Matthew 25:44-45 (NLT) "Then they will reply, 'Lord, when did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and not help you?'"And he will answer, 'I tell you the truth, when you refused to help the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were refusing to help me.'"

Now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith — of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire — may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen Him, you love Him; and even though you do not see Him now, you believe in Him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls. — 1 Peter 1:6-9

We also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us. — Romans 5:3-5
  
For Christ himself has brought peace to us. He united Jews and Gentiles into one people when, in his own body on the cross, he broke down the wall of hostility that separated us.  – Ephesians 2: 14  

Psalm 28:9 (NLT) "Save your people! Bless Israel, your special possession. Lead them like a shepherd, and carry them in your arms forever."

Deuteronomy 28:13-14 (MLB) "The LORD will make you the head and not the tail; you shall be moving ever higher up and never lower down when you obey the commandments of the LORD your God, which I am enjoining upon you this day, carefully performing them, never turning to the right or to the left, and never following after other gods to worship them." 

1 Corinthans 12:8 (KJV) "For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;"

Ephesians 1: 4  Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes.  

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 NLT Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.
  

Matthew 24:30 (NLT)"And then at last, the sign that the Son of Man is coming will appear in the heavens, and there will be deep mourning among all the peoples of the earth. And they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

Romans 12:18-19  "If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men. Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, "VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY," says the Lord." 

1 Corinthians 2:9 (AMP) "But just as it is written [in Scripture], "Things which the eye has not seen and the ear has not heard, And which have not entered the heart of man, All that God has prepared for those who love Him [who hold Him in affectionate reverence, who obey Him, and who gratefully recognize the benefits that He has bestowed]."

Colossians 3:12 NLT Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. 

Galatians 3: 2 Let me ask you this one question: Did you receive the Holy Spirit by obeying the law of Moses? Of course not! You received the Spirit because you believed the message you heard about Christ.   

Galatians 2: 20 My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.   
 

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and God of all encouragement, who encourages us in our every affliction, so that we may be able to encourage those who are in any affliction with the encouragement with which we ourselves are encouraged by God. - 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

Zechariah 12:10:
  I will pour out on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the Spirit of grace and of supplication, so that they will look on Me whom they have pierced; and they will mourn for Him, as one mourns for an only son, and they will weep bitterly over Him like the bitter weeping over a firstborn.


Romans 11:26–27
And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: ‘The Deliverer will come from Zion, He will remove ungodliness from Jacob. This is My covenant with them, when I take away their sins.’ 

And I saw heaven opened; and behold, a white horse, and He who sat upon it is called Faithful and True; and in righteousness He judges and wages war. His eyes are a flame of fire, and upon His head are many diadems; and He has a name written upon Him which no one knows except Himself. He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood; and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, were following Him on white horses. — Revelation 19:11-14 

And from His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may smite the nations; and He will rule them with a rod of iron; and He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty. And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, ‘King of Kings, and Lord of Lords.’ 

The Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) follows closely after Rosh Hashanah. We read in Leviticus 23:26-28:

The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, ‘On exactly the tenth day of this seventh month is the Day of Atonement; it shall be a holy convocation for you, and you shall humble your souls and present an offering by fire to the Lord. You shall not do any work on this same day, for it is a day of atonement, to make atonement on your behalf before the Lord your God.’

And Exodus 30:10 says:

And Aaron shall make atonement on its horns once a year; he shall make atonement on it with the blood of the sin offering of atonement once a year throughout your generations. It is most holy to the Lord. 

Psalm 17:3b-5 (NLT) "I am determined not to sin in what I say. I have followed your commands, which keep me from following cruel and evil people. My steps have stayed on your path; I have not wavered from following you."

Jeremiah 9:23-24. Thus says the LORD, "Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches; but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD who exercises lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth; for I delight in these things," declares the LORD.

Proverbs 28: 1  The wicked run away when no one is chasing them, but the godly are as bold as lions. 

Romans 8:26 NLT And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. 

Proverbs 3:11-12 NLT My child, don’t reject the lord ’s discipline, and don’t be upset when he corrects you. For the lord corrects those he loves,

And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others. – 2 Corinthians 9: 8

1 Peter 3:18 NLT Christ suffered for our sins once for all time. He never sinned, but he died for sinners to bring you safely home to God. He suffered physical death, but he was raised to life in the Spirit. 

Acts 16:4-5 (NLT) "Then they went from town to town, instructing the believers to follow the decisions made by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem. So the churches were strengthened in their faith and grew larger every day."

