Verse of the Day 12/30

Verse of the Day 12/30

John 16:33

New International Version

33 "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."

As we look forward to the coming new year, one thing that we hope and pray for is peace, peace in our homes, church, community, country and the world.  Unfortunately, we know that this will not happen in the world, Jesus in fact reminds us of this when He states "in this world you will have trouble".  Does that mean that we cannot have, experience peace, personally?  No, we can have peace and through faith in Christ we can have what we need to overcome the troubles of this worlld.  Knowing this, we should. be ab le to face the day, the year ahead with in our hearts and minds.

The same cannot be said for those who don't have Jesus as their Savior.  How will they hope to attain peace.  Thet's where the words of Jesus' great commission comes in. It is not something that we will have to do alone.  He is with us.

Matthew 28:18-20

New International Version

18 Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

God's peace to you my friends as you look ahead to the new year.

Blessings,

Mike

Folllow the Verse of the Day blog at http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com

Ephesians 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace.  NIV

John 16:29-33

New International Version

29 Then Jesus' disciples said, "Now you are speaking clearly and without figures of speech. 30 Now we can see that you know all things and that you do not even need to have anyone ask you questions. This makes us believe that you came from God."

31 "Do you now believe?" Jesus replied. 32 "A time is coming and in fact has come when you will be scattered, each to your own home. You will leave me all alone. Yet I am not alone, for my Father is with me.

33 "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."

Verse of the Day 12/23

Verse of the Day 12/23

Psalm 8:3-4

English Standard Version

3 When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers,

    the moon and the stars, which you have set in place,
4 what is man that you are mindful of him,
    and the son of man that you care for him?

Today's verses come from Psalm 8, one of my favorite Psalms.  The verses are a couple of more verses that may not be your traditional "Christmas" verses, but the question "what is man that you are mindful of him" is one that receives it's answer in Christmas.  We are precious to Him, so much so that He would send Jesus, who put on flesh to come down and bring us salvation.

When we consider the Christmas story, we read that the wise men followed the star, which was hung in place by God; to find the child who would be king.  He directed the angels to make the proclamation to the lowly shepherds, who rejoiced at the news.

Take some time to appreciate the works of His fingers that we see all around  us, and remember also, that He is mindful of us and has given us everything we have and enjoy, and especially Jesus, our most precious gift.  May your heart be filled with joy at the thought. Praise God and proclaim that "there is room in my heart" for Him.

1 Thou didst leave Thy throne and Thy kingly crown,
When Thou camest to earth for me;
But in Bethlehem's home was there found no room
For Thy holy nativity.
O come to my heart, Lord Jesus,
There is room in my heart for Thee.

2 Heaven's arches rang when the angels sang,
Proclaiming Thy royal degree;
But of lowly birth didst Thou come to earth,
And in great humility.
O come to my heart, Lord Jesus,
There is room in my heart for Thee.

3 The foxes found rest, and the birds their nest
In the shade of the forest tree;
But Thy couch was the sod, O Thou Son of God,
In the deserts of Galilee.
O come to my heart, Lord Jesus,
There is room in my heart for Thee

Blessings,

Mike

Folllow the Verse of the Day blog at http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com

Ephesians 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace.  NIV

How Majestic Is Your Name

To the choirmaster: according to The Gittith.[a] A Psalm of David.

8 O Lord, our Lord,
    how majestic is your name in all the earth!
You have set your glory above the heavens.
2     Out of the mouth of babies and infants,
you have established strength because of your foes,
    to still the enemy and the avenger.

3 When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers,
    the moon and the stars, which you have set in place,
4 what is man that you are mindful of him,
    and the son of man that you care for him?

5 Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings[b]

     and crowned him with glory and honor.

6 You have given him dominion over the works of your hands;
    you have put all things under his feet,
7 all sheep and oxen,
    and also the beasts of the field,
8 the birds of the heavens, and the fish of the sea,
    whatever passes along the paths of the seas.

9 O Lord, our Lord,
    how majestic is your name in all the earth!

Verse of the Day 12/22

Verse of the Day 12/22

Psalm 46:10-11

English Standard Version

10 "Be still, and know that I am God.

