Showing posts with label L.. Show all posts
Showing posts with label L.. Show all posts

Sunday, June 11, 2017

Days 162-167: "Fear Not, Little Flock"

Hi friends! Both L. and I are going to be gone at different camps serving this week, so we're posting a set of verses ahead of time for y'all to read and be encouraged with. This passage from Luke 12 is so heavy with encouragements from Jesus not to worry because the one who holds us knows what will happen and promises to take care of us! I pray it encourages you; I challenge you to meditate on it daily with me this week, trusting Jesus for our needs.
Love you guys! -M.

Luke 12:1-34 (ESV)

"In the meantime, when so many thousands of the people had gathered together that they were trampling one another, he began to say to his disciples first,"Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. Nothing is covered up that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. Therefore whatever you have said in the dark shall be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in private rooms shall be proclaimed on the housetops. but the one who denies me before men will be denied before the angels of God. "I tell you, my friends, do not fear those who kill the body, and after that have nothing more that they can do. But I will warn you whom to fear: fear him who, after he has killed, has authority to cast into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him! Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? And not one of them is forgotten before God. Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows. "And I tell you, everyone who acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man also will acknowledge before the angels of God, And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but the one who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. And when they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not be anxious about how you should defend yourself or what you should say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say." And he said to his disciples, "Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. Someone in the crowd said to him, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me." But he said to him,"Man, who made me a judge or arbitrator over you?" And he said to them,"Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions." And he told them a parable, saying,"The land of a rich man produced plentifully, and he thought to himself, 'What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?' And he said, 'I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, "Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry."' But God said to him, 'Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?' So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God." Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds! And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? If then you are not able to do as small a thing as that, why are you anxious about the rest? Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass, which is alive in the field today, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith! And do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be worried. For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them. Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you. "Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."

Monday, May 8, 2017

Day 128: "Pouring Out My Soul Before the LORD"

1 Samuel 1:15-17English Standard Version (ESV)

 But Hannah answered, “No, my lord, I am a woman troubled in spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I have been pouring out my soul before the Lord. Do not regard your servant as a worthless woman, for all along I have been speaking out of my great anxiety and vexation.” Then Eli answered, Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant your petition that you have made to him.”
Do you relate to the troubled spirit and anxiety and vexation. I admire the fact that Hannah took her anxiety to God like He told us to.
 Hannah's prayer was answered like Eli said. Do you know what it was?
-L.

Day 127: "Because He Cares For You"

1 Peter 5:6-7 English Standard Version (ESV)

"Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you."
 I spent some time one night this week, writing down all the things I was worried about and asking God to take care of them. I was crying as I wrote it but I felt so much better when I was done, knowing that I had brought God everything on my mind and could leave it in His hands. I knew that there wasn't a single fear I had to face alone. I invited God to face them with me and I know he will, because He cares for me.
-L.

Sunday, April 30, 2017

Day 117-120: "I Am With You to Deliver You"

Jeremiah 1:4-8

Check out this awesome story of God's plan for Jeremiah and the promises He gave him. 
Now the word of the Lord came to me, saying,
 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you;
I appointed you a prophet to the nations.”
 Then I said, “Ah, Lord God! Behold, I do not know how to speak, for I am only a youth.” But the Lord said to me,
“Do not say, ‘I am only a youth’;
for to all to whom I send you, you shall go,
and whatever I command you, you shall speak.

Do not be afraid of them,

for I am with you to deliver you,
declares the Lord.”
Remember that the same God loves you and if you trust in Him than He is with you to deliver you to.
-L.


Wednesday, April 26, 2017

Day 116: "Everything That I Command You"

Jeremiah 1:17 English Standard Version (ESV)

"But you, dress yourself for work;arise, and say to them everything that I command you. Do not be dismayed by them, lest I dismay you before them."
Wow. This really hit me today. I get so scared of what people will think that I forget God's sovereignty, even over what people think of me. Obedience to Him matters more than every other factor effecting my decisions combined. So why don't I live like that's true? Do you live like that's true in your life? Like nothing else matters as much as God?

Sunday, April 16, 2017

Day 106: "He Has Risen"

Mark 16:6-7 ESV


 "And he said to them, 'Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; he is not here. See the place where they laid him.  But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you to Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.'"

Saturday, April 15, 2017

Day 105: "I Have Overcome The World"

John 16:32-33 (ESV)

"Behold, the hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home, and will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone, for the Father is with me. I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peaceIn the world you will have tribulation. But take heartI have overcome the world.”
I wonder if the followers of Jesus remembered these words the Saturday when he was dead. Jesus had said them to the twelve on Thursday night, not long before he was arrested.
-L.

Monday, April 10, 2017

Day 100!!!!!!!: "Fear God."