1 John 1:8-9 (NASB) "If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

Hebrews 6:10-11 (NIV) "God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them. We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, so that what you hope for may be fully realized."

Romans 8:26 NLT

And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. 
                 
Spurgeon's Daily Devotional, old fashioned but good. We need more of this.

"Am I a sea, or a whale, that Thou settest a watch over me?"
Job 7:12

This was a strange question for Job to ask of the Lord. He felt himself to be too insignificant to be so strictly watched and chastened, and he hoped that he was not so unruly as to need to be so restrained. The enquiry was natural from one surrounded with such insupportable miseries, but after all, it is capable of a very humbling answer. It is true man is not the sea, but he is even more troublesome and unruly. The sea obediently respects its boundary, and though it be but a belt of sand, it does not overleap the limit. Mighty as it is, it hears the divine hitherto, and when most raging with tempest it respects the word; but self-willed man defies heaven and oppresses earth, neither is there any end to this rebellious rage. The sea, obedient to the moon, ebbs and flows with ceaseless regularity, and thus renders an active as well as a passive obedience; but man, restless beyond his sphere, sleeps within the lines of duty, indolent where he should be active. He will neither come nor go at the divine command, but sullenly prefers to do what he should not, and to leave undone that which is required of him. Every drop in the ocean, every beaded bubble, and every yeasty foam-flake, every shell and pebble, feel the power of law, and yield or move at once. O that our nature were but one thousandth part as much conformed to the will of God! We call the sea fickle and false, but how constant it is! Since our fathers' days, and the old time before them, the sea is where it was, beating on the same cliffs to the same tune; we know where to find it, it forsakes not its bed, and changes not in its ceaseless boom; but where is man-vain, fickle man? Can the wise man guess by what folly he will next be seduced from his obedience? We need more watching than the billowy sea, and are far more rebellious. Lord, rule us for Thine own glory. Amen.

"Encourage him."
Deuteronomy 1:38

God employs His people to encourage one another. He did not say to an angel, "Gabriel, my servant Joshua is about to lead my people into Canaan--go, encourage him." God never works needless miracles; if His purposes can be accomplished by ordinary means, He will not use miraculous agency. Gabriel would not have been half so well fitted for the work as Moses. A brother's sympathy is more precious than an angel's embassy. The angel, swift of wing, had better known the Master's bidding than the people's temper. An angel had never experienced the hardness of the road, nor seen the fiery serpents, nor had he led the stiff-necked multitude in the wilderness as Moses had done. We should be glad that God usually works for man by man. It forms a bond of brotherhood, and being mutually dependent on one another, we are fused more completely into one family. Brethren, take the text as God's message to you. Labour to help others, and especially strive to encourage them. Talk cheerily to the young and anxious enquirer, lovingly try to remove stumblingblocks out of his way. When you find a spark of grace in the heart, kneel down and blow it into a flame. Leave the young believer to discover the roughness of the road by degrees, but tell him of the strength which dwells in God, of the sureness of the promise, and of the charms of communion with Christ. Aim to comfort the sorrowful, and to animate the desponding. Speak a word in season to him that is weary, and encourage those who are fearful to go on their way with gladness. God encourages you by His promises; Christ encourages you as He points to the heaven He has won for you, and the spirit encourages you as He works in you to will and to do of His own will and pleasure. Imitate divine wisdom, and encourage others, according to the word of this evening.

Are We Accountable to God; Is Our Nation Accountable To God?

 Are We Accountable to God; Is Our Nation Accountable To God?

I am asking you in this teaching to reach deep down inside your heart and seek the answers. If you hear from our Father in heaven you will know the correct answers to the questions and the Holy Spirit will strike a chord within you.

Are you accountable to God? Is the nation accountable to God? Is the church accountable to God? Are the appointed Supreme Court justices accountable to God? Were this nation and the justice system founded on biblical principles? Is it worth remembering the Godly foundations upon which America was established?

Soon on July the fourth we will celebrate Independence Day and the above questions should provide food for thought and reflection. At what cost are we able to enjoy this day? Many or most citizens of this nation have forgotten what the real meaning of this holiday is or the cost that was paid and to this day is still being paid for your freedom so you can enjoy what too many is just another holiday off. Do we forget so soon?

