PEACE: invite God’s presence without pressure, shame, or coercion.

I like the PEACE framework for helping people through change (myself included). It stands for Problem, Empathy, Action, Change, End Result. 

P. Problem. Prayer of Truth and Illumination

Scripture anchor
Psalm 139:23–24
“Search me, O God, and know my heart.”

Prayer reflection

God, we come to You without pretending.
We name what is real, not what we wish were true.
Show us where fear has blurred our vision.
Reveal what we have avoided facing.
Give us courage to see clearly without despair.

Silent reflection questions

• What reality am I resisting naming before God?

• What facts have I been afraid to acknowledge?

• Where has avoidance felt safer than truth?

---

E. Empathy. Prayer of Lament and Compassion

Scripture anchor
Psalm 34:18
“The Lord is near to the brokenhearted.”

Prayer reflection

Lord, this season has been heavy.
You see the grief, the disappointment, the shame we do not say out loud.
Meet us here without condemnation.
Sit with us in the sorrow we have carried too long.
Remind us that pain does not disqualify us from Your care.

Silent reflection questions

• What loss do I still need to grieve?

• Where do I feel unseen or misunderstood?

• What emotion have I been numbing instead of offering to God?

---

A. Action. Prayer of Willingness and Obedience

Scripture anchor
Proverbs 16:3
“Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.”

Prayer reflection

God, we do not ask for the full plan.
We ask for the next faithful step.
Give us willingness where motivation is weak.
Help us choose obedience over overwhelm.
Strengthen our hands for small acts of faithfulness.

Silent reflection questions

• What small action am I resisting?

• What step is within my control today?

• Where might obedience come before understanding?

---

C. Change. Prayer of Identity and Stewardship

Scripture anchor
2 Timothy 1:7
“For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power, love, and self-control.”

Prayer reflection

Father, reshape how we see ourselves.
We reject the lie that we are powerless.
Teach us to steward what remains, not mourn only what is lost.
Restore our sense of agency as Your children.
Form character in us through this season.

Silent reflection questions

• What identity am I living out right now?

• Where have I confused limitation with helplessness?

• What does stewardship look like in my present reality?

---

E. End Result. Prayer of Hope and Trust

Scripture anchor (sovereignty and freedom)
“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord.” Jeremiah 29:11 "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me," Philippians 4:13

Prayer reflection

God, we place the future back in Your hands.
Not demanding comfort, but trusting Your faithfulness.
Help us imagine a future marked by stability, dignity, and peace.
Give us endurance to walk toward it step by step.
Teach us to hope without denying reality.

Silent reflection questions

• What kind of future am I afraid to hope for?

• What would peace look like six months from now?

• Where do I need to trust God instead of control outcomes? Christ’s yoke reshapes the heart through the Spirit, not self-regulation (Matthew 11:29-30)

---

Closing Prayer

Lord, we offer You what we have, not what we wish we had.
Meet us in truth.
Strengthen us in weakness.
Guide us in obedience.
And lead us into a future shaped by faith, not fear.
Amen.

---

A Gentle Reminder for You

Prayer prepares the heart.
Action moves the feet.
God honors both.

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Eternal Good news available to everyone (Rev 14:6, Acts 26:16-18, 1 Cor 15:3-4)

Looking foreword to starting Words Matter today with SALT today. We're using bibleproject.com/explore/word-studies/ with a theme word every month. We've rearranged the order as "bad" words would be too much in a row. So today we start with God's character attribute compassion. Next week in Salt and Life today we'll use openbible. In BSF we're looking at the Eternal Gospel from Revelation 14:6. Jesus appears and makes himself known through promises of rescue, deliverance from Satan to the light of God, forgiveness of sin, sanctified by faith (Acts 26:16-18). 

I love how BSF shares scripture that provide the progression of an idea: 

Rev 14:6, Acts 26:16-18, 1 Cor 15:3-4;Matt 28:18-20; 2 Cor 4:5-6; 1 Pet 2:9

I generally don't like to criticize teachers or controversial idea but it's important to look a the scriptures often to have a reason for criticism. I'm reminded the scriptures are important as 1 Cor 15:3-4 says:

I passed on to you what was most important and what had also been passed on to me. Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said. He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures said.

Words Matter, I'm excited to see how our SALT network enjoys this new study. 

