Adoration

The meaning of adoration is respect, reverence, strong admiration or devotion in a certain person, place, or thing. The term comes from the Latin adōrātiō, meaning "to give homage or worship  to someone or something".  I have a prayer journal and on that journal the praises outweigh the needs.  We taught our children to prayer journal as children, we always kept a journal with prayer needs and praises.  When my children were young we used to also practice telling each other good things about the others.  We would start with one and they would share their adoration with each other.  My husband and I practice this today.  We will share randomly our adoration of each other using words or phrases that explain his respect, strong admiration or devotion.  These words carry so much power in them.  They can fill you up again and give you the encouragement you need.  I do not think I practice this enough with others in my life.  I would much rather serve them by doing something for them.  God calls us to encourage and lift each other up.  When He created us He intended for us to walk with Him through our lives, sharing everything, loving Him, and trusting Him for our needs.  When I am hiking or out in nature it is so easy to see Him for His creation is all around me.   I think our adoration must start with God.  Some days the routine keeps me so busy I do not Adore Him enough.   We talked about adoration/praise on Monday at small group and how to start this.  My praise is meditating on Him and allowing His love and worship in me to flow right back to Him. 

ELOHIM……meaning “God”, a reference to God’s power and might.
ADONAI……meaning “Lord”, a reference to the Lordship of God.
JEHOVAH–YAHWEH…..a reference to God’s divine salvation.
JEHOVAH-MACCADDESHEM…….meaning “The Lord thy sanctifier”
JEHOVAH-ROHI……meaning “The Lord my shepherd”
JEHOVAH-SHAMMAH…meaning “The Lord who is present”
JEHOVAH-RAPHA…meaning “The Lord our healer”
JEHOVAH-TSIDKENU…meaning “The Lord our righteousness”
JEHOVAH-JIREH………meaning “The Lord will provide”
JEHOVAH-NISSI……meaning “The Lord our banner”
JEHOVAH-SHALOM…meaning “The Lord is peace”
JEHOVAH-SABBAOTH……meaning “The Lord of Hosts”
EL-ELYON…………..meaning “The most high God”
EL-ROI…meaning “The strong one who sees”
EL-SHADDAI…meaning “The God of the mountains or God Almighty”
EL-OLAM……………meaning “The everlasting God”

LOVE.........JOY...........PEACE.........PATIENT...........KIND...........GENTLE.........FAITHFUL......GOOD.........
SELF-CONTROL........HEALER.........GREAT PHYSICIAN......LORD OF LORDS............KING OF KINGS.........ALMIGHTY...........COUNSELOR......KING.........LORD...CREATOR........WORD.......
MAJESTIC.....GLORY..........MERCY...........GRACE........FORGIVER.......PERFECT..........ADONAI......
LORD OF ALL.......RIGHTEOUS......OMNISCIENT........OMNIPOTENT.......ALL-KNOWING....
ABBA…ADVOCATE.....ALMIGHTY……ALPHA…AMEN…………ANCIENT OF DAYS………ANOINTED ONE……APOSTLE…………… LORD…………AUTHOR OF LIFE………AUTHOR OF OUR FAITH……BEGINNING………………
BLESSED & HOLY RULER…BREAD ……………BREAD OF LIFE.....BRIDEGROOM…………BRIGHT MORNING STAR… SHEPHERD………CHOSEN ONE.....CHRIST…………… GOD… LORD…………SON OF LIVING GOD....COMFORTER…………COMMANDER………
CONSUMING FIRE……………CORNERSTONE……………………COUNSELOR…………CREATOR………………DELIVERER……………DOOR………END....
ETERNAL ....EVERLASTING FATHER………………FAITHFUL & TRUE……………………
FAITHFUL WITNESS………FATHER…………………FIRSTBORN....
FIRSTFRUITS………FOUNDATION…FRIEND ....GENTLE WHISPER………………
GLORY....GOD ALMIGHTY……GOD OVER ALL………GOD WHO SEES ME......
GREAT HIGH PRIEST………GUIDE……HEAD OF THE BODY……………HEAD OF THE CHURCH……………HEIR ....HIGH PRIEST…………FOREVER……HOLY ONE…………………HOLY SPIRIT………HOPE……………………HORN OF SALVATION…………I AM……………IMAGE OF GOD…IMAGE OF HIS PERSON……………IMMANUEL……………
JEHOVAH………JESUS…………………JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD……………JUDGE……KING……………………… ETERNAL……………………KING OF KINGS…………………KING OF THE AGES…LAMB OF GOD…LEADER…LIFE…LIGHT OF THE WORLD…………LIKE AN EAGLE....LION....LIVING STONE....LIVING WATER....LORD…LORD GOD ALMIGHTY…………LORD JESUS CHRIST………………LORD OF ALL………LORD OF GLORY ………………LORD OF LORDS………………LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS………….LOVE…………………MASTER………MEDIATOR……………………MERCIFUL GOD…………MESSIAH…MIGHTY GOD……………………MIGHTY ONE…………………………NAZARENE………
OFFSPRING OF DAVID……………OMEGA……ONLY BEGOTTEN SON…………………OUR PASSOVER LAMB……………OUR PEACE…………POTTER……………POWER OF GOD…………………PRINCE OF PEACE......PROPHET……………………PURIFIER…………………RABBONI (TEACHER)…RADIANCE OF GOD’S GLORY……………REDEEMER……………………REFINER’S FIRE…………RESURRECTION………………RIGHTEOUS ONE....ROCK………………………
ROSE OF SHARON……………RULER OVER KINGS OF EARTH…………
RULER OVER ISRAEL…………SAVIOR……SHIELD……………………
SON OF MAN……………………SPIRIT OF GOD…………STONE……………
TEACHER…………………TRUE LIGHT………TRUE WITNESS……TRUTH…………………VINE………………WAY…………………WISDOM ....WONDERFUL…WORD.....

