Ephesians 4:31 – 5:2 “Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. 5 1 Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children 2 and walk in the way […]
Read more "Ephesians 4-31 – 5-2 Showing real tolerance"Proverbs 10:12 Hatred stirs up strifes: but love covers all sins. Psalms 42:11 Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God. Love covers all sin. Hatred stirs up strife. Ummm, what kind of a world do […]
Read more "Proverbs 10-12 Psalms 42:11 Love covers all sin."Matthew 5:16 – Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. John 1:5 – And the light shines in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. John 8:12 – Then spoke Jesus again to them, saying, I am the light of […]
Read more "Turn on the lights the party’s just beginning. Matthew 5:16 John 1:5 John 8:12"Joshua 22:5 “5 But be very careful to keep the commandment and the law that Moses the servant of the Lord gave you: to love the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him, to keep his commands, to hold fast to him and to serve him with all your heart and with all […]
Read more "Joshua 22-5 John 8:32 Wait, don’t hang up!"Luke 1:28 28 The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” Sometimes we have a portending that things are going to get interesting in our lives. I imagined it’s nothing like what Mary was facing though. Imagine, an angel shows up at your front door […]
Read more "Luke 1:28 Visitors"Isaiah 40:3 “3 A voice of one calling: “In the wilderness prepare the way for the Lord ; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.” I used to think this was pointing to God being an alien and that when his ship landed, well it’d need a runway. Hmm, a spaceship traveling […]
Read more "Isaiah 40:3 God don’t need no stinkin’ runway."Psalms 29:1 – 2 1 Ascribe to the Lord, you heavenly beings, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength. 2 Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness. Ascribe isn’t a commonly used word any more. It means to to credit to, or to attribute […]
Read more "Psalms 29-1 – 2 I need an ascribtion to cure what ails me."Psalms 94:19 “When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy.” At the jail last night one of the guys in the room said he just loved sticking a needle in his arm. Another guy talked about what brought him “joy” and it wasn’t about living in God’s word. Came home to an […]
Read more "Psalms 94:19 Letting in a little Sonlight into our lives"Daniel 2:19-23 “19….Daniel blessed the God of heaven, 20 saying, “Blessed be the name of God, forever and ever. He knows all, does all: 21 He changes the seasons and guides history, He raises up kings and also brings them down, he provides both intelligence and discernment, 22 He opens up the depths, tells secrets, […]
Read more "Daniel 2-19-23 Matthew 18:19 I found a magic lamp – a Jesus in a bottle!"2 Corinthians 6:14 Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? Romans 8:38 – 39 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 […]
Read more "2 Corinthians 6-14 Romans 8:38-39 Heard a good yoke joke lately?"Proverbs 15:16 “Better a little with the fear of the Lord than great wealth with turmoil.” Isaiah 33:22 “For the Lord is our judge, the Lord is our lawgiver, the Lord is our king; it is he who will save us.” The Lord sets the rules and is our judge. It’s better to live in […]
Read more "Proverbs 15-16 Isaiah 33:22 Who is this guy?"Numbers 14:8 8 If the Lord is pleased with us, he will lead us into that land, a land flowing with milk and honey, and will give it to us. Matthew 16:13-16 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” They […]
Read more "Numbers 14-8 Matthew 16:13-16 Things get sticky in the land of milk and honey."Lamentations 3:25-26 “25 The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; 26 it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.” Psalms 62:7 “My salvation and my honor depend on God ; he is my mighty rock, my refuge.” “Wait! Stop! Dad – […]
Read more "Lamentations 3-25-26 Psalm 62-7 Waiting patiently for a rock to move."Daniel 4:37 “Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, because everything he does is right and all his ways are just. And those who walk in pride he is able to humble.” Hebrews 12:14 “14 Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness […]
Read more "Daniel 4-37 Hebrews 12:14 Live humbly, in peace"Proverbs 11:9 “With their mouths the godless destroy their neighbors, but through knowledge the righteous escape.” because Hebrews 4:12 “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” I could […]
Read more "Proverbs 11:9 Hebrews 4:12 what would you choose – bile or spring water?"Jonah 2:8 “Those who cling to worthless idols turn away from God’s love for them.” Galatians 5:6 “6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.” Love as an action, as a thing expressed, worthy of God, worthy of being. Love […]
Read more "Jonah 2:8 Galatians 5:6 Idols, law, and a big fish."1 John 1:8-9 “8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” Isaiah 12:1 – 2 “1 In that day you will say: […]
