Favorite Scriptures

For God is not a God of disorder but of peace.

A time to search and a time to give up;
A time to keep and a time to throw away.

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth where moth and vermin destroy and where thieves break in and steal.

The Lord is my shepherd; I have everything I need.

Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed;
Life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.

For we have brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it.

These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.

Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom.

You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

For with God, nothing will be impossible.

Do everything in love.

Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life.

The LORD your God in your midst, the Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.

Everything in the world is about to be wrapped up, so take nothing for granted. Stay wide-awake in prayer. Most of all, love each other as if your life depended on it. Love makes up for practically anything. Be quick to give a meal to the hungry, a bed to the homeless—cheerfully. Be generous with the different things God gave you, passing them around so all get in on it: if words, let it be God’s words; if help, let it be God’s hearty help. That way, God’s bright presence will be evident in everything through Jesus,
and he’ll get all the credit as the One mighty in everything—encores to the end of time. Oh, yes!

Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.

Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.

Call to me and I will answer you. I’ll tell you marvelous and wondrous things that you could never figure out on your own.

Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will help you; I will hold on to you with my righteous right hand.

Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.

Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always. Remember the wonders he has done.

Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.