country: reserved

For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. —2 Peter 1:21 NIV Key Thought True prophecy — the word of God put into the hearts of his servants — didn't arise in the hearts of the prophets. God...

A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked. For the arms of the wicked shall be broken: but the LORD upholdeth the righteous. —Psalm 37:16-17 (KJV) Thoughts on Today's Verse... What do we want to be the basis of our security? Will it be what we can do...

All [the prophets] were told was that they were serving you, you who by orders from heaven have now heard for yourselves — through the Holy Spirit — the Message of those prophecies fulfilled. Do you realize how fortunate you are? Angels would have given anything to be in on this! —1 Peter 1:12...

O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! ... For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen. —Romans 11:33-36 (KJV) Thoughts on Today's Verse... Some things...

We all need to spend days in a rock tumbler, thrown and tossed against other hard objects till our broken edges are softened and our hearts are reawakened. Special Note: Melissa's post could not have dropped into my INBOX at a more God-timed moment. Protests about the mounting violence...

This salvation was something even the prophets wanted to know more about when they prophesied about this gracious salvation prepared for you. They wondered what time or situation the Spirit of Christ within them was talking about when he told them in advance about Christ's suffering and his...

Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass. —Psalm 37:6-7 (KJV) Thoughts on Today's Verse... "Chill out!" we hear heaven say to us. Come into God's presence with dependent, yet...

God the Father knew you and chose you long ago, and his Spirit has made you holy. As a result, you have obeyed him and have been cleansed by the blood of Jesus Christ. May God give you more and more grace and peace. —1 Peter 1:2 NLT Key Thought The story of the prophet Isaiah's calling by God...

For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. —Romans 8:15 (KJV) Thoughts on Today's Verse... How revolutionary. Just as Jesus prayed to God addressing him as "Abba Father," we too can speak so frankly...

Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called ... —Ephesians 4:3-4 NIV Key Thought I love the Greek word Paul uses for "make every effort" — try to say it, "spoudazow"; it...

Who hath wrought and done it, calling the generations from the beginning? I the LORD, the first, and with the last; I am he. —Isaiah 41:4 (KJV) Thoughts on Today's Verse... God is the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End. This is great comfort for us. We don't have to choose another...

Don't you realize that all of you together are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God lives in you? God will destroy anyone who destroys this temple. For God's temple is holy, and you are that temple. —1 Corinthians 3:16-17 NLT Key Thought As beautiful as the promise of yesterday was...

The lips of the righteous feed many: but fools die for want of wisdom. —Proverbs 10:21 (KJV) Thoughts on Today's Verse... Righteous people have a way of blessing others with their words. It may be their word of encouragement, their carefully chosen speech, their advice full of wisdom, their...

Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass. And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday. —Psalm 37:5-6 (KJV) Thoughts on Today's Verse... How much do you trust the Lord? Better yet, how much of yourself have you...

And in [Jesus] you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit. —Ephesians 2:22 NIV Key Thought "Where can I go to find God?" Mortals have asked this question ever since they were driven from the garden and from their daily walks with God in "the cool of...

[Jesus] brought this Good News of peace to you Gentiles who were far away from him, and peace to the Jews who were near. Now all of us can come to the Father through the same Holy Spirit because of what Christ has done for us. —Ephesians 2:17-18 NLT Key Thought Assured grace means equal...

For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. —Romans 8:14 (KJV) Thoughts on Today's Verse... Over the last two weeks we have been blessed to read a number of Scriptures that speak of the Spirit's work in our lives. In the last several days, we've celebrated being...

I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. —Ephesians 1:17 NIV Key Thought Paul is praying this prayer for new followers of Jesus, and I love the language, "I keep asking ..."...

For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. —Galatians 3:26-27 (KJV) Thoughts on Today's Verse... We are children of God, with all the rights of full heirs! Our faith, expressed in our baptism, declares...

It's in Christ that you, once you heard the truth and believed it (this Message of your salvation), found yourselves home free — signed, sealed, and delivered by the Holy Spirit. This signet from God is the first installment on what's coming, a reminder that we'll get everything God has planned...