Grow

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

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September 2021

Download September 2021 First Cup PDF      Download Prayer List PDF

1       Luke 17:20-37; Genesis 7:6-24; 19:1-29; Revelation 6:12-17

2       Deuteronomy 14:28-29; Isaiah 1:16-17; Luke 18:1-8; Isaiah 58

3       Luke 18:9-14; Matthew 18:1-14; 23:1-12; 2 Timothy 3:10-17; Proverbs 22:6

4       Luke 18:15-17; 1 Peter 2:2; 1 John 2:28-3:10

5       Luke 18:18-30; Exodus 20:1-17; Job 34:16-19; 1 Peter 1:3-9

 

Oh, I love to walk with Jesus, like the publicans of old, when He gathered them about Him and the blessing tidings told: How He came to bring deliverance to the captives in distress; take away our every burden, giving perfect peace and rest. Oh, I love to walk with Jesus like the man of long ago, who had tarried by the wayside near the gates of Jericho. Jesus heard his cry for mercy, gave him back his sight that day and immediately he followed Jesus all along the way. Oh, I love to walk with Jesus all the way to Cal-v’ry’s brow, gaze upon that scene of suffering  while my tears of sorrow flow.  There He tells me how He loves me, takes my every sin away; so I follow Him so gladly, lead me anywhere He may. (Worship in Song, #119) 

 

6       Luke 18:31-34; Psalm 41:9; 22:16-18; Isaiah 53; Psalm 16:9-10

7       Luke 18:35-43; John 9; Psalm 146

8       Psalm 14; Mark 2:13-17; Luke 19:1-10; Proverbs 8:17; Jeremiah 29:13; Isaiah 55

9       Luke 19:11-27; Proverbs 27:18; Matthew 25:31-46

10     Luke 19:28-44; Matthew 21:1-11; Mark 11:1-11; Zechariah 2; 9:9

11     Luke 19:45-48; John 2:13-22; I Corinthians 3:16-17; 6:19-20; Ephesians 2

12     Psalm 118; Luke 20:1-19; Acts 4:1-12; I Peter 2:1-10

 

Beneath the cross of Jesus I fain would take my stand–the shadow of a mighty Rock within a weary land; a home within the wilderness’ a rest upon the way from the burning of the noontide heat and the burden of the day.  Upon the cross of Jesus mine eyes at times can see the very dying form of one who suffered there for me: and from my stricken heart with tears two wonders I confess–the wonders of redeeming love and my unworthiness.

(The Hymnbook, #190)

 

13     Luke 20:20-26; Romans 13; Colossians 3:12-14; 1 Peter 5:5-12

14     Luke 20:27-40; John 11:1-45; Romans 6:8-14; 1 Corinthians 15:20-58

15     Malachi 2:1-9; Matthew 23; Luke 20:41-47; 1 Peter 5:1-4

16     Luke 21:1-4; 2 Corinthians 8:1-15; 9:6-15; 1 Kings 17:1-16; Proverbs 3:27-28

17     Luke 21:5-38; 2 Timothy 3; 2 Peter 3

18     Luke 22:1-6; Matthew 26:1-16; Matthew 10

19     Luke 22:7-71; John 13:13-38; Titus 1:10-16; Jude 3-4; 1 John 2:20-23

 

Marvelous grace of our loving Lord, Grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt.  Yonder on Calvary’s mount outpoured, there where the blood of the Lamb was spilt!  Dark is the stain that we cannot hide.  What can avail to wash it away?  Look! There is flowing a crimson tide; Whiter than snow you may be today.  Marvelous, infinite, matchless grace, Freely bestowed on all who believe!  You that are longing to see His face, will you this moment His grace receive?  Grace, grace, God’s grace, Grace that will pardon and cleanse within!  Grace that is greater than all our sin! ( Worship in Song, # 213)

 

20     Matthew 27:1-56; Luke 23; John 19

21     Matthew 28:1-15; Luke 24:1-53; 1 Corinthians 15

22     Romans 1; Leviticus 18; Psalm 106

23     Romans 2; James 1:19-25; Matthew 7:1-5

24     Romans 3; Psalm 14; 5; Ephesians 1:3-14

25     Romans 4; Ephesians 2:8-9; John 6:28-40

26     Romans 5:1-11; Colossians 1:21-23; 1 Peter 4:12-19; James 5:10-11

 

   O Love that will not let me go, I rest my weary soul in Thee;  I give Thee back the life I owe, that in Thine ocean depths its flow may richer, fuller be.  Oh Light that follows all my way, I yield my flickering torch to Thee; My heart restores its borrowed ray, that in Thy sunshine’s blasé its day may brighter, fairer be.  Oh cross that liftest up my head, I dare not ask to fly from Thee;  I  lay in dust life’s glory dead, and from the ground there blossoms red, life that shall endless be. (The Hymnal, # 400)

 

27     Romans 5:12-6:23; Ephesians 1:3-10; 1 Thessalonians 3:11-4:8

28     Romans 7; 2 Samuel 11; Mark 14:26-38; 51-71; Psalm 32

29     Romans 8:1-17; 2 Corinthians 5:1-10; Isaiah 25:6-9; 1 Corinthians 15:35-58

30     Romans 8:18-39; Deuteronomy 31:6; Joshua 1:5; Psalm 118

 

