“Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” Luke 22:31-32 This statement by Jesus always strikes me. Both with its content and with the beautiful reality glimpsed […]
“Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own.” Philippians 3:12 “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And […]
“The righteousness of the blameless keeps his way straight.” Proverbs 11:5a “For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose heart is blameless toward him.” 2 Chronicles 16:9a “And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to […]
“On the eighth day you shall have a solemn assembly. You shall not do any ordinary work, but you shall offer a burnt offering, a food offering, with a pleasing aroma to the LORD: one bull, one ram, seven male lambs a year old without blemish, and the grain offering and the drink offerings for […]
“And [Jesus] was teaching daily in the temple. The chief priests and the scribes and the principal men of the people were seeking to destroy him, but they did not find anything they could do, for all the people were hanging on his words.” Luke 19:47-48 Oh, to be so captivated. Hanging on the Lord’s […]
“And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, ‘Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today.’” Luke 19:5 Jesus knew. He knew Zacchaeus was waiting, hidden up in the tree, to see Him. And that mattered to the Savior who seeks and saves the […]
“For you, O God, have tested us; you have tried us as silver is tried. You brought us into the net; you laid a crushing burden on our backs; you let men ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water; yet you have brought us out to a place of abundance.” Psalm […]
“God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it? Behold, I received a command to bless; he has blessed, and I cannot revoke it. He has […]
“For the LORD gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding.” Proverbs 2:6 Knowledge and understanding. Because our God does not just know things. He understands them. He understands it all. The ins and outs of your situation. Where you are and what you are dealing with. The thoughts and feelings you’re having, the […]
“Oh, how abundant is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you and worked for those who take refuge in you, in the sight of the children of mankind!” Psalm 31:19 “Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it […]
In Pleasant Places 