1 Peter 2:17 English Standard Version (ESV)

Well, we haven't been as consistent as we wanted to be but we made it 100 days into the year with over 100 verses to help us live in fear of God and no one else and we're not stopping here. Here's to the next 265 days!
Here's today's verse:

Days 98 and 99: "I Will"

Genesis 21:12-13 English Standard Version (ESV)

 But God said to Abraham, “Be not displeased because of the boy and because of your slave woman. Whatever Sarah says to you, do as she tells you, for through Isaac shall your offspring be named.  And I will make a nation of the son of the slave woman also, because he is your offspring.”
God always has it figured out.
-L.

Saturday, April 8, 2017

Day 97: "Those Who Hope"

Psalm 147:11English Standard Version (ESV) 

but the Lord takes pleasure in those who fear him,
    in those who hope in his steadfast love.

Thursday, April 6, 2017

Day 96: "Standing Firm in The Spirit"

Philippians 1:27-28 English Standard Version (ESV)

 Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel,  and not frightened in anything by your opponents. This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God.

Wednesday, April 5, 2017

Day 90-95: Six in One

Proverbs 3:21-26 English Standard Version (ESV)

Hey ya'll, 
We got behind again but I'm tired of  letting discouragement get me down. God helped me figure out a fun way to catch up so we're bouncing back. Let's do this!

Day 90: 
 My son, do not lose sight of these—
  keep sound wisdom and discretion,
Day 91: 
 and they will be life for your soul
    and adornment for your neck.
Day 92: 
 Then you will walk on your way securely,
    and your foot will not stumble.
Day 93: 
 If you lie down, you will not be afraid;
    when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.
Day 94: 
 Do not be afraid of sudden terror
    or of the ruin[a] of the wicked, when it comes,
Day 95: 
for the Lord will be your confidence
    and will keep your foot from being caught.

How was your week? How has God been calming Your fear?
-L.

Thursday, March 30, 2017

Day 87, 88, and 89: "Then God Opened Her Eyes"

Genesis 21:17-19 

Hey People! 
Sorry we missed the last two days! We have three verses for you today though!
-L.

Genesis 21:17-19English Standard Version (ESV)

17 And God heard the voice of the boy, and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven and said to her, “What troubles you, Hagar? Fear not, for God has heard the voice of the boy where he is. 18 Up! Lift up the boy, and hold him fast with your hand, for I will make him into a great nation.” 19 Then God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water. And she went and filled the skin with water and gave the boy a drink.

Sunday, March 26, 2017

Day 85: "Because [They] Feared God"

Exodus 1:21English Standard Version (ESV)

And because the midwives feared Godhe gave them families.

Check out Exodus 1:15-22 for the story of how Hebrew midwives risked their lives to save the baby boys they were ordered to kill because they feared God more than the king.
Happy Sunday!
-L.

Saturday, March 25, 2017

Day 84: "Power and Love and Self-Control"

2 Timothy 1:7English Standard Version (ESV)

 "for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control."

Friday, March 24, 2017

Day 83:"Before the LORD"

Psalm 37:7English Standard Version (ESV)

Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him;

 fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way,

    over the man who carries out evil devices!

Wednesday, March 15, 2017

Day 73-74: "Your Faith Has Healed You"

Mark 5:25-34 (ESV)

 And there was a woman who had had a discharge of blood for twelve years, and who had suffered much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was no better but rather grew worse.  She had heard the reports about Jesus and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his garment.  For she said, “If I touch even his garments, I will be made well.” And immediately the flow of blood dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease. And Jesus, perceiving in himself that power had gone out from him, immediately turned about in the crowd and said, Who touched my garments?  And his disciples said to him, “You see the crowd pressing around you, and yet you say, ‘Who touched me?’ And he looked around to see who had done it. But the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling and fell down before him and told him the whole truth. And he said to her, Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.

She did the unacceptable; though 'unclean' she touched the only truly clean person and unlike any other time, the clean did not become unclean but made the unclean clean.
-L.

Monday, March 13, 2017

Day 72:"Boldly to Proclaim"

Ephesians 6:18-20English Standard Version (ESV)

 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,  and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.
You're not the only one who struggle with fear. Take some time to pray for the believers around you (especially those in leadership) that God would give them boldness to speak His truth.
-L.

Saturday, March 11, 2017

Day 70: "Whom Shall I Fear"

Psalm 27:1 (ESV)


The Lord is my light and my salvation;
    whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life;
    of whom shall I be afraid?

Thursday, March 9, 2017

Day 68: "About Tomorrow"

Matthew 6:34 (ESV)

“Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

Focus on the future has been such a struggle for me, but Jesus was right, there's plenty to do today. God's already done the planning. So don't worry about the future, ask God what He planned for today, for right now even, and live in that, focus on what belongs in today. Who knows what tomorrow will bring you've got enough to do today.
-L.