Even Though It's Halloween...

1 John 4:18 English Standard Version (ESV)

18 There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.

It's still good to keep a happy face.  You're loved.  Be fearless.

Choose Life

Psalm 139:15-16 New English Translation (NET Bible)

15 my bones were not hidden from you,

when I was made in secret

and sewed together in the depths of the earth.

16 Your eyes saw me when I was inside the womb.

All the days ordained for me

were recorded in your scroll

before one of them came into existence.

Deuteronomy 30:19 English Standard Version (ESV)

19 I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live,

May we think of freedom, not as the right to do as we please, but as the opportunity to do what is right. Peter Marshall

Kyrie Eleison - Chris Tomlin (feat. Matt Maher, Matt Redman & Jason Ingram) 

It's Sunday!

I Love The Lord

Chris Tomlin - He Lives (Lyric Video)

Just A Dose of Cute

Nick Vujicic - "Something More" Music Video

Forgiven

Hebrews 9:22 New English Translation (NET Bible)

22 Indeed according to the law almost everything was purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.

1 Peter 1:18-20 New English Translation (NET Bible)

18 You know that from your empty way of life inherited from your ancestors you were ransomed—not by perishable things like silver or gold, 19 but by precious blood like that of an unblemished and spotless lamb, namely Christ. 20 He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was manifested in these last times for your sake.

Ephesians 2:8-9 New English Translation (NET Bible)

8 For by grace you are saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 it is not from works, so that no one can boast.

“To be a Christian means to forgive the inexcusable because God has forgiven the inexcusable in you.”

C.S. Lewis

1 Timothy 1:15 New English Translation (NET Bible)

15 This saying is trustworthy and deserves full acceptance: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”—and I am the worst of them!

Forgiven - Crowder

Buddy Greene - Bluegrass Moon

Eyes On God

Psalm 16:8 New International Version (NIV)

8 I keep my eyes always on the Lord.

    With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.

Her Eyes Were Watching God - Adrienne Young & Little Sadie 

Worth It

Hallelujah, what a Savior!

Man of Sorrows - Claire Holley 

Zach Williams - Chain Breaker (Official Music Video)

Guy Penrod - Burnin'

It's Sunday!

Put on your best!

It's A Glad Anointing

Psalm 45:7 New English Translation (NET Bible)

7 You love justice and hate evil.

For this reason God, your God has anointed you

with the oil of joy, elevating you above your companions.

Isaiah 61:3 New International Version (NIV)

3     and provide for those who grieve in Zion—

to bestow on them a crown of beauty

    instead of ashes,

the oil of joy

    instead of mourning,

and a garment of praise

    instead of a spirit of despair.

They will be called oaks of righteousness,

    a planting of the Lord

    for the display of his splendor.

In Acts 13:52 we read, "The disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Ghost." Wherever he comes as an anointing, whether upon the Lord or upon his people, upon the Christ or the Christians, upon the Anointed or upon those whom he anoints, in every case the ultimate result is joy and peace. On the head of our great High Priest he is joy, and this oil of gladness flows down to the skirts of his garments. To the Comforter, therefore, we ascribe "the oil of gladness."
Charles Spurgeon

The Isaacs - The Raven

Yes, It Does

Noble In Ignoble Times

Proverbs 28:1English Standard Version (ESV)

The wicked flee when no one pursues,

    but the righteous are bold as a lion.

1 Corinthians 16:13 English Standard Version (ESV)

13 Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.

Philippians 4:8New King James Version (NKJV)

Meditate on These Things

8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.

Isaiah 32:8 New International Reader's Version (NIRV)

8 But those who are noble make noble plans.

    And by doing noble things they succeed.

Today I watched a presidential candidate make clear statements about what ideals to uphold and none of them were Christian.  Thus Christian courage, honor, fidelity, mercy and hope are sorely needed standards in today's post-Christian America.  Teach your children their nobility in Christ.   Teach them to be brave and to stand firm; and, while you're at it, remind yourself to do the same.  

Whatever Comes - Rend Collective 

Basic Leadership Instructions...

