The Believer’s Hope

The hope that saves us:

Romans 8:24

For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?

The hope that causes believers to endure afflictions:

Romans 8:25

But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.

1 Thessalonians 1:3

Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father;

The hope of believers that comes through the scripture:

Romans 15:4

For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.

The hope which is a gift of the Holy Spirit:

Romans 15:13

Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.

The hope that is one of the three essential traits of the believer:

1 Corinthians 13:12

For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

The hope in Christ:

1 Corinthians 15:10

But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.

Thoughts 

If I look at myself, I am depressed.

If I look at those around me, I am often disappointed.

If I look at my circumstances, I am discouraged.

But if I look at Jesus, I am constantly, consistently, and eternally fulfilled.

God is Faithful

Titus 1:2

A faith and knowledge resting on the hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time,

2 Timothy 2:11-13

11 Here is a trustworthy saying: If we died with him, we will also live with him;

12 if we endure, we will also reign with him. If we disown him, he will also disown us;

13 if we are faithless, he will remain faithful, for he cannot disown himself.

1 Peter 4:19

So then, those who suffer according to God's will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.

God is jealous

Exodus 20:5

You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me,

Exodus 34:14

Do not worship any other god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.

Joshua 24:19

Joshua said to the people, “You are not able to serve the LORD. He is a holy God; he is a jealous God. He will not forgive your rebellion and your sins.

Deuteronomy 4:24

For the LORD your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.

Hebrews 10:31

It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

Hebrews 12:29

For our “God is a consuming fire.”

Matthew 6:33

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

James 4:4

You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.

Colossians 3:1-2

1 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.

2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.

Planned for God’s pleasure

Psalms 149:4 

For the LORD takes delight in his people; he crowns the humble with salvation

You were planned for God’s pleasure.

The moment you were born into the world, God was there as an unseen witness, smiling at your birth. He wanted you alive, and your arrival gave him great pleasure. God did not need to create you, but the chose to create you for his own enjoyment. You exist for his benefit, his glory, his purpose, and his delight.

Bringing enjoyment to God, living for his pleasure, is the first purpose of your life. When you fully understand this truth, you will never again have a problem with felling insignificant. It proves your worth. If you are that important to God, and he considers you valuable enough to keep with him for eternity, what greater significance could you have? You a child of God and you bring pleasure to God like nothing else he has ever created.

Life

    "God never said that the journey would be easy, but He did say that the arrival would be worthwhile."

“If the mind of God as discovered to us in His word and works is so vast and deep, what must His mind be in all its undisclosed resources in the infinity and eternity of its existence?”

Baptism 

    "Indeed, baptism is a vow, a sacred vow of the believer to follow Christ. Just as a wedding celebrates the fusion of two hearts, baptism celebrates the union of sinner with Savior."

Matthew 7:28-29

When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.

Thoughts on This Verse....

Unlike the teachers of his day, Jesus didn't have to shore up his teaching with obscure quotes from past teachers. Jesus, the Word of God, spoke the very words of God. He did and said what the Father willed. His life and his words had the ring of authenticity and an awareness of power that extend through the ages and beckon us to his truth. This Jesus, our Teacher and Lord, is different. His words are powerful. His teachings are true. So his will must be our passion!

Salvation 

 "Though the Bible was written over sixteen centuries by at least forty authors, it has one central theme--salvation through faith in Christ."

Heaven 

 "The Land of Promise is for those who simply remain to the end."

Thoughts

. Welcome it in every fair face, in every fair sky, in every fair flower, And thank God for it as a cup of His blessing." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

. "There's no human remedy for sin."

. "Jesus wants to give you peace."

. "You would think that everyone would leap at the chance to get rid of sin. Not so. They want relief not a cure."

. "Your walk with God does not depend on people, places, things or events."

. Many people have the idea that in each of us there is a reservoir containing a certain supply of energy.  This is supposed to be strictly limited in amount.  If our expenditure is excessive they say, our energy is depleted and we suffer from fatigue.  So we take the attitude of economizing our little store of strength, conserving our resources, lest the stingy springs run dry.  In contrast with this point of view is one akin to the teaching of Jesus.  That is, our energies seem to be used up, not because the flow is checked, but because either the channel is blocked or we have not learned to use our capacities in the right way.  In other words, we are tired not when we do too much but when we do too little.  Our hidden springs are not of body but of spirit; we are not receptacles but conductors.

. We are always saving somebody away off, when the fellow next to us ain’t eating.

. You must never sacrifice your relationship with God for the sake of a relationship with another person.

. Our sense of sin is in proportion to our nearness to God.

. God will answer all our questions in one way and one way only- namely, by showing us more of his Son. - Watchman Nee

. God always gives His best to those who leave the choice with Him. - Warren Wiersbe

. The Hebrew evening/morning sequence conditions us to the rhythms of grace.  We go to sleep, and God begins his work...We wake into a world we didn't make, into a salvation we didn't earn. - Eugene Peterson

. We want to be saints, but we also want to feel every sensation experienced by sinners; we want to be innocent and pure, but we also want to be experienced and taste all of life; we want to serve the poor and have a simple lifestyle, but we also want all the comforts of the rich; we want to have the depth afforded by solitude, but we also do not want to miss anything; we want to pray, but we also want to watch television, read, talk to friends, and go out.

. I live in the spirit of prayer.  I pray as I walk about, when I lie down, and when I rise up.  And the answers are always coming.

Examples of paying Tithes

Hypocrites:

Matthew 23:23

Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.

Luke 11:42

But woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass over judgment and the love of God: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.

Luke 18:12

I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.

 Christians:

1 Corinthians9:7-14

Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock? 

  Say I these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also?   For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen?   Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope.   If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things?   If others be partakers of this power over you, are not we rather? Nevertheless we have not used this power; but suffer all things, lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ.   Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the temple? and they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar?   Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.

1 Cor. 16:2

Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.

2 Cor. 7:11

  For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.

Galatians 6:6

Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things.

Christ—Our Everything.

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:26-31

Thomas Sheppard (1605-1649) was raised in a godly Puritan home, but while he was attending Cambridge University he fell into a life of sin. One Sunday morning, when he awoke from a drunken stupor, a heavy weight of sadness over the enormity of his guilt crushed him to the point that he left his former way of life.

For the next 9 months, the fear of God's wrath almost drove him to "run my head against walls . . . and kill myself." But while listening to a sermon on 1 Corinthians 1:30, he suddenly realized that Christ was everything he needed—that Jesus had lived the perfect life he couldn't live, had paid for his sins on the cross, and was now his Advocate in heaven.

