When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. Now there were staying in Jerusalem God fearing Jews from every nation under heaven.  When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. Utterly amazed, they asked: “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language? Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!” Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?” Some, however, made fun of them and said, “They have had too much wine.”

For a Jew however the day of Pentecost will most likely bring to mind a different event.  Fifty days after the first Passover (commemorating deliverance from slavery in Egypt), the Israelites camped at the base of Mount Sinai received the 10 commandments, or “the law,” from God. If you’ve seen Cecil B. DeMille’s epic “The Ten Commandments” you probably remember that scene where Charlton Heston as Moses is coming down from the mountain holding the two tablets of the law.

The last couple of Sundays we’ve been contrasting law and grace representing the old and the new covenants, respectively. These two instances of Pentecost are  powerful illustrations of the difference between law and grace. This law vs. grace contrast is one that is common in scripture. In John 1:17 for example we read:

“For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.”

There are many interesting parallels between the Day of Pentecost at Sinai when Moses delivered the law and the Day of Pentecost in Acts when the Holy Spirit fell upon the disciples. Let’s look at a few.

1. 3,000 died- 3,000 saved

In Exodus 32 we read that while Moses was on Mt. Sinai receiving the law from God the people of Israel grew impatient and built a golden idol in the shape of a calf.

When the people saw that Moses was so long in coming down from the mountain, they gathered around Aaron and said, “Come, make us gods who will go before us. As for this fellow Moses who brought us up out of Egypt, we don’t know what has happened to him.” Aaron answered them, “Take off the gold earrings that your wives, your sons and your daughters are wearing, and bring them to me.” So all the people took off their earrings and brought them to Aaron. He took what they handed him and made it into an idol cast in the shape of a calf, fashioning it with a tool. Then they said, “These are your gods, Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt.”   

(Exodus 32:5-7)

   As a result of this we read that Moses commanded men from the tribe of Levi to kill those involved in this idolatry.

“Moses saw that the people were running wild and that Aaron had let them get out of control and so become a laughingstock to their enemies. So he stood at the entrance to the camp and said, “Whoever is for the LORD, come to me.” And all the Levites rallied to him. Then he said to them, “This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘Each man strap a sword to his side. Go back and forth through the camp from one end to the other, each killing his brother and friend and neighbor.’ ” The Levites did as Moses commanded, and that day about three thousand of the people died. ”   

(Exodus 32:25-28)

When we compare the events of the book of Acts, in response to Peter’s preaching, we read the following:

Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.” With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.

(Acts 2:38-41)

Do you see the contrast? In Exodus 3,000 die in Acts 3,000 are reborn. This is what Paul was referring to in 2 Corinthians 4:

 ”He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant—not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. Now if the ministry that brought death, which was engraved in letters on stone, came with glory…will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious? If the ministry that brought condemnation was glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry that brings righteousness!”

2.  Drunk?

Oddly enough drunkenness factors into both of these events- in the first instance a reality as a product of the drunken orgy described in Exodus 32 in the second as an accusation against the disciples in Jerusalem who were filled with the Holy Spirit.

Aaron saw how excited the people were, so he built an altar in front of the calf. Then he announced, “Tomorrow will be a festival to the Lord!” The people got up early the next morning to sacrifice burnt offerings and peace offerings. After this, they celebrated with feasting and drinking, and they indulged in pagan revelry.

(Exod. 32:5-6)

 …we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!” Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?” Some, however, made fun of them and said, “They have had too much wine.”

(Acts 2:12-13)

Perhaps this is what Paul was thinking of when he wrote this in Ephesians 5:18

 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit…

   3. Fire and tongues

At the beginning of this post we cited Acts 2 where “tongues of fire” rested on the disciples and they began to speak in other languages:

 ’They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.”

This actually also has a parallel in what happened at Sinai with the people of Israel. While this is not described in the Bible it is well documented in the Jewish traditional writings and as such was probably quite familiar to the people present at Pentecost in the book of Acts.

The Midrash speaks of flames of fire which came to each individual at Sinai:

 ”On the occasion of the giving of the Torah, the Children of Israel not only heard the LORD’s Voice, but actually saw the sound waves as they emerged from the LORD’s mouth. They visualized them as a fiery substance. Each commandment that left the LORD’s mouth traveled around the entire camp and then came back to every Jew individually.” (The Midrash Says. Shemot)

The second miracle the Midrash preserves is the voice of God speaking in every language known to man. In Rabbinic lore, there are 70 mother languages that represent all the known languages of the world.

