It is Finished

I don't believe that ever in history, anywhere, at any time, by anybody, were three words more pregnant with meaning than these three words given by one Man at the end of His life - “It is finished.”

[Leonard Ravenhill]

1 Peter 2:24 … Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.

2 Corinthians 5:21 … For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

Colossians 1:14 … In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins.

Psalm 32:1 … Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. ♥

Thoughts to Ponder

Words can't break bones, but they can break hearts.

Those who walk with God won't run from people's needs.

Sorrow looks back, worry looks around, but faith looks up.

We're richer when we give, and poorer when we keep.

Because of the cross of Christ, we can become friends of Christ.

Amid the darkness of sin, the light of God's grace shines in.

Enthusiasm for Christ is contagious -- has anyone caught it from you?

Be as patient with others as God has been with you.



It is better by far to die for something, than to live for nothing.

The God who sends you free will also sustain you.

It's always darkest before the dawn.

To change your outlook, remember God's looking out for you.

Confession of sin is not an admission of weakness, but a sign of strength.

The harder you work at what you should be, the less you'll try to hide what you are.

Reading the Bible without meditating on it is like eating without chewing.

Work well done for Christ will receive a "well done" from Christ.

Don't complain over what the world is coming to -- proclaim the One who is coming to the world.

Spiritual victory comes only to those who are prepared for battle.

Apply yourself to the scriptures, and the scriptures to yourself.

The Bible is not meant merely to inform, but to transform.

Grace is everything, for nothing, to those who don't deserve anything.

Courage is not the absence of fear, but the mastery of fear.

If you keep in step with God, you'll be out of step with the world.

Salvation is so simple we can overlook it, so profound we can never comprehend it.

To avoid lying, do nothing that needs to be covered-up.

Give your all to Christ, who gave His all for you.

There is always enough time to do God's will.

Love always seeks to help, never to hurt.

Never try to carry tomorrow's burdens with today's grace.

Nails could not have kept Jesus on the cross, had love not held Him there.

[Message from the Internet]

Eternal Rewards

No pain ~ no palm;
No thorns ~ no throne;
No gall ~ no glory;
No cross ~ no crown.

[William Penn]

Philippians 4:1 … Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved.

1 Corinthians 9:25 … And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.

2 Timothy 4:8 … Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

1 Peter 5:3-4 … Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being examples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.

1 Thessalonians 2:19 … For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?

James 1:12 … Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. ♥

Intimate Relationship

God is not a belief to which you give your assent. God becomes a reality whom you know intimately, meet everyday, one whose strength becomes your strength, whose love, your love. Live this life of the presence of God long enough and when someone asks you, “Do you believe there is a God?” you may find yourself answering, “No, I do not believe there is a God. I *know* there is a God!”

[Ernest Boyer, Jr.]

Hosea 2:20 … I will even betroth thee unto me in faithfulness: and thou shalt know the LORD.

John 17:3 … And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

Song of Solomon 2:16 … My beloved is mine, and I am his: he feedeth among the lilies.

1 John 4:13 … Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.

1 Corinthians 6:17 … But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit. ♥

God Created Marriage

God created marriage. No government subcommittee envisioned it. No social organization developed it. Marriage was conceived and born in the mind of God.

God could have given Adam a man, but he didn't. God could have given Adam two women, but he didn't. God could have given Eve to Adam for one night, but he didn't. He gave her to him for life.

And, in doing so, he gave us his definition of marriage.

One Man - One Woman - For Life.

[Max Lucado]

Genesis 2:22-23 … And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.

Genesis 2:24 … Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.

Matthew 19:6 … Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.

Ephesians 5:31-33 … For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.

1 Corinthians 7:2-3 … Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband. Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband.

1 Corinthians 11:11-12 … Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord. For as the woman is of the man, even so is the man also by the woman; but all things of God. ♥

He Knows My Name

When you are having problems and feel there's no help around;

First take one step forward to get to higher ground.

If you think that God doesn't hear you then that is really a shame;

Not only does He hear every prayer you say, He knows you … by your name.

It does not matter just where you are when you call upon the Lord;

He will be listening with a well-tuned ear and will understand every word.

Be ready to listen to what He says as He tell you what to do;

For that will be your instructions because the rest will be up to you.

You should thank Him for His kindness because He was standing by;

and not, as you thought, He had turned away and would never hear your cry.

Even though you have made so many mistakes, He will not hold you to blame;

For now you are fully forgiven. And remember … He knows you by your name.

[Author Unknown]

Isaiah 43:1 … But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine.

Isaiah 49:16 … Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me.

John 10:27 … My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:

1 Corinthians 8:3 … But if any man love God, the same is known of him. ♥

I Know That My Redeemer Lives

I know that my Redeemer lives!

What comfort this sweet sentence gives!

He lives, He lives, who once was dead;

He lives, my ever living Head.

He lives to bless me with His love,

He lives to plead for me above.

He lives my hungry soul to feed,

He lives to help in time of need.

He lives triumphant from the grave,

He lives eternally to save,

He lives all glorious in the sky,

He lives exalted there on high.

He lives to grant me rich supply,

He lives to guide me with His eye,

He lives to comfort me when faint,

He lives to hear my soul’s complaint.

He lives to silence all my fears,

He lives to wipe away my tears,

He lives to calm my troubled heart,

He lives all blessings to impart.

He lives, my kind, wise, heavenly Friend,

He lives and loves me to the end;

He lives, and while He lives, I’ll sing;

He lives, my Prophet, Priest, and King.

He lives and grants me daily breath;

He lives, and I shall conquer death:

He lives my mansion to prepare;

He lives to bring me safely there.

He lives, all glory to His Name!

He lives, my Jesus, still the same.

Oh, the sweet joy this sentence gives,

I know that my Redeemer lives!

[written by: Samuel Medley, 1775]

Job 19:25 … For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: ♥

Every Word of God

The Word of God well understood and religiously obeyed is the shortest route to spiritual perfection. And we must not select a few favorite passages to the exclusion of others. Nothing less than a whole Bible can make a whole Christian.

[A.W. Tozer]

Matthew 4:4 … But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

Proverbs 30:5 … Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 … All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

Joshua 1:8 … This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

Luke 8:21 … And he answered and said unto them, My mother and my brethren are these which hear the word of God, and do it. ♥

Dead in Sin ... Alive in Christ

Jesus did not come into the world to make bad men good. He came into the world to make dead men live!

[Leonard Ravenhill]

Ephesians 2:4-5 ... But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)

John 10:10 ... The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

1 Timothy 1:15 ... This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.

John 3:16-17 ... For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

1 Corinthians 15:22 ... For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. ♥

Luke 11:10

And to him that knocketh it shall be opened. [Jesus Christ]

Colossians 4:3-4 … Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds: That I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.

Matthew 7:7-8 … Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

Psalm 118:19-20 … Open to me the gates of righteousness: I will go into them, and I will praise the LORD: This gate of the LORD, into which the righteous shall enter.

John 10:4 … I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. ♥

The Gospel

It is true that we are sinners–but Christ has suffered for us.

It is true that we deserve death–but Christ has died for us.

It is true that we are guilty debtors–but Christ has paid our debts with His own blood.

This is the real Gospel!

This is the good news!

On this let us lean while we live.

To this let us cling when we die.

Christ has been “lifted up” on the cross, and has thrown open the gates of heaven to all believers.

[J.C. Ryle]

2 Peter 1:11 ... For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians 15:1-4 ... Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

John 14:6 … Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. ♥