some verses to meditate on

Proverbs 21:5 (New Living Translation) Good planning and hard work lead to prosperity, but hasty shortcuts lead to poverty.

Proverbs 21:29 (New Living Translation) The wicked bluff their way through, but the virtuous think before they act.

Joshua 1:8  Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do.

1 Corinthians 10:14 So, my dear friends, flee from the worship of idols.

2 Timothy 2:22 Run from anything that stimulates youthful lusts. Instead, pursue righteous living, faithfulness, love, and peace. Enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts.

2 Corinthians 7:1 Because we have these promises, dear friends, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that can defile our body or spirit. And let us work toward complete holiness because we fear God.

James 1:27  Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.

Philippians 3:17  Dear brothers and sisters, pattern your lives after mine, and learn from those who follow our example.

I AM MEAN

I am mean.......

I mean what I say -Devil get behind me

I mean it when I say that the enemy can not have my children.  They belong to God.  They will be the men God has called them to be!  His purpose will be fulfilled in their lives!

I mean what I do - I live intentionally - intentionally following God's will and purpose for my life - if you are being used by the enemy to cause strife for me and my family - I mean it, you better leave us alone!  Joshua 24:15.......But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord

I know I am meant to raise my children according to God's word.  I know that I am meant to have the marriage God intended for me to have.  

Are you meant to do something?  Did you mean to do something and still have not?  Did you mean to do something and now regret it because you did not take it to the Lord in prayer?  

ARE YOU MEAN?  :-)  DO NOT LET YOUR DAYS BE MEANINGLESS!

Genesis 41:16 (New Living Translation)

 ¹⁶ “It is beyond my power to do this,” Joseph replied. “But God can tell you what it means and set you at ease.”

Psalm 119:27 (New Living Translation)

 ²⁷ Help me understand the meaning of your commandments,
      and I will meditate on your wonderful deeds.

 

Be My Valentine :-)

Valentines Day I am sure is hard or at least not very fun for people who do not have a significant other or even for people who can not afford to buy their sweety gifts (all the stuff the world has led us to believe is a must - jewelry, candy, flowers, etc.)  Knowing my husband loves me with all his heart, having his hand to hold, being blessed with his presence and support - that is my gift!  Anything that he could buy me will one day fade or be be gone.  I'm not saying presents are not nice but Valentines Day should not turn into a day of pressure, worry or cause a financial burden :)  

The greatest Valentine?  It is this - Thank you Lord that I am yours and you are mine!  God has my heart and he holds me in the palm of his hand!  Today I contemplate how much I love my Lord, my husband, family & friends :-)

What a great day to meditate on these verses - HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!!

John 13:34-35 (NLT)

³⁴ So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. ³⁵ Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”

1 John 4:9-10 (New Living Translation) 

⁹ God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. ¹⁰ This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.

 

Zephaniah 3:17 (New Living Translation)

 ¹⁷ For the Lord your God is living among you.
      He is a mighty savior.
   He will take delight in you with gladness.
      With his love, he will calm all your fears.
      He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.”

Exodus 15:13 (New Living Translation)

 ¹³ “With your unfailing love you lead
      the people you have redeemed.
   In your might, you guide them
      to your sacred home.

Deuteronomy 6:5 (New Living Translation)

⁵ And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength. 

Deuteronomy 7:9 (New Living Translation)

⁹ Understand, therefore, that the Lord your God is indeed God. He is the faithful God who keeps his covenant for a thousand generations and lavishes his unfailing love on those who love him and obey his commands. 

Deuteronomy 11:22 (New Living Translation)

 ²² “Be careful to obey all these commands I am giving you. Show love to the Lord your God by walking in his ways and holding tightly to him. 

to be continued.............. :-)



 

Psalm 31:21 (NLT)

         Praise the Lord,
      for he has shown me the wonders of his unfailing love.
      He kept me safe when my city was under attack.

