~Abundant~

"Oh, how abundant is Your goodness,

which You have stored up for those who fear You."

~Ps. 31:19

"The Lord is merciful and gracious,

slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love."

~Ps. 103:8

"They shall pour forth the fame of Your abundant goodness

and shall sing aloud of Your righteousness."

~Ps. 145:7

"The LORD is gracious and merciful,

slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love."

~Ps. 145:8

"Great is our Lord, and abundant in power;

His understanding is beyond measure."

~Ps. 147:5

Pslam 103 ~ Which I call the Mercy Pslam

1 Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and all that is within me,
bless his holy name!
2 Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits,
3 who forgives all your iniquity,

who heals all your diseases,

4 who redeems your life from the pit,
who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,
5 who satisfies you with good
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.

6 The Lord works righteousness

and justice for all who are oppressed.

7 He made known his ways to Moses,
his acts to the people of Israel.
8 The Lord is merciful and gracious,

slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.

9 He will not always chide,
nor will he keep his anger forever.
10 He does not deal with us according to our sins,
nor repay us according to our iniquities.
11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him;
12 as far as the east is from the west,

so far does he remove our transgressions from us.

13 As a father shows compassion to his children,
so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him.
14 For he knows our frame;
he remembers that we are dust.

15 As for man, his days are like grass;
he flourishes like a flower of the field;
16 for the wind passes over it, and it is gone,
and its place knows it no more.
17 But the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him,
and his righteousness to children's children,
18 to those who keep his covenant
and remember to do his commandments.
19 The Lord has established his throne in the heavens,
and his kingdom rules over all.

20 Bless the Lord, O you his angels,
you mighty ones who do his word,
obeying the voice of his word!
21 Bless the Lord, all his hosts,
his ministers, who do his will!
22 Bless the Lord, all his works,
in all places of his dominion.
Bless the Lord, O my soul!

Psalm 145

1 I will extol You, my God and King,
and bless Your name forever and ever.
2 Every day I will bless You
and praise Your name forever and ever.

3 Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised,

and His greatness is unsearchable.

4 One generation shall commend Your works to another,

and shall declare Your mighty acts.

5 On the glorious splendor of Your majesty,
and on Your wondrous works, I will meditate.
6 They shall speak of the might of Your awesome deeds,
and I will declare Your greatness.
7 They shall pour forth the fame of Your abundant goodness
and shall sing aloud of Your righteousness.

8 The Lord is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
9 The Lord is good to all,
and His mercy is over all that He has made.

10 All Your works shall give thanks to You, O Lord,
and all Your saints shall bless You!
11 They shall speak of the glory of Your kingdom
and tell of Your power,
12 to make known to the children of man Your mighty deeds,
and the glorious splendor of Your kingdom.
13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
and Your dominion endures throughout all generations.

[The Lord is faithful in all His words
and kind in all His works.]
14 The Lord upholds all who are falling
and raises up all who are bowed down.
15 The eyes of all look to You,
and You give them their food in due season.
16 You open Your hand;
You satisfy the desire of every living thing.
17 The Lord is righteous in all His ways
and kind in all His works.
18 The Lord is near to all who call on Him,
to all who call on Him in truth.
19 He fulfills the desire of those who fear Him;
He also hears their cry and saves them.
20 The Lord preserves all who love Him,
but all the wicked He will destroy.

21 My mouth will speak the praise of the Lord,

and let all flesh bless His holy name forever and ever.

*::~... 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 ESV ...~::*

*~Tuesday afternoon~*

*~:: ... Bible reading, journal-ing, picture taking, praying, music listening, lake viewing, bracing against the wind blowing, gently swinging, thinking. These took up an hour or two of my afternoon on Tuesday, much like this day. ... ::~*

Psalm 103:8 NET

Job 41:10-11 ESV

Content ...

I asked the Lord three times about this, that it would depart from me.

But He said to me, "My grace is enough for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." So then, I will boast most gladly about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may reside in me.

Therefore I am content with weaknesses, with insults, with troubles, with persecutions and difficulties for the sake of Christ, for whenever I am weak, then I am strong.

~2 Corinthians 12:8-10 (NET Bible)~

Verses about my Jesus

I hope you all have/had a wonderful Resurrection Sunday! I was reading the account of my Savior's death and resurrection and some verses stood out at me. We all know the story ... Jesus is arrested, He is wrongly accused, He is given to Pilate who declares Him innocent but wanting to please the crowd he scourges Him and releases Him to be crucified and Jesus dies a painful, agonizing death in separation from His Father! But as I was reading the different accounts from the different books, as I said, some verses really awed me.