The majority of our schools and great learning centers do not teach the real truth anymore that would not be PC (politically correct). They want us to learn the PC version of history and thus our young people heads are filled full of mush. They and the PC media teach us to hate and despise this great country and what this nation really stands for and what our founding fathers wanted for this country and the constitution that was very carefully crafted and paid for with blood. Have we so soon forgotten that? The powers that are in control want this country divided and have to date been successful in doing exactly what they wanted to do. It has been said that a country divided cannot stand and we are a country divided. We are losing our freedoms and don’t even know it.

Am I saying that this nation at its founding was perfect and that this great nation did not as our history proceeds make many moral mistakes? No I am not saying that at all! Along the way we as a nation made many mistakes such as slavery but we tried to correct that and many other moral mistakes that we as a nation made. We as people make mistakes. Is it right for a man to beat his wife and put her in fear of her life? No, it is not alright. Yes this nation is struggling and we have made many mistakes; but it can still be a great nation; we have to get back on track. We as a nation, as a church need to repent and ask God for forgiveness and ask God to bring back the protective hedge over our nation that we lost on 9-11. Our Father sent us many warnings and we ignored them and lost our moral compass. So as to some of the questions above are we responsible for that, is the church responsible, are we as a nation responsible? The answer is yes, we are all responsible and accountable. The church (as a whole, not all) has failed us, not God, it is us the church, it is us as people; it is us as a nation. We have only ourselves to blame. In too many ways the church is divided, too many denominations, division within our own churches, churches by race, church by many man made interpretations, bickering, hate and deceit in the church, too many churches teaching and preaching what man wants and not as the one true gospel (God’s true word) wants us to preach and teach. The church was never meant to operate that way. Most Christians do not even realize that Satan is alive and well in the church, their spiritual eyes have been blinded and they do not see what they should be able to see. The church is full of sin and we as a church need to repent.

God will judge our work (2 Chronicles 19:5-10) NLT

“He appointed judges throughout the nation in all fortified cities, and he gave them these instructions: “Always think carefully before pronouncing judgment. Remember that you do not judge to please people but to please the LORD. He will be with you when you render the verdict in each case that comes before you. Fear the LORD and judge with care, for the LORD our God does not tolerate perverted justice, partiality, or the taking of bribes.” Jehoshaphat appointed some of the Levites and priests and clan leaders in Israel to serve as judges in Jerusalem for cases concerning both the law of the LORD and civil disputes. These were his instructions to them:” You must always act in the fear of the LORD, with integrity and with undivided hearts. Whenever a case comes to you from fellow citizens in an outlying town, whether a murder case or some other violation of God’s instructions, commands, laws, or regulations, you must warn them not to sin against the LORD, so that his anger will not come against you and them. Do this and you will not be guilty.”

How many of our appointed for life judges think about this or have fear of the LORD before they pronounce judgment or make an interpretation of the constitution that is not just and pleasing to the LORD?

Sin has consequences (Ezekiel 18:20) NLT

“The one who sins is the one who dies. The child will not be punished for the parent’s sins, and the parent will not be punished for the child’s sins. Righteous people will be rewarded for their own goodness, and the wicked people will be punished for their own wickedness.” 

God will hold us accountable for our sin (Ezekiel 18:30) NLT

“Therefore, I will judge each of you, O people of Israel, according to your actions, says the Sovereign LORD. Turn from your sins! Don’t let them destroy you!

And I will include verse 31-32 because it is relevant to this teaching and all of us should take it to heart.  The gospel states: “Put all your rebellion behind you, and get for yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. For why should you die, O people of Israel? I don’t want you to die, says the Sovereign LORD. Turn back and live!”

Our LORD loves us and does not want us to die in sin, He wants us to get a new heart and a new Spirit, He wants us to turn back to Him and live.



We are accountable for every word that we speak (Matthew 12:36) NLT

Here the Lord is speaking and He is holding us accountable to the smallest word.

“And I tell you this, that you must give an account on judgment day of every idle word you speak.”

Confronting others with their sins should be done in private (Matthew 18:15) NLT

Here the LORD is again speaking: “If another believer sins against you, go privately and point out the fault. If the other person listens and confesses it, you have won that person back.”

We should hold each other accountable (Luke17:3) NLT 

Our LORD says: “I am warning you! If another believer sins, rebuke him; then if he repents, forgive him.” I will follow up with verse 4 because it is talking about forgiveness here and we all need to read and heed this: “Even if he wrongs you seven times a day and each time turns again and asks forgiveness, forgive him.”

We are accountable for what we believe (John 3:18) NLT

The LORD states: “There is no judgment awaiting those who trust him. But those who do not trust him have already been judged for not believing in the only Son of God.”

