sin & victory

God will give us victory over sin,

but sometimes He waits until we ask Him to.

"Who can discern his errors?

Declare me innocent of hidden faults.

Keep back your servant also

from presumptuous sins;

let them not have dominion over me!

Then I shall be blameless,

and innocent of great transgression."

Psalm 19:12-13 ESV

the supernatural life

Holy Spirit power sometimes comes as peace,

in the midst of turmoil,

joy, in the midst of heartache,

hope, in the midst of despair.

Sometimes His strength is experienced as

forgiveness, instead of anger,

love, instead of revenge,

faith, instead of giving in to all sorts of fear,

or courage to speak the truth.

"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit

has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses

in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria,

and to the end of the earth."

Acts 1:8 ESV

God is not wasteful

Every experience is meant

to make us more like Jesus.

Anything otherwise would be

a waste of our time, and God's.

"And we know that for those who love God

all things work together for good,

for those who are called according to His purpose.

For those whom He foreknew

He also predestined

to be conformed to the image of His Son,

in order that He might be the firstborn

among many brothers."

Romans 8:28-19 ESV

never alone

We are never alone, never ever alone.

"It is the Lord who goes before you.

He will be with you;

He will not leave you or forsake you.

Do not fear or be dismayed."

Deuteronomy 31:8 ESV

God's plan

There is peace in the realization

that whatever we are going through

is part of God's plan.

And He has already worked it out for our good.

"God meant it for good."

Genesis 50:20 ESV

every place

God only puts us in places

He'd like His goodness shown.

"So...whatever you do,

do all to the glory of God."

1 Corinthians 10:31 ESV

this day

It's good to trust God with the future,

but He longs for us to depend on Him each day.

"Give us this day our daily bread."

Matthew 6:11 ESV

sides

When we must choose sides,

it's wise to choose wisely.

"Who is on the Lord's side?"

Exodus 32:26 ESV

good day

There's no doubt about it--

our best days begin with God.

"Satisfy us in the morning with Your unfailing love,

that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days."

Psalm 90:14 NIV

the best life

The best life begins with prayer.

"For everyone who calls

on the name of the Lord

will be saved."

Romans 10:13 ESV

sin help

The One who saved us from our sins

is able to keep us from them also.

"For we do not have a high priest who is unable

to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who

in every respect has been tempted as we are,

yet without sin. Let us then with confidence

draw near to the throne of grace, that we may

receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need."

Hebrews 4:15-16 ESV

not for better or worse

An attitude that we are better than someone else,

could get us into all sorts of trouble.

"For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled,

but the one who humbles himself will be exalted."

Luke 18:14 ESV

stand and resist

Satan tempts us where he thinks we are weak.

Let's prove him wrong.

"Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary

the devil prowls around like a roaring lion,

seeking someone to devour. Resist him,

firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds

of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood

throughout the world. And after you have suffered

a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you

to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore,

confirm, strengthen, and establish you."

1 Peter 5:8-10 ESV

the difference

Christians are different--

the Creator of the world goes with them

everywhere they go.

"For how shall it be known that I have

found favor in your sight, I and your people?

Is it not in your going with us,

so that we are distinct, I and your people,

from every other people on the face of the earth?"

Exodus 33:16 ESV

so many blessings

God is not obligated to bless us--

yet He does again and again and again.

"For surely, O Lord, You bless the righteous;

You surround them with Your favor

as with a shield."

Psalm 5:12 NIV

goals

One day we will stand before God;

let's make it our goal to see Him smile.

"We are confident, I say, and would prefer

to be away from the body

and at home with the Lord.

So we make it our goal to please Him,

whether we are at home in the body

or away from it."

2 Corinthians 5:8-9 NIV

our sorrow and His

We can trust those who weep with us.

"When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews

who had come along with her also weeping,

He was deeply moved in spirit and troubled.

'Where have you laid him?' He asked.

'Come and see, Lord,' they replied. Jesus wept."

John 11:33-35 NIV

life and happiness

Jesus offers the one thing

we desire more than happiness--

life!

"Jesus said to her,

'I am the resurrection and the life.

He who believes in Me will live,

even though he dies;

and whoever lives and believes in Me

will never die.

