Revelation 10

7 but in the days of the sounding of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, the mystery of God would be finished, as He declared to His servants the prophets.

Mystery is to be revealed.
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Rev 7

13 Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, "Who are these arrayed in white robes, and where did they come from?"
14 And I said to him, "Sir,[b] you know."
So he said to me, "These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

Heaven sends questions to alert us to the answers.
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Rev 4

11 " You are worthy, O Lord,[g]
      To receive glory and honor and power;
      For You created all things,
      And by Your will they exist[h] and were created."

He wants us here.
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Revelation 6

10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, "How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?"

Justice and vengeance remain for those un willing to receive forgiveness.
------------------

Rev 5

8And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.

Prayer and worship work well together.

Rev 3

21 To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.

If we overthrow our own throne we get to share in His.
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Rev 2

6 But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.

Compromise is not always appropriate. Some times we are approved for our outspoken disapproval.
------------------

Revelation 1

9 I, John, both[e] your brother and companion in the tribulation and kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was on the island that is called Patmos for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.

Patience. Trouble. The Kingdom. Trouble. Patience. The Kingdom. The Kingdom. Patience. Trouble. Of Jesus Christ.
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Jude

Exceeding joy.
------------------

3 John

11 Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. He who does good is of God, but he who does evil has not seen God.

Seeing God produces Holiness. Flesh dies in His presence.
------------------

2 John

11 for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds.

Woe to him who condemns himself by what he approves.
------------------

1 John 5

15 And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.

Praying from Heaven is better than praying to Heaven!
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1 John 4

10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

Love one another in the same manner. Without condition or demand of response.

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1 John 3

3 And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.

The pursuit of holiness is empowered by hope.

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1 John 2

15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

Love grows by stealth sometimes. An acquaintance becomes a friend; a friend becomes a lover. So to, if left unchecked, does our love grow for the things of this world.
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1 John 1

9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Confess. Receive. Receive forgiveness. Receive cleansing.
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2 Peter 3

9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

Opportunity to repent is the reason the earth still exists.
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2 Peter 2

"1 But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. 2 And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed."

Beware prophesy that excites the flesh. What reaction does it produce in you? Joy? Freedom? Conviction of sin? Love for God? Or just greed, ambition and pride?

"3 By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words"
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2 Peter 1

"2 Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, 3 as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue"

Grace and peace come from the knowledge of God, we access the promises and the power of God through the knowledge of God.

"5 But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, 6 to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness,"

But, faith and righteousness preceed knowledge.
------------------

1 Peter 3

9 not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing.

Sow blessing.
------------------

James 5

20 let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul[o] from death and cover a multitude of sins.

Go after the wanderer!
------------------

James 5

8 You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.

Patience possesses the future.

------------------

James 4

7 Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

Resistance to the Devil without submission to God is doomed to failure.
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James 2-3

14 But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. 15 This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. 16 For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. 17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.

Demon literally means dominion or power. Demonic wisdom is all about power struggles and status. The wisdom of God is "willing to yield" like Jesus, who only did what he saw the Father doing.
------------------

James 1

27 Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.

As a summary of the Christian life, I find this pretty challenging.
------------------

John 14

"Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it."

How awesome to know that he listens nad will do what we ask - If God promises he will! Also how amazing that he says we will do greater things as believers - quite a challenge to believe for this but we can. God is amazing

Isaiah

I love the fact that Hezekiah's cry of ch 35 "this is like when a woman goes into labour and hasn't got the strength to give birth" is answered by God in ch66:



9 Shall I bring to the time of birth, and not cause delivery?" says the LORD.

      " Shall I who cause delivery shut up the womb?" says your God.


Its good news that He who has begun a good work WILL complete it, and I love the scope of this book, demonstrating the Kingdom of God coming to a sinful world, both in the cross (ch53) and its ultimate effects (ch66).
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Hebrews 1

13 But to which of the angels has He ever said:

   

      " Sit at My right hand,
      Till I make Your enemies Your footstool"?[i]

   

 14 Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation?



If we lose our identity in HIS identity, then God's declared intent is to put down our enemies and we discover that angels have been commissioned to help us.
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Isaiah 1-4

7 Their land is also full of silver and gold,
      And there is no end to their treasures;
      Their land is also full of horses,
      And there is no end to their chariots.
       8 Their land is also full of idols;
      They worship the work of their own hands,
      That which their own fingers have made.


To rely on our savings or lean on our salary without acknowledging God is idolatry. We acknowledge Him by giving.
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Song of Songs

12 My own vineyard is before me.
      You, O Solomon, may have a thousand,
      And those who tend its fruit two hundred.

When we give our lives to the Lord, all our income is his, and a portion is given to provide for those that "tend its fruit". So often when we talk about tithing we put the emphasis the other way around.
------------------

Philemon

21 Having confidence in your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I say.

Paul commands a Spiritual son to receive back a slave that ran away and cancel his debts. Strong relationship that can make such demands.
------------------

Titus

6 Likewise, exhort the young men to be sober-minded

Time is short. Choices narrow. Be alert now.

------------------

2 Timothy 2-4

12 Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.

I desire to live for God.
------------------

Ecclesiastes

       9 Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of desire.
Focus on the task at hand!

3 Do not be hasty to go from his presence.

Stick with the boss!

3 This is an evil in all that is done under the sun: that one thing happens to all.

Don't look for a reward now!

4 If the spirit of the ruler rises against you,
      Do not leave your post;
      For conciliation pacifies great offenses.

Stay faithful, no matter what!

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Prov 31

8 Open your mouth for the speechless,
      In the cause of all who are appointed to die.

Speak.
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Prov 26-30

20 Where there is no wood, the fire goes out;
      And where there is no talebearer, strife ceases.

Stop acknowledging and giving attention to nonsense.

25 He who is of a proud heart stirs up strife,
      But he who trusts in the LORD will be prospered.

I trust you Jesus.
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Prov 21-25

15 By long forbearance a ruler is persuaded,
      And a gentle tongue breaks a bone.

Patient evangelism.
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Proverbs 16-20

2 All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes,
      But the LORD weighs the spirits

Correction has to be external.

32 He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty,
      And he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.


Revival begins with the heart.
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Prov 6-10

8 Do not correct a scoffer, lest he hate you;
      Rebuke a wise man, and he will love you.
       9 Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser;
      Teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.

The value of a teachable spirit.
------------------

Prov 1-5

30 They would have none of my counsel
      And despised my every rebuke.


Seek correction. Desire it. Expect it.
------------------

Psalm 146-150

6 Let the high praises of God be in their mouth,
         And a two-edged sword in their hand


Spiritual warfare must flow from relationship with the Captain of the army.


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2 Timothy 1

7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

Its good to remember what God gave us in the midst of the other stuff we've got

12 For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.

Who matters more than what.
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Psalm 141-145

 My shield and the One in whom I take refuge,
         Who subdues my people[c] under me.


