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.

Hezekiah Walker New Video "Every Praise"

Suffering for Being a Christian (I Peter 4:12-19) New Living Translation

12  Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you. ¹

13  Instead, be very glad—for these trials make you partners with Christ in his suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing his glory when it is revealed to all the world.

14  If you are insulted because you bear the name of Christ, you will be blessed, for the glorious Spirit of God rests upon you.

15  If you suffer, however, it must not be for murder, stealing, making trouble, or prying into other people’s affairs.

16  But it is no shame to suffer for being a Christian. Praise God for the privilege of being called by his name!

17  For the time has come for judgment, and it must begin with God’s household. And if judgment begins with us, what terrible fate awaits those who have never obeyed God’s Good News? ¹

18  And also, “If the righteous are barely saved, what will happen to godless sinners?”

19  So if you are suffering in a manner that pleases God, keep on doing what is right, and trust your lives to the God who created you, for he will never fail you.

Living for God (I Peter 4:1-11) New Living Translation

1    So then, since Christ suffered physical pain, you must arm yourselves with the same attitude he had, and be ready to suffer, too. For if you have suffered physically for Christ, you have finished with sin.
2    You won’t spend the rest of your lives chasing your own desires, but you will be anxious to do the will of God.
3    You have had enough in the past of the evil things that godless people enjoy—their immorality and lust, their feasting and drunkenness and wild parties, and their terrible worship of idols.
4    Of course, your former friends are surprised when you no longer plunge into the flood of wild and destructive things they do. So they slander you.
5    But remember that they will have to face God, who stands ready to judge everyone, both the living and the dead.
6    That is why the Good News was preached to those who are now dead—so although they were destined to die like all people, they now live forever with God in the Spirit
7   The end of the world is coming soon. Therefore, be earnest and disciplined in your prayers.
8   Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins.
9   Cheerfully share your home with those who need a meal or a place to stay.
10  God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another.
11  Do you have the gift of speaking? Then speak as though God himself were speaking through you. Do you have the gift of helping others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ. All glory and power to him forever and ever! Amen.

Suffering for Doing Good (I Peter 3:13-22) New Living Translation

13  Now, who will want to harm you if you are eager to do good?

14  But even if you suffer for doing what is right, God will reward you for it. So don’t worry or be afraid of their threats.

15  Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it.

16  But do this in a gentle and respectful way.  Keep your conscience clear. Then if people speak against you, they will be ashamed when they see what a good life you live because you belong to Christ.

17  Remember, it is better to suffer for doing good, if that is what God wants, than to suffer for doing wrong!

18  Christ suffered for our sins once for all time. He never sinned, but he died for sinners to bring you safely home to God. He suffered physical death, but he was raised to life in the Spirit.

19  So he went and preached to the spirits in prison—

20  those who disobeyed God long ago when God waited patiently while Noah was building his boat. Only eight people were saved from drowning in that terrible flood.

21  And that water is a picture of baptism, which now saves you, not by removing dirt from your body, but as a response to God from a clean conscience. It is effective because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

22  Now Christ has gone to heaven. He is seated in the place of honor next to God, and all the angels and authorities and powers accept his authority.

Wives, Husbands, and All Christians (I Peter 3:1-12) New Living Translation

1   In the same way, you wives must accept the authority of your husbands. Then, even if some refuse to obey the Good News, your godly lives will speak to them without any words. They will be won over
2     by observing your pure and reverent lives.
3    Don’t be concerned about the outward beauty of fancy hairstyles, expensive jewelry, or beautiful clothes.
4    You should clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God.
5    This is how the holy women of old made themselves beautiful. They put their trust in God and accepted the authority of their husbands.
6    For instance, Sarah obeyed her husband, Abraham, and called him her master. You are her daughters when you do what is right without fear of what your husbands might do.
7    In the same way, you husbands must give honor to your wives. Treat your wife with understanding as you live together. She may be weaker than you are, but she is your equal partner in God’s gift of new life. Treat her as you should so your prayers will not be hindered.
8    Finally, all of you should be of one mind. Sympathize with each other. Love each other as brothers and sisters. Be tenderhearted, and keep a humble attitude.
9    Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God has called you to do, and he will grant you his blessing.
10  For the Scriptures say, “If you want to enjoy life and see many happy days, keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies.
11  Turn away from evil and do good. Search for peace, and work to maintain it.
12  The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right, and his ears are open to their prayers.
But the Lord turns his face against those who do evil.”

Respecting People in Authority (I Peter 2:13-25) New Living Translation

13  For the Lord’s sake, submit to all human authority—whether the king as head of state,

14  or the officials he has appointed. For the king has sent them to punish those who do wrong and to honor those who do right.

15  It is God’s will that your honorable lives should silence those ignorant people who make foolish accusations against you.

