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Blessed Encouragement

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For the LORD is good. His unfailing love continues forever, and His faithfulness continues to each generation.

Psalm 100:5

What blessed encouragement this verse is in these days and times we are living in. I just completed the Love God Greatly study of Hebrews, “Jesus Our Everything“, and I find myself both clinging to and delighting in the recently read passages referring to Jesus as our Hope and the Anchor for our souls. A friend, from a Facebook study group I’m leading, commented on this morning’s passage from Psalm 100, “I love Psalm 100. It’s straightforward and joyous. It just makes my heart glad.” I totally agree with her sentiment – it truly brings a smile to my face and joy to my heart to know that God is good, God’s faithfulness continues through all generations! Is it any wonder that the Psalmist encouraged the people of God to –

Shout with Joy to the LORD, all the earth! Worship the LORD with gladness. Come before Him, singing with joy. Acknowledge that the LORD is God! He made us, and we are His. We are His people the sheep of His pasture. Enter His gates with thanksgiving; go into His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him and praise His name.”

Psalm 100:1-4

Such hope and peace come from knowing that regardless of what’s going on in our world or individual lives – His love never fails! His Truth and FAITHFULNESS bid me to worship Him. Knowing I am His brings me JOY and delight – for, as Jeremiah said: ” I am called by Your name of Lord, God of Hosts”, Jeremiah 15:16. I am blessed to be able to enter into His Presence through the blood of Jesus Christ and to know the indwelling Presence of His Holy Spirit. Knowing the depth of this blessing – I indeed enter with thanksgiving and praise and, with the Psalmist, I give thanks to His name.

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Bridge to Everlasting Covenant Week 1, Monday

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Today’s Scripture: Psalm 100 (SOAP: Psalm 100:5)

A psalm. For giving grateful praise.

Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.
2     Worship the Lord with gladness;
    come before him with joyful songs.
3 Know that the Lord is God.
    It is he who made us, and we are his[a];
    we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving
    and his courts with praise;
    give thanks to him and praise his name.
5 For the Lord is good and his love endures forever;
    his faithfulness continues through all generations.

TOday’s Blog

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A Love God Greatly Reading Plan

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I hope you’ll join me Monday for the Bridge! Love God Greatly has made it easier to stay consistent in our daily Bible study habit with a 2-week reading plan and SOAP passages. If you haven’t tried SOAPing the Word yet this is a great way and time to learn. It’s easy and it’s a great way to get into God’s Word and grow your faith. Tag me in the comments with any questions or simply reply “I’m in” if you want to participate. If you want to add someone to the group type their name and I’ll be happy to add them – everyone is welcome!

The study is also available at https://www.facebook.com/groups/2825151424418487

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Jesus Our Everything: Week 6, Day 4

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Today’s Scripture: Hebrews 13:1-19 (S.O.A.P. Hebrews 13:8)

 Keep on loving each other as brothers and sisters.[a] 2 Don’t forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it! 3 Remember those in prison, as if you were there yourself. Remember also those being mistreated, as if you felt their pain in your own bodies.

4 Give honor to marriage, and remain faithful to one another in marriage. God will surely judge people who are immoral and those who commit adultery.

5 Don’t love money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said,

“I will never fail you.
    I will never abandon you.”[b]

6 So we can say with confidence,

“The Lord is my helper,
    so I will have no fear.
    What can mere people do to me?”[c]

7 Remember your leaders who taught you the word of God. Think of all the good that has come from their lives, and follow the example of their faith.

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. 9 So do not be attracted by strange, new ideas. Your strength comes from God’s grace, not from rules about food, which don’t help those who follow them.

.10 We have an altar from which the priests in the Tabernacle[d] have no right to eat. 11 Under the old system, the high priest brought the blood of animals into the Holy Place as a sacrifice for sin, and the bodies of the animals were burned outside the camp. 12 So also Jesus suffered and died outside the city gates to make His people holy by means of His own blood. 13 So let us go out to Him, outside the camp, and bear the disgrace He bore. 14 For this world is not our permanent home; we are looking forward to a home yet to come.

15 Therefore, let us offer through Jesus a continual sacrifice of praise to God, proclaiming our allegiance to His name. 16 And don’t forget to do good and to share with those in need. These are the sacrifices that please God.

17 Obey your spiritual leaders, and do what they say. Their work is to watch over your souls, and they are accountable to God. Give them reason to do this with joy and not with sorrow. That would certainly not be for your benefit.

