Victorious 2 Samuel 22:50-51 Psalms 21:1-2 Psalms 44:4-8 Psalms 20:4-7 Psalms 45:4 Psalms 60:11-12 1 Corinthians 15:57 1 John 5:4 12.31.14

VICTORIOUS

BREAD

50 “Therefore I will praise you, O Lord, among the nations; I will sing praises to your name. 51 He gives his king great victories; he shows unfailing kindness to his anointed, to David and his descendants forever.”

2 Samuel 22:50-51 (NIV)

1 O Lord, the king rejoices in your strength. How great is his joy in the victories you give! 2 You have granted him the desire of his heart and have not withheld the request of his lips. Selah

Psalms 21:1-2 (NIV)

4 You are my King and my God, who decrees victories for Jacob. 5 Through you we push back our enemies; through your name we trample our foes. 6 I do not trust in my bow, my sword does not bring me victory; 7 but you give us victory over our enemies, you put our adversaries to shame. 8 In God we make our boast all day long, and we will praise your name forever. Selah

Psalms 44:4-8 (NIV)

4 May he give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed. 5 We will shout for joy when you are victorious and will lift up our banners in the name of our God. May the Lord grant all your requests. 6 Now I know that the Lord saves his anointed; he answers him from his holy heaven with the saving power of his right hand. 7 Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.

Psalms 20:4-7 (NIV)

4 In your majesty ride forth victoriously in behalf of truth, humility and righteousness; let your right hand display awesome deeds.

Psalms 45:4 (NIV)

11 Give us aid against the enemy, for the help of man is worthless. 12 With God we will gain the victory, and he will trample down our enemies.

Psalms 60:11-12 (NIV)

57 But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians 15:57 (NIV)

4 for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.

1 John 5:4 (NIV)

BUTTER

“Though assaults be many, and my enemies mighty, if God strengthen me, I have enough to comfort me; for the greater my enemy, the more glorious my victory; and the more glorious my victory, the more triumphant my glory.”  K.H. Von Bogatzky

“Greatness is not made through one trial or one victory.  It is hammered out over and over on the anvil of daily demands.  Most often this work is done alone – in complete obscurity.  But God sees every word, every choice, and every action.  Devoted hearts are never wasted.  He frequently uses the obscure, the broken, or the outcast for some of His greatest work.”  Charles R. Swindoll

“Having God on our side also means that the fullness of God's power and ability is available to us. God is almighty and He can do anything. He not only created all things, but He sustains all things. Because God is all-wise, He knows everything about us and our situation. He knows future obstacles we have not even seen yet, and He knows the best way to overcome them. He has made every provision we need to be victorious. Because of God's all-loving nature, love is the underlying motive for everything that God does. No matter how bleak the situation seems, nothing is so powerful that it can separate us from God's love.”   Michael Youssef

“A primary qualification for serving God with any amount of success, and for doing God’s work well and triumphantly, is a sense of our own weakness.  When God’s warrior marches forth to battle, strong in his own might, when he boasts, ‘I know that I shall conquer, my own right arm and my conquering sword shall get unto me the victory’, defeat is not far distant.  God will not go forth with that man who marches in his own strength.  He who reckoneth on victory thus has reckoned wrongly, for ‘it is not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts’.  They who go forth to fight, boasting of their prowess, shall return with their gay banners trailed in the dust, and their armour stained with disgrace.  Those who serve God must serve Him in His own way, and in His strength, or He will never accept their service.  That which man doth, unaided by divine strength, God can never own.  The mere fruits of the earth He casteth away; He will only reap that corn, the seed of which was sown from heaven, watered by grace, and ripened by the sun of divine love.  God will empty out all that thou hast before He will put His own into thee; He will first clean out the granaries before He will fill them with the finest of the wheat……Your emptiness is but the preparation for your being filled, and your casting down is but the making ready for your lifting up.”   C. H. Spurgeon 

“Sometimes the enemy seems to get an advantage over us; but the battle is not over yet.  At last thou shalt have the victory, and carry the day for all that.  In hard struggles remember the power of Christ, who, in his resurrection, broke through everything.  With him thou canst also break through, and be more than conqueror.  Yea, in every conflict, if thy faith be firm, thou canst be sure of victory beforehand; for faith engages Christ’s power, and his power ensureth victory; it is as impossible for thine enemies to keep thee always in bonds, as it was impossible that Christ could be kept in the grave by the stone, seal, and keepers.  Nay, the greater their force is, the more glorious will be the victory of Christ over them.”  K. H. Von Bogatzky

