Matthew 26:39

pray on hands

What God Desires

He went forward a little, fell on his face, and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass away from me; nevertheless, not what I desire, but what you desire.” Matthew 26:39

Dear Heavenly Father, be my guide and protect me from these things that surround me that I do not understand or that influence me in ways that are not from You. Lord I want to be and act as close to You as You’ve always wanted Your children to be. Lord give the strength to stand against the evil in this world, the distractions and influences. Help me to not fear and worry about these issues that continue to affect everything around us. Thank you Lord for Your protection, direction, and love. In Jesus Name Amen

Getting to Know Him

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Matthew 4:1–1; To The Glory of God

Walking in the Light

1Now a certain man was sick, Lazarus from Bethany, of the village of Mary and her sister, Martha. It was that Mary who had anointed the Lord with ointment and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick. The sisters therefore sent to him, saying, “Lord, behold, he for whom you have great affection is sick.”


But when Jesus heard it, he said, “This sickness is not to death, but for the glory of God, that God’s Son may be glorified by it.” Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus. When therefore he heard that he was sick, he stayed two days in the place where he was. Then after this he said to the disciples, “Let’s go into Judea again.”
The disciples asked him, “Rabbi, the Jews were just trying to stone you. Are you going there again?”


Jesus answered, “Aren’t there twelve hours of daylight? If a man walks in the day, he doesn’t stumble, because he sees the light of this world. 10 But if a man walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light isn’t in him.” 11 He said these things, and after that, he said to them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I am going so that I may awake him out of sleep.” Matthew 4:1–11

Dear Heavenly Father, be my guide and protect me from these things that surround me that I do not understand or that influence me in ways that are not from You. Lord I want to be and act as close to You as You’ve always wanted Your children to be. Lord give the strength to stand against the evil in this world, the distractions and influences. Help me to not fear and worry about these issues that continue to affect everything around us. Thank you Lord for Your protection, direction, and love. In Jesus Name Amen

Getting to Know Him

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Hebrews 4:15

bible with sign god is love

Compassion

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Hebrews 4:15

Dear Heavenly Father, be my guide and protect me from these things that surround me that I do not understand or that influence me in ways that are not from You. Lord I want to be and act as close to You as You’ve always wanted Your children to be. Lord give the strength to stand against the evil in this world, the distractions and influences. Help me to not fear and worry about these issues that continue to affect everything around us. Thank you Lord for Your protection, direction, and love. In Jesus Name Amen

Getting to Know Him

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John 11:35 Jesus Wept

praying Jesus

“Jesus wept”. John 11:35 ESV

John 11:35, is the shortest verse in the Bible, simply put it says, “Jesus wept.” Even though it’s brief these two words carry profound depth and reveal the heart of Christ in a powerful way. This moment occurs at the tomb of Lazarus, where Jesus is surrounded by grieving friends and family. Even though He knew He would raise Lazarus from the dead, He still entered fully into the sorrow of those around Him. His tears show us that He is not a distant or unemotional Savior but one who feels the weight of human pain and loss. In weeping, Jesus identified with our grief, demonstrating His compassion and love for people. His tears also remind us that sorrow, brokenness, pain, and death were never part of God’s original design, but entered the world because of sin. Jesus’ weeping reveals His holy anger at the reality of death and His deep empathy for those who suffer under its shadow. We should be comforted to know that Christ does not stand far off when we hurt—He draws near, feels with us, and cares deeply. John 11:35 teaches us that divine power and tender compassion coexist perfectly in Jesus, making Him both our mighty Savior and our loving Friend.

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Hebrews 4:15

Dear Heavenly Father, be my guide and protect me from these things that surround me that I do not understand or that influence me in ways that are not from You. Lord I want to be and act as close to You as You’ve always wanted Your children to be. Lord give the strength to stand against the evil in this world, the distractions and influences. Help me to not fear and worry about these issues that continue to affect everything around us. Thank you Lord for Your protection, direction, and love. In Jesus Name Amen

Getting to Know Him

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Book of Life

Open book
P

Conquered

Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” Luke 10:20 ESV

And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. Revelation 20:15 ESV

The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life. I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels. Revelation 3:5 ESV

Dear Heavenly Father, be my guide and protect me from these things that surround me that I do not understand or that influence me in ways that are not from You. Lord I want to be and act as close to You as You’ve always wanted Your children to be. Lord give the strength to stand against the evil in this world, the distractions and influences. Help me to not fear and worry about these issues that continue to affect everything around us. Thank you Lord for Your protection, direction, and love. In Jesus Name Amen

Getting to Know Him

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Psalm 56:8

Compassion

You have kept count of my tossings; put my tears in your bottle. Are they not in your book? Psalm 56:8 ESV