Wow!  I serve an amazing God.  Adoration of the Creator will lead to the adoration of others in our lives and will become easier every day.  

First Love or Last Love

 

In honor of Love month and Valentine's Day

My first serious crush... I was 15 1/2 and met a guy in my class.  Oh, my goodness!

It was in the time of Top Gun and Tom Cruise and let's just say Maverick had nothing on my guy.  I had gone out with friends and tried to have relationships with guys in the past.  But this one, he just took my heart with him everywhere.  He loved camping, hiking, river days, school, writing, talking.  We became best friends.  I would spend every spare minute with him.  We both worked after school and weekends at busy restaurants and our time was limited.  I thought about him all the time and even dreamed of a future with him.  I had been under the impression that I would marry a man who love Jesus Christ as much as I did, though.  Hmmm..  My guy was anything, but in love with my Jesus.  We dated for about two years and even started planning our future together.  I joined the Air Force in July, 1988 after three weeks in Oahu and one week with him at his Dad's home in Redondo Beach.  He joined the Air Force in October, 1988.  We got stationed in Missouri and Alaska.  Then all the dreams we had together, slowly unraveled.  We grew up and apart and found our differences were just too different.  Especially, our beliefs.

Then a few short years later... I was hooked up with my husband now at a Monday Night Football game on September 30, 1991.  He had three children and I had one and we connected.  We had both loved and lost and were carrying around deep wounds from our past.  Some of those wounds still open and bleeding and some scarred up.   We knew would have to work on this relationship.  So we became good friends and started on our path to building "us".   We talked about the future and my guy was learning to love the Lord each day.  He accepted Jesus Christ as His Lord and Savior and was baptized.  Typical of my guy he started saying well, let's get married and flippantly ask me to marry him.  I had to lay down the law that a ring and proper proposal would be in order.  So on Valentine's Day 1992, we attended a Sweetheart Banquet at the Church and it was snowing afterward.  We stopped off in Nevada City and in front of, what used to be, Cirinos my man proposed. (Yes! on his knee in the middle of the sidewalk, with snow flurrying around us).  He can be so romantic, still.  We were married in August. 1992.  We cherished our weekend getaways.  When we were alone, we would honeymoon - always and talk about US.  We would sometimes have tough decisions to work through and always came home refreshed for the children.  We are and always have been so grateful that my parents never said no to watching the grandchildren.  They would take one or all  five eventually.  They absolutely loved having them and have helped us raise incredible adults.  My children were so blessed to have them in their lives as well.
Through the 22 years of marriage we have grown in so many ways.  God united us and we will not be separated.  Through the storms of life, we grow in Him and in our relationship. 
We can complete each others sentences and know inner thoughts.
 Just a touch sends sparks through me today and a kiss, mmmmm......
Thinking forward..
Looking at the relationships my children have and have in their lives. 
I see strength in them to make love last at all cost.   There is no giving up.
No matter what past relationships have brought, forgive and forget.
 There is compromise every day.

