Jesus spoke...

John 12: 26

"My Father will honor those who serve Me."

The Heart

"The heart is the wellspring of life."

Proverbs 4:23

Psalm 1:6

"For the Lord watches over those who are righteous."

(Memory verse with my kids :D)

Don't Get Stuck

This is the title of a devotional by Sarah Young. She says, "When things are not going your way, don't panic-accept the situation. Feeling sorry for yourself can easily spill over into feelings of resentment and anger. That can cause you to push away from me."

She has a point. When we shift our focus on ourselves, we limit ourselves to the hope and abundant blessings that only God can give to us.

1Peter 5:7 says, "Casting all our care upon him; for he careth for you."

We need to repent when we worry, recognizing that it is a going against everything the Bible says.

I like how Morris Cerrulo expands on this verse:

We need to KNOW that Jesus wants us to cast all our cares upon Him (James 1:6-8) and we can do so with the assurance that...
we KNOW "...the Lord will not cast off his people, neither will he forsake his inheritance" (Psalm 94:14), and ...
we KNOW that God will deliver us out of Satan's grasp (Psalm 91:3)
and we KNOW that God's eyes are upon us...that He is just looking for an opportunity to show Himself strong on our behalf (2 Chronicles 16:9).

Satan tempts us with worry and fear. However, "...greater is He that is in you, than he who is in the world" (1 John 4:4). Armed in this way, the sharp two-edged sword of the Word, the negative forces of worry and anxiety will be defeated in any and every circumstance, and we can.... and WILL be VICTORIOUS!

Matthew 28:6

He is not here; He has risen, just as He said. Come and see the place where He lay.

We will experience many losses over the years, but the one thing we cannot live without is the one the we can never lose-Jesus' loving Presence.

by Sarah Young, author of Jesus Lives

Happy Palm Sunday

And they were calling to one another: "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of His glory."

Isaiah 6:3

Rock Solid

He will have no fear of bad news; his heart of steadfast, trusting in the Lord.

Psalm 112:7

Mathew 7:12

"Do to others what you would have them do to you."

Discretion and Wisdom

Proverbs 5

"My son, pay attention to my wisdom,

listen well to my words of insight,

that you may maintain discretion

and your lips may preserve knowledge."

Psalm 72:14

He will rescue them from oppression and violence, for precious is their blood in His sight.

Psalm 16

Love these verses from Pslam 16...

v. 2

I said to the Lord, "You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing."

v.5

Lord, you have assigned me my portion and my cup; you have made my lot secure.

v.7 & 8

I will praise the Lord, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me.

I have set the Lord always before me. Because he at my right hand,

I will not be shaken.

v.11

You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence,

with eternal pleasures at your right hand.

A Blessing For Your Marriage

For you shall go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and the hills before you shall break forth into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress; instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle; and it shall make a name for the Lord, an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.

Isaiah 55:12-13

God wants us to be filled with His peace, the peace that passeth all understanding. He wants us to walk with a song in our heart and praise on our lips no matter what! Do you know why? Because no matter what you're going through -financial burdens, a spouse's vocational stress, miscommunications, monotany in your love life -these thorns & briers will be replaced with beautiful, wondrous exhilarations! Don't ask how, just know why: because God loves you and He will provide for you. Have you ever seen a cypress tree? It's robust and vibrant with thick branches, strong and tall. Have you ever seen a myrtle tree? It's an absolutely lovely tree filled with colorful budding flowers. Who could possibly turn a thorn into a cypress? Or a brier into a myrtle tree? Only the Creator of marriage can do it. Stand on His promises and expect great things.

Peace

There are moments when we experience God's peace, when it's not logical, rational or even emotionally plausible, but it happens.

Pastor Ray Bentley

Focusing on the Positive

"Sing to Him, sing praise to Him;

tell about all the wonderful things He has done."

Psalm 105:2

Jealousy

This one is good to remember... being a mom, a wife.. just a person in general.. not to be jealous of others...

"Wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind." James 3:16

slow to anger...abounding in love

"You, O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God,

slow to anger,

abounding in love and faithfulness."

Psalm 86:15

Lord, help me to be these things as a parent to my precious children...

help me to be...

COMPASSIONATE

GRACIOUS

SLOW TO ANGER

ABOUNDING IN LOVE

and

FAITHFUL.

Keep You from Harm

"... the Lord will keep you from all harm."

Psalm 121:7