When Jesus is being arrested ...

Matthew 26:50b-54~ ... Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and took Him. 51 And suddenly, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his sword, struck the servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear. 52 But Jesus said to him, "Put your sword in is place, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword. 53 Or do you think that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He will provide Me with more than twelve legions of angels? 54 How then could the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must happen thus?" ( A Roman Legion was 6,000 soldiers ... making 12 legions more than 72,000 angels! Oh, the power of our Lord and God!)

John 18:4-6~ Jesus therefore, knowing all things that would come upon Him, went forward and said to them, "Whom are you seeking?" 5 They answered Him, "Jesus of Nazareth." Jesus said to them, "I am He." And Judas, who betrayed Him, also stood with them. 6 Now when He said to them, "I am He," they drew back and fell to the ground. (At the very words of Jesus proclaiming who He was, they fell to the ground!)


When Jesus is lead before Caiaphas the high priest ...

Matthew 26:63b-64~ "...Tell us if You are the Christ, the Son of God!" 64 Jesus said to him, "It is as you said. Nevertheless, I say to you, hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven." (The right hand of the Power!! That, people, is my God ... the Power ... and my Jesus is at the right hand of the Power, interceding for me!)

When Jesus is on the cross and when He dies ...

Matthew 27:46~ And the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying "Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?" that is, "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?" (God forsook Jesus for me. They were separated, God turned His back on His Son because of my sins that I may know Him as my Lord and Savior!)

Matthew 27:50~ And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit. (He did it willingly.)

Matthew 27:51-54~ Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked and the rocks were split, 52 and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep [died] were raised; 53 and coming out of the graves after His resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many. 54 So when the centurion and those with him, who were guarding Jesus, saw the earthquake and the things that had happened, they feared greatly, saying, "Truly this was the Son of God!" (Behold the Power (at which Jesus sits at the right hand) the veil is torn, giving us as Gentiles (and the Jews) complete access to the Holy of Holies, to God Himself. The earth quaked and rocks split! The graves were open and the dead walked, and appeared to many! I say again, behold the Power!)

Mark 15:33~ Now when the sixth hour had come, [Noon, by Jewish reckoning] there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour [3:00 p.m.]. (My God controls light and darkness! And the grief of Jesus death was so great God chose to darken the skies for three hours in the middle of the day!)

Luke 23:44-47~ Now it was about the sixth hour, [Noon] and there was darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour [3:00 p.m.]. 45 Then the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was torn in two. 46 And when Jesus cried out with a loud voice, He said, "Father, 'into Your hands I commit My spirit.' " Having said this, He breathed His last. 47 So when the centurion saw what had happened, he glorified God, saying, "Certainly this was a righteous Man!" (Need I say anything for this? The Power, the willingness of Jesus ... this was a righteous Man indeed!)

The tomb ...

Matthew 28:1-8~ Now after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb. 2 And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angle of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it. 3 His countenance was like lightening, his clothing as white as snow. 4 And the guards shook for fear of him, and became like dead men. 5 But the angel answered and said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. 6 He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come see the place where the Lord lay. 7 And go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead, and indeed He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see him. Behold, I have told you." 8 So they went out quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to bring His disciples word. (I let these words speak for themselves)

Luke 24:1-7~ Now on the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they, and certain other women with them, came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared. 2 But they found the stone rolled away from the tomb. 3 Then they went in and did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 And it happened, as they were greatly perplexed about this, that behold, two men stood by them in shining garments. 5 Then, as they were afraid and bowed their faces to the earth, they said to them, "Why do you seek the living among the dead? 6 He is not here, but is risen! Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee, 7 saying, 'The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.'"

Where Jesus is now ...

Mark 16:19~ So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God.

That is my God and Lord ... remember Him, not just this happy resurrection day, but always!

::~::The Lord's Mercy::~::

22~Through (it is of~KJV) the LORD's mercies we are not consumed,
Because His compassions fail not.
23~They are new every morning;
Great is Your faithfulness.
24~"The LORD is my portion," says my soul,
"Therefore I hope in Him!"
25~The LORD is good to those who wait for Him,
To the soul who seeks Him.
26~It is good that one should hope and wait quietly
For the salvation of the LORD.
27~It is good for a man to bear
The yoke (suffering) in his youth.
28~Let him sit alone and keep silent,
Because God has laid it on him.

32~Though He causes grief,
Yet He will show compassion
According to the multitude of His mercies.

~Lamentations 3:22-28 & 32 (NKJV) ~

Psalm 119 ...

