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Bible Verses About Death

May 31, 2011
Filed In Daily Devotionals

Below are some Bible verses about death.  Hopefully you find ones which help meet your needs today as you consider the finality of life.  In the comment box below, please feel free to add ones you think will add encouragement.

God is with us in life and in death. We are never alone.

“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23

“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” Psalm 23:4

“In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.” John 14:2-3

“For me to live is Christ, to die is gain.” Philippians 1:21 

“The last enemy to be destroyed is death.” 1 Corinthians 15:26

“And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:20b

There is hope in death.

“And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, so Christ also, having been once offered to bear the sins of many, shall appear a second time, apart from sin, to them that wait for him, unto salvation.” Hebrews 9:27-28

“He will swallow up death forever. The Sovereign LORD will wipe away the tears from all faces; he will remove the disgrace of his people from all the earth. The LORD has spoken.” Isaiah 25:8

“Your sun will never set again, and your moon will wane no more; the LORD will be your everlasting light, and your days of sorrow will end.” Isaiah 60:20

“For God so love the world He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish but have ever lasting life.” John 3:16

What will heaven be like?

“And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.” Revelation 21:4

“For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.” 1 Corinthians 13:12

compiled by Hariette Petersen, SelahV Today

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Plans and Agendas

May 31, 2011
Filed In Daily Devotionals

One of my favorite verses is Proverbs 16:9. It says, “ In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps.”

I love it so much because that’s how life is. I have an agenda; an intended course for my life. It often includes my wishes, dreams, and wants for my life. Of course I want to be a blessing to others along the way, but still….it’s mostly about me.

I often don’t trust my own judgment. I don’t want to go down a certain path in life and say that “It must be God’s will” when it certainly wasn’t. So this verse speaks for my heart and truly it says what my heart intends all along…that I don’t want to step outside of God’s will.

I want the Lord to determine my steps in life regardless of my own plans. Of course I’m hoping they will intersect or coincide at some point, but if I’m way off track – I’d rather defer to God’s plans because I know if I pursue my own without His blessing that it will be all wrong.

The thing is… God WILL determine our steps. Whether we ask Him to or not. He loves us and wants what’s best for us. I’d much rather work with Him than against Him along the way! I’d much rather learn the easy way than the hard way about just what it is and where it is that He desires to take me. That being said, remember that God knows your heart. He often will use and direct you to things in which you are gifted at or where your natural personality leans. He just may “tweak” how you get there!

Life is about agendas. We all have them. We all pursue them.

God knows our hearts and He certainly knows our mind and what we are thinking. Give your plans over to Him and seek Him in your quest to fulfill your life’s dreams and longings. Ask Him to direct your steps.

I promise that you can trust Him with the task.
~ Dionna Sanchez

madetomom@yahoo.com

 

 

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When You Are Troubled by Doubt

May 31, 2011
Filed In Daily Devotionals

Faced with a troubling situation?  Is anxiety building from some crisis in your life?  I felt that way this weekend.  The situation was beyond my control.  Nothing I could do but watch.  And wait.  And wonder.

I felt lonely in the midst of people surrounding me at church.  I felt alone though family sat next to me.  My mind was not with them; it was overshadowed by anxiety within my mind.  The foreboding, the shadows of doubt tore at the peace I tried to hold in my grasp.  I could no more hold the peace than I could grasp the shadow from the sun on a sweltering day.  With every shadow of doubt, I called out to God to keep me in that moment.  I prayed that He arrest my fears, my doubts, and fill my heart with more of Himself to give me calm–to give me insight and understanding.

“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” James 1:17

Today, the troubling “situation” is still there.  But today I do not doubt the outcome.  Once again I went to the Father and asked for assurance.  And once again, He showed me that I already have His assurance.  I have everything I need in Him.  He has not changed because some problem clouds my vision with shadows of doubt.  He is in control and will bring about His good, His perfect plan.  He loves my loved one far more than I do.  His love is trustworthy for them.  His watchcare certain.

There is no shadow of turning from our heavenly Father.  His Light is constant–far more reliable than the sun above.  Shadows we face in life are of the world.  Sometimes obstacles.  Sometimes, opportunities.  Some shadows are waiting periods…waiting for the cloud to pass over–times to trust in the ever-present love of God and His power. 

When we face shadows of uncertainty, we have the assurance that the Light of the World is with us and unchanging.  He dispels darkness.  He destroys fear and restores confidence.  He outnumbers our enemies. In Him there is victory.  We can walk with confidence through the shadows of life and death.  He is with us.  Always.  We need only thank Him for His gifts.

PRAYER:  O LORD, Most High, thank you.  Thank you for Your everpresent love.  For Your watchcare and hope in the times I question circumstances in my life.  Thank You.