 

To my guy-

I may not be your first kiss, first love or first anything! But as long as I am your last kiss, last love and last anything

Books I am currently reading.. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak, Killing Lincoln by Bill O'Reilly, Jefferson Davis and his Generals by Steven E. Woodworth, The Faiths of our Fathers by Alf J. Mapp, Jr, and I just finished There is a Flying Squirrel in My Coffee by Bill Goss.  (I loved reading this book and have attached the picture for anyone interested.) 

Movies/Shows:  Best of Travel-Hawaii, Best of Travel-The Pacific Northwest, Julie and Julia.

 forever....That's all that matters.

Daily Grind... And I'm Not Talking Coffee

I was thinking about daily routines in my life and how they have changed over the last 25 years.  I have always been a jump out of bed and get right into the day kind of person.  Well, that is until a few years ago.  Now I sloth around for about 30 min. and then slowly greet the day.  I do not need long to get ready, but be prepared for a semi-damp hair look and no make-up (if I need it I will apply while driving).  When I was in high school I was up and to school straight away.  I remember sitting at the bus stop reading, which was almost a mile walk, or sitting in my car reading, once I got my car and license.  Which by tradition in our family was on my 16th birthday.  I worked at Burger King, babysat and at the Willo restaurant.  I was not athletic, though I was song leader(cheer-dancer),  water-ski club, manager of the softball team for 2 years, and kept score for the team.  I also kept score for baseball and softball teams in the area.   In my spare time I attended church and youth functions at the church.  My routine was pretty much the same throughout high school. 
After high school, I joined the United States Air Force and for the first time in my life I exercised daily, worked from 7am-4pm, attended college classes, church Bible Studies and events, and kept score for the intramural softball teams.  In my spare time I visited my family in southern Missouri and toured the state.   I loved camping and travelling throughout the mid-west. 
I got stationed at Beale AFB after 3 years in the service and met my husband.  My routine changed yet again.  I no longer had an eight hour a day job and lots of time to go to school or work-out.  Walking became my primary source of exercise.   With kids in school and for 9 years having a preschooler/toddler infant in my home, my routine was not boring.  A typical day in 1998....My husband left for work before the events of the day really unfolded.  I would wake the oldest up first, she is 13 and a "girlie-girl" and always has been.  It would take her a bit to get ready for the day.  Because she was awake, her sister would be awake also.  They shared a room.  Next I would put snacks together for school and by then the youngest son would be awake and ready for mommy attention.  He would be the one who could not occupy himself .  When he was awake you were on the job.  So I diligently get him focused on a task or playing.  Then wake the twins up.  They are all then getting ready(kinda) for the day.  It is a school day.  We eat breakfast together each morning.  I loved making big breakfasts for the kids to get their day started right.  Backpacks are packed from the night before and hanging by the back door, snacks packed (with love/encouragement notes for them).  
The oldest walks a block to the bus stop at 7:45am.  She attends Jr High in Wheatland, about 8 mi. away.  Unless she has a doctor appointment, she rides the bus everyday.  The rest of us have 15 min. to finish getting ready.  The twins attend Far West Middle School and the youngest attends Lone Tree School.  We walk most days, unless it is pouring rain  or one of the children have a doctor appointment.  We walk the 3 blocks to the school and drop the twins off first.  They like to be to school early to get the early recess time.  Then I walk the youngest son to his school and play on the playground until the bell rings.  Rachel is 3 and in a play group 3 days a week for the morning.  Four moms alternate days to watch the group and do various activities with them.  During her time there I work in the boys' classes and attend Bible Study.  I grade papers for the older boys' teacher and do lunch duty at the school.  It gives me a connection with them during the day.  (I end up working at their schools until they are all in high school) 
I pick the preschooler up at lunch.  We head home for a couple hours of lunch, nap, and house work.  I usually  prepared dinner then, because our evenings get crazy. 
We walk back to school to pick up the youngest son after school.  He and I do homework and play until the twins get home.  He is usually done with homework by then.  The twins play outside for a couple hours.  During sports season, which was almost always we have practice right after school.  All of us attend practice.  I do homework with the older three after dinner in the evening.   Once my husband gets home-he had an extra job of cleaning professional offices for some extra money-we spend time together as a family.  Some evenings we would attend church or I cleaned houses for people who were PCS-ing (or moving bases), for some extra money.  Those were late nights for me. 
Now my pace is slower.  I slowly wake up to a really quiet house, my husband has already left for the day.  I spend some time with God, and my blog.  Then off to get ready for work, I work out during the day, attend church functions in the evening, and spend time praying for my family. 
No matter what my routine has been God and family come first. 