67) Before I was afflicted I went astray.
But now I keep Your word.
66) You are good, and do good; ...

71) It is good for me that I have been afflicted,
That I may learn Your statues.
72) The law of Your mouth is better to me
Then thousands of coins of gold and silver.

Psalm 97:4-5

4) His lightnings light the world;
The earth sees and trembles.

5) The mountains melt like wax at the presence of the LORD,
At the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.









Pictures from www.allposters.com

Encouragement from the Psalms

Psalm 62:1-2~
1 For God alone my soul waits in silence;
from Him comes my salvation.
2 He only is my rock and my salvation,
my fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken.

Psalm 62:5-8~
5 For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence,
for my hope is from Him.
6 He only is my rock and my salvation,
my fortress; I shall not be shaken.
7 On God rests my salvation and my glory;
my might rock, my refuge is God.
8 Trust in Him at all times, O People;
pour out your heart before Him;
God is a refuge for us.

~ESV~

Your Debt is Forgiven be Forgiving!

In my Bible reading I'm going through Matthew and the other night I was reading Matthew 18:21-35. I read a section in my MacArthur (NKJV) study Bible, read his footnotes, read the section again in my ESV Bible and then read the ESV footnotes, too. And I was blown away by the extreme debt we, as unbelievers have, and how God has forgiven all our debt and sees us through His Son and how we, as forgiven believers, ought to forgive others, as Christ has forgiven us. I'm going to write out the NKJV and the NKJV footnotes. Then I'm going to write out the ESV and the ESV footnotes. I would urge you to read at the vary least one of the Bible passages and both sets of footnotes because both sets of footnotes point out things that really made me think. Just take it all in, apply and be thankful and forgiving "Even as Christ forgave you"!

Matthew 18:21-35~ (NKJV)
"21 Then Peter came to Him and said, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?" 22 Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven. 23 Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. 24 And when he had begun to settle accounts, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. 25 But as he was not able to pay, his master commanded that he be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and that payment be made. 26 The servant therefore fell down before him, saying, 'Master, have patience with me, and I will pay you all.' 27 Then the master of the servant was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt.
"28 But that servant when out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and he laid hands on him and took him by the throat, saying, 'Pay me what you owe!' 29 So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you all.' 30 And he would not, but went and threw him into prison till he should pay the debt. 31 So when his fellow servants saw what had been done, they were very grieved, and came and told their master all that had been done. 32 Then his master, after he had called him, said to him, 'You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. 33 Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?' 34 And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him.
35 "So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses." "

MacArthur Footnotes~ (NKJV)
21~ Up to seven times. Peter thought he was being magnanimous. The rabbis, citing several verses from Amos (1:3,6,9,11,13) taught that since God forgave Israel's enemies only 3 times, it was presumptuous and unnecessary to forgive anyone more than 3 times.
22~ seventy times seven. Innumerable times.
23~ servants. Due to the large amounts of money involved, it is likely these "servants" would have been provincial governors who owed the king the money from taxation.
24~ ten thousand talents. This represents and incomprehensible amount of money. The talent was the largest denomination of currency, and "ten thousand" in common parlance signified and infinite number.
25~ that he be sold. A way to recover some of this loss was for the king to sell the family members into slavery.
27~ forgave him. Picturing this generous, compassionate forgiveness of God to a pleading sinner who owes him an unplayable debt.
28~ a hundred denarii. About 3 months' wages. This was not a negligible amount by normal standards, but it was a pittance in comparison to what the servant had been forgiven.
29~ Have patience...I will pay you all. The forgiven man heard the same pleading he had given before his master, but was utterly without compassion (v. 30).
31~ fellow servants...grieved. A lack of forgiveness is offensive to fellow believers. Most of all it offends God, who chastens His unforgiving children severely (vv. 32-34).
34~ his master was angry. Because He is holy and just, God is always angry at sin, including the sins of His children. torturers. Not executioners. This pictures severe discipline, not final condemnation. all that was due to him. The original debt was unplayable and the man still without resources. So it seems unlikely that the slave was saddled once again with the same debt he had already been forgiven. Rather, what he now owed his master would be exacted in chastening by mis master until he was willing to forgive others.


Matthew 18:21-35~ (ESV)
"21 Then Peter came up and said to him, "Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?" 22 Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven.(1)
23 "Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants.(2) 24 When he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents.(3) 25 And since he could not pay, his master ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made. 26 So the servant(4) fell on his knees, imploring him, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.' 27 And out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the debt. 28 But when that same servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii,(5) and seizing him, he began to choke him, saying, 'Pay what you owe.' 29 So his fellow servant fell down and pleaded with him, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you.' 30 He refused and went and put him in prison until he should pay the debt. 31 When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their master all that had taken place. 32 Then his master summoned him and said to him, 'You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. 33 And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?' 34 And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers,(6) until he should pay all his debt. 35 So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart."

