Born of the Spirit

Jesus said, "The wind blows wherever it pleases.  You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going.  So it is with everyone born of the Spirit." -John 3:8

LORD Almighty King of Glory

"Lift up your heads, you gates; be lifted up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in.  Who is he, this King of glory?  The LORD Almighty--he is the King of glory."  -Psalm 24:9-10

No Longer Ruled by the Flesh

"The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so."  -Romans 8:7

Dressing in Layers

"Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience."  -Colossians 3:12

Empty Jars

"Elisha replied to her, 'How can I help you?  Tell me, what do you have in your house?'  'Your servant has nothing there at all,' she said, except a small jar of olive oil.'  Elisha said, 'Go around and ask all your neighbors for empty jars.  Don't ask for just a few.  Then go inside and shut the door behind you and your sons.  Pour oil into all the jars, and as each is filled, put it to one side." -2 Kings 4:2-4

Greed

"By justice a king gives a country stability, but those who are greedy for bribes tear it down." -Proverbs 29:4

God's Work

".....If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ...." -1 Peter 4:11

Good Works

"We are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."  -Ephesians 2:10

Faith Crisis

"....Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?" 

-Job 2:10b

Life's Challenges

"A cord of three strands is not quickly broken."  

-Ecclesiastes 4:12b

Watching and Waiting

"Take heed; watch; for you do not know when the time is." 

-Mark 13:33

Learning Contentment

"I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation." -Philippians 4:11

Running the Race

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles.  And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith."  

-Hebrews 12:1-2a

Night is Coming

Jesus said, "As long as it is day, we must do the work of him who sent me.  Night is coming, when no one can work."
-John 9:4

God's Peace

"In your anger do not sin:  Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry."  -Ephesians 4:26

Open Door

"Jesus said, 'Listen!  I am standing at the door, knocking; if you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to you and eat with you, and you with me.'" -Revelation 3:20

Living Our Faith

"For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world.  And this is the victory that has overcome the world: our faith."  -1 John 5:4

Pleasing to God

"All these people were still living by faith when they died.  They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth."  

-Hebrews 11:13

Taking Care of Strays

"When you see the ox or sheep  of your fellow countryman straying, don't go away and leave them.  Instead, be sure to return them to him.  If your fellow countryman doesn't live near you or you don't know who he is, bring the animal to your house and let it remain with you until he claims it.  Then return it to him."  -Deuteronomy 22:1-2

Relationships

"No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known." -John 1:18

Letters From Home

"You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts."  -2 Corinthians 3:3

Seeing God

""Jesus answered: 'Don't you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time?  Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father.  How can you say, 'Show us the Father'?'" -John 14:9

Pure in Heart

"Jesus said, 'Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.'"  -Matthew 5:8

Saved to Save

"Jesus said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'" 

-Acts 20:35

Deliverance

"Now, LORD, our God, deliver us from his hand, so that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you alone, LORD, are God."  -2 Kings 19:19

First Light

"Jesus said, 'I am the light of the world.  Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.'" -John 3:12

The Glory of the Lord

"Let the trees of the forest sing, let them sing for joy before the LORD, for he comes to judge the earth."  

-1 Chronicles 16:33

Giving Liberally

"As he taught, Jesus said, 'Watch out for the teachers of the law.  They like to walk around in flowing robes and be greeted with respect in the marketplaces, and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets.  They devour widows' houses and for a show make lengthy prayers.  These men will be punished most severely.'" -Mark 12:38-40

Safe Within the Fold

"'I myself will tend my sheep and have them lie down,' declared the Sovereign Lord.  'I will search for the lost and bring back the strays.  I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak. . . I will shepherd the flock with justice.'"  -Ezekiel 34:15-16

Never Alone

"Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, 'Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.'" -Hebrews 13:5