Endure

Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you.

As it is written: "He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; his righteousness endures forever."

Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.

But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.

Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come upon the whole world

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

John 6:27 2 Corinthians 9:9 2 Timothy 2:10 2 Timothy 4:5 Revelation 3:10 Hebrews 12:2

We can trust our all-knowing God for the unknown future.

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Unto You

Maui North Shore

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UNTO YOU, O Lord, do I bring my life.

UNTO YOU do I lift up my eyes, O You Who are enthroned in heaven

Unto You, O my Strength, I will sing praises; for God is my Defense, my Fortress, and High Tower, the God Who shows me mercy and steadfast love.

O Lord God of hosts, who is a mighty one like unto You, O Lord? And Your faithfulness is round about You [an essential part of You at all times.

Unto you who revere and worshipfully fear My name shall the Sun of Righteousness arise with healing in His wings and His beams, and you shall go forth and gambol like calves [released] from the stall and leap for joy.

Then you shall see and be radiant, and your heart shall thrill and tremble with joy [at the glorious deliverance] and be enlarged; because the abundant wealth of the [Dead] Sea shall be turned to you, unto you shall the nations come with their treasures.

Psalm 25:1 Psalm 123:1 Psalm 59:17 Psalm 89:8 Malachi 4:2 Isaiah 60:5

You can never praise God too much.

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Restore

Turn and answer me, O Lord my God! Restore the sparkle to my eyes

Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.

Restore us again, O God; and cause Your face to shine [in pleasure and approval on us]

Turn away my eyes from beholding vanity (idols and idolatry); and restore me to vigorous life and health in Your ways.

Restore our fortunes, Lord, as streams renew the desert.

Return to the stronghold [of security and prosperity], you prisoners of hope; even today do I declare that I will restore double your former prosperity to you.

Psalm 13:3 Psalm 51:12 Psalm 80:3 Psalm 119:37 Psalm 126:4 Zechariah 9:12

God’s dawn of deliverance often comes when the hour of trial is darkest.

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Wonderful

Is anything too hard or too wonderful for the Lord?

Show me your unfailing love in wonderful ways.

Jacob …said, "God is in this place—truly. And I didn't even know it!" … He whispered in awe, "Incredible. Wonderful. Holy. This is God's House. This is the Gate of Heaven."

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Thank God for this gift too wonderful for words!

Sing to the Lord, for he has done wonderful things. Make known his praise around the world.

Genesis 18:14 Psalm 17:7 Genesis 28:16 Isaiah 9:6 2 Corinthians 9:15 Isaiah 12:5

A wonderful life is yours when you know the Christ of Christmas

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No Room

And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

In their pride the wicked do not seek him; in all their thoughts there is no room for God.
Yes, I realize that you are descendants of Abraham. And yet some of you are trying to kill me because there’s no room in your hearts for my message.

They gathered in such large numbers that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them.

God is love. When we take up permanent residence in a life of love, we live in God and God lives in us.—Our standing in the world is identical with Christ's. There is no room in love for fear. Well-formed love banishes fear

When Solomon finished praying, a bolt of lightning out of heaven struck the Whole-Burnt-Offering and sacrifices and the Glory of God filled The Temple. The Glory was so dense that the priests couldn't get in—God so filled The Temple that there was no room for the priests! When all Israel saw the fire fall from heaven and the Glory of God fill The Temple, they fell on their knees, bowed their heads, and worshiped, thanking God: Yes! God is good! His love never quits!

Luke 2:7 Psalm 10:4 John 8:37 Mark 2:2 1 John 4:17 2 Chronicles 7:1

The hinge of history is found on the door of a Bethlehem stable.

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Closer

Christmas Cactus

An angel appeared to Moses in the flames of a burning bush in the desert near Mount Sinai. When he saw this, he was amazed at the sight. As he went over to get a closer look, he heard the Lord say: 'I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.' Moses trembled with fear and did not dare to look.

“Pay close attention to what you hear. The closer you listen, the more understanding you will be given —and you will receive even more.

And now, isn't it wonderful all the ways in which this distress has goaded you closer to God? You're more alive, more concerned, more sensitive, more reverent, more human, more passionate, more responsible. Looked at from any angle, you've come out of this with purity of heart.

You're the closest of all to me, God … I've known all along from the evidence of your words that you meant them to last forever.

There is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

Acts 7:30 Mark 4:24 2 Corinthians 7:11 Psalm 119:145 Proverbs 18:24

Those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength. Is.40:31

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New hope

The Jews had light [a dawn of new hope] and gladness and joy and honor.

When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days and the storm continued raging, we finally gave up all hope of being saved.

Even when there was no reason for hope, Abraham kept hoping—believing that he would become the father of many nations.

Against its will, all creation was subjected to God’s curse. But with eager hope
And his name will be the hope of all the world.”

And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.

Esther 8:16 Acts 27:20 Romans 4:18 Romans 8:20 Matthew 12:21 Romans 5:5

Never let a bleak past overshadow a bright future.

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Watch

Spain

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In the morning You hear my voice, O Lord; in the morning I prepare for You and watch and wait [for You to speak to my heart].

