green eggs and ham

Sometimes we end up liking

the very things we have tried

for so long to avoid.

"Taste and see that the Lord is good;

blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him."

Psalm 34:8 NIV

weeds?

The Dandelion Theory:

"As for man, his days are like grass,

he flourishes like a flower of the field;

the wind blows over it and it is gone,

and its place remembers it no more.

But from everlasting to everlasting

the Lord's love is with those who fear him,

and his righteousness with their children's children."

Psalm 103:15-17 NIV

help Lord

Healing happens here:

"God, have mercy on me, a sinner."

Luke 18:13b NIV

introductions

May God use our lives

to introduce His Son

to the people He created

and died for.

"We are therefore Christ's ambassadors,

as though God were making His appeal through us.

We implore you on Christ's behalf:

Be reconciled to God."

2 Corinthians 5:20 NIV

Jesus our Shepherd

May we live and pray from the perspective

that Jesus cares.

"I am the good shepherd.

The good shepherd lays down his life

for his sheep."

John 10:11 NIV

faith vs. feelings

We live by faith, not feelings.

Feelings are prone to lead us astray.

"For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed,

a righteousness that is by faith from first to last,

just as it is written: 'The righteous will live by faith.'"

Romans 1:17 NIV

Victory in Jesus

He is risen, indeed!

"The angel said to the women,

'Do not be afraid,

for I know that you are looking for Jesus,

who was crucified.

He is not here;

He is risen, just as He said.'"

Matthew 28:5 NIV

enthralled by God

May we become less enthralled with ourselves

and more with God.

"Love the Lord your God with all your heart

and with all your soul and with all your strength."

Deuteronomy 6:5 NIV

the Son of God

Jesus stayed on the cross

for the very reason

men taunted Him to come down.

Those who passed by hurled insults at Him,

shaking their heads and saying...

"Come down from the cross,

if you are the Son of God!"

Matthew 27:39-40 NIV

Jesus cares

Jesus cares. His death is proof.

Jesus was in the stern sleeping on a cushion.

The disciples woke him and said to him,

"Teacher, don't you care if we drown?"

Mark 4:38 NIV

life & awe

An abundant life and reverence for God

are inseparable--

neither comes naturally,

both are worth the effort.

"My covenant was with him,

a covenant of life and peace,

and I gave them to him;

this called for reverence

and he revered me

and stood in awe of my name."

Malachi 2:5 NIV

accomplishments

What if, at the end of our lives,

we find that our only accomplishments

are those things over which we have prayed.

"And it came to pass, that,

as He was praying in a certain place,

when He ceased,

one of His disciples said unto Him,

Lord, teach us to pray,

as John also taught His disciples."

Luke 11:1 KJV

everyday

May our dependance on God

be an everyday experience.

"Give us this day our daily bread."

Matthew 6:11 KJV

best work

Sometimes our best work is done

on our knees.

"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 come to the knowledge of the truth."

1 Timothy 2:1, 3-4 NIV

just trust Him

Sometimes our best prayers are said without words.

"In quietness and trust is your strength."

Isaiah 30:15 NIV

feelings

Sometimes our faith and our feelings

just have to battle it out.

"The weapons we fight with

are not the weapons of the world.

On the contrary, they have divine power

to demolish strongholds.

We demolish arguments and every pretension

that sets itself up against the knowledge of God,

and we take captive every thought

to make it obedient to Christ."

2 Corinthians 10:4-5 NIV

big pic

Faith sees the big picture.

"And we know that in all things

God works for the good of those who love Him,

who have been called according to His purpose."

Romans 8:28 NIV

focus & delight

May our minds always delight in,

and be focussed on,

the good things.

"Finally, brothers, whatever is true,

whatever is noble, whatever is right,

whatever is pure, whatever is lovely,

whatever is admirable--

if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--

think on such things."

Philippians 4:8 NIV

cheer up

Put your smile on.

"The cheerful heart is a continual feast."

Proverbs 15:15b NIV

salt

Imagine popcorn, pretzels, the ocean! with no salt.

"You are the salt of the earth."

Matthew 5:13

contrition & our hope

May contrition for our sins always draw us nearer

to the One who died because of them.

"For this is what the high and lofty One says--

He who lives forever, whose name is holy:

'I live in a high and holy place,

but also with him who is contrite and lowly in spirit,

to revive the spirit of the lowly

and to revive the heart of the contrite.'"

Isaiah 57:15 NIV

sure defense

When confusion and doubt whirl around us,

may this be our defense:

"As for me, I trust in You."

Psalm 55:23

a friend

There is a friend we can tell all of our troubles.

"Cast your cares on the Lord

and He will sustain you;

He will never let the righteous fall."

Psalm 55:22 NIV

tumbling

When our world takes a tumble,

may we find comfort and courage in this:

Our God is good at saving and keeping His own.

"He holds victory in store for the upright,

He is a shield to those whose walk is blameless,

for He guards the course of the just

and protects the way of His faithful ones."

Proverbs 2:7-8 NIV

tried & true

Our hope stands secure in the tried and true.

This is what the Lord says:

"Stand at the crossroads and look;

ask for the ancient paths,

ask where the good way is,

and walk in it,

and you will find rest for your souls."

Jeremiah 6:16 NIV

His Word

Since God has promised to use His Word,

may we always choose His Word

above all others.

"As the rain and the snow come down from heaven,

and do not return to it without watering the earth

and making it bud and flourish,

so that it yields seed for the sower

and bread for the eater, so is my word

that goes out from my mouth:

It will not return to me empty,

but will accomplish what I desire

and achieve the purpose for which I sent it."

Isaiah 55:10-11 NIV

desire

May our desires be for the things

that God desires of us.

"For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice,

the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings."

Hosea 6:6 ESV

imitations

May we become people

worthy of imitation.

"We do not want you to become lazy,

but to imitate those who through faith and patience

inherit what has been promised."

Hebrews 6:12 NIV

carry me

May each and every struggle

send us straight to the arms

of the One who can carry us through.

"He tends his flock like a shepherd:

He gathers the lambs in His arms

and carries them close to His heart."

Isaiah 40:11 NIV

Father knows best

May we be blessed with the assurance

that our Father knows best,

when our prayers seem to go unanswered.

"Oh, the depth of the riches

of the wisdom and knowledge of God!

How unsearchable His judgments,

and His paths beyond tracing out!"

Romans 11:33 NIV