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to provide for those who mourn in Zion, to give to them a garland for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of Yahweh, that he may be glorified. Isaiah 61:3 WEBHave you ever felt so down, so lethargic, that you begin to ask yourself, 'What is the point of it all?' There are many things in this...

Thus says the Lord Yahweh: “Woe to the shepherds of Israel who feed themselves! Shouldn’t the shepherds feed the sheep? You eat the fat. You clothe yourself with the wool. You kill the fatlings, but you don’t feed the sheep. You haven’t strengthened the diseased. You haven’t healed that which was sick. You haven’t bound up that which was broken. You haven’t...

Now he who betrayed him had given them a sign, saying, 'Whomever I will kiss, that is he. Seize him, and lead him away safely.' When he had come, immediately he came to him, and said, 'Rabbi! Rabbi!' and kissed him. They laid their hands on him, and seized him. Mark 14:44 WEBIt was now dark. Jesus and the disciples had finished their last supper, sang a hymn together, and then went to pray in the Garden...

And the LORD turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before. Job 42:10 KJVJob went through a terrible time in his life where he lost everything. As he sat in a pile of ashes with sores covering his body, his friends told him that it was the sinful life that he had lived that had caused all of this to happen. Actually, Job had lived...

Give thanks to Yahweh with the lyre. Sing praises to him with the harp of ten strings. Psalm 33:2 WEBWhen I ran my fingers across the strings, I knew instantly that this was the most beautiful sounding thing that I had ever picked up and that I had to have one. It was a twelve string acoustic guitar, a deep red sun-burst, and it was in perfect tune. I am not much of a guitar player, but even strumming...

Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. 1Pet. 4:12 ESVI have a testimony that I share sometimes where the Lord gave me a horrible job in a plant polishing brass and sweeping the floor. Within...

Joseph's master took him, and put him into the prison, the place where the king's prisoners were bound, and he was there in custody. But Yahweh was with Joseph, and showed kindness to him, and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison. Gen. 39:20 WEBJoseph was his father's favorite son and though he had done nothing wrong, he was sold into slavery by his older brothers, who were jealous....

Then David gave to Solomon his son the plans for the porch of the temple, for its houses, for its treasuries, for its upper rooms, for its inner rooms, for the place of the mercy seat; and the plans of all that he had by the Spirit, 1 Chronicles 28:11 WEBDavid gave Solomon all the plans for the new temple that he was to build, but all of those plans were originally given to David by the Holy Spirit....

I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his children begging for bread. Psalm 37:25 WEBDavid had been through a lot when he wrote this verse. He had been anointed by Samuel as a young boy and went on to kill lions, bears, and giants. As he grew, David became an experienced shepherd, an accomplished musician, and an excellent soldier. He had to run and hide...

God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way. God relented of the disaster which he said he would do to them, and he didn't do it. But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was angry. Jonah 3:10 WEBThere is nothing quite like cracking open a septic tank first thing in the morning, especially during a hot summer in the South. When you get a whiff of the fresh sewage, it will not be a...

Eli perceived that Yahweh had called the child. Therefore Eli said to Samuel, 'Go, lie down. It shall be, if he calls you, that you shall say, 'Speak, Yahweh; for your servant hears.' ' So Samuel went and lay down in his place. Yahweh came, and stood, and called as at other times, 'Samuel! Samuel!' Then Samuel said, 'Speak; for your servant hears.' 1 Samuel 3:8-10 WEBSamuel was a young boy, lying down...

They went out from there, and passed through Galilee. He didn't want anyone to know it. For he was teaching his disciples, and said to them, 'The Son of Man is being handed over to the hands of men, and they will kill him; and when he is killed, on the third day he will rise again.' But they didn't understand the saying, and were afraid to ask him. Mark 9:30 WEBThe manager of the the office nodded...

And while he was still speaking with them, the messenger came down to him and said, This trouble is from the LORD! Why should I wait for the LORD any longer? But Elisha said, Hear the word of the LORD: thus says the LORD, Tomorrow about this time' 2Kings 6:33 ESVJoram was king when Samaria, the capital city of Israel, was besieged by Syria about 850 BC. Samaria was surrounded and a great famine spread...

Behold, I will do a new thing. It springs out now. Don't you know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert. Isaiah 43:19 WEBA wealthy friend of mine once picked up his daughter's car to take it in for an oil change while she was at work. He stayed gone a really long time and she began to be anxious and worry about them both. Eventually, he returned driving a new Mercedes...

