Never

(photo: Maui)

You thrill to God's Word, you chew on Scripture day and night. You're a tree replanted in Eden, bearing fresh fruit every month, never dropping a leaf, always in blossom.

God, brilliant Lord, yours is a household name… I look up at your macro-skies, dark and enormous, your handmade sky-jewelry, Moon and stars mounted in their settings. Then I look at my micro-self and wonder, why do you bother with us? Why take a second look our way? I hear this most gentle whisper from One I never guessed would speak to me

Those who know your name will trust in you, for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you.

Hallelujah! I give thanks to God with everything I've got— wherever good people gather, and in the congregation. God's works are so great, worth a lifetime of study—endless enjoyment! Splendor and beauty mark his craft; His generosity never gives out. His miracles are his memorial— This God of Grace, this God of Love. He gave food to those who fear him, He remembered to keep his ancient promise. He proved to his people that he could do what he said: Hand them the nations on a platter—a gift! He manufactures truth and justice; all his products are guaranteed to last— never out-of-date, never obsolete, rust-proof. All that he makes and does is honest and true: He paid the ransom for his people, He ordered his Covenant kept forever. He's so personal and holy, worthy of our respect. The good life begins in the fear of God— Do that and you'll know the blessing of God. His Hallelujah lasts forever!

So I never lose sight of Your love, but keep in step with You, never missing a beat.

Psalm 1:2 Psalm 8:1 Psalm 9:10 Psalm 11:1 Psalm 26:3

There’s no better news than the Gospel – spread the Word!

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Glenn – 368 Mission Hill Way, Colorado Springs CO 80921

Paradise

photo: Lanai, HI

Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise."

I was caught up to paradise and heard things so astounding that they cannot be expressed in words, things no human is allowed to tell.

You've forced me to talk this way, and I do it against my better judgment. But now that we're at it, I may as well bring up the matter of visions and revelations that God gave me. For instance, I know a man who, fourteen years ago, was seized by Christ and swept in ecstasy to the heights of heaven. I really don't know if this took place in the body or out of it; only God knows. I also know that this man was hijacked into paradise—again, whether in or out of the body, I don't know; God knows. There he heard the unspeakable spoken, but was forbidden to tell what he heard. This is the man I want to talk about. But about myself, I'm not saying another word…

He forgives your sins—every one. He heals your diseases—every one. He redeems you from hell—saves your life! He crowns you with love and mercy—a paradise crown. He wraps you in goodness—beauty eternal. He renews your youth—you're always young in his presence.

To everyone who is victorious I will give fruit from the tree of life in the paradise of God.

Luke 23:43 2 Corinthians 12:4 2 Corinthians 12:1 Psalm 103:3 Revelation 2:7

Our greatest privilege is to enjoy Christ’s presence.

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Glenn – 368 Mission Hill Way, Colorado Springs CO 80921

Resting place

photo: Gleneagle

"My people have been lost sheep; their shepherds have led them astray and caused them to roam on the mountains. They wandered over mountain and hill and forgot their own resting place.

… the dove found no resting place for the sole of her foot, so she returned to him into the ark, for the water was on the surface of all the earth. Then he put out his hand and took her, and brought her into the ark to himself.

Don't continue doing things the way we're doing them at present, each of us doing as we wish. Until now you haven't arrived at the goal, the resting place, the inheritance that God, your God, is giving you. But the minute you cross the Jordan River and settle into the land God, your God, is enabling you to inherit, he'll give you rest from all your surrounding enemies. You'll be able to settle down and live in safety.

Thus they set out from the mount of the LORD three days' journey, with the ark of the covenant of the LORD journeying in front of them for the three days, to seek out a resting place for them.

So now arise, O Lord God, and come into Your resting place, You and the ark of Your strength and power. Let Your priests, O Lord God, be clothed with salvation, and let Your saints (Your zealous ones) rejoice in good and in Your goodness.

Jeremiah 50:6 Genesis 8:9 Deuteronomy 12:8 Numbers 10:33 2 Chronicles 6:41

He rests well who rests in Jesus.

