Isaiah 60:1

"Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you."

Psalm 121:3

"He will not let you feet slip - He who watches over you will not slumber."

- God is there for us. He will guide our lives through His way. Like Indiana Jones having faith that the invisible bridge was even there, we need to trust that God will protect us and be with us. God won't just take a 5 minute break, He will be with us all the time. Just remember that in hard times, He is there, and He might let us feel pain, but He will bring us back into love.

Proverbs 3:5

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding."

- We all have choices to make. Tough decisions. Constent battles. In these times, we can try to stand on our own, to push against the darkness with a torch and fearful heart. We can stand, but we will fall, and not onto the ground, but into darkness itself. And when we fall into the dark, God will follow. He will be there with a hand and pull us free. He will set us on our feet and dust us off, giving us a chance to talk to Him. We can't begin to understand His power, but His is the only power that can keep us in light. For those who still read, I pray today that you won't struggle on your own. Ask for help from those who love you. For the Lord will bless them to help you, for in these ways, He shows us His might.

Special Music

Sometimes at Evergreen Community Church, a couple people from our praise team play a song that isn't in the normal lineup. Since I have acquired a bass, Josh and Miah Finkbonner have been working on possible songs for special music. Josh picked our next one to work on, which is Love is Here. It is a good song and will be great for my first time playing bass in front of an audience. A song that I am bringing before the group is The Orphan, but I might suggest one that I learned at Camp Firwood called Nothing Holds Me Down. All three of these are good songs, and I am excited to play with the guys. Also, Rachel might sing back up, but she is close enough to being called one of the guys.

Prayer Journal

I have recently acquired a day planner that I will be using from now to the end of 2009. Every day, as a have a personal prayer, or someone asks me to pray for them, I will write it down. I hope to fill it with a devotion to God, and want to be here for anyone that needs prayer. Send me a personal email or call my phone. Either ask for prayer with no specifics, or feel like going into as much detail as you want. I want to help my readers, and encourage them to stand strong through the hardest times.

The Scientist- Coldplay

The one thing I have heard before and finally found that speaks my heart. So many things happen in this world, some for good, some for bad. We can't change things that have already happened, but as long as we hold no wrongs in our hearts, and look into the future without restraint, then the past troubles will no longer matter.

Temporary Suspension

Until further notice, I will not be posting. Those that have been reading this blog enough to need your daily look in the word, please email me and I will send more in depth studies that are better for that individual person.

Praise

"It's The Voice That Whispers My Name, It Is The Kiss Without Any Shame. Something Beautiful."

-Newsboys

Psalm 136:23

"To The One Who Remembered Us In Our Low Estate, His Love Endures Forever."

-Even when the hardest of times are before us, God loves us. He is there to protect us and guide us. All things happen for a reason that He has decided on, and we must rejoice that it is Him who is in command. We all have a life before us with tough decisions, but make sure the most important one is taken care of first: your place with God.

Isaiah 8:17

"I Will Wait For The Lord, Who Is Hiding His Face From The House Of Jacob. I Will Put My Trust In Him."

-Even though we can't see God like Moses could with the cloud on the mountain, He is here with us always. We must keep a faith in Him and trust Him with everything in our lives. When tribulation besets us, stay strong and wait for Him to guide you.

James 1:13

"When Tempted, No One Should Say, 'God Is Tempting Me.' For God Cannot Be Tempted By Evil, Nor Does He Tempt Anyone."

-When you feel pushed by God to do something, and it turns out differently than you hoped, remember that God is not evil. His plans have a purpose, they may be to teach you a lesson to help you later, but it may be to give you greater success next time you try. If going to talk to a friend about God, and they don't even want to hear about it and hate you for trying, God's plan is to plant that seed in them and to make them think about Him. When working for God, never feel like His plans are causing you sorrow or pain, for there is always a greater good in His plan. Today, think about how God's plan may be present even when things aren't working, whether you are the one working for God, or the one effected by His plan.

