Trust

Grand Case

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The sacred writings contain preliminary reports by the prophets on God's Son. His descent from David roots him in history; his unique identity as Son of God was shown by the Spirit when Jesus was raised from the dead, setting him apart as the Messiah, our Master. Through him we received both the generous gift of his life and the urgent task of passing it on to others who receive it by entering into obedient trust in Jesus.

Namely, the righteousness of God which comes by believing with personal trust and confident reliance on Jesus Christ (the Messiah). [And it is meant] for all who believe.

"Sirs, what do I have to do to be saved, to really live?" They said, "Put your entire trust in the Master Jesus. Then you'll live as you were meant to live

If you're a hard worker and do a good job, you deserve your pay; we don't call your wages a gift. But if you see that the job is too big for you, that it's something only God can do, and you trust him to do it—you could never do it for yourself no matter how hard and long you worked—well, that trusting-him-to-do-it is what gets you set right with God, by God. Sheer gift.

(They) put their trust in God—they honored God's Word by receiving that life. And this Message of salvation spread like wildfire all through the region.

Romans 1:2 Romans 3:22 Acts 16:29 Romans 4:4 Acts 13:48

True freedom is found in obedience to Christ

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Before

Garden of the Gods

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Complain if you must, but don't lash out. Keep your mouth shut, and let your heart do the talking. Build your case before God and wait for his verdict

In the morning, LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly

Lead me, LORD, in your righteousness because of my enemies— make your way straight before me.

I have set the LORD continually before me; Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken

How great is the goodness you have stored up for those who fear you. You lavish it on those who come to you for protection, blessing them before the watching world.

Bravo, God, bravo! Gods and all angels shout, "Encore!" In awe before the glory, in awe before God's visible power.

Psalm 4:4 Psalm 5:3 Psalm 5:8 Psalm 16:8 Psalm 31:19 Psalm 29:1

To survive the storms of life, be anchored to the Rock of Ages.

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Fresh

God's Word warns us of danger and directs us to hidden treasure. Otherwise how will we find our way? Clean the slate, God, so we can start the day fresh! Keep me from stupid sins, from thinking I can take over your work

True intelligence is a spring of fresh water

Why not help us make a fresh start—a resurrection life? Then your people will laugh and sing! Show us how much you love us, God! Give us the salvation we need!

God gives a hand to those down on their luck, gives a fresh start to those ready to quit.

Give me a clean bill of health. God, make a fresh start in me, shape a Genesis week from the chaos of my life… put a fresh wind in my sails! … God, my salvation God, and I'll sing anthems to your life-giving ways. Unbutton my lips, dear God; I'll let loose with your praise.

Psalm 19:11 Proverbs 16:22 Psalm 85:4 Psalm 145:14 Psalm 51:7

No matter how dark your past, with Christ your future is bright.

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Help

Colorado

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"'I'm the one who made the earth, man and woman, and all the animals in the world. I did it on my own without asking anyone's help and I hand it out to whomever I will.

God reminds us, I heard your call in the nick of time; The day you needed me, I was there to help.

But how can people call for help if they don't know who to trust? And how can they know who to trust if they haven't heard of the One who can be trusted? And how can they hear if nobody tells them?

God also says: "When the time's ripe, I answer you. When victory's due, I help you. I form you and use you to reconnect the people with me

It's a wonder God didn't lose his temper and do away with the whole lot of us. Instead, immense in mercy and with an incredible love, he embraced us. He took our sin-dead lives and made us alive in Christ. He did all this on his own, with no help from us! Then he picked us up and set us down in highest heaven in company with Jesus, our Messiah.

So let's agree to use all our energy in getting along with each other. Help others with encouraging words; don't drag them down by finding fault.

Jeremiah 27:5 2 Corinthians 6:1 Romans 10:14 Isaiah 49:8 Ephesians 2:1 Romans 14:19

God is the only ally we can always count on.

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Strength

Maui

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I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit

[Not in your own strength] for it is God Who is all the while effectually at work in you [energizing and creating in you the power and desire], both to will and to work for His good pleasure and satisfaction and delight.

I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ's sufficiency].

As you learn more and more how God works, you will learn how to do your work. We pray that you'll have the strength to stick it out over the long haul—not the grim strength of gritting your teeth but the glory-strength God gives. It is strength that endures the unendurable and spills over into joy, thanking the Father who makes us strong enough to take part in everything bright and beautiful that he has for us.

In conclusion, be strong in the Lord [be empowered through your union with Him]; draw your strength from Him [that strength which His boundless might provides].

