Isaiah 46:3b I created you & have cared for you since before you were born.
vs 4 I will be your God throughout your lifetime - until your hair is white with age.
I made you & I will care for you.
I will carry you along & save you.
2 Corinthians 4:1 Since God in His mercy has given up this wonderful ministry, we never give up.
vs 2 We reject all shameful & underhanded methods.
We do not try to trick anyone,
& we do not distort the word of God.
We tell the truth before God, & all who are honest know that.
vs 7 This precious treasure - this light & power that now shine in us - is held in perishable containers, that is, in our weak bodies.
So everyone can see that our glorious power is from God & is not our own.
vs 8 We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed & broken.
We are perplexed, but we don't give up & quit.
vs 9 We are hunted down, but God never abandons us.
We get knocked down, but we get up again & keep going.
vs 10 Through suffering, these bodies of ours constantly share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies.
vs 16 That is why we never give up.
Though our bodies are dying,our spirits are being renewed every day.
17 For our present troubles are quite small & won't last very long.
Yet they produce for us an immeasurably great glory that will last forever!
vs 18 So we don't look at the troubles we can see right now;
rather, we look forward to what we have not yet seen.
For the troubles we see will soon be over, but the joys to come will last forever.
Saturday, March 31, 2012
Friday, March 30, 2012
excuse Me!
In a day when many address God as "Daddy", I think we've forgotten Who it is we're hooked up with here.
Yes, Jesus said we could call Him "Abba".
Yes, something like 129 times in the New Testament He's referred to as "Father".
And yes, there is every indication that this Person wants, desires,& created us for intimate relationship with Him.
But let's not forget Who it is we're in relationship with here.
Isaiah 45
9 "What sorrow awaits those who argue with their Creator.
Does a clay pot argue with its maker?
Does the clay dispute with the one who shapes it, saying,
'Stop, you're doing it wrong!'
Does the pot exclaim,
'How clumsy can you be?'
10 How terrible it would be if a newborn baby said to its father,
'Why was I born?'
or if it said to its mother,
'Why did you make me this way?'"
11 This is what the LORD says - the Holy One of Israel and your Creator:
"Do you question what I do for my children?
Do you give me orders about the work of my hands?
12 I am the one who made the earth
and created people to live on it.
With my hands I stretched out the heavens.
All the stars are at my command.
Just a thought...
Yes, Jesus said we could call Him "Abba".
Yes, something like 129 times in the New Testament He's referred to as "Father".
And yes, there is every indication that this Person wants, desires,& created us for intimate relationship with Him.
But let's not forget Who it is we're in relationship with here.
Isaiah 45
9 "What sorrow awaits those who argue with their Creator.
Does a clay pot argue with its maker?
Does the clay dispute with the one who shapes it, saying,
'Stop, you're doing it wrong!'
Does the pot exclaim,
'How clumsy can you be?'
10 How terrible it would be if a newborn baby said to its father,
'Why was I born?'
or if it said to its mother,
'Why did you make me this way?'"
11 This is what the LORD says - the Holy One of Israel and your Creator:
"Do you question what I do for my children?
Do you give me orders about the work of my hands?
12 I am the one who made the earth
and created people to live on it.
With my hands I stretched out the heavens.
All the stars are at my command.
Just a thought...
Thursday, March 29, 2012
yes
1 Corinthians 1:19c Jesus is the divine Yes - God's affirmation.
20a For all of God's promises have been fulfilled in Him.
21 It is God who gives us, along with you, the ability to stand firm for Christ.
We live in such a negative world.
The news on TV, online,& in print is always negative.
There's abuse, hate, greed, deceit, death, depression, addiction, disease.
Wars, conflict, famine, despair are everyday life of so many people on this planet.
But Paul says Jesus is the divine Yes.
Because of Him, there is a way out of all of this in a simple relationship with Him.
And even though those things I just listed don't go away when we give ourselves in a relationship with Him, He gives us the strength & power to walk through them & in some instances the strength & power to change them.
20a For all of God's promises have been fulfilled in Him.
21 It is God who gives us, along with you, the ability to stand firm for Christ.
We live in such a negative world.
The news on TV, online,& in print is always negative.
There's abuse, hate, greed, deceit, death, depression, addiction, disease.
Wars, conflict, famine, despair are everyday life of so many people on this planet.
But Paul says Jesus is the divine Yes.
Because of Him, there is a way out of all of this in a simple relationship with Him.
And even though those things I just listed don't go away when we give ourselves in a relationship with Him, He gives us the strength & power to walk through them & in some instances the strength & power to change them.
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
words
The last couple of days have been kinda tough. Here's what He gave me this morning...
Isaiah 43:1 But now, O Jacob, listen to the LORD who created you.
O Israel, the one who formed you says,
"Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you.
I have called you by name; you are mine.
2 When you go through deep waters,
I will be with you.
When you go through rivers of difficulty,
you will not drown.
When you walk through the fire of oppression,
you will not be burned up;
the flames will not consume you.
3 For I am the LORD, your God,
the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.
I gave Egypt as a ransom for your freedom;
I gave Ethiopia and Seba in your place.
