Scripture for comfort

Last night I received some upsetting news.  I prayed with those that were hurt, but I was worked up and did not think I would sleep.  I asked my landlady to pray for me.  She told me to read my Bible.

I was shocked.  Turning to scripture was not even on my list of things to do.  My pattern has always been to pray and ask others to pray...then worry myself sick over the issue.

So I grabbed my Bible and the first thought was Psalms 37 because that is a powerhouse of a passage.  Then I remembered I'm listening to Proverbs on my Ipod.  Before long I had to open Biblegateway so I could cut and paste the verses our God was providing.  I share them with you below without commentary.
Proverbs NIV

 18: 10 The name of the LORD is a fortified tower; 
   the righteous run to it and are safe.

 19: 21 Many are the plans in a person’s heart, 
   but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails.

20: 22 Do not say, “I’ll pay you back for this wrong!” 
   Wait for the LORD, and he will deliver you.

21:

1 The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD; 
   he directs it like a watercourse wherever he pleases.

2 All a man’s ways seem right to him, 
   but the LORD weighs the heart.

3 To do what is right and just 
   is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.

15 When justice is done, it brings joy to the righteous 
   but terror to evildoers.

16 A man who strays from the path of understanding 
   comes to rest in the company of the dead.

25 The sluggard’s craving will be the death of him, 
   because his hands refuse to work. 
26 All day long he craves for more, 
   but the righteous give without sparing.

30 There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan 
   that can succeed against the LORD.

31 The horse is made ready for the day of battle, 
   but victory rests with the LORD.

23:

4 Do not wear yourself out to get rich; 
   have the wisdom to show restraint. 
5 Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone, 
   for they will surely sprout wings 
   and fly off to the sky like an eagle.

9 Do not speak to a fool, 
   for he will scorn the wisdom of your words.

24:

29 Do not say, “I’ll do to him as he has done to me; 
   I’ll pay that man back for what he did.”

33 A little sleep, a little slumber, 
   a little folding of the hands to rest— 
34 and poverty will come on you like a bandit 
   and scarcity like an armed man.

25:

7^b What you have seen with your eyes 
 8 do not bring hastily to court, 
for what will you do in the end 
   if your neighbor puts you to shame?

16 If you find honey, eat just enough— 
   too much of it, and you will vomit.  

28 Like a city whose walls are broken down 
   is a man who lacks self-control.

26:

11 As a dog returns to its vomit, 
   so a fool repeats his folly.

18 Like a madman shooting 
   firebrands or deadly arrows 
19 is a man who deceives his neighbor 
   and says, “I was only joking!”

27:

14 If a man loudly blesses his neighbor early in the morning, 
   it will be taken as a curse.  

28:13 He who conceals his sins does not prosper, 
   but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy.

29:

1 A man who remains stiff-necked after many rebukes 
   will suddenly be destroyed—without remedy.

6 An evil man is snared by his own sin, 
   but a righteous one can sing and be glad.

22 An angry man stirs up dissension, 
   and a hot-tempered one commits many sins.

25 Fear of man will prove to be a snare, 
   but whoever trusts in the LORD is kept safe.

26 Many seek an audience with a ruler, 
   but it is from the LORD that man gets justice.

30:

20 “This is the way of an adulteress: 
   She eats and wipes her mouth 
   and says, ‘I’ve done nothing wrong.’

32 “If you have played the fool and exalted yourself, 
   or if you have planned evil, 
   clap your hand over your mouth! 
33 For as churning the milk produces butter, 
   and as twisting the nose produces blood, 
   so stirring up anger produces strife.”

31:

2 “O my son, O son of my womb, 
   O son of my vows, 
³ do not spend your strength on women, 
   your vigor on those who ruin kings.

This morning's devotional was in Ephesians 3:19-21, but I've added more verses for context. Ephesians 3:16-21

⁶ I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, ¹⁷ so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, ¹⁸ may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, ¹⁹ and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

 ²⁰ Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, ²¹ to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

This is a prayer prayed over 2000 years ago, yet it is still being answered today.  I've been a Christian for 32 years and still just starting to grasp the length, breadth, height and depth of Christ's love.  

His love surpasses knowledge.  That means I will NEVER understand it.

If God is all powerful and he is everywhere and he knows everything, how full is the "fullness of God"?  And just as important a question, how does one measure it?

God can do more than we can imagine.  

These truth need to be meditated on the next time I fear my situation and start to "take control"

God Bless.

Life to the Fullest.

It's Monday and my second full week on unemployment.  I'd started free falling back into some of my old worldly habits because of all this "free time" I have.  Later in the day when I "found time" for Bible study it would be related to my struggle.  If I'd taken the time with God first I'd have had the tools.  Therefore I've concluded that God must come first.  No food, Facebook or e-mail till my time with God is complete.

