Creation Speaks

"Because of God's tender mercy, the morning light from heaven is about to break upon us..."

Luke 1:78 NLT

"In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God,

and the Word was God.

He existed in the beginning with God.

God created everything through him,

and nothing was created except through him.

The Word gave life to everything that was created,

and his life brought light to everyone.

The light shines in the darkness,

and the darkness can never extinguish it...

...The one who is the true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.

He came into the very world he created, but the world didn't recognize him.

He came to his own people, and even they rejected him.

But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God.

They are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God.

So the Word became human and made his home among us.

He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness.

And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father's one and only Son.

...No one has ever seen God. But the unique One, who is himself God, is near to the Father's heart.

He has revealed God to us."

John 1:1-5, 9-14, 18 NLT

 
During the time of the Old Testament, names were given for more than identification, names were given to also attribute to the person's character. Various study resources indicate there are hundreds of names of God throughout the Bible – I've seen some list 600, others 900 names of God. (Hmmm, what do you think? I'd say our God is quite multifaceted!)

There is a certain Name of God in particular right now that fills my heart with gratitude and wonder every time I hear it. This name shines out in our Christmas songs of worship and in the Bible readings announcing Christ's birth – the Old Testament quote from Isaiah 7:14 proclaimed Christ's coming in Matthew 1:23 (NKJV):

"Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel, which is translated, 'God with us.'"

God with us.

Jesus became a man on earth in order to be with us.

Would His incarnation enhance God's ability to relate to us? From a human perspective, did it allow Him a keener vantage point, to see what we see, to actually feel what we feel? I have a feeling that in reality, God becoming a man simply allows we humans to believe in His ability to truly relate with us.

Yet beyond the wonder over God's humanity, God with us grants so much more application beyond the time period Jesus walked the earth as a human being.

At the very moment of Jesus' death on the cross, "The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom." (Mark 15:38 NIV). This curtain had been in the Temple for hundreds of years and served to separate humans from the place where the actual presence of God dwelt during that time period. The direction from which the curtain tore, top to bottom, indicates that God Himself tore the curtain and provided people full access to Him through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

That's what God longed for all along, ever since sin separated man from God's presence in the garden – that now through Jesus, nothing would separate us from His presence.

How our omnipotent God, creator of the Universe, whom even the Heavens cannot contain – how He chooses to be everywhere I am, to hold me in the dark, even when I'm oblivious to His presence,
this truth about His character blows my mind.

Following Christ's resurrection from the dead, directly preceding His physical return to Heaven,
Jesus declared to His followers:

"And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." (Matthew 28:20b NIV)


So here we have in the first chapter of Matthew, the announcement of Christ's arrival which includes the meaning of His name, Immanuel, declaring God is now with us. Then in the last chapter of Matthew, Christ assures us that even though He is physically returning to Heaven, He yet remains always with us.


Ahh, this is the best Christmas present we can ever receive here on earth... His presence.


Jesus had told His disciples,
"I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father...
No, I will not abandon you as orphans — I will come to you...
I am telling you these things now while I am still with you. But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative — that is, the Holy Spirit — he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you. I am leaving you with a gift — peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give.
So don't be troubled or afraid." John 14:12, 18, 25-27 NLT

"What shall we say about such wonderful things as these?

If God is for us, who can ever be against us?
Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won't he also give us everything else?

...Can anything ever separate us from Christ's love?
Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted,
or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death?

...And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God's love.

Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,
neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow —
not even the powers of hell can separate us from God's love.

No power in the sky above or in the earth below —
indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God
that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Romans 8:31-32, 35, 38-39 NLT

"God knew what he was doing from the very beginning.
He decided from the outset to shape the lives of those who love him along the same lines as the life of his Son.

The Son stands first in the line of humanity he restored.
We see the original and intended shape of our lives there in him.

After God made that decision of what his children should be like, he followed it up by calling people by name.
After he called them by name, he set them on a solid basis with himself.

And then, after getting them established, he stayed with them to the end,
gloriously completing what he had begun."

Romans 8:29-30 The Message

"And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you,

will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns."

Philippians 1:6 NLT

"The fundamental fact of existence is that this trust in God, this faith,

is the firm foundation under everything that makes life worth living..."