“The first step on the way to victory is to recognize the enemy.”   Corrie ten Boom

“Are you fighting with the adversary today?  Are Satan, the world, and the flesh, all against you?  Be not discouraged nor dismayed.  Fight on!  For God Himself is with you; Jehovah Nissi is your banner, and Jehovah Rophi is the healer of your wounds.  Fear not, you shall overcome, for who can defeat Omnipotence?  Fight on, ‘looking unto Jesus;’ and though long and stern be the conflict, sweet will be the victory, and glorious the promised reward.”   Charles H. Spurgeon

“There is a great and wonderful truth embodied in these words.  The whole victory of life is in them – ‘Trust in the Lord and take heart.’  That means the exercise of courage, the consciousness of being linked to one mightier than ourselves, and it helps one to keep smiling, to keep sunshiny, and to have not only a song on the lip, but one in the heart.”   Fanny Crosby

HEART SAVOR

·       It is God Who gives us the victory over our enemies. With Him, our victory is sure.   

·       The help of man is worthless.

·       I trust in the Name of the Lord my God.

Our Glorious Guide Exodus 15:13 Isaiah 30:20-21 Psalms 23:1-3 Isaiah 58:11 Psalms 48:14 John 16:12-14 12.29.14

OUR GLORIOUS GUIDE

BREAD

13 “In your unfailing love you will lead the people you have redeemed. In your strength you will guide them to your holy dwelling.”

Exodus 15:13 (NIV)

20 Although the Lord gives you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, your teachers will be hidden no more; with your own eyes you will see them. 21 Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.”

Isaiah 30:20-21 (NIV)

1 The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, 3 he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

Psalms 23:1-3 (NIV)

11 The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.

Isaiah 58:11 (NIV)

14 For this God is our God for ever and ever; he will be our guide even to the end.

Psalms 48:14 (NIV)

12 “I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. 13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all 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. 14 He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you.”

John 16:12-14 (NIV)

BUTTER

“They do not go wrong who go in the company of God.  Like Enoch, walk with God, and you cannot mistake your road.  You have infallible wisdom to direct you, immutable love to comfort you, and eternal power to defend you.  ‘The LORD’ – note the word – ‘The LORD will guide you always.”   Charles H. Spurgeon

“I know not the way God leads me, but well do I know my Guide.”  Martin Luther

“We as Christians know that faith is taking God at His Word.  And we realize that faith does not get us around our problems, but it gets us through them.  Such a promise is found in Psalm 48:14, ‘For this is God, our God forever and ever.  He will be our guide even to death.’  His promise then is no matter how difficult we may find life to be, He will guide us all the way home.  Isaiah 42:16 ‘And I will bring the blind by a way they know not.  I will lead them in paths that they have not known.’  This is the way God leads His own.  You and I are blind to the future, but He is not, and He has promised to lead all who will put their trust in Him.  Sometimes, because our circumstances are totally out of our control, we not only have to believe these promises, but we must put them to the test.”    Wales Goebel

“In our walk with God we are told explicitly by Christ Himself that it would be His Spirit who would be sent to guide us and to lead us into all truth (John 16:13).  This same gracious Spirit takes the truth of God, the Word of God, and makes it plain to our hearts and minds and spiritual understanding.  It is He who gently, tenderly, but persistently says to us, ‘This is the way – walk in it.’  And as we comply and cooperate with His gentle promptings a sense of safety, comfort and well-being envelops us.”   Phillip Keller

“Would you follow Christ?  Then follow Him in self-denial, in humility, in patience, and in readiness for every good work.  Follow Him with a daily cross upon your back, and look to His cross to make your burden light.  Follow Him as your Guide and Guard, and learn to see with His eyes, and to trust in His arm for defense.  Follow Him as the Friend of sinners, who healeth the broken in heart, and giveth rest to the weary souls, and casteth out none that come unto Him.   Follow Him with faith, resting your whole acceptance with God, and your title to heaven, on His meritorious blood and righteousness.  Lastly, follow Him with much prayer.  For, though He is full of compassion, He loves to be much entreated; and when He is determined to give a blessing, you must yet wrestle with Him for it.  Thus follow Jesus, and He will lead you to glory.”   K. H. Von Bogatzky

HEART SAVOR

·       God is my Guide through life.  He will guide me to His holy dwelling.