Leadership with that revelation will be free to release the people without feeling the need to control.
------------------

1 Timothy 6

11 But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness.

The context is the love of money. The safest thing is to give it all away.
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Psalm 136-140

18 And slew famous kings,
         For His mercy endures forever—
 19 Sihon king of the Amorites,
         For His mercy endures forever


Their only fame now is because they're in the book. The only fame there will be in the future is for those in the Lamb's book of who's who.
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1 Timothy 5

1 Do not rebuke an older man, but exhort him as a father, younger men as brothers

Correction must be given in the context of genuinely loving relationship.
------------------

Psalm 131-135

1 LORD, my heart is not haughty,
         Nor my eyes lofty.
         Neither do I concern myself with great matters,
         Nor with things too profound for me.
         
 2 Surely I have calmed and quieted my soul,
         Like a weaned child with his mother;
         Like a weaned child is my soul within me.


THE GOD OF SMALL THINGS


1 Behold, bless the LORD,
         All you servants of the LORD,
         Who by night stand in the house of the LORD!
 

NIGHT VISION
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Aww Poor Dagon...

"¹ After the Philistines captured the Ark of God, they took it from the battleground at Ebenezer to the town of Ashdod. ² They carried the Ark of God into the temple of Dagon and placed it beside an idol of Dagon. ³ But when the citizens of Ashdod went to see it the next morning, Dagon had fallen with his face to the ground in front of the Ark of the Lord! So they took Dagon and put him in his place again. 4 But the next morning the same thing happened—Dagon had fallen face down before the Ark of the Lord again. This time his head and hands had broken off and were lying in the doorway. Only the trunk of his body was left intact."
NLT 1 Samuel 5

This story is such a picture of how everything, including statues, fall before God.

I interpret this verse as all our troubles and worries fall face down broken before God. In other words, live with him and they will fall at your feet, due to God being with you.

Psalm 127-130

 4 But there is forgiveness with You,
         That You may be feared.


Clearing our debts should create honour in our hearts.
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1 Tim 4

exercise yourself toward godliness. 8 For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come.

Work out your salvation like a workout.
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Psalms 121-126

1 Those who trust in the LORD
         Are like Mount Zion,
         Which cannot be moved, but abides forever.

Unshakeable!


6 He who continually goes forth weeping,
         Bearing seed for sowing,
         Shall doubtless come again with rejoicing,
         Bringing his sheaves with him.

You got to put in the hours to enjoy the flowers.
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1 Tim 3

6 not a novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil.

Failure makes character, but true failure takes time.
------------------

Psalms 118-120

165 Great peace have those who love Your law,
         And nothing causes them to stumble.


No stumbling if you love the word. At least not by your own fault (Jesus stumbled, but it was not His fault).
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Psalms 112-117

3 But our God is in heaven;
         He does whatever He pleases.


God is not accountable to us.
------------------

1 Tim 1

2 To Timothy, a true son in the faith:

Grace, mercy, and peace from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord.

Even true sons need mercy.
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2 Thes 3

14 And if anyone does not obey our word in this epistle, note that person and do not keep company with him, that he may be ashamed. 15 Yet do not count him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.

Benediction

   
16 Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace always in every way. The Lord be with you all.



Confrontation...Peace.
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2 Thes 2

3 Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin[b] is revealed, the son of perdition, 4 who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God[c] in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.

The end of history.
------------------

106-108

2 Awake, lute and harp!
         I will awaken the dawn.

Good idea. Easier now the days are getting shorter.
------------------

Psalms 106-108

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1 Thes 5

16 Rejoice always

Recognise and respond always.
------------------

Psalms 100-102

5 For the LORD is good;
         His mercy is everlasting,
         And His truth endures to all generations.

All the preceding commands to enter His presence with thanksgiving only make sense as a response to the above revelation. Worship starts with seeing Jesus.
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1 Thes 4

4 that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor,

I am well able to possess the land! But I must choose.
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Ps 97-99

 8 Let the rivers clap their hands;
         Let the hills be joyful together
          9 before the LORD,
         For He is coming to judge the earth.
         With righteousness He shall judge the world,
         And the peoples with equity

Judgement is so often associated in our minds with punishment, rather than justice and restoration: God's judgement is meant to bring joy.
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Psalms 94-96

1 O LORD God, to whom vengeance belongs—
         O God, to whom vengeance belongs, shine forth!
 2 Rise up, O Judge of the earth;
         Render punishment to the proud.
 3 LORD, how long will the wicked,
         How long will the wicked triumph?
         
 4 They utter speech, and speak insolent things;
         All the workers of iniquity boast in themselves.


The Psalmist wrote about people, but to us it has been revealed that we fight not against flesh and blodd, but against spiritual wickedness. Demons speak and undermine the people of God. They us our flesh, they use our friends, they use the world system, but when we struggle we should remember these prayers of psalm 94:


18 If I say, "My foot slips,"
         Your mercy, O LORD, will hold me up.
 19 In the multitude of my anxieties within me,
         Your comforts delight my soul.
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1 Thes 3

4 For, in fact, we told you before when we were with you that we would suffer tribulation, just as it happened, and you know.

Paul: did he lack faith? Did he pray the wrong prayers? Was he listening to the devil? No. Trouble is part of the package.
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Ps 91-93

1 He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High
         Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.


Dwells? Lives, rests? Stays? Inhabits? It implies remaining connected to God. How? By accepting the reality of Christ's gift: He will never leave us.
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1 Thes 2

20 For you are our glory and joy.

How much do I enjoy people?
------------------

Psalms 88-90

12 So teach us to number our days,
         That we may gain a heart of wisdom.


I am only here for a little while.
------------------

1 Thessalonians 1

10 and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.

There is a wrath to come.
------------------

Psalms 85-87

17 Show me a sign for good,
         That those who hate me may see it and be ashamed,
         Because You, LORD, have helped me and comforted me.


A small victory can be a big sign.
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Col 4

2 Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving;

Earnest and vigilant: pretty strong words for pursuing prayer. Earnest and vigilant.
------------------

Col 3

15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.

Follow peace inside, wherever it leads outside.
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Psalms 82-84

      5 Blessed is the man whose strength is in You,
         Whose heart is set on pilgrimage.


Have I determined that today is a day to spend with Him?


11 For the LORD God is a sun and shield;
         The LORD will give grace and glory;
         No good thing will He withhold
         From those who walk uprightly


Do I expect grace AND glory?

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Col 2

10 and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.

Complete in Jesus.
------------------

Psalms 79-81

19 Restore us, O LORD God of hosts;
         Cause Your face to shine,
         And we shall be saved!


When we see Him we'll be like Him.
------------------

Ps 76-78

Angels food.
------------------

Colossians 1

29 To this end I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me mightily.

Faith leads to passion. Passion leads to activity.
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Psalms 73-75

16 When I thought how to understand this,
         It was too painful for me—
 17 Until I went into the sanctuary of God;
         Then I understood their end.

His presence brings His perspective.


9 We do not see our signs;
         There is no longer any prophet;
         Nor is there any among us who knows how long.
 10 O God, how long will the adversary reproach?