Commenting on John 1:12, "As many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God," Sheppard wrote, "The Lord gave me a heart to receive Christ with a naked hand, . . . and so the Lord gave me peace."

If you want the kind of peace that only God can give, ask Him to give you a deep awareness of your own sinfulness. Then reflect on the wonder of the grace by which He made Jesus Christ everything you need. Finally, either renew the commitment you have already made to the Lord, or for the first time receive Jesus as your Savior.

The outstretched hand of God extends To those weighed down by sin; He offers to remove the load And give His peace within.

Jesus died in our place to give us His peace.

Quotes

 “If we seek God for our own good and profit, we are not seeking God.”

“Human beings need not despair and go on an eternal search for the Eternal, for the Eternal has come to the temporal.”

 “Preaching is thirty minutes in which to raise the dead.”

“The kingdom of heaven is not for the well-meaning but for the desperate.”

“The people of God are not merely to mark time, waiting for God to step in and set right all that is wrong. Rather, they are to model the new heaven and new earth, and by so doing awaken longings for what God will someday bring to pass.”

Adversity 

    "Conflict is inevitable, but combat is optional."

Kindness

"A kind heart is a fountain of gladness, making everything in its vicinity freshen into smiles." - Washington Irving

True friend

Those heartfelt words offer a glimpse into Screven’s soul—this man who, at age 25, lost his beloved fiancée to drowning the night before they were to be married. Grief stricken, Screven moved to Canada, where he fell in love a second time. Astonishingly, that fiancé also died—from pneumonia—soon before they were to marry.

The two tragedies forever changed Screven’s life. But what could such heartbreak teach believers about friendship with God—especially when many of us struggle in our fast-paced world to find true connections?

Paging through history on Screven, I almost missed the lesson his life longs to share.

After all, he started

We’ve always got a Friend, one who is loyal, good and true, forever. Amen.

Colossians 2:6-7

So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.

Thoughts on This Verse....

Jesus is our center! He is the hub around which we turn. Rather than trying to add on to the truth of Jesus, we must learn to accept it and trust it in child-like faith. But that child-like faith must be nourished and grown. As Jesus remains our central focus and our hearts remain thankful to God for his grace, we will that our faith is strengthened and that Jesus is more real than ever.

Quotes from Billy Graham  

- I'm thankful for the incredible advances in medicine that have taken place during my lifetime. I almost certainly wouldn't still be here if it weren't for them.

- Suppose you could gain everything in the whole world, and lost your soul. Was it worth it?

Ravi Zacharias  

“Spirituality with an underpinning of pantheistic beliefs is portrayed as being serene, innocuous, all-embracing, mystical, and wonderful…The world is now being constructed on reclaimed land from the sea of faith in which we seek common values without finding common reasons from which those values stem. Yet the deeper one probes into the reasoning, the more one has to wonder whether this disjunction between values and reasons will sooner or later take away from us the water of life.”

Jesus

- Today, let us realize our Big God is bigger than our problems.

- He is bigger than any opposition.

Leaders!

Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me — put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. — Philippians 4:9

Thoughts on This Verse....

I don't know about you, but I truly hope that my life reflects what I say and teach. What a great statement to be able to make to those we lead, whether it is in the classroom, in our families, at work, or at church.

My Prayer...

Almighty and Most High God, please bless me with the integrity that comes when my convictions, my words, and my actions are consistent and righteous. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Proverbs 1:29, 31

Since they hated knowledge and did not choose to fear the LORD ... they will eat the fruit of their ways and be filled with the fruit of their schemes.

Thoughts on This Verse....

Sometimes the natural consequence of rebellion is its own justice. Rebellion ultimately produces bad fruit, and wickedness is often its own worst punishment. In the face of such a generous God as we focused upon yesterday, how could we choose to follow any other path but his? It may seem harder in the short run, but in the long run there is simply no option that compares!

Thoughts 

. We should be better Christians if we were more alone; we should do more if we attempted less, and spent more time in retirement, and quiet waiting upon God.  The world is too much with us; we are afflicted with the idea that we are doing nothing unless we are fussily running to and fro; we do not believe in “the calm retreat, the silent shade.”  As a people, we are of a very practical turn of mind; “we believe in having all our irons in the fire, and consider the time not spent between the anvil and the fire as lost.”  Yet no time is more profitably spent than that which is set apart for quiet musing, for talking with God, for looking up to Heaven.  We cannot have too many of these open spaces in life, hours in which the soul is left accessible to any sweet thought or influence it may please God to send.

. The light which I carry is not my light; the song I sing is not my song.  It is the light of God, the song of the Lord.

God Is Never Wrong

 “The Lord our God is right in everything he does.” Daniel 9:14

God is never wrong. He has never rendered a wrong decision, experienced the wrong attitude, taken the wrong path, said the wrong thing, or acted the wrong way. He is never too late or too early, too loud or too soft, too fast or too slow. He has always been always will be right. He is righteous.

Worshiping Together

Every day they continued to meet together. —Acts 2:46

“The house of the Lord” at Jerusalem was King David’s place of worship, and he was far from being a “chameleon” worshiper. Rather, he rejoiced with those who said, “Let us go to the house of the Lord” (Ps. 122:1). The same was true for believers in the early church. “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. . . . Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts” (Acts 2:42, 46).

What a joy it is to join with others in worship and fellowship! Praying and worshiping together, studying the Scriptures together, and caring for one another are essential for our spiritual growth and unity as believers.

Worshiping together brings strength and joy.

Promise:

Deuteronomy 29:13-15 

13 to confirm you this day as his people, that he may be your God as he promised you and as he swore to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

14  I am making this covenant, with its oath, not only with you

15  who are standing here with us today in the presence of the LORD our God but also with those who are not here today.

The Concerns of a Christian

First, seek the kingdom of God

“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well”…Matt. 6:33

Worship 

The Scriptures include or allude to just about every approach to worship there is: organized, spontaneous, public, private, simple, complex, ornate or plain. Yet there is no comment anywhere about any one way being preferred over another. Rather, it is the spiritual condition of the worshiper that determines whether or not God is at work. -  Harold Best

Thoughts    

A friend of God will be a stranger to the world.

To love God is to obey God.

Broken things become useful in God’s hands.

Sooner or later you’ll have to face God.

Old Age, Attainment Of

Genesis 18:11-13

11 Now Abraham and Sarah were old, well advanced in age; and Sarah had passed the age of childbearing. 12 Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, “After I have grown old, shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?”
13 And the Lord said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh, saying, ‘Shall I surely bear a child, since I am old?’

Genesis 37:3

Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age: and he made him a coat of many colors.

2 Kings 4:14

And he said, What then is to be done for her? And Gehazi answered, Verily she hath no child, and her husband is old.

