We are in good hands

Matthew 10:29-31 (New International Version)

²⁹Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. ³⁰And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. ³¹So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.
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Ponder this: Scientists have suggested that there may be between 100,000 and 200,000 million adult or near adult birds on the planet at any one time. NOT ONE OF THEM DIES APART FROM THE WILL OF GOD. This means that God has to give the 'go-ahead' or 'sign the bottom of the paper' for every bird that dies. If he cares THAT MUCH about birds, how much more does He care about us? Meditate on this passage.

How the wise interact with the foolish

Proverbs 26:4-5 (New King James Version)

⁴ Do not answer a fool according to his folly,
      Lest you also be like him.
       ⁵ Answer a fool according to his folly,
      Lest he be wise in his own eyes.
     
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Ponder this: Lesson is: Don't talk to worldy people on a worldy perspective as you'll only reach a worldy conclusion. Speak to a fool (one who says in his heart that their is no God) from a God perspective (which is wise) so that they will see the foolishness in their understanding. However, there will still be some that do not understand. See 1 Corin 1:22-24 for the answer to that.

[Courtesy of KingBrown_]

Stop and look up

Daily Scripture 4-29-10

Isaiah 40:26 (New International Version)

²⁶ Lift your eyes and look to the heavens:
Who created all these?
He who brings out the starry host one by one,
and calls them each by name.
Because of his great power and mighty strength,
not one of them is missing.
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Ponder this: How many times have you encountered someone who didn't believe that God existed? In this scripture, God is literally giving us one of the best conversation topics to have with person such as this. He says to look up and look at His creation. God's creation testifies to His majesty and His existance. Who else could have fashioned all these amazing thigns we see everyday? The birds, the trees, the clouds, the sea, dogs, cats etc.etc.

If God sees all the bad stuff in the world, then why doesn't he do something about it?

Daily Scripture 5-15-10

Proverbs 15:3 (New International Version)

³ The eyes of the LORD are everywhere,
keeping watch on the wicked and the good.
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Ponder this: God sees all the good in the world and all the evil. So why doesn't he stop the bad stuff? Poverty, Child prostitution, Murder, a lying tounge, sinful thoughts etc... Well, all the bad stuff is a manifestation of sin in the world. After Eve disobeyed God, she allowed for sin to enter into the realm of this world. Death is the greatest manifestation of sin but there is all this other 'bad' stuff that comes before death. Is there no hope for helping the world? God gave you His Spirit to do great things in this world. You are a door, or portal if you may, of God's kingdom. You loose and you bind. You have authority over all the wickedness in this world and righteousness in heaven. If we as believers would only pray, and live a life of holiness, this globe might look a bit different.

It's just words until the Holy Spirit moves

1 Thessalonians 1:4-5 (New International Version)

 ⁴For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, ⁵because our gospel came to you not simply with words, but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction. You know how we lived among you for your sake.
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Ponder this: God's children receive the preaching of the Gospel as more than just words. Those words have a power over them and the Holy Spirit convicts them and makes them want to imitate the life of Christ and other Christ-like believers. For those who are not ready to be harvested, the Gospel will just be words. Preach to everyone for it is not by your strength or power that they will be saved, but by the power of God and His Holy Spirit that they will be convicted and drawn to repentance.

Watching your brother stumble is a sin

Galatians 6:1-2 (New International Version)

  ¹Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. ²Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.

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Ponder this: The law of Christ is found in Luke 10:27 ['Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'] So for you to not help your brother when you see him/her stumble is a sin. . . Think about that.

Thinking is good.

Proverbs 15:1 (New International Version)

 ¹ A gentle answer turns away wrath,
       but a harsh word stirs up anger.
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Ponder this: Think before you speak.
[courtesy of LosOtros.ca]

Embrace Afflictions

Psalm 119:67 (New International Version)

 ⁶⁷ Before I was afflicted I went astray,
       but now I obey your word.

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Ponder this: God teaches us the most in our afflictions. Count all your trials as pure Joy. [James 1:2-4]

Settle your debts

Matthew 5:25-26 (New International Version)

 ²⁵"Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still with him on the way, or he may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison. ²⁶I tell you the truth, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.

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Ponder this: Sin is your adversary and he is taking you to court. Since the wages of sin is death, when you stand before the Most High God, the perfect judge of the Universe, you will have to pay up for your many sins. That fine is death aka an eternity of torment in hell. Jesus is kindly warning us in the above scripture that while sin is taking us to court and while we are still alive we should settle our debts. Jesus paid our fine for us. He died for us and was tormented in place of us so we wouldn't have to be. All we have to do is believe that Jesus is the Son of God and He did what He said He did and our debts will be cleared.

