For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all people. This has now been witnessed to at the proper time. — 1 Timothy 2:5-6
He is risen. He is risen indeed!
Death could not hold Him.
There is one God and one mediate between God and us.
The man Jesus.
He gave Himself as a ransom for my life.
So I no longer have to pay the penalty of death.
Praise the Lord!
He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem. Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. — Isaiah 53:3-4
The Son of God, who gave His life for us.
And yet he was despised.
And rejected by mankind.
Suffering and familiar with pain and grief.
Even though He took on our pain, we hid our faces from Him.
We held Jesus in low esteem.
He bore our suffering.
And we despised Him.
My salvation and my honor depend on God; he is my mighty rock, my refuge. — Psalm 62:7
He is my refuge.
When I put my trust in Him, He anchors my life.
My salvation and honor depend on God.
Here we are at the top of Cowles Mountain.
Looking down at the rocks below.
And enjoying God's amazing creation.
My salvation depends on God alone.
Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good. — 1 Peter 2:2-3
When we are fed spiritually, we are able to grow.
And to mature in our salvation.
We have tasted that the Lord is good..
And we are blessed.
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. — 1 John 1:9
Instead, I prefer to ignore them.
But God promises that when I do confess, He is faithful and just.
And He will forgive me of my sins.
Then He takes it a step further and cleanses me.
He purifies me from all unrighteousness.
Amazing love!
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. — Romans 3:23
A reminder of God's promise to never flood the whole earth again.
And a reminder that God always keeps His promises.
His gift to us is eternal life.
Through His Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Who gave Himself for each of us.
So that we might live with Him in heaven one day.
Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him. — James 1:12
When we stand the test, God takes note.
That person will receive the crown of life.
Just as God has promised to those who love Him.
This is home up the street that's being built entirely of shipping containers.
I had heard about this recently, but this is the first time we saw it in person!
Very interesting!
Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit. — Jeremiah 17:7-8
My confidence is in the Lord.
And He promises that I will be like a tree planted by water that sends out its roots by the stream.
The tree doesn't worry when it gets hot.
Its leaves are always green.
It has no worries in a year of drought.
Likewise, when I feel tired, dried out and weary, I too should not worry.
That tree never fails to bear fruit.
My life can bear fruit when I put my trust in Jesus my Lord and Savior.
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. — Romans 15:13
He fills me with all joy.
And peace.
As I trust in Him.
And in His Son, Jesus.
So that I will overflow with hope.
Given to me by the power of the Holy Spirit.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. — Galatians 5:22-23
Other times, not so much.
When I show love to others, that's the Spirit showing God's love through me.
My joyful attitude is a result of the Holy Spirit living in me.
When I forget to act with peace, I no longer am showing the fruit of the Spirit in my life.
Those times when I get impatient with others, the Spirit convicts me.
When I forget to act with kindness, God's Spirit humbles me.
And when I lack self-control, the Spirit puts stumbling blocks in my way to slow me down.
I am blessed to be filled with the Spirit to help guide me along the narrow path.
Help me, Lord, to focus on You.
The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. — Psalm 23:1-3
He makes me lie down to rest in green pastures.
God leads me beside quiet water.
He gives my soul refreshment.
And He guides me along the right paths.
All this for His name's sake.
In your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, — 1 Peter 3:15
Let our hearts show forth our respect and honor for Jesus.
He is the reason for the hope that we have.
And He commands us to be prepared.
So that when someone is confused, we are ready and prepared to share the hope that we have in Jesus.
And to share that hope with gentleness and respect.
For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. — 2 Peter 1:5-6
For this reason, God asks us to make an effort to not only have faith, but also goodness.
And knowledge. Then add self-control.
Next pile on perseverence.
And add godliness.
Then mutual affection.
And finally love.
If I possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep me from being unproductive and inneffective in getting to know Jesus personally.
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. — Colossians 3:12
He loves us.
He makes us holy through the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus.
God calls us to clothe ourselves with compassion.
And to put on kindness.
He commands us to be humble.
He humbles us when we start to get proud.
The Lord shows us gentleness and mercy.
And He calls us to be gentle and merciful to others.
God is patient with me and asks me to be patient with those around me.
Make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. — 2 Peter 1:5-8
But when the Holy Spirit works in me, goodness and knowledge become possible.
I can't do it on my own.
Jesus has opened the door with His death and resurrection.
Only He can keep me from being ineffectual and unproductive.
And only as I get to know Him personally.
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. — Romans 8:23
And through it all, He is in control.
In all things, He works for our good.
For the good of all who love Him.
We have been called according to His purpose.
And He is working His purpose out in us.
Using our lives to glorify Himself.
Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments. — Deuteronomy 7:9
He is faithful.
He keeps His covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love Him.
God keeps His promises always.
And He keeps His covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who keep His commandments.
This we know.
He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, — 2 Timothy 1:9
Her grandpa has been visiting from Ohio to help take care of her.
God has saved us and called us to a holy life.
Not because of anything we have done.
But only because of His own purpose and grace.
This grace was given to us in Christ Jesus.
Before the beginning of time.
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. — 2 Corinthians 1:3-4
He is the Father of compassion.
The God of all comfort.
He comforts us in all our troubles.
So we can comfort those in any trouble.
We can comfort others with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.
Lord, you are my God; I will exalt you and praise your name, for in perfect faithfulness you have done wonderful things, things planned long ago. — Isaiah 25:1
He planned these things long ago.
And His plans are awesome.
You are my God.
I will exalt you and praise your name.
In perfect faithfulness you have done wonderful things.
We had a fun time at the musical MJ last night.
Wonderful music from the Jackson 5, Soul Train, and Michael Jackson.
The music and dancing was so animated.
What a fun evening.
This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. — 1 John 4:9
He sent His one and only Son Jesus into the world.
So that we might live through Him.
Jesus, our Savior.
Kirk met with some of his friends from high school today: Ernie, Manuel, Josie, and Joe.
Friends for life!
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. — Joshua 1:9
And to have courage.
Not to be afraid.
Or discouraged.
When I remember that God is with me wherever I go, I can take on these traits too.
Not to be discouraged.
But to be strong in the Lord, even when friends are struggling.
When their loved ones are dying.
The Lord our God is with us wherever we go.
But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold. My feet have closely followed his steps; I have kept to his way without turning aside — Job 23:10-11
Even so, He knows the way that I take.
And His hand guides me, catching me when I veer off the course He has planned for me.
My feet have closely followed His steps some of the time.
Occasionally I have kept to God's way.
But I am guilty of turning aside more often than I care to admit.
In spite of my errant footsteps, He loves and cares for me.
Thank You, Lord!
Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. — Psalm 73:25-26
I have nothing without Him.
And earth has nothing I desire but God.
My body may fail.
My flesh may fade away.
But God is the strength of my heart.
He is my portion forever.
He sustains me throughout my life.