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Glenn – 368 Mission Hill Way, Colorado Springs CO 80921

Sing Praise

(photo: Air Force Chapel,Colorado Springs)

I will sing of your love and justice; to you, O LORD, I will sing praise.

I will rejoice in You and be in high spirits; I will sing praise to Your name, O Most High!

To the end that my tongue and my heart and everything glorious within me may sing praise to You and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks to You forever

Sing songs to God, sing out! Sing to our King, sing praise! He's Lord over earth, so sing your best songs to God.

Sing to God, sing praise to his name, extol him who rides on the clouds — his name is the LORD— and rejoice before him
.
I will sing to the LORD all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.

My lips will shout for joy when I sing praise to you— I, whom you have redeemed.

Psalm 101:1 Psalm 9:2 Psalm 30:12 Psalm 47:1 Psalm 68:4 Psalm 104:33 Psalm 71:23

A heart filled with praise brings pleasure to God.

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Glenn – 368 Mission Hill Way, Colorado Springs CO 80921

Meditate

(photo: Steamboat Lake,CO)

And Isaac went out to meditate and bow down [in prayer] in the open country in the evening…

I'll be with you. I won't give up on you; I won't leave you. Strength! Courage! You are going to lead this people to inherit the land that I promised to give their ancestors. Give it everything you have, heart and soul. Make sure you carry out The Revelation that Moses commanded you, every bit of it. Don't get off track, either left or right, so as to make sure you get to where you're going. And don't for a minute let this Book of The Revelation be out of mind. Ponder and meditate on it day and night, making sure you practice everything written in it. Then you'll get where you're going; then you'll succeed. Haven't I commanded you? Strength! Courage! Don't be timid; don't get discouraged. God, your God, is with you every step you take."

I will remember my song in the night; I will meditate with my heart, and my spirit ponders…

I have more insight than all my teachers, for I meditate on your statutes.

Practice and cultivate and meditate upon these duties; throw yourself wholly into them [as your ministry], so that your progress may be evident to everybody.

Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.

Genesis 24:63 Joshua 1:1 Psalm 77:6 Psalm 119:99 1 Timothy 4:15 Joshua 1:8

No one is stronger than the one who depends on God.

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Glenn – 368 Mission Hill Way, Colorado Springs CO 80921

Purpose

(photo: Arkansas Valley, CO)

I cry out to God Most High, to God who will fulfill his purpose for me.

Let your eyes look right on [with fixed purpose], and let your gaze be straight before you.

"God is mighty, but does not despise men; he is mighty, and firm in his purpose.

I know that You can do all things, and that no thought or purpose of Yours can be restrained or thwarted.

It's in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for. Long before we first heard of Christ and got our hopes up, he had his eye on us, had designs on us for glorious living, part of the overall purpose he is working out in everything and everyone.

God's love is meteoric, his loyalty astronomic, His purpose titanic, his verdicts oceanic. Yet in his largeness nothing gets lost; Not a man, not a mouse, slips through the cracks.

I have raised you up for this very purpose, that I might show you my power and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.

Psalm 57:2 Proverbs 4:25 Job 36:5 Job 42:2 Ephesians 1:11 Psalm 36:5 Exodus 9:16

True freedom with purpose is not in having our own way, but in yielding to God’s way.

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Glenn – 368 Mission Hill Way, Colorado Springs CO 80921

Relax

(photo: Maui)

"Give in to God, come to terms with him and everything will turn out just fine. Let him tell you what to do; take his words to heart. Come back to God Almighty and he'll rebuild your life. Clean house of everything evil. Relax your grip on your money and abandon your gold-plated luxury. God Almighty will be your treasure, more wealth than you can imagine.

"'Relax, Daniel,' he continued, 'don't be afraid. From the moment you decided to humble yourself to receive understanding, your prayer was heard, and I set out to come to you.

Honest people are relaxed and confident, bold as lions.

