bigger

Fortunately for us, God is bigger than we think.

"'To whom will you compare me?

Or who is my equal?' says the Holy One.

Lift your eyes and look to the heavens:

Who created all these?

He who brings out the starry host one by one,

and calls them each by name.

Because of His great power and mighty strength,

not one of them is missing."

Isaiah 40:25-26 NIV

on burdens

There is a peace that comes after

we surrender our burdens to God,

and trust that He is able to carry them

without our help.

"Do not be anxious about anything,

but in everything, by prayer and petition,

with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

And the peace of God,

which transcends all understanding,

will guard your hearts

and your minds in Christ Jesus."

Philippians 4:6-7 NIV

on throwing

We can trust God to catch and carry our burdens.

"Cast all your anxiety on Him

because He cares for you."

1 Peter 5:7 NIV

on knowing God

God gives us a desire to know Him,

and then He makes Himself known.

"You will seek me and find me

when you seek me with all your heart.

I will be found by you," declares the Lord.

Jeremiah 29:13-14 NIV

Jesus lives

Jesus lives for you--

every moment of every day.

"He is able to save to the uttermost

those who draw near to God through Him,

since He always lives

to make intercession for them."

Hebrews 7:25 ESV

Jesus & me

Jesus goes with us every time we pray.

Imagine the joy of the Father

when He sees you coming

with the Son He loves.

"For there is one God,

and there is one mediator between God and men,

the man Christ Jesus,

who gave Himself as a ransom for all."

1 Timothy 2:5-6 ESV

wasted days?

When days seem wasted,

and weeks drag on like detours,

we can trust God and know

He is directing each step.

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart,

and do not lean on your own understanding.

In all your ways acknowledge Him,

and He will make straight your paths."

Proverbs 3:5-6 ESV

Psalm 16:11

We, who experience little joy in God's presence,

simply need to become better acquainted with Him.

"You make known to me the path of life;

in Your presence there is fullness of joy;

at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore."

Psalm 16:11 ESV

God cares

God has always been faithful to care for His own;

He will not change that now.

"I was young and now am old,

yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken

or their children begging bread."

Psalm 37:25 NIV

destiny

Every question about a believer's destiny

is answered with one word: Jesus.

"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

works

If works were necessary for our salvation,

God would have told us.

"For by grace you have been saved through faith.

And this is not of your own doing; it is the gift of God,

not a result of works, so that no one may boast."

Ephesians 2:8-9 ESV

troubled?

Jesus can get us out of

the trouble we get ourselves into.

"I confess my iniquity;

I am troubled by my sin.

Come quickly to help me,

O Lord my Savior."

Psalm 38:18, 22 NIV

can't do both

We can try to carry our burdens,

or we can give them to God.

"Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior,

who daily bears our burdens."

Psalm 68:19 NIV

the greatest one

In our struggle with life and sin

and so many imperfections,

sometimes it helps to focus

on keeping just one commandment,

the greatest one: Love God.

Jesus replied: "'Love the Lord your God

with all your heart and with all your soul

and with all your mind.'

This is the first and greatest commandment."

Matthew 22:37 NIV

faith

Faith is...

trusting God to be at work.

"Now faith is being sure of what we hope for

and certain of what we do not see."

Hebrews 11:1 ESV

commandment #5

When we honor our parents, we bless them,

and God promises to bless us.

Perhaps God is the originator

of rewarding children for good behavior.

"Honor your father and mother"

(this is the first commandment with a promise),

"that it may go well with you

and that you may live long in the land."

Ephesians 6:2-3 ESV

Also Exodus 20:12