PEACE

Webster's definition of peace -

1

: a state of tranquillity or quiet: as a : freedom from civil disturbance b : a state of security or order within a community provided for by law or custom <a breach of the peace>

2

: freedom from disquieting or oppressive thoughts or emotions

3

: harmony in personal relations

4

a : a state or period of mutual concord between governments b : a pact or agreement to end hostilities between those who have been at war or in a state of enmity

5

—used interjectionally to ask for silence or calm or as a greeting or farewell

— at peace

: in a state of concord or tranquillity 

 

2 Samuel 14:17 (New Living Translation)

Yes, my lord the king will give us peace of mind again.’ I know that you are like an angel of God in discerning good from evil. May the Lord your God be with you.”

Psalm 4:8
In peace I will lie down and sleep,for you alone, O Lord, will keep me safe.

 

Psalm 23:2 

He lets me rest in green meadows;he leads me beside peaceful streams.

Psalm 29:11
The Lord gives his people strength.The Lord blesses them with peace.


I want to post more verses on peace later but in the meantime - What does peace mean to you?  What is true peace - peace through God?  How do we obtain true peace through him and with him?  Sometimes when we are struggling it is so hard to know.

Faith

Hebrews 11:1-2 (NLT)

¹ Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see. ² Through their faith, the people in days of old earned a good reputation.

CELEBRATE!

Psalm 21:13 (New Living Translation)

Rise up, O Lord, in all your power.
With music and singing we celebrate your mighty acts.

Psalm 102:21 (New Living Translation)

And so the Lord’s fame will be celebrated in Zion,
  his praises in Jerusalem,

 

Psalm 135:3 (New Living Translation)

Praise the Lord, for the Lord is good;
 celebrate his lovely name with music.

 

Proverbs 23:16 (New Living Translation)

Everything in me will celebrate
   when you speak what is right.

over and over again, HE says - TRUST in HIM

Psalm 56:3 (NLT) But when I am afraid, I will put my trust in you.

Psalm 56:4 (New Living Translation)

I praise God for what he has promised.
I trust in God, so why should I be afraid?
What can mere mortals do to me?

AND THEN HE SAYS IT AGAIN IN HIS WORD!

  

Psalm 56:11 (New Living Translation)

I trust in God, so why should I be afraid?
      What can mere mortals do to me?

I LOVE THIS ONE :-)

Psalm 62:8 (NLT)                                                                                         O my people, trust in him at all times. Pour out your heart to him, for God is our refuge.

NOTICE HOW IT SAYS "trust in him at ALL times"

Psalm 63:11 (NLT)

       But the king will rejoice in God.
      All who trust in him will praise him,
      while liars will be silenced.

Psalm 84:12 (NLT)

      O Lord of Heaven’s Armies, what joy for those who trust in you.

Psalm 86:2 (New Living Translation)

 Protect me, for I am devoted to you.
 Save me, for I serve you and trust you.
      You are my God.

  

Psalm 91:2 (New Living Translation)

  This I declare about the Lord:
   He alone is my refuge, my place of safety;
      he is my God, and I trust him.

 

Psalm 91:14 (NLT)

     The Lord says, “I will rescue those who love me.
      I will protect those who trust in my name.

I KNOW I NEED THESE VERSES RIGHT NOW (AND THERE ARE MANY MORE) TRUST IN GOD!  DO YOU NEED TO BE ENCOURAGED TODAY AND LIFTED UP?  ARE YOU FILLED WITH DOUBT & FEAR?  DO NOT LET THE ENEMY PARALYZE YOU!  GOD IS OUR LIGHT IN THE DARKNESS, OUR REFUGE, OUR COMFORTER!  DO NOT LET THE ENEMY STEAL YOUR JOY & PEACE!

I'm going to pick up where I left off with more verses on trust later.  He has it written so many times because it is so important to never lose our focus or hope in him.  Trust in Him and He will take care of the rest.  Rest in Him!  

more verses on Trust

Psalm 4:5 Offer sacrifices in the right spirit,and trust the Lord.

