Bible Quote #79
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Do not depend on your own understanding. In all your ways obey him. Then he will make your paths smooth and straight. Don’t be wise in your own eyes. Have respect for the Lord and avoid evil.” – Written by King Solomon in the book of Proverbs
Sometimes we have many decisions we need to make. We wonder where we should live. We wonder what job to take. We wonder how to relate to our family, our relatives, and our friends. God knows everything about us. He knows the end from the beginning. He is not worried about the future. So we must trust Him. We can ask Him to give us peace in our heart. We must obey
His teachings. We can ask God to guide us. If we do these things, we will not need to worry about the future. We can rest in God’s wisdom and know that he will show us each day what we must do. -Ernest
Bible Quote #78
“Love must be honest and true. Hate what is evil. Hold on to what is good. Love one another deeply. Honor others more than yourselves. Stay excited about your faith as you serve the Lord. When you hope, be joyful. When you suffer, be patient. When you pray, be faithful. Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Welcome others into your homes. Bless those who hurt you. Bless them, and do not curse them. Be joyful with those who are joyful. Be sad with those who are sad. Live in harmony with one another. Don’t be proud. Be willing to be a friend of people who aren’t considered important. Don’t think that you are better than others.” – Written by Paul, a follower of Jesus, in a letter he wrote to Roman believers.
If everyone in the world followed these encouragements and instructions, the world would be a much better place. There are groups of believers all over the world who try hard to follow these instructions. They ask God to change them into the kind of people who are more like Jesus. When they do this, their communities become a place that God’s presence is felt. – Ernest
Bible Quote #77
“God opposes those who are proud. But he gives grace to those who are humble. So make yourselves humble. Put yourselves under God’s mighty hand. Then he will honor you at the right time. Turn all your worries over to him. God always gives you all the grace you need.” –written by Simon Peter, a follower of Jesus
Simon Peter wrote these words to believers and followers of Jesus in many countries. These words are for everyone in the world today. Humility should be a character trait of every person who believes in Jesus. Humble people receive much grace from God. People who trust God and do not worry also receive grace from God. Currently there is much anxiety and worry in our world. But God wants us to experience a deep settled peace in our heart, even during difficult times. We can pray and ask God for a deep inner peace.
Bible Quote #76
“Endure through hard times. God uses them to train you. He is treating you as his children. What children are not trained by their parents? God trains all his children. But what if he doesn’t train you? Then you are not really his children. You are not God’s true sons and daughters at all. Besides, we have all had human fathers who trained us. We respected them for it. How much more should we be trained by the Father of spirits and live! Our parents trained us for a little while. They did what they thought was best. But God trains us for our good. He does this so we may share in his holiness. No training seems pleasant at the time. In fact, it seems painful. But later on it produces a harvest of godliness and peace. It does this for those who have been trained by it.” – Letter to the Hebrews, chapter 12.
Do you experience hard things sometimes? I do. Difficult experiences can make our hearts softer toward God and toward other people. Or they can make us hard and bitter toward God and others. It is our choice whether the tough things of life make us better or bitter. The writer to the Hebrews advises them and us to accept the training that God is trying to do in our hearts. God wants us to become better people. – Ernest
Bible Quote #75
“The Lord upholds all who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down.
The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food at the proper time.
You open your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing.
The Lord is righteous in all his ways and faithful in all he does.
The Lord is near to all who call on him to all who call on him in truth.
He fulfills the desires of those who fear him he hears their cry and saves them. My mouth will speak in praise of the Lord. Let every creature praise his holy name for ever and ever.” – A Prayer of King David – Psalm 145
“The LORD” refers to God our heavenly Father. He is the creator of all things. We can trust God to do what is best, even when life is difficult and there are many things to fear. -Ernest
Bible Quote #74
“We know what love is because Jesus Christ gave his life for us. So we should give our lives for our brothers and sisters. Suppose someone sees a brother or sister in need and is able to help them. And suppose that person doesn’t take pity on these needy people. Then how can the love of God be in that person? Dear children, don’t just talk about love. Put your love into action. Then it will truly be love.” First Epistle of John, Chapter 3
There is much love in heaven among God the Father, Jesus Christ the Son, and The Holy Spirit. As these three relate together in perfect harmony, there is more love than what this relationship can contain and the love needs to go somewhere. We as humans are the recipients of this love. As we love God fully, we too will have more love than we can contain. People around us get to experience and receive the love of our relationship with Jesus and God the Father.
Bible Quote #73
“If any of you needs wisdom, you should ask God for it. He will give it to you. God gives freely to everyone and does not find fault. But when you ask, you must believe. You must not doubt. That is because a person who doubts is like a wave of the sea. The wind blows and tosses them around. They should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. This kind of person cannot make up their mind. They can never decide what to do.” – From the writings of James, a follower of Jesus.
Most of us need to make many decisions each week. At such times, we can rely on the wisdom of men and women, or we can look to God our Creator for wisdom. Much wisdom for making decisions can be found in the Bible. But it is also good to pray every day that God will give us wisdom for the decisions and choices we will need to make that day. If we ask God for wisdom, we will be less controlled by the opinions of men and women and our thinking will be more in harmony with God. –Ernest
Bible Quote #72
“Dear friends, here is one thing you must not forget. With the Lord a day is like a thousand years. And a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow to keep his promise. He is not slow in the way some people understand it. Instead, he is patient with you. He doesn’t want anyone to be destroyed. Instead, he wants all people to turn away from their sins.” – Written by Simon Peter, a disciple of Jesus.
The term “Lord” refers to God or Jesus. When Jesus left earth and went back to be with His Father God in Heaven, He told His disciples (followers) that He would come back to earth and take all who those who love Him to be with Him forever. We who love God are still waiting for Jesus to return. Some people think that because it has been 2000 years since Jesus went to be with his Father, that maybe Jesus will not return. This Bible quote from Simon Peter assures us that Jesus will return. God always keeps his promises. The reason Jesus has not yet returned is because He and His Father want all people to stop sinning and become lovers of God.
