Be Generous

A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.

~ Proverbs 11:25

The Narrow and Wide Gates

Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

~ Matthew 7:13-14

Hope in the Lord

Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the LORD.

~ Psalm 31:24

Life Through the Spirit

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.

~ Romans 8:1-2

Jesus Promises the Holy Spirit

If you love me, you will obey what I command. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever— the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.

~ John 14:15-17

Walk in Confidence with the Lord

If the LORD delights in a man's way, He makes his steps firm; though he stumble, he will not fall, for the LORD upholds him with His hand.

~ Psalm 37:23-24

Call God

'Call to Me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.'
~ Jeremiah 33:3

Treasure Hidden in a Field

"THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS LIKE A TREASURE HIDDEN IN a field. A certain man learned that the treasure existed and he developed a terrible obsession to possess it. He wasted all of his wealth and secretly sold everything he had to purchase the filed so that he could own the treasure.

Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a pearl of great price. When a man found it, he sold all that he had and purchased the pearl.

Unless you, too, obsess after God's kingdom, like this man did over his treasure, you will not find it.

Knock and keep on knocking. Seek and keep on seeking. When they send you away again and again, come back and seek still again. Then you will find the treasure you seek."

~ Parables of Jesus
Paraphrased and expanded
Found in the book of Saint Matthew

(taken from Ted Dekker's book, Obsessed)

The Parables of the Hidden Treasure and the Pearl

The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls.
~ Matthew 13:44-45

The Little Children and Jesus

My daughter learned and memorized this passage of Scripture when she was four years old and as she recited it tears came to my eyes as I envisioned her in the presence of Jesus.

People were bringing little children to Jesus to have him touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." And he took the children in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them.

~ Mark 10:13-16

Good News!

For the month of April my church's Children's Church Theme is Good News! and the key verse is Mark 16:15. Bible memorization is an important habit to develop during childhood. Challenge your children or grandchildren to memorize God's Word!

He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation."

~ Mark 16:15

Live for Jesus

“For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.”

~ 2 Corinthians 5:14-15

The Blood

“In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace”

~ Ephesians 1:7

Be Thankful!

"Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful."
~ Colossians 4:2

"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

"Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe,"
~ Hebrews 12:28

Created by God

"For You created my inmost being; You knit me together in my mother's womb.
I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from You when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, Your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in Your book before one of them came to be."
~Psalm 139:13-16

Jesus Gives Peace

Again Jesus said, "Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you." And with that he breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit.

~ John 20:21-22