Hebrews 11:1 The Message

"...I could go on and on, but I've run out of time. There are so many more—Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, the prophets. . . . Through acts of faith, they toppled kingdoms, made justice work, took the promises for themselves. They were protected from lions, fires, and sword thrusts, turned disadvantage to advantage, won battles, routed alien armies. Women received their loved ones back from the dead. There were those who, under torture, refused to give in and go free, preferring something better: resurrection. Others braved abuse and whips, and, yes, chains and dungeons. We have stories of those who were stoned, sawed in two, murdered in cold blood; stories of vagrants wandering the earth in animal skins, homeless, friendless, powerless—the world didn't deserve them!—making their way as best they could on the cruel edges of the world...

...Do you see what this means—all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we'd better get on with it. Strip down, start running—and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins.

Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we're in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever.

And now he's there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls!"

Hebrews 11:32-38, 12:1-3 MSG

"I'm not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made.

But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me.

Friends, don't get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this,

but I've got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward—to Jesus.

I'm off and running, and I'm not turning back.

So let's keep focused on that goal, those of us who want everything God has for us."

Philippians 3:12-16 MSG

"I'll tell you what it really means
to worship the Lord.

Remove the chains of prisoners
who are chained unjustly.
Free those who are abused!
Share your food with everyone
who is hungry; share your home
with the poor and homeless.
Give clothes to those in need;
don't turn away your relatives.

Then your light will shine
like the dawning sun,
and you will quickly be healed.

Your honesty will protect you
as you advance,
and the glory of the Lord
will defend you from behind.

When you beg the Lord for help
he will answer, 'Here I am!'

Don't mistreat others
or falsely accuse them
or say something cruel.
Give your food to the hungry
and care for the homeless.

Then your light will shine
in the dark;
your darkest hour will be
like the noonday sun."

"...Then Jesus
made a circuit of
all the towns and villages.

He taught in their meeting places,

reported kingdom news,

and healed their diseased bodies,

healed their bruised and hurt lives.

When he looked out over the crowds,

his heart broke.

So confused and aimless they were,

like sheep with no shepherd..." 

Matthew 9:35-37 MSG






"...So pray
to the Lord

who is in charge

of the harvest;

ask him
to send
more workers

into

his fields..." 

Matthew 9:38 NLT

"Long before he laid down earth's foundations, he had us in mind,

                                                         had settled on us as the focus of his love,

                                                                                                                  to be made whole and holy by his love."

Ephesians 1:4 The Message

"May God give you more and more mercy, peace, and love."

Jude 1:2 NLT

One year ago, God reached down and pulled someone I love out of the clutches of death.
The strangle hold of substance abuse had been tightening for years, but during the previous seven months before October 1, 2013, that grip had carried him off out of sight, into a dark, hideous dungeon. We knew little of his whereabouts, but what glimpses given were horrendous, heart-thrashing glimpses – encounters where the tormentor would blast his rancid, hot breath one inch from my face, then hurl me to the ground with a thud, wielding his heavy fist to my heart.


How do you fight an enemy of this magnitude, of this merciless, taunting, daunting, bludgeoning force?


Let me share what I've found. Over and over and over again, we must call on the One who meets us where we are;

      the One who reaches through the darkness, through the despair, through the hopelessness;

the One who whispers in the night; the One who repeats His promises as many times as we need to be reminded;

      the One who silently carries when we are too weary, too wrought with pain to perhaps even notice Him;

the One who has already won every battle over darkness, sin and death for us;

      the One who calls us to rise, calls us to fight, calls us to overcome, calls us to love, right by His side;

the One who is most powerful of all;

      the One who came for, loves relentlessly, and rescues the lost ones, in His wisdom-way, in His time.


Since that day a year ago, a day does not go by that my heart does not spill over with awe-filled gratitude – gratitude for the great and valiant rescue; gratitude for the Presence in the stormy opposition; gratitude for the place He prepared ahead of time and continues to provide for rebuilding a life, a heart; gratitude for the people of God placed in a hedge of faith around us when we collapse too weak to keep fighting for freedom –
– you know who you are, and I just want to say thank you from the depths of my heart.


And most of all, I want to mark this day by openly saying thank you to our amazing Savior, Jesus Christ,
who proved His power and paid the price to win us back,
whose love never fails, never gives up, never runs out,
who simply wants us to trust Him, and to love Him right back. 

"I LOVE you, O LORD, my strength...

You reached down from heaven,

          and you lifted me

          from deep in the ocean.

You rescued me from enemies,

          who were

                   ...too powerful for me...

When I was fenced in, you freed and rescued me because you love me..."