Dear Heavenly Father, be my guide and protect me from these things that surround me that I do not understand or that influence me in ways that are not from You. Lord I want to be and act as close to You as You’ve always wanted Your children to be. Lord give the strength to stand against the evil in this world, the distractions and influences. Help me to not fear and worry about these issues that continue to affect everything around us. Thank you Lord for Your protection, direction, and love. In Jesus Name Amen

Getting to Know Him

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2 Corinthians 5:17

Fireworks

Celebration

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV

Dear Heavenly Father, be my guide and protect me from these things that surround me that I do not understand or that influence me in ways that are not from You. Lord I want to be and act as close to You as You’ve always wanted Your children to be. Lord give the strength to stand against the evil in this world, the distractions and influences. Help me to not fear and worry about these issues that continue to affect everything around us. Thank you Lord for Your protection, direction, and love. In Jesus Name Amen

Getting to Know Him

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Romans 8:18

Running through the grass and trees
Photo by Noelle Otto on Pexels.com

Celebration

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. Romans 8:18 ESV

Dear Heavenly Father, be my guide and protect me from these things that surround me that I do not understand or that influence me in ways that are not from You. Lord I want to be and act as close to You as You’ve always wanted Your children to be. Lord give the strength to stand against the evil in this world, the distractions and influences. Help me to not fear and worry about these issues that continue to affect everything around us. Thank you Lord for Your protection, direction, and love. In Jesus Name Amen

Getting to Know Him

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Revelation 21:4

Help up

Tears no More

He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” Revelation 21:4 ESV

Dear Heavenly Father, be my guide and protect me from these things that surround me that I do not understand or that influence me in ways that are not from You. Lord I want to be and act as close to You as You’ve always wanted Your children to be. Lord give the strength to stand against the evil in this world, the distractions and influences. Help me to not fear and worry about these issues that continue to affect everything around us. Thank you Lord for Your protection, direction, and love. In Jesus Name Amen

Getting to Know Him

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Luke 5:30-32

Doctor

And the Pharisees and their scribes grumbled at his disciples, saying, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” And Jesus answered them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.”

Prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father, quiet my heart and help me recognize Your voice above every other sound. Help me know what is true and what is flashy deception, allow me to quit the chaos around me and inside my head. In Jesus Name Amen

Getting to Know Him

Do you want eternal life? Do you want to enter heaven through the only guide that can help you navigate your way there? To enter His home, get to know Him better, and make Him your Lord and Savior CLICK HERE…...

What Is Truth?

Truth in an Age of Confusion Verses: John 18:37–38; John 8:31–32; Psalm 119:160 Men occasionally stumble over the truth, but most of them pick themselves up and hurry off as if nothing…

Rooted in Truth

Believers stay steady in confusing times by being rooted in Christ, not swayed by persuasive but empty ideas. Scripture: Colossians 2:6–8 As therefore you received Christ Jesus the Lord, walk in him, rooted…

Renewing the Mind

Discernment grows when our minds are renewed daily by God’s Word rather than shaped by culture. Scripture: Romans 12:2 “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal…

Truth Sets Us Free

You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. Scripture: John 8:31–32 “Jesus therefore said to those Jews who had believed him, “If you remain in my word, then you…

Testing What We Hear

Scripture: 1 John 4:1 Devotional Thought:Not everything we are told that sounds spiritual is from God; having discernment requires us to test every message that is against or seems like it is…

Environmental

Consider how a mould works. Whatever is poured into the mould takes its shape. The culture we choose to surround ourselves in constantly presses us into its mould using media, pressure, and…


John 17:17

angels

Sanctify them in your truth. Your word is truth.


Dear Heavenly Father, be my guide and protect me from these things that surround me that I do not understand or that influence me in ways that are not from You. Lord I want to be and act as close to You as You’ve always wanted Your children to be. Lord give the strength to stand against the evil in this world, the distractions and influences. Help me to not fear and worry about these issues that continue to affect everything around us. Thank you Lord for Your protection, direction, and love. In Jesus Name Amen

Getting to Know Him

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Psalm 119:160

man with endurance

All of your words are truth. Every one of your righteous ordinances endures forever.


Dear Heavenly Father, be my guide and protect me from these things that surround me that I do not understand or that influence me in ways that are not from You. Lord I want to be and act as close to You as You’ve always wanted Your children to be. Lord give the strength to stand against the evil in this world, the distractions and influences. Help me to not fear and worry about these issues that continue to affect everything around us. Thank you Lord for Your protection, direction, and love. In Jesus Name Amen

Getting to Know Him

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John 18:38

courthouse

Pilate said to him, “What is truth?” When he had said this, he went out again to the Jews, and said to them, “I find no basis for a charge against him.


