Bible Verses I Am Fond Of

Psalm 3:3-4

But you, O Lord, are a shield around me, you are my glory, the one who holds my head high. I cried out to the Lord and he answered me from his holy mountain.

Psalm 4:4

Don't sin by letting anger control you. Think about it overnight and remain silent.

Proverbs 3:5

Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.

1 Thessalonians 5:19

Do not stifle the holy spirit.

(stifle:to quell, crush, or end by force, to supress, curb or withhold)

Proverbs 5:24-25

Avoid all perverse talk;stay away from corrupt speech. Look straight ahead, and fix your eyes on what lies before you.

Matt 9:12

...Healthy people don't need a doctor-sick people do.

Psalm 25:3

Noone who trusts in you will ever be disgraced, but disgrace comes to those who decieve others.

Psalm 25:21

May integrity and honesty protect me, for I put my hope in you.

Proverbs 10:12

Hatred stirs up quarrels but LOVE makes up for all offenses.

Proverbs 10:18

Hiding hatred makes you a liar, slandering others makes you a fool.

Proverbs 10:19

Too much talk leads to sin. Be sensible and keep your mouth shut.

Proverbs 14:30

A peaceful heart leads to a healthy body; jealousy is like cancer in the bones.

Proverbs 15:22

Plans go wrong for lack of advice. Many advisers bring success.

Mark 11:25

But when you are praying first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against so that your father in heaven will forgive your sins too.

Psalm 41:9

Even my close friend, whom I trusted, he who shared my bread, has lifted up his heel against me.

Psalm 41:12

In my integrity you uphold me and set me in your prescence forever.

Psalm 57:4

I am in the midst of lions; I lie among ravenous beasts, men who's teeth are spears and arrows, whose tongues are sharp swords.

Psalm 46: 1-3

God is our refuge and strength an ever present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with surging.

Ephesians 4:29

When  you talk, do not say harmful things but say what people need- words that will help others become strong.

Matthew 11:28

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

1 Thessalonians 5:9-11

For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to recieve salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-22

Be joyful always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. Do not put out the spirit's fire, do not treat phrophecies with contempt. Test everything. Hold on to the good. Avoid every kind of evil. 

by Noelle Joi Curran on Wednesday, 16 February 2011 at 18:31

So, I've been reading the bible more and I'm also reading a Joyce Meyer book called Power Thoughts. There's three things I've read in the past twenty four hours that struck me personally.

1.) In Power Thoughts theres a section called "Don't Make It Personal". Meyer writes: "Automatically blaming ourselves when something goes wrong or thinking everything that goes wrong is intended against us as individuals is called 'personalizing' and it makes positive thinking very difficult."

Joyce just described my life. I worry too often. And when I dont have enough to worry about I look at other peoples' problems and somehow in some twisted way, I blame myself for them. Like silly things, if someone is in a bad mood or upset, I automatically think that its because of something that I did. Even if I hadn't seen or talked to the person for a long time. It started early in life. I remember in sunday school or school when the group was rowdy and loud and the teacher would chastise us as a group, I would feel so guilty for being bad even though I was sitting quietly and paying attention...

Another thing that hit me from Power Thoughts is how Joyce described 'polarizing', basicly feeling like a horrible human being over one innocent mistake made.

Ahgh....I totally do this!

I did this today even after reading this chapter.

The group leader for a group asked for me to do a tray talk while I was eating lunch and I told him that the hostesses would do it for him in the evening. They just had sack lunches and I wouldn't be able to demonstrate it anyway. But then I felt guilty because I probably should have done it. And I beat myself up about it throughout the rest of the shift...

Why do I do this?

Why do we do this?

Why do we freak out about the smallest little mistake?

It's a mistake. People make them all the time. And they learn from them...so why do I have such an obsession with not making mistakes...and why do I tear myself down so much when I do make them...all the mistakes I have made, big and small have made me learn something either about myself, about other people, or about life. It keeps me from taking risks. It keeps me from doing things that I know I would be good at.

I've always known that these were my problems. But I never really realized how much they bring me down....I need to change this. I like this book.