"Relax and rest. God has showered you with blessings…”

Don't be obsessed with getting more material things. Be relaxed with what you have. Since God assured us, "I'll never let you down, never walk off and leave you," we can boldly quote, God is there, ready to help; I'm fearless no matter what. Who or what can get to me?

"If God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers—most of which are never even seen—don't you think he'll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you? What I'm trying to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God's giving. People who don't know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don't worry about missing out. You'll find all your everyday human concerns will be met.

Relax, everything's going to be all right; rest, everything's coming together; open your hearts, love is on the way!

Job 22:21 Daniel 10:12 Proverbs 28:1 Psalm 116:7 Hebrews 13:5 Matthew 6:30 Jude 1:1

You can be a peacemaker if you have God’s peace in your heart.

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Glenn – 368 Mission Hill Way, Colorado Springs CO 80921

Friend

(photo: Boca Chica, CA)

Listen, friends, to some fatherly advice; sit up and take notice so you'll know how to live. I'm giving you good counsel; don't let it go in one ear and out the other.

God keeps an eye on his friends, his ears pick up every moan and groan.

Turn your back on evil, work for the good and don't quit. God loves this kind of thing, never turns away from his friends.

"So, my dear friends, listen carefully; those who embrace these my ways are most blessed. Mark a life of discipline and live wisely; don't squander your precious life. Blessed the man, blessed the woman, who listens to me, awake and ready for me each morning, alert and responsive as I start my day's work. When you find me, you find life, real life, to say nothing of God's good pleasure.

Keep on loving your friends; do your work in welcoming hearts.

And these God-chosen lives all around— what splendid friends they make!

Proverbs 4:1 Psalm 34:15 Psalm 37:27 Proverbs 8:32 Psalm 36:10 Psalm 16:3

Following Jesus takes the busyness out of life.

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Glenn – 368 Mission Hill Way, Colorado Springs CO 80921

Feel

(photo: Sunrise over Avila Bay, CA)

You shall be secure and feel confident because there is hope; yes, you shall search about you, and you shall take your rest in safety.

"'But, dear Israel, you'll also realize that I am God when I respond to you out of who I am, not by what I feel about the evil lives you've lived, the corrupt history you've compiled. Decree of God, the Master.'"

God made my life complete when I placed all the pieces before him. When I got my act together, he gave me a fresh start. Now I'm alert to God's ways; I don't take God for granted. Every day I review the ways he works; I try not to miss a trick. I feel put back together, and I'm watching my step. God rewrote the text of my life when I opened the book of my heart to his eyes.

God makes everything come out right … As high as heaven is over the earth, so strong is his love to those who fear him. … As parents feel for their children, God feels for those who fear him. He knows us inside and out …God's love, though, is ever and always, eternally present to all who fear him, making everything right for them and their children as they follow his Covenant ways and remember to do whatever he said.

“Never! Can a mother forget her nursing child? Can she feel no love for the child she has borne? But even if that were possible, I would not forget you!

"You're blessed when you feel you've lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you.

Job 11:18 Ezekiel 20:44 Psalm 18:20 Psalm 103:6 Isaiah 49:15 Matthew 5:4

In Christ, the hopeless find hope.

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Glenn – 368 Mission Hill Way, Colorado Springs CO 80921

Called

(photo: Gleneagle,CO)

I have called upon You, for You will answer me, O God; Incline Your ear to me, hear my speech.

I love God because he listened to me, listened as I begged for mercy. He listened so intently as I laid out my case before him. Death stared me in the face, hell was hard on my heels. Up against it, I didn't know which way to turn; then I called out to God for help: "Please, God!" I cried out. "Save my life!" God is gracious—it is he who makes things right, our most compassionate God. God takes the side of the helpless; when I was at the end of my rope, he saved me.

All believers, come here and listen, let me tell you what God did for me. I called out to him with my mouth, my tongue shaped the sounds of music. If I had been cozy with evil, the Lord would never have listened. But he most surely did listen, he came on the double when he heard my prayer. Blessed be God: he didn't turn a deaf ear, he stayed with me, loyal in his love.

