Beyond

photo: Pike's Peak last evening

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Your unfailing love, O Lord, is as vast as the heavens; your faithfulness reaches beyond the clouds

Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!

Yet to us God has unveiled and revealed them by and through His Spirit, for the [Holy] Spirit searches diligently, exploring and examining everything, even sounding the profound and bottomless things of God [the divine counsels and things hidden and beyond man's scrutiny].

Now, brothers, I have applied these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, so that you may learn from us the meaning of the saying, "Do not go beyond what is written." Then you will not take pride in one man over against another.

Every time I think of you—and I think of you often!—I thank God for your lives of free and open access to God, given by Jesus. There's no end to what has happened in you—it's beyond speech, beyond knowledge. The evidence of Christ has been clearly verified in your lives.

Now to Him Who, by (in consequence of) the [action of His] power that is at work within us, is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly, far over and above all that we [dare] ask or think [infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams]

Psalm 36:5 Romans 11:33 1 Corinthians 2:10 1 Corinthians 4:6 1 Corinthians 1:4 Ephesians 3:20

In a changing world, you can trust God’s unchanging Word.

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Glenn – 368 Mission Hill Way, Colorado Springs CO 80921

Generous

photo: Los Alamitos, CO

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Oh, how generous and gracious our Lord was! He filled me with the faith and love that come from Christ Jesus.

This is God's generous truth; embrace it with both arms!

Keep a cool head. Stay alert. The Devil is poised to pounce, and would like nothing better than to catch you napping. Keep your guard up. You're not the only ones plunged into these hard times. It's the same with Christians all over the world. So keep a firm grip on the faith. The suffering won't last forever. It won't be long before this generous God who has great plans for us in Christ—eternal and glorious plans they are!—will have you put together and on your feet for good. He gets the last word; yes, he does.

So don't lose a minute in building on what you've been given, complementing your basic faith with good character, spiritual understanding, alert discipline, passionate patience, reverent wonder, warm friendliness, and generous love, each dimension fitting into and developing the others. With these qualities active and growing in your lives, no grass will grow under your feet, no day will pass without its reward as you mature in your experience of our Master Jesus. Without these qualities you can't see what's right before you, oblivious that your old sinful life has been wiped off the books.

God can pour on the blessings in astonishing ways so that you're ready for anything and everything, more than just ready to do what needs to be done. As one psalmist puts it, He throws caution to the winds, giving to the needy in reckless abandon. His right-living, right-giving ways never run out, never wear out. This most generous God who gives seed to the farmer that becomes bread for your meals is more than extravagant with you. He gives you something you can then give away, which grows into full-formed lives, robust in God, wealthy in every way, so that you can be generous in every way, producing with us great praise to God.

1 Timothy 1:14 1 Peter 5:12 1 Peter 5:8 2 Peter 1:5 2 Corinthians 9:8

A little love can make a big difference. Be generous!

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Glenn – 368 Mission Hill Way, Colorado Springs CO 80921

Center

photo: Botanical Gardens, Denver

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Attend to my words; consent and submit to my sayings. Let them not depart from your sight; keep them in the center of your heart. For they are life to those who find them, healing and health to all their flesh.

The people brought children to Jesus, hoping he might touch them. The disciples shooed them off. But Jesus was irate and let them know it: "Don't push these children away. Don't ever get between them and me. These children are at the very center of life in the kingdom. Mark this: Unless you accept God's kingdom in the simplicity of a child, you'll never get in." Then, gathering the children up in his arms, he laid his hands of blessing on them.

Love from the center of who you are; don't fake it. Run for dear life from evil; hold on for dear life to good. Be good friends who love deeply; practice playing second fiddle.

The apostles and leaders called a special meeting to consider the matter. The arguments went on and on, back and forth, getting more and more heated. Then Peter took the floor: "Friends, you well know that from early on God made it quite plain that he wanted the pagans to hear the Message of this good news and embrace it—and not in any secondhand or roundabout way, but firsthand, straight from my mouth. And God, who can't be fooled by any pretense on our part but always knows a person's thoughts, gave them the Holy Spirit exactly as he gave him to us. He treated the outsiders exactly as he treated us, beginning at the very center of who they were and working from that center outward, cleaning up their lives as they trusted and believed him.