·       In His guidance I find satisfaction, strength and peace – my cup overflows.

·       All God’s ways are right and just. He is a faithful God Who does no wrong.  Upright and just is He.

Not A Child Of Chance Jeremiah 29:11-14 Isaiah 45:21-22 Isaiah 46:9-10 Ephesians 1:4-6 Ephesians 1:11-12 12.26.14

NOT A CHILD OF CHANCE

BREAD

11 “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you,’ declares the Lord, ‘and will bring you back from captivity.’”

Jeremiah 29:11-14 (NIV)

21 Declare what is to be, present it-- let them take counsel together. Who foretold this long ago, who declared it from the distant past? Was it not I, the Lord? And there is no God apart from me, a righteous God and a Savior; there is none but me. 22 "Turn to me and be saved, all you ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other.

Isaiah 45:21-22 (NIV)

9 Remember the former things, those of long ago; I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me. 10 I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say: My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.

Isaiah 46:9-10 (NIV)

4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5 he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will-- 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.

Ephesians 1:4-6 (NIV)

11 In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, 12 in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory.

Ephesians 1:11-12 (NIV)

BUTTER

“Remember, you are not a child of chance. If you were, you might indeed fear. You will go nowhere next year except where God shall send you.”  Charles H. Spurgeon

“Let me carefully mark the inward workings of thy grace, and the outward tokens of thy providence, so as daily to have a true sense of thy gracious presence in every thing, more or less important; and thereby to be ever strengthened in faith, and kept in a composed state of mind; considering that nothing happens by mere chance, but all is wisely ordered by thy providential care to our good; firmly believing, if anything goes contrary to expectation, that something better will follow in its stead, if we only can be quiet, and wait the time.”  K.H. Von Bogatzky

“The Almighty and  everywhere present power of God; whereby, as it were by His hand, He upholds and governs heaven, earth, and all creatures; so that herbs and grass, rain and drought, fruitful and barren years, meat and drink, health and sickness, riches and poverty, yea, and all things come, not by chance, but by His fatherly hand.”   The Heidelberg Catechism 

“In believing prayer, we learn to connect our present troubles to the good and perfect will of God.  We refuse to believe that chance rules our lives.  We withstand the temptation to imagine that God is capricious or malicious.  We know he has a higher purpose and that he is not dealing with us as our sins deserve.  As we bring our troubles to Jesus in prayer—asking his will to be done—we approve the will of our Father in heaven. We see our sufferings in the greater reality of his good, acceptable, and perfect will.  In prayer we “turn crisis to Christ.”  Our heart becomes tuned to his heart and we sing the song of grace.”   John F. Smed

“God is God. Because He is God, He is worthy of my trust and obedience. I will find rest nowhere but in His holy will, a will that is unspeakably beyond my largest notions of what He is up to.”    Elisabeth Elliot

“God reigns, not chance.”   Hudson Taylor

HEART SAVOR

• ·       There is no such thing as chance or happenstance.
• ·       God makes known the end from the beginning.
• ·       God is worthy of all my trust and obedience.  He always has my best interest at heart.

Shine The Light Isaiah 9:2 John 1:4-5 Matthew 5:14-16 Luke 11:33 John 8:12 2 Corinthians 4:5-7 12.24.14

SHINE THE LIGHT

BREAD

2 The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.

Isaiah 9:2 (NIV)

4 In him was life, and that life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.

John 1:4-5 (NIV)

14 “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”

Matthew 5:14-16 (NIV)

33 “No one lights a lamp and puts it in a place where it will be hidden, or under a bowl. Instead he puts it on its stand, so that those who come in may see the light.”

Luke 11:33 (NIV)

12 When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

John 8:12 (NIV)

5 For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake. 6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. 7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.