 ”It says, “And all the people witnessed the thunderings.” (Exodus 20:15) Note that it does not say “the thunder,” but “the thunderings”; wherefore R. Yochanan said that God’s voice, as it was uttered, split up into seventy voices, in seventy languages, so that all the nations should understand.” (Shemot Midrash Rabbah 5:9)

There are numerous other parallels but I’ll stop here. The writer of Hebrews sums up the differences between the two instances of Pentecost by metaphorically likening them to two mountains- Sinai (law) and Zion (grace).

 You have not come to a mountain (Sinai) that can be touched and that is burning with fire; to darkness, gloom and storm; to a trumpet blast or to such a voice speaking words that those who heard it begged that no further word be spoken to them, because they could not bear what was commanded: “If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned to death.” The sight was so terrifying that Moses said, “I am trembling with fear.”

But you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the Judge of all, to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.  

(Hebrews 12:18-24)

Second, there are the powerful personal stories of the two theives–one defiant and one repentant–stories that become even more poingant when we reflect that they speak directly to each of us–weare just like one thief or the other.

Third, there is the incredible love, grace and mercy of Jesus who cares, in the middle of his own unimaginable pain, abut the guy on the cross next to him. 

And then there are the three practical implications that we discussed…

1. Sacramentalism is refuted at the cross - The concept that the grace of God is dispensed only through the sacraments (baptism, communion, etc.) which are available only through the church falls when we see the secnd thief had no chance to be batized, take communion, etc. 

2. Purgatory is refuted at the cross – Likewise, the second thief was transformed from guiloty sinner to forgiven saint by faith in Jesus and would be that very day in Paradise (a Persian concept meaning “garden” as in the original Garden of Eden where all was perfect, peaceful and God was present) with Jesus.

3. Universalism is refuted at the cross – Rob Bell’s well-intended but Biblically misguided emotionalism that “Love Wins” in the end and all will be saved (see page page 109, paragraph 4) falls when we recognize that “one thief was saved so that none lose hope; yet only one so that none may presume” (C.I. Scofield). Here’s a helpful blog post by Kevin DeYoung that sorts out and answers the issues Bell’s book raises.

In the end, I just praise God that he loves me and extends mercy to me that I can accept by faith that the death of Jesus is enough to justify me and redeem me (see Ephesians 2:8, 9).

Resting in Him,
Steve

1. Father forgive them, for they know not what they do (Luke 23:34).
2. Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise (Luke 23:43).
3. Woman, behold your son: behold your mother (John 19:26-27).
4. My God, My God, why have you forsaken me! (Matthew 27:46 and Mark 15:34).
5. I thirst (John 19:28).
6. It is finished (John 19:30).
7. Father, into your hands I commit my spirit (Luke 23:46).

Traditionally, these seven sayings are called words of… 1. Forgiveness, 2. Salvation, 3. Relationship, 4. Abandonment, 5. Distress, 6. Triumph and 7. Reunion.

Notice that there are three sayings found in the Gospel by Luke, three are found in the Gospel by John, and one is found in both the Gospel by Matthew and Mark (but not in Luke or John). Gospel has all seven.

Take some quiet time to read these texts in their surrounding context and contemplate what Jesus was saying — and how He might be speaking to your heart today.

Resting in Him,
Steve

Okay, so we talked Sunday (Feb 19, 2012) about the last words of Jesus from the cross. The first of His 7 sayings was powerful: “Father, forgive them; they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34). And we talked a bit about forgiving others …

because it mirrors the character of God,
because our forgivness to others is the face and voice of Jesus to them, and
because my motivation to forgive you is my own forgivenness.

Here are the Six Steps for Receiving Forgivess from others:
     1. Admit what you did was wrong or hurtful. Name it: “I was wrong when I …”
     2. Try to understand / empathize with the pain you have caused.
     3. Take full responsibility for your actions (ie, no blame, no excuses) and make restitution
     4. Assure your partner you will not to do it again.
     5. Apologize and ask for forgiveness. — “I am sorry. Will you please forgive me?”
     6. Forgive yourself.

“Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you have against one another. Forgive as the Lord
forgave you.” – Colossians 3:13

And here are the Six Steps for Giving Forgiveness to others:
     1. Admit your pain and anger. Allow yourself to feel disrespected. Name it: “I feel …”
     2. Be specific about your future expectations and limits.
     3. Give up your right to “get even,” but insist on being treated better in the future.
     4. Let go of blame, resentment, and negativity toward your partner.
     5. Communicate your act of forgiveness to your partner. Name it: “I forgive you.”
     6. Work toward reconciliation (when safe).