For I also am a man placed under authority, having under myself soldiers. I tell this one, 'Go!' and he goes; and to another, 'Come!' and he comes; and to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it.' When Jesus heard these things, he marveled at him, and turned and said to the multitude who followed him, 'I tell you, I have not found such great faith, no, not in Israel.' Those who were sent, returning to...

Thus says the Lord Yahweh: “Woe to the shepherds of Israel who feed themselves! Shouldn’t the shepherds feed the sheep? You eat the fat. You clothe yourself with the wool. You kill the fatlings, but you don’t feed the sheep. You haven’t strengthened the diseased. You haven’t healed that which was sick. You haven’t bound up that which was broken. You haven’t...

He arose, and came to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him, and was moved with compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. The son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.' But the father said to his servants, 'Bring out the best robe, and put it on him. Put a ring on his hand, and shoes...

This is my commandment, that you love one another, even as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends, if you do whatever I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant doesn't know what his lord does. But I have called you friends, for everything that I heard from my Father, I have made known to you. John...

Again, a second time he went away, and prayed, saying, 'My Father, if this cup can't pass away from me unless I drink it, your desire be done.' He came again and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. He left them again, went away, and prayed a third time, saying the same words. Matt 26:42 WEBOn the night that Jesus was betrayed, He was troubled in His spirit and went to the garden of Gethsemane...

The spirit of man is Yahweh's lamp, searching all his innermost parts. Proverbs 20:27 WEBA friend of mine once worked as a salesman at a car dealership. One day a lady came in that wanted to buy a certain car, but the air conditioning did not work. The manager promised her that they would fix it if she brought it back later in the month, so she purchased the car as is. When she brought the car back...

For we were saved in hope, but hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for that which he sees? But if we hope for that which we don't see, we wait for it with patience. Rom 8:24 WEBOh, I don't want to face tomorrow. I have a bad, bad, feeling about this. On and on we go, into a spiral of self-pity and hopelessness. Fear, anxiety and depression begin to snowball and soon consume us. Eventually...

Jesus, looking at them, said, 'With men it is impossible, but not with God, for all things are possible with God.' Mark 10:27 WEBHave you ever faced an impossible circumstance? Something that looked entirely hopeless. Jesus said that ALL things are possible with God. Nothing is out of reach, nothing is impossible. We often try to work things out in our mind, with our own reasoning. We can only see...

Early in the morning, while it was still dark, he rose up and went out, and departed into a deserted place, and prayed there. Simon and those who were with him searched for him. They found him and told him, 'Everyone is looking for you.' Mark 1:35 WEBJesus would often withdraw from the noisy crowds to be alone with the Father in prayer. It was here that He chose His disciples, refreshed His strength,...

God made the two great lights: the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night. He also made the stars. Gen 1:16 WEBHe also made the stars. I read this verse sometimes and am amazed by how much the Bible packs into a single verse. Scientists estimate they are around 300 sextillion stars now and that number keeps growing as they develop devices that let them see further. That...

Jesse made seven of his sons to pass before Samuel. Samuel said to Jesse, 'Yahweh has not chosen these.' Samuel said to Jesse, 'Are all your children here?' He said, 'There remains yet the youngest. Behold, he is keeping the sheep.' Samuel said to Jesse, 'Send and get him, for we will not sit down until he comes here.' He sent, and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, with a handsome face and good appearance....

He who is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much. He who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much. If therefore you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? If you have not been faithful in that which is another's, who will give you that which is your own? Luke 16:10 WEBIt was a cold day and the wind coming in off the...

In nothing be anxious, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6 WEBMany saints and martyrs in the past have faced terrible trials and death with a peace in their hearts that no one could explain. Some sang hymns on...

Jesus, standing up, saw her and said, 'Woman, where are your accusers? Did no one condemn you?' She said, 'No one, Lord.' Jesus said, 'Neither do I condemn you. Go your way. From now on, sin no more.' John 8:10 WEBOne day while Jesus was teaching in the temple, the religious leaders brought in a woman who had been caught in the very act of adultery and stood her in front of the crowd. They asked Him...

All chastening seems for the present to be not joyous but grievous; yet afterward it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been exercised thereby. Hebrews 12:11 WEBWhile at school, I learned to read and write, add and subtract, and much more. However, many times it was after school that the learning really began for me. Dad would tell us 'That electric fence will shock you so...

Be strong and courageous. Don't be afraid or scared of them; for Yahweh your God himself is who goes with you. He will not fail you nor forsake you. Deuteronomy 31:6 WEBWe can become so withdrawn sometimes and begin to feel that it is us against the world, and that no one seems to care or even notice what we are going through, or currently struggling with. Even in a crowd, we can feel alone and all...