One Minute with God

God will never disown one of His own.
Jesus’ death secures our place in God’s family.

But as many as received Him,
to them He gave the right
to become children of God,
to those who believe in His name.
John 1:12 NKJV

God was pleased to be Jesus.

For in him
all the fullness of God
was pleased to dwell. 
Colossians 1:19 ESV

Christians stand in bold contrast
to the rest of the world.
They are surrounded, kept, empowered
and loved by the great I AM.

“Fear not, for I am with you; 
Be not dismayed, for I am your God.”
Isaiah 41:10 NKJV

We should not waste time
striving to gain
something we already have,
or trying to keep
what we will never lose.

“I have loved you with an everlasting love;
therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you.”
Jeremiah 31:3 ESV

Also: Romans 8:38-39

For the Christian there is not
one place or situation
safer than another.

You hem me in–behind and before; 
you have laid your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
too lofty for me to attain.
Where can I go from your Spirit? 
Where can I flee from your presence?
Psalm 139:5-7  NIV

If we end our prayer time
in the same sad state we began it,
we haven’t really prayed.

Bless the LORD, O my soul, 
and all that is within me,
bless His holy name. 
Bless the LORD, O my soul,
and forget not all His benefits.
Psalm 103:1-2  KJV

Imagine Jesus’ joy,
when He appeared to His disciples,
after rising from the dead.

And as they went to tell His disciples
[that the tomb was empty], 
behold, Jesus met them, saying, “Rejoice!” 
So they came and held Him by the feet
and worshiped Him.
Matthew 28:9 NKJV

Most of us, at one time or another,
have thought heaven might be boring,
because what does God know about having fun? Right?

Take a moment to consider every good thing you have,
all those things that have brought you joy with no regret or guilt.
Maybe it’s spending time with your grandchild or seeing a sunset.
Perhaps you  have a beautiful home or a thriving garden.
Do you have good health? Do you enjoy good food?

The Bible says every good gift is from God.
He knows how to bring us joy,
and He does it over and over again.
It’s pretty amazing.
He blesses the people who love Him,
and those who hate Him.

So then, if God enjoys giving good gifts to everyone now,
how much more will He delight
in blessing His children with good things
when they finally enter His presence?

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above,
and comes down from the Father of lights.
James 1:17 NKJV

You will show me the path of life; 
In Your presence is fullness of joy;
At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore. 
Psalm 16:11 NKJV

Also: Ephesians 2:4-7

God speaks to us in the same way
we speak to each other–with words.
His are written down.

All scripture is given by inspiration of God,
and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof,
for correction, for instruction in righteousness. 
2 Timothy 3:16 KJV

Also: 2 Peter 1:19-21

Jesus is our deliverer
from the snare of the devil
and the wrath of God.

O wretched man that I am!
Who will deliver me from this body of death?
I thank God–through Jesus Christ our Lord!
Romans 7:24-25 NKJV

We will always be with the ones we love,
if we always love the ones we’re with.

May the Lord make your love increase
and overflow for each other and for everyone else.
1 Thessalonians 3:12 NIV

“Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? 
Yet not one of them will fall to the ground
apart from the will of your Father.”
Matthew 10:29 NIV

In my whole life I have never ever had any desire to ride a motorcycle. After my cousin had a minor accident, which caused major injuries, riding a motorcycle was pretty much out of the question for me. It always amazed me that anyone would want to put their lives in such imminent danger.
But a couple of years ago I had a crazy idea to give it a try. After failing a basic-rider course, and then hours and hours of practice, here I am with a motorcycle license. I still don’t quite understand how all that happened.
Every time I ride, I remember that God holds my very life and breath in the palms of His hands. If He ordains even the lifespan of a sparrow, surely His eye is on me! To Him I am much more valuable than a sparrow. And so are you!

“And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.” 
Matthew 10:30-31 NIV

We can serve the Lord with gladness
because He provides everything we need to serve Him.

Serve the LORD with gladness;
Come before His presence with singing.
Psalm 100:2 NKJV

hypocrisy: showing contempt for other people’s sin,
while coddling one’s own.

“Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye,
and then you will see clearly to remove the speck
from your brother’s eye.” 

“If My people who are called by My name
will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face,
and turn from their wicked ways,
then I will hear from heaven,
and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”

Matthew 7:5, 2 Chronicles 7:14 NKJV

God doesn’t ask us if we are able to serve Him;
He asks if we are willing.

Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying,
“Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?”
And I said, “Here am I. Send me!”
Isaiah 6:8 NIV

Jesus is…
our access to God’s throne.

For we do not have a High Priest
who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses,
but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.
Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace,
that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Hebrews 4:15-16 NKJV

God hates all sin,
not just the ones we don’t commit.

“And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye,
but do not consider the plank in your own eye?”
Matthew 7:3 NKJV

Repentance is turning from our sin to God.
In our hearts we say, Lord God,
I would rather have You,
than the fleeting pleasures of sin.
And then the struggle against our flesh,
to live out the repentant life, begins!

From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, 
“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
Matthew 4:17 NKJV

more about it: Romans 7:14-25, Hebrews 11:24-25

God holds Himself responsible
for His people’s care and well-being,
because that’s what good shepherds do.

Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd.
The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”
John 10:11 NIV

Jesus is…
our connection to God.

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. 
No one comes to the Father except through me.”
John 14:6 NIV