But above all, my brethren, do not swear, either my heaven or by earth or with any other oath; but your yes is to be yes, and your no is to be no, so that you may not fall under judgment.
James 5:12
A good reason to truthful is that you never have to remember what you said. We don’t have to say any more and we don’t have to defend the truth, because it is what it is and nothing can change it.
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6-7
When things are going wrong, and sometimes when things are going right, we can be overtaken by anxiety. We can “what if” ourselves into a place where our Christian faith seems to escape us.
We are not called to worry. We are called to prayer and thanksgiving. Taking our concerns and joys to God, lifts us up spiritually to a place where we can survive a rough ride or celebrate a pleasant journey.
Jesus
said:
“Therefore if you are presenting your offering at the
altar, and there remember that your brother has something against
you, leave your offering there before the altar and go, first be
reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering.”
Matthew 5:23-24
When we come to worship, God wants our undivided attention. If we are emotionally tied up with personal disagreements, we cannot give God the attention He wants.
Once we apologize to those with whom we have conflicts, even if in our opinion the conflict is not our fault, we are free to stop being angry and start praising God.
Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him and he in God.
We have come to know and believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.
By this love is perfected with us, so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment; because as He is, so also are we in the world.
We love, because He first loved us.
1 John 4:15-17, 19
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in heavenly places.
Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.
Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the Gospel of peace; in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And taking up the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
Ephesians 6:10-17
For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions, or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.
Colossians 1: 16-17
For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.
Ephesians 2:8-9
The Apostle Paul preached this same message over and over again because it was the truth. We cannot work our way into heaven. The only path to God is faith in Jesus. Salvation is a gift from God; all we have to do is receive it.
So David blessed the Lord in the sight of all the assembly, and David said, “Blessed are You, O Lord God of Israel our father, forever and ever.
“Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, indeed everything that is in the heavens and the earth; Yours is the dominion, O Lord, and You exalt Yourself as head over all.
“Both riches and honor come from You and You rule over all, and in Your hand is power and might; and it lies in Your hand to make great and to strengthen everyone.
“Now therefore, our God, we thank you and praise Your glorious name.”
1 Chronicles 29:10-13
Everything we have comes from God and we are grateful.
Happy Thanksgiving.
Open your mouth for the mute,
For the rights of all the unfortunate.
Open your mouth, judge righteously,
And defend the rights of the afflicted and needy.
Proverbs 31:8-9
When a man's ways please the Lord, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.
Proverbs 16:7
Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
Ephesians 4:1-3
For it is better, if God should will it so, that you should suffer for doing what is right rather than for doing what is wrong.
1 Peter 3:17
Open your mouth for the mute,
For the rights of all the unfortunate.
Open your mouth, judge righteously,
And defend the rights of the afflicted and needy.
Proverbs 31:8-9
“Come now, and let us reason together,”
Says the Lord,
“Thou your sins are scarlet,
They will be as white as snow;
Though they are red like crimson,
They will be like wool.”
“If you consent and obey,
You will eat the best of the land;
But if you refuse and rebel,
You will be devoured by the sword.”
Truly, the mouth of the Lord has spoken.
Isaiah 1:18-20
Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. Do all things without grumbling or questioning, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain.
Philippians 2:12-16
But since we are of the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet, the hope of salvation. For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with Him.
1 Thessalonians 5:8-10
He raises up the poor from the dust; He lifts the needy from the ash heap to make them sit with princes and inherit a seat of honor. For the pillars of the earth are the Lord's, and on them He has set the world.
1 Samuel 2:8
Sing to the Lord a new song;
Sing to the Lord, all the earth.
Sing to the Lord, bless His name;
Proclaim good tidings of His salvation from day to day,
Tell of His glory among the nations,
His wonderful deeds among all the peoples,
For
great is the Lord and greatly to be praised….
Psalm 96:1-4
If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink….
Proverbs 25:21
For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgement, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith. For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function, so we who are many are one body I Christ, and individually members of one another.
Since we have different gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly; if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith, if service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching or he who exhorts, in his exhortation, he who gives with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy with cheerfulness. Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil, cling to what is good.
Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor; not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer, contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality.
Romans 12:3-13
"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.”
"You will seek Me and find me when you search for me with all your heart."
"I will be found by you,” declares the Lord….
Jeremiah 20:11-14
The Prophets are not the kind of people you would invite over to dinner. They are full of doom and gloom. The Book of Jeremiah for the most part is just that – doom and gloom.
However, God’s grace shines through. God speaks clearly that He has good things planned for those who call upon Him.
God’s promises are all true and God has good things planned for you. All you have to do is call on Him.
O Lord, You have searched me and known me.
You know when I sit down and when I rise up;
You understand my thought from afar.
You scrutinize my path and my lying down,
And are intimately acquainted with my ways.
Even before there is a word on my tongue,
Behold, O Lord, You know it all.
You have enclosed me behind and before,
And laid Your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
Psalm 139:1-6
Do not be deceived: Bad company corrupts good morals.
1 Corinthians 15:33
As Jesus passed by, He saw a man blind from birth. And His disciples asked Him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he would be born blind?”
Jesus answered, “It was neither that this man sinned, nor his parents; but it was so that the works of God might be displayed in him. We must work the works of Him who sent Me as long as it is day; night is coming when no one can work. While I am in the world, I am the Light of the world.” When He said this, He spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and applied the clay to his eyes, and said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam.” So he went away and washed, and came back seeing.”
John 9:1-7
We can learn two things from this.
First, physical infirmities which we suffer have nothing to do with sin.
Second, it was not the spit that healed the blind man, but the power of God.
The power of God still packs a punch today. And, it is just a prayer away.
He who observes the wind will not sow, and he who regards the clouds will not reap.
Ecclesiastes 11:4
Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. Do all things without grumbling or questioning, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain.
Philippians 2:12-16
But whoever has the world’s goods, and sees his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him?
1 John 3:17
…The foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
1 Corinthians 1:25
When things get wacky, God is going to do something.
Be ready.