To more explain this verse so that we will all understand it I will refer to Matthew Henry’s Commentary in it he states: This denotes more than a reprieve; he is not condemned, that is, he is acquitted; and if he be not condemned he is discharged. Who is he that condemns? It is Christ that died. The cross perhaps lies heavy upon him, but he is saved from the curse: condemned by the world, it may be, but not condemned with the world, Rom. Viii.1. Read here the doom of those that will not believe in Christ: they are condemned already. How great the sin of unbelievers is. They believe not in the name of the only-begotten Son of God, who is infinitely true, and deserves to be believed, infinitely good, and deserves to be embraced. God sent one to save us that was dearest to himself; and shall not he be dearest to us? How great the misery of unbelievers is: they are condemned already, for their own hearts condemn them.  A condemnation grounded upon their former guilt. He is condemned already, because he has not believed. Unbelief is a sin against the remedy (something that corrects or counteracts).

God holds Christians accountable (Romans 14:11-12) NLT

“For the Scriptures say, “As surely as I live, says the LORD, every knee will bow to me and every tongue will confess allegiance to God.” Yes, each of us will have to give a personal account to God.”

Again because this is important I will quote from Matthew Henry’s Commentary it states:

We shall all stand before the judgment- seat of Christ. Christ will be the judge, and before Him we shall stand as persons to be tried. To illustrate this (verse 11), he quotes a passage out of the Old Testament, which speaks of Christ’s universal sovereignty and dominion, and that established with an oath: As I live (saith the Lord), every knee shall bow to me. It is a prophecy, in general, Christ’s dominion. Here is a proof of Christ’s Godhead. Divine honor is due to him, and must be paid. The bowing of the knee to Him, and the confession with the tongue, are but outward expressions of inward adoration and praise. Every knee and every tongue, either freely or by force. All His friends do it freely. Bowing to Him—the understanding bowed to His truths, the will to his laws, the whole man to his authority; and this expressed by the bowing of the knee, the posture of adoration and prayer. Confessing to him--acknowledging His glory, grace, and greatness—acknowledging our own meanness and vileness, confessing our sins to him. All His foes shall be constrained to do it. Hence he concludes in verse 12, Everyone of us shall give account of himself to God.

God will reward Christians for their good deeds (1 Corinthians 3:8) NLT

“The one who plants and the one who waters work as a team with the same purpose. Yet they will be rewarded individually, according to their own hard work.” According to Matthew Henry’s Commentary this means that we are employed by one Master (Jesus Christ) busied in one work, in harmony with one another, however they may be set in opposition to each other by factious party-makers. All the faithful ministers of Christ are one (or should be as one) in the great business and intention of their ministry. All such may expect a glorious recompense of their fidelity, and in proportion to it: Every man should receive his own reward, according to his own labor. Those that work hardest shall fare best. Those that are most faithful shall have the greatest reward. They are labourers with God, fellow-labourers.

God will examine our actions (2 Corinthians 5:10) NLT

“For we must all stand before Christ to be judged. We will each receive whatever we deserve for the good or evil we have done in our bodies.”

Accountability should help others (Galatians 6:1) NLT

“Dear brothers and sisters, if another Christian is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back into the right path.”

This brother and sisters means that we are here taught to deal tenderly with those who are overtaken in a fault, bought to sin by the surprise of temptation. It is one thing to overtake a fault by contrivance and deliberation, and another thing to be overtaken in a fault. Great tenderness should be used. Those who are spiritual must restore such a one with the spirit of meekness; not in wrath and passion, as those who triumph in a brother’s fall. Many needful reproofs lose their efficacy by being given in wrath; but when they are managed with tenderness, and from sincere concern for the welfare of those to whom they are given, they are likely to make a due impression. This is as stated in Mathew Henry’s Commentary.