2.) And....yesterday I was reading my bible in Matthew chapter twenty six, the chapter right before Jesus is crucified. I was reading along like I do when I read this chapter when I got to the part of Judas. He was one of the twelve men chosen to follow him. He listened to his teaching, he watched him perform miracles....And he traded all that for thirty pieces of silver...

It brought tears to my eyes.

And then I got to verses 48-50:

48 Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The one I kiss is the man; arrest him.” 49 Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed him.

 50 Jesus replied, “Do what you came for, friend." 

He still called him friend.

He didn't scoff.

He didn't glare at him.

He wasn't angry.

He called him friend.

I don't know if this makes sense to you...but I dont know why that just hit me the way it did. 

So many times when I have someone hurt me, intentionally or unintentionally, it affects my view on them and affects my relationship with them. At least I think it does. I try to look past the hurt but theres always a piece of me that doesn't...

I am reading more about Jesus...and how he lived.

And I really want to be like Jesus.

I want to live like he did.

I want to love like he did.

The only difference is, Jesus was perfect. He never sinned.

And I'm just a faulty human. I make mistakes.

But I'm learning. I'm going to make more mistakes.

But I'm also going to learn more about Jesus.

I'm just falling in love with the way He lived.

Ahhh...man...tangents.

haha

And the last thing:

these lyrics:

I thought i did what's right

I thought i had the answer

I thought i chose the surest road

But that road brought me here

So i put up a fight

And told You how to help me

And just when i had given up

The truth has come clear

Chorus

For You know better than I

You know the way

I've let go, the need to know why

Cause You know better than I

If this has been a test

I cannot see the reason

But maybe knowin', I don't know

Is part of gettin through

I try to do what's best

And faith has made it easy

To see the best thing I can do

Is put my faith in You

Chorus

I saw one cloud and thought it was the sky

I saw a bird and thought that I could follow

But it was You who taught them how to fly

If I let you reach me, will You teach me

For You know better than I

You know the way

I've let go, the need to know why

I'll take what answers You supply

Cause You know better than I

This song is from the movie Joseph King of Dreams. I haven't been able to stop listening to it. It's a dreamworks film based on the story of Joseph in Genesis. They play the song when Joseph is in prison after being thrown into a pit and sold into slavery by his brothers, and wrongfully accused of seducing Potiphars wife....he was just an innocent boy that had a couple of dreams. And he was treated like a criminal...

But if it wasn't for being betrayed by his own flesh and blood, and thrown into prison for something he didnt do he wouldn't have been there to interpret Pharogh's dreams. He wouldn't have been there to save Egypt from seven years of famine.

God had great plans for Joseph even when he was in his lowest place he believed that. And God blessed him abundantly.

Yep....so thats what I've been thinking about in the past 35 hours....

God is so amazing.

(P.S. Thanks Dad, for getting me that Joyce Meyer book for my birthday!)

My Declaration

I'm stuck. I want to move forward but I think the clock has stopped ticking. Every second is torture. Every minute feels like a day. Waiting for this ever growing feeling of unpleasantness to fade. Waiting for things to be the way they were. The clock is broken. Time is decelerating. I'm longing. I feel alone.

Then You whisper my name. You remind me that you're by my side.

You're behind me. Covering me. Protecting me. Walking with me. I long to know you more.You long for me to love you. You dont need me to need you. You want me to need you. You want me to look to you in my hardest tribulations.

It's an endless cycle. I'm circling around with these ups and downs and its making me afflicted. I need to get off the train. I want to surrender. I want to walk with you constantly and not forget who you are. I need to give you all of me. I can't hold back.

I don't need religion. I don't need a spiritual expirience.

I need your prescence. I need you.

I don't need human love and validation.

I need your love.

I don't need things.

I need your word.

There is so much this world has to offer.

I don't need it, I don't want it.

I need You, God.

I need YOU to direct my path.

Help me make decisions.

Help me live for you.

Even when it hurts.

Even when its not what I want.

Help me live for you.

I give you my heart.

I give you my life.

I'm offering everything.

In Jesus's name. Amen.