2 Corinthians 4:5-7 (NIV)

BUTTER

“It’s Christmas that dawns on you, and you only really believe in Christmas when you really live it.  When you light a dark world and the unexpected places with a brave flame of joy; when you warm the cold, hopeless places with the daring joy that God is with us, God is for us, God is in us; when you are a wick to light hope in the dark – then you believe in Christmas.  When you really believe in Christmas, you believe there is really hope for everyone.”   Ann Voskamp 

“The hero is one who kindles a great light in the world, who sets up blazing torches in the dark streets of life for men to see by.”  Felix Adler

“A holy life will produce the deepest impression.  Lighthouses blow no horns; they only shine.”  D.L. Moody

“The true Christian cannot be hid, he cannot escape notice.  A man truly living and functioning as a Christian will stand out.  He will be like salt; he will be like a city set on a hill, a candle set upon a candlestick. But we can also add this further word. The true Christian does not even desire to hide his light.  He sees how ridiculous it is to claim to be a Christian and yet deliberately to try to hide the fact.  A man who truly realizes what it means to be a Christian, who realizes all that the grace of God has meant to him and done for him, and understands that, ultimately, God has done this in order that he may influence others, is a man who cannot conceal it.  Not only that; he does not desire to conceal it, because he argues thus, ‘Ultimately the object and purpose of it all is that I might be functioning in this way’.”  Martin Lloyd-Jones

“Darkness is my point of view, my right to myself; light is God’s point of view.”  Oswald Chambers

“And we will never stop being the boldface brave who show up when it would be easier to give up, who go do hard & holy things when it would be easier to just go do happy things, who do not quit when we don’t know how to keep going on. ‘Just Call to Me, I guarantee I will answer you.  I will make you strong & brave.’  (Psalms 138:3).  Be Brave.  Hold out your Light to hold back the flood of dark.  Be Brave.  Your bravery wins a thousand battles you can’t see because your bravery strengthens a thousand others to win their battles too.  Be Brave.  And do not pray for the hard thing to go away.  But pray for a bravery to come that’s bigger than the hard thing.”   Ann Voskamp

HEART SAVOR

• ·       Jesus is the Light of the world.   He has given me His light to shine therefore, my little light is to shine!
• ·       When I shine His light it points others to the Savior, holding out to them hope.
• ·       I am not to conceal the Light of Jesus within me.

Jesus Our "With Us" God Matthew 28:18-20 Acts 18:9-10 Matthew 18:20 Hebrews 13:5-6 Deuteronomy 31:6 12.22.14

JESUS OUR “WITH US” GOD

BREAD

18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Matthew 28:18-20 (NIV)

9 One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: “Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. 10 For I am with you.”

Acts 18:9-10 (NIV)

20 “For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.”

Matthew 18:20 (NIV)

God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”  6 So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?”

Hebrews 13:5-6 (NIV)

6 “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”

Deuteronomy 31:6 (NIV)

BUTTER

“In this promise, God gives to His people everything.  ‘Never will I leave you.’  Then no attribute of God can cease to be engaged for us.  Is He mighty?  He will show Himself strong on the behalf of them that trust Him.  Is He love?  Then with loving-kindness He will have mercy upon us.  Whatever attributes may compose the character of Deity, every one of them to its fullest extent shall be engaged on our side.”   Charles H. Spurgeon

  

“Your God refuses to give up on you.  Your God looks for you when you’re feeling lost, and your God seeks you out when you’re down, and your God calls for you when you feel cast aside.  He doesn’t run down the rebel.  He doesn’t strike down the sinner.  He doesn’t flog the failure.”   Ann Voskamp

“Some people are more committed to traditions than to their relationship with God.”  Aaron Rabin 

“I am come to find you wherever you may be.  I will look for you till the eyes of My pity see you.  I will follow you till the hands of My mercy reach you, and I will still hold you…to My heart.”   Charles H. Spurgeon

“Knowing Him as a loving Father is the foundation for intimate relationship with Him. First Corinthians 13:4-7 is a picture of the Father's love.  Personalize it, and receive it for yourself.  My Father who loves me is patient with me, kind to me.... My Father's love is not rude, nor self-seeking, not easily angered, and keeps no record of wrongs.  My Father's love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  My Father's love always protects me, always trusts me, always hopes [believes the best about me], always perseveres and never gives up on me.  My Father's love for me never fails.”  Sylvia Gunter

