Glorifying God and HIs Grace with Insights and Scripture
“Get all the advice and instruction you can, so you will be wise the rest of your life.
You can make many plans, but the Lord’s purpose will prevail.
Loyalty makes a person attractive. It is better to be poor than dishonest.
Fear the of the Lord leads to life, bringing security and protection from harm.”
(Proverbs 19:20-23, NLT)
“A psalm of David, reading the time he fled from Saul and went into a cave.”
“Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy! I look to You for protection. I will hide beneath the shadow of Your wings until the danger passes by. I cry out to God Most High, to God who will fulfill His purpose for me. He will send help from heaven to rescue me, disgracing those who hold me. My God will send forth His unfailing love and faithfulness. ” (vv. 1-3, NLT)
“Be exalted, O God, above the highest heavens! May Your glory shine over all the earth.” (v. 5, NLT)
“My heart is confident in you, O God: my heart is confident. No wonder I can sing Your praises! Wake up, my heart! Wake up, O lyre and harp! I will wake the dawn with my song. I will thank you, Lord among all the people. I will sing Your praises among the nations. For Your unfailing love is as high as the heavens. Your faithfulness reaches into the clouds.
Be exalted, O God, above the highest heavens. May Your glory shine over all the earth.” (vv. 7-11, NLT)
The Danger of Criticism
“”For we don’t live for ourselves or die for ourselves. If we live, it’s to honor the Lord. And if we die, it’s to honor the Lord. So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. Christ died and rose again for this very purpose – to be Lord both of the living and the dead.
So why do you do you condemn another believer? Why do you look down on another believer? Remember, we will all stand before the judgment seat of God.
For the Scriptures say, ” As surely as I live,’ says the Lord, ‘every knee will bend to me, and every tongue will confess and give praise to God.”
Yes, each of us will give a personal account to God. So let’s stop condemning each other. Decide instead to live in such a way that you will not cause another believer to stumble and fall.”” (vv. 7-12, NLT)
The Lord Will Rule the Earth
“Then the Lord will go out to fight against the nations, as He has fought in times past. On that day, His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem. And the Mount of Olives will split apart, making a wide valley running from east to west. Half the mountain will move toward the north and Half toward the south.” ( vv 3-4, NLT)
“On that day the sources of light will no longer shine, yet there will be continuous day! Only the Lord knows how this could happen. There will be no normal day and night, for at evening time it will still be light.
On that day, live-giving waters will flow out from Jerusalem, half toward the Dead Sea and half toward the Mediterranean, flowing continuously in both summer and winter.
And the Lord will be king all over the earth. On that day there will be one Lord – His name alone will be worshipped.” (vv. 6-9, NLT)
“And Jerusalem will be filled, safe at last, never again to be cursed or destroyed.” (v. 11, NLT)
“”Mary was standing outside the tomb crying, and as she wept, she stopped and looked in. She saw two, white-robed angels, one siting at the head and the other at the foot of the place where the body of Jesus had been lying.
“Dear woman, why are you crying?” the angels asked her.
“Because they have taken away my Lord,” she replied, “and I don’t know where they have put him.”
She turned to leave and she someone else standing there. It was Jesus, but she didn’t recognize him.
“Dear woman, why are you crying,” Jesus asked her. “Who are you looking for?”
She thought He was the gardner. “Sir,” she said, “if you have taken him away, tell me where you have put him and. I will go and get him.”
“Mary!” Jesus said.
She turned to him and cried out, “Rabbonii!” (which is Hebrew for “Teacher”).
“Don’t cling to me,” Jesus said, “for I haven’t yet ascend to the Father. But go find my brothers and the them. I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.”
Mary Magdalene found the disciples and told them, “I have seen the Lord!” Then she gave them His message.””
The Scattering of Sheep
“”Awake, O sword, against My shepherd, the man who is My partner,” say the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.
“Strike down the shepherd and the sheep will be scattered, and I will turn against the lambs.
“Two-thirds of the people in the land will be cut off and die”, says the Lord.
“But one-third will be left in the land. I will bring that group through the fire and make them pure. I will refine them like silver and purify them like gold.” They will call on My name, and I will answer them. I will say, “These are my people “and they will say, “The Lord is Our God.”” (vv. 7-9, NLT)
The Death of Jesus
“”Standing near the cross were Jesus’ mother and His mother’s sister, Mary (the wife of Clopas), and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw His mother standing beside the disciple (John) He loved, He said to her, “Dear woman, here is Your son.” And He said to this disciple,”Here is Your mother.” And from then on this disciple took her into his home.
Jesus knew that His mission was now finished, and to fulfill Scripture, He said, “I am thirsty.” A jar of sour wine was sitting there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put it on a hyssop branch, and held it up to His lips. When Jesus had tasted it, He said, ” It is finished!” Then He bowed His head and released His spirit.””
(vv. 25-30, NLT)
Living for God
“The end of the world is coming soon. Therefore, be earnest and disciplined in your prayers. Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins. Cheerfully share your home with those who need a meal or a place to stay.
God has given each of you a gift from His great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another. Do you have the gift of speaking? Then speak as though God himself were speaking through you. Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ. All glory and power to Him forever and ever! Amen.”
(vv. 7-11, NLT)
“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 every 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!” (vv. 1- 6, NLT)
“Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends You, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.” (vv. 23-24, NLT)
“For this is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: I was determined to punish you when your ancestors angered me, and I did not change My mind, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. But now I am determined to bless Jerusalem and the people of Judah. So don’t be afraid. But this is what you must do: Tell the truth to each other. Render verdicts in your courts that are just and that lead to peace. Don’t scheme against each other. Stop your love of telling lies that you swear are the truth. I hate all these things, says the Lord.” (vv. 14-17, NLT)