“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” – Ephesians 4:32

Resting in Him,
Steve

“The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude, to me, is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, the education, the money, than circumstances, than failure, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness or skill. It will make or break a company… a church… a home. The remarkable thing is we have a choice everyday regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past… we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude. I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% of how I react to it. And so it is with us … we are in charge of our attitude.”

Okay, attitude is a choice, not an inherited trait, so we can lose the “I can’t help it; I was born this way! That’s just the way I am!” excuse. So which attitude do you choose? Here’s a quick test:

Would most of your friends say that you are…
     – Mostly Positive (the glass is half full) or … Mostly Negative (the glass is half empty)
     – Usually Thankful and Appreciative or … Usually Disappointed and Complaining
     – Friendly and Welcoming or … Cold and Offputting
     – Easy to get along with or … Senstitive and ”High Maintenance”
     – Affirming and Accepting or … Critical and Fault Finding
     – A Faithful Friend or … Unreliable and Untrustworthy
     – Humble or … Proud
     – Other-Centered (It’s really not about me) or … Self-Centered (It’s all about me)     
     – Kind or… Selfish 
     - Welcomes helpful criticism or … Thin-skinned, unable to take any criticism  
     – Generous/A Giver or … Cheap/A Taker    
     – Responsible for yourself or … Needy and Expecting

We all have a choice to make about our attitude every morning when we put our feet on the floor: What is my attitude going to be today towards my family and  friends, my co-workers, my classmates and teammates? Choose wisely and well. No excuses.

Resting in Him,
Steve    

God tested Abraham, and said to him, ‘Abraham!’ And he said, ‘Here I am.’ Then He said, ‘Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.’ So Abraham rose early in the morning and saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son . . . . And Abraham said to his young men, ‘Stay here with the donkey; the lad and I will go yonder and worship, and we will come back to you.’ (Genesis 22:1–5 NKJV)

The first time that the word worship shows up in Scripture is here in Genesis 22:5. What I find amazing is that it comes in the context of God asking Abraham to sacrifice his son, Isaac. Understand that for decades Abraham had cried out and pleaded to God for a son. It was when Abraham was 100 years old that Isaac was finally born to him! If there was anything near and dear to Abraham’s heart, it was his long-awaited and much-beloved son. And yet, God calls Abraham to offer him up as a sacrifice, which is what he sets out to do.

Notice how the Bible describes Abraham’s attitude at this point; it says that he went forward with an attitude of worship. This is amazing because at this point Abraham doesn’t know how the story ends. He doesn’t know that the angel of the Lord will come at the last minute and tell him to put down his knife. In this moment of the unknown, Abraham makes the decision to worship his God.

This shows us something very powerful about worship—it can happen (and even thrive) during unknown and scary moments in our lives. We can still worship, even when we don’t know how the story ends. And it’s in these times of worship that we hear God’s divine direction and guidance.

But the Angel of the LORD called to him from heaven and said, ‘Abraham, Abraham!’ So he said, ‘Here I am.’ And He said, ‘Do not lay your hand on the lad, or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me.’ (Genesis 22:11–12 NKJV)

Good thoughts! Worship can happen, and even thrive, during unknown and scary moments in our lives.

Resting in Him,
Steve

1. Both fulfilled promises:
        Isaac was the long-promised son to Abraham and Sarah (Genesis 12:3)
        Jesus was the long-promised Messiah (Genesis 3:15; 13:3)
2. Both were miracle babies
        Isaac was born when Sarah was more than 100 years old! (Genesis 21:1-7)
        Jesus was born to a Jr High-age virgin named Mary! (Luke 2:1-7)
3. Both were the only son of their father
        God said that Isaac was “Your son, your only son, whom you live…” to Abraham(Genesis 22: 2)
        God said “This is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased!” (Matthew 3:16, 17)
4. Both were loved by their fathers (Genesis 22:2; Matthew 3:16, 17)
5. Both went from peace to brutal sacrifice
          Isaac from a peaceful  life in Beersheba to the altar on Mt. Moriah
          Jesus from the glories of heaven to the cross on Golgotha 
6. Both had a 3-day experience
          Isaac had a 3-day hike to Mt. Moriah
          Jesus had 3 days from the cross to the grave to the resurrection
7.  Both accompanied by 2 men
          Isaac by two servants (Genesis 22:3)
          Jesus by two thieves (Matthew 27:38)
8. Both carried their own wood
         Isaac carried the wood for his own sacrifice (Genesis 22:6)
         Jesus carried the crossbeam of his cross (John 19:17)
9. Both submitted to their father
           Isaac willingly laid down , submitting to his father (Genesis 22:9)
           Jesus submitted to his Father’s plan and will (Luke 22:42)
10. Isaac needed a lamb; Jesus is the Lamb 
            Isaac needed a substitute or he would surely die (Genesis 22:10)
           Jesus is the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29)
11. Both asked a question of their father
           Isaac asked Abraham “Here is the fire and the wood, Father, but where is the lamb for the burned offering? (Genesis 22:7)
           Jesus cried “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” from the cross (Matthew 27:46)
 12. Both were brought back from the dead 
           Isaac was “brought back” figuratively (Genesis 22:12)
           Jesus rose from the dead 3 days after he was crucified (Matthew 28:6,7) 
13. Both took a bride
         Isaac took Rebecca for his bride (Genesis 24)|
         Jesus died as a sacrifice to purify his own “bride,” the church (Ephesians 5:25-32) 