In closing this teaching I again will refer you to the questions that were stated in the beginning of this lesson. It boils down to yes us as a nation, as a church, as individuals are accountable to God for our actions, our works, and our words as the gospel plainly and clearly points out. Is our nation lost? The answer to that one is no; we are not lost yet. The time is short but there is still time to save this great country of ours. We as a nation and the church must repent; we must get right with God. We must get our moral compass back on track. It can be done; it will not be easy, it will take a lot of work, a lot of praying, praying, and praying. It will take the church teaching the true gospel, learning to work together as a team (as God’s team). The church can no longer stand by the way side and do nothing and believe the misquoted nonsense of separation of church and state that the PC people (that includes some ministers, judges, the congress and senate, the media, the false history of our nation as being taught by our so called higher learning centers, ACLU and others like them and by our own government). The true information is still out there; all you have to do is look for it. It may open your eyes and mind to all the lies that are being taught as fact. The church must get active in who is elected to office; in other words the church must get out and vote. You have no one to blame but yourself when the same people who are messing up this great nation get reelected over and over because you did nothing. Many of us vote or do not vote for a certain person or individual because of what the PC media tells us, sadly we do not ourselves look up that persons record (which is available on the internet) and we do not pray and ask God to help us decide who the right person is or even better another way to get the right advice is to go to the gospel itself! What a novel ideal that is! It could be very simple; if that person or persons running for office voting record are not in line with God’s word than you would know not to vote for or re-elect that person to office. So once again; yes we are responsible and accountable for our actions.  You do not have to agree with me or believe me, check out God’s word for yourself and see what He has to say to you. I am trying to wake you up as to what is going on in the church, in our government, in our schools, our higher learning centers, and in our homes. As it stands we are on the verge of losing many of the freedoms that we now enjoy. The Lord is our only hope and I am praying and calling on you to pray for a spiritual awaking in our church and nation. If we as a nation continue on the course that we are on now we will no longer be celebrating the fourth of July for our freedom but will be seeing the death of freedom and liberty this lifetime. I want you to remember and think on this as you celebrate this holiday. If you as a Christian choose to remain in the dark, uninformed, and ignorance to what is going on in this country, and in our government it will be our own fault that this happened and I for one do not want to see this great nation and the people of this nation loose the freedom and liberty that we now enjoy. The devil comes to kill, steal and destroy! Do not let this happen on our duty watch. We are the keepers of the wall, we are the security, and we are God’s army! Woe to us if this happens on our watch! Our Father has entrusted this nation to us to be good stewards. I for one do not want to see God’s displeasure and to lose it for our children and grandchildren.

 For those of you who live in other nations this same lesson and teaching can be applied to your situation. 

I originally published this in February of 2013 but with what has happened to this nation recently I have been led to republish this. I pray that you have read this and taken it to heart. This nation needs to turn around, we need a spiritual awaking. Wake up brothers and sisters, you are accountable to God, many in the church has turned a blind eye to what is going on, it is time to wake up and be counted!! I for one want to be in the Lord's Book of Life, I for one want to run the race as best as I can so that the Lord will say "well done my son".  

John 7:38 (NLT) "Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, 'Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.'"

Proverbs 13:18 NLT "If you ignore criticism, you will end in poverty and disgrace; if you accept correction, you will be honored."

Ephesians 4:15 NLT "Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church."  

Romans 1:16 NLT For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes—the Jew first and also the Gentile.

Proverbs 24: 14 In the same way, wisdom is sweet to your soul. If you find it, you will have a bright future, and your hopes will not be cut short. 

  Micah 7:18–19 “Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance?  You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy.  You will again have compassion on us; You will tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea.” 

"Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life."  (Revelation 21:27, see also Revelation 3:5, Exodus 32:32, Psalm 139:16)

                  

The LORD directs our steps, so why try to understand everything along the way? – Proverbs 20: 24

Isaiah 12:2 NLT See, God has come to save me. I will trust in him and not be afraid. The lord god is my strength and my song; he has given me victory.” 

1 Corinthians 1:9 (AMP) "God is faithful [He is reliable, trustworthy and ever true to His promise-He can be depended on], and through Him you were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord."    

1 John 4:11-12 NLT Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other. No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us. 

2 Peter 3:9 NLT The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent. 

Today is one of the holiest days of the Jewish year: Rosh HaShanah (Head of the Year)—the beginning of the Jewish year 5776.

 

Since this holy day is considered a Sabbath, no work is done; all over Israel and around the world, the Jewish People are attending services in local synagogues.

 

Biblically, this celebration is known as Yom Teruah (Feast of Trumpets).

 

Last night as the holiday began, selichot (prayers for forgiveness) intensified and this morning the shofar (ram’s horn or trumpet) is being sounded about 100 times, depending upon the community's tradition.

 

It will continue to be sounded throughout this holiday season.

