Sing so others can hear–
especially when you’re at church
(people at the grocery store
will just think you’re weird).
Be filled with the Spirit,
speaking to one another in psalms
and hymns and spiritual songs,
singing and making melody
in your heart to the Lord.
Ephesians 5:18b-19 NKJV
Unbearable burdens expose our weakness,
and give us a unique opportunity to experience God’s power.
And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you,
for My strength is made perfect in weakness.”
Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities,
that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
2 Corinthians 12:9 NKJV
When we don’t know what to do or say,
it’s good to remember
love matters most–
so love, go with love.
Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels,
but have not love, I have become sounding brass
or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy,
and understand all mysteries and all knowledge,
and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains,
but have not love, I am nothing.
1 Corinthians 13:1-2 NKJV
A Christian who does not regularly read the Bible
will still be able to live a pretty good, even great, life.
But, oh, how much he is missing.
Oh, the depth of the riches
both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!
How unsearchable are His judgments
and His ways past finding out!
Romans 11:33 NKJV
Aslo: Psalm 19:7-11
A bird just crashed into our great-room window.
It was so loud, I got up to see what kind it might be.
Down on the rocks around my basement patio
lay the injured bird, on its back, still breathing,
but not able to get up and fly away.
On second look, it has turned over
and is laying perfectly still.
It’s a woodpecker.
My heart breaks as I consider this bird
that was living a minute ago,
but is now on the verge of death–
or has already died.
As I am saddened over this one woodpecker,
I can see more clearly
how God cares for all He has created,
how His eye truly is on the sparrow,
and how every thing created
points to His goodness and glory and grace.
Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin?
And not one of them falls to the ground
apart from your Father’s will.
Matthew 10:29 NKJV
See: Matthew 6:25-34, 10:27-31
Any desire that draws us away from God
is an enemy that must be defeated.
Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles
to abstain from the passions of the flesh,
which wage war against your soul.
1 Peter 2:11 ESV
God is all for happy marriages.
One of His rules for the Israelites,
from long ago, is proof of that:
“If a man has recently married,
he must not be sent to war
or have any other duty laid on him.
For one year he is to be free to stay at home
and bring happiness to the wife he has married.”
Deuteronomy 24:5 NIV
We can be sure, God is invested in making our marriages work.
Jesus’ resurrection is
our proof that God accepted
His sacrifice for our sin;
our confidence in God’s power
beyond the grave;
our only hope for everlasting life
after death
(in actual supernatural bodies);
and our joy
because of all God has promised
to those who believe
He is risen–
He is risen indeed!
Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord
and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead,
you will be saved.
Romans 10:9 ESV
A happy life requires happy thoughts.
That takes determination,
because our thoughts
often want to run
to unhappy places.
Finally, brethren,
whatever things are true,
whatever things are noble,
whatever things are just,
whatever things are pure,
whatever things are lovely,
whatever things are of good report,
if there is any virtue
and if there is anything praiseworthy–
meditate on these things.
Philippians 4:8 NKJV
May God fill our hearts with hope
as we entrust ourselves
and the ones we love
to Him.
Rejoicing in hope,
patient in tribulation,
continuing steadfastly in prayer.
Romans 12:12 NKJV
Joy always accompanies hope in the one true God.
If we have no joy, it’s because our view of God is faulty.
Seldom is anything good
accomplished by giving up.
And let us not grow weary while doing good,
for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.
Galatians 6:9 NKJV
When describing ourselves,
it makes sense to start off with the best thing,
and then work our way down from there.
Here is John’s description of himself:
One of them,
the disciple whom Jesus loved,
was reclining next to [Jesus].
John 13:23 NIV
God’s goodness desires it,
His wisdom plans it,
His power achieves it.
What is it?
Our good.
And we know that all things
work together for good
to those who love God,
to those who are the called
according to His purpose.
Romans 8:28 NKJV
Seven things to never give up on:
your spouse,
your kids,
your friends,
your family,
the church,
your brothers and sisters in Christ,
your God.
Scripture: Colossians 3:12-17
Heaven will be
the fulfillment
of God’s promise
for peace,
for health,
for victory,
for glory,
for life,
for joy,
for Jesus–
face to face.
Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast,
immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord,
knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.
1 Corinthians 15:58 NKJV
more about it: 1 Corinthians 15:50-58
At the onset and end
of every difficult situation,
this is our sigh of relief:
“But God was with him
and delivered him
out of all his troubles.”
Acts 7:9-10 NKJV
I love John MacArthur’s Bible study note on Luke 15:20.
He says God is “a Savior by nature,
longing to see sinners repent
and rejoicing when they do.”
Remembering that encourages us
to always pray and never give up.
“And he arose and came to his father.
But when he was still a great way off,
his father saw him and had compassion,
and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him.”
Luke 15:20 NKJV
Bad things never happen
to good people.
But good things
happen all the time
to God’s people.
All have turned aside,
they have together become corrupt;
there is no one who does good,
not even one.
How great is Your goodness,
which You have stored up
for those who fear You,
which You bestow in the sight of men
on those who take refuge in You.
Psalm 14:3, 31:19 NIV
God is the security
riches can’t provide.
Command those who are rich in this present age
not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches
but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy.
1 Timothy 6:17 NKJV
May our delight always be
in the One who created
the things we enjoy.
So I commend the enjoyment of life,
because nothing is better for a man under the sun
than to eat and drink and be glad.
Then joy will accompany him in his work
all the days of the life God has given him under the sun.
Ecclesiastes 8:15 NIV