    I will be exalted among the nations,
    I will be exalted in the earth!"
11 The Lord of hosts is with us;

    the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah

Today's verses may not often be thought of in relation to Christmas, but in reading them this morniing, the thought of "be still" is one we often need to hear.  With all the hustle and bustle, the search for gifts, the preparations for getting together with family and friends, we don't always take the time to truly enjoy Christmas for what it is.

One of my favorite things around Christmas is the quiet times.  It may be thinking back to Christmas when the kids were little and those times sitting by the tree with just the tree lights on, reflecting on past Christmas's and thinking about what is important in life.  We take time to sing and contemplate the words of hymns such as "O Holy Night", "Joy to the World" and "O Little Town of Bethlehem."

Take some time over the next few days and "be still", knowing and experiencing that God is with us, realizing also that God is our fortress, and in Jesus, "the hopes and fears of all the years are met in Him."

1. O little town of Bethlehem,
How still we see thee lie!
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep
The silent stars go by;
Yet in the dark street shineth
The everlasting Light;
The hopes and fears of all the years
Are met in thee tonight.
2. For Christ is born of Mary,
And fathered all above,
While mortals sleep, the angels keep
Their watch of wondering love.
O morning stars, together
Proclaim the holy birth
And praises sing to God, the King,
And peace to men on earth.

3. How silently, how silently,
The wondrous Gift is given!
So God imparts to human hearts
The blessings of His heaven.
No ear may hear His coming,
But in this world of sin,
Where meek souls will receive Him still,
The dear Christ enters in.

4. O holy Child of Bethlehem,
Descend to us, we pray;
Cast out our sin and enter in,
Be born in us today.
We hear the Christmas angels
The great glad tidings tell:
Oh, come to us, abide with us,
Our Lord Immanuel!

Be still, and know that He is God.

Blessings,

Mike

Folllow the Verse of the Day blog at http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com

Ephesians 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace.  NIV

Psalm 46

English Standard Version

God Is Our Fortress

To the choirmaster. Of the Sons of Korah. According to Alamoth.[a] A Song.

46 God is our refuge and strength,
    a very present  help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way,
    though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,
3 though its waters roar and foam,
    though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah

4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
    the holy habitation of the Most High.
5 God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved;
    God will help her when morning dawns.
6 The nations rage, the kingdoms totter;
    he utters his voice, the earth melts.
7 The Lord of hosts is with us;
    the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah

8 Come, behold the works of the Lord,
    how he has brought desolations on the earth.
9 He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;
    he breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
    he burns the chariots with fire.
10 "Be still, and know that I am God.
    I will be exalted among the nations,
    I will be exalted in the earth!"
11 The Lord of hosts is with us;
    the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah

Verse of the Day 12/19

Verse of the Day 12/19

Isaiah 26:3-4

English Standard Version

3 You keep him in perfect peace

    whose mind is stayed on you,
    because he trusts in you.
4 Trust in the Lord forever,
    for the Lord God is an everlasting rock.

Our Monday men's Bible Study group covered this passage this morning.  Today's verses are a couple of my favorite verses in the book of isaiah.  We know that in this world, we will face trouble, but we who trust in the Lord can find peace for today, for tomorrow in the Lord.

Many would define peace as the absence of war, a "cease fire" if you will between waring factions.  But true peace goes way beyond that.  Even though there may be no visible conflict between enemies, the emotions and the schemes for the next conflict are being developed.  The Christian can have peace even with conflict, with pain all around them.

A.W. Tozer writes, "The only fear I have is to fear to get out of the will of God. Outside of the will of God, there's nothing I want, and in the will of God there's nothing I fear, for God has sworn to keep me in His will. If I'm out of His will, that is another matter. But if I'm in His will, He's sworn to keep me. And He's able to do it, He's wise enough to know how to do it and He's kind enough to want to do it. So really there's nothing to fear."

Tozer expounds on this with perfect peace lacking the element of fear of our foes.  If we are right with God, if He is on our side, there is nothing to fear.  The "everlasting rock" is there for us, firm and secure against all earthly foes and cares.

Like a river glorious is God's perfect peace,
Over all victorious, in its bright increase;
Perfect, yet it floweth fuller every day,
Perfect, yet it groweth deeper all the way.

