...the blessed hope--the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. Titus 2:11-13 Thankful to God for His grace to pursue Him & live for Him!

...and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope...

For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions...

Wanting to be an ambassador who not only carries the Message of Christ, but increasingly to be "evidence" of His real, life-changing power & grace! 2Cor 5:14-21

Favorite 'perspective passage': Isaiah 6:1-9 God: awesome holiness & power; man in his right place; God's forgiveness, call, sending; man's real significance!

Perspective cont'd: what kind of love undergirds? John 3:16-17 & 10:1-18 & chp14. Guidance? His Presence: Matt28:19-20 // Word: Psalm19, 2Tim3:14-17, 2Pet1:3-4

Perspective cont'd: our lives among the billions--Psalm 139, Matthew 6 & 18:1-14...His Sovereign care over all His own, even the littlest...me: secure in Him!

Perspective cont'd: back to our day...seeing the int'l news: Jeremiah 10, Psalm 2, Daniel 3...despite the chaos-->He is still the Sovereign King. Me=relief!

Favorite 'perspective passage': Isaiah 6:1-9 God: awesome holiness & power; man in his right place; God's forgiveness, call, sending; man's real significance!

Perspective cont'd: purpose? Matt5:13-16 & 28:18-20, 2Cor5:14-21...1Cor10:31 living for His glory & enjoying the hope, help and blessing of walking with God!

Perspective cont'd: what kind of love undergirds? John 3:16-17 & 10:1-18 & chp14. Guidance? His Presence: Matt28:19-20 // Word: Psalm19, 2Tim3:14-17, 2Pet1:3-4

Perspective cont'd: our lives among the billions--Psalm 139, Matthew 6 & 18:1-14...His Sovereign care over all His own, even the littlest...me: secure in Him!

Perspective cont'd: back to our day...seeing the int'l news: Jeremiah 10, Psalm 2, Daniel 3...despite the chaos-->He is still the Sovereign King. Me=relief!

Perspective for each day: Isaiah40 to draw me to the ends of the universe: God's power, bigness, transcendence--all awe, fear, glory to Him!

"...moreover, that every man who eats and drinks sees good in all his labor--it is the gift of God." Eccl 3:12-13 Practical wisdom: content IN & thanks TO God!

"I know that there is nothing better for them (man) to rejoice and to do good in one's lifetime..."

This is your due (awe, worship). Among all the wise men of the nations and in all their kingdoms, there is none like You! Jeremiah 10:6-7

No one is like You, O LORD; You are great and Your Name is mighty in ppower. Who should not revere (fear, awe) You, O King of the nations?

Every word of God is tested (proven, sure, right); He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him. Prov30:5

The fear of man ("what will people say...?") brings a snare (trap), but he who trusts in the LORD (flowing from fear/awe of God) will be exalted. Prov29:25

Correct your son, and he will give you comfort; he will also delight your soul. Prov29:17

The rod and reproof give wisdom, but a child who gets his own way brings shame to his mother. Prov29:15

we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 2Corinthians 5:17-21 The love of Christ compels us (v14) to pursue Him & bring His Message!

and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us;

...and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, namely, that God was, in Christ, reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them,

Now all these things (becoming a new creation through belief in Jesus the Messiah) are from God who reconciled us to Himself through Christ (Jesus)...

Don't be jealous of sinners, instead always fear the LORD. Proverbs 23:17

"To love God is to fear Him and to live constantly in awe of Him, which is undiluted reverence to a perfect, mighty and righteous God." Robertson BforPeace

...that Jesus Christ (Messiah) is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:9-11 All will bow & confess: critical question->when? Ater death=too late

...of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess...

God also has highly exalted Him (Jesus) and given Him the Name which is above every name, that at the Name of Jesus every knee should bow (submission, awe)...

John19:38-40 Nicodemus understands. Joins another Sanhedrin member (2 witnesses from the Council) to gather Jesus' body. Enjoying the many testimonies in John.

John3: chief rabbi Nicodemus misses point--expected Messiah (ie "Righteous Branch" Jer23) had to suffer 1st (atoning sacrifice for sins--Isaiah52:13-53:12).

"Do I not fill the heavens and the earth?" declares the LORD. Jeremiah 29:23-24 Good reminder: He is Sovereign & knows all (tho' this from a judgment passage).

"Am I a God who is near," declares the LORD, "and not a God far off? Can a man hide himself in hiding places so I do not see him?" declares the LORD.

Do you see a man who is hasty in his words? There is more hope for a fool than for him. Prov29:20 Not a call to be "P.C."--but to self-control (Jam3; Eph4:29).