Roots

It was a burn day yesterday and yes I burned.  I love burning our collections of fallen limbs, brush and roots. With five acres we always seem to have quite the collection of piles around the property. 

I was walking around the property kicking over the manzanita roots that had been in the ground for at least three years.  The soil was just soft enough to wriggle them out.  

The Miriam Websters definition of root pertaining to roots of a plant/tree:  usually underground part of a seed plant body that originates usually from the hypocotyl, functions as an organ of absorption, aeration, and food storage or as a means of anchorage and support, and differs from a stem especially in lacking nodes, buds, and leaves.

Some roots are so shallow and I often wonder how they are holding up the trees at all.  Then the winds come and down go the trees.  How does a huge tree just fall down? 

Roots definition as pertaining to origin:  something that is an origin or source

 (as of a condition or quality)

 

one or more progenitors of a group of descendants —usually used in plural

 

an underlying support :  basis

 

the essential core :  heart —often used in the phrase at root

 

close relationship with an environment : 

 

So in tying these definitions with the plant definition....usually underground part of a seed plant body that originates usually from the hypocotyl, functions as an organ of absorption, aeration, and food storage or as a means of anchorage and support, and differs from a stem especially in lacking nodes, buds, and leaves.

 

It is essential to have a  strong support system or underlying support for all healthy, living, objects.

 

A little while back I decided to investigate my roots.  Some members of my family have researched and provided me with family trees, but none gave detailed information about their lives. 

I found many documents about my family and traced back to a simpler time. 

A time without electronics, automobiles, and the modern conveniences we now enjoy. 

However, I found the same human struggles as we still face. 

The struggle with our sin nature and God's desire for fellowship with us. 

Some of the decisions made in the past effected many generations to come.  Good or Bad.

In the Bible Paul calls us not only to walk in Christ, but to be rooted in him. So if you follow Christ, you are not only on the move with Christ, but firmly grounded in Christ.

 "Rooted" is a perfect passive participle which means that we are rooted in the past and that this rooting has present effects. It is from our roots in Christ that we draw the life-giving juices that flow through us enabling us to bear fruit for him today and forever.

I am not a  gardener, but I know that a plant is only as good as its roots. Although they are unseen, they are essential and so is Jesus! The reason so many apparent Christians wither and die soon after they profess their faith is that they have been stuck like cut flowers into the church's pot. You find them in the bud vases of a popular preacher, or the floral arrangement of a religious peer group. But they have no roots in Christ. And consequently, they have no staying power. They wilt like last month's corsage.

Where are your roots? If they are in a religious experience however exciting, if they are in a group relationship however warm, if they are in family tradition however strong, if they are in professional achievement however successful, if they are in anything other than Jesus Christ, your spiritual life juices will eventually dry up and you will die.

If you are rooted in Christ, then you will grow in him. You will draw constantly on his sustaining power.

  His love has no limit; His grace has no measure;
       His power has no boundary known unto men.
  For out of his infinite riches in Jesus
       He giveth and giveth and giveth again. (Annie Johnson Flint)

A city dweller moved to the country and bought a milk cow. Soon, however, the cow went dry. He complained to a neighboring farmer, "I just don't understand it. I was as kind and considerate to that cow as I knew how to be. If I didn't need any milk, I didn't milk her. If I needed only a quart, I took only a quart."

The neighbor tried to explain that the only way to keep milk flowing is not to take as little as possible, but to take as much as possible. That is also true of your life in Christ. The only way to grow in Christ is to receive from him all he has to give.

 

Since you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, grow in your walk in him, rooted and built up in him, established in your faith and overflowing with thanksgiving. That's the life!

 

Oh, how I am convicted today to root my life in Him, establish a greater faith and overflow with gratefulness.  I want His life to flow through me abundantly. 

 

Some of the text borrowed from and other resources available at:  http://www.christians.org/grow/grow09.html

Faith Test

From He Still Moves Stones by Max Lucado

When it comes to the major-league difficulties like death, disease, sin, and disaster--you know that God cares.

But what about the smaller things?  What about grouchy bosses or flat tires or lost dogs?  What about broken dishes, late flights, toothaches, or a crashed hard disk?  Do these matter to God?

I mean, he's got a universe to run.  He's got the planets to keep balanced and presidents and kings to watch over.  He's got wars to worry with and famines to fix.   Who am I to tell him about my ingrown toenail?

