Scripture for the week of March 23, 2014

Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13 (NKJV)

Is your hope running low with the heaviness of discouragement and the frustration of too many disappointments, especially in someone you trusted? What an encouragement to be reminded in this verse that we have a God Who is hope! He is able to renew our hope in an abundance that is more-than-enough. On top of that, He will fill us with an overflowing joy and peace trusting in Him afresh to move mountains in our defense and opening miraculous doors of provision through the power of His Holy Spirit working on our behalf. May the Holy Spirit fill you with the uplifting hope, joy and peace you need today.

Scripture of the week for March 16, 2014

Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30 (NKJV)

Are you feeling loaded down and exhausted from carrying problems and discouragements with a longing for rest from your weariness? To be yoked with Jesus requires us to submit to His plans and direction for us. Though none of us enjoy or welcome the idea of submission, it is easier when we understand it is His willingness to carry our heavy loads and His desire to plow the paths straighter ahead for us. Be encouraged to accept the Lord’s invitation to walk in humility yoked with Him and find the rest you long for in your soul. Cast your cares on Jesus today (1 Peter 5:7) and God will supply all your need according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19).

Scripture for the week of March 9, 2014

“Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Matthew 6:31-33 (NKJV)

Do you ever get caught in the worries of trying to cover the essentials like food, clothing and the unexpected medical bills or other emergency needs? Verse 26 in the same chapter states: “Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?” How easy it is to struggle and strive trying fix everything ourselves and forgetting how precious we are to our miraculous and loving heavenly Father. So, be encouraged to seek first the goodness and blessings of His Kingdom purposes for you with the assurance that He is more than able to “supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus”. (Phil 4:19)

 

Scripture for the week of March 2, 2014

He gives power to the faint; and to them that have no might He increases strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. Isaiah 40:29-31 (KJV)

Have you ever been so weary with the heaviness of discouragement that you feel like you can hardly hold your head up much less walk or run? This scripture reminds us that as we wait on the Lord we have access to His power and strength that take us beyond when the young will faint and give up. Though we usually find it frustrating and irritating to wait on anything, this kind of waiting is not idle and twitteling our thumbs. It is an active, persevering, listening and inquiring kind of waiting with expectation and anticipation for a demonstration of God’s miraculous provision for us. As we wait on the Lord, His supernatural power and strength empowers us to run our race and also lifts our spirit up to soar like eagles! Praise the Lord!

Scripture for the week of February 23, 2014

I pray … that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a
spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe… Ephesians 1:17-19 (NASB)

Are you in need of wisdom and revelation and/or do you need a renewed hope in order to move beyond your current circumstances? Wisdom is the ability to understand things difficult to comprehend, revelation is a surprising truth revealed by God and hope is the anticipation of a fulfilled desire. We are reminded in this scripture that in knowing Him our Father God gives to us the gift of His spirit of wisdom and revelation. We can also expect to “see” a lightening in our hearts to KNOW the hope of His calling. As His chosen ones, there is an awesome greatness of His power toward us who believe in Him. And, there is a wealth of glory that is His inheritance in us! May you know the greatness of His wisdom, power, and love for you!

Scripture for the week of February 16, 2014

These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God. 1 John 5:13 (NKJV)

Do you have the peace of knowing you have eternal life? The Biblical meaning for the word “know” in this verse is an experiential knowledge. Jesus says in Revelation 3:20 (NKJV) “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in…” Maybe you are like I was for many years, believing in God and believing Jesus is the Son of God, but have never opened the door to your heart and asked Him to come in. In your own words, you can ask Jesus to come in, reveal Himself and His love to you, forgive you of all your wrong choices and actions, to reveal His purpose for your life and to give you hope for eternity. May you experience the tangible peace of KNOWING you have eternal life in Jesus!

Scripture for the week of February, 9, 2014

For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39 (NKJV)

Have you ever experienced the abandonment of a spouse, the betrayal of a friend, rejection of family, or a deep empty loneliness that won’t go away? Or do you have an agonizing fear of abandonment and rejection? This scripture is a comforting reminder that no matter what valley of pain or death we may have to walk through in this life, there is absolutely no power, nor anyplace, anything, nor any person that can separate us from the love of Christ. Corrie ten Boom, a survivor of one of the worst Nazi concentration camps during WWII, once said, “There is no pit so deep, that God’s love is not deeper still.” Ask Jesus to come heal your heart, free you from the fear of abandonment and fill you with His love that will never leave you today.

