Broken Leviticus 26:19

Leviticus 26:19 (NIV) 19 I will break down your stubborn pride and make the sky above you like iron and the ground beneath you like bronze. I love the definitive word of God – I WILL BREAK YOU!!!!!!!!!! Helloooooooooo? Anyone home? He tells us – I will break you. I truly resemble the stubborn pride […]

Moving mountains with faith Joshua 1:9 Mark 11:24

Joshua 1:9 (NIV) 9 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. Mark 11:24 (NIV) 24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it […]

How to decline an invitation Matthew 22:1-14 Luke 23:34-35

Matthew 22:1-14 (NIV) The Parable of the Wedding Banquet 1 Jesus spoke to them again in parables, saying: 2 “The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son. 3 He sent his servants to those who had been invited to the banquet to tell them to come, but […]

Walk humbly and change the world. John 1:1-5 Micah 6:8

John 1:1-5 (ERV) Christ Comes to the World 1 Before the world began, the Word was there. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was there with God in the beginning. 3 Everything was made through him, and nothing was made without him. 4 In him there was life, and […]

Marriage and the complete package Matthew 19:3-20 John 10:30 Romans 12:1-8

Matthew 19:3-20 (MSG) “3 One day the Pharisees were badgering him: “Is it legal for a man to divorce his wife for any reason?” “4-6 He answered, ‘Haven’t you read in your Bible that the Creator originally made man and woman for each other, male and female? And because of this, a man leaves father […]

Wheat, bread, and life John 12:24-26 Luke 16:10-13

John 12:24-26 (MSG) 24-25 “Listen carefully: Unless a grain of wheat is buried in the ground, dead to the world, it is never any more than a grain of wheat. But if it is buried, it sprouts and reproduces itself many times over. In the same way, anyone who holds on to life just as […]

And the like Galatians 5:14-23

Galatians 5:14-23 (NIV) 14 For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”[b] 15 If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other. 16 So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the […]

The anti-Elite Isaiah 53:7-9 Matthew 11:25-30

Isaiah 53:7-9 (MSG) 7-9 He was beaten, he was tortured, but he didn’t say a word. Like a lamb taken to be slaughtered and like a sheep being sheared, he took it all in silence. Justice miscarried, and he was led off— and did anyone really know what was happening? He died without a thought […]

A radical and much more than a great man. Luke 13:10-17 (NIV)

Luke 13:10-17 (NIV) Jesus Heals a Crippled Woman on the Sabbath 10 On a Sabbath Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues, 11 and a woman was there who had been crippled by a spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not straighten up at all. 12 When Jesus saw her, […]

Spitting and Jeering Jeremiah 33:2-3 Matthew 26:62-68

Matthew 26:62-68 (MSG) “62 The Chief Priest stood up and said, “What do you have to say to the accusation?” 63 Jesus kept silent. Then the Chief Priest said, “I command you by the authority of the living God to say if you are the Messiah, the Son of God.” 64 Jesus was curt: “You […]

When no one wants to leave Psalm 54:4 Matthew 14:14-21 John 18:36

Psalm 54:4 (NIV) 4 Surely God is my help; the Lord is the one who sustains me. Matthew 14:14-21 (NIV) “14 When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick. 15 As evening approached, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a remote place, and […]

It’s a big, big, home Matthew 7:12 Romans 13:9-10

Matthew 7:12 “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.” Romans 13:9-10 “ 9 The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not covet,” and whatever other command there may be, are […]

Love obliviot’s, haters and anti’s Psalms 84:10-11 Matthew 5:43-48

Psalms 84:10-11 (ESV) “10 For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness. 11 For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor. No good thing does […]

Mustard seeds, love, and the world reborn

Matthew 13:31-32 “31 He put another parable before them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field. 32 It is the smallest of all seeds, but when it has grown it is larger than all the garden plants and becomes a tree, […]

John 15:24-25 Psalm 34:4-6 Loons, crows, and things that aren’t what they seem

John 15:24-25 “24 If I had not done among them the works no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin. As it is, they have seen, and yet they have hated both me and my Father. 25 But this is to fulfill what is written in their Law: ‘They hated me without […]

1 John 3:17-18 etc. Christ, the poor, and you/me/us.

1 John 3:17-18 ESV “But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.” Proverbs 14:31 ESV “Whoever oppresses a poor man insults […]

Matthew 13:1-9 John 21:25 Mark 11:25 Help I’ve fallen and I can get up!