Prophecy is necessary to determine our response to crisis and produce hope.
------------------

Phil

6 which has come to you, as it has also in all the world, and is bringing forth fruit,[b] as it is also among you since the day you heard and knew the grace of God in truth

The preaching of the gospel is about fruit, not seed!
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Psalms 70-72

4 Let all those who seek You rejoice and be glad in You;
         And let those who love Your salvation say continually,
         "Let God be magnified!"

The Happiest place is where he is everything and we forget ourselves in the Glory of who He is: "Let God be magnified!"
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Psalms 67-69

5 Let the peoples praise You, O God;
         Let all the peoples praise You.
 6 Then the earth shall yield her increase;
         God, our own God, shall bless us.


Praise affects the earth.
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Philippians 4

1 Therefore, my beloved and longed-for brethren, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, beloved.

People are our reward, our crown, so we should invest our all in serving them.
------------------

Psalm 64-66

1 Hear my voice, O God, in my meditation;
         Preserve my life from fear of the enemy.


Fear kills.
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Philippians 3

13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead

Success in the Christian walk depends on forgetting our frail attempts and looking ahead to His glorious vision.
------------------

Psalms

11 God has spoken once,
         Twice I have heard this:
         That power belongs to God.
 12 Also to You, O Lord, belongs mercy;
         For You render to each one according to his work.


I am comforted by the knowledge that power belongs to God, but uncertain at the definition of mercy. I assumed that mercy meant we don't get what our works deserve.
------------------

Psalms 58-60

12 Through God we will do valiantly,
         For it is He who shall tread down our enemies.


Courage comes from confidence in our Resource.
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Philippians 2

3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.

You can predict which marriages will fail by one single marker in the conversation: contempt. If the couple commonly speak down to one another, even if it is light-hearted, then the relationship may well falter. Submitting to one another, and considering one another to be more valuable is glue to any relationship.
------------------

Psalms 55-57

9 Destroy, O Lord, and divide their tongues,
         For I have seen violence and strife in the city

A divided city cannot stand.
------------------

Philippians 1

28 and not in any way terrified by your adversaries, which is to them a proof of perdition, but to you of salvation,[d] and that from God.

Not being afraid of our enemies can be evidence we are saved.
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Psalms 49-51

 21 These things you have done, and I kept silent;
         You thought that I was altogether like you;
         But I will rebuke you,
         And set them in order before your eyes.


How often do I assume that silence is agreement?
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Ephesians 5

31 "For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh."[e] 32 This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church.


I am one flesh with Jesus. Wow.
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Psalms 46-48

5 God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved;
         God shall help her, just at the break of dawn.


Hold!
------------------

Eph 4

18 having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart;

This is very interesting: if my heart is open to God, I will acrue understanding that will lead to experience of the life of God; but if my heart is closed, no knowledge will persuade me.
------------------

Psalms 43-45

  And Your right hand shall teach You awesome things.


Some things we only learn through activity.
------------------

Eph 3

21 to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

This passage starts by talking bout the family of God, continues on about ALL the saints and finishes here with Christ being glorified in the church: its not all about me really is it?
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The Song of Moses cont.

"The Lord is my strength and my song and he has become my salvation; this is my God, and I will praise him, my father's God and I will exalt him. The Lord is a man of war; the Lord is his name." Exodus 15 vs 2,3

What an encouragement to rely on Him and have Him as our focus. Although this salvation is talking about release from Egypt so are we freed from sin and so he becomes our salvation. He wasn't before He revealed Himself and we chose to beleive in Him! Praise His glorious name, the one who defeats the enemy.

Psalm 40-42

6 Sacrifice and offering You did not desire;
         My ears You have opened.
         Burnt offering and sin offering You did not require.
 7 Then I said, "Behold, I come;
         In the scroll of the book it is written of me.
 8 I delight to do Your will, O my God,
         And Your law is within my heart."


Better to listen than do some big thing. Learning the word trains our ears
------------------

Exodus 15:1

"Then Moses and the people of Israel sang this song to the Lord, saying 'I will sing to the Lord for he has triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider he has thrown into the sea...' "

Yes this is in response to an amazing sign and deliverence, but he is wonderful act he does and in every victory he wins in our lives we should praise his name. He can protect us from all our foes

Gal 5

4 You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace.

As soon as we try, we begin to fail. We must become like little children that just do.

------------------

Psalm 28-30

 7 The voice of the LORD divides the flames of fire.

Want the help of angels? The anointing is in His voice.
------------------

Gal 4

7 Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of[b] God through Christ.

Son of God!
------------------

Psalms 25-27

14 Wait on the LORD;
         Be of good courage,
         And He shall strengthen your heart;
         Wait, I say, on the LORD!



Need strength? Wait.
------------------

Hosea 3 4-5

"For the children of Isreal shall abide many days without kings of prince, without sacrifice of sacred pillar, without ephod of teraphim. Afterward the children of Israel shall abide return and seek the Lord thier God and David their king. They shall fear the Lord and His goodniess in the latter days."

A real encouragement to continue through tough times without things that we saw as essential to our existance. God may well be bringing us to a greater understanding of Him drawing us to Himself with a greater passing for His name.

Fearing the Lord, important to remember we are powerless and that God is in complete control, remembering what we deserve but how Gracious he is. Praise Him, that although we fear Him we are called His children and are allowed into His throne room.

Gal3

5 Therefore He who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you, does He do it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?—

Faith: not prayer, not fasting, not Bible reading, not generosity, not all the good works we might imagine will of themselves produce a single miracle, but it is faith that connects us with God and His power. All those other things must flow from faith to faith.
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Psalm 22-24

Love how David takes himself from honest desperation to confident faith fuelled praise in Psalm 22.
------------------

Galatians 2

21 I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain.

We set aside the grace of God every time we rely on our efforts or the approval of others to be our rightness.
------------------

Psalms 19- 21

 1 The king shall have joy in Your strength, O LORD;
         And in Your salvation how greatly shall he rejoice!
 2 You have given him his heart's desire,
         And have not withheld the request of his lips.  Selah  



Answered prayer causes joy.
------------------

2 Corinthians 11

besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: my deep concern for all the churches. 29 Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to stumble, and I do not burn with indignation?

Do I carry my burden with such commitment?
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2 Corinthians 10

5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,

The battle is in the mind, and we have to be proactive in what thoughts we dwell on and what we don't allow.
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Psa 4-6

11 But let all those rejoice who put their trust in You;
         Let them ever shout for joy, because You defend them;
         Let those also who love Your name
         Be joyful in You.


God defends me. GOD defends me!
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2 Corinthians 9

6 But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully

Will we live consistently by Heaven's provision or by this world's economy?
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Psalms 1-3

2. 11 Serve the LORD with fear,
         And rejoice with trembling.

Joy is not incompatible with reverence. The trembling joy of being overwhelmed by His goodness.
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2 Corinthians 8

8 I speak not by commandment, but I am testing the sincerity of your love by the diligence of others.


How do I know unless I compare?


14 but by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may supply their lack, that their abundance also may supply your lack—that there may be equality.


Do I care about equality?
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Job 38-42

ob twice as much as he had before. 11 Then all his brothers, all his sisters, and all those who had been his acquaintances before, came to him and ate food with him in his house; and they consoled him and comforted him for all the adversity that the LORD had brought upon him. Each one gave him a piece of silver and each a ring of gold.

