"Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever." v1 - "It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust man. It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust princes." vv8-9 - "The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; the Lord has done this and it is marvelous in our eyes. This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it." vv22-24 - "You are my God, and I will give you thanks; you are my God, and I will exalt you. Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever." vv28-29
In this brief life in this temporary world with all the fleeting material and power, it is a definite comfort to know that God's love will endure forever -- this is the definition of true hope!
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Saturday, April 4, 2009
Bread of Life - John 6:25-69
After Jesus spoke of Himself as the bread of life -- "... unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man, and drink His blood, you have no life in you." [v53], many of the crowd and disciples (not the Twelve) left, because they did not understand. When Jesus asked the Twelve if they wished to leave, Peter responded, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God [YHWH]."
Times are difficult. After re-encountering this passage recently through a message at my church, the Holy Spirit showed me new insight. I don't always understand my circumstances, and by no means do I understand God's sovereignty, but as with Peter where else will I go? Jesus is indeed the One to follow toward eternal life in Heaven with my Creator! Praise God!
Times are difficult. After re-encountering this passage recently through a message at my church, the Holy Spirit showed me new insight. I don't always understand my circumstances, and by no means do I understand God's sovereignty, but as with Peter where else will I go? Jesus is indeed the One to follow toward eternal life in Heaven with my Creator! Praise God!
Monday, March 9, 2009
Psalm 91:1-2, 94 & 95 - Refuge, Blessing & Praise
"He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadows of the Almighty. I will say to the Lord, 'He is my refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I trust.'" 91:1-2
"If you make the Most High your dwelling - even the Lord, who is my refuge - then no harm will befall you, no distaster will come near your tent." 91:9-10
"Blessed is the man you discipline, O Lord, the man you teach from your law; you grant him relief from days of trouble, till a pit is dug for the wicked." 94:12-13
"Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song." 95:1-2
"If you make the Most High your dwelling - even the Lord, who is my refuge - then no harm will befall you, no distaster will come near your tent." 91:9-10
"Blessed is the man you discipline, O Lord, the man you teach from your law; you grant him relief from days of trouble, till a pit is dug for the wicked." 94:12-13
"Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song." 95:1-2
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Psalm 84:11-12
"For the Lord God is a sun and a shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless. O Lord Almighty, blessed is the man who trusts in you."
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Psalm 73:26
"My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever."
Friday, February 13, 2009
Happy Valentine's Day! -- I Cor. 13:4-13
"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love."
Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love."
Friday, February 6, 2009
Psalm 63:5-8 & 16-20
"My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you. On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night. Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings. My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me." 63:5-8
"Come and listen, all you who fear God; let me tell you what he has done for me. I cried out to him with my mouth; his praise was on my tongue. If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened; but God has surely listened and heard my voice in prayer. Praise be to God, who has not rejected my prayer or withheld his love from me!" 66:16-20
"Come and listen, all you who fear God; let me tell you what he has done for me. I cried out to him with my mouth; his praise was on my tongue. If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened; but God has surely listened and heard my voice in prayer. Praise be to God, who has not rejected my prayer or withheld his love from me!" 66:16-20
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Psalm 62:1-2 & 5-6
When Scripture repeats a word or phrase, especially within the same passage, it means the author is stressing a point. In Psalm 62, David is pointing out the importance of relying on God and His strength, not our own.
Psalm 62:1-2 & 5-6
"My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken." vv:1-2
"Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken." vv:5-6
Psalm 62:1-2 & 5-6
"My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken." vv:1-2
"Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken." vv:5-6
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Hope
Psalm 52:9
"I will praise you forever for what you have done; in your name I will hope, for your name is good. I will praise you in the presence of your saints."
Romans 15:4
For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.
Titus 3:3-7
"At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life."
Hebrews 11:1-2
"Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for."
Wonder, Without Wondering
"I will praise you forever for what you have done; in your name I will hope, for your name is good. I will praise you in the presence of your saints."
Romans 15:4
For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.
Titus 3:3-7
"At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life."
Hebrews 11:1-2
"Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for."
Wonder, Without Wondering
Psalm 49
"Hear this, all you peoples; listen, all who live in this world, both low and high, rich and poor alike: my mouth will speak words of wisdom; the utterance from my heart will give understanding.
I will turn my ear to a proverb; with the harp I will expound my riddle: why should I fear when evil days come, when wicked deceivers surround me -- those who trust in their wealth and boast of their great riches?
No man can redeem the life of another or give to God a ransom for him -- the ransom for a life is costly, no payment is ever enough -- that he should live on forever and not see decay.
For all can see that wise men die; the foolish and the senseless alike perish and leave their wealth to others.
Their tombs will remain their houses forever, their dwellings for endless generations, though they had named lands after themselves.
But man, despite his riches, does not endure; he is like the beasts that perish.
This is the fate of those who trust in themselves, and of their followers, who approve their sayings.
Like sheep they are destined for the grave, and death will feed on them. The upright will rule over them in the morning; their forms will decay in the grave, far from their princely mansions.
But God will redeem my life from the grave; he will surely take me to himself.
Do not be overawed when a man grows rich, when the splendor of his house increases; for he will take nothing with him when he dies, his splendor will not descend with him.
Though while he lived he counted himself blessed-- and men praise you when you prosper -- he will join the generation of his fathers, who will never see the light [of life].
A man who has riches without understanding is like the beasts that perish."
I will turn my ear to a proverb; with the harp I will expound my riddle: why should I fear when evil days come, when wicked deceivers surround me -- those who trust in their wealth and boast of their great riches?
No man can redeem the life of another or give to God a ransom for him -- the ransom for a life is costly, no payment is ever enough -- that he should live on forever and not see decay.
For all can see that wise men die; the foolish and the senseless alike perish and leave their wealth to others.
Their tombs will remain their houses forever, their dwellings for endless generations, though they had named lands after themselves.
But man, despite his riches, does not endure; he is like the beasts that perish.
This is the fate of those who trust in themselves, and of their followers, who approve their sayings.
Like sheep they are destined for the grave, and death will feed on them. The upright will rule over them in the morning; their forms will decay in the grave, far from their princely mansions.
But God will redeem my life from the grave; he will surely take me to himself.
Do not be overawed when a man grows rich, when the splendor of his house increases; for he will take nothing with him when he dies, his splendor will not descend with him.
Though while he lived he counted himself blessed-- and men praise you when you prosper -- he will join the generation of his fathers, who will never see the light [of life].
A man who has riches without understanding is like the beasts that perish."
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Psalm 40: 1-3
Psalm 40: 1-3
"I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mire and clay, he set me on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn to praise our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the Lord."
"I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mire and clay, he set me on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn to praise our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the Lord."
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Psalm 27:1
Psalm 27:1
"The LORD is my light and my salvation -- whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life -- of whom shall I be afraid?"
"The LORD is my light and my salvation -- whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life -- of whom shall I be afraid?"
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