Thank you! Everything in me says "Thank you!" Angels listen as I sing my thanks. I kneel in worship facing your holy temple and say it again: "Thank you!" Thank you for your love, thank you for your faithfulness; Most holy is your name, most holy is your Word. The moment I called out, you stepped in; you made my life large with strength.

Then they will learn that you alone are called the Lord, that you alone are the Most High, supreme over all the earth.

Psalm 17:6 Psalm 116:1 Psalm 66:16 Psalm 138:1 Psalm 83:18

The great Physician is always on call.

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Glenn – 368 Mission Hill Way, Colorado Springs CO 80921

Ready

(photo: Maui)

[ Job Answers God ] Job answered: "I'm speechless, in awe—words fail me. I should never have opened my mouth! I've talked too much, way too much. I'm ready to shut up and listen."

God sticks his head out of heaven. He looks around. He's looking for someone not stupid— one man, even, God-expectant, just one God-ready woman.

Close the book on Evil, God, but publish your mandate for us. You get us ready for life: you probe for our soft spots, you knock off our rough edges. And I'm feeling so fit, so safe: made right, kept right. God in solemn honor does things right, but his nerves are sandpapered raw.

Watch this: God's eye is on those who respect him, the ones who are looking for his love. He's ready to come to their rescue in bad times; in lean times he keeps body and soul together.

And he shall be like a tree firmly planted [and tended] by the streams of water, ready to bring forth its fruit in its season; its leaf also shall not fade or wither; and everything he does shall prosper [and come to maturity].

At day's end I'm ready for sound sleep, For you, God, have put my life back together.

Job 40:3 Psalm 14:2 Psalm 7:9 Psalm 33:18 Psalm 1:3 Psalm 4:7

Fruitfulness for Christ depends on fellowship with Christ.

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Glenn – 368 Mission Hill Way, Colorado Springs CO 80921

Show

(photo: Mosquito Lakes, CA)

Many people say, “Who will show us better times?”

Show me the right path, O Lord; point out the road for me to follow.

You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy, at Your right hand there are pleasures forevermore.

I want you to show love, not offer sacrifices. I want you to know me more than I want burnt offerings.

"You're blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight. That's when you discover who you really are, and your place in God's family.

I will praise You, O Lord, with my whole heart; I will show forth (recount and tell aloud) all Your marvelous works and wonderful deeds!

Show your strength, God, so no one can miss it. We are out singing the good news!

Psalm 4:6 Psalm 25:4 Psalm 16:11 Hosea 6:6 Matthew 5:9 Psalm 9:1 Psalm 21:13

In God’s eyes, true greatness is serving others.

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Glenn – 368 Mission Hill Way, Colorado Springs CO 80921

Promise

(photo: above Lake Tahoe,CA)

You are right and you do right, God; your decisions are right on target. You rightly instruct us in how to live ever faithful to you…Your promise has been tested through and through, and I, your servant, love it dearly. I'm too young to be important, but I don't forget what you tell me. Your righteousness is eternally right, your revelation is the only truth. Even though troubles came down on me hard, your commands always gave me delight. The way you tell me to live is always right; help me understand it so I can live to the fullest.

Every word you give me is a miracle word— how could I help but obey? Break open your words, let the light shine out, let ordinary people see the meaning. Mouth open and panting, I wanted your commands more than anything. Turn my way, look kindly on me, as you always do to those who personally love you. Steady my steps with your Word of promise so nothing malign gets the better of me. Rescue me from the grip of bad men and women so I can live life your way. Smile on me, your servant; teach me the right way to live. I cry rivers of tears because nobody's living by your book!

Do you think I'd withdraw my holy promise? or take back words I'd already spoken? I've given my word, my whole and holy word…

[ God Gave His Word ] When God made his promise to Abraham, he backed it to the hilt, putting his own reputation on the line. He said, "I promise that I'll bless you with everything I have—bless and bless and bless!" Abraham stuck it out and got everything that had been promised to him.