Our God given breakthrough often comes through our brothers and sisters, and when He is ready, He will move on their hearts for us.
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2 Corinthians 7

7 by the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,

Paul leaves himself without room for accusation: accurate teaching, holy living AND the power of God.
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Job 32-37

2 Then the wrath of Elihu, the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the family of Ram, was aroused against Job; his wrath was aroused because he justified himself rather than God. 3 Also against his three friends his wrath was aroused, because they had found no answer, and yet had condemned Job.

At least Elihu's speech seems to worship God, and he seems to have a measure of compassion, because he is cross the friends condemn Job.
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Job 29-31

4 Does He not see my ways,
      And count all my steps?


An awareness of His nearness will keep us from sin.
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Job 26-28

28 And to man He said,

      ' Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom,
      And to depart from evil is understanding.'"



Respect for His voice will uncover wondrous truths.
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2 Cor 4

2 But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.


Tell it like it is.


11 For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus' sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.


No easy Christianity. Pruning produces fruit.
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Job 20-22

3 Is it any pleasure to the Almighty that you are righteous?

Yes it is.
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2 cor 2

4 For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote to you, with many tears, not that you should be grieved, but that you might know the love which I have so abundantly for you.

Correction should demonstrate love.
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Job 16-19

16.19 Even now my witness is in heaven;
       my advocate is on high.

 20 My intercessor is my friend [a]
       as my eyes pour out tears to God;

 21 on behalf of a man he pleads with God
       as a man pleads for his friend.


Many Christians would lose their confidence that they are right with God if things got this bad. I love that Job fixed onto his heavenly intercessor with boldness, certain of his right standing with God.



19.25 For I know that my Redeemer lives,
      And He shall stand at last on the earth;

 26 And after my skin is destroyed, this I know,
      That in my flesh I shall see God,

 27 Whom I shall see for myself,
      And my eyes shall behold, and not another.
      How my heart yearns within me!
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2 cor 1

To the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints who are in all Achaia:

Whose church? Who leads the church?
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Job 13-15

3 But I would speak to the Almighty,
      And I desire to reason with God.

Such is the privilege of the Sons of God.
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1 cor 13

8 Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away.

There are many ministry gifts, and many methods too, but love never fails.

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Job 4-6

3 I have seen the foolish taking root,
      But suddenly I cursed his dwelling place.


Eliphaz' concern for righteousness led to cursing, a trap the revival police fall easily into.
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1 Corinthians 11-12

These chapters illustrate the way the Spirit of God ministers through each of us, and how we need to release what we have and give honour to others, particularly those given leadership responsibility over us.
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Job 1-3

 25 For the thing I greatly feared has come upon me,
      And what I dreaded has happened to me.

It is clear from Job's anxious sacrifices continually carried out "just in case" that he was troubled inwardly before it ever appeared outwardly.
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Esther 10

3 For Mordecai the Jew was second to King Ahasuerus, and was great among the Jews and well received by the multitude of his brethren, seeking the good of his people and speaking peace to all his countrymen.

Serve God's people. Serve the people. You will be served in turn.
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1 Corinthians 10

13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.

When you feel that strong temptation, LOOK for the way of escape. In our counsel of others caught in sin, counsel them to find the way of escape: it has been provided if we trouble to look for it.
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Psalm 85:12

"Yes, the Lord will give want is good; and our land will yield it's increase."

What is God preparing to give? What is 'our land'? What has he promised?
There is always more to come. Take hold of it.

Ezra 1-3

3 Though fear had come upon them because of the people of those countries, they set the altar on its bases; and they offered burnt offerings on it to the LORD, both the morning and evening burnt offerings.

Feel fear; act boldly.

Romans 13

10 Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law

Do we know how to love?
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2 Chronicles 28-30

36 Then Hezekiah and all the people rejoiced that God had prepared the people, since the events took place so suddenly.

When revival breaks out in the UK, we will recognise just how God has led us to prepare us for His presence.
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Prepare together

6 So Jotham became mighty, because he prepared his ways before the LORD his God.
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2 Chronicles 25-27

2 And he did what was right in the sight of the LORD, but not with a loyal heart.

God is in to longstanding committed loyalty.
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Romans 10

13 For "whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved."

Generous, and easy to accept.
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2 Chronicles 19-21

3 Nevertheless good things are found in you, in that you have removed the wooden images from the land, and have prepared your heart to seek God."

There is a stage before seeking God, where we prepare our hearts to seek God. It is that pause, that waiting, when we search our hearts to see if their lurks any "high place", any image that must be brought low before the Lord of lords.
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Romans 9.16

16 So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy.

I rely on God's mercy.
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Romans 8

10 And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.

This is the gospel: we are connected to God, and now have his Spirit because of faith in His Son Jesus and His death for our forgiveness. We are spiritual beings, pure and holy and blameless in His sight! But.. The body is dead because of sin. I f we rely on our natural instincts, we will surely fail thoroughly in the Spiritual life. We will only find victory through relationship with His Spirit, listening to Him, looking for what He is doing, and obeying Him, moment by moment.
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2 Chronicles 13-15

11 And Asa cried out to the LORD his God, and said, "LORD, it is nothing for You to help, whether with many or with those who have no power; help us, O LORD our God, for we rest on You, and in Your name we go against this multitude. O LORD, You are our God; do not let man prevail against You!"
12 So the LORD struck the Ethiopians before Asa and Judah, and the Ethiopians fled.

What a story: confess your need and total dependence and God demonstrates his provision and total care!!
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Genesis 3:8

"And they heard the sound of God walking in the garden in the cool of the day"

One day we'll hear that sound and not hide because we'll be clothed in His righteousness. What a day to look forward to. Our gracious God, face to face.

Romans 6

19 I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves of uncleanness, and of lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves of righteousness for holiness.

All our decisions lead ultimately to habit of one sort or another. Either good, or bad.
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2 Chronicles 6-9

14 if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

Humility. Prayer. Repentance. The keys to revival.
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2 Chronicles 1-3

2 And Solomon spoke to all Israel, to the captains of thousands and of hundreds, to the judges, and to every leader in all Israel, the heads of the fathers’ houses.

Communication is the art of leadership.

6 But who is able to build Him a temple, since heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain Him? Who am I then, that I should build Him a temple, except to burn sacrifice before Him?

Our ministry to the Lord flows from His goodness to us: it must not be an attempt to contain Him!

1 Now Solomon began to build the house of the LORD at Jerusalem on Mount Moriah, where the LORD had appeared to his father David, at the place that David had prepared on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite.

David sinned and numbered Israel. The Bible doesn't say why it was a sin...pride, lack of trust in God, whatever...the Bible tells us David sinned in doing this thing. We also learn that this sin released a destroying Angel in the land, and that the Angel stopped at Ornan's house, which was where David sacrificed to the Lord, and the plague ended. So here's the thing which blows me away: David builds the temple where everyone will come to worship God at the very place that represents the forgiveness of his own sin! Can we build for God in the exact spot we screwed up with the same bold confidence that God has forgiven?! Can we make our monumental failures monuments to the God of Mercy and Grace?