Do not work for food that spoils

Romans 14:17-18 (New International Version)

¹⁷For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, ¹⁸because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by men.
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Ponder this:  What we eat and what we drink are tangible and Earthly. They will perish. Righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit are untangible and Spiritual. They are fruit of godliness and are imperishable, enduring and eternal. Seek after things that last, not things that perish. Focus on Godly fruit rather than fruit that comes from your own hand.

"You are mine"

Isaiah 43:1 (New King James Version)

¹ But now, thus says the LORD, who created you, O Jacob,
And He who formed you, O Israel:

“ Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by your name;
You are Mine.
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Ponder this: I fell in love with this chapter the very first time i read it. It's awesome because it talks about God's everlasting love and devotion to His people. Imagine hearing the God of the entire universe speaking the above verse in your ear as a lover whispers into the ear of His beloved. *shivers* God loves hard.

Formula for entering into the court of the Lord

Psalm 100:4 (New International Version)

⁴ Enter his gates with thanksgiving
and his courts with praise;
give thanks to him and praise his name.
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Ponder this: I don't want to make God's word seem technical, but for simplicity sake I will say this: the above scripture is like a mathematical formula for entering the court of the Lord.

Thanksgiving + Praise = Entry into God's court

Just like a mathematical formula works everytime, this formula will work every time. Practice giving God genuine thanks and praise for all of his amazingly wonderful deeds at the beginning of every prayer and experience being in the presence of your Holy Daddy on a daily basis.

God's commandments are not burdensome

Galatians 5:6 (New International Version)

⁶For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.


[Read scripture in context Galatians 6:1-6]
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Ponder this: Faith in God is a supernatural faith. How do you know if you have this kind of faith? It is manifested in your love for God and His commands. Those who have this faith from God do not find His commands burdensome. Are God's commandments burdensome to you? Or do you delight in His laws? We are saved by faith, so if you need it, ask God for it.

Supernatural Faith

John 6:65 (New International Version)

⁶⁵He went on to say, "This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled him."
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Ponder this: Jesus said the above line to his disciples who did not believe in what he was preaching and were turning away from following him. From this passage it is clear that belief in God and obedience to his commandments do not come naturally to man. It is a supernatural faith that comes only from God. One cannot fake being a Christian for long since obeying God's commandments and believing in Him will ALWAYS be a burden to the natural man. One must experience the miracle of salvation that comes only from God and by God before one can do anything that pleases God.

[Read the scripture in context John 6:25-69]

I have an Extremely Well Off Father

1 John 3:1 (New International Version)

¹How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!--------------------------------------------------------------
Ponder this: Picture being the ONLY child of an extremely loving, caring, giving, gentle, patient and not to mention wealthy Father? God is our Father and embodies all of the above characteristics and so much more. He is everything Good and He delights in giving good things to his children. He esteems his children even above himself. [Romans 12:10]

We need food to survive right?

John 4:34 (New International Version)

 ³⁴"My food," said Jesus, "is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.
.

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Luke 4:4 (King James Version) FOOD = WORD OF GOD

 ⁴And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.

John 6:29 (New International Version) WORK = BELIEVE AND PREACH THE GOOD NEWS

 ²⁹Jesus answered, "The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent."

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Ponder this: We need food to survive. God is our food. Without God we die. God's food consists of being enveloped in his word and his work. His work is to believe in Him and tell others about Him so that they too may believe and live. Simple huh?

I have a gut feeling

Luke 24:32 (New International Version)

³²They asked each other, "Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?"
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Ponder this: After Jesus resurrected, He met two of His disciples on the road and began talking to them. He revealed all the Scriptures that spoke about Himself to them however, Jesus kept his identity hidden from them. The above scripture speaks about the moment after Jesus' identity was revealed much later in the evening and they said to themselves, did "not our hearts burn... " The thought or question that comes to mind is can we trust our gutt feelings? What are gutt feelings? The disciples had a feeling that there was something different about the man speaking to them yet they never pursued their feelings any further. hmm.. should we be going out on a limb because of gutt feelings?

I'ma do me! If it's going to be good for them.

Daily Scripture 26-03-10

Romans 14:16 (New International Version)

¹⁶Do not allow what you consider good to be spoken of as evil.
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Ponder this: My mother always used to tell me this when I was younger. The principle of this verse is totally contrary to the world's view that says, "I'm going to do me.. I don't care what anyone else thinks.. They shouldn't worry about what I'm doing.. This is my life." As a born-again believer, these thoughts should be far from us. We are called to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. [Romans 12:17] Take note of how your actions and your relationships with people are perceived by others. Even though you may be doing something with the right intentions/heart because your faith is strong, if others may be caused to stumble because of those completely innocent actions, then you should not do them for the sake of your brother/sister as God may hold you accountable for their fall.