The believer replied, "Every promise of God proves true; he protects everyone who runs to him for help.

Psalm 119:137 Psalm 119:129 Psalm 89:19 Hebrews 6:13 Proverbs 30:5

Fear fades as faith grows.

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Glenn – 368 Mission Hill Way, Colorado Springs CO 80921

Great

(photo: Breckenridge,CO)

Dear, dear Corinthians, I can't tell you how much I long for you to enter this wide-open, spacious life. We didn't fence you in. The smallness you feel comes from within you. Your lives aren't small, but you're living them in a small way. I'm speaking as plainly as I can and with great affection. Open up your lives. Live openly and expansively!

Oh, how great are God’s riches and wisdom and knowledge! How impossible it is for us to understand his decisions and his ways!

EAGERLY PURSUE and seek to acquire [this] love [make it your aim, your great quest]; and earnestly desire and cultivate the spiritual endowments (gifts)…

Whatever God has promised gets stamped with the Yes of Jesus. In him, this is what we preach and pray, the great Amen, God's Yes and our Yes together, gloriously evident. God affirms us, making us a sure thing in Christ, putting his Yes within us. By his Spirit he has stamped us with his eternal pledge—a sure beginning of what he is destined to complete.

We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves.

We are confident of all this because of our great trust in God through Christ.

2 Corinthians 6:11 Romans 11:33 1 Corinthians 14:1 2 Corinthians 1:20 2 Corinthians 4:7 2 Corinthians 3:4

Seeing God’s work in our lives puts a new song on our lips.

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Peaceful

(photo: Maui)

A peaceful heart leads to a healthy body

One handful of peaceful repose Is better than two fistfuls of worried work

No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way.

Let him search for peace (harmony; undisturbed ness from fears, agitating passions, and moral conflicts) and seek it eagerly. [Do not merely desire peaceful relations with God, with your fellowmen, and with yourself, but pursue, go after them!]

Let it be the inward adorning and beauty of the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible and unfading charm of a gentle and peaceful spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God.

And so, dear friends, while you are waiting for these things to happen, make every effort to be found living peaceful lives that are pure and blameless in His sight.

Proverbs 14:30 Ecclesiastes 4:6 Hebrews 12:11 1 Peter 3:11 1 Peter 3:4 2 Peter 3:14

No God, no peace; Know God, know peace.

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Glenn – 368 Mission Hill Way, Colorado Springs CO 80921

Start

(photo: stream above Lake Tahoe,CA)

This Good News tells us how God makes us right in his sight. This is accomplished from start to finish by faith. As the Scriptures say, “It is through faith that a righteous person has life.”

God made my life complete when I placed all the pieces before him. When I got my act together, he gave me a fresh start. Now I'm alert to God's ways; I don't take God for granted. Every day I review the ways he works; I try not to miss a trick. I feel put back together, and I'm watching my step. God rewrote the text of my life when I opened the book of my heart to his eyes.

"When the Friend I plan to send you from the Father comes—the Spirit of Truth issuing from the Father—he will confirm everything about me. You, too, from your side must give your confirming evidence, since you are in this with me from the start."

Blessed are you who give yourselves over to God, turn your backs on the world's "sure thing," ignore what the world worships; The world's a huge stockpile of God-wonders and God-thoughts. Nothing and no one comes close to you! I start talking about you, telling what I know, and quickly run out of words. Neither numbers nor words account for you.

But now you have arrived at your destination: By faith in Christ you are in direct relationship with God. Your baptism in Christ was not just washing you up for a fresh start. It also involved dressing you in an adult faith wardrobe—Christ's life, the fulfillment of God's original promise.

My counsel for you is simple and straightforward: Just go ahead with what you've been given. You received Christ Jesus, the Master; now live him. You're deeply rooted in him. You're well constructed upon him. You know your way around the faith. Now do what you've been taught. School's out; quit studying the subject and start living it! And let your living spill over into thanksgiving.