Psalm 9:10  Those who know your name trust in you,for you, O Lord, do not abandon those who search for you.

Psalm 13:5  But I trust in your unfailing love.I will rejoice because you have rescued me

Psalm 19:7 The instructions of the Lord are perfect,reviving the soul.The decrees of the Lord are trustworthy,making wise the simple.

Psalm 21:7 For the king trusts in the Lord.The unfailing love of the Most High will keep him from stumbling.

Psalm 28:7 The Lord is my strength and shield.I trust him with all my heart.He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy.I burst out in songs of thanksgiving.

Psalm 31:14 But I am trusting you, O Lord,saying, “You are my God!” 

Psalm 52:7-9 
 ⁷ “Look what happens to mighty warriors
      who do not trust in God.
   They trust their wealth instead
      and grow more and more bold in their wickedness.”
 ⁸ But I am like an olive tree, thriving in the house of God.
      I will always trust in God’s unfailing love.
 ⁹ I will praise you forever, O God,
      for what you have done.
   I will trust in your good name
      in the presence of your faithful people.

AND THERE ARE SO MANY MORE :-) IT'S OBVIOUSLY IMPORTANT!

TRUST

Never doubt how important trust in the Lord is.  The word trust is in the bible many times for a reason.  I trust in the Lord. I believe in his truth and his word.

Genesis 49:18 I trust in you for salvation, O Lord!

Leviticus 19:4 “Do not put your trust in idols or make metal images of gods for yourselves. I am the Lord your God.

1 Chronicles 5:20 They cried out to God during the battle, and he answered their prayer because they trusted in him. So the Hagrites and all their allies were defeated.

2 Chronicles 14:11 Then Asa cried out to the Lord his God, “O Lord, no one but you can help the powerless against the mighty! Help us, O Lord our God, for we trust in you alone. It is in your name that we have come against this vast horde. O Lord, you are our God; do not let mere men prevail against you!”

Psalm 4:5 Offer sacrifices in the right spirit,and trust the Lord.

Psalm 9:10 Those who know your name trust in you,for you, O Lord, do not abandon those who search for you.

Psalm 10:14 But you see the trouble and grief they cause.You take note of it and punish them.The helpless put their trust in you.You defend the orphans.

Psalm 13:5 But I trust in your unfailing love. I will rejoice because you have rescued me.

Psalm 19:7 The instructions of the Lord are perfect, reviving the soul. The decrees of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple.

Psalm 25:2 I trust in you, my God!Do not let me be disgraced,or let my enemies rejoice in my defeat.

Psalm 25:3 No one who trusts in you will ever be disgraced, but disgrace comes to those who try to deceive others.

Psalm 26:1 [ A psalm of David. ] Declare me innocent, O Lord,for I have acted with integrity;I have trusted in the Lord without wavering.

Psalm 28:7 The Lord is my strength and shield.I trust him with all my heart.He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy.I burst out in songs of thanksgiving.

Psalm 31:14 But I am trusting you, O Lord,saying, “You are my God!”

Psalm 143:8 Let me hear of your unfailing love each morning, for I am trusting you. Show me where to walk, for I give myself to you.

Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.

There are so many verses on trust.  Because I need to read them and mediate on them I am going to post more later :-)

When you need........

When you need reassurance that God cares and need his comfort - 

Psalm 56:8 (New Living Translation)

      You keep track of all my sorrows.
      You have collected all my tears in your bottle.
      You have recorded each one in your book.