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Freedom, liberty in communion with God

Sometimes we need a fresh start, we've been a failure and need to get back in step with the Lord. Sometimes a quick prayer doesn't feel like enough. Hebrews reminds us that God made a special day called "today" - today WHEN you hear his voice don't harden your heart, today is the day of salvation. Warn each other every day, while it is still "today", so that none of you will be deceived by sin and hardened against God. (Heb 3:13) 

• Before work talk to God and give your ideas to him: “O Lord, God of my master, Abraham,” he prayed. “Please give me success today, and show unfailing love to my master, Abraham. (Gen 24:12-14)
• Then Pay attention:  Before he had finished praying... (he witnessed the answer)... “Praise the Lord, the God of my master, Abraham,” he said. “The Lord has shown unfailing love and faithfulness to my master, for he has led me straight to my master’s relatives.” (Gen 24:15-27)
• Acknowledge the Lord to others: “So today when I came to the spring, I prayed this prayer: ‘O Lord, God of my master, Abraham, please give me success on this mission. (Gen 24:42)

Sometimes our prayers are interrupted by thoughts, obsessions, or desires that want to carry us away from the LORD. We need to "be still" and turn the lights on inside our heart, have a moment of reflection, let the word of Christ dwell within ourselves and take Holy Communion. In our hearts we can hold up the shield of faith that extinguish the enemy arrows from the outside, but on the inside of faith is peace. 

• Psalms 11:5 says that “the LORD tests the righteous,” and in Job 23:10, Job says of God, “When he has tried me, I shall come out as gold.” Similarly, God told Jeremiah, “I the LORD search the heart and test the mind” (Jeremiah 17:10), and Proverbs 17:3 declares that “the LORD tests hearts.”

 Communion: The Meal of Absolute Victory - Bill Johnson (Sermon Clip) | Bethel Church

• "This is my body" - "broken for you"
• "By His stripes you WERE healed" - today I get to experience the liberty and forgiveness 
• Put someone on your lips and declare healing for them, in Jesus name. 
• As for me and my house we will serve the LORD. 

Communion, the body and blood and the weekend (Psalm 23, John 13-21, Exodus 12)

Psalm 19

Don't hold on theology of problems, hold onto theology of our solution. Take time with the LORD. 

Psalm 19:13: Who can discern his own errors? Cleanse me from my hidden faults. Keep me safe (from arrogant people/things), also, from willful (presumptuous, flagrant, conspicuously offensive, obviously inconsistent with what is right) sins; don't let them rule (control, dominion) over me. Then I shall be perfect (blameless, without spot) and free (acquitted, declared innocent, cleansed) from the evil of sin (transgression, greatest sin). May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in Your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.

• But each one is tempted when by his own evil desires he is lured away and enticed. / Then after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. James 1:14-15
• If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. / If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. / If we say we have not sinned, we make Him out to be a liar, and His word is not in us. 1 John 1:8-10
• Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its desires. / Do not present the parts of your body to sin as instruments of wickedness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and present the parts of your body to Him as instruments of righteousness. / For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace. Romans 6:12-14
• So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. / For the flesh craves what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are opposed to each other, so that you do not do what you want. Galatians 5:16-17
• No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide an escape, so that you can stand up under it. 1 Corinthians 10:13
• And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’ Matthew 6:13
• Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off every encumbrance and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with endurance the race set out for us. Hebrews 12:1
• or because of these surpassingly great revelations. So to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. / Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. / But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest on me. 2 Corinthians 12:7-9

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Biblical perspective on Active Listening (Luke 6:27-49, 8:8,18)

Active Listening helps us understand and demonstrate compassion towards obstinate people. Active listening helps us see clearly and truly help people. A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart. Obeying Jesus in relationships puts us on firm ground and leads to greater understanding.

