Rest in the Bible

  "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, 'Give me a drink,' you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water. " (John 4:10)  The woman said to him, "I know that Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ). When he comes, he will tell us all things." Jesus said to her, I who speak to you am he." (John 4:25,26)  So the woman left her water jar and went away into town and said to the people, "Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ?"(John 4:29)  They said to the woman, "It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is indeed the Savior of the world." (John 4:42)  The Samaritan woman did not realize at first what a great Gift was speaking to her. She didn’t know who Jesus was—the very Source of living water. However, she did know that the Messiah was coming; she had hope and was waiting for Him....

"And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches. Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to fall, and I am not indignant? If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness." (2 Corinthians 11:28-30) Even Paul struggled with daily pressure and anxiety for all the churches. I can feel how deeply he thought of them, prayed for them, and poured his heart out for them. He used his anxiety for the glory of God; he boasted of his weakness and let God be God in all things. I am struggling with daily pressure, too—anxiety, grief, and fear regarding our churches, my children, and this new season of life. Lord, take my anxiety and turn it into prayer. Make it an instrument for glorifying You. Let us see who You truly are!   

Truly I tell you, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God who will not receive many times more in this time, and in the age to come, eternal life. (Luke 18:29–30) Love does not insist on its own way. (1 Corinthians 13:5) Self-sacrifice is different from being selfless. It takes strength to stand as oneself, and even more courage to give up oneself—our own plans, preferences, and familiar things, including family and friends. That is true love toward the one I love. ❤️

 "Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.... For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God . By their approval of this service, they will glorify God because of your submission that comes from your confession of the gospel of Christ, and the generosity of your contribution for them and for all others, while they long for you and pray for you, because of the surpassing grace of God upon you. Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!   (2 Corinthians 9:7,8,11-15)   Lord, thank you for surrounding me with your surpassing grace and your inexpressible gift. Take away our grief and our heavy hearts. Help us be grateful for all the years you have given us. Through t...

  Habakkuk 2:14 (KJV) “For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.” Ephesians 3:18–19 (ESV) “may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.” Prayer Lord God, I want to know You. Help us understand Your thoughts that are far beyond our thoughts. Day by day, fill my hearts with the knowledge of Your glory.  Let it overflow in our lives. Give us strength to know the breadth and length and height and depth of Christ’s love. Even though it is greater than our knowledge, draw us deeper into that love. Fill us with all Your fullness. Let me be immersed in the vast sea of Your presence and glory.

“Jethro said, ‘Blessed be the LORD, who has delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians and out of the hand of Pharaoh and has delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyptians. Now I know that the LORD is greater than all gods, because in this affair they dealt arrogantly with the people .’” (Exodus 18:10-11) When Moses met his father-in-law, he shared everything that had happened to Israel and to himself: the ten plagues, the parting of the Red Sea, the pillars of cloud and fire, and all the miracles. After hearing this testimony, Jethro could not deny that God is greater than all other gods. Our God delivers the weak and the humble, yet He humbles those who walk in arrogance. Lord, let me share what You have done for Your people and for me today. Let me proclaim how You deliver all those who need You and all those who follow You with faith. Amen.

"He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee. So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body, we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight. Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lor d." (2 Corinthians 5:5-8) To return home after being away, we must choose the right directions, step by step. Just as we cannot reach Patten without first passing through Bangor from Portland, the way we live today determines how we will face the journey to our heavenly home with God. The Holy Spirit has been given to us as a "guarantee"—a divine assurance to guide us toward our final destination. Because of this, we can have great courage. Without the Holy Spirit, I would have no strength; I could not walk this unknown and insecure journey on my own. Just as children simply trust and follow their parents' directions for going back ...