16  For you are free, yet you are God’s slaves, so don’t use your freedom as an excuse to do evil.

17  Respect everyone, and love the family of believers. Fear God, and respect the king.

18  You who are slaves must submit to your masters with all respect.  Do what they tell you—not only if they are kind and reasonable, but even if they are cruel.

19  For God is pleased when, conscious of his will, you patiently endure unjust treatment.

20  Of course, you get no credit for being patient if you are beaten for doing wrong. But if you suffer for doing good and endure it patiently, God is pleased with you.

21  For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. He is your example, and you must follow in his steps.

22  He never sinned, nor ever deceived anyone. 

23  He did not retaliate when he was insulted, nor threaten revenge when he suffered.  He left his case in the hands of God,  who always judges fairly.

24  He personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right.  By his wounds you are healed.

25  Once you were like sheep who wandered away.  But now you have turned to your Shepherd, the Guardian of your souls.

 

Living Stones for God's House (I Peter 2:1-12) New Living Translation

1    So get rid of all evil behavior. Be done with all deceit, hypocrisy, jealousy, and all unkind speech.
2    Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation. Cry out for this nourishment,
3    now that you have had a taste of the Lord’s kindness.
4    You are coming to Christ, who is the living cornerstone of God’s temple. He was rejected by people, but he was chosen by God for great honor.
5   And you are living stones that God is building into his spiritual temple. What’s more, you are his holy priests. Through the mediation of Jesus Christ, you offer spiritual sacrifices that please God.
6    As the Scriptures say, “I am placing a cornerstone in Jerusalem, chosen for great honor, and anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced.”
7    Yes, you who trust him recognize the honor God has given him. But for those who reject him,

“The stone that the builders rejected has now become the cornerstone.”

8    And, “He is the stone that makes people stumble, the rock that makes them fall.”  They stumble because they do not obey God’s word, and so they meet the fate that was planned for them.

9    But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests,  a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.

10  “Once you had no identity as a people; now you are God’s people.  Once you received no mercy;
    now you have received God’s mercy.”

11  Dear friends, I warn you as “temporary residents and foreigners” to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against your very souls. 

12  Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. Then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God when he judges the world.

A Call to Holy Living ( I Peter 1:13-25) New Living Translation

13  So prepare your minds for action and exercise self-control. Put all your hope in the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world.

14  So you must live as God’s obedient children. Don’t slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires. You didn’t know any better then.

15  But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy.

16  For the Scriptures say, “You must be holy because I am holy.”

17  And remember that the heavenly Father to whom you pray has no favorites. He will judge or reward you according to what you do. So you must live in reverent fear of him during your time here as “temporary residents.”

18  For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And it was not paid with mere gold or silver, which lose their value.

19  It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God.

20  God chose him as your ransom long before the world began, but now in these last days he has been revealed for your sake.

21  Through Christ you have come to trust in God. And you have placed your faith and hope in God because he raised Christ from the dead and gave him great glory.

22  You were cleansed from your sins when you obeyed the truth, so now you must show sincere love to each other as brothers and sisters.   Love each other deeply with all your heart.

23  For you have been born again, but not to a life that will quickly end. Your new life will last forever because it comes from the eternal, living word of God.

24  As the Scriptures say, “People are like grass; their beauty is like a flower in the field.  The grass withers and the flower fades.

25  But the word of the Lord remains forever.”  And that word is the Good News that was preached to you.

Living Stones for God's House (I Peter 2:1-12) New Living Translation

1   So get rid of all evil behavior. Be done with all deceit, hypocrisy, jealousy, and all unkind speech.
2   Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation. Cry out for this nourishment,
3   now that you have had a taste of the Lord’s kindness.
4   You are coming to Christ, who is the living cornerstone of God’s temple. He was rejected by people, but he was chosen by God for great honor.
5   And you are living stones that God is building into his spiritual temple. What’s more, you are his holy priests. Through the mediation of Jesus Christ, you offer spiritual sacrifices that please God.
6   As the Scriptures say, “I am placing a cornerstone in Jerusalem, chosen for great honor, and anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced.”
7   Yes, you who trust him recognize the honor God has given him.  But for those who reject him,

“The stone that the builders rejected has now become the cornerstone.”

8   And, “He is the stone that makes people stumble, the rock that makes them fall.”  They stumble because they do not obey God’s word, and so they meet the fate that was planned for them.

9   But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.

10  “Once you had no identity as a people; now you are God’s people.  Once you received no mercy;
    now you have received God’s mercy.”

11  Dear friends, I warn you as “temporary residents and foreigners” to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against your very souls.

12  Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. Then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God when he judges the world.

A Call to Holy Living (I Peter 1:13-25) New Living Translation

13  So prepare your minds for action and exercise self-control. Put all your hope in the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world.

14  So you must live as God’s obedient children. Don’t slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires. You didn’t know any better then.

15  But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy.

16  For the Scriptures say, “You must be holy because I am holy.”

17  And remember that the heavenly Father to whom you pray has no favorites. He will judge or reward you according to what you do. So you must live in reverent fear of him during your time here as “temporary residents.”