Bible Quote #71
“God said, ‘As long as the earth lasts, there will always be a time to plant, and a time to gather the crops. As long as the earth lasts, there will always be cold and heat. There will always be summer and winter, day and night… I have put my rainbow in the clouds. It will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth. Sometimes when I bring clouds over the earth, a rainbow will appear in them. Then I will remember my covenant between me and you and every kind of living creature on the earth. The waters will never again become a flood to destroy all life. When the rainbow appears in the clouds.'” -from the Book of Genesis, chapter 8 and 9
This week our family saw a beautiful double rainbow in the sky. We have also been planting seeds and plants in our garden. This time of year is always a delightful time because we remember God’s promises to us and to every living thing in the world.
Bible Quote #70
“Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord. Let us give a loud shout to the Rock who saves us.
Let us come to him and give him thanks. Let us praise him with music and song. The Lord is the great God. He is the greatest King. He owns the deepest parts of the earth. The mountain peaks belong to him. The ocean is his, because he made it. He formed the dry land with his hands. Come, let us bow down and worship him. Let us fall on our knees in front of the Lord our Maker. He is our God. We are the sheep belonging to his flock. We are the people he takes good care of.” – Psalm 95, written by King David
God is worthy of our praise and our thanksgiving. He is the Creator of all things. – Ernest
Bible Quote #69
“Then Jesus said, ‘I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry. And whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. I will never send away anyone who comes to me. I have not come down from heaven to do what I want to do. I have come to do what the one who sent me wants me to do. The one who sent me does not want me to lose anyone he has given me. He wants me to raise them up on the last day. My Father wants all who look to the Son and believe in him to have eternal life. I will raise them up on the last day.’” – words of Jesus the Son of God – recorded by John, a follower of Jesus.
No person can meet all the needs of another person. God the Father and Jesus are the only ones who can give us everything we need. We can model our lives after Jesus, because he perfectly did the will of God while he lived here on earth. Now Jesus is in heaven with his Father and Jesus wants all of us to be with them some day. We can be with God the Father and with Jesus after we pass from this life, if we prepare now to be with them. Believing in God and in Jesus by faith and obeying their instructions is how we can experience eternal life. – Ernest
Bible Quote #68
“The Lord looks down from heaven on all people. He wants to see if there are any who understand. He wants to see if there are any who trust in God.” – “Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually!” – “Turn to the Lord before it is too late. Call out to him while He is still ready to help you. Let those who are evil stop doing evil things. And let them quit thinking evil thoughts. Let them turn to the Lord. The Lord will show them his tender love. Let them turn to our God. He is always ready to forgive.” – God says, “You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.” – “Blessed are those who obey God’s covenant laws. They seek him with all their hearts.”
This is a collection of Bible verses that talk about seeking and searching for God. I hope that all of you will continue searching for God and His will. There is much to learn about God and his thoughts. The more we know about Him, the more we can depend on Him and trust Him to lead us. –Ernest
Bible Quote #67
“The Lord and King is coming with power. He rules with a powerful arm. He takes care of his flock like a shepherd. He gathers the lambs in his arms. He carries them close to his heart. He gently leads those that have little ones. Who has measured the oceans by using the palm of his hand? Who has used the width of his hand to mark off the sky? Who has measured out the dust of the earth in a basket? Who has weighed the mountains on scales? Who has weighed the hills in a balance? Who can ever understand the Spirit of the Lord? Who can ever give him advice?
Did the Lord have to ask anyone to help him understand? Did he have to ask someone to teach him the right way? Who taught him what he knows? Who showed him how to understand? The nations are only a drop in a bucket to him. He considers them as nothing but dust on the scales. He weighs the islands as if they were only fine dust”. – From the Prophet Isaiah – Chapter 40
We have a very big God that we can trust! – Ernest
Bible Quote #66
“The Lord is my shepherd. He gives me everything I need. He lets me lie down in fields of green grass. He leads me beside quiet waters. He gives me new strength. He guides me in the right paths for the honor of his name.” – King David | Psalm 23
“And God is able to shower all kinds of blessings on you. So in all things and at all times you will have everything you need. You can do more and more good works.” – Paul | in letter to the Corinthians
“My God will meet all your needs. He will meet them in keeping with his wonderful spiritual riches. These spiritual riches come to those who belong to Christ Jesus.”– Paul | in letter to the Philippians
Remember to thank God (the Supplier) today. He is worthy of our praise and our gratefulness! – Ernest
Bible Quote #65
“Let us praise the name of the Lord, both now and forever. From the sunrise in the east to the sunset in the west, may the name of the Lord be praised. The Lord is honored over all the nations. His glory reaches to the highest heavens. Who is like the Lord our God? He sits on his throne in heaven. He bends down to look at the heavens and the earth. He raises poor people up from the trash pile. He lifts needy people out of the ashes.” Psalm 113
It is good to stop and remind ourselves sometimes that everything in the universe is under the control of God. Nothing takes Him by surprise. He knows in advance what will take place in the world. We can talk to him through prayer, and we can trust Him during time of difficulty. If we seek God and love God, he will hear our prayers. -Ernest
Bible Quote #64“What I received I passed on to you. And it is the most important of all. Here is what it is. Christ died for our sins, just as Scripture said he would. He was buried. He was raised from the dead on the third day, just as Scripture said he would be. He appeared to Peter. Then he appeared to the 12 apostles. After that, he appeared to more than 500 brothers and sisters at the same time. Most of them are still living. But some have died. He appeared to James. Then he appeared to all the apostles. Last of all, he also appeared to me. If Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain.” – Written by the Apostle Paul in his first letter to the Corinthians
“Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.” – From the letter to the Hebrews
Bible Quote #63
“Whoever rests in the shadow of the Most High God will be kept safe by the Mighty One.
I will say about the Lord, “He is my place of safety. He is like a fort to me. He is my God. I trust in him. He will certainly deliver you from hidden traps and from deadly sickness. He will cover you with his wings. Under the feathers of his wings you will find safety. He is faithful. He will keep you safe like a shield or a tower. You won’t have to be afraid of the terrors that come during the night. You won’t have to fear the arrows that come at you during the day. You won’t have to be afraid of the sickness that attacks in the darkness. You won’t have to fear the plague that destroys at noon.” – From Psalm 91
These words written by King David about 3000 years ago are still true today. In the New Testament, we are not promised physical protection like God promised the Israelites in the Old Testament. However, there is a spiritual meaning in these verses that is still true today. God will be with us no matter what happens. There is no need to fear when our faith, hope and trust is in God. If we become sick God is still with us. When we reach the end of our life, God will deliver us by taking us to heaven. In heaven there will be no more sickness, no more pain, no more suffering. This is real deliverance. Let us trust God in these times!
