please God

Apart from the Holy Spirit,

it's impossible to please God.

"The mind of sinful man is death,

but the mind controlled by the Spirit

is life and peace;

the sinful mind is hostile to God.

It does not submit to God's law,

nor can it do so.

Those controlled by the sinful nature

cannot please God."

Romans 8:6-8 NIV

one day

One day... peace.

"Of the increase of his government and peace

there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne

and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it

with justice and righteousness from that time on

and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty

will accomplish this."

Isaiah 9:7 NIV

a miracle

Jesus' virgin birth was more than a miracle.

"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given,

and the government will be on his shoulders.

And he will be called Wonderful Counselor,

Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."

Isaiah 9:6 NIV

the Christ

Mankind marveled at the baby,

but crucified the Christ.

"Therefore let all Israel be assured of this:

God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified,

both Lord and Christ."

Acts 2:36 NIV

do you?

I believe!

"For God so loved the world that he gave

his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him

shall not perish but have eternal life."

John 3:16 NIV

good news

This Savior was born for you,

individually personally specifically you.

That's the good news.

"Today in the town of David

a Savior has been born to you;

he is Christ the Lord."

Luke 2:11 NIV

Christmas

The Creator came to save the created--

God with us, Immanuel.

Wrapped in love, His name is Jesus.

God is with us. All is well.

"The virgin will be with child

and will give birth to a son,

and they will call him Immanuel"

--which means, "God with us."

Matthew 1:23 NIV

the list #2

December To-Do List

# 2

"Since, then, you have been raised with Christ,

set your hearts on things above,

where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.

Set your minds on things above,

not on earthly things."

Colossians 3:1-2 NIV

Jesus lives

Jesus lives for you.

Then Jesus came to them and said,

"All authority in heaven and earth has been given to me.

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations,

baptizing them in the name of the Father

and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them

to obey everything I have commanded you.

And surely I am with you always,

to the very end of the age."

Matthew 28:19-20 NIV

for you.

Jesus died for you.

"But he was pierced for our transgressions,

he was crushed for our iniquities;

the punishment that brought up peace was upon him,

and by his wounds we are healed."

Isaiah 53:5 NIV

died

Jesus died...

"Surely he took up our infirmities

and carried our sorrows,

yet we considered him stricken by God,

smitten by him, and afflicted."

Isaiah 53:4 NIV

Jesus

Jesus...

"He was despised and rejected by men,

a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering.

Like one from whom men hide their faces,

he was despised, and we esteemed him not."

Isaiah 53:3 NIV

the arrival

The stage was set,

the world made ready...

and then Jesus arrived.

"But when the time had fully come,

God sent his Son."

Galatians 4:4a NIV

the list

December To-Do List

#1

"Be still, and know that I am God."

Psalm 46:10 NIV

I believe

Belief always brings blessing.

"Blessed is she who has believed

that what the Lord has said to her

will be accomplished!"

Luke 1:45 NIV

pray

Pray. It pleases God.

"I urge, then, first of all,

that requests, prayers, intercession

and thanksgiving be made for everyone.

This is good, and pleases God our Savior,

who wants all men to be saved

and to come to a knowledge of the truth."

1 Timothy 2:1, 3-4 NIV

ill?

Not feeling so well?

That might be a good thing.

Jesus answered them, "It is not the healthy

who need a doctor, but the sick.

I have not come to call the righteous,

but sinners to repentance."

Luke 5:31-32 NIV

ancestry and kings

Without proper ancestry there is no King.

"Now Jesus himself was about thirty years old

when he began his ministry. He was the son,

so it was thought, of Joseph, the son of Heli...

the son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch,

the son of Jared, the son of Mahalalel,

the son of Kenan, the son of Enosh,

the son of Seth, the son of Adam,

the son of God."

Luke 3:23, 37-38 NIV

habits and prayer

Experts say it takes 21 days, or 30-40 repetitions,

to make or break a habit.

"Three times a day (Daniel) got down on his knees

and prayed, giving thanks to his God,

just as he had done before."

Daniel 6:10b NIV

Dad's house

Don't you just love it when all of your kids

gather at your house?

God does too!

"How great is the love the Father has lavished on us,

that we should be called children of God!

And that is what we are!"

1 John 3:1 NIV

faith and feelings

It's more than a feeling.

"You see that (Abraham's) faith and his actions

were working together, and his faith

was made complete by what he did.

And the scripture was fulfilled that says,

'Abraham believed God, and it was credited

to him as righteousness,'

and he was called God's friend."

James 2:22-23 NIV

not too late

If you're reading this, it's not too late.

"Seek the Lord while he may be found;

call on him while he is near.

Let the wicked forsake his way

and the evil man his thoughts.

Let him turn to the Lord,

and he will have mercy on him,

and to our God, for he will freely pardon."

Isaiah 55:6-7 NIV

just another book

The Bible isn't just another book

to help you live a full life.

Although, it will do that.

"For the word of God is living and active.

Sharper than any double-edged sword,

it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit,

joints and marrow;

it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart."

Hebrews 4:12 NIV

peace?

Got peace?

"Great peace have they who love your law,

and nothing can make them stumble."

Psalm 119:165 NIV

gifts

God gave you a gift.