Romans 3

27 Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? Of works? No, but by the law of faith

Faith picks up all the blessings it doesn't deserve.
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1 Chronicles 27-29

19 "All this," said David, "the LORD made me understand in writing, by His hand upon me, all the works of these plans."


Revelation often comes from the Lord as we put pen to paper.
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Ecclesiastes 3

'For everything there is season, a time for every activity under heaven...'
v9 'What do people really get for all their hard work? [...] be happy and enjoy ourselves as long as we can.'

A time to blog, a time to work. Normal service will resume in 2 weeks... I promise!

Romans 1

29 being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, 30 backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful;

I don't think we recognise evil as clearly as Paul did. "Undiscerning" is in the list. We can sin by approving what God does not approve.

Bethlehem

Matthew 2:6‘ But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, Are not the least among the rulers of Judah;For out of you shall come a Ruler Who will shepherd My people Israel.’”

Heard "Bethlehem" in the prayer meeting tonight. Prayed over the church, that great things could come from a small place. I believe God is raising leaders of the coming revival.

In the car on the way home, I felt prompted to switch off the CD and put on the radio. They were interviewing the leader of the Welsh assembly and asking why he was so consistently popular as a leader: He said" we're only a small nation, just 3million, so there's no doff the cap mentality with us, and if you're at the top there's really not that far to fall." At home I flicked open a book on Asuza (in the smallest room...) and they said the secret of the revival was first of all humility: "Humility is God's style. Remember the stable that was used at Bethlehem? Remember the stable that was used at Asuza?"

Could God use a little basement church in Bromley?

Acts 27

10 saying, "Men, I perceive that this voyage will end with disaster and much loss, not only of the cargo and ship, but also our lives."


22 And now I urge you to take heart, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship.

What accounts for the difference between these two prophecies, given not long after each other?
Revelation is progressive, and can change according to intercession. God may reveal judgement, yet we can align ourselves in such a way that we receive mercy instead.
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Hebrews 13:1-3, 1 Peter 1:22

'Keep on loving each other as brothers and sisters. Don't forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it. Remember those in prison, as if you were there yourself. Remember also those being mistreated, as if you felt their pain in your own bodies'

'Love each other deeply with all your heart'

WOW what a calling, to love, to love prisoners and strangers! If we really stepped up to this challenge what would the world look like? I want to see a revolution of love and compassion, where we out others before ourselves in every situation, every time! What a statement would that be!

1 Chronicles 5-7

for they cried out to God in the battle. He heeded their prayer, because they put their trust in Him

Cry out in your battle!
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Hebrews 11-13

'Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about the things we cannot see'

Our faith is a confidence and an assurance, they are very stong and powerful words but we HAVE to be confident and assured of what God has done for us, that He is our creator and redeemer! It goes on to list a whole load of people in the bible who acted out of faith and changed a situation, person or nation around! Lets get out there and start exercising our faith! Only then will really start to see God move in powerful ways!

'But others were tortured, refusing to turn from God in order to be set free. They placed their hope in a better life after the resurrection,'

Would I refuse to deny God? Are we prepared to suffer for our faith?

'Therefore since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us'

Awesome verse!

'Since we are recieving a Kingdom that is unshakable, let us be thankful and please God by worshipping Him with holy fear and awe.'

Right so firstly God's kingdom is completely unshakable, nothing can stand against it!!! So we already have the victory, we've won, we are recieving that Kingdom! So let's be grateful and rejoice! How exciting is that.

I also think this tells us something once more about how we worship and come into the presence of God, it is with awe and holy fear!!

Hebrews 8-10

'But Jesus our High Priest, has been given a ministry that is far superior to the old priesthood, for He is the one who mediates for us a far better covenant with God, based on better promises,'

Okay, so firstly how awesome are God's promises!!! Secondly Jesus is mediating on our behalf in heaven! That's mental, Jesus is our advocate in heaven! He's the best lawyer ever!

'And so dear brothers and sisters, we can boldly enter heaven's MOST HOLY PLACE because of the blood of Jesus. By His death, Jesus opened a new and life-giving way THROUGH the curtain into the Most Holy Place. And since we have a great High Priest who rules over God's house, Let us go right into the presence of God with SINCERE HEARTS FULLY TRUSTING HIM.'

Wow, I find this totally astonishing! I encourage you to just read it over a few times and let it sink in! Let's really grab hold of this because it's amazing!

Psalm 121

'I look up to the mountains - does my help come from there? My help comes from the Lord, who made the heavens and the earth. [...] The Lord Himself watches over you. The Lord stands beside you as a protective shield. [...] The Lord keeps you from all harm and watches over your life. The Lord keeps watch over you as you come and go, both now and forever.'

He is our help, our strength and our safety.

I find it interesting that it says 'as you come and go'. I know this means our day to day lives/routine and the things we do. But also I believe he's always our protection when we are (or feel) far from him. He will never let us down, or leaves us on our own. Super-Shepard!

2 Kings 1-2

10 So Elijah answered and said to the captain of fifty, "If I am a man of God, then let fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty men." And fire came down from heaven and consumed him and his fifty.


If I am a man of God, let the fire of His Spirit consume this Nation in His goodness and Glory!!
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1 Kings 22

43 And he walked in all the ways of his father Asa. He did not turn aside from them, doing what was right in the eyes of the LORD. Nevertheless the high places were not taken away, for the people offered sacrifices and burned incense on the high places.

It is possible to walk with the Lord, and have other "high places" in our lives. The high places must come down.
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Acts 13

2 As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, "Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them."

When we lay down our agenda just to simply minister to the Lord, that is often when He reveals His agenda.
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1 Kings 19-21

21 So Elisha turned back from him, and took a yoke of oxen and slaughtered them and boiled their flesh, using the oxen's equipment, and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he arose and followed Elijah, and became his servant.


Serve, and receive promotion.
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Hebrews 4-5

Grace is great lets soak in Him!

Hebrews 6

'So God has given both His promise and His oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to Him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the HOPE that lies before us. This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain into God's inner sanctuary. Jesus has already gone in there for us.'

In the midst of life, the stress, the trials, temptations, sorrow and joy, I find this verse is so encouraging and exciting! Let's hold onto this and let it impact how we live here and now too!

Proverbs 8:35

"Whoever finds me finds life, and obtains the favour of the Lord."

Whatever we're up against I'm so glad God is on our side. Sometimes it feels like we can't win, or that men have power over us and our situations. But God says different! Don't seek man's approval first, seek God and His favour will follow. We are sons of the King.

John 10:10 says "if my God is on my side, who can be against me? What can man do to me?"
He will uphold you with His righteous right hand.

Whatever our opposition is, isn't it comforting knowing that we serve and awsome God who never fails.
He is our victory.

The Man on the White Horse

"Then I saw heaven opened, and a white horse was standing there. Its rider was named Faithful and True, for he judges fairly and wages a righteous war.
His eyes were like flames of fire, and on his head were many crowns. A name was written on him that no one understood except himself."
NLT Revelation 19:12

Dang, now he is awesome!