Luke 1:18

And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years.

Genesis 27:2

And he said, Behold now, I am old, I know not the day of my death:

1 Chronicles 23:1

So when David was old and full of days, he made Solomon his son king over Israel.

Isaiah 46:4

And even to your old age I am he; and even to hoar hairs will I carry you: I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you.

Quotes

 “If we seek God for our own good and profit, we are not seeking God.”

“Human beings need not despair and go on an eternal search for the Eternal, for the Eternal has come to the temporal.”

 “Preaching is thirty minutes in which to raise the dead.”

“The kingdom of heaven is not for the well-meaning but for the desperate.”

“The people of God are not merely to mark time, waiting for God to step in and set right all that is wrong. Rather, they are to model the new heaven and new earth, and by so doing awaken longings for what God will someday bring to pass.”

God’s Enduring Word

Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away. —Matthew 24:35

Jesus made that statement to encourage His disciples when they asked Him about the “end of the age” (v. 3). But His words also give us courage in the midst of our embattled situation today. Standing in the rubble of our shattered dreams, we can still find confidence in God’s indestructible character, sovereignty, and promises.

The psalmist wrote: “Your word, Lord, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens” (Ps. 119:89). But it is more than the word of the Lord; it is His very character. That is why the psalmist could also say, “Your faithfulness continues through all generations” (v. 90).

As we face devastating experiences, we can define them either in terms of despair or of hope. Because God will not abandon us to our circumstances, we can confidently choose hope. His enduring Word assures us of His unfailing love.

Ecclesiastes 7:20

There is not a righteous man on earth who does what is right and never sins.

Thoughts on This Verse....

Yep, we're all broken, flawed, and tainted. Or, at least that is what we were (cf. 1 Cor. 6:9-11). Praise God, because of his grace and the work of Jesus, we can stand before God holy, without blemish, and free from accusation (Col. 1:22).

Thoughts

- Our children, relations, friends, honors, houses, lands, and endowments, the goods of nature and fortune, nay, even of grace itself, are only lent.  It is our misfortune and our sin, to fancy they are given.  We start, therefore, and are angry when the loan is called in.  We think ourselves masters, when we are only stewards, and forget that to each of us it will one day be said, “Give an account of thy stewardship.”

- When I fancied that I stood alone I was really in the ridiculous position of being backed up by all of Christendom.

-Loneliness and the feeling of being unwanted is the most terrible type of poverty.

Heaven 

    "The Land of Promise is for those who simply remain to the end."

Adversity 

    "Conflict is inevitable, but combat is optional."

One Solitary Life

 He was born in an obscure village, the child of a peasant woman.

He grew up in another village, where He worked in a carpenter shop until He was thirty.

 Then for three years He was an itinerant preacher.

He never wrote a book. He never held an office. He never had a family or owned a home.

 He didn’t go to college. He never visited a big city. He never traveled two hundred miles from the place where he was born.

He did none of the things that usually accompany greatness.

 He had no credentials but Himself.

He was only thirty-three when the tide of public opinion turned against Him.

 His friends ran away. One of them denied Him.

He was turned over to His enemies and went through the mockery of a trial.

 He was nailed to a cross between two thieves.

While He was dying, His executioners gambled for His garments, the only property he had on earth.
 When He was dead, He was laid in a borrowed grave through the pity of a friend.

 Centuries have come and gone, and today He is the central figure of the human race.

 All the armies that ever marched, all the navies that ever sailed, all the parliaments that ever sat, all the kings that ever reigned, put together, have not affected the life of man on this earth as much as that one solitary life.


Quotes

 “If we seek God for our own good and profit, we are not seeking God.”

“Human beings need not despair and go on an eternal search for the Eternal, for the Eternal has come to the temporal.”

 “Preaching is thirty minutes in which to raise the dead.”

“The kingdom of heaven is not for the well-meaning but for the desperate.”

Baptism 

    "Indeed, baptism is a vow, a sacred vow of the believer to follow Christ. Just as a wedding celebrates the fusion of two hearts, baptism celebrates the union of sinner with Savior."

Salvation 

    "Though the Bible was written over sixteen centuries by at least forty authors, it has one central theme--salvation through faith in Christ."

We’re God’s Idea

We’re God’s Idea

‘I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well.  Psalm 139:14”

We’re God’s idea.  His face.  His eyes.  His hands.  His touch.  We are him!

Look deeply into the face of every human being on earth and you’ll see his likeness.  Though some appear to be distant relatives, they’re not.  God has no cousins, only children.

You aren’t an accident or an incident; you’re a gift to the world.  A divine work of art—signed by God.
Significant, not because of what we do, but because of whose we are!

‘I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well.  Psalm 139:14”

Proverbs 10:7

The memory of the righteous will be a blessing, but the name of the wicked will rot.

Thoughts on This Verse....

Each of us is creating a legacy. The influence of our lives will leave an imprint on all those the Lord has brought into our lives for us to touch. This proverb reminds us that our legacy will live far beyond us. If our lives are righteous, that legacy will be an ongoing blessing as stories of our lives are passed on to future generations. On the other hand, if our lives have been given over to wickedness, we will leave behind the lingering stench of something useful gone sour and something lasting given over to rot.

Thoughts    

- God gives enough grace for whatever we face.

- You need not fear where you’re going when you know God is going with you.

- Keep your eyes on God; He never takes His eyes off you.

- People know true faith stories when they hear them.

Obeying the Laws

Deuteronomy 12:28 

Be careful to obey all these regulations I am giving you, so that it may always go well with you and your children after you, because you will be doing what is good and right in the eyes of the LORD your God.

Precious things of Scripture

Household things

Ezra 1:6

And all they that were about them strengthened their hands with vessels of silver, with gold, with goods, and with beasts, and with precious things, beside all that was willingly offered.

Ezra 8:27

Also twenty basons of gold, of a thousand drams; and two vessels of fine copper, precious as gold.
Redemption of the soul

Ps 49:8

(For the redemption of their soul is precious, and it ceaseth for ever:)

Death of the saints

Ps 116:15

Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.

Ointment

2 Kings 20:13

And Hezekiah hearkened unto them, and shewed them all the house of his precious things, the silver, and the gold, and the spices, and the precious ointment, and all the house of his armour, and all that was found in his treasures: there was nothing in his house, nor in all his dominion, that Hezekiah shewed them not.

Psalm 133:2

It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments;

Isaiah 39:2

  And Hezekiah was glad of them, and shewed them the house of his precious things, the silver, and the gold, and the spices, and the precious ointment, and all the house of his armour, and all that was found in his treasures: there was nothing in his house, nor in all his dominion, that Hezekiah shewed them not.

