"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. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."
No matter what sort of predicament you are in, or what sort of decisions you are making, you can find an answer in this scripture. God says to you here that he cares enough about you as an individual to plan out your entire future in detail according to your best interests. All you have to do is knock, and he will open the door. If you call upon the Lord and pray to him, he will surely answer. Seek him with a pure heart, and he will reveal the treasures he has in store for you. Be persistent. Moses and the Israelites roamed the desert for forty years before God led them into the promised land. However, he won't always answer in the exact form you expect. Watch for him, for he will answer you in divine appointment. When you do receive his answer, do not fail to give him the praise due him. Our mission in life is to glorify God with everything we have: our words in praise and our actions in examples. Our God is an awesome God! His thoughts toward us are as numerous a! s the sands on the beach. Praise him!
Extra time in the Word, Ephesians 6
http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?Ephesians+6
Hebrews 4:13
"Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account."
When you read this scripture, doesn't it make you want to live a Godly life? If we kept this scripture in front of us at all times as a reminder, we probably would not do some of the things we do since we will have to give an account of everything. We can have no secrets from God. Even when we are not aware of His presence, He is still there. We can take comfort in knowing that God knows about all the times we have been done wrong by someone, even if no one else is aware of it. It is also wonderful to know that He knows all about us and even if he doesn't love the sin He still loves us no matter what. Matthew 28:20 "I am with you always, even to the end of the world."
Extra time in the Word, Hebrews 4
http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?Hebrews+4
Jeremiah 31:3
"The Lord appeared to us in the past, saying: " I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness"
Have you ever seen Christians on the news perhaps trying to witness to others? It shows them getting in other peoples faces and telling them that they are going to hell if they do not repent? They come across as if they are angry at these people. Do you think that is going to want to make unbelievers come to know the Lord? I would think that they had the attitude of being better than me and with their nasty attitude I would not even be open to what they had to say. The bible says God is love, he hung out with the prostitutes and the adulterers it never said he got in their face and screamed at them with condemnation. I wonder if those same people would be open to someone sharing Gods love with them, maybe by quoting John 10:7-10. You can tell them that God has an awesome plan for their life according to Jeremiah 29:11 or by telling them how God gives us joy in Luke 2:10 and peace in Philippians 4:7, and hope in Romans 15:4, and strength in Isaiah 40:29, and wisdom Ecclesiastes 2:26, and success and prosperity in Joshua 1:8, and the desires of your heart in Mark 11:24, etc. I think you can see what I am getting at and what a difference it would make to share Gods love, after all that is why it is called GOOD NEWS!
Extra time in the Word, Hebrews 4
http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?Hebrews+4
Heb 13:4
�Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral.�
This scripture is very clear about staying pure sexually. Do not be fooledinto thinking that you can only sleep around once and get away with it. If you are single you need to keep yourself pure until you get married. The world says its ok as long as you love the other person, but Gods Word says something entirely different. Remember, God has a plan for your life and He knows what is best for all of us. The devil wants you to sell yourself short and give in. Do not give in to peer pressure. If someone is pressuring you to have sex and telling you that it is ok and you are a prude if you don't, then do not date that person, because they do not have your best interests at heart. If someone tells you that they love you so much that they can't wait, know that they are giving you the worlds biggest line. Love is not selfish and would never do something to hurt someone. If someone really loves you, then they will help keep you from sin.
Extra time in the Word, Hebrews 13
http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?Hebrews+13
Amy, 17, Louisiana
Isaiah 40:8
"The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever."
This verse is so true! A lot of people in the world go throughout life relying on what other people say or do. They believe that the its important what others think about them or say about them. This verse says it all. It doesn't matter what your best friend or what anybody else says.....all that matters is what God's word says. Friends come and go and people move away, but God is always there! Whenever you need someone to talk to, just rely on him, God told us that he would never leave us or forsake us. He is always there with you in whatever you do! Everything you need to know about life and relationships can be found in the bible!! It's as simple as that! So next time you need answers or you need to talk to someone, turn your eyes on him, his word is always there and is full of answers to life's problems!!
Extra time in the Word, Isaiah 40
http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?Isaiah+40
Ps 118:29
�Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.�
Lets face it...we all have hard days and some of those days even turn into weeks. Isn't it wonderful to know that our God is good and that his love endures forever. We don't have to worry about God's love ever running out.God's love doesn't stop when we hit our 100th sin, when our grades are bad.God's love will never run out! We all need to be reminded from time to time that God loves us. Sometimes we are so hard on ourselves and actually get to thinking that there is no way that God could keep on loving us after all the bad things you have been doing...NOT TRUE. The Bible tells us that God hates the sin but loves the sinner. Take a few minutes today in your prayer time and thank God for loving you, even in the times when you were not so loveable.
Extra time in the Word, Psalm 118
http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?Psalm+118
Written by Kate Siscoe
Philippians 4:11b-12
"I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation."
