When we were vacationing in New Hampshire one summer, we took a cog railway up to the peak of Mount Washington, the highest summit on the east coast. While on the train, we could see hikers making their way up the mountain and were told they were not just hiking the mountain, but were finishing up their trek of the Appalachian Trail, which they had started in Georgia! They would continue onward to where the Trail terminates at Baxter Peak, Katahdin, Maine, for a total of 2,175 miles! Can you imagine the tenacity it must take to start and continue on such an adventure? Well this morning that's the parallel that came to my mind as I thought about our adventure...we're taking quite a hike, aren't we? And if we started in Georgia, heading to Maine, we're now somewhere in Virginia! Now is not the time to give up...we want to make it to our destination, Baxter Peak! Or, in our case, Verse 100!! But along the way, we've got beautiful things to see, don't we?
Just as we would do if we were taking that hike, let's rest a little while and look back at the pictures we've already taken along the way....
The Gift of Prayer (3)
Hebrews 4:16 Therefore, let us approach the throne of grace with boldness that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us at the proper time.
1 John 5:15 And if we know that He hears whatever we ask, we know that we have what we have asked Him for.
The Gift of Assurance (10)
1 John 5:11 And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life and that life is in His Son.
1 John 5:12-13 The one who has the Son has life. The one who doesn't have the Son of God, does not have life. I say these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know you have eternal life.
John 14:1 Your heart must not be troubled, you believe in God, believe also in Me.
John 14:2 In my Father's house are many mansion, if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
John 14:3 And if I go away and prepare a place for you, I will come back and receive you unto Myself, so that where I am, you may be also.
John 14:6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through Me.
John 14:27 Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you. I do not give as the world gives. Your heart must not be troubled or afraid.
Isaiah 26:3-4 You will keep in perfect peace the mind that is dependent on You, for it is trusting in You. Trust in the Lord forever, for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength.
Isaiah 53:5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed . (KJV)
Isaiah 53:6 We all went astray like sheep; we all have turned to our own way; and the Lord has punished Him for the iniquities of us all.
Praise and Thanksgiving (4)
1 Peter 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. According to His great mercy He has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.
Psalm 100:4 Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him and praise His name.
Psalm 100:5 For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.
Revelation 4:11 You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.
Promises of God (10)
Matthew 6:33 But seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. (ESV)
Romans 8:28 We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God: those who are called according to His purpose.
Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
1 Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to humanity. God is faithful and He will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation He will provide a way of escape, so that you are able to bear it.
1 John 1:7 But if we walk in the light as He Himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.
1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Proverbs 3:-6 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. (NIV)
1 Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to humanity. God is faithful and He will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation He will provide a way of escape, so that you are able to bear it.
Psalm 55:22 Cast your burden on the Lord, and He will support you. He will never allow the righteous to be shaken.
Again, I am finding it hard to let go of this past week's verse to embrace another. But just as if we were on that Trail, we have to move forward, leaving one beautiful spot to see what is on down the Trail.
And this week, the hike around the next bend is not going to disappoint...I can just see us making a turn and a new vista presenting itself and our mouths dropping open and saying, "This is even prettier than where we were before!" For this week's verse is very similar to Psalm 55:22, but it adds a tenderness that I just love to hear from God's Word....
1 Peter 5:7 Casting all your care upon Him, because He cares about you.
Revelation 4:11 You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.
Promises of God (10)
Matthew 6:33 But seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. (ESV)
Romans 8:28 We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God: those who are called according to His purpose.
Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
1 Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to humanity. God is faithful and He will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation He will provide a way of escape, so that you are able to bear it.
1 John 1:7 But if we walk in the light as He Himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.
1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Proverbs 3:-6 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. (NIV)
1 Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to humanity. God is faithful and He will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation He will provide a way of escape, so that you are able to bear it.
Psalm 55:22 Cast your burden on the Lord, and He will support you. He will never allow the righteous to be shaken.
Again, I am finding it hard to let go of this past week's verse to embrace another. But just as if we were on that Trail, we have to move forward, leaving one beautiful spot to see what is on down the Trail.
And this week, the hike around the next bend is not going to disappoint...I can just see us making a turn and a new vista presenting itself and our mouths dropping open and saying, "This is even prettier than where we were before!" For this week's verse is very similar to Psalm 55:22, but it adds a tenderness that I just love to hear from God's Word....
1 Peter 5:7 Casting all your care upon Him, because He cares about you.
A very simple verse, a very common verse, but oh what an absolutely beautiful verse. The reassurance that we serve a God who tenderly and compassionately cares about His children! Lovely, isn't it? Sit on the trail bench with me and let's just soak in the view!
P.S. As a resident of West Texas, I am proud of the beauty of our area as well...it is not the lush landscape of the eastern states where the Appalachian Trail winds, but it certainly displays the majesty and diversity of God's handiwork in a magnificent way. This link is to a beautiful video of our area that I hope you will enjoy watching!
1 comment:
What a beautiful analogy you made with this endeavor we are on. Quite ambitious. The video is beautiful as well. Aren't we on a hike in our daily lives continuing on until we reach our destination to an eternal life with Christ Jesus, enjoying all of God's creations along the way. Difficult trails to climb and beautiful stops along the way to admire the vistas of peace and assurances of Christ's love. I, once again, have the strength to face today.
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