The Lord says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life.I will advise you and watch over you.

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.

Wait passionately for God, don't leave the path. He'll give you your place in the sun while you watch the wicked lose it.

Good people will watch and worship. They'll laugh in relief

Hallelujah! Thank God! Pray to him by name! Tell everyone you meet what he has done! Sing him songs, belt out hymns, translate his wonders into music! Honor his holy name with Hallelujahs, you who seek God. Live a happy life! Keep your eyes open for God, watch for his works

Psalm 5:3 Psalm 32:8 Psalm 33:18 Psalm 37:34 Psalm 52:6 Psalm 105:1

To lead others out of the darkness, let them see your light.

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Desire

Yet they say to God, 'Leave us alone! We have no desire to know your ways.

For the wicked boasts of his heart's desire, and the greedy man curses and spurns the LORD.

You, LORD, hear the desire of the afflicted; you encourage them, and you listen to their cry

May he give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed.

BLESSED (happy, fortunate, prosperous, and enviable) is the man who walks and lives not in the counsel of the ungodly [following their advice, their plans and purposes…But his delight and desire are in the law of the Lord, and on His law (the precepts, the instructions, the teachings of God) he habitually meditates (ponders and studies) by day and by night.

Job 21:14 Psalm 10:3 Psalm 10:17 Psalm 20:4 Psalm 1:2

You open Your hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing. Psalm 145:16

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Behind

I love you, God— you make me strong. God is bedrock under my feet, the castle in which I live, my rescuing knight. My God—the high crag where I run for dear life, hiding behind the boulders, safe in the granite hideout

Is this any way to run a country? Is there an honest politician in the house? Behind the scenes you brew cauldrons of evil, behind closed doors you make deals with demons.

God…I'm never out of your sight. You know everything I'm going to say before I start the first sentence. I look behind me and you're there, then up ahead and you're there, too— your reassuring presence, coming and going. This is too much, too wonderful— I can't take it all in

Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don't try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God's voice in everything you do, everywhere you go…Honor God with everything you own; give him the first and the best. Your barns will burst, your wine vats will brim over. But don't, dear friend, resent God's discipline; don't sulk under his loving correction. It's the child he loves that God corrects; a father's delight is behind all this.

Psalm 18:1 Psalm 58:1 Psalm 139:1 Proverbs 3:5

God Sees Behind Appearances Luke 16:10

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Expect

Gleneagle

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Those who live by their own rules, not God's, can expect nothing but trouble, and the longer they live, the worse it gets.

I call on God and expect an answer.

Wait and hope for and expect the Lord; be brave and of good courage and let your heart be stout and enduring. Yes, wait for and hope for and expect the Lord.

Wait for and expect the Lord and keep and heed His way, and He will exalt you to inherit the land;

Shouldn’t we expect far greater glory under the new way, now that the Holy Spirit is giving life?

The Lord waits [expecting, looking, and longing] to be gracious to you; and therefore He lifts Himself up, that He may have mercy on you and show loving-kindness to you. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) are all those who [earnestly] wait for Him, who expect and look and long for Him [for His victory, His favor, His love, His peace, His joy, and His matchless, unbroken companionship]!

Job 15:17 Job 12:4 Psalm 27:14 Psalm 37:34 2 Corinthians 3:8 Isaiah 30:18

No gift is more needed by a dying World than a living Savior

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Good work

Colorado

Now God has us where he wants us… He creates each of us by Christ Jesus to join him in the work he does, the good work he has gotten ready for us to do, work we had better be doing.

Bad work gets paid with a bad check; good work gets solid pay.

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that all God's people may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

With things back to normal, Paul called the disciples together and encouraged them to keep up the good work …Traveling through the country, passing from one gathering to another, he gave constant encouragement, lifting their spirits and charging them with fresh hope.

And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.

And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.

Ephesians 2:7 Proverbs 11:18 2 Timothy 3:17 Acts 20:1 Philippians 1:6 2 Corinthians 9:8

To stretch your soul, reach out with Christ’s love.

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Need

Seal Beach,CA

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We were given this hope when we were saved. (If we already have something, we don’t need to hope for it.)

Share with the Lord's people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

Those of us who are strong and able in the faith need to step in and lend a hand to those who falter, and not just do what is most convenient for us. Strength is for service, not status.

[ Freedom with Responsibility ] We sometimes tend to think we know all we need to know to answer these kinds of questions—but sometimes our humble hearts can help us more than our proud minds. We never really know enough until we recognize that God alone knows it all.

No test or temptation that comes your way is beyond the course of what others have had to face. All you need to remember is that God will never let you down; he'll never let you be pushed past your limit; he'll always be there to help you come through it.

Just think—you don't need a thing, you've got it all! All God's gifts are right in front of you as you wait expectantly for our Master Jesus to arrive on the scene for the Finale.

Romans 8:24 Romans 12:13 Romans 15:1 1 Corinthians 8:1 1 Corinthians 10:13 1 Corinthians 1:7

The best way to know God’s will is to say “I will” to God.

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Water

As the deer longs for streams of water, so I long for you, O God.