Psalm 55:22 (New Living Translation)

      Give your burdens to the Lord,
      and he will take care of you.
      He will not permit the godly to slip and fall.

and this is just the beginning (there are many more verses of God's love, grace and mercy :-)

Friends

If you don't think it is important to choose wise friends, think again.  God does want us to have good, godly friends.  He wants us to be wise in our choices so we are around people who are in our best interest.  God wants us to love everyone but that doesn't mean we are meant to be around "everyone".  God wants us to have friends that can give wise council.  He wants us to associate with people that will not tempt us to go in wrong directions.  Yes, we are ultimately responsible for ourselves but why put ourselves with people that could possibly lead us down the wrong path.  We need friends who will pray for us and with us.  Here is what God's word says about friends - 

1 Corinthians 15:33 (NLT)³³ Don’t be fooled by those who say such things, for “bad company corrupts good character.” 

Proverbs 13:20 (NLT) ²⁰ Walk with the wise and become wise; associate with fools and get in trouble.

Proverbs 18:24 (NLT) ²⁴ There are “friends” who destroy each other, but a real friend sticks closer than a brother.

There are examples of false friends in the bible and of true friendship.  God wants us to use common sense and to choose wisely.  

Psalm 26:5 (KJV) ⁵I have hated the congregation of evil doers; and will not sit with the wicked.

Now this verse doesn't mean we can not associate with the lost (unbelievers) but when Jesus did it was to bring them to salvation!  and in order to do that you must be strong in your faith.  If you are not there in your walk yet it is best to walk only with people who are on the straight and narrow.

There are many instances of wonderful friendships in the bible.  Many about unfriendly people.  Do your own research and I think it will be made clear as to the direction God intended for us to go in our relationships.

Jared Anderson - Hiding Place

Are you able to have Patience when you have a teenager??

As I was "encouraging" my teenage son to get out of bed and get moving this morning the word patience came to mind!  Because I am running out of it!  It is an EVERY morning event and it is exhausting.  If anyone has any methods they use I would like to hear them.  In the meantime I am pondering on these scriptures. 

Romans 15:4-6
Such things were written in the Scriptures long ago to teach us. And the Scriptures give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for God’s promises to be fulfilled.
May God, who gives this patience and encouragement, help you live in complete harmony with each other, as is fitting for followers of Christ Jesus. 6 Then all of you can join together with one voice, giving praise and glory to God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Corinthians 6:6
We prove ourselves by our purity, our understanding, our patience, our kindness, by the Holy Spirit within us, and by our sincere love.

Galations 5:22
But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

Colossians 1:11
We also pray that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need. May you be filled with joy,

Colossians 3:12
Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.

1 Timothy 1:16
But God had mercy on me so that Christ Jesus could use me as a prime example of his great patience with even the worst sinners. Then others will realize that they, too, can believe in him and receive eternal life.

I Need A Reminder.......

Psalm 91 (New Living Translation)

 ¹ Those who live in the shelter of the Most High
      will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
 ² This I declare about the Lord:
   He alone is my refuge, my place of safety;
      he is my God, and I trust him.
 ³ For he will rescue you from every trap
      and protect you from deadly disease.
 ⁴ He will cover you with his feathers.
      He will shelter you with his wings.
      His faithful promises are your armor and protection.
 ⁵ Do not be afraid of the terrors of the night,
      nor the arrow that flies in the day.
 ⁶ Do not dread the disease that stalks in darkness,
      nor the disaster that strikes at midday.
 ⁷ Though a thousand fall at your side,
      though ten thousand are dying around you,
      these evils will not touch you.
 ⁸ Just open your eyes,
      and see how the wicked are punished.
 ⁹ If you make the Lord your refuge,
      if you make the Most High your shelter,
 ¹⁰ no evil will conquer you;
      no plague will come near your home.
 ¹¹ For he will order his angels
      to protect you wherever you go.
 ¹² They will hold you up with their hands
      so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.
 ¹³ You will trample upon lions and cobras;
      you will crush fierce lions and serpents under your feet!
 ¹⁴ The Lord says, “I will rescue those who love me.
      I will protect those who trust in my name.
 ¹⁵ When they call on me, I will answer;
      I will be with them in trouble.
      I will rescue and honor them.
 ¹⁶ I will reward them with a long life
      and give them my salvation.”

Worthy Is The Lamb