Do you believe this?'"

John 11:25 NIV

help

We can trust God to help us,

when we have no strength left to help ourselves.

"Do you not know? Have you not heard?

The Lord is the everlasting God,

the Creator of the ends of the earth.

He gives strength to the weary

and increases the power of the weak."

Isaiah 40:28a, 29 NIV

on sharing

The gospel has not lost its power--

so go ahead, share it.

"I am not ashamed of the gospel,

because it is the power of God

for the salvation of everyone who believes."

Romans 1:16a NIV

faithful God

God is faithful to keep His people faithful--

we can count on that.

"I will make an everlasting covenant with them:

I will never stop doing good to them,

and I will inspire them to fear me,

so that they will never turn away from me.

I will put my Spirit in you

and move you to follow my decrees

and be careful to keep my laws."

Jeremiah 32:40, Ezekiel 36:27 NIV

anger vs. love

Anger is easy.

Love is always worth the effort.

"Love is...

not easily angered,

it keeps no record of wrongs."

1 Corinthians 13:4a,5b

possibilities

Is anything too difficult for God?

No. Not one thing.

Jesus looked at them and said,

"With man this is impossible,

but with God all things are possible."

Jesus looked at them and said,

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

all things are possible with God."

"For nothing is impossible with God."

Matthew 19:26, Mark 10:27, Luke 1:37 NIV

steps

We are most content,

when we keep in step with God,

rather than trying to keep up

with someone else.

"The steps of a man

are established by the Lord,

when he delights in his way."

Psalm 37:23 ESV

voices

Out of all the people in the world,

God recognizes your voice.

"In my distress I called to the Lord;

I cried to my God for help.

From His temple He heard my voice;

my cry came before Him, into His ears."

Psalm 18:6 NIV

Merry Christmas

May our celebrations begin, middle, and end

with Jesus our Savior.

"And the angel said to them,

'Fear not, for behold,

I bring you good news of great joy

that will be for all people.

For unto you is born this day

in the city of David a Savior,

who is Christ the Lord.'"

Luke 2:10-11 ESV

searching for happiness

After all our searching elsewhere, we will find,

no happiness compares with the joy

that is ours in Christ.

"Rejoice in the Lord always.

I will say it again: Rejoice!"

Philippians 4:4 NIV

can't sleep?

Sleepless nights can be very beneficial.

"I will praise the Lord, who counsels me;

even at night my heart instructs me."

Psalm 16:7 NIV

on value

The value of an item is determined

by the price a person will pay for it.

Imagine how much God values you.

"For God so loved the world, that He gave

His only Son, that whoever believes in Him

should not perish but have eternal life."

John 3:16 ESV

Christmas joy

Jesus...

the joy of Christmas.

"Though you have not seen Him, you love Him;

and even though you do not see Him now,

you believe in Him and are filled with

an inexpressible and glorious joy,

for you are receiving the goal of your faith,

the salvation of your souls."

1 Peter 1:8-9 NIV

don't give up

There are times when we don't know

if the thing we desire and are praying for

is part of God's plan--

so we keep on praying until we do.

"Then Jesus told His disciples a parable

to show them that they should always pray

and not give up."

Luke 18:1 NIV

God with us

Courage happens when we realize,

not only are we with God,

but God is with us!

"When you pass through the waters,

I will be with you;

when you walk through fire

you shall not be burned,

and the flame shall not consume you.

For I am the Lord your God,

the Holy One of Israel, your Savior...

Fear not, for I am with you."

Isaiah 43:2-3a, 5a ESV

no fear

Fearlessness has always been a requirement

for the followers of Christ.

"Be strong and courageous.

Do not fear or be in dread of them,

for it is the Lord your God who goes with you.

He will not leave you or forsake you.

It is the Lord who goes before you.

He will be with you,

He will not leave you or forsake you.

Do not fear or be dismayed."

Deuteronomy 31:6, 8 ESV

prayer work

When someone asks us to pray,

God is already at work,

and for some wonderful mysterious reason

He is letting us in on His labors.

"Continue steadfastly in prayer,

being watchful in it with thanksgiving."

Colossians 4:2 ESV

darkness & dawn

No matter how dark the day,

God promises a brighter tomorrow.

