There Is One Lord, One Faith, And One Spirit (Ephesians 4:2-7 & 4:17-19) Good News Translation

Ephesians 4:2-7
2   Be always humble, gentle, and patient. Show your loveby being
tolerant with one another.
3   Do your best to preserve the unity which the Spirit gives by
means of the peace that bind you together.
4   There is one body and one Spirit, just as there is one hope to
which God has called you.
5   There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism;
6   there is one God and Father of all mankind, who is Lord of
all, works through all, and is in all.
7   Each one of us has received a special gift in proportion to
what Christ has given.

Ephesians 4:17-19
17 In the Lord's name, then, I warn you: do not continue to live
like the heathen, whose thoughts are worthless
18 and whose minds are in the dark. They have no part in the life
that God gives, for they are completely ignorant and stubborn.
19 They have lost all feeling of shame; they give themselves over
to vice and do all sorts of indecent things without restraint.

Do Not Be Deceived, NO One Makes a Fool of God (Galatians 6:3-8) Good News Translation

3  If someone thinks he is something when he really is nothing,
he is only deceiving himself.
4  Each one should judge his own conduct. If it is good, then he
can be proud of what he himself has done without having to compare
it with what someone else has done.
5   For everyone has to carry his own load.
6   The man who is being taught the Christian message should share
all the good things he has with his teacher.
7   Do not decieve yourselves; no one make a fool of God. A person
will reap exactly what he plants.
8   If he plants in the field of his natural desires, from it he will gather
the harvest of death;  if he plants in the field of the Spirit, from the
Spirit he will gather the harvest of eternal life.

Don't Allow Anyone to Condemn You (Colossians 2:16-19) Good New Translation

16  So let no one make rules about what you eat or drink or about holy days
or the New Moon Festival or the Sabbath.
17  All such things are only a shadow of things in the future; the reality is
Christ.
18  Do not allow yourselves to be condemned by anyone who claims to be 
superior because of special visions and who insists on false humility and
the worship of angels. For no reason at all, such a person is all puffed up by
his human way of thinking
19  and has stopped holding on to Christ, who is the head of the body.  Under
Christ's control the whole body is nourished and held together by its joints
and ligaments, and it grows as God wants it to grow. 

We Love because God Loves Us (I John 4:19-21) Good News Translation

19 We love because God first loved us.
20  If someone says he loves God, but hates
his brother, he is a liar. For he cannot love God,
who he has not seen, if he does not love his brother
whom he has seen.
21  The command that Christ has given us is this:
whoever loves God must Love his brother also.

Your Thought Life (Proverbs 4:6-13 & 23-27) Good News Translation

6    Do not abandom wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and
she will keep you safe.
7    Getting wisdom is the most important thing you do. Whatever
else you get, get insight.
8    Love wisdom, and she will make you great. Embrace her, and
she will bring you honor.
9    She will be your crowning glory.
10  Listen to me, son. Take seriously what I am telling you, and you
will live a long life.
11   I have taught you wisdom and the right way to live.
12   Nothing will stand in your way if you walk wisely, and you will
not stumble when you run.
13   Always, remember what you have learned. Your education is your
life--guard it well.
23  Be careful how you think; your life is shaped by your thoughts.
24  Never say anything that isn't true.  Have nothing to do with lies
and misleading words.
25  Look straight ahead with honest confidence; don't hang our head
in shame.
26  Plan carefully what you do, and whatever you do will turn out
right.
27  Avoid evil and walk straight ahead.  Don't go one step off the
right way.

Salvation is for All (Romans 10:3-4 & 10-12) Good ...

Good News: Salvation is for All (Romans 10:3-4 & 10-12) Good ...: 3   They have not known the way in which God puts people right himself, and instead, they have tried to set up their own way; and so they ...

Salvation is for All (Romans 10:3-4 & 10-12) Good News Translation

3   They have not known the way in which God puts people right
himself, and instead, they have tried to set up their own way; and
so they did not submit themselves to God's way of putting people
right.
4   For Christ has brought the Law to an end, so that everyone who
believes is put right with God.
10  For it is by our faith that we are put right with God; it is by our
confession that we are saved.
11  The scripture says, "Whoever believe in him will not be 
disappointed."  
12  This includes everyone, because there is no difference 
between Jews and Gentiles; God is the same Lord of all and 
richly blesses all who call to him.
 

