Defiant?

Pride only breeds quarrels, but wisdom is found in those who take advice. ~ Proverbs 13:10 (NIV 1984)

Accept one another...

"Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God."

~ Romans 15:7

Think About Such Things...

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 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.

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

~ Philippians 4:4-9

A Chosen People

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. ~ 1 Peter 2:9

Trouble and Distress...BUT

Trouble and distress have come upon me, but your commands give me delight. ~ Psalm 119:143

Spiritual Fullness in Christ

So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.

~ Colossians 2:6-7

Full Life

Therefore Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. ~ John 10:7, 9-10

Psalms, Hymns and Songs

Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. ~ Colossians 3:16

God Is Great!

“How great you are, Sovereign LORD! There is no one like you, and there is no God but you, as we have heard with our own ears. ~ 2 Samuel 7:22

Two Kinds of Wisdom

Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. ~ James 3:13

Worship the Lord

Worship the LORD your God, and his blessing will be on your food and water. I will take away sickness from among you, ~ Exodus 23:25 (NIV 1984)

Be Alert

Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings. ~ 1 Peter 5:8-9

Heed Instruction

A wise son heeds his father’s instruction, but a mocker does not listen to rebuke. ~ Proverbs 13:1

Good Shepherd

"I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. ~ John 10:14-15

Learn to do Right

Wash and make yourselves clean. Take your evil deeds out of my sight; stop doing wrong. Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow. ~ Isaiah 1:16-17

Listen Carefully

He said, “If you listen carefully to the voice of the LORD your God and do what is right in his eyes, if you pay attention to his commands and keep all his decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the LORD, who heals you.” ~ Exodus 15:26

Endure...

Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. ~ 2 Timothy 2:3 (NIV 1984)

Peace of Christ

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.~ Colossians 3:15

Ask, Seek, Knock

[Ask, Seek, Knock] “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. ~ Matthew 7:7-8

God Cannot be Mocked

Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. ~ Galatians 6:7-8

Do to Others...

So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets. ~ Matthew 7:12

No Temptation...

No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. 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 endure it. ~ 1 Corinthians 10:13

Do Everything Without...

Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life. And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain. ~ Philippians 2:14-16

Walk by the Spirit

So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. ~ Galatians 5:16

Stand Firm and Hold On...

15 So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter. 16 May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, 17 encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word. ~ 2 Thessalonians 2:15-17

Christ's Ambassadors

that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. ~ 2 Corinthians 5:19-20

Discipline

Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates correction is stupid. ~ Proverbs 12:1 (NIV 1984)

Evil Plans...

“If you have played the fool and exalted yourself, or if you have planned evil, clap your hand over your mouth! ~ Proverbs 30:32 (NIV 1984)

Trials and Temptations

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. ~ James 1:2-3

Love God...

"Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister."

~ 1 John 4:20-21

Fights and Quarrels

What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? You want something but don’t get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God. ~ James 4:1-2 (NIV 1984)

Humility

“Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.” ~ James 4:10

Coarse Joking and Foolish Talk

Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. ~ Ephesians 5:4 (NIV 1984)

Restore to me...

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

~ Psalm 51:12

Whatever You Do

And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. ~ Colossians 3:17 (NIV 1984)

It is God's Will

It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control his own body in a way that is holy and honorable,

~ 1 Thessalonians 4:2-3