What's the last thing you asked God for?

Mark 11:24 (New International Version)

²⁴Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.
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Ponder this: Are you scared to ask because you are not sure you will receive? Start asking in faith and see the Lord work in your life.

A lifetime of favour from God

Daily Scripture 23-03-10

Psalm 30:4-5 (New International Version)

⁴ Sing to the LORD, you saints of his;
praise his holy name.
⁵ For his anger lasts only a moment,
but his favor lasts a lifetime;

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Ponder this: The Bible says that God is angry with the wicked every day [psalm 7:11 KJV] .. hm. that sucks. Thank God for His Son, Jesus Christ and His cleansing blood who promises to forgive us of ALL of our sins IF we repent and cry out for mercy confessing that Jesus is Lord. After we receive righteousness through the blood of Jesus, the scripture above promises that God's favor will always be with us. Pretty awesome huh?

You may know God, but does God know you?

Galatians 4:8-9 (New International Version)

⁸Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods. ⁹But now that you know God—or rather are known by God—how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable principles? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again?

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Ponder this: I heard a preacher give an illustration concerning the above scripture. He said that if you go to the white house and stand by the gate and say to the guard, "Let me in! I know Obama!" He will tell you, "So.. many people know Obama, He is the president." It would be completely different if Obama came out of the white house and said to the guard, "Hey, I know that man/woman, let him/her in." The guard would immediately open the gate and let you in. It is one thing for you to know God but it is another for God to know you! God knows all of his creation, but only those that believe in His Son Jesus Christ are the creatures that He acknowledges as His children and he KNOWS them.

Resist temptation - Remain in prayer

Luke 22:46 (New International Version)

⁴⁶"Why are you sleeping?" he asked them. "Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation."
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Ponder this: Could this be the reason why Jesus, even though he was tempted with every kind of temptation, did not sin; because he was always praying.

Know your heart

Matthew 12:34 (New International Version)

³⁴You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.
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Ponder this: A man will know the state of his heart by what comes out of His mouth. Test yourself.

God's rebuke is a blessing

Psalm 141:5 (New International Version)

⁵ Let a righteous man strike me—it is a kindness;
let him rebuke me—it is oil on my head.
My head will not refuse it.
Yet my prayer is ever against the deeds of evildoers;
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Ponder this: God's rebuke is to be welcomed. Yield to His discipline and you WILL bare much fruit.

Get a deeper revelation of Jesus

1 John 3:2-3 (New King James Version)

² Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. ³ And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.
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Ponder this: If it is that we shall see Jesus as He is WHEN we are like Him then why do we have to wait for His return to see him?? The Lord has enabled us to be purified and transformed into the likeness of Christ here on earth therefore, we should strive to purify ourselves here and now. As we become more and more pure, we will become more and more like Christ and in doing so, we will receive a deeper revelation of who Jesus is.

Give the gift of prayer

1 John 5:14-15 (New International Version)

¹⁴This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. ¹⁵And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.
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Ponder this: Our prayers are heard by God and because God is faithful to answer prayers that are in accordance with his will then we know that we know that we know that our prayers have been answered. We are simply waiting for delivery!

Who have you prayed for lately? Give someone the gift of prayer and spend a minute or two lifting that person up in prayer. :) Love.

God has a perfect will for your life but how do you know what that will is?

Romans 12:2 (King James Version)

²And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
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Ponder this:
If we want to know the will of God we must be constantly renewing our mind. Your mind is renewed as you spend time with God and you meditate on His scripture, listen to His voice, Prayer and any other form of communication you have with God. God will renew and transform you through these avenues and the perfect will of God will be made clear to you.

GOD LOVES YOU THIS MUCH!

Zephaniah 3:17 (King James Version)

¹⁷The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.
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Ponder this: .. . Ponder the implications of this verse - word by word. Speak it aloud over and over again until you receive a revelation of this truth.

Humility

Luke 5:8 (New King James Version)

⁸ When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!”

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Ponder this: Simon Peter just witnessed the awesome power of God. Click here to read the whole story. (Luke 5:1-11.) This verse stuck out to me the most for some reason. Peter's humilty makes me evaluate my own.

Faith!

Hebrews 11:6 (New King James Version)

⁶ But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

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Ponder this: It is impossible to lose out when you seek God. You are sure to find something incredible!

The Lord uses all things for our good!

