Help In Hard Times

Psalm 46:1

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.

Tempted

James 1:12-15

Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.

When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.

The Patience of God

2 Peter 3:9

The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.

The Grace of God

Titus 2:11-14

 For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people.  It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age,  while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.

Our Words

Matthew 12:36

"I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak,"

Can anyone tell?

John 13:34-35

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

Straight Paths

Proverbs 3:5-6

Trust in the Lord with all your heart
    and lean not on your own understanding;
 in all your ways submit to him,
    and he will make your paths straight.

Firm Steps

Psalm 37:23-24

The Lord makes firm the steps
    of the one who delights in him;
though he may stumble, he will not fall,
    for the Lord upholds him with his hand.

Dare to be different!

Romans 12:1-2

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

1 Peter 2:1-3

So get rid of your feelings of hatred. Don’t just pretend to be good! Be done with dishonesty and jealousy and talking about others behind their backs.  Now that you realize how kind the Lord has been to you, put away all evil, deception, envy, and fraud. Long to grow up into the fullness of your salvation; cry for this as a baby cries for his milk. (TLB)

Forgiveness

Matthew 6:14-15

For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.  But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

1 John 1:9

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

Matthew 26:28

This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.

Deceiving Ourselves

Jeremiah 17:9

The heart is deceitful above all things
    and beyond cure.
    Who can understand it?

 “First we deceive ourselves, and then we convince ourselves that we 

are not deceiving ourselves.”  Lewis Smedes

Psalms 86:11

Teach me Your way, O Lord;
I will walk in Your truth;
Unite my heart to fear Your name.

Jesus

John 14:6

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."

Acts 4:12

 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.

Attitude

"Attitude is the mind's paintbrush. It can color any situation."

Philipians 2:14-15

Do all things without grumbling or questioning, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world

Colossians 3:23

Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men,

Higher Than The Earth

Isaiah 55:8-9

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your

ways my ways," declares the Lord. "As the heavens are 

higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than

your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."

Today

Psalm 118:24

This is the day the Lord has made;
We will rejoice and be glad in it.

Crowned With Glory

Hebrews 2:9

But we do see Jesus, who was made lower than the angels for a little while, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.

Whatever

Philipians 4:8

 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 about such things.

Rejoice!

Philipians 4:4-7

 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!  Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.  Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, 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.

Worship

Nehemiah 9:6

You alone are the LORD. You made the heavens, even the highest heavens, and all their starry host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. You give life to everything, and the multitudes of heaven worship you.

Comfort And Compassion

2 Corinthians 1:3-4

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.

God's Word

Isaiah 55:10-11

 “For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.”

Renewal

Psalm 103:1-5

Praise the Lord, my soul;

    all my inmost being, praise his holy name.

2 

Praise the Lord, my soul,

    and forget not all his benefits—

3 

who forgives all your sins

    and heals all your diseases,

4 

who redeems your life from the pit

    and crowns you with love and compassion,

5 

who satisfies your desires with good things

    so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

Under His Wings

Psalm 91:4

He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.

Do Not Worry

Matthew 6:25-34

25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?

28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

The World And Everything In It

Acts 17:24  

The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven 

and earth and  does not live in temples built by human hands.

Deuteronomy 10:14 

To the LORD your God belong the heavens, even the highest heavens, the earth and everything in it.

Courage

Ezra 3:3   Despite their fear of the peoples around them, they built the altar on its foundation and sacrificed burnt offerings on it to the Lord, both the morning and evening sacrifices.

Mark 15:12-15 “What shall I do, then, with the one you call the king of the Jews?” Pilate asked them.  “Crucify him!” they shouted.  “Why? What crime has he committed?” asked Pilate. But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify him!”  Wanting to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. He had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified.

Lord, please give me courage and strength not to give in to taking the easy road instead of doing what is right in your sight.

Evidence

Psalm 14:1

The fool says in his heart, "There is no God."

The Beginning of Wisdom

Psalm 110:10

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding. To him belongs eternal praise.

Labor Day

Today is Labor Day, 2013 and the first day of my new blog, Meditation of the Heart. It is appropriate for the day that the first scripture is about work.

Ecclesiastes 5:18-19

18 This is what I have observed to be good: that it is appropriate for a person to eat, to drink and to find satisfaction in their toilsome labor under the sun during the few days of life God has given them—for this is their lot. 19 Moreover, when God gives someone wealth and possessions, and the ability to enjoy them, to accept their lot and be happy in their toil—this is a gift of God.