For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. [For all things originate with Him and come from Him; all things live through Him, and all things center in and tend to consummate and to end in Him.] To Him be glory forever! Amen

Proverbs 4:21 Mark 10:13 Romans 12:9 Acts 15:6 Romans 11:36

When your world is falling apart, trust Jesus to hold it together.

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Glenn – 368 Mission Hill Way, Colorado Springs CO 80921

Most

photo: Botanical Gardens, Denver

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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.

Listen while I build my case, God, the most honest prayer you'll ever hear.

For You make him most blessed forever; You make him joyful with gladness in Your presence.

I hear this most gentle whisper from One I never guessed would speak to me.

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.

Great is the LORD, and most worthy of praise, in the city of our God, his holy mountain.

Psalm 116:1 Psalm 66:16 Psalm 17:1 Psalm 21:6 Psalm 8:1 Psalm 27:4 Psalm 48:1

Spend your time counting your blessings – not airing your complaints.

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Glenn – 368 Mission Hill Way, Colorado Springs CO 80921

Glow

photo: Avila Bay, CA

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"Your instructions are glow-in-the-dark;

"If you get rid of unfair practices, quit blaming victims, quit gossiping about other people's sins, If you are generous with the hungry and start giving yourselves to the down-and-out, Your lives will begin to glow in the darkness, your shadowed lives will be bathed in sunlight. I will always show you where to go. I'll give you a full life in the emptiest of places— firm muscles, strong bones. You'll be like a well-watered garden, a gurgling spring that never runs dry.

The ways of right-living people glow with light; the longer they live, the brighter they shine.

Then I said, Listen. Listen carefully: Don't stay stuck in your ways! It's God's Message we're dealing with here. Let your lives glow bright before God before he turns out the lights,

As I looked, behold, a stormy wind came out of the north, and a great cloud with a fire enveloping it and flashing continually; a brightness was about it and out of the midst of it there seemed to glow amber metal, out of the midst of the fire.

Then God will come into view, his arrows flashing like lightning! Master God will blast his trumpet and set out in a whirlwind. God-of-the-Angel-Armies will protect them— all-out war, The war to end all wars, no holds barred. Their God will save the day. He'll rescue them. They'll become like sheep, gentle and soft, Or like gemstones in a crown, catching all the colors of the sun. Then how they'll shine! shimmer! glow! the young men robust, the young women lovely!

Psalm 45:4 Isaiah 58:9 Proverbs 4:18 Jeremiah 13:15 Ezekiel 1:4 Zechariah 9:14

Your life either sheds light or casts a shadow.

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Glenn – 368 Mission Hill Way, Colorado Springs CO 80921

Read

photo: Spring, Steamboat Springs, CO

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"Anyone who can read this writing on the wall and tell me what it means will be famous and rich—purple robe, the great gold chain—and be third-in-command in the kingdom."

So you go to the house of the LORD on a day of fasting and read to the people from the scroll the words of the LORD that you wrote as I dictated. Read them to all the people of Judah who come in from their towns.

When the religious leaders saw the outrageous things he was doing, and heard all the children running and shouting through the Temple, "Hosanna to David's Son!" they were up in arms and took him to task. "Do you hear what these children are saying?" Jesus said, "Yes, I hear them. And haven't you read in God's Word, 'From the mouths of children and babies I'll furnish a place of praise'?"

Jesus said to them, "Have you never read in the Scriptures: " 'The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone ; the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes' ?

[ God Has Set Things Right ] But in our time something new has been added. What Moses and the prophets witnessed to all those years has happened. The God-setting-things-right that we read about has become Jesus-setting-things-right for us.

Friends, keep up your prayers for us. Greet all the followers of Jesus there with a holy embrace. And make sure this letter gets read to all the brothers and sisters. Don't leave anyone out.

Daniel 5:5 Jeremiah 36:6 Matthew 21:15 Matthew 21:42 Romans 3:21 1 Thessalonians 5:25

Open your Bible prayerfully; read it carefully; obey it joyfully.

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Glenn – 368 Mission Hill Way, Colorado Springs CO 80921

Invite

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photo: Monument,CO

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.I was a stranger, and you didn’t invite me into your home. I was naked, and you didn’t give me clothing. I was sick and in prison, and you didn’t visit me.’

