Control

Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.

Indeed, we all make many mistakes. For if we could control our tongues, we would be perfect and could also control ourselves in every other way.

Don't be in any rush to become a teacher, my friends. Teaching is highly responsible work. Teachers are held to the strictest standards. And none of us is perfectly qualified. We get it wrong nearly every time we open our mouths. If you could find someone whose speech was perfectly true, you'd have a perfect person, in perfect control of life.

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.

In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God’s promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone.

[The Father] has delivered and drawn us to Himself out of the control and the dominion of darkness and has transferred us into the kingdom of the Son of His love

1 Corinthians 9:25 James 3:2 James 3:1 2 Timothy 1:7 2 Peter 1:6 Colossians 1:13

The memory of a faithful life speaks more eloquently than words.

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Memorial

[ A Memorial of Redemption ] For the LORD will pass through to smite the Egyptians; and when He sees the blood on the lintel and on the two doorposts, the LORD will pass over the door and will not allow the destroyer to come in to your houses to smite you.

Also at your times of rejoicing—your appointed festivals and New Moon feasts—you are to sound the trumpets over your burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, and they will be a memorial for you before your God. I am the LORD your God.”

We will use these stones to build a memorial. In the future your children will ask you, ‘What do these stones mean?’

A good and honest life is a blessed memorial;

And fixing his gaze on him and being much alarmed, he said, “What is it, Lord?” And he said to him, “Your prayers and alms have ascended as a memorial before God.

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!

Exodus 12:23 Numbers 10:10 Joshua 4:6 Proverbs 10:7 Acts 10:4 Psalm 111:1

God’s great power deserve s our grateful praise.

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Darkness

God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness.

So Moses stretched out his hand toward the sky, and total darkness covered all Egypt for three days.

“He uncovers mysteries hidden in darkness; he brings light to the deepest gloom.

Your life will be brighter than the noonday. Even darkness will be as bright as morning.

You, LORD, are my lamp; the LORD turns my darkness into light.

Hallelujah! Blessed man, blessed woman, who fear God, Who cherish and relish his commandments, Their children robust on the earth, And the homes of the upright—how blessed! Their houses brim with wealth And a generosity that never runs dry. Sunrise breaks through the darkness for good people— God's grace and mercy and justice!

Genesis 1:4 Exodus 10:22 Job 12:22 Job 11:17 2 Samuel 22:29 Psalm 112:1

A world in darkness needs the light of the Gospel.

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Little ones

In the same way, it is not my heavenly Father’s will that even one of these little ones should perish.

But He said, Leave the children alone! Allow the little ones to come to Me, and do not forbid or restrain or hinder them, for of such [as these] is the kingdom of heaven composed.

They let their children frisk about like lambs. Their little ones skip and dance.

“If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.

Then I proclaimed a fast there at the river of Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God to seek from Him a safe journey for us, our little ones, and all our possessions.

I will give the land to your little ones—your innocent children. You were afraid they would be captured, but they will be the ones who occupy it

Matthew 18:14 Matthew 19:14 Job 21:11 Matthew 18:6 Ezra 8:21 Deuteronomy 1:39

Nothing touches a child like a mother’s love.

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Rely

O my God, I trust, lean on, rely on, and am confident in You. Let me not be put to shame or [my hope in You] be disappointed; let not my enemies triumph over me.

And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.

Now I want to remind you, though you were fully informed once for all, that though the Lord [at one time] delivered a people out of the land of Egypt, He subsequently destroyed those [of them] who did not believe [who refused to adhere to, trust in, and rely upon Him].

I write this to you who believe in (adhere to, trust in, and rely on) the name of the Son of God [in the peculiar services and blessings conferred by Him on men], so that you may know [with settled and absolute knowledge] that you [already] have life, yes, eternal life.

While you have the Light, believe in the Light [have faith in it, hold to it, rely on it], that you may become sons of the Light and be filled with Light.

So those who rely on faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.

Psalm 25:2 1 John 4:16 Jude 1:5 1 John 5:13 John 12:36 Galatians 3:9

Tough times can teach us to trust.

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