Streams in the Desert

This is what the Lord says— he who made a way through the sea, a path through the mighty waters, “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.  ~ Isaiah 43:16, 18-19 (NIV) 

Choose for Yourselves...

But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.” ~ Joshua 24:15 (NIV)

Peace

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” ~ John 16:33 (NIV) 

Bearing with One Another in Love

As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. ~ Ephesians 4:1-2 (NIV)

Jesus Comforts His Disciples

1 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. 2 My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. ~ John 14:1-3 (NIV) 

Do Not Be Discouraged

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” ~ Joshua 1:9 (NIV)

Receive Instruction

Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end. There are many devices in a man's heart; nevertheless the counsel of the Lord, that shall stand. ~ Proverbs 19:20-21 (NIV)

All Who Are Weary

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  ~ Matthew 11:28 (NIV) 

Speak the Truth in Love

15 Instead, speaking the truth in love,we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head,that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. ~ Ephesians 4:15-16 (NIV)

Wonderful Counselor

For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 

~ Isaiah 9:6 (ESV)

Sowing Generously

Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. ~ 2 Corinthians 9:6-8 (NIV 1984)

Praise the LORD!

1 Praise the Lord, all you servants of the Lord
    who minister by night in the house of the Lord.
2 2 Lift up your hands in the sanctuary
    and praise the Lord.

~ Psalm 134:1-2 (NIV)

Better Is Little

Better a little with righteousness
    than much gain with injustice.

~ Proverbs 16:8 (NIV)

Better is a little with righteousness
    than great revenues with injustice. (ESV)

Consider the Poor

Blessed is the one who considers the poor!
    In the day of trouble the Lord delivers him;
2 the Lord protects him and keeps him alive;
    he is called blessed in the land;
    you do not give him up to the will of his enemies.
3 The Lord sustains him on his sickbed;
    in his illness you restore him to full health.

~ Psalm 41:1-3 (ESV)

Word Became Flesh

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. ~ John 1:14 (NIV)

Hope In the Lord

5 Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob,
    whose hope is in the Lord his God,
6 who made heaven and earth,
    the sea, and all that is in them,
who keeps faith forever;

~ Psalm 146:5-6 (ESV)

To Bethlehem

4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. ~ Luke 2:4-5 (ESV)

Prophet of the Most High

And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him, to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven ~ Luke 1:76-78 (NIV) 

In Our Weakness

Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. ~ Romans 8:26 (ESV)

Behold the Lamb of God!

35 The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples, 36 and he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” ~ John 1:35-36 (ESV)

Giving

42 And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which make a penny. 43 And he called his disciples to him and said to them, “Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box. 44 For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.” ~ Mark 12:42-44 (ESV)
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Redeemed HIS People

68 “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel,
    for he has visited and redeemed his people
69 and has raised up a horn of salvation for us
    in the house of his servant David,
70 as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old, ~ Luke 1:68-70 (ESV)

Continue in HIM

And now, dear children, continue in him, so that when he appears we may be confident and unashamed before him at his coming. ~ 1 John 2:28 (NIV)

Blessed Among Women

And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. ~ Luke 1:26-28 (KJV)

Fear Not

But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins. ~ Matthew 1:20-21 (KJV) 

Redeemed!

But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship. ~ Galatians 4:4-5 (NIV)

With Fear and Trembling

12 Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose. ~ Philippians 2:12-13

The Only Name

The Lord will be king over the whole earth. On that day there will be one Lord, and his name the only name. ~ Zechariah 14:9 (NIV)

Be Joyful and Do Good

I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. ~ 

Ecclesiastes 3:12 (NIV)

Not Ashamed of the Gospel

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. ~ Romans 1:16 (NIV)

We Are God's Handiwork

For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. ~ Ephesians 2:10 (NIV) 

Immanuel

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel. ~ Isaiah 7:14 (NIV)

Be Careful

15 Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. ~ Ephesians 5:15-16 (NIV)

What Is It Worth?

34 And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 35 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it.36 For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?37 For what can a man give in return for his soul? ~ Mark 8:34-37 (ESV)

Do Not Be Afraid

When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: "Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead,and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! ~ Revelation 1:17-18 (NIV)

Stand Firm

So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by our spoken word or by our letter. ~ 2 Thessalonians 2:15 (ESV)

Be Transformed

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. ~ Romans 12:2 (NIV)

Be Still

He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;
    I will be exalted among the nations,
    I will be exalted in the earth.” 

~ Psalm 46:10 (NIV)

Embrace Wisdom

Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction and do not forsake your mother’s teaching. They are a garland to grace your head and a chain to adorn your neck. ~ Proverbs 1:8-9 (NIV)

Consider Others

3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves,4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. ~ Philippians 2:3-4 (NIV)

Sovereign Lord

“How great you are, Sovereign Lord! There is no one like you, and there is no God but you, as we have heard with our own ears. ~ 2 Samuel 7:22 (NIV)

You Are Wonderfully Made

13 For you created my inmost being;
    you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
    your works are wonderful,
    I know that full well.

~ Psalm 139:13-14 (NIV)

More Blessed to Give

In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” ~ Acts 20:35 (ESV)

Seek God

Seek good, not evil,
    that you may live.
Then the Lord God Almighty will be with you,
    just as you say he is.

~ Amos 5:14 (NIV)

Bad News ~ Good News

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, ~ Romans 3:23 (NIV)

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. ~ Romans 6:23 (NIV)

Words of My Mouth

May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight,Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer. ~ Psalm 19:14 (NIV)

Forgive One Another

Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. ~ Ephesians 4:32 (NIV)

Comfort in Trouble

3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. ~ 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (NIV)

The Lord Is My Rock

I love you, O Lord, my strength.
The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer,
    my God, my rock in whom I take refuge,
    my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised,
    so I shall be saved from my enemies.

~ Psalm 18:1-3 (NRSV)

Love Each Other Deeply

Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. ~ 1 Peter 4:8 (NIV)

God's Throne of Grace

Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence,so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. ~ Hebrews 4:16 (NIV)

Comfort...

3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. ~ 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (NIV)

Life to the Full

Therefore Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. ~ John 10:7, 9-10 (NIV)

More Blessed to Give

In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ” ~ Acts 20:35 (NIV)

HE Desires Mercy

But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” ~ Matthew 9:13 (NIV)

Bread of Life

Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. ~ John 6:35 NIV

Follow God's Example

1 Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children 2 and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. ~ Ephesians 5:1-2 (NIV)

What Does HE Require of You?

He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.
    And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
    and to walk humbly with your God.

~ Micah 6:8 (NIV)

A Living Sacrifice

Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. ~ Romans 12:1 (NIV 1984)

One Body

4 For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; 7 if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; 8 if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully. ~ Romans 12:4-8 (NIV)

Be Merciful

Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. ~ Luke 6:36 (NIV)

A Mystery

51 Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— 52 in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53 For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. 54 When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.” ~ 1 Corinthians 15:51-54 (NIV)

Timely Word

A person finds joy in giving an apt reply— and how good is a timely word! ~ Proverbs 15:23 (NIV)

Eternal Encouragement

16 May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, 17 encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word. ~ 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17 (NIV)

Blessed Are the Merciful

Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. ~ Matthew 5:7 (NIV)

God's Love

"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. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him." ~ John 3:16-17 (NIV)

He Is the Faithful God

Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments. ~ Deuteronomy 7:9 (NIV)

In the Beginning

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. ~ John 1:1-5 (ESV)

Always!

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! ~ Philippians 4:4 (NIV)