Jesus, overhearing, shot back, "Who needs a doctor: the healthy or the sick? Go figure out what this Scripture means: 'I'm after mercy, not religion.' I'm here to invite outsiders, not coddle insiders."

Go and learn what this means: I desire mercy [that is, readiness to help those in trouble] and not sacrifice and sacrificial victims. For I came not to call and invite [to repentance] the righteous (those who are upright and in right standing with God), but sinners (the erring ones and all those not free from sin).

Now go out to the street corners and invite everyone you see.’

Then he turned to the host. "The next time you put on a dinner, don't just invite your friends and family and rich neighbors, the kind of people who will return the favor. Invite some people who never get invited out, the misfits from the wrong side of the tracks. You'll be—and experience—a blessing. They won't be able to return the favor, but the favor will be returned—oh, how it will be returned!—at the resurrection of God's people."

My response is to get down on my knees before the Father, this magnificent Father who parcels out all heaven and earth. I ask him to strengthen you by his Spirit—not a brute strength but a glorious inner strength—that Christ will live in you as you open the door and invite him in. And I ask him that with both feet planted firmly on love, you'll be able to take in with all followers of Jesus the extravagant dimensions of Christ's love. Reach out and experience the breadth! Test its length! Plumb the depths! Rise to the heights! Live full lives, full in the fullness of God.

Matthew 25:43 Matthew 9:12 Matthew 9:13 Matthew 22:9 Luke 14:12 Ephesians 3:14

The Bible always points the believer in the right direction.

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Glenn – 368 Mission Hill Way, Colorado Springs CO 80921

Whole body

Photo: above Steamboat Springs, CO

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The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ.

God has so adjusted (mingled, harmonized, and subtly proportioned the parts of) the whole body, giving the greater honor and richer endowment to the inferior parts which lack [apparent importance]

He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.

For he holds the whole body together with its joints and ligaments, and it grows as God nourishes it.

Jesus said, "I did one miraculous thing a few months ago, and you're still standing around getting all upset, wondering what I'm up to. Moses prescribed circumcision—originally it came not from Moses but from his ancestors—and so you circumcise a man, dealing with one part of his body, even if it's the Sabbath. You do this in order to preserve one item in the Law of Moses. So why are you upset with me because I made a man's whole body well on the Sabbath? Don't be nitpickers; use your head—and heart!—to discern what is right, to test what is authentically right."

O God, you are my God; I earnestly search for you. My soul thirsts for you; my whole body longs for you in this parched and weary land where there is no water.

1 Corinthians 12:12 1 Corinthians 12:24 Ephesians 4:16 Colossians 2:19 John 7:21 Psalm 63:1

You can trust your instincts when you are trusting Christ.

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Glenn – 368 Mission Hill Way, Colorado Springs CO 80921

Depend

Photo: 'The Thorn' production '07

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These two commandments sum up and upon them depend all the Law and the Prophets.

First, there's the matter of being put in charge of writing down and caring for God's revelation, these Holy Scriptures. So, what if, in the course of doing that, some of those Jews abandoned their post? God didn't abandon them. Do you think their faithlessness cancels out his faithfulness? Not on your life! Depend on it: God keeps his word even when the whole world is lying through its teeth. Scripture says the same: Your words stand fast and true;

Jesus replied, "You're right that you only have my word. But you can depend on it being true. I know where I've come from and where I go next. You don't know where I'm from or where I'm headed. You decide according to what you can see and touch. I don't make judgments like that. But even if I did, my judgment would be true because I wouldn't make it out of the narrowness of my experience but in the largeness of the One who sent me, the Father. That fulfills the conditions set down in God's Law: that you can count on the testimony of two witnesses. And that is what you have: You have my word and you have the word of the Father who sent me."

Here's a word you can take to heart and depend on: Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners. I'm proof—Public Sinner Number One—of someone who could never have made it apart from sheer mercy. And now he shows me off—evidence of his endless patience—to those who are right on the edge of trusting him forever. Deep honor and bright glory to the King of All Time— One God, Immortal, Invisible, ever and always.

"Who here qualifies for the job of overseeing the kitchen? A person the Master can depend on to feed the workers on time each day. Someone the Master can drop in on unannounced and always find him doing his job. A God-blessed man or woman, I tell you. It won't be long before the Master will put this person in charge of the whole operation.