Bible Quote #62
“A huge cloud of witnesses is all around us. So let us throw off everything that stands in our way. Let us throw off any sin that holds on to us so tightly. And let us keep on running the race marked out for us. Let us keep looking to Jesus. He is the one who started this journey of faith. And he is the one who completes the journey of faith. He paid no attention to the shame of the cross. He suffered there because of the joy he was looking forward to. Then he sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” -Letter to the Hebrews, 12:1-2
This quote begins by telling us there are many people who loved and followed Jesus who are witnesses to the grace of God and they are examples for us. Then this biblical writer encourages us to not quit in our desire to learn more about Jesus and follow him with all of our heart. The writer encourages us to keep our eyes focused on Jesus and the reward we will have if we continue believing in Jesus and staying true to Him. This focus enabled Jesus to go through very difficult experiences and not give up. Because of this, Jesus is sitting at the right hand of God the Father. We also can be with God our Father and his son Jesus someday if we keep our focus on them.
Bible Inspiration #61
Here in the USA, many of us are staying at home. One of my friends wrote this paraphrase of Psalm 46. I hope it will bless you today. – Ernest
———
God is…
Our safe house
Our security
Our stronghold
Our sustenance
Our Savior
The one we can count on to be right by our side
Early morning
Through the day
Night-time duty
He is here with everything we need
When we need everything.
Therefore we…
Are calmed
And comforted
And refuse to give in to anxiety
Though all we can see
Is calamity
Our world is rocking
Waves of trouble
Hurricanes of sorrow
Crashing and tempest
Tumult and shaking
But God…
Oh, the comfort of His presence!
The Rock that cannot move
The River that cannot run dry
Fresh water
Abundant life
Streams of goodness
Every day
Every hour
Every minute
Not one second of all time will His people be separated from Him.
He is with us!
When disaster strikes
When the earth crumbles
When the stars fall
When the whole world topples
He’s with us!
Come, consider with me the great things God has done.
He spoke everything into existence
He brought His enslaved people out of Egypt
Yes, come, and consider even greater things He has done…
He entered our world…
Healing flowed like a river
Life erupted like a fountain
The kingdom of the heavens came to earth
Men and women came to life
Their hearts beat with love
Their lips and hands and feet were bathed in righteousness
People of diverse nationalities and race
Laid down their weapons
Their pride
Their prejudice
And embraced as brothers and sisters in one family
Be still!
Just contemplate.
Meditate on this mega-story
Review each chapter.
Take in each line…
And know!
That God is God.
He will do His will.
He will finish His plan.
He will redeem His people.
He will restore all that is broken.
All nations will sing His praises!
All languages will shout the Hallelujah!
This God is our God!
The Lord Jehovah is with His people
Today
Tomorrow
The next day
Until time is no more…
And then the relationship is only begun!
Quote #60
“The Lord God is like the sun that gives us light.
He is like a shield that keeps us safe.
The Lord blesses us with favor and honor.
He doesn’t hold back anything good
from those whose lives are without blame.
Lord who rules over all,
blessed is the person who trusts in you!”
Psalm 84
Quote #59
“So be careful. When you think you are standing firm, you might fall. You are tempted in the same way all other human beings are. God is faithful. He will not let you be tempted any more than you can take. But when you are tempted, God will give you a way out. Then you will be able to deal with it.” – From Paul’s letter to the church at Corinth.
This advice and counsel from the Bible is good for all times. Any person or group of people can become overly confident and become proud. Then they are likely to have many problems. But even when we face problems and temptations from Satan the devil; God is faithful, and he can help us be faithful also. So if we are tempted to do something wrong, we should ask God for wisdom to take the right path away from the temptation. Then God will help us!
Quote #58
“The Lord who created you, says, ‘Do not be afraid. You belong to me. You will pass through deep waters. But I will be with you. I am the Lord your God. I am the one who saves you.’” -from Isaiah 43
These words of the Lord God to the people of Israel can be for us also. The New Testament part of the Bible says that the promises and blessings made to Israel in the Old Testament, are now promises and blessings for any person, anywhere. Anyone who receives Jesus into their and heart and makes him their Lord, can have the assurance that God will be with them when they face difficulty and problems.
Quote #57
But let us give thanks to God! He gives us the victory because of what our Lord Jesus Christ has done. My dear brothers and sisters, remain strong in the faith. Don’t let anything move you. Always give yourselves completely to the work of the Lord. – Written in a letter to the Corinthians, by Paul, a follower of Jesus.
We can give thanks to God and have faith in Him at all times – when we are sad and when we are happy. When we are scared, and when we have no worries. There is always something for which we can thank God. If we believe in Him and trust him, we can know that everything will be for good in the end. Jesus is our Savior. We have no other lasting hope.
Quote #56
“The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer. My God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised.” – A Psalm of David. Chapter18
When life is uncertain, when life is perplexing, we want something that is constant; something that is trustworthy. Anything that can only be found within this universe cannot give us a settled peace. But Someone outside the universe -someone who made the universe – this God we can fully trust. Prayer: Thank you God for your goodness to us! Help us to trust you more.
Quote #55
“See what amazing love the Father has given us! Because of it, we are called children of God. And that’s what we really are! The world doesn’t know us because it didn’t know him. Dear friends, now we are children of God. He still hasn’t let us know what we will be. But we know that when Christ appears, we will be like him. That’s because we will see him as he really is. Christ is pure. All who hope to be like him make themselves pure.” – from the Epistle of John chapter 3
There are some things in life we can understand by looking in at Christianity from the outside. But there are other realities that can only be understood by committing ourselves to God and to his son Jesus. These verses from the Apostle John reflect an understanding that is only understood fully by those who are committed to God. -Have a blessed week!