ESV Footnotes~
(1) Or seventy-seven times
(2) Greek bondservants; also verses 28, 31
(3) A talent was a monetary unit worth about twenty years' wages for a laborer
(4) Greek bondservant; also verses 27, 28, 29, 32, 33
(5) A denarius was a day's wage for a laborer
(6) Greek tortures

Memorize with me!

Hello everyone. I was crocheting this morning and memorizing James and I was struck with a thought. What if we memorized James together? Wouldn't that be great! Talk about helping each other along in the Christian walk?! So I'll write out the first chapter of James in the ESV and you can either print it, or use your own copy if you have one or whatever you want and memorize it with me! The easiest way I've found to memorize is to read one verse, or part of a verse if it's longer, out loud once. Then read it to yourself two times. Then try to say it without looking. Then check to see if you got it right. If you did, keep saying it over and over again. If you didn't get it quite right, fix it and then say it over and over. Every time you add a verse you do the same thing, but when you say them to yourself without looking start from the first verse that you learned and say to the last one. For example: if you're memorizing verse five, you look at it, say it out loud, then to yourself, then see if you can do it with out looking, if you can say from verse one to verse five over and over again. Just so you keep them all fresh in your mind. Another way to memorize and keep things fresh in your mind is to write it out on paper. You can either write it over and over, (not writing over and over at one sitting but different times throughout the day. ;) ) or write it on a sheet of paper to carry around in your pocket to look at during the day. It's really quite fun! I'm really enjoying it. I've gotten up to verse 12 in chapter one. So do it with me! Not only is it productive, fun, and a good idea, :) you're hiding God's word in your heart, to be used in temptation, in witnessing, in encouraging, etc.. So come on. I've divided the verses in paragraphs as they are in my Bible. It's sometimes easier to memorize one paragraph a day and then refresh it the next day as you memorize the next paragraph! It doesn't matter how you memorize it, just do it! And P.S. keep me up-dating on your progress, I'd love to hear how your doing and I'm sure it wouldn't just be an encouragement for me to keep going, but for others who are memorizing things too! Leave me a comment any time. :)

James chapter one:

1)James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,
To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion:
Greetings.
2)Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3)for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4)And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
5)If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. 6)But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. 7)For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8)he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
9)Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation, 10)and the rich in his humiliation, because like a flower of the grass he will pass away. 11)For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. So also will the rich man fade away in the midst of his pursuits.
12)Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. 13)Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am being tempted by God," for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. 14)But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. 15)Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.
16)Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. 17)Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. 18)Of his own will he brought us froth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
19)Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; 20)for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. 21)Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
22)But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23)For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. 24)For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. 25)But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.
26)If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless. 27)Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.

A still small voice!

I recently finished 1 Kings in my Bible reading and toward the end I came across this verse.

1Kings 19:11~
"11)Then He said, "Go out, and stand on the mountain before the LORD." And behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake; 12)and after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice."

A still small voice. I have found, in my times of trouble and struggling that the Lord does indeed speak to me in a still small voice. Not a voice as thunder or the sound of many waters, as the Bible does say, but in a still small voice! Aren't you thankful that He does speak to us in a still small voice when we're struggling and not a voice of thunder? I am! But at times of trouble we must calm ourselves, quiet our hearts, and listen, be willing to hear the things God is saying to us!

"God spoke peace into my emotional turmoil because I was asking for it and looking for it and being silent enough to hear it."

~Elisabeth Elliot, from the book "Passion and Purity."

But let us also remember that, although God does speak in a still small voice when He sees fit, He is still the strong, mighty creator, to be feared above all else, and when He chooses, His voice is like thunder, like the sound of many waters. May we learn to listen to His still small voice and draw close to His side but also to fall on our face when we hear His strong, thunderous voice, and worship!

Encouragment from the Psalms

Psalm 34:4~
"I sought the LORD, and He heard me,
And delivered me from all my fears."

Psalm 34:15~
"The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous,
And His ears are open to their cry."

Psalm 34:17-19~
"17) The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears,
and delivers them out of all their troubles.
18) The LORD is near to those who have a broken heart,
and saves such as have a contrite spirit.
19) Many are the afflictions of the righteous,
But the LORD delivers him out of them all."

Psalm 37:23-24~
"23)The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD,
and He delights in his way.
24) Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down;
For the LORD upholds him with His hand."