"I am content in my current circumstances, because by embracing hardships and trials, I experience Christ's hope, peace, and strength. Without stress, there would be no need for God. I depend on Jesus to meet my needs daily, because someday, when I receive my heavenly reward, it will have been worth the pain and suffering I experienced for His sake. He loves m and will protect me all my life (Psalm 91:11). He will always be with me (Matthew 28:20, Hebrews 13:5b). Jesus takes my troubles and burdens and replaces them with peace and rest (Matthew 11:28) He forgives me and never stops loving me (Psalm 103:11-12). Thank you, Jesus. I love you." --My entry in my journal a few days ago. I thought I should share what the Lord has taught me in the past few weeks. He loves you so much!!!
Extra time in the Word, Philippians 4
http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?Philippians+4
This was written by a student
2 Thessalonians 2:16-17
"May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by His grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word."
Being real is one of the hardest things that a person can do. What does it mean to be real? Am I just making up some mumbo-jumbo? I really don't know. What I do know is that I need to try my hardest because of God. It is the least I can do. It is good and just to give praise to the God who gave me life. It is righteous and just to give praise to the God who loved me, forgave me, had mercy on me, and claimed me His own. It is right for me to dedicate all that I do to the glory of God. So, what is my motive? Why do I go to school? Why do I do my work? I do these things because I want to apply myself, discipline myself for the benefit of the Kingdom of God and the Body of Christ, also known as the Church. How can I help God's Kingdom progress? I can live in such a way as to think upon the "real" issues. These issues are the spiritual issues, the issues of the heart.
I believe God is going to provide me with everything that I need. Why wouldn't He? Sometimes I get so caught up with how I am going to get into college that I don't realize that God has a plan. God will make a way. That is why I should do my best for the benefit of the Kingdom and the glory of God.
It is not about me and where I am going to be in the next 10+ years. It is about where WE are going to be after this world. No, it is about WHO we will be with after this world.
Extra time in the Word, 2 Thessalonians 2
http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?2+Thessalonians+2
Written by Toby of Stettler, Alberta, Canada
2 Corinthians 12:7-10
�To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that in Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.�
God's will....sometimes it requires a lot from us, giving up ourselves to the service of the Lord, and only focusing on Him. I have recently dealt with this issue, I wanted something, but God had different plans for me. Although I thought that my way was better, I realized after a while of thinking on it that He has a purpose for His decision, and I must be patient to see the reason of His choice. God will make everything turn out ok, but we must trust Him to do how He sees fit, even if we can't see the reason. God asks very little of us, but He wants His will to be carried out without whining and complaining. God wants us to choose what He wants and sees fit, not what we want. If we listen to His will rather than our own, we are avoiding a major disaster down the road.
DC Talk sings this one song called 'My Will', it's a great song, the words are a message that should be carved on every Christian's heart when they give themselves to Christ. One verse in the song is this, "Complexity haunts me for I am two men/ Entrenched in a battle that I'll never win/ My discipline fails me my knowledge it fools me/ But You are my shelter all the strength that I need." If we give in to our own will, and not God's, it can really screw us up. Things can go wrong, you feel awful, and you can grow apart from God, not healthy at all! But if we listen to God and do what He tells us to do, things will work out for the best, even if it does not seem so at the time. The last verse of 'My Will' goes like this, "I'm learning to give up the rights to myself/ The bits and the pieces I've gathered as wealth/ Can never compare to the joy that You bring me/ The peace that you showed me/ Is the strength I need." God will reward us richly if we do what He commands, and as dc Talk put it the joy and peace brought by Him is abundant, or as the master card commercial would put it "priceless."
Extra time in the Word, 2 Corinthians 12
http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?2+Corinthians+12
Written by Stephanie , 16, Delaware
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."
At this time of year many people focus on the buying and the money and fail to think of the many people who do not get anything for Christmas or don't have family to share it with,food, and homes. People get so wrapped up in what they want(with the lists and everything) and the money that they spend on everyone that if someone asks them to donate a gift to a needy child or some can goods for a Christmas dinner for a family who without that will have none , they grumble and complain and think they have to give or they will look bad. But the main idea is to give cheerfully even if you only have $5 or 1 can good if you give cheerfully then that's all that matters. Because God loves a cheerful giver, not one that grumbles and gives to saves their reputation. Just next time you go shopping or someone asks you to donate , give cheerfully and you will be blessed. Merry Christmas!!
Extra time in the Word, 2 Corinthians 9
http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?2+Corinthians+9
Colossians 3:10-11
�You have begun to live the new life, in which you are being made new and are becoming like the One who made you. This new life brings you the true knowledge of God. In the new life there is no difference between Greeks and Jews or those who are foreigners, or Scythians. There is no difference between slaves and free people. But Christ is in all believers, and Christ is all that is important.�
When God looks at us, He sees us as His children, who He made in His image and He sees us as who has been made perfect through the One who is perfect - Jesus. Do not allow anyone to tell you that you are not smart enough, good looking enough, thin enough, Godly enough, successful enough, wealthy enough, or etc. Know who you are in Christ and do not believe the lies that Satan tries to throw your way. Matthew 10:29-31" Two sparrows cost only a penny, but not even one of them can die without your Father's knowing it. God even knows how many hairs are on your head. So don't be afraid. You are worth much more than many sparrows." I Peter 2:9 says "You are a chosen people, royal priests, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession. You were chosen to tell about the wonderful acts of God, who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light."
Extra time in the Word, Colossians 3
http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?Colossians+3