Dear Heavenly Father, be my guide and protect me from these things that surround me that I do not understand or that influence me in ways that are not from You. Lord I want to be and act as close to You as You’ve always wanted Your children to be. Lord give the strength to stand against the evil in this world, the distractions and influences. Help me to not fear and worry about these issues that continue to affect everything around us. Thank you Lord for Your protection, direction, and love. In Jesus Name Amen

Getting to Know Him

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Psalm 139:4

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He Knows You

Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether. Psalm 139:4 ESV

We try to get around things think it’ll be alright, we know our thoughts. The thoughts that we don’t share, the thoughts that come out of nowhere. We are told so does He, we can not hide these from God but we can ask Him to help shield us from the things in this world that cause these thoughts.

Dear Heavenly Father, be my guide and protect me from these things that surround me that I do not understand or that influence me in ways that are not from You. Lord I want to be and act as close to You as You’ve always wanted Your children to be. Lord give the strength to stand against the evil in this world, the distractions and influences. Help me to not fear and worry about these issues that continue to affect everything around us. Thank you Lord for Your protection, direction, and love. In Jesus Name Amen

Getting to Know Him

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1 Chronicles 24

24 Classes of Priests

These were the divisions of the descendants of Aaron. The sons of Aaron were Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. 2 But Nadab and Abihu died before their father did, and they had no sons; so Eleazar and Ithamar served as priests.

3 With the help of Eleazar’s descendant Zadok and Ithamar’s descendant Ahimelech, David divided them according to the offices of their service. 4 Since more leaders were found among Eleazar’s descendants than those of Ithamar, they were divided accordingly. There were sixteen heads of families from the descendants of Eleazar and eight from the descendants of Ithamar.

5 Thus they were divided by lot, for there were officers of the sanctuary and officers of God among both Eleazar’s and Ithamar’s descendants.

6 The scribe, Shemaiah son of Nethanel, a Levite, recorded their names in the presence of the king and of the officers: Zadok the priest, Ahimelech son of Abiathar, and the heads of families of the priests and the Levites—one family being taken from Eleazar, and then one from Ithamar.

7 The first lot fell to Jehoiarib,

the second to Jedaiah,

8 the third to Harim,

the fourth to Seorim,

9 the fifth to Malchijah,

the sixth to Mijamin,

10 the seventh to Hakkoz,

the eighth to Abijah,

11 the ninth to Jeshua,

the tenth to Shecaniah,

12 the eleventh to Eliashib,

the twelfth to Jakim,

13 the thirteenth to Huppah,

the fourteenth to Jeshebeab,

14 the fifteenth to Bilgah,

the sixteenth to Immer,

15 the seventeenth to Hezir,

the eighteenth to Happizzez,

16 the nineteenth to Pethahiah,

the twentieth to Jehezkel,

17 the twenty-first to Jachin,

the twenty-second to Gamul,

18 the twenty-third to Delaiah,

and the twenty-fourth to Maaziah.

19 This was their appointed order for service when they entered the house of the LORD, according to the regulations prescribed for them by their forefather Aaron, as the LORD, the God of Israel, had commanded him.

Getting to Know Him

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Micah 5:2

Times of Old

But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, being small among the clans of Judah, out of you one will come out to me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings out are from of old, from ancient times. Micah 5:2 WEB

Micah 5:2 is a verse from the Old Testament Book of Micah which was written by the prophet Micah. Micah lived in the 8th century B.C. and would minister to people during the hard times of that era. In this verse Micah prophesied that a ruler would come out of Bethlehem. He suggested that this ruler would be from “ancient times.” This verse implies the significance of the birth of a baby in the manger cited by the Wise men in Matthew 2.

Getting to Know Him

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Ephesians 6:11

Display of armour

Plan for Protection

Ephesians 6:11 is a verse in the Bible that reads, “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.” This verse is part of a larger passage in which the apostle Paul is writing to the church in Ephesus, instructing them on how to live as Christians in a world that is often hostile to their faith.

In this verse, Paul is telling the believers in Ephesus to put on the “whole armor of God.” This phrase is metaphorically referring to the various spiritual practices and disciplines that enable believers to stand firm in their faith and resist temptation. The armor of God includes things like the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shoes of the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, and the helmet of salvation.

The purpose of this armor is to help believers “stand against the schemes of the devil.” The devil is a term used in the Bible to refer to the spiritual forces of evil that seek to oppose God and deceive and tempt people away from following Him. These schemes can take many forms, such as temptation, persecution, and deception, but the armor of God gives believers the strength and protection they need to resist them.

