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In this beautiful psalm of comfort, the psalmist points out three faith actions and their sweet rewards: trusting in the Lord fosters security; delighting in the Lord leads to deep satisfaction; and committing your way to him builds a pure life that shines like a long-awaited dawn. Commit to the Lord in these things, and your security, your desires, and your testimony will increasingly align with Him. No matter what life throws at you, He'll satisfy your needs and your actions and attitudes will glow with His truth.

Deborah and Barak's ancient song gives all the glory to God in a time of national revival and victory; it proclaims the sovereignty of God over all rulers of earth. Notice too: "when the princes in Israel take the lead and the people willingly offer themselves..." - what a beautiful model of servant leadership and harmonious submission. One that we can apply in the Church today.

"The spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me", prophesies Isaiah of the coming Christ. The works Isaiah lists are the ministry of God through his grace throughout the ages - release from spiritual poverty, blindness, bondage. We sing this primarily of our Lord Jesus and the redeeming work He's done in us. But let's also sing it as a reminder that, via the priesthood of believers and because of the consistency of God's character, it's become our message as well. Let those who are in the Messiah proclaim His freedom to those who seek Him.

Psalm 119 exalts in the beauty and protection to be found in God's word and His laws. This section, which continues to verse 96, praises God's faithfulness demonstrated in his unchanging, eternal word. We also see God's sovereignty - for "all things serve you" - an acknowledgement that despite what the situation, God is ultimately in control. Our hearts can rest, like David's, in ultimate submission expressed in verse 94 - "save me, for I am yours".

Paul links our newness in Christ to our ministry as His ambassadors - sharing the perfect hope of reconciliation with God. Each of us is not only a recipient, but also a messenger to the world and to one another. Paul gives a condensed salvation message, explaining how this can be: "God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God." Be personally reconciled to God every day, and then spread that glorious hope to the world!

Paul lays out five very important gifts that God gives to his people - to all of us, for the building up of his Church. We're to be serving him by building up our brothers in unity in the faith. And as we become mature, His Church will more and more reflect the glorious "fulness of Christ."

As our celebration of resurrection Sunday comes and goes, let's never let go of the amazement and wonder that must have been going through the women's minds at what they saw and heard at Jesus' tomb: an angel, who went on to explain to them that Jesus has risen from the dead! The foundation of our faith, and the greatest blessing of all ages, is in Christ's resurrection power. And it's worth remembering all throughout the year as we take joy in Him!

Paul starts with the rhetorical question, "who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good?" It may seem that we could answer, "many could," but if we truly set apart Christ as Lord, then even Satan and all his attacks can't harm us! When we set our eyes on the unmovable, infallable Christ, who loves us eternally, then truly we have a great hope, one that is likely to arouse questions and probing - and all to God's glory if we are prepared to answer in His power.

The message of the angel to the shepherds, "do not be afraid, I bring you good news," was a message of comfort and hope - the Messiah had been born, and he was given for the salvation of ordinary folks like us! This message of good news has resounded through the centuries, as the theme song of Christ's own Church. Drink deeply of these words this Christmas season!

Imagine the kindness and love God bestowed on us, when Jesus appeared to take away our sin. As these verses remind us, it wasn't any righteous act that we did, but simply God's mercy, that led to salvation. Just think: the salvation task is complete! He saved us through rebirth - a completed act! And now He pours out his Spirit generously through Jesus Christ our Savior. Rejoice in Him through this comforting passage!

Nehemiah 9 describes quite a worship service as the exiles returning to rebuild Jerusalem gave their attention and hearts to God. Culminating their week-long feast to the LORD, they started with a quarter of the day in study of the Law, then confessed their sin and attested to God's glory. The priests told everybody to "stand up and praise the LORD your God." From there we have a resounding list of His creative majesty in general, followed by a remembrance of His goodness towards them in particular. That's a great example we could follow!

Ever have times when you feel like your circumstances are eating you alive? King David sure did! He describes feeling so anxious that if the LORD didn't answer quickly, he'd be as good as dead - and for good reason: his enemies were closing in on him. Yet through all this, David's faith brings hope and expectation that a new day will bring him word of God's unfailing love. And that's a faith we can share in our times of difficulty!