Matthew 26:7

There came unto him a woman having an alabaster box of very precious ointment, and poured it on his head, as he sat at meat.

Matthew 14:3

For Herod had laid hold on John, and bound him, and put him in prison for Herodias' sake, his brother Philip's wife.

Responding to Hardship

1 Peter 4:12-19

When you face a trial, what is your first response? You probably would like to run away as quickly as possible to escape it. Though this is a normal feeling, God has a different way.

It is not the trials in your life that develop or destroy you, but rather your response to those hardships. How, then, should we react when difficulties feel overwhelming?

First, trust God. Believe His Word and reflect on ways He has been faithful in the past. He assures us that He limits our trials and enables us to endure.

Second, persevere. Even when we don’t understand and the suffering seems too great to bear, we should never quit. Continue seeking the Lord through His Word and prayer. Cling to hope in Christ, and praise Him in the midst of the pain.

Third, remember that our sovereign God is in control. He’s allowing this adversity for a reason and will demonstrate His sustaining power through it. Even though the pain might feel intolerable, the Lord will always prosper His children. Scripture compares our growth to gold, which is refined through fire (1 Peter 1:7). Often, I hear believers reflect on a difficult time and admit that despite the intense hurt, they wouldn’t change the situation. They see the beauty God created through the struggle and realize its value.

We will encounter difficulties—sometimes intense and painful trials that seem too much for us. Yet we can rely on our heavenly Father to deliver and grow us in ways we could never imagine. He doesn’t demand that we endure on our own, but He does want us to respond and trust Him.

1 Peter 2:12

Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.

Thoughts on This Verse....

How do we win over to the Gospel of Christ those who are hostile toward us? While we need skilled defenders and expositors of biblical truth, the way most of us will win others is by the way we live and by the way we treat them. No matter how much criticism and harsh treatment we may receive, our deeds must remain Christ-like. To do less is to rob others of a chance to see the living Christ in action.

Your personality can change:

How wonderful it is for us to experience the benefit of having a personality like that of Jesus! It’s exciting to know that God wants to restore our personalities, day by day, in the power of the Holy Spirit.

A transformed personality is God’s is God’s high goal for us according to Philippians 2:13 “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.”

Be encouraged:

Psalm 120:1

In my distress I cried unto the Lord, and he heard me.

Isaiah 26:3

Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.

1 Peter 5:7

Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

John 14:27

My peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you.

Psalm 16:8

I have set the Lord always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.

Psalm 118:14-16

Lord is my strength and song, and is become my salvation.   The voice of rejoicing and salvation is in the tabernacles of the righteous: the right hand of the Lord doeth valiantly. The right hand of the Lord is exalted: the right hand of the Lord doeth valiantly.

Proverbs 3:5-6

Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

Psalm 119:50

This is my comfort in my affliction: for thy word hath quickened me.

Psalm 55:22

Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.

John 16:33

  These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

Psalm 46:1-3

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;  Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof.

2 Timothy 1:7

  For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

Psalm 119:25

My soul cleaveth unto the dust: quicken thou me according to thy word.

Isaiah 41:10

Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

Psalm 119:71

It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes.

1 Corinthians 1:30-31

...you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God — that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: "Let him who boasts boast in the Lord."

Thoughts on This Verse....

Jesus is our righteousness, holiness, and redemption. Let's unpack those church words. Righteousness — the ability to stand before God and be declared free from guilt. Holiness — the character and nature that reflect the glory and sanctity of heaven. Redemption — the gift of freedom bought at great expense. Christians aren't perfect? Hmmm! We know this is true. But, because of Jesus' loving sacrifice, we also know that in God's eyes we're righteous, holy, and redeemed. That, dear friend of Jesus, is what we call amazing grace!

Thoughts

To love God is to obey God.

Broken things become useful in God’s hands.

Sooner or later you’ll have to face God.

Have faith in God - not faith in faith.

Christ is the reason for the season.

Romans 14:13  

Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother's way.

Thoughts on Today's Verse....

It is so easy to be judgmental of others. We don't know their struggles. We don't know their situation. Most of all, we don't know their hearts. When we are judgmental, we erect a barrier between others and ourselves. We often spread that judgmental impression to others in gossip. Our stubborness to only view them with a judgemental spirit erects a barrier, a stumbling block, that can cause them to become discouraged and stumble.

Quote

- Never try to save out of God’s cause; such money will canker the rest.  Giving to God is no loss; it is putting your substance in the best bank.  Giving is true having. - Charles Haddon Spurgeon

Grace 

    "Immerse yourself in the curriculum of grace."

Hope 

    "Jesus gives us hope because He keeps us company, has a vision and knows the way we should go."

Isaiah 40:29

He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.

Thoughts on This Verse....

Even the most pumped up and positive ones of us find ourselves broken and weary at some point in our life. It isn't so hard to believe and follow Jesus when we are soaring on the wings of eagles or running and not getting weary in our walk with God. Often the toughest time to keep our faith vibrant is when we are trying to keep putting one foot in front of the other while not fainting. In those moments of absolute powerlessness, weakness, and brokenness the Lord is often most real, most powerful, and most present.

My Prayer...

Thank you, God, for sustaining me and keeping my faith alive when I have been under attack from the Evil One and have grown weary with the challenges and hardships of life. Please give those I love, and mention now by name, the strength to press on even though they are weary and weak. Please be real in their lives and let them know that you are coming with grace to help and redeem as their Great Deliverer. In Jesus' name I ask it. Amen.

General quotations

. Don’t watch the clock; do what it does. Keep going, don’t stop.

. Jealousy comes from counting others blessings instead of our own.

. Always be good with the good, but never be bad with bad, because we can shape a diamond with diamond, but we can’t wash mud with mud.

. Limitations live only in our minds. But if we use our imaginations, our possibilities become limitless.
Glimpses of Heaven   

I imagine our first glimpse of Heaven will cause us to gasp in amazement and delight. That first gasp will likely be followed by many more as we continually encounter new sights in that endlessly wonderful place. -Randy Alcorn

Made to last forever 

This world is fading away, along with everything it craves. But if you do will of God, you will live forever. - 1 John 2:17 (NLT).

Measured against eternity, our time on earth is just a blink of an eye, but the consequences of it will last forever. The deeds of this life are the destiny of the next. We should be “realizing that every moment we spend away from our eternal home in heaven with Jesus” (2 Cor. 5:6). Years ago a popular slogan encouraged people to live each day as “the day of the rest of your life.” Actually, it would be wiser to live each day as if it were the last day of your life.

Matthew Henry said, “It ought to be the business if every day to prepare our final day.”

