Fruit to Your Account
June 29, 2016Not that I seek the gift itself, but I seek the fruit which increases to your account. Philippians 4:17
paper and elements by Lorie Davison, overlay by Holliewood Studios
Life of His Servants
June 28, 2016The Lord redeems the life of His servants; none of those who take refuge in Him will be condemned. Psalm 34:22
kit: Falling Leaves Autumn Tea, frame: Where to Now Dreamer by Lorie Davison
Quick to Testify
June 27, 2016I will come to you in judgment. I will be quick to testify against those who practice divination, those who commit adultery, those who break promises, and those who exploit workers, widows, and orphans, who refuse to help the immigrant and in this way show they do not fear Me,” says the Lord who rules over all. Malachi 3:5
I would like to clarify that the immigrant in the Old Testament was expected to assimilate into the existing culture. They were to be welcomed and instructed about the one true God of Israel--the ONLY God--all other "gods" are pretenders. The immigrants were to be in every way normal citizens--working, paying taxes, learning the language and ways of the people who took them in. The holy days were not changed to accommodate the traditions the immigrants had left behind. (Numbers 9:14) In no way would it ever have been expected that the culture would accept abominable practices of idolatry that the immigrants may have wished to bring along with them (1 and 2 Kings), or that they should become unsustainable burdens on society (and this goes for all ABLE-bodied residents, not only immigrants). (Proverbs 10:4, 12:11, 13:4, 14:23, 20:4, 21:25, 2 Thessalonians 3:10)
Praise the LORD!
Blessed is the man who fears the LORD,
who greatly delights in his commandments!
His offspring will be mighty in the land;
the generation of the upright will be blessed.
Wealth and riches are in his house,
and his righteousness endures forever.
Light dawns in the darkness for the upright;
he is gracious, merciful, and righteous.
It is well with the man who deals generously and lends;
who conducts his affairs with justice.
For the righteous will never be moved;
he will be remembered forever.
He is not afraid of bad news;
his heart is firm, trusting in the LORD.
His heart is steady; he will not be afraid,
until he looks in triumph on his adversaries.
He has distributed freely; he has given to the poor;
his righteousness endures forever;
his horn is exalted in honor.
The wicked man sees it and is angry;
he gnashes his teeth and melts away;
the desire of the wicked will perish!
Psalm 112
All of the sins listed in the verse at the top of this page and more are still grievous to God. He doesn't change. (Hebrews 13:8) He still hates what He hates and loves what He loves. (Proverbs 6:16-19) We are not Israel as a nation or people. However, we are God's children adopted and "grafted into the olive tree" of Israel and her blessings (Romans 11:11-31) IF we believe that Jesus died to pay for our sins and rose again from the dead. (Romans 10:8-10) This belief needs to be true in our hearts and also backed up by our actions, otherwise it is a lie and we do not fear God at all. (1 John 2:4-5) Jesus is Lord of all, and that most certainly applies to each of those who belong to Him. (Romans 8:9)
God owns the earth and everything in it (Psalm 24:1) and He knows our very thoughts (Psalm 139)--He can't be fooled. (Galatians 6:7-8) He loves His creation (John 3:16) and sustains the wicked along with the good (Matthew 5:45, Matthew 13:24-30), but this will not continue forever. He is going to sort the true believers from the false "believers" and unbelievers in the future (Matthew 24 and 25) and we don't know when (Mark 13:32), but every day is one day closer to that time. That separation is only something to look forward to for true believers. (2 Timothy 4:8, 1 Peter 3:11-12) For the rest, the Bible says that people's hearts will fail them out of fear caused by what is happening. (Luke 21:25-26, 2 Peter 3:8-10, Amos 5:18-20) Everything that can be shaken will be shaken.
Get right with God today! The only way to the Father is through the Son. Humble yourselves. (1 Peter 5:5-8) God detests pride. (Proverbs 8:13, 16:5) If anyone boasts, it is to be that they know Him. (1 Corinthians 1:31)
Jesus said to Him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." John 14:6
I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. John 10:9
Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. John 3:18-19
Justice as the Noonday Sun
June 26, 2016Commit your way to the Lord;
trust in Him, and He will act.
He will bring forth your righteousness as the light,
and your justice as the noonday.
Psalm 37:5-6
paper & elements by Lorie Davison
Please the Spirit
June 25, 2016For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. Romans 8:5
papers (blended) by Marta van Eck, flowers: Under the Dappled Shadows by Lorie Davison, texture by me
New and Old Treasures
June 24, 2016And He said to them, "Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house, who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old." Matthew 13:52
paper & elements by Lorie Davison
Among the Lilies
June 23, 2016My beloved is mine and I am his; he browses among the lilies. Song of Songs 2:16
paper & elements by Lorie Davison
From His Wandering
June 22, 2016My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins. James 5:19-20
kit: Expedition by Marta van Eck
Rejected the Word of the Lord
June 21, 2016The wise will be put to shame;
they will be dismayed and snared.
They have rejected the word of the Lord,
so what wisdom do they really have?
Jeremiah 8:9
paper, elements by Lorie Davison
Shepherd
June 20, 2016He tends His flock like a shepherd:
He gathers the lambs in His arms
and carries them close to His heart;
He gently leads those that have young.