Encouraging reminder

I've finished reading Hebrews in my Bible and was so encouraged with chapter 12 that I just had to share it with you. I'm sure you all know what is says, but I must share anyway!

Hebrews 12:3-11~
"3) For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls. 4) You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin. 5) And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons: "My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD, Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; 6) For whom the LORD loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives." 7) If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? 8) But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons. 9) Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? 10) For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness. 11) Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it."

Dare I say more? Simply trust this to be true and call it to mind when trial and chastening comes! What a joy! Let us thank the Lord, wholeheartedly, for our trials and chastening!

Encouraging verses

Hello all! I have just finished reading 2 Timothy in my Bible reading and am now going to start Titus! But reading through 2 Timothy I came across some verses to encourage us and to push to our goal.

2 Timothy 3:12~
"Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution."

2 Timothy 4:7~
"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith."

So first of all when people persecute us let us not be surprised and shrink back. Let us rejoice! Why? Because we can be assure that if we were not trying to live a godly life, there would be no persecution! It is because we're doing as we are told, we are following Christ, we're trying to be Christ-like, and because of that we suffer persecution! Let us stand for what we believe, persecution or not! And with that, when we come to the end of our lives, or if Christ comes, will we be able to say with Paul "I have fought the good fight, ..." Will we be able to say, "I suffered persecution for Christ and "have kept the faith"? Will we be able to stand in that day of judgment and stand knowing we "fought the good fight, ... finished the race, ... have kept the faith"? Let us look forward to being able to say those things in truth. Let us be careful how we live now, in persecution, in trials, in hard times, in good times, so that we are able to stand before Christ, in His day of glory, and say, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith"!

Content in any state?

Over the last few days I watched my family get sick and come down with the flu knowing full well the I would probably end up with it. Did I want to get sick? Not really. So I prayed. I prayed that God would help me get through the days, to help those who were sick and that He would give me the grace and strength to make it through the day when He allowed me to get sick. And I was so amazed, although I shouldn't have been (because God does answers our prayers), that I was able to be content with my sickness. Did I enjoy it? No! :) But I wasn't complaining, I wasn't wishing not to be sick (well, I didn't want the pain but I wasn't trying to complain). As I was lying on the couch a verse came to my mind and has stuck with me.

Philippians 4:11b~
"... for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content."


In whatever state? In sickness? Yes! In health? Yes! In trials? Yes! In hardships? Yes! In uncertainty? Yes! In anything? Yes! What a joy it is to be content in whatever state the Lord puts us in. Something else that came to my mind a while back and has stuck with me. We know that the Lord can make us content, but we also know it is so hard to be content. But we forget, if we ask the Lord to make us content, and He makes us content, then we will be content! Did you get that? :) If the Lord makes us content then we won't be worried about this, or we won't be wondering about that. We will be content! Isn't that an encouragement? Not matter what the state, trial or situation we're in, if we ask the Lord to make us content (and we truly want to be) and He makes us content, then we will be content! We won't be worried, we won't be anxious, we won't be wondering. We can rest content in His able hands!

My Bible reading discovery

Hello everyone! I realize it has been ages since I've posted, I've been very, very busy. But busy or not, I've still had time to read my Bible and have found a verse that I found true in my life and had to share it with all of you.


2 Corinthians 1:3-4 ~
"3) Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4) who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God."

In the past few weeks and months the Lord has shown me Himself by His comfort and closeness to me in the times of tribulation that He has brought into my life. Recently a very close friend of mine went through a very trying time, very close to my own trial, and it was so neat how the Lord showed me how to be a comfort to her by the way He had comforted me, and by those who He'd used to comfort me in my trials. At times in my life I still feel that the Lord brings things into my life, hard things, and leaves me to suffer and struggle alone. But when I remember the things He's taught me and how He has comforted me in the past, it shows me that I need to remember who He is and what He has done, that I just need to trust Him and take Him at His word. "The Father of mercies and God of all comfort." Without a shadow of a doubt I know that everything in the Bible is true, everything, so if it says He's the "Father of mercies and God of all comfort," isn't it true that He is? Let us take Him at His word and when He brings trials into our lives, let us remember that He is the Father of mercies, that no matter what the trial or situation He brings to us that He gives mercy to go through the trial to His honor and glory. He's not going to bring a trial into our lives that we cannot get through by His mercy and strength for His glory. Let us also remember that He's the God of all comfort, not just some comfort, all comfort. Let us rest knowing that everything works out for our good and that He is always near, providing grace, mercy and comfort to those who seek it!