One thing to note about this verse is that it does not imply that believers are in a constant state of warfare with the devil. Instead, it is meant to be a reminder that believers will encounter spiritual challenges and temptations in their lives and need to be prepared to stand against them. “Enter in by the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter in by it. How the gate is narrow and the way is restricted that leads to life! There are who find it.Matthew 7:13-14 WEB

Another important aspect of this verse is the idea of putting on the whole armor of God. This means that believers should not pick and choose which parts of their faith they want to embrace and which they want to ignore. Instead, they should fully embrace all aspects of their faith and be diligent in their spiritual practices and disciplines. Preach the word; be urgent in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort with all patience and teaching. For the time will come when they will not listen to the sound doctrine, but having itching ears, will heap up for themselves teachers after their own lusts, and will turn away their ears from the truth, and turn away to fables. But you be sober in all things, suffer hardship, do the work of an evangelist, and fulfill your ministry. 2 Timothy 4:2-5 WEB

Something to think about with this verse is in terms of building a strong foundation for one’s faith. Just as a house needs a strong foundation to stand firm against the elements, believers need a strong foundation in their faith to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. This foundation is built through prayer, reading and studying the Bible, participating in fellowship with other believers, and serving others in the name of Christ. “Everyone therefore who hears these words of mine and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on a rock. The rain came down, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it didn’t fall, for it was founded on the rock. Everyone who hears these words of mine and doesn’t do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. The rain came down, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell—and its fall was great.” Matthew 7:24-27 WEB

In conclusion, Ephesians 6:11 is a reminder to believers that they will face spiritual challenges and temptations in their lives and need to be prepared to stand against them. Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.  But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. 2 Timothy 3:12-13 WEB The armor of God gives believers the strength and protection they need to resist these schemes and live faithfully as followers of Christ. It is important for believers to fully embrace all aspects of their faith and build a strong foundation in their spiritual practices and disciplines.

Triumph

The harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. I love the man that can smile in trouble, that can gather strength from distress and grow.

Thomas Paine

Getting to Know Him

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Jacobs 12 Sons

group of peple in sunset

Genesis 49:1-27 The start of the Israeli Nation

Jacob called to his sons, and said: “Gather yourselves together, that I may tell you that which will happen to you in the days to come. Assemble yourselves, and hear, you sons of Jacob. Listen to Israel, your father.

Reuben, you are my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength, excelling in dignity, and excelling in power. Boiling over like water, you shall not excel, because you went up to your father’s bed, then defiled it. He went up to my couch.

Simeon and Levi are brothers. Their swords are weapons of violence. My soul, don’t come into their council. My glory, don’t be united to their assembly; for in their anger they killed men. In their self-will they hamstrung cattle. Cursed be their anger, for it was fierce; and their wrath, for it was cruel. I will divide them in Jacob, and scatter them in Israel.

Judah, your brothers will praise you. Your hand will be on the neck of your enemies. Your father’s sons will bow down before you. Judah is a lion’s cub. From the prey, my son, you have gone up. He stooped down, he crouched as a lion, as a lioness. Who will rouse him up? The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until he comes to whom it belongs. The obedience of the peoples will be to him. Binding his foal to the vine, his donkey’s colt to the choice vine, he has washed his garments in wine, his robes in the blood of grapes. His eyes will be red with wine, his teeth white with milk.

Zebulun will dwell at the haven of the sea. He will be for a haven of ships. His border will be on Sidon.

Issachar is a strong donkey, lying down between the saddlebags. He saw a resting place, that it was good, the land, that it was pleasant. He bows his shoulder to the burden, and becomes a servant doing forced labor.

Dan will judge his people, as one of the tribes of Israel. Dan will be a serpent on the trail, an adder in the path, that bites the horse’s heels, so that his rider falls backward. I have waited for your salvation, Yahweh. “A troop will press on Gad, but he will press on their heel.

Asher’s food will be rich. He will produce royal dainties.

Naphtali is a doe set free, who bears beautiful fawns.

Joseph is a fruitful vine, a fruitful vine by a spring. His branches run over the wall. The archers have severely grieved him, shot at him, and persecuted him: But his bow remained strong. The arms of his hands were made strong, by the hands of the Mighty One of Jacob, (from there is the shepherd, the stone of Israel), even by the God of your father, who will help you, by the Almighty, who will bless you with blessings of heaven above, blessings of the deep that lies below, blessings of the breasts, and of the womb.The blessings of your father have prevailed above the blessings of your ancestors, above the boundaries of the ancient hills. They will be on the head of Joseph, on the crown of the head of him who is separated from his brothers.

Benjamin is a ravenous wolf. In the morning he will devour the prey. At evening he will divide the plunder.” Genesis 49:1-27 WEB

Getting to Know Him

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Genesis 17:1-27 

Desert Sand

A Multitude of Nations

When Abram was ninety-nine years old, Yahweh appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am God Almighty. Walk before me and be blameless. I will make my covenant between me and you, and will multiply you exceedingly.”