1 Kings 2:2-4 English Standard Version (ESV)

2 “I am about to go the way of all the earth. Be strong, and show yourself a man, 3 and keep the charge of the Lord your God, walking in his ways and keeping his statutes, his commandments, his rules, and his testimonies, as it is written in the Law of Moses, that you may prosper in all that you do and wherever you turn, 4 that the Lord may establish his word that he spoke concerning me, saying, ‘If your sons pay close attention to their way, to walk before me in faithfulness with all their heart and with all their soul, you shall not lack[a] a man on the throne of Israel.’

...to be followed when seeking public office.

Sin City - Beck & Emmylou Harris

Behold (Then Sings My Soul) - Hillsong Worship

And You Can Begin Again

Isaiah 1:18 New English Translation (NET Bible)

18 Come, let’s consider your options,” says the Lord.

“Though your sins have stained you like the color red,

you can become white like snow;

though they are as easy to see as the color scarlet,

you can become white like wool.

But Forgiveness Is Beautiful

Thomas Blackshear

Because Sin Isn't Pretty

Romans 1:18-32 The Message

Ignoring God Leads to a Downward Spiral

18-23 But God’s angry displeasure erupts as acts of human mistrust and wrongdoing and lying accumulate, as people try to put a shroud over truth. But the basic reality of God is plain enough. Open your eyes and there it is! By taking a long and thoughtful look at what God has created, people have always been able to see what their eyes as such can’t see: eternal power, for instance, and the mystery of his divine being. So nobody has a good excuse. What happened was this: People knew God perfectly well, but when they didn’t treat him like God, refusing to worship him, they trivialized themselves into silliness and confusion so that there was neither sense nor direction left in their lives. They pretended to know it all, but were illiterate regarding life. They traded the glory of God who holds the whole world in his hands for cheap figurines you can buy at any roadside stand.

24-25 So God said, in effect, “If that’s what you want, that’s what you get.” It wasn’t long before they were living in a pigpen, smeared with filth, filthy inside and out. And all this because they traded the true God for a fake god, and worshiped the god they made instead of the God who made them—the God we bless, the God who blesses us. Oh, yes!

26-27 Worse followed. Refusing to know God, they soon didn’t know how to be human either—women didn’t know how to be women, men didn’t know how to be men. Sexually confused, they abused and defiled one another, women with women, men with men—all lust, no love. And then they paid for it, oh, how they paid for it—emptied of God and love, godless and loveless wretches.

28-32 Since they didn’t bother to acknowledge God, God quit bothering them and let them run loose. And then all hell broke loose: rampant evil, grabbing and grasping, vicious backstabbing. They made life hell on earth with their envy, wanton killing, bickering, and cheating. Look at them: mean-spirited, venomous, fork-tongued God-bashers. Bullies, swaggerers, insufferable windbags! They keep inventing new ways of wrecking lives. They ditch their parents when they get in the way. Stupid, slimy, cruel, cold-blooded. And it’s not as if they don’t know better. They know perfectly well they’re spitting in God’s face. And they don’t care—worse, they hand out prizes to those who do the worst things best!

It's Sunday!

Sunday Mass (c.1886). Gari Melchers (American, 1860-1932)

It's good to pay attention.

Johnnyswim - Touching Heaven (Official Audio Stream)

Because There's A Storm Coming

Psalm 107:29 English Standard Version (ESV)

29 He made the storm be still,

    and the waves of the sea were hushed.

Wading Deep Waters - Crooked Still

Norman, Take Me Back

A Boy And His Dog by Norman Rockwell

Ecclesiastes 7:10 New English Translation (NET Bible)

10 Do not say, “Why were the old days better than these days?”

for it is not wise to ask that.

Romans 8:18 English Standard Version (ESV)

Future Glory

18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.

James 1:2-4 English Standard Version (ESV)

Testing of Your Faith

2 Count it all joy, my brothers,[a] when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

Isaiah 41:10 English Standard Version (ESV)

10 fear not, for I am with you;

    be not dismayed, for I am your God;

I will strengthen you, I will help you,

    I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

In these troubled times, I find myself longing for the"Good Old Days," even though I know those days weren't necessarily good.  Sigh.  I want the world to look like a Norman Rockwell painting, but it can't be.  Reality is tough, but the God of this reality is tougher.  Is your world shaking?  Stand on God's firm foundation. 