Now flaming eyes is a super power only God can pull off. (Sorry GhostRider, you just don't cut it).

Hebrews 1-3

'So we must listen carefully to the truth we have heard, or we may drift away from it,'

Lets carefully listen to the word of God, lets search the scriptures daily, test what we've heard and seek God over our questions. We need to be in a place where we are growing in the word and soaking in it so that we don't get side tracked or lost along the way!

Acts 12

7 Now behold, an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the prison; and he struck Peter on the side

Sometimes a divine shove is just the job.
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1 Kings 18

1 And it came to pass after many days that the word of the LORD came to Elijah, in the third year,

Patience is essential for a prophet. It is necessary to wait for the word of the Lord. Even after God speaks, we must pause to weigh the word and consider carefully if and when, how and to whom we should deliver it.
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1 Kings 16-18

7 And also the word of the LORD came by the prophet Jehu the son of Hanani against Baasha and his house, because of all the evil that he did in the sight of the LORD in provoking Him to anger with the work of his hands, in being like the house of Jeroboam, and because he killed them.

We cannot fight evil with evil. The old playground philosophy of "he did it first" does not defer guilt, it multiplies it.
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Acts 11

15 And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them, as upon us at the beginning.

Have we experienced the Holy Spirit fall upon us "as at the beginning"?

1 Kings 13-15

26 Now when the prophet who had brought him back from the way heard it, he said, “It is the man of God who was disobedient to the word of the LORD. Therefore the LORD has delivered him to the lion, which has torn him and killed him, according to the word of the LORD which He spoke to him.”

It is dangerous to preach obedience and disobey. All ministers are made examples of one way or another.

2 Timothy 2 & 3

'Gently instruct those who oppose the truth. perhaps God will change those people's hearts, and they will learn the truth'

I believe it is necessary for us as a body to correct and instruct one another when we are going wrong, the thing is so often we go about wrong. With our own objectives or to make ourselves look impressive. We need to pull people up and tell them when they are doing wrong, but we do in GENTLY, and we do it with LOVE. Not because we want to look better than them but because we want the best for them!

' Avoid worthless foolish talk that only leads to more godless behaviour. This kind of talk spreads like cancer,'

We have to be so careful what we say and how it influences us, not only that but the conversations we hear and are a part of around our friends, they can influence our actions!

'Run from anything that stimulates youthful lusts. Instead pursue righteous living, faithfulness, love and peace.'

All of this is true, and I believe living like this will impact our lives and our walk with God as well as our impact on the world massively but sometimes it feels like a mountain to climb. However it's not by our own power or accomplishment.

'Be strong through the grace that God gives you in Christ Jesus!'

Acts 10

4 And when he observed him, he was afraid, and said, "What is it, lord?"
So he said to him, "Your prayers and your alms have come up for a memorial before God.

Giving is one way to pursue God.
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1 Kings 10-12

9 So the LORD became angry with Solomon, because his heart had turned from the LORD God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice, 10 and had commanded him concerning this thing, that he should not go after other gods; but he did not keep what the LORD had commanded.

Hearing from God is no substitute for obeying God.

7 And they spoke to him, saying, "If you will be a servant to these people today, and serve them, and answer them, and speak good words to them, then they will be your servants forever."

That is how to lead. Great advice.
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James 5

end of 15, 16 "And anyone who has committed sins will be forgeiven, Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and wonderful results." NLT

Been talking to my mother along with several others about our response to prayer. Do we truely trust God will answer. Been challenged to pray more specifically and to trust that He will answer. also kinda like the healing being linked to forgivenes of sins, and the encouragement that it is biblical to encourage one another to be honest about our sins.

verse 20 is such an encouragement to persue the saving of those have lost their way and that there are people that turn away and return to the right path! Please pray for JW a flat mate, that He may return!

James 5 is an awesome read...

Acts 9

20 Immediately he preached the Christ[c] in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God.

Why wait?
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1 Kings 7-9

"11 so that the priests could not continue ministering because of the cloud; for the glory of the LORD filled the house of the LORD.
12 Then Solomon spoke"

There is a place we get to where our ministry stops and God takes over. Nonetheless, it was when the Glory fell that Solomon spoke. God wants our response, and loves to respond to our ministry to Him. Relationship.

"when their enemy besieges them in the land of their cities; whatever plague or whatever sickness there is; 38 whatever prayer, whatever supplication is made by anyone, or by all Your people Israel, when each one knows the plague of his own heart, and spreads out his hands toward this temple:"

Solomon directly links the peace/ plague within to the peace/ plague without. To the extent Christ reigns within us, we will establish His reign in the earth.
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1 Timothy 3-5

'Don't let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith and your purity,'

God uses everyone, and He can use us in massive no matter what age we are, or however, anyone else see's us! I find that amazing and encouraging every time I read this. I really want to be an example to others in every aspect of my life, I want to strive for that goal! Do you?

'Yet true Godliness with contentment is itself great wealth. After all, we brought nothing with us when we came into the world, and we can't take anything with us when we leave it.'

True wealth and riches aren't found in earthly posessions; our houses, I-pods, clothes ultimately mean nothing. Contentment with what we have and what God provides us with alongside living a Godly life, is where we find real wealth! We have riches in Christ and what He has done for us!

Acts 12

Reading this it struck me how Peter was really at peace even the night before trial, what an amazing loving God we have that He can give us this peace. Also Peter didn't believe that it was actually happening. Be good to reflect and see the what God does for us...

Acts 8

3 As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering every house, and dragging off men and women, committing them to prison.

Baddies can become goodies.
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1 Kings 4-6

"Zabud the son of Nathan, a priest and the king's friend;"

Kings need friends.
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James 4-5

'Yet you don't have what you want because you don't ask God for it. And even when you ask, you don't get it because your motives are all wrong-you only want what will give you pleasure'

'Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world'

Here it is again, this stuff about loyalty to God and only God, we can ask God for anything and recieve it but only if we are sold out for Him and don't have a divided loyalty to the world! This is pretty much exactly what James wrote earlier in his letter, he practicaly repeats himself! And it something we really need to think about and be challenged on!

1 Timothy 2:6
'He gave His life to purchase freedom for everyone. This is the message that God gave to the world at just the right time,'

Jesus' life and death on earth was all ways planned, it wasn't an afterthought. God wasn't late, early, or just bored, and it wasn't all selected randomly! God planned it all perfectly and it's good to know that it did happen just at the right time.

Acts 13:

²While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them."
³So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.

This passage seems to say the ministy of God had three stages of access

1 :~ Be set apart, we must clean our hands of all sin and selfishness.

2:~ They then fasted and prayed, we must go after seeking and finding God so we can go in communion with him.

3 :~ Their "friends" and church leaders gave them their blessing to go, this race is not a normal running race as christians we must be in a(n, at least) 3 legged race.

Is there anything in our lives that their shouldn't be?
Do we activly seek God's face?
Are we surrounding ourselves with the "right" kind of supportive friends?
Are we being the best support and examples we can be to our friends?

Ecclesiastes 8:4

"Where the word of a king is, there is power;"

Where is the word??? In your Bible. On your iPod. In your heart. On your lips!