Refrain:
Stayed upon Jehovah, hearts are fully blest
Finding, as He promised, perfect peace and rest.

Hidden in the hollow of His blessed hand,
Never foe can follow, never traitor stand;
Not a surge of worry, not a shade of care,
Not a blast of hurry touch the spirit there.

Every joy or trial falleth from above,
Traced upon our dial by the Sun of Love;
We may trust Him fully all for us to do;
They who trust Him wholly find Him wholly true.

We celebrate Chrismas when the Prince of Peace, Jesus came to earth. If our hearts are stayed upon, focused on Him we may have perfect peace and rest.

Blessings,

Mike

Folllow the Verse of the Day blog at http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com

Ephesians 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace.  NIV

Isaiah 26:1-8

English Standard Version

You Keep Him in Perfect Peace

26 In that day this song will be sung in the land of Judah:

"We have a strong city;
    he sets up salvation
    as walls and bulwarks.
2 Open the gates,
    that the righteous nation that keeps faith may enter in.
3 You keep him in perfect peace
    whose mind is stayed on you,
    because he trusts in you.
4 Trust in the Lord forever,
    for the Lord God is an everlasting rock.
5 For he has humbled
    the inhabitants of the height,
    the lofty city.
He lays it low, lays it low to the ground,
    casts it to the dust.
6 The foot tramples it,
    the feet of the poor,
    the steps of the needy."

7 The path of the righteous is level;
    you make level the way of the righteous.
8 In the path of your judgments,
    O Lord, we wait for you;
your name and remembrance
    are the desire of our soul.

Verse of the Day 12/16

Verse of the Day 12/16

Hebrews 11:16

English Standard Version

16 But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.

If you watch the news, you should be aware of the situation at our southern border.  Thousands of people line up every day and cross our borders. No matter which side of trhe political spectrum that you are on, you probably realize that most of the people truly want to live in a better place.  Have a better chance to raise a family where their needs can be met.  If you were in their place, you'd probably feel the same way.

As Christians we too, desire somethjing better.  It is beyond this world, beyond this country and our hearts are set on one day arriving there with Jesus ready to meet us and usher us into the city, the home that has been prepared for us.

Back in Romans 1:16 the Apostle Paul wrote "I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ for it is the power of God to salvation".  Here, the writer of Hebrews says "God is not ashamed to be called their God."  Stop and think about that.  Inserrt your name there.  If your desire is to be with Jesus in heaven, He won't be ashamed to be called your God.

John Piper writes, "therefore" signals that a reason has just been given for why God is not ashamed to be called our God. The reason is their desire. They desire a better country — that is, a better country than the earthly one they live in; namely, a heavenly one where God is....When we desire this heavenly city — this dwelling place of God — more than we desire all that this world can give, God is not ashamed to be called our God. When we make much of all that he promises to be for us, he is proud to be our God. This is good news. "

Piper goes on to say "There are many people who water down what saving faith is by making it a mere decision with no change of what one desires and seeks. But the point of this text is that living and dying by faith means having new desires and seeking new satisfactions.....The city of God will be perfect, because God will be in it. He will walk in it and talk in it and manifest himself in every part of it. All that is good and beautiful and holy and peaceful and true and happy will be there, because God will be there. "

What is your hearts desire?

1. This world is not my home, I'm just a-passing through,
   My treasures are laid up somewhere beyond the blue;
   The angels beckon me from heaven's open door,
   And I can't feel at home in this world anymore.
   • Refrain:
     O Lord, You know I have no friend like You,
     If heaven's not my home, then, Lord, what will I do?
     The angels beckon me from heaven's open door,
     And I can't feel at home in this world anymore.
2. They're all expecting me, and that's one thing I know—
   My Savior pardoned me, and now I onward go;
   I know He'll take me through though I am weak and poor,
   And I can't feel at home in this world anymore.

Blessings,

Mike

Folllow the Verse of the Day blog at http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com

Ephesians 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace.  NIV

Hebrews 11:15-18

English Standard Version

15 If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.

17 By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was in the act of offering up his only son, 18 of whom it was said, "Through Isaac shall your offspring be named."