Read more "1 John 1:8-9 Isaiah 12:1 I can’t believe I ate the whole thing!"Psalms 40:5 5 Many, Lord my God, are the wonders you have done, the things you planned for us. None can compare with you; were I to speak and tell of your deeds, they would be too many to declare. James 2:8 If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor […]
Read more "Psalms 40:5, James 2:8 Love your neighbor even when they don’t know how to blow their nose."1 Peter 5:8 – 10 “8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings. 10 And […]
Read more "1 Peter 5:8-10 Wimoweh, wimoweh, wimoweh, wimoweh"Luke 6:33 “And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that.” I think we’d all agree the world is a mess right now. The question is: why? God has given us plenty of resources, but they are radically distributed – few have […]
Read more "Luke 6:33 When have you given enough?"Proverbs 21:3 “To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.” This is pretty clear. To do the right thing and be just is what God is looking for. He’s not concerned that you tithe 10% because that’s what you’re supposed to do, or “that’s what we do” because […]
Read more "Proverbs 21:3 To do or not to do?"Acts 4:10-12 “10 then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. 11 Jesus is “ ‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.’ 12 […]
Read more "Acts 4:10-12 Do you believe what you’ve seen, or what you hear?"Hebrews 12:14 “Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.” I just can’t handle God and His demands. His expectations are far too high and totally unreasonable. Live in peace and don’t take what isn’t yours, don’t cheat or steal, don’t sleep […]
Read more "Hebrews 12:14 I just can’t handle God and His expectations"Romans 8:35-39 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors […]
Read more "Romans 8:35-39 More than conquerors"Philippians 3:13-14 “13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” Straining […]
Read more "Philippians 3:13-14 Run for your life!"Hebrews 13:5-6 “5Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” 6So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?”” What’s […]
Read more "Hebrews 13:5-6 Why we are all like Linus Van Pelt"Matthew 28:5-7 “5The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. 7Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the […]
Read more "Matthew 28:5-7 A rolling stone as a hinge"Romans 8:6-8 “6The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; 7the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. 8Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God.” We’d like to think that we control […]
Read more "Romans 8:6-8 Mind control"1 Peter 4:7 (link to v1-11) “The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray.” Turn out the lights There are only two things that are certain in this life, death and taxes. Blah, blithering blah. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Most folks prepare for tax season once […]
Read more "1 Peter 4:7 Turn out the lights, the party’s over"1 Thessalonians 5:15 “Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else.” Soooo, no more “an eye for an eye”? What about my honor? Wait, is honor being humble before the Lord? This gets complicated in a hurry because it turned everything […]
Read more "1 Thessalonians 5:15 And then Christ just turned everything rightside up"Deuteronomy 8:1-3 “1 Be careful to follow every command I am giving you today, so that you may live and increase and may enter and possess the land that the LORD promised on oath to your forefathers. 2 Remember how the LORD your God led you all the way in the desert these forty years, […]
Read more "Deuteronomy 8:1-3 This ain’t the desert, and it’s not manna, so where are we?"Luke 5:27-28 “27 After this, Jesus went out and saw a tax collector by the name of Levi sitting at his tax booth. 28 “Follow me,” Jesus said to him, and Levi got up, left everything and followed him.” Follow me. Jesus just walked up to the most reviled, detested, dishonest, crooked, cheatingest person in […]
Read more "Luke 5:27-28 Follow me"Psalms 42:1 As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God. The deer pants when it is thirsty. So our soul that’s for our Lord. God made us with a longing for Him, a God shaped hole in our heart that can only be filled by him, yet […]
Read more "Psalm 42:1 Thirsty?"Malachi 3:10 Malachi 3 from The Message “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the LORD Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough […]
Read more "Malachi 3:10 When God says “Bring it on”"Proverbs 21:2 “All a man’s ways seem right to him, but the LORD weighs the heart.” Ever get that feeling that what you’re doing just isn’t right? That’s God’s weight. On your heart. But you keep on doing it because…. That can lead to “non-belief”. I know from experience. I found the “pleasures” of sin […]
Read more "Proverbs 21:2 When our thoughts aren’t God’s thoughts, and God keeps loving us."Isaiah 26:8 “Yes, LORD, walking in the way of your laws, we wait for you; your name and renown are the desire of our hearts.” These things are true: Isaiah 26:1 “…God make salvation its walls and ramparts” v3 “You will keep in perfect peace those whose mind are steadfast, because they trust in you.” […]