Romans 1:17 1 Corinthians 1:26 Psalm 18:20 John 15:26 Psalm 40:4 Galatians 3:25 Colossians 2:6

For the right spiritual focus, fix your eyes on the Lord.

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Glenn – 368 Mission Hill Way, Colorado Springs CO 80921

Receive

(photo: Maui)

Let me ask you this one question: Did you receive the [Holy] Spirit as the result of obeying the Law and doing its works, or was it by hearing [the message of the Gospel] and believing [it]? [Was it from observing a law of rituals or from a message of faith?]


And we receive from Him whatever we ask, because we [ watchfully] obey His orders [observe His suggestions and injunctions, follow His plan for us] and [ habitually] practice what is pleasing to Him.

And friends, once that's taken care of and we're no longer accusing or condemning ourselves, we're bold and free before God! We're able to stretch our hands out and receive what we asked for because we're doing what he said, doing what pleases him. Again, this is God's command: to believe in his personally named Son, Jesus Christ. He told us to love each other, in line with the original command. As we keep his commands, we live deeply and surely in him, and he lives in us. And this is how we experience his deep and abiding presence in us: by the Spirit he gave us.

[ Live Deeply in Christ ] And now, children, stay with Christ. Live deeply in Christ. Then we'll be ready for him when he appears, ready to receive him with open arms, with no cause for red-faced guilt or lame excuses when he arrives.

So roll up your sleeves, put your mind in gear, be totally ready to receive the gift that's coming when Jesus arrives. Don't lazily slip back into those old grooves of evil, doing just what you feel like doing. You didn't know any better then; you do now. As obedient children, let yourselves be pulled into a way of life shaped by God's life, a life energetic and blazing with holiness. God said, "I am holy; you be holy."

Galatians 3:2 1 John 3:22 1 John 3:21 1 John 2:28 1 Peter 1:13

Faith in Christ enables us to receive the grace to live above our circumstances, not under them.

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Glenn – 368 Mission Hill Way, Colorado Springs CO 80921

Believe

(photo: Steamboat Springs,CO)

For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.

God will also count us as righteous if we believe in him, the one who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead.

Ignoring what they said, Jesus told the synagogue ruler, "Don't be afraid; just believe."

They (two blind men) went right into the house where he was staying, and Jesus asked them, “Do you believe I can make you see?” “Yes, Lord,” they told him, “we do.”

He touched their eyes and said, "Become what you believe." It happened. They saw.

If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer."

Romans 10:10 Romans 4:24 Mark 5:36 Matthew 9:28 Matthew 9:29 Matthew 21:22

God gives grace just when we need it.

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Glenn – 368 Mission Hill Way, Colorado Springs CO 80921

Trust

(photo: Maui)

As for God, His way is perfect! The word of the Lord is tested and tried; He is a shield to all those who take refuge and put their trust in Him.

The Lord is my strength and shield. I trust him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving.

For the word of the Lord holds true, and we can trust everything he does.

And the presence of the Lord was with them with power, so that a great number [learned] to believe (to adhere to and trust in and rely on the Lord) and turned and surrendered themselves to Him.

But let all those who take refuge and put their trust in You rejoice; let them ever sing and shout for joy, because You make a covering over them and defend them; let those also who love Your name be joyful in You and be in high spirits.

Even strong young lions sometimes go hungry, but those who trust in the Lord will lack no good thing.

Psalm 18:30 Psalm 28:7 Psalm 33:4 Acts 11:21 Psalm 5:11 Psalm 34:10

With God’s Word as your map and His Spirit as your compass, you’re sure to stay on course.

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Glenn – 368 Mission Hill Way, Colorado Springs CO 80921

Focus

(photo: kissing camels, Garden of the Gods)

Jesus said, "What a generation! No sense of God! No focus to your lives! How many times do I have to go over these things? How much longer do I have to put up with this?