Judges 3:1-4 (New King James Version)

Judges 3

The Nations Remaining in the Land

¹ Now these are the nations which the LORD left, that He might test Israel by them, that is, all who had not known any of the wars in Canaan ² (this was only so that the generations of the children of Israel might be taught to know war, at least those who had not formerly known it), ³ namely, five lords of the Philistines, all the Canaanites, the Sidonians, and the Hivites who dwelt in Mount Lebanon, from Mount Baal Hermon to the entrance of Hamath. ⁴ And they were left, that He might test Israel by them, to know whether they would obey the commandments of the LORD, which He had commanded their fathers by the hand of Moses.

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Ponder this:
Some of us have enemy nations around us, whether these nations are in the form of people, situations or circumstances. Although these nations are against you, know that they are to 1. Train you in war. We fight not against flesh and blood, so I speak of a spiritutal war. You become stronger in Christ.
2. Verse 4 says, "know whether [YOU] will obey the commandments of the Lord."
See your enemy nations as challenges that you have already been given all of the necessary grace and tools to conquer through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Forgiven of much, love much

Luke 7:47 (New King James Version)

⁴⁷ Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little.”

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Ponder this: We have all been forgiven of much but not all of us recognizes this.

Worship despite the circumstance

Job 1:20 (New King James Version)

²⁰ Then Job arose, tore his robe, and shaved his head; and he fell to the ground and worshiped.
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Ponder this: That was Job's reaction after he lost all his property and children ALL at once. What would be your reaction if that happened to you? What caused Job to react that way? His faith? His fear of the Lord? His obedience? His love of God?

What attracts women to men?

Proverbs 19:22 (King James Version)

²²The desire of a man is his kindness: and a poor man is better than a liar.
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Ponder this: If it is kindness that draws a woman to a man, then it can very well be the reason why some women choose to stay with a man who doesn't provide them with practical needs but instead provides her with unfailing love. This man provides Love without rent money, love without a job, love without ambition, love without a plan. Kisses and roses are nice for a while (sometimes for a long while), but can it out weigh all other practical factors?
makes me say hm.

Talents - Look at your own, not others

1 Corinthians 7:7 (New King James Version)

⁷ For I wish that all men were even as I myself. But each one has his own gift from God, one in this manner and another in that.

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Ponder this: Everyone has their own giftings. Don't try to be somebody else, but be who God has made you to be. Completely you, completely perfect.

Why was David a man after God's own heart?

Psalm 63:1-3 (New King James Version)

¹ O God, You are my God;
Early will I seek You;
My soul thirsts for You;
My flesh longs for You
In a dry and thirsty land
Where there is no water.
² So I have looked for You in the sanctuary,
To see Your power and Your glory.
³ Because Your lovingkindness is better than life,
My lips shall praise You.

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Ponder this: I noticed 3 things in the above scriptures that will help us understand why David - the adulturer & murder - was a man after God's own heart.

vs1. David purposed in his heart to seek the Lord. "Early will I seek you." David did not squeeze God into his schedule but he alloted a special time in his day where his only priority would be to seek the Lord.

vs2. David saw God's glory. When a person in the Bible saw the glory of God like Ezekiel, Isaiah or Moses, their life shifted. God became so real to them through the revelation of His great glory that they were now even more willing to serve the Lord and lay down their lives for Him.
Do you have any fear of anything at all? One should seek to see the glory of the Lord so that ALL FEAR, however minute it may be, will shatter before the presence of the Lord. I guaruntee that your life will never be the same again.

vs3. David loved God more than his very life. Can you say right now that you could live a reasonably happy life without God? Can you say right now that you could live without God but your life would totally come to ruin? Or can you say that if you didn't have God in your life, you would literally die? David choose death over the abscence of God.

This is a man, who was after God's own heart. How does your heart compare?

2 things to know when Evangelising

Psalm 19:7 (New King James Version)

⁷ The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul;
The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple;

1 Corinthians 1:21-24 (New King James Version)

²¹ For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. ²² For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; ²³ but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, ²⁴ but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.

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Ponder this: Thinking of witnessing to unbelievers? You don't have to be a Bible scholar to effectively tell others about the God you serve. I noticed two things in the above scriptures that I believe are absolute necessities when witnessing to an unbeliever. One must make clear what God's laws are (10 commandments & others) and how a person without God violates those laws. Also, one must glorify Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour and the ultimate sacrifice he made for all of mankind.

Jesus passed every test!

Job 7:17-19 (New International Version)

¹⁷ "What is man that you make so much of him,
that you give him so much attention,
¹⁸ that you examine him every morning
and test him every moment?
¹⁹ Will you never look away from me,
or let me alone even for an instant?
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Ponder this: How long is a moment in time? ... That's how often the Lord tests us.
How often do you sin; In your actions, words or thoughts? If God is testing us every moment, I can honestly say that I have sinned enough times before lunch time to send me straight to hell.
Now consider this, Jesus did not sin at all. Not even for a moment. He is truely a perfectly righteous and Holy God.