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🔊 Listen to this

“O Lord, You have examined my heart and know everything about me. You know when I sit down or stand up. You know my thoughts even when I’m far away.

You see me when I travel and when I rest at home. You know everything I do. You know what I am going to say even before I say it, Lord.

You go before me and follow me. You place Your hand of blessing on my head. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too great for me to understand!”

I can never escape from Your Spirit! I can never get away from Your presence.! If I go up to heaven, You are there; if I go down into the grave, You are there.

If I ride the wings of the morning, if I dwell by the farthest oceans, even there Your hand will guide me, and Your strength will support me.

I could ask darkness to hide me and the light around me to become night- but even in darkness I cannot hide from You. To you the night shines as bright as day. Darkness and light are all the same to You.” (Psalm 139, vv. 1-12, NLT)

🔊 Listen to this

“”Then Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from inside the fish.

He said, “I cried out to the Lord in my great trouble, and He answered me. I called to You from the hand of the dead, and Lord, You heard me!

You threw me into the ocean depths, and I sank down to the heart of the sea. The mighty waters engulfed me; I was buried beneath Your wild and stormy waves.

Then I said, ‘O Lord, You have driven me from Your presence. Yet I will look once more toward Your holy Temple.’

I sank beneath the waves, and the waters closed over me. Seaweed wrapped itself around my head. I sank down to the very roots of the mountains. I was imprisoned in the earth, whose gates lock shut forever.

But you, O Lord my God, snatched me from the jaws of death! As my life was slipping away, I remembered the Lord. And my earnest prayer went out to You in Your holy Temple.

Those who worship false gods turn their backs on all God’s mercies. But I will offer sacrifices to You with songs of praise and I will fulfill all my vows.

For my salvation comes from the Lord alone.”

Then the Lord ordered the fish to spit Jonah out onto the beach.””

(Jonah Chapter 2, NLT)

🔊 Listen to this

“”Six days later Jesus took Peter, James, and John, and led them up a high mountains to be alone. As the men watched Jesus’ appearance was transformed, and His clothes became dazzling white, far whiter than any earthly bleach could ever make them. Then Elijah and Moses appeared and began talking with Jesus.

Peter exclaimed, ” Rabbi, it is wonderful for us to be here! Let’s make three shelters as memorials – one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” He said this because he didn’t really know what else to say, for they were al terrified.

Then a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my dearly beloved Son. Listen to Him.” Suddenly, when they looked around, Moses and Elijah were gone, and they saw only Jesus with them.

As they went back down the mountain, He told them not to tell anyone what they had seen until the son of Man had risen from the dead. So they kept it to themselves, but often asked each other what he meant by “rising from the dead.”” (Mark 9, vv. 2-10, NLT)

🔊 Listen to this

“You may think you can condemn such people, but you are just as bad, and you have no excuse! When you say they are wicked and should be punished, you are condemning yourself, for you who judge others do these very same things. And we know that God, in His justice will punish anyone who does such things. Since you judge others for doing these things, why do you think you can avoid God’s judgment when you do the same things? Don’t you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can’t you see that His kingdom is intended to turn you from sin?” (Romans 23: vv. 1-4, NLT)

“When the Gentiles sin, they will be destroyed, even though they never had God’s written law. And the Jews, who do have God’s law, will be judged by that law when they fail to obey it. For merely listening to the law doesn’t make us right with God. It is obeying the law that makes us right in His sight. Even Gentiles, who do not have God’s written law, show that they know His law when they instinctively obey it, even without having heard it. They demonstrate that God’s law is written in their hearts, for their own conscience and thoughts either accuse them or tell them they are doing right. And, this is the message that I proclaim- that the day is coming with God, through Christ Jesus, will judge everyone’s secret life.” (Romans 2: vv. 12-16, NLT)

🔊 Listen to this

“But God shows His anger from heaven against all sinful, wicked people who suppress the truth by their wickedness. They know the truth about God because He has made it obvious to them. Through everything God made, they can clearly see His invisible qualities – His eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God.” (Romans 1: vv. 18-20, NLT)

“Since they thought it foolish to acknowledge God, He abandoned them to their foolish thinking and let them do things that should never be done. Their lives became full of every kind of wickedness, sin, greed, hate, envy, murder, quarreling, dissection, malicious behavior, and gossip. They are backstabbers, haters of God, insolent, proud, and boastful. They invent new ways of sinning, and they disobey their parents. They refuse to understand, break their promises, are heartless, and have no mercy. They know God’s justice requires that those who do these tings deserve to die, yet they do them anyway. Worse yet, they encourage others do to them, too.” (Romans 1: vv. 28- 32, NLT)

🔊 Listen to this

“Dear friends, you always followed my instructions when I was with you. And now that I am away, it is even more important. Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases Him.