If the whole of Ephesians focuses on the importance of the Body's unity, then Ephesians 4:1,2 is a great passage that tells us how, individually, to promote that unity. It is also the set of characteristics that are worthy of our calling. If with the Spirit's help we practice complete humility, gentleness, and patience, then our differences won't divide us, and the world will see believers with that true hallmark of Christ - an unwavering love for one another.

Here is a touching and compelling account of our Saviour's sacrificial life and death for us, written a full 700 years in advance! The awesome truth is that Jesus came to give his life, a perfect life that deserved no punishment. It was our punishment, the price of our sin, that he took upon himself. The only allowable price - death - was paid on our behalf on the cross. His wounds bought our peace with the Father and with our risen Savior!

We're reminded of just how secure we are in God's powerful love and justification for His children. How can any adversary stand if God is with us? And who or what could ever separate us from the love of Christ? Paul ends this passage with a crescendo of seven trials we might otherwise fear, culminating with the sword (death). Can any of these things happen to us apart from the love of Christ? The answer is a resounding "no!" We are conquerors through Him who loves us!

What are we to think about Christ's death and resurrection for our sins? Paul puts it directly: the fact that Christ took the drastic measure of dying for all must mean then that all had died - that Christ died in our place. And Christ's resurrection power provides more than a mere return to life; He gives us something to live for instead of self - we live for Him! This is glorious, and we can look at everything in a new way. In fact, anyone who is in Christ is a new creation!

Jesus' presence in our lives leads to a profound peace - a calmness that transcends understanding. That peace is especially important since we are one body in Him. And when his word dwells richly in us, we see it reflected in loving actions to that body- teaching, warning when necessary, and worshipping the Lord in song. When He dwells in us to that extent, surely whetever we do - word or deed - all will be to His praise and glory, with thanksgiving.

Praise be to the LORD, for he has heard my cry for mercy." This psalm is one of peace, resolution, trust in God. We can certainly praise Him for other reasons - for who he is, for His mighty acts in general. But as you sing this song, dwell a little longer on the "praise be to the LORD," and contemplate how He has answered your calls for mercy - then join with the psalmist and say, "my heart leaps for joy!"

Isaiah's original wording implies that everybody should indeed know, and have heard, of the majesty of the LORD! And what a wonderful message - because God is the very ultimate in unfailing strength, He has it to offer to us who are weak and tired. Do you trust in the vigor of youth, or are you discouraged because it seems to have left you? We're reminded that our source of strength from God is far superior - it'll never fail!

Jesus commands us to love each other. Here and in many other passages, Jesus tells us what this looks like: elsewhere we read that we are to love not as the world loves; to love all people, not just our friends; to love the person in need; and that love fulfills the old testament law and commandments - and it's what sets apart us as His. Here Jesus spells out the extent of such love: we should love as He loved us. That's the greatest love of all - that one would lay down his life for his friends. Jesus showed us the way, and under the power of the Holy Spirit we too can love others sacrificially and completely.

The "great commission" actually starts with verse 18, where Jesus tells his disciples that he has all authority in heaven and earth. 19 starts with a "therefore" - because of Jesus' authority, we therefore are commanded to make disciples of all nations - baptizing, teaching the doctrine of the trinity, and all other things that Jesus showed us in His life and teaching. It's exciting to remember that He will be with us always, to the very end of the age. Christ's enabling power and his loving presence will never leave us. Let's follow His command and live in His power!

The Ten Commandments are an important part of our faith. Though we live in an age of Christ's grace, Christ emphasized that He came not to destroy the old law, but to fulfill it. The commandments form the first coded "law" - a set of values explaining just who God is and what He expects of us. Note: this song is from the King James Version

God's laws - his statutes and precepts and commands - are wonderful! His word lets us know Him, and so it gives freedom, life, and light. How eagerly we should long for God's word - the Psalmist goes as far as to say "I open my mouth and pant, longing for your commands." Laws, commands, and limits are not a popular subject these days, but how important they are - they show us God's character and His love for us, and they prompt us to live in His light.

When Paul says "do not be anxious about anything," he's not just saying, "don't worry, be happy," or "what, me worry?" This is no empty promise, but the secret to a peace so powerful it will guard our hearts and minds against any circumstances. What do we need to do? Practice placing our trust in God, presenting our requests to Him and then-with thanksgiving-trust Him for the results. Whenever we feel anxious, it should be a reminder to exercise verse 6, and place our cares into God's loving hands.