18  For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And it was not paid with mere gold or silver, which lose their value.

19  It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God.

20  God chose him as your ransom long before the world began, but now in these last days he has been revealed for your sake.

21  Through Christ you have come to trust in God. And you have placed your faith and hope in God because he raised Christ from the dead and gave him great glory.

22  You were cleansed from your sins when you obeyed the truth, so now you must show sincere love to each other as brothers and sisters.  Love each other deeply with all your heart.

23  For you have been born again, but not to a life that will quickly end. Your new life will last forever because it comes from the eternal, living word of God. ²⁴ As the Scriptures say, “People are like grass; their beauty is like a flower in the field.  The grass withers and the flower fades.

25  But the word of the Lord remains forever.”  And that word is the Good News that was preached to you.

The Hope for Eternal Life (I Peter 1:1-12) New Living Translation

1   This letter is from Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ.
I am writing to God’s chosen people who are living as foreigners in the provinces of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia.
2   God the Father knew you and chose you long ago, and his Spirit has made you holy. As a result, you have obeyed him and have been cleansed by the blood of Jesus Christ.  May God give you more and more grace and peace.
3   All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by his great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation,
4   and we have a priceless inheritance—an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay.
5   And through your faith, God is protecting you by his power until you receive this salvation, which is ready to be revealed on the last day for all to see.
6   So be truly glad.  There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while.
7   These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.
8   You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy.
9   The reward for trusting him will be the salvation of your souls.
10  This salvation was something even the prophets wanted to know more about when they prophesied about this gracious salvation prepared for you. ¹
11  They wondered what time or situation the Spirit of Christ within them was talking about when he told them in advance about Christ’s suffering and his great glory afterward.
12  They were told that their messages were not for themselves, but for you. And now this Good News has been announced to you by those who preached in the power of the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. It is all so wonderful that even the angels are eagerly watching these things happen.

The Power of Prayer (James 5:13-20) New Living Translation

13  Are any of you suffering hardships? You should pray. Are any of you happy? You should sing praises.

14  Are any of you sick? You should call for the elders of the church to come and pray over you, anointing you with oil in the name of the Lord.

15  Such a prayer offered in faith will heal the sick, and the Lord will make you well. And if you have committed any sins, you will be forgiven.

16  Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.

17  Elijah was as human as we are, and yet when he prayed earnestly that no rain would fall, none fell for three and a half years!

18  Then, when he prayed again, the sky sent down rain and the earth began to yield its crops.

19  My dear brothers and sisters, if someone among you wanders away from the truth and is brought back,

20  you can be sure that whoever brings the sinner back from wandering will save that person from death and bring about the forgiveness of many sins.

Patience and Endurance (James 5:7-12) New Living Translation

7   Dear brothers and sisters, be patient as you wait for the Lord’s return. Consider the farmers who patiently wait for the rains in the fall and in the spring. They eagerly look for the valuable harvest to ripen.

8   You, too, must be patient. Take courage, for the coming of the Lord is near.

9   Don’t grumble about each other, brothers and sisters, or you will be judged. For look—the Judge is standing at the door!

10  For examples of patience in suffering, dear brothers and sisters, look at the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.

11  We give great honor to those who endure under suffering. For instance, you know about Job, a man of great endurance. You can see how the Lord was kind to him at the end, for the Lord is full of tenderness and mercy.

12  But most of all, my brothers and sisters, never take an oath, by heaven or earth or anything else. Just say a simple yes or no, so that you will not sin and be condemned.

Warning to the Rich (James 5:1-6) New Living Translation

1  Look here, you rich people: Weep and groan with anguish because of all the terrible troubles ahead of you.
2  Your wealth is rotting away, and your fine clothes are moth-eaten rags.
3  Your gold and silver are corroded. The very wealth you were counting on will eat away your flesh like fire. This corroded treasure you have hoarded will testify against you on the day of judgment.
4  For listen! Hear the cries of the field workers whom you have cheated of their pay. The cries of those who harvest your fields have reached the ears of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.
5  You have spent your years on earth in luxury, satisfying your every desire. You have fattened yourselves for the day of slaughter.
6  You have condemned and killed innocent people, who do not resist you.

Warning Against Judging Others and About Self-Confidence (James 4:11-17) New Living Translation

11  Don’t speak evil against each other, dear brothers and sisters. If you criticize and judge each other, then you are criticizing and judging God’s law. But your job is to obey the law, not to judge whether it applies to you.

12  God alone, who gave the law, is the Judge. He alone has the power to save or to destroy. So what right do you have to judge your neighbor?

13  Look here, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we are going to a certain town and will stay there a year. We will do business there and make a profit.”

14  How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone.

15  What you ought to say is, “If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that.”

16  Otherwise you are boasting about your own pretentious plans, and all such boasting is evil.

17  Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it.