Quote #54
“Do you love life and want to see many good days? Then keep your tongues from speaking evil. Keep your lips from telling lies. Turn away from evil, and do good. Look for peace, and go after it. The Lord looks with favor on those who are godly. His ears are open to their cry for help. But the Lord does not look with favor on those who do evil.” -From Psalm 34 (“The Lord” is one of many names for God – the creator of the universe.)
These words were written by King David, a man after God’s own heart. A person of integrity is one who always does the right thing whether at home or in public. Are you a person of integrity? A person of integrity does what is right, even when others encourage them to do wrong. God rewards people who ask Him to help them when they face a test or temptation to do something wrong.
Quote #53
“Do not cause the Holy Spirit sorrow by the way you live. Get rid of your bitterness, hot tempers, anger, loud quarreling, cursing, and hatred. Be kind to each other, sympathetic, forgiving each other as God has forgiven you through Christ.” Letter to the Ephesians 4:30-32
This instruction from the Apostle Paul is good advice for any time or any place. But at the beginning of a New Year, this admonition to love rather than hate is a good goal. God’s Holy Spirit will help us live the right way if we ask God to help us become the person he created us to be.
Quote #52
“The angel said, “Joseph, son of David, don’t be afraid to take Mary home as your wife. The baby inside her is from the Holy Spirit. She is going to have a son. You must give him the name Jesus. That’s because he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to bring about what the Lord had said would happen. He had said through the prophet, “The virgin is going to have a baby. She will give birth to a son. And he will be called Immanuel.” The name Immanuel means “God with us.” – Book of Matthew, a follower of Jesus
As we think about the Savior of the world, we wish each of you a blessed Christmas. – Ernest and Cathy Eby
Quote #51
“Every good and perfect gift is from God. This kind of gift comes down from the Father who created the heavenly lights. These lights create shadows that move. But the Father does not change like these shadows.” – The Epistle of James
We live in an era whenever changes are happening so fast that it is nearly impossible to keep up with all the changes and still keep a manner of thinking and living that is truly livable. This quote from the Bible assures us that we need not to try to stay current with all the changes, but rather focus on what is enduring. God our Father will never change. We can depend on Him and learn His heart and His principles that are good for all times and all places.
Quote #50
“Give thanks to the Lord for his faithful love. Give thanks for the wonderful things he does for people. In everything give thanks!” – Psalm 107 and Letter to the Thessalonians.
This week is the Thanksgiving holiday in the United States. The original Thanksgiving Day was celebrated by some settlers who survived their first difficult winter in Massachusetts and were able to grow plenty of food the following summer. To express their gratitude, they had a day of thanksgiving to God for providing for their physical needs.
Everyday should be a day of thanksgiving to God, but it is good to take some time each year to really thank God for how he made our universe and for how he provides for our needs. Someone has said, “Peace is seeing a beautiful sunset and knowing who to thank!”
Quote #49 “May the God who gives hope fill you with great joy. May you have perfect peace as you trust in him. May the power of the Holy Spirit fill you with hope.” – Letter to the Romans, chapter 15.
This blessing from the apostle Paul was written to people in Rome who believed in God and his son Jesus the Christ. Paul wanted these new believers to thrive and prosper spiritually. Because they had chosen to believe, Paul could bless them and tell them how to keep experiencing the blessing of God. This same blessing is for us, if we believe in God by faith. If our faith is not very strong, we can always ask God to increase our faith. I wish this same blessing and hope for each of you as you exercise your faith and trust in God. – Ernest
Quote #48
“Don’t worry about anything. No matter what happens, tell God about everything. Ask and pray, and give thanks to him. Then God’s peace will watch over your hearts and your minds. He will do this because you belong to Christ Jesus. God’s peace can never be completely understood.”
Letter to the Philippians, Chapter 4:6-7
Have you ever met a Christian whose life was one of settled peace? One of the blessings of obeying God and trusting him fully is that we can experience a deep inner peace. Many people in the world would love to have this peace but do not have it. Some do not know how to get this peace. Others make choices that rob them of this peace. However, any person anywhere in the world can have this peace if they start seeking it today by trusting and committing themselves to God and his son Jesus the Christ.
Quote #47
Jesus said, “Ask, and it will be given to you. Search, and you will find. Knock, and the door will be opened to you. Everyone who asks will receive. The one who searches will find. The door will be opened to the one who knocks.
You know how to give good gifts to your children. How much more will your Father who is in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!”
This quote of Jesus from Matthew 7 teaches the importance of diligently seeking after truth. Learning the truth about God, the truth about people, and the truth about reality is something we should make a priority in our lives. But we should also ask God to continue giving us other good gifts like food, clothing and shelter. God is the provider of everything we need, even if we don’t recognize that these gifts come from Him!
Quote #46
Jesus said, “Anyone who believes in me is not judged. But anyone who does not believe is judged already. They have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. Here is the judgment. Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light. They loved darkness because what they did was evil. Everyone who does evil deeds hates the light. They will not come into the light. They are afraid that what they do will be seen. But anyone who lives by the truth comes into the light. They live by the truth with God’s help. They come into the light so that it will be easy to see their good deeds.”
– selected from John 3
Quote #45
“People came to Jesus from many towns. As they did, he told a story. He said, ‘A farmer went out to plant his seed. He scattered the seed on the ground. Some fell on a path. People walked on it, and the birds ate it up. Some seed fell on rocky ground. When it grew, the plants dried up because they had no water. Other seed fell among thorns. The thorns grew up with it and crowded out the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil. It grew up and produced a crop 100 times more than the farmer planted. Whoever has ears should listen. Here is what the story means. The seed is God’s message. The seed on the path stands for God’s message in the hearts of those who hear. But then the devil comes. He takes away the message from their hearts. He does it so they won’t believe. Then they cannot be saved. The seed on rocky ground stands for those who hear the message and receive it with joy. But they have no roots. They believe for a while. But when they are tested, they fall away from the faith. The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear the message. But as they go on their way, they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures. So they do not reach full growth. But the seed on good soil stands for those with an honest and good heart. Those people hear the message. They keep it in their hearts. They remain faithful and produce a good crop.’”