How blessed is the man who fears (God) always, but he who hardens his heart (no humility before God, no repentance nor change) will find calamity. Prov28:14

He who conceals his transgressions (sins) will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes (stops doing) them will find compassion. Prov28:13 see Eph4:22-24

Evil men do not understand justice, but those who seek the LORD understand all things. Prov28:5 Knowing God makes sense of all life & eternity (see Prov1:7)!

So when (Jesus) said, "I am He," they (soldiers who came to arrest Him) drew back and fell to the ground. John 18:6 Jesus bowls them over with mere words!

Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. Prov27:17 Thankful for the godly, faithful friends over the years--for their role in 'sharpening' me!

...for I delight in these things," declares the LORD. Jeremiah 9:23-24 Praying for & pursuing a deeper knowledge of & love for & obedience to the LORD!

...boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD who excercises lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on the earth...

Thus says the LORD, "Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, nor the mighty man boast of his might, nor a rich man of his riches, but let him who boasts ...

When overwhelmed or things aren't making sense, join Job in pure trust in God: "I know You can do all things and no purpose of Yours can be thwarted." Job 42:1

Ps103:12 ...as far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.

Ps103:10b-11 ...or repay us according to our iniquities (sins). For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His love for those who fear Him.

Ps103:9-10a He will not always accuse, nor will He harbor His anger forever; He does not treat us as our sins deserve (mercy)...

Psalm 103:8 The LORD is compassionate and gracious (giving what we don't deserve), slow to anger, abounding in love.

"He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap; He seats them with princes and has them inherit a throne of honor." v8 Trust God!

1Samuel 2:1-10 Hannah's praise to God--a refreshing reminder to us! "There is no Rock like our God..."

Prv 23:15-16 My son (& daughter), if your heart is wise, my own heart also will be glad; and my inmost being will rejoice when your lips speak what is right.

Jesus just before crucifixion: "In the world you have tribulation (persecution for following Him), but take courage; I have overcome the world." John16:33

Jn 14:6 Love's foundation--Jesus Himself: "I am the Way, the Truth and the Life; no one comes to the Father but through Me."

Jn 14:1-3 Love's consolation & hope, "...don't be troubled...believe in Me...I go to prepare a place for you...I will come again to get you..."

Jesus: "If you love Me, you will keep (obey) My commandments." Jn 14:15 Love's proof... (a great Sat morning: hearing from & enjoying the LORD Jesus Christ!)

"By this (love between Christ-followers) all men that you are My disciples (followers) if you have love for one another." Jn 13:35 Love's standard & testimony.

Jesus to His followers: "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another." Jn 13:34

...having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end. (An incredible commentary on the love of God in Christ that we so easily pass over!)

John 13:1 Now before the Feast of the Passover, Jesus knowing that His hour had come that He would depart out of this world to the Father...

"...and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?" Jn11:26 THE ALL-CRITICAL question: proving His point--He raised Lazarus!

Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies..." John 11:25

Keeping away from strife is an honor for a man, but any fool will quarrel. Prov20:3 Be a peacemaker in relationships (family, church, work, social, etc)

John 10 The True Shepherd of Israel confronting the "blind" & false shepherds...see esp vv9, 14,17,21,25-30,33,39 Jesus claims to give eternal life & to be God.

Turn to Me and be saved, all the ends of the earth; for I am God and there is no other...to Me every knee will bow, every tongue swear allegiance. Is45:22-23

...there is no other God besides Me, a righteous God and a Savior; there is none except Me. Isaiah 45:21 Jesus claimed to be the Savior--how can that be? hmmmmm

Listen to counsel and accept discipline that you may be wise the rest of your days. Pr19:20 2 key traits I desire: humility, pursuing growth in godliness!

Discipline your son (& daughter) while there is hope, and do not desire his death. Pr19:18 Start from the beginning--continue all the way thru adolescence!

House and wealth are an inheritance from fathers, but a prudent (wise, common sense) wife is from the LORD. Pr19:14 Praying for Jake to find a wife like Renee!

A man's discretion makes him slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook a transgression. Prov19:11 Not reacting in self-interest-->>self-control, peacemaker

John 9 The simple yet powerful testimony of the blind man (healed by Jesus). The physically blind truly "saw"; the spiritually blind (relig leaders) couldn't.

A man of too many friends comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. Pr18:24 Blessed with deep friends--esp in God's gift of Renee!

He who gives an answer before he hears (all sides), it is folly and shame to him. Pr18:13 see vv13-15,17,21 critical: investigate, listen, choose words wisely!

A fool does not delight in understanding, but only in revealing his own mind. Pr18:2 Do I listen to learn? Do I look only for opp's to grandstand? hmmmm...

He who separates himself seeks his own desire, he quarrels against all sound wisdom. Prov18:1 We need others--help, accountability...but this requires humility!