Matthew 22:40 Romans 3:2 John 8:14 1 Timothy 1:15 Matthew 24:45

The greatest ability is dependability.

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Glenn – 368 Mission Hill Way, Colorado Springs CO 80921

Done (in secret)

Photo: Lake Steamboat, CO

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But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

So that your fasting will not be noticed by men, but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.

But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

Jesus reached out and touched him, saying, "I want to. Be clean." Then and there, all signs of the leprosy were gone. Jesus said, "Don't talk about this all over town. Just quietly present your healed body to the priest, along with the appropriate expressions of thanks to God. Your cleansed and grateful life, not your words, will bear witness to what I have done."

And Jesus said to the centurion, "Go; it shall be done for you as you have believed." And the servant was healed that very moment.

The Son of Man is going to come in his Father's glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done.

Matthew 6:6 Matthew 6:18 Matthew 6:4 Matthew 8:3 Matthew 8:13 Matthew 16:27

What is done for Christ in this life will be rewarded in the life to come.

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Glenn – 368 Mission Hill Way, Colorado Springs CO 80921

Majestic

Photo: Hahn's Peak, CO

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“There is no one like the God of Israel. He rides across the heavens to help you, across the skies in majestic splendor.

O Lord, our Lord, your majestic name fills the earth! Your glory is higher than the heavens.

I will meditate on your majestic, glorious splendor and your wonderful miracles

We weren't, you know, just wishing on a star when we laid the facts out before you regarding the powerful return of our Master, Jesus Christ. We were there for the preview! We saw it with our own eyes: Jesus resplendent with light from God the Father as the voice of Majestic Glory spoke: "This is my Son, marked by my love, focus of all my delight." We were there on the holy mountain with him. We heard the voice out of heaven with our very own ears.

The Son radiates God’s own glory and expresses the very character of God, and he sustains everything by the mighty power of his command. When he had cleansed us from our sins, he sat down in the place of honor at the right hand of the majestic God in heaven.

God rules. On your toes, everybody! He rules from his angel throne—take notice! God looms majestic in Zion, He towers in splendor over all the big names. Great and terrible your beauty: let everyone praise you! Holy. Yes, holy.

Deuteronomy 33:26 Psalm 8:1 Psalm 145:5 2 Peter 1:16 Hebrews 1:3 Psalm 99:1

God loves each one of us as if there were but one of us to love.

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Glenn – 368 Mission Hill Way, Colorado Springs CO 80921

Stays

Photo: Gleneagle,CO

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Foolishness brings joy to those with no sense; a sensible person stays on the right path.

On my way to the province of Macedonia, I advised you to stay in Ephesus. Well, I haven't changed my mind. Stay right there on top of things so that the teaching stays on track. Apparently some people have been introducing fantasy stories and fanciful family trees that digress into silliness instead of pulling the people back into the center, deepening faith and obedience.

What you say goes, God, and stays, as permanent as the heavens. Your truth never goes out of fashion; it's as up-to-date as the earth when the sun comes up. Your Word and truth are dependable as ever; that's what you ordered—you set the earth going. If your revelation hadn't delighted me so, I would have given up when the hard times came. But I'll never forget the advice you gave me; you saved my life with those wise words. Save me! I'm all yours. I look high and low for your words of wisdom. The wicked lie in ambush to destroy me, but I'm only concerned with your plans for me. I see the limits to everything human, but the horizons can't contain your commands!

And be very careful around them so you don't lose out on what we've worked so diligently in together; I want you to get every reward you have coming to you. Anyone who gets so progressive in his thinking that he walks out on the teaching of Christ, walks out on God. But whoever stays with the teaching, stays faithful to both the Father and the Son.

Because of the Truth which lives and stays on in our hearts and will be with us forever:

Proverbs 15:21 1 Timothy 1:3 Psalm 119:89 2 John 1:8 2 John 1:2

A true friend stays true to the end.

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Glenn – 368 Mission Hill Way, Colorado Springs CO 80921

Ignores

Photo: Maui

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Have you not been paying attention? Have you not been listening? Haven't you heard these stories all your life? Don't you understand the foundation of all things? God sits high above the round ball of earth. The people look like mere ants. He stretches out the skies like a canvas— yes, like a tent canvas to live under. He ignores what all the princes say and do. The rulers of the earth count for nothing. Princes and rulers don't amount to much. Like seeds barely rooted, just sprouted, They shrivel when God blows on them. Like flecks of chaff, they're gone with the wind.

