Psalm 73:24 You will keep on guiding me with Your counsel, leading me to a glorious destiny.
25 Whom have I in heaven but You?
I desire you more than anything on earth.
26 My health may fail,
my spirit may grow weak,
but God remains the strength of my heart;
He is mine forever.
Sometimes,when we're at the end of our rope, we just need to tie a knot in it with some scripture, & hold on.
Someone out there needs these verses today besides me. Will you let me know if that's you?
Tuesday, April 30, 2013
Monday, April 29, 2013
holy & blameless
Colossians 1
15 Christ is the visible image of the invisible God.
He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation,
16 for through him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth.
He made the things we can see
and the things we can't see...
such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world.
Everything was created through him and for him.
17 He existed before anything else,
and he holds all creation together.
18 Christ is also the head of the church,
which is his body.
He is the beginning,
supreme over all who rise from the dead.
So he is first in everything.
19 For God in all his fullness was pleased to live in Christ,
20 and through him God reconciled everything to himself.
He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth
by means of Christ's blood on the cross.
21 This includes you who were once far away from God.
You were his enemies,
separated from him by your evil thoughts and actions.
22 Yet now he has reconciled you to himself through the death of Christ in his physical body.
As a result, he has brought you into his own presence,
and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault.
23 But you must continue to believe this truth and stand firmly in it.
Don't drift away from the assurance you received when you heard the Good News.
"...you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault."
iow, because of Jesus, God doesn't see our sinfulness or sins - quite actually, God sees us as just the opposite: holy & blameless.
Can we let that sink in?!
Think about all the sins you've done...
Never mind, that would take too much time for you or me!
Anyway, think about it - thru Jesus' sacrificial death & resurrection, God doesn't see all those sins - just doesn't see them - and what's more, sees us as holy & blameless!
Amazing!
It's the scandal of grace.
So if He can forgive & forget all those sins, what is the only reasonable response to such love & grace?
15 Christ is the visible image of the invisible God.
He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation,
16 for through him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth.
He made the things we can see
and the things we can't see...
such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world.
Everything was created through him and for him.
17 He existed before anything else,
and he holds all creation together.
18 Christ is also the head of the church,
which is his body.
He is the beginning,
supreme over all who rise from the dead.
So he is first in everything.
19 For God in all his fullness was pleased to live in Christ,
20 and through him God reconciled everything to himself.
He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth
by means of Christ's blood on the cross.
21 This includes you who were once far away from God.
You were his enemies,
separated from him by your evil thoughts and actions.
22 Yet now he has reconciled you to himself through the death of Christ in his physical body.
As a result, he has brought you into his own presence,
and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault.
23 But you must continue to believe this truth and stand firmly in it.
Don't drift away from the assurance you received when you heard the Good News.
"...you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault."
iow, because of Jesus, God doesn't see our sinfulness or sins - quite actually, God sees us as just the opposite: holy & blameless.
Can we let that sink in?!
Think about all the sins you've done...
Never mind, that would take too much time for you or me!
Anyway, think about it - thru Jesus' sacrificial death & resurrection, God doesn't see all those sins - just doesn't see them - and what's more, sees us as holy & blameless!
Amazing!
It's the scandal of grace.
So if He can forgive & forget all those sins, what is the only reasonable response to such love & grace?
Sunday, April 28, 2013
just try it
Philippians 4
6 Don't worry about anything;
instead, pray about everything.
Tell God what you need,
and thank him for all he has done.
7 Then you will experience God's peace,
which exceeds anything we can understand.
His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
8 And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing.
Fix your thoughts on what is true,
and honorable,
and right,
and pure,
and lovely,
and admirable.
Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.
6 Don't worry about anything;
instead, pray about everything.
Tell God what you need,
and thank him for all he has done.
7 Then you will experience God's peace,
which exceeds anything we can understand.
His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
8 And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing.
Fix your thoughts on what is true,
and honorable,
and right,
and pure,
and lovely,
and admirable.
Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.
Friday, April 26, 2013
think about this today
Philippians 2
1 Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ?
Any comfort from his love?
Any fellowship together in the Spirit?
Are your hearts tender and compassionate?
2 Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other,
loving one another,
and working together with one mind and purpose.
3 Don't be selfish;
don't try to impress others.
Be humble,
thinking of others as better than yourselves.
4 Don't look out only for your own interests,
but take an interest in others, too.
5 You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.
6 Though he was God,
he did not think of equality with God
as something to cling to.
7 Instead, he gave up his divine privileges;
he took the humble position of a slave
and was born as a human being.