 

 

Scripture for the Week of February 2, 2014

For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ. 2 Corinthians 4:6 (NIV)

Have you ever tried to find your way in the dark without a light? In Genesis one God said, “Let there be light” and He created light out of the darkness. Our verse for this week declares that God is able to make His light shine into the darkness of our hearts. His glory is the perfection, beauty and power of His extravagant love we can each find in our personal relationship with Jesus face to face. Jesus proclaimed in John 8:12 “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (NIV) Let the light of Jesus’ love shine in and through you as you follow Him.

 

Scripture for the week of January 26, 2014

Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, 2 Peter 1:2 (NKJV)

Are you in need of multiplied grace and peace? Grace is undeserved favor and divine assistance. Peace is tranquility, harmony and freedom from disturbance or affliction. The Biblical definition of knowledge is based on understanding from experience. Like the Hebrews in the wilderness that had to gather fresh manna each day, Jesus is the Bread of Life that God has provided for us to seek out each day. Whatever we may have experienced of God’s love, mercy, forgiveness and provision in the past, we are encouraged to KNOW that we can seek Him each new day to multiply His sufficient favor, divine assistance, and freedom from affliction no matter what we may be facing. May His grace and peace be multiplied to you today.

 

Scripture for the week of January 19, 2014

And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. John 17:3 (NKJV)

How can we know that God is the one true God and if Jesus is His Son? In his 33 years, Jesus fulfilled over 300 Old Testament prophesies recorded over 1500 years. There is more historical evidence of His life, death and resurrection than of Aristotle, Plato and Socrates combined. All of his Apostles and multitudes through the centuries have died declaring the truth of experiencing the power of His resurrection life. It has been stated that there have been more Christian martyrs in the last century than the last 2000 years! Martyrs do not die for a lie because Jesus is a relationship more than a religion. He is alive and His love is still healing hearts, forgiving sinners, and setting captives free today, including me! Ask Him to make Himself real to you, too.

 Scripture for the week of January 12, 2014

Thou wilt show me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore. Psalm 16:11 (KJV)

Have you ever pondered what you really need to find happiness? Or have you been tempted to focus on your desires for pleasure and happiness to the detriment of others? The dominant voices of this world encourage us that the only path to pleasure and happiness is to focus on fulfilling our own needs and desires first and foremost. This scripture challenges us to ask God to show us His path for our life. In His presence, at His right hand, we are positioned close to His power, authority and protection that overcomes all obstacles with the promise that we will find the fulness of joy and experience pleasures without end we all long for. Say, “Yes!” to the Lord’s path for you this year.

 

Scripture for the week of January 5, 2014

But let him who glories glory in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord, exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight,” says the Lord.
Jeremiah 9:24 (NKJV)

We often begin a new year evaluating our accomplishments and/or the disappointments of the previous year. With good intentions we try setting new resolutions with goals to do better and be better in the days ahead with the hope of patting ourselves on the back at the end of this year. Maybe it would be better to focus our energy and efforts on the things that glorify God more than things to glorify in ourselves. By increasing our understanding and knowledge of God, His Word and His ways we can hope to experience and to then extend His lovingkindness, justice and goodness to those in the world around us. What a joyous anticipation to know the blessing of God’s delight in the pursuit of knowing and experiencing Him more in this new year.

 Scripture for the week of December 29, 2013

Even when you are old, I (God) will be the same. Even when your hair has turned gray, I will take care of you. I made you and will take care of you. I will carry you and save you. Isaiah 46:4 (NCV)

As we face a new year and things unknown, do you ever have fear and worry about what the future may hold? The older we get the easier it is to focus on the uncertainties and possibilities for unexpected difficulties and disasters that may come. What an encouraging promise from The Lord that even if we face changing circumstances, financial limitations, deteriorating health or the frailty of old age, our Father God that is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow will care for us. As surely as He gave us life, He is more than able to provide, carry and save us no matter what we may face in the future ahead. We can confidently place our hope in The Lord.