10 yrs ago

https://youtu.be/dfiVIg4v_pU

threethruten

 

Matthew 5

3 “God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him,
    for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.

4 God blesses those who mourn,
    for they will be comforted.

5 God blesses those who are humble,
    for they will inherit the whole earth.

6 God blesses those who hunger and thirst for justice,
    for they will be satisfied.

7 God blesses those who are merciful,
    for they will be shown mercy.

8 God blesses those whose hearts are pure,
    for they will see God.

9 God blesses those who work for peace,
    for they will be called the children of God.

10 God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right,
    for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.

11 “God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers.

not unfair

 Hebrews 6

10 For God is not unfair. 

He will not forget how hard you have worked for him 

and how you have shown your love to him by caring for other believers, 

as you still do. 

11 Our great desire is that you will keep on loving others as long as life lasts, 

in order to make certain that what you hope for will come true. 

12 Then you will not become spiritually dull 

and indifferent. 

Instead, 

you will follow the example of those who are going to inherit God’s promises

 because of their faith and endurance.

vines

 John 15 

1 “I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. 3 You have already been pruned and purified by the message I have given you. 4 Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me.

5 “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. 6 Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned. 7 But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! 8 When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father.

9 “I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. 10 When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. 11 I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow! 12 This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. 13 There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn’t confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me. 16 You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name. 17 This is my command: Love each other.

fourteen

 John 14 

1 “Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. 2 There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? 3 When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. 4 And you know the way to where I am going.”

5 “No, we don’t know, Lord,” Thomas said. “We have no idea where you are going, so how can we know the way?”

6 Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. 7 If you had really known me, you would know who my Father is. From now on, you do know him and have seen him!”

8 Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.”

9 Jesus replied, “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and yet you still don’t know who I am? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father! So why are you asking me to show him to you? 10 Don’t you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words I speak are not my own, but my Father who lives in me does his work through me. 11 Just believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me. Or at least believe because of the work you have seen me do.

12 “I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father. 13 You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. 14 Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it!

15 “If you love me, obey my commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. 17 He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you. 18 No, I will not abandon you as orphans—I will come to you. 19 Soon the world will no longer see me, but you will see me. Since I live, you also will live. 20 When I am raised to life again, you will know that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. 21 Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me. And because they love me, my Father will love them. And I will love them and reveal myself to each of them.”

22 Judas (not Judas Iscariot, but the other disciple with that name) said to him, “Lord, why are you going to reveal yourself only to us and not to the world at large?”

23 Jesus replied, “All who love me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and we will come and make our home with each of them. 24 Anyone who doesn’t love me will not obey me. And remember, my words are not my own. What I am telling you is from the Father who sent me. 25 I am telling you these things now while I am still with you. 26 But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you.

27 “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid. 28 Remember what I told you: I am going away, but I will come back to you again. If you really loved me, you would be happy that I am going to the Father, who is greater than I am. 29 I have told you these things before they happen so that when they do happen, you will believe.

30 “I don’t have much more time to talk to you, because the ruler of this world approaches. He has no power over me, 31 but I will do what the Father requires of me, so that the world will know that I love the Father.

if

 "if" is just a little word with 2 letters but carried a BIG punch behind it...

Hebrews 3

14 For if we are faithful to the end, 

trusting God just as firmly as when we first believed, 

we will share in all that belongs to Christ. 

15 Remember what it says:

“Today when you hear his voice,
    don’t harden your hearts
    as Israel did when they rebelled.”

seeing

 John 12

44 Jesus shouted to the crowds, 

“If you trust me, 

you are trusting not only me, 

but also God who sent me. 

45 For when you see me, 

you are seeing the One who sent me. 

46 I have come as a light to shine in this dark world, 

so that all who put their trust in me will no longer remain in the dark. 

47 I will not judge those who hear me but don’t obey me, 

for I have come to save the world and not to judge it. 

48 But all who reject me and my message will be judged on the day of judgment

by the truth I have spoken. 

49 I don’t speak on my own authority. 

The Father who sent me has commanded me what to say 

and how to say it. 

