Give Thanks to HIM

Praise be to the LORD, for he has heard my cry for mercy. The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song. The LORD is the strength of his people, a fortress of salvation for his anointed one.

~ Psalm 28:6-8

Give Thanks to God

Wealth and honor come from You; You are the ruler of all things. In Your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all. Now, our God, we give you thanks, and praise your glorious name. "But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand.

~ 1 Chronicles 29:12-14

Give Thanks to the Lord

Then the trees of the forest will sing, they will sing for joy before the LORD, for He comes to judge the earth. Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; His love endures forever. Cry out, "Save us, O God our Savior; gather us and deliver us from the nations, that we may give thanks to Your holy name, that we may glory in Your praise."

~ 1 Chronicles 16:33-35

Instructions on Worship

I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior,

~ 1 Timothy 2:1-3

With Thanksgiving Present Your Requests to God

Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

~ Philippians 4:5-7

Only Thanksgiving

But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God's holy people. Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a man is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.

~ Ephesians 5:3-5

Thanks to God

Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.
This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God's people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God.

~ 2 Corinthians 9:10-12

Enter into His Gates with Thanksgiving

Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands. Serve the LORD with gladness: come before His presence with singing. Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is He that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are His people, and the sheep of His pasture. Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise: be thankful unto Him, and bless his name. For the LORD is good; His mercy is everlasting; and His truth endureth to all generations.

~ Psalm 100:1-5

Wise Instruction

Put away perversity from your mouth; keep corrupt talk far from your lips. Let your eyes look straight ahead, fix your gaze directly before you. Make level paths for your feet and take only ways that are firm. Do not swerve to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil.

~ Proverbs 4:24-27

Guard Your Heart

Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.

~ Proverbs 4:23

A Father's Instruction

Listen, my sons, to a father's instruction; pay attention and gain understanding.

~ Proverbs 4:1

Act When You Can

Do not withhold good from those who deserve it, when it is in your power to act.

~ Proverbs 3:27

Have No Fear

Have no fear of sudden disaster or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked, for the LORD will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being snared.

~ Proverbs 3:25-26

Wisdom and Understanding

Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gains understanding, for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold. She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her.

~ Proverbs 3:13-15

The LORD'S Discipline

My son, do not despise the LORD's discipline and do not resent his rebuke,
because the LORD disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in.

~ Proverbs 3:11-12

Wisdom of God

Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.

~ Proverbs 3:7-8

Benefits of Wisdom

My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart, for they will prolong your life many years and bring you prosperity. Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man. Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.

~ Proverbs 3:1-6

Moral Benefits of Wisdom

My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding, and if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God. For the LORD gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. He holds victory in store for the upright, he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless, for he guards the course of the just and protects the way of his faithful ones. Then you will understand what is right and just and fair—every good path. For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul. Discretion will protect you, and understanding will guard you. Wisdom will save you from the ways of wicked men.

Proverbs 2:1-12a

Temptation

My son, if sinners entice you, do not give in to them.

~ Proverbs 1:10

No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.

~ 1 Corinthians 10:13

Instruction and Teaching are Garland of Grace

Listen, my son, to your father's instruction and do not forsake your mother's teaching. They will be a garland to grace your head and a chain to adorn your neck.

~ Proverbs 1:8-9

His Compassions Never Fail

Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail.

~ Lamentations 3:22

Hide in the Shelter of the Lord

One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek Him in His temple.

For in the day of trouble He will keep me safe in His dwelling; He will hide me in the shelter of His tabernacle and set me high upon a rock.

~ Psalm 27:4-5

Imitating Christ's Humility

If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

~ Philippians 2:1-4

Path of the Righteous

The path of the righteous is level; O upright One, you make the way of the righteous smooth.

~ Isaiah 26:7

Trust in the LORD

Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.
Delight yourself in the LORD and He will give you the desires of your heart.
Commit your way to the LORD; trust in Him and He will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.

~ Psalm 37:3-6

Sabbath-Rest

There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God's rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from His.

~ Hebrews 4:9-10

A Gentle Whisper

The LORD said, "Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by." Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper.

~ 1 Kings 19:11-12

Who Except Our God?

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

With your help I can advance against a troop; with my God I can scale a wall.

"As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is flawless. He is a shield for all who take refuge in Him.

For who is God besides the LORD ? And who is the Rock except our God?

It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect.

He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; he enables me to stand on the heights.

He trains my hands for battle; my arms can bend a bow of bronze.

You give me your shield of victory; you stoop down to make me great.

You broaden the path beneath me, so that my ankles do not turn.

~ 2 Samuel 22:29-37

Let Your Light Shine

"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

~ Matthew 5:14-16

Submission to the Authorities

Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you.

Romans 13:1-3

Trust

"Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else's property, who will give you property of your own?

"No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money."

~ Luke 16:10-13

Heal Their Land

"If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land."

~ 2 Chronicles 7:14

Freedom in the Lord

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

~ 2 Corinthians 3:17-18

Jesus in Gethsemane

They came to a place named Gethsemane; and He said to His disciples, "Sit here until I have prayed."

And He took with Him Peter and James and John, and began to be very distressed and troubled.

And He said to them, "My soul is deeply grieved to the point of death; remain here and keep watch."

And He went a little beyond them, and fell to the ground and began to pray that if it were possible, the hour might pass Him by.

And He was saying, "Abba! Father! All things are possible for You; remove this cup from Me; yet not what I will, but what You will."

And He came and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, "Simon, are you asleep? Could you not keep watch for one hour?

Keep watching and praying that you may not come into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak."

~ Mark 14:32-38 NASB

Now that I Am Grown Up

When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me.

~ 1 Corinthians 13:11

Now that I am Grown Up (Title of my Pastor's Sermon 10-26-08)

Go Out in Joy

As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.

~ Isaiah 55:10-12