Still, It's probably okay to enjoy an occasional Norman Rockwell break especially at bedtime.

How Firm A Foundation - Michael Card 

A Good Verse...

...for a difficult work week.  Lord, I am weary, I need your strength.  Stay by my side all the way home.

Sandra McCracken - Love Will Bring You Home (Song Story / Live Performance)

Lauren Daigle - Trust In You (Live)

Want to Die?

In my distress I called out to the Lord and he answered me. 

Psalm 120:1 (NET)

Please live.  Even if the water is rising, live.  I write this because of an unexpected cry for help that came my way today.  A disability doesn't mean life is not worth living.  Jesus died so you can live, so live.  He's made room for you at His table.  Make room for Him in your heart.

Bradley Walker - With His Arms Wide Open (Live)

Bradley Walker - Sweet Beulah Land (Live) ft. The Isaacs

To Be Rooted and Grounded...

...in the love of Christ, what a prayer!

Tenth Avenue North - Control (Official Lyric Video)

Looking For A New Morning

Lamentations 3:22-23 English Standard Version (ESV)

22 The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;[a]

    his mercies never come to an end;

23 they are new every morning;

    great is your faithfulness.

 Daniel 7:14 New English Translation (NET Bible)

14 To him was given ruling authority, honor, and sovereignty.

All peoples, nations, and language groups were serving him.

His authority is eternal and will not pass away.

His kingdom will not be destroyed.

When I look at the presidential candidates, I want to shout, "Is this the best we can do?"  When did the bar get set so low?"  Ah, America, look to God and not to your own selfish interests; and pray for the best that God can do.  He has always been faithful and will continue to be.  His reign is eternal.  His kingdom is unshakeable.  His mercies are unfathomable.  A new morning is coming.

Great Is Thy Faithfulness [Live]

It's Sunday! You Are Going to Church, Aren't You?

Chris Tomlin - Revelation Song (Live) ft. Kari Jobe

My Lord, My Hope

Aaron Shust- My Hope is in You

Chris Tomlin - God Of Calvary (Lyric Video)

Praying For Those...

Psalm 56:3 English Standard Version (ESV)

3 When I am afraid,

    I put my trust in you.

...in the eye of the storm called Hurricane Matthew and for those who have already suffered as it has passed.  This song by Ryan Stevenson is fitting.  

Ryan Stevenson "Eye of the Storm" LIVE at K-LOVE

The Light That Leads Us Home

 John 8:12 English Standard Version (ESV)

I Am the Light of the World

12 Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

There's A Light - Beth Nielsen Chapman 

Citizen Way - "Should've Been Me" Official Lyric Video

Downhere - Let Me Rediscover You (Official Music Video)

This I Declare

Isaac Wimberley - The Word (Lyric Video)

Soon Home

1 Corinthians 2:9English Standard Version (ESV)

9 But, as it is written,

“What no eye has seen, nor ear heard,

    nor the heart of man imagined,

what God has prepared for those who love him”—

Hebrews 11:16 English Standard Version (ESV)

16 But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.

Hebrews 13:14 English Standard Version (ESV)

14 For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come.

Keep Me - Crowder

Sheep for Sleep

Psalm 3:5 English Standard Version (ESV)

5 I lay down and slept;

    I woke again, for the Lord sustained me.

Psalm 4:8 English Standard Version (ESV)

8 In peace I will both lie down and sleep;

    for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.

Count your blessings name them one by one

Laura Story - Open Hands (Lyric Video) ft. Mac Powell

It's Sunday!

Feed your soul and your body!

Sweet To the Soul

Philippians 2:2 English Standard Version (ESV)

2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.

Proverbs 16:24 New English Translation (NET Bible)

24 Pleasant words are like a honeycomb,

sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.

I know this is totally dangerous, and I should be thankful I survived my childhood; but sleeping in the back window of a car is one of the sweetest memories of my childhood, especially on a night time drive.  Drifting off to sleep, surrounded by family, hearing the voices of those you love while watching the moon chase the car all the way home, can it be any better?  

Sigh...Is this why it's so easy for me to fall asleep in church? 

Crowder - Forgiven (Lyric Video)