50 And I know his commands lead to eternal life; 

so I say whatever the Father tells me to say.”

two3

 Psalm 23

1 The Lord is my shepherd;
    I have all that I need.
2 He lets me rest in green meadows;
    he leads me beside peaceful streams.
3     He renews my strength.
He guides me along right paths,
    bringing honor to his name.
4 Even when I walk
    through the darkest valley,
I will not be afraid,
    for you are close beside me.
Your rod and your staff
    protect and comfort me.
5 You prepare a feast for me
    in the presence of my enemies.
You honor me by anointing my head with oil.
    My cup overflows with blessings.
6 Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me
    all the days of my life,
and I will live in the house of the Lord
    forever.

shepherd

 John 10

11 “I am the good shepherd. 

The good shepherd sacrifices his life for the sheep. 

12 A hired hand will run when he sees a wolf coming. 

He will abandon the sheep 

because they don’t belong to him 

and he isn’t their shepherd. 

And so the wolf attacks them and scatters the flock. 

13 The hired hand runs away 

because he’s working only for the money 

and doesn’t really care about the sheep.

14 “I am the good shepherd; 

I know my own sheep, 

and they know me, 

15 just as my Father knows me 

and I know the Father. 

So I sacrifice my life for the sheep. 

16 I have other sheep, too, that are not in this sheepfold. 

I must bring them also. 

They will listen to my voice, 

and there will be one flock with one shepherd.

onetwooneagain

 Sometimes we need to read a psalm more than once during the week...

Psalm 121

1 I look up to the mountains—
    does my help come from there?
2 My help comes from the Lord,
    who made heaven and earth!

3 He will not let you stumble;
    the one who watches over you will not slumber.
4 Indeed, he who watches over Israel
    never slumbers or sleeps.

5 The Lord himself watches over you!
    The Lord stands beside you as your protective shade.
6 The sun will not harm you by day,
    nor the moon at night.

7 The Lord keeps you from all harm
    and watches over your life.
8 The Lord keeps watch over you as you come and go,
    both now and forever.

johneight

 These are some of the verses I've underlined in John 8...

John 8

12 Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, 

“I am the light of the world. 

If you follow me, 

you won’t have to walk in darkness, 

because you will have the light that leads to life.”

31 Jesus said to the people who believed in him, 

“You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. 

32 And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

36 So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free.

51 I tell you the truth, anyone who obeys my teaching will never die!”

last words

 Paul wrote 2 Timothy shortly before he was killed in Rome.

Paul considered Timothy his son.

Here's some of the last words Paul wrote to Timothy...

2 Timothy 4

2 Preach the word of God. 

Be prepared, 

whether the time is favorable or not. 

Patiently correct, 

rebuke, 

and encourage your people with good teaching.

3 For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. 

They will follow their own desires 

and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. 

4 They will reject the truth and chase after myths.

5 But you should keep a clear mind in every situation. 

Don’t be afraid of suffering for the Lord. 

Work at telling others the Good News, 

and fully carry out the ministry God has given you.

onetwoone

 

Psalm 121

1 I look up to the mountains—
    does my help come from there?
2 My help comes from the Lord,
    who made heaven and earth!

3 He will not let you stumble;
    the one who watches over you will not slumber.
4 Indeed, he who watches over Israel
    never slumbers or sleeps.

5 The Lord himself watches over you!
    The Lord stands beside you as your protective shade.
6 The sun will not harm you by day,
    nor the moon at night.

7 The Lord keeps you from all harm
    and watches over your life.
8 The Lord keeps watch over you as you come and go,
    both now and forever.

useable

 2 Timothy 2

20 In a wealthy home some utensils are made of gold and silver, 

and some are made of wood and clay. 

The expensive utensils are used for special occasions, 

and the cheap ones are for everyday use. 

21 If you keep yourself pure, 

you will be a special utensil for honorable use. 

Your life will be clean, 

and you will be ready for the Master to use you for every good work.

22 Run from anything that stimulates youthful lusts. 

Instead, pursue righteous living, 

faithfulness, 

love, 

and peace. 

Enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts.

the plan

 2 Timothy 1

9 For God saved us and called us to live a holy life. 

He did this, 

not because we deserved it, 

but because that was his plan from before the beginning of time;

to show us his grace through Christ Jesus. 

10 And now he has made all of this plain to us by the appearing of Christ Jesus, our Savior. 

He broke the power of death 

and illuminated the way to life and immortality through the Good News. 

yo! rich people!

 This is written by Paul to his son in the faith, Timothy.

Also, bear in mind that most of the world considers us who live in the USA to be rich, because compared to a huge chunk of the world, we are...

just sayin'...

1 Timothy 6

17 Teach those who are rich in this world not to be proud 

and not to trust in their money, 

which is so unreliable. 

Their trust should be in God, 

who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment. 

18 Tell them to use their money to do good. 

They should be rich in good works 

and generous to those in need, 

always being ready to share with others. 

19 By doing this they will be storing up their treasure as a good foundation for the future 

so that they may experience true life.

23 in the Message

 Psalm 23

1-3 God, my shepherd!
    I don’t need a thing.
You have bedded me down in lush meadows,
    you find me quiet pools to drink from.
True to your word,
    you let me catch my breath
    and send me in the right direction.

4 Even when the way goes through
    Death Valley,
I’m not afraid
    when you walk at my side.
Your trusty shepherd’s crook
    makes me feel secure.

5 You serve me a six-course dinner
    right in front of my enemies.
You revive my drooping head;
    my cup brims with blessing.

6 Your beauty and love chase after me
    every day of my life.
I’m back home in the house of God
    for the rest of my life.

the Word

 I know, I know, I've quoted these verses before...

but they are so beautiful, so calming, in this bat poop crazy world we live in now...

John 1 

In the beginning the Word already existed.
    The Word was with God,
    and the Word was God.
2 He existed in the beginning with God.
3 God created everything through him,
    and nothing was created except through him.
4 The Word gave life to everything that was created,
    and his life brought light to everyone.
5 The light shines in the darkness,
    and the darkness can never extinguish it.

6 God sent a man, John the Baptist, 7 to tell about the light so that everyone might believe because of his testimony. 8 John himself was not the light; he was simply a witness to tell about the light. 9 The one who is the true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.

10 He came into the very world he created, but the world didn’t recognize him. 11 He came to his own people, and even they rejected him. 12 But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. 13 They are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God.

14 So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.

understanding

 The further we go into 2021 the more I understand why these verses are ones I'm supposed to hold on to during the year...

Trust in the Lord with all your heart;

do not depend on your own understanding.

Seek His will in all you do,

& He will show you which path to take.

Don't be impressed with your own wisdom.

Instead fear the Lord 

& turn your back on evil.

Then you will gain renewed health & vitality.

Proverbs 3:5-8 (NLT, 1st ed.)

giving

  Luke 21 

1 While Jesus was in the Temple, he watched the rich people dropping their gifts in the collection box. 2 Then a poor widow came by and dropped in two small coins.

3 “I tell you the truth,” Jesus said, “this poor widow has given more than all the rest of them. 4 For they have given a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she has.”

What can we learn in the 21st century from this incident?

112

 

Psalm 112

1 Praise the Lord!

How joyful are those who fear the Lord
    and delight in obeying his commands.
2 Their children will be successful everywhere;
    an entire generation of godly people will be blessed.
3 They themselves will be wealthy,
    and their good deeds will last forever.
4 Light shines in the darkness for the godly.
    They are generous, compassionate, and righteous.
5 Good comes to those who lend money generously
    and conduct their business fairly.
6 Such people will not be overcome by evil.
    Those who are righteous will be long remembered.
7 They do not fear bad news;
    they confidently trust the Lord to care for them.
8 They are confident and fearless
    and can face their foes triumphantly.
9 They share freely and give generously to those in need.
    Their good deeds will be remembered forever.
    They will have influence and honor.
10 The wicked will see this and be infuriated.
    They will grind their teeth in anger;
    they will slink away, their hopes thwarted.