1 Corinthians 13:8b-13

"... But Where There Are Prophecies, They Will Cease; Where There Are Tongues, They Will Be Stilled; Where There Is Knowledge, It Will Pass Away. For We Know In Part And We Prophesy In Part, But When Perfection Comes, The Imperfect Disappears. When I Was A Child, I Talked Like A Child, I Thought Like A Child, I Reasoned Like A Child. When I Became A Man, I Put Childish Ways Behind Me. Now We See But A Poor Reflection As In A Mirror; Then We Shall See Face To Face. Now I Know In Part; Then I Shall Fully Know, Even As I Am Fully Known.

And Now These Three Remain: Faith, Hope And Love. But The Greatest Of These Is Love."


-Love isn't for kids. It has a meaning greater than most imagine. Having a true love comes from actions for others. Caring, helping, and trusting are the biggest things to look at, and having a mature look at them shows God that you want to have a love for people worthy of Him. Think of those you love in life: family and friends, and consider your love for them. Are you showing the kind of love they deserve, or are you speaking love but showing only kindness?

1 Corinthians 13:1-8a

"If I Speak In The Tounges Of Men And Of Angels, But Have Not Love, I Am Only A Resounding Gong Or A Clanging Cymbal. If I Have The Gift Of Prophecy And Can Fathom All Mysteries And All Knowledge, But Have Not Love, I Am Nothing. If I Give All I Possess To The Poor And Surrender My Body To The Flames, But Have Not Love, I Gain Nothing.

Love Is Patient, Love Is Kind. It Does Not Envy, It Does Not Boast, It Is Not Proud. It Is Not Rude, It Is Not Self-Seeking, It Is Not Easily Angered, It Keeps No Record Of Wrongs. Love Does Not Delight In Evil But Rejoices With The Truth. It Always Protects, Always Trusts, Always Hopes, Always Perseveres.

Love Never Fails."


-Little more can be said of love. The Bible is God's love letter to us. When we have a love for others, it must be wholesome and unconditional. We must be willing to go through hell for that person, because anything less is not a true godly love. Remember to love others, so that you can be loved in return.

*Part 2 coming tomorrow

2 Samuel 3:34

"'Your Hands Were Not Bound, Your Feet Were Not Fettered. You Fell As One Man Falls Before Wicked Men.' And All The People Wept Over Him Again."

-Your friends and family care about you. They are saddened when your life is troubled. At times it might feel like no one is there for you, but there are more than you think. God will always be there, and anyone that calls Him father will be at your side. When you are troubled this week with life, remember Him and your family through Him.

Matthew 11:28

"Come To Me, All You Who Are Weary And Burdened, And I Will Give You Rest." -Words of Jesus

-We should never leave an opportunity to do God's work because we are tired. Even when we have gone days without sleep, it is more important to do God's work than to rest; because if you do what God desires, He will give you a rest that fully reenergizes you.

Matthew 17:20

"Because You Have So Little Faith. I Tell You The Truth, If You Have Faith As Small As A Mustard Seed, You Can Say To This Mountain, 'Move From Here To There' And It Will Move. Nothing Will Be Impossible For You." -Words of Jesus

-Of course we can't actually move mountains, but when we have faith in God, we will be blessed in whatever we do. When you are having troubles with life, remember God is there for you and gain strength from His love.

Jonah 2:4

“I Said, ‘I Have Been Banished From Your Sight; Yet I Will Look Again Toward Your Holy Temple.’”

-At times, we know where are heart is with the Lord. We fear that God will abandon us and that we will be lost. We must always look towards Him, for in our troubles, He will be there. As long as we believe in His forgiveness, He will be there, and we should always look to Him for guidance.

Praise

"There will be a day with no more tears, no more pain, and no more fears. There will be a day when the burdens of this place, will be no more, we'll see Jesus face to face."

-Jeremy Camp

Job 4:7

“Consider Now: Who, Being Innocent. Has Ever Perished? Where Were The Upright Ever Destroyed?”

-When we have ended our time on Earth, we should be able to say that we have earned our place in Heaven by being just and righteous before the Lord. We should not let our troubles sadden our hearts, for as long as we give our lives to God, he will see them through and bring us salvation. Today, whenever you have a problem, pray to God and thank him for saving you, for we shouldn’t always ask for things, and we should always give thanks.

James 4:7

“Submit Yourselves, Then, To God. Resist The Devil, And He Will Flee From You.”

