My God My Everything

And the people said to Joshua, “We will serve the Lord our God and obey him.” Joshua 24:24 The way we live shows others the strength of our commitment to serving God. Joshua’s story in the bible is a perfect example of that statement in action. He was determined to set an example of living by his decision, regardless of what others decided. In his own words he declared, “Choose this day whom you will serve, but as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” (Joshua 24:15) Reading this passage today took me back to the first day that I committed my life to the Lord. That was almost…

God is my refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Psalm 46:1 Today as I was reviewing the theme for this month, “Blessed are those who mourn,” I thought about how God is already provided opportunities for me to live out this truth. First the next session of Grief Share will start in August and with an updated program. The new materials have been ordered and I feel deep within my soul that it is going to reach many people and the Lord wants me to be prepared. Then on June 2nd my ex-father-in-law passed away. My heart goes out to my son who was very close to his grandfather and their…

With the coming of dawn, the angels urged Lot, saying, “Hurry! Take your wife and your two daughters who are here, or you will be swept away when the city is punished.” When he hesitated, the men grasped his hand and the hands of his wife and of his two daughters and led them safely out of the city, for the Lord was merciful to them. Genesis 19:15-16 The story of Lot and his family is very unsettling. First the way he offerred his daughters to the angry and evil mob, then his hesistation to leave a city that was about to be destroyed by God, and then his wife turning to a pillar…

What if only? – Genesis 18 Genesis chapter 18 includes the story of God’s judgment on Sodom and Gomorrah. In the story, three visitors came to Abraham on their way to destroy the cities for their wickedness. When the purpose of their mission was told to Abraham he pleaded with the Lord to spare the righteous people who were living in Sodom, which is where his nephew Lot and his family lived. In his plea, he asked the Lord to spare the city if 50 righteous people could be found. The Lord agreed. Then Abraham asked, “What if only 45 could be found would the Lord spare the city?” and…

Is anything too hard for the Lord? – Genesis 18:14 I started a daily bible reading program and although I won’t be finishing it in a year or two, I enjoy the layout of the plan. The reason I won’t finish it quickly is that there is simply too much to discover to rush through it. Take today’s verse for example, it was part of a 3 chapter assignment and when I read this short little verse, it stopped me in my tracks. After reading it I came up with the same answer that the study notes provided, which was, “Of course not!” But there is so much more in this…

Blessed is ___________ if she mourns, for she shall be comforted.  Matthew 5:4 Godly sorrow brings ______________ to repentance which leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.               2 Corinthians 7:10 I will turn ____________’s mourning into gladness; I will give her comfort and joy instead of sorrow. – Jeremiah 31:13 The Lord is near to ____________ when she is brokenhearted and saves her when she is crushed in spirit. – Psalms 34:18 In all this ____________ greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have…

Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. – Matthew 5:4 The Lord has sent me to bestow on the brokenhearted a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. (Isaiah 61:3) God loves you and wants to reassure you and show you that He has plans for you beyond your disappointment, pain and suffering.  It’s in our sorrow that God’s promises mean so much to us and it is then that we experience His comfort, peace and the hope of eternity with Him.  While the heartaches of this world are temporary…

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23 Today’s passages are part of a memory assignment in the Christian Life & Witness program that I’m participating in. The class is part of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and was designed to help participants prepare their hearts and minds for a large evangelical event that will take place in our community this fall. The course was created to teach participants how to better witness to others and to understand the responsibility we have to personally be prepared…

And before the world was made, God decided to make us his own children through Jesus Christ. This was what God wanted, and it pleased him to do it. Ephesians 1:5 For just a moment I want you to picture the greatness of God in your mind. I know that it is far greater than we can even think or imagine, but that’s what makes this so incredible. The vastness of His presence is limitless. God, who always was, is and will be, determined before the world was made to make us His own through Jesus Christ, children of God. This same God, our Father, spoke this world into existance.…