Sentence Tuesday

The Bible is alive, it speaks to me; 
It has feet, it runs after me; 

It has hands, it lays hold of me.

–Martin Luther

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15 Days in the Word with John Piper

I'm not one to read daily devotionals, I rather read the word and hear teachings. But I recently sampled '15 Days in the Word with John Piper' on my YouVersion app. I loved it and signed up! I am currently on day 6 of 15. Here is an excerpt from today's devo.

Day 6
"Do not think you are getting no good from the Bible, merely because you do not see that good day by day. The greatest effects are by no means those which make the most noise, and are most easily observed. The greatest effects are often silent, quiet, and hard to detect at the time they are being produced. Think of the influence of the moon upon the earth, and of the air upon the human lungs. Remember how silently the dew falls, and how imperceptibly the grass grows. There may be far more doing than you think in your soul by your Bible-reading." -J.C.Ryle

So lets give heed to Mr. Ryle and never grow weary of the slow, steady, growth that comes from the daily, disciplined, increasing, love affair with reading the Bible. -John Piper

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reunited, and it feels so good

Meet my Bible. 

Friday night, it went missing at church. 

I figured I had moved it from my purse and Sunday morning I'd find it.

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Sunday came.

I searched anywhere and everywhere it could possibly have been. 

This was the most tragic and unsuccessful of all searches. 

Someone told me, "Give up, your Bible was probably stolen."

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Monday mourning. I cried so much.

I reminisced on all the times I dated a verse that changed me, 

the highlighted portions of scripture that meant more than life to me, 

and the notes I had taken that got me through each day. 

My heart hurt, a lot. 

I realized Monday morning, that out all that I possessed,

my Bible was my most treasured possession. 

And now that it was gone, I yearned for it more than ever. 

I longed to hold it.

I longed to turn its pages.

I longed for the words of the Lord. 

I mourned as one who had lost their loved one. 

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Tuesday it settled within me that days, months would pass before I saw it again.

I may never hold my Bible again. 

I gave a passing thought to someone else's growth by it. 

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Wednesday morning I heard a teaching on prayer. 

The Pastor read from Matthew 13:58, 

"Jesus did not do many mighty works there because of their unbelief."

What could God do if I believed that He could do what I prayed for?

My faith was challenged, and so was my prayer life. 

I prayed: Lord, I am putting your name on the line. 

I believe You, Almighty God, will return my Bible to my hands."

The details of what happened to my Bible are not necessary. 

How it was returned to me are of no value to our walk. 

That God answered my prayer is the big deal. 

What mattered to me, mattered to Him. 

He took notice of my pain. 

He cupped my tears. 

He heard me. 

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What matters to you, matters to God. 

He has taken notice of your pain. 

He cups every tear you cry.

He hears you. 

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Reunited with my Bible and it feels so good! The first page I randomly opened my Bible to was in the end of Isaiah. Highlighted in the bottom of the page is one of my favorite verses. "I will answer them before they even call to me. While they are still talking about their needs, I will go ahead and answer their prayers!" Isaiah 65:24. Remember this one! 

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What could God do, 

if you believed that He could do what you prayed for?

Sentence Tuesday

Down through the years, 
I turned to the Bible and found in it all that I needed. ―Ruth Bell Graham

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Sentence Tuesday

Your relationship with God 

is based on the revelation of scripture in your life. 

-Laura Cuevas 

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verses for me to you

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All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by his great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation, and we have a priceless inheritance—an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay. And through your faith, God is protecting you by his power until you receive this salvation, which is ready to be revealed on the last day for all to see. So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you have to endure many trials for a little while. These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world. You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy. The reward for trusting him will be the salvation of your souls. 1 Peter 1:3-9
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You guide me with your counsel, leading me to a glorious destiny. Psalm 73:24 
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Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord  is  at hand. Philippians 4:5
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Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6
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Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. Proverbs 31:30
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Keep reminding God's people of these things. Warn them before God against quarreling about words; it is of no value, and only ruins those who listen. Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. 2 Timothy 2:14-15
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We should help others do what is right and build them up in the Lord. Romans 15:2
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If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. Matthew 16:25 
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Not that I seek the gift,but I seek the fruit that abounds to your account. Philippians 4:17 
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"I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted." Luke 18:14
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For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when he held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past, Romans 3:25
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I know what Im doing. I have it all planned out-plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for. Jeremiah 29:11