Do everything without complaining and arguing, so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shine like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people. Hold firmly to the word of life; then, on the day of Christ’s return, I will be proud that I did not run the race in vain and that my work was not useless. But I will rejoice even if I lose my life, pouring it out like a liquid offering to God, just like your faithful service is an offering to God., And I want all of you to share that joy. Yes, you should rejoice, and I will share your joy.” (Philippians 2: vv. 12-18, NLT)

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“Why should I fear when trouble comes, when enemies surround me? They trust in their wealth and boast of great riches. Yet they cannot redeem themselves from death by paying a ransom to God. Redemption does not come so easily, for no one can ever pay enough to live forever and never see the grave.

Those who are wise must finally die, just like the foolish and senseless, leaving all their wealth behind. The grave is their eternal home, where they will stay forever. They may name their estates after themselves, but their fame will not last. They will die just like animals. This is the fate of fools, though they were remembered as being wise.

Like sheep, they are led to the grave, where death will be their shepherd. In the morning the godly will rule over them. Their bodies will rot in the grave, far from their grand estates. But as for me, God will redeem my life. He will snatch me from the power of the grave.

So don’t be dismayed when the wicked grow rich and their homes become ever more splendid. For then they die, they take nothing with them. Their wealth will not follow them into the grave. In this life they consider themselves fortunate and are applauded for their success. But they will die like all before them and never again see the light of day. People who boast of their wealth don’t understand; they will die, just like animals.” (Psalm 49, vv. 5-20, NLT)

🔊 Listen to this

“”Jesus left that part of the country and returned with His disciples to Nazareth, His hometown. The next Sabbath he began teaching in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed. They asked, “Where did Hie get all this wisdom and power to perform such miracles?” Then they scoffed, “He’s just a carpenter, son of Mary and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas, and Simon. And HIs sisters live right here among us.” They were deeply offended and refused to believe Him.

Then Jesus told them, “A prophet is honored everywhere except in His own hometown and among His relatives and His own family.” And because of their unbelief, He couldn’t do any miracles among them except place His hands on a few sick people and heal them. He was amazed at their unbelief.”” (Mark 6: vv 1-6, NLT)

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“”One time Jesus entered a house, and the crowds began to gather again. Soon He and His disciples couldn’t even find time to eat. When His family heard what was happening, they tried to take Him away, “He’s out of His mind,” they said.

But the teachers of religious law who had arrived from Jerusalem said, “He’s possessed by Satan, the prince of demons. That’s where He gets the power to cast out demons.”

Jesus called them over and responded with an illustration,” How can Satan cast out Satan?” He asked. “A kingdom divided by civil war will collapse. Similarly, a family slandered by feuding will fall apart. And if Satan is divided and fights agains himself, how can he stand? He would never survive. Let Me illustrate further. Who is powerful enough to enter the house of a strong man like Satan and plunder his goods? Only someone even stronger- someone who could tie him up and then plunder his house. “

“I tell you the truth, all sin and blasphemy can be forgiven, but anyone who blasphemes the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven. This is a sin with eternal consequences.” He told them this because they were saying, “He’s possessed by an evil spirit.” ” (Mark 3: vv 20-30, NLT)

🔊 Listen to this

“To learn, you must love discipline; it is stupid to hate correction.

The Lord approves of those who are good, but He condemns those who plan wickedness.

Wickedness never brings stability, but the godly have deep roots.

A worthy wife is a crown for her husband, but a disgraceful woman is like cancer in his bones.

The plans of the godly are just; the advise of the wicket is treacherous.

The words of the wicked are like a murderous ambush, but the words of the godly stands firm.

A sensible person wins admiration, but a warped mind is despised. “
(vv. 1-8, NLT)

“The wicked are trapped by their own words, but the godly escape such trouble.”

Wise words bring many benefits, and hard work brings rewards.

Fools think their own way is right, but the wise listen to others.

A fool is quick-tempered, but a wise person stays calm when insulted.

An honest witness tells the truth; a false witness tell lies.

Some people make cutting remarks, but the words of the wise bring healing.

Truthful words stand the test of time, but lies are soon exposed.

Deceit fills hearts that are plotting evil; joy fills hearts that are planning peace!

No harm comes to the godly, but the wicked have their fill of trouble.

The Lord detests lying lips, but He delights in those who tell the truth.

The wise don’t make a show of their knowledge, but fools broadcast their foolishness.

Work hard and become a leader; be lazy and become a slave.

Worry weighs a person down; an encouraging word cheers a person up.

The godly give good advise to their friends; the wicked lead them astray .”
(vv. 13-26,NLT)

“The way of the godly leads to life; that path does not lead to death.”
(vv. 28, NLT)