© Hariette Petersen, SelahV Today, 2011

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Bible Verses About Faith

May 22, 2011
Filed In Inspirational Bible Verses

Below are several Bible verses about faith.  Feel free to add your favorite in the comment box.

FAITH DEFINED:

“Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for.” Hebrews 11:1-2

“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

“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” Hebrews 11:6

WHEN YOUR FAITH IS TESTED:

“Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You will revive me; You will stretch forth Your hand against the wrath of my enemies, and Your right hand will save me.”  Psalm 138:7

“Call to Me and I will answer you and show you great and mighty things which you do not know.” Jeremiah 33:3

“Be assured and understand that the trial and proving of your faith bring out endurance and steadfastness and patience.”  James 1:3

“The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me.” Psalm 138:8

“In the day when I called, You answered me; and You strengthened me with strength in my inner self.”  Psalm 138:3

“For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.” 2 Timothy 1:12

“Happy is he who has the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the Lord his God.” Psalm 147:5

FAITH PROMISES

“The Lord is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him sincerely and in truth.” Psalm 145:18

“The Lord is good to those who wait hopefully and expectantly for Him, to those who seek Him.”  Lamentations 3:25

“The Lord upholds all those (of His own) who are falling and raises up all those who are bowed down.” Psalm 145:14

“Faithful is He that calleth you, Who will also do it.” 1 Thessalonians 5:24

ACTIONS OF FAITH

“Behold the proud, His soul is not upright in him; But the just shall live by his faith.” Habbakuk 2:4

“The Lord is my portion, says my living being; therefore will I hope in Him and wait expectantly for Him.” Lamentations 3:24

“When Jesus heard [it], He marveled, and said to those who followed, “Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!” Matthew 8:10

“But He said to them, “Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?” Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm.”  Matthew 8:26

“Then behold, they brought to Him a paralytic lying on a bed. When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, be of good cheer; your sins are forgiven you.” Matthew 9:2

“But Jesus turned around, and when He saw her He said, “Be of good cheer, daughter; your faith has made you well.” And the woman was made well from that hour.” Matthew 9:22

“Then He touched their eyes, saying, “According to your faith let it be to you.” Matthew 9:29

“And immediately Jesus stretched out [His] hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”  Matthew 14:31

 

“Then Jesus answered and said to her, “O woman, great [is] your faith! Let it be to you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour.”  Matthew 15:28

“But Jesus, being aware of [it], said to them, “O you of little faith, why do you reason among yourselves because you have brought no bread? Matthew 16:8

“So Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.” Matthew 17:20

“So Jesus answered and said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but also if you say to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ it will be done.” Matthew 21:21

“When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven you.” Mark 2:5

“And He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction.” Mark 5:34

“Then Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus on the road.” Mark 10:52

“When Jesus heard these things, He marveled at him, and turned around and said to the crowd that followed Him, “I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!” Luke 7:9

“Then He said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.” Luke 7:50

RESULTS OF FAITH:

“By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that is in keeping with faith.”  Hebrews 11:7

“By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.” Hebrews 11:8-10

“And by faith even Sarah, who was past childbearing age, was enabled to bear children because she considered him faithful who had made the promise. And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore.” Hebrews 11:11-12

“All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth. 14 People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. 15 If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.” Hebrews 11:13-16

“By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had embraced the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son, even though God had said to him, “It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.” Abraham reasoned that God could even raise the dead, and so in a manner of speaking he did receive Isaac back from death.” Hebrews 11:17-19

“By faith Joseph, when his end was near, spoke about the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt and gave instructions concerning the burial of his bones.

“By faith Moses’ parents hid him for three months after he was born, because they saw he was no ordinary child, and they were not afraid of the king’s edict.” Hebrews 11:23

“By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin.  He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward. By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger; he persevered because he saw him who is invisible. By faith he kept the Passover and the application of blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch the firstborn of Israel.” Hebrews 11:24-28

“By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to do so, they were drowned.” Hebrews 11:29

“By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the army had marched around them for seven days.” Hebrews 11:30

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Opps! Be Careful!

May 14, 2011
Filed In Daily Devotionals

We never know just what it is that can trip us up.  We walk along in life without a thought to the traps being set for us.  We must be careful.

For some reason, today, I found myself singing: “Be careful little eyes what you see, be careful little eyes what you see.  For the Father up above is looking down with love, be careful little eyes what you see.”  I don’t recall when I learned that little song, but its simple lyrics pour forth tremendous truth. It goes on to warn: ”Little hands, feet, ears, mouth”.  Each gives caution to guard what we do with our hands.  Where we go with our feet.  What we listen to with our ears.  What we say with our tongues.  There are so many warnings we could add to that little song:  hearts–what they hold; minds–what they dwell upon; desires–what they long for.