He is my loving ally and my fortress, my tower of safety, my rescuer. He is my shield, and I take refuge in him. Psalm 144:2
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Never let loyalty and kindness leave you! Tie them around your neck as a reminder. Write them deep within your heart. Then you will find favor with both God and people, and you will earn a good reputation. Proverbs 3:2-4
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And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God Ephesians 6:17
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Not with eye service, as men-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart Ephesians 6:6
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And the angel answered and said to her, “ The  Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you...Luke 1:35 /// may we also be overshadowed by Him today.  Doing what is possible only in Him
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When Jesus came into Peter's house, he saw Peter's mother-in-law lying in bed with a fever. He touched her hand and the fever left her, and she got up and began to wait on him. When evening came, many who were demon-possessed were brought to him, and he drove out the spirits with a word and healed all the sick. Matthew 8:14-16 // I love it because all it took Jesus is one touch and one word. He is almighty and powerful and He lives in us now
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And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38
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He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. Micah 6:8
p
How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity! Psalm 133:1
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Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you. Philippians 4:6-9

Sentence Tuesday

Education is useless without the Bible. 

-Noah Webster

Shopping, Department Stores and the Bible

Hi my Friends!

I just got back from doing a little shopping. While driving back home a divine revelation, or something like that, came to me! I must confess to you that I have Oniomania (from Greek onios = "for sale," mania = insanity)… it’s a medical term for the compulsive desire to shop. Ok, it’s out! I am a Shopaholic, recovering by the grace of God. But that is not what this blog is about.

Where was I? Ay, yes, driving home. As I was cruising down the road, with a smile from ear to ear it hit me- shopping in a department store (as I just did) is like reading the word of God. Ok, before you start throwing Bibles my way allow me to explain. 1. A department store specializes in satisfying the consumers needs. The Bible specializes in satisfying its consumer with the MOST important need- Jesus Christ. 2. Department Stores offer the consumer a choice of multiple products. The Bible offers its consumer with serveral choices of histotical accounts, stories, lessons, exhortations, poetry, law, and prophecy. 3. Each department has something completely different for a specific need yet it is one store. This one store is run by Employees wearing that one store name, they are in submission to a department Supervisor who is accountable to the store Manager. The Bible is just that, each book is unique yet it is one message. The Bible inspired by God, written by men who wear the name of God, in submission to the Holy Spirit prophesy, witnessed and point us to the One who saves our soul, Jesus Christ.

Maybe this was more for me, but at the moment it was a super cool analogy. Well here is what I bought and I’ll pair it up with scripture:

Detergent- Isaiah 1:18 “Come now, and let us reason together,” says the LORD, “ Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool.”

Bread- John 6:36 And Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.
Deuteronomy 8:3 So He humbled you, allowed you to hunger, and fed you with manna which you did not know nor did your fathers know, that He might make you know that man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the LORD.

Cute Blouse on Sale :) - Isaiah 61:10 I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, My soul shall be joyful in my God; For He has clothed me with the garments of salvation, He has covered me with the robe of righteousness, As a bridegroom decks himself with ornaments, And as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
Proverbs 31:25 She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future.
1 Peter 3:3-4 Do not let your adornment be merely outward—arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel— 4 rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God.

Body Wash- John 13:14 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.
1 Samuel 25:41 Then she arose, bowed her face to the earth, and said, “Here is your maidservant, a servant to wash the feet of the servants of my lord.”

Children’s Books for my Friend’s Son- Acts 13:49 And the word of the Lord was being spread throughout all the region.

Valentines Day Cards- Acts 20:2 While there, he encouraged the believers in all the towns he passed through.
Proverbs 31:26 She opens her mouth with wisdom, and on her tongue is the law of kindness.
John 13:35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.

So yea, all this to say that if you search the Bible like you do a department store you will find valuable pieces, priceless treasures because He sees the need of your heart and is faithful to meet you there through His words.

God Bless YOU!

Me after shopping, always happy... hehe!

Isaiah

When you spread out your hands,
I will hide My eyes from you;
Even though you make many prayers,
I will not hear.
Your hands are full of blood.
Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean;
Put away the evil of your doings from before My eyes.
Cease to do evil,
Learn to do good;
Seek justice,
Rebuke the oppressor;
Defend the fatherless,
Plead for the widow.
Isaiah 1:15-17

Lately God has been speaking to me and through me from the book of Isaiah, mostly from random bible roulette verses. The last time I read Isaiah verse by verse, chapter by chapter a wonderful revival sparked within me. Today I felt a longing to return to this book from the beginning to its very end. I am excited to glean in the fields of Isaiah once again and discover new grain.

I encourage you to pick up your Bible and read through a book (verse by verse, chapter by chapter). I pray that you may hear what the Spirit of the Lord has to say to you. If you are already doing this, I would love to know what book you are in.
God Bless You!