cannyben

Mathew 14:23-33 "But Jesus immediately said to them : Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid. " Mathew 14:27. One night, Peter and the other disciples were sailing across the Sea of Galilee when a strong storm arose. All of a sudden, Jesus showed up walking on water! This took the disciples by surprise. He reassured them - "Take courage ! It is I. Don't be afraid. " Peter impulsively asked Jesus if he could join Him, and stepped out of the boat, and walked towards Jesus. But he soon lost focus, became aware of the dangerous and humanly impossible circumstances he was in, and started sinking. He cried out, "Lord, save me! ", and Jesus rescued him. Like Peter, we can learn that Jesus is with us, even in the storms of life.

Numbers 13:30. 14:9 "We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it. " Numbers 13:30. Caleb and Joshua said, "... the Lord is with us. Do not be afraid of them. " Unbelief never lets us go beyond the difficulties. It engages us with human resources. Faith, on the other hand, though never minimizes the dangers and difficulties of any situation, looks away from them to God, and counts on His invisible presence and power.

Matthew 6:8 "Your Father knows what you need before you ask Him." When we pray we need to shift our own concerns and praise God for his love and protection with thanksgiving. God already cares about our concerns -- a loved one's cancer, a broken family, a rebellious teenager, financial concerns --- our Father knows more than we do ! All that we need to ask what part we can play in His work on earth. With this new starting point for prayer, our perceptions change. Prayer channels God's supply to our needs.

Colossians 4:2 "Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful." Through prayer God prepares us for the encounter and our prayer is a part of His providential care. Even in the most mundane moments, God directs our paths and keeps us in His mercy, strength and love.

Proverbs 11:23-31 "A generous person will prosper, whoever refreshes others will be refreshed. " Proverbs 11:25. When we are generous with others, we're likely to experience generosity. But we shouldn't give, expecting something in return. But when we're generous, God is pleased, and often finds a way to refresh us.

Mark 1:15 "The kingdom of God is near Repent and believe the good news." When the Supernatural makes contact with the planet Earth, God takes an approach that we need not fear. Introducing Jesus, the Son of God; coming out of obscurity, this unique God - Man preaches, performs miracles and encounters both great popularity and deadly opposition. God didn't give us the spirit of fear but a sound mind.

Matthew 27:46 About ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani ?" - which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me ?" Does God listen to our cries? We must leave the unknowable to the all knowing One. He is listening and working things out His way, and in His time! When we bend our knees to pray, God bends His ears to listen.

Proverbs 11:23-31 "A generous person will prosper, whoever refreshes others will be refreshed. " Proverbs 11:25. When we are generous with others, we're likely to experience generosity. But we shouldn't give, expecting something in return. But when we're generous, God is pleased, and often finds a way to refresh us, sometimes materially, and other times spiritually.

Acts 9:1-22 "At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God. " Acts 9:20. Once Paul was one of the most feared persecutors of the church, until his encounter with Christ. His drastic transformation added to the credibility of his Spirit empowered teaching. Our first personal encounter with Jesus may not be as dramatic as Paul's, but Christ's love is changing us over time.

Genesis 39:6-12, 20-23 While Joseph was there in the prison, the Lord was with him. Genesis 39:20-21 In the account from Genesis 37 , Joseph had no idea what would happen to him after he was mercilessly sold by his brothers to the merchants who took him to Egypt and sold him to Potiphar. He found himself in a culture surrounded by people who believed in many gods. To make things worse, he was falsely accused, leading to his being sent to the prison. Yet God did not abandon him. Not only was He with Joseph, but He "gave him success in everything he did " and even "showed him kindness and granted him favor " with those in authority.

Luke 23:32-46 "The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life.... No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. " John 10:17-18. Even in his final hours, Jesus showed His love for us. He showed it to the mocking soldiers who nailed Him, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing. " He gave hope to a criminal, crucified with Him, "...today you will be with me in paradise. " Looking at John, He told His mother, "...here is your son ". And, He told to John, "Here is your mother. " Jesus' last act of obedience and love was to trust the Father, "Into your hands I commit my spirit. "

John1:14 "The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.We have seen his glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth." The creation is one example, when God spoke the word and the earth came into existence. Here the word refers Jesus Christ who is distinct from the Father and yet is God in fullest sense. It's all about God's active and personal involvement in the world. Jesus unlike any other, is God's One and Only divine Son who is the only person both fully divine and fully human.

Isaiah 53:1-6 "We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way.... " Isaiah 53:6. We stray in several ways, doing what displeases the Lord, hurting others by our conduct, and not spending time with God and in His Word, as we're too "busy " with ourselves. We behave like sheep in the field. But we've the Good Shepherd, who laid down His life for us. He carries our sorrows and sins as our shepherd. He calls us to the safe pasture, so that we follow Him closely.

Job 38:1-22 " Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men." Colossians 3:23 God designed us and entrusted us with the desire to work to care for the Earth and its creatures. No matter what work we do, God empowers and gives us what we need to work wholeheartedly for Him.

Colossians 3:5 "Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immortality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry." The earthly nature and the deeds it typically produces are strong for mere human will-power to resist. But Christ living within us can overcome the earthly nature. By increasing our trust in Christ, His Spirit increasingly gives us the strength to follow His commands. Overtime, as we pursue our relationship with the Holy Spirit, the earthly nature is overshadowed and the new creation comes to dominate.

Psalm 50:15 "Call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver you, and you will honour me." Our God is the sovereign Lord of the universe who needs no sacrifice. He is our Redeemer, Healer, Friend. We must always have a faithful and a sincere heart with an attitude of gratitude for Him.

Luke 9:23 "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me." The Kingdom of God belongs to those who recognize their Spiritual poverty and see their need for God's help. We must avoid any selfishness or unhealthy pride that could inhabit the genuine humility and faith God desires. Without denying our self-worth, Jesus asks us to deny our self- centeredness so that his priorities becomes ours.

Micah 7:7 "But for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Saviour; my God will hear me." In an increasingly violent society, when God seems distant and uninvolved, we must remember that He still cares and offers hope for those who choose to watch, wait and Pray.

John 14:15-21 "If you love me, keep my commands. " John 14:15. Jesus said, "if you love me, keep my commands ". He also said, "I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and will be with you forever--the Spirit of truth ". It is by the work of the Spirit, who is with us and in us that we can learn to obey Jesus and keep His commands.

1 Thessalonians 2:1-4 "We are not trying to please people but God, who tests our hearts. " 1 Thessalonians 2:4. What does it mean to seek God's approval? It involves two things - turning from the desire for the praise of others, and allowing His Spirit to make us more like Christ, the One who loved us and gave Himself for us.