“The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at Jonah’s preaching; and look – something greater than Jonah is here. The queen of the south will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because she came from the ends of […]
“For this is what love for God is: to keep his commands. And his commands are not a burden, because everyone who has been born of God conquers the world. This is the victory that has conquered the world: our faith. Who is the one who conquers the world but the one who believes that […]
“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:1 This morning I read through Hebrews 11, and it has me contemplating faith. This assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Assurance and conviction resting firmly on the foundation of who our God is […]
“And David arose and went with all the people who were with him from Baale-judah to bring up from there the ark of God, which is called by the name of the LORD of hosts who sits enthroned on the cherubim.” 2 Samuel 6:2 The narrator’s description in this verse strongly emphasizes the greatness of […]
“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 […]
“Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving” Colossians 4:2 Being watchful. This can speak of self-awareness, a guarding of one’s thoughts and perspectives – guarding for truth, for humility, for trust. It can also speak of faith. A watchful expectation that God will come through, that He will hear. The latter is […]
“Those who look to Him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed.” Psalm 34:5 Radiant. With the joy of Christ in us which comes from abiding in Him and in His love, a joy that is full beyond any other. (John 15:1-11) With peace knowing that He who is in us is greater […]
“This God – his way is perfect; the word of the LORD proves true; he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him. For who is God, but the LORD? And who is a rock, except our God?” Psalm 18:30-31 Recently I had a big struggle with faith. It just seemed like […]
“At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, ‘Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.’ This phrase, ‘Yet once more,’ indicates the removal of things that are shaken—that is, things that have been made—in order that the things that cannot be shaken may […]
“Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire.” Hebrews 12:28-29 This passage begins with a picture of how God manifested Himself to the Israelites in the wilderness: “a blazing fire […]
In Pleasant Places 