18 Pray for us, for our conscience is clear and we want to live honorably in everything we do. 19 And especially pray that I will be able to come back to you soon.

Hebrews 13 Reference
Hebrews 13:8 Reference
Blog Post
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Jesus Our Everything: Week 6, Day 3

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Question of the Day: According to Hebrews 12:14 why should we pursue peace and holiness?

Today’s Scripture: Hebrews 12:14-29 (S.O.A.P. Hebrews 12:14-15)

Pursue peace with everyone, and holiness,[a] for without it no one will see the Lord. 15 See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God, that no one be like a bitter root springing up[b] and causing trouble, and through it many become defiled. 16 And see to it that no one becomes[c] an immoral or godless person like Esau, who sold his own birthright for a single meal.[d] 17 For you know that[e] later when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no opportunity for repentance, although he sought the blessing[f] with tears. 18 For you have not come to something that can be touched,[g] to a burning fire and darkness and gloom and a whirlwind 19 and the blast of a trumpet and a voice uttering words[h] such that those who heard begged to hear no more.[i] 20 For they could not bear what was commanded: “If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned.”[j] 21 In fact, the scene[k] was so terrifying that Moses said, “I shudder with fear.”[l] 22 But you have come to Mount Zion, the city[m] of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of angels, to the assembly 23 and congregation of the firstborn, who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous, who have been made perfect, 24 and to Jesus, the mediator[n] of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks of something better than Abel’s does.[o]

25 Take care not to refuse the one who is speaking! For if they did not escape when they refused the one who warned them on earth, how much less shall we, if we reject the one who warns from heaven? 26 Then his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “I will once more shake not only the earth but heaven too.”[p] 27 Now this phrase “once more” indicates the removal of what is shaken, that is, of created things, so that what is unshaken may remain. 28 So since we are receiving an unshakable kingdom, let us give thanks, and through this let us offer worship pleasing to God in devotion and awe. 29 For our God is indeed a devouring fire.[q]

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Hebrews 12:14 Reference
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Eyes Fixed on Jesus

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Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, we must get rid of every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and run with endurance the race set out for us, 2 keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. For the joy set out for Him He endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken His seat at the right hand of the throne of God.

Hebrews 12:1-2

Father, You are good. I see Your goodness often in Your perfect timing, and this morning’s devotional passage seems to be perfectly timed. On this day, when the world calls us to fix our eyes on presidential candidates, Donald Trump and Joe Biden, and the outcome of an election – Your Word reminds us to fix our eyes on Jesus. Yes, we will vote today – many have already voted – but in Your goodness help Your children to not be fixated on these two men, or on the news cycle surrounding them, or the outcome. Instead, let us focus on Jesus, the author and the perfecter of our faith – and on You – our Sovereign God who is in perfect control and who is working all things together for the good of those who love You and have been called according to Your purpose.

There are, as in every election, vastly different opinions on who should be the President. However, there is only one good and trustworthy, sovereign God who not only knows the outcome – but is in complete control of it.

Mary Ellen Black

Father, in Your goodness I plead Your protection on this day – May Your people honor You with their votes and their attitudes. May the words of our mouths and the actions of our lives bring you glory and honor and not shame. may they be an encouragement and example to those who watch and listen. May our eyes stay on Jesus so that we don’t grow weary and give our hearts and mouths over to fear and complaining or slander. Father, I plead Your protection not only over our behavior and words but from the actions and out-cry of the nation following the outcome. We live in a nation that has become more and more violent – a violence that no longer seems to respond even to the ‘laws of the land’. We need Your help to unify and to protect us from anarchy! Father, we cry out for the salvation of the lost – for wicked hearts to be made righteous – for even as I pray, Your Spirit reminds me the problem isn’t as simple as Democrat vs Republican, but rather the condition of the heart and the positioning of our eyes. May the eyes of Your children be on You, no matter what the outcome of this election is, for only then will we know Your perfect peace and shine as bright lights amid, as Paul wrote*, a crooked and perverse society.

“Praise the name of God forever and ever,

    for he has all wisdom and power.

21 He controls the course of world events;

    he removes kings and sets up other kings…

Daniel 2:20-21a

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Jesus Our Everything: Week 6, Day 2

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Question of the Day: Today’s passage mentions keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, what is something we can do or that you do to keep your eyes fixed on Him? According to verse 3 why are we to fix our eyes on Him?