Still other seed fell on fertile soil. This seed grew and produced a crop that was a hundred times as much as had been planted!” When he had said this, he called out, “Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.” - Luke 8:8

“So pay attention to HOW you hear. To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given. But for those who are not listening, even what they think they understand will be taken away from them.” Luke 8:18

Luke 6:27-49

• But to you who are willing to listen (or who are listening NIV), I say, love your enemies!...You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate. (or Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. NIV) Luke 6:27,36
• Don't judge, give and receive...then you will see well enough (then you will see clearly NIV) to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye. Luke 6:37,42
• ...What you say flows from what is in your heart. Luke 6:45
• ...comes to me, listens to my teaching, and then follows it...stands firm - Luke 6:47-48

Then a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, my Chosen One. Listen to him.”  - Luke 9:35

“Listen to me and remember what I say. The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of his enemies.”  - Luke 9:44

Her sister, Mary, sat at the Lord’s feet, listening to what he taught. - Luke 10:39

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Investing in the next generation is love displayed in time

 

By this everyone will know that you are My disciples if you love one another. - John 13:35

No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us. 1 John 4:12

If someone says, “I love God,” but hates a fellow believer, that person is a liar; for if we don’t love people we can see, how can we love God, whom we cannot see? 1 John 4:20

Though you have not seen Him, you love Him; and though you do not see Him now, you believe in Him and rejoice with inexpressible and glorious joy,- 1 Peter 1:8

If we say we have fellowship with Him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. - 1 John 1:6

If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. - 1 John 1:8

If anyone says, "I know Him," but does not keep His commandments, he is a liar, and the truth is not in him. - 1 John 2:4

If anyone claims to be in the light but hates his brother, he is still in the darkness. - 1 John 2:9

But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness. He does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes - 1 John 2:11

If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need but shows no compassion—how can God’s love be in that person? 1 John 3:17

If there is a poor man among your brothers within any of the gates in the land that the LORD your God is giving you, then you are not to harden your heart or shut your hand from your poor brother. - Deuteronomy 15:7

Whoever oppresses the poor taunts their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors Him. - Proverbs 14:31

Whoever shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, he too shall cry out and receive no answer. - Proverbs 21:13

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What's important is in your heart, the inner person (Matthew 15:7-11)

 Yesterday Troy D was talking about vital signs, assessing the inner person. He shared 7 marks of a healthy Christian

1. Authentic in Worship, sing (col 3:16)
2. Dependent in Prayer, believe (Heb 11:1-7)
3. Connected in Community
4. Growing in God's Word
5. Engaged in Ministry
6. Generous in Giving, 2 Cor 9:7
7. Active in Discipleship

Today I'm reading a similar line from Wiersbe Be Loyal. It's also MLK Day and I've enjoyed learning about his views here: https://kinginstitute.stanford.edu/encyclopedia/social-gospel

Rom 10:9-10;Matt 22:37; Col 3:16; Rom 6:17;Eph 6:6; 2 Cor 9:7; Ps 51:10

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Gratitude brings you into the present even when reflecting on the past

 

Love https://www.openbible.info/topics/gratitude, an open-source Bible Reference voted up by real people.

Gratitude is acknowledging God in all things, his faithfulness in creation bringing all of us from one man. But how do acknowledge God in all tings? Psalm 100:1-5 is a Psalm for giving thanks. "Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! Know that the Lord, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations."

Offer thanksgiving to God and dedicating your way rightly gives you eyes that see God's salvation. "The one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies me; to one who orders his way rightly I will show the salvation of God!” - Psalm 50:23

Gratitude shows what you treasure. "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."- Matthew 6:21

The Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him. - Psalm 28:7

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. - Colossians 3:16

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We are prone to judge people by their past, not their future

I'm going to be in Wiersbe's Be Mature all summer. The title and the following are from him but worth remembering. I want to be a person living in the now but future-oriented. Lord help me see the potential in myself and others, Amen!

When Saul of Tarsus was converted, the church in Jerusalem was afraid to receive him. It took Barnabas, who believed in Saul's conversion, to break down the walls (Acts 9:26-28).

We are also prone to judge by outward appearance rather than by the inner attitude of the heart. To not sit by certain people because they are "not our kind of people." Jesus was the friend of sinners, though He disapproved of their sins. It was not compromise, but compassion, that caused Him to welcome them. Jesus was despised and rejected, "the poor man" who was rejected by the self-righteous nation.

