The URL for my blog comes from a Bible verse (hey, don't stop reading yet) that is incredibly meaningful to me. I remember I came across it when all this "God-stuff" awareness was so new to me a few years back.
"Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!"
2 Corinthians 5:17.
This verse explained what had happened to me, what was happening to me, and resonates with me still (as in Ellie is a New Thing).
My friend Walt says his favorite verse is, "Somewhere in the Bible it says..." I love that one too. I also like the one about His ways not being my ways and the one about Him knowing the plans He has for me. I'm not able to quote chapter and verse often, but it's the words that matter.
Like many of us, I don't spend the time in the Bible that I should. But almost every time I dig in, I have an a-ha moment. Yesterday in church they shared Jude 1:24, and it was such a perfectly simple way to describe my God, I had to reread it at home in the afternoon. It's a prayer of praise, I learned, and I love the way God is described:
"Now all glory to God, who is able to keep you from falling away and will bring you with great joy into his glorious presence without a single fault."
He keeps me from falling away.
This week's question of the week is a please.
Will you please share a Bible verse that means something important to you, changed your life, moved you recently, sticks in your head and heart or one you just, well, like?
Even if you're not a church-goer, I would bet something comes to mind. The Golden Rule is one for some, my friend likes "...that one about faith as tiny as a mustard seed," and even one man I know who sees himself far from God gets a lot of strength from Isaiah and it's mention of soaring on eagles wings.
I'm not asking you to be a biblical scholar, I'm asking you (again with a please) to be relational.
I can't wait to read your thoughts.
14 Shared Thoughts:
I love this! This should be really interesting... Okay here's mine, Psalm 139 - the whole chapter. It talks about how we were chosen before we were even born! That God knew us and took specific interest in us and every detail that went into us. It continues to talk about how He searches us and knows our every waking thought and how He shows us where to go and what to do if we are following after Him. It is so clear to me how important this is for my life and that I definitely could not be the same without this chapter - In fact, I have it tattooed on my hip with a cross and the word "chosen" written in Hebrew... I love this chapter...
"For I know the plans that I have for you', declares the Lord. 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future" Jeramiah 29:11
This verse has been a true lamp unto my feet through some very rough times and has been a song of praise through the joyous times as well. It's my favorite because someone I love deeply shared it with me as I was struggling to fmwbtG!
--Debbie (imported from fb)
The verse that has held me up since my divorce, 14 yrs ago, Matthew 6:25-34. That tells us not to worry about anything!Particularly 6:26 Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather in barns, and yet your Heavenly Father feeds them. ARE YOU NOT OF MORE VALUE THAN THEY?
--Barb (imported from fb)
My special pop out verse from this week is Psalm 103:5 - who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.
--Tina (also imported from fb)
Hard to choose just one...
One long-time favorite:
"So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God, I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." Isaiah 41:10
This verse is my flying verse, although it works in other situations too! :) I am a nervous flyer, although you wouldn't know it if you were sitting next to me, I get very anxious inside. I memorized the above verse and I recite it over and over. I like to picture God's righteous right hand on the belly of the plane! It got me to Africa and back! :)
Another favorite:
"..because Jesus lives forever, He has a permanent priesthood. Therefore He is able to save completely those who come to God through Him, because He always lives to intercede for them." Hebrews 7:24,25
So, whoever is reading this, you can be sure that Jesus is interceding (praying) for you right now! How cool is that?!
God's Word is the most exciting thing! Great blog, Ellie!
Pam H.
OK, I have several, but here's my life verse: Isaiah 40:31 But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. I always love that verse but some days NEED it more than others!
--Dan Lites (fb)
One of my favorites is Psalm 46:10:
"Be still and know that I am God." My Father is there taking care of me. Whenever I feel scared, alone and unsure of the future, I think of this passage, and grow calm.
Pam C.
I have been in Isiaiah as well...for some reason I started in chapter 44... and in 44, 45 and 46 they all have something...special for me... mosly things that are spoken also in songs we sing at church, the only one I can remember is related to being a new thing (it is early), but my life verse is Jer 29:11-14...the promise is too much to over look.
And...
He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty...Psalms
--Anne (fb)
Somewhere in the bible it says:
Do not fear, for I am with you...
Somewhere in the bible it says:
Nothing is impossible with God...
Somewhere in the bible it says:
All things work together for your good...
Somewhere in the bible it says:
As far as the east is from the west, so are your sins forgiven and forgotten...
Somewhere in the bible it says:
See, I have inscribed you on the palms of my hand." (Is 49:16)
Somewhere in the bible it says:
You are fearfully and wonderfully made. I knit you together in your mother's womb. I knew you before you were born -- everything tiny detail about you, I lovingly created...
Everywhere in the bible it says:
"I love you and I want you to be with me forever."
Joan,
That's beautiful.
He's beautiful.
Thank you for sharing all that, all Him. I will hold it close all day.
Ellen
I hope that our meetings go well!
I KNEW EXACTLY WHAT I WOULD SHARE...John 3:30! It says:
He must become greater; I must become less.
That about sums EVERYTHING up
The one where David says, "my sins are always before me." That whole passage. I used to have it taped up in my closet.
Not that I'm saying shoes = my sins are before me!! No nothing like that! It was simply the place where I would see it each day.
I can't quote verses or books, which after spending 6 years working in a Synagogue is a little embarrassing... but whatever.
My favorite part (tonight... ask me again tomorrow and I'll have another answer.) is when Jonah goes to an awful lot of trouble to NOT do what God asks of him because he doesn't want to go help people of a different faith, and God finds him and makes him do it anyway. I like that notion that we're all each other's responsibilities, even if we're not all of the same faith.
See, it's posts like this that really are special. With summer here, I have been totally off my routine about checking in on some of my favorite blogs (like yours!); I have been writing posts on the fly, but not actually sitting down to visit.
For me, a gentle reminder of what's important is found in Psalm 46:10 "Be still and know that I am God".
Blessings to you and your family.
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