4 Others were given in exchange for you.
I traded their lives for yours
because you are precious to me.
You are honored, and I love you.
5 "Do not be afraid, for I am with you.
(still in Isaiah 43, in the verses preceding this,God talks about what He did to the countries who tried to attack Israel - then He said...)
18 "But forget all that—
it is nothing compared to what I am going to do.
19 For I am about to do something new.
See, I have already begun! Do you not see it?
I will make a pathway through the wilderness.
I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.
Psalm 44:3 They did not conquer the land with their swords; it was not their own strength that gave the victory. It was by Your mighty power that they succeeded; it was because You favored them & smiled on them.
Isaiah 43:1 But now, O Jacob, listen to the LORD who created you.
O Israel, the one who formed you says,
"Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you.
I have called you by name; you are mine.
2 When you go through deep waters,
I will be with you.
When you go through rivers of difficulty,
you will not drown.
When you walk through the fire of oppression,
you will not be burned up;
the flames will not consume you.
3 For I am the LORD, your God,
the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.
I gave Egypt as a ransom for your freedom;
I gave Ethiopia and Seba in your place.
4 Others were given in exchange for you.
I traded their lives for yours
because you are precious to me.
You are honored, and I love you.
5 "Do not be afraid, for I am with you.
(still in Isaiah 43, in the verses preceding this,God talks about what He did to the countries who tried to attack Israel - then He said...)
18 "But forget all that—
it is nothing compared to what I am going to do.
19 For I am about to do something new.
See, I have already begun! Do you not see it?
I will make a pathway through the wilderness.
I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.
Psalm 44:3 They did not conquer the land with their swords; it was not their own strength that gave the victory. It was by Your mighty power that they succeeded; it was because You favored them & smiled on them.
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
closing remarks
Be on guard.
Stand true to what you believe.
Be courageous.
Be strong.
And everything you do must be done with love.
1 Corinthians 16:13 & 14
This is what Paul said at the end of his first letter to the church in Corinth. It's kinda those closing remarks you make at the end of a letter - remarks that kind of wrap things up - remarks that are little bullets of important stuff we want people to remember, or words of encouragement.
If we believe that the Bible is God's Word, then we believe that these weren't just things that were true for the church in Corinth - it's true for us today.
Stand true to what you believe.
Be courageous.
Be strong.
And everything you do must be done with love.
1 Corinthians 16:13 & 14
This is what Paul said at the end of his first letter to the church in Corinth. It's kinda those closing remarks you make at the end of a letter - remarks that kind of wrap things up - remarks that are little bullets of important stuff we want people to remember, or words of encouragement.
If we believe that the Bible is God's Word, then we believe that these weren't just things that were true for the church in Corinth - it's true for us today.
Monday, March 26, 2012
holding on
These 2 verses gave me these 2 verses in April, 2010. They are one of 5 passages He gave me to carry in my heart through this season in Blairsville.
Isaiah 41:9b For I have chosen you & will not throw you away.
10 Don't be afraid,
for I am with you.
Don't be dismayed,
for I am your God.
I will strengthen you.
I will help you.
I will uphold you with my victorious right hand.
And this verse came up off the page this morning...
1 Corinthians 15:58 be string & steady,
always enthusiastic about the Lord's work,
for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.
I know these verses are to service as reminds to me.
How about for you?
Isaiah 41:9b For I have chosen you & will not throw you away.
10 Don't be afraid,
for I am with you.
Don't be dismayed,
for I am your God.
I will strengthen you.
I will help you.
I will uphold you with my victorious right hand.
And this verse came up off the page this morning...
1 Corinthians 15:58 be string & steady,
always enthusiastic about the Lord's work,
for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.
I know these verses are to service as reminds to me.
How about for you?
Sunday, March 25, 2012
who's in the waiting room
Isaiah 40:31
Those who wait on the Lord will find new strength.
They will fly high on wings like eagles.
They will run & not grow weary.
They will walk & not faint.
I can't tell you how many times this verse has been quoted glibly to be me in the last 19 months.
It's been interesting to note that those who are quickest to quote this verse are usually people who have never been in God's waiting room. ;-)
Being that as it may, what's the crux of this verse?
I don't think it's about the things we're promised...
new strength,
flying high,
running & not tiring,
walking & being overcome by it.
I think the most important thing to remember is that God promises that He's there in the waiting with us, giving us freely what we need to make it through.
Boy, howdy! did I need to hear that this morning.
Maybe you too?
Those who wait on the Lord will find new strength.
They will fly high on wings like eagles.
They will run & not grow weary.
They will walk & not faint.
I can't tell you how many times this verse has been quoted glibly to be me in the last 19 months.
It's been interesting to note that those who are quickest to quote this verse are usually people who have never been in God's waiting room. ;-)
Being that as it may, what's the crux of this verse?
I don't think it's about the things we're promised...
new strength,
flying high,
running & not tiring,
walking & being overcome by it.
I think the most important thing to remember is that God promises that He's there in the waiting with us, giving us freely what we need to make it through.
Boy, howdy! did I need to hear that this morning.
Maybe you too?
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