The Foundation of Forgiveness

Forgiveness is bestowed on the ground of the Lord’s compassion:

Psalm 78:38

But he, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity, and destroyed them not: yea, many a time turned he his anger away, and did not stir up all his wrath.

Forgiveness is bestowed on the ground of divine justice:

1 John 1:9

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.   If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
Forgiveness is bestowed on the basis of the Blood of Christ.

Ephesians 1:7

In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

The reason for everything 

Romans 11:36 

For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen.
Right now, God is inviting you to live for glory by fulfilling the purposes he made you for. It’s really the only way to live. Everything else is just existing. Real life begins by committing yourself completely to Jesus Christ. If you are not sure you have done this, all you need to do is receive and believe.

First, believe. Believe God loves you and made you for his purposes. Believe you’re not an accident. Believe you were made to last forever. Believe God has chosen you to have a relationship with Jesus, who died on the cross for you. Believe that no matter what you’ve done, God wants to forgive you.
Second, receive. Receive Jesus into your life as your Lord and Savior. Receive his forgiveness for your sins. Receive his forgiveness for your sins. Receive his Spirit, who will give you the power to fulfill your life purpose.

Thoughts    

- God gives enough grace for whatever we face.

- You need not fear where you’re going when you know God is going with you.

- Keep your eyes on God; He never takes His eyes off you.

- People know true faith stories when they hear them.

Don’t Be Afraid

Why are you afraid?  Is it the fear of losing your job?  Being sued?  The new kid on the block?  The clock of your life…ticking?

Fear corrodes our confidence in God’s goodness.  We begin to wonder if God’s eyes are shut as ours grow wide.  For all the noise fear makes and room it takes, fear does little good.

Fear never cured a disease.  Never saved a marriage.  Never saved a business.  Faith did that!
The one statement Jesus made more than any other in the Gospels was “Don’t be afraid.”  He says in Matthew 14:27, “Take courage, I am here.”  In John 14:1, he says, “Don’t let your hearts be troubled.  Trust in God, and trust also in me.”

Fear may fill our world, but it doesn’t have to fill our hearts.  It will always knock on the door—just don’t invite it in for dinner!

What drives your life? 

You, LORD, give perfect peace to those who keep their purpose firm and put their trust in you. - Isa. 26:3 (Tev).

Without God, life has no purpose, and without purpose, life has no meaning. Without meaning, life has no significance or hope.

We were made to have meaning. This is why people try dubious methods, like astrology or psychics, to discover it. When life has meaning, you can bear almost anything; without it, nothing is bearable.

The reason for everything:

Jesus honored God by fulfilling His purpose on earth. We bring God glory the same way. There are many ways to bring glory to God but they can be summarized in God’s five purposes for your life -
1. We bring God glory by worship him.

2. We bring God glory by loving other believers.

3. We bring God glory by becoming like Christ.

4. We bring God glory by serving others with our gifts.

5. We bring God glory by telling others about Him.

- Wonderful God, it is my deepest desire to bring you glory. Help me to see your glory all around me today. Nothing would exist without you. It’s all for your glory!

The Channel of Forgiveness

Acts 13:38

“Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins:”

Luke 7:48

“And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven.”

Mark 2:9

“Whether is it easier to say to the sick of the palsy, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk?”

Jesus is not here bodily today but He is here invisibly ready to forgive each one of us. Forgiveness cannot be found in any Church, sacrament or ordinance but is found in Christ alone.

You are not an accident

I am your Creator. You were in my care even before you were born. - Isa. 44:2a (CEV).

There is a God who made you for a reason, and your life has profound meaning! We discover that meaning and purpose only when we make God the reference point of our lives. The Message paraphrase of Romans 12:3 says, “The only accurate way to understand ourselves is by what God is and by what he does for us.”

Successful

Deuteronomy 8:17-18 

17 You may say to yourself, “My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.”

18  But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your forefathers, as it is today.

Thoughts    

A friend of God will be a stranger to the world.

To love God is to obey God.

Broken things become useful in God’s hands.

Sooner or later you’ll have to face God.

Give thanks to Lord in all the circumstances -

1 THESSALONIANS 5:18

1.
KJ21
In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

2.
ASV
In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus to you-ward.

3.
AMP
In every situation [no matter what the circumstances] be thankful and continually give thanks to God; for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.

4.
AMPC
Thank [God] in everything [no matter what the circumstances may be, be thankful and give thanks], for this is the will of God for you [who are] in Christ Jesus [the Revealer and Mediator of that will].

5.
BRG
In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

6.
CEB
Give thanks in every situation because this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

7.
CJB
In everything give thanks, for this is what God wants from you who are united with the Messiah Yeshua.

8.
CEV
Whatever happens, keep thanking God because of Jesus Christ. This is what God wants you to do.

9.
DARBY
In everything give thanks, for this is [the] will of God in Christ Jesus towards you;

10.
DLNT
Be giving-thanks in everything. For this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

11.
DRA
In all things give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you all.

12.
ERV
Whatever happens, always be thankful. This is how God wants you to live in Christ Jesus.

13.
ESV
Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

14.
ESVUK
Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

15.
EXB
And give thanks •whatever happens [in all circumstances; in everything]. That is •what God wants [God’s will] for you in Christ Jesus.

16.
GNV
In all things, give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus toward you.

17.
GW
Whatever happens, give thanks, because it is God’s will in Christ Jesus that you do this.

18.
GNT
Be thankful in all circumstances. This is what God wants from you in your life in union with Christ Jesus.

19.
HCSB
Give thanks in everything, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

20.
ICB
Give thanks whatever happens. That is what God wants for you in Christ Jesus.

21.
ISV
In everything be thankful, because this is God’s will for you in the Messiah Jesus.

22.
JUB
In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

23.
KJV
In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

24.
AKJV
In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

25.
LEB
Give thanks in everything; for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.

26.
TLB
No matter what happens, always be thankful, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

27.
MSG
Be cheerful no matter what; pray all the time; thank God no matter what happens. This is the way God wants you who belong to Christ Jesus to live.