When he appeared in human form,
8 he humbled himself in obedience to God
and died a criminal's death on a cross.
9 Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor
and gave him the name above all other names,
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
1 Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ?
Any comfort from his love?
Any fellowship together in the Spirit?
Are your hearts tender and compassionate?
2 Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other,
loving one another,
and working together with one mind and purpose.
3 Don't be selfish;
don't try to impress others.
Be humble,
thinking of others as better than yourselves.
4 Don't look out only for your own interests,
but take an interest in others, too.
5 You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.
6 Though he was God,
he did not think of equality with God
as something to cling to.
7 Instead, he gave up his divine privileges;
he took the humble position of a slave
and was born as a human being.
When he appeared in human form,
8 he humbled himself in obedience to God
and died a criminal's death on a cross.
9 Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor
and gave him the name above all other names,
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
Thursday, April 25, 2013
harsh words
Luke 19
26 To those who use well what they are given,
even more will be given.
But from those who are unfaithful,
even what little they have will be taken away.
There is a responsibility to make available all that God has made us to be & dreamed for us to do.
26 To those who use well what they are given,
even more will be given.
But from those who are unfaithful,
even what little they have will be taken away.
There is a responsibility to make available all that God has made us to be & dreamed for us to do.
Wednesday, April 24, 2013
protection
If you've never read Ephesians, or if it's been a while, read it again, one chapter at a time.
It's just so chock full of all kinds of good stuff, amazing stuff, stuff that you hear every day.
It would just be good to know where those things we heard all the time come from! ;-)
Ephesians 6:10 A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.
11 Put on all of God's armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil.
12 For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies,
but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world,
against mighty powers in this dark world,
and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.
13 Therefore, put on every piece of God's armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil.
Then after the battle you will still be standing firm.
14 Stand your ground,
putting on the belt of truth
and the body armor of God's righteousness.
15 For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared.
16 In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil.
17 Put on salvation as your helmet,
and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. (dan note: iow, READ THE BIBLE EVERY DAY!!!)
18 Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion.
Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.
It's just so chock full of all kinds of good stuff, amazing stuff, stuff that you hear every day.
It would just be good to know where those things we heard all the time come from! ;-)
Ephesians 6:10 A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.
11 Put on all of God's armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil.
12 For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies,
but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world,
against mighty powers in this dark world,
and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.
13 Therefore, put on every piece of God's armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil.
Then after the battle you will still be standing firm.
14 Stand your ground,
putting on the belt of truth
and the body armor of God's righteousness.
15 For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared.
16 In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil.
17 Put on salvation as your helmet,
and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. (dan note: iow, READ THE BIBLE EVERY DAY!!!)
18 Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion.
Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
right living
Ephesians 5:1 Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do,
because you are his dear children.
2 Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ.
He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God.
3 Let there be no sexual immorality, impurity, or greed among you.
Such sins have no place among God's people.
4 Obscene stories, foolish talk, and coarse jokes—these are not for you.
Instead, let there be thankfulness to God.
5 You can be sure that no immoral, impure, or greedy person will inherit the Kingdom of Christ and of God.
For a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world.
6 Don't be fooled by those who try to excuse these sins,
for the anger of God will fall on all who disobey him.
7 Don't participate in the things these people do.
8 For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord.
So live as people of light!
9 For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true.
10 Carefully determine what pleases the Lord.
11 Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness;
instead, expose them.
12 It is shameful even to talk about the things that ungodly people do in secret.
13 But their evil intentions will be exposed when the light shines on them,
14 for the light makes everything visible.
This is why it is said,
"Awake, O sleeper,
rise up from the dead,
and Christ will give you light."
because you are his dear children.
2 Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ.
He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God.
3 Let there be no sexual immorality, impurity, or greed among you.
Such sins have no place among God's people.
4 Obscene stories, foolish talk, and coarse jokes—these are not for you.
Instead, let there be thankfulness to God.
5 You can be sure that no immoral, impure, or greedy person will inherit the Kingdom of Christ and of God.
For a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world.
6 Don't be fooled by those who try to excuse these sins,
for the anger of God will fall on all who disobey him.
7 Don't participate in the things these people do.
8 For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord.
So live as people of light!
9 For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true.
10 Carefully determine what pleases the Lord.
11 Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness;
instead, expose them.
12 It is shameful even to talk about the things that ungodly people do in secret.
13 But their evil intentions will be exposed when the light shines on them,
14 for the light makes everything visible.
This is why it is said,
"Awake, O sleeper,
rise up from the dead,
and Christ will give you light."
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