Read more "Isaiah 26:8 – An unnatural condition"Getting all dressed up and having somewhere to go! Isaiah 61:10 “I delight greatly in the LORD; my soul rejoices in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself […]
Read more "Isaiah 61:10"To live you have to love. To love you have to be vulnerable. Mark 12:30 ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ Love the Lord with your heart, that makes sense. Love the Lord with your mind, that’s […]
Read more "Mark 12:30"Overcoming obstacles John 19:30 “When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.” John 20:19 “On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came […]
Read more "John 19:30"What ever happened to Barabbas? Psalms 91:14 “Because he loves me,” says the LORD, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.” Christ was protected by God, Barabbas wasn’t. Yet look what happened? Barabbas was set free, Christ was violently flogged, mocked, then he died slowly, painfully, as his lungs […]
Read more "Psalm 91:14"What do you do when a celebrity knocks at your door? 1 John 2:28 “And now, dear children, continue in him, so that when he appears we may be confident and unashamed before him at his coming.” If Jesus came knocking at your door, what would you say or do? “Um, wait right here Jesus […]
Read more "1 John 2:28"It doesn’t matter 1 Timothy 1:15 “Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners – of whom I am the worst.” Paul had quite a track record before Christ introduced himself while, as Saul, he was on the way to Damascus to eradicate as many […]
Read more "1 Timothy 1:15"Why? John 3:16 “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.” As seen at football stadiums all over the country. For the non-believer, yeah, so what. For the believer, cool, now let’s end the TV time out. […]
Read more "John 3:16"The greatest commandment Deuteronomy 6:5 Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. “37 This is the first and greatest commandment. 38 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 all the Law and the Prophets hang on these two […]
Read more "Deuteronomy 6:5"Anger, fury, rage: open wide and say “attack me, I have no peace”. Proverbs 25:28 Like a city whose walls are broken through is a person who lacks self-control. The self leads us to all sorts of bad things – self will, self centered being the main ones, but self important, self righteous, follow closely […]
Read more "Proverbs 25:28"Why hearses don’t have U-Hauls and significance during your life. 1 Timothy 6:17-19 “17 Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. 18 […]
Read more "1 Timothy 6:17-19"What does it mean to soar on wings like eagles? Isaiah 40:28-31 “28Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. 29He gives strength to the weary and […]
Read more "Isaiah 40:28-31"The sacrificial way of love Ephesians 5:2 “1Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and 2walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” Follow God’s example and walk in the way of love. What does that look […]
Read more "Ephesians 5:1-2"Hope from the bottom of the pile. James 1:12 “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.” I’ve had lots of trials in my life, from addiction to financial to relational. It […]
Read more "James 1:12"Run to, do not hide. Psalms 27:8 “My heart says of you, “Seek his face!” Your face, LORD, I will seek.” When the time comes that trouble strikes, there is really one good alternative to turn to. When you wish there was a redo button handy that you could hit a bunch of times because […]
Read more "Psalm 27:8"Imagine there is a heaven, it’s easy if you try. (sorry John lennon) Psalms 133:1 “How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!” So, imagine there’s this perfect God who created the dirt, plants, animals, humans, water, air, earth, solar system, galaxy, universe and heavens, and He’s a good who […]
Read more "Psalms 133:1"Love is Christian, hate is not. 1 John 4:20-21 20Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, who may have not seen. 21And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God […]
Read more "1 John 4:20-21"The end of government as we know it? 1 John 3:21-22 “21Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God 22and receive from him anything we ask, because we keep his commands and do what pleases him.” These verses are so wrapped up by the verses that proceed and follow […]
Read more "1 John 3:21-22"Pride is like ear wax. Proverbs 29:23 “Pride brings a person low, but the lowly in spirit gain honor.” Ear wax, if not cleaned, will clog your hearing canal so it becomes hard to hear. If it goes on long enough without being cleaned, it’ll effect your balance too. I had my ears abraded once. […]
Read more "Proverbs 29:23"Led by example, pruned to perfection. John 15:13 “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” Jesus showed us the way to love and live, and he led by example. There is no greater sacrifice for the ones you love than to take the ultimate one for them […]