28.
MEV
In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

29.
MOUNCE
Give thanks in everything, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

30.
NOG
Whatever happens, give thanks, because it is God’s will in Christ Yeshua that you do this.

31.
NABRE
In all circumstances give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.

32.
NASB
In everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

33.
NCV
And give thanks whatever happens. That is what God wants for you in Christ Jesus.

34.
NET
In everything give thanks. For this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

35.
NIRV
Give thanks no matter what happens. God wants you to thank him because you believe in Christ Jesus.

36
NIV
Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

37.
NIVUK
Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

38.
NKJV
In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

39.
NLV
In everything give thanks. This is what God wants you to do because of Christ Jesus.

40.
NLT
Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

41.
NRSV
Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

42.
NRSVA
Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

43.
NRSVACE
Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

44.
NRSVCE
Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

45.
OJB
In everything offer hodayah, for this is the ratzon Hashem in Moshiach Yehoshua for you.

46.
RSV
Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

47.
RSVCE
Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

48.
TLV
In everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Messiah Yeshua.

49.
VOICE
Give thanks to God no matter what circumstances you find yourself in. (This is God’s will for all of you in Jesus the Anointed.)

50.
WEB
In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus toward you.

51.
WE
But test everything that is said. Keep what is good.

52.
WYC
In all things do ye thanking’s. For this is the will of God in Christ Jesus, in all you.

53.
YLT
In everything give thanks, for this [is] the will of God in Christ Jesus in regard to you.

The mind of Christ

1 Corinthians 2:12-16

The Lord has given us the mind of Christ. Now we have the capacity to think as He does and to see situations from His perspective.

Compare your thoughts, attitudes, and beliefs with biblical teachings. If they don’t match, reject wrong patterns of thinking, and fill your mind with corresponding truths from Scripture instead. Since the Lord has empowered believers to think right, let’s cultivate the mind of Christ within us.

Forgiveness 

Since the sinner has broken the law of God, only God can forgive him that sin.

If you steal my hammer I can forgive you for that, but if you break one of the laws of the Philippines I cannot forgive you for that.

When you break the law of God no man can forgive; only God can forgive you.

Luke 7:49

And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves, Who is this that forgiveth sins also.

Mark 2:7

 Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only?

1 John 1:9

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Acts 5:31

Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.

Glimpses of Heaven    

I imagine our first glimpse of Heaven will cause us to gasp in amazement and delight. That first gasp will likely be followed by many more as we continually encounter new sights in that endlessly wonderful place. -Randy Alcorn

Anger

Eph. 4:26-27

Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:   Neither give place to the devil.

Jas 1:19-20

Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:   For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.

Quotes

“Sexuality: We have seen so many tragic examples in recent years of ministers whose ministries have been lost, families torn apart and lives ruined because they fell into sexual sin. This sort of thing always happens one step at a time. It begins with a thought that is not taken captive and brought in subjection to Christ. This is why Jesus said, that adultery can be committed in the heart.” ~ Evangelist Daniel Kolenda

“A few years ago the Holy Spirit spoke to me and He said, “Every generation has a battlefield…when the Church fails to show up on the battlefield of its generation, then they lose the battle by default..” And He spoke to me and said, “The battlefield of your generation is the field of media.” And I really feel that that’s something that we must wake up to….Billions of people are.. on the internet, and on Facebook, and on twitter, and on iPhones. This is where the people are and if we want to reach the people, then we need to be in that marketplace of ideas and of entertainment and of communication where the people are listening.” ~ Evangelist Daniel Kolenda

Prayer / Thoughts

  Father God, You love us so much that You gave us Your only Son to die that we might live. May we receive Your love this day and live in it.

= A parent’s love for a child reflects our Father’s love for us.

God of love and grace, words can never capture the wonder of the sacrifice that Christ offered on our behalf. May our love respond to You with faith and worship—for Your Son who was slain is worthy of our praise.

= Jesus laid down His life to show His love for us.

Philippians 2:5-6

Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped.

Thoughts on This  Verse....

What a glorious thought! What a lofty aspiration! What an incredible challenge! I am to have the same attitude as Jesus had. It's almost unthinkable. But just almost! You see, God calls us to this glorious, lofty, and unthinkable height because he calls us his children. He wants us to be humble and to be a servant just as Jesus was.

Sex Laws

Law against relationship with monstrous woman:

Lev. 18:19

“Also you shall not approach a woman to uncover her nakedness as long as she is in her customary impurity

Lev. 20:18

If a man lies with a woman during her sickness and uncovers her nakedness, he has exposed her flow, and she has uncovered the flow of her blood. Both of them shall be cut off from their people.

Do not prostitute a daughter or cause her to be a whor:

Lev. 19:29

“Do not prostitute your daughter, to cause her to be a harlot, lest the land fall into harlotry, and the land become full of wickedness.

Dt. 23:17

“There shall be no ritual harlot of the daughters of Israel, or a perverted one of the sons of Israel.

Death penalty for committing adultery with father’s wife. Both the man and the woman to die:

Lev. 20:11

The man who lies with his father's wife has uncovered his father's nakedness; both of them shall surely be put to death. Their blood shall be upon them.

Death penalty for both if man commits adultery with daughter-in-law:

Lev: 20:12

If a man lies with his daughter-in-law, both of them shall surely be put to death. They have committed perversion. Their blood shall be upon them.

Sodomy-homosexuality: whoever takes part in the sin to die:

Lev. 18:22

You shall not lie with a male as with a woman. It is an abomination.

Lev. 20:13

If a man lies with a male as he lies with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination. They shall surely be put to death. Their blood shall be upon them.

Wonderful Savior

Oh, what a wonderful, wonderful day,

Day I will never forget;

After I’d wandered in darkness away,

Jesus my Savior I met….

General quotations 

. Don’t watch the clock; do what it does. Keep going, don’t stop.

. Jealousy comes from counting others blessings instead of our own.

. Always be good with the good, but never be bad with bad, because we can shape a diamond with diamond, but we can’t wash mud with mud.

. Limitations live only in our minds. But if we use our imaginations, our possibilities become limitless.

Change 

"How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world." - Anne Frank

Why So Many Churches Hear So Little of the Bible 

As Galli reflected, “Anyone who’s been in the preaching and teaching business knows these are not isolated examples but represent the larger reality.”

Indeed, in many churches there is very little reading of the Bible in worship, and sermons are marked by attention to the congregation’s concerns, not by an adequate attention to the biblical text. The exposition of the Bible has given way to the concerns, real or perceived, of the listeners. The authority of the Bible is swallowed up in the imposed authority of congregational concerns.

Perseverance

"Patience and perseverance have a magical effect before which difficulties disappear and obstacles vanish." - John Quincy Adams

Jesus

Draw me nearer, nearer, blessed Lord,

To the cross where Thou has died;

Draw me nearer, nearer, nearer, blessed Lord,

To Thy precious, bleeding side.

Truth

"Man will occasionally stumble over the truth, but most of the time he will pick himself up and continue on." - Winston Churchill

Christian Brothers and Sisters

2Thessalonains 3:6

But we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly and not according to the tradition which he received from us.

2Thessalonains 3:13

But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary in doing good.

