Friday, December 23, 2011

Day 3 - Week 44 - Now a new verse...

Excuse my absence.  We have have had two hard days of going through the motions that are required after someone dies, and tomorrow we will have the burial and memorial services for our sweet Shorty.   I believe these actions are probably good for all, they keep you going and your mind focused on other things than your extreme sadness in these initial days.  And then when things quiet down, you move into a deeper sense of grieving, but one without the intense emotions that come upon you in the beginning.  I thank God for my wonderful sister-in-law, Mary, who is the picture of graciousness and strength.  I pray that I will be the sister-in-law she needs me to be in the days ahead.

So we go on to our third verse in our set of ten regarding obedience.  But let's go through a quick review first.

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.
1 Peter 5:7  Casting all your care upon Him, because He cares for you.

Obedience (10)
2 Chronicles 7:14  If my people who are called by My name humble themselves, pray and seek My face, and turn from their evil ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.
Lamentations 3:40  Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the Lord.

Our third verse in this set is a such a great one to know and also to dig into.  We will be able to really sit on this one through the week and meditate on all of its meaning and implications for our lives.

Romans 12:2   Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing and perfect will of God.

There is so much in this one sentence of 31 words.  So much instruction, truth and a call to a higher level of living. It will be good for me to study these words this week.

I'm back to thinking about Shorty, about what he is doing right now, what he is seeing and experiencing...and as the song says, "I can only imagine..."

1 comment:

donna said...

What a difficult time for you, and Shorty's family. During this time of year of joy and celebration - you will bury a dearly loved love-one, you will lose the relationship with a dear friend and brother in-law, and brother in Christ. And again, my prayers are with you and Shorty's family and friends.

We can't conform to the ways of this world, the way it has become - full of deceit and corruption, an age of technology that allows for hidden sins. Each day we need to spend time with Christ, renewing our spirit with His Holy Spirit, asking for guidance and discernment. Able to discern the good from the bad, walking
through our lives pleasing God. Renewal each day with Christ, remaining strong
and focused on Christ Jesus. Conform to the ways of Christ not the ways of this
world.

God is watching over you today. God will comfort you today, He loves you. You are a child of God.