Psalm 18:1 NIV, 16-17, 19 CEV

"The Lord's kindness never fails!

If he had not been merciful,

         we would have been destroyed.

The Lord can always be trusted

         to show mercy each morning.

Deep in my heart I say,

        'The Lord is all I need;

                 I can depend on him!'"

Lamentations 3:22-24 CEV

"God is wonderful and glorious.

I pray that his Spirit will make you become strong followers

and that Christ will live in your hearts because of your faith.

Stand firm and be deeply rooted in his love.

I pray that you and all of God's people will understand what is called wide or long or high or deep.

I want you to know all about Christ's love, although it is too wonderful to be measured.

Then your lives will be filled with all that God is.

I pray that Christ Jesus and the church will forever bring praise to God.

His power at work in us can do far more than we dare ask or imagine. Amen."

Ephesians 3:16-21 CEV

"Assured that He Who raised up the Lord Jesus
will raise us up also with Jesus and bring us [along] with you into His presence.

For all [these] things are [taking place] for your sake, so that the more grace (divine favor and spiritual blessing) extends to more and more people and multiplies through the many, the more thanksgiving may increase [and redound] to the glory of God.

Therefore we do not become discouraged (utterly spiritless, exhausted, and wearied out through fear).
Though our outer man is [progressively] decaying and wasting away, yet our inner self is being [progressively] renewed day after day.

For our light, momentary affliction (this slight distress of the passing hour) is ever more and more abundantly preparing and producing and achieving for us an everlasting weight of glory [beyond all measure, excessively surpassing all comparisons and all calculations, a vast and transcendent glory and blessedness never to cease!],

Since we consider and look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen; for the things that are visible are temporal (brief and fleeting), but the things that are invisible are deathless and everlasting."

2 Corinthians 4:14-18 AMP

"And though the Lord gives you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction,
yet your Teacher will not hide Himself any more, but your eyes will constantly behold your Teacher.

And your ears will hear a word behind you, saying,
This is the way; walk in it, when you turn to the right hand and when you turn to the left."

Isaiah 30:20-21 AMP

"But the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, Standby), the Holy Spirit, Whom the Father will send in My name [in My place, to represent Me and act on My behalf], He will teach you all things. And He will cause you to recall (will remind you of, bring to your remembrance) everything I have told you.

Peace I leave with you; My [own] peace I now give and bequeath to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. [Stop allowing yourselves to be agitated and disturbed; and do not permit yourselves to be fearful and intimidated and cowardly and unsettled.]"

John 14:26-28 AMP

"For we know that when this tent we live in—our body here on earth—is torn down, God will have a house in heaven for us to live in, a home he himself has made, which will last forever.

And now we sigh, so great is our desire that our home which comes from heaven should be put on over us; by being clothed with it we shall not be without a body. While we live in this earthly tent, we groan with a feeling of oppression; it is not that we want to get rid of our earthly body, but that we want to have the heavenly one put on over us, so that what is mortal will be transformed by life.

God is the one who has prepared us for this change, and he gave us his Spirit as the guarantee of all that he has in store for us.

So we are always full of courage. We know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord's home.

For our life is a matter of faith, not of sight.

We are full of courage and would much prefer to leave our home in the body and be at home with the Lord. More than anything else, however, we want to please him, whether in our home here or there.

For all of us must appear before Christ, to be judged by him. We will each receive what we deserve, according to everything we have done, good or bad, in our bodily life..."

2 Corinthians 5:1-10 GNT

"...Anyone who is joined to Christ is a new being; the old is gone, the new has come.

All this is done by God, who through Christ changed us from enemies into his friends

and gave us the task of making others his friends also.

Our message is that God was making all human beings his friends through Christ..."

2 Corinthians 5:17-19 GNT

"My child, listen to what I say and remember what I command you.



Listen carefully to wisdom; set your mind on understanding.



Cry out for wisdom, and beg for understanding.



Search for it like silver, and hunt for it like hidden treasure.



Then you will understand respect for the Lord,

and you will find that you know God.



Only the Lord gives wisdom;

he gives knowledge and understanding.



He stores up wisdom for those who are honest.



Like a shield he protects the innocent.



He makes sure that justice is done,

and he protects those who are loyal to him.



Then you will understand what is honest and fair

and what is the good and right thing to do.



Wisdom will come into your mind,

and knowledge will be pleasing to you.



Good sense will protect you;

understanding will guard you."