"Stop judging by mere appearance, and make a right judgment (John 7:24 NIV)"
Things are not always as they appear at first. (John 7)

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The secret to obedience is true love (John 14:15, 15:10, 1 John 3:22)

Reading  Be Real (1 John): Turning from Hypocrisy to Truth
4. Christian Love (1 John 3:18-24)
 - True Christian love means loving in deed and in truth (James 2:15)
 - One reason why sinners were attracted to Jesus (Luke 15:1-2) was that they were sure He loved them sincerely.
 - This love cost a great deal, it cost Jesus Christ His life, yet we have this promise "Give and it shall be given unto you" (Luke 6:38).

To a believer who practices Christian love
1) Assurance (1 John 3:19-20)
 - Our relationship with others affects our relationship with God (Matt 5:23-24). a condemning heart robs a believer of peace. Is it us (Jer 17:9) or God (Jer 17:10, John 16:8) - ask him to show, he knows your heart (Psalm 139:1,23-24, Proverbs 21:2, Acts 15:8, John 14:6, Romans 3:23, Psalm 51:10, Heb 4:12)
 - We need to accept the forgiveness once we've confessed it and not let the devil rob us of confidence (Rev 12:10). Peter was forgiven Mark 16:7 and was able to proclaim the gospel (Acts 3:14) because his own sin of denying Christ had been taken care of and was forgiven. No Christian should treat sin lightly, but no Christian should be harder on himself than God is. There is a morbid kind of self-examination and self-condemnation that is not spiritual.
 - Habitual sin in the heart grieves the Spirit and "turns off" the supply of God's love (Eph 4:30-5:2)
2) Answered prayer (1 John 3:21-22)
 - Love for brethren produces confidence toward God, and confidence toward God gives boldness in asking for what you need. 1 John 3:22, Love fulfills God's law (Romans 13:8-10)
 - Our relationships cannot be divorced from prayer life (1 Peter 3:7, Psalm 66:18). Ask honestly, "Is there anything between you and another Christian that needs to be settled?"
 - Spirit of love delights (Ps 37:4,23-24), the spirit of servitude or fear is like the older brother (Luke 15:24-32). God works through Abigail, David, Saul, and Philistine home (1 Samuel 25-27, Psalm 37)
3) Abiding (1 John 3:23-24)
 - Love God and neighbor (Matt 22:34-40), believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ (1 John 3:23)
 - Faith and love sum up the Christian's obligations (Gal 5:6)
 - Abiding in Christ is a key experience for a believer who wants to have confidence toward God and enjoy answers to prayer. Abiding is about fruit-bearing, maintaining communion is a moment-by-moment responsibility (John 15:3,10). Jesus teaches love precedes obedience and the indwelling Holy Spirit
 - The Spirit anoints teaching ministry (1 John 2:20; John 14:26, 16:13-14) as the abiding Spirit (1 John 3:24,4:13). Peace and confidence results, but when the Spirit is grieved he withdraws HIs blessing
 - The Spirit is the attesting Spirit (1 John 4:1-6) and the authenticating Spirit (1 John 5:6-8), bearing witness to the person and work of Jesus Christ (Romans 8:14-16,5:5)

Why do you think indifference to the needs of others is such a common and dangerous sin, even among Christians?

What does John mean when he says we should be willing to "lay down our lives for the brethren?"

How does love lead to assurance?

When our delight is in the love of God, our desires will be in the will of God. What does that mean to you?

What's it like to have a moment-by-moment communion with Christ? Is this something just for special Christians? Explain.

How can you abide in God this week?

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Addressing people with compassion and truth

God's Word affirms our feeling of discontent within our selves. A fallen world.
Jesus lived in a human body and yet trusted God in all things.

Ask God who am I, rather than "what" am I. 

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Prayer in the presence of God, requires us to forgive our offenders (Matt 18:15-35)

I'm reading 21 Days of Breakthrough Prayer, the theme:
“Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.”
Matthew 18:19–20

The context of this verse is offense from sin within church relationships (Matt 18:15-17)

"Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." Matt 18:18

He then talks about forgiving seventy-seven times and the unforgiving servant. "Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king...So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.” Matt 18:23,27,28,33,34,35

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Gospel people, not religious people

In John 8, they tried to trap Jesus. Jesus righteously responded with Gospel rather than religion.

And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, "Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her."
John 8:7 ESV

On the evidence of two witnesses or of three witnesses the one who is to die shall be put to death; a person shall not be put to death on the evidence of one witness. The hand of the witnesses shall be first against him to put him to death, and afterward the hand of all the people. So you shall purge the evil from your midst.
Deuteronomy 17:6‭-‬7 ESV

What NOT to do with this passage:
Religious people spend more time pointing out other people's sin rather than repenting from there own.