 

“Say to the Israelites: ‘On the first day of the seventh month you are to have a day of sabbath rest, a sacred assembly commemorated with trumpet blasts.  Do no regular work, but present a food offering to the Lord.’”  (Leviticus 23:23–25)

 “Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance?  You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy.  You will again have compassion on us; You will tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea.”  (Micah 7:18–19)

Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life. Proverbs 4:23 NLT

2 Corinthians 10:17-18 NLT As the Scriptures say, “If you want to boast, boast only about the lord .” When people commend themselves, it doesn’t count for much. The important thing is for the Lord to commend them. 

Proverbs 18: 24  There are "friends" who destroy each other, but a real friend sticks closer than a brother. 

Proverbs 11: 25   The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.  

2 Corinthians 5: 10  For we must all stand before Christ to be judged. We will each receive whatever we deserve for the good or evil we have done in this earthly body.  

1 John 3:8 (AMP) "[But] he who commits sin [who practices evildoing] is of the devil [takes his character from the evil one], for the devil has sinned (violated the divine law) from the beginning. The reason the Son of God was made manifest (visible) was to undo (destroy, loosen, and dissolve) the works the devil [has done]"    

I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13 NLT

Matthew 10:7-8 (NLT) "Go and announce to them that the Kingdom of Heaven is near. Heal the sick, raise the dead, cure those with leprosy, and cast out demons. Give as freely as you have received!" 

Proverbs 4: 25 Look straight ahead, and fix your eyes on what lies before you. 

Jeremiah 31:3 NLT Long ago the lord said to Israel: “I have loved you, my people, with an everlasting love. With unfailing love I have drawn you to myself.

1 Thessalonians 5:17 (NLT) "Never stop praying."  

2 Corinthians 3: 2 The only letter of recommendation we need is you yourselves. Your lives are a letter written in our hearts; everyone can read it and recognize our good work among you.  

Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. Romans 12:9-10 NLT

Psalm 28:7-8 (NIV) "The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song. The LORD is the strength of his people, a fortress of salvation for his anointed one."

Psalm 71:2 (NLT) "Save me and rescue me, for you do what is right. Turn your ear to listen to me, and set me free."




2 Corinthians 2: 14 But thank God! He has made us his captives and continues to lead us along in Christ's triumphal procession. Now he uses us to spread the knowledge of Christ everywhere, like a sweet perfume. 







You who love the lord , hate evil! He protects the lives of his godly people and rescues them from the power of the wicked.

Psalms 97:10 NLT

1 Peter 5:8-9 (NASB) "Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world."

Proverbs 2: 2  Tune your ears to wisdom, and concentrate on understanding.  

Psalms 16:11 NLT You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever.

1 Corinthians 15: 58   So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless. 
Deuteronomy 31:6, NIV Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. 

Leviticus 19:18 NLT “Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against a fellow Israelite, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the lord .

Proverbs 15:32 (AMP) "He who refuses and ignores instruction and correction despises himself, but he who heeds reproof gets understanding."

1 Corinthians 15: 19  And if our hope in Christ is only for this life, we are more to be pitied than anyone in the world. 

Romans 14:11 NLT For the Scriptures say, “‘As surely as I live,’ says the lord , ‘every knee will bend to me, and every tongue will declare allegiance to God. ’'

Matthew 11:28 NLT Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.

                 

Psalm 3:8 (NLT)"Victory comes from you, O LORD. May you bless your people."

Luke 11:8-9 (NLT) "But I tell you this-though he won't do it for friendship's sake, if you keep knocking long enough, he will get up and give you whatever you need because of your shameless persistence.  "And so I tell you, keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you." 

1 Corinthians 14: 1  Let love be your highest goal! But you should also desire the special abilities the Spirit gives - especially the ability to prophesy.  

Psalms 46:10 NLT “Be still, and know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation. I will be honored throughout the world.”

Acts 2:17 (NLT)"In the last days,' God says, 'I will pour out my Spirit upon all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your young men will see visions, and your old men will dream dreams."

1 Peter 5:5b (NLT) "And all of you, dress yourselves in humility as you relate to one another, for "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble."  

The LORD will work out his plans for my life - for your faithful love, O LORD, endures forever. Don't abandon me, for you made me.  – Psalms 138: 8  

Work at living in peace with everyone, and work at living a holy life, for those who are not holy will not see the Lord.

Hebrews 12:14 NLT

Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us... — Ephesians 3:20

Since we consider and look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen; for the things that are visible are temporal (brief and fleeting), but the things that are invisible are deathless and everlasting. — 2 Corinthians 4:18

Psalm 139:16-17 (NIV) "your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them!"  

Psalms 119:143 NLT As pressure and stress bear down on me, I find joy in your commands.