                                                             Proverbs 2:1-11 NCV

"I treasure your word above all else; it keeps me from sinning against you.

Your word to me, your servant, is like pure gold; I treasure what you say."

                                                                                                                                        Psalm 119:11, 140 CEV 

"God's bread is the One who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.

The people said, 'Sir, give us this bread always.'

Then Jesus said, 'I am the bread that gives life.
Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.'"

                                                                                                                                        John 6:33-35 NCV 

"As a deer gets thirsty for streams of water,
I truly am thirsty for you, my God.
In my heart, I am thirsty for you,
the living God.

When will I see your face
Day and night my tears are my only food,
as everyone keeps asking,
'Where is your God?'

Sorrow floods my heart,
when I remember leading the worshipers
to your house.
I can still hear them shout
their joyful praises.

Why am I discouraged?
Why am I restless?
I trust you!

And I will praise you again
because you help me,
and you are my God.

I am deeply discouraged as I think about you
from where the Jordan begins
at Mount Hermon and from Mount Mizar.
Your vicious waves have swept over me
like an angry ocean
or a roaring waterfall.

Every day, you are kind,
and at night you give me a song
as my prayer to you, the living Lord God.

You are my mighty rock.
Why have you forgotten me?
Why must enemies mistreat me and make me sad?
Even my bones are in pain,
while all day long my enemies sneer and ask, 'Where is your God?'

Why am I discouraged?
Why am I restless?
I trust you!
And I will praise you again
because you help me,
and you are my God."

Psalm 42 CEV

"Yet I still belong to you;

you hold my right hand.

You guide me with your counsel,

leading me to a glorious destiny.

Whom have I in heaven but you?

I desire you more than anything on earth.

My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak,

but God remains the strength of my heart;

he is mine forever."

Psalm 73:23-26 NLT

"O Jacob, how can you say the Lord does not see your troubles?

    O Israel, how can you say God ignores your rights?

  Have you never heard?

    Have you never understood?

The Lord is the everlasting God,

    the Creator of all the earth.

He never grows weak or weary.

    No one can measure the depths of his understanding.

  He gives power to the weak

    and strength to the powerless."

Isaiah 40:27-29 NLT

"You, the Lord God,

keep my lamp burning

    and turn darkness to light..."

Psalm 18:28 CEV

"For his anger lasts only a moment,

     but his favor lasts a lifetime!

Weeping may last through the night,

     but joy comes with the morning..."

Psalm 30:5 NLT

"You, the Lord God,

keep my lamp burning

    and turn darkness to light..."

Psalm 18:28 CEV

"Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance."

1 Corinthians 13:7 NLT

"Indeed, I have been crucified with Christ.
My ego is no longer central.
It is no longer important that I appear righteous before you or have your good opinion,
and I am no longer driven to impress God.

Christ lives in me. The life you see me living is not 'mine,' but it is lived by faith in the Son of God,
who loved me and gave himself for me."

Galatians 2:20 MSG

"So if you're serious about living this new resurrection life with Christ, act like it. Pursue the things over which Christ presides. Don't shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you. Look up, and be alert to what is going on around Christ—that's where the action is. See things from his perspective.

Your old life is dead. Your new life, which is your real life—even though invisible to spectators—is with Christ in God. He is your life. When Christ (your real life, remember) shows up again on this earth, you'll show up, too—the real you, the glorious you. Meanwhile, be content with obscurity, like Christ.

And that means killing off everything connected with that way of death: sexual promiscuity, impurity, lust, doing whatever you feel like whenever you feel like it, and grabbing whatever attracts your fancy. That's a life shaped by things and feelings instead of by God. It's because of this kind of thing that God is about to explode in anger. It wasn't long ago that you were doing all that stuff and not knowing any better. But you know better now, so make sure it's all gone for good: bad temper, irritability, meanness, profanity, dirty talk.

Don't lie to one another. You're done with that old life. It's like a filthy set of ill-fitting clothes you've stripped off and put in the fire. Now you're dressed in a new wardrobe. Every item of your new way of life is custom-made by the Creator, with his label on it. All the old fashions are now obsolete. Words like Jewish and non-Jewish, religious and irreligious, insider and outsider, uncivilized and uncouth, slave and free, mean nothing. From now on everyone is defined by Christ, everyone is included in Christ..."

"...So, chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline. Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense. Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you. And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It's your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it.

