First Cup
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.
Blessings and love in Christ,
Sandy Sturch
December 2020
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24 Luke 2:1-20; Colossians 1:15-23
25 Psalm 47; Colossians 1:24-2:5
26 Isaiah 55
Rejoice, the Lord is King! Your Lord and King adore! Rejoice, give thanks, and sing, and triumph evermore. Lift up your heart, lift up your voice! Rejoice, again I say, rejoice! His Kingdom cannot fail, He rules o’er earth and heaven. The keys of death and hell are to our Jesus given. Lift up your heart, lift up your voice! Rejoice, again I say, rejoice! He all His foes shall quell, shall all our sins destroy, and every bosom swell with pure seraphic joy. Lift up your heart, lift up your voice! Rejoice, again I say, rejoice! (Hymnbook, #140)
27 Isaiah 9:2, 6-7; Luke 2:21-40
28 Luke 2:41-52; Proverbs 3:1-6
29 John 1:1-34; Ephesians 1:1-14
30 John 3; 5:24; 1 John 3
31 Psalm 90; 2 Corinthians 5:1-10
January 2021
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1 Ecclesiastes 1; Psalm 49
2 Ecclesiastes 2; Matthew 6:19-34
When I survey the wondrous cross, on which the Prince of glory died, my riches gain I count but loss, and pour contempt on all my pride. Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast, save in the death of Christ my God; All the vain things that charm me most, I sacrifice them to His blood. Were the whole realm of nature mine, that were a present far too small; Love so amazing, so divine, demands my soul, my life, my all. (The Baptist Hymnal, #99)
3 Ecclesiastes 3; Matthew 16:24-28; 25:31-46; 1 Peter 4:1-11
4 Ecclesiastes 4; Proverbs 15:16; 27:10
5 Ecclesiastes 5; Psalm 66:13-14; Proverbs 20:25; 1 Timothy 6:6-10; James 1:9-11
6 Ecclesiastes 6; Philippians 1:3-30
7 Ecclesiastes 7; Proverbs 7:6-27; Romans 3:10-20; Psalm 119:9-11
8 Ecclesiastes 8; Psalm 92; Romans 11:33-36
9 Ecclesiastes 9; Psalm 34; Philippians 1:21
Give of your best to the Master; Give him first place in your heart; Give him first place in your service; consecrate every part. Give, and to you shall be given. God His beloved Son gave. Gratefully seeking to serve Him, give Him the best that you have. Give of your best to the Master; naught else is worthy His love. He gave Himself for your ransom, gave up His glory above; laid down His life without murmur, you from sin’s ruin to save. Give Him your heart’s adoration; Give Him the best that you have. (Worship in Song, #340)
10 Ecclesiastes 10; Proverbs 15; James 3
11 Ecclesiastes 11; Proverbs 11:24; 1 Timothy 4:6-16
12 Ecclesiastes 12; Psalm 146
13 Psalm 1; 2 Timothy 3
14 Psalm 2; Proverbs 1:20-33
15 Psalm 3; Proverbs 3
16 Psalm 4; Ephesians 4:26-27; James 1:19-27
Soldiers of Christ, arise, And put your armor on, strong in strength which God supplies through His eternal Son. Strong in the Lord of Hosts and in His mighty power, Who in the strength of Jesus trusts is more than conqueror. Leave no unguarded place, No weakness of the soul; Take every virtue, every grace, and fortify the whole. From strength to strength go on; wrestle, and fight, and pray; Tread all the powers of darkness down, and win the well-fought day. (The Hymnbook, # 362)
17 Psalm 5; 107
18 Psalm 6; Hebrews 12:1-13
19 Psalm 7; Jeremiah 12
20 Psalm 8; Genesis 1-2:3; Hebrews 2; Philippians 2:1-11
21 Psalm 9; Proverbs 23:17-18; Revelation 6:9-11
22 Psalm 10; Romans 3:9-20
23 Psalm 11; Jeremiah 17:5-18 James 1:12
I love the Lord, His strength is mine; He is my God, I trust His grace; My fortress high, my shield divine, My Saviour and my hiding place. From God the victory I receive; Most perfect is His holy way; His word is tried, they who believe Will find the Lord their shield and stay. For who is God, and strong to save, Beside the Lord, our God of might? ‘Tis He that makes me strong and brave, The Lord who guides my steps aright. (The Hymnbook, #370)
24 Psalm 12; James 3
25 Psalm 13; Habakkuk 3
26 Psalm 14; Romans 3:9-4:8
27 Psalm 15; Ephesians 4:17-5:21
28 Psalm 16; 73
29 Psalm 17; Job 23:10-12
30 Psalm 18
The heavens declare Thy glory Lord; In every star Thy wisdom shines; But when our eyes behold thy Word, we read Thy name in fairer lines. The rolling sun, the changing light, And nights and days, Thy power confess; But the blest Volume Thou hast writ Reveals Thy justice and Thy Grace. Sun, moon, and stars convey Thy praise Round the whole earth, and never stand; so when Thy truth began its race, It touched and glanced on every land. Nor shall Thy spreading gospel rest till through the world Thy truth has run; Till Christ has all the nations blest that see the light, or feel the sun. (The Hymnbook, # 259)
31 Psalm 19; Psalm 119:97-112