[ Despite All the Signs, Israel Ignores God ] "Every time I gave Israel a fresh start, wiped the slate clean and got them going again, Ephraim soon filled the slate with new sins, the treachery of Samaria written out in bold print. Two-faced and double-tongued, they steal you blind, pick you clean. It never crosses their mind that I keep account of their every crime. They're mud-spattered head to toe with the residue of sin. I see who they are and what they've done


"The servant who knows what his master wants and ignores it, or insolently does whatever he pleases, will be thoroughly thrashed. But if he does a poor job through ignorance, he'll get off with a slap on the hand. Great gifts mean great responsibilities; greater gifts, greater responsibilities!

He who ignores discipline despises himself, but whoever heeds correction gains understanding.

Those who think they can do it on their own end up obsessed with measuring their own moral muscle but never get around to exercising it in real life. Those who trust God's action in them find that God's Spirit is in them—living and breathing God! Obsession with self in these matters is a dead end; attention to God leads us out into the open, into a spacious, free life. Focusing on the self is the opposite of focusing on God. Anyone completely absorbed in self ignores God, ends up thinking more about self than God. That person ignores who God is and what he is doing. And God isn't pleased at being ignored.

Isaiah 40:21 Hosea 7:1 Luke 12:47 Proverbs 15:32 Romans 8:5

It is no genius who ignores his Creator.

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Glenn – 368 Mission Hill Way, Colorado Springs CO 80921

Hard

Photo: Easter - Gleneagle,CO

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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. My rivals nearly did me in, they persistently ignored your commandments. 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.

Remember those early days after you first saw the light? Those were the hard times! Kicked around in public, targets of every kind of abuse—some days it was you, other days your friends. If some friends went to prison, you stuck by them. If some enemies broke in and seized your goods, you let them go with a smile, knowing they couldn't touch your real treasure. Nothing they did bothered you, nothing set you back. So don't throw it all away now. You were sure of yourselves then. It's still a sure thing! But you need to stick it out, staying with God's plan so you'll be there for the promised completion. It won't be long now, he's on the way; he'll show up most any minute. But anyone who is right with me thrives on loyal trust; if he cuts and runs, I won't be very happy. But we're not quitters who lose out. Oh, no! We'll stay with it and survive, trusting all the way.

So, what do you think? With God on our side like this, how can we lose? If God didn't hesitate to put everything on the line for us, embracing our condition and exposing himself to the worst by sending his own Son, is there anything else he wouldn't gladly and freely do for us? And who would dare tangle with God by messing with one of God's chosen? Who would dare even to point a finger? The One who died for us—who was raised to life for us!—is in the presence of God at this very moment sticking up for us. Do you think anyone is going to be able to drive a wedge between us and Christ's love for us? There is no way! Not trouble, not hard times, not hatred, not hunger, not homelessness, not bullying threats, not backstabbing, not even the worst sins listed in Scripture: They kill us in cold blood because they hate you. We're sitting ducks; they pick us off one by one. None of this fazes us because Jesus loves us. I'm absolutely convinced that nothing—nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, high or low, thinkable or unthinkable—absolutely nothing can get between us and God's love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us.

This resurrection life you received from God is not a timid, grave-tending life. It's adventurously expectant, greeting God with a childlike "What's next, Papa?" God's Spirit touches our spirits and confirms who we really are. We know who he is, and we know who we are: Father and children. And we know we are going to get what's coming to us—an unbelievable inheritance! We go through exactly what Christ goes through. If we go through the hard times with him, then we're certainly going to go through the good times with him!

Psalm 119:137 Hebrews 10:32 Romans 8:31 Romans 8:15

People will listen to you carefully if they see you living faithfully.

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Glenn – 368 Mission Hill Way, Colorado Springs CO 80921

Spoken

Photo: Botanical Gardens, Denver

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Then the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all people will see it together. The Lord has spoken!”

You should remember the words spoken beforehand by the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior spoken by your apostles.