Well, let me tell you who you are.  In fact, let me proclaim who you are:

You are an heir of God and co-heir with Christ.
You are eternal, like an angel. 
You have a crown that will last forever.
You are a holy priest, a treasured possession.
You were chosen before the creation of the world.  You are destined for "praise, fame, and honor, and you will be a holy people to the Lord your God"
But more than any of the above--more significant than any title or position--is the simple fact that you are God's child.  "The Father has loved us so much that we are called children of God.  And we really are His children."  1 John 3:1
I love that last phrase! "We really are His children."  It's as if John knew some of us would shake our heads and say,"Naw not me.  Mother Teresa, maybe.  Billy Graham, all right.  But not me."  If those are your feelings, John added that phrase for you. 
We really are his children.
As a result, if something is important to you, it's important to God... so go ahead.  Tell God what hurts.  Talk to him.  He won't turn you away.  He won't think it's silly.  "For our high priest is able to understand our weaknesses.  When He lived on earth, He was tempted in every way that we are, but He did not sin.  Let us, then, feel very sure that we can come before God's throne where there is grace"  Heb. 4:15-16  Does God care about the little things in our lives?  You better believe it.  If it matters to you, it matters to Him. 

Happy Birthday Twins

 

To the twins!  

Wishing you the happiest of days! 

Glad you get to spend the day together.

 

Now 27 years old. 

 I met the twins when they were 3 1/2 years old and they were so energetic.  They were going, going from morning 'til night. 

And always one twin one direction, one twin the other direction.

My husband put up a fence in the backyard to contain them a little bit.  The older twin just climbed the tree and up and over the fence.  They were born on Beale AFB and started kindergarten on Beale AFB.  There were only two kindergarten teachers, so we had to select which twin got which teacher.  We chose the younger teacher for the older twin, knowing she might have a bit more energy than the other, older teacher.  They both excelled in school.  They loved recess and sports.  They both would grab a ball and head out to meet each other on recess.  Looking at each other one would drop their ball and run off to play.  I worked in their classes a few days a week and just loved being part of their learning.  We always had park/play time then homework after school.  Sometimes the "negotiator", oh come on we all have one, the older twin would want more time outside and negotiate homework schedules.  I was big on schedules, however, I also loved our outside time.  Our yard was the best on base.  We had a fence for the youngest boy, and it backed up to the wildlife preserve.  We would play all sports in our yard or hike to the playground, which was also really close to our home.  We had a swingset, slide and sandbox.  The neighbors all congregated at our yard for play.  The kids loved it. 

As the twins went through school sports became a common thread for them.  They started with flag football and basketball at 5, and continued until they made the minors in baseball at 8.  Then they ended up 3 sport kids through their elementary years. 

Still excelling in school! 

They attended church as a family and  Sunday School was a regular event.  When they were 7 they accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior and were baptized.

 

We moved to S. Korea in 1998, the twins were 10 I homeschooled them and they were so smart.  The youngest twin learned to play guitar.  They both played soccer, for the first time and did very well.  They could not wait to get back and play football.  We toured S. Korea together during the day.  We went to Seoul and then to the beach in the south.  We visited the Independence Hall and learned about the history of Korea.(I enjoyed this more than they did, of course).  We hiked around fortressed cities, and into the mountains.  From our apartment, which was 700 sq. ft.  we could hike to the hill above Pyongtaek.  We walked and walked, rode buses and subways.  What a fun time. 

By 1999 we were stationed back at Beale AFB and bought a house in Penn Valley.  The twins started 6th grade at Ready Springs School and did all sports, football, basketball, volleyball, baseball.  They also excelled in school. 

After graduating 8th grade they attended Nevada Union High School.  I was so proud.  I had graduated there in 1988 and though my high school career and theirs would look incredibly different, I was still so proud.  Some of the same teachers that taught me were still there.  (My parents had also graduated from Nevada Union High School in 1969)  I was a nerd in high school, always in the library....oh I still am a nerd and in the library.  I embrace that.  The twins were very athletic.  Football, Baseball, the youngest was Basketball and the oldest was Wrestling.  Wow!  They were busy.   As soon as they turned 16, they bought themselves cars and got their driver's licenses.  They were ready and so was I.  We lived 17 minutes from the school. 

They excelled in school. 

They both went on to college and graduated.

Very smart, very tech savvy, very loving, very compassionate men they have turned into.  I love you both with an unconditional love, you will not understand until you have one of your own.

The following is so true!

 

 

 

So true! 

 

Happy Birthday to my twins!!!  I love you both.