Abram fell on his face. God talked with him, saying, “As for me, behold, my covenant is with you. You will be the father of a multitude of nations. Your name will no more be called Abram, but your name will be Abraham; for I have made you the father of a multitude of nations. I will make you exceedingly fruitful, and I will make nations of you. Kings will come out of you. I will establish my covenant between me and you and your offspring after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God to you and to your offspring after you. I will give to you, and to your offspring after you, the land where you are traveling, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession. I will be their God.”

God said to Abraham, “As for you, you shall keep my covenant, you and your offspring after you throughout their generations. This is my covenant, which you shall keep, between me and you and your offspring after you. Every male among you shall be circumcised. You shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskin. It will be a token of the covenant between me and you. He who is eight days old shall be circumcised among you, every male throughout your generations, he who is born in the house, or bought with money from any foreigner who is not of your offspring. He who is born in your house, and he who is bought with your money, must be circumcised. My covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant. The uncircumcised male who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin, that soul shall be cut off from his people. He has broken my covenant.”

God said to Abraham, “As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her name Sarai, but her name shall be Sarah. I will bless her, and moreover I will give you a son by her. Yes, I will bless her, and she will be a mother of nations. Kings of peoples will come from her.”

Then Abraham fell on his face, and laughed, and said in his heart, “Will a child be born to him who is one hundred years old? Will Sarah, who is ninety years old, give birth?” Abraham said to God, “Oh that Ishmael might live before you!”

God said, “No, but Sarah, your wife, will bear you a son. You shall call his name Isaac. I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant for his offspring after him.  As for Ishmael, I have heard you. Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly. He will become the father of twelve princes, and I will make him a great nation. But I will establish my covenant with Isaac, whom Sarah will bear to you at this set time next year.”

 When he finished talking with him, God went up from Abraham. Abraham took Ishmael his son, all who were born in his house, and all who were bought with his money: every male among the men of Abraham’s house, and circumcised the flesh of their foreskin in the same day, as God had said to him. Abraham was ninety-nine years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin. Ishmael, his son, was thirteen years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin. In the same day both Abraham and Ishmael, his son, were circumcised. All the men of his house, those born in the house, and those bought with money from a foreigner, were circumcised with him. Genesis 17:1-27  WEB

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Isaiah 7:14

Baby feet sticking out of a basket

Baby Jesus

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin will conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. Isaiah 7:14 WEB

Getting to Know Him

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Colossians 3:23-24

Laying concrete

Working Hard

And whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord, and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ. Colossians 3:23-24 WEB

Getting to Know Him

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Colossians 3:9-10

The word Truthful Typed on a blank papper

Truthfulness Speaks for Itself

Don’t lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old man with his doings, and have put on the new man, who is being renewed in knowledge after the image of his Creator. Colossians 3:9-10 WEB

Getting to Know Him

Do you want eternal life? Do you want to enter heaven through the only guide that can help you navigate your way there? To enter His home, get to know Him better, and make Him your Lord and Savior CLICK HERE…..

Guided

The sheep says what
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For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.” Revelation 7:17 ESV

For the Lamb who is in the center of the throne will be their Shepherd, and He will guide them to springs of the waters of life; and God will wipe every tear from their eyes [giving them eternal comfort].” Revelation 7:17 AMP

Triumph

The harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. I love the man that can smile in trouble, that can gather strength from distress and grow.

Thomas Paine

Getting to Know Him

Do you want eternal life? Do you want to enter heaven through the only guide that can help you navigate your way there? To enter His home, get to know Him better, and make Him your Lord and Savior CLICK HERE…..

Set Free

Celebrate freedom
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“If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. John 8:31-32

Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for Your patience, putting up with my anxiousness that comes from my lack of trust. My always thinking I know better. My unwillingness I have not letting You take over. Lord I have an issue with letting anyone take the wheel. I cannot say it enough. Thank you for Your kindness! In Jesus Name Amen

Getting to Know Him

Do you want eternal life? Do you want to enter heaven through the only guide that can help you navigate your way there? To enter His home, get to know Him better, and make Him you Lord and Savior CLICK HERE…..

Citations:

ESV

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

Open bible info

Editor: Stephen Smith. Publication date: Apr 10, 2020. Publisher: OpenBible.info.

Peace Through Thankfulness

Thankfulness seems to be a lost art today. Warren Wiersby illustrated this problem in his commentary on Colossians. He told about a ministerial student in Evanston, Illinois, who was part of a life-saving squad. In 1860, a ship went aground on the shore of Lake Michigan near Evanston, and Edward Spencer waded again and again into the frigid waters to rescue 17 passengers. In the process, his health was permanently damaged. Some years later at his funeral, it was noted that not one of the people he rescued ever thanked him.

