The Heart Is Deceitful

The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? “I the Lord search the heart and examine the mind, to reward each person according to their conduct, according to what their deeds deserve.” — Jeremiah 19:9-10 

God searches our hearts.

He examines our minds.

And He sees our deceit.

Even when we can't understand it.

He knows we are beyond cure.

Which is why He sent His Son, Jesus.

To die on Golgatha (pictured).

To redeem us from our sin.

So we are no longer rewarded by what our deeds deserve.

The Lord Is Patient With You

The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. — 2 Peter 3:9

The Lord always keeps His promises.

His timing is not mine.

Rather, he is patient with me.

Taking His time so everyone can come to repentance.

Having mercy on all of us.

And we are thankful.

We Cannot Understand the Word of God

As you do not know the path of the wind, or how the body is formed in a mother’s womb, so you cannot understand the work of God, the Maker of all things. — Ecclesiastes 11:5

We do not know the path of the wind.

Only God knows that.

Or how our bodies are formed in the womb.

Only God knows that, since He alone is our Creator.

He is the Maker of everything.

 And His works are beyond our undertanding.

Understand This!

Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters! Let every person be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger. — James 1:19

It's sometimes hard to listen to the people around us.

Even when we care about them.

They can sound like so much noise and it can be easy to tune them out.

I may want to speak over them or interrupt them.

But God calls me to listen first.

He commands me to bite my tongue and stifle my anger rather than letting emotions get the best of me.

My mom used to say, "I just bite my tongue until it's bloody" so I don't speak too quickly or at all.

Very good advice.

The Universe Was Formed at God's Command

By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible. — Hebrews 11:3

Hiking Mt. Fortuna

Even though we can see God's marvelous universe, it was made out of nothing by God's mighty hand.

It is only by faith that we can begin to understand.

God created us and formed us in His image.

He even numbered the hairs on our heads.

It's really hard to comprehend.

Everything we see was formed at God's command.

We had nothing to do with it's creation.

How marvelous is that!

The Hand of the Lord

I will set junipers in the wasteland, the fir and the cypress together,  so that people may see and know, may consider and understand, that the hand of the Lord has done this. — Isaiah 41:19-20

San Diego is a desert, a wasteland.

Even so, God has provided us with trees and plants.

He has created springs of water.

And has provided the sun by day and the moon by night.

He has surrounded us with His beautiful creation.

And He has commanded us to care for it.

The hand of the Lord has done this.

So that people may see and know, may consider and understand.

God is awesome. He is creator. He loves us.

God Understands

You understand, O Lord; remember me and care for me. — Jeremiah 15:15

God understands me.

He created me and knows every hair on my head.

God remembers me.

He cares for me in ways I cannot even imagine.

He surrounds me with his love and compassion.

God understands me and takes care of me.