-If we give our lives to God, we will be blameless. We will have no unforgiven sins as long as we truly submit to God. At that point, we are God’s children, and the devil can’t take us from His arms. As you live your life, remember to give your sins to Jesus so that you can be blameless and not become a hypocrite before the Lord.

1 Peter 3:1-7

“Wives, In The Same Way Be Submissive To Your Husbands So That, If Any Of Them Do Not Believe The Word, They May Be Won Over Without Words By The Behavior Of Their Wives, When They See The Purity And Reverence Of Your Lives. Your Beauty Should Not Come From Outward Adornment, Such As Braided Hair And The Wearing Of Gold Jewelry And Fine Clothes. Instead, It Should Be That Of Your Inner Self, The Unfading Beauty Of A Gentle And Quiet Spirit, Which Is Of Great Worth In God’s Sight. For This Is The Way The Holy Women Of The Past Who Put Their Hope In God Used To Make Themselves Beautiful. They Were Submissive To Their Own Husbands, Like Sarah, Who Obeyed Abraham And Called Him Her Master. You Are Her Daughters If You Do What Is Right And Do Not Give Way To Fear.
Husbands, In The Same Way Be Considerate As You Live With Your Wives, And Treat Them With Respect As The Weaker Partner And As Heirs With You Of The Gracious Gift Of Life, So That Nothing Will Hinder Your Prayers.”

-Even though we are not married, we should show the ones we love respect as we would God. We must be honest and without fault, even in the hardest of times. When there is a problem, you must be honest about it and face it head on, but you must also keep God in your heart. Remember that everything is in God’s plan, and if we follow him through our times of trouble, he will make things right in the end.

Zechariah 7:5

“Ask All The People Of The Land And The Priests, ‘When You Fasted And Mourned In The Fifth And Seventh Months For The Past Seventy Years, Was It Really For Me That You Fasted?’ ”

-When we do things for the Lord, we should not seek honor from it. Whether we pray, fast, or give up our finances, we should keep these things from others and humble ourselves before God. Everything we do is in His glory and not our own.

Amos 5:6

“Seek The Lord And Live, Or He Will Sweep Through The House Of Joseph Like A Fire; It Will Devour, And Bethel Will Have No One To Quench It.”

-At times we forget how much mercy God has for us. As long as we follow Him, we will be saved from the pain and torment of Hell. We must look at God’s word as a love story in our lives; but, over the next few days, look at it also as a warning.

Sorry that today's verse seems a little dark.

John 5:24

“I Tell You The Truth, Whoever Hears My Word And Believes Him Who Sent Me Has Eternal Life And Will Not Be Condemned; He Has Crossed Over From Death To Life.” –Words of Jesus

-Rejoice. You are saved and you need to remember that the troubles of this world will pass. Take it easy this weekend and just enjoy God’s love for you.

2 Peter 2:9

“…The Lord Knows How To Rescue Godly Men From Trials And To Hold The Unrighteous For The Day Of Judgment…”

-Today we honor those who have lost their lives in the twin towers. Today we thank those who braved death and chaos to helped trapped victims. Today we ask for protection in our lives and the lives of those closest to us. Remember that God’s plan is the right one, and we must have faith in the things He does.

Daniel 12:13

“As For You, Go Your Way Till The End. You Will Rest, And Then At The End Of The Days You Will Rise To Receive Your Allotted Inheritance.”

-As we follow God, we build our faith in Him and earn our place in heaven. We must work hard in our lives of flesh, for we will rest when all our duties are behind us, and we have nothing but lave and a peace of mind until our meeting with God. When you go to tell others about God, don’t decide that you will skip today because you are tired. Every day matters to the Lord and His plan is for all of us to spread His word at every opportunity.

Ecclesiastes 11:9

“Be Happy, Young Man, While You Are Young, And Let Your Heart Give You Joy In The Days Of Your Youth. Follow The Ways Of Your Heart And Whatever Your Eyes See, But Know That For All These Things God Will Bring You To Judgment.”

-We are still young in this world. We aren’t married yet, we have no children, and we aren’t worried about our backs going out. This time is crucial in God’s plan because it shapes us for the rest of our lives. Whether God had plans for finances, love, or family; now is the time that God will bring them upon us to make a difference in our future.