Our Daily Bread, February 20, 1994

One of the most forgotten complements that we can give is a simple thank you. Think about how much you appreciate it when someone thanks you. Look back and reflet on how much God has done for you. He gives us peace, love, and direction. He is our light in the dark when we need it the most. Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 ESV

Dear Heavenly Father, thank you. Thank you for all that You do for me. You give me strength when I feel to weak to go on. You give me light when it seems to Dark to see any way out. In Jesus Name Amen

Getting to Know Him

Do you want eternal life? Do you want to enter heaven through the only guide that can help you navigate your way there? To enter His home, get to know Him better, and make Him your Lord and Savior CLICK HERE…..

God’s Got This

Sometimes we look around and wonder why all of the junk that surrounds us is a continual onslaught that never seems to end. Sometimes we find ourselves asking, is this worth it?

There is an example we are given in the bible and when we read about everything that happened the faith shown was unmovable. This guy had everything taken from him, his wealth, his health, and his family. The example that I am talking about is Job. 

Job followed God in a way that so many of us should strive to accomplish. We are told God said: for there is no one like him in the earth, a blameless and an upright man, one who fears God, and turns away from evil.” Job 1:8 WEB

In one day Job had everything taken from him:

  1. Cattle Job 1:14
  2. Transportation Job 1:17
  3. Children Job 1:18

We are told that we need to persevere, he’s got your back even when it doesn’t seem like it: We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, for those who are called according to his purpose Romans 8:28 WEB

Blessed is a person who endures temptation, for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life, which the Lord promised to those who love him. James 1:12 WEB

If we admit it our aspirations at times are different then God’s aspirations: Let no man say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God,” for God can’t be tempted by evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own lust and enticed. Then the lust, when it has conceived, bears sin. The sin, when it is full grown, produces death. Don’t be deceived, my beloved brothers. James 1:13-16 WEB 

Rest in the Lord wait for His direction and walk in His strength. Spread your wings and fly leaving the “stuff” that’s weighing you down and never looking back. Resting in the Lord would includes focusing on Him.

Praising Him and surrounding yourself in His word. Like any other exercise regiment the best way to keep up your strength is through repetitions. Always praise Him, always focus on Him, and always listen to the words He has given us.

Triumph

The harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. I love the man that can smile in trouble, that can gather strength from distress and grow.

Thomas Paine

Patence

But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:31 ESV

What God Wants

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.
Psalm 51:10 ESV

Prayer

Dear Heavenly Father, help me to have Job’s faith through all of the junk helping me understand. Help me to look into myself to show me the things that I need to change. In Jesus Name Amen

Getting to Know Him

Do you want eternal life? Do you want to enter heaven through the only guide that can help you navigate your way there? To enter His home, get to know Him better, and make Him your Lord and Savior CLICK HERE…..

Pure Religion

Religion does not destroy civility and good manners, but teaches us, according to the usages of our country, to give honor to them to whom honor is due. Matthew Henry (Luke 1 commentary)

Getting to Know Him

Do you want eternal life? Do you want to enter heaven through the only guide that can help you navigate your way there? To enter His home, get to know Him better, and make Him your Lord and Savior CLICK HERE…..

The Light in the Dark (part 6)

Tree alone in the dark
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Let Your Light Shine

When we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior there will be times when we mess up. We are human, not perfect, there was only one man that was perfect and He is in heaven with the Father. There will be those that will point out that you are a hypocrite, usually it is yourself more than others. There is a set of verses that is in the bible right after one of the most popular verses in scripture. The verse let us know that Jesus came to save us in John 3:16 and in the next two verses we are reassured that He came to be our mediator. For God didn’t send his Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world should be saved through him. He who believes in him is not judged. John 3:17-18 WEB

There will be times when we mess up but if we keep putting one foot in front of the other He will always be there. Let your light shine and don’t worry about a little stumble, it happens: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin 1 John 1:7 ESV In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. Matthew 5:16 ESV

Be Prepared

I talk a lot about reading the bible and I cannot say it enough the only way to stay in the light is to know where it is. In the bible it talks about the need to test the spirits to make sure that they are from God 1 John 4:1. We have been warned the devil poses as an angel of light 2 Corinthians 11:14. So the only way to discern, 2 Timothy 3:16-17, what is from God is to know the owners manual that He has given us.

But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts. Always be ready to give an answer to everyone who asks you a reason concerning the hope that is in you, with humility and fear, having a good conscience. Thus, while you are spoken against as evildoers, they may be disappointed who curse your good way of life in Christ. 1 Peter 3:15-16 WEB

Choose Your Light

We have a choice to make in our lives that will determine our eternal life, follow Jesus or follow the world. He who believes in him is not judged. He who doesn’t believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the one and only Son of God. This is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the light; for their works were evil. 

In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. John 4:9-10

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. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death. Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. James 1:13-16 ESV

Human Behavior

We, Humans, have a tendency to not take responsibility for actions even at times blaming others for what we have done. We are in a relationship and we can never do wrong never accepting that we might also be 50% of the problem. We get pulled over and get a ticket because we were speeding, we argue with the officer because we know we were not. We are fishing and take that one extra fish, we get checked by the Game Warden and receive a fine. We then try to argue and reason with the officer even though we made the decision to keep the extra fish.