Responding to people through lens of religion rather than the lens of the Gospel, hurts people.

Rom 3:23, all have sinned, fallen short of the glory of God.

Don't rationalize your sinful decisions
- Conviction of sin is a gift from God
And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment:
John 16:8 ESV

Don't reject that "you are the woman" that needs redemption
- we are guilty, ashamed, naked and guilty

Some when they are confronted with sin, they turn away from Jesus and continue in sin. Scribes and Pharisees.
- God's judgment is to let them go
Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves,
Romans 1:24 ESV
- God's mercy is the gospel, receive forgiveness and restoration. Go and sin no more.
For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes
Romans 1:16 ESV

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Jesus shows how love impacts hope, manifested in relationships (Luke 10:25-37)

Coming to God for hope

Biblical hope is built on faith. Hope is the earnest anticipation that comes with believing something good. Hope is a confident expectation that naturally stems from faith. Hope is a peaceful assurance that something that hasn’t happened yet will indeed happen. Hope must involve something that is yet unseen. Hope is looking to the reality of the future. (difference-faith-hope)

Jesus shows how love impacts hope, manifested in relationships (Luke 10:25-37)

1.  What is the lawyer hoping to receive from Jesus? (Luke 10: 25-28)

2.  What was the lawyer trying to justify or validate within himself by asking, “Who is my neighbor?”  (Luke 10:28)

3.  How did the parable cause the lawyer to see himself? How does the man who was left for dead receive hope?  (Luke 10:30-37)

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Faith comes by hearing the word about Christ (Romans 10:14-21)

AIM: Understand our responsibility is preaching the Good news
Romans 10:14-21
A) People believe and are saved when hearing the word about Christ
14) call to save unless they believe, unless they hear unless someone tells them
 Principle: People will call on God and be saved when they believe
15) go unless sent, "beautiful feet bring good news" (Isa 52:7)
16) not all welcome "who has believed our message?" (Isa 53:1)
17) Faith comes by hearing about Christ
 - Faith from witnessing God's power (Exodus 14:31), notice the belief, obey, witness progression here: (Exodus 11:1-15:21)
 - Faith because God's faithful, enduring love (2 Chronicles 7:6, John 3:16)
 - Faith because of personal experience, thoughtfully applied to God (Matthew 8:10,5-13)
 - Faith because of other people dragging us to Jesus (Luke 5:20,17-26) - Faith that causes us to go to Jesus and speak (Matthew 9:22,18-26)
Application: Our faith is a response to (and sustained by) God's faithfulness
B) Everyone is included in receiving God's mercy, even when previously failed to "get it"
18) Israel has heard, creation bears God's message (Ps 19:4)
19) Israel fails to understand about gentiles (Duet 32:21)
20-21) Found by those not seek me, shown to those who didn't ask, compassion to rebels (Isa 65:1-2)
 - Faith given to anyone with ears to hear (Rev 2:7, 1 John 2:5-6)
 Principle: Only God can give us ears that hear (Exodus 29:2-6)
Ears to hear and eyes to see - both are gifts from the Lord. (Proverbs 20:12)
There is a huge difference between believing and knowing
Application: Pray for God's prescription to be applied to our hearers, so they can understand and be saved.

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God's promises and sovereign will, seen in our lives (Romans 9:1-19)

Romans 9:1-29

AIM: Understand your choice within God's sovereign wrath and mercy

1) Speak truth in Christ, conscience confirmed by Holy Spirit
2-3) sorrow in heart, wishing self-cursed rather than kinsman Israel

• 4-5) adoption to sonship, divine glory, covenants (law, temple, promises), 
• patriarchs to Messiah (Matthew, Luke trace lineage)
• Messiah is God (John 1:1, Colossians 2:9)

6-9) God's word didn't fail, Abraham/Sarah, Israel's descendants are reckoned (Gen 21:12), not from birth but from promise (Romans 8:14, Galatians 3:16)
10-13) Rebekah/Isaac, twins, God's purpose, election (not works but him who calls) Jacob loved Esau hated (Mal 1:2,3)
14-15) Is God unjust? No, he says to Moses: mercy and compassion is God's sovereign choice (Ex 33:19)

• Yet our lives and decisions are part of this "choice". Jer 18:7-10, God announces people will be destruction or blessing but then if those people change for either good or bad - the Lord will not do as he said. Jonah 3:10 and Jeremiah 26:3 are also helpful to think about how God's sovereign choice interacts with our choice. 