1 Kings 19:19-21

“So Elijah Went From There And Found Elisha Son Of Shaphat. He Was Plowing With Twelve Yoke Of Oxen, And He Himself Was Driving The Twelfth Pair. Elijah Went Up To Him And Threw His Cloak Around Him. Elisha Then Left His Oxen And Ran After Elijah. ‘Let Me Kiss My Father And Mother Good-By,’ He Said, ‘And Then I Will Come With You.’

‘Go Back,’ Elijah Replied. ‘What Have I Done To You?’

So Elisha Left Him And Went Back. He Took His Yoke Of Oxen And Slaughtered Them. He Burned The Plowing Equipment To Cook The Meat And Gave It To The People, And They Ate. Then He Set Out To Follow Elijah And Became His Attendant.”


-When Elijah called Elisha to join him, Elisha followed because it was God’s way. Though at the time, many prophets were being executed, Elisha didn’t hesitate, but only asked to say goodbye to his parents. Listen for God’s way, it may come from the mouth of someone you know, and you must be ready to follow God’s plan, for he acts in ways we can’t comprehend.

Song of Solomon 3:5

“Daughters Of Jerusalem, I Charge You By The Gazelles And By The Does Of The Field: Do Not Arouse Or Awaken Love Until It Desires.”

-In today’s culture, love has many forms. It is seen as a magic carpet ride or a ballroom dance. Unfortunately, it is also seen as a physical act that the main characters partake in. The love we need for each other needs to be pure, but we must also wait for our time. To love too young is immature, yet to hold back love when your heart cries out only hurts yourself. Ask yourself today what God wants with your heart, and if that cute boy that sits behind you in church might be “the one”.

1 Kings 18:21

“Elijah Went Before The People And Said, ‘How Long Will You Waver Between Two Opinions? If The Lord Is God, Follow Him; But If Baal Is God, Follow Him.’ But The People Said Nothing.”

-Being a witness for God is one of the hardest things Christians face at this point. Many try to disprove God’s existence by science or other religions. Being a witness for God means you are able to tell people about Jesus. When given a chance to support God though, and you choose to say nothing, it is like worshipping another god. As you think about this verse in your life, make a point to stand up for God in your community.

Hebrews 10:26

“If We Deliberately Keep On Sinning After We Have Received The Knowledge Of The Truth, No Sacrifice For Sins Is Left.”

-When Adam and Eve ate the fruit, they brought sin upon mankind. From the moment of birth we sin, and we will surely sin again. When tempted to sin without being aware of it happens continuously in our lives. We will always be able to ask for forgiveness for these sins. But knowing of your sin and continuing it, is like striking against God. Be mindful, don’t be discouraged by sin in your life, but let God help you stop the sins you are aware of.

Luke 4:13

“When The Devil Had Finished All The Tempting, He Left Him (Jesus) Until An Opportune Time.”

-Even after Satan failed at tempting Jesus, he didn’t give up. In our lives, we have moments of strength, such as day camps. When tempted then, we stand strong. We must be cautious though for when we are at our weakest. Today, as you feel tempted, pray to God for strength and seek out others to give guidance and comfort.

Malachi 2:10

"Have We Not All One Father? Did Not One God Create Us? Why Do We Profane The Covenant Of Our Fathers By Breaking Faith With One Another?"

-Losing faith between family and friends can cause many problems. Trust is broken and some people refuse to speak to others. Throughout the day, honor God by keeping your word in all that you do. Do not make a promise that you know can't be kept. Speak truly your words and thoughts. Do not mislead others by using comforting words, but be honest, for a faith in each other builds a faith in God.

Proverbs 3:6

"In All Thy Ways Acknowledge Him, And He Shall Direct Thy Paths."

-As you make decisions and choices throughout the day, stop and think if it is God's way or your way. Even when you feel the urge to choose your own path, God wants you to follow him, and he won't lead you astray. By following His way, your own wishes will be fulfilled by His grace and your faithfulness.

A Quote A Day

Now that school has started for some, and soon for others, I will be posting a verse everyday and a short application to be used for the next day. I will mostly be posting at 2:30 in the morning so people can read when they first wake up or if they want to wait til the afternoon. If you would like to make comments, try to keep it limited to how the verse has helped you in your day or week.