Listen

“And so, my children, listen to me,
for all who follow my ways are joyful.
Listen to my instruction and be wise.
Don’t ignore it.
Joyful are those who listen to me,
watching for me daily at my gates,
waiting for me outside my home!

Proverbs 8:32-35 New Living Translation (NLT)

Build Each Other Up

 So then, let us aim for harmony in the church and try to build each other up.

~Romans 14:19

This is true for the office, a community, any group of people. Lord, let this be my focus and my purpose. Help me to build others up and aim for harmony.

More singing and joy...great combination

 

I will be filled with joy because of you. I will sing praises to your name, O Most High.

 

Psalm 9:2 (NLT)

Sing for Joy!

 

Shout to the LORD, all the earth; break out in praise and sing for joy!

 

Psalm 98:4 (NLT)

Live in Peace

 

Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone.

 

Romans 12:18 (NLT)

The Good Search

 

Search for the Lord and for his strength; continually seek him.

 

1 Chronicles 16:11 (NLT)

May I Never Forget

 

Let all that I am praise the Lord; may I never forget the good things he does for me. He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases.

 

Psalm 103:2-3 (NLT)

Trust and Praise

 

I will praise you forever, O God, for what you have done. I will trust in your good name in the presence of your faithful people.

 

Psalm 52:9 (NLT)

Promises made

 

I praise God for what he has promised; yes, I praise the LORD for what he has promised.

 

Psalm 56:10 (NLT)

Sing!

 

Sing to the LORD, all you godly ones! Praise his holy name.

 

Psalm 30:4 (NLT)

Breathe on me, Breath of God

Breathe on me, Breath of God,
fill me with life anew,
that I may love the way you love,
and do what you would do.


Breathe on me, Breath of God,
until my heart is pure,
until my will is one with yours,
to do and to endure.


Breathe on me, Breath of God,
so shall I never die,
but live with you the perfect life
for all eternity.

Psalter Hymnal, 1987

The text is a prayer for renewal by God's Spirit (like Ps. 51:10-12), a renewal that is to be expressed in a life of love (st. 1), in purity of heart and will (st. 2), and in an intimacy with God that heralds the perfection of eternal life (st. 3). In both Hebrew and Greek the Word for "spirit" is the same as "wind/air/breath"; thus in this text the Spirit of God is referred to as "Breath of God."
Intended as a hymn for ordination, this text by Edwin Hatch (b. Derby, England, 1835; d. Oxford, England, 1889) was privately printed in 1878 and then published in Henry Allon's The Congregational Psalmist Hymnal in 1886. Hatch evidently had a simple and childlike faith; that description fits this text as well.
 

Be an Encouragement

Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.

Ephesians 4:29 (NLT)

Joyful

And so, my children, listen to me, for all who follow my ways are joyful. Listen to my instruction and be wise. Don’t ignore it. Joyful are those who listen to me, watching for me daily at my gates, waiting for me outside my home!

Proverbs 8:32-35 New Living Translation (NLT)

All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.
2 Timothy 3:16 (NLT)

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Another timely quote as I struggle with improvements and changes I need to make in my life. Scripture is inspired by God and God inspires us through the scripture (and the Holy Spirit). God is good. :-)

Be happy and enjoy yourself...The Bible tells me so.

So I concluded there is nothing better than to be happy and enjoy ourselves as long as we can.

Ecclesiastes 3:12, NLT

I posted this on Facebook:

You know I’m still enthralled with snow and almost all winter precipitation in Maine. You can keep the ice but then again how would I have ever met graupel if I hadn’t moved here. Yesterday morning there was a brief bit of precipitation. It looked like graupel to me until I looked more closely. Check out the Star of David-shaped bits of frozen water!





























And got this cool reply from a friend:

These photos made me think of this verse:
 Job 38:22
“Hast thou entered into the treasures of the snow? or hast thou seen the treasures of the hail,”

Patient Endurance

Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God's will. Then you will receive all that he has promised.

Hebrews 10:36, NLT

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This was today's Air1 Verse of the Day and oh, dear Lord, did I need it. Only 21 days until I leave for Australia & New Zealand. I need to just get through the end of this semester. It's been the hardest semester of the 20 I've had so far. They should be getting easier. There's an evil among us and I need endurance to get past that evil without succumbing. As evil takes the low road, I need to take the high road. Thank you, Lord, for loving me and helping me get through this time. Help me to grow in wisdom and love as I patiently endure.

Joy!

.. I sing for joy because of what you have done.

Psalm 92:4, NLT
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This makes me think of my dear friend Joy Z. We were in the church choir in Dallas since it started in 1984. We were book partners from the day our director asked us to start sharing music. I always looked forward to time with the choir, whether it was practice or mass or one of our great parties or outing. And one of the reasons I cherish my time with the choir is because of Joy. She always brought joy wherever she went. It was the perfect name for her. I love you, Joy; I miss you, Joy; I thank God for you, Joy!

Answered Prayer

I took my troubles to the Lord; I cried out to him, and he answered my prayer.

Psalm 120:1, NLT

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Even when I don't cry out to him, he answers my prayers. God is so good!!

Trust

Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.

Proverbs 3:5, NLT

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One sentence, two parts. Two VERY HARD TO DO parts. So simple and yet not. I really need to work on this...on these.