Why is that so important in the scheme of things?  Perhaps because our faithfulness depends upon the health and well-being of all we are.  Everything that collects in our hearts flows forth into every relationship we have–be it with others here on earth–or our Father above.

“For all that is in the world–the lust of the flesh [craving for sensual gratification] and the lust of the eyes [greedy longings of the mind] and the pride of life [assurance in one's own resources or in the stability of earthly things]–these do not come from the Father but are from the world [itself].” 1 John 2:16 Amplified

Everything in this world has the possibility of being in conflict with the Almighty God.  Everything has the means to draw us away from our Lord, claim our attention, our loyalty, our allegiance.

Some worship earth–creation itself; they care more about minnows than people having water to grow crops.  Some worship the moon, the sun, the stars. People literally get up each morning and read their horoscopes to determine what they will or will not do.  Others take such pride in their work, they cannot see or acknowledge the Creator who gave them ability to accomplish all they do. Others must have more and more, and better and better; they live lives of constant discontentedness.

We crave things which satisfy, comfort and give pleasure — to the eyes, to ears, to mind, to heart.  If it feels good, we do it–regardless of others and how they feel about it.  When work is more important than a means by which to live, and becomes an obcession to attain status or position to feed one’s ego, we are guilty of serving the world–not the Father.  Indeed, we serve the prince of this world.  With what did Satan tempt Eve in Eden?  Things she could “know”, “see”, “be”.

I relate.  I have been there.  I go there still.  It’s a never-ending battle.  The world draws. Illumines.  Colors.  Coaxes.  Entices.  Just when I think I am putting God first, something pops up and draws me away.  Am I weakest after my closest encounter with God?  What should not be, is possible if I take my eyes off God.  But as the song goes, “the Father up above is looking down with love”.  God is watching me, to grab hold of me, to convict me, to alter my course.  Yes, He will remind me what my eyes focus upon, my heart hungers after, my ears hear, my mind dwells upon,  my hands are busy doing, my mouth is sharing.  He will never forsake me, nor leave me.  He will keep bringing me back to His arms of  steadfast merciful love.

Lord, I know it is You who keeps me in this world.  It’s You who keeps me from all harm.  Lead me not into temptation, deliver me from evil.  And keep me ever mindful that: “Greater is He that is in me, than he that is in the world.” 1 John 4:4b  May I disappear in You, O Lord, and be lost forever in your presence.

© Hariette Petersen, SelahV Today, 2011 

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Whine, Whine, Whine!

May 11, 2011
Filed In Daily Devotionals

Sometimes it gets so annoying you want to poke a stick in your ears to break your eardrums for relief.

Seriously.  Ever been driving in a car on an 8-hour trip to reach a beach-front condo where you know the immeasurable joy it’s going to bring the two children riding in the back seat who have never seen the ocean?  And mile-marker after endless mile-marker, all you hear from them is whine, whine, whine…murmur, grumble, and more whine?  Your brain gets so full of their incessant complaining that you want to stop the car, smack their bottoms a few times and turn around and go back home.

I think this may have been what God felt like when He sent Moses to the children of Israel to lead them out of Egypt into the Promised Land.  Instead of gratitude for the vacation from grueling, daily slavery to Pharoah, they murmurred and complained every step of the way.  Instead of rejoicing that their sippy cups had an endless supply of water and their traveling trays held manna for each mile that they freely walked into the desert, they grumbled that the manna wasn’t chicken nuggets, the water wasn’t lemonade. Then…just as the Lord brings them to the edge of the land flowing with milk and honey, they cannot trust the promises of the Lord.  They want to go back home to the drudgery of slavery.  They’re tired of walking; they don’t trust what God has promised.  They decide they were better off under the hand of Pharoah…than in the palm of God’s.

“The LORD said to Moses, “How long will this people spurn Me? And how long will they not believe in Me, despite all the signs which I have performed in their midst?” Numbers 14:11

How long will it take our children to believe we will do good things for them…better than they can imagine?  How many good things will we give them for them to trust we have the best possible things in store for them?  How many times must we tell them to do it our way before they learn our wisdom comes from experience and the Lord’s guidance in our lives?  We wonder sometimes.

What about us?  How much does God have to do to get us to believe our best interests are His priority?  How many mini-miracles and major interventions must He perform in our lives to have us trust Him with abandon?

As I think about all I’ve been grumbling and complaining about with my life these days, I am ashamed to say, it seems to be a never-ending lesson with me.  Why do so many little things irritate us, cause us to question God’s love and divine plan for the obstacles and seemingly brick walls to the plans we make?  I am of the mind that I fail to trust He has something better.  Much better than I can imagine in this phase of my life–this temporary desert.

Forgive us Lord when we fail to trust You.  Forgive us for looking at giants and thinking they are bigger than You.  Clear the blindness we have in life’s trials, and let us trust You with the insight of Your watchcare and steadfast love.