Let the peace of Christ keep you in tune with each other, in step with each other. None of this going off and doing your own thing. And cultivate thankfulness. Let the Word of Christ—the Message—have the run of the house. Give it plenty of room in your lives. Instruct and direct one another using good common sense. And sing, sing your hearts out to God! Let every detail in your lives—words, actions, whatever—be done in the name of the Master, Jesus, thanking God the Father every step of the way."

                                                                                                                                        Colossians 3:1-17 MSG 

"Listen to me, you who pursue righteousness
and who seek the LORD:
Look to the rock from which you were cut
and to the quarry from which you were hewn..."

Isaiah 51:1 NIV

"From a sea of troubles

         I call out to you, LORD.

Won't you please listen

         as I beg for mercy?

If you kept record of our sins,

         no one could last long.

But you forgive us,

         and so we will worship you.

With all my heart,

I am waiting, LORD, for you!

         I trust your promises.

I wait for you more eagerly

         than a soldier on guard duty

         waits for the dawn.

Yes, I wait more eagerly

         than a soldier on guard duty

         waits for the dawn.

Israel, trust the LORD!

         He is always merciful,

         and he has the power

         to save you.

Israel, the LORD will save you

         from all of your sins."

Psalm 130 CEV

"God, listen! Listen to my prayer,

         listen to the pain in my cries.

Don't turn your back on me

         just when I need you so desperately.

Pay attention! This is a cry for help!

         And hurry — this can't wait!"

Psalm 102:1-2 MSG

"Do everything without complaining or arguing.

Then you will be innocent and without any wrong. You will be God’s children without fault.

But you are living with crooked and mean people all around you, among whom you shine like stars in the dark world.

You offer the teaching that gives life.

So when Christ comes again, I can be happy because my work was not wasted.

I ran the race and won."

Philippians 2:14-16 NCV

"I am calling up memories of your sincere and unqualified faith

(the leaning of your entire personality on God in Christ

in absolute trust and confidence in His power, wisdom, and goodness),

a faith that first lived permanently in the heart of your grandmother...

and your mother...

and now, I am fully persuaded, dwells in you also."

2 Timothy 1:5 AMP

"Once again Jesus spoke to the people. This time he said,

'I am the light for the world!

Follow me, and you won't be walking in the dark. You will have the light that gives life.'"

John 8:12 CEV


"If you are filled with light, with no dark corners,

then your whole life will be radiant, as though a floodlight were filling you with light."

Luke 11:36 NLT

"[Jesus] is forever able to save the people he leads to God, because he always lives to speak to God for them."

Hebrews 7:25 CEV

"I pray that you will be grateful to God
for letting you have part in what he has promised his people in the kingdom of light.

God rescued us from the dark power of Satan and brought us into the kingdom of his dear Son,

who forgives our sins and sets us free.

Christ is exactly like God, who cannot be seen. He is the first-born Son, superior to all creation.

Everything was created by him, everything in heaven and on earth,
everything seen and unseen, including all forces and powers, and all rulers and authorities.

All things were created by God's Son, and everything was made for him.

God's Son was before all else, and by him everything is held together.

He is the head of his body, which is the church.

He is the very beginning, the first to be raised from death, so that he would be above all others.

God himself was pleased to live fully in his Son.

And God was pleased for him to make peace by sacrificing his blood on the cross,

so that all beings in heaven and on earth would be brought back to God."

Colossians 1:12-20 CEV

"The Lord has been so good to me! How can I ever pay him back?"

Psalm 116:12 NIRV

"For when they see their many children and all the blessings I have given them,

they will recognize the holiness of the Holy One of Israel.

They will stand in awe of the God of Jacob."

Isaiah 29:23 NLT

"He was hated and rejected;

his life was filled with sorrow

and terrible suffering.

No one wanted to look at him.

We despised him and said,

'He is a nobody!'

He suffered and endured

great pain for us,

but we thought his suffering

was punishment from God."

Isaiah 53:3-4 CEV

"I will try to walk a blameless path, but how I need your help,

especially in my own home, where I long to act as I should."

Psalm 101:2 LB

"The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is upon me,

for the LORD has anointed me

to bring good news to the poor.


He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted

and to proclaim that captives will be released

and prisoners will be freed.


He has sent me to tell those who mourn

that the time of the LORD's favor has come,

and with it,

the day of God's anger against their enemies.


To all who mourn in Israel,

he will give a crown of beauty for ashes,

a joyous blessing instead of mourning,

festive praise instead of despair.