Pretty neat!

Resting in Him,
Steve

And we saw that God indeed provided the lamb that Isaac desparately needed in the form of a ram, caught by his horns, in the thicket.

That concept — God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering — is a story that is born out over and over again throughout the Scriptures — from Genesis to Revelation — as God always provides a way out. Here are some suggestions for you to meditate on…

• After Adam and Eve fall in temptation to sin in the Garden, God provided the animal skins for their first clothes — which required a … Sacrifice. See Genesis 3 and notice verse 21.
• When God chooses to judge the entire creation with a universal flood because of their defiant sin, God provided a way of escape for Noah and Mrs. Noah, their sons and their wives … the Ark. (Once on dry ground again Noah and his family offered a sacrifice to God.)  Read about it in Genesis chapters 6-8.
• When God judged the nation of Egypt that had enslaved the descendants of Abraham fo 400 years with the Angel of Death, God provided a way of escape for the Isrealites with … the lamb taking the place of the first-born son in each household.  Read about it in Exodus chapters 11 and 12.
• When the Israelites moaned and griped, complained and whined in the dessert on their way to the Promised Land, God sent poisonous vipers among them. When they pleaded for mercy God provided a way for healing — a bronze serpent lifted up on a pole in the center of the camp. All who turned and looked at serpent on the pole would be healed and live! (Numbers 24:4-9). Jesus later would say that just as the serpent was lifted up, so the Son of Man would be lifted up and that all who looked to Him would be saved (John 3:14).  
• And at the other end of the story of God’s grand eternal plan for redemption of His creation, we see the Lamb that God provided as our substitute … “a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain…” Read Revelation chpater 4 and 5.

“Behold Jesus, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” – John 1:29

Face it, God is gracious to you. God loves you deeply. And just when you need it the most, He has provided the Lamb that you and I desperately needed. Jehovah-Jirah, my Provider indeed!

Resting in Him,
Steve

Here are some examples of remez that we didn’t consider last Sunday.

1.  Jesus uses the title “Son of man” 85 times in the New Testament. Many have used this title to argue that Jesus was not divine but only a man and a great “moral teacher” completely missing the point of the reference. The title ”Son of man” hearkens back to Daniel 7:13-14:

“As my vision continued that night, I saw someone like a son of man coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient One and was led into his presence. ¹⁴ He was given authority, honor, and sovereignty over all the nations of the world, so that people of every race and nation and language would obey him. His rule is eternal—it will never end. His kingdom will never be destroyed.”

In using the title “Son of man” Jesus was in fact not affirming his humanity but his divinity.

2.  Another example is what we read in Matthew 5:1-2 as Jesus prepares to deliver the Sermon on the Mount.

“When Jesus saw the crowds, He went up on the mountain; and after He sat down, His disciples came to Him. He opened His mouth and began to teach them, saying…”

The Sermon on the Mount was Jesus’ introduction as an authoritative teacher. In fact when Jesus finished the teaching Matthew relates that “the crowds were amazed at his teaching, because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.” (Matt. 7:28-29) The concept of authority (shmikah) was an important one in the Judaism of Jesus day. Rabbis generally reiterated the teachings of the rabbis before them. A teacher with “authority” would make his own pronouncements. Very few rabbis historically were said to have had shmikah. We see Jesus exercising this authority for example when he says “you have heard this said… but I say… .”