Read more "John 15:13"What’s good enough on the path of life? Psalms 37:5-6 “Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn, your vindication like the noonday sun.” In order for us to define good, we need to have bad, the two can’t […]
Read more "Psalm 37:5-6"Planting a forest of oaks. Isaiah 61:1-3 “1The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, 2to proclaim the year […]
Read more "Isaiah 61:1-3"Is there room for brotherly love? 1 John 5:1 “Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well.” “Brotherly love is the effect of the new birth, which makes obedience to all God’s commandments pleasant. (Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary) With so […]
Read more "1 John 5:1"Is it worth it? 1 Corinthians 15:58 “Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” Ever wonder if it’s worth it? Ever wonder if it’s worth following Christ? […]
Read more "1 Corinthians 15:58"Grass houses and eternity Isaiah 40:7-8 “7 The grass withers and the flowers fall, because the breath of the Lord blows on them. Surely the people are grass. 8 The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever.” A grass house won’t last forever, nor will a wood house, […]
Read more "Isaiah 40:7-8"We choose what is important to us. Joshua 24:15 “But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my […]
Read more "Joshua 24:15"What we do for real… Philippians 3:10-11 “I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection of the dead.” Wow, what a bold statement. “I want to know Christ”. Right there, in your face, […]
Read more "Philippians 3:10-11"The real Forward John 14:6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” The Way. From an article in Relevant, June 19, 2002, “being a follower of the way is not a path to travel, but rather a pattern to follow, an […]
Read more "John 14:6"Who’s the best lover in the world? Luke 10:27 He answered, “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’ ; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” (but please read the link for the whole story) Who showed us […]
Read more "Luke 10:27"The tale of the tongue. Proverbs 16:28 “A perverse person stirs up conflict, and a gossip separates close friends.” Why is it that the tongue thinks quicker than the brain? Why is it that the words the tongue unleashes seem to cut so deep? Why is it that words, once out, can’t be put […]
Read more "Proverbs 16:28"When did time begin? Hebrews 11:1-3 “1 Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. 2 This is what the ancients were commended for. 3 By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out […]
Read more "Hebrews 11:1-3"Life without boundaries Psalms 94:12 “Blessed is the one you discipline, LORD, the one you teach from your law;” Discipline. Teaching, commitment or both? How do we want to learn from God? We can be taught by God through his disciplining us, which is usually filled with some pain, drama, and rapid change. Or we […]
Read more "Psalms 94:12"Eternity, care, kingdom, righteousness, peace, the walk, life, content
Read more "Mathew 6:33"Shelter from the storm. Psalm 91:1-2 “1 Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. 2 I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” Foundations are critical to the strength of a house. Bad foundation, […]
Read more "Psalms 91:1-2"I am a Christian, expect me to act like one. Always. Galatians 6:9 “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” What is doing good? What is good? Can you think of anything that eminates from God that isn’t […]
Read more "Galatians 6:9"The path leads somewhere. Psalms 16:11 “You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.” The path. We know what the path is, but do we know what life is? Can we have life outside of the path? Pilgrim’s […]
Read more "Psalms 16:11"Laws matter Romans 8:6 “6 The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.” We have laws for a reason – without them there are no constraints and things get ugly in a heartbeat. Ever wonder why things go south? Could it be that we […]
Read more "Romans 8:6"“I am who I am” Popeye Mark 8:29 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”Peter answered, “You are the Messiah.” John 7:38 “Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” Who do you think I am? Whoever believes in Christ. Living […]
Read more "Mark 8:29 John 7:38"The problem with being judgemental. Romans 2:5-6 “5 But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed. 6 God ‘will repay each person according to what they have done.’” Out of context, this scripture looks […]
Read more "Romans 2:5-6"Why we’re to walk the walk Luke 12:48 “48 But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.” Walk the […]
Read more "Luke 12:48"Choosing to fight 1 John 2:1-2 “1 My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. 2 He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the […]
Read more "1 John 2:1-2"Humble yet? 1 Peter 5:6-7 “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. 7 Cast all your anxiety on Him because he cares for you.” God humbles the proud or He shows favor on those who realize the enormity of the gift of grace and humble themselves […]
Read more "1 Peter 5:6-7"
Just broken 