By shifting our focus from what we do to what God does, don't we cancel out all our careful keeping of the rules and ways God commanded? Not at all. What happens, in fact, is that by putting that entire way of life in its proper place, we confirm it.

Be good to your servant, God; be as good as your Word. Train me in good common sense; I'm thoroughly committed to living your way. Before I learned to answer you, I wandered all over the place, but now I'm in step with your Word. You are good, and the source of good; train me in your goodness… I focus my attention on what you are saying … I dance to the tune of your revelation. My troubles turned out all for the best— they forced me to learn from your textbook. Truth from your mouth means more to me than striking it rich in a gold mine.

While he was going on like this, babbling, a light-radiant cloud enveloped them, and sounding from deep in the cloud a voice: "This is my Son, marked by my love, focus of my delight. Listen to him."

"Here's what I want you to do: Find a quiet, secluded place so you won't be tempted to role-play before God. Just be there as simply and honestly as you can manage. The focus will shift from you to God, and you will begin to sense his grace.

Matthew 17:17 Romans 3:31 Psalm 119:65 Matthew 17:5 Matthew 6:6

In prayer, God hears more than words; He listens to your heart.

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Glenn – 368 Mission Hill Way, Colorado Springs CO 80921

Calm

(photo: Denver Botanical Gardens)

The Lord himself will fight for you. Just stay calm.”

A calm and undisturbed mind and heart are the life and health of the body, but envy, jealousy, and wrath are like rottenness of the bones.

The one who knows much says little; an understanding person remains calm.

For the Lord your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.”

Stay calm; mind your own business; do your own job. You've heard all this from us before, but a reminder never hurts. We want you living in a way that will command the respect of outsiders, not lying around sponging off your friends.

For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear), but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control.

Exodus 14:14 Proverbs 14:30 Proverbs 17:27 Zephaniah 3:17 1 Thessalonians 4:11 2 Timothy 1:7

You don’t have to worry about eyestrain from looking on the brighter side of life.

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Glenn – 368 Mission Hill Way, Colorado Springs CO 80921

Measure

(photo: Steamboat Springs,CO)

He has put all things under His feet and has appointed Him the universal and supreme Head of the church which is His body, the fullness of Him Who fills all in all [for in that body lives the full measure of Him Who makes everything complete, and Who fills everything everywhere with Himself].

And He said to them, “Be careful what you are hearing. The measure [of thought and study] you give [to the truth you hear] will be the measure [of virtue and knowledge] that comes back to you--and more [besides] will be given to you who hear”.

I have told you these things, that My joy and delight may be in you, and that your joy and gladness may be of full measure and complete and overflowing.

"For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God; for He gives the Spirit without measure.

[That you may really come] to know [practically, through experience for yourselves] the love of Christ, which far surpasses mere knowledge [without experience]; that you may be filled [through all your being] unto all the fullness of God [may have the richest measure of the divine Presence, and become a body wholly filled and flooded with God Himself]!

Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."

Ephesians 1:23 Mark 4:24 John 15:11 John 3:34 Ephesians 3:19 Luke 6:38

The real measure of our wealth is the treasure we have in heaven.

LIFEgroups – together experiencing God

Glenn – 368 Mission Hill Way, Colorado Springs CO 80921

New

(photo: Pike's Peak at sunrise)

Then Jesus became explicit: "Lazarus died. And I am glad for your sakes that I wasn't there. You're about to be given new grounds for believing. Now let's go to him."

"Go, stand in the temple courts," he said, "and tell the people the full message of this new life."

Since this new way gives us such confidence, we can be very bold.

Meanwhile, the word of God continued to spread, and there were many new believers.

So we're not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace. These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, the lavish celebration prepared for us. There's far more here than meets the eye. The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. But the things we can't see now will last forever.

"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.

John 11:14 Acts 5:20 2 Corinthians 3:12 Acts 12:24 2 Corinthians 4:16 John 13:34

The future is as bright as the promises of God.

LIFEgroups – together experiencing God

Glenn – 368 Mission Hill Way, Colorado Springs CO 80921