God's Mercy (Romans 9:14-18) & (Exodus 9:12 & Exodus 33:19) Good News Translation

Romans 9:14-18
14  Shall we say, then, that God is unjust? Not at all.
15  For he said to Moses, "I will have mercy on anyone I wish."
I will take pity on anyone I wish."
16  So then, everything depends, not on what man wants or does,
but only on God's mercy.
17  For the scripture says to the king of Egypt, "I made you king in
order to use you to show my power and to spread my fame over the
whole world."
18  So then, God has mercy on anyone he wishes, and he makes
stubborn anyone he wishes.

Exodus 9:12
12   But the Lord made the king stubborn and, just as the Lord had
said, the king would not listen to Moses and Aaron.

Exodus 33:19
19  The Lord answered, "I will make all my splendor pass before you and
in my presence I will pronounce my sacred name. I am the Lord, and I show
compassion and pity on those I choose.

God's Mercy and His Love (Ephesians 2:4-10) Good News Translation

4     But God's mercy is so abundant, and his love for us is so great,
5     that while we were spiritually dead in our disobedience he brought
       us to life with Christ.  It is by God's grace that you have been saved.
6     In our union with Christ Jesus he raised us up with him to rule with
       him in the heavenly world.
7     He did this to demonstrate for all time to come the extraordinary
       greatness of his grace in the love he showed us in Christ Jesus.
8-9  For it is by God's grace that you have been saved through faith. It
        is not the result of your own efforts, but God's gift, so that no one
        can boast about it.
10    God has made us what we are, and in our union with Christ Jesus he
         has created us for a life of good deeds, which he has already prepared
         for us to do.

You Must Allow the Word to Change Your Thinking (Roman 12:2, Philippians 2:5 & 4:8) Good News Translation

Roman 12:2

2   Do not conform yourselves to the standards of this world, but let God transform
you inwardly by a complete change of your mind.  Then you will be able to know the
will of God---what is good and is pleasing to him and is perfect.

Philippians 2:5

 5  The attitude you should have is the one that Christ Jesus had: He always had the

nature of God, but he did not think that by force he should try to become equal with 

God.

Philippians 4:8-9

8   In conclusion, my brothers fill your mind with those things that are good and that 

deserve praise: things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and honorable.  

9   Put into practice what you learned and received from me both, from my words

and from my actions.  And the God who gives us peace will be with you.

God's Love in Christ Jesus (Roman 8:31-39) Good News Translation

31 In view of all of this, what can we say? If God is for us, who can be against us?
32 Certainly not God, who did not even keep back his own Son, but offered him for us all! He gave us his Son---will he not also freely give us all things?
33 Who will accuse God chosen people? God himself declares them not guilty!
34 Who, then, will condemn them? Not Christ Jesus, who died, or rather, who was raised to life and is at the right side of God, pleading with him for us!
35 Who then, can separate us from the love of Christ? Can trouble do it, or hardship or persecution or hunger or poverty or danger or death?
36 As he scripture says, "For your sake we are in danger of death at all times; we are treated like sheep that are going to be slaughtered."
37 No, in all these things we have complete victory through him who loved us!
38 For I am certain that nothing can separate us from his love: neither death nor life, neither angels nor other heavenly rulers or powers, neither the present nor the future,
39 neither the world above nor the world below---there is nothing in all creation that will ever be able to separate us from the love of God which is ours through Christ Jesus our Lord.

God Gives You Power (Deuteronomy 8:17-18) & Proverbs 16:1-6)Good News Translation

Deuteronomy 8:17-18

17  So then, you must never think that you have made yourselves wealthy by your own power and strength.
18   Remember that it is the Lord your God who gives you the power to become rich.