– selected from Luke 8
Quote #44
“Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them. We will come to them and make our home with them.” -Jesus Christ, Son of God. -John 14:23
Jesus said these words to his disciples the last evening before he died. These words explain the importance of not just believing in God and in Jesus, but also loving and obeying them. In this quote, Jesus is promising a blessing to anyone who loves and obeys. The blessing is the spirit of God and the spirit of Jesus making a home in our heart. At any time and in any place, anyone can ask God to come and live inside them through God’s Spirit.
Quote #43
“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives his life for the sheep. When the hired man sees the wolf coming, he leaves the sheep and runs away. The hired man does not care about the sheep. I am the good shepherd. I know my sheep, and my sheep know me. My sheep listen to my voice. I know them, and they follow me.” -Jesus Christ, Son of God. -John 10
This quote from Jesus shows us how much He and his Father love us. They created us and designed us, and therefore care about us very much. Jesus cared about us so much that he was willing to die on a wood cross to save us from sin and destruction. This love from Jesus, should make us willing to love, obey, trust, and follow Him.
Quote #42
“Many will come in my name. They will claim, ‘I am the Messiah!’ (or ‘I am Jesus Christ!’) They will fool many people.” – Matthew 24:5
Jesus gave this warning when he was here on earth, he warned his followers that there would be people who will claim to be Jesus or one of his prophets, when they really were not. This has happened often the last 200 years. We should be alert for false prophets and not be deceived by what they have to say.
Quote #41
“But God loves us deeply. He is full of mercy. So he gave us new life because of what Christ has done. He gave us life even when we were dead in sin. God’s grace has saved you. God raised us up with Christ. He has seated us with him in his heavenly kingdom. That’s because we belong to Christ Jesus. He has done it to show the riches of his grace for all time to come. His grace can’t be compared with anything else. He has shown it by being kind to us. He was kind to us because of what Christ Jesus has done.”
Letter to the Ephesians 2:4-7
The Apostle Paul wrote these words to some new believers in Jesus, who were living in the city of Ephesus. These words are universal and can be claimed by anyone today who commits themselves fully to God and patterns their life after Jesus.
Quote #40
“Whoever of you wants to become first among you, shall be bond-servant of all. For the Son of Man also came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” – Jesus Christ, Son of God. Mark 10: 44-45
Jesus often referred to himself as the Son of Man when he lived on this earth. Even though he was God, he humbled himself and became human in many ways. The statement above from Jesus is a foundational principle for anyone desiring to be His follower. Unselfish service to others and giving our lives for others is what true Christianity is all about.
Quote #39
No one can serve two masters at the same time. You will hate one of them and love the other. Or you will be faithful to one and dislike the other. You can’t serve God and money at the same time. Jesus Christ, Son of God. Matthew 6:24
Many people would like to receive the benefits of Christianity but are not willing to give up their pursuit of wealth. In this quote, Jesus explains why it is impossible for a person to pursue riches and be a faithful Christian at the same time.
Quote #38
“People were bringing little children to Jesus. They wanted him to place his hands on them to bless them. Jesus said, ‘Let the little children come to me. Do not keep them away. God’s kingdom belongs to people like them. Anyone who will not receive God’s kingdom like a little child will never enter it.’” – From the book of Mark, chapter 10.
Young children are not afraid of what people think about them. Young children are not afraid to praise God in front of other people. Young children have faith and trust in their parents. When Jesus was here on earth 2000 years ago, he took a special interest in children. God wants us to be free in spirit like little children. God wants us to have faith and trust in Him, in the same way that little children trust their parents. When we trust God and obey him, we become a citizen of God’s nation.
Quote #37
And when you stand praying, forgive anyone you have anything against. Then your Father in heaven will forgive your sins.” – Jesus Christ, Son of God. Mark 11:25
The ability to forgive those who wrong us is very important. If we want to experience forgiveness from God, we must forgive those who wrong us.
Quote #36
“Come to me, all you who are tired and are carrying heavy loads. I will give you rest. Become my servants and learn from me. I am gentle and free of pride. You will find rest for your souls. Serving me is easy, and my load is light.” – Jesus Christ, Son of God. Matthew 11:28-30
This invitation from Jesus is for every person in the world. There are many things in life that can make our spirit feel heavy. Sometimes we are sad. Many times we have problems. Some people feel lonely. All people have sinned. No matter what load we are carrying in our heart, Jesus invites us to take our heavy load to Him. He will help us.
Quote #35
“Enter God’s kingdom through the narrow gate. The gate is large and the road is wide that leads to ruin. Many people go that way. But the gate is small and the road is narrow that leads to life. Only a few people find it.” – Jesus Christ, Son of God. Matthew 7:13-14
Anyone who wants to be a part of God’s people and part of His kingdom, need to come to God through Jesus. The true way to life and peace and joy is different from how most people in the world go about looking for these things. The true way to life and joy and peace is found by trusting in God, following the teachings and example of Jesus, and by loving God and his Son with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength.
Quote #34
“Those who are well have no need of a doctor, but those who are sick. I have not come to call people who think they are in right standing with God, but rather I am come to call sinners to repentance.” Jesus Christ, Son of God. Luke 5:31-32
Jesus said these words to some very religious people who wondered why Jesus would associate with the outcasts of society. Jesus explained that he cannot help people who think of themselves as being really good. People can start new habits and make their behavior better. But only Jesus can change those things deep within us that make us want to do something different than what God wants us to do. Our natural inclination is to be selfish and self-centered. Jesus, the Great Doctor, can change us from the inside out. He can change us into a person that reflects His others-centered character.
Quote #33
“What do you think? Suppose a man owns 100 sheep and one of them wanders away. Won’t he leave the 99 sheep on the hills? Will he not go and look for the one that wandered off? If he finds that sheep, he is happier about the one than about the 99 that did not wander off. It is the same with your Father in heaven. He does not want any of these little ones to die.” Jesus Christ, Son of God. Matthew 18:12-14
Many places in the Bible, humans are compared with sheep and God or Jesus is compared to a good shepherd. Many Christian paintings and drawings show a good shepherd taking care of his sheep. Christians find comfort when they think of this word picture. Sometimes when I lay down to sleep, I will picture this scene and it brings peace to my heart. I know that God will take good care of me if I stay near to him.