 

 

 

Test of Faith

My oldest daughter and her husband have had many trials in their short relationship.  My son-in-law is battling leukemia and has been for six years.  He has undergone treatments of all kind, with the latest being a bone morrow transplant from his sister.  They found out yesterday that his body is not accepting her morrow.  What does this mean?  I am not very savvy with medical terms and much of the process, I am clueless. 

Through this trial, my daughter has cared for her husband and exemplified the unconditional love that only an all loving, compassionate, merciful God can give.  She is teaching others so much about selfless love, giving without asking for anything in return and a genuine love, through her actions.   She is a Light with God's love in a troubling time.

I know a Great Physician though and I hold on to the Truth, that God knows what he is going through, God created him and knows intimately each cell in his body, and knows the outcome.  So we continue to Pray for Healing and Strength.  Hold on hope, His Word and Promises.

  Below I have listed some verses from ESV(English Standard Version) that help with the process of our life's trials. 

Jeremiah 29:11      For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.          

Romans 8:28    And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.        

John 9:1-41       As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. And his disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him. We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” ...           

Revelation 21:4    He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”            

Romans 5:3-5       More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.             

James 1:2-3     Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.             

Matthew 5:45     So that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.            

1 Corinthians 10:13        No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.             

Psalm 13:1-6      To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I take counsel in my soul and have sorrow in my heart all the day? How long shall my enemy be exalted over me? Consider and answer me, O Lord my God; light up my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death, lest my enemy say, “I have prevailed over him,” lest my foes rejoice because I am shaken. But I have trusted in your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation. ...           

Psalm 10:1-18      Why, O Lord, do you stand far away? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble? In arrogance the wicked hotly pursue the poor; let them be caught in the schemes that they have devised. For the wicked boasts of the desires of his soul, and the one greedy for gain curses and renounces the Lord. In the pride of his face the wicked does not seek him; all his thoughts are, “There is no God.” His ways prosper at all times; your judgments are on high, out of his sight; as for all his foes, he puffs at them. ...            

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.             

Isaiah 57:1        The righteous man perishes, and no one lays it to heart; devout men are taken away, while no one understands. For the righteous man is taken away from calamity;             

1 Corinthians 13:12       For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.             

1 Corinthians 11:29-30        For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself. That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died.             

Matthew 13:18-23           “Hear then the parable of the sower: When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is what was sown along the path. As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy, yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away. As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. ...             

Romans 8:1-39      There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. ...             

Luke 13:2-3           And he answered them, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.             

Job 14:1        “Man who is born of a woman is few of days and full of trouble.            

1 Corinthians 1:13          Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?            

Acts 20:24          But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.            

Deuteronomy 6:7           You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.            

1 Peter 2:9          But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.             

John 3:16-17           “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.           

Matthew 5:1-48        Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him. And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. ...          

Isaiah 54:17         No weapon that is fashioned against you shall succeed, and you shall confute every tongue that rises against you in judgment. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord and their vindication from me, declares the Lord.”            

Psalm 78:63-64       Fire devoured their young men, and their young women had no marriage song. Their priests fell by the sword, and their widows made no lamentation.             

Job 42:12-15        And the Lord blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning. And he had 14,000 sheep, 6,000 camels, 1,000 yoke of oxen, and 1,000 female donkeys. He had also seven sons and three daughters. And he called the name of the first daughter Jemimah, and the name of the second Keziah, and the name of the third Keren-happuch. And in all the land there were no women so beautiful as Job's daughters. And their father gave them an inheritance among their brothers.             

Colossians 1:16         For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.             

Acts 10:38     How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.            

Isaiah 1:1-31         The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah. Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth; for the Lord has spoken: “Children have I reared and brought up, but they have rebelled against me. The ox knows its owner, and the donkey its master's crib, but Israel does not know, my people do not understand.” Ah, sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, offspring of evildoers, children who deal corruptly! They have forsaken the Lord, they have despised the Holy One of Israel, they are utterly estranged. Why will you still be struck down? Why will you continue to rebel? The whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint. ...             

Romans 3:10-12          As it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.”            

Isaiah 40:1-55:13     Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that her warfare is ended, that her iniquity is pardoned, that she has received from the Lord's hand double for all her sins. A voice cries: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain. And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.” ...            

Isaiah 2:1-22         The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. It shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be lifted up above the hills; and all the nations shall flow to it, and many peoples shall come, and say: “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob, that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths.” For out of Zion shall go the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. He shall judge between the nations, and shall decide disputes for many peoples; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore. O house of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the Lord. ...            

Psalm 23:1-6         A Psalm of David. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. ...