For if the word (spoken through (angels proved unalterable, and every transgression and disobedience received a just penalty, how will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation? After it was at the first spoken through the Lord, it was confirmed to us by those who heard (it).

Let the word [spoken by] Christ (the Messiah) have its home [in your hearts and minds] and dwell in you in [all its] richness, as you teach and admonish and train one another in all insight and intelligence and wisdom [in spiritual things, and as you sing] psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, making melody to God with [His] grace in your hearts.

For no matter how many promises God has made, they are "Yes" in Christ. And so through him the "Amen" is spoken by us to the glory of God.

It is written: "I believed; therefore I have spoken." With that same spirit of faith we also believe and therefore speak.

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Isaiah 40:5 2 Peter 3:2 Hebrews 2:3 Colossians 3:16 2 Corinthians 1:20 2 Corinthians 4:13

Truth spoken in love is hard to refuse.

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Glenn – 368 Mission Hill Way, Colorado Springs CO 80921

Waiting

Photo: Gleneagle, yesterday!

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I'm homesick—longing for your salvation; I'm waiting for your word of hope. My eyes grow heavy watching for some sign of your promise; how long must I wait for your comfort? There's smoke in my eyes—they burn and water, but I keep a steady gaze on the instructions you post. How long do I have to put up with all this?

Let Your mercy and loving-kindness, O Lord, be upon us, in proportion to our waiting and hoping for You.

But me, I'm not giving up. I'm sticking around to see what God will do. I'm waiting for God to make things right. I'm counting on God to listen to me.

What a stack of blessing you have piled up for those who worship you, Ready and waiting for all who run to you to escape an unkind world. You hide them safely away from the opposition. As you slam the door on those oily, mocking faces, you silence the poisonous gossip. Blessed God! His love is the wonder of the world.

With your very own hands you formed me; now breathe your wisdom over me so I can understand you. When they see me waiting, expecting your Word, those who fear you will take heart and be glad. I can see now, God, that your decisions are right; your testing has taught me what's true and right. Oh, love me—and right now!—hold me tight!

But God's not finished. He's waiting around to be gracious to you. He's gathering strength to show mercy to you. God takes the time to do everything right—everything. Those who wait around for him are the lucky ones.

Psalm 119:81 Psalm 33:22 Micah 7:7 Psalm 31:19 Psalm 119:73 Isaiah 30:18

God may conceal the purpose of His ways, but His ways are not without purpose.

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Glenn – 368 Mission Hill Way, Colorado Springs CO 80921

Tough

Photo: Gleneagle 10/26/06

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God is good, a hiding place in tough times. He recognizes and welcomes anyone looking for help, No matter how desperate the trouble.

Young people are prone to foolishness and fads; the cure comes through tough-minded discipline.

[ Too Tough to Swallow ] Many among his disciples heard this and said, "This is tough teaching, too tough to swallow."

God … You keep me going when times are tough— my bedrock, God, since my childhood. I've hung on you from the day of my birth, the day you took me from the cradle; I'll never run out of praise. Many gasp in alarm when they see me, but you take me in stride.

[ Staying at Our Post ] Companions as we are in this work with you, we beg you, please don't squander one bit of this marvelous life God has given us. God reminds us, I heard your call in the nick of time; The day you needed me, I was there to help. Well, now is the right time to listen, the day to be helped. Don't put it off; don't frustrate God's work by showing up late, throwing a question mark over everything we're doing. Our work as God's servants gets validated—or not—in the details. People are watching us as we stay at our post, alertly, unswervingly . . . in hard times, tough times, bad times; when we're beaten up, jailed, and mobbed; working hard, working late, working without eating; with pure heart, clear head, steady hand; in gentleness, holiness, and honest love; when we're telling the truth, and when God's showing his power; when we're doing our best setting things right; when we're praised, and when we're blamed; slandered, and honored; true to our word, though distrusted; ignored by the world, but recognized by God; terrifically alive, though rumored to be dead; beaten within an inch of our lives, but refusing to die; immersed in tears, yet always filled with deep joy; living on handouts, yet enriching many; having nothing, having it all.

Nahum 1:7 Proverbs 22:15 John 6:60 Psalm 71:4 2 Corinthians 6:1

Tough times teach trust.

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Glenn – 368 Mission Hill Way, Colorado Springs CO 80921

Determined

Photo: Garden of the Gods

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Everything they did was determined beforehand according to Your will.

