, "Let us call the girl and ask for her reply." They called Rebekah and said to her, "Will you go with this man?" And she said, "I will." So they sent off their sister Rebekah and her nurse along with Abraham's servant and his men. And they blessed Rebekah and said to her,

"O sister!
May you grow
Into thousands of myriads;
May your offspring seize
The gates of their foes."

Then Rebekah and her maids arose, mounted the camels, and followed the man. So the servant took Rebekah and went his way.

Isaac had just come back from the vicinity of Beer-lahai-roi, for he was settled in the region of the Negeb. And Isaac went out walking in the field toward evening and, looking up, he saw camels approaching. Raising her eyes, Rebekah saw Isaac. She alighted from the camel and said to the servant, "Who is that man walking in the field toward us?" And the servant said, "That is my master." So she took her veil and covered herself. 66 The servant told Isaac all the things that he had done. Isaac then brought her into the tent of his mother Sarah, and he took Rebekah as his wife. Isaac loved her, and thus found comfort after his mother's death.

From Parshat Chaye Sarah. 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

The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said: 'The Kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign forever and ever.'

-Revelation 11:15

TAGS: Angel Quote, Angels, Kingdom, Trumpet, Angel, Revelation 1115

Without love we could not survive. Human beings are social creatures, and a concern for each other is the very basis of our life together.

-His Holiness the Dalai Lama

From "The Pocket Dalai Lama," edited by Mary Craig, 2002. Reprinted by arrangement with Shambhala Publications, Boston, www.shambhala.com.

TAGS: Buddhism, Buddhist Quote, Human Beings, Human, Social Creatures, Beings

It was God who made me so beautiful. If I weren't, then I'd be a teacher.

-Linda Evangelista

TAGS: Werent, Entertainment Quote, Model, Celebrities, Spiritual, God, Celebrity Spirituality, Beautiful, Entertainment, ID, Faith

The reason why many fail in battle is because they wait until the hour of battle. The reason why others succeed is because they have gained their victory on their knees long before the battle came...Anticipate your battles; fight them on your knees before temptation comes, and you will always have victory.

-R.A. Torrey

TAGS: Evangelical, Evangelical Quote, Christianity

When cooking, reduce your oven's temperature by 25 degrees when using ceramic or glass pans, while cooking for the same amount of time.

TAGS: Eco Tips

Learn to pause ... or nothing worthwhile will catch up to you.

-Doug King

TAGS: Inspiration Quote, Worthwhile, Worthwhile Will, Worthwhile Will Catch, Pause, Doug King, Patience, Calmness

We need the spirit of Christ, without whom all our works are only worthy of condemnation.

-Martin Luther

TAGS: Evangelical, Evangelical Quote, Christianity

You have absolute control over your personal level of fitness. If you push yourself to new heights, stay competitive within yourself, give it your best shot, then chances are, you are going to look and feel great.

-Martina Navratilova

TAGS: Health Quote

The stupid man looks at his body and says, "This is I." The more learned thinks, "This is I" of his personality. But the wise man knows the true Self, saying, "I am the Eternal." He is individual, though without separateness. He has dissolved the "I" in Pure Consciousness.

Sankara

Reprinted with permission from "The Wisdom of the Hindu Gurus," edited by Timothy Freke, published by Godsfield Press. The book can be purchased online through Amazon.

TAGS: Hinduism, Hindu Quote

Without naiveté, there is no beauty.

-Diderot

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

Life can only be understood backwards, but must be lived forwards.

-Soren Kierkegaard

TAGS: Inspiration Quote, Life

God is of no importance unless he is of extreme importance.

-Abraham Joshua Heschel, "Man's Quest for God"

As cited in "Jewish Wisdom" by Rabbi Joseph Telushkin.

TAGS: Judaism, Jewish Quote

Those admitted to Paradise shall experience true bliss. Never shall they know want, nor will they suffer old age.

-Hadith The Prophet Muhammad (SAW), as reported by Abu Hurairah

The Prophet Muhammad (SAW), as reported by Abu Hurairah

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

I think that if God forgives we must forgive ourselves.

-C.S. Lewis

TAGS: Relationships, Relationships Quotes