Matthew 13:1-9 (ESV) The Parable of the Sower 13 That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea. 2 And great crowds gathered about him, so that he got into a boat and sat down. And the whole crowd stood on the beach. 3 And he told them many things […]

Psalm 133:1 Matthew 12:48-50 Galatians 6:2 Unity

Psalm 133:1 (ESV) “1 Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!” Matthew 12:48-50 (MSG) “48-50 Jesus didn’t respond directly, but said, “Who do you think my mother and brothers are?” He then stretched out his hand toward his disciples. ‘Look closely. These are my mother and brothers. Obedience is thicker […]

John 15:1-3 Psalms 20:7-8 Love wins

John 15:1-3 I Am the True Vine “1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 Already you are clean because of the […]

Isaiah 28:11-12 John 14:10-11 The Bridges of Western Ave.

Isaiah 28:11-12 (ESV) “11 For by people of strange lips and with a foreign tongue the Lord will speak to this people, 12 to whom he has said, “This is rest; give rest to the weary; and this is repose”; yet they would not hear.” John 14:10-14 (ESV) “10 Do you not believe that I […]

John 13:12-17 Glacier or Earthquake?

John 13:12-17 (ESV) “12 When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, “Do you understand what I have done to you? 13 You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. 14 If I then, your Lord and […]

Matthew 12:7 John 14:6-7 Acts 20:28 Nice

Matthew 12:7 (NIV) “7 If you had known what these words mean, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice’, you would not have condemned the innocent.” John 14:6-7 (NIV) “6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you really know me, […]

1 Thessalonians 5:16-22 John 11:25 Kick the tires, check it out, test everything

1 Thessalonians 5:16-22 (NIV) “16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 19 Do not quench the Spirit. 20 Do not despise prophecies, 21 but test everything; hold fast what is good. 22 Abstain from every form of […]

Matthew 6:24 Matthew 20:32-33 Is there a reason?

Matthew 6:24 (MSG) “You can’t worship two gods at once. Loving one god, you’ll end up hating the other. Adoration of one feeds contempt for the other. You can’t worship God and Money” Matthew 20:32-33 (NIV) “32 So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, […]

Matthew 7:10, 15-17 Golden rule in reality

Matthew 7:10 (NIV) The Golden Rule “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.” Matthew 7:15-17 (NIV) “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 16 You will recognize them by their fruits. […]

Exodus 17-12, Matthew 9:36-38 Answering a prayer

Exodus 17:12 “But Moses’ hands grew weary, so they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it, while Aaron and Hur held up his hands, one on one side, and the other on the other side. So his hands were steady until the going down of the sun.” Matthew 9:36-38 […]

Declaration of Independence

As you read this, put it in modern day terms. Have we not elected despots who have put us under “the most [laws] destructive of the public good, and ruinous to individuals.”? Are we not, under the guise of tolerance at the point where “now they have forbidden us to listen to, or to accept any terms […]

John 3:19-21 Pray for ISIS and the victims

John 3:19-21 “19 And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. 20 For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. 21 But whoever […]

Matthew 9:10-13 Hanging out in the fringes.

Matthew 9:10-13 “10 And as he sat at table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat down with Jesus and his disciples. 11 And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” 12 But when he heard […]

Psalm 141:5-6 Matthew 9:2-4 Mark 8:36-38 I stand corrected.

Psalm 141:5-6“4 Keep my heart from desiring any evil thing, or from taking part in the sins of the evil-doers with men who do wrong: and let me have no part in their good things. 5 Let the upright give me punishment; and let the god-fearing man put me in the right way; but I […]

1 John 3:18 Philippians 1:9-10 Will your legacy be one of action or…?

1 John 3:18 “Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.” Philippians 1:9-10“9 And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, 10 so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be […]

Matthew 8:26-27, 22:37-40 Since when is Jesus hate?

Matthew 8:26-27 “26 And he said to them, “Why are you afraid, O men of little faith?” Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm. 27 And the men marveled, saying, “What sort of man is this, that even winds and sea obey him?” Matthew 22:37-40 “37 […]

Psalms 139:23-24 Matthew 8:19 Acts 17:6-9 The price is right.

Psalms 139:23-24 “23 Investigate my life, O God, find out everything about me; Cross-examine and test me, get a clear picture of what I’m about; 24 See for yourself whether I’ve done anything wrong — then guide me on the road to eternal life.” Matthew 8:19 “And a scribe came up and said to him, […]

Matthew 6:14-15, 8:11-12 Haters never prosper

Matthew 6:14-15 “14 For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” Matthew 8:11-12 “11 I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, […]

Psalms 140:12-13 2 Thessalonians 3:16 Ever get that feeling?

Psalms 140:12-13 “12 I know that you, God, are on the side of victims, that you care for the rights of the poor. “13 And I know that the righteous personally thank you, that good people are secure in your presence.” 2 Thessalonians 3:16 “Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at […]

Matthew 25:35-40 The hungry mouth is still there.