 

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October 2021

1       Romans 9; Jeremiah 18; Isaiah 29:13-16; 64:5-9

2       Isaiah 65; Romans 10

3       Romans 11; Psalm 139

 

A charge to keep have I, a God to glorify; a never dying soul to save and fit it for the sky.  To serve the present age, my calling to fulfill; Oh, may it all my powers engage to do my Master’s will!  Arm me with jealous care, as in Thy sight to live; and, oh, Thy servant, Lord, prepare a strict account to give. Help me to watch and pray, and on Thyself rely, assured if I my trust betray I shall forever die. (Worship in Song, #190)

 

4       Romans 12; Leviticus 19:18; Proverbs 20:22; I Peter 2:11-12

5       Romans 13; Titus 3:1-11; 1 Thessalonians 4:1-12

6       Romans 14; Psalm 34:14; Hebrews 12:14-15; 1 Corinthians 8:9-13

7       Romans 15-16; Romans 12:10; 1 Peter 1:22; 1 John 4:7-2127

8       1 Peter 1; 1 Chronicles 29:15; Psalm 39:12; Hebrews 13:13-16; Ephesians 2:1-13

9       1 Peter 2:1-12; Romans 13:8-14; 1 Corinthians 3:16-17; 6:19; Psalm 65:1-4

10     1 Peter 2:13-3:22; Ephesians 5:22-6:9; Romans 13

 

I heard an old, old story, how a Saviour came from glory, how He gave His life on Calvary to save a wretch like me.  I heard about His groaning, of His precious blood’s atoning, then I repented of my sins and won the victory. I heard about His healing, of His cleansing power revealing, how He made the lame to walk again and caused the blind to see.  And then I cried   “Dear Jesus, come and heal my broken spirit”;  and somehow Jesus came and brought to me the victory. Oh, victory in Jesus, my Saviour forever!  He sought me and bought me with His redeeming blood.  He loved me ‘ere I knew Him, and all my love is due Him.  He plunged me to victory beneath the cleansing flood. (Worship in Song, # 434)

 

11     1 Peter 4; Philippians 1:27-30; Revelation 2:10

12     Jeremiah 10:21; 23:1-4; Matthew 9:36; John 10:1-18; 1 Peter 5

13     Matthew 17:1-8; 2 Peter 1; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; Psalm 119:105; 2 Corinthians 4:6

14     2 Peter 2; Hebrews 6:4-6

15     Ezekiel 12:21-28; 2 Peter 3; 2 Corinthians 6:1-2

16     1Timothy 1; Romans 5:21; 7:7-8:17; Hebrews 5:11-14; James 3:1; 1 Peter 2:1-3

17     1 Timothy 2; Genesis 3; Proverbs 31; 11:16, 22; 14:1

 

He giveth more grace when the burdens grow greater, He sendeth more strength when the labor increases; to added affliction He addeth His mercy, to multiplied trials, His multiplied peace. His love has no limit, His grace has no measure, His power has no boundary known unto men;  For out of His infinite riches in Jesus, He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again!   (Hymns for the Family of God, #112)

 

18     1 Timothy 3; Romans 12; Hebrews 13:17

19     1 Timothy 4; 1:7; John 13:1-17; 1 Corinthians 11:1

20     1 Timothy 5:1-6:2; 1 Corinthians 7:8; James 1:27; Ephesians 6:5-9; Psalm 68:4-5

21     1 Timothy 6:3-21; Ecclesiastes 4:4-8; Luke 12; Revelation 3:14-22

22     2 Timothy 1; Mark 8:34-38; Romans 1:8-17; Philippians 1:12-30; 1 Peter 4:12-19

23     2 Timothy 2; Romans 6:1-14; Ephesians 4:1-3

24     2 Timothy 3; Jeremiah 12:10-11; 23:1-4; John 10:1-16; Acts 20:25-31

 

   Fight the good fight with all thy might!  Christ is thy strength, and Christ thy right;  Lay hold on life, and it shall be thy joy and crown eternally.  Run thou the race through God’s good grace, lift up thine eyes, and seek His face;  life with its  way before us lies, Christ is they path, and Christ the prize. Faint not nor fear, His arms are near, He changeth not and thou art dear;  Only believe, and then thou shall see that Christ is all in all to thee. (The Baptist Hymnal, # 406)

 

25     2 Timothy 4; 1 Corinthians 9:24-27; Philippians 3:7-4:1

26     Titus 1; 1 Timothy 1:1-7; 1 Corinthians 4:1-2; Philippians 1:9-11

27     Titus 2; Deuteronomy 6:1-9; 11:18-21; Psalm 25; Proverbs 9:9; 22:17-21

28     Titus 3; Romans 13; 1 Peter 2:17

29     Philemon 1; 1 Peter 3:15-16; Luke 9:26; Matthew 6:14; Luke 17:1-4; Romans 16

30     Revelation 1:1-8; John 1:1-18; Revelation 21:6; 22:6-21

31     Revelation 1:9-20; Daniel 7:13-14; Matthew 5:14-16; 16:13-20