© Hariette Petersen, SelahV Today, 2011

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A Lifetime

April 26, 2011
Filed In Daily Devotionals

“Pray without ceasing.”  I Thessolonians 5:17 

It amazes me that the God of the universe wants me to talk to Him. He draws me near and allows me to rest in His goodness, compassion, and mercy. It is during these intimate encounters that I sense God’s presence in my life the most. I approach my conversations with God trusting that He will answer my prayers…quickly! I love it when the answer is immediate and obvious. He gives me those moments to appreciate his sweet, swift Spirit. Naturally, I conclude that I was faithful to pray, God was faithful to answer, and I can faithfully move to my next request lickety-split.

I’ve heard stories where people petitioned God with the same request for extraordinarily long periods of time. So long, in fact, that they may have appeared foolish to those around them. I have often wondered if their groaning resembled the incessant buzzing of a bumblebee in God’s ears. Even in the Bible, there were individuals who undoubtedly grew weary of bowing and rising, bowing and rising, bowing and rising with the same prayer day after day. In I Samuel 1, Hannah expresses her deep longing for a child. She literally prayed for years with no results. Just when she had met her point of desperation, Hannah paused, pondered on the longing of her heart, and…prayed again. This woman truly cherished the promise “with God nothing is impossible.” Hannah obviously believed that her God could answer her prayer. Otherwise, she would have gone cold on the whole idea of prayer before she had the chance to see His glorious answer revealed.

For nearly a year, one prayer has echoed from my heart. Not a single day passes that I don’t speak to Him at depth about my desire. I consider the petition honorable. If He chose to answer my prayer, I believe I would grow as an individual and believer. Were God to answer the prayer, it would be uncomfortably life-changing for me. Maybe He knows I can’t handle that right now—maybe not ever. It could be that He is building perseverance and patience in me so that I might better recognize the beauty that comes from a “fervent, righteous prayer.” Could it be that God wants to bless me even more than I can imagine at precisely the perfect time in my life?

Recently, I had a conversation with a special friend about prayer. I asked, “How long is too long to pray for something?” His first reply was, “I don’t know.” I insisted that he give me an answer even if it might be wrong. After a brief wave of silence, his answer came as if from the heart of God. “No amount of time is too long…even if it takes a lifetime to be answered.” Luke 11:1-10 stirs me to pray with persistence and confidence. “For every one who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.” My friend’s reply may seem overwhelming and disheartening to some people. However, the words reminded me of the hope I have in my God. The hope that He always listens, always protects, and always answers. Even if the answer takes a lifetime…keep praying. 

By Karen Pollock, Kentucky

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The Weight and Wait of Love

April 12, 2011
Filed In Daily Devotionals

Ever feel weighted down by the heartache of others? Marriage problems. Betrayals. Various trials and persecutions. False accusations. You counsel, advise and share the discernment the Lord has given you. You struggle to right a wrong; you wear your knees out praying for wisdom. Your mind spins with words to say and logic to impart to help. Yet, your heart is heavier than when you began praying.

I have learned the hard way that the more I try to help God, the more stuff starts piling on. In other words, I cannot do what God wants to do. When I try, He shows me the futility of trying to do things in my own power. He lets me exhaust myself and my ideas.

We can really only make decisions for ourselves. Others must make their own. After sharing all we know to share, and praying as He leads, we really do need to say, “Thy will be done, Lord,” and mean what we say.

Do you have loved ones going through trying circumstances? Divorce.  Job loss.  Financial struggles. Do you talk till you run out of words to share and find all your conversations running in circles? You wonder, did I say the wrong thing? did I forget to say something right? Do you pray and get impatient that God does not intervene as you think He should?

What keeps us from trusting God? Independence. The I-can-do-it-myself syndrome.

We can’t trust God when we’re depending upon ourselves. Some situations in life are far beyond our ability to fix. A problem we see that needs our intervention, may be God’s cocoon of struggle to strengthen. Seriously. Can we love our loved ones more than God does? We must think we do or we’d be willing and able to accept God’s timetable. We’d relax and stop trying to fix what He will take care of. Unless it is a direct leading from Him, our job is simply to be available to undergird, to be a leaning post, an intercessor of prayer, or an encourager to look to Him Who knows the perfect answer and to point others to Him. It’s up to others to deal with their decisions, their choices, and their consequences. To have peace in our lives we must let go and let God work in everyone’s life as He sees fit. When we let go of the weight of love, the Lord blesses us with the peace and grace of His.

“My times are in Thy hand: deliver me from the hand of mine enemies, and from them that persecute me.” Psalm 31:15 ESV

PRAYER: Lord, forgive us when we try to get ahead of You. Help us understand when to act and when to pray. Help us help others learn to wait on You and Your timetable.

 © Hariette Petersen, SelahV Today, 2011

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