Quote #32
“Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again. But anyone who drinks the water I give them will never be thirsty. In fact, the water I give them will become a spring of water in them. It will flow up into eternal life.” Jesus Christ, Son of God. John 4:13-14
Jesus said these words to a woman He met at a village well. Jesus asked the woman for a drink of water. Jesus then explained to her that He could give Living Water that would quench the driest parts of her soul and spirit. Only Jesus can give people life, hope and peace that will last forever and ever. We can pray and ask Jesus to give us this living water that will transform our hearts and minds. This transformation can make us live in greater harmony with God.
Quote #31
“Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.
Your kingdom come.
Your will be done
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
As we forgive our debtors.
And do not lead us into temptation,
But deliver us from the evil one.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.”
Jesus’ students asked Him to teach them to pray. Jesus taught them this prayer. It is sometimes referred to as the “model prayer”. Our church says this prayer by memory every Sunday. It is a good prayer for anyone to pray anywhere and at any time.
Quote #30
Jesus said, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must say no to themselves. They must pick up their cross and follow me. Whoever wants to save their life will lose it. But whoever loses their life for me and for the good news will save it. What good is it if someone gains the whole world but loses their soul? Or what can anyone trade for their soul?” Mark 8:34-37
This teaching from Jesus was spoken a couple years prior to His own death on a wood cross. Jesus knew in advance how He would die, because of His communication with His Father God in heaven. His instruction to His disciples and to us is that we should be willing to give up (kill) anything that would keep us from experiencing salvation and eternal life. Sin, unbelief, hate, or an unwillingness to be a disciple of Jesus can cause us to lose our soul. Today is the day of opportunity.
Quote #29
Jesus said, “I am the true vine. My father [God] is the gardener. He cuts off every branch joined to me that does not bear fruit. Remain joined to me, just as I also remain joined to you. No branch can bear fruit by itself. It must remain joined to the vine. In the same way, you can’t bear fruit unless you remain joined to me.” – John 15
This instruction reminds us of how important it is to get connected and stay connected to the source of life. God the Father and his son Jesus created the universe. Our DNA is something they designed and created. If we stay connected to Jesus and his Father we can receive spiritual life that will make our lives fruitful. A fruitful life will bless many people and God will receive the honor from whatever we do.
Quote #28
“But here is something else I remember. And it gives me hope. The Lord loves us very much. So we haven’t been completely destroyed. His loving concern never fails. His great love is new every morning. Lord, how faithful you are! I say to myself, ‘The Lord is everything I will ever need. So I will put my hope in him.’ The Lord is good to those who put their hope in him. He is good to those who look to him.”
These words were written by the prophet Jeremiah in his book of lamentations, chapter 3.
The word LORD is sometimes used in the Bible as a name for God. Jeremiah lived at a time in Jewish history when many of God’s people were no longer loving God and serving him. This was a very great sadness to Jeremiah. However, even when there are many things to be sad about, a person who believes in God can find peace and hope when they think about the unchangeableness of God.
Quote #27
“The LORD is the one who will go before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or abandon you. Do not be afraid or discouraged.” Deuteronomy 31:8
This is a spiritual promise to those who love God and obey him. Those who believe in God and follow his son Jesus Christ have found hope and comfort in promises like these for many centuries. A person cannot simply believe that God exists. They must also follow God, love the things that He loves, and hate the things that He hates. When people do this, they find the promises of God in the Bible to be true.
Quote #26
God is our refuge and strength, a help always near in times of great trouble. That is why we will not be afraid when the world falls apart, when the mountains crumble into the center of the sea, when its waters roar and rage, when the mountains shake because of its surging waves. Psalm 46:1-3 King David who wrote these words had a strong confidence in God.
This time of year we read much in the news about tornadoes, cyclones, flooding, mudslides and other natural disasters that are happening around the world. Those who trust in God do not need to be afraid. They know that no matter what happens, God will be with them and comfort them. God notices everything that happens. As a Christian, I know that even if I die, my soul is safe with God. God is the Creator and He is still in control of the universe.
Quote #25
“Faith is the reality of what we hope for, the certainty of what we do not see. The ancients in the past were approved because they showed faith. By faith we understand that the universe has been created by a word from God so that the visible came into existence from the invisible.” Letter to the Hebrews, Chapter 11.
Much of what Christians have commonly believed over the centuries is based on reliable, verifiable information. Many thousands of people have examined the historicity of the Bible and were convinced that God is the Creator of the universe. It is very reasonable to believe what the Bible records. However, to become a Christian and a follower of Jesus requires more than mental agreement. Becoming a follower of Jesus the Christ requires us to take steps of faith and trust in the promises of God.
Quote #24
“We are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified. On the third day he will be raised to life!” – Jesus said these words to his followers near the end of his life.
Tomorrow is Easter in America. In countries on the other side of the world, Christians are already celebrating Easter. Why do we celebrate Easter? It is because Jesus resurrection from the dead is the foundation of the Christian faith.
The Apostle Paul says it this way, “ If Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins… If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most miserable and to be pitied.” I Corinthians 15
Quote #23
“The most important commandment is this: ‘Listen, O Israel! The Lord our God is the one and only Lord. And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.’ The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.”– Jesus Christ the Son of God / Mark 12:29-31
The Bible has two parts. An Old Testament and a New Testament. In this NT quote, Jesus quotes from two places in the OT. This was Jesus’ answer in response to a question about which OT commandment was the greatest.
If everyone in the world would follow and obey these two instructions, this world would be a very different place. There would be no war. No crime. No neglected children. No hungry people. No selfishness. No sins against God or others. People would share their surplus with others in need.
We cannot change the world, but we can make a difference in our communities if we diligently love God and love our neighbors.
Quote #22
“The most important commandment is this: ‘Listen, O Israel! The Lord our God is the one and only Lord. And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.’ The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.”– Jesus Christ the Son of God / Mark 12:29-31
The Bible has two parts. An Old Testament and a New Testament. In this NT quote, Jesus quotes from two places in the OT. This was Jesus’ answer in response to a question about which OT commandment was the greatest.