Having made that decision yesterday, I was pleased to read the first paragraph of Dr Stanley's devotional.  "In our daily routine, it is easy to live with a worldly mindset. When our thoughts turn away from God, we can become dangerously self-dependent."  

Today's passage was in John 10:7-10 NIV
⁷ Therefore Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. ⁸ All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them. ⁹ I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture. ¹⁰ The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

In verse 9 we read that Jesus is our gate and only through him can one be saved.  The phrase "come in and go out" does not refer to entering and exiting salvation.  A shepherd leads his sheep to an area to graze.  When they go out from the shepherd they will find what they need.  Christ does that for us.  He leads us to a place where he can provide our need.  Our needs are not always what we want, but they will be enough for us to live the life Christ wants for us.

Verse 10 speaks of the thief.  This could be the devil or his demons, the world and its ungodly system, or it could even be our own lusts and desires that drag us away from the Lord.  It's at these times that we must believe the words of Christ.  "I have come that they may of life, and have it to the full."

When an opportunity arises it must be filtered through scripture.  It may not even be a bad thing, but is it what Christ wants for your life?

God Bless.

No fear in love.

1 John 4:18 NIV
¹⁸ There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

Every relationship I have had has always been one of fear of rejection or punishment.   Behavior was modified to appease the one's I wanted to be loved by.  This also effected my relationship with God.  I would modify my behavior out of fear.

There is a place for real fear when dealing the an all powerful God.  However when we study scripture and realize that EVERYTHING of God is motivated my love we start obey in Him from the motivation of love.

This then can translate into our personal relationships with one another.  Is your motivation love or fear?

God Bless.

Tremble at His Word

Isaiah 66:1-2 NIV
¹ This is what the LORD says:

   “Heaven is my throne,
   and the earth is my footstool.
Where is the house you will build for me?
   Where will my resting place be?
² Has not my hand made all these things,
   and so they came into being?”
            declares the LORD.

   “These are the ones I look on with favor:
   those who are humble and contrite in spirit,
   and who tremble at my word.

I am typing this on my LaZboy so when I read vs 1 I picture God with his feet up using earth as His hassock.

Frustration comes when I read God's questions.  What can I really give God.  He made everything.  My time here on earth is so short so I really don't own anything to give Him.

But the thing that REALLY struck me today was the second have of verse 2.  God does not want my stuff.  He wants me humble and contrite.  I had to look up contrite because though I thought I had a grasp on the meaning of the word, I could no put it into words.  Turns out I did NOT understand the word.

contrite [kənˈtraɪt ˈkɒntraɪt]

adj

1. full of guilt or regret; remorseful

2. arising from a sense of shame or guilt contrite promises

3. (Christian Religious Writings / Theology) Theol remorseful for past sin and resolved to avoid future sin

[from Latin contrītus worn out, from conterere to bruise, from terere to grind]

contritely  adv

contriteness  n

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003

I have the guilt, regret and shame down, but the resolve to avoid future sin not so much.  There are still areas in my life that I have not surrendered to God.

Trembling at His word.  Because of the above prideful attitude I am convicted that I willfully chose to ignore certain commands and decrees in God's word.  I've been calloused against the awe and fear of the Lord.  Time to deal with that.

God Bless.

Wait

I decide to surf Facebook while eating breakfast and I read Psalm 62:5-7 ASV that our God had given to a new friend of mine who's been seeking the Lord face for answers.  I will only concentrate on vs 5

⁵ My soul, wait thou in silence for God only; For my expectation is from him.

I've been trying to get the butterflies to calm down as today I apply for unemployment.  Today the job search starts in full force.  Add to that I'm still dealing with this divorce.  I worry.  I plot.  I plan.  I have no peace.

God I wait for you.  You have the job planned for me.  You know my future.  Help me turn my expectation of provision from government programs to you.  Help me turn my loneliness to you.

God Bless.

Missing the Word

Took the day off yesterday from everything except me and the absolute necessities.  I even took the day off from Bible study and blogging.

I missed it.  I missed the fellowship with God and the drinking in of His word.  I missed the worship.  I missed the sharing with anyone who reads the lesson.

These verses came to mind as I was typing.

2 Timothy 2:15 NIV
¹⁵ Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.

This is not talking about earning salvation.  It's speaking of one who already IS a child of God doing his best to please Him.  Think of a child who wants to please their parents.  They do not earn their position as child, but the do try (most of the time) to please their parents.

To properly handle scripture one must know the scripture.

1 Peter 3:15 NIV
¹⁵ But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,

As we learn to revere Christ as Lord people are going to ask questions because they see you are different.  Are you ready for those questions?  Can you with gentleness and respect for the person who is questioning you defend your believe with scripture?  What if they are hostile/ taunting?  Do you know and understand your beliefs enough to defend them?

