Author: Bill

Jer 17:14 Heal me, O Lord, & I shall be healed; save me, & I shall be saved, for you are my praise. Psalm 30:2 O LORD my God, I cried to You for help, & You healed me. Psalm 106:47 Save us, O LORD our God, & gather us from among the heathen, to give thanks unto thy holy name, & to triumph in thy praise. 1 Chronicles 16:35 Then cry out: ‘Save us, O God of our salvation; gather & deliver us from the nations, that we may give thanks to Your holy name, that we may glory in Your praise. — what does it mean to glorify & praise God? This leads us to examine our daily intent, “Do we do what we do to please God or man? — John 12:43 …for they loved glory from men rather than glory from God. — Jer9:23-24This is what the LORD says: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, nor the strong man in his strength, nor the wealthy man in his riches. But let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands & knows Me, that I am the LORD, who exercises loving devotion, justice & righteousness on the earth, for I delight in these things,” declares the LORD. — He really did create us for a relationship with Him! This is accomplished thru our praise & with this praise comes triumph! With triumph comes glory! Now that is worth boasting about! Love Mel

Mark 4:18-19 Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; but the WORRIES of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth & the desires for other things come in & choke the word, making it unfruitful. Luke 21:34 Watch out! Don’t let your hearts be dulled by carousing & drunkenness, & by the worries of this life. Don’t let that day catch you unaware! — Don’t worry! 1Peter 5:7 Cast all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you! Prov 12:25 Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad. Psalm 55:22 Cast your burden on the Lord, & he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved. — Just Believe! Love Mel

Psalm 46:1 God is our refuge & strength, a very present help in trouble. Psalm 9:9 The LORD is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. Psalm 145:18
The LORD is near to all who call on Him, to all who call out to Him in truth. — What is truth to God? — John 14:6 Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. — God is Truth! So truth must mean a lot to us, if He means a lot to us, since they are one & the same! This is the very place we can find refuge! Are you willing to give up truth or even part of it for the ways of this world? Or will you turn from the world & find refuge in Him? Love Mel

Eph 6:12 For our struggle is not against flesh & blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world & against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 1 Cor 9:24-26 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. — We are to fight this battle as though we have won! Our best weapon is prayer! — 1 Thes 5:17 Pray without ceasing. Eph 6:18 Praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer & supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints Hebr 12:28 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence & godly fear:— It is thru His grace that we find where our prayer service to God moves us closer ego receiving the Kingdom! Love Mel

Zech 9:9 Rejoice greatly, daughter of Zion. Shout for joy, daughter of Jerusalem, for your king is coming, just & victorious, humble, & riding on a donkey.” Matt 21:5 Say to the daughter of Zion, ‘See, your King comes to you, gentle & riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. John 12:15 Do not be afraid, O daughter of Zion. See, your King is coming, seated on the colt of a donkey. Hosea 1:7 Yet I will have compassion on the house of Judah, & I will deliver them; not by bow or sword or war, not by horses & cavalry, but by the LORD their God. Matt 5:44-46 I tell you, love your enemies & pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes His sun to rise on the evil & the good, & sends rain on the righteous & the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? —So many predictions in the Old Testament showing our true King of Kings, with a humble heart willing to ride into His destiny on a donkey! Our God overcomes evil & violence, killing & war, not by responding in the way of man, but by giving up violence; not trying to dominate, but with a willingness to love in response to the enemy. He states, “when I am lifted up” on the cross, “I will draw all people to myself” through the way of love. This is a compassion that surpasses all our understanding! That is why loving our enemy, & keeping a humbled heart is the way to true victory in this world. Love Mel