Acts 7

35 "This Moses whom they rejected, saying, 'Who made you a ruler and a judge?' is the one God sent to be a ruler and a deliverer by the hand of the Angel who appeared to him in the bush.

Obedience to God will always entail obedience to man at some level. God never works without leadership.
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1 Kings 1-3

29 And the king took an oath and said, "As the LORD lives, who has redeemed my life from every distress,

Promises based on confidence in God will stand.
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James 1-3

'If you need wisdom, ask our generous God and He will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. But when you ask Him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. Such people should not expect to recieve anything from the Lord'

How amazing is it that we are free to ask our GENEROUS God for whatever we need, and that He will provide it! But there is a timely reminder to be soley focussed on God and to trust in Him alone. I want to recieve from God, I'm hungry for more of Him, but it's easy to have divided loyalty between God and the world, sometimes we don't even realise it. If we want to recieve all that God has for us we need to be undivided!

These are generally three great chapters ram packed with good stuff and definately worth another read. I'd recommend it to you!

Ecclesiastes 8:1

"A man's wisdom makes his face shine, and the sterness of his face is changed."

Smile... Jesus loves you! Have a Moses moment.k

Wise Song for Children

"Children, obey your parents because you belong to the Lord, for this is the right thing to do."
NLT Ephesians 6:1

I was listening to some old songs I have lying around and this one popped into my head. Catchy and very wise, it was the first memory verse I ever remembered (no matter how hard I tried before).

I love this verse and will cherish the song for as long as I can.

Acts 6

a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit...8 Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and signs among the people....15 And all who sat in the council, looking steadfastly at him, saw his face as the face of an angel.

Do I look like an angel?

Philippians

3:12
'I don't mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me.'

We have to desire perfection and press on for that in our lives. No matter how far off we seem, or how impossible it feels our goal has to be to become more like Christ everyday. We do it because it was for that goal that Christ Jesus first possessed us! We have Christ living in us, who was perfect and overcame every temptation and therefore the enemy has no dominion over us. I want to seek everyday to be less of me and more of Him, not that I've even got that far yet!

4:11-12
'For I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty.'

Are we prepared to live off whatever we have? To be content with whatever God provides at any given time? Sometimes that may be everything we could ever want, sometimes it may hardly anything!

The Random Challenge (flick,pick,blog)

Habakkuk 3:8 (New King James Version)
8 O LORD, were You displeased with the rivers, Was Your anger against the rivers, Was Your wrath against the sea, That You rode on Your horses, Your chariots of salvation?

The answer is of course "No". Creation responds to us, and when mankind fell, creation fell, which is why we see so many so called "acts of God", terrible storms etc in nature.

This is why Paul says that creation itself is groaning, waiting for the revealing of the Sons of God. "Water longs to be walked on again" (Bill Johnson).

Proverbs 3

So encouraging and challenging to trust God and not lean on your own understanding and in ALL your ways acknoledge Him. It's quite a resounding statement. to thank God in every little detail of your day, but he does give us every breath!

Interesting that in verse 4 it says by holding onto steadfast love and faithfulness that " you will find favour in the sight of God AND man" Not sure but that seems to counter what I've heard at points, to expect persecution from man, but none the less encouraging that when you have good standing with man it can be due to the fruits of the spirit.

Acts 5

Awesome scary power right? Keep reading...

Yeah it's one of those fear of God bits of the Bible, but it gets better. We have a super powerful God who's Spirit wasn't shy to punish Ananian & Sapphira for holding back and lying. This one always gets me wondering 'I sure hope I haven't done that!!... Please don't smite me oh mighty smiter.' It all seems a bit old covernant, not lovely nicey Gospel forgiveness and freedom.

But He is still an awesome God of justice! Don't hold back like Ananias & Sapphira. Give Him everything you have, and the reward is worth it. The rest of the chapter (from verse 12) shows His commitment to His faithful apostles. He sets people free from sickness and prison! Don't hold back. Give Him ALL and He will do more. He wants to pour out amazing blessings on His children. (I know I need to give Him room to do more.) Awesome scary power?... Awesome God.

Philemon

'I appeal to you to show kindness to my child, Onesimus. I became his father in the faith while here in prison. Onesimus hasn't been of much use to you in the past, but now he is very useful to both of us!'

I read this and just started thinking how important it is for all of us to have spiritual fathers in the faith! People who can teach, train and correct us in our faith as well as encourage us and pray for us! We need that kind of accountability to elders in our walk with Christ! I don't think it is any coincidence that after Paul became Onesimus' spiritual father, Onesimus suddenly seems to grow in his faith and become more useful? Just a thought?

Colossians 2-4

'Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where christ sits in the place of honour at God's right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth,'

I love this verse, obviously we need to be in the world and we are called to interact with the world, but we are different! We need to set our hearts and minds on heavenly things, the things of God, of His Kingdom and His throneroom! We need to get away from the binds of earthly viewpoints and ways of doing things!

'Let the message about Christ in all it's richness fill your hearts,'

The gospel message, the story of Jesus IS RICH, it is fulfilling and satisfying! Do we really know the full richness of the message about christ? Do we need to revisit it and let is fill our hearts full afresh once more?

'Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity.'

I don't make the most of every opportunity God presents to me, but I really want to! It's the desire of my heart to be open, aware and ready for every opportunity that get to share the amazingly good news about Jesus!

Acts 5

19 But at night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said, 20 "Go, stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this life."

I could do with some angelic assistance!
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Colossians 1:24-29

'I am glad when I suffer for you in my body, for I am participating in the sufferings of Christ that continue for His body, the church,'

Paul says he is glad when he suffers for the colossian church! I believe that there is something very spiritual about going from suffering to glory and how Christ went from suffering to eternal glory. I also believe the same is true of us, our suffering plays a part in shaping us and preparing us for God's eternal Glory! But I'm still not sure how 'glad' I am about the suffering I endure, maybe we should be glad for our suffering and not just see it as means to an end, Something we need to endure to have what's coming next?

'And this is the secret: Christ lives in you. Thid gives you assurance of sharing His glory!'

Christ, the very same Christ through whom all things were made, who was slain BEFORE the foundations of the earth lives in you and me!!!! WOW! That very power of God is inside of you and me! How can we ever be the same?

Plus we can share in Jesus' glory!!!!! WHAT? How amazing, gobsmacking and utterly baffling yet awesome is that!

Ephesians 5 and 6 Colossians 1:1-23

In Ephesians it talks about our relationships with others, our parents, husbands/wives, children, slaves/masters which we could today see as our boss at work of those we are in authority over. It talks of how we should treat them and be in right relationship with them. It just made me think are we honouring the people around us and the relationships we are in?

'Work with enthusiasm, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people'

In all our work, whether christian ministry or not, we should take joy in it and do it to the best of our ability, we should honour God through our work! In any work or ministry it is so easy to lack enthusiasm but remembering that we are doing it for the glory of God can be a real wake up call! It certainly has been after the day I've had!