Don't suppose for a moment, though, that God's Word has malfunctioned in some way or other. The problem goes back a long way. From the outset, not all Israelites of the flesh were Israelites of the spirit. It wasn't Abraham's sperm that gave identity here, but God's promise. Remember how it was put: "Your family will be defined by Isaac"? That means that Israelite identity was never racially determined by sexual transmission, but it was God-determined by promise. Remember that promise, "When I come back next year at this time, Sarah will have a son"?

Now after these events Paul determined in the [Holy] Spirit that he would travel through Macedonia and Achaia (most of Greece) and go to Jerusalem, saying, After I have been there, I must visit Rome also.

Please don't misinterpret my failure to visit you, friends. You have no idea how many times I've made plans for Rome. I've been determined to get some personal enjoyment out of God's work among you, as I have in so many other non-Jewish towns and communities. But something has always come up and prevented it. Everyone I meet—it matters little whether they're mannered or rude, smart or simple—deepens my sense of interdependence and obligation. And that's why I can't wait to get to you in Rome, preaching this wonderful good news of God.

I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.

Acts 4:28 Romans 9:6 Acts 19:21 Romans 1:13 1 Corinthians 2:2

Every child of God fills a special place in His plan.

LIFEgroups – together experiencing God

Glenn – 368 Mission Hill Way, Colorado Springs CO 80921

Always

Photo: Lanai, HI

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God-defiers are always in trouble; God-affirmers find themselves loved every time they turn around.

The needy will not be ignored forever; the hopes of the poor will not always be crushed.

God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble.

I have set the LORD always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.

But I am like an olive tree, thriving in the house of God. I will always trust in God’s unfailing love.

Hallelujah! You who serve God, praise God! Just to speak his name is praise! Just to remember God is a blessing— now and tomorrow and always. From east to west, from dawn to dusk, keep lifting all your praises to God!

Psalm 32:10 Psalm 9:18 Psalm 46:1 Psalm 16:8 Psalm 52:8 Psalm 11:1

Following Jesus is always right – but not always easy.

LIFEgroups – together experiencing God!

Glenn – 368 Mission Hill Way, Colorado Springs CO 80921

Apply

Photo: Maui '05

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Even though I gave them all my laws, they act as if those laws don’t apply to them.

Apply your mind to instruction and correction and your ears to words of knowledge.

This message is most trustworthy, and concerning these things I want you to insist steadfastly, so that those who have believed in (trusted in, relied on) God may be careful to apply themselves to honorable occupations and to doing good, for such things are [not only] excellent and right [in themselves], but [they are] good and profitable for the people.

And let our own [people really] learn to apply themselves to good deeds (to honest labor and honorable employment), so that they may be able to meet necessary demands whenever the occasion may require and not be living idle and uncultivated and unfruitful lives.

Be prepared. You're up against far more than you can handle on your own. Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it's all over but the shouting you'll still be on your feet. Truth, righteousness, peace, faith, and salvation are more than words. Learn how to apply them. You'll need them throughout your life. God's Word is an indispensable weapon. In the same way, prayer is essential in this ongoing warfare. Pray hard and long. Pray for your brothers and sisters. Keep your eyes open. Keep each other's spirits up so that no one falls behind or drops out.

Hosea 8:12 Proverbs 23:12 Titus 3:8 Titus 3:14 Ephesians 6:13

Apply yourself to the Scriptures and the Scriptures to yourself.

LIFEgroups – together experiencing God

Glenn – 368 Mission Hill Way, Colorado Springs CO 80921

Desire

Photo: Gleneagle, CO

Lord, all my desire is before You; and my sighing is not hidden from You.

O LORD, You have heard the desire of the humble; You will strengthen their heart

The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit. You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God.

He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him; He will also hear their cry and will save them.

I desire to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart."

For you have given him his heart’s desire; you have withheld nothing he requested.

You open Your hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing

Psalm 38:9 Psalm 10:17 Psalm 51:17 Psalm 145:19 Psalm 40:8 Psalm 21:2 Psalm 145:16

The happiness of your life depends on the quality of your thoughts.

LIFEgroups – together experiencing God

Glenn – 368 Mission Hill Way, Colorado Springs CO 80921