Wouldn't it be silly to get 70% of the way along a trip and stop there, never arriving at your destination? Let's not do that! We've got miles behind us and miles yet to go, but we are working our way to the finish!
It's been some time since we've checked our progress against the Appalachian Trail with which we've paralleled our journey. With 70% of the trail behind us, going through Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, we would now be traveling through Massachusetts, perhaps taking in the view at sunrise from atop Mount Greylock, the highest point in the state at 3,491 feet in elevation. From the top of the mountain we could have views into five states, up to 70 miles away! When you look at the picture below, I'm sure you will wonder what the monument is at the top of the mountain. That is the Mount Greylock War Memorial, "Erected by Massachusetts in grateful recognition of the loyalty and sacrifice of her sons and daughters in war." Dedicated on June 30, 1933, it was “…intended a tribute to courage, endurance, loyalty and self-sacrifice wherever these qualities have been shown by Massachusetts men and women in the uniform of the state or nation.” Inside the memorial there is an inscription from a poem by George Eliott that I find particularly touching..."Of those immortal dead who live again in the minds made better by their presence."
It's been some time since we've checked our progress against the Appalachian Trail with which we've paralleled our journey. With 70% of the trail behind us, going through Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, we would now be traveling through Massachusetts, perhaps taking in the view at sunrise from atop Mount Greylock, the highest point in the state at 3,491 feet in elevation. From the top of the mountain we could have views into five states, up to 70 miles away! When you look at the picture below, I'm sure you will wonder what the monument is at the top of the mountain. That is the Mount Greylock War Memorial, "Erected by Massachusetts in grateful recognition of the loyalty and sacrifice of her sons and daughters in war." Dedicated on June 30, 1933, it was “…intended a tribute to courage, endurance, loyalty and self-sacrifice wherever these qualities have been shown by Massachusetts men and women in the uniform of the state or nation.” Inside the memorial there is an inscription from a poem by George Eliott that I find particularly touching..."Of those immortal dead who live again in the minds made better by their presence."Wouldn't you like to think that after you are gone, the thought of you that lives on in some one's mind makes them a better person? Now that's a tribute, isn't it?
After spending the past 12 weeks (YES -12 weeks!) dwelling on the subject of joy, we now move on to 12 new verses on the subject of faith...as Robert J. Morgan titles this section, "Faith: Trusting God and Resting in His Word."
Does that sound as appealing to you as it does to me? To know that for the next 12 weeks we will be assured of the confidence we can have when we place our trust in our Father and when we just allow ourselves to rest in His Word. I need those words to just dwell in me...I'm looking forward to this next leg of our journey!
For the first time in this whole 70 weeks worth, I did not review our verses last week! So let's do that now, and then we will drop off the section of Obedience to make room for our new section of Faith.
Does that sound as appealing to you as it does to me? To know that for the next 12 weeks we will be assured of the confidence we can have when we place our trust in our Father and when we just allow ourselves to rest in His Word. I need those words to just dwell in me...I'm looking forward to this next leg of our journey!
For the first time in this whole 70 weeks worth, I did not review our verses last week! So let's do that now, and then we will drop off the section of Obedience to make room for our new section of Faith.
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.
Romans 12:2 Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern the good, pleasing and perfect will of God.
Romans 12:11 Do not lack diligence; be fervent in spirit; serve the Lord.
Romans 12:12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in affliction, be persistent in prayer.
Romans 12:18 If possible, on your part, live at peace with everyone.
2 Corinthians 9:7 Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
Hebrews 10:25 "Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching." (NKJV)
Proverbs 1:7 "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction."
Proverbs 15:1 "A gentle word turns away anger, but a harsh word stirs up wrath."
The Holy Spirit's Role in our Lives (6)
Ephesians 5:18 "And don't get drunk with wine, which leads to reckless actions, but be filled with the Spirit."
Ephesians 5:19 "Speaking to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making music in to the Lord in your hearts."
Ephesians 5:20 "Giving thanks always for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ."
Ephesians 5:21 "Submitting to one another in the fear of Christ."
Galatians 5:22 "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control."
2 Timothy 1:14 "Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you...guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit living in us."
Joy: God's Kind of Happiness (12)
Psalm 118:24 "This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it."
Philippians 4:4 "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!"
Philippians 4:5 "Let your graciousness be known to everyone. The Lord is near."
Philippians 4:6 "Do not worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God."
Philippians 4:7 "And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."
Romans 15:13 "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope through the power of the Holy Spirit."
James 1:2 "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds."
James 1:3-4 "Knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. But endurance must do its complete work, so that you will be mature and complete, lacking nothing."
1 Thessalonians 5:16 "Rejoice always."
1 Thessalonians 5:17 "Pray constantly."
1 Thessalonians 5:18 "Give thanks in everything, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."
and now we add....
Faith: Trusting God and Resting in His Word (12)
Ephesians 2:8 "For by grace you are saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God's gift.
Beautiful words, wonderful words, wonderful words of life! All so freely given, wooing us to heaven...beautiful words, wonderful words, wonderful words of life!
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.
Romans 12:2 Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern the good, pleasing and perfect will of God.
Romans 12:11 Do not lack diligence; be fervent in spirit; serve the Lord.
Romans 12:12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in affliction, be persistent in prayer.
Romans 12:18 If possible, on your part, live at peace with everyone.
2 Corinthians 9:7 Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
Hebrews 10:25 "Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching." (NKJV)
Proverbs 1:7 "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction."
Proverbs 15:1 "A gentle word turns away anger, but a harsh word stirs up wrath."
The Holy Spirit's Role in our Lives (6)
Ephesians 5:18 "And don't get drunk with wine, which leads to reckless actions, but be filled with the Spirit."
Ephesians 5:19 "Speaking to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making music in to the Lord in your hearts."
Ephesians 5:20 "Giving thanks always for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ."
Ephesians 5:21 "Submitting to one another in the fear of Christ."
Galatians 5:22 "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control."
2 Timothy 1:14 "Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you...guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit living in us."
Joy: God's Kind of Happiness (12)
Psalm 118:24 "This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it."
Philippians 4:4 "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!"
Philippians 4:5 "Let your graciousness be known to everyone. The Lord is near."
Philippians 4:6 "Do not worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God."
Philippians 4:7 "And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."
Romans 15:13 "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope through the power of the Holy Spirit."
James 1:2 "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds."
James 1:3-4 "Knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. But endurance must do its complete work, so that you will be mature and complete, lacking nothing."
1 Thessalonians 5:16 "Rejoice always."
1 Thessalonians 5:17 "Pray constantly."
1 Thessalonians 5:18 "Give thanks in everything, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."
and now we add....
Faith: Trusting God and Resting in His Word (12)
Ephesians 2:8 "For by grace you are saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God's gift.
Beautiful words, wonderful words, wonderful words of life! All so freely given, wooing us to heaven...beautiful words, wonderful words, wonderful words of life!
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