'The same Good News that came to you is going out all over the world. It s bearing fruit everywhere by changing lives, just as it changed your lives from the day you first heard and understood the truth about God's wonderful grace,'

This is a LIFE CHANGING and CONTAGIOUS gospel that turns lives upside down and has spread across the whole world!!!!

Ephesians 3 and 4

'By God's grace and mighty power, I have been given the privilage of serving Him by spreading the good news!'

This is a timely reminder that we do not go in our strength or serve God by our own, but by His power and because He has called! It's also a reminder to me of just much of a privilage it is to serve God and how special it is to be doing His work!

' Beacause of Christ and our faith in Him, we can now come boldy and confidently into God's presence!'

Wow, we mere humans, with all our mishaps and short comings can enter the very presence of God, the one truly and living God, creater of all things, king if kings and Lord of all, boldy, because of what Christ has done for us! Why don't we spend more time in the presence of God? Why don't we walk in His presence consciously daily, it's not we have a time slot or a meter!

'Now all Glory to God, who is able, through His mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinately more than we might ask or think!'

It's so true, how exciting is that!

Eph 4:1-5 again show us how to lead our lives and seek after a life worthy of our calling! I'm nowhere near that kind of life, but I want to seek after it with all that I am!

'And the same who descended is the one who ascended higher than all the heavens, so that He might fill the enitre universe with Himself!'

Acts 4

14 And seeing the man who had been healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it.

Experience trumps argument. If it happened its possible, because it happened.
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2 Samuel 10-13

3 And the princes of the people of Ammon said to Hanun their lord, "Do you think that David really honors your father because he has sent comforters to you? Has David not rather sent his servants to you to search the city, to spy it out, and to overthrow it?"

Do we receive the comforter, or reject His ministers because we misunderstand their intentions.


11 And Uriah said to David, "The ark and Israel and Judah are dwelling in tents, and my lord Joab and the servants of my lord are encamped in the open fields. Shall I then go to my house to eat and drink, and to lie with my wife? As you live, and as your soul lives, I will not do this thing."


Are we with His presence in the battle, or relaxing at home in bed. Wake up church!
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Acts 28:1-31 Ephesians 1&2

Ok so this is my first very late post on this blog! So today I read Acts 28:1-31 and then Ephesians 1-2!

In Acts it talks about how paul is shipwrecked on Malta, then he gets bitten by a poisonous snake and yet he isn't harmed at all! All the people around him thought that he was going to die and yet his hand didn't even become enflamed! How awesome is our God, we truly have nothing to fear! The snake had now power over Paul, it could not harm him! I have a massive fear of snakes but this is a remionder to me that I need to fear nothing when I am in Christ, except God Himself!

When paul gets to Rome he is there under house arrest awaiting his appeal to Ceasar, and yet even when under arrest it amazing me to see just how many people Paul can reach and minister to. It is truly awesome how God can use any situation we are in! It also spoke to me that we may sometimes find oursleves in unlikey situations or not be able to see how God can use them and yet God can use any situation, any place and any time to see the advancing of His glorious kingdom!

Ephesians 1 and 2 are just amazing chapters to look over to remind us of the wonderous love of God, His grace which is at work in our lives and the immensity of our spiritual blessings! Because we are in Christ we are blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms!!!!

What! How awesome is that!!!! We are one with Christ and recieve an inheritence from Him. Hahahahaha, that is soooo exciting! I'm literally getting very excited as I read Ephesians again now!

Wow God's grace is amazing, the depths of His love are unfathomable! We are now united with Christ and as His followers we have the power that raised Christ FROM THE DEAD living IN US!

Acts 3

Peter said, "Look at us." 5 So he gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them.

Peter's command produced expectation to receive. His subsequent actions in making the man stand up, further demonstrated and imparted confidence that God would heal there and then.
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Bible Meteor Shower?

"...the sun will be darkened,
the moon will give no light,
the stars will fall from the sky,
and the powers in the heavens will be shake"
NLT Matthew 24:29

This sounds a bit like a meteor shower, it also sounds like an awesome movie. Not that the bible is a movie or anything, I am just saying it sounds cool.

Acts 2

38 Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.



I've been baptised and repented: I must enjoy my free gift to the full!

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2 Samuel 4-6

5 Then David and all the house of Israel played music before the LORD on all kinds of instruments of fir wood, on harps, on stringed instruments, on tambourines, on sistrums, and on cymbals



Quietly?



15 So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouting and with the sound of the trumpet.



Decently and in order?



16 Now as the ark of the LORD came into the City of David, Michal, Saul's daughter, looked through a window and saw King David leaping and whirling before the LORD;

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Springtime for God.

2 Samuel 11 : 1

"In the spring, at the time when kings go off to war,"

I didn't know there was a set time for warfare, interesting

so we're in spring now, what are our King's plan for now? do you know your part of God's battle plan? How do I enlist?

Where's the front line, for God, in your life?

Acts 1

But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me[a] in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."

The primary function of the power of the Spirit is to witness.

22 beginning from the baptism of John to that day when He was taken up from us, one of these must become a witness with us of His resurrection."

The primary function of Apostleship is to witness.

What is love... I mean TRUE love?

"Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged.
It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out.
Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance."
NLT 1 Corinthians 13:4-7

This passage is one of the many I cherish the most... love is not just something you are in but something you work at and continue in. I don't believe in 'falling out of love' for if it was true love it would continue whatever the cost.

I feel I am in love with someone and even though we have had our arguments, I remember back to this passage and decide myself to follow it. Love grows and changes and we must follow it.

What is his name?

"13) ...they will ask me, ‘What is his name?’ Then what should I tell them?”
14) God replied to Moses, “I Am Who I Am. Say this to the people of Israel: I Am has sent me to you.”"
NLT Exodus 3:14

I love this passage when God tells Moses his name and Moses is all, 'well that makes no sense!'. If find it really comforting and awesome that my God just is. He is pure existence, being and life.

What an awesome God I have.

By his stripes...

"by his wounds you have been healed."
NLT 1 Peter 2:24

When reading this verse I strongly believe that Peter is talking of wounds spiritually, mentally and physically.
And because of his suffering and pain we can be healed of ALL sicknesses.

That I truly believe in my heart.

John 21

15 After breakfast Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?”

Do I love Jesus more than my other friends?

THE FIRST POST

This is a blog to help us all (anyone that joins) read the Bible everyday. It doesn't matter if its one verse, one chapter, the whole of Leviticus or the entire Amplified version of the Bible. Our only aim is to read a bit, and put something on here to say what we've read:

Today, I read Acts 10.38, and it was good.

OR

Today I read Acts 10.38 and it really challenged me because blah di blah...

OR

Today I read the whole of Leviticus and have decided that blogging is unscriptural otherwise Moses would have said something about it.

We are not aiming for theological accuracy. We are not planning to write loads and loads in case it scares each other. Our only aim is to read some of the Bible every day, and post a note about that bit. We probably won't write something every day. We might, because we are filled with the Holy Spirit and can do all things through Christ who gives us strength. But we might not. We will all write something as often as we remember, as close to everyday as we can.

If we leave it a month, we won't think "Oh its been a month, I might as well give up". we will have another go.