Matthew 25:35-40 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you […]

Matthew 7:1-5 Logging camps

Matthew 7:1-5 “1 “Judge not, that you be not judged. 2 For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and the measure you give will be the measure you get. 3 Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your […]

Proverbs 4:20 I LOVE being a father.

Proverbs 4:20-27 “20 My son, pay attention to what I say; turn your ear to my words. 21 Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart; 22 for they are life to those who find them and health to one’s whole body. 23 Above all else, guard your heart, for […]

Matthew 6:24-34 Luke 12:24 Who is this guy?

Matthew 6:24-34 “24 ‘No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money. 25 ‘Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you shall eat or […]

Matthew 5:43-48 Grace

Matthew 5:43-48 “43 “You have heard that it was said, `You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for he makes his sun rise […]

Matthew 5:38-42 Roman’s 8:18 Vacuum messes

Matthew 5:38-42 “38 “You have heard that it was said, `An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39 But I say to you, Do not resist one who is evil. But if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also; 40 and if anyone would sue […]

Amos 5:24 Luke 7:47 Who do you love?

Amos 5:24 “But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!” Luke 7:47 “Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much; but he who is forgiven little, loves little.” Who do you love? Who do you forgive? Who do you bless? Do we live […]

1 Corinthians 15:58 Love conquers all

1 Corinthians 15:58 NIV “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.” Or 1 Corinthians 15:58 The MSG “With all this going for us, my dear, dear friends, […]

Isaiah 54:10 Ecclesiastes 1:4 Some things never change

Isaiah 54:10 “Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,” says the Lord, who has compassion on you.” Ecclesiastes 1:4 “Generations come and generations go, but the earth remains forever.” Some things never change. Like change. […]

1 John 1:9-10 Galatians 5:22-23 Come home to the good life

1 John 1:9-10 “9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.” Galatians 5:22-23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is […]

Matthew 5:17-19 Where is the love?

Matthew 5:17-19 “17 Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18 For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear […]

Matthew 5:13-16 Good salt, bad salt, you know I’ve had my share….

Matthew 5:13-16 “13 You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet. “14 You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot […]

Proverbs 18:10 In the dead of life

Proverbs 18:10 “The name of the Lord is a fortified tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.” “But I’ve heard the tender whisper Of love in the dead of night.” Lyrics from Good Good Father composed by Pat Barret and Tony Brown I’ve heard that tender whisper of love. Have you? I have […]

Luke 15:1-7 A star searching for us.

Luke 15:1-7 “1 Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. 2But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” 3 Then Jesus told them this parable: 4“Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t […]

Romans 1:16-17 Mark 12:29-31 I am not ashamed

Romans 1:16-17 “16 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. 17 For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as […]

2 Timothy 3:16-17 Maybe the instructions aren’t so basic after all?

2 Timothy 3:16-17 “16 Every Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” James 1:23-25 “23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone […]

Hebrews 11:1 Yeah, yeah, blah, blah, blah.

Hebrews 11:1 “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” Faith is the… conviction of things not seen. None of us are faithless. We can’t see how we got here – how the universe came into being – but we have faith that is was created. Whether believer […]

Luke 9:11-17 Psalms 22:26-28 Musta been a food coma that made me do it. Or maybe not.

Luke 9:11-17 “11 but the crowds learned about it and followed him. He welcomed them and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who needed healing. 12 Late in the afternoon the Twelve came to him and said, “Send the crowd away so they can go to the surrounding villages and […]

Hebrews 4:12 Mark 11:21-22 What grows on your tree?

Hebrews 4:12 “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. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes […]

Mark 10:48-51, Psalms 43:5 Teacher, I want to see!

Mark 10:48-51 “48 Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” 49 Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” So they called to the blind man, “Cheer up! On your feet! He’s calling you.” 50 Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to […]

Mark 10-45 It’s like a Neverending Gobstopper

Mark 10:45 “45 For the Son of man also came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” How many of us are willing to give up something to give someone a hand up? I mean really give something up? Like trade in the nice car […]

Psalms 9:9, Mark 10:28-31 My spending habits show the truth…

Psalms 9:9 “The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.” Mark 10:28-31 “28 Peter began to say to him, “See, we have left everything and followed you.” 29 Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother […]

John 13:34-35 Love like your eternity depends on it.

John 13:34-35 “34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you are to love one another. 35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” A new commandment. Love one another. Not just people […]

Proverbs 17:28, 18:1-3 Even a fish wouldn’t get into trouble if it kept its mouth shut.

Proverbs 17:28 “Even fools are thought wise if they keep silent, and discerning if they hold their tongues.” Proverbs 18:2 “A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion. If we string verses 17:28 and 18:2 together with a but we get “Even fools are thought wise if they keep silent, […]

Psalms 32-9-10 Even a mule figures it out eventually.