Don’t get me wrong, there are some actions that have taken place that we have had no control over. But if we keep walking in what happened to us in the past we’ll never leave those circumstances. Let’s look at the positive and negative actions of this focus. The positive; because history has a way of repeating itself we remember these things so that we’ll try to make sure they never happen again. The negative; sometimes we have a tendency to focus on this bad and never see anything else, I do this sometimes. This mindset is hard to get out of once we have put ourselves there. This will keep us in a state of always being victimized, not allowing us to move beyond what happened.

What the Bible Says

But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 1 Timothy 3:13-14 WEB And they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will. 2 Timothy 2:26 ESV For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. Galatians 5:13 ESV

Some advice

I have Multiple Sclerosis and with all of the issues that get tossed at me on a daily basis I have done two things that has always kept me afloat. I always pray and I always try to find at least one positive thing that happened in the bad. These two things have helped me get through not being able to walk for awhile, see and hear. The positive is that it comes and goes, there are a lot of things I used to do I cannot do anymore. But I got new things that I would have never done if I would not have gotten the MS.

He’s Got This

Beloved, don’t believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 1 John 4:1 WEB

No temptation has taken you except what is common to man. God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted above what you are able, but will with the temptation also make the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. 1 Corinthians 10:13 WEB

Your Not of This World

Don’t be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what is the good, well-pleasing, and perfect will of God. Romans 12:2 WEB

His Light is Becoming Brighter

Little children, these are the end times, and as you heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have arisen. By this we know that it is the final hour. 1 John 2:18 WEB

Fighting the Dark

Finally, be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God,

that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood,

but against the principalities,

against the powers,

against the world’s rulers of the darkness of this age,

and against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. 

Therefore put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 

Stand therefore, having the utility belt of truth buckled around your waist,

and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 

and having fitted your feet with the preparation of the Good News of peace, 

above all, taking up the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the evil one. 

And take the helmet of salvation,

and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; 

with all prayer and requests, praying at all times in the Spirit,

and being watchful to this end in all perseverance and requests for all the saints Ephesians 6:10-18 WEB

Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for guiding my footsteps when life has seemed its darkest You have always carried me through. In Jesus Name Amen

Getting to Know Him

Do you want eternal life? Do you want to enter heaven through the only guide that can help you navigate your way there? To enter His home, get to know Him better, and make Him your Lord and Savior CLICK HERE…..

Noise Is Not the Same as Truth

There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death. Scripture: Proverbs 14:12 Have you ever noticed that the loudest voices are not always the wisest ones; “the squeaky wheel gets the grease.” Truth is something that often times speaks quietly but carries lasting weight. Currently We…

Colossians 2:6–8

As therefore you received Christ Jesus the Lord, walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, even as you were taught, abounding in it in thanksgiving. Be careful that you don’t let anyone rob you through his philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the elemental spirits…

Truth Begins With God

Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. Scripture: John 17:17 “Sanctify them in your truth. Your word is truth.” In a culture overflowing with opinions, interpretations, and competing narratives, one of the most important questions a believer can ask is: Where does truth actually begin? Jesus answers this clearly; truth begins with God…

Depend on Him and Rest

Sometimes we look around and wonder why all of the junk that surrounds us is a continual onslaught that never seems to end. Sometimes we find ourselves asking, is this worth it?

There is an example we are given in the bible and when we read about everything that happened the faith shown was unmovable. This guy had everything taken from him, his wealth, his health, and his family. The example that I am talking about is Job. 

Job followed God in a way that so many of us should strive to accomplish. We are told God said: for there is no one like him in the earth, a blameless and an upright man, one who fears God, and turns away from evil.” Job 1:8 WEB

In one day Job had everything taken from him:

  1. Cattle Job 1:14
  2. Transportation Job 1:17
  3. Children Job 1:18

We are told that we need to persevere, he’s got your back even when it doesn’t seem like it: We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, for those who are called according to his purpose Romans 8:28 WEB

Blessed is a person who endures temptation, for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life, which the Lord promised to those who love him. James 1:12 WEB

If we admit it our aspirations at times are different then God’s aspirations: Let no man say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God,” for God can’t be tempted by evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own lust and enticed. Then the lust, when it has conceived, bears sin. The sin, when it is full grown, produces death. Don’t be deceived, my beloved brothers. James 1:13-16 WEB 

Rest in the Lord wait for His direction and walk in His strength. Spread your wings and fly leaving the “stuff” that’s weighing you down and never looking back. Resting in the Lord would includes focusing on Him.