16) No human desire or effort but God's mercy

• Remember Romans 8:28, Genesis 50:20, truth is same on the flip side of the Sovereignty coin

17) Pharaoh displayed God's power, God's name proclaimed in all the earth (Exodus 9:16,17, 14:4)

• Judgement, salvation to all humble, yet a remnant of wrath (Psalm 76:9-10)
• Think of Shadrach, Meshach, and Adeb-nego. By Nebuchadnezzar's wrath, God's glory was shown and proclaimed throughout the land (Daniel 3:15-27,28,29-30)

18) God mercy whom he wants, hardens whom he wants

• Who does God have mercy on? Think Beatitudes, The parable of the sower and faith comes by hearing (Seven blessings in Revelation explain faith, eternal life and sanctification)
• Who does God harden? Those who ignore, refuse or mock his call for salvation. (Lamb's seventh seal brings prayer and six trumpets for repentance)

19) Why does God still blame us? Who is able to resist his will?

• 20-24) Who are humans to talk back to the Creator, we are his work, for His purpose and glory
• Search scriptures like Paul to let the Holy Spirit reveal the mystery for you 
•  - mouthing off to God: Job 1:22,9:12,40:2 linked to clay/potter Isaiah 45:9
•  - clay and potter: Isaiah 29:16, 64:8, Jer 18:6 links to movement/ability Isaiah 10:15
•  Recurring theme in Paul's life: 2 Tim 2:20, gold/silver, wood/clay - common verses special use
• See God's kindness and forbearance/patients (Romans 2;4), The Lord works out everything to its proper end - even the wicked for a day of disaster (Proverbs 16:4)

25-29) Principle: Scripture interprets scripture. Application: How can you know how to live as God's loved, adopted children? Ho does obeying what you know, fulfill your God-given purpose? Where are you resisting God's will in your seeing, hearing, and understanding - when will you repent of this resistence?

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Does God change his mind?

When we read the Bible, do we read what we believe or do we believe what we read? God is clearly immutable in nature and character (Malachi 3:6, Numbers 23:19, 1 Samuel 15:29). Yet he also seems to change his mind (Exodus 32:14, Jeremiah 26:3, 13,19; Jonah 3:10). I was reading an article by Stacia McKeever called "Change of Heart" and she had these examples of supposed contradictions to God's immutability (inability to change), but had this insight;

From the Bible, we know that God, in HIs holiness and righteousness, must punish sin and that His decreed punishment for sin is death (Gen 2:15-17; Romans 6:23). Yet we also know that God is full of grace and abounding in mercy, forging the repentant of their sins (Exodus 34:6-7). The balance between these two aspects of God's nature may be best summed up in this passage from Jeremiah:
"If I announce that a certain nation or kingdom is to be uprooted, torn down, and destroyed, but then that nation renounces its evil ways, I will not destroy it as I had planned. And if I announce that I will plant and build up a certain nation or kingdom, but then that nation turns to evil and refuses to obey me, I will not bless it as I said I would." Jer 18:7-10 NLT

God expresses emotions like grief and regret (Gen 6:6, 1 Sam 15:11), emotional reaction to sin in those He created in His image. His emotions show he cares and loves us, what we do and don't do matters.

Stacia explains, "God's grief and regret aren't expressions of "I didn't do that right the first time; guess I better figure out something else to do.' Instead, God is grieving over disobedience and wickedness: a response that we should all have to sin. Again, this doesn't indicate a change in his nature or character; in fact, it is His holy nature that demands this response of grief. As finite, created beings, we understand that there are consequences that matter (Gal 6:7). Yet, the "relenting of God is, in many cases, the voice of compassion and mercy from a longsuffering God extended to sinful creatures in need of grace.

God's character does not change. However, He can change how He chooses to respond to an individual or nations' actions."

(on a side note these "contradiction" verse also talk about God not being like man...From How can Jesus be God, when Numbers 23:19 says that God is not a man or a son of man?