There are several “hints” of note in the Matthew 5:1-2 passage. First of all “he went up on the mountain.” This is meant to call to mind Moses going up Mount Sinai to receive the law from God. In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus is presenting a new interpretation of the Law.

Next, the verse says “after He sat down.” Why is this important? Why mention it? Sitting has an important connotation in the scripture. For example, the Bible says that Jesus is seated at the right hand of God- not standing but sitting. In our culture a teacher will stand to deliver a message. In Jesus’ culture a teacher would sit. This is a sign of authority. Synagogues in Jesus day would have the figurative “seat of Moses” where a rabbi would teach. In fact at the ruins of the synagogue at Capernaum you can still see the “seat of Moses” today. When Jesus is condemning the scribes and Pharisees in Matthew 23 he says: “The scribes and the Pharisees have seated themselves in the chair of Moses therefore all that they tell you, do and observe, but do not do according to their deeds; for they say things and do not do them.” (Matthew 23:1-3).

By mentioning Jesus sitting Matthew is again drawing a parallel to Moses delivering the law.

Finally, the text says: “He opened His mouth and began to teach them, saying….”  This seems superfluous right? Have you ever said anything without opening your mouth? Maybe if you’re a ventriloquist. Why mention this? Again, this is a remez, it is the Biblical indicator of “speaking authoritatively” adapted from the Hebrew “VaYa’an vaY’omer.”

3. One more. In Matthew 11:2-6 we read:

When John heard in prison what the Messiah was doing, he sent his disciples to ask him, “Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?” Jesus replied, “Go back and report to John what you hear and see: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor. Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.”

John’s disciples ask Jesus a simple question: “Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?” The phrase “one who is to come” is from the Messianic Psalm 118

“Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the LORD!” (Psalm 118:26)

It seems that a “yes” or “no” answer would be appropriate but instead Jesus offers a bit of a cryptic response. Again this is an example of a remez. The various parts of Jesus’ response would bring a number of Messianic passages from the Old Testament to the mind of the hearers that would answer the underlying question “are you the one” with a resounding “Yes!”

Let’s look at these parts:

The blind see, deaf hear and the sick are healed:

“In that day the deaf shall hear the words of the book, And the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity and out of darkness. The humble also shall increase their joy in the LORD, And the poor among men shall rejoice In the Holy One of Israel. ” (Isa 29:18-19)

“Strengthen the weak hands, And make firm the feeble knees. Say to those who are fearful-hearted, “Be strong, do not fear! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, With the recompense of God; He will come and save you.” Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, And the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. Then the lame shall leap like a deer, And the tongue of the dumb sing. For waters shall burst forth in the wilderness, And streams in the desert.” (Isa 35:4-6)

The poor have the Gospel preached to them:

“The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me, Because the LORD has anointed Me To preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives, And the opening of the prison to those who are bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, And the day of vengeance of our God.” (Isa 61:1-2)

These are all powerful verses that speak of Jesus as both Messiah and as God. Cool stuff.

These are just three examples but there are many, many more instances of remez in the NT.

Challenge: Why don’t you find one and share it with the readers!

Blessings

wes

In her blog piece, Elizabeth Burgard Fulgaro writes…

In our hearts we know the root of worry is fear – a fear circumstances will not turn out in the way we hope.  The opposite of fear (and worry) is trust.  This is not trust in our own abilities or a blind hope which chooses to believe that everything will turn out the way we want simply because we believe it will.

In order to conquer worry we are faced with the decision of whether or not we believe God is the God of the Bible.  If He is, then He is worthy of our trust.  In fact, He is the ONLY ONE worthy of our trust.

The bottom line is, will you trust God? Will you trust Him to BE God? Will you trust Him to do what only God can do? Will you rest in that trust and give up your fear? 

Read and soak in these promises from God to you in the middle of your fear…

Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again!” – Exodus 14:13

The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. – Deuteronomy 31:8

Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. – 1 Peter 5:7

Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall. – Psalm 55:22

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.  – Philippians 4:5-7

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?  Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?  – Matthew 6:25, 26

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. – Matthew 11:28

Here’s a suggestion to help turn your worry to worship: pick out 2 or 3 — or more — of these verses, write them out on a sticky-note or 3×5 card, and then stick them to your bathroom mirror, over the kitchen sink, on the dashboard of your car, or the edge of your computer monitor, wherever you’lll see them throguhout the day.

Soak in them. Rest in them. Trust God to be God. Then worship Him for His faithfulness in the past! Worship Him for His constant presence in the present. Worship Him for His purpose to be God in your future.

Resting in Him,
Steve