Ephesians 3:16 Philippians 2:13 Philippians 4:13 Colossians 1:9 Ephesians 6:10

Instead of living in the shadows of yesterday, walk in the light of today and the hope of tomorrow.

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Victory

No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.

When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: "Death has been swallowed up in victory."

But thanks be to God, Who in Christ always leads us in triumph [as trophies of Christ's victory] and through us spreads and makes evident the fragrance of the knowledge of God everywhere

But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ

For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith.

But you belong to God, my dear children. You have already won a victory over those people, because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world.

Romans 8:37 1 Corinthians 15:54 2 Corinthians 2:14 1 Corinthians 15:57 1 John 5:4 1 John 4:4

The Christian gains victory by starving the old nature and feeding the new.

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Honor

St. Maarten

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This is God, your God, speaking to you… All creation and its bounty are mine…Spread for me a banquet of praise, serve High God a feast of kept promises, And call for help when you're in trouble— I'll help you, and you'll honor me."

Put your hope in the Lord. Travel steadily along his path. He will honor you by giving you the land.
Honor the Lord for the glory of his name. Worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness.

"Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise, exalt and honor the King of heaven, for all His works are true and His ways just, and He is able to humble those who walk in pride."

Anyone who wants to be my disciple must follow me, because my servants must be where I am. And the Father will honor anyone who serves me.

So then, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you may do, do all for the honor and glory of God.

Psalm 50:7 Psalm 37:34 Psalm 29:2 Daniel 4:37 John 12:26 1 Corinthians 10:31

Mankind’s limited potential highlights God’s limitless power.

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Secure

I'll contemplate his beauty; I'll study at his feet. That's the only quiet, secure place in a noisy world, The perfect getaway, far from the buzz of traffic.

My life is well and whole, secure in the middle of danger Even while thousands are lined up against me. God hears it all, and from his judge's bench puts them in their place.

I know and rest in confidence upon it that the Lord will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and will secure justice for the poor and needy [of His believing children].

The salvation of the [consistently] righteous is of the Lord; He is their Refuge and secure Stronghold in the time of trouble.

God wanted to make the unchanging nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised…We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.

Psalm 27:5 Psalm 55:16 Psalm 140:12 Psalm 37:39 Hebrews 6:19

The diminishing splendor of the law is no match for the glory of God’s grace.

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Dawn

Sunrise at Simpson Bay

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Awake, my soul! Awake, harp and lyre! I will awaken the dawn.

The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining ever brighter till the full light of day.

Bright with Eden's dawn light. You put us in charge of your handcrafted world

He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.

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 57:8 Proverbs 4:18 Psalm 8:5 Psalm 37:6 Psalm 113:1

The purpose of prayer is not to get what we want, but to become what God wants.

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Relax

St.Maarten

"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.

"'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.

I said to myself, "Relax and rest. God has showered you with blessings. Soul, you've been rescued from death; Eye, you've been rescued from tears; And you, Foot, were kept from stumbling."

"And you? Go about your business without fretting or worrying. Relax. When it's all over, you will be on your feet to receive your reward."

God's a safe-house for the battered, a sanctuary during bad times. The moment you arrive, you relax; you're never sorry you knocked.

Matthew 6:30 Daniel 10:12 Psalm 116:7 Daniel 12:13 Psalm 9:9

We need not fear the perils around us because the eye of the Lord is always upon us.

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Surround

I am not afraid of ten thousand enemies who surround me on every side.

For you are my hiding place; you protect me from trouble. You surround me with songs of victory.

For surely, O LORD, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield.

Let your unfailing love surround us, Lord, for our hope is in you alone.

Then my head will be exalted above the enemies who surround me; at his tabernacle will I sacrifice with shouts of joy; I will sing and make music to the LORD.

The Lord made the heavens! Honor and majesty surround him; strength and joy fill his dwelling.

Psalm 3:6 Psalm 32:7 Psalm 5:12 Psalm 33:22 Psalm 27:6 1 Chronicles 16:27

God provides the armor, but we must put it on.

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Search

God! Let the cosmos praise your wonderful ways, the choir of holy angels sing anthems to your faithful ways! Search high and low, scan skies and land, you'll find nothing and no one quite like God.

“I love all who love me. Those who search will surely find me.

Those who know your name trust in you, for you, O Lord, do not abandon those who search for you.

Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.

But may all who search for you be filled with joy and gladness in you. May those who love your salvation repeatedly shout, “The Lord is great!”

Search the book of the Lord, and see what he will do. Not one of these birds and animals will be missing, and none will lack a mate, for the Lord has promised this. His Spirit will make it all come true.