1 Timothy 4:6

If you instruct the brethren in these things, you will be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished in the words of faith and of the good doctrine which you have carefully followed.

2 Timothy 4:21

Do your utmost to come before winter. Eubulus greets you, as well as Pudens, Linus, Claudia, and all the brethren.

Hebrews 2:11-12

Do your utmost to come before. For both He who sanctifies and those who are being sanctified are all of one, for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren, saying:

  “I will declare Your name to My brethren;
 In the midst of the assembly I will sing praise to You.”
Hebrews 3:1
 Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Christ Jesus,

Hebrews 3:12

Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God;

Steps to Dealing with Sin    

We must not allow our freedom from the Law to become an occasion for fleshly activity. Also, we are accountable for one and need to keep watch for one another as well as for ourselves.

Thoughts    

- Even the best people have nothing to boast about.

- Let’s give our loving thanks for our Lord’s lavish gifts.

- What the Word of God is to the soul, water is to the body.

- The world may discount you, but in God’s eyes you are preiceless.

It all starts with God

Colossians 1:16 - For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him.

It’s not about you.

The purpose of your life is far greater than your own personal fulfillment, your peace of mind, or even your happiness. It’s far greater than your family, your career, or even your wildest dreams and ambitions. If you want to know why you were placed on this planet, you must begin with God. You were born by his purpose and for his purpose.

General quotations

. Don’t watch the clock; do what it does. Keep going, don’t stop.

. Jealousy comes from counting others blessings instead of our own.

. Always be good with the good, but never be bad with bad, because we can shape a diamond with diamond, but we can’t wash mud with mud.

. Limitations live only in our minds. But if we use our imaginations, our possibilities become limitless.

Change

"How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world." - Anne Frank

Perseverance

"Patience and perseverance have a magical effect before which difficulties disappear and obstacles vanish." - John Quincy Adams

Truth

"Man will occasionally stumble over the truth, but most of the time he will pick himself up and continue on." - Winston Churchill

Courage 

"Keep your fears to yourself, but share your courage with others." - Robert Louis Stevenson

1 John 2:1-2

My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense — Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.

Thoughts on This Verse....

John wants to prevent even one sinful event in the lives of those he loves. He is concerned because he knows that even one sinful event can be used by Satan to discourage and defeat us. We need to know that we have a Savior and a defender. He paid the price to redeem us, he sent his Spirit to help us overcome sin's power, and he will speak to the Father and claim that right to forgive us.

Rejoice that your names are written in heaven.

Rejoice that your names are written in heaven. —Luke 10:20

At the Kenya Airways check-in counter, I presented my passport for verification. When the agents searched for my name on their manifest—the document that lists names of passengers—my name was missing. The problem? Overbooking and lack of confirmation. My hope of reaching home that day was shattered.

The episode reminded me of another kind of manifest—the Book of Life. In Luke 10, Jesus sent His disciples on an evangelistic mission. On their return, they happily reported their success. But Jesus told them: “Do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven” (v. 20). The focus of our joy is not merely that we are successful but that our names are inscribed in God’s book.

But how can we be sure of that? God’s Word tells us, “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” (Rom. 10:9).
In Revelation 21, John makes a breathtaking description of the Holy City that awaits those who trust Christ. Then he writes, “Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life” (v. 27).
The Book of Life is God’s heavenly manifest. Is your name written in it?

 Father in heaven, thank You for the gift of Your Son, who promised to prepare a place for us. Thank You too, that You are preparing us for that place.
God opens the gates of heaven to those who open their hearts to Him.

Thoughts 

. May the words we speak point others to Jesus.

. God has unlimited power.

. Love people; love the truth.

. God’s training is designed to grow us in faith.

. Worship is giving God the best that He has given you.

Deuteronomy 1:29-30

Then I said to you, "Do not be terrified; do not be afraid of them. The LORD your God, who is going before you, will fight for you, as he did for you in Egypt, before your very eyes."

Thoughts on This Verse....

Moses began his farewell message to Israel with a reminder of their parents' refusal to obey God's word to enter the Promised Land. With his death, these Israelites will have to follow a leader other than Moses for the first time in their lives. Moses wants them to know that their real Leader hasn't changed. God had done mighty things for them in Moses' day. Now God will do mighty things in their day through Joshua. They will have more than second hand deliverance stories to tell their grandchildren. They will be eyewitnesses of God's power and faithfulness. But they would have to obey this same command their parents ignored and own a faith that their ancestors did not have!

Why do we need anointing?

The anointing gives us the ability to do God’s will. It gives us the ability to continue the works of Jesus Christ. Because, we are the body of Christ, we should continue the works of Christ. The following are some of the reasons why God gives the anointing of the Holy Spirit to His servants, disciples and believers.

1. To break every yoke – Isa. 10:27

2. To receive answers to every prayer – Eph. 3:20

3. To get healed of all diseases – Rom. 8:11

4. To heal the sick – Mt. 10:18

5. To receive power – Acts 1:8

6. To cast the demons –Mt. 10:8

7. To perform miracles – Mk 16:17

8. To live an overcoming an victorious Christian life – Lk. 10:19

9. To be a witness – Acts 1:8

10. To preach the gospel – Mt. 10:7

11. To receive the wisdom of God – Jas. 1:5

12. To be filled with the love of God. – Rom. 5:5

13. To have divine prosperity – Mal. 3:10

14. To go about doing good or to bless others – Acts 10:38

Exodus 6:30

But Moses said to the LORD, "Since I speak with faltering lips, why would Pharaoh listen to me?" —

Thoughts on This  Verse....

Moses had to learn the same lesson most of us have to learn: folks really don't care that much about what we say. If the truth be known, most of us can't say it very well, anyway. But, when we offer ourselves to the Lord, he truly works through us and uses us in mighty ways. Ol' Stammerin' Mo' is the great testimony that God can take a shepherd with faltering speech and turn him into the greatest leader of his time. Don't you think we had better ask what God wants to do with us, and get to doing it!

Prayer...

Loving Father, please use me in your service. I recognize that all the gifts, abilities, and experiences that I have came from you. All my capabilities are given to me so I can bring you praise. So please enable me to use my abilities for your glory. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

The believers Hope

The believers hope is expressed in several glorious ways. Note that God Himself is called the “the God of hope”. – Romans 15:13

The hope of “the resurrection of the dead.”

Acts 23:6

But when Paul perceived that one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, “Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee; concerning the hope and resurrection of the dead I am being judged!”

The hope of the promise:

Acts 26:6-7

And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made by God to our fathers. To this promise our twelve tribes, earnestly serving God night and day, hope to attain. For this hope's sake, King Agrippa, I am accused by the Jews.