Proverbs 16:1-6

1   We may make our plans, but God has the last word.

2    You may think everything you do is right, but the Lord judges your motives.

3   As the Lord to bless your plans, and you will be successful in carrying them out.

4   Everything the Lord has mad has it destiny; and the destiny of the wicked is destruction.

5   The Lord hates everyone who is arrogant; he will never let them escape punishment.

6    Be loyal and faithful, and God will forgive your sin. Have reverence for the Lord with

nothing evil will happen to you.

Choose the Good Life and Reject Evil (Deuteronomy 30:15-20) Good News Translation

15  "Today I am giving you a choice between good and evil, between life and death.
16   If you obey the commandments of the Lord our God, which I give you today,
if you love him, obey him, and keep all of his laws, then you will prosper and become
a nation of people.  The Lord your God will bless you in the land that you are about to
occupy.
17   But if you disobey and refuse to listen, and are led away to worship other gods,
18   you will be destroyed---I warn you here and now. You will not live long in that land
across the Jordan that you are about to occupy.
19   I am now giving you the choice between life and death, between God's blessings and
God's curse, and I call heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Choose life.
20   Love the Lord your God, obey him and be faithful to him, and then you and your
descendants will live long in the land that he promised to give your ancestors, Abraham,
Isaac, and Jacob."

The title, "Choose the Good Life and Reject Evil" is from Dr. Sammie Holloway, the Senior

Pastor of Breath of Life Christian Center's (BOLCC) sermon series.

Do Not Be Deceived (Jeremiah 29:7-9) Good News Bible

7 Work for the good of he cities where I have made you go as prisoners. Pray to me on their behalf, because if they prosperous , you will be prosperous. 
8 I, the Lord, the God of Israel, warn you not to let yourself be deceived by prophets who live among you or by any others who claim they can predict the future. Do not pay any attention to their dreams. 
9 They are telling you lies in my name. I did not send them. I the Lord Almighty, have spoken.

Praise the Lord Psalm 117

¹ Praise the Lord, all you nations.
    Praise him, all you people of the earth.

 
² For his unfailing love for us is powerful;
    the Lord’s faithfulness endures forever.

Advice to the Young.....Wisdom Calls Proverb 1:2-33

 Good News Translation  Proverb 1:2-33

 
² Here are proverbs that will help you recognize wisdom and good advice, and understand sayings with deep meaning. 
³ They can teach you how to live intelligently and how to be honest, just, and fair. 
⁴ They can make an inexperienced person clever and teach young people how to be resourceful. 
⁵ These proverbs can even add to the knowledge of the wise and give guidance to the educated, 
⁶ so that they can understand the hidden meanings of proverbs and the problems that the wise raise. 
⁷ To have knowledge, you must first have reverence for the Lord. Stupid people have no respect for wisdom and refuse to learn.
⁸ My child, pay attention to what your father and mother tell you.  
⁹ Their teaching will improve your character as a handsome turban or a necklace improves your appearance.
¹⁰ My child, when sinners tempt you, don't give in.  
¹¹ Suppose they say, “Come on; let's find someone to kill! Let's attack some innocent people for the fun of it!  
¹² They may be alive and well when we find them, but they'll be dead when we're through with them!  
¹³ We'll find all kinds of riches and fill our houses with loot!  
¹⁴ Come and join us, and we'll all share what we steal.”
¹⁵ My child, don't go with people like that. Stay away from them.  
¹⁶ They can't wait to do something bad. They're always ready to kill. 
¹⁷ It does no good to spread a net when the bird you want to catch is watching,  
¹⁸ but people like that are setting a trap for themselves, a trap in which they will die. ¹⁹ Robbery always claims the life of the robber—this is what happens to anyone who lives by violence.
²⁰ Listen! Wisdom is calling out in the streets and marketplaces,  
²¹ calling loudly at the city gates and wherever people come together:
²² “Foolish people! How long do you want to be foolish? How long will you enjoy making fun of knowledge? Will you never learn? 
²³ Listen when I reprimand you; I will give you good advice and share my knowledge with you. ²⁴ I have been calling you, inviting you to come, but you would not listen. You paid no attention to me. 
²⁵ You have ignored all my advice and have not been willing to let me correct you.  
²⁶ So when you get into trouble, I will laugh at you. I will make fun of you when terror strikes— ²⁷ when it comes on you like a storm, bringing fierce winds of trouble, and you are in pain and misery.  
²⁸ Then you will call for wisdom, but I will not answer. You may look for me everywhere, but you will not find me. 
²⁹ You have never had any use for knowledge and have always refused to obey the Lord.  
³⁰ You have never wanted my advice or paid any attention when I corrected you.  
³¹ So then, you will get what you deserve, and your own actions will make you sick. ³² Inexperienced people die because they reject wisdom. Stupid people are destroyed by their own lack of concern.  
³³ But whoever listens to me will have security. He will be safe, with no reason to be afraid.”