It is critical to understand at this point that the Bible is true in detail and in total—both the Old and New Testaments. So, when Jesus began teaching new things, the old things did not become untrue; they became unveiled. Remember what He said about the Law: “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them” (Matthew 5:17). All of Jesus’ new revelations work exactly the same way. The old knowledge was shadowy, and, as the Light of the world, Jesus dispelled the shadows (see Colossians 2:16–17). This process is not destructive of the old knowledge—it is instructive, as Philip’s encounter with the Ethiopian shows (Acts 8:30–35). 

We must also consider what the Old Testament is really saying about God when it says He is not a human being. The point being made in Numbers 23:19, 1 Samuel 15:29, and Hosea 11:9 is that God does not lie. He is not fickle. His emotions do not change His eternal purposes. This is unlike fallen humanity, who cannot see the big picture, who often breaks promises, and whose feelings often cloud discernment. In other words, the statements that God is not a man are contrasting one aspect of God’s nature with a corresponding part of man’s. Saying, “God is not a man,” has nothing to do with whether or not God can ever exist in the flesh.

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Whoever has a bountiful eye will be blessed, for he shares his bread with the poor (Proverbs 22:9 ESV)

Whoever has a bountiful eye will be blessed,

"a bountiful eye" — one through which the soul looks in tender compassion — one that "considers the cause of the poor" (Psalm 41:1) — one that compares and contrives — one that "affects the heart," stirs it up to feel, and moves the hand to minister. Such an eye looks in the right place to find appropriate objects. It does not shun misery, "passing by" (like the priest and Levite) "on the other side." It looks through the right medium, even the love and compassion of God, and says, "If God so loved us, we ought also to love one another."...Happy is he of whom it can be said spiritually, as of Moses literally, that his eye is not dim, nor his spiritual force abated. The way to strengthen the habit is to be frequent in the act. - http://biblehub.com/sermons/pub/the_bountiful_eye.htm

for he shares his bread with the poor.
 - Jesus said not to just share bread but invite them in as friends. Since they can't repay, you'll be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous. (Luke 14:12-14)
 - it's about giving what is inside of us (Luke 11:41), Christ in me (2 Cor 13:5, Romans 8:10, 2 Cor 4:6-7, Gal 1:15-16, Gal 2:20, Eph 3:17, Col 1:27)
 - Jesus said when we do this it's as if we did it for God (Matthew 25:40,45)
http://biblehub.com/proverbs/22-9.htm

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Praise God who comforts us, so we can comfort others (2 Cor 1:3-4)

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.
2 Corinthians 1:3‭-‬4 NIV

My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.
1 John 2:1‭-‬2 NIV

The pessimist complains about the wind, the optimist expects the wind will change, the leader adjust his sails

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ
- Praise, worship and thanksgiving
- Focus on God, who he is
- Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.”  ...Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. John 14:8‭, ‬10 NIV
- “When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father—the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father—he will testify about me...“All this I have told you so that you will not fall away. John 15:26,16:1 NIV

God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ
- “I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear.  But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.  He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you.  All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will receive from me what he will make known to you.” John 16:12‭-‬15 NIV

our Lord Jesus Christ
- he is OUR Lord, we get along with eachother, United in Christ.
- (Jesus prays) "For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him.  Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent... (John 17:2-3) whoever does the will of God lives forever. (1 John 2:17)
- (Jesus prayer continues) And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.    “I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word.  Now they know that everything you have given me comes from you.  For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me.  I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours....  Sanctify them by  the truth; your word is truth.  As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world.  For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.    “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message,
John 17:5-‬9‭, ‬17‭-‬20 NIV

the Father of compassion
- Compassion is deep personal empathy and sympathy
- Bible praises God as "Father of..."; lights

and the God of all comfort
- fulfilling the law of love
"This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be that person?

who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.
Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.  This is how we know that we belong to the truth and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence: If our hearts condemn us, we know that God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God and receive from him anything we ask, because we keep his commands and do what pleases him. And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us.
1 John 3:16‭-‬23 NIV
http://bible.com/111/1jn.3.16-23.NIV

with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.
- Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.  This is how we know that we live in him and he in us: He has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God. And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus.
1 John 4:7‭, ‬9‭-‬17 NIV
http://bible.com/111/1jn.4.7-17.NIV

Thank you God for saving me, for giving me your Spirit to cheer and to guide, to comfort with warmth when I'm cold and refreshing when afflicted. Thank you for your loving kindness that leads us to repentance and your empowering grace enabling us to follow where you lead. Keep me near your heart. In Jesus name.