We all need to spend time in God's word everyday.  We need to ask the Holy Spirit to bring to our hearts what needs to change.  Then the hard part.  We need to do it.

God Bless.

Attitude.

Matthew 20:25-28 NIV
²⁵ Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. ²⁶ Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, ²⁷ and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— ²⁸ just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Are you a servant?  I did not like the last few weeks of my job.  I did the bare minimum and just put in my time until the last day.  Though my manager understood my attitude and in someways even approved of what I did, I did not act as a servant.  I did not follow Christ.

As I look for a new job in this weak economy, I need to change my attitude to one of a servant.  A servant of God who happens to have a human employer.

God Bless.

Faithful Obedience

John 8:28-29 NIV
²⁸ So Jesus said, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he and that I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me. ²⁹ The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him.”

It is my belief that Jesus saying "lifted up" he was referring to his crucifixion.  He states that he only does what the father taught him and what pleases him.  Jesus is willing to follow his father all the way to death.

I'm convicted that so often my wants, desires and plans come before God.  How about you?

God Bless.

God is in charge of our lives.

I woke worrying again this morning.  The title of today's blog is one sentence from Dr Stanley's devotional today.  It reminded me of some verses.  I have no commentary today.  Just read God's word and let the Holy Spirit minister to your heart.

Luke 12:4-7; 22-31 NIV
⁴ “I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. ⁵ But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after your body has been killed, has authority to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him. ⁶ Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. ⁷ Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

²² Then Jesus said to his disciples: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. ²³ For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. ²⁴ Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! ²⁵ Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life? ²⁶ Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?

   ²⁷ “Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. ²⁸ If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you—you of little faith! ²⁹ And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. ³⁰ For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. ³¹But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.

God Bless.

Not a mistake.

Ephesians 1:3-14 NIV
³ Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.

Every spiritual blessing.  Can you name them all?  Neither can I.  That means we need to keep getting to know God and learn exactly what they are and what benefit they may be to us here on earth.

 ⁴ For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love ⁵ he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— ⁶ to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.

Before the foundation of the world.  Before Genesis 1: 1 when God said "Let there be light."  I was chosen.  Why?  To stand blameless in his sight.

Because he loved me he knew he would adopt me.  How?  Through Jesus Christ. And he did it for his pleasure and will.  He WANTED to do it.  And he gives grace to me because he loves me.

⁷ In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace ⁸ that he lavished on us. 

This is how a Holy sinless God could reach out to sinful me.  Christ's blood redeemed me.  It bought me back.  It was not for anything I did, but that God loved me enough to give me grace. It was not given out in just the right portion, but it was "lavished" on me.  I envision being covered like a coach the gets the Gatorade poured on him after the win.

With all wisdom and understanding, ⁹ he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, ¹⁰ to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.

God's wisdom, understanding, good pleasure and purpose were all part of the decision to chose me.  Everything will happen in His right timing as well.  Why?  "To bring all things in heaven and on earth under Christ."

 ¹¹ In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, ¹²in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory.

Again I see chosen, predestined, plan and will.  There is nothing here that was an oops or an after thought. All of this was done on purpose for his glory.

¹³ And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, ¹⁴ who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.

When I heard the word and accepted Christ's grace and redemption I received the Holy Spirit.  When God looks at me he does not see the sinful wretch that he called.  He sees His Spirit within and he knows that only that who have been redeemed by the blood of His Son have that Spirit.  That's is our guarantee.  And this too is for his glory.

If you are a child of God and you are feeling down, unloved, unwanted or worthless STOP.  Remember who you really are.  Let the Spirit encourage you through this time.

If you are reading this and you are not a child of God and want to be, then that is God calling you as well. Don't ignore it.  Pray to God.  Admit you're a sinner.  Accept Christ's payment for your sin.  I also encourage you to contact me so that I may be able to help you further.

God Bless.

Edit to Add.  My friend Jennifer said this video is ideal for today's lesson.  I agree.

True Freedom.

Still trying to get the butterflies in my stomach to calm down.  So much going on in my brain with the divorce and now the job search begins in earnest.  I am reading my devotional and I'm not really concentrating because my mind is being pulled in so many directions.  Add to that it's a Salvation message, and I know I'm saved so in reality I'm just going through the motions.  Till I read these words from Dr Stanley.

"In surrendering our life to Him, we find true freedom"

Stop the bus.  What was that?  I go to the top of the paragraph.

"Jesus' death and resurrection broke the bonds of sin. Are you living in the freedom His blood made possible?"

The lesson today was not about Salvation to non believers.  It was about faith in Christ vs the works of the law.  It was a message to believers.  To ME!  You can read the scripture here. Galatians 3:10-13; 21-24 NIV

The Christian walk is not about dos and don'ts.  It's about faith in what Christ did for us and then living our life through him.  I don't need to be worry about the things that were distracting me when this study began.

God Bless