Resources & Updates

Dear Family in Christ,

First Cup is designed to assist you in the habit of daily Bible reading and prayer. The name is to remind you that as you reach for your first cup of morning coffee or tea, reach also for your Bible and prayer list. The prayers at the beginning of each week are taken from hymns, sometimes found in obscure hymnals in my library. They are intended to be read as your beginning prayer, to focus your mind on the daily readings that follow. May this spiritual discipline strengthen you as you face each day.

November 2024

Click below to download this month's readings and prayer list. 

November Readings (PDF) Prayer List (PDF)

1.  Judges 1:1-2:23; Deuteronomy 4:1-14:9; 6:10-7:6; 2 Corinthians 6:14-18

2.  Judges 3:1-31; Deuteronomy 8:1-9:29; Psalm 50:1-23

3.  Judges 4:1-5:31; Psalm 80:1-19

Depth of mercy! Can there by mercy still reserved for me? Can my God His wrath forbear?  Me, the chief of sinners, spare?  I have long withstood His grace, long provoked Him to His face; would not hearken to His calls, grieved Him by a thousand falls.  Still for me the Savior stands, shows His wounds, and spreads His hands.  God is love!  I know, I feel; Jesus weeps, and loves me still.  (The Hymnbook, no. 273)

4.  Judges 6:1-40; Exodus 34:10-14; Ezekiel 13:13-23; Colossians 3:5-11; Ephesians 5:3-6

5.  Judges 7:1-8:35; Deuteronomy 20:8; Psalm 76:1-12; 2 Corinthians 4:7-18

6.  Judges 13:1-14:20; Proverbs 22:6; 12:4; 18:22; 16:9; 20:24; Jeremiah 10:23

7.  Judges 15:1-16:31; Proverbs 6:20-26; 14:1; 16:4; 9:1-18; 31:30; Ecclesiastes 7:1-28

8.  Ruth 1:1-22; Psalm 88:1-18; 2 Corinthians 4:16-18; Psalm 30:1-12

9.  Ruth 2:1-23; Leviticus 19:9-10; Romans 12:9-21; James 2:14-16; Luke 6:38

10.  Ruth 3:1-18; Proverbs 3:5-6; 20:24; 31:10; Psalm 37:1-40

The steps of those whom He approves are ordered by the Lord; and though they fail, held by His hand, they yet shall be restored.  I have not seen, though since my youth many years have fled, the saint forsaken, nor beheld His children begging bread. Mark well the perfect, upright man, as still his years increase; behold his life, and thou shalt see his journey end in peace.  (The Hymnbook, no. 422)

11.  Ruth 4:1-22; Leviticus 25:23-25; Deuteronomy 25:5-10; Psalm 103:1-22

12.  1 Samuel 1-2:11; Psalm 66:1-20; Philippians 4:6-7; Ephesians 3:20-21

13.  1 Samuel 2:12-4:1a; Proverbs 3:11-12; 15:31-32; 23:13; Hebrews 12:1-13

14.  1 Samuel 4:1b-22; Proverbs 19:18; Ezekiel 33:10-20; Galatians 6:1-10

15.  Deuteronomy 17:14-20; 28:1-68; 1 Samuel 8:1-22

16.  1 Samuel 9:1-10:27; Psalm 5:1-20

17.  1 Samuel 11:1-15 (read again 1 Samuel 8:4-19); Habakkuk 2:18-20; Psalm 31:1-24

Grace and truth shall mark the way where the Lord His own will lead, if His word they still obey and His testimonies heed.  For thy name’s sake hear Thou me; for Thy mercy, Lord, I wait. Pardon my iniquity, for my sin is very great. He who walks in godly fear in the path of truth shall go. Peace shall be his portion here, and his sons all good shall know. They that fear and love the Lord shall His holy friendship know. He will grace to them accord and His faithful covenant show.  (The Hymnbook, no. 372)

18.  1 Samuel 7:15-17; 12:1-25; Joshua 24:14-15

19.  1 Samuel 13:1-23; Deuteronomy 12:5-14; Ecclesiastes 9:18; Proverbs 15:4; Psalm 4:1-8

20.  1 Samuel 14:1-52; Proverbs 16:1, 3:1-35, 4:1-27, 9:1-18; 18:18

21.  1 Samuel 15:1-35; Psalm 40:6-8; 51:16-17; Isaiah 1:11-17; Hebrews 10:8-10

22.  Psalm 2:1-12; Matthew 25:31-46; John 18:28-37; 1 Corinthians 15:20-28

23.  Psalm 9:1-10:18

24.  Psalm 47:1-9; 145:1-21

The Lord is King! Lift up thy voice, O earth, and all ye heavens, rejoice! From world to world the joy shall ring, the Lord Omnipotent is King. The Lord is King! Who then shall dare resist His will, distrust his care, or murmur at His wise decrees, or doubt His royal promises?  One Lord, one empire, all secures; He reigns, and life and death are yours: Thru earth and heaven one song shall ring, the Lord Omnipotent is King! (The Hymnbook, no. 83)

25.  Matthew 13:1-58

26.  Matthew 18:1-35; 19:16-30

27.  Matthew 21:28-22:14

28.  Matthew 24:1-51

29.  Luke 21:5-36; Matthew 10:1-42

30.  Isaiah 59:1-21; Ezekiel 18:30-32