In their righteousness,

they will be like great oaks

that the LORD has planted for his own glory..."

"...The Sovereign LORD will show his justice to the nations of the world.

Everyone will praise him!

His righteousness will be like a garden in early spring,

with plants springing up everywhere."

                                                                                                                                        Isaiah 61:1-3, 11 NLT 

"Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be shaken but endures forever."      Psalm 125:1 NIV

"Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures through all generations.

The Lord is trustworthy in all he promises and faithful in all he does."

Psalm 145:13 NIV

"Jesus looked up and saw some rich people tossing their gifts into the offering box. He also saw a poor widow putting in two pennies.

And he said, 'I tell you that this poor woman has put in more than all the others.

Everyone else gave what they didn't need.

But she is very poor and gave everything she had.'"

Luke 21:1-4 CEV

"So brothers and sisters, since God has shown us great mercy, I beg you to offer your lives as a living sacrifice to him. Your offering must be only for God and pleasing to him, which is the spiritual way for you to worship.

Do not be shaped by this world; instead be changed within by a new way of thinking.

Then you will be able to decide what God wants for you;
you will know what is good and pleasing to him and what is perfect."      Romans 12:1-2 NCV 

"For the eyes of the LORD move to and fro throughout the earth

that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His."

2 Chronicles 16:9 NASB

"If one part
of our body hurts,
we hurt
all over..."

"If one part
of our body
is honored,
the whole body will be happy..."

"His coming


is as brilliant


as the sunrise."



Habakkuk 3:4 NLT

"Who has done such mighty deeds, summoning each new generation from the beginning of time?

It is I, the Lord, the First and the Last.

I alone am he."

Isaiah 41:4 NLT

Life is a journey...

Some days our paths meander through sunshiny meadows. Some days our paths trudge back and forth, back and forth. Some days our paths seem in danger of destruction on a storm-thrashed, treacherous cliff side.

From birth to death we journey through seasons of prodigious diversity.

Though our paths can be so very different from one another, at times our experiences are akin to others, granting us compassion, empathy and encouragement.

As unique as each of us are, each one of us begins at the very same place –

"For it was You who created my inward parts;
You knit me together in my mother's womb."

Psalm 139:13 HCSB



Yes, each of us begins in the hands of a loving Creator...

and while He knits, He thinks, He plans...

"Your eyes saw me when I was formless;
all my days were written in Your book and planned before a single one of them began."

Psalm 139:16 HSCB

Together with God, we shape our journey, and our journey shapes us.

As unique as each of us are, holding uniquely diverse life stories, we all hold this one thing in common –
God created us with deep intention...and at the heart of that intention reigns His hope that we will find Him.

God loves you with an unfailing Father's heart and He will never, ever leave your side. He walks beside you through every sweet meadow, through every perilous storm, and through every place in between.

He will see you through.

"Be strong and courageous.
Do not be afraid or terrified because of them,
for the Lord your God goes with you;
he will never leave you nor forsake you."

Deuteronomy 31:6 NIV

"Jesus left Judea and started for Galilee again. This time he had to go through Samaria, and on his way he came to the town of Sychar. It was near the field that Jacob had long ago given to his son Joseph. The well that Jacob had dug was still there, and Jesus sat down beside it because he was tired from traveling. It was noon, and after Jesus' disciples had gone into town to buy some food, a Samaritan woman came to draw water from the well.

Jesus asked her, 'Would you please give me a drink of water?'

'You are a Jew,' she replied, 'and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink of water when Jews and Samaritans won't have anything to do with each other?'

Jesus answered, 'You don't know what God wants to give you, and you don't know who is asking you for a drink. If you did, you would ask me for the water that gives life.'

'Sir,' the woman said, 'you don't even have a bucket, and the well is deep. Where are you going to get this life-giving water? Our ancestor Jacob dug this well for us, and his family and animals got water from it. Are you greater than Jacob?'

Jesus answered, 'Everyone who drinks this water will get thirsty again. But no one who drinks the water I give will ever be thirsty again. The water I give is like a flowing fountain that gives eternal life.'"

John 4:3-14 CEV

"For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd;

he will lead them to springs of living water.

And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."

Revelation 7:17 NIV

Comments? Feedback? Testimonies? Please feel free to send an email to deb at HeartScribeForHim.com
(use the @ symbol between name and url).

Link to HeartScribe Gift Bookmarks here