Praising Him and surrounding yourself in His word. Like any other exercise regiment the best way to keep up your strength is through repetitions. Always praise Him, always focus on Him, and always listen to the words He has given us.

Triumph

The harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. I love the man that can smile in trouble, that can gather strength from distress and grow.

Thomas Paine

Patence

But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:31 ESV

What God Wants

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.
Psalm 51:10 ESV

Prayer

Dear Heavenly Father, help me to have Job’s faith through all of the junk helping me understand. Help me to look into myself to show me the things that I need to change. In Jesus Name Amen

Getting to Know Him

Do you want eternal life? Do you want to enter heaven through the only guide that can help you navigate your way there? To enter His home, get to know Him better, and make Him your Lord and Savior CLICK HERE…..

The Light in the Dark (part 5)

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Choices

When we become aware of who we are at a young age we have to start making choices. As a baby, even though we will not remember, we made the choice to first pull ourselves up, start to crawl and finally walk. Each decision we make no matter how small has some kind of consequence positive or negative.

We are hungry and want to grab something to eat. We could go to a fast food restaurant or could cook a meal. The positive of the fast food; it is quick and you don’t have to do the work. The negative; you do not know what is in the food that you are eating and the ingredients that are used are not good for your body. In the long run you’ll have the possibility of getting heart disease, obesity, diabetes, and few other conditions. Eating out also costs more than eating a homemade meal.

The positives of eating a home cooked meal. You can make something that you like, that tastes good, it is healthy and you have control of the ingredients. Eating at home costs less and you can use higher quality food. The negative of homemade, it takes time to cook, you have to do the work, and you have to clean up the mess.

Choose Your Light

We have a choice to make in our lives that will determine our eternal life, follow Jesus or follow the world. He who believes in him is not judged. He who doesn’t believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the one and only Son of God. This is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the light; for their works were evil. 

For everyone who does evil hates the light, and doesn’t come to the light, lest his works would be exposed. But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his works may be revealed, that they have been done in God.” John 3:18-21 WEB

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. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death. Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. James 1:13-16 ESV

Human Behavior

We, Humans, have a tendency to not take responsibility for actions even at times blaming others for what we have done. We are in a relationship and we can never do wrong never accepting that we might also be 50% of the problem. We get pulled over and get a ticket because we were speeding, we argue with the officer because we know we were not. We are fishing and take that one extra fish, we get checked by the Game Warden and receive a fine. We then try to argue and reason with the officer even though we made the decision to keep the extra fish.

Don’t get me wrong, there are some actions that have taken place that we have had no control over. But if we keep walking in what happened to us in the past we’ll never leave those circumstances. Let’s look at the positive and negative actions of this focus. The positive; because history has a way of repeating itself we remember these things so that we’ll try to make sure they never happen again. The negative; sometimes we have a tendency to focus on this bad and never see anything else, I do this sometimes. This mindset is hard to get out of once we have put ourselves there. This will keep us in a state of always being victimized, not allowing us to move beyond what happened.

What the Bible Says

But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 1 Timothy 3:13-14 WEB And they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will. 2 Timothy 2:26 ESV For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. Galatians 5:13 ESV

Some advice

I have Multiple Sclerosis and with all of the issues that get tossed at me on a daily basis I have done two things that has always kept me afloat. I always pray and I always try to find at least one positive thing that happened in the bad. These two things have helped me get through not being able to walk for awhile, see and hear. The positive is that it comes and goes, there are a lot of things I used to do I cannot do anymore. But I got new things that I would have never done if I would not have gotten the MS.

He’s Got This

Beloved, don’t believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 1 John 4:1 WEB

No temptation has taken you except what is common to man. God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted above what you are able, but will with the temptation also make the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. 1 Corinthians 10:13 WEB

Your Not of This World

Don’t be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what is the good, well-pleasing, and perfect will of God. Romans 12:2 WEB

His Light is Becoming Brighter

Little children, these are the end times, and as you heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have arisen. By this we know that it is the final hour. 1 John 2:18 WEB

Fighting the Dark

Finally, be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God,

that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood,

but against the principalities,

against the powers,

against the world’s rulers of the darkness of this age,

and against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. 

Therefore put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 

Stand therefore, having the utility belt of truth buckled around your waist,

and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 

and having fitted your feet with the preparation of the Good News of peace, 

above all, taking up the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the evil one. 

And take the helmet of salvation,

and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; 

with all prayer and requests, praying at all times in the Spirit,

and being watchful to this end in all perseverance and requests for all the saints Ephesians 6:10-18 WEB

Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for guiding my footsteps when life has seemed its darkest You have always carried me through. In Jesus Name Amen

Getting to Know Him

Do you want eternal life? Do you want to enter heaven through the only guide that can help you navigate your way there? To enter His home, get to know Him better, and make Him your Lord and Savior CLICK HERE…..