on prayer

Perhaps the best outcome of prayer

is getting to know, on a more intimate level,

the One to whom we pray.

"Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you."

James 4:8a ESV

truth leads

In the Bible we find truths

that lead us straight to

the arms of God.

"Send out Your light and Your truth;

let them lead me;

let them bring me to Your holy hill

and to Your dwelling!

Then I will go to the altar of God,

to God my exceeding joy."

Psalm 43:3-4 ESV

riding, mowing, living

Great advice for motorcycle riding,

lawn mowing, and Christian living:

Look to where you are going,

not to where you are or have been.

"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."

Philippians 3:13-14 ESV

the impossible

The people who pleased Jesus

were the ones who asked Him to do

the humanly impossible...

and believed that He could.

"Jesus looked at them and said,

'With man this is impossible, but not with God;

all things are possible with God.'"

Mark 10:27 NIV

on offenses

Every offense is the perfect opportunity

to practice forgiveness.

"Whoever covers an offense seeks love,

but he who repeats a matter

separates close friends."

Proverbs 17:9 ESV

the Fixer

The God who made us

is able to fix us.

"For you created my inmost being;

you knit me together in my mother's womb.

I praise you because I am fearfully

and wonderfully made;

your works are wonderful,

I know that full well."

Psalm 139:13-14 NIV

practice curiosity

Curious minds want to know...

and God is happy to tell them.

"Call to me and I will answer you and tell you

great and unsearchable things you do not know."

Jeremiah 33:3 NIV

wisdom

Wisdom is a good watchdog.

"For wisdom will come into your heart,

and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul;

discretion will watch over you,

understanding will guard you,

delivering you from the way of evil,

from men of perverted speech."

Proverbs 2:10-12 ESV

on wisdom

This is not a mystery:

God gives wisdom

because He wants

His children to be wise.

"For the Lord gives wisdom;

from His mouth come knowledge and understanding;

He stores up sound wisdom for the upright."

Proverbs 2:6-7 ESV

on prayer

If God did not enjoy answering our prayers,

He would not have told us to pray.

"The prayer of the upright pleases Him."

Proverbs 15:8b NIV

think about it

If you think God doesn't care

about every little thing about you--

think again.

"For you created my inmost being;

you knit me together in my mother's womb."

Psalm 139:13 NIV

wherever

God is everywhere we are.

"If I rise on the wings of the dawn,

if I settle on the far side of the sea,

even there your hand will guide me,

your right hand will hold me fast."

Psalm 139:9-10 NIV

God with us

We may not always have

the privilege of feeling God's presence,

but we can know, without a doubt,

He is always with us.

"If I go up to the heavens, you are there;

if I make my bed in the depths, you are there."

Psalm 139:8 NIV

from a distance?

God is watching us,

thankfully, not from a distance.

"Where can I go from your Spirit?

Where can I flee from your presence?"

Psalm 139:7 NIV

blue skies

God didn't have to make the sky blue.

But aren't you glad He did?

"And God made the expanse and separated the waters

that were under the expanse from the waters

that were above the expanse. And it was so.

And God called the expanse Heaven.

And there was evening and there was morning

the second day."

Genesis 1:7-8 ESV

plans and promises

God makes no promise to bless a work

that has not been committed to Him...

but He often does.

"Commit your work to the Lord,

and your plans will be established."

Proverbs 16:3 ESV

effort

Human effort is swallowed up

in dependance on God.

"Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed...

work out your own salvation with fear and trembling,

for it is God who works in you,

both to will and to work for his good pleasure."

Philippians 2:12-13 ESV

merit

Human merit is absent

from the Christian experience.

"When the disciples heard this,

they were greatly astonished, saying,

'Who then can be saved?'

But Jesus looked at them and said,

'With man this is impossible,

but with God all things are possible.'"

Matthew 19:25-26 ESV