How exquisite your love, O God! …To eat our fill at the banquet you spread as you fill our tankards with Eden spring water.

You visit the earth and saturate it with water; You greatly enrich it; the river of God is full of water

Jesus replied, “If you only knew the gift God has for you and who you are speaking to, you would ask me, and I would give you living water.”

Jesus took his stand. He cried out, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Rivers of living water will brim and spill out of the depths of anyone who believes in me this way

When he said “living water,” he was speaking of the Spirit, who would be given to everyone believing in him.

Psalm 42:1 Psalm 36:7 Psalm 65:9 John 4:10 John 7:37 John 7:39

God gives to you so you can give to others.

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Assurance

Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see.

This is the secret: Christ lives in you. This gives you assurance of sharing his glory.

This is the confidence (the assurance, the privilege of boldness) which we have in Him: [we are sure] that if we ask anything (make any request) according to His will (in agreement with His own plan), He listens to and hears us.

For we have become partakers of Christ, if we hold fast the beginning of our assurance firm until the end.

Those who have served well gain an excellent standing and great assurance in their faith in Christ Jesus.

In this [union and communion with Him] love is brought to completion and attains perfection with us, that we may have confidence for the day of judgment [with assurance and boldness to face Him], because as He is, so are we in this world.

Hebrews 11:1 Colossians 1:27 1 John 5:14 Hebrews 3:14 1 Timothy 3:13 1 John 4:17

Faith in the living God can take the fear out of living.

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Guide me

Guide me in Your truth and faithfulness and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation;

Since you are my rock and my fortress, for the sake of your name lead and guide me.

Send out your light and your truth, let them guide me. let them lead me

Give me insight so I can do what you tell me— my whole life one long, obedient response. Guide me down the road of your commandments; I love traveling this freeway!

Your hand will guide me, and your strength will support me.

Psalm 25:5 Psalm 31:3 Psalm 43:3 Psalm 119:33 Psalm 139:10

Prayer should be our first response rather than our last resort.

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Faithful

Help, O Lord, for the godly are fast disappearing! The faithful have vanished from the earth!

Who may worship in your sanctuary, Lord?. Those who lead blameless lives and do what is right, speaking the truth from sincere hearts. and honor the faithful followers of the Lord…and keep their promises even when it hurts.

Love the LORD, all his faithful people! The LORD preserves those who are true to him

To the faithful you show yourself faithful; to those with integrity you show integrity.

For the LORD loves the just and will not forsake his faithful ones.

Then I will praise you with music on the harp ,because you are faithful to your promises, O my God. I will sing praises to you

Psalm 12:1 Psalm 15:4 Psalm 31:23 Psalm 18:25 Psalm 37:28 Psalm 71:22

The fires of testing can produce a shining testimony.

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Learning

These are the wise sayings of Solomon…A manual for living, for learning what's right and just and fair; To teach the inexperienced the ropes and give our young people a grasp on reality. There's something here also for seasoned men and women

Start with God—the first step in learning is bowing down to God; only fools thumb their noses at such wisdom and learning.

The wise in heart are called prudent, understanding, and knowing, and winsome speech increases learning [in both speaker and listener].

Wise men and women are always learning, always listening for fresh insights.

Jesus said, "Don't bicker among yourselves over me. You're not in charge here. The Father who sent me is in charge. He draws people to me—that's the only way you'll ever come. Only then do I do my work, putting people together, setting them on their feet, ready for the End. This is what the prophets meant when they wrote, 'And then they will all be personally taught by God.' Anyone who has spent any time at all listening to the Father, really listening and therefore learning, comes to me to be taught personally—to see it with his own eyes, hear it with his own ears, from me, since I have it firsthand from the Father. No one has seen the Father except the One who has his Being alongside the Father—and you can see me.

Proverbs 1:1 Proverbs 1:7 Proverbs 16:21 Proverbs 18:15 John 6:43

Knowing God is not only seeing His works but also learning His ways.

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Stimulate

Maui '05

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My earthly life cleaves to the dust; revive and stimulate me according to Your word!

"Now here's a surprise: The master praised the crooked manager! And why? Because he knew how to look after himself. Streetwise people are smarter in this regard than law-abiding citizens. They are on constant alert, looking for angles, surviving by their wits. I want you to be smart in the same way—but for what is right—using every adversity to stimulate you to creative survival, to concentrate your attention on the bare essentials, so you'll live, really live, and not complacently just get by on good behavior."

I have written both of them (letters) as reminders to stimulate you to wholesome thinking.

Let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds.

Psalm 119:25 Luke 16:8 2 Peter 3:1 Hebrews 10:24

Correction may mold us, but encouragement will motivate us.

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Lonely

Yesterday

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I lie awake, lonely as a solitary bird on the roof.

Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely

God places the lonely in families; he sets the prisoners free and gives them joy.

Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.

Jesus could no longer enter a town openly but stayed outside in lonely places. Yet the people still came to him from everywhere.

Psalm 102:7 Psalm 25:16 Psalm 68:6 Luke 5:16 Mark 1:45

Loneliness is being unaware of the One who is with us everywhere.

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