"The path of the righteous

is like the first gleam of dawn,

shining ever brighter

till the full light of day."

Proverbs 4:18 NIV

still watching

God still watches over His children--

every moment of every day.

"The Lord your God has blessed you

in all the work of your hands.

He has watched over your journey

through this vast desert.

These forty years the Lord your God

has been with you,

and you have not lacked anything."

Deuteronomy 2:7 NIV

the path

God has a unique path marked out

for each one of us;

comparisons are not beneficial.

When Peter saw (John), he asked,

"Lord, what about him?"

Jesus answered, "If I want him to remain alive

until I return, what is that to you? You follow me."

John 21:21-22 NIV

see?

Faith sees God.

"Now faith is being sure of what we hope for

and certain of what we do not see.

And without faith it is impossible to please God,

because anyone who comes to Him

must believe that He exists and that He

rewards those who earnestly seek Him."

Hebrews 11:1, 6 NIV

pavement

Thankfulness paves the way

to everything that matters.

"He who sacrifices thank offerings honors Me,

and he prepares the way

so that I may show him

the salvation of God."

Psalm 50:23 NIV

longings & Jesus

Every Christmas longing

is met in the One whose birth we celebrate--

Jesus our Savior!

"And the angel said to them,

'Fear not, for behold,

I bring you good news of great joy

that will be for all people.

For unto you is born this day

in the city of David a Savior,

who is Christ the Lord.'"

Luke 2:10-11 ESV

wisdom of thankfulness

Wise people are thankful people.

"Be careful, then, how you live--

not as unwise but as wise,

making the most of every opportunity...

always giving thanks

to God the Father for everything,

in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ."

Ephesians 5:15-16, 20 NIV

on our value

We can trust the One

who ordains every detail,

and determines every step.

"Are not two sparrows sold for a penny?

And not one of them will fall to the ground

apart from your Father.

But even the hairs of your head are all numbered.

Fear not, therefore; you are of more value

than many sparrows."

Matthew 10:29-31 ESV

new mercy

God doesn't expect us to survive

on yesterday's blessings;

He showers us with new mercies

every single day.

"The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;

His mercies never come to an end;

they are new every morning;

great is Your faithfulness."

Lamentations 3:22-23 ESV

satisfaction guaranteed

It's not our responsibility

to help people find fulfillment apart from God;

the best we can do

is point them to the source of ours.

"Because Your love is better than life,

my lips will glorify You.

My soul will be satisfied

as with the richest of foods."

Psalm 63:3, 5a NIV

bye-bye blues

One day depression will vanish;

sadness will be unheard of

in the hearts of the children of God.

"But only the redeemed will walk there,

and the ransomed of the Lord will return.

They will enter Zion with singing;

everlasting joy will crown their heads.

Gladness and joy will overtake them,

and sorrow and sighing will flee away."

Isaiah 35:9b-10 NIV

God leads

God is so sovereign and loving and good

that even when His children

aren't consciously following Him,

He is leading them.

"In Your unfailing love you will lead

the people You have redeemed.

In Your strength You will guide them

to Your holy dwelling."

Exodus 15:13 NIV

talk to yourself

The most effective sermons

may be the ones

we preach to ourselves.

"Praise the Lord, O my soul;

all my inmost being, praise His holy name.

Praise the Lord, O my soul,

and forget not all His benefits."

Psalm 103:1-2 NIV

on losing and earning

We will never have a bad enough day

to lose our salvation;

we will never have a good enough day

to earn it.

"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--

and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God--

not by works, so that no one can boast."

Ephesians 2:8-9 NIV

not allowed

If God knew of one thing

we ought to be anxious about,

being anxious would be allowed.

"Do not fret--it leads only to evil.

Do not be anxious about anything,

but in everything, by prayer and petition,

with thanksgiving,

present your requests to God."

Psalm 37:8, Philippians 4:8 NIV

where to go

Feelings of guilt and shame

tend to lead us away from God--

the exact opposite of where

we should be going.

"Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence

to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus...

let us draw near to God with a sincere heart

in full assurance of faith,

having our hearts sprinkled

to cleanse us from a guilty conscience

and having our bodies washed with pure water."

Hebrews 20:19, 22 NIV