Go ahead. Use it.

"Each one should use whatever gift he has received

to serve others, faithfully administering

God's grace in its various forms."

1 Peter 4:10 NIV

simple

Simple minded? Not a problem.

"The unfolding of your words gives light;

it gives understanding to the simple."

Psalm 119:130 NIV

history

God reveals and then accomplishes history.

"I make known the end from the beginning,

from ancient times, what is still to come.

I say: My purpose will stand,

and I will do all that I please.

From the east I summon a bird of prey;

from a far-off land, a man to fulfill my purpose.

What I have said, that will I bring about;

what I have planned, that will I do."

Isaiah 46:10-11 NIV

faith and sight

Faith now. Sight later.

"Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror;

then we shall see face to face.

Now I know in part; then I shall know fully,

even as I am fully known."

1 Corinthians 13:12 NIV

no textbook

God doesn't need to prove Himself.

That's why the Bible doesn't read like a textbook.

"In the beginning God created

the heavens and the earth.

God saw all that he had made,

and it was very good.

And there was evening,

and there was morning--

the sixth day."

Genesis 1:1, 31 NIV

on giving thanks

Thanksgiving is so much more than giving thanks.

"I will praise the name of God with a song;

I will magnify him with thanksgiving."

Psalm 69:30 ESV

on concerns

What if God ordained every cause for concern in our lives

just so we would spend more time with Him?

"Trust in him at all times, O people;

pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge."

Psalm 62:8 NIV

attitude adjustment

Once in a while we all need a little attitude adjustment.

God can help with that.

"But let all who take refuge in you be glad;

let them ever sing for joy.

Spread your protection over them,

that those who love your name may rejoice in you."

Psalm 5:11 NIV

thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving!

"Give thanks to the Lord, call on his name;

make known among the nations what he has done.

Sing to him, sing praise to him;

tell of all his wonderful acts.

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;

his love endures forever."

1 Chronicles 16:8-9, 34 NIV

on divorce

Divorce is a pretty drastic procedure;

that's why there's always complications.

"Haven't you read," he replied, "that at the beginning

the Creator 'made them male and female,'

and said, 'For this reason a man will leave his father

and mother and be united to his wife,

and the two will become one flesh'?

So they are no longer two, but one."

Matthew 19:4-6a NIV

honestly

"To be honest" is a tricky little phrase.

Using it implies one isn't always so.

"If I have walked in falsehood

or my foot has hurried after deceit-

let God weigh me in honest scales

and he will know that I am blameless."

Job 31:5-6 NIV

angels again

Interesting-

God commands angels to accomplish tasks

that He could easily do without their help.

"Praise the Lord, you his angels, you mighty ones

who do his bidding, who obey his word."

Psalm 103:20 NIV

angels & motorcycles

After my first ride on our new motorcycle, I realized,

I really like angels!

"For he will command his angels concerning you

to guard you in all your ways;

they will lift you up in their hands,

so that you will not strike your foot against a stone."

Psalm 91:11-12 NIV

enjoy

Honor God with your enjoyment

of all that He has given you.

"So I commend the enjoyment of life,

because nothing is better for a man under the sun

than to eat and drink and be glad.

Then joy will accompany him in his work

all the days of the life

God has given him under the sun."

Ecclesiastes 8:15 NIV

We love because God does.

"So God created man in his own image,

in the image of God he created him;

male and female he created them."

Genesis 1:27 NIV

HANDLE WITH CARE

"Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved,

a workman who does not need to be ashamed

and who correctly handles the word of truth."

2 Timothy 2:15 NIV

Get up and get God.

"Very early in the morning,

while it was still dark,

Jesus got up, left the house

and went off to a solitary place,

where he prayed."

Mark 1:35 NIV

Never underestimate the legacy of a life well lived.

"I have been reminded of your sincere faith,

which first lived in your grandmother Lois

and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded,

now lives in you also. For this reason I remind you

to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you."

2 Timothy 1:5-6 NIV

Our destiny?

It's good, really good.

"For God has not destined us for wrath,

but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,

who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep

we might live with him."

1 Thessalonians 5:9-10 ESV

fly away home

My grandpa used to say, "One day I'll fly away."

Then he'd wave his large work-worn hands and smile.

He was right.

"The years of our life are seventy,

or even by reason of strength eighty;

yet their span is but toil and trouble;

and we fly away."

Psalm 90:10 ESV

Jesus died

Jesus could have come down

off the cross

and saved Himself.

He might have lived 70, 80 or 90 years -

teaching, loving, telling people about His Father.

Then He might have died

of natural causes

and gone back to heaven -

where He came from -

where He belonged.

And then we would have been left

to die in our sin

and go where we belong.

"For the wages of sin is death,

but the free gift of God

is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Romans 6:23 ESV

on brevity

There's a reason my blog is brief.

"The more the words, the less the meaning,

and how does that profit anyone?

God is in heaven and you are on earth,

so let your words be few."

Ecclesiastes 6:11, 5:2 NIV

God doesn't unlock doors,

then leave us to open them

in our own strength.

He opens doors,

then gives us His strength

to walk through.

"I can do everything through Him

who gives me strength."

Philippians 4:13