Psalms 32:9-10 “9 Do not be like the horse or the mule, which have no understanding but must be controlled by the bit and bridle or they will not come back to you. 10 Many are the woes of the wicked, but the Lord’s unfailing love surrounds the one who trusts in him.” Mules and […]

Proverbs 12:2, 13:5, 14:5 The need to lie

Proverbs 12:22 Lying lips are abomination to the LORD: but they that deal truly are his delight. Proverbs 13:5 A righteous man hates lying: but a wicked man is loathsome, and comes to shame. Proverbs 14:5 A faithful witness will not lie: but a false witness will utter lies. Lies, lies, lies. White lies, black […]

Ephesians 4-31 – 5-2 Showing real tolerance

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 […]

Proverbs 10-12 Psalms 42:11 Love covers all sin.

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 […]

Turn on the lights the party’s just beginning. Matthew 5:16 John 1:5 John 8:12

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 […]

Joshua 22-5 John 8:32 Wait, don’t hang up!

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 […]

1 John 5:1 There are no Fatherless children.

1 John 5:1 “Everyone who loves the Father loves his child as well.” If you love the Father, you will love his child. Love the child of the Father. Love. There are no fatherless children. Literally and figuratively. There are no fatherless children. They might not have a father, but they aren’t fatherless. He is […]

Luke 1:28 Visitors

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 […]

Isaiah 40:3 God don’t need no stinkin’ runway.

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 […]

Psalms 29-1 – 2 I need an ascribtion to cure what ails me.

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 […]

Psalms 94:19 Letting in a little Sonlight into our lives

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 […]

2 Corinthians 6-14 Romans 8:38-39 Heard a good yoke joke lately?

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 […]

Proverbs 15-16 Isaiah 33:22 Who is this guy?

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 […]

Psalms 34-8 Luke 7:23 Tripping on Jesus

Psalms 34:8 “Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in Him.” Luke 7:23 “Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.” Stumble on account of Jesus? What a tumultuous time it must have been. John is telling people ‘wait for the Christ to come’, […]

Numbers 14-8 Matthew 16:13-16 Things get sticky in the land of milk and honey.

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 […]

Lamentations 3-25-26 Psalm 62-7 Waiting patiently for a rock to move.

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 – […]

1 Peter 4-8 Love is a powerful change agent.

1 Peter 4:8 “Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.” So, I guess if I can’t stop sinning, just love and everything’ll be alright. OK, cool. Whoa Nellie, slow down! Let’s ponder this for a while cowboy. As you know, there are two types of love – self […]

Daniel 4-37 Hebrews 12:14 Live humbly, in peace

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 […]

Proverbs 11:9 Hebrews 4:12 what would you choose – bile or spring water?

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 […]

Jonah 2:8 Galatians 5:6 Idols, law, and a big fish.

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 […]

1 John 1:8-9 Isaiah 12:1 I can’t believe I ate the whole thing!

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: […]

Psalms 40:5, James 2:8 Love your neighbor even when they don’t know how to blow their nose.

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 […]

1 Peter 5:8-10 Wimoweh, wimoweh, wimoweh, wimoweh

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 […]

Luke 6:33 When have you given enough?

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 […]

Proverbs 21:3 To do or not to do?

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 […]

Acts 4:10-12 Do you believe what you’ve seen, or what you hear?

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 […]

Hebrews 12:14 I just can’t handle God and His expectations

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 […]

Romans 8:35-39 More than conquerors

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 […]

Jeremiah 29:11 Endearing pain ensuring joy

Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” There are times when I just don’t get God and what he’s doing. I don’t understand the physical pain in my life (arthritic ankles), […]

Philippians 3:13-14 Run for your life!

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 […]

Hebrews 13:5-6 Why we are all like Linus Van Pelt

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 […]

Psalms 105:4 Hide or Seek

Psalms 105:4 “Look to the LORD and his strength; seek his face always.” Seek his face. Different translations use Yahweh (I Am) or Jehovah (The Lord Who Provides – from Bible.org). Seek the Lord, the Creator, The Provider. Seek Him for his strength. Dang, that’s a whole lot more strength than I can muster up […]

Matthew 28:5-7 A rolling stone as a hinge

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 […]

Romans 8:6-8 Mind control

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 […]

1 Peter 4:7 Turn out the lights, the party’s over

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 […]

1 Thessalonians 5:15 And then Christ just turned everything rightside up

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 […]

Deuteronomy 8:1-3 This ain’t the desert, and it’s not manna, so where are we?

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, […]

Luke 5:27-28 Follow me

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 […]

Malachi 3:10 When God says “Bring it on”

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 […]

Proverbs 21:2 When our thoughts aren’t God’s thoughts, and God keeps loving us.

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 […]

Isaiah 26:8 – An unnatural condition

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.” […]