If everyone in the world would follow and obey these two instructions, this world would be a very different place. There would be no war. No crime. No neglected children. No hungry people. No selfishness. No sins against God or others. People would share their surplus with others in need.
We cannot change the world, but we can make a difference in our communities if we diligently love God and love our neighbors.
Quote #21
“We are not depressed or giving up. Even if our bodies are getting older and weaker, the person that we are on the inside is being renewed every day. Our temporary minor problems are helping us gain an eternal glory that is beyond all comparison. We do not focus on the things that can be seen. Instead, we focus on the things that cannot be seen. The things that can be seen do not last. But the things that cannot be seen are eternal.” I Corinthians 4:16-18
These verses written by the Apostle Paul explain how Christians can have so much hope and joy even when life is not going well and even when their bodies are not functioning well. A Christian can be getting weaker physically, but growing spiritually at the same time. Christians look forward to the day when they can be with God. In heaven, they will have new bodies and there will be no more death, pain, or sadness.
Quote #20
Blessed is the person who keeps on going when times are hard. After they have come through hard times, this person will receive a crown of life. The Lord has promised it to those who love him. James 1:12
Life on this earth can sometimes be difficult and sad. God knows this. God gives strength and purpose to those who love him. Only those who love God understand what it means to live life to its fullest. Then when those who love God, die physically, they will receive a new body and live forever with God.
Quote #19
“There is none like you, O LORD; you are great, and your name is great in might… Oh, Lord God, you have reached out your great and powerful arm. You indeed have made the heavens and the earth. Nothing is too hard for you. You show your love to thousands of people.” Jeremiah 10
These words, spoken by the prophet Jeremiah, are just as true today as when they were written. God is still a powerful, sovereign God. Even today, God is sustaining and his created universe. The harmony in the universe is because of his active involvement in the world that he Created. But God is not just powerful. He is also loving. He loves each person in the world and wants a personal relationship with each person.
Quote #18
“The heavens tell about the glory of God. The skies show that his hands created them. Day after day they speak about it. Night after night they make it known. They do not speak or use words. No sound is heard from them. Yet their words go out from one end of the world to the other.” Psalm 19:1-4
The Bible tells us that King David was “a man after God’s own heart.” David wrote this Psalm about 3,034 years ago, while he was a king in Israel. David’s observations are still valuable today!
Author Lee Strobel, a former atheist, writes, “I realized that if I were to embrace naturalism, I would have to believe that: 1. Nothing produces everything; 2. Non-life produces life; 3. Randomness produces fine-tuning; 4. Chaos produces information; 5. Unconsciousness produces consciousness; 6. Non-reason produces reason.” After much study, Strobel concluded that King David was right and he became a believer in God.
Quote #17
“Without faith it is impossible to please God. Those who come to God must believe that He exists. And they must believe that God rewards those who diligently seek Him.” Hebrews 11:6
There are many things in life that can be studied using the scientific method. Science can help us learn about God and it can help us understand what God is like. But science alone cannot produce faith. Faith is the result of us attempting to connect with God who created us. We communicate with God, through our “heart” or through our spirit. God is already wanting to communicate with us. So when we reach out to God in faith, He promises to respond and reward our effort to find Him.
Quote #16
“Every Scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for convincing, for correction of error, and for instruction in right living.”
This quote comes from a letter Paul wrote to a church leader named Timothy. This verse is the basis for why Christians believe the Bible is the most important book ever written. The person who guided the writers was God. Here are a few things that set the Bible apart from other holy books and make it a fully reliable and trustworthy historical record.
-It was written over a 1700 year time span
-It was written at different locations
-It was written by folks who were strangers to each other
-It was written in different literary styles
-It was written by people who didn’t intend to write a book
-It includes plural accounts of the same events
-It includes details that were common to historical writings of that time period. These types of details were not included in fiction writings until centuries later.
Quote #15
“Let us give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the merciful Father, the God from whom all help comes! He helps us in all our troubles, so that we are able to help others who have all kinds of troubles, using the same help that we ourselves have received from God.” 2 Corinthians 1:3-4
This quote written by the Apostle Paul brings meaning and purpose to any pain or suffering or sadness we may experience. If we look to God in time of difficulty, we will then be able to help others reach out to God also. The hardships of this life are not pointless. They have a purpose. God wants to use difficult experiences to make us into more mature and gracious people.
Note: If you wish to discontinue receiving these quotes at any time, just reply with “unsubscribe”.
Quote #14
“God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.” I John 1:5 “For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.” II Corinthians 4:6
At the beginning of the Bible, we can read how God created light in the universe. If God is light, and God can create physical light, certainly his son Christ Jesus will also manifest that light. This light from God and Christ Jesus can also fill the hearts and minds of anyone who is seeking the truth.
Quote #13
“Love is patient. Love is kind. It does not want what belongs to others. It does not brag. It is not proud. It does not dishonor other people. It does not look out for its own interests. It does not easily become angry. It does not keep track of other people’s wrongs. Love is not happy with evil. But it is full of joy when the truth is spoken. It always protects. It always trusts. It always hopes. It never gives up.” I Corinthians 13: 4-7
These words by the Apostle Paul were written to followers of Jesus in Corinth, in ancient Greece, circa AD 55. Even though civilizations have changed very much in the last two millennia, some things never change. Selfishness, distrust, unforgiveness, and disrespect of other people are attitudes that can take control of our minds and hearts in the 21st century. However, these things do not need to describe us. We can invite the Spirit of God to transform us. God’s Spirit can make us into people who reflect the nature and character of Jesus the Son of God. Jesus can help us to respectful other people, love others, trust people, and forgive those who wrong us.
Quote #12
“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Romans 12:2
These words by the Apostle Paul were written to Jesus’s followers in Rome, Italy. Paul had been a Jew earlier in his life and had been a harsh persecutor of Christians. When Paul surrendered to Jesus the Messiah, and allowed God to transform his life, he viewed life very differently. His thinking was transformed. The dominant ideas and values of his surrounding culture no longer controlled Paul’s thinking. The only thing that mattered to him anymore was whether his Creator was pleased with him. This is what it means to have a renewed mind.