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Misunderstanding hope can make Christianity feel like "bait and switch"

Hope is not wishful thinking. Not “holding a positive thought,” it is the confident anticipation that goodness is coming. A rock-solid expectation, something we can build our lives on. Not the delicate and fragile hopes most people are trying to get by with. 1 Cor 13:13, hope last forever.

I'm reviewing a devotional about All Things New by John Elderidge on bible.com

He says, "What would you say is the great hope of your life these days?
If it is anything at all worth talking about, Christianity is supposed to be the triumphant entry of an astonishing hope breaking into human history. A hope above and beyond all former hopes. An unbreakable, unquenchable hope. But I’ll be honest—far too often what gets presented as the “hope” of   Christianity feels more like a bait and switch. “We understand that you will eventually lose everything you love, that you have already lost so much. Everything you love and hold dear, every precious memory and place you will lose, but afterward you get to go to this New Place Up Above!” "

Christian Hope:
Rev 21:5 AMP "And He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also He said, “Write, for these words are faithful and true [they are accurate, incorruptible, and trustworthy].”

The big idea is this: "heaven is not our eternal home-the New Earth is. Jesus described the next chapter of our story as "the renewal of all things," (Matthew 19:28). Meaning, literally, the renewal of the earth we love in all its beauty, the renewal of our own being, and all those things which make for a rich life-music, art, food, laughter, all that we hold dear-shall be renewed "when the world is made new" -  John Elderidge

 Practical Implications of Christian Hope

• Rely on God for all that we want to see in our lives and the lives of those we love
• Personal tragedy and pain is God showing me his hand to grab onto
• Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer
• See people around you as eternally valuable

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Proclaim as you go, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ (Matthew 10:7)

Psalm 10, Matthew 10
Today was serendipitous, Pastor Troy preached on Psalm 10 and I'm lagging on my writing through the Psalms and Gospel reading plan.

Here's my notes on the first of his sermon series Honest to God:
Psalms are helpful because they are honest.

 - tough questions, real answers

 - bridge from pain of life and power of God.

Suffer and pain reactions

 - denial or dissection 

 - Psalms deal honestly with pain yet points us to God

Psalm 10:1, why is Lord hidden, far away

 (Injustice, lack of intervention, apparently uncaring)

Christian faith has room for honest lament.

 - We don't need to protect God from hard questions

10:2-4, Arrogant, greedy, wicked schemes live and think "there is no God"

 10:5-6) outrageous and frustrating success

10:7) abusive speech

10:8-10) intentional ambush

10:10) effectively crushing

10:11) without fear of God

Prayer  (crying out to God in honesty 12-13, and faith in His character 14, justice 15, sovereignty 16, personal "friend" of faithful people whose only hope is Him 17-18, Hebrews 11:1,6-7)

Application 

1.  Continue to turn to God, 10:12

 - We put our hope in God's ability to make things right 

2. Cling to faith

 - God sees and cares (look what God has done in the past)

 - God's "silence" is not absence, 3 days if silence before Jesus was raised from the dead.

3. Count on God's judgment 

 - 1 Peter 2:23, Jesus our example didn't retaliate but trusted in Jesus

4. Confidently rest in who, not why 

 - Psalm 10:16-18, God is good.

In Matthew 10 Jesus tells us how to be a witness and go about our lives with a ministry centered approved. "As you go proclaim the kingdom of heaven is at hand"

 - Ministry (healing the sick, raising the dead, cleansing the lepers, casting out demons) is done for free (Matt 10:8-10)

 - Give peace and let it peace return to you in all circumstances (11-31)

31 Fear not, therefore; (AX)you are of more value than many sparrows. 32 (AY)So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, 33 but (AZ)whoever denies me before men, (BA)I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.

38 And (BH)whoever does not take his cross and (BI)follow me is not worthy of me.39 (BJ)Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

Rewards

40 (BK)“Whoever receives you receives me, and (BL)whoever receives me receives him who sent me.

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