The hope of Israel:

Acts 28:20

For this reason therefore I have called for you, to see you and speak with you, because for the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain.”

The hope that is the object of faith:

Romans 4:18

Who, contrary to hope, in hope believed, so that he became the father of many nations, according to what was spoken, “So shall your descendants be.”

Acts 26:6-7

And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made by God to our fathers. To this promise our twelve tribes, earnestly serving God night and day, hope to attain. For this hope's sake, King Agrippa, I am accused by the Jews.

The hope of the glory of God:

Romans 5:2

Through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

Collisions 1:27

To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

Titus 2:13

Looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,

Examples of paying Tithes

Abraham:

Genesis 14:20

And blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand!” And Abram gave him a tenth of everything

Hebrews 7:1-11

For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, to whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all, first being translated “king of righteousness,” and then also king of Salem, meaning “king of peace,” without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, remains a priest continually.

   Now consider how great this man was, to whom even the patriarch Abraham gave a tenth of the spoils. And indeed those who are of the sons of Levi, who receive the priesthood, have a commandment to receive tithes from the people according to the law, that is, from their brethren, though they have come from the loins of Abraham; but he whose genealogy is not derived from them received tithes from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises. Now beyond all contradiction the lesser is blessed by the better. Here mortal men receive tithes, but there he receives them, of whom it is witnessed that he lives. Even Levi, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham, so to speak, for he was still in the loins of his father when Melchizedek met him.

Need for a New Priesthood

    Therefore, if perfection were through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need was there that another priest should rise according to the order of Melchizedek, and not be called according to the order of Aaron?

Jacob:

Genesis 28:22

And this stone which I have set as a pillar shall be God's house, and of all that You give me I will surely give a tenth to You.”

Levi in Abraham:

Hebrew 7:9

Even Levi, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham, so to speak

Lay

Lay burdens upon men

Matthew 23:4

They tie up heavy loads that are hard to carry and put them on people’s shoulders, but they themselves aren’t willing to lift a finger to move them.

Lay sick

Mark 1:30

Simon’s mother-in-law was lying in bed with a fever, and they told Him about her at once.

Mark 2:4

Since they were not able to bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, they removed the roof above where He was. And when they had broken through, they lowered the mat on which the paralytic was lying.

John 5:3

Within these lay a large number of the sick — blind, lame, and paralyzed[ — waiting for the moving of the water,

Lay dawn life for others

John 10:15-18

As the Father knows Me, and I know the Father. I lay down My life for the sheep. But I have other sheep that are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will listen to My voice. Then there will be one flock, one shepherd. This is why the Father loves Me, because I am laying down My life so I may take it up again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down on My own. I have the right to lay it down, and I have the right to take it up again. I have received this command from My Father.”

John 13:37-38

“Lord,” Peter asked, “why can’t I follow You now? I will lay down my life for You!”
Jesus replied, “Will you lay down your life for Me? I assure you: A rooster will not crow until you have denied Me three times.

John 15:13

No one has greater love than this, that someone would lay down his life for his friends.

1 John 3:16

This is how we have come to know love: He laid down His life for us. We should also lay down our lives for our brothers.

Life

Life can seem ungrateful and not always kind,

Life can pull at your heartstrings and play with your mind,

Life can be blissful and happy and free,

Life can put beauty in the things that you see,

Life can place challenges right at your feet,

Life can make good of the hardships we meet,

Life can overwhelm you and make your head spin,

Life can reward those determined to win,

Life can be hurtful and not always fair,

Life can surround you with people, who care,

Life clearly does offer its ups and its downs,

Life’s days can bring you both smiles and frowns,

Life teaches us to take the good with the bad,

Life is a mixture of happy and sad…

SO

Take the life that you have and give it your best,

Think positive; be happy, let God do the rest,

Take the challenges that life has laid at your feet,

Take pride and be thankful for each one you meet,

To yourself give forgiveness if you stumble and fall,

Take each day that is dealt you and give it your all,

Take the love that you’re given and return it with care,

Have faith that when needed it will always be there,

Take time to find the beauty in the things that you see,

Take life’s simple pleasures; let them set your heart free,

The idea here is simply to even the score,

As you are met and faced with life’s Tug of War.

Remember, truth is not an idea or concept.  It’s a person.  And that person is Jesus Christ!

Titus 2:2

Teach the older men to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love, and in endurance.

Thoughts on This Verse…

Worthy of respect! What a goal for our lives whether we are men or women! Don't you want your life to reflect the character of God because our faith expresses itself in a life of self-control and godliness? This work of the Spirit in our lives happens only as we dedicate ourselves to being what he is at work trying to accomplish in us.

Thoughts

. We have given too much attention to methods and to machinery and to resources, and too little to the Source of Power, the filling with the Holy Ghost.

. Sin is largely a matter of mistaken priorities.  Any sin in us that is cherished, hidden, and not confessed will cut the nerve center of our faith.

. Live near to God, and so all things will appear to you little in comparison with eternal realities.

.We’re prone to want God to change our circumstances, but He wants to change our character.  We think that peace comes from the outside in, but it comes from the inside out.

.God uses our most stumbling, faltering faith-steps as the one door to His doing for us “more than we ask or think.”

.Is your child learning of the love of God through your love, tenderness, and mercy?

. By fasting, the body learns to obey the soul; by praying, the soul learns to command the body.

.Sorrow is a wound.  It cuts deeply, but sorrow is a clean wound, and will heal unless something gets into the wound, such as bitterness, self-pity, or resentment.

. Not now, but in the coming years

It may be in the better land

We’ll read the meaning of our tears,

And there, sometime, we’ll understand.

.. God knows the way, He holds the key,

He guides us with unerring hand;

Some time with tearless eyes we’ll see;

Yes, there, up there, we’ll understand.

Man’s Concerns

Liberty

Isa 61:1

The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the suffering and afflicted. He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted, to announce liberty to captives, and to open the eyes of the blind.

Romans  8:2

2 For the power of the life-giving Spirit—and this power is mine through Christ Jesus—has freed me from the vicious circle of sin and death.

2 Corinthians 2:17

17 Only those who, like ourselves, are men of integrity, sent by God, speaking with Christ’s power, with God’s eye upon us. We are not like those hucksters—and there are many of them—whose idea in getting out the Gospel is to make a good living out of it.

Love to Neighbors

Mark 12:31

And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”

Romans 13:10

” Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

James 2:8

If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you do well;

Mercy

Proverbs 11:17

The merciful man does good for his own soul, But he who is cruel troubles his own flesh.

Matthew 5:7

Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.

Luke 6:36

Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.