Today’s Scripture: Hebrews 12:1-13 (S.O.A.P. Hebrews 12:1-2)

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses,[a] we must get rid of every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and run with endurance the race set out for us, 2 keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. For[b] the joy set out for him he endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God.[c] 3 Think of him who endured such opposition against himself by sinners, so that you may not grow weary in your souls and give up. 4 You have not yet resisted to the point of bloodshed[d] in your struggle against sin. 5 And have you forgotten the exhortation addressed to you as sons?

“My son, do not scorn[e] the Lord’s discipline
or give up when he corrects[f] you.
6 “For the Lord disciplines the one he loves and chastises every son he accepts.”[g]

7 Endure your suffering[h] as discipline;[i] God is treating you as sons. For what son is there that a father does not discipline? 8 But if you do not experience discipline,[j] something all sons[k] have shared in, then you are illegitimate and are not sons. 9 Besides, we have experienced discipline from[l] our earthly fathers[m] and we respected them; shall we not submit ourselves all the more to the Father of spirits and receive life?[n] 10 For they disciplined us for a little while as seemed good to them, but he does so for our benefit, that we may share his holiness. 11 Now all discipline seems painful at the time, not joyful.[o] But later it produces the fruit of peace and righteousness[p] for those trained by it. 12 Therefore, strengthen[q] your listless hands and your weak knees,[r] 13 and make straight paths for your feet,[s] so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but be healed. *(click the link below for help in understanding today’s passage. For specific verses scroll over the the verse number.)

*Hebrews 12 Reference

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The Greatness of Your Faithfulness

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Father, You are Good! The music of the morning has reminded me of Your great faithfulness – How Your mercies are new every morning and Your compassions never fail. For, as the lyrics boast, “there is no shadow of turning with you”. You do not change – You are the same yesterday, today, and forever! “As Thou hast been Thou forever wilt be”. We’ve exited Daylight Savings time and the night temps have begun to dip into the freezing range – but You don’t change! You created the sun, moon, and stars. You alone placed them in their courses above where they join with all of nature in manifold witness to Your Great Faithfulness, mercy, and love! All I have needed You have known and faithfully provided – including pardon for sin and a peace that endures amid chaos and stress and fears and sorrows. As the song says – “Your Presence is always with me to cheer and to guide”. And even on days when I feel weak and the events of life paint a picture of hopelessness – Your strength is with me everyday and Your truths fill me with bright hope for tomorrow! I know Your blessings are with me for I have seen and tasted Your goodness, the greatness of Your faithfulness, and the depth of Your love!

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Jesus Our Everything: Week 6, Day 1

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Today’s Scripture: Hebrews 11:32-40 (S.O.A.P Hebrews 11:39-40)

And what more shall I say? For time will fail me if I tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets. 33 Through faith they conquered kingdoms, administered justice,[a] gained what was promised,[b] shut the mouths of lions, 34 quenched raging fire,[c] escaped the edge of the sword, gained strength in weakness,[d] became mighty in battle, put foreign armies to flight, 35 and women received back their dead raised to life.[e] But others were tortured, not accepting release, to obtain resurrection to a better life.[f]36 And others experienced mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. 37 They were stoned, sawed apart,[g] murdered with the sword; they went about in sheepskins and goatskins; they were destitute, afflicted, ill-treated 38 (the world was not worthy of them); they wandered in deserts and mountains and caves and openings in the earth. 39 And these all were commended[h] for their faith, yet they did not receive what was promised.[i]40 For God had provided something better for us, so that they would be made perfect together with us.[j]

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Jesus Our Everything: Week 6

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Week 6 Challenge: This week, make a list of two practical things you can do each day to keep your eyes fixed on Jesus. Share these things with a friend and ask her to hold you accountable.

Over the past 5 weeks we have read a lot about Jesus, faith, and endurance. In our everyday lives I bet we’ve all faced times where we called out to Jesus, where we’ve had to lean on our faith and perhaps where we’ve even struggled to endure. In this last week we will continue to look at these three factors. We will read why and how and what we must endure. Our focus verse will give us yet another example to consider, as it leads us to daily remember how and why Jesus endured. An example I believe, is the best answer as to why Jesus is our everything. My prayer is that we will finish strong and as we close the last page we will find our FAITH stronger than when we entered in – and together we will endure and not shrink back.