Isaiah 40:11
paper by Marta van Eck, staff from web, foliage & ribbon by Lorie Davison
There is a Generation
June 19, 2016There is a generation who curses their fathers
and does not bless their mothers.
There is a generation who is clean in their own eyes
but are not washed of their filth.
There is a generation who—how lofty are their eyes,
how high their eyelids lift!
There is a generation whose teeth are swords,
whose fangs are knives,
to devour the poor from off the earth,
the needy from among mankind.
Proverbs 30:11-14
kit: Paint Job by Kristmess Designs, template by Cluster Queen Creations
Don't Be a Fool
June 18, 2016Do not be excessively wicked and do not be a fool. Why should you die before your time? Ecclesiastes 7:17
paper and elements by Lorie Davison
Wisdom is Sweet
June 17, 2016My child, eat honey, for it is good,
and the honeycomb is sweet to the taste.
In the same way, wisdom is sweet to your soul.
If you find it, you will have a bright future,
and your hopes will not be cut short.
Proverbs 24:13-14
kit: My Honey by Kristmess Designs; template by Crisdam Designs
Midst of Deceit
June 16, 2016“Everyone deceives his neighbor and does not speak the truth, they have taught their tongue to speak lies; they weary themselves committing iniquity. Your dwelling is in the midst of deceit; through deceit they refuse to know Me,” declares the Lord. Jeremiah 9:5-6
paper: Where to Now Dreamer and elements: Falling Leaves Autumn Tea by Lorie Davison
Entrust Their Souls
June 15, 2016Therefore let those who suffer according to God's will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good. 1 Peter 4:19
paper: Where to Now Dreamer and elements: Artist Faerie by Lorie Davison
Sweet to the Soul
June 14, 2016Gracious words are a honeycomb,
sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.
Proverbs 16:24
kit: Honey Brown Tale by Emeto Designs (retired)
Righteousness and Praise Spring Up
June 13, 2016For as the earth brings forth its sprouts, and as a garden causes the things sown in it to spring up, so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to spring up before all the nations. Isaiah 61:11
elements: Love Stories from the Red Flower Shop and paper: Scenes from Summer by Lorie Davison
I Know My Own
June 12, 2016I am the Good Shepherd. I know My own and My own know Me, just as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. John 10:14-15
sheep, cloud: Where to Now Dreamer and paper: Scenes from Summer and flowers: Love Stories from the Red Flower Shop by Lorie Davison; cross by Kristmess Designs
Distress of the Nations
June 11, 2016And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves, people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world. For the powers of the heavens will be shaken. And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. Luke 21:25-27
paper by Lorie Davison, wave overlay by Lily Designs (retired), elements: Fishes by Marta van Eck
Woe to You
June 10, 2016"Woe to you when all people speak well of you, for their ancestors did the same things to the false prophets." Luke 6:26
paper by Holliewood Studios; award by Kristmess Designs; numeral, light beam by Marta van Eck
Transferred to the Kingdom
June 09, 2016He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the Kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. Colossians 1:13-14
kit: Artist Faerie by Lorie Davison; dove, light beam, rainbow by Marta van Eck; clouds by Beth Rimmer; page texture by me
Do Not Refuse
June 08, 2016See that you do not refuse Him who is speaking. For if they did not escape when they refused Him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape if we reject Him who warns from heaven. Hebrews 12:25
kit: Artist Faerie by Lorie Davison
Flaming Sword
June 07, 2016After he drove the man out, he placed on the east side of the Garden of Eden cherubim and a flaming sword flashing back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life. Genesis 3:24
paper, flowers by Lorie Davison, sword by Pink Lotty, flames by Holliewood Studios, page texture by me
Storms of Destruction
June 06, 2016Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me, for in you my soul takes refuge; in the shadow of your wings I will take refuge, till the storms of destruction pass by. Psalm 57:1
paper: Vagabond Adventures by Holliewood Studios, gold border, butterfly by Miss Behaving Workshop, ribbon by Eena's Creations, flowers: Pink Lotty
Steadfastness of Christ
June 05, 2016May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ. 2 Thessalonians 3:5
kit: Vagabond Adventures by Holliewood Studios, flare texture by me
Time is Past
June 04, 2016For the time that is past suffices for doing what the Gentiles want to do, living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry. With respect to this they are surprised when you do not join them in the same flood of debauchery, and they malign you; but they will give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. 1 Peter 4:3-5
kits: Through the Snow We Go and Under the Dappled Shadows by Lorie Davison
Brokenhearted
June 03, 2016The Lord is close to the brokenhearted
and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
Psalm 34:18
kit: Colour Me Crazy by Kristmess Designs
Names the Stars
June 02, 2016He determines the number of the stars;
He gives to all of them their names.
Psalm 147:4
kit: The Great Outdoors by Kristmess Designs, page texture by me
Whoever is Wise
June 01, 2016Let whoever is wise understand these things,
and whoever is insightful recognize them.
For the ways of the Lord are right,
and the righteous walk in them,
but the rebellious stumble in them.
Hosea 14:9
kit: Great Outdoors by Kristmess Designs, page texture by Saskia