Psalms 91 (The Living Bible)

1  We live within the shadow of the Almighty, sheltered by the God who is above all gods.

2  This I declare, that he alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I am trusting him.  

3   For he rescues you from every trap and protects you from the fatal plague.  

4   He will shield you with his wings! They will shelter you. His faithful promises are your armor. 


5   Now you don’t need to be afraid of the dark anymore, nor fear the dangers of the day;
   
6   nor dread the plagues of darkness, nor disasters in the morning.

7   Though a thousand fall at my side, though ten thousand are dying around me, the evil will not touch me.    

8    I will see how the wicked are punished, but I will not share it.  

9    For Jehovah is my refuge! I choose the God above all gods to shelter me.  

10  How then can evil overtake me or any plague come near?  

11  For he orders his angels to protect you wherever you go.  

12  They will steady you with their hands to keep you from stumbling against the rocks on the trail.
  
13  You can safely meet a lion or step on poisonous snakes, yes, even trample them beneath your feet!

14  For the Lord says, “Because he loves me, I will rescue him; I will make him great because he trusts in my name.  

15  When he calls on me, I will answer; I will be with him in trouble and rescue him and honor him.  

16  I will satisfy him with a full life and give him my salvation.”

Blessed is he Man Who Fears the Lord.......Psalm 112 NIV

1   Praise the Lord.

Blessed is the man who fears the Lord,

who finds great delight in the commands.

2   His children will be mighty in the land,

the generation of the upright will be blessed.

3   Wealth and riches are in the house,

and his righteousness endures forever.

4   Even in darkness light dawns for the upright,

for the gracious and compassionate and righteous man.

5   Good will come to him who is generous and lends freely,

who conducts his affairs with justice.

6   Surely he will never be shaken; 

a righteous man will be remembered forever.

7   He will have no fear of bad news; 

his heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord.

8   His heart is secure, he will have no fear,

in the end he will look in triumph on his foes.

9   He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor,

his righteousness endures forever; 

his horn will be lifted high in honor.

10  The wicked man will see and be vexed,

he will gnash his teeth and waste away,

the longing of the wicked will come to nothing.

Fear is a Spirit (2Timothy 1:7)

I was going through my post this morning and ran across a posting on April 18, 2011, that holds true for today. I would like to share it. Fear is a spirit that does not come from God. Therefore, any form of fear, including worry, is unnatural and should not be tolerated on any level. (2 Timothy 1:7) The law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus eradicates the condemnation that comes from sin. You have freedom from the prison of condemnation, but you have to receive it by faith (Roman 8:1-2) These postings came from Creflo Dollar post on Facebook 4/18/11, and they seem to be appropriate for today’s chaos. The condemnation that sin tends to try and weigh us down brings a sense of fear rather than caution. Then again, there are those who confuse caution with fear. When a person hesitates about doing something or going some place, it is your enter spirit warning of a possible danger or negative result if one chooses to ignore and proceed. It is not fear, but God’s love gave his spirit (mind) to us as our guide. When people do not understand the depth of God loves us, they confuse it with fear. God has given us a built-in mechanism that will guide us in making the correct decision; if only we would listen. He placed such an awesome gift inside of us that until we realize it, we do not understand why we operate with precaution sometimes. Moreover, the people around us has not or does not understand God’s gift, they equate it as being fear, and we believe their definition rather than the truth. So be thankful when that feeling of precaution comes over you and by all means do not ignore it. God is on your side, and He has your best interest at heart. Be blessed this day and every day.