Psalm 89:5 Proverbs 8:17 Psalm 9:10 Psalm 139:23 Psalm 40:16 Isaiah 34:16

The best commentary on the Bible is a person who puts it into practice.

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Day

February Frost

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Why is everyone hungry for more? "More, more," they say. "More, more." I have God's more-than-enough, more joy in one ordinary day than they get in all their shopping sprees

The wise counsel God gives when I'm awake is confirmed by my sleeping heart. Day and night I'll stick with God; I've got a good thing going and I'm not letting go.

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

They confronted and came upon me in the day of my calamity, but the Lord was my stay and support.

"God is great—everything works together for good for his servant." I'll tell the world how great and good you are, I'll shout Hallelujah all day, every day.

Sing to the LORD, praise his name; proclaim his salvation day after day

Psalm 4:6 Psalm 16:7 Psalm 1:2 Psalm 18:18 Psalm 35:27 Psalm 96:2

This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24

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Hurry

Eagle Lake, CA

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"Slow down. Take a deep breath. What's the hurry? Why wear yourself out? Just what are you after anyway?

Careful planning puts you ahead in the long run; hurry and scurry puts you further behind.

A good woman is hard to find, and worth far more than diamonds. Her husband trusts her without reserve, and never has reason to regret it… She senses the worth of her work, is in no hurry to call it quits for the day…"Many women have done wonderful things, but you've outclassed them all.”… The woman to be admired and praised is the woman who lives in the Fear-of-God. Give her everything she deserves!

The path of right-living people is level. The Leveler evens the road for the right-living. We're in no hurry, God. We're content to linger in the path sign-posted with your decisions. Who you are and what you've done are all we'll ever want.

When Jesus got to the tree, he looked up and said, "Zacchaeus, hurry down. Today is my day to be a guest in your home."

Jeremiah 2:25 Proverbs 21:5 Proverbs 31:10 Isaiah 26:7 Luke 19:5

No one can be more secure than those who are in God’s hands.

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Might

Fish Creek Falls

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" He keeps the feet of His godly ones, But the wicked ones are silenced in darkness; For not by might shall a man prevail

They pleaded with Samuel, "Pray with all your might! And don't let up! Pray to God, our God, that he'll save us from the boot of the Philistines."

Wealth and honor come from you alone, for you rule over everything. Power and might are in your hand, and at your discretion people are made great and given strength.

Jehoshaphat …said, "O God, God of our ancestors, are you not God in heaven above and ruler of all kingdoms below? You hold all power and might in your fist—no one stands a chance against you!

The Lord turned to him and said, Go in this your might, and you shall save Israel from the hand of Midian. Have I not sent you?

Before him [Josiah] there was no king like him who turned to the LORD with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his might, according to all the law of Moses;

1 Samuel 2:9 1 Samuel 7:8 1 Chronicles 29:12 2 Chronicles 20:5 Judges 6:14 2 Kings 23:25

With unwanted burdens come undeserved blessings.

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Mighty

Pike's Peak

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Another generation grew up who did not acknowledge the Lord or remember the mighty things he had done for Israel.

When the angel of the LORD appeared to Gideon, he said, "The LORD is with you, mighty warrior."… " Gideon asked, "how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family."

" The bows of the mighty are shattered, But the feeble gird on strength.

Just as Samuel was sacrificing the burnt offering, the Philistines arrived to attack Israel. But the Lord spoke with a mighty voice of thunder from heaven that day, and the Philistines were thrown into such confusion that the Israelites defeated them.

Great is our Lord and mighty in power; his understanding has no limit.

Anyone who meets a testing challenge head-on and manages to stick it out is mighty fortunate. For such persons loyally in love with God, the reward is life and more life.

Judges 2:10 Judges 6:12 1 Samuel 2:4 1 Samuel 7:10 Psalm 147:5 James 1:12

You are one of a kind – designed to glorify God as only you can.

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Opportunity

“Now’s your opportunity!” David’s men whispered to him. “Today the Lord is telling you, ‘I will certainly put your enemy into your power, to do with as you wish.’”

Whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith.

You will stand trial before governors and kings because you are my followers. But this will be your opportunity to tell the rulers and other unbelievers about me.

Peter saw his opportunity and addressed the crowd. “People of Israel,” he said, “what is so surprising about this? And why stare at us as though we had made this man walk by our own power or godliness?

Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days.
Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity

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1 Samuel 24:4 Galatians 6:10 Matthew 10:18 Acts 3:12 Ephesians 5:16 Colossians 4:5

What we call adversity, God calls opportunity.

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