Paul presents a "hall of faith" in Hebrews chapter 11. His purpose? We should see from this that there's a great cloud of witnesses (examples of) how the life of faith can be run. These people persevered by casting aside all hindrances, looking to the reward during their trials. And we should look to the ultimate example, the author and perfecter of the life of faith, our Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul has just finished describing the awesome supremacy of God - and His mercy because we can be forgiven and may know Him. In the light of this mercy towards us, our best choice in life is to offer our entire selves as a sacrifice to God. Verse 2 describes how: to be transformed by the renewing of our minds, as we submit to the Holy Spirit. Then we can truly glorify Him by demonstrating His good, pleasing, and perfect will.

David cries out in exultation - give thanks to the Lord, call on His name. We are to make known among all peoples what he has done! We rejoice with David and follow his advice to "sing to Him, sing praise to Him"

We can respond to God's claim on our lives (it is he who made us and we are his), with joyful, ecstatic praise and adulation! This psalm reminds us of four praise acts - Shout for joy, worship with gladness, come before him, and know that he is God.

Paul illustrates the awesome position, power, and knowledge of God. We are so blessed to know the one from whom, through whom, and to whom are all things.

"To us a child is born, to us a son is given..." It's a frequently repeated passage during the Christmas season. This joyful anticipation of Christ is a great reminder both of prophesy past, and the supremacy of Christ in the present and future as well.

John's prophetic vision of all sorts of heavenly beings giving praise to God and Jesus (the Lamb) is immense - thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand - numbers too large to visualize, all singing praise to His glory. This passage helps us remember the glory due Jesus' name.

The apostle John so vibrantly describes why he believes - he was there, witness to the Word of life in the flesh as Jesus. We sing this with the same conviction, because we have seen him at work in our lives.

Jesus said it first - the spirit of unity and love is what marks us as believers. Here Paul offers a prayer and a blessing that we take to heart, that the God of encouragement will give us that spirit as we follow Christ Jesus.

Wow! We may say, "I'd rather be a lowly doorkeeper in the house of my God, than dwell (presumably richly) in the tents of the wicked." Or prefer to taste a single day with God's presence rather than a thousand elsewhere! The Psalms and Proverbs tell us why we may count this as true: the wicked may seem to prosper, but they live with internal strife, uneasiness, and adversity. That life is no match for the "sun and shield" protection and embrace of the Lord Most High!

This long passage, a "ballad" of Christ's sacrificial journey from Heaven to the cross for our sake, sums up his supremacy and our need to imitate his humility. What an uplifting look at our Lord and master, the one to whom every knee will bow, and every tongue will confess.

Paul's famous exhortation to correctly handle the word of truth: We are like artisans, who must become intimately familiar with the material that is our occupation. As Christians our occupation is to correctly handle and apply God's word.

Paul urges us to set our minds on things above because we've been raised with Christ - raised to heavenly treasures, not the old decaying earthly things: "for you've died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God." To think on anything less shortchanges ourselves and our relationship with God. This song emphasizes the victory and excitement that should accompany our commitment!

It's so important to remember that, as Christians, our sins have been hung on the cross through Christ. Not only our sins, but our old sin nature is, as far as our relationship with God is concerned, dead. To live the victorious Christian life, we must now relinquish our mastery of our own selves. We joyfully give that to Christ, so that He may live through us!

Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, pure, lovely, of good report, virtuous, or praiseworthy - these are the things that should fill our thoughts.

This is a great passage for the Thanksgiving season, or any time. We're encouraged to continue In Christ Jesus, rooted and built up in him, and overflowing with thankfulness.

Be joyful always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances" - this Is God's will for us in Christ Jesus. This passage Is a very important reminder that thankfulness, joy, and prayer are expected and natural for The Christian at all times - regardless of our circumstances!

This is the passage that inspired this ministry, and remains its central theme. We memorize scripture because it prepares us, protects us from sins of ignorance - with our lips we retell the story to glorify God and refresh our minds.

Paul's statement that "I can do everything through him who gives me strength" is so important, and so often misunderstood unless we also delve into the context of verse 12. Here he confirms the fact that he - and we o can be placed in any circumstances and still receive the strength needed to do God's will.

Just as children adore their parents and desire to be just like them, it's natural for us when we have a healthy relationship with Christ, to become imitators of God.