Quote #11
“Come now, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit’ – yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, ‘If the Lord God wills, we will live and do this or that.’”James 4: 13-15
These inspired words of wisdom from James, a disciple of Jesus, are just as valuable today as they were when they were written about AD 50. No one knows what will happen the rest of this week. We can make plans as if we life will be the same, but only God knows what will actually happen. This is why it is important to always live according to the will of God. If we are living in God’s will, then whatever happens, whether it be good or bad, is something God can use for good.
Quote #10
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.” John 3:16-17
This portion of scripture is one of the most central beliefs to the Christian faith. It helps us understand what God the Father is like and what is in his heart. It tells us his intentions for the world. It tells us how Jesus was willing to leave the glories of heaven and come to earth where there is sin and suffering. It tells us the path for how we can enter into a relationship with God, our Creator. Belief in God should not be based on superstition. Those who believe in God should do so by faith and love, after considering the evidence and the basis for His existence.
I wish you a good week! – Ernest
Quote #9
The Lord [God] is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
These words are from a song of David and you can find them in Psalm 23. In these verses God is compared to a Shepherd, and we are compared to sheep. Just like a good shepherd feeds his sheep and protects them, so God takes care of those who trust in him. These verses have brought peace and comfort to people now for about 3000 years. God is the same yesterday, today and forever. If we obey Him and trust Him we can be assured that He will take good care of us! Happy New Year to all of our friends and acquaintances!
Quote #8
“Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will never grow faint or weary; His understanding is beyond searching out. He gives power to the faint and increases the strength of the weak. Even the youths may faint and grow weary, and young men stumble and fall. But those who wait upon the LORD will renew their strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not faint.” Isaiah 40:28-31
Life on earth has many uncertainties. We do not know what may happen in the year 2019. But these words written by the Prophet Isaiah, and given by inspiration of God, can give us hope and comfort. We can have a strong confidence that all will be well this year, if we put our hope and trust in God the Creator of the universe. Everything is under His control. He is the one who will give us the strength we need to deal with anything that happens this year. – Ernest
Quote #7
This quote is from the Old Testament prophet Isaiah (9:6-7)
“A child is born to us! A son is given to us! And he will be our ruler. He will be called, Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. His royal power will continue to grow; his kingdom will always be at peace… The LORD Almighty will accomplish this.”
This quote is a prophecy or prediction about the birth of Jesus Christ. It was written 600 years before the birth of Jesus by a prophet in Israel. Amazingly, many writers in the Old Testament spoke of the coming Messiah, hundreds of years before he was born. Jesus, God’s son, was born of the virgin Mary in a village called Bethlehem, in the country of Israel. In the New Testament, the word Messiah is translated Christ. The word Messiah or Christ means “anointed one”. God the Father anointed Jesus to be the King and Savior of the world. (The name Jesus was a common name among Jews. Hebrews, Israelites, and Jews are all names for the same group of people.)
We don’t know which month Jesus was actually born but many people celebrate his birth at Christmas, December 25. Christians celebrate his birth because of how much hope and peace Jesus brought to the earth, and because he still brings hope and peace to people’s hearts today! Jesus is very worthy of our worship!
Quote #6
Jesus said, “I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly… I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
When Jesus the Son of God lived here on earth 2000 years ago, he made some amazing statements. This quote is one of those. Jesus had the authority to say this because he was sent to earth by God the Father. Today Jesus sits at the right hand of God in heaven. He intercedes for anyone who wants to know God personally and follow Him. The thief (Satan) wants to take peace and joy away from us. Jesus wants us to have an abundant and fruitful life that is full of joy. Jesus is not only at God’s right hand, but He also lives inside of each person who receives His salvation and follows his teachings. Jesus can live inside of a person by sending His Spirit to be with them.
Quote #5
Jesus said, “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat, or about your body, what you will wear. For there is more to life than food, and more to the body than clothing. Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn, yet God feeds them. How much more valuable are you than the birds!” Luke 12:22-24
God the Creator wants us to trust Him. Because He made us, we are precious to Him. If we put our trust and confidence in God, we do not need to worry, or fret, or lose sleep, because of fear about the future. If we depend on God, he can give us a deep inner peace, even when life is sad and there are many things that are unknown!
Quote #4
“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:11-13
God the Lord, the Creator of heaven and earth and every living thing, takes a very special interest in people. Humans are made in His image. Because we are made in God’s image, we, in a limited way, are able to think like Him, feel what He feels and do the kinds of things He does. God wants all of us humans to know that his thoughts about us are good. His plans for all of us are positive. What is left for us to do is be diligent and discover who He is and what He expects of us. When we do this we can experience the good things He intends for us.
Wishing you a blessed week! – Ernest and family
Bible Quote #3
These words are from Jesus.
“Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” John 14:27
Fear is something that every person has experienced. But God does not want us to fear and be worried. God wants us to trust Him. Since God is our Creator and loves us, he is big enough to take care of us. The world (those who do not trust God) try to establish peace through military power and government control. This is not the kind of peace that Jesus offers. Jesus offers a deep settled peace in our minds and hearts if we trust Him and commit our lives to Him.
Bible Quote #2
“But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.”
The wisdom from above is the wisdom of God the Creator. We can test any idea, philosophy, or action by looking at the results or “fruit” of that idea or action. Just because most people support a particular cause or think it is good, does not mean that the Creator of the universe is happy with this. We need to evaluate everything according the wisdom of the Creator.
The above quote is found in the book of James. Chapter 3:17-18.
Cathy, Carmen, Heidi, and I wish you and your family a good week!
Quote #1
Each week I send a quote from the Bible and a few of my thoughts on the quote. If this is something you would like to receive each week, I will add your name to my list.
I hope to meet you again! – Ernest
Here is the first quote… This one is from Jesus…
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:34-35
This saying of Jesus is sometimes referred to as the “eleventh commandment”. In the Old Testament, God instructed people to love God and to love their neighbor. But when Jesus came to earth about 2000 years ago, he added additional meaning to these commands. Jesus loved his disciples even when they did things that did not deserve His love. He told his disciples to love other people the way He had loved them. Jesus says people will know we are His followers if we also love people the way He loves us. This is a very important teaching from God. Many of us will interact with people this week who do not really deserve our love, but we can influence them for good if we love them the way Jesus loves us.