“(Why does God) bother to speak to us?  The truly staggering answer that the Bible gives to this question is that God’s purpose in revelation is to make friends with us.  It was to this end that he created us rational beings, bearing his image, able to think and hear and speak and love; he wanted there to be genuine personal affection and friendship, two-sided, between himself and us—a relation, not like that between a man and his dog, but like that of a father to his child, or a husband to his wife.  Loving friendship between two persons has no ulterior motive; it is an end in itself. And this is God’s end in revelation. He speaks to us simply to fulfill the purpose for which we were made; that is, to bring into being a relationship in which he is a friend to us, and we to him, he finding his joy in giving us gifts and we finding ours in giving him thanks”.  J I Packer

“My observation of Christendom is that most of us tend to base our relationship with God on our performance instead of on His grace.  If we’ve performed well—whatever ‘well’ is in our opinion—then we expect God to bless us.  If we haven’t done so well, our expectations are reduced accordingly.  In this sense, we live by works, rather than by grace.  We are saved by grace, but we are living by the ‘sweat’ of our own performance.  Moreover, we are always challenging ourselves and one another to ‘try harder’.  We seem to believe success in the Christian life is basically up to us; our commitment, our discipline, and our zeal, with some help from God along the way….The realization that my daily relationship with God is based on the infinite merit of Christ instead of on my own performance is very freeing and joyous experience.  But it is not meant to be a one-time experience; the truth needs to be reaffirmed daily.”  Jerry Bridges

“If we live to please God alone (the One who loves us), we set ourselves free from the cares and worries that press in on us.”  Phillip Yancey

HEART SAVOR

• ·       God desires a relationship with me.
• ·       God is always with me.
• ·       God never ceases to be engaged for me.

Unearthly Peace Isaiah 9:6-7 Isaiah 26:3 John 14:27 Philippians 4:6-7 12.10.14

UNEARTHLY PEACE

BREAD

6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.

Isaiah 9:6-7 (NIV)

3 You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you.

Isaiah 26:3 (NIV)

27 “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”

John 14:27 (NIV)

6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV)

BUTTER

“Peace comes not from the absence of trouble, but from the presence of God.”  Alexander Maclaren

“Grace remits sin and peace quiets the conscience. Sin and conscience torment us, but Christ has overcome these fiends now and forever. Only Christians possess this victorious knowledge given from above. These two terms, grace and peace, constitute Christianity. Grace involves the remission of sins, peace and a happy conscience. Sin is not canceled by lawful living, for no person is able to live up to the law…the fact is the more a person seeks credit for himself by his own efforts, the deeper he goes into debt. Nothing can take away sin except the grace of God. In actual living, however it is not so easy to persuade oneself that by grace alone, in opposition to every other means, we obtain the forgiveness of our sins and peace with God.”  Martin Luther

Acrostic for Peace:  “Pray; Enjoy each day; Accept this as ‘Father filtered’; Center your thoughts on Him and His will for your life – study His word, the Bible; Expect to see God’s hand move in your life during this time.”  Jeana Floyd

“We came into this world wretched, miserable, and undone creatures, in cruel bondage to sin and Satan, under guilt and under wrath, hostile toward God—the fountain of blessedness—and in a state of condemnation leading to everlasting destruction. But when a man is converted, he is brought out of that state of woe and misery into a sure title to glory, honor, and peace forever. When once a man is converted, all this blessedness that we have heard of is his; he has an absolute right to it. God’s work is accomplished for it; His faithful promise is given.”  Jonathan Edwards

“We sleep in peace in the arms of God, when we yield ourselves up to His providence.”  Francois Fenelon

“His love is unfailing, His Word unchangeable, His power ever the same; therefore the heart that trusts Him is kept in ‘perfect peace’…I know He tries me only to increase my faith, and that it is all in love.  Well, if He is glorified, I am content.”    Hudson Taylor

“Peace is not found when you get into perfect circumstances. Peace is found because Jesus Christ, the Price of Peace, has gotten into you. Joy is the perfect partner to peace and is found in the same way as peace. Joy is never found in what you have or what you do, but in who you have living in you.”  Roy Lessin

           

“There is unwavering peace today when an uncertain tomorrow is trusted to an unchanging God.” Ann Voskamp

HEART SAVOR

·       Jesus is the Prince of Peace.  He offers me an unearthly peace.

·       He keeps me in perfect peace as my mind remains steadfast in Him.

·       Peace is not found in circumstances, peace is found when Jesus rules in me.