Just Do It Right

God just wants us to live life right ~ love others and live Him through our words and actions.

1 Samuel 15:22

22 So Samuel said:

“Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices,
As in obeying the voice of the Lord?
Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice,
And to heed than the fat of rams.

Proverbs 21:3

To do righteousness and justice
Is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.

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Ezra~God’s Hand Was on His Life

Bible reference (Old Testament) ~ Ezra 7:8-10

My prayer

Heavenly Father, I ask that your hand would be on our lives like it was on Ezra’s! I thank you already that this is beautifully accomplished!! …In JESUS’ name!

Ezra 7:

8 Ezra arrived in Jerusalem in the fifth month of the seventh year of the king. 9 He had begun his journey from Babylon on the first day of the first month, and he arrived in Jerusalem on the first day of the fifth month, for the gracious hand of his God was on him. 10 For Ezra had devoted himself to the study and observance of the Law of the Lord, and to teaching its decrees and laws in Israel.

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Best Man

 Danny Carlton you’re the best!

 

I love you.  You’re the husband of my vows of 26 years, my provider and the father of our awesome kids.  Thanks for all you do.

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Fresh Revelation

Bible reference (New Testament) ~ 1 Corinthians 2:6-15

 

(I’m writing this out mostly for my own benefit.)

I pray fresh revelation of the things of God would be shown to the leaders of my church and the congregation through the Spirit of God. I thank God this prayer has already been answered.

~ that the wisdom spoken of at church is the mystery of God (1 Cor. 2:7)

~ that we would know God’s plan which was made before the world began (1 Cor. 2:7)

~ that the Holy Spirit who searches out everything would show us God’s deep secrets (1 Cor. 2:10)

~ that we would know the wonderful things God has freely given us (1 Cor. 2:12)

~ that we would evaluate all things (1 Cor. 2:15)

~ that we would have the mind of Christ (1 Cor. 2:15)

1 Corinthians 2:

6 Yet when I am among mature believers, I do speak with words of wisdom, but not the kind of wisdom that belongs to this world or to the rulers of this world, who are soon forgotten. 7 No, the wisdom we speak of is the mystery of God—his plan that was previously hidden, even though he made it for our ultimate glory before the world began. 8 But the rulers of this world have not understood it; if they had, they would not have crucified our glorious Lord. 9 That is what the Scriptures mean when they say,

“No eye has seen, no ear has heard,
and no mind has imagined
what God has prepared
for those who love him.”

10 But it was to us that God revealed these things by his Spirit. For his Spirit searches out everything and shows us God’s deep secrets. 11 No one can know a person’s thoughts except that person’s own spirit, and no one can know God’s thoughts except God’s own Spirit. 12 And we have received God’s Spirit (not the world’s spirit), so we can know the wonderful things God has freely given us.

13 When we tell you these things, we do not use words that come from human wisdom. Instead, we speak words given to us by the Spirit, using the Spirit’s words to explain spiritual truths. 14 But people who aren’t spiritual can’t receive these truths from God’s Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them and they can’t understand it, for only those who are spiritual can understand what the Spirit means. 15 Those who are spiritual can evaluate all things, but they themselves cannot be evaluated by others.

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Power of God

Bible reference 1 Corinthians 1 and 2

I found reference to the power of God three times in the Bible passage for today. God is powerful and should be greatly honored. 

1 Corinthians 1:

18 The message of the cross is foolish to those who are headed for destruction! But we who are being saved know it is the very power of God. 19 As the Scriptures say,

“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise
and discard the intelligence of the intelligent.”

1 Corinthians 1:

24 But to those called by God to salvation, both Jews and Gentiles,[a] Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 This foolish plan of God is wiser than the wisest of human plans, and God’s weakness is stronger than the greatest of human strength.

1Corinthians 2:

4 And my [Paul’s] message and my preaching were very plain. Rather than using clever and persuasive speeches, I relied only on the power of the Holy Spirit. 5 I did this so you would trust not in human wisdom but in the power of God.

 

 

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Thrive in God’s House

Bible reference (Old Testament) Psalm 27:4-6

Hold your head high and plant yourself in the house of God!

Psalm 27

4 The one thing I ask of the Lord—
the thing I seek most—
is to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life,
delighting in the Lord’s perfections
and meditating in his Temple.
5 For he will conceal me there when troubles come;
he will hide me in his sanctuary.
He will place me out of reach on a high rock.
6 Then I will hold my head high
above my enemies who surround me.
At his sanctuary I will offer sacrifices with shouts of joy,
singing and praising the Lord with music.

 

 

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Secret to the King’s Success

Bible reference (Old Testament) ~ 2 Chronicles 31:20-21

Hezekiah was king over Judah. In 2 Chronicles 31 it is told how the people over abundantly brought tithes and gifts to God’s temple. King Hezekiah followed God’s direction in what was done with all of it. He honored God during his reign. 

2 Chronicles 31

20 In this way, King Hezekiah handled the distribution throughout all Judah, doing what was pleasing and good in the sight of the Lord his God. 21 In all that he did in the service of the Temple of God and in his efforts to follow God’s laws and commands, Hezekiah sought his God wholeheartedly. As a result, he was very successful.

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Down and Out

Bible reference (OldTestament) ~ Psalm 25:16-21

 

These words were originally from David.  He cried out to God to rescue him from anguish when he was in a tough situation.

Psalm 25

16 Turn to me and have mercy,
for I am alone and in deep distress.
17 My problems go from bad to worse.
Oh, save me from them all!
18 Feel my pain and see my trouble.
Forgive all my sins.
19 See how many enemies I have
and how viciously they hate me!
20 Protect me! Rescue my life from them!
Do not let me be disgraced, for in you I take refuge.
21 May integrity and honesty protect me,
for I put my hope in you.

 

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